Hey, everybody! Here's the chapter where the first episode takes place! I hope it suits you well. Like I said before, I'm not very good with details. Also, sorry that it's a little late. I've been busy these last few weeks and I will be for a couple more.
Anyway, hope you enjoy!
Chapter 7: Rise of the Turtles - Part 1
Alora's POV
It's been over a week since I was transported here. I didn't know if I would get used to being down here in the sewers, but the Lair started to feel like a second Home to me. Master Splinter and the turtles were all very good to me. I felt safe and protected down here. My time with the Hamatos has been keeping me occupied lately. The turtles have been hanging around with me non-stop every day. I don't mind it. I actually enjoy their company - once in a while. I don't normally have any friends back where I'm from, except for my little sister, of course. But spending time with four mutant turtle brothers and a giant father-figure rat was really fun once you got to know them.
Mikey, for example, loved to be around me. We would both play videogames and he would teach me on how to play. He let me read some of his comic books and see his action figures of his favorite TV show or comic characters. He tells me some of his sarcastic jokes and funny tactics that I sometimes giggle or laugh at. We even share some of our favorite musical tunes. I would play the ones on my CD player that I have in my purse and he would let me listen on his radio. He also showed me his 'awesome' skateboarding skills that he picked up over the last fifteen years. He offered to teach me a few tricks, but I had to decline. Skateboarding wasn't really my thing, but I was impressed on how well he does it. Even though I have seen it a few times in the series, it was much more intriguing in real life. I love spending time with Mikey; he's like a younger brother.
Most times I spend with Donnie in the lab. I watch him do his scientific research at his desk. I help him with some experiments and inventions, which he doesn't mind my assistance. We sometimes talk while working basic topics and other subjects. He would talk about the scientific method, but I would always ask him nicely when I couldn't understand what he was saying. He would always smile and say he'll do his best. He made things so much easier for me and helped me with things that I didn't understand.
I also liked to hang around with Raph. It took him a while to warm up to me since he didn't trust me. When he saw how his pal Spike liked me as I fed him some leaves, Raph became quite surprised. He told me Spike didn't warm up to anyone else but him. I smiled and told him that I was just good with little creatures. Raph and I started to talk while feeding Spike a little more and he mentioned that I wasn't such a bad person to be around with. He also told me about his 'insane' idea about taking me back to the surface and leaving me there unconscious. I was a bit shocked and hurt at first, but he quickly apologized and said that he regrets saying that. From seeing the guilt on his face, I smiled and accepted his apology. After that, Raph started to show me his drums, some basic ninjitsu moves and other stuff. Raph and I became good friends from then on.
During some other times, I would have a cup a tea and a conversation with Master Splinter in the Dojo. He would talk about his life in Japan and I would talk more about my life in my world. He'd share some interesting and embarrassing stories about the turtles that would make me laugh. He also allowed me to sit beside him when his sons were in training. I was fascinated by how quickly and elegantly the turtle's movements were in combat. I wish I could learn to move like that, but I don't think I'd be qualified for it. Master Splinter is very wise, kind, skillful and smart as I knew he would be. He became like a second father to me.
But the one turtle that I've been spending my time the most with is Leo. We would hang out together endlessly. We talked and laughed for hours and enjoyed each other's company. He allowed me to sit with him and watch his favorite TV show 'Space Heroes'. The show was okay, despite the slapping and weird quotes, but it wasn't so bad when you watched it for a while. I sometimes took a few glances over at Leo and would see the biggest grin on his face. I would smile and think about just how much he loves watching this program. Leo would mimic the quotes from his favorite hero, Captain Ryan, and I would giggle about how cute and funny he was. He'd tell me everything that would happen next or when it's going to happen in each episode we've seen. Leo also taught me how to play his 'Space Heroes' pinball machine. He said he's got the highest score out of everybody. I tried it to give it a go, but I was nowhere near his top score. Leo told me not to worry and that someday soon I might be able to make it if I practice and never give up. I smiled at his kind words. That's one of the many things that I liked about Leonardo: true words of a true leader. After spending so much time together, Leo and I became best friends.
