A/N: All right! BEFORE YOU READ THIS, PLEASE WATCH "TMNT" (the CGI movie). If you have not seen the movie, just skip ahead to chapter two and come back to this later, as it doesn't have any relevance to the plot until *cough**cough* later. Other than that, read, enjoy, and review!
Prologue
What on Earth have you done, Max?
She entered the tower in a daze. It had taken her a full hour to sneak in past all those men in black ninja costumes. If she hadn't known the grounds by heart, she probably wouldn't have made it. She glanced around warily. The hall seemed peaceful enough, but it felt too open after her long journey to the door. She hung to the right, keeping well into the shadows.
Something was up. She had to find Max. Maybe he could explain all this. She smirked, already playing the conversation in her head.
"Violet, calm down, I can explain."
"Of course you can. Start with why you gave all the employees a two week vacation, sent me to Africa while you had secret interviews with people I've never even heard of before, why your car happens to be parked out front when YOU are supposed to be on vacation, oh, and maybe throw in all that fancy equipment you had stashed in the garage for the past six months?"
She laughed quietly to herself. Oh, yes. This would be an interesting conversation.
She glanced into the center chamber at the end of the hall.
*gasp*
The thirteen canisters Max had hidden in the garage were here now, arrayed in a circle around some ornately carved wheel raised in the center of the floor. She inched closer. She couldn't help it. When she reached the nearest of the canisters, she had to stand on tip-toe to see inside. A giant, ugly, angry gorilla snarled back at her.
With a startled shriek she dropped back to the floor and hugged her knees to her chest in terror. After a few moments she convinced her body to crawl back top the relative safety of the hall. After a moment of very deep breathing she buried her face in her hands.
Okay, Violet. Don't panic. Yes, Maximillian Winters happens to keep wild monsters in canisters. Yes, he lied to you about going to Australia for two weeks. Yes, he has taken to keeping armed ninja around the building at all times. It's okay; he's still the same Maximillian, right?
A door at the top of the far stairwell swung open with a bang. Violet started violently, hitting her head against the pillar behind her. After a moment of berating herself for no good reason she peaked around to see what had come in.
The sound she somehow managed to stifle would have been a very loud yelp.
Okay…he also has a few walking statues around the place. Terrific.
The biggest of the statues paused and glanced at the one in front. The leader (Violet assumed) pointed at one of the canisters. The other two moved quickly forward and unbolted the hatch long enough for the big guy to toss in a small, red, scorpion-looking creature. They then walked around to a canister next to the big gorilla thing and began to repeat the process, this time with a large green being with a shell. It didn't look scary at all. In fact, he looked oddly familiar. How do I know it's a he? It groaned as it was moved. The nearest of the four stone warriors pulled a glowing blue vial of liquid from its belt and forced the creature to swallow it. He coughed several times and then became completely limp. The four statues laughed about some private joke and shoved the being into the canister.
"There." The spiky one hissed. "The last of the Thirteen Monsters."
Still snickering together they exited the room.
Violet couldn't help it. The moment the coast was clear she ran across the chamber and peeked in at the newest member of the collection. Instead of reassuring her, the sight of the creature's face disturbed her. It was like some half-developed memory was tugging at her subconscious. Her confusion soon faded as she noticed the look on the creature's face.
"He looks…so peaceful." Not like the others.
Violet kept her voice low, but it still seemed to echo around the gigantic chamber. The cold steel was sticking to the sweat on her hands. She pressed her nose against the glass. He was almost…human. He even looked human under that green skin and plastron in some weird way. The blue cloth stretching like a mask around his head and the sheathes on his back reminded her of the rumors she'd heard recently about ninja kame loose in the sewers…
Footsteps.
Violet ran back to the pillars, retreating to the ones closest to the great doors. That way, she could see without being seen and get away if she had to. The four statues had returned. Leading them was Mr. Winters himself, wearing that ridiculous gold armor he loved so much.
Violet frowned. It wasn't like Maximillian to lie to her. He never, ever worked late without telling her and never with company as strange as this. Come to think of it, those statues looked an awful lot like those statues he'd bought from that O'Niell woman.
