It is time. The pride in my chest swelled like a dam about to burst and come gushing forth like a water fall. Small and almost invisible tears lingered at the edge of my tear ducts, slowly sliding down my cheeks, like two small streams of crystal clear water, but salty and warm like the salted seas. I quickly wiped away my sentimental tears with petite fingers. I was settled on the couch, watching my four precious sons getting lectured by my dearest friend Splinter.
"You are going up into a strange and hostile world." Splinter said pacing back and forth and my eyes followed him like two metronomes. "You must maintain awareness at all times!"
"Hai Sensei!" My precious little boys said in complete harmony, standing up straight, tall and confident. I couldn't help but giggle. Oh my precious terrapin baby boys you are so adorable I can't take it!
I saw them all try to pull a fast one and make for the turnstiles of the exit, but Splinter motioned for them to stay with his hand, "Stay in the shadows!" He ordered, giving them all a serious glare.
My four ninja boys turned back around, regained their order and once again cried out, "HAI SENSEI!" This time a little louder than before, at my view point I could see they were all very, very eager to dash out as fast as they could and enter into the world above.
They once again whirled around, but Splinter hastily made another input. "DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS!"Ah it warmed my heart and made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside to see Splinter acting like a true father to our adopted sons. It was rare for me to see Splinter acting like a father to them again. For ever since he started training them at five years old, he had more or less taken up a teacher role…It made me happy our adoptive sons had such a caring father.
Oh wait, no it's not what you think. I'm a twenty-five year old woman whom happened upon Splinter and these cutie turtles fifteen years ago. I took care of one of the little turtles when he was accidently left behind by Splinter and thus came to live with them here as a result and we adopted the turtles as our sons, but Splinter and I have no romantic relationship what so ever. We are just close friends and raising four mutant turtles together.
Oh it seemed I rambled on a little too long, for our sons had turned around once again, almost grumbling, "Hai Sensei." I could just see it in their eyes, the anticipation and annoyance. I shook my head and smiled like a goof at them. My eyes locking sights with Mikey's gleaming baby blue eyes. He gave me a look of impatience, and I stuck my tongue out at him, teasingly. I used sign language gestures with my hands, shaking my head.
'It's not polite to stare my little Michelangelo'
Mikey smiled at me goofily, and then turned around with his brothers once more to try and escape Splinter's ramblings. They reminded me of jumpy rabbits in a way. They were all ready and raring to go and yet once again Sensei interjected. "EVERYONE IS A STRANGER!"He said, holding up his index finger.
"Hai Seenseeeei." They all groaned in agitation, I could see their patience wearing thin by the expressions they wore on their faces. I cupped my hand over my mouth, suppressing my giggles.
Then after a moment of silence my sons began to rush off, but they abruptly stopped when Splinter opened his mouth again and spoke. "Make sure to go before you leave, the restrooms up there are filthy!"
My four sons looked back at their father, "SENSEEEIII!" They cried out, pleadingly. They were all fed up with Splinter's nagging speech and I couldn't help it. My giggles of amusement echoed softly like that of a lullaby. I was always a soft spoken person, and my voice was gentle and soothing. However even I had my moments when I'd raise my voice octaves, surprising everyone, because I didn't do it that often.
Splinter groaned, letting his hand fall to his side, averting his eyes to the ground a few moments. "Good luck, my sons." He finally said in resignation. Finally our children would be unleashed upon the upper world in all their ninja glory….I seriously pray for the people of New York City….HEY! Don't give me that look. If you knew all the crazy stunts our sons pulled you too would be praying that New York could handle them.
All of my sons babbled something all at once and it was hard to make out into words, but I could tell by the gleam in their eyes that they were so ready to go.
"BYE BOYS!" I called out to them from my spot waving my petite hands. "BE SAFE!" I was so tempted to go to the surface with them, but I didn't know if Splinter would allow me to since my last little trip to the surface ended up with me coming home with a stab wound on my shoulder.
Hey it isn't my fault that, that young chick was being mugged by Purple Dragons and didn't know how to defend herself properly causing me to get injured in the process of retrieving her blasted purse.
For the love of all things holy, have they never heard of Chris Bradford's dojo, he was in town and could teach the citizens of New York a thing or to in self defense. I watched as my precious turtles smiled at me and waved back.
"BYE MOM!" They all called out to me before turning away. They all showed off by jumping the turnstiles in their own little quirky and unique way. "OH THIS IS GONNA BE EPIC!"I heard Mikey holler out in joy. I watched them vanish, and gave out a chuckle when Splinter's voice called out to them once more.
"LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING THE STREET!" He once again had his index finger pointed outwards. He blinked and then put his hand down back by his side again and looked at the floor once more in fatherly worry. I rose from my spot on the couch and walked over to my dearest friend and stood up on my tippy toes, just so I could place my tiny hand on his shoulder.
"They'll be just fine, Splinter." I said reassuringly, as his gaze met mine. I then could see it in his eyes; a split second decision was being formed in the inner workings of his mutant rat mind.
"You wish to go with them, do you not?" It was as if Splinter was a mind reader. I settled back down on my feet and smiled sheepishly at his accusation and fiddled my thumbs while glancing down at the ground from the corner of my eyes.
"Yes." I finally said in an almost muffled like whisper, my eyes peeking up through my eyelashes. I wondered if he would let me go, just to keep an eye out on the boys. Just to make sure they were actually ready for the outside world.
"You may go." The words struck me surprised, ever since my last trip ended up in disaster I never thought he'd ever allow me passage to the outside world ever again. I smiled so hard I thought my face was going to split open and gave him a giant hug.
"Thank you my dear friend!" I turned away and skipped off. Hang on baby boys, your mama's a-coming for you. I will keep you safe and sound and in check while we roam the surface together! Plus I know where all the great stuff is! It will be just like a family vacation, only closer to home.
I'm so exci-wait what hold on….come again? You want to hear about how I came to be the adoptive mother of these four adorable little angels? Ahhh but we were just getting started; this is where the action comes in. Fighting robots, busting up crime, my little genius Donatello getting his first crush….what? You don't want to hear that? Awww come on! Okay well fine, we'll come back to this story later, if you insist I will tell you the story of how I, Artemisia Hamato came to live with a giant mutant rat and four darling ninja turtle sons!
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Author's note: So basically I made a mother figure for the turtles. Her name is Artemisia and you'll learn more about her as this fanfic goes on. This is based on the 2012 series as you can tell. We will finish up this fanfic where it began when I start the second arc of this story! Meaning with the very first TMNT 2012 episodes, Rise Of The Turtles, but for now we will be focusing on the past and how Artie {{- her nickname}} came to be the mother figure to the turtles. Please read and review, every single review motivates me to write even more! Anyways, later, for now!