Although, sometimes when Leo smiles or speaks kindly or even comforts me, I always feel my heart beat faster and my cheeks flare. I don't know why, it just happens all of a sudden. I thought it was a temporary thing, but now I'm not so sure. This never happened to me before back in my world, at least, not that I know of. I think I should talk to Donnie and ask him to examine me, but I'm afraid of what the verdict might be.
That's not the only thing weird happening to me. When the turtles told me about how my stone glowed when I sing, I tried to see it for myself. With my eyes open this time, I quietly sang a small section of a song and to my surprise I saw that my stone necklace was glowing. It did shine with a light-blue aura, just like Donnie said. I sung for a little longer and higher and it got brighter every whole step. Leo was right about that part, too. Once I stopped, the stone's glow started to fade and went back to normal. That was defiantly strange, but not as strange on what occurred next on the last few days. When I'm in one of the rooms by myself, I would feel these senses, like I know something or someone is close by or coming over to me. I look where the source was and in would be either one of the turtles or Master Splinter. I started to feel a bit paranoid when I began feeling this way. I also felt something weird about my hands because one time when I was in the kitchen, getting myself something to drink, I saw the tips of my fingers covered in light-blue sparkles. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me but clearly they weren't. They continued to sparkle for a second or two and then it stop. I was beyond surprised at that time; I was shocked and frightened. These sort-of things never occurred to me when I was back home in my realm. I didn't know what in the world was happening to me, but I knew that each of these predicaments were connected in some way. I decided to keep this to myself for now and if it guess worse, I'll need to tell the others.
Either way, I needed to get myself well prepared because Mikey told me tomorrow was the turtles and Master Splinter's Birthday, or as they call it 'Mutation Day'. I knew what this means. It means that it would be the day that Master Splinter will allow his sons to travel up to the surface for the very first time. Tomorrow is where the first season begins.
The Next Day
The turtles and I were in the Dojo. I sat on the opposite side of the room while the turtles went into position for the training. They were going against each other, one on one. Raph against Donnie and Leo against Mikey. Both sides went into sitting poses, narrowing their eyes at their opponent. Then they stood up and went into their own battle stances. I started to watch Leo and Mikey. Leo got his one katana out while Mikey got both his nunchucks in ready. Their stares held determination and focus. I looked at both of them in silence, waiting for one of them to make a move. Well, I know for sure which turtle here was going to start it off.
As on que, Leo yelled with a charged and Mikey then charged as well.
"Oh, yeah! Michelangelo is on the move!" Mikey narrated in third person.
Leo swung his weapon, but Mikey dodged it and was behind him. Leo turned with a narrowed expression.
"You don't know what to do!" Mikey replied.
Leo kept on swinging and striking but Mikey kept dodging it like it was nothing.
"I'm here. I'm there!" Mikey kept on rattling.
Leo brought his sword up in battle as he glared at his younger brother.
"I could be anywhere!" Mikey said before his eyes widen when Leo suddenly attacked him.
Mikey dodged again and Leo turned around with a smirk and a raised eyebrow.
"How do you stop what you can't even see?" Mikey teasingly asked.
I then looked at Leo, seeing a sneaky glint on his face. I knew for sure what he was about to do next and that Mikey was in it for his life.
Mikey prepared himself and then charged right in. Leo's narrowed face deepened a bit and when Mikey was right where he wanted him to, he turned his blade around and jabbed the head of the handle into Mikey's gut. I winced in pain when I saw that; man, that defiantly has gotta hurt. Mikey then barrel roll out of the way and stood on one knee, holding his stomach and had a 'looks-like-I'm-gonna-throw-up' sort-of face. He then made a 'bleh' expression with his mouth open and tongue out in pain before he collapsed.
"Ouch", I said.
Leo held the handle in his hand with the blade pointing behind him and looked at Mikey who was on the floor.
"Like that?" He asked.
Mikey lifted his arm weakly with a raised finger.
"Good one, Leo", Mikey congrats in a husky tone.
