Back in the lair, the turtles are feeling the effect of the yellow gunk that Muckman spewed on them: reddened eyes, stuffy noses, you name it. Destiny tends to them as best she can while under the angered gaze of Master Splinter, focused on giving them blankets, tissues, and whatever else they need. Diaval hands out tea while April hands out soup. Grody to the Max is playing on the TV again, every eye watching it anxiously.

"They saw something, but they don't know what," Michelangelo murmurs.

"And that 'something' seemed to be four human-sized mutant turtles," Joan exclaims from the screen.

Leonardo sneezes as Destiny places a warm towel over his neck. April shies away from Splinter's low growl before handing the rat a bowl of soup.

"At least she doesn't know they're ninjas," she says with a twinge of hope in her voice.

"And they appeared to be carrying ninja weapons!" Joan continues.

April gets a stupefied look on her face. "Or that they're named after artists?"

"Furthermore, they may also be named after famous Renaissance artists, one rumour reports!"

Splinter's growl becomes almost feral and April smacks her forehead. "Okay, well they don't know about Destiny," she says, looking proud of herself.

"With a werewolf partner by their side that looks like she's straight out of the Twilight Saga—"

"Oh, doesn't she ever shut up?" April snaps as she shuts off the TV.

"Twilight Saga?! Werewolf?!" Destiny shrieks, her eyes blazing as she leaps to her feet. Her claws appear, her tail fur raised and her ears perked, her fangs bared in a snarl. "I oughta—"

She falls silent with a squeak as Splinter pressure points her, pushing her down into the spot beside Leonardo. She twitches, one eye screwed shut, her limbs frozen in place. Splinter releases her without relinquishing his glare from his sons. Destiny stops twitching, but remains twisted with discomfort.

"How could you all be so careless?! Secrecy is the most important rule of the ninja, and you have broken it," he scolds, his voice sharp and stern like a knife. His frown deepens and he momentarily switches his gaze to Destiny. "You five are forbidden from leaving the lair."

"What? You can't hold that sloppy escape against us," Raphael argues. "We got slimed with toxic puke!"

"Silence!"

Every teenager flinches and Diaval even lifts his hands up to shield his face and curls into a protective ball.

"But...Sensei, if that pile of muck took us down, you know he's dangerous," Donatello says softly. He turns his head to cough a little into his arm.

"Which means we need to be out there looking for him," Leonardo adds.

"No!" Splinter slams his staff into the ground, earning another round of winces. "Until I decide I can trust you to watch yourselves, you will remain here. Grounded!"

He turns and strides away. The turtles and Destiny groan heavily and slump over. Diaval slowly unfurls himself and looks at everyone.

"Am...I grounded?" he whispers.

"I doubt it," Destiny mumbles, massaging her shoulder as she frowns deeply.

"Aw yeah," Michelangelo whispers, scooting towards the TV. "Crognard marathon."

He squeaks as Splinter's staff embeds itself in the screen. "And no TV!" the rat shouts.

----------

The turtles, Diaval, and Destiny lay around in Michelangelo's room. To say that they're all bored is an understatement. Leonardo's taken to braiding Destiny's hair as best he can and she plays with Diaval's hair while he knits on the lumpy project that he started at the farmhouse. Nearby, Donatello works on a small sample of the slime that they got hit with earlier.

"Muckman's running on more than mutagen. Whatever garbage he's made up of directly affects our mutated DNA," he reports, swirling the sample at his eye level.

"Ugh, there's only one cure for Muckman fever," Michelangelo says, holding up a VCR tape. His voice drops to a whisper, "Crognard."

Splinter appears at the doorway in a flash as he slams the door open, making Destiny bark in surprise and accidentally yank Diaval's half-done hairdo. The boy mumbles out a soft "ow" and she apologizes. Undeterred, Splinter leaves the room with a box of videos and Michelangelo's precious TV set. The orange-masked turtle whimpers forlornly, reaching out for his belongings as his father walks away.

Donatello waits until Splinter is gone before he turns on his t-phone, finding the latest Grody to the Max newscast.

"We all hope Muckman keeps us safe from the evil, child-eating mutant turtles and their attack dog that we brought you an exclusive clip of earlier tonight," Joan Grody reports.

"Attack dog?" Destiny growls.

Leonardo smooths her hair and strokes her wolf ears. She pouts and slumps back against him, her tail thumping weakly against the mattress.

