Author's Note: Hello, hello my fabulous readers! Nerdfighter here providing you with another story that just kept bouncing around in my head so much I just had to get it all written down. Now it's up here for you awesome readers to read and hopefully fall in love with. Well, maybe not fall in love with, but I'm hoping it'll get a good chuckle outta ya. ;D

Now, as you saw from the warning in the summary, this IS a gender-bender fic. Yes, I know, a lot of gender-bender fics don't normally turn out so well. Usually it's because there's not really any plot build up to certain gender-bender fics. I'm not bagging on all of them because I believe I have read some that turn out okay. But to ease anyone's mind who clicked on this story feeling rather skeptical, don't worry. I did my homework, worked on the plot and the direction I want to go for MONTHS, (seriously, I've had this idea stuck in my head since I think November and have been working out all the details ever since then), and I talked to a good handful of authors that helped me work out some of the kinks and push me in the right direction. Now all I ask is you give this fic a try. Who knows, you might even like it. :)

Alright, now there are A LOT of people I'd like to thank for helping me make this fic possible. A HUGE, GIGANTIC thanks to SleepingSeeker, who helped me bounce off a lot of great ideas and also gave me a great confidence boost in posting up this story. You rock my socks, deary and I give all the big hugs and thanks I can offer! (squeeze!) I'd also like to give a big thanks to TheIncredibleDancingBetty, Roo, Koriat Cyredanthem, and AlexHamato for giving me a lot of tips and pointers on the Stealthy Stories forum I posted for this story. You guys rock! ;D Also, I'd like to point out that I added a smidgen of dialogue from Roo when Donatello goes into his little excited rant.

Okie dokie! So without any further adieu, I hope you readers enjoy the fic and let me know what you think. :) Also, DO NOT FORGET to check out the new Stealthy Stories website for any details about the 2013 Fan Fiction Competition. The link can be found right on my profile. :)

Enjoy!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

"Sugar, Spice, and a Splash of Mutagen"

Chapter 1

The Big News

Mikey never was keen on the process of having to sit still. Having to sit still while waiting for Donnie to saunter back into the living room to tell him and his brothers the 'big news'? An even bigger reason why he never liked the process of having to sit still! He never was good at meditation. No, that was more Leo's strong point. Heck, even when he was just sitting on the couch watching TV, he still felt the need to have to shift around every commercial break, stretching his limbs and awakening the stiffness radiating through his body. He never understood how one could just sit there and not move. It just felt weird. Unnatural.

"You know the blood's gonna rush all the way to your head if you keep laying like that," Raph pointed out, addressing his youngest brother's odd sitting position before a pair of baby blue eyes stared up at him in question.

Just as the red-banded turtle indicated, Mikey was indeed sprawled over on the couch in a rather unique fashion. Like a ragdoll who had just gotten tossed to the side, his legs hung over the top of the couch in a lopsided, upside down manner, his arms no different while his head lolled backwards and barely touched the ground. While it wasn't the most comfortable sitting position, Mikey figured it was the only position that would keep him awake as they all sat and waited for Donnie's arrival.

Patience waning into the thinnest of lines, the orange-banded turtle let out an exasperated huff, eyes narrowed in a light glower. "What do you think is the big news anyway? Do you think he got April pregnant?"

"Pfft, please. The guy can barely talk to her, what makes you think he's got the balls to see her naked without fainting?" Raph asked, his arms crossed over his plastron in a lazy fashion.

"Well he said its big news, so I'm assuming it's something … well you know, big."

"Great word choice there, Mike. Remind me never to go up against you in Scrabble," the Sai-wielder retorted, receiving a rather dark glare from his baby brother before Leo shot them both a stern, parental glance.

"Alright, enough you two. Whatever it is Donnie has to tell us, I'm sure it's something positive. He seemed rather happy when he was gathering everyone into the living room."

"Well we're all here so who else does he have to get? If I have to wait any longer I think I'm going to pass out before I even get to hear what the big news is." Mikey whined, throwing his arms backward so that his wrists touched the floor and his hands rested against the cool concrete floorboard.

Suddenly, as if on cue, Donnie came rushing through the living room with Master Splinter in toe, the wizened rat taking his time ambling down the steps before standing behind the couch where his sons all sat. Smiling eagerly down at his T-phone, Donnie immediately switched the device onto 'speaker' mode; the background image of April's smiling face greeting him warmly before he opened his mouth to speak.

"Alright, I switched you over to speaker phone, April. Can you hear me okay?"

"Loud and clear, Donnie. So what's this all about?"

"Yeah, dude. I think you kept us in the dark long enough, so spill!" Mike ordered rather impatiently, not even bothering to roll over and sit up in a more appropriate position, which didn't seem to faze Don at all. In fact, he seemed so struck with jubilation and excitement that his youngest brother's words didn't even fall upon his eardrums. He just stared back at the three of them and his sensei, face beamed with pride.

