-1Disclaimer: I do not own tmnt or any of it's characters. I do own Belladonna, Zachary, Mira, Delilah and Kane.
"See you later Saz!"
"Bye Bella! Have fun at Taekwondo."
The two girls waved goodbye to each other and walked their separate ways from the subway station. The slightly taller girl with dark red hair and shocking green eyes rummaged through her bag furiously.
"Come on! Don't tell me I've left my belt at home again?" She cursed under her breath and ran up the station stairs onto a sunset lit street. She halted at a large gym hall, a Taekwondo do-jang.
"I hope Senior Instructor Kane won't make me do laps of the do-jang again." She muttered to herself as a tall dark haired man bowed to her at the do-jang entrance.
"Junior Instructor Bella, you're late. Again." He scorned.
"Sorry Instructor Kane. My train was late." Bella apologised weakly. Please don't make do laps again. She pleaded in her mind.
"And you're missing your belt! You know what to do." Instructor Kane said harshly, gesturing to the do-jang.
"10 laps. Then 50 crunches. No drink break." Bella bowed her head. Oh god, what's Mira gonna say about this? She thought to herself.
Bella stepped into the do-jang and a couple of junior belts bowed to her. Even if she wasn't wearing her black belt, the other students still paid respects to her. Bella smiled to herself and then groaned as Instructor Kane cleared his throat and pointed towards the do-jang again. Bella sighed and began jogging.
"Excellent axe kick, student Mira." Instructor Kane commented. Bella groaned as she ran past a brown belt, Mira who was a Taekwondo prodigy, a scholastic wonder and the prettiest girl in her school. That sucks! She's good at everything! Bella hated her.
After what had seemed like a year, Bella had finally finished her laps and crunches and was now one-step sparring with Mira. Goody, Bella thought sarcastically.
Mira stepped forward, and began to execute a perfect middle section punch to the solar plexus. It was a good punch, but Bella was faster. Bella quickly stopped Mira's punch with an outer forearm block and stepped to Mira's side. With Mira's side exposed, Bella could perform a nasty turning kick to the kidneys. An amateur kick, but at blackbelt standard it could do serious damage. Bella pulled her leg back and pivoted on her heel, quickly flicking out her raised leg to hit Mira. Mira recoiled and clutched her side, glaring at Bella. Jeez! It wasn't even full contact and she's acting if I stabbed her or something. Bella thought to herself.
"Perfect turning kick Instructor Bella. Great timing." Instructor Kane congratulated. Bella smiled at Mira. Suck on that!
"That'll do for tonight I think. See you next Thursday, I hope Instructor Bella?" Instructor Kane asked.
"Uh..you can count on it Instructor Kane." Bella muttered, half to herself, bowing and stepping out of the do-jang.
Bella quietly walked down the south street alleyway, anxiously looking back to make sure no one was following her. She hated walking down this part of the street, but it was the only way to get to her mum's apartment. Bella softened her steps. Sometimes the alleyways were filled with Purple Dragons and that was the last she needed to come across.
"Leo! Come on! We've been training for ages and I'm hungry!" Mikey complained, rubbing his soar shoulders and breathing heavily.
"I hate to admit it, but Mikey's right, Leo." Donny commented. Leo had made them do roof leaps, which were practically suicide, for at least three hours straight and Donny was over it. He looked up at the stars. I wonder how Cody's doing…
"Ok, we call it a night then. But we'll do a final scout of the rooftops for any trouble." Leo ordered. Raph flinched next to him. Donny knew how much Raph hated taking orders from Leo. Donny quickly picked up his Bo staff and jumped after his brothers onto the opposite house. Mikey scaled the sides, occasionally jumping onto lamp posts. Leo had taken lead position as usual and Raph took rear. Donny stopped as Mikey signalled to halt. Raph and Leo quickly jumped over to him. Donny stepped forward and his eyes followed Mikey's gesture. A girl was walking alone down the south street alleyway. She wasn't aware of it, but six Purple Dragons were on the street corner opposite her. Donny studied her. She was, at most, fifteen with long dark red hair. The way she walked with confident but careful steps and well muscled calves indicated she might do some sort of Martial Arts. Probably Karate, thought Donny.
"She's way too good for you, Mikey." Raph smirked. Mikey gave him a puzzled look, then Raph's comment clicked.
"Raph, she might get hurt by those Purple Dragons! I wasn't…you know…" Mikey naively avoided saying any more.
"What?' Raph asked mockingly, his eyes gleaming behind his mask. Mikey had never been able to say 'certain' words without going into hysterics and Raph had always baited him, trying to catch Mikey out. Donny sighed. Immature, he thought.
