Finally I've got a chance to work on part 2 of this story! Sorry about how little I update, my writing has been taking a backseat to my artwork since, y'know, that's what I'm going to college for. But now It's summer vacation, which means I have a little over 3 months to write and draw to my little hearts content. : )
Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT, or Usagi Yojimbo, or anyone affiliated with them. I only own my OC's,
Once all of them were through the portal, they were expecting the enticing but strange look of the nexus plain. They were not, however, expecting the sky to be so overcast it looked like it was twilight out, instead of noon.
"My sons, I suggest we all hasten to the Daimyo's palace." Master splinter's eyes narrowed towards the sky, as if daring the dark omens the black clouds carried to come about with him around.
Something was coming, it was hard to say just what, but it seemed this would not be the peaceful battle nexus his sons had been hoping for.
As they all trekked forward, the wise rat decided not to bring this up, if anything his son's had already noticed the slight tension the air held, and did not want to panic the girls as they had enough changes to deal with and get used to.
"So, how far till we see this nexus thingy?" Cam asked, arms raised to rest behind her head while she walked.
"Technically, Cam, we already are seeing the nexus. This whole world is a dimension between dimensions, that's the actual definition of a nexus. We won't be seeing the site for the battle nexus for another quarter of a mile I'd say."
Cam shot him a glare, but it was empty of heat, "You knew what I was asking, Geekazoid, quit showing off for your girlfriend."
Donny blushed and Ella giggled, patting his arm sympathetically.
"Hopefully we can meet up with Usagi soon, we haven't seen him in a while." Raph commented idly, hoping the keep the conversation. It was a good distraction from the muggy weather that had come with the approaching rain. Strange looking bugs were flying everywhere, and he was not enjoying the view one bit.
Beccy immediately perked up even more so than she already was, "Mr. Bunny's coming? Yaay!" she cheered, Mikey grinned next to her.
"Because we knew you wouldn't leave him alone if we did, Raph," Leo shot the red banded turtle a look," And we don't know how busy Usagi will be while he's here, he might not have time to hang out with us the entire battle nexus."
Tawni placed a hand gently on his arm, visibly calming her worry wart lover. "I'm sure Usagi will be glad to visit with us and will be sure to let us know if he is busy. So try not to worry Leo."
Speak of the devil, it wasn't 10 minutes later when the group was walking past a large pointed boulder, that the familiar blue and white swirls of a portal appeared, and out walked Usagi, a light pack slung over his shoulder.
"Hmm, well that's convenient." Mikey said, grinning
"Mr. Bunny!" Beccy screamed upon sight,
Usagi blinked at the noise and looked forward, seeing them all not 50 feet away,
"My friends! It is so good to see you and-Uh oh…" He said, bracing himself for the rapidly approaching Beccy. Not a second later the wind was knocked out of him as she tackled him in a hug 'hello'
"We haven't seen you in so long Mr. Bunny, did you forget about us?" she pouted at him and he managed to chuckle, even while he struggled to breath,
"I doubt anyone can forget about you Rebecca-san, never. It has been busy though."
He sent Raphael a grateful look when the red banded turtle managed to pry Rebecca off of him, holding her by the scruff of her shirt before depositing her into Mikey's hands. She spent the entire time smiling gleefully, as if it were completely normal occurrence for her. (to be honest, it was.)
Leo shook the Rabbit ronin's hand in greeting, and the others voiced their having missed him as well, before Usagi noticed the strange weather,
"There will be plenty of time to catch up later, my friends, for now, we should continue on. I do not think any of us would want to be caught in the rain and get sick before the tournament can begin."
This turned out to be a very good idea, because it wasn't two minutes after they finally reached the outer limits of the stands held at the battle nexus, when the sky opened up and let loose a torrential rain. They barely had time to duck under a kindly merchants eve before the ground and anything caught unawares was soaked.
"That's just great, now what?" Cam grumped, wiping a few stray water droplets off her arm.