"We can't let Grody mosh our reps so hard," Michelangelo whines. Diaval nods a few times.

"Forget our reps. What about Bebop and Rocksteady?" Leonardo asks.

Destiny breathes out, running her claws through Diaval's pale hair lightly, twisting the strands together with her twisting thoughts. "The robbers working on mind control or the new mutant in town..." she mumbles, her ears tucking back. "I'm leaning towards Bebop and Rocksteady."

"I agree," April cuts in as she slips into the room. She shuts the door behind her and rustles the newspaper in her hands as her bright eyes flicker to it. "I'm telling you, something about Muckman: I think he's a good guy."

She holds up the paper, allowing the others to see the headline: "New York's Monster Hero".

"Hm, Bebop and Rocksteady it is then," Leonardo says. He unfurls Destiny's hair as a sly smirk curls across his face. "And let's show Splinter we've still got our ninja stealth...by sneaking out."

----------

The turtles and Destiny slink through the shadows of the lair, four pairs of white eyes hovering next to one pair of green. As they reach the living room pit, Splinter leaves the dojo.

"Did you not hear what I said—" He stops.

Michelangelo sips on a drink casually, Raphael doing push ups while Donatello sits on his computer. Destiny reads a book with her legs swinging in the air, letting out a convincing giggle or a gasp every now and then. Leonardo sits in a meditative pose near her.

Splinter turns away for a moment. He glances back to see that his children have moved a few feet from their normal spots, not yet ceasing their chosen activities. He disappears back into the dojo, prompting the five mutants to dash for the exit.

Splinter slides into place in front of them, a look of distaste on his furry face. The teens gasp and skid to a stop, caught in the act. There's a scream from nearby and they turn to see April dangling from one of the pipes.

"Oh, oh, whoa! Uh...help!" she shouts as she loses her grip.

"April!" Splinter leaps forward and catches her easily. He sets her down. "What happened? Did you—" His eyes dart back to the exit. Destiny and the turtles have disappeared. Splinter's glare falls on the redhead again. "April..."

She laughs nervously at his obvious rage. "Um, thanks for the save?"

There's a yelp from behind them as Diaval trips into the TV pit, knocking over a milk crate of VCR tapes. April covers her mouth with her hand as Splinter's eyes widen.

"You're a bit late for the distraction," April says, lowering her hand. "But it was a good effort."

Diaval stumbles to his feet, clutching his jaw. "What distraction?"

Splinter sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.

-----------

Donatello rolls up to a street corner and comes to a brief stop at a street corner. A street or so away, Bebop and Rocksteady leave their van and survey the surroundings. Once cleared, they move to the back and open it up, allowing Muckman to climb out.

"I can't believe they keep driving that über-conspicuous van," Michelangelo says.

"Not everybody can be as ninja as us," Raphael comments.

Donatello pulls the Party Wagon into a parallel park, smashing the two cars in front and setting off their car alarms. The five teens leap from their vehicle and Donatello pauses briefly to lock the van before following.

Destiny smirks, hiding a laugh.

"What?" Leonardo asks.

"The irony. It's nothing," she responds.

They follow after Bebop, Rocksteady, and Muckman as quietly as they can. Destiny stays on the ground while the turtles head for the rooftops. As she creeps to the edge of the alleyway, she can make out conversing voices.

"What do you want, Joe? I'm busy," the gruff voice of Muckman says.

"I don't know about these weirdos," a squeaky voice, most likely belonging to Joe, retorts. "This whole thing seems fishy to me."

"I don't have a choice, Joe," Muckman says. His voice is downtrodden, defeated.

"You ready to be human again?" Bebop's distinctive and high-pitched voice cuts in.

"We do not have all the day," Rocksteady seconds.

"This list has got all the chemicals that'll turn you into a man again, my man."

Joe's squeaky voice exclaims, "Don't do it! You know this is wrong."

"Quiet, Joe," Muckman rumbles. "I'm ready."

Destiny cups her hands around her mouth and barks. At the sound of the signal, the turtles intervene, perched on streetlights and fire escapes.

"Busting into Kraang Labs? Not very heroic, Mucky," Raphael comments, earning their attention. The four brothers drop down to street level, Raphael aiming his sai at them. "What will your girl Grody say?"

"We don't want to hurt you, but we can't let you rob the lab," Leonardo says, his voice sympathetic, as if talking to a small child.

