Chapter Text
Rise Raph
3rd Pov
They left him to rest. After a bit of talking and making sure Don wouldn’t start any new projects or work on anything. Leon looked at Raph before motioning his head towards the dojo door.
Raph sighed and dragged himself over to the dojo door. He was about to knock when he heard Splinter, “Come in my son.” Raph turned his head slowly towards Leon, eyes wide. He just shrugged, and gave him a thumbs up. Raph opened the door and walked into the dojo. Splinter was sitting there on the dojo floor next to the tree. Eyes closed, meditating. “Come sit.” He patted the area next to him. “What did you come to talk to me about?” Raph went over and sat down facing Splinter.
“I just want to learn the same thing as my brother, the meditation.”
“Ah you need to stop your magic from destroying itself?” Splinter opened his eyes and turned to look at him, raising a brow.
“How do you know about that?!” Raph's eyes went wide.
“I’m a father, even if it’s to a different version of you. I’m still a father, plus blue and purple weren’t that quiet about talking about it.”
Raph paused, hearing the way Splinter called them, ‘Blue.’ and ‘Purple’ it sent a sense of familiarity over him. ‘I guess how we are similar to our counterparts, dad’s similar to him too’ Raph thought. Raph smiled softly, just for a second. Until a piercing headache started. He closed his eyes in pain.
“Are you all right?” Splinter asked, making his body face Raph.
“Yeah, just a headache. But this one is worse than all the others.” Raph was squeezing the top of his pain, seeing if it would relieve it even just a bit.
“Hmm.” Splinter hummed, thinking.
“Hmmm? What do you mean Hmmm?” The headache was starting to die down just a little, but just enough to allow Raph to let it be.
“Seems like you and your brother are having a different reaction. He came in here more settled into his headaches. While yours seems to just be starting… I have an idea why, I just do not know if it is correct or not…”
“A theory is better than nothing… at least that’s what Don says. So what are you thinking?”
“Well I am wondering, if because you were under extreme stress, as well as your adrenaline was high. While Leons was under a calmer battle, with less dire circumstances. If that is what postponed the reaction. Due to your adrenaline, stress, fear, and worry. It causes your body to stop destroying itself to focus on those. Like when you get injured but your adrenaline kicks in so you don't feel the pain as much. With this your body just chose to focus on the fear, and worry. And now that those emotions have calmed after you got to see your brother up. It now just barely started taking its full effect.”
“That sounds reasonable enough.”
“Do you think you will be able to concentrate on what you are trying to accomplish? Or is the pain too overbearing to not think about?”
“I’m pretty sure I can get over it. It hurts but I can ignore it, at least try to ignore it enough time for this pain to go away. Plus it’s better to get rid of it now. I don’t want this to last longer than it should.” Raph sighed.
“Then let’s get started.” Splinter nodded. “So first you have to clear your head of any other thoughts, worries, concerns, fears, anything clouding your thoughts.”
“Is this gonna hurt?” Raph got into position and was breathing steadily.
“Perhaps.” Splinter nods, hand on his chin. “It’s more of a mental challenge than a physical one. At least that’s how it affected Leon. I’m sure he told you all how he cried over this. His thoughts took him over.”
“Yeah he did tell us about it. Wait, so you're basically telling me, you don’t know?” Raph said, connecting the dots.
“Yes, that is exactly what I am saying, my son.” Splinter nodded. “It’s not like my sons here have this type of problem… So you will be the second person that this has happened to. With that little information I can’t really make a proper conclusion. I would have to research and do more tests, as Donnie would do. But I wouldn’t want to put you all through that. So for now we are learning as we go.”
Raph just nodded in agreement. “Let’s do this! Do I stay here or do I sit in front of you?” Raph tilted his head, looking at Splinter.
“Whatever is most comfortable to you. I’m not the one that is going to be meditating, it's you.”
“I’ll sit here then.” Raph just stays sitting next to Splinter.
“Okay then the main thing we need to do is focus. You are seeking to find something within you. Since it seems you already have a connection with it then it will be a lot easier for you to find and connect with it again. With Leo it seems like there is a wall of things. Like your mind is a chamber of things you might have never realized that you thought about yourself. Those passing thoughts when things happen that are negative. Some of the stronger thoughts are ones that come more often. But if something is going on that is really affecting you then that is what your brain will try to put on you. This part isn’t one that hurts physically but emotionally, it’s like hearing a bunch of different things against you.” Splinter explained getting into a meditating position, Raph copying his moves.
