Chapter 8: Rise of the Turtles, Part 2
Alora's POV
We started to walk around, sightseeing at everything.
"This city is just full of possibility. There could be an adventure around this corner…or – or this one…or this one!" Leo said, going to each corner from every building.
I looked from behind where he was looking at, only an alleyway with a dumpster and a stray cat that 'meowed' at us and leapt away.
"Uh, Leo, I don't think there's an adventure at every corner in this city", I stated.
"There's not, but there could be!" Leo replied.
I shook my head in amusement as Leo jogged off to who-knows-where.
I paced up to them just in time to see Donnie look through a computer store window.
"Look at all the computers!" I then heard him gasp, "Is that the next generation cadmium processor with quantum encryption?!"
"I don't know, Donatello! Is it?" Raph asked sarcastically.
Donnie looks at it again and beamed excitedly. "It is!"
Raph rolled his eyes and shook his head. At least I was happy that Donnie was having a good time.
"Guys, Guys! Check this out!" Mikey yelled out as he looked at another store window with electric lighting décor on it, "a hand made out of light. [Gasp] Now it's an eye made out of light. [Gasp] And the hand again! Now the eye's back! Now the hand!"
Raph then walked over and pulled Mikey away by using the flowing strands from his headband.
"Come on, genius", Raph said.
"The eye!" Mikey cried out one last time.
I laughed when Raph tugged Mikey to us in the middle of the street. Man that was totally funny, especially seeing it a few dozen times.
"So where to next?" Donnie asked.
Leo then turned to me. "Alora, where do we go from here?"
I raised an eyebrow in confusion. Why would he ask me that? Then I realized that I was the expert of this show, which means I know everything that's going to happen.
"Oh! Right! Well, um –"
But I was interrupted when we heard a buzzing noise coming towards us from the street, followed by a headlight. The vehicle came to a stop right at us, revealing a Pizza delivery boy riding his motor scooter. We all stood there frozen as the delivery boy stared surprisingly at the turtles than me. I then took a glance at Raph, a sinister grin on his face.
'Uh-oh'
"Raph, whatever you do, don't -" I started, but it was too late.
Raph growled while making a scary face, frightening the poor kid and drove away. Unknown to him, he dropped one of the Pizza boxes and left it behind.
"- scare the kid away", I finished with a face palm.
Raph heartedly chuckled. "That was kinda fun".
"Of course YOU would think it's fun, knowing you", I said rhetorically.
"We're too exposed out here", Leo mentioned then looked up towards the rooftops, "Come on".
We headed towards the direction Leo was going, until I looked back to see that Mikey stopped dead when he saw the Pizza box.
"Come on, Mikey! We don't wanna fall behind!" I told him.
He looked at me then the pizza box then to me again and the pizza box until finally, he jogged over to the box and grab it.
"Way ahead of you, Dudette!" Mikey said, running ahead of me.
We both caught up with the others on the rooftop with the pizza box in hand. Mikey placed it on top of one of the electric units and they all stared at the box questionably.
"Pizz-a", Mikey said in a mispronounced way.
"It's pronounced 'Pizza', Mikey", I corrected.
Donnie looked towards me fearfully. "Should we open it?"
"Careful! It could be dangerous", Leo warned.
Raph got a bit impatient and opened the lid. Steam poured out from it as the freshly baked pizza showed in view. The turtles all stared at it in wonder and suspicion.
"I think it's…food", Donnie said.
"It's not like any food I'd ever saw", Raph stated.
"That's because it's created", I replied, "It's a combination of baked bread, hot tomato sauce and melted cheese. It's really good".
"Is it safe?" asked Donnie.
I scoffed with a smile. "Of course! It's one of the best food creations in the world! Try it if you guys don't believe me!"
"I'll try it", Mikey volunteered.
Mikey then took a slice from the pie, looked at it, held it in both hands, and raised it up to his mouth. Leo, Raph, and Donnie held worried expressions as Mikey took a bite. When he did, his eyes went wide as tennis balls and chomped the piece in his mouth down. He 'Mmm' in delight and scarfed the whole slice down in one gulp, held his stomach and belch loudly.
Realizing what he did, he looked at the rest of us and stopped at me when I crossed my arms and raised my eyebrows at him with a smirk, telling him that I was right about the pizza. I also knew he was going to pull a stunt to let him have the rest of the pizza to himself.
"Uh, yuck. You guys won't like it. I'll take the rest", Mikey said, grabbing the side of the pizza box.
Leo, Raph, and Donnie knew his trick from his little taste test and dove in to grab a slice from the box. Once they tried it, they didn't stop eating it. They definitely loved it.
"I never thought I taste anything better than worms and algae, but this is amazing!" Raph said, scarfing his slice up.
"You were right, Alora! This is the best food creation in the world!" Donnie replied.
I chuckled in response. "See? I told ya so".
Leo then grabbed the last slice and handed it to me. "Here, Alora. Have some".
I kindly smiled and gently took the slice. "Thanks, Leo".
We ate for a bit, finishing the last of the pizza as it settled into our stomachs.
