Trust in the Shadows

Mousers Attack: Part 1

Alyssa's POV:

Splinter stands before us in the dojo as we slowly demonstrate how to approach an enemy. Except for Raph, who prefers to abandon the proper form and walk faster than the rest of us.

Raph: "Ha! What? Are you fighting a guy in slow motion?"

Leo: "I suppose I could do it faster if I ignored my form, like you."

Raph: "Ignore this form!"

Raph leaps to attack Leo while Donnie, Mikey, & I look on as Splinter walks toward them and pinches a nerve in both their necks. They both freeze in place and groan before falling to the ground as Splinter releases them.

Splinter: "Competition is an excellent motivator, but not when it turns you against each other. So now, you boys will spar two-on-two."

Leo crosses his arms with a confident grin.

Leo: "Ok, I'll take Don-"

Splinter: "You will take Raphael. You two must focus on working together, not competing with each other."

Leo: "Ok, so me & Raph against Mikey & Donnie? Uh, isn't that a little unfair?"

Mikey crosses his arms as Donnie sends Leo an offended look.

Donnie: "Wait, what are you trying to say?"

Raph: "Um, how can I put this gently? We're way better than you guys."

Mikey: "Psh, at fighting, maybe."

Raph: *chuckles* "Uh, that's what I meant."

Mikey: "Oh? Fine."

The guys get into battle stances.

Splinter: "Hajime!"

By the time it's over, Mikey and Donnie are down for the count, groaning in pain.

Splinter: "Yame!"

Raph: "You were right, Sensei. Working together is fun."

{Time skip}

Mikey's sitting upside down next to Donnie, Raph's sitting next to the TV with a magazine, and I'm meditating diagonally across from Donnie & Mikey as Leo walks in from the kitchen.

Leo: "Look, guys, Raph, Alyssa, & I may be better fighters-"

Me (Translation): "Don't drag me into this, líder sin miedo." (fearless leader)

Leo: "But you're still an important part of this team."

Donnie: "Hmm. As important as you three?"

I then open my eyes as the timer on the watch Donnie made me for Christmas last year goes off, meaning it's time for 'Space Heroes'. So, I turn on the TV as Leo & Raph share a look before Leo answers Donnie's question.

Leo: "Uh, very important. We shouldn't compare ourselves. It's like apples and oranges."

Raph: "Yeah, if apples are way better, which they are."

Me: "Actually, I've found that a good orange, both the color and the fruit, can make all the difference."

Mikey: "Thanks, hermana."