Chapter Thirty-Seven: 'On the Quest' - The final run
They all arrived safely at the first cavern which Rosie had talked about. It wasn't the easiest of places to negotiate but for three aquatic turtles and Rosie's newly adapted body it was achievable. Donatello still couldn't help but gawk at her and watch her new tail as she swam, so much so that Raphael happened to clock this and slap his brother once they were on dry land. Leonardo then chastised them both for misbehaving.
"If you thought that was cool then wait till you see this part" Now on land the fish tail disappeared and her legs reappeared so she pulled herself forwards and got up. Donatello's jaw hit the floor. Raphael was once again not impressed by his brother's staring which wasn't helped by the fact that Rosie, who as a result of the change, now no longer had trousers. Instinctively he wanted to cover her up, to keep her legs out of view of the others but he knew that if he offered her anything she would point blank refuse just to be stubborn. So, instead he opted to make sure that it was he who was behind her as they made their way forwards.
"Do we know how far we have to go?" asked Raphael as he enjoyed the view in front of him.
"No" replied Donatello "This map acts as a guide but like Rosie says there are dead ends and other ways to confuse us but..."
"I was actually asking Rosie not you" interrupted Raphael crossly "So would you quit with the talking already!"
Rosie carried on walking "It's far enough" she replied simply "You can always go back if you're bored..or tired"
"Hey!" he protested doing a few arm exercises "I am not tired, I have countless energy reserves and I'm not bored either...I just hoped there would be some villains to pound that's all"
Some time later, as if in answer to his plea for an encounter with bad guys a strange scuttling sound came through from the next entrance way. Rosie stopped and looked back at him: "Well something's in there so perhaps you'll get your wish.."
"Great!" growled Raphael stepping past her and into the gloom of the next cavern "I'm so on this!"
"Uh-oh" whispered Donatello
"What's uh-oh? Why are you saying uh-oh D?" Leonardo was giving his brother a questionable look. Donatello showed him the map and a small six-legged symbol: "Is that what I think it is?"
Raphael's girly scream was so loud that Leonardo was sure it would probably be audible on the surface. Rosie was trying to stifle a giggle because she knew exactly what was in there and she knew it was the only thing that big buff Raphael was afraid of. Donatello and Leonardo rushed inside, shining their torches to witness a dark mass which shifted speedily away from the beam of light. Raphael was crouched in the center of the room head in his hands and visibly shaking. He tried to hide his fear by coughing and pumping himself up to look bigger.
"I..err...thanks fellas...cockroaches...you know how I hate them"
Donatello was just about to speak when the room lit up brightly - causing the remaining bugs to scatter and seek out the darkness. Rosie joined them, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"They hate light" she announced "Luckily I have plenty. Shall we go?"
Walking across the room it was Raphael who now couldn't help but gawk and stare at her as she went. Her entire body was illuminated like a beacon. The brightness felt warm like the sun; it made him think about basking.
"Snap out of it brother, the roaches will come back in the darkness" Donatello's voice knocked him out of his trance and he quickly rushed off after them.
I was right. This place was a maze. In a way I was kind of glad that they had come along too. I knew that I should have to ability to make it through this but all the same it was just nice to have company. And truth be told I had missed Raphael. Every now and again I would catch sight of his pouty face staring at me and it made me love him even more. Don't get me wrong oh I was still angry at him alright but I liked to think that there would definitely be potential for some sort of talking. If we ever got out of here alive.
Once again I scolded myself - this was no time for self doubt.
'You have to believe, Rosie. You have to believe you can do this'.
The quest was turning into something that resembled an adventure that the heroic 'Indiana Jones' would enjoy. Each time we reached a different area of this place there was, more often than not, something different waiting for us there. Luckily for Raphael there were no more bugs but there were spiked metal rods which I managed to wipe out before they could make impact; impressing myself in the process.
In another cavern we came across a swamp. It was bizarre but by now I'd learnt to expect the unexpected. On the surface it looked easy enough to get across by balancing on the rocks but unfortunately there was more than just mud under the surface of this particular swamp and several large snakes rose up hissing and spitting. It seemed that they were especially keen on Donatello.
"Why me!?" he shrieked once we had got through to the other side "I'm the slimmest! If they wanted a good meal surely they'd go for Raph!"
