Disclaimer: I don't on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And that makes me very sad- so please do not depress me even more by suing me for writing this story. I don't mean to infringe on copyright at all…
Author's Note: I though I might tell you this takes place after 'Good Genes' and before the whole Ninja Tribunal thing. But I am (I admit!) using the beginning of 'Ninja Tribunal'. You know, when they are arranging the couch with Don on it? I thought this might be a fun story to do- I've had this bunny hopping around in my head and it just recently got into the garden so it needs to get out!
I got the opening scene from 'The Ninja Tribunal'. It is the episode so the beginning scene isn't mine. It belongs to the creators of TMNT. But please don't sue me for using that. I just didn't want to make people go find the episode so they understand the beginning bit. And yes, I did change the scene with Splinter and the Ancient One.
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The Myth Convention
Unexpected
"No- No. I don't think so it just doesn't speak to me." Mikey squinted through the frame he hand made from his hands. "A little to the right." Leo and Raph picked up the tattered and worn couch they were moving and shifted it to the right. The weight may have been heavier because of Donnie on top of it but they didn't show it. "No. No! My other right!" Mikey exclaimed exasperatingly.
Still holding the couch aloft Raph shot a glare at his younger brother. "I'll give you another right Mikey. A right hook!"
Donatello sighed from his perch. "Guys let me get up and help. This is just silly!"
Leo and Raph set the couch down. "No you stay right there and rest." Leo said, taking over as the resident 'older brother'.
Don's face swiftly changed from mildly bothered to ticked off. "But I have been resting. I've been resting for weeks! I rested while you guys fixed up the lair. I rested while you moved furniture. Heck I'm resting on the furniture you're moving! I'm done resting!" He waved his arms gesturing at the newly fixed up lair.
Leo put his hands on his hips, a body motion that stated there was no point arguing. "It's just that we don't want to take any chances of a relapse."
Raph crossed his arms, his way of communicating no arguing. "Yeah no offense Donnie, but you weren't too much fun when you were..." He paused for the briefest of moments, the memory of his brother's transformation still an awkward situation to talk about. "Sick." He finished.
"Fun?" Mikey broke in, "He was a monster! And absolutely horrible drooling big nasty fanged monster! You tried to eat my leg!" He pointed an accusing finger at Don.
The accused turtle hung his head in shame. Though he tried to remember the stories his brothers and sensei had told him of his recent illness he just couldn't. "I- I'm sorry Mikey." He closed his eyes trying again to fill the gap in his memories. "Guys I- I don't remember any of that." The guilt of this slight memory lapse was laying heavily on his conscience.
Leo jumped in before Don started to feel too sorry for something that wasn't his fault. "It's okay Donnie." He placed his hand on his shoulder. "Come to think of it, we have been cooped up in here for a long time." His eyes widened in excitement as an idea and a smile lit up his face. "Who's up for a little late night entertainment?" All three brothers smiled and raised their green three-fingered hands.
The next thing they knew they were flipping around rooftops in two groups. Don was slightly lagging behind because of his leg. Leo stayed behind with him, partly through not wanting to leave him vulnerable and alone, and partly because of older brother instinct. So he let Mikey take the lead- Raph hot on his tail. As usual they carried their weapons, though they doubted if tonight they would need them. Though, Don had not brought his duffel bag.
Mikey jumped over a clothesline and spotted a polka-dotted skirt. Never one to miss a gag Mikey took the skirt and started to dance, laughing hysterically. Raph tackled him and they landed hard on the rooftop.
Leo and Don followed after they had flipped over the wall with help from Don's staff and landed neatly. Don stashed his Bo away on his back and took a deep breath. Raph jumped up and stood next to Don smiling. Mikey flipped himself off of Raph's shoulders to land on the other side. Don's face lit up in a wide smile as the wind gently lifted the ends of their bandannas. "Man it feels good to be out of the lair!" He said happily.
Mikey looked at his brother suspiciously. "Are we sure Donnie's all better?" he said teasingly, "See the full moon Donnie?" He pointed. "Do you feel the monster inside? The monster taking control? Muwahahahahahahahaha!"
Donnie eyes grew wide in an over exaggerated look of terror, "Oh no!" he grabbed his neck and stuck out his tongue as if he was choking. "I'm changing! Roar!"
"Ahh! Help me! Help me! He's trying to eat my leg again!" Mikey screamed in a high pitched voice as Don ran after him. Leo and Raph laughed as the two younger brothers began to run around the rooftop before they too joined in the chase.
