Plot synopsis
In modern-day New York, April brings an ancient Japanese sceptre that she has found to the turtles. Meanwhile, in feudal Japan circa 1609, Kenshin finds an identical sceptre and reads the inscription on its handle, “Open wide the gates of time.”
This activates its magic powers, and a bulb inside the handle begins to rotate and emit electrical sparks. April and Kenshin trade places in both space and time, this causes them to exchange clothes during the transfer. The four turtles soon realise what has happened and they decide to travel back in time to save April.
According to Donatello’s calculations, the exchange only works if bodies of equal mass are displaced. So, they swap places in time with four Honour Guards from Japan. He also calculates they only have 60 hours left to save April and return before the gates of time close. During their Japanese adventure, they prevent a war.
Back in New York, Kenshin is anxious to return home and activates the sceptre. The four Honour Guards rush back and huddle around their sceptre with Kenshin. In Japan, the turtles gather around theirs with April.
However, Michaelangelo is too slow and does not make it in time, so he and one of the Honour Guards do not exchange places. The Honour Guard runs off with the sceptre, but it activates again and he and Michelangelo finally exchange places. The head of the sceptre is damaged, thus closing the gates of time forever.
My comments
Not all of the turtles wanted to go home but decided they should, so as not to interfere with history. But had not they just prevented a war that would have taken place if it were not for their presence in Japan?
Summary of time travel
When April and the turtles returned from the past, everything was just as it was before. Even though they had prevented a war, it seems the timeline had still converged.
As they had learned from their experiences in the past, they had returned as different people, which infers they would be able to make better choices in their future, meaning the future was open.
Category of time travel
Fantasy: ancient artefacts.
Model of time
Open past, open future with a converging timeline.
