Chapter 36: 'On the Quest' Part Two
Shadow knew that Rosie was in the tunnels. She had started on the quest to find the Source and as she was out of his control all he could do was wait for her to return. Once she was out of there and back on the surface then he would have his chance to seize both her and the item he so desired.
As she was not under his influence as he had wanted he could only hope that she would survive down there. The Shadow Dwellers could not enter the tunnels just as he could not, but,Shadow knew that there were other things which lurked and waited in the darkness of the tunnels to put the challenger to the test - to intimidate; for really that was all the Shadow Dwellers were good for; the darn things couldn't even tell him where she was even though they had paid her numerous visits.
All he could do now was wait, put his faith in her lineage; her parentage and pray that she would succeed as he knew she could for she was the true daughter of the 'Leader of Light Givers'; and she should have the strength to succeed.
I felt like I'd been swimming for ages, yet I had no urge to go up to the surface and gulp air. The light that I had spotted did not appear to be getting any closer. Was this a trap? Had I put myself in danger and not realised?
Got a grip girl. I mentally scolded myself and willed myself to calm down. I had to do this.
There was no turning back now. I had to be strong.
It was at this point where I realised the light was reflected. It was bouncing off something from the other side and reflecting back. Now it made sense - the tunnel from this depth had become a mirrored surface so the light was actually closer than first thought. But what the heck was that? Something else was also in the reflection and looking back at me. It appeared to have a tail - a huge fish tail.
Jesus. I backed away nervously and it did the same thing too.
It was then that I glanced down at where I assumed my legs would be and saw that there was a huge fish tail there instead. Suddenly I felt sick. I put a hand over my mouth.
The change.
He had said the change was necessary. A means to an end.
Oh. My. God.
"Are you sure you know where you're going D?" With each step further down under the ground Raphael was feeling less and less like he trusted his brother and his sense of 'direction'.
Donatello however, remained undeterred and had his electronic compass out in front of him, into which he had entered estimated co-ordinates based in the maps directive. Mikey had been happy for them to take his T-Phone because he had been left with Donnie's more 'fancy' phone which had better tunes and games on. He had also been left with snacks and drinks so was more than willing to hold the fort whilst the others went out.
"You do realise.." announced Donatello "That my phone will be lucky to survive an encounter with Mikey and that his room will be even more trashed once we get back! Do you know he has rats in there? Rats!"
"So.." scoffed Raphael "Think of it as Splinter's extended family, and if we're lucky they may eat Mikey whilst we're out"
Leonardo shot him a look of disapproval.
Karai was out in front next to Donatello and the other two behind when suddenly the leading pair stopped dead leaving Raphael to bump into his brother and knock him and the compass into the huge pool of water that had appeared right in front of them.
"Raph! You've just wrecked the compass you great oaf!" screeched Donatello
"Hey!" growled Raphael "If you and Mrs Leo here hadn't stopped so suddenly I wouldn't have done it would I?"
Leonardo helped his brother up but the compass had disappeared. Donatello shook himself off.
"Great! Well, now we're stumped" he whined
"Not necessarily - we still have the map don't we? And when we find Rosie we'll have her"
"I like your enthusiasm bro but unless you haven't noticed there happens to be a big shit pile of water here blocking our path and no sign of Rosie so unless she's become a fish I doubt we're gonna find her this way are we?" shouted Raphael throwing up his hands.
"Look, let's calm down and think rationally. Donnie do you remember anything about water on the map?"
Leonardo appealed to his brother who already had the phone in his grasp and was scrolling through Michelangelo's photographs "You know what, Mikey has quite an artistic eye..." mused Donatello as he carried on scrolling.
"I ain't bothered about Mikey's artistic prowess you idiot - we just need to find a different way!" Raphael snatched the phone and ignoring Donatello's protests he found the beginning of the map and thrust it at him "Mmm, now let me see, these 'wavy lines' here - wouldn't they be indicative of water per chance?!" He thrust the phone towards Leonardo so he could also see "He's the brainy one? Seriously. I think we need a re-count"
"I didn't know those were wavy lines!" shrieked Donatello "I thought they were magnetic field indicators...It's a difference of opinion!"
"Look, let's examine the facts, if we are going the right way and this water is supposed to be here wouldn't it make sense to swim under a little and check things out?" Leonardo waited for a smart come-back; it didn't arrive and it was almost like peace was restored. He hoped that his father would be proud of the way he could re-unite the team.
"Stop looking so smug Fearless it's annoying" hissed Raphael, poking him out of his trance with a large finger.
"So we'll go and you and Karai stay here? How is that fair?" asked Donatello "Why don't YOU go with Raphael and I'll stay with Karai"
Leonardo shrugged his shoulders "Fine by me. If we're not back in 30 minutes you come out to us"
Karai put her hands on her hips "And, err, what about me?"
"Sorry, but being a Mikey replacement doesn't mean you have his ability to swim underwater without the need for breath" Leonardo gently touched her arm "But hopefully we'll be back so it'll be fine"
She kissed him on the mouth and then watched as he jumped into the water and dived out of sight. She then turned to Donatello: "Will they be okay?"