--
Splinter sat in the lair, meditating on the past events. In his paws he held a ripped cloth bearing the foot symbol. His ears twitched slightly as a sound of wind rushing around a fast body greeted him.
"Pardon the intrusion Splinter-san." The Ancient One said as he flipped into the lair.
Splinter was surprised. "Ancient One. You have come all this way?" He asked. It was not often they received visitors, let alone one from Japan.
"I am afraid so." The Ancient One said. He looked around the empty lair. "Where are they? Where are your sons?" He said.
"Out taking exercise." Splinter said. "Ancient One why have you come?"
The Ancient One smiled. "I wanted to see how you and your family were doing. I heard about your son, Donatello. Is he alright?"
Splinter nodded, taking pride in his second youngest son's strength. Donatello may have been injured and mutated but he did not take let that stop him from trying to help out. His son was so determined that to get him to rest they had to physically restrain him from doing anything too straining. Going so far as once having Michelangelo tie him to a chair. "Yes. He is doing quite well." Splinter gestured to the spot in front of him. "Please sit my friend. And tell me why you traveled all this way. I sense a simple wish to see us was not the only reason you are here."
"Nothing escapes you Splinter-san." The Ancient One said, sitting down. "I must tell you that I have been having visions and dreams. I do not yet know what they mean but I feel like I must be here. Something important is going to happen. But I do not know what."
Splinter tensed slightly, importance usually also heralded danger to his family. "Please Ancient One, tell me of these visions. Perhaps together we can understand them."
--
"Alright. Come on we can do this move!"
"Why are we doing it here. If you fall you'll-"
"Yeah- yeah. Fall on concrete instead of a tree or grass. I know, I know."
"Fine. Let's just do this once okay?"
"Once. I'm good with that. Come on fly higher I want as much time for you to recover and catch me." Her hair fluttered in the wind.
"Right." The two gained height and speed as they flew.
The wind whistled past their ears as they flew higher. "Okay! Go!" The girl shot herself into the air. She punched and kicked as though trying to attack an invisible enemy. She 'swam' through the air as she fell faster and faster going from one side to the other. She flipped over and over moving back and forth like a zigzag through the air attacking the enemies no one else could see.
Her partner twisted around in the air performing her own attacks against the invisible foe. They were moving apart from each other. Suddenly a black net came out of nowhere encircling the girl's partner. She cried out, her claws and teeth unable to cut through the net. The girl attempted to move to her partner but before she could another net came at her. She dodged but was hit on the leg. She cursed at the pain but remained moving toward her captured partner. The net was moving up instead of down however and soon it was drawn into a ship. Black, it blended into the dark sky disappearing among the stars.
The girl began to fall faster and faster. She screamed out as she watched her terrified and intensely fighting partner was taken out of her sight. "NOOOO!!" She screamed as she fell further. "ITHICA!!"
--
Meanwhile, Don was chasing his brothers around the rooftop, roaring and snickering as his brothers laughed and yelled. Raph was in front, hardly even running, with Leo after him followed by Mikey punctuating the air with high-pitched screams. They slowed down and stopped in a circle laughing a panting slightly. Grins plastered on their faces. Donnie reached over and ran his hand over Mikey's head.
Don leaned his head back and looked at the sky. "Man it really feels good to be out and about again." He smiled at the bright stars twinkling down at him.
Raph stretched his arms out and looked up as well. "Clear night ain't it?"
"Yeah, unusual for New York." Mikey said as he looked at the sky. "How long has it been since we just looked at the sky for the sake of looking at the sky instead of looking for helicopters of something?"
Leo looked up smiling but didn't say anything. He agreed with Mikey and Don. It was nice to be able to be outside and not to be afraid of the Shredder or even Bishop at the moment. The ninja in the back of his mind told him it wasn't going to be like this for long, but he didn't care at the moment. He could drop the ninja 'fearless leader' as his brothers called him for a few moments and just enjoy his brothers being with him. 'We should do this more often- in case…' he stopped his thoughts there. The incident with Don had shaken him to the core.
Especially when he had to shoot Don with the tranks. Don still didn't know that had happened. Leo had practically begged Raph, Mikey, and Master Splinter not to say anything. Don had been convinced that the resulting dents in his plastron were from one of Bishops flunkies. And Leo dearly hoped he never would have to confront his brother about the truth.
"Yo Leo!"
Raph's harsh voice snapped Leo out of his thoughts. "What?"
Raph raised an eyebrow ridge, "We've been trying to talk to you bro. What are you thinking about?"
Leo shook his head. "Just that it's nice to be together again." He didn't care how cheesy that sounded. He wanted them to know how much he appreciated them.
