Chapter 174: The Rookery
As the plane made its way to their next stop, the Hamato siblings were in the middle of another Skype call with their friends back in New York, explaining what happened in London.
"Vee has Excalibur?" Hana exclaimed excitedly. "The Excalibur?!"
Vee held it up, beaming happily.
"Damn right I do," she confirmed. "Nimue said I could hold onto it until Aaron's fit to claim it. But that will take awhile so… call me King Arthur!"
"Well you're a girl, so maybe Queen…" Mikey thought for a minute. "Arthurette? Arthurina?"
Raph whacked him. "If she wants to be King Arthur, let her be King Arthur."
Mikey rubbed his head, grumbling indignantly.
"So where to next?" Tai asked.
"Scotland," Leo replied. "HAVOC's after something there, but it's not clear what."
"Back to Scotland," Hisako smiled. "It'd be nice to go back."
"How have things been back home?" Kagome questioned.
"Pretty quiet, actually," Makoto replied.
"Shredder seems busy with whatever he's doing with the mutagen," Tai added. "We're keeping our eyes peeled, but we haven't seen anything."
"The other day, Makoto got so bored that he suggested we play the Stephen King drinking game," April remarked.
That got a horrified gasp out of the others.
"Good God, man!" Karai exclaimed. "That's been known to kill people!"
"Yeah, we talked him out of it," Erika assured.
"I get drunk on coffee and soda, not beer," Makoto pointed out. "What, am I gonna suffer caffeine poisoning?"
"Actually, you do still have human biology," Donnie cut in. "You can still get drunk off alcohol."
"As for caffeine poisoning, I say better safe than sorry," Erika added.
"Party poopers," Makoto grumbled.
"Anyway, we'll be landing soon," Leo told them.
"Thanks for the call," Tai said. "Keep us updated."
The call ended and Leo closed the laptop.
Once the plane landed in Edinburgh, the Hamato family disembarked, discussing the situation.
"HAVOC's after something here," Leo remarked. "They only specify a 'strange creature.'"
"Maybe they want DNA from the Loch Ness Monster?" Mikey suggested.
"I doubt it," said Hisako. "Nessie is benevolent, much to Krang's dismay."
That threw everyone for a loop.
"Oh, come on," Hisako deadpanned. "Are you seriously surprised at this point?"
"Fair point," Donnie conceded.
"Did you see Nessie last time you were here?" Kagome asked.
"Nadia was on her way back from the Loch when I showed up," Hisako explained. "She was surprised to hear that I knew of Nessie and could confirm her existence."
"What does Nessie look like?" Vee questioned.
"Kinda like a Plesiosaurus," Hisako answered. "But it's a light green color rather than the grey everyone thinks she is."
"Okay, so they're not after Nessie," Leo concluded. "Then what are they after?"
"Let us ask around," Splinter decided. "Perhaps the locals have heard something."
-X-
About an hour later, the family had spread out across the city, asking around for anything out of the ordinary. They eventually met up at a pub, where they talked about what they had heard.
"No monster sightings," Leo reported. "But they did mention a scientist type who came into town a few weeks ago on a monster hunt."
"I got a similar story," Donnie added. "He was gathering supplies for an expedition. Seems he's heading out to somewhere called Wyvern Peak."
"Wyvern Peak?" Hisako asked. "I know where that is!"
"Can't say I'm surprised," Kagome remarked.
Hisako raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, you were with a tribe of Gypsies," Kagome clarified. "They're traveling nomads, aren't they? You've probably seen most of this country already."
Hisako nodded at that.
"Fair enough," she conceded. "It's a bit of a trek though,and the terrain is too much for the Shellraiser. We'll have to walk."
"Aw, man…" Mikey groaned.
"Suck it up, Mike," Raph cut in. "A little leg work won't kill you."
-X-
They got supplies from the shops, then they started heading off into the Scottish wilderness. After about an hour or so of walking, Midnight perked up, hearing something familiar.
"What is it, girl?" Hisako asked.
Midnight's tail beganwagging and she ran off, much to Hisako's surprise.
"What the-?!" Leo shook his head. "After that dog!"
They made it to a clearing where a campfire could be seen with several people setting up wagons and tents. Hisako saw the tents, gasping in delight.
"Nadia!" she exclaimed.
Not too far from them, a figure in a hooded red cloak was petting a happy Midnight. She stood up at hearing her name, dropping her hood to reveal the face of a beautiful woman with dark skin and long black hair.
"Yet again, our paths cross," she remarked with a smile.
Hisako rushed forward, hugging Nadia happily.
"I was hoping to run into you while I was here," she said. "It's so good to see you!"
"I'm quite happy to see you as well, child," Nadia noticed the rest of the Hamato family. "And this must be the family you spoke so highly of."