They were talking. She was too far away to hear them. Several of the beasts snarled and tried to reach them, clawing in vain at the hard windows of their prisons. Violet blinked. She'd just noticed that of all the cells, the one containing him had not lit up like the rest. Odd. Winters was getting closer, she could hear what he said.
"…the pieces are in place. Finally, we can rest in peace, my brothers and sister!" Winter's voice rang with a joy she hadn't heard in years, except in her dreams.
Brothers and sister? What else is he keeping from me?
The being next to Winters stroked his broadsword at his belt. His thick, gravelly voice was reflective and unnaturally heavy as he replied, yet there was a hint of pleasure in his voice too. "Indeed, Yaotl." Four pairs of glowing red eyes met.
Violet blinked. What did they call him? She felt something twist inside her stomach. Whoever, or whatever, that person was he was no brother of Winters. There was something dark in him, some evil plan, in all of them!
Maximillian was oblivious to the threat. He was focused on the task at hand. Did he actually trust these guys? Violet shook her head. She had to warn him before he got hurt! But…how?
Suddenly, the four beings paused, right before Max could inspect the kame's cage, Violet noticed.
"You go ahead, Yaotl. We are going to make sure the creatures are secure."
Winters nodded. "Very well, Aguila, but hurry! The Stars of Kikahn are almost aligned."
Stars of what? Her head was beginning to hurt. Too much information was pounding in her head, demanding to be processed. She focused on the generals, shoving everything else to the back of her mind. The one called Aguila was addressing the others.
"Gato, Mono, dear Serpentina, our time is almost at hand. Years have made our brother weak and feeble-minded. The passion and ambition he possessed as a warlord have faded." He growled.
The one named Gato spoke up. His voice was higher, harsher than Aguila's, like the yowl of a jaguar. "But if we use the portal to banish him from the mortal plane we'll have to wait another three thousand years to make another wish!"
Aguila smirked. "By which time we will have already conquered the planet. Remember," He put one hand on Gato's shoulder. "We have all the time in the world."
Violet felt her breathing quicken. A portal? Was that what that huge platform was for? What wish? Three thousand years?
Maybe making a wish on the portal makes it come true…
"Come." Aguila said. "Let us seal the vow."
Each of them reached out with their right hand to clasp the forearm of the General beside them. After Aguila had chanted for a moment in some strange tongue, each stood back and bowed to the others. Their secret, solemn pact was made. "We will destroy our former brother, Yaotl. Or leave mortality trying."
Early the next morning found Violet in a trance-like state of shock. Just as she'd had enough, right when she was about to rush out and warn Winters, a huge, red beam of energy pierced the dome on top of the Winter's Corp Building and slammed into the center of the engraved platform below.
As the stone wheel began to spin, twisting the energy into a vortex of light, Violet finally saw the Portal. The creatures began to scream, scratching with renewed energy at their canisters as, one by one, they were torn loose by the Portal's energy and swallowed by the vortex.
Then, everything stopped. The unlit canister hadn't moved. Far above her, Violet could hear Winters shouting something and the general's gravelly replies. She wasn't sure, but it sounded like Winters had realized he'd been duped. It had something to do with him,she was sure.
Then the great doors swung open again. Two of the strange men in ninja costumes breezed past her and she realized with a start that they'd been right behind her. The two guards rushed to the door, guarding it against…
The two guards went flying back into the chamber, followed rapidly by a three green turtle creatures, a rat, and two humans. One of them was April O'Niell.
Violet was still watching the green ones. She realized that she knew exactly why they were here.
"Dudes, what do we do now?" The one with an orange bandana asked.
They talk? Violet wasn't surprised. Nothing could startle her now.
"I'm working on it!" The one in purple snapped back, glancing around. One of the humans pulled something from the golf bag on his back. She could imagine the grin on his face and suddenly she recognized him. Casey Jones, O'Niell's partner. He'd broken a vase a few weeks ago, setting off the defense systems and costing a fortune to…
"You break it you buy it…" Casey muttered to himself.