"Alright, now that everyone is here and I have all of your guys' attention, I can begin my announcement." He smiled eagerly, clearing his throat and collecting his thoughts; his stomach a ball of compact, jittery nerves. "Okay, so you guys all know that I've been trying to create a retro-mutagen since the un-forsaken mishaps that have befallen on both Mr. O'Neil and Timothy, correct?"

"How can we forget, genius? You nearly blew us all up a good twenty times since you started on that cure," Raph pointed out, impatience written all over his intolerant scowl.

Ignoring his brother's retort, Donnie continued on with his speech, the smile tugging at his lips still never leaving his brightened face. "Well, I've been experimenting a lot more with the last canister we retrieved from the Kraang a couple of days ago. Getting the key elements intact as well as figuring out which chemical components would mix well with the substances I was working with wasn't easy. Achieving a positive reaction took a few attempts and many, many failed endeavors, but after a few experiments and a couple more physical analyses, I realized that I was quickly approaching a scientific breakthrough."

"Uhh, Donnie? In English would be greatly appreciated," Leo suggested, his head beginning to hurt trying to keep up with his brainiac brother and his colorful string of vocabulary.

"Guys. Sensei. April…" Don looked down at his T-phone, unable to contain the news any longer as he flashed everyone a bright, proud smile. "I … I think I've done it. I found a cure."

"What!?" His brothers all chorused, the news hitting them all with such force that Mikey wound up slipping off the couch and landing on his head. Their expressions were all a mixture of shock and awe and even April was stunned to silence. At least, that's what Donnie figured since all he heard from the other line was a short intake of breath followed by steady silence. Then again, he could hardly hear anything from the energized chatter emanating from his brothers until Leonardo rose from the couch and spoke over the prattling.

"Wait a minute, so the retro-mutagen—"

"—is in a canister right inside my lab." Don had finished. "I just have to transmit it into two small vials and we can start the restoration process as soon as possible."

"Oh, Donnie, that's wonderful!" April beamed, her voice shaken with contained excitement. "I can't wait to finally have my dad be normal again! This is great!"

A small swell of bliss filled Don's heart and he could already feel his cheeks stain a bright pink at April's happiness. After all, this whole mess was his and his brothers' doing and he couldn't help but feel overjoyed that he had found a way to fix it and make things right for April and her family again. That's all he strived for was her happiness and now that he could hear it sprinkled over her elated words of enthusiasm, he couldn't help but feel as though he were walking on Cloud 9.

"So when should I go over? Should I end my studying period a little early?" April asked through the other line, her voice raised to a higher octave than normal due to her sporadic enthusiasm.

Before Donnie could open his mouth to answer, Master Splinter was already sauntering towards him in a quiet huff. Golden eyes mixed with a sentiment the brainiac turtle couldn't quite decipher, the wizened rat gazed down at his T-phone before looking over at his son with composure, whiskers twitching just a tad as he stroked his long, thin beard.

"I trust there is much preparation to be done before any action takes place, am I right, my son?" Master Splinter asked, resting both hands on top of his cane while Donatello glanced behind his shoulder in the direction of where his lab was located.

"Uhm, well it's a delicate process, yes, but it shouldn't take no more than—"

"It is late, Donatello," Master Splinter interrupted, making Donnie flinch just a tad before his father continued to speak with nonchalance. "April has her own duties to fulfill at the moment as do you. This is a delicate procedure that cannot be met with any mishaps or catastrophe. After all, you do not want to upset April any more than you have in the past, neither do you want to jeopardize Timothy's life as well. You must make sure that everything is intact."

Don listened carefully to his sensei's words before gazing back down at his phone in silence. Clutching it tightly, he realized that he really didn't want to lose April all over again because of something that could've easily been prevented. He had come this far already. No way in hell was he turning back.

"Hai, sensei." He bowed respectfully, his father nodding in approval while Donnie scheduled a meeting time with April for tomorrow morning to begin the procedure. Agreeing on the time, she thanked him a thousand times over before finally hanging up the phone, leaving the purple-banded ninja practically floating at April's gratitude until Mikey came rushing toward him with his baby blue eyes beaming.

"Dude, I cannot believe this! Do you have any idea what your discovery can mean for the five of us?" He asked with heightened excitement, receiving a rather quizzical look from Don as he hooked his T-phone back onto his belt. When the orange-banded ninja was met with silence, he practically dug his fingers into the skin of his older brother's shoulders, giving him a good shake that nearly rattled Donnie's brain and made the room appear as though it were spinning.

"Hello! If you can turn mutants back into humans, what's stopping you from turning us into humans as well? I mean, think about it! We can totally blend in without having to always go topside at night! We can make friends and we won't have to hide in the sewers anymore. We'll actually be normal. Splinter will be normal!"

