Turtlefreak121: It seems that I always get bogged down like this and it's really making me mad that I'm trying to focus on just a few things when there's so much for me to do. So, due to that and my incompetence as far as updates go lately, I decided to write this tiny one-shot to cheer myself up. And, besides that, I want to see "Horton Hears a Who" sooo bad XD I'm just a really big kid at heart, I swear. I was so excited to hear they were making this movie. So... Here it is: me one-shot...

Hiro Hears a Who, Too

One-Shot

By Turtlefreak121

Disclaimer: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are (c) of Mirage Studios was created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. TMNT-2003 is (c) to 4Kids entertainment. "Horton Hears a Who" is (c) Dr. Seuss and publishing company. The movie version of "Horton Hears a Who" is (c) Warner Bros. Studios. "Hiro Hears a Who, Too" is a fan-created story for the fan-created "Future Saga" (c) of Turtlefreak121. The storyline, original characters (involving Hirosaka, Duke, and Daisy the turtle) are also (c) of Turtlefreak121. Plagiarism will not be tolerated in the least - telling me if I was plagiarized will be rewarded with lots of hearts and Gummie-Bear Love. Thank you for your time

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I do my best to do what's right for my family. After all, it's what I'm here for and it's the deepest cutting failure every time I think - or know - that I've done something wrong by them. If they need my help, they know I'm there. If they need my all, I sacrifice all. It's not merely the way of a ninja or of a leader but of an older brother. That's what I am.

So you can imagine my anguish at the idea that it's me that's causing pain to my family.

It's not like I'm holding my brother under water or forcing him to do something he doesn't want or anything. Such people are horrendous monsters in my eyes. However, it's cutting straight to my heart to know that as I look into his weeping, reddened eyes it is in the end me keeping such dangers from happening to him that are the cause for his pain.

I know best and hold my ground firmly with the softest yet sternest expression I can muster. My facade works for he cries and stomps his feet at my stubbornness. It may hurt me, but I will not budge on the subject. He knows as well as I do that there are too many reasons for why he can't be allowed to leave tomorrow night.

It is a truly sickening feeling watching him beg and plead to be allowed the slightest lead way in order to, for the first time in his young life, be treated as normal.

It's difficult for any child to understand the reasons for why they are not allowed to do something that are considered normal but even I admit that this specific notion borderlines cruelty.

Of all the times that stupid movie could come out it had to be just after the horrendous ordeals we've been through in the past few weeks.

My baby brother...student...son, Hirosaka, has been an avid Dr Seuss fan since he was first carried in our arms. Though his favorite book would be, hands down, Yertle the Turtle he has accumulated more "classics" into his collection over the years.

Everyone in our lair has seen How the Grinch Stole Christmas (both animated and with Jim Carry) at least eight times a year each Christmas. Every time there is a cartoon version of any of those books you can be sure to find them on our DVD rack. And the books... Oh! the books...

I have read There's a Wocket in my Pocket and Go! Dog, Go! so many times that my eyes could bleed. As for Yertle... I'm pretty sure that I could tell the story word for word without the book. I know Mikey has a few times when he was too lazy to get the book.

I figured these tortures were enough for Hirosaka to thoroughly live the Dr Seuss experience. In fact, they were enough until Casey made the fatal mistake of offering to take Hiro to the opening of Horton Hears a Who.

"You knows I won't be baaaads, Leo!!!" Hiro sobbed as he through himself back so that his rump smacked the floor. He had been moving drastically lately as if to hurt himself to get more sympathy for me. If he knew how close he was to getting punished for his whining I doubt he would continue but I'm not in a punishing mood. Right now I feel two feet tall.

"I know you wouldn't," I encourage him slightly as I offer him my hand to get up. "But you're not going because you'll be good, Hiro--"

"WWWHHHHHHYYYYYYY!?" the tiny turtle wailed as loud as he could before covering his eyes with his palms and jerking sharply away from my hand. He cried and wailed and continued his scene.

He just does not understand. And, though I would like to keep from hearing his crying anymore, I can't tell him that he can't go to the movies because there are a lot of "bad people" that want to take him. Then again, you would figure being kidnapped by Agent Bishop and Dr Stockman would be enough for the tiny turtle to be scared. I guess Hiro just has too many of my genes.

Suddenly I can feel the eyes of those around me in the lair. Their gazes feel like needles pricking into my skin as they no doubt wonder why I'm acting so harshly about this one subject. They know full well why Hiro can't go out to watch this movie but I almost feel as though they don't care, they just want Hiro to be quiet again. I, however, feel that if it's that important to them then they should come over here and help me.

Still crying, Hiro plants himself on the floor where he wails again and again in disappointment. This is a brand new experience for me because it is rare for Hiro to ever act so disobediently. In fact, he's ordinarily on his best behavior at all times for me. The day we brought him home from the laboratories he was sleepy yet obviously ready for anything. He did what we told him as he usually does and was in a chipper mood because he was grateful to be home with us again.