*CRASH!*
Violet flinched. That had been her favorite vase! The giant door mechanism slammed into place. Violet could hear the muffled sound of more guards trying to break in from the other side; a useless gesture, of course. She smirked to herself. These guys knew how to fight dirty.
"Yeah! All right!" The one with red whooped, slipping his two sais into his belt. The congratulations circulated for a few more moments and then purple spoke up again. They had seen the portal.
"Wow. That would be the swirling vortex to another world, I assume."
"Cool." Orange commented. "I want one."
Violet had to smile. She'd found the goofy one.
The five split up, each peering into a separate canister and calling the same name. "Leo? You in there, bro? Hello? Whoa, wrong cage! Leonardo?"
Leo? I knew someone named…
"I got 'im!" Red called.
"Out of the way, please!" Purple called, rushing forward with some sort of device in his hand. That must be the techie.
*BOOM!*
Violet ducked behind the pillar while the smoke cleared. When she peeked back around, Red was leaning into the canister, whispering softly. "Hey, buddy. Up you go!"
Red stepped back, Leo's arm across his shoulder. He was conscious again, but he didn't seem all that relieved. After regaining his feet he coughed slightly before straightening up.
There was a long moment of silence as Leo and Red locked gazes. Violet could almost feel the tension in the air. Then Red handed Leo two long, flat swords…Katana.
"Yer gonna need these if you're gonna lead us outta here."
Leo took them, slowly, looking down at them as though surprised they were in one piece. Then he looked up again. A smile crept onto his beak. "I'm going to need you, too."
Violet felt strangely relieved. She was actually happy these guys had resolved whatever conflict had been broiling under the surface, or at least put it off for the time being.
Then Violet remembered why she'd stayed. Before she could move, she heard something that chilled her to the bones. Winter's scream as he crashed down beside the four mutants. The generals had struck.
Oh no…
She watched, paralyzed, as the four turtles and company approached the falling man, warily.
"Looks more like Fall, get it?" Orange commented.
"Mikey, remember our talk." Purple corrected him.
Mikey pulled a hokey stick from Casey's bag and prodded Winter's with it. Violet's eyes narrowed. No one was going to treat Max like road kill while she was around! No one. She was just about to step forward when Orange spoke again.
"Hm. Not so immortal, huh, dudes?"
She stopped cold as a thousand long abandoned pieces snapped into place. Immortal?
Then Yaotl gasped, shoving himself up and staring at the group in utter confusion. Her heart soared. He's alive!
"Your time's run out, Winters." April said coldly, dousing Violet in suspicion once more.
"Ms. O'Niell?" Max turned to stare at her in confusion. "I must have hit my head pretty hard, I'm seeing…giant turtles?"
Tell me about it. Violet slipped back behind the portal. There was a case of ancient spears next to her. Just in case the turtles meant Max any harm…
"We know what you're up to, Winters." April continued. She does? "We know about the portal and we think that it's time you sent all these monsters home."
Home? Violet's mind drifted to the portal. A pang of envy struck her. These creatures knew more about Winters than she did! It wasn't fair!
Or did she? It hit her in a rush. Of course! It's all a joke! Some dumb mistake! She almost laughed aloud. Any minute now, Winters would laugh and turn away from this madness. They could all go home. None of this was really happening! She leaned forward, waiting for Maximillian Winters' theatrical laugh and the end of this bizarre nightmare.
*Clung!*
Violet froze. The great doors were open again, a flood of black garbed ninja rushed in, weapons ready. Violet spotted one of them, a red masked female, stuff something into her pocket. She had an access key? Impossible! Then again…nothing was impossible in this insanity.
"I couldn't agree with you more. It is time to put an end to the curse that I have brought upon myself and this world."
Violet's breath caught as her hopeful illusions crashed down around her. Then…it's all true. He really was…is…Yaotl…and he never told me! She slammed her fist against the pillar beside her. Tears were stinging her eyes as the reality of the impossible sunk in at last. WHY didn't he tell me?
"…penance. I must return all thirteen beasts or our curse will continue… and that is a torment I can no longer bear."
"Then you should be put out of your misery."