"Well, a turtle can hold it's breath for up to 2 hours under water so I'm sure they will be fine. If you want, we can study the map some more whilst they're gone"
"Great.." answered Karai sarcastically. She looked into the water and shone her torch beam into it's depths "Do you think this has always been here? This tunnel, it's on a slant so it could be possible that this water came in from else where"
"Like a booby trap?" Donatello giggled to himself; Karai wasn't sure whether this was at the word 'booby' or the mere suggestion that this tunnel had once been dry.
Underwater, both Leonardo and Raphael spotted the light source which had intrigued Rosie some time ago and they too followed it. The light came up, out and under an archway to a place which was actually dry. Raphael hauled himself out and then gave Leo a hand. He checked his watch - they'd been 10 minutes so far.
"So that gives 10 minutes for exploring and 10 minutes to get back" said Leonardo formally
"Yeh, yeh...quit bossing already!" boomed Raphael "Rosie! Rosie, you here!"
His voice echoed all around, repeating itself over and over into the walls.
"Don't shout you imbecile, you don't know what else you may attract"
"Like what? Some sort of killer squid? Leo I really thought that getting laid would lighten you up and besides how else am I supposed to draw attention here if I don't shout!?"
"Okay..." replied the eldest "But not too loud.."
"ROSIE!" shouted Raphael in an extra loud voice; he just lived to irritate his brother.
"Raph! Cut it out!"
Leonardo looked behind the rocks one end; whilst Raphael looked at the other end. Splitting up allowed them to cover more ground.
"How come this cave is lit up Leo? It's strange, almost like someone has been expected"
"Or already been here.." suggested Leonardo "But I agree, it's strange"
Back at the water's edge the thirty minutes set down was almost up when Leonardo and Raphael re-appeared. Karai was so relieved; she had felt at serious risk of being bored to death by Donatello, who in their absence, had insisted that they look at the map together and interpret the signs.
"So...what did you find?" she asked excitedly "Anything?"
"A cave..an empty cave with no obvious way in or out and with nothing in it but a few torch lights" Raphael shook off the excess water "And no Rosie..." he added sadly
"I'm over here" Her voice was so beautifully melodic as it rolled out around them, but they couldn't make out where she was "What are you doing down here?"
"To find you! And to beg your forgiveness.." Raphael got down on his knees, he didn't care if he looked stupid "I'm a jerk but it meant nothing - you have to believe me sweetheart it meant nothing, nothing, nill, nada... I'm begging you please..."
There was silence.
Leonardo and Karai swept their torch lights over the water.
"What the fuck is this?" whispered Raphael; anxiously looking from his brothers to the water and back again.
"This is me having a little more of an issue than just you..." Rosie's head popped up from the water "So if you don't mind I'd rather put any other item aside"
"What the...how are you in there? How?" Raphael couldn't help but tentatively reach forwards; he wanted to touch her "Have you found another way?"
"Lets just say my body did.." She flipped her tail above the water line and showed her webbed hands.
"Wow..." breathed Donatello "What the?" He joined Raphael on the floor "You changed species! How is this even possible? This is amazing!"
Rosie looked at him "Unlike you I am not overly excited but let's just say I'm adjusting to my new situation..like I have a choice"
Raphael was still leaning forwards, he was desperate to gather her up in his arms and hold her but something about her demeanor told him not to go there at this time.
"So Donnie awe aside what have you found so far? We'd like to help" said Leonardo seriously.
Rosie eyed him with caution "Really?"
"Yes. That's why we're here..."
She took a breath "Okay. Well from what I can gather this place is like a maze - it has tunnels off onto caves and other dead ends just like a maze does but it also has a way through...and I've found it."
"That's incredible; your new state of being is allowing you to find the correct way through - it's amazing! This means that no ordinary being could scale this place...wow, just wow!"
Leonardo touched Donatello on the arm and pulled him up "How far through is it? I mean is it all underwater all the way - could Karai come some how?"
"It's about a ten minute swim straight ahead and to the right - the passageway then comes out into an opening - it's narrow but it's dry and there's land...I assume it goes through from there - well, that's what it looks like"
"So unless I grow fins and gills there is no way I can come with you is there?" said Karai glancing at Leonardo
"No...sorry..." answered Rosie.
Leonardo looked at Raphael who was still on his knees and Donatello who was still open-mouthed; standing up but still open-mouthed nevertheless.
"It's a shame as between all of you I know who would have been the most 'with it' in this situation"
Karai smiled and stepped forwards to give him a hug "Don't worry hero, I'll be here when you get back" she murmured "And then we can celebrate just the two of us"
Leonardo felt himself blushing. She knew just how to push his buttons and it was always in a way that he liked. God he loved her.
"I still can't believe..." Donatello's mouth was gaping as Leonardo let Karai go.
"You go back to the lair, we'll meet there, I don't want you here alone. Will you be okay?"
"I'll be fine, don't you worry...go...do your thing" She kissed him again "and...Good luck" she added, smirking.
I think I'm in need of it, thought Leo to himself. With one brother crazy in shock and another crazy in love he hoped Rosie had her head on straight - the smile she sent to him showed him that she had.
"Ready?" she asked
Leonardo nodded firmly "Ready".