"The word you're looking for is perving, Raph." Donny announced loudly, smiling to himself. Mikey blushed red and Raph flinched at Donny's boldness. They're both as bad as each other, Donny thought to himself.
"Come on guys, focus!" Leo barked. Donny turned his attention back to the girl. She was now in view of the Purple Dragons and crossed the road opposite them, so she wouldn't have to walk past them. Smart move, thought Donny. But the Purple Dragons spotted her, and slouched over. Running would be wise, but the girl remained walking.
"She wants them to think she's not afraid." Leo commented.
"Well let's get down there and make those bozos afraid!" Raph snarled, drawing his Sai. Donny put his arm in front of Raph.
"We have to wait for the right moment, Raph ,or we could do more harm than good."
Donny looked back at the girl. She had raised her arms into a guarding block and was anxiously glaring at the circle of Purple Dragons that had surrounded her. Donny looked expectantly at Leo. Was he going to give the signal yet? But Leo looked on with interest.
"Let's see what this girl can do."
Bella raised her arms into a guarding block, one arm in front to protect her face, and one arm to protect her solar plexus.
"Aww, ain't that cute? She's trying to defend herself." Cooed one of the Purple Dragons behind her, mockingly.
"Got anything nice in that bag of yours hon?" Asked a beefy Purple Dragon in a strong western accent, his eyes shining.
"I've got something nice right here, boys." Bella croaked, raising her fist menacingly. Bella breathed hard through her nose. If she was going to take out all these goons, she had to focus and strike with precision. Her confidant voice betrayed her. She was scared.
"Honey, do ya'self a favour, and just give us ya' bag." Said the beefy goon again.
"This blows! let's jus' take it!" Growled a tall, skinny Purple Dragon man. The man stretched forward, his fingers outstretched, reaching for Bella's bag. Quickly Bella pulled out her arm and did a c-block to grasp his hand. Just like one-step sparring, she told herself. Bella tightened her grip on his wrist and grabbed the sleeve of his jacket with her free arm, pulling her leg behind his. Their heels met and Bella swept her leg through to trip the man over from behind. He fell to the ground and Bella finished him off with a palm-hand strike to the nose. Great take-down, Bella thought. She rounded on the other Purple Dragons, adrenaline pumping through her. The beefy goon smirked and stepped toward her, cracking his knuckles.
"Stay back boys, this here girl's mine."
"Attacking an innocent kid? You Purple Dragons have no class!" Bella sneered. The beefy goon lunged forward with a sloppy hooking punch, which Bella blocked easily. She counter-attacked with a nasty back-fist strike, which hit the man right in the temple. The man dropped to the floor clumsily, unconscious. The four other Purple Dragons clenched their fists and closed in on Bella.
Four on one? Now I'm screwed.
"Leo! Whatcha waiting for? That girl needs help!" Raph clenched his fists. If Leo didn't do the whole order thing soon, Raph was going to do it for him! Raph dared to peer over the side of the building. Holy shell, thought Raph. The girl had already taken out two of the Purple Dragons, single handed! One particularly skinny goon lay unconscious on the road, blood flowing from his bruised nose. Another fatty lay near him, twitching. The girl had raised both her arms and was eyeing the remaining four viciously. Raph felt an urge to jump down and help her, but something wasn't letting him. The goons moved in, all throwing cruddy punches at the girl. She dodged them all with a side step, and wiped out two at once with an awesome crescent kick.
"Dude! That chick is kicking some serious shell!" Mikey hollered. Raph had to agree, the girl had some sick moves. She straightened up and pulled her arms back into guarding position. The last two goons stepped back, but the girl did a quick foot exchange and bowled them over with a reverse foot sweep.
"Nice." Donny commented.
"Well, looks like we can move on." Leo finished, jumping onto the opposite rooftop without another word. Raph took one last look at the girl, half-wishing he had helped her.
"There, there Raph. You can send her postcards." Mikey simpered behind him. Raph glared at Mikey raising an open hand.
"You know the drill, Mikey." The slap sounded like a painful one.
"Ow!" Raph quickly jumped after Leo, with Donny following close behind. Mikey was still sulking and rubbing his head where Raph had slapped him.
"Get over it shell for brains!" Raph yelled over his shoulder. Jeez, Mikey's so sensitive, he thought. Mikey quickly jumped after Donny and the four turtles headed back to the sewers.
Bella tried to calm herself. Okay, so she just took out six Purple Dragons by herself, not a big deal at all!