Violet's head snapped up again. Aguila and the other three generals had stepped out from the side door again. She leaned back against the pillar and then forced herself to crawl into the shadow of the wall so she could watch. She had to watch.
Leo spoke up. "I think we walked in on a family feud, guys."
"The time has come to reopen the portal and rain destruction upon the earth." Aguila announced.
"Nothing will stand in our way!" Gato hissed gleefully, "When we have an army at our command."
"My brothers, I…" Yaotl tried to interrupt, but Aguila cut him off with an agry sweep of one hand.
"We are NO brothers to you!"
"With one monster still free, the curse will never be broken!" Gato gloated.
Violet was beginning to get it. They were all immortal. Yaotl, Gato, Aguila, Mono, the whole lot of them. And somehow, that vortex in the middle of the room was the source of it.
"We shall finish what we began all those years ago." Serpentina purred, "And we will finally have our victory!"
Violet rubbed her temples. It was too much to take in. Too much to try and understand. She would have to stop thinking and just watch. That, or go insane.
"Join us Foot Clan!" Aguila ordered. "Join us and no harm will befall you."
As the Foot ninja stepped forward to attack Karai's hand snapped up sharply, stopping them. She had made a promise, and she intended to keep it. "The Foot ninja is not without honor. We work for Winters, not you." She signaled and all but one of her foot ninja dashed away. Her prize pupil.
"Okay, what does that mean?" April asked in confusion.
"It means we are going to help you." Karai replied, trying not to see the joy in Leo's eyes. "My ninja will find the last monster and you will bring it back here. Hurry! We don't have much time."
They left, April and Casey right on their heels. It was just Yaotl and the five mutants now. Them against four very confident looking generals.
"Forget about them!" Aguila scoffed, turning toward Winters. "By the time they return the Portal will already be closed with you inside it."
Raph sneered. Geez, do these guys have an ego problem or what?
" I hate to see brothers fight like this." Donatello sighed.
"Unless it's together." Raph grinned. Leo nodded with a smile. The four of them rushed forward to block the generals from reaching Winters. "Hate to rain on your parade, pal. But we thought we'd even the odds a little."
Aguila and the generals smirked, undaunted. "We're going to enjoy this." He stepped forward and brought his broadsword crashing down onto Raph's Sais.
The battle began. Raph's blood boiled with excitement. Finally! Some action! He and Leo exchanged a smile. For an entire year they had fought solo. Now, they were in their element, dancing the deadly balance beam between life and death. And they were doing it together.
He'd almost forgotten how much he liked working as a team.
Yaotl shook his head. In over three thousand years, he had never seen anything like it. Although his brot…No! The generals. They are no longer my brothers...easilydoubled the turtles in power and size they met each others' attacks blow for blow!
But, how long would it last? He stepped forward to help, but the rat's staff stopped him. "If you please! They can defeat them! They are a team."
There was a wrenching sound behind them. Winters turned towards the portal as the remaining canisters began to tear free and started the long journey home. The vortex began to fluctuate as new creatures tried to force their way back.
"Let us hope so! Because if not, Aguila will use the portal to draw forth an arny of evil and the world will be lost." He turned to glance at the Rat and smiled. "Well, beast! Let's send them back where they belong!"
It was like some strange dance. Mikey's chucks blocking Serpetina's wrist blades, Donatello's Bo staff making every blow under Mono's defenses count, Leo's eyes blazing with energy as Gato vainly tried to remove his head, the Rat's staff and feet keeping the portal a one-way trip. Violet desperately wished she could see the red one. She still hadn't caught his name. He and Aguila had moved to the upper floor. She leaned out tentatively, then hid when Yaotl's glance turned her way. She did notwant him to see her. He'd worry.
After a moment she leaned out again and then was forced to duck back as Leo slammed into the sword case in front of her pillar. Then he danced away again, breaking the antique swords from the case one by one on Gato's weapons.
There was a crash as Aguila suddenly hit the ground floor, hard. Then Red leapt down after him.
"Sensei!" Mikey shouted. "Are you all right?"
"We must do this more often!" The rat laughed and kicked a shrieking flyer back into the vortex. "I still got it!"
