Chapter Five: Sewer Invasion

Meanwhile, the turtles and Splinter were thinking of a way to protect the Russo siblings. "Ya know, we wouldn't be in this little predicament if old Shred-Head would stay dead!" Raphael griped towards his brothers. Justin furrowed his brow at this statement, asking "What do you mean by staying dead?" Splinter spoke up and answered the young wizard's question. "My students have defeated The Shredder in the past, but he has proved his endurance by always returning from what would seem like his demise." Leonardo then stepped forth to elaborate on what his master had just explained. "That's right. Not all that long ago, a section of the boardwalk collapsed on him. We all basically watched the life crushed out of him, bro." He explained as he walked over and placed a hand on Justin's shoulder.

"How could anyone survive that?" Alex asked in awe of what she was hearing. The group shrugged their shoulders as confused glances swept across all of their faces. Then, Splinter broke the awkward silence. "Never mind that, for now we only need to come up with a way to protect the Russos."

Alex never liked the idea of needing to be protected, which is why she was so short with Justin most of the time. Naturally, she felt as if she must speak up so she wouldn't seem like a little baby that had to be protected. "Uhm Master Splinter, we have magic powers. I think we can help ourselves." She spoke up in a polite but equally rude manor. Splinter counteracted this by replying, "If you were almost killed by only his minions, your death by the hand of Shredder would be imminent." Alex understood, and silently shook her head in agreement. Before anyone could say anything else, they heard a thunderous cracking noise.

The turtles pulled out their weapons, preparing for the worse as the horrid noise struck again. Justin and Alex took the cue and pulled out their wands, ready for anything. Donatello looked down a corridor on his left and saw flames shooting down from the roof. "Check it out dudes, the noise is coming from over there!" He cried out over the noise of cracking bricks. Just then, the roof of the corridor exploded in flames. Emerging from the gaping hole left by the explosion was a horrible sight.

That horrible sight was The Shredder, riding upon a flaming horse and chariot. "It's The Shred-Dude!" Mikey cried in fear of the skeptical before him. Donny's eyes widened at the sight of the chariot and horse made of fire. "Whoa, that's a new trick isn't it guys?" He asked pointing at the oncoming enemy. Just then, the chariot came to an abrupt halt a few feet in front of the group. "Hello Turtles..." Hissed the Shredder from the chariot. "Why can't you just die, Shredder?" Raph snapped in a vicious tone towards his nemesis. "Perhaps it is destiny, I cannot die until I destroy you." Alex hid behind Justin, trying not to be noticed by Shredder. "Ah, I see you have met my new targets." Shredder sneered as he noticed the Russo siblings behind the turtles. "You'll never hurt them while the four of us are around!" Yelled Leonardo toward the chariot bound tyrant. "Maybe not alone my scaly friend, that's why I brought along my new partner." Michelangelo cocked an eyebrow at his foe. "Who would be stupid enough to be your partner Butt-face!" Shredder looked over towards the Russo kids, who were being guarded by Splinter. "Someone closer than you think..." He snickered as he snapped his fingers.

At the instant Shredder snapped his fingers, TJ stepped from behind him in the chariot. "Justin and Alex! What a nice surprise." He snapped at the Russo duo. "TJ Taylor!" They shouted in a confused unison. "You know this Cheese-head?" Raphael asked the siblings from over his shoulder. "Unfortunately..." Justin muttered under his breath as Alex pushed past him and Splinter. "Why are you with this guy you creep?" She asked in confusion and disgust. "Oh don't play dumb, Alex! I want revenge on your family, Shredder wants your powers. I scratch his back he scratches mine." TJ replied, propping against The Shredder. "How could a runt like you help Shredder?" Mikey asked in speculation. TJ smirked at the turtle, then looked up at Shredder. "Why don't you show him partner?" He asked in a sly voice. "Gladly..."

Shredder quickly pulled out the book of forbidden spells and pointed his staff at Michelangelo. Alex's eyes widened at the sight of the small leather book in the evil man's hands. "Is that what I think it is?" She asked her brother in fear. "I think it is..." Justin replied in a shaky voice. Suddenly a large black bolt of lightning shot out of the staff and struck Mikey. The turtle flew into the air and crashed through the window of the subway car in the back of the dojo.

"You gave him powers?" Justin barked at TJ, as he turned around to check on Mikey. "Correct young wizard, but very limited powers. That is why I need the two of you, to increase my power." Shredder growled at Justin, not giving TJ a chance to respond. "Your never getting our powers, Shred-Head!" Alex screamed at The Shredder. Raph snickered at Alex's comeback as Mikey stumbled out of the subway car. "Well, let's see about that!" Shredder roared in growing anger.

The Shredder struck his staff on the ground and whistled, summoning The Foot Clan. The ninjas leaped into the dojo from the hole in the corridor and retracted their weapons. "The Foot Losers? Is that all you've got?" Mikey asked as he stumbled back toward the group. Shredder shook his head at the turtle. "Some never learn to shut up do they? TJ, will you do the honors?" He asked as he cast his gaze down towards his partner. "Of course, partner." TJ replied, pulling out his wand and black book. He began thumbing through the book and snickering loudly. "Brace yourself, everyone! Forbidden spells are very dangerous!" Justin warned his new friends. Just then, TJ cast one of the forbidden spells.

