The setting is the lair, sewer home, with four turtle brothers and their rat man father. The brothers are playing a game of throwing fruit loops into their sleeping father's mouth. Splinter chokes on one, waking up and Leo blames Donnie for the game and Splinter yells at them and they all bolt, giggling amongst themselves.
Donnie and Mikey split off and head up to a FULL ASS ARCADE they have in one of the alcoves. There is some wear and tear on the machines, but they have been lovingly rebuilt. Donnie and Mikey start a racing game when Splinter appears, and starts complimenting them, much to Donnie and Mikey's confusion. Splinter wonders when they last did something together.
Donnie pulls up a hologram day planner and goes back...and back...and back. 278 days ago. Splinter said hi Purple...to Raph.
There is a feeling of a muted bitterness and sadness, but he doesn't linger on those feelings as Splinter laughs and says they should spend quality time together now. Mikey is immediately and eagerly agreeing to it. Donnie is hesitant. Why is their father saying this now when he had just yelled at them before? He tells Mikey to play it cool, he may be possessed.
Possession is a more real possibility now then it being short hand for Mental Issues, but either way, he wants to know what's up, so he tries to act like there isn't a part of him that is also Extremely Excited this may be Legit. Acting like its no big deal.
Right up until Splinter suggests they enter Donnie's tank into a Father-Son competition and suddenly ALL SUSPICION AND SENSE IS GONE, THERE IS ONLY JOY AND EXCITEMENT.
His dad! Wants to show off!! A thing he made!!! In a Father-Son competition!!!!!!!
They head off to the garage and there is indeed something akin to a tank in there. It looks kind of like a turtle. Turtle Tank is a very apt name.
Splinter is looking it over, kicking it, whacking it with his walking stick, asking if it can take damage and Donnie grimaces as Splinter hits it. He trusts the tank can take a lot of damage, but also Splinter Is Strong Enough To Potentially Scratch It. Splinter suggests another shell to protect it and Donnie thinks its a great idea. He is very proud and fond of the tank, he would be devastated if it was destroyed.
Mikey asks what the competition is and Splinter says its a Car Fair which seems legit to Donnie. (Others viewing the memory may realize he's Sus.)
As they're driving along, Splinter is praising the tank and Donnie is just delighted and Splinter continues and Donnie is almost CERTAIN Splinter was about to say he was proud of him! Only to stop partway as he sees their designation.
Mikey thinks something is not on the level, but Donnie does not care. He is SO CLOSE to hearing Splinter say he's proud of him and he is going to get him to say it! That is the goal for tonight!
They head inside. Mikey is unnerved, and Donnie is just vibrating in excitement. They're spending time with their dad, his dad is probably going to say he's proud of him, they're gonna totally win this competition! He is just happy as can be.
They enter the stadium and Splinter asks if they're ready to have some fun. Donnie agrees, getting hyped, when suddenly they're slammed into by another car.
Something has gone wrong! Donnie is distressed, who is slamming into his baby?!
There is an announcement declaring last car wins and seals all the exits. Mikey demands if they've been brought to a mutant demolition derby?!
Donnie's brain is now screaming at him. What is going on?! He tries to get more information from Splinter who is having the time of his life, he said they would be petting his baby, not destroying her?!
And then they see who the other competitors are. Which includes Meat Sweats, a cannibalistic pig man villain, who doesn't like them. Repo Mantis, a junk yard owning mantis man, who really doesn't like them. Hypno, a hippo magician man, who also doesn't like them and Mikey might have broken his heart. And...some worm guy with a News theme? He seems vaguely familiar to Donnie? Maybe? Mikey doesn't remember him AT ALL.
Splinter wonders what the boys have been doing to have met all these people.
Donnie realizes everyone here is a villain. They need to leave! Splinter calls for them to get to battle stations so they can win that trophy.
