The feeling of turning into dust was strangely peaceful. More than twenty years had passed since a war was lost from the beginning and that last offensive was suicidal for everyone, everyone left the shelter with the same thought: that movement would be the last.

That's why he didn't hesitate when Leo asked him to exhaust everything in himself to open that door in time, there was no hope left in his timeline, there was no one left to face the nightmares coming from another universe and if his portal could give them a opportunity to save the world its disappearance would be a small price to pay. It wasn't about him, his family or his own life, it was aiming for something bigger and he would gladly pay the price.

He gave himself the pleasure of seeing once again his brother who was still alive and the child he helped raise, and he kept his hope high so as not to falter at that moment when he saw his body dissolve into hundreds of bright particles that spread across the sky. wind. The last sign of the existence of Michelangelo Hamato in the form of a golden portal.
That's why the cold that clung to his skin as he lay on a bare concrete surface caught his attention even before his brain processed what was happening. He was dead, he shouldn't feel cold or how bands of small stones typical of an uncleaned surface dig into his skin.

He opened his eyes and the first thing he could see was a golden glow that enveloped him, it was as if the dust in which he had dissolved when he opened the portal settled back on him, rebuilding it little by little, he could also see a gray sky. that enveloped an equally gray and cold environment, low buildings with dark windows and cold, silent colors. He strained his ears, but he could barely hear a couple of vehicles passing by, no music, no voices or footsteps, nothing to indicate that there was life in that city. A strange change to his routine always full of sounds and voices.

He straightens up slightly and feels his entire body groan in agony, every inch of his skin hurt and he let out a moan due to the annoying sensation; Even so, he was internally grateful that he could feel pain, that meant that, in some mysterious way, he was alive, breathing and suffering. Now he just had to figure out how and why.

He hears voices whispering to his right and turns his head towards the sound, he can barely identify a pair of voices arguing in a low voice and approaches, Michelangelo feels a tremor run through his body, memories of so many battles, so many losses envelop his brain. and they make him react accordingly. If those who approach are a threat they will know firsthand why he is called the most powerful mystical warrior in history.

He lets his energy cover him, a golden glow envelops him and he gets into an attack position despite his body asking for a break, there will be one once he feels safe.

Four shadows appear at the periphery of his vision and he moves to face them, his hands glowing menacingly; He hears a gasp coming from the creatures in front of him despite not being able to see them in the darkness, he growls to tell them to stay where they are, that if they come close they will suffer the consequences. You can see the gleam of twin swords appear in the hands of one of the figures, a long staff in another and hear the sound of the wind swirling around the chains that a third quickly spins, you can feel the confusion and distrust welling up in them. in waves and, for the millionth time in his life, he is grateful for his sense of empathy that allows him to read the environment around him.

- I don't know who you are but it's not convenient for you to threaten us - a young but firm voice speaks - we are more than you
Mikey snorts, he has successfully faced huge armies, defeating four is no challenge for him so he hisses loud and deep, a nice trait he learned over the years sharing life with Donnie, sure that the sound will scare them and he knows that he succeeds when all four stop in their tracks.

- I don't have time to play with you - he responds, trying not to let his voice give any indication of the pain he feels - it's better for you to leave me alone.

Golden chains begin to sprout from his body, surrounding him as a protective barrier. The light that comes from them illuminates the rooftop, revealing those in front of him and he is surprised to see that they are turtles, four turtles with colored scarves covering him. his face, colors similar to what he and his brothers wore while they were alive. Blue, red, purple and orange stare back at him, they looked young, barely teenagers. One of them, the orange mask, watched him with amazement while the others showed suspicion on his face.

"Shit," he mutters when he realizes the situation, he had somehow appeared in a universe similar to his own, one where a version of his and his brothers existed; He lets his powers fade and he stands, slow and painful, bringing his hands in front of him.
a gesture that was intended to be appeasing - I'm not going to hurt them - he says before hissing in pain and placing a hand to his belly trying to ease the pain.

- You're hurt - the orange tree turtle exclaims and walks towards him at a fast pace, his brothers try to catch him before he reaches him but they can't reach him, Mikey laughs softly, apparently some things stay similar because it's the same thing he would have done by seeing someone suffering pain. When the young man is near he places a hand on his head and caresses him.

- Yes, I'm hurt but don't worry, I'll live - he says, trying to sound sincere. He looks at the brothers and smiles when he sees on their faces the same concern for the minor that his own brothers would have shown in a similar situation - we started off on the wrong foot. - he tells them - but where I come from I am very used to threats and reacting in response - small allegory to the terror suffered in the last twenty-something years.

Distrust does not abandon the others but at least his weapons are down, he knows that he can easily defeat them but the idea of attacking the turtles of this place does not appeal to him.

"Let me see those wounds," a tall turtle with a purple scarf offers reluctantly and approaches him, adjusting his cane on his back. Mikey smiles to himself and nods to his request. He sits in the lotus position because, compared to the locals, the tall one, much taller than them...