"Perhaps" began Raphael chuckling to himself "They thought you were a little girly snake and wanted you as a mate"
"You won't be laughing if there's more cockroaches through there will you?" Donatello gave Leonardo a sly smirk "RAPH LOOK OUT! Cockroaches!"
Raphael jumped about four feet in the air and launched himself at Leonardo "What? Where..? Where are they!?"
He then noticed Donatello bending over and laughing "You sick fuck" he snarled "You are so gonna pay for that!"
"Shall we go..? I think I know what's next."
And for some reason I did. The further into the maze we went I found myself making more than accurate predictions as to what was next for us. Lucky really because there seemed to be a larger selection of tests than I'd anticipated. And doubly lucky was that I happened to be travelling with two Ninjas and a very angry Raphael who was more than happy to give each thing a good pounding. He was made all the more annoyed by Donatello's frequent teasing about bugs.
Suddenly I held up a hand and stopped the group "I think this is it" I whispered "In there..."
"Not you too; there are NO COCKROACHES! so stop playing me okay.." Once Raphael had finished his tantrum I looked at all of them and took a breath.
"The Source" I murmured. Donatello was studying the map with interest.
"Do you know what this Source is?" asked Leonardo "I realised that we never actually spoke about it; it would just be good to know exactly what we are expecting?"
"You'll see when we get it" I answered, entering the darkness with the others following behind.
Once inside an amazing thing took place and what looked like daylight, soft beautiful daylight filled the room and once again the light felt warm and comforting on their skin. In the middle of the space was what appeared to be a Chest of some sort.
We all stood over the item and I reached forwards.
"Do you think it'll be booby trapped?" Donatello was looking slightly uneasy.
"Nah!" answered Raphael "You've watched too many movies D"
As I went to touch it something clicked and the lid opened - what we found ourselves staring at was more of a shock to them than me. I had known that the Source would be a liquid. A liquid which was capable of changing one being to another. Of altering the state of one life form to another higher state of self.
"It looks like mutagen..." breathed Donatello taking a closer look
"Mutagen? You mean the stuff that made us what we are? That's the Source? That's what this Shadow dude is after!?" Raphael re-sheathed his sais as I picked up the prize.
"Maybe there's more to this...I don't know..." Admittedly I felt a little confused but I didn't want to show it. Mutagen? Would it really be just mutagen?
"Question" Donatello held up a finger "You know how you said that Shadow could not enter this system?"
I nodded numbly.
"Well, why is it that you're taking it out? Surely it's more at risk being up there where he can get it than it is to leave it down here where it's safe?"
"That's a good point...Donnie has a good point" said Raphael as he patted his brother on the shoulder causing him to jolt forwards"So... why is it we're taking it out?"
"We're not. I am. And if I don't take it that's the end for me" I rushed with the last part and went towards what I knew to be the exit. I could feel their eyes on me and their brains running over what I had just said. Raphael was the first to speak:
"Hold on a sec!...let's rewind...what did you just say?"
Suddenly they were all surrounding me, questionable looks on their faces.
"Not my rules, not my choice. Hey, this is what you get for being a Light-giver's daughter...apparently it's all laid out and I have no say whatsoever" I knew my voice was becoming wobbly so I wanted to end this conversation before I ended up in floods of tears.
I could hear worried mutterings coming from behind me and as I exited the cavern Raphael appeared at my side and began to walk in step.
"I don't understand..." he began nervously. I stopped and faced him, hands on my hips.
"What's there to understand? If I don't take this out it's curtains for me. Simple." I started walking again.
"But why? and why didn't you..."
"Tell you? Why do you think? Look Raphael don't make this a big deal okay. It is what it is. I was chosen for this so that's just how it is. I have to do it, end of okay"
"Hey guys I hate to ask but are we going the right way?" Donatello's high pitched tones came floating up from behind us and I was beginning to lose it.
"Yes, we are going the right way. Any other questions, points, exclamations?" I asked.
They all remained quiet and looked at me. "Good. Because if it's alright with you I'd like to get out of here"
I knew I was being stroppy but all I wanted was to get out of here so I could breathe. Breathe and remind myself that I was alive. Well, half alive anyway.