"Yeah, yeah." Raph said, waving the comment off. "Don't get all mushy on me please."
Mikey and Don snorted in contained laughter. "Come on Leo." Mikey said. "This is real life not some kids show! We don't have to be that cheesy."
"I was just thinking." Leo said, feeling heat start to rise in his cheeks, "I mean, we always come so close to losing each other. It's just nice to not be running from some enemy."
Donnie clapped him on the shoulder. "It's okay Leo. We're all fine. We're family- we'll always be fine as long as we're together."
Mikey moaned. "All this lovey-dovey stuff is killing my brain!"
"The one cell that's left?" Raph smirked.
"HEY!" Mikey stuck his lip out in a pout. "Be nice to me Raph."
"Make me." Raph said, as he placed his hands on his hips.
Leo sighed as the Mikey began to chase Raph to the other side of the building. Donnie laughed and moved to stand next to Leo and folded his arms over his chest. "There they go again." Leo said shaking his head.
Don looked up as he heard a strange sound. "Hey Leo, you hear that?"
Leo looked at Don, worry crossing his face. "Hear what?" But as the words slipped out of his mouth he heard it. It sounded like someone screaming. "Wha? Where is it coming from?"
The two turtles looked up as they both reached the same conclusion as to where the sound was coming from. They saw a dark spot falling faster and faster towards them. "What the shell?" They said in unison as the spot became a body and fell further faster than they could have believed.
Mikey and Raph looked up from attacking each other as they saw the body fall. The body fell on top of Leonardo while one of it's flailing limbs knocked Donatello on top of both of them. None of them were moving.
--
The girl was falling. She knew that. She thought quickly remembering her training. She craned her neck grounds-ward to see where she was landing. She saw a rooftop below her. Were there people on it? Something was moving on it… '100 feet down.' She guessed. Her hands clasped together on the back of her neck. She tried to position them so if she got hurt she would be okay. She closed her eyes and waited for impact. The wind whistled past her ears so fast she couldn't hear anything at all.
Less than a second later she felt her back hit something hard and slightly round. She felt her arm hit something else, it felt like flesh… Then something fell on top of her as her head hit the ground hard. And the wind stopped whistling and everything else went black.
--
Raphael and Michelangelo abandoned their fight and ran to their fallen brothers. They could see an indentation under Leo where the force of whatever had fallen had hit. "Ow…" Donnie said, as he shook his head to clear the dizziness in his head. He had fallen backward over Leo and whatever it was that fell from the sky. Mikey grabbed Donnie's hand and pulled him up.
Leo groaned and attempted to get up. Somehow he had gotten turned on his stomach. He pushed himself up wondering what on Earth had just fallen on him. He felt something roll off his shell and heard it hit the ground. He groaned again, and turned to Don. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Don said rubbing his shoulder. His eyes grew wide as he stared at the thing that had fallen.
Leo got to his knees, 'Man, my shell hurts.' He thought. He looked over his shoulder to see a girl. A girl on her back, hands folded behind her neck and her head looking… wrong. He gasped; involuntarily his hand began to reach out to her.
"Don't touch her!" Donnie said sharply.
Leo pulled his hand back as though burned. "Why? Don we can't just leave her like this!"
"Don't you see her neck?" He said. "It's broken. See the bulge there? That's probably the bone…"
Mikey gasped and stared at her. "We've gotta do something!"
As if on cue the girl moaned. Donnie nodded, "She's still alive, but probably paralyzed. We can't do anything. We need to call someone. We can't risk moving her in her condition. The girl moaned again.
"That. Really. Hurt." She said hardly moving her lips. Her voice was high, but at the same time almost comforting. It sounded almost like the voice of a close friend that you had not seen for a long time. The turtles knew they had never seen her before, but yet her voice was so familiar.
The turtles stared at her. "Is she supposed to be able to do that?" Raph said.
The girl spoke again, her lips barely moving, '"That. Really. Flipping. Hurt."
Raph breathed in sharply, almost laughing, that last statement would have been funny if the girl wasn't in such a grave situation.
She swallowed. "Ow." Her fingers under her neck began to move.
"I thought you said she'd be paralyzed. Don." Raph said.
Don was just staring at her incredulously. "She should be. Or at least in incredible pain."
