Authors Notes: The last chapter, and as I promised, I am posting the epilogue at the same time ;D Look at my notes there about future stories.

I can actually say I own Violet, the plot AND the new character you're about to meet! :)

Chapter 21: The 'Adored One'

A cloaked figure speedily and stealthily ran down the sewers, finally entering the lair and slipping unnoticed into Splinter's study.

He remained with his eyes closed. "As mysterious as ever" he looked up to the figure. "It's good to see you"

They bowed to each other.

"Is she ready?" They finally spoke.

"Nearly, she's just saying her final goodbyes"

"I can't believe it" Mikey moaned. "You can't go!"

"I have to" she rubbed his cheek lightly, "If we can survive through this, we can survive through anything"

Don nudged himself in. "Well, I guess this is it"

"Yep"

He hugged her. "See you little sis"

Mikey took her by the hand and walked her to Splinters study.

"Enter" Splinters obviously sensed their presence already. They entered nervously.

The cloaked figure approached Violet. "Yes, I can sense it, her ability is strong" Violet noticed the cloaked figure's voice was feminine.

"Master Splinters?" Mikey looked confused.

"Sorry" The female master removed her cloak. "I am Keiko" She was about the same height as Splinters only with softer grey fur, large ears, and an extremely long and furry tail. She wore a black kimono laced with pink edges.

"Wait!" Mikey jumped. "You…you're a mutant? How? And what are you? A squirrel rabbit?"

She frowned at him, "I'm a chinchilla"

"Please excuse him" Violet sighed.

"And yes, I'm a mutant, but I can explain" She gestured in front of her and Splinters. "Please, sit"

They did so.

"You know how Hamato Yoshi and Tang Shen took in Splinter?" She received vague nods. "Well, before that, Tang Shen already owned a pet, a female chinchilla she named Keiko" She raised her hand to stop any questions Mikey was about to throw at her. "When they took in Splinter, they let him play with her when they got them out. After Tang Shen's death, Yoshi took Splinters away to New York, leaving the chinchilla under the care of their father, the Ancient One. Not long after, an unexpected thing happened, Splinters returned, only he was how he is now, a mutant" She smiled at Splinters. "That night, he spoke with the chinchilla late into the night as they could still understand each other and let it groom his fur as it had used to. What he hadn't realized is he had been cut on his arm, so when grooming him, the chinchilla ingested some of his blood which contained doses of the mutagen he was exposed to" She took a breath before continuing. "After he left, she started changing, and by the next day, she herself had realized the change as she could suddenly speak! The Ancient One, as surprised as he was, let her stay and allowed her to train with him, later helping her with the other challenges of the mutation that were to come. After a couple of years, she came and visited her love…" Keiko trailed off, gazing at Splinters.

"And by other challenges you mean Empathy?" Violet asked slowly. She received a small nod.

Mikey raised his hands "Okay, I get it! But…are you two…" he looked between the two masters.

"Yes, we are bound like you and Violet, we had to perform the ritual on ourselves though, which is much more dangerous" She exchanged a glance with Splinters, "But it means we are always with one another"

"So you're…" Mikey looked shocked, "…our Mum?" he eventually got out what he was trying to say.

Keiko giggled slightly. "I guess, technically speaking"

Managing to shake the shock off, Mikey once more looked sad. "How long will Violet be gone?"

She glanced at Violet. "Hmmmm…Give me about six weeks, that should do it" She winked playfully. "Come, I have much to teach you" She got Violet to stand and started leading her towards the exit.

"Wait!" Mikey jumped up. "Give us a chance to-"

"Say goodbye? Fine" Keiko rolled her eyes slightly then made an odd chattering sound to Splinters by grinding her rodent teeth together. Splinters smirked and responded in a similar way.

"Okay…" Mikey turned back to Violet. "At least your Master looks fun" he hugged her.

"I'll see you soon Mikey"

He smiled and let her go.

Keiko studied Violet slightly. "How fast are you?"

"Huh?"

"Come on, run as fast as you can, your lessons have started. Now, try to keep up!" She tied the cloak round her neck like a cape and lifted the hood.

Leading Violet out of the lair and into the sewers, she ran really fast, much faster than Violet could hope to go!

Mikey stood at the entrance, watching the girl he loved run into the distance, almost out of view. He wiped his eyes dry of tears, suddenly finding a furry paw on his shoulder.

"I understand" Splinter sighed. "It's never easy, even when it's happened before, but it makes it all the better when you see each other once more"

Mikey turned to his sensei. "So why aren't you and Keiko together?"

He looked down. "She is a traveler, she loves to be on the move, also…" he smirked to himself. "When you were younger, you and your brothers met her"

"We did?"

He chuckled. "Yes! I remember it well, you were all jealous of her getting my attention, it would have never worked"

"How about now? We'd understand"

Splinters shook his head. "As I have said, she loves to travel, she feels trapped in one place for too long"

Mikey sighed and moved away from the entrance, no longer able to see Violet, ready for the day they would once again be re-united.