Chuckling, I switched my gaze over to Raph and Donnie. Donnie was twirling his Bo-staff around and went into his fighting stance. Raph, on the other hand, just stood there with an intensive stare. He then moved his head around, cracking his neck in the process. I always had a bad feeling at this part whenever one of them fights Raph, and believe me, it never ends well.
"Alright, Donnie. Put down the staff and no one gets hurt", He warned.
"Uh, you said that last time, Raph, and then you hurt me", Donnie replied angrily.
"Yeah, but…less than I would have", Raph said half-truthfully.
"Of course you would've", I muttered.
"Yeah, right", Donnie scoffed.
With a twirl of his staff, Donnie charged and struck it at Raph. Raph rolled out of the way behind Donnie, who kept spinning his staff and striking at his brother. Raph kept dodging his brother's attacks right to left, knowing when to get an opening to make a move. Donnie kept on spinning, twirling and striking his weapon at Raph, but when he did his final hit with his eyes closed, he opened them to find his staff missing from his hands. Donnie look up with wide eyes and a light gasp, seeing Raph with his staff, twirled it, snapped it in two with his kneecap and held both half's in his hands with a sinister grin. Donnie knew for sure that he was in big trouble.
"Should've dropped the staff?" He asked fearfully.
"Should've dropped the staff", Raph repeated back.
Raph got into his stance with the two broken staff pieces in each hand. Donnie jumped and then ducked and cover himself as Raph went over and whacked the back of his shell multiple times.
"Okay, okay. OW! I'm down!" Donnie admitted.
Leo stepped into the room with his katana in hand. Raph saw this and threw the broken staff pieces on the floor, facing his oldest brother. Donnie came over to us and sat next to the left of Mikey while I was on the right. Mikey stuck his tongue at him as Donnie glared back.
"Be nice, Mikey", I whispered to him.
Mikey shrugged with a smile and I rolled my eyes playfully.
We became quiet as we watched Leo and Raph get into place. They both knelt down in preparing for a battle, more glaring then narrowing at each other.
"Onegai Shimasu", Leo said in Japanese.
"Whatever you say", Raph replied plainly.
Leo stood up and held his sword in both hands, pointing it at his opponent. Raph got both of his Sais out, twirled them and got into position. Leo charged and both his sword and Raph's Sais collided. They both grunted and glared as one of them tried to push the other off. They broke apart and then Leo swung his over but Raph dodged it in time. They stared again when Raph twirled his weapons and then charged with a yell. Leo tried to strike him down but missed, earning a kick to the face and another missed swing, but sweep kicked Raph and knocking him on the floor. Leo got back up and held his sword up tightly as Raph did a flip that got him on his feet with an angered look in his eyes. Leo attacked and his sword clashed with Raph's Sais once again, but knocked his right one out of his hand, being thrown to the wall between Mikey and Donnie. Thank God it didn't hit one of them. With only one Sai, Raph still held his ground as Leo flex his fingers on the sword's handle. They both stood firm and ready; Raph holding his left Sai and Leo raising his Katana. With a final yell from both of them, they charged right towards each other. I held a worried expression as I knew what was going to happen.
*SLASH*
Leo's Katana dropped to the floor with a clatter. Raph then used the hooks on his Sai to wrap around Leo's wrist, grab his arm and threw him overhead and down. Leo went down with a 'thud' and a grunt. I flinched when I saw that. Everything that I knew about this seemed more realistic and painful then seeing it on TV. Raph walked over to Leo who still laid on the floor in defeat. Leo groaned then looked up to see Raph hovering above his head with a smirk.
"Nice try", Raph mockingly said.
Just then, the doors at the end of the Dojo opened and closed.
"Ya me!"
We all turned to see Master Splinter walk in, cane and all. Raph, Mikey and Donnie walked in the center of the room and sat down in a row. I went over to help Leo and to make sure he wasn't hurt. I grabbed his left arm and gently pulled him up to his feet.
"You okay, Leo?" I asked in worry.
Leo smiled at me and nodded. "Yeah, I'll be alright. Thanks, Alora".