Donnie's mind is finally starting to catch up with all this new and unexpected information. This is definitely not a car fair, but their dad definitely knows what's going on and he demands a clear answer. What did his father do? Where did he bring them?
Did he-
Did he-
Splinter blows off his question, saying its all in the name of fun.
And-
Donnie can't. This isn't fun. THIS ISN'T FUN.
He pulls the emergency brake and they get knocked upside down and they go tumbling through the cabin.
And Donnie's feelings explode.
He yells at Splinter, that he said it was a car fair because he knew Donnie wouldn't agree if he knew it was a demolition derby.
He can't look at Splinter, because that isn't the part that hurts, that's just the part that's easy to say.
Splinter tells warns him to turn the tank back on and starts to make a threat and the words spill out of Donnie's mouth, the filter gone as the tears gather in his eyes, as the pain in his chest burns.
He dismisses the threat, accuses their father for tricking them, points out how he said he wanted to spend time with them, and says the thing that makes him want to be sick.
"You lied!"
His father had manipulated him with his emotions, with the promise of fatherly love with bonding. His father had used him for his tech, something he is running into more and more lately, people who treat him with kindness only to reveal all they wanted was what he could make.
His father lied to him.
Was his father just like those people who had stolen from him?
Did his father only want to be around them when he could get something out of it?
For several terrifying moments, Donnie is afraid that maybe all those benefit of a doubts he gave his father were really just childish naivety.
There is silence in the tank for several long moments.
"Donatello."
Mikey gasps and its a shock to Donnie's system. It brings him out of the shut down he was starting to fall into, enough to listen to what Splinter has to say.
Splinter does not say their names lightly. Its only when it matters most. The last time he remembers hearing his name from Splinter had been when he was patching up his shell years ago, assuring him that he would be well with time.
Splinter admits he did lie about the event. But he did not lie about wanting to spend time with them.
Donnie still feels hurt. Still feels a sort of bitter resentment, wants to shut down...but his father is trying.
So he tries to.
If Splinter had asked him to hang out, he would have said yes. He likes spending time with Splinter. He doesn't understand why he had to do all this if he wanted to spend time with them????
Splinter admits Donnie is right and goes further. He explains how hard it is to wake up as a tiny rat man and he wanted some glory in his life. He apologies and asks to go home.
Oh. So its two issues.
Splinter doesn't know how to ask to hang out with him and he was wanting to feel better about his rat man status.
Donnie considers it and-
He believes his father. This isn't manipulation.
He wants his father to feel better about a situation he can't otherwise fix.
Donnie taps at the computer on his gauntlet. He sends the commands to flip the tank and fires at an enemy car, telling Splinter to drive.
Splinter tries to insist Donnie doesn't need to do this and Donnie cuts him off.
Splinter is AWESOME. He introduced them to Lou Jitsu! And sure, he's a rat, and being a tiger would be cooler, but that's not the point! If this means a lot to Splinter, then they're doing it.
Fully engaged in the competition, it doesn't take long for the Turtle Tank to take out the competition. Its got high defense and tricks galore. Until suddenly a giant spider appears on the announcement screen who recognizes them.
She also does not like them.
But it seems like they're about to win and Splinter starts to say he's proud and Donnie is up and ready to here it, but Splinter trails off and why does Splinter keep stopping right before the important part?!
Then Mikey points out what's happened.
Big Mama has entered the stadium! Her car is a lot tougher and the tank is still weakened before.
Divide and conquer.
Donnie is about to go out on a Shellhog, motorcycle attachment, to draw her fire so Splinter and Mikey can take her down. Except then Splinter grabs Donnie and he goes out on the Shellhog because that is definitely the most dangerous part.
Splinter goes down, but he's a mutant, he's fine, and Mikey and Donnie are able to shoot down Big Mama! They're the winners!
They're celebrating and Donnie is CERTAIN he heard Splinter say he was proud over the comms-!
