TMNT - Mutant Cooperation
Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT or any of the characters aside from my original characters. All rights go to Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.
Chapter 1:New Allies
The turtles returned to their home in the sewer below New York City after a night of chasing down the remnants of the foot clan. Shredder had been gone for two years, yet there were still those that would follow orders as though he had never been killed.
"My sons," Splinter called to them as they entered. "Join me."
The turtles entered his sitting area with Leonardo at the front.
"You have fought well, my sons. The peace in the city has been strong for many months. Though now, I feel a grave danger is approaching," Splinter began.
"We are brave, master," Leonardo responded.
"This I know," Splinter replied. "In the quest for lasting peace, I have requested the help of some old friends to bring you new allies." He turns to look in the dining area.
A being with a fox-face and covered in cream color fur nodded to them from her seat at the table. She was wearing a brown tunic and pants. "Ninjara, it's nice to meet you."
Beside her stood two other beings. One taller and more broad, with black and red striped and spotted slick skin resembling that of a newt. He wore black and orange clothing that looked to be monk in design, complete with a black hood that covered his eyes when it was up. The other was shorter and thinner, with yellow skin and black stripes and spots that also resembled a newt's skin. She wore a similar outfit, but her mask covered the top of her head and around her eyes, it tied behind her with multiple strands, falling into what appeared to be black braids. "I am Apollo and this is my sister, Artemis," the larger one said, with a deep voice that was smooth as silk. The smaller of the newts bowed her head in introduction.
Splinter motioned to the turtles. "And these are my sons, Leonardo," Leonardo bowed his head, "Raphael," Raphael nodded, "Donatello," Donatello smiled, "and Michaelangelo," Michaelangelo waved.
Ninjara, the fox, eyed the turtles warily.
"They seem formidable," Apollo stated to Splinter. "I would expect no less from the great Master Yoshi."
Splinter nodded in thanks and stood from his seat, using his cane to steady himself. "I shall inform your masters of your arrival." With that, he left the room, leaving the turtles in an awkward silence with the other mutants.
"So…" Mikey broke the looming silence. "Anyone for pizza?"
Ninjara made a face that combined confusion and distaste. She was clearly not impressed with them.
Artemis looked to her brother.
"We…shall partake of this…pizza," Apollo agreed.
^.^
"Pizza time!" Michaelangelo said excitedly as he brought the pizzas to the dining table in the sewer.
Apollo stood by the table, looming over the strange food.
"What is it?" Ninjara asked with her nose wrinkled against the scent.
"It's pizza," Leonardo told her. "It's dinner."
Artemis remained by the wall, avoiding any close contact with the table and the strange thing sitting on it.
"Here," Donatello said as he handed Apollo a piece of pizza. "It's good."
Apollo took the slice from Donatello and nodded in appreciation. "Many thanks," he told him politely.
Ninjara watched Apollo as though she were waiting to ensure that the food were safe before attempting to try it herself.
Raphael took a slice and began eating without a second thought to his new company.
Apollo took a small bite after watching Raphael eat a piece. "It is interesting," he stated. He continued to eat.
Michaelangelo brought a piece across the room to Artemis. "Here you go," he told her with a smile.
Artemis looked to the slice of pizza in his green hand warily.
"Do not be rude, Artemis," Apollo told her over his shoulder, watching the exchange between the two with a strong gaze.
Artemis bowed in thanks and took the pizza from Michaelangelo. "Thank you," she said in a soft voice.
"Splinter said you guys don't eat meat, so I got you a veggie delight," Michaelangelo told her, making another attempt at conversation.
Artemis took a small bite and smiled slightly to him. "It is good."
Michaelangelo grinned. "Maybe I could show you how to do some sewer surfing later?"
Artemis took another bite and looked from Michaelangelo to her brother.
Apollo gave a small nod and turned back to a conversation that he was having with Leonardo.
"So you were raised by monks? Maybe you could teach me some meditation strategies," Leonardo asked hopefully.
"Of course. I would be happy to learn from a student of Master Yoshi," Artemis said before taking another small bite of the pizza.
Michaelangelo smiled. "Radical!"
"Is that a human made station?" Ninjara asked, motioning to Donatello's workshop with her nose.
Donatello looked over to his workspace. "Oh, my machines. No, no. That's just my little collection of technology."
