A/N: Before this became a story, I used to spend much of my sleepless nights wondering: "What would Raph do with a time machine?" I don't write Raph as much as I write his brothers so if he seems OOC, do let me know. I'm also using a minor canon character from the Mirage comics named Dale Evans McGillicutty as a secondary character which I hope to develop as the story progresses. However, you don't need to read the comics to know what's going on. That said, I hope you'd enjoy as much as I have enjoyed writing this. Feedback is very much welcome and appreciated. Thank you for reading!

I Will Not Forget That I Have Forgotten

by lost frequencies.

"You have learnt something. That always feels at first as if you had lost something." — H.G. Wells

.*.*.*.

Chapter 1
The Time Machine

Dear Raphael,

I'm sorry it took so long.

The time machine is finally fixed. I've included the map to where it waits for your return. Once you're inside the time machine, be sure to follow all instructions and pay close attention to where it's taking you. Never lose track of time or you'll never find your way back. Believe me. I know what it's like.

But don't worry. I won't let that happen to you.

We'll find a way to bring your brothers back.

Until we meet again.

Your friend,
Dale.

This place seemed almost surreal: stained glass windows, decorative ceiling, the wide ornate stairway filled with the coming and going of people donning fancy hats and Victorian style outfits. The map he received with the letter had led him to a subway station he never knew existed. Raph turned sharply at the sound of an approaching steam locomotive. His body stiffened in shock as alighting and boarding passengers shuffled past and right through him, completely unaware of his existence. Then everything around him started withering away, a forgotten period slipping suddenly into the present moment of abandonment and darkness.

The year was 2009. Raph, disguised in a biker suit, took his helmet off and began walking along the tracks. Rows of trash and rubble filled the sides of a seemingly unending trail. All that remained now were broken windows and concrete walls smothered in graffiti. This was once home, he thought. This was where it all happened.

A distant rumble in the tunnel. He waited. Nothing came except for some glowing presence beyond. Each time it glowed, the engines sounded and the people chattered. Right then and there, his instincts told him that it was the Time Machine's presence that was causing the temporal illusion. Right then and there, he remembered that Don had once talked about building a time machine. Right then and there—the lights grew stronger. Then a passing train collided into him, bathing him in its auroral radiance before vanishing into thin air.

"Congratulations. You made it." Raph recognised the voice emanating from the lighted end of the tunnel. Dropping his helmet, he ran towards it and found himself staring wide-eyed at a glowing cube-like machine the size of a humble storage shed.

"Donnie?" He began searching frantically for an entrance before realising that he could simply slip through it. "Donnie!" he cried as he stood in the middle and summoned a smile he thought he'd never wear again. "Man am I glad to hear your voice! I knew you had somethin' to do with this."

Don sounded calm, indifferent. "We haven't got much time. I need to go through a few things with you before we proceed."

"I'll do whatever it takes." Raph promised.

Don's voice was like an echo, fading in and out. To Raph, it sounded as though he was talking backwards and forwards at the same time."This, as you know, is a time machine. Operating it takes a lot of conscious energy and it's going to make you feel drained by the time you've reached your destination. Once you're there, you must never—I repeat—never let yourself fall asleep."

"Or I'll be lost in time?"

"Time moves with consciousness, Raph. The machine can only take you back and forth, up and down, but it's your consciousness that's actually taking you to places. It's like when you're asleep and you're dreaming you're someplace else. It feels real until you realise that you haven't been back for a long time. Once you start remembering where you are, that's when you start forgetting...who you are."

"I've got a question for you: who's Dale?"

"She's the inventor of this Time Machine," Don replied. "She has asked for you to return the blueprint to her."

"What blueprint? All I got is a map."

"It's the blueprint of the Time Machine. We've been working on fixing it for three years now."

But Raph wasn't interested in the blueprint. "The letter said there's a way to get you guys back to normal..."

His brother didn't answer him.

"Don." Raph tried again. "Is this true?"

"I know nothing about that."

Raph closed his eyes and crushed the map in his leather-gloved hand. "I don't understand." He looked up, eyes filled with defeat and sadness, staring aimlessly within the translucent time machine. "I've come all this way hoping for some kind of miracle to happen but all you want me to do is return...some stupidblueprint to someone I've never even met? You wasted three whole years for that?"

"I only did what I was instructed to do—"

"I want you guys back! That's all that matters to me." Raph burst into tears. "I just want to go back to where everything makes sense!"

"Raph, please. Listen to me. I'm in no position to tell you about the future neither do I have the power to change the past. It seems you already have. You were the one who sent Dale to me. You've done this before. Don't you remember?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I know you can do this, Raph. Please. Just do this."

The lights were subtle now. Everything fell silent again. Raph was standing inside a dull metal cube, looking down at the rolled-up blueprint in front of him.

"Don't leave me yet, Don," he said, as he knelt to pick it up. He looked around as though waiting for a forgiving response from his brother but his plea was to no avail. "I'm sorry," he spoke again in the dark. "I just...missed you guys."

At this moment, Raph could only hope for the next train to come and take his soul away to another time...