Location : Dimension 'Third Earth'

Upon returning to their home world, Donatello was deep in thought. The idea of a multiverse of Turtles was amazing, but the idea of a multitude of Shredder's filled Don with a lingering dread. If their Shredder - the Utrom Shredder - had been so hell-bent on destroying every version of the Turtles, then just how capable and insane were other versions of The Shredder? It was bad enough that there seemed to be enough Shredder's in their own dimension - what with demon Shredder, Utrom Shredder, hell, even Karai became Shredder. The idea of more potential threats was freaking out Don more than he liked to admit.

"You okay, Don?"

Donatello turned to the door of his lab, and saw Leonardo standing at the door frame. The leader's eyes were watching Don with a careful gaze. "I don't ... I'm not sure ... Leo, what if there are more Shredder's out to destroy Turtle Prime?"

Leonardo sighed heavily remembering the dark, grim and gritty world where ninja turtle life had begun - the dimension called Turtle Prime. All other dimensions had sprung from this single source - like a tree with many branches, all originating from the same trunk.

"Then another set of Ninja Turtles will deal with it, Don. Just like we did. For every Shredder, there is a version of us. We all deal with our own." Leo stepped forward, through the door, and lay a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder. "What else is bothering you, Don?"

Donatello turned away, his voice unsure and distant. "I'm not sure what effect our 'dimension-hopping' has had on the Ninja Turtle Multiverse, Leo. We could have torn holes into other worlds, there could be hot spots on our world directly leading to other dimensions. Leo, what if this is just the beginning?"

Leo smiled, his voice strong and sure. "Whatever happens, we'll deal with it Don. Shell, we've been through a lot worse. You can't worry about things that might never happen. Focus on what's important. We are dealing with new alien threats and mutant attacks on a weekly basis. They are important. They are happening right now."

Don nodded and smiled a little. "Thanks, bro. I just - I'm tired of fighting all the time. There's always something happening, some new threat of the week. It would be great to have a break and not have to worry about all this."

Leo nodded in understanding. "I know. Believe me, I know. But we have to fight. It's our duty. Our Bushido code demands it."

"Guys, get out here!" Raph's urgent warning had both turtles on their feet and heading for the main living area in an instant.

Raphael and Michelangelo were standing in a corner, watching a massive vortex which had appeared above the far wall.

"Er, Don. What's happening?" Mikey asked as Splinter came out of his room warily, gazing at the vortex spinning before him.

"I'm not sure." Don edged forward, looking at the vortex carefully, desperately trying to make sense of the scene before him. "It's coming from that dimensional portal hand-held device that we used to get to Turtle Prime."

"And what, brainiac? We having more visitors?" Raphael's hands were on his sai's, bringing them out in an instant and spinning them threateningly - as if to ward off the vortex before him.

"It's not exactly trying to suck us in." Donny ventured as he moved towards the vortex. His curiousity had him edging forward and watching the spinning mass with his brain working furiously to understand the sight before him.

Suddenly, at the very centre of the vortex Donatello spotted something green hurtling towards them. "What the ...?"

Don didn't complete his sentence. The next instant, a mass of green fell on top of him.

"Donny!" Raph called in panic, lunging towards the green mass of limbs before him. He stopped in his tracks. Limbs? An overwhelming groaning noise began to seep from the green heap.

"Don?" Raph asked, maintaining his distance, sai at the ready.

"I'm all right." A muffled voice from under the pile shouted.

The pile was quickly disentangling itself, and as ninja turtle rolled away from ninja turtle, Raph found himself groaning and slapping his head with his hand. "Not again!"

TBC