Ninjara nodded, eyeing the area as though it were cursed. "Usagi did mention you were skilled with…technology."
Donatello felt heat rise in his cheeks. "Well, I've picked up a little bit."
"How long will you be staying?" Leonardo asked Apollo.
"Our masters have requested that we learn from you for a month's time, and then if you feel so inclined, you may return with us to train as well," Apollo told him.
"That's great!" Leonardo said happily. The chance to train with monks was an offer that he was not about to refuse.
Apollo eyed Michaelangelo and his sister again and then turned back to Leonardo. "Where has your brother gone?"
Leonardo noted Raphael's absence. "He disappears sometimes," he told him.
Apollo nodded. "A lone warrior cannot defeat an army," he stated calmly.
Leonardo nodded. "He just likes some space."
"We'll be back!" Michaelangelo said as he pulled Artemis toward the entrance to their sewer home.
Leonardo noted the gaze that Apollo was giving Michaelangelo, and he followed after his brother to halt him. "Mikey…uh, they just got here, maybe we should help them settle in first?"
Michaelangelo looked at his brother in disappointment. "But I was going to… Oh, all right, fine."
Leonardo sighed in relief. He understood that having a new friend, especially a female friend was new to Michaelangelo, but he also understood an older brother's concern for his siblings. He needed to make sure that everyone would get along during this experiment.
"I'll show you to your room. It ain't the Ritz, but it's home," Michaelangelo told Artemis as he pulled her by her hand.
"What is 'the Ritz'?" Artemis asked softly as she followed him.
Leonardo smiled nervously at Apollo. "We don't get many visitors," he explained.
"Clearly," Ninjara said supporting her chin with her hand as she leaned on the table.
"He'll mellow out eventually," Donatello informed her.
"You don't seem all that phased by this," Leonardo told Apollo.
Apollo folded his arms over his chest. "We have others in our village, and are well socialized with the monks."
Donatello looked to Ninjara as though to pose her the same question.
"I am a goddess in the village I reside in. The humans praise me and rely on my protection," Ninjara explained.
"Wow," Donatello exclaimed. "That must be nice. No sneaking around and living in hiding."
"It does not for the stealth element of being a ninja," Apollo stated, "nor the ability to be humble."
Leonardo saw a fire in Ninjara's gaze at Apollo's comment. He wondered if they had traveled together to reach New York. "Hey, how about I help you find a room and get settled in, huh?"
Apollo nodded in thanks. "Many thanks, my friend."
Leonardo led Apollo out of the dining area before Ninjara could speak.
Ninjara turned her eyes from Apollo. "Obviously living in seclusion with those monks hasn't done much for his social skills," she said aloud to no one in particular.
"Ah, he's probably just a little jealous," Donatello told her. "I know I am. I wish I could walk openly in the public."
"Perhaps you will return with me to train then? My people will respect you and treat you as an honored guest," Ninjara told him.
"Sounds excellent!" Donatello told her. "What kind of internet access do you guys have out there?"
Ninjara looked to him questioningly.
^.^
"But don't think you have to just stay in this room," Michaelangelo told Artemis. "We can play video games, dance in the entranceway, there's a lot to do here."
Artemis looked around and nodded soberly.
"It's all right, Artemis," Apollo said as he and Leonardo approached the two. "We're here to learn from them. We'll go home soon enough."
Artemis nodded to her brother.
Leonardo gave his brother a warning gaze.
Michaelangelo raised his arms as though to question, "What did I do?"
"I apologize," Apollo addressed everyone at once. "My sister fears the above. Humans were not as kind to her as to some."
Artemis avoided eye contact with the others in the room.
Leonardo suddenly understood why Apollo did not appreciate Ninjara's excitement about being popular amongst the humans. He wasn't envious, as the turtles may have felt, he was angry. He was angry with the humans. He didn't want to be around them, or have their praise and adoration. He wanted to stay far away from them, and keep his sister safe.
"Don't worry, dudette," Michaelangelo told Artemis, placing a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. "Humans pretty much stay away from us down here."
"Hey, guys," April called as she descended the ladder into the room. "How's it goin'? I brought you some stuff."
Apollo stiffened and moved in front of his sister protectively.
"Except that one," Leonardo said to no one in particular. "She's a friend," he told Apollo.