Ears perked at the mention of his name, Master Splinter turned around and gazed at each one of his sons, his eyes landing on the eager smile tugging at Mikey's lips. Whiskers twitching and ears lowered down just a tad, Master Splinter walked toward his boys with indifference and a low grunt, his tail swishing against the cold concrete floorboard.

"My son, while I admire your consideration and eager heart, what I am now has left me with little grievance. Whether I walk the streets a man or not, I as a person carry many burdens that will surely bring danger to both myself and my family. Remaining what I am – a rat hidden within the depths of the sewers – is the life I was given and the life I will live until my final days."

"But Master Splinter—"

He held up claw, shushing the orange-banded turtle before turning back and heading to his quarters. "I do not wish to discuss this any longer, Michelangelo. My word is final. I hope with a heavy heart that you four will see things in my perspective."

Silence enveloped the entire living room, save for the muffled pings coming from the ping-pong machine set to the side. As they watched their sensei retreat back to his room, the four brothers all looked at each other with disbelief, Raph being the first to break the silence by shoving Mikey hard enough to nearly knock him down to the ground.

"Nice going, Mikey. See what you did," the red-banded turtle growled, watching as his youngest brother rubbed the area of his shoulder that had connected with Raph's forceful hand.

"Lay off, Raph," Leo warned. "Mikey was just a little excited. You can't be mad at him for that."

Don took a step toward his younger brother and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, looking down at him with careful eyes before he gave his shoulders a light shrug. "I hate to be the bearer of more bad news, Mikey, but the effects wouldn't have worked on us anyway. Master Splinter, yes, because he was once human before his pre-mutated state. Us, we were just four infant turtles. If we were to use the retro-mutagen on ourselves, it'd be back to the pet store for us, buddy."

"Oh." Mikey's shoulders sagged in defeat; his head drooped down as he uttered not even a single word afterwards.

Michelangelo was usually always the cheery one out of the four of them, so seeing him looking so dejected was always something his brothers were never used to. It was like watching a little kid go through depression. His mood effected the entire vicinity he was around and his brothers couldn't help but give each other pressing looks, as if silently pushing the other to say something that would lift their baby brother's mood in an instant.

Don was the first to come up with something as he rested a hand on the top of Mikey's shell and gave it a good pat. "Uhm, there there, Mike. Uhh, you know, given how the mutation process works, I might be able to get the opposite effect if I tweak with it a little bit." He looked down at his baby brother, checking to see if his words were being heard before he continued on to speak, the wheels actually turning in his brain as he thought more about how exactly the effects of the retro-mutagen worked. To be honest, if he did a few tests, the possibilities of a reverse reaction could actually become a distinct reality. Anything was possible, right? So maybe if he worked out a few kinks and tested a few samples … yes. Yes, maybe there a possibility!

"Of course!" Don exclaimed, taking a step back from Mikey while going over the process in his head. "The mutagen turns you into a hybrid of the last thing you come in contact with, embedding you with its traits and structural DNA. If I can reverse the process … yes, then I should theoretically be able to take it further as well, letting those traits become dominant and make the transformation total. Holy shit, this could actually work! Mikey, you're a genius!"

"He is?" Raph asked with a raise of his eye ridge, watching as Mike immediately straightened himself up before leaning over his shoulder in a casual fashion.

"And you always had your doubts," he chuckled in light ridicule, immediately swooping out of the way the second Raph reached over to punch him in the arm.

"Wait a minute, wait a minute," Leo shook his head to compose his thoughts, looking up at Donnie with uncertainty swimming in his eyes. "So you're saying this could actually work? You can really turn us human?"

"Then we can go topside whenever we want!" Mikey exclaimed. "And we can go to school and Donnie might even have a better shot with April!"

The mere thought was enough to make the purple-banded ninja stop dead in his tracks and blush, his brother's words gradually sinking in as he thought about the qualities that would certainly be in his favor.

He had theorized a long time ago that the whole reason why April showed no interest in him was because of their divergent genetic make-up. That doubled with the fact that he was almost certain all four of his brothers were completely sterile and that they would never be able to hold jobs or provide that white-picket-fence type of – it was enough to bring a guy down. Donnie was certain April wanted a family to call her own one day. A husband that would both physically and financially support her. And while Donatello would love and cherish and protect her with every fiber of his being until the day he took his final breath, he couldn't give April a house nor an array of beautiful children. He had much to offer but so little to give. All because of what he was….

But if he were human, he could give her all that stuff! He could go to college, get a job, provide for her and their loving family. Even if the transformation still rendered him sterile, they could always adopt. They would be the picture of a warm, inviting, loving family – just him, his wife, and beautiful children. Donatello could already start to picture it, the thought warming his heart and creating a powerful burst of jitters deep within his belly.

He wanted that lifestyle and all that stood between him and that beautiful, wonderful, perfect dream was sitting in his lab waiting to be analyzed.