Violet clasped her hands together, glaring at the door. Where was that monster? The turtles were good, but how long could they last? They were fighting immortals for heaven's sake!
"Boys!" The one named Sensei called. "We must finish this now!"
Violet couldn't agree more.
The turtles redoubled their attacks, forcing the generals back towards the platform. Then they jumped, using the combined force of their weight, their blows, and good old gravity to shove their enemies into the portal.
Violet barely restrained a cry of relief. Then a strange surge of energy rippled through the room. Violet covered her head as glass rained down from the shattered lanterns overhead. The next thing she heard was the last thing she wanted to. Aguila was laughing as he pulled himself from the portal with the others beside him. "Foolish creatures, we are immortals made of stone! Without the final monster to break our curse we will never be stopped!
Violet sighed. Do these guys have an ego problem or what?
*WHAM!*
*Beep-bee-beeeep!*
"Special delivery!" Casey shouted from the window of what looked like an advertisement van for "Cowabunga Carl".The dragon-like monster that followed it was humongous. Violet was surprised that it fit through the door! Its tail lashed from side to side as it charged in, like a dog chasing a toy…Violet barely had time to duck as the lashing tail tore a huge gash in the pillar as it passed, sending debris flying around the room. Something slammed into her back…
It is done.
Yaotl sighed heavily. The final monster had skidded right into the Portal, taking the four generals with it. He laughed as hundreds of bruises suddenly began to sting. Everything hurt now. He was battered and his golden armor was starting to itch. He didn't really care. His new family stood before him.
He smiled as Michelangelo scratched hi head. "So…um…what happens now?"
Yaotl smiled sadly. His only regret was that he never got to make his wish… He glanced behind him. The sun was shining into the torn turned his gaze to the pillar beside it for a long turtles probably thought he was watching the sun rise.
I only wish…
The sun's warmth enveloped him.
…that Violet could have had…
Years of age caught up to him.
…a real family.
Raphael stared as Winters' form crumbled into dust and passed from sight. He hung his head wearily, respectfully. There went a great warrior…and a great man.
Violet watched it all. Her back throbbed, but it hardly matched the pain in her heart. She felt cold. All she'd believed about reality had gone up in dust, literally. And all she knew had gone with it, her memories, and her life, everything she'd loved and worked for. None of it mattered anymore. She sniffed. The seven beings that had helped Winters get home all lowered their heads. The four turtles slung their arms over each-other's shoulders.
Brothers.
Yaotl had called them brothers.
As she watched them leave, smiling, playfully jostling one another, she could believe it.
She shivered. The hall was empty now. She was alone. It was just her and the battered remains of the great chamber. She got to her feet, not quite realizing it, and left the shelter of the pillar.
Chunks of the ceiling and shattered relics crunched under her feet along with the broken remains of her past. She already knew where she was going. She had been drawn to it from the beginning. There was a flash of green in the corner of her eye, her memories.
"Yer gonna need these if you're gonna lead us outta here."
"I'm going to need you, too."
No one would need her anymore.
She climbed onto the platform and turned to look at the door.
"..and thank you…brothers. You've made a very old man very happy."
She walked to the center and fell to her knees. I made him happy once. When my mother died I made him smile, and that made me smile. HE said I looked so much like her. I have her black hair…
A tear trickled down her cheek.
He also said I have my father's eyes.
She watched again as the turtles left, arm in arm, laughing, smiling, living a good life. Suddenly she couldn't stop the tears. One final memory shook her, one of her own this time.
Maybe making a wish on the portal makes it come true…
"I wish…" Violet whispered. A hum began to build in her ears. "I wish I had a family like that."
Darkness swallowed her. She never heard the strange but familiar voice echoing in the air.
"I only wish Violet could have had a real family."
Nor did she watch as a glowing red spark from the broken device flickered to life and engulfed her, bent on helping to grant one final wish.
A/N: Awesome, dudes (and dudettes)! Thanks for reading! All I ask for now is that your REVIEW and let me know what needs to be changed, what sucked, what rocked, how to make Mikey cuter (if that's even possible), etc. Luff ya! R&R!
