Leo; No, you were just looking for an excuse to torment me.
LC; Duh, but we don't need to tell them that!
Don; Not that you aren't crazy, but where did you get the idea for these events?
LC;...I made 'em up!
Mikey; You know, I'm glad she's Leo's fangirl and not mine!
Raph; You can say that again, we'd all go nuts!
Leo; What about me?
Don; Your the leader, you have to sacrifice yourself for the good of our sanity.
LC; Such as it is, of course!
Disclaimer; Please, just give me a stinken turtle! I promise to take good care of it! PLEASE! No, I don't own them.
Chapter 1; The journal.
Day one.
Well, I made it to the great rain forest. My sensei sent me here to train to become a better leader. I should probably explain a few things.
Well, my name is Liona Hamato, eldest of four and the leader of our little clan. I have three younger brothers, Rapheal, Donatello, and Michelangelo. I am their big sister. My father and sensei if master Splinter, a giant rat.
Oh, and did I mention I'm a four foot walking talking turtle woman? No? Could of sworn I did.
Day 2.
Well, I found a cave behind a water fall today that would make a good place to live. It's cold and damp, just like the sewers. Just like home. I miss them all so much, I fell asleep crying last night.
In retrospect, it might have been a good idea to bring a book about what's edible here in the Amazon. I wish Don was here, he'd love seeing all these different plants and animals. Raph gave me some bug spray before I left, and I can't to thank him. It's only the second day and I'm itching like no tommorrow!
Mike asked me to send him some local crafts and stuff, so I'll go into the nearby village in the morning to see about that.
God I miss them so much!
Day 3.
You know what Journal? If my brothers ever read you, I'd never live it down. I always think before I open my beak. Thus they never really know what I'm thinking. It actually feels nice to let loose a little, but I wonder what kind of training I'm suppossed to be doing.
I got this cool looking mask and sent it to Mikey. Well, technically I sent it to April but she'll give it to Mikey.
I also found some animals eating some fruits in a tree next to the falls, guess I won't go to sleep hungry tonight!
Still missing my bros, can't wait to go home.
Day 4.
Still don't know what I am suppossed to be doing. But I did find something to keep me in practice at least. See, no matter where you are, there is some kind of street gang.
In New York, it's the Purple Dragons. In the rain forest, it's the Negro Diablos! Black Devils! It's better than purple dragons, I guess.
I've been practicing my spanish because it's annoying having nothing to read. I plan on buying a book after I learn to read more.
Day 10.
Wow, I haven't written in a while. But hey! At least I remembered how many days I've been here! That's something! A lot of stuff has happened since my last entry.
Like suddenly gaining the title, Ghost of the Jungle, after beating the ND's a few times. Oh, and saving a bunch of women from said gang. It didn't help that I did all this while wearing a big brown cloak. Which is a bad idea in this climate. The whole time I thought I was going to be stewed in my own sweat!
I wish I could go home, but imagine if I did! Raph would mock me for running away from training! Don would hate me for not learning all I could about the culture! Mike would never let me live it down! And master Splinter! It gives me chills to think about how he'd feel.
He'd be so dissappointed in me. So I guess I can't go home. At least not yet. When the year is up, I'll go home. I just hope home will still be there.
Day 12.
I think that scorpion was poisonous. See, here I was, just sitting in the fruit tree minding my own business and meditating. When all of a sudden my hand feels like someone set it on fire after dumping it in gasoline!
I swear, it licked it's lips when I looked at it!
I am never telling my brothers squat diddly about this, but I am totally afraid of spiders! And scorpions are arachnids aren't they?
Either way I don't like them!
Day 13.
I feel awful. Now I know it was poisonous. Can't write anymore, going to sleep. Miss everyone back home.
Day 20.
All I can think to say is...SHELL! See, after I got sick, some guy went walking through the forest and heard me behind the water fall. Which I can't understand since it makes so much racket!
Anyway, he somehow managed to carry me to his hut. Another thing I don't understand since with my shell, I'm pretty heavy.
Now I learn he's been taking care of me all this time! And apparently I was hallucinating. I want to find out what I might have told him in my fever induced dreams, but I am worried it may have been something a little embarrassing.
Day 21.
His name is Miguel, and he lives alone in this little hut a full two miles away from the nearest village. But turns out it's only a few minutes to the water fall.
How did I not notice him before? I need to remember to keep my guard up here. Well, at least I'll remember this time. After all, I do not want another scorpion bite. I hope that one isn't still around. I can't remember if I smashed it or not.
Day 25
I moved back to the falls and have been meditating, trying to contact master Splinter. The thing is, I can't find him in the astral plane. I know what time he meditates, so he should be there. Even if he isn't meditating, I should still sense him, right?