"Man, I'm good." Bella muttered to herself. She quickly ran up the apartment stairs and rummaged through her bag for her keys, but the door opened before she could unlock it.
"Bella! What took you? I was actually getting worried." A slightly older boy with untamed brown hair and big blue eyes scorned.
"Gimme' a break Zach! I almost got gang bashed!" Bella spat as she shouldered past her brother. Zach's annoyed expression changed to an anxious look.
"Are..are you ok?" He stuttered.
"I'm fine, Taekwondo came in handy though!" Bella exclaimed. Zach breathed a sigh, then smiled at her cheekily.
"Kickboxing is still ten times more cool than the Taekwon-crud you do!" He teased. Bella reached out her hand and tried to swat him, but he dodged her, and playfully pushed her over.
"No fair! I didn't even get you!" Bella complained. Zach smiled again and turned his back to her. Never turn your back bro, she thought.
Bella quickly flipped over and swept her leg around to trip Zach up. He crashed loudly to the floor and frowned up at Bella as she stood up.
"Still think Kickboxing is better, big brother?" Bella leered.
"Nup!" Zach grabbed Bella's arm and pulled her down to the floor. The two siblings tussled on the ground playfully, like they used to when they were kids. Suddenly, the kitchen door opened behind them, Bella looked up, letting go of Zach's hair and standing up. She put out her hand to help Zach up, but he didn't take it, flipping of his back to land steadily on his feet. He grinned at Bella. Bella smiled to herself.
He is such an idiot, she thought.
Bella looked into the kitchen. What had come through the door? She dared to peer past the door. Nothing.
"Belladonna, Zachary. Your mother said you would be in bed by now." A voice sounded behind Bella. She whipped around to find herself face to face with a tall, black haired man with dark glasses and a nasty grin. Bella grumbled.
"Rrgg…Bishop! I told you not to call me Belladonna!"
"Why? It's your name after all. And besides, I told you call me Dad, but you won't do that. So why should I call you what you want to be called?" Bishop queried scornfully.
"You want me to call you Dad, when you're obviously not my Dad!" Bella spat. Bishop was the last thing Bella wanted to see tonight.
"Well Belladonna, you'll be calling me Dad soon enough. Delilah and I rescheduled the wedding to October." Bishop sneered. Bella felt herself flinch. Crud! Why is Mum even marrying this jerk? For the money… Zach had finally showed up.
"Bishop, Mum said I was looking after Bella. I say when she goes to bed." snapped Zach disrespectfully.
"Sorry Zachary, but last time I checked, you're only 17 and I'm an adult. So I'll decide." Bishop growled irritably. Zach frowned and clenched his fists aggressively. Bella quickly grabbed her brother's hands. Bella didn't need Zach to get beaten up by Bishop. He didn't look it, but Bishop was a skilled martial artist, leading the Earth Defence Force or something random. Zach wouldn't stand a chance.
"Pay attention to your little sister Zachary, she knows my limits all too well." Bishop spun on his hell and stalked onto the lounge room, turning on the news.
"What did he mean by that?" Zach asked expectantly. Bella gulped, trying not to remember Bishop's 'punishments' for disrespecting him. She had learnt to stay quiet, and only piss him off when her Mum was around, so Bishop couldn't harm her. Zach had never bothered too much with Bishop, but he wasn't as thick-headed as Bella
"Nothing." she finally answered. Her brother had no use of this knowledge. So why bother telling him, she thought.
Bella pulled off her Taekwondo uniform. Zach had gone to sleep, and Bishop was still watching the news. Mum still hadn't come home. Bella looked at herself in the mirror. Was she getting muscles? Bonus, now Noah will definitely will wanna go out with me when I look like a she-man, Bella thought sarcastically.She smiled. Well at least I'm getting a tan. Bella pulled on her pyjamas and walked out into the kitchen. Maybe she could sneak a couple more rows of chocolate before Mum got home. Bella reached into the fridge eagerly.
"Ah, ah, ah, Belladonna. That's not what you eat before bed." Bishop had turned off the TV and was leaning casually on the wall, staring at her with his eyes gleaming.
"You're not the boss of me." Bella snapped, grabbing the chocolate and hurrying past Bishop. He grabbed her shoulder roughly.
"I beg your pardon, Belladonna?"
"Stop calling me that you jerk!" Bella pushed Bishop's hand off and stared at him menacingly. The chocolate fell to floor.
"Don't talk to me in that tone! You know the punishment!" Bishop spat, his voice rising. That's it! Bella thought furiously.