The brick floor of the dojo cracked open, and numerous demons emerged. The pitch black gremlin type demons were hissing wildly at the group, terrifying everyone. "Care to surrender?" TJ asked the group in a devious tone. Leonardo stepped forwards and declared, "Not on your life, creep!"

Then, the battle began.

Leonardo led the group into battle as he sliced through a cluster of demons. A group of seven Foot Ninjas suddenly surrounded him, and went in for an attack. All of a sudden, the ninjas morphed into doves and flew away. Leo looked around for an answer to the strange occurrence when he suddenly noticed Justin Russo, who was nodding his head as if to say "Your welcome."

Michelangelo was fighting diligently as well, smacking off hoards of enemies with his nun-chucks. As he fought off the henchman, he never let his eyes off of Alex. At the first instant she needs help, I gotta be ready! He thought to himself as he slung a demon at a group of ninjas, causing them to topple over. Mikey still wasn't sure what he was feeling for Alex, but he knew it was a strong, undeniable feeling. "Put me down, help!" He suddenly heard a girl scream. It was Alex. Mikey spun his attention towards the voice and saw Alex being held in an orb of magic by Shredder."Let go of her Shred-breath!" Michelangelo bellowed as he slung his nun-chucks at Shredder's staff, which caused him to drop Alex. "Thanks, Mikey!" She called as she ran towards Splinter, who was motioning for her from inside the subway car. Now that Alex was safe, Mikey had to worry about himself.

Shredder motioned his flaming horse to charge at Mikey. As the flaming mare galloped towards him, Mikey backed up against a wall. Once the horse was only inches away from him, Michelangelo leaped out of the way and caused the horse and chariot hit the wall. The flaming transportation disappeared in smoke, and Shredder struck the wall. As the tyrant slowly began to rise again, Mikey ran off to help the rest of the gang in their battle.

Meanwhile, Raphael was going head to head with TJ Taylor. "Summoning demons, that's a lot of power for such a wussy looking chump." Raph sneered as he cornered TJ next to the sofa. "I'll show you a chump!" TJ snapped back, pulling out his wand and striking the couch. Suddenly, the springs from the couch shot out and grabbed Raphael. "Now what were you saying?" TJ sneered as he watched the turtle struggle to escape. Luckily, Raph didn't drop his sai when the couch grabbed him. He threw one of the miniature swords at TJ, which left a gaping cut upon the boy's face. As the wizard fell to the ground clutching his face, Raphael slashed his way out of the touchy sofa's clutch with the other sai. The turtle quickly scooped up TJ by his shirt and glared at him, preparing to gut him like a fish. At that instant, a group of Foot Ninjas pulled TJ out of Raph's grasp. As soon as he was free from the turtle, TJ bolted away from him to wreak more havoc.

As Raph charged after TJ, he saw Donatello and Justin were double teaming the lackeys. "Hmph, looks like those two are doing fine on their own." Raphael decided as he continued to fight his way towards TJ.

Donatello smacked a ninja with his pole and kicked a demon at the same time, as if by second nature. "How ya holding up J-man?" Donny called toward Justin, who was fighting beside him. "Pretty good, Don!" He called back, zapping a group of demons with a fireball. In the short amount of time they had known each other, Justin and Donny had became rather good friends. It's ironic in a way, seeing as how Donny almost killed Justin on accident. The two continued to fight valiantly when suddenly, Justin realized that he didn't see Alex. Panic filled the young wizards mind as he quickly turned to his new friend. "Donatello, have you seen Alex?" He asked in fear. Donny swatted away a few more henchman before he replied. "She went into the subway car with Master Splinter bro, stop worrying and help!" Justin nodded and continued battling the enemies.

While the battle raged on, Splinter was bandaging up Alex's neck in the subway car. The wound began bleeding again when she landed from the escape of Shredder's grasp. "How do you know about magic?" Alex asked the rodent who was wrapping her neck in gauze. "We must not worry about that now, Ms. Russo. The enemy is right under our noses." Splinter explained to the curious wizard girl. "Right, sorry about snapping at you earlier." Alex responded in an almost inaudible voice. "I understand, you wish to be your own person. You are at an age when you feel like you must be independent, or so you think..." The rat said as he slid the first aid kit back under the subway seat. "What is that supposed to mean?" Alex asked in a defensive tone. "When The Shredder breached our hideout, you cowered in your brother's arms. Though you may tell yourself that you are independent, your heart will always give way to who you really are." Splinter told the girl in a gentle tone as he watched the battle through the window. That was when Alex realized she wanted any help she could get.

Suddenly, the two of them heard a loud explosion outside of the car. "What was that?" Alex asked in fear. Splinter looked out the window just in time to see Shredder and TJ disappearing, and the dojo filling up with water. "The dojo is flooding! We must get out of here immediately!" He cried as he grabbed Alex's wrist and led her out of the subway car.

The duo waded in the water towards the rest of their allies, who were all in panic. "Justin, we have to zap out of here before we drown!" Alex exclaimed to her brother. "Way ahead of you." Justin responded as he flicked his wand and the group vanished from the destroyed home of the ninja turtles.