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Turtle-Dega Nights - The Ballad of Rat Man
The episode
The setting is the lair, sewer home, with four turtle brothers and their rat man father. The brothers are playing a game of throwing fruit loops into their sleeping father's mouth. Splinter chokes on one, waking up and Leo blames Donnie for the game and Splinter yells at them and they all bolt, giggling amongst themselves.
Donnie and Mikey split off and head up to a FULL ASS ARCADE they have in one of the alcoves. There is some wear and tear on the machines, but they have been lovingly rebuilt. Donnie and Mikey start a racing game when Splinter appears, and starts complimenting them, much to Donnie and Mikey's confusion. Splinter wonders when they last did something together.
Donnie pulls up a hologram day planner and goes back...and back...and back. 278 days ago. Splinter said hi Purple...to Raph.
There is a feeling of a muted bitterness and sadness, but he doesn't linger on those feelings as Splinter laughs and says they should spend quality time together now. Mikey is immediately and eagerly agreeing to it. Donnie is hesitant. Why is their father saying this now when he had just yelled at them before? He tells Mikey to play it cool, he may be possessed.
Possession is a more real possibility now then it being short hand for Mental Issues, but either way, he wants to know what's up, so he tries to act like there isn't a part of him that is also Extremely Excited this may be Legit. Acting like its no big deal.
Right up until Splinter suggests they enter Donnie's tank into a Father-Son competition and suddenly ALL SUSPICION AND SENSE IS GONE, THERE IS ONLY JOY AND EXCITEMENT.
His dad! Wants to show off!! A thing he made!!! In a Father-Son competition!!!!!!!
They head off to the garage and there is indeed something akin to a tank in there. It looks kind of like a turtle. Turtle Tank is a very apt name.
Splinter is looking it over, kicking it, whacking it with his walking stick, asking if it can take damage and Donnie grimaces as Splinter hits it. He trusts the tank can take a lot of damage, but also Splinter Is Strong Enough To Potentially Scratch It. Splinter suggests another shell to protect it and Donnie thinks its a great idea. He is very proud and fond of the tank, he would be devastated if it was destroyed.
Mikey asks what the competition is and Splinter says its a Car Fair which seems legit to Donnie. (Others viewing the memory may realize he's Sus.)
As they're driving along, Splinter is praising the tank and Donnie is just delighted and Splinter continues and Donnie is almost CERTAIN Splinter was about to say he was proud of him! Only to stop partway as he sees their designation.
Mikey thinks something is not on the level, but Donnie does not care. He is SO CLOSE to hearing Splinter say he's proud of him and he is going to get him to say it! That is the goal for tonight!
They head inside. Mikey is unnerved, and Donnie is just vibrating in excitement. They're spending time with their dad, his dad is probably going to say he's proud of him, they're gonna totally win this competition! He is just happy as can be.
They enter the stadium and Splinter asks if they're ready to have some fun. Donnie agrees, getting hyped, when suddenly they're slammed into by another car.
Something has gone wrong! Donnie is distressed, who is slamming into his baby?!
There is an announcement declaring last car wins and seals all the exits. Mikey demands if they've been brought to a mutant demolition derby?!
Donnie's brain is now screaming at him. What is going on?! He tries to get more information from Splinter who is having the time of his life, he said they would be petting his baby, not destroying her?!
And then they see who the other competitors are. Which includes Meat Sweats, a cannibalistic pig man villain, who doesn't like them. Repo Mantis, a junk yard owning mantis man, who really doesn't like them. Hypno, a hippo magician man, who also doesn't like them and Mikey might have broken his heart. And...some worm guy with a News theme? He seems vaguely familiar to Donnie? Maybe? Mikey doesn't remember him AT ALL.
Splinter wonders what the boys have been doing to have met all these people.
Donnie realizes everyone here is a villain. They need to leave! Splinter calls for them to get to battle stations so they can win that trophy.