"A friend?" Apollo asked, questioningly watching as the woman with orange hair approached, carrying shopping bags.
"April," Leonardo greeted her. "We have some guests."
April looked at Apollo with wide eyes. "I can see that."
"April, this is Apollo and his sister…" Leonardo's words trailed off when he noticed that Artemis was gone. He hadn't heard her move. He wondered what they could possibly teach someone with such extraordinary stealth skills.
"Dude," Michaelangelo exclaimed, "Where'd she go?"
Apollo stepped forward. "My sister is hesitant when meeting humans," he explained. "I am Apollo."
April nodded with a nervous smile. "Charmed." She looked past him to Michaelangelo. "I brought you a present, Mikey."
Michaelangelo began searching the room. "Can I catch up with you later, April?" He moved out of the room, continuing his search. "Artemis… Artemis…Come on out. Nobody's here to hurt you."
April looked to Leonardo and gave him a knowing smile.
Leonardo laughed nervously. "He's very excited to have company."
Apollo turned and watched Michaelangelo leave the room.
Leonardo worried that he may be watching Michaelangelo too closely. He'd have to have a discussion with his brother later about limits. "He's just trying to be friendly," he assured Apollo.
"If he finds her, I will be impressed," Apollo stated, turning his attention back to April. "Having a human ally is an intelligent move. What protection do you offer?"
April smiled sheepishly. "Well, actually, they protect me."
Apollo looked to Leonardo.
"We kind of act as the city's silent heroes," Leonardo explained. "We protect everyone, and we have to remain hidden in order to avoid panic."
Apollo nodded. "I see. So you are unknown among them."
Leonardo nodded.
"We can learn much from you," Apollo told him.
^.^
Raphael lay across his bed turning his sai in his hand. "Don't think about her," he reminded himself silently. "Don't think about her." He attempted to push out any memory of Mona Lisa. He hadn't heard from her since she vowed to put a stop to Captain Filch's experiments and left on her own. Had he meant nothing to her? He shook his head to knock the memories away. "Don't think about her," he whispered to himself.
It was then that he heard it. Someone was in his room. The sound of someone's breath catching in their throat was slight, but it had been there.
Raphael sat up on his bed as though he hadn't noticed. He'd catch the intruder and be sure to let everyone know they were sneaking around. He imaged it to be the fox. She hadn't seemed trustworthy to him to begin with.
He stood and walked to the side of the room that he had heard the breath. He'd catch her in the act and get her sent home. The lack of other mutants would stop his memories of Mona. He whipped around quickly and grabbed a manikin with a jacket and hat. Perhaps he had imagined it? No. He had heard someone. She was still in there.
"All right, who there?" Raphael stated.
The room was silent for a moment, before Artemis removed herself from the boxes piled on the opposite side of the room.
"I am terribly sorry," she said with a bow. "I did not know anyone was in this room, and I did not want you to feel as though I meant to spy on you."
Raphael was impressed that he hadn't heard her move. He knew she had been on the other side of the room when he heard her breath. "Yeah, well this ain't your room, so ya can beat it now."
Artemis nodded and walked to his door. She stopped and turned back to look at him over her shoulder. "I do not know who you were talking about just now, but she wouldn't want you to stop thinking of her," she said to him kindly.
Raphael gave her a serious expression.
Artemis gave him a soft smile. "Sometimes memories are the only thing we have, and that is why we should not ignore them or block them out."
Raphael didn't speak, but his face expressed that her words had an effect on him.
Artemis smiled at him softly and left the room. She could still smell the sweet perfume of the human woman in the sewer. She turned and disappeared into the shadows in a corner to avoid being seen by her. She would not be hurt by humans again.
Michaelangelo entered the room and looked around. "April's not so bad, Ari," he said aloud, "she even brought us potato chips."
Artemis watched him from the shadows. A human with gifts was still a human. All humans were dangerous.
Michaelangelo looked into the darkness and locked eyes with her for an instant.
Artemis wondered if he had actually seen her.
Michaelangelo moved toward the darkness, and Artemis scaled the wall to avoid him catching her.
Michaelangelo turned and leaned his shell against the sewer wall. "Come on, I know you're there. I can smell you," he said to the empty room.
Artemis came closer to him. "What do I smell like?"
