As they were growing up their Master couldn't tell the difference between genders so he called them all his sons. However, as they reached their thirteenth birthday one began to change, separating herself from her brothers. They thought she was just caught up in her work but she was actually stopping them from noticing her difference. She rarely ventured out, fear of being noticed. The only occasions of her exiting her safety was training and eating.
When her brothers reached puberty she built her own bathroom in her room, scared of them noticing her bleeding stench, from noticing she was indeed a she.
The first day brung blood and hunger.
The second brung blood, irritability and coldness.
The third brung blood and cramp.
Finally, the fourth day she spent in bed as the final blood was passed out.
Dear Diary,
I nearly got found out just before. Practice took too long to finish, Mikey messing around as usual. My period happens exactly at 10:05, my body runs perfectly. So, Mikey was messing around delaying me from getting away and I could feel a trickle of blood. So I thought of a plan. Leo stood next to me with his katana out and Mikey was about so fall into me. I pretended not to notice him and when his shell made contact I moved my leg back, reached out for Leo's arm, making him pull his arm up, slicing my thigh close to my vagina. I shouted. Grasping my bleeding wound I smeared that blood with my vaginal blood, covering its smell. My brothers all stared wide eyed at the cut. I excused myself to clear the cut and could here Mikey getting told off and Leo apologizing constantly for having his katana out.
Anyway, ill write later tonight, I must show my face to show that Leo didn't chop my leg off or sliced an artery and tell Mikey that it wasn't his fault, that I wasn't paying attention when I should've.
Yours sincerely, Donatella…
"Don!" Leo called. She turned her head. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, im fine. All bandaged up." She placed her hand on the bandage, tensing as it stang slightly.
"Are you sure?" He looked into her chocolate eyes.
"Yes." She limped passed him to the kitchen to get her monthly craving and comfort food, chocolate fudge ice cream.
Pulling it out of the freezer she saw her younger brother walk in. He spotted her and sprang to apologize.
"Don! I'm so sorry you got hurt! I'm not going to mess around in practice anymore! Are you okay dude?"
"Mikey i'm fine." She smiled at him, in reassurance. "And good, you need to stop messing around in practice, it's a serious thing."
"I wont anymore Don. I promise." Mikey grabbed her into a hug, she froze immediately and Mikey released her. "What's wrong Don?"
"I wasn't expecting a hug and you nudged my leg."
"Im' sorry. Do you want me to do anything for you?"
"No thanks Mikey. I got my ice cream and i'm going to tinker in my lab." She walked away from her brother. 'That was close! He could've smelled me!'
"Hey brainiac!" A gruff voice shouted just as she reached her door. Turning, she smiled at her brother.
"Hey."
"Ya alrite?"
"Yes Raph, I am fine. Who knew you could care?"
"Hey." He growled. "I do care, even though I don't show it. You're my little bro Don."
"Er, thanks Raph." She walked backwards into her lab and locked herself in. Limping to her bed she shrank into the corner. Untying her bandana, exchanging her simple mask to a bandana covering her head as when she reached puberty as she began to grow hair, and cried over her ice cream.
Dear Diary
Why? Why am I so different? Why do I have to be a female? A hideous, stinking female! When Raph called me his brother I felt so fake! I hate keeping this a secret but I don't want to tell them because they won't accept me. I don't want to loose them. Maybe I should tell Master Splinter…
After finishing her ice cream and trying on her bandana again she unbolted her door and left her lab. She limped past the sofa, where Mikey, Leo and Raph sat, watching her move past them. When she reached her Masters chamber she stood outside, contemplating whether to go in. As she was about to turn away her master called out for her to come in.
"Yes Master Splinter?" She asked as she slide the door shut. Bowing in respect she then knelt in front of him, eyes locked on the floor.
"Is your leg alright my son?" He asked calmly hearing the tiniest of winces escaping her mouth.
"Yes my leg is fine master but I need to tell you something."
"In your own time my son." He smiled as she peered up. "A cup of tea perhaps? Leonardo!" The blue clad turtle came to the door. "A cup of tea for me and your brother please."
