Alerae - Ch1 - Donnie's Cruel Fate
(TMNT CC are AU based on 2003 version, Donnie is 25 years old. Era: Medieval times, World: Limbra, )
A calm wind blew through the cattails along the small peaceful river, the birds chirped in the nearby trees as tadpoles swam this way and that.
The sun cast a warm light that peeked through the leaves of the trees; everything was frozen in an atmosphere of serenity.
But he wasn't so calm or happy at that, not even with the beautiful sight that spread out before him.
(What am I going to do…)
Depressed Donnie sat there on a rock, staring at his reflection that rippled in the green crystal clear water, lost within his own thoughts.
Feelings of helplessness, fear, regret, overwhelmed him, what could he do, how can he change the twisted card that fate has dealt to him?
(They…they…burned my body to ash…my body…its gone…how did this happen…DAMN IT WHY DID IT HAPPENED, WHAT VILE ACT HAVE I EVER COMMITTED TO BE PUNISHED SO!)
In complete confusion, frustrated of the memories that flashed in his head of the night before, all his work, all his life, who he was, who he had strived to be, was snuffed out by one man, one man full of his own selfish greed.
Donnie being a genius, a man of his time, his dream was to study and master the taboo technologies of the lost ages, yet he never desired to use his knowledge for evil, striving to help others.
As a young boy he always dreamed of traveling to the Alerae Kingdom, a place surrounded by mystery, runes of old, in a world full of magic that abandoned the devilish science of technology after a war that raged and tore the world of Limbra apart.
When he turned twenty he set off, when he first came to the Alerae Kingdom it was hard, in time after much hard work, he was able to have his own lab.
Donnie even had some local support, after he saved a child and a few others with his inventions; he wasn't shunned as much for what he did for a living.
Sure there would be the hardcore person that believed he was a man driven by the dark forces, but others didn't; those were the one's that lifted his heart.
He was a great man…a man…
(I am no man now…)
If he could cry he would, but how could he?
The sight of his body sickened him, that brought reflections of the night before, that felt more like a nightmare.
So many times he wished he could pinch himself, but he would have to have fingers to even accomplish that.
Donnie wanted to wake up and find himself in his warm bed and have this whole situation a result of him being just over tired of a long nights work, yet he did not awake for he was already awake and the hard truth stared him in the face.
That frightful night after work when he would have left his lab to head home, eat then sleep like any other night, something else happened.
In a matter of seconds everything went out of his control, when he was closing up he was suddenly attacked, beaten up, desperately Donnie tried to fight back with all his strength.
Yet in the end he wounded up in a chair being threatened by a man he never met, even after the ordeal Donnie couldn't remember the man's face, for it was blurred, distorted in his minds eye, Donnie figured it was do to posttraumatic stress of what had happen to him.
What happen next was like a faded nightmare of horrifying events, after refusing to work for the man, the man not one that takes no so lightly, decided to teach Donnie a lesson.
Killing Donnie wasn't satisfactory enough for the man's blood lust; the man had another idea as he strapped Donnie's head with the device that had ability to transfer ones soul and mind to another.
Originally constructed to work between humans, the man thought of something else instead, taking Donnie's pet turtle.
The next thing Donnie knew he was seeing out of the eyes of his pet watching his human body in complete terror.
The worst was yet to come, helpless unable to do a thing, Donnie watched the man slit the throat of his human body then burned it in front of him, diminishing any hope of Donnie would have to regain his original form.
In the end as the part of this never ending sickening joke, they threw Donnie in this river mocking him on how long he could last in the wild in his weak pathetic new turtle body…
(I'm a turtle… there is nothing for me anymore, nothing for me to look forward too…I'm nothing now…just a sad excuse of an animal…)
Wallowing in his self pity, with a sigh Donnie looked up to view over his new home, then he noticed something odd, catching his eye.
There in the far distance was this bluish orb heading his way, that was when fear overwhelmed him, as he recognized what it was.
A water wisp, an elemental that tends to show up in lakes and rivers, sometime if they are not provoked they will leave people alone, then other times they will attack, which could prove to be quite fatal.
(Ah crap a wisp here, now! Can my luck get any worse?)
Standing still Donnie debated the right course of action to the approaching wisp, should he dive into the water, or stay put, would it even care of him for in truth he wasn't human after all.
From his research wisps only attack humans, not animals, for the fact most wisps work for nymphs.