Michaelangelo smiled nervously and felt heat rise into his cheeks. "Like happiness and all things sweet at once."
Artemis felt heat rise into her face. "What did you call me before?"
Michaelangelo rubbed the back of his head. "Oh, oops. Ari. It was just a little nickname. You know, you give them to your friends."
Artemis smiled at him. "I like it."
Michaelangelo grinned at her. "Really? Radical!" He let his eyes rest on hers for a moment. "So, you want to try sewer surfing now?"
Artemis leapt from the wall, her long yellow and black tail flowing behind her elegantly. She stepped closer to Michaelangelo and put her hand out for him to take again. "I would love to, Michaelangelo."
Michaelangelo smiled as he took her hand and began leading her out of his room, grabbing two skateboards on the way out. "You can call me, Mikey, by the way."
"Because we are…friends?" Artemis asked him.
Michaelangelo grinned as he led her up the ladder. "Yeah. We're good friends already, Ari."
^.^
"It creates fire?" Ninjara said with disbelief as she looked at the torch.
"I promise," Donatello told her, "You don't want to play with it."
Ninjara looked at his technology. "What is the purpose of all this?"
Donatello turned around in his chair, a pair of special goggles resting on his forehead now. "Well, I can monitor the city from here and make sure we can react if anyone is up to anything."
Ninjara looked at a monitor. "Throughout the entire city?"
"Actually, just anywhere that has a security system in place," he told her as he flipped it on. "But, sort of, yes. It's easy."
Ninjara nodded. "It is very noble of you to protect people that would fear you. I would have abandoned my people if they had not adored me."
Donatello shrugged. "Well, Splinter taught us to help those weaker than ourselves."
Ninjara looked sadly upon the technology. "Perhaps that is a better path," she stated soberly.
^.^
"So, you know all of these…ninjas?" April asked Splinter, purposefully using the word ninja instead of mutant. She had been hearing stories of mutagen like the kind that transformed the turtles being dumped in various parts of the world and strange creatures appearing. She had discredited them, and hadn't even considered a connection with the turtles when she met them.
"Well, technically, they aren't all ninjas. Some have just been transformed and have powers that need to be controlled," Leonardo told her.
"It is wise to learn from each other," Splinter said calmly.
Leonardo nodded.
April turned to Apollo. "Do you have special powers?"
Apollo shook his head. "I have Kung Fu and Wushu that my sister and I have perfected under the tutelage of the Shaolin monks."
"And pretty decent skills in sneaking around," Raphael said as he entered the room.
Apollo looked at him through the corner of his eye. "You found my sister?"
Raphael shrugged. "Sort of."
Leonardo gave Raphael a warning stare.
"She went sewer surfing with Mikey," Raphael said, changing the subject.
Apollo nodded.
"So how did you become…" April began, not knowing how to complete the question.
"Artemis and I came into contact with mutagen when we were younger. I had a pet newt at the time," Apollo explained.
"I lived in a burrow not far from my village now. I was a fox first, and changed when I came into contact with the mutagen," Ninjara told her.
April looked to Apollo. "So you were human once?"
Apollo nodded. "Yes. When we complete our mission here, my sister and I begin a journey to discover an antidote."
Leonardo, Raphael and Donatello all lifted their heads at his words.
"You know of an antidote?" Leonardo asked hopefully.
Apollo nodded. "My sister and I have been searching for one for years. We may actually have a real path this time."
"Could you take us with you?" Raphael asked urgently.
"You wish to return to your former selves? Were you not simply turtles before?" Ninjara asked.
"But Master Splinter wasn't," Leonardo said.
"We'd do anything to help him change back," Donatello told them.
Apollo nodded in understanding. "Perhaps our master will find it a fitting challenge."
Leonardo smiled at Raphael.
^.^
"Okay, so don't lean too much, or you'll fall off," Michaelangelo said, steadying Artemis with his hands.
"This is strange," she told him.
"You got this. Just gotta get used to standing on it first," Michaelangelo told her.
Artemis put her hands out to balance herself. When the skateboard settled, she looked to Michaelangelo. "Now what?"
Michaelangelo smiled at her. "Okay, try to take a little step with one foot and push the board forward."
