Chapter Four

A couple of hours later, the turtles and Mona were about to head topside for patrol, once again Pandora was annoyed she couldn't join them, yet Kemeko seemed content, though eager to find out if her father, Uncles and Aunt managed to stop any crime.

"When we think you're ready to join us, we will let you know." Raphael said to Pandora "But for now, you must stay down here where it is safe."

"Same to you Kemeko." Leonardo said to his adopted daughter who bowed in respect.

"Yes daddy." she said.

Pandora folded her arms.

"But dad." she said "I'm sure there are places we can go! Central Park always has places to play! And I love looking at the stars!"

"I know sweetheart." Raphael said placing his large hand on Pandora's shoulder "But the world topside is dangerous, and no matter how careful we are there is still a huge risk we could be seen or caught, and not just by the bad people we fight, but the other humans, you remember what we said about them?"

Pandora nodded.

"I know dad, but..."

"No buts!" Raphael said "Humans are dangerous, not all of them are like our human allies, we must be very careful!"


"Yeah! Remember that time at Christmas?" Michelangelo cut in, causing Raphael to turn to his younger brother in annoyance, but he softened his look at Michelangelo recited the time Pandora accidentally stumbled across human children near Casey's Farmhouse and they had attacked her when they saw what she was.

Pandora blushed as she remembered.

"I wish more humans accepted us as we are!" she said.

"We all do Princess." Mona said "But for now, we must co-exist in secret."

Pandora sighed.

"Fine."

"Good girl." Raphael said stroking Pandora's head "Now you and Kemeko be good and stay in the lair with Granddad Splinter."

"We will Uncle Raph!" Kemeko said with a smile and Splinter walked up and placed his paws on his granddaughter's shoulders.

"They are always good as gold when I'm watching." he said.

"We know." Leonardo winked then turned to his brothers and Mona "Okay, we ready?"

"Sure are Leo!" Donatello said.

"Then lets go!" Raphael said.


Waving to the girls and Splinter the five mutants set off out of the lair and into the sewers.

Pandora watched them longingly and sighed.

"Pandora?" Splinter looked at her with a reassuring smile "Be patient child, you'll be able to go with them soon."

"But when Grandpa?" Pandora asked.

"When you're ready." Splinter answered

"But I feel ready now!" Pandora said "I can swing my weapon with ease and my fighting is strong! I can hold my own!"

"Against dummies and when sparring with Kemeko yes." Splinter said, a playful frown on his face "But you are still rather short, and still need to face more tests and learn how to use your real weapon."

Pandora pouted a little.

"I wish I could grow to be as tall as mum and dad!" she said folding her arms and pouting harder "I hate being little!"

Splinter laughed.

"You'll be grown up soon enough." He said "I remember when your father and Uncles kept wishing they would grow up and explore, but then once they did, they wished they were young again, so just enjoy it whilst you can!"

Pandora looked at her grandfather then her shoulders sagged.

"Okay." she said.

"That's my Little Geisha." Splinter said flicking Pandora's chin "Now how about you two settle in front of the TV whilst I get some milk and cookies?"

"Yay!" Kemeko cheered "Thank you Grandpa!"

"Yes please Grandpa!" Pandora's mood changing instantly and she ran over to join Kemeko who beat her to the TV area and was already looking through the Children's DVDs.


In the sewers, the Turtles and Mona were making their way to the nearest Manhole that would take them to the surface.

They soon found the rungs and one by one they climbed to the surface until they found themselves in an alleyway.

"Quite chilly tonight." Mona said rubbing her arms.

"Just a little." Donatello agreed.

Leonardo looked around and he found a fire escape before gesturing the others to follow him to the top of the buildings.

"Okay gang." he said "We'll scour the area together for the first hour, then we'll split into groups."

"Right Fearless." Raphael said.

"Do you suppose the Foot or the V5 will be out tonight?" Michelangelo asked.

"No idea." Raphael said "But if they are, we'll be ready for them!"

Mona licked her lips as she thought for a second and Donatello noticed.

"Penny for your thoughts sis?" he asked.

"Oh nothing." Mona smiled "Just thinking about the girls, and hoping they'll be alright."

"They will." Michelangelo said in a confident tone "They always love spending time with Grandpa Splinter."

"That's true." Mona said.

As Mona spoke, it set off a thought in Leonardo and he turned to Raphael.

"You know, I'm still thinking about what you said to the girls about humans being dangerous, and then we have Kemeko..."

"Who is human." Raphael ended "When do you plan to break it to her that she is a human?"

Leonardo sighed.

"She's still very young, and still doesn't know about her parents or her origin, and she seems happy for now, and doesn't seem to care she's different, but she is surrounded by people who love her, and I don't want to confuse her, or make her uncomfortable."

"You're gonna have to tell her sooner or later." Donatello said turning to Leonardo.

The Blue masked turtle nodded in agreement.

"I know." he said "But I'm still not sure when, but when the times right, hopefully I'll be ready and be there for her, whatever the outcome."

"We all will be." Mona smiled "That's a promise!"

Leonardo smiled gratefully at his family then cleared his throat.

"Okay," he said "We better not dally, lets get to work!" he jerked his head to the side prompting the others to follow him.

"Right behind you Bro!" Raphael said "Man am I praying for some action!"

"Ditto!" Mona agreed.


Back in the lair, Pandora and Kemeko had found a film, which turned out to be 'The Little Mermaid'.

Kemeko relaxed back on the sofa nibbling on a cookie whilst Pandora sat staring that the screen with her glass of milk between her hands.

In a way, Pandora felt she could identify with Ariel the Mermaid, not wishing to be human, but wanting to go to the surface and see the world above where they hid below, and she remembered her parents and Uncles words about humans being dangerous after hearing Kind Triton talking about them.

Pandora sighed again and sipped her milk, wondering if there was a chance that they could go topside with the grown-ups later. She hoped hard they would as she wanted to see the stars and play in the fresh air again.


Meanwhile Splinter was sitting on an armchair dozing off ever few seconds, he wasn't sure how many times he had seen the many Disney films the girls put on, but he almost knew them off by heart as much as they did.

It almost made him laugh that there were times, he, along with his sons, adopted daughter and even April and Casey had found themselves reciting lines or even humming songs from the films.

Jerking awake for the fourth time, Splinter looked at the clock and felt a sense of pleasure that when the film was over he could watch his soap operas whilst the girls had their playtime.

Once again the grown ups head out on patrol, yet Pandora still wishes she could join them! Kemeko of course is the patient one!

The part where Michelangelo talks about the incident at Christmas, comes from my earlier fic 'Pandora's Christmas Caper'