Which this one should be under the order of the water nymph that Donnie figures lived far deep within the woods, he should be fine for he is a turtle and turtles are under the water nymph's protection.
Then a notion hit him, does his abnormal condition even count?
Sure his body is a turtle, yet his soul is human, or is it anymore, he never really researched the full effects to the soul when transferred to an animal's body, actually he never done such a disturbing thing before or wouldn't even consider it as an option.
Out of nowhere the wisp suddenly stopped not far from Donnie twisting and fluttering about.
(Ok it stopped…is that a bad sign or good…)
Weary Donnie watched it, he could feel his poor little heart beat out of control, as he desperately tried to keep his nerves calm, then his fear became reality when it noticed him, in a full charge, it flew in fast, speeding towards him.
(Oh by the light I am so dead.)
No time to truly react to the thing that was coming for him, instinctively he shuttered into his shell before he realize what he was doing, a bit surprised by his actions, he remained still, afraid to even breathe, he held his breath.
What felt like hours nothing happened, reluctantly Donnie popped his head out slowly looking weary around, was he alone?
No sign of the wisp or any other dangers, figuring the wisp maybe spotted something behind him instead, he had to laugh on the near miss.
He was over exaggerating the situation, relieved he wasn't its target, he emerged fully out of his shell.
(For sure I thought I was a goner…)
"HI!" the blue wisp appeared in front of Donnie's face inches away from his beak.
(AHHHH!) Donnie screamed hiding within his shell again, heart racing he didn't dare this time to look if it was still there, he was too scared.
(What does it want with me, oh by the light what do I do? What do I do?)
"Well, what a nervous turtle you are. Jeez most turtle like seeing me, but I guess you were human, so never or less you're afraid of me…," the wisp sighed in disappointment.
(It knew I was human?)
"Of course I knew your were once human, jeez your so weird. Oh well Mayra wants to see you Donatello, she's quite interested in you," the wisp bounced up and down on Donnie's shell, shaking him.
Popping his head out, Donnie looked sideways at the wisp that was having much fun jumping on his shell.
(Wait, what? How do you know my name? Better yet who is Mayra?)
Landing on his shell the wisp sighed, "Jeez don't you know anything? We know who you are because you're a turtle, meaning all info about you Mayra knows about. So other words Mayra is the water nymph, my master."
(What!)
Hiding in his shell yet again, Donnie was to overwhelmed by his circumstances, he couldn't believe this was happening, the water nymph wanted to see him, and she knew who he was, what would she do to him?
No nymph ever liked humans, would she eat him, or worse, panicking Donnie didn't want to ever leave his shell, can he escape, how does he get out of this one?
Using all his brain power he tried to calculate every possible way he could get himself out of this alive, but how, how does one run away from a nymph, especially in a turtle body?
"Rrrrr….Donnie come on, stop being such a scaredy fish and get out here or I will..."
(No, never! I don't care your some messenger for the water nymph. If I dare to see her she will kill me for sure. Like you said I was human, that alone is a death sentence!)
A child like laughter came beyond his shell, as he felt like he was being lifted.
Peaking his head out, to his surprise he was in some type of bubble that followed the wisp, situation truly out of his control he had no choice but just sit there.
He was now at the mercy of the wisp and soon would be in the company of the water nymph that will no doubt seal his fate.
(…)
Down the river the wisp singed to herself, Donnie thinks she was a girl, he wasn't sure if wisps even had genders, either way she sounded like a small female child.
(Why is the nymph so interested in me, to the point she gets a wisp to escort me to her?)
"Mayra, her name is Mayra, not water nymph or nymph, don't be so rude. How would you feel if I call you turtle or Mr. turtle? I figure you prefer Donnie do you not?"
Looking at the scenery that passed by Donnie felt depress again. (What does it matter what you call me… I am nothing now, just this pathetic turtle.)
With a jerk the bubble stopped suddenly forcing Donnie to smack into the bubble walls hard.
(Owwwww…)
The wisp that was blue now fired red, he never in his life saw a wisp change its color, did it also change its element?
"Listen here, you might think cause you're a turtle your useless or nothing, you know the truth is humans are useless nothings. Turtles can be far more superior then humans, sure you think oh, animals think this way they must be stupid! They are not! Animals are just on a different plain then humans nothing more. So suck it up turtle, you are what you are. Think about this, the way you think, it's like how you think when you were human, no? Now keep that in mind!"