Within minutes Leo came into the candle lit room with two cups of tea.
"Thank you my son." When he left Don looked up again.
"Master Splinter, I've got a secret a-and I've been keeping for quite a while." She placed her tea oh the small table.
"Secrets are only burdens my son. How long have you kept it?"
"Almost four years father." She looked to see his eyes widen. "I haven't told anyone, no one knows."
"What is it my son?"
"I'm not you son." Tears dampened the edges of her bandana. "I'm your daughter."
"My daughter?" He asked while Don nodded.
"I changed my mask so I could hide my hair." She untied her bandana, showing her father her long brown ringlet hair.
"My…daughter, I am disappointed that you have lied to us all these years," he got up and walked towards Don, "however I am sorry that you did not feel confident enough to tell anybody about it." He took her in a hug, and they cried.
"Wonder what's up wit Don?" Raph glanced away from the TV briefly to their masters door.
"Probably discussing Mikey's punishment." Leo joked.
"Hey! I apologized for that! And I've already got punishment. Gotta clean all the dishes for the month!"
"Yeah well you shouldn't mess around in practice." Their heads span to their masters door as it opened and Don came out. The heard her sniffling and saw her watery patches under her eyes.
"Don?" Mikey asked. She saw them and moved quickly around the males.
"Don." Leo said firmly.
"Donny!" Raph shot forward and caught her elbow.
"Get off!"
"Whats da matter bro?"
"Nothing! Now get off!" She struggled against his grasp which only made him tighten it.
"Why ya been cryin'?"
"None of your business!"
"It is! You're our brother!"
"Raphael! Get off Donatello. He needs to rest." Master Splinter shouted at the red clad brother who immediately relaxed his grip. Pulling away Don sped to her lab, locking the door immediately.
Dear diary,
I'm so cold…
Don trudged out of her lab in black jogging pants and purple jumper. She wanted a hot steaming cup of hot chocolate. She smiled at the thought.
"Cold again Don?" Raph spotted her in her monthly attire.
"Yup. I don't know what it is. I'll have to do more tests." She filled the kettle from the tap and placed it back to boil. Raph followed her into the kitchen and sat down at the table.
"Look bro, I'm sorry bout last night."
"Raph its ok, you just wanted to make sure I was ok, and I'm fine."
"I do Don. I really care bout ya. Leo looks after Mikey an' I wanna look out for you."
"Er Raph, yesterday when I went to speak with master splinter there was something the matter." She spooned two teaspoons of drinking chocolate powder into a cup, grated some chocolate into it and sprinkled some sugar in.
"Don, you can tell me." Her brother spoke behind her and she turned to face him, hands clasping the work surface, lightening her knuckles.
"Raph, i-"
"Donny!" Mikey came bounding in wearing a grin. "If you want anything made for you then you just have to ask, ok?"
"Sure Mikey." She turned to the bubbling kettle and poured in her hot water into the cup. Mikey bounded away again, leaving the two in the kitchen again.
"Don?"
"Doesn't matter Raph." She snapped and left the room with her hot chocolate, leaving her brother confused..
Once locked in she removed her mask, allowing her hair to frame her face in warmth.
Dear Diary,
Cramp! Owww you'd think I'd get used to it huh? You never can. I need paracetemol, hot water bottle and coffee.
Dear Diary,
I haven't been out of bed in a day, the pain gets too much sometimes. It's getting worse too, the worst so far. I'll spend the day recuperating and then I'll show my face.
"Donny!" Mikey beamed as he saw her exit her lab. "Are you okay dude? You've been in there for two whole days."
"Yeah I'm better now Mikey. I had a bit of a fever and just rested."
"Was nice ta let us now." Raph sulked by the dojo door.
"I couldn't get out of bed." Don shot.
"Ya could'a shouted!"
"I could barely speak Raph. How do you expect me to shout?"