This, however, has yet to come out of Hiro in such an extreme and it most certainly was never directed toward me.

Sighing as I'd had enough of this I sent Hiro to his room and told him he had to wait until he had calmed down before he could come out. The little tot stormed all the way down with his arms crossed over his chest and his face puffed out and red. Not even the tiny dog following him seemed to cheer the turtle up.

Sitting on the couch, I could not help but stare to the floor for a few moments. Splinter thought it would be a good idea that since we now knew that Hirosaka was created using my DNA that I should attempt to work on my bond with him. that's fine and all but now it seems like the only thing I am allowed to do as his "father" is to punish him or hold him back from what he wants to do.

I don't see how this is supposed to build my bond with him.

"Don't think 'bout it too much, Leon," I heard Raph say gruffly before laying his hand on my shoulder for only a moment as he walked past the couch and toward his recliner. I couldn't help but notice he was wearing those stupid gloves again. "Ya know Hiro," he continued. "He likes ta ova'react."

As he sat I couldn't help my thoughts from becoming opposite of Raph's position. I felt like a failure to my young student. It wasn't Hiro's fault that he was a mutant turtle or that he had been created that mad scientist yet those were the very reasons I was keeping him back.

It wasn't fair.

"I really feel bad," our younger brother spoke up as he wobbly came to a halt not too far in front of us. Michelangelo's stub of an arm was still bundled up from surgery and I could see the tired, reddened look in his soft brown eyes. However, it wouldn't be our Mikey if he wasn't up and about attempting to be in the middle of everything. "I wish there was something we could do for him," he sighed.

As I exhaled deeply I slumped into my position some more. There had to be something to do...some way of making up for this... If only we could figure out some way to show the movie here where Hiro could enjoy it safely…

Slowly looking to my brothers, I knew there was something. I had an idea and I knew it would be just perfect! It had to be!

"There is something we can do," I could not help but say as I felt a smile become etched onto my face. They looked at me questionably as if I had said something completely unexpected to them. I didn't care, though. I just needed one thing. "You guys are going to have to help me. Where's Donny?"

"He's in the lab and LeatherHead, too," Mikey said. Forgetting for a moment that his arm was gone, he motioned somewhat with his stub as if his hand had moved to point in the direction of the lab.

"Even better," I stated. "Go get them both, Mike, if you don't mind. Raph, I need you to go get that chest of Halloween costumes from Mike's closet. I'll go tell Splinter what we're doing."

Again, they looked at me in confusion.

"Wut are we doin', O' Fearless One?" Raph remarked as he pulled his fingerless gloves further down his dark green hands.

"A surprise," was my short reply before getting up and walking directly toward Master Splinter's room. I knew he would agree and help us the best he could in this little plot I had devised. And even if he would not (which was impossible with his character) then there was a certain book on his shelf that I desperately needed.

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My youngest, or as I have dubbed him at times, my most spoiled son has often surprised me. Often times I have wondered how he shall mature and just who he shall mature into. He has seemed to surpass his brothers in many things and grown to be their equals in others. His feelings toward training have changed into a respectable manner with determination and his own goals already set for him.

This spoiling treatment his brothers and even I have given him from time to time, however, greatly worries me. I had sheltered my four first sons quite a lot as they were children and although it lead to their intense curiosity of the world, it kept them safe.

Hirosaka is just as sheltered but has had to worry little about doing without. It is amazing to compare the things we have accumulated over the many birthdays, Christmases, Easters, and various other occasions to what my four eldest sons had when they were young.

As Michelangelo states when he feels the need to whine, it seems vastly unfair but we do it either way.

It is due to this treatment that it was no surprise to me that Hirosaka reacted so strongly to not being allowed to go to this "Dr Seuss Movie". I could tell when Leonardo was explaining these events and his plans to me that he was very much at guilt for Hirosaka's disappointment.

I would be able to see to it that Hirosaka no longer behaved in such a way, however, I must admit I have somewhat forgotten how to punish my children. I have allowed Leonardo and the others take charge of their youngest brother.

No wonder my youngest son has become spoiled. I have yet to see any of the four punish Hirosaka more than a nose in the corner or the tiniest tap on his behind.

This plan Leonardo created, however, I must admit is quite inventive and I know full well that it is probably more hassle than my sons would have to go through to make young Hirosaka forget the movie but I am expecting quite the bit of entertainment for myself as well.

In the living room we sit, I of course on my favorite side of the couch and my gray masked youth sniffing back his tears on my lap. In my hands is, of course, the book Leonardo instructed me to get for the plan. Hirosaka, of course, is tracing the outline of the kind, white elephant on the cover.

I must admit, I had forgotten how much Hirosaka had grown lately and, though he was small and thin, he was beginning to hurt my knee. I only hoped that this event moved quicker than expected.

Still staring in confusion at the large tarp hung on a string that divided the living room in half, Hirosaka was beginning to wonder where his brothers were when LeatherHead's hand reached out above the tarp and gave a small wave as the lights from behind us in the lair went out. It was my signal to start.