Wait, at the end of his life his mystical energy had consumed his body and his height had decreased quite a bit, reaching almost the same height he had in his adolescence, he shouldn't be that tall now unless...
He looks at his hands, he can see the scars on them but not the wrinkles that had accompanied the last years of his busy life, he brings them to his face and feels, for the first time in years, his smooth face and his hair covering the entire His head somehow resurrected with an appearance that corresponded to his almost forty years... without a mirror he couldn't check it but he felt it, he didn't feel as old and exhausted as before opening the portal. If it weren't for the pain and fatigue of his body he would try to run and jump like when he was young.

- You are an adult turtle - the purple one's voice takes him out of his train of thought - he had never seen a mutant turtle so old - well, that was an offense, he was still in the prime of his life, he wasn't that old, thank you.

- Well, yes, but I'm not an old man - he complains - I'm not even forty yet - he puffs out his cheeks while the youngest examines him. He directs his gaze to the orange boy who looks at him with deep interest in his sky blue eyes.

"Dude, you're really tall," he exclaims with admiration and Mikey can identify the emotion he had in his youth. "And you shine," he adds, moving his hands enthusiastically. Mikey tilted his head, looking at him intrigued. Didn't these turtles have mysticism or ninpo? Because if he doesn't he doesn't understand how his powers draw his attention. He was going to ask when the one in purple spoke.

- I don't see wounds other than those that are already closed - he comments with his gaze fixed on his arms and the lightning-shaped scars that cover them - you don't bleed anywhere.
Well, that was a relief.

"I guess the pain comes from falling here," he says in response. Out of the corner of his eye he can see how the other two have approached them, maintaining a tense and distrustful posture. "Thank you for checking on me."

-Why do you wear a wig? - The voice of the youngest with light blue eyes catches his attention and he can't help but laugh.

- It's not a wig, little one - he responds - it's all natural and beautiful - something of Leonardo's sincere arrogance comes out of his voice and he laughs again when he remembers how his older brother complained that he grew hair which made him look even more adorable - it makes me adorable - he winks at the little one, causing the younger one to giggle.

- Well - the voice of the one in the blue mask draws his attention and that of his brothers - since, apparently, you are not a threat, could you tell us who you are and what you are doing here.
Mikey looks around him before fixing his deep gaze on the boy who spoke to him.

- I would like, first, to know where it is here - he asks, the city itself is not identifiable to him.

"You're in New York," the orange tree exclaims, opening his arms. "The best city," he adds with a broad smile. Mikey freezes, this New York was very different from the one he remembered from before the invasion, gray, cold and lacking the brimming energy that he knew so well.

- Hmmm - he murmurs and directs his gaze to the young people in front of him - I'm not very clear why I'm really here, something happened that... - oh, it's a bit complicated to explain to some children that moments before he was dead, turned into a kind of mystical dust after opening a portal to the past - he brought me here - he makes a face that tries to be a smile - and with respect to who I am... - I should tell him his real name or maybe invent something to keep him anonymousato until he understands his situation well, he decides on the latter - you can call me Luo - he says standing up and rising to his full height above them, he was at least fifteen centimeters taller than the tallest of them - now, If it's not too much to ask, could you tell me a place to stay, I don't know this place well and I don't know if it is dangerous or if it is suitable for a turtle like me - you don't know anything about this place and I couldn't guarantee that the people of the city accept mutants or yokai.

And he really needs a place to sleep, not knowing what happened or why it happened is exhausting him mentally and he wants to have a breakdown in a safe place.
He maintains a smile that tries to be trustworthy, although inside he is about to fall.

-You can come with us to our house-offers the orange tree turtle.

- Mikey! - The other three exclaim and Angelo thanks his prudence for not telling them his real name, which would have given rise to confusion and more questions.
- That? - the young man asks - he's a turtle like us and he's lost, he needs us to help him - the young man in orange instructs and Angelo can't help but snort in amusement, it was a fairly familiar scene, although his own arc of saving the stranger was a long time coming. back.

- I don't want to be a nuisance - he hastens to say to avoid a conflict - I'll settle for a warm and quiet place to rest before knowing what to do.

- I think taking him home is a good idea - mentions the purple one, Donatello, if the color pattern stays the same, Angelo thinks - I can monitor his health if he's around - "And keep an eye on me, right? Don't think I don't know your kind" thinks the older turtle remembering his dear technological brother. The other two, Raphael and Leonardo suppose, seem to have the same line of thought because they look at each other and nod.
- It's a good idea, you seem tired and it would be better if you stayed in a safe place tonight - says the blue one, hiding his intentions in a tone of voice that tries to sound sincere. Come on, Ángelo lived a life behind those patterns, he knows them well.

But at least one thing is true, being in these boys' lair will be the closest thing to being at home in this unknown city.

- Okay - he accepts - I appreciate the offer - he maintains a cheerful tone in his statement, he can now collapse in some corner and suffer in silence, a good night's sleep will help a lot and he feels too tired to do anything else. Tomorrow you will be able to think better.