"Raphael, calm yourself. Donatello, in my room." Master Splinted interrupted. Raph growled and backed into the dojo and Don walked towards their master. He took her hand and led her into the room. "My daughter this is will not be an easy thing to do however," he sat opposite her and she look scared, "you must tell your brothers." Her eyes shot open.
"What? No, I-I cant tell them, they wont accept me the way I am."
"My daughter, your brothers love you. At first it may shock them but they will get over it and learn to live with it."
"But, father how do I explain?"
"However you want to explain it my daughter, but you must tell them now." She sighed and got up slowly.
"Family meeting, now." She shouted as she left the room. Mikey jumped on the sofa, Raph grumped out of the dojo and Leo jumped over down off the stairs.
"What?" Raph snapped.
"I have something to tell all of you." Don looked at her three brothers and lowered her head, knowing what they would do. Raph would shout and storm off, Leo would question her and Mikey would be silent, unsure of what to say.
"Well, what is it?" Leo asked, first question.
"I've got a secret and I have been keeping it for a while."
"How long?" Second question.
"Four years." She heard him wince. "I haven't told anyone. I only told Master Splinter four days ago." She breathed deeply.
"Bro?" Mikey asked with comforting tone.
"I'm not your brother." She reached behind and untied her bandana allowing her hair to drop down onto her shell. "I'm your sister." Tears formed and rolled down her cheeks, the silence was painful but then she found herself pulled into a hug.
"I've got a sister! Sweet!" Mikey chuckled as he pulled her closer. Don looked towards the couch, both of them looked confused. "Say something dudes."
"When did this happen?" Leo asked.
"I was kinda born this way Leo."
"No I mean when did you start to grow hair?" He pointed to her long locks.
"My thirteenth birthday."
"So what really happened this week? Why were you in bed constantly?" Raph crossed his arms over his chest.
"Oh, err," she pushed Mikey off her. "That was my period. It started when my leg got cut, I knew you'd all smell it, so I had to cover it quick. When I wear clothes I get really cold, period. Then I was bedridden for the next two. I get really bad cramp but it's gotten worse. Normally I'm walking around, acting as normal but I could barely move."
"Eww period." Mikey cringed his face.
"It gets as bad as that?" Raph raised an eyebrow in question.
"Just recently."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Leo asked.
"I-I was ashamed of being a girl, afraid that you wouldn't accept me and I didn't want to lose you."
"Don, your our…sister. We still love you. Now our species has a chance to continue."
"I knew someone would say that! Can you not just think about me for five minutes? Not Raph throwing a temper, not Mikey messing around or the survival of our species? Me!"
"Don I didn't mean it like that i-"
"I knew perfectly what you meant Leo." She gritted through her teeth.
"Come on Fearless, before you get the first hormone battle." Raph intercepted the female and leader, pushing Leo toward the dojo.
"Don, I'm sure he didn't mean it like that." Mikey placed an arm around her.
"I know he did Mikey." She looked to her brother. He was still shorter than her and their brothers however he had broad shoulders, almost as big as Raphs.
"MIKEY!" Leo shouted.
"You better go, he won't want you spoiling his chances with the female."
Dear Diary
It's been over three weeks since I told them and my period is due tomorrow. I don't know what is going to happen, how they're going to react. Mikey has been great since I told them all. Leo, well, trying his best to, what's the expression, ah, get into my pants…if I had any. Raph has been distant. I suppose that's better than being angry with me or doing a Leo…
"AHHHHH! DONNY'S BLEEDING!" Mikey shrieked. He spotted Don running to her lab but noticed the blood.
"What?" Raph and Leo both came running into the living room.
"Donny…b-b-blood…aahhhh!" He squeeled.
"DONNY OPEN THIS DOOR NOW!" Raph pounded against the door.
"Two minutes."
"NO! NOW! OR IM GONNA BREAK THIS DOOR DOWN!"
"Raph give her two minutes. Get away from her door!" Growled Leo.
"Shut it Leo!" Raph grumbled.
They stood in a stand off for several minutes, Mikey stood behind them. Don then opened the door, standing there in black sweat pants.
"What?"
"Mike said ya were bleedin'."
"Yeah I was."