Artemis made an attempt and twisted her body, causing her to slip and the skateboard to roll into the wall. She landed roughly on Michaelangelo, leaving him on his shell. "I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed as she slipped off of him and helped him to his feet.
"It's cool," Michaelangelo told her. "Just a little wipeout."
Artemis gave him a questioning look, but then released a small laugh. "Perhaps I will need more practice?"
Michaelangelo grinned at her. "Yeah. Yeah, anytime." He felt his heart leap into his chest when he noticed that she was still holding onto his hand. He released her hand and pulled his back in nervousness. "Whoops! Got a little caught up in the moment there."
Artemis smiled at him and let out a soft laugh.
"Hey, Mickey," Raphael called as he approached his brother on a skateboard. "April's gone, and big brother is waiting for her to get back."
Michaelangelo grabbed the two skateboards from the sewer floor. "Let's call it quits for today," he told Artemis as he began to lead her back to their home.
Artemis nodded in thanks to Raphael.
"Hey," Raphael addressed her. "Thanks for the advice."
Artemis smiled and bowed to Raphael. She turned and caught up to Michaelangelo and placed her hand in his again. "My brother should attempt this 'sewer surfing' as well," she told him.
"Sure," Michaelangelo told her, but not with as much excitement as before. "The more the merrier."
^.^
Leonardo sat by his candles meditating. Raphael was in far more disarray than usual, Michaelangelo was pushing with Artemis and making Apollo watchful, and Donatello was giving a lot of information to Ninjara far too quickly. He needed some clear focus on the situations and a decent plan to solve them.
"Looking for guidance, oh wise leader?" a familiar female voice echoed into his room.
Leonardo's eyes opened quickly, his focus instantly broken. "Venus?"
Venus De Milo stepped into his room, her cyan mask tied high on her head with the ends hanging down as though it were a long ponytail. "When Master Yoshi asked me to come here I could hardly argue, but I never expected you to be overwhelmed before I even arrived."
Leonardo stood and walked over to her. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's good to see you, old friend."
Venus smiled at him. "It is good to see you too. Now, how can I help?"
Leonardo sighed. "Maybe you could talk to Mickey. He's been…"
Venus smiled. "A little too excited having a new girl around?"
Leonardo smiled at her knowing so much about the group. He was glad that she hadn't forgotten about them.
"He longs for affection. Is it so strange that he might try harder for attention when someone new appears?" Venus asked him.
Leonardo sighed and stared out of the room at nothing in particular. "She's here with her brother, though. It's only a matter of time before he steps up to put a stop to it."
"Perhaps he won't," Venus offered. "Apollo is quite mature, his concerns will fade when he comes to know Michaelangelo better."
Leonardo looked to Venus and lowered his brow at her. "You're pulling for him, aren't you?"
Venus looked away from Leonardo. "I have met Artemis and find her to require more joy from life. Michaelangelo can offer her this."
Leonardo pushed her playfully. "I knew it! You're playing matchmaker!"
Venus pushed him back with her shoulder. "The four of you are my family. I must assist you."
Leonardo smirked at her. "So who are you going to set up with me?"
Venus smiled at him slightly and turned away from him. "You do not require assistance."
Leonardo grinned widely at her.
^.^
"I did not know you knew the turtles, Mei," Apollo told her as the group sat together in a common area of the sewer.
"Yes. Master Chung I sent me to find Master Yoshi last year after seeing mysterious sightings of others similar to myself. Eighteen years ago, he had bought me as a present for his niece, but dropped me into a sewer drain by accident. When he retrieved me, I had been in contact with mutagen and had begun my transformation when we returned to China," Venus explained. She looked to Leonardo and the other turtles. "And I have known Apollo and Artemis for many years when Master Chung I sent me to train with them as a Shaolin warrior."
Artemis bowed to Venus. "You are a treasured friend."
"How come you didn't mention them before?" Raphael balked.
Venus looked to him calmly, but forcefully. "I was not asked, and there were pressing matters at hand."
"We have only one more guest to arrive from Africa. Our training will begin tomorrow," Splinter addressed everyone at once. "Until then, become acquainted."
Leonardo bowed to his master. "Yes, Master Splinter."
Splinter turned and walked off to his private area in the sewer.
"Do you think the guest from Africa is a student of Master Zulu?" Artemis asked her brother.
