Chapter Two
Back in the turtles lair, Leonardo the eldest of the Ninja Turtles who wore a blue ninja mask stood looking at the clock where it was 12.59am
"Where are those girls?" he asked "They should be back by now."
"Don't worry Leo." Michelangelo, the orange wearing youngest turtle said with a smile "They'll be back soon, I'm sure!"
"We did say 1am Mikey." the red masked wearing Raphael said looking towards the kitchen table where it had been laid out for lunch and his mate, the Lizard Lady Monalisa was placing some drinks on it.
"They should be back when we say then we can build the trust in them to come back when we ask them to." Leonardo said "Remember we had to give the same promise to Master Splinter."
"Still have to Leonardo." their sensei's voice was heard and the brothers turned to see their mutant rat Master and adopted father walking over with the purple mask wearing Donatello.
"Times now 12.59amand there's only ten seconds remaining." Donatello commented as he looked at his own watch.
"10...9...8..." Raphael muttered as he watched the clock.
"7...6!" Michelangelo jumped in with a chuckle "5...4...3...2..."
He never made it to one before a shout rang from the entrance.
"You Whoo! Here we are!"
Everyone turned to face the voice and they saw Pandora skipping over looking rather pleased with herself and Kemeko walking behind her looking rather disgruntled.
"It is now 1am!" Pandora confirmed as she swaggered over.
Kemeko frowned at the mutant lizard/turtle hybrid.
"Fine!" she said "You win! But if we hadn't run we would have been a few seconds if not minutes over."
Pandora just scoffed and strutted over.
"Hey dad!" she grinned.
"Hey Geisha." he said "Glad you and Kemeko are back on time, now come on, time for lunch."
"Great!" Pandora smiled "That run in the sewers sure worked up an appetite!"
Leonardo looked over to Kemeko.
"Pandora been keeping you on your toes Lotus?" he asked.
Kemeko nodded.
"She likes to run as far away as possible when we play Follow the Leader." she said "So much so I wonder if she thinks we're playing tag rather than Follow the Leader"
Leonardo flicked Kemeko's chin playfully.
"Don't worry sweetie." he said "As least you can keep her in sight, a little firecracker that she is, she needs someone to keep her in check!"
Kemeko chuckled and walked into the kitchen to join everyone as they sat down for lunch where Pandora and Michelangelo were already trying to grab their favourite snacks before the other and Mona had to step in to stop them from taking everything before anyone else had a chance.
Once everyone was settled, the conversation was mainly about where the girls had gone exploring.
"We were right under Central Park." Kemeko said as she chewed on a ham sandwich.
"Really?" asked Leonardo "And how did you know?"
"Because we remembered the different areas of the sewers." Pandora answered.
"That's good to know." said Donatello "I can't count how many times I've tried to show you the different maps of the sewers and how to know where you are if you're lost, it's a proper labyrinth for sure!"
Mona nodded.
"I remember when I first came here," she said "I spent nights revising the many maps and knowing the different areas and systems, especially when we have to hide or escape when topside."
"Speaking of topside." Splinter cut in, "You girls by any chance did not go up top?"
Both Kemeko and Pandora sucked in a breath in surprise.
"What makes you say that?" asked Pandora innocently.
"You both know you are too young to go topside." Leonardo said "The world above is a very dangerous place."
Pandora rolled her eyes.
"Well duh!" she said.
"Pandora!" Mona said in a serious voice and Raphael also gave his daughter a glare.
"Yes daddy." Kemeko said respectfully.
"Good girl." Leonardo said.
"But we are getting bigger and older every day!" Pandora said.
"You're not yet ten Pandora." Mona said.
"In nine months I will!" Pandora replied.
"Uh uh!" Raphael said "We keep telling you Princess! You're still too young and vulnerable."
"As are you Kemeko." Leonardo said "You're only seven."
Kemeko nodded in agreement.
"Until we say you're old enough and able to defend yourself will you be able to go topside alone." Raphael continued.
"But until then." Mona added "You must always have one of us adults with you."
"The Purple Dragons, the Foot and many more enemies are merciless and dangerous foes." Donatello spoke "You may enjoy watching your favourite cartoons with heroes and bad guys, as well as in the comic books, but what we experience early every day, it's a dangerous occupation."
Both Pandora and Kemeko nodded and Pandora picked up some carrots sticks.
"We understand." they said together to which their adult guardians smiled satisfied.
Sitting back in their respected seats, both Raphael and Leonardo watched their daughters. There was no doubt the saw their personalities in them clearly.
Even though Pandora was the eldest child, she acted so immature and reckless sometimes, she was definitely her father's daughter, as she had his impatience and headstrong character traits.
She was a pretty mutant child, looking more like her mother in appearance, the only physical traits of her father was that she had his skin colour and an imprint of a turtle's shell on her back.
But as well as having her father's personality, there was certainly a hint of Michelangelo in her as well, as she was playful and energetic, and she had a strong bond with her care-free orange masked uncle.
Kemeko, being the only human child amongst mutants, she was showing her own personality as well. Leonardo was proud to call her his daughter, even though they weren't blood related, they had a very strong father/daughter relationship.
She was showing a lot of maturity for her age, as most of the time, she did act like the sensible one of the children, always trying to calm down a fully energetic Pandora, and wanting to spend more time perfecting her moves in training and taking her meditation seriously, very much like Leonardo himself.
She was also a clever child, enjoying schooling with Donatello and taking an interest in science which again made her different from Pandora who was more interested in physical activities than sitting still and learning.
Leonardo also knew that one day when she was mature enough, he would have to tell her about her true roots, and about her real family.
He knew Karai and Chaplin would be so proud of how Kemeko had grown, and he felt proud of himself that he, even though it had been hard work, he had cared for the child since she was a baby and she had blossomed into a beautiful girl, and he knew eventually she would become a strong and pretty young lady.
But until then, he along with Raphael were happy to let their daughters be children and enjoy being young as it wouldn't last forever.
A laugh from Kemeko and Michelangelo interrupted their thoughts as Pandora had stuck two carrot sticks in her mouth where her incisors would be and was clapping her hands together and making 'Urrk Urrk' sounds, pretending to be a Walrus.
As much as it was funny, it was bad table manners and Mona clapped her own hands.
"Pandora!" she said "Stop playing with your food and eat it."
Pandora frowned and sucked the carrots into her mouth humorously making Michelangelo and Kemeko laugh again but a glare from Mona and Raphael at the orange masked turtle made him shut up instantly.
"Once we are done with lunch." Splinter spoke up as he sipped his Jasmine Tea, "We will begin afternoon training."
"Sweet!" both girls grinned at each other before starting to eat their lunch more quickly.
Awwww, those girls have grown up so fast!
At least that's the question answered about how old the girls are, Pandora's nine years old, and Kemeko is seven years old.
You can surely tell how different they are in personality and very much like their father's!