(Sorry I didn't mean to anger you…)
Ignoring his apologies, frustrated the wisp started to move forward quickly, making poor Donnie lose his balance again as he fell backwards.
(… This is just not my day…)
In the far distance the river spread out into what look like a small lake surrounded by a thicket of trees.
With in the center of water stood a magnificent great tree covered with cherry blossoms, in the likes Donnie never have seen, or even thought existed in the kingdom.
Long branches bent down dipping into the water, its bark swirled in shapes never witness in nature, it was ancient, yet stood tall all in its glory.
Entering inside it by a small round door, the wisp brought him into what looked like a chamber within the tree, what else did this tree house?
In complete awe Donnie looked at the décor, just like the outside it was amazing.
If a traveler ever told him such a tree existed he wouldn't ever believe it, even seeing what he was seeing felt like no more then a dream.
The wisp lowered the bubble onto a table in the center of the chamber, as they touched; the bubble popped releasing Donnie from his cage.
In seconds the wisp disappeared into thin air leaving him alone.
Studying the area, Donnie noticed that the light in the room came from millions of crystals over head, that illuminated and providing a warm glow similar to the sun.
A bit out of his element, considering what he's been through the past 24hrs, uncertain of what was yet to come, all he could do now was wait.
"Well my guest has arrived," a sweet voice came behind him; quickly as his short legs could be, he turned around.
There stood a tall young woman with light blue skin, her long dark purple curly hair framed her beautiful face, her ocean blue eyes shone with delight.
She wore a long sky blue flowing dress covered with flowers that Donnie had never seen before, as she approached him, he couldn't help but be captivated by her stunning beauty.
Slowly she brushed her long soft finger over Donnie's cheek.
(mmmm…)
Realizing how he was acting he snapped out of it, backing away quickly from her, she was a water nymph that knew he was human after all, he can't allow her flawless features to consume what little control he had on himself.
"Oh don't be like that Donnie, I'm not going to hurt you," she purred, attempting again brushing her finger, in reaction Donnie snapped his beak in defense, realizing what he just did, he felt his time was finally up.
Yet she only smiled at him amused, leaning forward placing her head in her hands inches away from him, staring at him sweetly.
"Your so cute, Donnie I knew I had to meet you personally."
(Wh…What….What do you want with me?) Donnie voice shook in fright, he feared the worse, what would a nymph want with him, other then just punish him for being what he was?
Wouldn't he be consider as an act of insult, or something else towards her, considering the soul of his pet died just for him to take its body, regardless if Donnie had no part in it, only the victim himself.
"Well right to business aren't we, I was hoping to have a bit more fun with you," Mayra pouted in disappointment; before she got up she quickly brushed her finger against his tail that shot pleasure throughout his body.
Startled Donnie gasped for air; he wasn't suspecting that, he didn't know what to think about this…creature, she wasn't anything like what he had ever read about when it came to nymphs.
"Where do I start, ahh why not the part that you were human and were turned into a turtle? Please I am not sure how you came to be, only what you are," Mayra twisted her hair with her fingers, waiting for Donnie to explain, seeing no advantage in lying he told the truth.
She stood there contemplating on what he told her, then a smile came to her glossy lips, "What if I told you I can make you normal and let you have your revenge?"
Not suspecting her to say that, he stared at her, did he hear her right?
First off she was not mad or took any offence that he was once human and she was actually offering him the opportunity to turn him normal?
Was that even possible, he was in a turtle body, not like his human body was turned into a turtle, this body had no connection to a human to make even it a probability.
Unsure how or why she would even offer it, deep inside Donnie knew there was more to this so call simple deal.
(What is the catch?)
"Interesting, most people would jump to the deal without question, your reputation for intelligent thinking precedes you Donnie. Very well the catch is this, in order you to fulfill you revenge you have to do one small task first; this task will actually help you to get what you desire. Then there is the real catch in the end, I will ask you for something, without question you will do it."
Studying her Donnie watched her body movements, as thoughts on what she said went through his head.
Small task, could mean many things, yet it would help him to get back at the man that ruined his life.
The real catch that did bother him was the last one, the one he would do whatever she asked of him, what would she ask him, what would it entail?
(Let me guess you're not going to tell me what the catches are, are you?)