As for my brothers, their sygnals were so weak. But at least I know they're safe. Not sick, dying, or fighting. Which reminds me, I wonder if they have kept up with their training.
Day 30
After my last entry, I broke into another ND hide out. These guys are a whole lot more advanced then the PD back home. Not to mention they have a spanish version of HUN! I wonder if they are related. This is something I'll have to check up on back in New York.
Anyway, in the hide out I managed to release around fifty prisoners! Sadly, when I was getting out, one of the previously unconcious guards woke up and shot at me with a handgun.
I'm okay now, but it hasn't healed completely and it hurts. I miss pain killers. I wonder if Miguel would have any, I can't remember if he does. I'll ask tommorrow, for now I'm tired and my hammock is calling.
Miss my brothers but I'm getting over it and moving on.
Day 45
Still no contact with my sensei, but I keep sending letters so I hope they know how I'm doing. I try to write the letters like how I talked at home. Meaning kind of detached and cold, not really informative.
I didn't tell them about how I cried the first night. Or about being the Jungle Ghost. Or about the bite. Or the man named Miguel who saved my life. Or about the NDs. Or about the bullet wound that isn't healing right.
I didn't say anything like that.
Day 50
Every day I fight against the NDs, and every day I swear they multiply. No way they heal from broken bones that fast! So it means they are sending more recruits to try to deal with me.
I'm training a lot with my swords, but I'm not sure how this is helping my leadership skills. Miguel gave me a present today. It's a necklace made from these pretty stones that you can find in the river all the time. Nothing overly valuable, but it looks nice when the light hits it just right. It almost seems to glow.
Day 58
Once again I managed to injure myself by playing super hero. You guessed it, I once again got hurt fighting the NDs! Only this time, I didn't get shot, I just fell out of a tree!
Sprained my ankle so bad that I can barely walk, but nothing life threatening. I still managed to beat all of the gang junkies.
Sprained ankle, and I'm still all that and a bag of chips! Sigh. I miss Mikey.
Day 72
I really should write more often but there is nothing to write about! If I wrote every day I'd have used the whole thing up already!
Miguel and I talked a lot all day. Mostly about things like brothers. How annoying and self centered they could be for instance. He has three little brothers too! They are Arster, Diego, and Vaniera. Apparently his parents enjoyed watching american tv.
Day 80
Tonight I'm going to break up a major deal the NDs are working on. For the past few days I've had this strange sense of foreboding. I feel like something bad is going to happen. I hope my brothers are safe and my master well. No more for now, I have a job to do.
Four months later!
That night when I left to bust up that deal, I got captured. They did unspeakable things to me while I was under their 'care'.
I couldn't even tell Miguel. I wonder if everyone back home is worried, since I haven't been sending any letters. I think I have a big problem, but I won't know for a few more days. I'm going to go into town to purchase something of great neccessity.
Two nights later, what must be day 202.
It's official. I'm pregnant.
Day 203.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE SHELL AM I SUPPOSSED TO DO! I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO HAVE THE BABY! AM I GOING TO LAY AN EGG! WHAT WILL I DO WITH A BABY! OH DEAR GOD SEND HELP! SEND ANSWERS! SEND ANYTHING! I WANT MY FATHER, MY BROTHERS! I WANT TO TALK TO MIGUEL!
Day 205
I think I had a temporary nervous break down. I did end up talking to Miguel. It all just spilled out! Everything about my troubles back home, my worries for my family, my identity as the jungle ghost, and even the baby.
He listened through the entire rant. Something about the way his mop brown hair framing his face caught my attention. He was sitting right next to me, gazing at me intently.
Before I know what we're doing, we both leaned forward. I got my first kiss.
Day 206
I'm going to admit something that my brothers would never understand. I am afraid. Miguel has been kidnapped and I have to give myself up to save him.
Wish me luck.
Day 218
Well, the switch went according to plan. They took me back to their hide out and used me to test new drugs. I wonder what effects those will have on a developing fetus.
Another question would be how long have I been pregnant anyway? Because honestly, it wasn't just one time. So it could be anywhere between three months and four weeks.
Day 240
I have not written in a long time. I guess you could say I've been a little busy with Miguel. You see, one of his brothers is a vet.
He arranged for his brother to come to meet his new 'girlfriend'. My heart skipped a beat when he referred to me like that. Anyway, his brother, Arster, got a real shock when he saw just who his brother was dating.
Let's just say I wasn't the only one who had a nervous break down in the jungle.
Day 243
I found out that I've been pregnant for around four months. It looks like I will have to lay an egg. I wonder if that's more or less painful than a live birth.
I tried meditating for the first time in months. I still can't get a hold of master Splinter.
I don't want to even think this, but I think he's purposely hiding from me in the astral plane. I wish I could talk to him. I need his advice.
