Nickelodeon Publishing - Mutant Origins: Michelangelo

WHO NEEDED MATURITY WHEN WE HAD OUR MAD NINJA CHOPS?

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Based on characters created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman

I am a turtle.

I know, I know. Turtles cant talk. Turtles are small, round animals that live in plastic aquariums, sitting under little plastic palm trees and not moving very much.

Well, believe it or not, thats how my life began.

My names Michelangelo, by the way, and this is the story of how my three brothersRaphael, Leonardo, and Donatelloand I all went from being those tiny creatures humans love to keep as pets to becoming lean, mean, well-oiled fighting machines of ninja stealth, power, and smarts.

Master Splinterhes our ninja teacher, our sensei, and as much of a father as weve ever knownstood in the training room, just watching us. I always know hes going to say something important when hes silent like that.

Michelangelo, you will now spar with Leonardo, Splinter said. Begin.

Get psyched! Ive always liked sparring with my brother Leonardo. Hes the most skilled of us all in ninja combat and defensive techniques, and man, do I learn a lot fighting him. Sometimes I can even beat him.

I stepped over to Leonardo. We both bowed and gripped our weapons tightlyLeonardo had grabbed his double swords, and I, well, I had my trusty nunchucks.

Then it began.

My brother is a really good fighter, so I need to be quick and clever to beat him. I ducked, spun, and rolled on the floor, popping up into an attack pose.

Oh, hes good, my brother Leo. His defensive postures mimicked my every move. So I figured maybe a little trash talk would throw him off guard. That, Im really good at!

Oh, yeah, I said, spinning my nunchucks right in front of Leonardos face. Michelangelo is on the move! You dont know what to do! You have no clue how to stop me.

I spun into a forward roll, ending up behind Leonardo. Mikey, the stealth ninja!

Im here! I announced, whipping into a backflip. Im there! I spun my nunchucks again. I could be anywhere. I ask you how do you stop what you cant even see?

Yeah, I had him right where I wanted him.

He was confused. Hed lowered his weapon and was just staring at me as if I were no threat to him at all. I was ready to take him down!

I launched my sleek, athletic body into another forward roll. I was going to come up and out of this roll right in Leos

Omph!

Leonardo caught me square in the midsection with the butt of his sword, as if he had been timing my moves right from the start. Which, come to think of it, he probably had.

The air shot out of my lungs. I was doubled over, waving my hands, unable to speak. Mikey, the stealth ninja, needed to lie down!

Thats how I stop what I cant even see, to answer your question, Leonardo said calmly. And by the wayI can see you, Mikey.

My breath slowly started to return. Good one, Leo, I wheezed, collapsing onto the floor. Ill just sit right here and watch Raph and Donnie for a while.

Leonardo stepped to the side of the training room and stood next to Master Splinter.

I looked up from the floor to see Donatello and Raphael circling each other, sizing each other up. Donatello spun his six-foot staff in a circle, switching it smoothly from hand to hand. Raphael twirled his sais, two thin daggers with wicked-sharp points.

Wed been training like this against each other for years. After all, who else could we train against? Master Splinter didnt allow us to leave our underground lair. We knew each others strengths and weaknesses pretty well. But part of being a great ninja is always being full of surprises. That, and having a really hard shell.

All right, Donnie, put down the staff and no one gets hurt, Raphael said, his eyes locked firmly on Donatellos.

Donnie smiled. You said that last time, Raph, he pointed out. And then you went ahead and hurt me.

Now it was Raphs turn to smile. Yeah, but less than I would have, he explained.

Yeah, right, Donatello replied, not believing a word of it.

Raphaels my brother, too, and I didnt buy it, either.

Donatello attacked using lightning-fast moves, flashing both ends of his staff, striking high and low. He drove Raphael back, directing blows at his head, his ankles, his midsection, and his legs.

But Raphael was just as fast and totally calmwell, calm for him, anyway. Raph has a pretty harsh temper, and sometimes he lets it get the better of him when hes fighting.

Not that day. He blocked each of Donatellos blows, redirecting the staff with his sai blades. Donnie lunged at Raphael, but Raph sidestepped the attack and snatched Donnies staff, his hands moving faster than a lizards tongue or maybe a turtles tongue. Nah, lizards tongues move faster. I think.

Raphael holstered his sais, snapped the staff in two over his knee, then began hitting Donatello with the two pieces, one in each hand.

Donnie dropped to the floor and pulled his limbs into his shell for protection.

Okay! Okay! Im down! Donnie shouted as Raph kept whacking him.

Raph tossed away the broken staff. Donnie peeked out of his shell to see if the attack was over yet. Having just kicked one brothers butt, Raphael turned his sights on another. Luckily, it wasnt me!

Raphael drew his sais and turned to face Leonardo, who pulled out his own double swords and bowed. Raph bowed back, but impatiently. Raphael has never been one for the fine points of ninja combat rituals, the little things Master Splinter always tells us are important for focus, respect, and honor. Or is it honor, respect, and focus?