Tangled Shells

The new day emerges crisp and clear as the early sun bathes the tower in a rosy, warm hue. A small band of birds chirp their melody on the window's ledge, filling the air with a certain tranquility. Little did they know, an eye was peeking out the window. A flicker of victory ignites in Mikey's mind as he sees an opportunity for new bonds.

In an instant, the window shutters are pulled back harshly. "Hello new friends!", an ecstatic grin on his face with open arms.

Without sparing a second, the flock takes off into the air. Mikey reaches out towards them as they soar through the air, a look of longing written on his face. Mikey looks up at the sky, knowing that tomorrow the floating lights will appear. All of a sudden, a small Allen Hummingbird roughly crashes onto the ledge. Mikey can't help but notice she's wearing a black, ribbon necktie with a strange-looking pin in the center.

If he had to guess, it resembled a very barren pepperoni pizza with five slices. He couldn't help but feel as if he'd seen that symbol somewhere before. He gently cups the small bird, trying to get a better look at the crest as she tries to escape from his grasp. Mikey's breath hitches as he notices something is wrong with her.

His hands tremble as he watches the poor thing helplessly flap her wings, straining her broken wing more by the second. His heart is breaking with each little distressed chirp.

"I can't take this anymore!" he cries out as rushes into the tower, the hummingbird struggling even more. She begins to feel more relaxed as she enters the cozy atmosphere. Vibrant murals cover the walls from top to bottom. In one corner near the staircase, there are many unfinished projects related to knitting, pottery, and candle-making. The wooden beams are wrapped in vines and flowers that climb all the way up to the skylight, allowing just the right amount of sunlight to shine through. "I know you're scared but I promise I won't hurt you."

Mikey gingerly places her on his pin cushion that's on his desk, her movement becoming less frantic. Mikey grabs a small strand of his hair as he slowly wraps it around her wing. The hummingbird tilts her head slightly, letting out a small tweet. Mikey looks towards her with an awkward smile, "Just trust the process, alright?"

A soft humming emanates from Mikey, his hair fading into a fiery orange. She just stares at him awestruck until his melody comes to an end. She wiggles her wing out of his hair easily, inspecting it for a few moments. Without hesitation, she starts buzzing around Mikey as she chirps nonstop. Mikey can't help but laugh in relief but the moment is cut as she approaches the window.

He lets out a deep sigh as he fiddles with his hair, "I guess you do have to go now. Thanks for staying around." Mikey starts dragging his feet towards the broom closet when he feels the bird perching onto his shoulder.

Mikey immediately brightens up once she realizes she's here to stay for now. "Oh, you will not regret this! Just imagine all the things we could do after we finish my chores like sewing, baking, and painting!" She tweets back towards him, replicating his excitement. This is it, Mikey's first friend. He may still be stuck in the same place but at least he has someone new to share it with.

As Mikey's prayers for companionship have been answered, elsewhere, Raph's frustrations boil over in his relentless pursuit of answers.

He slammed his fists against his conspiracy board, sending papers and pictures flying around the room, except for the central images. In the center was the only one of the few pictures of the royal family. Donnie and Leo connected to Big Mama, red threads extending from her to highlight her recent crimes. Meanwhile, Mikey was linked to Baron Draxum by a single thread, their side completely empty. He paces back and forth near the board, clutching his helmet as some form of grounding.