"The first one is to enter a cave near by and retrieve the thing you need that will help you on your quest, the second one, time will tell."
Evaluating his odds, what choice did he have?
He could refuse and live the rest of his miserable life as a worthless turtle or take his chances with her deal and be human again.
(Fine what do I need to do?)
With a grin Mayra giggled in delight, with a clap, "Good good, I knew you would do it, ok first open your mouth and shut your eyes."
(Say what? Open my mouth and shut my eyes what kind of….)
Crossing her arms Mayra glared at him, nervously he shut up quickly doing what she asked, there was no way he was going to piss her off now of all times.
Mouth opened, eyes shut Donnie waited patiently wondering if this would hurt, or why he had to do this at all, it didn't make any sense.
Then something touched his tongue, his first reaction was to gag, he desperately held back the urge too.
It tasted awful, whatever she was giving him was the worse thing he ever tasted, sure enough he had tasted some nasty things in his life span.
As the liquid went down his throat he couldn't stop his curiosity, Donnie opened his eye slightly to see what it was, Mayra held a small vial with a glowing green substance.
(What…)
Before he question on what the substance was, a horrific pain shot through his body, screaming in his head, Donnie's eyes widen, whatever this was, it was worse then death.
Donnie felt like he was being ripped apart, he could feel himself grow, closing his eyes he tried desperately to take control of his pain, then suddenly a set a lips press against his?
They tasted sweet like strawberries, they were warm, soothing, the kiss brought him a bliss that he never thought could ever exist, it was alluring, memorizing.
His body felt hot, not uncomfortable, more of a hunger; he wanted to feel what was attached to those luscious lips, which numbed the pain that had invaded his body.
Drunken by the spell he gave in to it as joyful chirping sounds bubbled in his throat.
At the moment he didn't care what was going on with his body anymore, as he could feel a hand feeling him, it was soft and gentle, he enjoyed every stroke that came from it.
Feeling great, Donnie slowly opened his eyes, to his surprise he found himself somewhere new.
Laying down in some bed, unsure how he got there, Donnie got up slowly taking in his surrounding.
Donnie found himself within some bed chamber; its décor was the same as the tree so he was in one of its rooms?
Taking a stretch, it came to him, he wasn't small anymore and he could feel himself flexing his muscles that he didn't have before.
Quite excited, Donnie jumped up onto his feet, rushing towards what looked to be a mirror that hung on the wall, ready to see the reflection he wanted more then anything.
Then his heart stopped dead as the sight that stared at him wasn't even remotely what he was expecting.
There in the mist of his confusion, staring at him was this humanoid turtle with brilliant green skin, under his brown eyes was purple markings, markings he never had before.
(What…what the hell did she do to me!)
"Oh by the light, she made me into a monster!" panicking Donnie back away from the mirror in pure terror, she told him she would make him normal, this was not even close to being normal on any level.
"Oh silly little turtle your no monster," Mayra laughed lightly amused by his reaction of himself.
Frustrated and angry, Donnie couldn't hold himself back as he started to yell at her, "What do you mean I am no monster! Look at me! I look like a demon, a freak of nature! You said nymph you would make me normal, not…rrrr NOT THIS THING!"
With a grin, the nymph didn't get angry or cared he was mad at her, "Not true I said normal, not human, as I recall. What you are is as normal in your mind that a turtle can be. You have hands, you have long strong broad legs," Mayra came closer to him, unsure what to do, he stood there stunned.
Running her finger up his arm she felt his rippling muscles, "You have powerful arms, you have a mouth to speak with, eyes that can cry, cheeks that can become hot and red when embarrassed or intrigued by a woman's touch."
Shivering in the pleasure of her touch Donnie realized he was giving into her seduction, for her mouth were inches away from his, beat red he wanted no more to connect those lips to his.
The urge was so overpowering, he wanted to feel her, then the feelings of last night flooded into his mind.
He has already did so, as the events that somehow he had forgotten until now, played in his head, he felt her more then he has ever with any woman, regardless if she was a nymph her body resembles a woman in every detail.
Backing away he had to resist her no matter how he wanted to indulge into his desires to taste her soft skin with his tongue.
Staring at the mirror, she was right, he was humanoid.
How foolish was he to think she could turn him human, in all the stories it has always been a general rule; humans can be change into animals, but animals can't be changed into humans.