Not a second later, there was another familiar swirl of color in the air in front of them, but this time it wasn't a portal. The Giyoji soon materialized, the rain passing through his spectral like being, luckily for him.
"Hello warriors, it is good to see you again. My Lord is expecting you."
He waved his staff, and the travelers found they needn't worry about the rain, as soon they were teleported to inside the front gate of the Daimyo's palace.
"Again, How convenient." Michelangelo stated approvingly, giving a thumbs up towards the Giyoji.
There were footsteps coming from around the corner, and soon the Daimyo and his young son turned towards them. The boy had grown some since they last met, his hair pulled back in a pony-tail like his other self had done. However, his bright green eyes were void of the malice they once held, thankfully.
"Ah, Welcome splinter Sensei, welcome my friends." The daimyo's deep and powerful voice boomed
The Boy grinned happily at the sight of them, "Hello Leonardo! Tiger lady!"
Tawni smiled at the boy and waved at him fondly.
"I am glad you have all made it here safely, I hope that these next few days will be a great treat for you all," The daimyo looked at Usagi, suddenly looking cunning, "Especially you Usagi-san. I have one other surprise for you."
Usagi, for the second time that day, blinked in surprise and confusion, "Me Daimyo? But what-?"
The daimyo chuckled, "No no, you will have to wait and see. For now, let us continue to the dining hall. Is anyone hungry?" With that the Overlord turned, and his long lion like white hair swung behind him as he walked away. Splinter joined him, and they both conversed quietly as they walked.
The Daimyo's son must have noticed the uneasy look on Usagi's face, because he smiled and tugged on his sleeve (he was still rather small, even if he had grown some.)
"Not to worry Warrior, I can assure you this is a good surprise, I am excited about it to! Though I am not aloud to talk about it."
Mikey and Beccy suddenly got twin devilish grins,
"What if we made you talk?" Mikey said menacingly, though his fun grin giving away that he was only joking.
The boy yelped and started running after his father, "I will never!" He cried, laughing and squealing when both chased after him.
Raph could only smack his forehead lightly and Leo shook his, trying his best to dismiss his baby brother (and his sort of little sister's) antics.
However, Usagi looked relieved at the boy's words of encouragement and soon they all followed their masters.
Dinner was excellent. After the earth had cooled with the rain,the cooks had apparently decided it was a good night for stew. The vegetables had been stir fired to a crisp, and were added to the pot last so that they wouldn't go mushy. The meat was tender and was salty, but also was sweet. Needless to say everyone was content to just chat and relax once dinner was over. As a result, they retired to the Daimyo's throne room to do so.
However, contentedness with a full meal doesn't last long in an anxious child.
The young lord fidgeted at his father's side, casting apprehensive looks at the door,
"When father? You said today would be the day!" He whispered, hoping to be discreet. However, everyone at that time had chosen to go quiet so consequently heard it.
"Um, if I may ask, for what young lord?" Ella asked softly.
The daimyo patted his son's shoulder, "Wait just a little longer, if karma chooses it, in one hour I will tell al."
While they continued to talk, they went unaware of the people scuttling about outside. Merchants were struggling to cover their stands, and some spectators who had come to stay and watch the nexus come about ran for their destined ins, covering their heads as the rain continued to pour harder.
There was but one lone cloaked figure, walking calmly down the road to the palace. they didn't even seem to notice the rain, until their hand reached out to collect raindrops as they fell abundantly from the sky. When enough had fallen into their cupped palm, they lifted it to their lips and drank the water. They smiled, the water was sweet and untainted.
When they finally arrived at the palace entrance, the guards, the rain making noisy taps against their armor, raised their spears,
"Ho there, who goes?" when asked gruffly.
The figure paused, seeming hesitant. Then reached up to their hood.
"Father, it has nearly been an hour, can we just tell them the surprise?" The young lord begged, his lower lip jutting out. Beccy joined him from her spot next to Mikey, she loved surprises the most out of all of them, but there was a difference between teasing with one, and torture.
