"Ugh! We've been here for hours!" Mikey groaned.
"Actually, we've been here for about 5 minutes." Donnie corrected smartly.
"Well, we've been here so many times it /feels/ like hours." Mikey complained, sitting down and laying back against the statue of George Washington.
No one could argue with him there. It had been 25 days (counting tonight) since Leo had fallen through the portal into the other world. They had come back the next night, but to Leo's immense confusion and disappointment, jumping into the pond had only served to soak him to the bone. His brothers hadn't reacted exactly well to this. Donnie in particular had offered to run some tests to see if everything was "alright" in Leo's mind. But Leo refused to back down on the matter, stating firmly that he was not crazy and that there really was a portal to another world in the pond that changed his form.
So, stubborn person Leo was (and eager to proof that he was, in fact, completely sane), every night since the incident was spent by the pond, at the exact same time Leo had been there. If the portal returned, or reopened, or however it worked, it was a safe guess it would open at around the same time.
Leo was sitting in the cool grass and was staring intently at the pond, one hand dipped into the lukewarm pond water. He was determined to prove himself right and that he was not insane.
After much time had passed with him just sitting there and the others bored out of their mind, the clock stroke 12:00 am. That was the time they usually got up to go, but Leo was not giving up and CONTINUED to sit still.
While the others got up to go, Raph turned to his brother, "Ok Leo. Since this is the twenty-fifth night that we've been out here, I suggest that that we go home, forget this ever happened, and you can take a few days off." He spoke slowly like you would to someone who's not mentally stable.
Leo glared at him and defended, "How many times do I have to tell you guys; I did not envision it?! I really did see it!"
Donnie spoke up, actually getting worried for his brother, "Maybe you tripped, fell, and hit your head. Scientific studies have proved that when people get knocked out because of a blunt force, it can cause you to have some wild dreams."
Leo breathed out hard through his nose, "Seriously?! I know what I saw! I know what I /felt/!" Leo hopped to his feet and stomped over to where his brothers were standing. "Why won't you guys believe me?!"
The three stood silently and awkwardly for a while after Leo's outburst. They quickly shared a glance and nodded to each other. Then, unexpectedly, they pounced on Leo, Raph pulling Leo's arms behind his carapace.
"Hey! Let me go!" Leo shouted beyond enraged at his brother’s actions, struggling to pull free.
"Sorry Leo. But you need help and Donnie is gonna give it to you." Mikey explained as Raph started to drag Leo in the direction of the city.
Leo was still in a sitting position and was turned backwards as he felt himself being pulled. His hard gaze was directed at the ground as he was slowly dragged out of the park.
He moved his eyes upwards towards the pond for one last look and, to his shock, saw it sparkling like diamonds. He gasped and his ocean blue eyes widened.
"G-guys look!" He shouted trying to get their attention.
"Not gonna work, Leo." Claimed Raph in a singsong voice.
Leo glared and thought of a way to get his brother to release him, "Hey are those humans?"
The others immediately let go and shouted, "WHERE?!"
Leo smirked as he jolted up onto his feet and towards the pond. His brothers could be so gullible sometimes, and while he hated tricking them, it definitely came in handy.
"Leo!" A chorus of shouts came from his brothers. Leo ignored them, and continued to sprint to the glowing pond. He knew it, he /knew it/. He knew he wasn't crazy.
"Hey, is the pond - ?" He heard Mikey start to say. Three sets of footsteps started to pound against the firm ground behind Leo, telling him that his brothers were following him, and gaining every second.
Leo picked up his pace, running as fast as he could. He had to make it back to the pond and into the water, before his brothers decided to detain him again. Man, how did they drag him so far away in such a short time?
/Finally/, Leo thought desperately as he reached the water’s edge and fell/skidded into a kneeling position, hands and knees on the shore as he looked down at his glowing reflection. The entire pond was shimmering now, and it was obvious that there was something strange and abnormal about the pond.
Leo reached a hand out and slipped it into the pond, letting it sink under the water's surface. His hand vanished from sight, and it tingled furiously, almost like it had fallen asleep.
"Leo!" He heard Raph shout, and he looked over his shoulder to see his brother nearly upon him. He turned his gaze back to the pond.
It was calling him. Leo could almost /hear/ it. The water was whispering to him, calling him to come closer, to dive into the pool. Shivers and sparks were shaking his body, pulling at his heart. His hand was being tugged further into the water. He had to go through the portal again. He could feel it in his bones, in the very fiber of his being.
"Leo!" A shout came again, but it could have been miles away; it was distant to Leo's ear. The thrumming call of the portal had filled his mind.
Leo took a deep breath, and gently, silently, pushed himself off the bank and into the water.
"Leo!" Raph shouted for the second time, but Leo didn't even seem to REGISTER the sound this time.
To Raph's horror, Leo slipped into the water and disappeared beneath the glowing water.
"Leo!" He was no longer alone in his cry. All three brothers had yelled the eldest name as they reached the spot where Leo had been sitting.
Raph SCANNED the glowing water frantically, but could only see his own reflection. There was no sign of Leo.
There was no question about what had to be done. Leo hadn't hit his head. He wasn't suffering under a hallucination. There really was another world on the other side of a portal in this pond, and Leo was there now, alone.
"We have to go after him." That was the only thing Raph said before he dived into the pond.
Donnie and Mikey was only a second behind him.
Leo groaned as he stood on shaking legs, his head pounding like a drum. He cracked his eyes open, and saw he once again had hooves. Yes! He was back in the other world. He lifted his head to get a look at his surroundings, but before he could determine anything other than the fact it was daytime, something large and heavy flew into him, knocking him back to the ground.