The girl's fingers started to arrange themselves along her neck, a thumb grazed the lump of bone and she winced. She still had not opened her eyes. "Okay…" She took a deep breath. "I've got the pressure points…" She exhaled. "I can do this." She inhaled deeply. Her face tightened itself up. Then her hands convulsed and the lump of bone disappeared. She growled in pain and her hand squeezed tighter. Then she released her neck. "Ow." She said again. "That was painful." She lifted her head and took her hands out from behind her head. "Owwwww…." She sat up rubbing her neck. "I am going to KILL Ithica!" She pushed herself up- still not noticing the four turtles staring at her. She attempted to stand up straight but bent back down on one knee as she clutched her lower back. "Oh may back! My back! Ow!" She moaned. She still had not seen the turtles. "That really hurt, I haven't done that in awhile. Ow." Finally, she looked up. Her eyes locked on the turtles. "Hmm… Are you real? Or am I hallucinating?" She asked calmly.
No one moved. Don's eyes were popping out of his head and his mouth was hanging wide open. Raph was dumbfounded, arms hanging loosely at his sides. Mikey was just staring. Leo shook his head, taking action and speaking to the girl, "Yeah we're… real."
"Are there supposed to be four of you?" She said, moving her finger down the line of them. "Slight differences, but still similar, could be seeing double…" She said, more to herself than Leo.
He raised one eyebrow ridge, "Yeah there's four of us."
"Hmmm." The girl said. "That's nice."
Raph broke out of his shock, "Wait a sec, why aren't you scared of us? I mean… we're not exactly something you see everyday."
The girl looked at him strangely. "Why should I be afraid of you? Four giant turtles… probably box…" She looked Leo up and down. "And armed too- Yeah I'm terrified." She said sarcastically, "Truly terrified." She rolled her eyes. "Look, I've got t go find Ithica. So I've got to get going." She stood up and turned away from the shocked turtles. She spoke to herself again, "Okay… rooftop… great place to land…" she looked right and then left as she stood on the edge of the roof. Her eyes focused on the rooftop across the street. "Not too far." She winced and rubbed the back of her neck. "I can do it." She grunted and bent her knees preparing to jump-
"Hey!" All four turtles lurched forward, grabbing the girl and dragging her back from the edge.
"You're in no condition to do that!" Don said as he grabbed her left arm.
"What're you tryin' to do?" Raph demanded taking a shoulder.
Mikey grabbed her right arm and started to pull. "That's too far!"
Leo firmly grabbed the girl around the waist and spun around setting her down safely away from the edge not saying anything. He set his hand on her other shoulder. The four of them looked at each other wondering what in the world was going on.
Suddenly the girl spun around. Surprising them all as she quickly and easily wriggled out of their grasp. She flipped herself once landing out of reach, standing about 5 feet away. She swayed slightly as though after the quick and sudden movement had made standing itself was becoming difficult. She blinked tiredly at them. Her right hand came up again and rubbed her neck. "I've got to find…" but she couldn't finish the sentence before she collapsed in a crumpled heap- out cold.
The turtles stared at her, once again dumbfounded. "What the shell-" Raph said, "Just happened?"
Don shook his head. "I don't know." He answered. "But we can't just leave her here." His mind was working as fast as it could trying to come up with a better solution than to-
"Then we gotta take her to the lair den." Raph said decisively.
A look of concern crossed over Mikey's face. "Why don't we just leave her at the hospital?"
Don shook his head. "She just fixed her own broken neck. And then flipped over us. I don't think she's human. And if she's not just think of what might happen to her at the hospital."
Leo knew Don was right. He didn't like the idea, but maybe Master Splinter could help them- he might have an idea who she is. Or at least what would be the best way to deal with her. "Then we take her to the lair. Master Splinter can help us." His brothers nodded. "Raph can you carry her?" he nodded. "Good. Don? You go ahead and warn Master Splinter that we're coming- get something ready that we can put her on. Mikey you and I will cover Raph in case any other 'unexpected guests' drop in."
His brothers nodded again and set off for their tasks. Don pulled out his Bo and was immediately sprinting towards the lair. Mikey and Leo pulled out their respective weapons as Raph gingerly picked the girl up.
He held her in front of him. He was surprised by how light she was. She opened her eyes slightly and peered at him through her lashes. She blinked and closed her eyes. Raph fought his emotions to prevent himself from blushing. She was so… warm. He shook these feelings out of his head and shifted her into a better position. Once he had her safely in his arms the three of them ran off after Don.
--
Master Splinter nodded as the Ancient One finished his story. "I am afraid that I too have no idea as to what they might mean old friend."
The Ancient One nodded. "Yes Splinter-San. But they are very intriguing and-"
But he never got to finish his sentence as Don came bursting in.