"I LOVE IT UP HERE!" Mikey shouted to the heavens above.
"Well, come on! There's a lot more here for you to see!" I said, jogging ahead to the nearside of the rooftop.
We then started jogging and racing across the rooftops, well the turtles, at least are. I did my best to try and catch up, but I wasn't up to speed like them. Though, they did help me get across some bigger gaps in between alleyway rooftops by carrying me bridal style or holding onto the back of their shells. Either way, we were all having a great time.
We then skidded to a stop and looked towards the city. Bright lights from building windows illuminated the darkness, making it more beautiful and magical. The moon and stars shone throughout the night sky, gleaming down at the city with immense care. This was one of my favorite moments in life; looking at breathtaking views such as this.
"All right, guys. It's getting late. We should probably head back home", Leo stated.
Raph, Donnie, and Mikey all groaned in depression, wanting to stay up here a little more. We started to head back before Donnie looked down and let out a gasp.
"Guys! Look at that!" Donnie pointed out.
I looked to where Donnie was pointing at. At the corner of the street came two people that I recognized too well. The young, teenage girl with red, ponytailed hair, beautiful blue eyes, and yellow t-shirt is none other than April O'Neil herself, and the man right next to her is her father, Kirby O'Neil. I turned to Donnie whose eyes went wide and a heart beating right out of his chest.
"She's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen", he said dreamily.
I giggled at how sweet that Donnie became lovestrucked for the very first time.
"Isn't she the only girl, besides Alora here, you've ever seen?" Raph asked, breaking the moment.
Donnie looked at Raph with a frown.
"My point still stands", he said in defense.
While they were talking, I then took liberty that I knew what was going to happen next. Right on que, a white van came up and around the next corner, catching both the O'Neil's by surprise.
"Uh, guys?" I called out, getting the turtle's attention.
From behind the van came out the strange men, or as I recognized, the Kraang. The men all surrounded April and her father, frightening them both. They inched closer and closer as they cornered their target.
"W-What is this?" I heard Mr. O'Neil say in shock.
April gasp and cling to her Dad, fear showing on her face.
Donnie looked in shock at the situation. "We gotta save'em!"
He was about to pounce off, but Leo stopped him by grabbing his right shoulder.
"Splinter's instructions were very clear. We're supposed to stay away from people. And bathrooms", Leo informed.
I gave Leo a weird look with a raised eyebrow.
"Seriously, Leo? You had to add that 'bathroom' part?" I asked.
"Well – yeah", He replied sheepishly.
"I thought you wanted to be a hero. Since when did heroes ask for permission?" Raph questioned.
"They don't, but –"Leo started but what cut off by Donnie.
"Well, I'm going!"
Donnie jumped off, followed by Raph and Mikey, leaving only me and Leo on the rooftop. I turned to him with a determined look.
"Leo, I understand that you're trying to follow Splinter's rules, but rules are sometimes meant to be broken and, right now, those people down there need our help. We can't just stand by and do nothing while those men are getting away with it", I told him.
Leo looked at me then down at the ground and let out a sigh.
"Alright. Let's go help them", He said.
I grinned and nodded.
He lifted me up in bridal style and we both jumped down off the roof. Once we landed, Leo placed me on my feet and drew me near the side of a building.
"Stay here where it's safe", he instructed.
"But I wanna help as well, Leo", I insisted.
"I know but it's way too dangerous. You could get hurt out here. It's best if you stay down and keep quiet", he explained.
I didn't want to argue with him on that cause he was right. I wasn't a fighter like him and his brothers. Even if I did help them out, there would be a 100% percent chance that I could get injured or killed. So, either way, I did what I was told.
"[Sigh] okay, Leo, but be careful. All of you", I told him.
He nodded with a thumbs up and headed straight into the fight. As I stood near the building, I watched the men grabbing the O'Neil's and dragging them to the van. April was pleading and calling out for help while her father was pushed to the ground out-cold, picked up by his collar and threw him into the back of the vehicle.
"Hey!" I heard Raph yell out.
When the man turned his head at the direction he was called at, he received a punch in the abdomen that made him stumble a few feet back. The man slowly stood straight again and stared at Raph with an emotionless expression.
"Still standing, huh? I'll fix that", Raph said, twirling his Sais.
When he was about to attack, Leo bumped into him on accident. They both retorted at each other to 'watch it', but I knew that things don't go well for the first time. I kept on watching the fight, seeing the turtles getting into each other's way while battling the 'human disguised' Kraang droids. While doing so, I saw April still being held by the arm of a Kraang, dragging her right to the car. I knew I couldn't just stand here and let them take her, so I had no other choice but to
get out there and stop it.
Looking for a good clear-out to make myself scarce, I ran over as fast as I could through the battlefield, dodging and moving around without getting hit as possible. Once I made it, I ran over to the man-like droid and quietly walk up behind him. I poked his left shoulder and called out to get his attention.
"Hey, you!"