The Daimyo sighed, a bit disappointed to give up the clever surprise but smiled nonetheless, "Very well, I supposed you have waited long enough, You see , this year for the battle nexus-"
"Master," Giyoji materialized to the side of the daimyo suddenly. Beccy fell over with a 'oh COME ON!' at the interruption
"Yes Giyoji, what is it?"
"I have been informed that she has arrived My lord."
The daimyo beamed, along with the young lord, and splinter smiled, which frustrated everyone else to no end. They all thought the same thing, "Who' arrived?"
"Excellent, is she on her way here?"
"Well, yes, my lord but you see-"
There was a shuffling outside with some murmurs, and finally a voice of one of the servants could be heard from outside the door,
"The daimyo is entertaining guests, you will have to wait to see him." A voice of a servant could be heard from the door. It sounded tense and cold for some reason, like they were disgusted with something, or uncomfortable.
There was a pause, and a female voice said quietly to the servant, "I'm afraid I cannot wait. Out of my way please."
There was the sound of a minor struggle, and then the door slid back to reveal who was speaking.
Usagi straightened and his eyes widened in recognition, his mouth dropping open in shock. The daimyo share da secret smile with splinter.
Standing in the doorway was a young woman. She looked about 24, though her build and features were petite. She was around the same height as Ella. She had skin a sweet and milky chocolate brown, just a few shades darker than Cameron's own Latino skin, and beautiful gold eyes. She looked humanoid, like the daimyo and his son, but her ears were curved instead of pointed. In the middle of her forehead there was a purple jewel that seemed to sit on it perfectly, and on the right side of her face, there was a series of three dots traveling down from just under her eye towards her chin. Her black hair hung limply and dripped on the hard wood floor, along with the rest of her, as she was soaked to the bone from the rain.
"Nadia…"The Daimyo said tenderly, "My little one."
Nadia, the girl aforementioned, smiled at him like she had been waiting a long time to hear those words again.
Leo, looking back and forth from the only three people who seemed to know who this girl was, was surprised to see how shocked Usagi was to see her, and then even more surprised, how relieved he looked.
Nadia's eyes traveled over the guests the Daimyo was seeing, and froze when her gaze connected with Usagi's. Her face paled just a bit, and her eyes held a mixture of fear, and embarrassment.
"N…Nadia." Usagi said, like he couldn't believe he was really seeing her.
The girl's mouth opened and moved as if she wanted to say something, but couldn't figure out what. Her and Usagi had a stare down for at least full minute, then she realized that everyone was staring, and she flushed, walking fully into the room and kneeling in front of the daimyo.
"Lord Daimyo, I have returned from my leave of absence. I am sorry I was unavailable for communication for so long."
The Daimyo chuckled wryly, "Nadia, my child, why do you insist on speaking so formally to me when I have been your father for more than half your life."
"Buwuuuuuh?"Beccy made a confused noise, which summed up how everyone but Usagi and splinter felt.
Nadia flushed again in embarrassment, "I-I meant no disrespect My lord. It's just that…you have guests."
"These are friends Nadia, Splinter-san and his sons and their partners from dimension third earth."
Nadia looked towards master splinter and the old rat smiled, "Hello Ms. Nadia, I do not know if you remember me."
Nadia stood and bowed, "Splinter Sensei, of course I remember you. It's good to see you again."
Master Splinter returned the bow, and sat again.
Usagi couldn't take it any longer, and stood as well to get her attention and searched her face as she stared at him once again.
The Daimyo smiled , looking oddly pleased with himself, "And surely you must recognize Miyamoto Usagi-san, though it has been a few years since you have seen one another. "
"Y-yes. It's nice to see you again Usagi-san." She said quietly,
Meanwhile the turtles and their girls were watching the entire thing, some wishing they had popcorn, and couldn't help but think of it like one of the soap operas Master Splinter was so fond of.
"Wow." Cam said finally, "You can actually feel the awkward."
There's a lot more I want to do for this meeting, but I thought Cam summed up this chapter perfectly lol. I'll write part 3 soon, I promise!
