Disclaimer: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, all related characters, and all derived works are the intellectual property of Nickelodeon, Viacom, Eastman, and Laird. This story is for entertainment purposes and not for monetary gain. In no way should this story be taken to be anything other than a fan-based expansion of and commentary on the source material. n00btmntfan is in no way associated with the makers of TMNT.
My dearest April,
When the doctors first told me that I had a tumor in my brain, I knew where it had come from. I'd tried so hard to forget the previous five years, years of torment and pain as those hideous creatures performed their genetic experiments on me.
Experiment 222. The number was tattooed on my wrist. I told your father that it was a stupid band some friends and I formed when we were in college. It was one of the many lies I told him to prevent him from ever finding out the truth. He would never believe me; how could he?
But the Kraang's years of experiments on me had permanently changed my DNA. I know that they were trying to mutate me on a chromosomal level—at least as far as I can tell that was what they were trying to do. I don't know whether it did what they wanted it to do, but their experiments had succeeded in mutating a few cells at least. Were they trying to give me cancer?
I always wanted children. Your father and I hadn't even been married for a year when the doctors found the tumor. I went through the treatments in hopes that we could have the family that I wanted.
The cure was worse than the illness.
They were able to remove the tumor; the chemotherapy ravaged my body. I had nightmares and flashbacks to my time under the Kraang. But I survived it. After a year in remission, I became pregnant with you. You were born perfect. Beautiful. Innocent.
I had hardly finished weaning you when the cancer came back. Your father wanted me to get treatment again; oh, April, sweet April, I wanted to. How I wanted to be there for you. But I couldn't do it. I had spent too much of my life suffering in medical labs. And somewhere along the line, I developed the most inexplicable sixth sense. I knew that the cancer would never go away until I was dead. I had to say goodbye to my loved ones.
I crossed over.
But it doesn't mean I am gone. While I wait for the world's final ending, I watch you grow. I see you become a beautiful, strong, independent woman. And as I watch you now, I realize that the Kraang's decision to experiment on me will ultimately result in their own demise. You and your mutant friends are going to save the world.
I know it.
I know that sometimes you're sad. You miss me. You see first-hand how the world is full of suffering and pain and death. But there is so much love in it, April. Your friends love you. Your father loves you. In the end, it will be love alone that destroys all of this sorrow.
And I love you. For all eternity.
A mother's love cannot be ended by something as simple and petty and death.
Love forever,
Your Mother
Dedicated to all mothers and daughters, and love that never dies