Why I think Apritello will happen

[Bitsy83]

This was originally going to be a reply to the "Apritello confirmed" thread, but it was getting so long and getting slightly off track that I thought it'd be easier to start a new thread. Hey, I warned you people in my intro thread: this happens to me A LOT!

I really like that the writers decided to make a love story with one of the Turtles and April. When the show first started and we're introduced to Donnie's crush on April, I immediately thought it was a brilliant move for his character and also for future story arcs, especially when Casey came in to play. I was not surprised that they made Casey the same age as April, especially since April and Casey have always gotten together in past versions (excluding the 80s cartoon, of course).

At first, I thought that maybe the love triangle was going to mirror the Teng Shen love triangle with Casey playing the role of Splinter and Donnie being Shredder. I put Donnie in Shredder's place because it would've made for an interesting complex for him since he grew up with hearing the story of Splinter's past and how he and Shredder came to be enemies. Of course, we find out later that Shredder's quest for vengeance was more than just jealousy between two friends once we learn of the war between the Hamato and Foot clans. Still, Donnie would be battling his own jealousy while still trying to keep in mind that it was jealousy and hatred that helped fuel Shredder's vendetta. They weren't the ONLY elements, mind you, but they played a strong factor.

Now with April being a mutant and not fully human, this gives us a whole new dilemma to deal with: When/if April chooses her ship, will it be based on WHO they are or WHAT they are?

Allow me to explain: April has lived her entire life believing that she was a perfectly normal human girl. Then once she meets the Kraang and Turtles and eventually discovers that she is not only a mutant, but part-Kraang, then it's given her a bit of an identity crisis. So far, her life has been becoming more abnormal than normal and I'm sure it's taking it's toll on her psyche. She's probably having constant struggles with herself to live with the fact that she shares the same DNA as her mortal enemies, but still wants to be just a normal human girl again because that was when she was happiest.

This is probably why she still hasn't told Casey about what she is yet. I forgot the episode, but she was using her mental ability and Casey asked her how she knew and she just gave him a vague answer. Aside from her dad, Casey is the only one who knows her connections to the hidden mutant agenda plaguing the city right now and is not only a good confidante, but an anchor for her as well. Plus, she might be unintentionally using Casey to help her keep a firm hold on her humanity. Her poor father is in a delicate state right now, so Casey's the only strong foundation she can rely on. She's not blaming the others for her problems and still loves the Turtles and Splinter, but it's been clear that she doesn't want to give up her human life either.

As for her being with Casey, I would think it would be for a more superficial reason than anything really deep. Like I stated before, right now he's the only link to her humanity and she really wants to hold on to that. Sort of like a lifeline. I really don't like the way Casey acts around April when he gets all "touchy-feely" and sees her more as a trophy. You can tell he just wants a little action than any steady relationship, like most teenagers are at that time in their lives. Now maybe Casey really does want a steady relationship, but the writers aren't doing that good of a job portraying it. But maybe April is ignoring that factor because she wants to show the world and herself that SHE IS NORMAL. NORMAL human girls date NORMAL human boys. No exceptions!

But then maybe that's all the more reason she needs to be with Donnie. Donnie has been a mutant for almost his entire life, so he understands the struggles it comes with. Having to hide that aspect from the outside world, being seen as a freak, never being accepted in normal society. These are all the things that someone like April would think would happen if people (like Casey) discovered the truth. But when you see how Donnie and his brothers deal with those issues, she can learn that being a mutant doesn't automatically mean you can't live a happy life. It would just be a life that April's upbringing hadn't prepared her for. Donnie and the others are still just like regular people if you look past their appearances. Leo likes to watch sci-fi shows, Raph enjoys comics, Mikey is a huge skateboarding fan and likes to cook, and Donnie engages in intellectual activities. These are all traits you can easily find in humans.

