“Good luck, guys!” April said, watching the Turtles gear up for their big mission. Without thinking, she gave Donnie an innocent hug—which made him absolutely euphoric. He’d been crushing on her since the day they’d met, and now she was actually hugging him! He had stars in his eyes—until he saw April kiss Mikey on the cheek.

Filled with jealousy, Donnie started in on Mikey. “How did you—?” he stammered. “Why did she—?”

Mikey paused, and then confidently said, “Some dudes got it, and some dudes don’t.”

“Gentlemen,” Leo said to his brothers, in a voice that would make the Space Heroes proud, “let’s go save the world.” In formation, the Turtles boarded their battle cruiser, the Shellraiser, ready to kick some Kraang butt!

Nearby, April and Splinter stood together and watched the Turtles head out into the unknown.

In spite of the odds stacked against them, Splinter saw that his sons were ready to charge into battle. It was a truly heroic moment.

Until the Shellraiser’s door suddenly opened to let Mikey out. He waddled past April and Splinter, disappearing into the bathroom. They looked at each other, wondering what was going on.

Moments later, they heard the toilet flush.

Leo emerged from the Shellraiser’s doorway. “Okay, does anybody else have to go?”

Mikey quickly returned to the van, slamming the door shut. The Shellraiser roared to life and headed down the sewer tunnels into battle.

Splinter and April were completely alone.

Something had been troubling April all night, but she wasn’t sure how to bring it up to Splinter. Sure, she was his friend, but she was also his student—Splinter had taken her on months ago as a kunoichi, a student of ninjutsu—and asking her teacher anything personal could be seen as dis-respectful. But April had to say something.

“Um, Sensei, why aren’t you going with them?” she asked.

Splinter was caught completely off guard. “Why do you ask?”

“Well, the Turtles are out there risking their lives,” April said. “Don’t you think they could use your help?”

“I am their teacher,” he told her. “My role is to prepare them for the challenges they face.”

That’s not good enough, April decided. She needed to know why he wasn’t prepared to fight alongside his sons. “But, Sensei, you said yourself that this time the fate of the world is—”

“Damare!” he shouted, which is Japanese for Silence! He glowered at her. “I do not have to explain myself to a child!”

Enraged, Splinter stormed off. And not a moment too soon, as he could no longer hide his shame. The master’s usual cold, stoic expression was now one of embarrassment. April’s words hadn’t hurt him because they were disrespectful—but because they were true.