"Screw your punishments! Screw you! I'm sick of you! You rampage into my life, steal my Mum, make her forget all about my real Dad, and now you want me to act all happy-family?! Think again!" Bishop grabbed Bella by the neck. Bella thrashed, Bishop's hand tightening around her throat. She gasped for air and grappled at his hands, but Bishop's grip was too strong. Bella's breath became faint.
"Nighty-night Belladonna." Bishop faded. Bella struggled but everything was blurring. She dropped to the floor, unconscious.
"Agent Bishop, Sir!" a technician bowed and hurried alongside Bishop.
"Prepare the Genetic-alteration container! Find those terrapin gene samples! And take that bag into the Bio-genetics lab!" Bishop barked.
The technician lifted up the large bag curiously. It was heavy, but easy enough to carry. The technician looked expectantly at Agent Bishop.
"What? Is something not clear about my orders, Johnson?" Bishop asked with a deathly stare.
"N-no Sir! It just…the bag..what does it contain?" Johnson asked nervously.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Johnson placed the bag carefully onto the floor of the Bio-genetics lab. There was definitely something alive in the bag. He had felt its shallow breathing. Another technician came into the lab and placed a large steel case on the work desk beside Johnson. Johnson inquisitively opened the case. Inside was the mutant turtle gene samples. What would Agent Bishop want with them? He thought.
Agent Bishop burst through the lab door, muttering swear words under his breath.
"Johnson! Get that into the Genetic-alteration container! Now!" Bishop yelled pointing at the bag. Johnson nodded his head and picked up the bag, unzipping it. He gasped. Inside was a teenage girl with dark red hair, unconscious. Johnson looked up at Agent Bishop with disbelief. Bishop couldn't be doing this!
"Sir..I.."
"Johnson! Do you know why the previous experiments have been a failure? Because the patients have been too old! The mutagen cannot reverse age! Why have we been so blind to this factor?!" Johnson flinched, he had to think of an excuse to spare this girl.
"Sir, I don't know, but this is a girl. Surely the male turtle gene mutagen will harm her..?"
"Just remove the Y chromosome from one of gene samples!" Bishop snapped.
"But, Sir she…she could…die.."
'No matter, Johnson. It does not bother me whether this experiment succeeds or fails."
"But-"
"Johnson! Remove the chromosome for heaven's sake! Removing that cell only leaves an X chromosome, which will not alter her gender! Her two chromosomes will be unaffected if there is no alternate gene in the mutagen!"
"…yes, Sir." Johnson bowed his head. He picked up one of the turtle gene samples, and slid the tube into the Genetic-alteration container.
"Remove Y chromosome from the genetic sample and create mutagen." Johnson ordered. The machine clicked and began buzzing.
"Y chromosome removed. Mutagen created." the machine voice answered. Johnson looked back at the girl. Pity swelled in his heart. What had this girl done to make Bishop want to mutate her? Suddenly, Johnson recognised her.
"Agent Bishop, Sir. Isn't this your fiancée's daughter, Belladonna?"
'What of it?" Bishop asked harshly. Johnson's heart skipped a beat. Did this man have no emotion?
"Surely Delilah will-"
"I will tell Delilah nothing! And you will keep your mouth shut!" Bishop yelled. Johnson gulped.
"Sir, I…I can't do it…"
"You are weak, Johnson! Your pity and sympathy is a sign of disgusting weakness!" Bishop spat the last word out as if it tasted bad.
"There is no room for the weak in the EDF! Get that brat in the alteration container or consider yourself fired!" Bishop shouted.
Johnson pushed the girl into the container, tears sliding down his weary face. What am I doing? What have I become?
"Activate Genetic Alteration!" Bishop barked. The machine flashed to life.
"Genetic Alteration activated. Species of Mutagen: Terrapin. Species of Patient: Homosapien. Proceeding." The machine whirled. Bishop's eyes flashed with triumph. Johnson looked away as the container flooded with orange stasis liquid. The girl convulsed in the container and jerked horrifically.
"Error! Gender of Mutagen: Male. Gender of Patient: Female. Proceed?" the machine halted.
"Proceed." Bishop snarled, a sadistic smile on his face
"Proceeding." the machine answered, hurling back to life. The liquid pulsed rapidly and the girl twitched and shuddered. Her skin crawled and swelled as the mutagen diluted the stasis liquid. Johnson covered his ears, but nothing could block out the sickening sounds of mutation.