Ignoring the sound of my youngest son's puppy yelping and running away from the darkness, I opened the book on Hirosaka's lap so he could see it as I read. He was giving me yet another suspicious look but I could only smile.

Clearing my throat slightly, I began on the first page between the opening page and the actual story. "'For My Great Friend, Mitsugi Nakamura of Kyoto, Japan.'" I read slowly to agitate my sons who hid behind the curtain. It worked for I could hear them groan. I merely chuckled and continued.

Turning the page, I found Hiro's hand suddenly on the picture of Horton in the pool as if excited to be hearing the story itself. I began to read once again. "'On the fifteenth of May, in the Jungle of Nool, In the head of the day, in the cool of the pool..."

I could hear Hirosaka suddenly gasp and I spared my eyes for only a moment to see Leonardo come out from behind the tarp. Tied to the sides of his head were large, cardboard ears and from his beak was tied a long white scarf for a nose. My youngest giggled and chuckled at the site but was bouncing with excitement when he discovered what was going on.

Continuing, "'He was splashing...enjoying the jungle's great joys... When Horton the elephant heard a small noise."

Leonardo drastically used his "nose" and arms as if he were splashing and washing himself with water before holding a hand to his cardboard ear and leaning toward the left on cue.

Without explanation, Michelangelo's voice from behind the tarp began to say in a very high-pitched voice, "Heeeelp me! Heeeeelp me!" It sounded so bizarre that Hirosaka laughed and laughed.

"A Who! A Who! I hear it, too!" Hirosaka giggled before clapping his hands.

"'So Horton stopped splashing. He looked toward the sound...'"

"That's funny," picked up Leonardo exactly on time.

"'...thought Horton.'" I replied.

"There's no one around." Leonardo spoke perfectly as he drastically looked around.

"Yes there is!!!!!!!!" Hirosaka laughed and pointed toward Michelangelo's shadow behind the tarp. "A Who! A Who! I hear it, too!"

Thus the play continued, line for line, with Raphael as the sour kangaroo and the voice of Michelangelo for the small toy "young kangaroo" in his pouch. Donatello was mayor of Who-ville and LeatherHead the part of all the monkeys of the Wickersham Brothers clan. The performance was cute and even when I had to give Raphael his lines Hirosaka watched the play in absolute awe and excitement as if he had never heard about this book before!

Suddenly we were approaching the end, and as the "mayor of Who-ville" ran about to look for anyone in Who-ville who was not screaming so that they would be heard, Donatello began to move toward the couch.

I continued reading. "'And, just as he felt he was getting nowhere, And almost about to give up in despair, He suddenly burst through a door and that Mayor Discovered one shirker! Quite hidden away In the Fairfax Apartments (Apartment 12-J) A very small, very small shirker named Jo-Jo Was standing, just standing, and bouncing a Yo-Yo!'"

Donatello ran up to Hirosaka as I placed a bright red yellow into the tiny turtle's hands and slowly Hirosaka realized that the last role was his and he laughed and laughed excitedly at this find.

"'Not making a sound! Not a yipp! Not a chirp! And the Mayor rushed inside and he grabbed the young twerp!"

The others nearly started laughing at my last lines for Hirosaka was certainly not being quiet for being a "Jo-Jo" with his bright red "Yo-Yo". But Donatello grabbed Hiro and pulled him up into the air to the little turtle's amusement.

I continued. "'And he climbed with the lad up to the Eiffelberg Tower.'"

"This," Donatello began. "is your town's darkest hour! The time for all Whos who have blood that is red to come to the aid of their country!'"

"'He said.'"

Hiro suddenly let out a scream without warning and Don laughed slightly before winking to Hiro. "Not yet," Don whispered. "Wait for your line." Of course, Hirosaka giggled. Donatello continued with his lines, "We've GOT to make noises in greater amounts! So, open your mouth, lad! For every voice counts!"

"'Thus he spoke as he climbed. When they got to the top, The lad cleared his throat and he shouted out...'"

Blinking, Hirosaka pointed to his chest as he looked curiously to both myself and Donatello. We both nodded and prepared to regret we had. Sucking in as much air as he could, Hirosaka suddenly - as young Jo-Jo had - let out a large, "YOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPP!!!"

As with the story, the evil kangaroo-Raphael and his stuffed animal tot as well as the menacing Wickersham-LeatherHead all learned their lesson as they heard evidence that there were indeed persons even though they were small.

And as the play ended, our own Horton the elephant walked over and was greeted by a hug around his neck which he gratefully returned to his small brother. Hirosaka chattered on and on about how wonderful the play was and how it was the best movie he had ever seen.

"And you know what I learn-ed, Leo!?" Hiro continued as he still bounced with joy.

"What's that, Hiro?" the leader inquired.

"A person's a person, no matter how small," the tiny turtle hugged his older brother tightly. “I love you, Leo! Thanks so much for taking me to the movie!”

To my Mom and Dad