And lets not forget how supportive Donnie has been since this whole thing happened. Yes, it's clear he's attracted to April, but there have been times when she gets him annoyed or they disagree on something, so it's not totally infatuation. He knows she has flaws and can be stubborn, but he accepts that as just part of her personality and he still has strong feelings. I know people have been writing him off as a "stalker" and such, but if the object of your affections was also the object of an alien invasion and she has a kidnapping track record the size of your arm, you'd be just as protective.

I personally believe that if April chose Donnie, it'd be mentally healthier for her. This way, she's not letting something like DNA or a mutation stop her from following her heart. Donnie is a shining example that you can still have "normal" traits without "normal" DNA. I'm sure the Capril shipping could and probably will still happen, but this show has changed things here and there and tried to make it it's own identity, so Aprtiello could still happen just as easily.

Which brings me to my NEXT reason why I think it will happen (this is also the main reason why I was replying to the other thread):

Let's just say that April and Donnie DO hook up and this could happen the start of season 4 (which has been confirmed). Much like how season 2 started, it'll be very laid back. Maybe the Kraang were finally defeated (for the most part) and the Foot have been AWOL. Donnie and April are "dating", in a sense, but Mr. O'Neil still doesn't know about them. Not only does he not know about them, but he also doesn't know that April is a mutant as well. Like she was with Casey, she's afraid that if her father found out, it would ruin their relationship.

Out of all the characters on this show, Mr. O'Neil has suffered the most emotionally and probably mentally. First, he's a prisoner of the Kraang for months, then is used a pawn in capturing his own daughter for two terrible enemies, starts to show signs of PTSD and is getting more protective of April, and is then mutated into a giant bat that may or may not have had any permanent damage on his psyche.

And if THAT wasn't enough to deal with, we see him start to break down in the season 2 finale trailer that happens to include full-on Kraang invasion!!! This guy is one meltdown away from being put in a straightjacket! Which is why I don't think he'd be too happy to find out that his teenage daughter, one whom (as far as we know) still believes she's the last NORMAL thing in his life, is cuddling with giant mutant.

This might seem kind of harsh to some of you, but I think after everything I've listed above, Kirby might be getting a little tired of these mutants and aliens messing around with not only his life, but his daughter's. Yes, he knows the Turtles are good friends and allies, but with all the trauma he's been through, I can't help but feel he might be wishing he never met the Turtles in the first place and wants April to stop hanging out with them. Period. We saw how hesitant April was in the season 2 premiere when they came to visit and Kirby really didn't want her leaving the apartment. And if she ends up leaving Kirby behind to escape with the Turtles to North Hampton, this could send the poor guy over the edge.

I have this head cannon that if Bishop or someone like him does come in to play in the future, then he'd be an old college buddy of Kirby's. Maybe they meet up and Bishop wants Kirby to move to D.C. to help him with some sort of top secret project since he has connections to the Kraang or whatever. At first, Kirby declines because he thinks of April's future. But once he learns of her relationship with Donnie and that she's part Kraang, he thinks that Bishop might be the only one who can help her turn normal again. So they pack their bags and Kirby takes April to move to D.C., against April's wishes of course.

This could work out many different ways, especially if Bishop is somehow connected with Kraang or Shredder or whatever, but this might also be an eye opener for Donnie. Someone stated in a previous thread that Donnie might not feel that he can have a possible future with April, even if she does have feelings for him. He loves her so much that he wants her to be free and live a full life. Family, career, marriage, the whole package. Despite them both being mutants, April can easily live in the human world while he can't. If you love something that much and are willing to do anything for them, sometimes letting go is the best and only option you have.

(Aaaaaand cue "Let Her Go" by Passenger)

This would be heart wrenching, but would not only make for great character development, but good drama too. I'm not sure how you could take the relationship from there if this were to happen, but it would be something we've never seen happen before in TMNT. While I love the humor and silliness this franchise has given us in the past, it can really tug at your heartstrings.