Bella's head pounded as if she had been knocked with a hammer or something. Every part of her body throbbed with pain, but she felt light, her weight supported by something. Far out, what happened to me? Am I dead or something, Bella thought to herself. Her eyelids were too heavy to lift. Bella strained her ears to listen for anything. Voices. Men. Machines buzzing and humming. Was she in hospital?
"Sir, The patient is stirring! The scan shows brain activity." She must be hospital.
"Excellent. The procedure was a success!" Bella tried to guess what had happened to her. Did she have lung failure or something?
"Sir, will we contain the patient in the Cryo-containment unit?" Cryo-containment? That wasn't any hospital machinery. Bella desperately tried to open her eyes. A slight orange blur slowly came into focus. What's with all the water? Bella wondered.
"Drain the stasis liquid, Johnson!" Barked a familiar voice. Suddenly, Bella felt her weight come back to her. She fell to the floor of a small space, coughing and spluttering. Her back ached, and felt more stiff and rigid than normal, while her chest felt constricted and tough. Bella opened her eyes, blinking orange liquid away. Glass surrounded her, silhouettes of men moved like shadows outside the glass. Bella shook her head violently, trying to focus.
"Sir! The patient is regaining vitality! Should we prepare for neutralisation?" Bella stretched out her legs until they hit the glass. What? Why are my legs green? She thought desperately. Not only were they green, but defined with strong, bulky muscles and her feet only had two toes. What the…She drew her arms up to look at her hands. Green as well, with only three fingers! What the hell was going on?
"Prepare to transport the patient to the Cryo-containment unit, Johnson!" Snapped the familiar voice again. Where had she heard that voice, and why was she green? The glass case around Bella slid down, and four scientist-looking men closed in on her. Suddenly, a bolt of energy and fury burst through her.
'What have you done to me?!" Bella shouted. The scientists tried to stab her with neutralisers, but Bella dodged them. Something felt different, she felt more quick and powerful.
"Contain the patient! Don't let her get away!" Bella's mind reeled as she searched for the source of the familiar voice, while jumping skilfully over the advancing men. Then it clicked.
"Bishop." Bella barely whispered the word, but the breath it had took to say that name contained so much anger. Her eyes focussed.
There he was, standing at a work desk, in all his vile glory. Bella shook with rage. Bishop had gone too far this time! She straightened up and took a step towards him. Nothing in the world could make up for this…
Bodyguards and scientists surrounded Bella, blocking her view of Bishop.
"Don't try anything Belladonna, you're outnumbered and outmatched!" Bishop voiced echoed.
"Now just get into the container like a good little mutant!" growled one of the scientists, stepping towards her. Bella jumped behind him, and kicked him with a reverse crescent kick.
"Careful, the mutagen has made her stronger. We don't know what she's capable of!" warned a technician. Mutagen? Bella wondered.
She turned back to the men. Fury pulsed through her, but it would be stupid to try and take them all down. Bella quickly spotted an open window to her left. She flipped nimbly over the guards and jumped out the window. Bella landed in a small sewer tunnel. Going above ground would be wise. She quickly climbed the stairs and pushed open the manhole. Climbing out, she realised she was in the Northern Docking port. Voices sounded from the sewers beneath her. Bella had to hide. She had to get away from Bishop.
Bella quietly scaled the rooftops. She hadn't had the chance to see the full extent of this 'mutagen', but she was certain that she was no longer normal looking. Her apartment was only a couple of buildings away. Maybe Zach could help her. But what if he doesn't recognise me? She shook away the thought. No, no one could help her, she was alone, Bella closed her eyes and stopped running. She fell to her knees weakly and began to cry.
"Why?" She begged looking up at the cloudy night sky. She sniffed loudly and looked around for something to help her.
"Anything?" She whispered, brushing tears from her eyes. She looked at her hands and began crying again. Green…
Paper rustled behind her, she turned miserably and saw an old newspaper scuffling towards her. She grabbed it feebly and looked through.
"This is pointless!" She cried, throwing the paper down. The pages rustled in the wind, and stopped on a page that read: Freaks Among Us. Bella sniffed again and picked the paper up. The page had pictures of four oversized reptiles.
"Re..reporters..hear from ..distressed citizens… that four mutant…creatures..r..roam the sewers of…New York." She sobbed gently.
The sewers. Maybe I should check it out. Maybe…maybe they're victims of Bishop like me? Bella wondered.
"Might as well…" She murmured to herself. Bella stood up and quickly jumped to the next building, and slipped in one of the windows.
Luckily, it was her apartment. Bella quietly crept through the apartment. Her Mum was asleep on the couch, an empty Tequila bottle lay beside her. Bella smiled weakly and shook her head.