I smiled back and nodded in understanding. Leo walked over to his brothers, sat at the end next to Raph and bowed in respect to his Sensei. I walked over near the Dojo's entrance and stood there patiently. Master Splinter walked pass each of them with a calm expression.
"You all did very well", he said.
"But I did better", Raph injected.
Leo gave him a look when he said that. I rolled my eyes with a sigh. Typical Raph.
"This is about self-improvement, Raphael. It is not about winning or losing", Master Splinter explained.
Raph grin smugly to himself and put his hands behind his head in satisfaction.
"I know, Sensei. But I won and – they lost", Raph replied.
Master Splinter was behind him at that moment and tugged his index finger under the side of Raph's face, making Raph wince and struggle in pain by the pressure point.
"Ah, ah, ah! But what's really important is that we all did our best! Good job, everyone!" Raph exclaimed.
Master Splinter released the tension and Raph nearly collapsed with his hands on the floor, panting.
I tried my best not to laugh out loud, covering my mouth in the process. I heard Master Splinter chuckling; least he enjoyed doing it to teach Raph a lesson.
A few minutes later, the turtles, Master Splinter and I all sat down in the kitchen eating. Leo, Raph, Donnie, Mikey and Master Splinter had plates full of algae and worms for dinner. I didn't want any and I didn't want to try it because I didn't want to end up with an upset stomach. During my time here, Master Splinter gave me some of his money from what was left on his account when he was still human. He said I had permission to go up to the surface alone and buy some foods that I would eat. I guess he knew I wouldn't like the meals he and the turtles were having down here. I did not want to eat anything, so I just had a glass of water.
We all sat at the island in silence, eating and drinking. I sat near with Master Splinter on the right while Leo, Raph and Donnie all sat on the left. I could hear the numbing and chewing of the three turtles and Master Splinter as they ate their worms. Donnie let out a 'Bleh' when he ate one; at least he, as well as his brothers, won't be eating like this for the rest of the series.
Mikey was near the stove, stirring some algae and worms in a pot he was holding.
"There's a little more algae and worms left if anyone wants it. Anybody? Anybody?" Mikey asked.
"No thanks", Leo declined.
"I'm good", Raph said next.
"All yours", Donnie replied.
"How about you, Dudette? Want some?" Mikey asked me.
I smiled at the nickname. Ever since I got here, Mikey decided to call me that other than my actual name and I was okay with it.
"Thanks, Mikey, but I'm good with the water right now", I said.
"Well", Mikey started as he held something behind his back, "I guess no one's left room for…Cake!"
Mikey pulled out from behind him a huge algae cake with a lit Birthday candle on top. Leo, Raph and Donnie stood up in surprise by the sight of it.
"Whoa!" one of them said.
"It is a cake!" Donnie said.
Raph licked his lips as he stared at it.
Made of…algae…and…worms", he said deadpanned.
"What's the frosting made out of?" Leo asked.
"You don't wanna know", Mikey warned sadly before shouting out, "'Happy Mutation Day!'"
"'Happy Mutation Day!'" Leo, Raph and Donnie repeated back loudly.
I grinned happily and rose my glass while saying, "'Happy Mutation Day', guys!"
"Ah, yes. 15 years ago today, our lives changed forever and we became the unlikeliest of families", Master Splinter said.
"Tell us the story, Master Splinter", Mikey asked.
"Michelangelo, I have already told it many times", he mentioned.
"But Dudette hasn't heard it", Mikey pointed out.
"Actually, Mikey, I already know it because I've watched this episode multiple times. So, I basically know how it goes. Sorry", I explained.
I gave Mikey an apologetic look as he turned back to Master Splinter.
"Please! Pleeease!" Mikey begged only for Raph to clamp his mouth from begging more.
"Please. It's the only way to shut Mikey up", Raph pleaded in an irritated way.
I then turned towards Splinter with a half-smile.
"You might as well tell it, Master Splinter", I said.
"Ah, very well", Splinter replied and began narrating his story:
"Many years ago, when I was still human, I was leaving the pet store with four baby turtles."