"I'm not some dumb kid who don't know good from bad," Muckman retorts as he moves towards them. "I know who turned me into a monster. You!"

He roars, his shoulder sack filling up with toxic puke again. He aims and fires, but the turtles split up and roll out of the way just in time to avoid it.

"I knew he was just another freaky puke monster," Raphael growls. "Get him!"

"You get the chemical. We'll handle them," Bebop says to Muckman.

The two Foot Clan mutants unleash their weapons and rush at the turtles, attacking viciously. As the teens retaliate, Muckman shambles towards the lab doors, his one foot making a loud clanking whenever he takes a step.

"What're you doing, Muck Dude? You're supposed to be a hero!" Michelangelo shouts as he dodges one of Bebop's lasers.

"No. You made me a monster," Muckman snaps, jabbing a skeletal finger at the turtle. "Now you're gonna see what a monster can do."

He inhales and lets out a roar. Trash lifts into the air at his call as the wind picks up in a swirling dirt funnel. The turtles smack flying trash from the air, struggling to keep their footing and fight at the same time.

"I don't know what these two morons told you, but believe me, we did not do this to you," Leonardo shouts, grunting as he tries to block the hits.

"Trash-nado!" Michelangelo shrieks. The wind picks him off his feet and he lets out a scream as he's swirled around like a kite in a windstorm, tangling him in some telephone wires.

"Look, we're taking it easy on you!" Leonardo shouts as he grits his teeth. "This is a big misunderstanding. We don't...we don't want to have to—" Muckman shrieks as a barrage of trash hits Leonardo, knocking him to the ground and making the turtle's head spin. "Hurt you..." he groans, finishing his sentence.

Michelangelo screams as the telephone wires holding him up snap and he goes sailing into the gaping hole in Muckman's gut. The man of trash grabs him and yanks him out, growling.

"Wait!" Michelangelo cries. There's a beat, and he points to the slice of pizza nestled near Muckman's trash kidney. "Are you gonna eat that?"

Muckman grunts, easily sending Michelangelo sailing into Bebop and Rocksteady's van next to Leonardo. Raphael and Donatello are sent flying right after, a round of groans sounding from the brothers as they try to untangle themselves. Muckman advances.

"Oh no..." Donatello squeaks.

Before Muckman can make another move, Destiny jumps between him and the turtles and flings her arms out as a shield. "Muckman, stop," she orders.

"Guys, Des is using her mom voice," Michelangelo whispers.

"Move away, wolf girl. They mutated me. They have to pay," the trash man orders. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Maybe they did mutate you, but I'm sure it was an accident," she says. She doesn't smile, her marred face dead serious. "Did you see them directly throw the mutagen at you?"

Muckman stops, his non-existent eyebrows furrowing. "Well..."

"Mucking Man, do not listen to turtle or wolves girl lies. We crush them, you go in lab," Rocksteady calls.

Joe the eyeball pops out of Muckman's eye socket, crossing his tendon-like arms. "Come on, Mucky. You think it's hard looking in the mirror now?" he squeaks. "What about after you're a criminal?"

"At least I'll be human. People won't call me a freak," Muckman says, morose.

"We get called freaks too, but the people we hear it from hate us," Destiny says. "At least you've got an adoring public."

"And so what if they call you a freak?" Leonardo asks. "As long as you're doing the right thing, it doesn't matter what anyone thinks."

Bebop lets out an uninterested snort and reaches for his belt. "Watchin' you get all sappy makes me want to spew toxic puke."

The warthog throws a white pouch that explodes into white smoke with an eardrum wrecking, high-pitched tone. The turtles and Destiny grit their teeth and cover their ears as they fall to their knees.

"Now get in lab," Rocksteady orders as he stomps towards Muckman and grabs him.

With a mighty throw, the man of trash is chucked into the lab, alerting the security system. He gets up as the alarm beeps wildly, shooting him with purple lasers. He roars, shielding his face from the blasts.

"So polite of you to check for trap first," Rocksteady comments as Bebop shoots the guns down. "Muckman is hero after all!"

Muckman groans and stumbles to his feet. At his eye level is a blue chemical inside a large beaker.

"That's it, G. The chemical! Now don't you want to be human again?" Bebop asks.

"Grabs it now!" Rocksteady orders.

Muckman reaches out and takes the chemical as carefully as he can before he turns around. Kraang bullets hit his back as another trap goes off and Muckman screams. As he collapses, Rocksteady walks over and takes the chemical from him.

