Entering the Void.
Disclaimer: I don't own them, sad to say but it is probably for the best.
Author's Note: This story is a sequel to my one story "Flights of Fancy." You probably don't have to read it, to know what is going on, but it wouldn't hurt to read it first. Ramica.
Prologue:
Don stood on the roof top while the storm raged and vented around him. The wind snapped and pulled at the long overcoat he was wearing, the rain pounded down in a torrential pour running rivulets down the coat, and over the hat brim to drop just past his face.
The rain bounced and splashed into the puddles that were growing larger, on the rooftop that it was almost impossible to find a place to stand without being in one.
The sky overhead was black and showing no signs of easing up on the squall that had blown in so suddenly.
Don hunched further into the protective folds of the coat, 'No one with any sense in their brain would be out on a night like this,' he mused to himself, as he checked the equipment and tried to retrieve the data it had stored there, as well as remove the device before the storm damaged it all together. ' Which goes to show I may not be as bright as my brothers think I am.'
Two dark yellow eyes blinked and a loud wail was heard over the wind and the rain. The eyes and complaint came from a small black cat who had become Don's constant companion the last few years. She was huddled under a pigeon coop, normally the smell of the birds would entice her to tease the birds that she was hunting them, but the miserable weather had her hiding, in the only sheltered spot she could find.
Don ignored Marina's yowls. He had named the cat after a creature he had met on a world called Necron, in fact the black cat's attitude and behaviour was very similar to her name sakes demeanour. Not to mention that the black cat had appeared in the lair shortly after their adventures on Necron.
The thunder storm had closed in, the loud ominous rumble from the black clouds overhead were getting louder, and closer causing Don to wince and move faster. Suddenly bolts of lighting shot out and going numerous directions at once.
The black cat's hair stood on end, she trembled and shook as Don finished packing up the last of his gear, "Come on Marina, let's get out of here." He yelled, as he grabbed the duffel bag.
Marina darted out of her place and jumped into Don's hands, normally she was not one to obey anyone's commands or orders, but she wanted out of this inclement weather.
Don ran for the edge of the rooftop and the alley way that had the man hole cover, they'd be underground soon enough. But something caused him to turn as a deep rumbling roar of thunder boomed close by.
Don could have sworn that the black cloud was growing closer, it was large and charcoal thick, the wind seemed to pick up and a large shape seemed to emerge from the clouds.
Don blinked, not sure if he saw what he thought he did, the silhouetted form grew bigger and bolder in form showing an obsidian black dragon, with dark blood red spikes, along it's back and tail. The dragon folded it's wings and headed straight for Don.
"Damn!" The ninja turtle froze, but only for a moment he didn't have a weapon handy to counter a beast like this!
A hot fiery blast of flame shot towards Don as he dived for the alley, Don was thankful that the rain in the area ought to quench the flame so, no fire should start from it.
He felt the heat of the fire bomb as it shot past him, hitting the corner of the brick building across the way, rocks and bricks crumbled and fell.
Lighting shot out striking the roof tops and Don thought he heard the sound of large wings flapping and straining against the wind.
In Don's head long dive for the alley below, Marina lost her grip on the ninja turtle's coat. She hissed in anger, as she clung to the corner of the fire escape.
Don didn't slow down till he hit the garbage strewn back alley, "Marina?" he called questioningly as he glanced up at the sky over head. He scanned the dark sky for any sign of a dragon but there seemed to be only ordinary storm rumbling over head.
"But I did see a dragon, didn't I?" Don wondered aloud, as he stared between the two buildings above as if expecting to see the fantasy creature emerge before him.
From the fire escape leaped a small green and white cat with large bright wings on her back, "Oh yes, that was a wyrm. How very observant of you, and what were you doing, leaving me behind for a snack?" she scolded sharply as she swung one paw, with claws unsheathed towards Don's face.
Don stared at the animal who took it's place on his shoulders, it couldn't possibly be…but then again it had to be Marina, the catafly from Necron.
"Don't stand gaping! I know I'm magnificent but I'd rather get out of this wet shell for brains," she scolded sharply, "If my wings get too wet I won't be able to fly till they dry out."
Don took a swing at her as he bent to lift the manhole cover, a move that Marina dodged with ease and she flitted through the tiny opening between sewer and street with ease.
The turtle lowered himself down to the bottom of the pipe, darkness encircled him but Don was used to the dim, or non existent light of the sewer systems. Water rushed around his feet draining to other parts of the sewer, it was cold on his ankles, but this too was something Don and his family were more or less used to.
He looked at Marina where she was perched out of harms way of the water on a ledge, looking at him expectantly, her tail swishing with amusement. "What's going on, where did you come from?" he stammered.
Marina purred and arched her back, "Silly, reptile has this stinky messed up world you live in rotted your brain? I'm a Catafly. I go where I want, and I do what I want," She smirked, "Being a catafly I have some magic, and I can easily disguise myself."
Marina flew down to take her customary place on his shoulder, and Don absently reached up to scratch her, a part of him amused, and pleased that the fickle catafly had even bothered.
"So you've been with me ever since," he concluded, then considered recent events "But how could a dragon be here?" He wondered as he headed towards home.
Marina made a low noise of distaste deep in the back of her throat. " They have found a way to cross the borders of the worlds that separate us. You were able to see the Wyrm due to your time on Necron, such beasts come here, soon the walls between your world and the world of Necron will drop enough that even the most obtuse will be able to see them," she explained.
"If they are visible, they can do damage." Don theorized.
Marina scrunched up her nose, her whiskers twitching, "No the dark ones are all ready causing damage, and the unicorns are hard pressed to keep them at bay from having the rein they desire to do as they please." She corrected.
Don looked at the catafly as he considered her words. The news lately had been full of strange and bizarre events, that scientist were attributing to changes in the Earth's eco system and other such things.
But what if the large forest fires that decimated acres of trees, the powerful hurricanes, Earthquakes and typhoons that caused major damage at sea or on land, and strange - almost unexplained- bursts of electricity that struck people out of nowhere could be the cause of something else?
Some of the religious bent, or the crazy sorts who always believed the signs were omens of the end of the world, were being heard from far more, as people looked for any answers they could find.
What if the answer though, was nothing scientific or religious, what if the cause of all of it was mythical beasts wreaking havoc on their world?
If what Don had just seen and what Marina had said was true, then this was the sort of problems they now had to face.
Don wondered though how he and his brothers could save, not just new York but the very Earth itself from mythical beasts ho were capable of doing far more damage then common Foot Ninja or street punks.
"Marina I think we best get home and let the others know. Because I have no idea how we are going stop this."
TBC