'You'll never change, Mum." She whispered. Bella continues through the house, peering into Zach's room. He was snoring loudly, and muttering something about Kickboxing in his sleep.. Finally Bella reached her own room. She quickly, but stealthily grabbed her Bo staff. Might come in handy, she thought. Bella reached into her wardrobe and took out an oversized hoodie. Disguise. She turned around and looked at the mirror. What did he do to me? Bella took a breath and stepped forward.
The mirror reflected her.
Bella swallowed hard. Where she had once had a soft, light face with freckles and sweet lips, was now a dusty green, with a smooth beak instead of a nose. Her ears had gone along with her eyebrows. Where she had once beared a girly figure with a small chest and slight hips, she now had some sort of plastron, yellow contrasting to the new green colour of her body, with a womanly curve. Her back was covered with a broad strong shell and her arms and legs were strong and powerful. Her dark red hair, so much like her mother's, was gone, leaving a smooth rounded, green scalp.
"A…turtle?" Bella whispered. She blinked with disbelief. The one thing that remained was her shocking green eyes, but they barely stood out amongst her smooth green skin. Bella shook her head and jumped out the window, pushing her reflection out of her mind. She spotted another manhole on the ground below her. Quietly, Bella landed on the hard concrete and looked around. A tall guy with long black hair and broad shoulders noticed her and waved.
"Mikey! Where yous' going?' The man shouted. Bella stumbled back and pulled her hoodie over her head lifting the manhole upwards and slipping into the sewers.
"That was close." Bella muttered to herself. She walked up the path alongside flowing water, glancing back to make sure no one was following her. Old habits, she thought humorously, despite her tension. After what had seemed like an eternity, Bella had come across a large steel door. She gulped and quietly opened the door. It creaked horribly making Bella jump. She quickly slid behind a large brick wall and found another door, a lever next to it. Bella stepped forward cautiously and pulled the lever. The brick door swung open and Bella stealthily crept in.
Leonardo stirred. He was sure he had felt a presence enter the lair. He jumped out of his bed and put his mask on.
Leo looked softly at Donnatello as he crept past his brothers room. Donny was muttering in his sleep, still wearing his protection glasses,
"..bi-bio-structure..of..carbon…atom…" You'll never change little brother, Leo smiled weakly. He checked Raphael's room. Raph was awkwardly swaying in his hammock, snoring loudly and biting his pillow. Leo sighed. Good thing, Mikey couldn't see this. Leo tiptoed into Michelangelo's room. Mikey was easily the most innocent of his brothers being the youngest, breathing softly with a comic book still grasped in his hand.
"…hmm…Turtle…Titan…" Leo stifled a laugh, Mikey was so naïve and boisterous, yet easily lovable. The lair's door creaked unnaturally. Leo stealthily jumped down into the training area. Soft feet land behind him.
"You heard it too, Donny?" Leo asked, not looking at what was behind him.
"How'd you know it was me?" Leo turned and fixed his brother with a grin. Donny looked puzzled and sleepy.
"Donny, don't bother asking."
"Hey we have a midnight feast or something?" Mikey asked loudly, landing behind Donny. Leo frowned at Mikey. Typical of Mikey to ruin the silence with a food reference. Raph landed next to Leo, yawning and stretching.
"I heard footsteps, I thought someone was in the lair.." Leo whispered.
"You thought right." Donny murmured, pointing upward, at a moving dark mass.
Raph drew his Sai spun them skilfully around his fingers. Leo put his arm in front of Raph, but Raph pushed it away, giving Leo a hacked off stare.
"Leo, don't tell me what to do, when some bozo's on our turf!" Raph growled. He looked up and flung his Sai at the mass with precision. The mass lost balance and fell to the ground in front of the turtles. Leo thought it looked like an oversized kid, wearing a big dark hoodie, so his face and body were invisible. The kid drew a Bo staff from behind and stepped back into a guarding position. Leo, Raph and Mikey looked at Donny expectantly.
"What?"
"He's all yours, Donny."
"Lucky me." Donny said sarcastically, spinning his Bo in front of him like a shield. Mikey grinned, this kid didn't know what was coming.
Donny launched himself forward and swiped at the kid with his Bo. The kid blocked it and flipped over Donny and hit him with a sharp warning tap to the knee. Donny stumbled and fell back.