"Donatello!" Master Splinter said, parental fear taking over as he saw the distressed look in his son's eyes. "What is wrong? Where are your brothers?"
Don answered even as he rushed over to the couch they had been moving just earlier that morning. "They're coming Master Splinter. But they're bringing a girl with them- she's out cold." He looked at Splinter. "She fell from the sky Sensei. Out of nowhere!" His voice rised in pitch and volume as he got more excited. "Her neck was broken and she just snapped it back into place!"
Master Splinter eyed his son dangerously but before he had a chance to say anything his other sons came bounding into the lair. He saw Raphael holding a young girl, 'out cold' as Donatello had put it, and watched as he carried her over to the couch. The girl moaned slightly.
The boys were completely engrossed in their new guest that none of them had noticed the Ancient One. Master Splinter and the Ancient One stood and walked quietly over to the couch where the boys were gathered. They saw the girl, laying peacefully on the couch. Her chest rose and fell with her steady breathing. Her hair was a darkish blonde with highlights that seemed to sparkle in the light. She wore a black and blue floral design tank top and black capris. She was pale, though whether what was her skin tone or because of her fall they didn't know. Her legs were long and covered in what looked like scratches. Her chin was pointed and her face a peculiar angular look to it.
Leo stared at the girl. "We couldn't have left her there, Master Splinter. And the way she was able to fix her own broken neck-"
"Yes my son. I know." Master Splinter replied.
Leo turned to look at his father and was surprised to see the Ancient One. "Ancient One. What are you doing here?"
The Ancient One smiled. "All in good time kumquat." He said.
The girl moaned again as her eyelids fluttered open. Her eyes were a blue-green color and almost lizard-like. "Ow." She said. "That hurt." She looked around at the figures standing over her. "Oh, it's you guys again. She eyed Splinter and the Ancient One, "Hmm. Friends of yours?" She asked. She coughed.
Master Splinter blinked- the slightest trace of surprise crossing his features, "Why are you not afraid?" He said posing the same question his sons had done.
"Afraid?" The girl laughed and pushed herself up in a sitting position. "Four giant turtles, a giant rat, and a small fat man. Please, I've seen scarier stuff than that." She looked around taking in her surroundings. The 10 or so TVs in front of the couch, the meditation area, still alight with candles, the kitchen, the dojo and finally the faces surrounding her.
"What is your name?" The Ancient One asked.
"Trish." The girl said. "Name's Trish. Who are you?"
"I'm Leonardo." Said Leo. "These are my brothers. Donatello." He pointed at the purple-banded turtle. "Raphael." Raph nodded his head stiffly. "And Michelangelo." Mikey waved. "This is Master Splinter." He said gesturing to the rat. "And Ancient One." The fat man bowed.
"Good." Trish said. She looked above her to see a ceiling. "Where am I? What did you do with the stars? Last thing I remember we were on a rooftop…"
"You collapsed. We couldn't just leave you there." Mikey said.
Trish shook her head. "Where's Ithica?" She asked.
The 6 of them looked at each other. "Who?" Leo asked.
"Ithica." The girl said again, offering no other explanation.
"I am sorry Miss Trish." Master Splinter said. "We do not know of anyone by that name."
The girl shook her head. "Doubted it." She eyed the rest of them warily as though calculating the odds.
"We won't hurt you." Don said, recognizing the cool calculating stare he would use if in a tight spot. "We're not your enemies."
Trish looked at him as thought he had just stated that the sky was blue. "Well, duh!" She said. "I'd be dead then wouldn't I?" No one said anything. "Whatever, I've got to find Ithica." She pushed herself off the couch and attempted to push her way past Leo. She stared at him her eyes on the same level as his. She twisted her body and slipped through the tiny gap between Leo and Raph and started to walk towards the entrance to the lair.
"Wait!" Mikey said. "You can't leave!"
"Well I am." She said.
"Please Miss Trish-" Master Splinter said, "Please at least stay to heal yourself. I have been told you fell from the sky."
Trish stopped and turned around. She rubbed the back of her neck absentmindedly. "Yes I did. Usually I don't but Ithica was not there to catch me."
The turtles, Master Splinter and the Ancient One looked at her quizzically. "Who is this Ithica you keep talking about?" The Ancient One said.
Trish looked at him. "Ithica. My dragon."
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Okay. There you go, the first chapter. I thought it was getting a little long so I stopped there. I'll finish the next chapter soon I promise!
Please read and review. It really helps me actually want to write the story if I know people actually like it and want more.
IF YOU DON'T REVIEW I DON'T UPDATE!