"Ugh . . .” He moaned as he was crushed under the weight of whatever it was, and then let out a higher, longer moan as the weight tripled. Three other moans echoed him, and Leo frowned. He knew that moans.
"Mikey? Raph? Donnie?"
"Leo?"
"Huh?"
"Bro?"
"Get off of me!" Leo clawed his way out from underneath the pile of his brothers and stood again. He shook his head, feeling hair slap the side of his face, and turned his gaze to his brothers.
His eyes widened as he lost his breath. He really should have expected this. He sort of did, in fact, but actually seeing it was still quite shocking. Instead of three mutant turtles, three horses were tangled in a pile in front of the same statue as before.
Wait - not horses. Horses didn't have horns. Or wings, for that matter.
The smallest horse was also the lightest shade of green. He had orange curly hair for his tail and mane, and a pair of wings on his back. As his eyes fluttered open, it revealed that they were very large sky blue eyes. Mikey.
The biggest horse was a slightly darker shade of green. His mane and tail were long, straight, and a rich purple. A green horn poked its way through his mane. His eyes were a warm reddish-brown. Donnie.
The last horse was a darker shade of green than Leo himself. His mane and tail was a spikey, messy, fiery red. Wings were folded against the side of his body, and his eyes were a piercing radioactive green. Raph.
"You guys okay?" Leo asked as he trotted up to the pile.
"Ugh, I think so." Mikey groaned as he staggered to his feet - er, hooves. His eyes were now shut, his face twisted in pain at the headache that had begun to plague him. "Did you get the number of the bus?"
"Ha." Leo deadpanned. "Donnie? Raph?"
"Fine." Raph said gruffly as he too rose.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay." Donnie whispered faintly as his legs quivered.
"Good. I suggest you take a good look at each other." Leo swallowed a smirk. This should be good.
"Whadda ya mean by that, Fearless?" Raph started to glare at Leo, but all irritation faded away as he got his first look at his older brother.
"Shell." He whispered.
"What? What's -" Donnie cut himself off as he looked up. "Oh."
"What, dudes?" Mikey opened his eyes, and they bugged out as he looked at his brothers. "Dudes . . . "
"Raph . . . Raph, you're a Pegasus!" Donnie cried. "And Mikey! So are you! And - and Leo! You're - you're an Alicorn!" Leo didn't think that Donnie's eyes could get any wider, not even in this form, at least not without them popping out of his head.
"A what?" The three brothers chorused.
"A Pegasus is basically a horse with wings, Raph and Mikey." Donnie explained.
Raph and Mikey immediately checked their backs.
Mikey raised his wings, grinning. "Wings?! Awesome!"
Raph unfolded his slightly so he could get a good luck. "Okay . . .” He muttered.
"And Leo, an Alicorn is a combination between a Pegasus and a unicorn." Donnie lectured.
Leo's eyes widened. What? He lifted a hoof and patted the top of his head. Sure enough, a horn was sitting on the top of his forehead. He craned his neck to look over his shoulder, and saw a pair of green wings folded against his body. He flexed the muscles in his back experimentally and soon felt the wings. He opened them hesitantly, and found himself smiling.
"Well, you're a unicorn, Don." Mikey pointed out, a teasing tone in his voice.
"I am?" Donnie raised a hoof to his own forehead. "I am." He repeated in slight shock.
"He-hem." Leo gave a fake cough and tilted his head in annoyance.
"What, Leo?" Mikey asked. Leo merely raised his eyebrows in response.
The three turtles - er, horses - just stared in confusion before understanding seemed to dawn on Donnie's face, which was replaced by embarrassment.
"Oh. Sorry, Leo." Donnie shifted guiltily.
Raph and Mikey caught on as well.
"Sorry Leo." Mikey apologized. "Sorry we thought you were insane and stuff."
"Yeah. Sorry." Raph grumbled to the ground.
Leo sighed. "Apologies accepted."
"So where the heck are we anyway?" The orange-haired Pegasus questioned.
"Well we're obviously in a different world, considering how we look," Donnie replied, his brown eyes now cast skyward thinking deeply, "For once, Mikey, I have no idea."
Leo turned around and SCANNED his surroundings once more. He looked straight ahead which had a large tree not too far away. He angled himself so he could look around it and noticed the bunch of buildings he had seen last time. It was as if there were more living beings, most likely other ponies of some sort, which built a town here. He then recalled back to when he first arrived there. He remembered two voices. They both sounded friendly but he wasn't too sure.
He decided then to try something bold, "Hey guys, we should go investigate down there." He pointed his green hoof in the direction of the market.
"Why do say that Leo?" Donnie asked his oldest brother.
"Because I think we should get to know this place better. After all, we did just travel worlds. Heck, maybe even dimensions!"
He nodded his head towards the giant tree and started clopping to it. It wasn't long before he heard three more sets of hooves hitting the dirt road awkwardly. It was kind of obvious that they were new there and to their bodies from the shake, stumbling way they walked.
After about five minutes, the green quartet found themselves staring at a big oak wood tree with a door. Over the door hung a newly painted sign.
Golden Oaks Library, Run by Twilight Sparkle
Donnie's eyes lit up after reading it, "A library?! Cooool!"
Raph shook his head and muttered nerd under his breath.
Leo just kept staring at the door contemplating whether to knock or not. What's the worst that could happen? His thoughts asked sarcastically as he rose a hoof to the door. He hesitated once before knocking three times gently. A high pitched male voice called from deep within the library, "Coming!"