"That's it! Playtime's over!" Raph growled jumping at the kid with a dragon punch, the kid blocked it easily and slapped Raph hard on the back of the head. Mikey grinned to himself, now Raph was really ticked off! Raph grunted irritably and spun around, fire burning in his eyes. Leo signalled for all of them too attack together. Mikey leapt forward and flung his Nunchakus at the kid, but the kid grabbed one of the Nunchakus and pulled Mikey forward into the his elbow.
"Oww.." This punk was good. The kid bowled over Donny and Leo with a spinning heel kick. Whoa!, I've never seen that kick before!
"Watch it! He doesn't fight Ninjitsu!" growled Leo from the floor.
"Duh!" snapped Mikey, jumping forward again. The kid had a speed advantage and was quick to counter-attack, but he seemed to lack physical strength. Maybe if Mikey overpowered him, they might beat him. The kid kicked out at Mikey, and Mikey saw his chance and jumped onto the kid, wrestling him to the floor.
"Rrrgg…stay down punk!" Mikey growled. Man, how'd we get our shells kicked by this kid? The kid struggled, but Mikey was stronger. Raph quickly jumped over and pulled up his arm with a clenched fist, preparing for the finishing blow.
"Raph! We attacked him! Maybe he meant us no harm!" Donny shouted, but it was too late. Mikey felt the kid go limp beneath him. Mikey stood up warily and looked down. A large hoodie was still concealing the kid's face and body.
"Time to reveal the…uh..kid?" Mikey asked. Leo nodded, helping Donny up. Mikey pulled back the hoodie and fell back.
"Wah?" This is a.." Mikey gazed up at Donny searching for an answer. Donny's mouth dropped as he looked at the 'kid's' face.
"…another mutant turtle?"
Donny lifted the turtle onto his table, still disbelieving what lay before him. Raph had made him unconscious, but Donny was still going to do an analysis of the turtle. Mikey and Raph stared at him, bewildered, while Leo stood back, looking deep in thought.
"Uh…initiating vital scans." Donny pushed a button on his computer. Data flicked up on the screen.
"Ok, well, his DNA is different to ours, to he's not related to us or anything, but his gene sample is almost identical to ours, and he's been mutated recently, at most a week ago." Donny reported. His brothers nodded. This was too weird.
"And uh..what?!" Donny checked the computer again, but there was no mistake.
"What's wrong with him Donny?" Leo finally spoke.
"Umm…well…He is ..a…"
"What? Get on with it Don!" Raph urged, impatiently.
"He…is a …she."
"What?!" Mikey sounded astonished.
"Nah..Donny's only joking, ain't ya' Donny-boy?" Raph didn't believe him.
"No look Raph, his..uh, her scan doesn't show any traces of-"
"Fine, fine I get the idea!" Raph interrupted and Donny laughed despite the tension. Raph still couldn't stand 'those' kinds of words.
"So we gotta' little sister?" Mikey asked quietly.
"No! Well yes, she's about a year younger than us, but I told you, her DNA is different, so she's not related to us!" Donny exclaimed.
"But I still think there's no way, a chick took us down!" Raph growled.
"Well if you don't believe me, take a look for yourself." Donny retorted. Mikey covered his eyes as Donny lifted the hoodie off the turtle. Leo gasped and Raph swallowed hard. It was a girl turtle. She had soft, light green skin, and her plastron was more rounded and curved around the hips. She was slightly smaller and thinner than the boys. Her beak was much more smooth and her muscles were a little less defined, while her shell was smaller and had a more complex pattern. Mikey peeked through his fingers and gulped, startled.
"Uh…Don, when is…she…gonna' wake up." asked Leo, awkwardly.
"Well, thanks to Raph, I'd say about…a while…" Donny quickly. Leo and Raph stood around a little while longer, staring speechless at the girl turtle until they left Don and Mikey alone with her.
"Mikey, shouldn't you be playing video games or something?" Donny asked impatiently. He really wanted to be alone, so he could research her mutation pattern, but Mikey was still here.
"They say when you wake up from being KOed, the first person..or..uh..turtle you see, is the turtle you end up liking the most." Mikey replied cheerfully. What an Idiot, thought Donny.
"Mikey, I'll call you when she wakes up, I promise." Donny had to get rid of Mikey somehow.
"Ok, Donny." Mikey jumped out from Donny's work space and flipped onto couch. Donny sighed and began studying her mutation pattern.
"When are you going to wake up?" Donny asked. It's not like she can hear me or anything, he thought.
"Hmm…for a mutant turtle, you're really pretty." Don told her, laughing to himself. She was pretty, Donny wondered how she got mutated.
The computer began beeping. The screen read: Vitality regaining. Consciousness regaining., but Donny ignored it.