Apollo shrugged. "Must be. I wonder if he's sending Sumani. He is a powerful warrior."
Artemis nodded soberly.
"Were you hoping for somebody else?" Michaelangelo asked her.
Artemis looked up at him in surprise. "No!" she answered quickly. Apollo nudged her with his elbow. "Yes," she admitted slowly. "My friend Ashia. She is a master of Nguni stick fighting and a changeling like us."
Apollo stood solid with his arms over his chest. "A failed attempt to find an antidote led us to Africa and to a tribe that practiced the tradition of Nguni. Ashia was seen as a creature of good luck by her people and was transformed after being exposed to an experiment from an insane pirate who attempted to attack her village."
"Sounds fascinating," Donatello said, recognizing the significant similarity to the story of how Mona Lisa had been transformed as well. "What kind of animal was she?"
"Look for yourself," a strong female voice with an African accent called out to them from the entrance. A beautiful girl with features of a savannah cat, yellow fur with black spots and a long striped tail stood proud with two sticks strapped to her back.
"Ashia!" Artemis exclaimed as she ran to her longtime friend and greeted her with a hug.
Ashia hugged her and smiled, exposing her fangs. "My friend, it is good to see you."
"Have you received my letters?" Artemis asked her.
"Yes. It is difficult to return letters at this time in my village. A tribal war has ended," she told her.
Artemis bowed to her. "I will keep you in my prayers."
Ashia stepped forward. "I am Ashia, Nguni protector and guardian, and student of Master Zulu."
The others introduced themselves, each clearly impressed with her formidable appearance and beautiful features.
"Can Ashia stay with us?" Artemis asked her brother.
"If she wishes," Apollo agreed.
Leonardo nearly sighed in relief. He would at least be able to relax knowing that Michaelangelo wouldn't attempt to ask Artemis out for a nightly stroll if there were two people staying with her in that room.
^.^
Donatello set up the computer to monitor the city. It would wake him through an alarm that he programed if there was any suspicious activity.
"What is this?" Ashia asked as she entered his workshop and looked around.
Donatello hadn't heard her approach. She was as stealthy as a cat. "Oh, oh this? It's just a video monitoring system."
Ashia looked at the people and the videos tracing the three screens with multiple small windows open within them. "These are the people from the above?" she asked him.
"Well, yes. You see, I've linked it to the security cameras around the city, so I can monitor when the Foot clan attacks, or if any other trouble comes up," Donatello explained to her.
"Amazing," Ashia exclaimed. "You are very wise."
Donatello felt a heat rise in his cheeks. "Eh, it's just a little technical knowledge."
Ashia smiled and brought her face close to his. "You need not be modest with me. This is amazing."
Donatello felt his heartbeat quicken. He had seen that she was overly affectionate with Artemis, but he imagined that she understood personal boundaries better than this. "It's not all that special though. Anyone can learn to do this."
"Is this true?" Ashia asked excitedly. "Will you teach me?"
Donatello looked into her green catlike eyes. She was actually interested in what he was doing. "Uh…sure. I can show you a few things."
Ashia grinned and stood up straight. "I am told your bow is as mighty as a sword," she told him.
Donatello shrugged. "I guess."
Ashia grinned at him. "I am happy to see there is even more to you."
Donatello rubbed the back of his head to calm his nerves. "I'm embarrassed that I don't know anything about you."
Ashia stepped out of his workshop and stopped to look at him over her shoulder. "I pleaded with my master to send me, not Sumani. I longed to see your wonders," she told him. She smiled at him before turning and walking away, saying, "Do not disappoint me."
Donatello sat, unable to move, in his ripped computer chair. "You came…for me?"
Message from Author:
Okay. So I can't promise that I will update every month, but I will update as often as I can.
Also, I am aware that many people cannot stand Venus in her entirety. I like the idea of a female turtle being a part of the group. I have, however, decided to completely change her back story, as the whole idea of the four brothers not actually being brothers ruins the family feel they have. Instead, she was not in the bowl with them, but was exposed to mutagen that had traveled down the sewer instead.
Ninjara is loosely based on her character.
Sumani, Ashia, Artemis and Apollo are all mine. Just some original characters that I added to spice up the story. Let me know what you think of them.
I will continue to update this story based on the kind of response it gets, so give me some feedback!
~Zari