As he turned around and saw me, I delivered a punch right into his face. The force from my hit was so strong, he went flying right to the ground, catching both April and I in shock. My father did say that I didn't know my own strength. He tells me I would have the authority to take a person down, but I never thought of a robotic one. The turtles could barely take them down right now in the beginning, but I just managed to knock one out with only one punch. I looked at my hand and, strangely enough,
it doesn't hurt at all. I thought I'd feel pain and intense pressure from the hard, metallic feature, but no, not a single ache.
I let out a 'huh' and then went over to April.
"You alright there, April?" I asked.
She looked at me with a surprised look and gazed at me in wonder.
"Yeah, but…How do you know my name?" She asked.
I realized that I said her name since she doesn't introduce herself yet until later on. I smiled sheepishly while rubbing the back of my head.
"Uh, it's…kind of complicated to say right now, but I'll explain everything to you later once you're safe", I informed.
She still stared at me curiously until her eyes went wide when she looked behind me and cried out:
"LOOK OUT!"
I turned around quickly to see one of the men, who then whacked me away and sending me on the ground. I groaned and tried to get backup but I felt so much achiness coursing through me. Man, for such small, brain-sized aliens, they sure can pack quite a punch.
"Alora! Are you okay?"
I looked over to see Leo kneeling next to me with worriedness in his eyes.
"I'm fine. Least now I know what a punching bag feels like", I said sarcastically.
Leo helped me up and led me to a clearing with no fighting or attacks going on.
"I thought I told you to stay down and keep quiet?" He stated in an angry sort-of way.
"Well, I couldn't just stay on the sidelines and let them take the girl away, now could I?" I replied back with the same stamina.
Leo sighed and said, "Just. Stay right here, okay? Don't go anywhere!"
I sighed irritably but nodded.
As he went off, I looked over to April again, who was now being carried over the droid's shoulder and pounding on its back while telling to stop it.
"Hey! Cut it out! Stop! OW!"
I then turned my gazed to Donnie, who glance behind noticing them and threw his Bo-staff in their direction. It knocked the man-droid while releasing April in the process. She was in the air and was about to hit ground when, luckily, Donnie zipped over and caught her in time.
"Gotcha!"
When a dazed April looked up to see a smiling Donnie, she screamed. Donnie screamed back and dropped her as he coward back while April started to back away from him. Seeing her reaction, Donnie regained himself and tried to talk to her, to make her understand that he wasn't going to harm her.
"No, no, no. No. Don't worry. We're the good guys", Donnie reassured.
April screamed again and kept backing up while Donnie started to walk towards her with a kind smile.
"It's okay", he said with as much comfort.
April turned around and saw the men surrounding her, making her gasped and whimper in fear. She turned back to Donnie with a pleading expression. Seeing this as his chance, Donnie held out his hand for her to take it. April, still a bit unsure, slowly started to reach out and take his hand but then-
*WHACK*
Donnie was smacked by Mikey's nunchucks. I winced at the sound of his face being hit. Donnie glared at his younger brother with an angered vein popping on his head as Mikey smiled sheepishly.
"Whoops! Sorry", Mikey apologized before pointing out, saying "Watch out!"
One of the men kicked Donnie that he, who rammed into Mikey, was sent flying right into some garbage and trashcans. I gasped then turned to the men that tied April and duct-taped her mouth to prevent her from yelling or screaming. I ran over to them as the men shoved her into the back opening of the van.
"No! Let them go!" I cried out as I tried to shove them away to get to April and her father.
The men grabbed me and pushed me away roughly, making me fall to the ground once more. I landed hard on my bottom, making it hurt and sore. Ignoring the pain, I looked at the van's opening to see April looking at me with fear and plead. I outstretched my left hand to her and called out her name.
"APRIL!"
Seeing her one last time, the doors were slammed shut and the van's engine started. I quickly got backup by the time that they started driving away.
"They're getting away! They got the girl!" Donnie yelled out as he ran ahead to chase down the van.
I followed suite as I heard running feet from behind us and hearing Raph and Leo's arguing voices.
"You just jabbed me with your sword", said Raph.
"Well, I didn't know you were gonna land where I was stabbing", Leo retorted.
"Now's not the time, you guys! We gotta catch up to that van!" I called out to them.
We kept on running in hope that we would find that van, but I knew for sure that we wouldn't catch up to it. By the time, we turned a corner, the white van that held the droid-men, April and Mr. O'Neil had disappeared. We stopped to catch our breaths as Donnie stared in disappointment.
"They're gone. She's gone. I couldn't save her", Donnie muttered in despair.
I went over to him and place a comforting hand on his left shoulder.
"We'll save them, Donnie. I swear we will", I said.
"Well, we gotta find them first and, to be truthfully honest, I don't see any leads that could help us with that", Raph stated.
"We'll worry about that later. Right now, let's go find Mikey and make sure that he didn't get into any trouble", Leo mentioned.
I instantly remembered that Mikey was probably encountering one of the Kraang droids right now. He must've discovered their true origins and is freaking out at this moment. I held a worried gaze as we started walking back the way we came.
The turtles and Alora have been pounded. April and her father have been kidnapped. Not the best day for a first night out. Will they be able to find the O'Neil's who were taken before it'was too late? Find out next time!
Stay tuned and thanks for reading!