"Muckman!" Donatello shouts as him and the other mutants bust inside.

Leonardo, Raphael, and Destiny keep Rocksteady at bay, giving the other two teens the chance to check on Muckman.

"We got you, dude," Michelangelo says. Muckman babbles to himself, his pupils swivelling.

"Oh no," Donatello groans. "Are you okay? How many fingers am I holding up?" He holds up his hand, all three fingers outstretched.

"Nine," Muckman answers.

The brothers shoot each other nervous looks.

"It's all good, Mucky," Michelangelo comforts. "Now just chill here for a sec. We got these guys."

"No," he groans as he sits up. Destiny grunts as she rolls into their feet, Leonardo and Raphael skidding to a stop in front of them a moment later. "This one's on me."

"Oo-hoo!" Bebop whoops as he and Rocksteady head for the exit.

Destiny whips two shuriken at the retreating team, embedding them in Bebop's skinny rear. He squeals in pain and crumples to the ground, making Rocksteady turn around and look down at his friend. The blue chemical is still in his hands.

"Slime him!" Leonardo shouts as the turtles race forwards with Muckman perched on their shoulders. Muckman vomits his toxic puke all over the Foot Clan mutants as Bebop rights himself.

"Aw, weak, son! Wiggity-wiggity-wiggity-wiggity wack!" Bebop shrieks, shaking the slime from his face.

The chemical starts to glow and shake, making Rocksteady's tiny eyes widen. "Nyet, the chemical!" he cries.

It bubbles and explodes in a little puff of blue smoke, followed by the glass beaker cracking down the middle. Rocksteady snorts. The turtles, their new ally, and Destiny ready their weapons.

"You have keys for van, da?" Rocksteady asks Bebop, chucking the empty beaker over his shoulder. "Is time we put the pedal into metal! Run!" They hop into their van and drive away, tires squealing.

Muckman races after them, stopping at the edge of the sidewalk. "What are we waiting for? Let's finish 'em off!" he challenges.

Joe slides out of his eye socket. "That problem's done with, pal. If you really want to finish this, you know what to do."

Muckman turns, tapping his fingers together sheepishly as he looks at the teenage mutants before him. "Look, uh, turtle men, I know you were only trying to, uh..." he starts.

"It's cool, Muckman," Michelangelo says with a smile.

"Stuff happens. It's all good," Raphael seconds.

"Yeah, we've been accused of way worse things. Trust us," Donatello adds.

Leonardo gasps and grabs Destiny's hand. "Like being child-eating mutant monsters?" he reiterates, his voice strained.

They all follow his gaze to where Joan Grody and her cameraman are lurking around, poking their heads into any open warehouse door and alleyway they come across. The teens hide behind Muckman with a squeak.

"Scatter, fellas. I got this," Muckman promises.

----------

In the dojo, the turtles and Destiny sit in a row before Master Splinter. Diaval and April linger nearby.

"So, you disobey me and leave the lair," Splinter says.

"No one saw us, Sensei. We swear," Michelangelo says.

"Look, we fixed everything," Leonardo adds, holding his t-phone up.

"Turtle mutants? Werewolves?" Muckman asks. "Naw, no such thing. Maybe you're thinkin' of those kids who dress up in costumes, like the Pulverizer. As for wolves, who ever heard of those in New York? It's ridiculous. Take it from me, Muckman, New York's monster hero."

Joan Grody appears, looking thoroughly convinced. "And there you have it, folks, straight from Muckman himself. The turtle mutants and the werewolves do not exist."

The teens let out sighs of relief.

"See, Sensei? We're all cool," Raphael says as they lift themselves to their feet and start creeping towards the door.

"Everything's back to normal," Destiny agrees as they slink further from their father.

"Nothing to worry about." Donatello grins.

"So that means we can watch Crognard again, right?" Michelangelo grins as he clutches his t-phone. A kunai lodges itself in the t-phone, pinning it to the tree with an electric buzz.

"No, you are still grounded," Splinter responds, lowering his throwing hand.

With five swift movements, each teen is on the floor, groaning and rubbing their heads. Diaval tucks himself behind the dojo tree and holds his breath while April scoots away, trying to avoid punishment as well. Splinter appears next to her and she gasps and falls over in shock.

Splinter opens his eyes, shooting the redhead a look that makes her let out a nervous laugh.