"That was us!" Mikey intervened.
I chuckled, thinking how funny Mikey mentioned him and his brothers when they were babies.
"Yes. Don't interrupt!" Master Splinter warned.
Mikey sat quietly with an upset expression as I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, telling him that 'it's okay'. He smiled in gratitude as I smiled back. We returned to listening to Master Splinter's tale.
"I passed a strange man on the street. Something felt off about him. I decided to follow."
He told us everything that happened in that time. He told us how he gained their attention when he stepped on a rat by accident. I listened intently to every detail he described. He mentioned about how he tried to defend himself and the baby turtles from them. Even though Master Splinter didn't know who these men were back then, but I knew they weren't ordinary men. I knew they were the Kraang - the evil, alien droids disguised as humans who've been here long ago and are trying to turn this version of Earth into their own. I know that they were the ones who brought the substance known as the 'mutagen' here and how Splinter and the turtles got mutated in the first place. I can still recall that horrid scene when Splinter punched one of the droids that held the canister filled with it and that it splattered all over the ground and on him. Not to mention that he dropped the glass container with the turtles in it, breaking and getting them into it. The screaming of Master Splinter being mutated still rung in my ears, seeing the transformation he is now today, as well as how the turtles changed and became who they are now.
I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard Master Splinter speak up again.
"That was the beginning of our life together", Master Splinter said, holding the broken canister that once held the mutagen, "It was the mysterious substance in this canister that, in a way, gave birth to us all".
Mikey snatched the canister, hugged it lovingly and called it, "Mom".
I smiled with a raised eyebrow while Leo, Raph and Donnie looked at him weirdly.
"So, Sensei, now that we're 15, I think we're finally ready to go up to the surface, don't you?" Leo asked as he and his brothers looked at Master Splinter hopefully.
I looked to Master Splinter, who sat there with a calm-like structure and I knew what he was going to say for that.
"Yes", he started.
All the turtles cheered, but that wasn't the end of it.
"And no", he finished.
All of them groaned and complained at that point.
"I hate when he does that", Raph admitted.
"You have grown powerful, but you are still young", Master Splinter began as he stood up from his seat and started walking away with his back turned, "You lack the maturity to use your skills wisely".
"So, Sensei, isn't that just – no?" asked Donnie.
"Yes…and no", Splinter repeated as he turned around to face us, "Wisdom comes from experience. And experience comes from making mistakes".
"Aha! So in order for us to gain the wisdom, we have to make the mistakes. So we can go!" Donnie theorized.
"No", Splinter said.
"And yes?" Donnie asked hopefully.
"No!" Splinter repeated sternly.
"Oh!" Donnie groaned in disappointment.
"Sensei, we know you're trying to protect us, but we can't spend our whole lives hiding down here", Leo informed.
"He's right, Splinter", I spoke up as I got out of my seat and walked over to him, "and I understood the whole situation. You want them to be safe and secure like any parent would for their child, but believe me, sometimes it's best for them to go out and experience things on their own. I've told you that in the episodes that your sons go on great adventures and learn so many things out there. So, if you keep them down here, then they'll never get the chance to have those adventures. If you want, I can go with them and make sure that they're safe and out of harm's way," I mentioned as I looked back to the turtles who gave grateful smiles to me.
I smiled back and then turned back to Splinter.
"Please, Master Splinter. It's time for them to know what's out there", I said with much persuasion as I possibly could muster.
Master Splinter looked away and stroked his beard, deep in thought. He glanced back at the turtles, but when he looked again, all four reptiles were on their knees with pleading faces. I chuckled seeing how cute they looked. Master Splinter looked towards me and I gave him a half-smile and a shrug in response. He then groaned in defeat.
"You may go – tonight", he finally admitted.
All the turtles cheered in joy and all I could do was smile happily for them.
Mikey stood up, raised his hand in the air and yelled out, "High three!"
Leo, Raph and Donnie all high-three in unison. They all turned to me with grinned faces.
"Come on, Dudette! High three!" Mikey said.
I stood back in surprise that they are waiting for me to join in. I smiled and then high three, or in my case high five, with the rest of the group.