Day 261
I am in shock. Miguel asked me to marry him! Okay, I need to get this out of my system now before I do anything else.
!
Okay, that felt good.
Day 270
I met the rest of his family. They are pretty nice, though his mother was a little curious about the father of the baby. I don't think she liked the idea of her son having sex before marriage. Luckily I explained everything and then she was all sympathetic. She told me the same thing had happened to a friend of hers when the NDs were first getting started as a major spanish gang.
Day 275
Wow...Thats just...wow.
Day 276
We had a small marriage on day 274, just us and his family. I wish my father could have been there. I wrote a letter telling them I was sorry for not writing and that I was okay.
I also dropped a hint about bringing home some company. Anyway, about yesterday, well,... ... Miguel and I had sex.
Wow.
Day 280
I'm getting bigger and bigger by the day! What's more is I have a weird craving for green vegetables. I wouldn't mind if it was green tomatoes! I will eat them!
Anyway, Arsters just gave me some news. I am pregnant with twins!
Again, I must get this out of the system before I embarrass myself in front of my new husband.
!
Day 283
Something horrible happened. Miguel was taken hostage again. Gotta go and kick some tail. Must remember to enlarge jungle ghost cloak, is getting a bit snug.
Day 284
He's dead.
Day 285
The funeral was today, I stayed in a tree until it was just his family and I. We grieved together.
Day 290
I can barely remember what has happened the last five days. I miss Miguel so much it's like someone carved out my heart. Not even my babys kicking happily inside me can cheer me up.
They don't realize they just lost their only father. I miss mine so much now. I want to go home.
Day 300
The year is almost up. So much has happened. So much pain, joy, heartache, and love. I can never regret my time here, in this jungle. In fact, I intend to stay a little past the due date.
You see, taking two baby turtles on an airplane might not be the best idea. I'm going to wait and then hitch a ride with Diego. He's going to drive all the way to New York just to drop me off.
I don't know what I would do without his family's kindness.
Day 320
Well, this is the last time I'll ever write in the confines of Miguel's hut. I'm taking a duffel bag full of things that will help me take care of the babys after they are layed.
I feel strange, like I'm waiting for something. I have this urge to dig a den. Must be animal instincts.
Day 321
I layed the eggs on the road. Diego parked the car when I announced their arrival. It took all of nine hours to lay two eggs!
I am never having kids again! That hurt!
Day 325
The eggs are about as big as a human head. They have these dark brown spots all over the shells. I've been keeping them warm wrapped up in blankets in the back seats of Diego's car.
He says he's sorry Miguel couldn't be around to see his children being borne. I felt one of them kick against the shell. I wonder how long until they hatch.
A few days? A few months?
Day 342
We have been taking it slow and seeing the sights. I am still in mourning, but I know Miguel would have wanted me to enjoy myself.
For the first time since before I left New York, I ate pizza. I never thought I would miss it! It was like a mouthful of home. I actually leaked a few tears. We are currently in Kentucky. I can't wait to get home.
Day 369
They probably are worrying about me now. Seeing as how I'm about three days off my return by date. I sent a letter before leaving the rain forest.
I told them not to be surprised if it takes me a while to get home. I also told them to expect a strange package with me.
My own personal joke. I wonder if they'll be mad when they realize I didn't tell them I was bringing home a couple of kids.
I miss the rain forest. I miss Miguel.
Day 375
We are in Pennsylvania. I'm almost home. The eggs seem more active lately. I feel like they are going to hatch soon. I realize now I never thought of names.
So here are a few of the ones I like. Boy; Miguel JR. Revera. Cody. Caleb. Girl; Anna. Sakura. Lilly. Hana.
Now I just have to choose. This is harder than I thought.
Day 380
Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Big Apple!
Day 381
I am freaking out! What the Shell am I going to tell the guys! Oh hey guys, I got captured by some gang and got knocked up! Meet your Niece and Nephew!
Oh yeah, they hatched yesterday. That's why I'm not home yet. I don't know what I'm going to tell them!
Day 382
Looks like great minds do think alike. Turns out Raph has been playing super hero too! How's that for ironic? Guess I can't blame him, after all, who am I to talk?
I decided to name them Miguel Jr. and Anna. Come on, no one saw that coming?
Day 384
I'm writing this on a roof top somewhere downtown. I figured I'd write it now while watching my kids play before going into the sewers. I said good bye to Diego. He's on his way back home but promises to stay in touch through April's address, which I gave him.
I already miss his cool head. He somehow managed to deal with a new, overprotective mom through a cross country trip. You have to admire the guy.
ENDOFCHAPTER!!
LC; Well, the first one is good and gone.
Leo; Wow, just wow.
Raph; What's wrong, you enjoy the sex with Miguel?
Leo; *Splutters in attempt to regain dignity*
LC; See ya all next time!