"Was it your, erm, girl thing?" Mikey scrunched his face up.
"Period? Yeah." She sighed and walked past the freaked out men.
"Where ya goin'?" Raph demanded.
"Ice cream." She continued trudging into the kitchen.
"So, is this what you do when your…?"
"On my period? Yup, just try and get on with life." She pulled out her ice cream and grabbed a clean spoon. "First day I get hungry." She sat down at the table and her brothers followed. "Second I get cold and really irritated, third I then cramp and then I just lay around in bed cus I'm tired." She dug a spoonful out of the tub and sucked the ice cream off.
"Is that why you were in bed for two days?"
"Yup." She stabbed the ice cream and shoved it in her mouth. Sighing in content she collected another spoonful ready for when her mouth was empty. "Time we heading out tonight?"
"Seven, we're stopping by April's to help move her new sofas then hitting patrol. When we go on patrol your coming home."
"What?"
"Your coming home when we go on patrol."
"Come on Leo, I've been doing patrols everyday when you didn't know I was a female and your stopping me now?"
"It's not because your female -"
"I can handle myself Leo. Have done for four years."
"Fine."
"Hey guys, hey Donny." April welcomed them all into her new flat. "Thanks for coming over to help. The delivery guys dropped it off this morning then nicked off, it needs moving into the living room."
"No problem, everybody grab a side." There were two sofas, a two and a three seater. Together they managed to maneuver the chairs into the other room and then unpacked them.
After a round of beers the turtles left to patrol. They took to the roof tops and began to run there usual root. Patrolling was an exhilarating rush to Don, being cooped in her room every month for the past four years made her cherish this freedom. However, there was always something she had wanted to do...
Dropping back she untied her bandana, stuffing it into a pocket in her belt, letting her hair unfurl and blow behind her. She picked up her pace, jumping over an air vent in the roof then launching herself across the roof gap. She flicked her body gracefully over another roof top and flipped over a crate. She had never felt more alive!
Long brown hair caught his eye, the purple bandana had gone and was replaced by lucious nutmeg coloured curled hair sweeping out behind her. Her long slender legs kept pace with the males, she could be faster then them all if she pushed herself. The smile on her face made him catch his breath, she was stunning. And those eyes, sparkling brown eyes that seemed to glitter with excitement as she leaped elegantly off the roof ledge. He stopped himself from thinking this, she was his brother. He had to forget these thoughts. They had bigger things to worry about.
"Greeting turtles. Now whats this, there seems to be a female amongst you. How nice." A sneer broke out on a sinister face.
"Bishop." Leo growled stepping in front of his little sister. Don quickly tied up her hair, the realization had hit her.
"No need to tie that hair away Don, you've already revealed that your a female."
"What do you want?" Raph gritted his teeth in anger, this was his sister.
"I want you all, and now there seems to be a female, well there are endless possibilities." He chuckled a grim laugh.
"Not a chance." Leo snapped him out of his intense stare at his sister. Without a moments notice troops flooded the roof and the fight was on. They all took a corner of troops, battling them with their unique weapons. Raph slashed through guns, stabbing troops with his sais. Leo's katana clashed against their weapons, combating through the swarm of men. Mikey battled through the ruckus with his nun-chucks. He was determined to protect himself and his only sister.
Don was sparring well, the release of adrenalin previous pushed her through the fight however the flocks of troops seemed never-ending. Yet she knew she couldn't falter, one false move could mean she was Bishops. So she continued with the brawl, knocking guns out of hands and sending men to the floor.
"DON LOOK OUT!"
She reacted to the voice spinning her head in their direction. It was Raph, he was running towards her full pelt. She turned again to where he was looking, a sniper, taking aim on her. Raph's body forced her out of the snipers range where he took a dart to the neck.
"Sun'ova bitch." He dropped to the ground, sedative taking effect quickly.
"Raph!" Don rushed towards her older brothers body, taking a defensive stance. Glancing around she noticed she was the last turtle standing. She was getting swarmed and then she felt a small stabbing pain in her arm, she was out...