Donnie's mind is finally starting to catch up with all this new and unexpected information. This is definitely not a car fair, but their dad definitely knows what's going on and he demands a clear answer. What did his father do? Where did he bring them?
Did he-
Did he-
Splinter blows off his question, saying its all in the name of fun.
And-
Donnie can't. This isn't fun. THIS ISN'T FUN.
He pulls the emergency brake and they get knocked upside down and they go tumbling through the cabin.
And Donnie's feelings explode.
He yells at Splinter, that he said it was a car fair because he knew Donnie wouldn't agree if he knew it was a demolition derby.
He can't look at Splinter, because that isn't the part that hurts, that's just the part that's easy to say.
Splinter tells warns him to turn the tank back on and starts to make a threat and the words spill out of Donnie's mouth, the filter gone as the tears gather in his eyes, as the pain in his chest burns.
He dismisses the threat, accuses their father for tricking them, points out how he said he wanted to spend time with them, and says the thing that makes him want to be sick.
"You lied!"
His father had manipulated him with his emotions, with the promise of fatherly love with bonding. His father had used him for his tech, something he is running into more and more lately, people who treat him with kindness only to reveal all they wanted was what he could make.
His father lied to him.
Was his father just like those people who had stolen from him?
Did his father only want to be around them when he could get something out of it?
For several terrifying moments, Donnie is afraid that maybe all those benefit of a doubts he gave his father were really just childish naivety.
There is silence in the tank for several long moments.
"Donatello."
Mikey gasps and its a shock to Donnie's system. It brings him out of the shut down he was starting to fall into, enough to listen to what Splinter has to say.
Splinter does not say their names lightly. Its only when it matters most. The last time he remembers hearing his name from Splinter had been when he was patching up his shell years ago, assuring him that he would be well with time.
Splinter admits he did lie about the event. But he did not lie about wanting to spend time with them.
Donnie still feels hurt. Still feels a sort of bitter resentment, wants to shut down...but his father is trying.
So he tries to.
If Splinter had asked him to hang out, he would have said yes. He likes spending time with Splinter. He doesn't understand why he had to do all this if he wanted to spend time with them????
Splinter admits Donnie is right and goes further. He explains how hard it is to wake up as a tiny rat man and he wanted some glory in his life. He apologies and asks to go home.
Oh. So its two issues.
Splinter doesn't know how to ask to hang out with him and he was wanting to feel better about his rat man status.
Donnie considers it and-
He believes his father. This isn't manipulation.
He wants his father to feel better about a situation he can't otherwise fix.
Donnie taps at the computer on his gauntlet. He sends the commands to flip the tank and fires at an enemy car, telling Splinter to drive.
Splinter tries to insist Donnie doesn't need to do this and Donnie cuts him off.
Splinter is AWESOME. He introduced them to Lou Jitsu! And sure, he's a rat, and being a tiger would be cooler, but that's not the point! If this means a lot to Splinter, then they're doing it.
Fully engaged in the competition, it doesn't take long for the Turtle Tank to take out the competition. Its got high defense and tricks galore. Until suddenly a giant spider appears on the announcement screen who recognizes them.
She also does not like them.
But it seems like they're about to win and Splinter starts to say he's proud and Donnie is up and ready to here it, but Splinter trails off and why does Splinter keep stopping right before the important part?!
Then Mikey points out what's happened.
Big Mama has entered the stadium! Her car is a lot tougher and the tank is still weakened before.
Divide and conquer.
Donnie is about to go out on a Shellhog, motorcycle attachment, to draw her fire so Splinter and Mikey can take her down. Except then Splinter grabs Donnie and he goes out on the Shellhog because that is definitely the most dangerous part.
Splinter goes down, but he's a mutant, he's fine, and Mikey and Donnie are able to shoot down Big Mama! They're the winners!
They're celebrating and Donnie is CERTAIN he heard Splinter say he was proud over the comms-!