Closing his eyes, he was more lost then ever, sure now he could act and do things he used too, well he wasn't sure how nimble he was going to be with now only three fingers, yet that little detail wasn't important at the moment.
(What have I got myself into… what have I done to deserve this?)
A pair of arms wrapped around him holding him, he didn't fight her, placing her head on his shoulders she kissed his neck sweetly, "My poor little turtle, do not be in dismay, you are what you are. You are more then what you have been, you might not know this now or can see this, but this is a gift. You're special."
(Yeah special alright, I'm so special that I am royally messed up.)
With a purr Mayra rubbed his arms in an act of comfort, "You are special, not messed up my little turtle, you are perfect in many ways."
Quickly opening his eyes he looked at her in fear, "You can hear what I am thinking!"
With a smile she licked his cheek, "Yes and more, I can feel what your feeling inside. I can sense your desire, your dreams; your heart is opened to me and always will be. Oh don't worry Donnie I would never use it against you and no it has nothing to do on what I did to you. It's because you're a turtle and like I said before your special, that is truly why."
Silent Donnie tried not to think to loudly as he tried to make sense on everything that was unfolding in front of him, what does he do now, she in turn did give him the ability to get his revenge as she promised, but could he accomplish it in the condition he is in?
"Mayra, you mentioned a cave that I had to go to, to retrieve something that would help me. Where is it and can I question you on what you gave me, which made me what I am? Is it permanent or will I turn back like some after midnight type of deal?"
"Good question, well," Mayra moved her hands down feeling his thighs, desperately Donnie tried to concentrate over her teasing, "It's permanent, you will never go back into a innocent small turtle, you will be like this for the rest of your life. So there is no way for you to be human again, sorry. As for the cave its half a days journey by foot southwest of here. So it's not really out of your way, for you will be needing to go south to get back to town anyways."
"Yeah town that's going to be interesting…," Donnie sighed then suddenly started to chirp as the pleasure course through him from her touching his tail, he gulped not realizing how sensitive it could be.
Pleased by his reaction Mayra continued her conversation, but didn't stop teasing him, this was the most fun she had for sometime, "Oh you will think of something I have no worries on that. Now on the liquid I have made you drink."
Mayra placed a small clear long flask into Donnie's hand, curiously Donnie studied the green substance within it, wary to opening it, thinking what would it do to him if he did, he just looked at it.
"Don't worry my little turtle, the mutagen won't affect you anymore, it's has done its job."
Looking up at her, Donnie gave her wondering eyes, "Mutagen? What is it, what form of magic is it?"
Chuckling at him, Donnie could only stare at her unsure what she found so funny, "Well I would suspect you to say science before magic my dear little turtle. Well then, it's not magic, its science, old yes, foreign, well that is another story. Either way what you need to know is this is a substance that can change ones cells, mutate them if we need to get technical. Other words you my dear turtle are what one would call a mutant, not monster or demon, you have no relationship to such creatures. You're an image of evolution of what a turtle would be if it ran the same evolutional path as humans, but your more then them, a lot more," she started to tease him yet again, getting used to her he ignored it.
(Mutagen, science, I really have to study this substance later to fully understand it… But at the current moment I have a debt to repay first.)
"Mayra can I keep this with me?"
With a nod she finally let go of him, part of him wished she didn't, he was really enjoying what she was doing to him, heading to a wooden dresser pulling out a belt with pockets, she passed it to him, "Yes you can, also in the right pocket are three more vials for you to keep, you never know if they would come in handy."
Taking the belt, Donnie strapped it around himself wondering if he should ask for clothes, not sure how he could fit anything around his shell, then the thought of something constantly pressing against his tail made him feel awkward.
Considering the way his body was built, he kind of already looked like he was wearing something, it made no difference walking around nude or not.
"Well Mayra I have to make my leave, thank you for your assistance, and please take my deepest apologies for my distasteful behavior towards you earlier. I didn't mean to be so rude and aggressive, please forgive me my lady," being a gentleman Donnie took her hand kissing it, regardless many would shun him to treat a nymph with such respect, like she was no different then any human lady, to him she wasn't any different he saw that now and in the end he too in many ways wasn't normal either.
Taking his leave, he exited the old tree home entering the thicket of the woods that camouflaged Mayra's home.
Looking towards the sky he had a destination, a purpose, what the road had in store for him he did not care, he wasn't going to find some hole and hide in it, he was going to do what he wanted and what he felt was right.