The girl turtle stirred, her eyes blinking open slowly.
"Huh?" Donny watched silently as the girl turtle looked up at him with startlingly green eyes.
"..you're…a..awake already?" Donny was astonished.
"W…where..am..I?"
Bella swallowed. Her head throbbed badly, for the second time that night, as she looked up. Above her, stood…a giant turtle. Bella groaned. This must be some sort of bad dream.
"Are you ok?" the giant turtle asked. Bella blinked again and let her eyes refocus. She was right. A giant turtle with a purple mask was looking down at her, worried and anxious.
"Uh…I'm fine…who the hell are you?" Bella asked weakly. The turtle flinched,
"You speak English?"
"No duh.. Who are you?" Bella asked again.
"I'm Donnatello, but you can call me Donny. What's your name?" Donny sounded friendly.
"I'm Bella..uh..I mean Belladonna…what happened?" Bella asked rubbing her head. This was some off the wall dream.
"Oh..sorry, we thought you were our enemy or something, so Raph kinda..hit you…"Donny looked worried.
"Who's Raph?" There's more giant turtles?
"One of my brothers. If you want, I can introduce you?" Bella nodded and got off the table. Why were her legs green?
Oh…now I remember, this is probably a dream too…WAKE UP BELLA!!
Donny led her out into the lair. She could see three other giant turtles, all guys. One was meditating, another one was beating up a punching bag and the third one was playing video games.
"That's Leonardo, The one with the blue mask." Donny pointed to the turtle meditating. "And that's Raphael, the red mask." He pointed to the turtle punching. Donny didn't introduce the third turtle who had an orange mask.
"Who's that?" Bella asked curiously. Donny sighed and smiled.
"Uh…that's Mikey, Michelangelo. Try to ignore him." Mikey looked up when Donny said his name and smiled, dropping his controller and jumping over to Bella.
"So the sleeping dude-ette awakes!" He grinned and turned around, signalling to his other brothers.
"Leo, Raph! Come meet the turtle chick!" Bella frowned. She hated being referred to as 'chick'. Leo smiled at her warmly while Raph nodded.
"So...I think we've all got some explaining to do." Leo concluded after an awkward silence of staring.
Bella still couldn't believe what was going on. Leo and his brothers told her that she had roamed into their lair and they had fought, but that's not had Bella's mind in a twist. She was a mutant turtle. A mutant FREAKIN' turtle! And she was sitting on a couch with four other mutant turtles and a giant rat who was called Master Splinter! Bella told them why she had come searching for them, but she hadn't mentioned Bishop's mutation. They have no use of that information.
Her mind was already analysing the turtles. Leo was obviously the leader, the wise one and his skin was the most green. Raph was a hot-head, acting before thinking with dark green skin. Donny was the smart one, an engineer with an olive colour. Mikey seemed like the youngest, acting playfully and naïve with blue-green skin. Bella's skin was easily the lightest green, with a slight tinge of blue. She wondered what she would tell them about herself. That she was a biology and art student, that she loved annoying people, that she could fight with a Bo and Nunchakus and that she was a ipod addict? Should I tell them about the chocolate obsession? Nah…
"Belladonna, from what you tell me, I can see that you are emotionally distressed, you need a…haven to rebuild yourself. The ground above is not a safe place for you anymore. People will not accept who and what you have become. I would be most calmed if you were to stay with us. My sons and I would most enjoy your company and I can see you are a skilled martial artist." Master Splinter reasoned. Bella flinched, did she really want to live with four mutant turtles and a rat? Five guys! As if Zach wasn't bad enough…
"Just what Martial Arts do you do Bella?" Leo asked interestedly. Bella smiled.
"Taekwondo, the Korean art of kicking and punching. I'm a 1st Dan black belt." Bella said proudly. Master Splinter sniffed.
"Perhaps, you would like to join my sons in learning the way of the Ninja?" He offered. Bella was stunned. A ninja? Her?
"I guess…"
"And perhaps we can learn from your Taekwondo skills?" Leo suggested hopefully. Master Splinter nodded. Bella watched as Master Splinter stood up and walked into his den. When he came out, he was holding a small box in his arms. He handed the box to Bella.
Inside was a pink ninja mask, a belt, some elbow and knee pads and two steel Fans with pink ribbon around the base of them. Bella looked up, her eyes shining. Maybe she could learn to like this…to…belong.
"So…I call you Sensei now, yes?" She asked Master Splinter. He took a long breath and shook his head.
"No. Leonardo will be your Sensei."