“That’s what you picked up from when Leo did this? Dang I would have just picked up that he cried and it was hard.” Raph turned his head towards Splinter in slight awe.
“Not all of what I am saying is certain. It is more of an estimated guess.” Splinter moved his finger over and pushed his head to look forward again. “Now focus. I can’t do much to help you on this part, it's on you. You're the one looking.”
“What if your estimated guess is wrong?” Raph kept trying to turn his head to look at Splinter.
Splinter pushing his head back. “Then we will learn something new.”
Raph felt a jolt of head ache and squeezed his face in pain. Raph grunted, squeezing his eyes, feeling the pain. “Well let’s start learning cause these hurt!”
“It looks like it does.” Splinter says, taking a quick glance at Raph. Raph struggled trying to not pay attention to the pain in his head. It felt like his head was pulsing. “We could always try later.”
“Nope, right now.” Raph says, through gritted teeth.
“Let’s at least wait a little bit for this initial major pain to pass.” Splinter nodded. “Or else your mind will only be on the thought of the pain you are currently having.”
“Or, or, or we could do it now and stop the pain.” Raph quickly said before nodded rapidly, showing that he wanted to do his option
“I’d rather not risk anything, my son.” Splinter stood up and went out of the dojo. Before coming back with a cheesicle. “For now eat this. The cold will help your head.Seems like these headaches come and go, but it also seems like it’s hitting you harder than your brother. But for now let’s not think about that, you should rest all that you can for now and see if this pain will go away.”
Raph looked confused at the cheesicle before taking it. He just inspected it. “What is this?”
“A cheesicle.” Splinter points at it.
“Cheesicle? Um okay.” Raph started tasting it. “It’s actually not bad.”
“You think I would eat something without taste?” Splinter acts offended.
“No?”
“I’m guessing that you have never had these?”
“You guessed right. Very right. I usually have ice cream when I get a headache.”
“Well we have ice cream if you would like that instead.” Splinter asked.
Raph nodded, “Yes, if it would be no problem. Yes, I would like ice cream.”
“Then follow me.” Splinter got up and walked out of the dojo. Stopping outside of the door and turning to face Raph. “Are you coming?” Raph got up and walked over. Splinter started over to the kitchen again. Raph following after. Splinter walked into the kitchen going over to the refrigerator.
Opening the freezer. Then Raph heard a meow coming from the freezer. Raph peeked over Splinter to see why the freezer was meowing. Then Angelo jumped on his back behind him. “I heard a meow.” Angelo whispered in Raph’s ear.
“Gah!” Raph whipped his head around. “Mikey!”
Angelo was staring into the freezer, wide eyed. Raph looked confused before looking back into the freezer. “Oh me gosh!” Angelo exclaimed. “It’s an ICE CREAM CAT!! It’s a cat made out of ice cream!! Can you believe it Raph!!”
Raph chuckled. “I can, I’m seeing it right now.”
Mikey ran into the room. “I forgot to introduce you to Ice cream kitty!!” Mikey ran over and pulled ice cream kitty out of the freezer. “Raph, Angelo, meet Ice cream kitty. She was a cat who got mutated with ice cream that became the greatest mutant to ever live.”
“Ahem.” Splinter cleared his throat.
“Second greatest?” Mikey chuckled awkwardly, shrugging.
“We were hoping to get some ice cream for Raph here's headache.” Splinter explained.
“Oh yeah of course.” Mikey nodded and went over to the cabinets and pulled out a bowl. He grabbed a spoon and scooped a bit of ice cream into the bowl. “Here you are!” Mikey passed it to Raph.
“Thanks little man.” Raph smiled and patted Mikey’s head.
“Of course, big man.” Mikey nodded, and put ice cream kitty back in the freezer. “Well I am going to go read some comics. Peace” Mikey waved before heading to his room.
Angelo looked at Raph's ice cream, “You should give me some.”
“It’s for my headache. I’m not giving you some.”
“It’s for my joy and whimsy.” Angelo blinked at Raph.
“I think my reason is more important.” Raph rolled his eyes and smiled.