Afterwards, Leo and I were in the living area watching 'Space Heroes'. We saw that Captain Ryan's ship was under attack and was taking damage. I glanced to see Leo looking a bit worried at the scene. It then changed to the ship's bridge where Captain Ryan asked his second-in-command about the status of the ship. Of course, the second commander went into a panic and earned a slap to the face by the Captain to calm him down.
"Gentleman, I have a bold and daring plan", I heard both Captain Ryan, who is being mimic by Leo, say simultaneously, "there's no time for hesitation. My orders must be carried out without question!"
"Aye, sir!" I heard the crew members from the TV show cried out.
I giggled at Leo's memorable quotes from his famous Space Hero. Leo certainly admired Captain Ryan, just like any other fan would do.
"You know this show is stupid, right?"
We both turned to see Raph sitting on the stairs that led to Donnie's lab, reading a magazine.
"'Space Heroes' is a great show. And Captain Ryan is a great hero. Someday, I am gonna be just like him", Leo said in defense.
"And I know you will be a great hero, too, Leo. Maybe even better", I replied.
Leo smiled. "Thanks, Alora. That really means a lot to me."
I smiled back and felt my cheeks flare up again. Seriously, what is wrong with me?!
"Well, you do like to hear yourself talk, so – you're on your way", Raph said.
Leo frowned when he heard Raph say that and I rolled my eyes while shaking my head. We then heard footsteps approaching and saw Mikey and Donnie running up to us with excited grins and did rock-and-roll poses.
"It's go time!" Mikey announced.
All the turtles each prepared themselves by strapping up their own weapons: Donnie with his Bo-staff, Raph with his Sais, Leo with is double katanas and Mikey with his nunchucks.
Once they were all set, the turtles stood in attention near the entrance. I stood near the side patiently as Splinter gave off his instructions about what to do when they head up top.
"You are going up into a strange and hostile world. You must maintain awareness at all times", he informed.
"Hai, Sensei!" they all replied and where about to leave until –
"Stay in the shadows", Splinter added.
"Hai Sensei!" they repeated and started to head out again –
"Don't talk to strangers".
"Aye, Sensei".
"Everyone is a stranger".
"Aye, Sensei…"
I smiled in content as we started up to the entrance only for Master Splinter to inform us once more.
"Make sure you go before you leave! The restrooms up there are filthy!" he cried out.
"Sensei!" the turtles yelled out in embarrassment.
I snickered to myself quietly.
Master Splinter sighed. "Good luck, my sons".
The turtles got all excited that they rushed out of here less than two seconds, leaving me behind.
"Look both ways before crossing the street!" Splinter added quickly in worry.
I turned to him and grinned in confidence.
"Don't worry, Master Splinter. I'll keep an eye on them, I promise", I said.
Master Splinter sighed once again before looking towards me with pleading eyes.
"Please take care of my sons".
I smiled and gave him a nod. "I will".
"Yo, Dudette! You coming or what?!" Mikey called out.
I smiled to Master Splinter once more before turning back around, running to catch up.
"Right behind you, Mikey!" I called back.
We ran for a good five to ten minutes until we got to the ladder that led up to the surface. Leo was the first to go up. He slightly opened the manhole cover and peeked around, just enough to make sure it was safe. Since it was, he pushed it all the way off and he, along with the rest of us, got out of the manhole, stood up and gazed around in awe.
We were in some sort of dead end. There was spray-can painted drawings on the walls, garbage bags, trash cans, boxes, a dumpster and some litter everywhere. I even saw a homeless old man sleeping with a newspaper for a blanket on an old spring-less mattress.
I knew that this was a disgusting sight to see, but the turtles didn't think so. They were too busy looking at what was in front of them: huge buildings, lampposts, electric posts, mailboxes, all of the above. There were sounds of sirens and car horns blaring out through the night sky.
"It's – so –beautiful", Mikey breathed.
The turtles and Alora are finally in the city! Wonder what will happen next? Find out next time!
Stay tuned and thanks for reading!