“Is my joy and whimsy not important enough for you? How rude.” Angelo flopped down on Raph’s shell dramatically, and chuckled. Raph picked up Angelo by the shell and placed him in front of him. “Don’t worry man I get it.” Angelo patted Raph’s arm. “How’s the meditation going?”
“We haven’t started.” Splinter spoke up.
“Really? Why not?” Mikey asked.
“Well my headaches started and they hurt bad. So Splints thought it would be better for me to take a break, so my mind isn’t focused on the pain.” Raph said, sitting down at the table eating his ice cream.
“You could always ask Leon if he has any pain pills, or Donnie. I’m sure someone has pain pills.” Angelo said, leaning on him.
“Maybe…” Raph said, taking another spoonful of ice cream.
“I know you don’t like taking pills, but if it really hurts so bad, maybe taking one would be a good idea. I know you think you’re gonna take the pain like a boss, but it’s still pain. Sometimes you gotta get some drugs in your system.” Angelo poked Raph’s cheek.
“It’s a pharmaceutical drug.” Raph stuck his head out at Angelo.
“All medicines are drugs, but not all drugs are medicine. Take it from your little bro.”
Raph pushed Angelo’s head away from his playfully. “Oh get out of here.” Angelo laughed, and leaned his entire body weight onto Raph’s hand. “I’m gonna let go, if you don’t stop.”
“Nuh uh, you wouldn’t do that.”
“I warned you.” Raph moved his hand away. Angelo flapped his arms around before falling down. Angelo just laughed on the floor. Raph picked him up again by the shell and stood him up. “There you go buddy.”
“You all work together quite well.” Splinter nodded, sitting at the table.
“Well Dad, taught us a very important lesson since we were young. Family is the most important thing we have. Family is the center of it all. So we all think and do things together.” Raph nodded.
“Hmm.” Splinter hummed. “How about your training?”
“The Lou Jitsu training.” Angelo said with awe in his voice, panning his hand in the air.
“Lou Jitsu?” Splinter tilted his head a bit.
“Do you not know about Lou Jitsu?! Aren’t you Lou Jitsu?! Cause our Dad is Lou Jitsu, doesn’t that make you Lou Jitsu? Wait Wait Wait.” Angelo pulled out his cellphone. He started tapping rapidly on his phone. His eyes went wide and his mouth agape. “Raph, Raph, Raph!” Angelo shook Raph with one of his hands.
“Careful man, my head still hurts.” Raph chuckled. Looking down at his phone. “No. Lou doesn’t exist here!! What?!”
“This can’t be real!”
“Sadly this is the truth. No Lou Jitsu here.” Raph patted Mikey's shoulder. Before turning towards Splinter. “Basically in our universe, Our dad. Our Splinter was trained, but he used that to become an action movie star. His stage name was Lou Jitsu. So when we were growing up we learned from watching his old movies.”
“Really and this worked? You learned?” Splinter asked.
“Well we did become such great ninjas!” Angelo smiled widely. “We also did really well on the first training day we had. Why haven’t we trained again with you?”
“We’ve been wrapped up in it all, I think. I mean from meeting and fighting new people. As well as meeting ourselves, I think we just haven’t.” Raph shrugged.
“You are right. I’m an ex-movie star? How was I able to? Here I had to stay hidden because of The shredder. When he found me he did not hesitate to come to New York and start attacking me and my sons.”
“Oh the big scary dude? Well back home, he is an evil Mystic suit of armor. And he’s like the “Master” of the foot clan. That’s who is trying to bring him back, as well as Barum Draxum. To bring him back they got to piece the armor back together. So he’s not really a person?” Mikey explained.
“How strange.” Sprinter stroked his beard. “Oh how are you feeling now?” Splinter asked Raph.
“The headache has gone down. I think we should try meditating now.” Raph nodded.
“Are you sure? I don’t want you straining yourself.” Splinter asked.
“I’m sure, thank you.” Raph got up and put his bowl in the sink.
“I’ll wash your dish!” Angelo ran over to the sink. “You go fix your head.”
“There is nothing wrong with my head.”
“I would beg to differ.” Angelo started washing the dish.
Raph shook his head and smiled. “Thank you for washing my dish.”
“Of course, my kind sir.” Angelo stuck his tongue out to the side, and smiled. Both Raph and Splinter headed back into the Dojo.