"Yep," Hisako began pointing to each respectively. "This is Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo, Venus, Kagome, and Karai. That's my mom, Kasumi, and my dad, Splinter."
Splinter and Kasumi approached, bowing respectfully to Nadia.
"Thank you for taking Hisako in during those months," Kasumi told her gratefully.
"It was our pleasure," Nadia replied. "Come, join us. We will be putting dinner on the fire soon."
"We don't wish to impose," Splinter said.
"Nonsense," Nadia insisted. "Your daughter is part of our clan. And as her family, so are you."
As if to prove her right, several children came running over, tackling Hisako and laughing. She hugged each and every one of them, laughing as well.
"Eh, why not?" Leo shrugged. "It'd be nice to get to know you all."
Nadia smiled at that. "I'll show you around. It seems Hisako is otherwise occupied."
Indeed, Hisako was playing with the kids and making them fly. They seemed to be reenacting Peter Pan.
"Lead the way, ma'am," Vee told her.
Nadia led them into the camp, where several men and women were hard at work. When they saw the turtles, none of them seemed shocked or put off. One older man even gave them a smile.
"Picked up some more wayward Fae, Nadia?" he asked.
"They're not Fae, Mattias," Nadia told him. "They're Hisako's mutant family."
"Ah, that's good," Mattias nodded. "Glad she found them again."
"Not often we find people who just take us in stride," Mikey mused.
"We Romani have been the targets of prejudice for decades," Nadia replied. "We know how it feels. Besides, I've never been one to judge people by the color of their skin."
She gave a playful smile. "Even if it is green."
Everyone laughed at that.
"So, have you seriously encountered Fae before?" Vee asked.
"We have seen much in our travels," Nadia answered. "Much that the world has deemed fiction."
"Hisako did mention you've seen Nessie," Karai recalled.
"She is a sacred beast, no matter her origins," Nadia said.
-X-
Some time later, they were seated around the campfire for dinner.
"I don't mean to pry, but what brings you all to Scotland?" Nadia questioned. "I doubt this was a vacation."
"I am afraid not," Splinter replied. "We are on the hunt for those who seek to bring harm."
"A group called HAVOC," Leo added. "Mutant supremacists who want to take over the world."
"Bah!" a buff man shouted. "Supremacists! Bloody wankers, the lot of 'em!"
"Yes, we know," Nadia said calmly. "Calm yourself, Angus."
Angus snarled, crossing his arms.
"Anyway, our intel says they're here looking to acquire a blood sample from some kind of creature here," Leo went on. "Last we heard, they were heading for a place called Wyvern Peak."
That made everyone gasp. Nadia looked aghast.
"Wyvern Peak…" she whispered.
"I'm gonna go out on a limb and say something really big is there," Mikey mused.
"Yes," Nadia confirmed. "The Rookery. Home to an ancient race of protectors. The gargoyles."
The Hamato family exchanged looks at that.
"Like the old Disney cartoon?" Mikey asked.
Nadia just shrugged. "You'll find your popular culture references will be lost to me."
"No TV, guys," Hisako reminded them.
"Right…" Mikey nodded.
"Do you mind telling us about these gargoyles?" Kasumi asked.
"Not at all," Nadia replied.
Everyone gathered around as she began her story.
"Centuries ago, when superstition and the sword ruled, there lived a race of beings known as gargoyles," she began. "Creatures of the night, gargoyles existed as protectors, often forming close relationships with the Romani tribes. During the night, they watched over our camps, and during the day, we watched over them."
Mikey raised his hand. "Do they turn to stone during the day or something?"
"No, that part is a myth," Nadia answered. "They were merely nocturnal. The stone myth comes from many statues built on buildings made to look like gargoyles. Attackers would see the silhouettes and would be frightened off, thinking the castle to be under gargoyle protection."
"So what happened to them?" Leo asked.
Nadia sighed.
"Man happened to them," she replied. "While the Romani tribes were accepting of them, the rest of the world wasn't. They were hunted down to near extinction. The survivors retreated into hiding on Wyvern Peak, high up on the cliffs where they would be safe. Now, they live in secret in their most sacred place: the Rookery."
"Where their eggs are kept," Vee deduced.
"Correct," said Nadia.
"You ever see a gargoyle yourself?" Raph questioned.
"Once, when I was a child," Nadia answered. "I had wandered away from the camp, following a will-o-wisp. However, the tricky spirit led me far too deep into the woods. I got scared and tried to turn back, but I had lost my way. A bear heard my cries and came after me. I would have died then and there... had the gargoyle not saved me."
"Well, it's a 'beary' good thing he did," Mikey quipped.
He chuckled, while everyone else rolled their eyes or looked annoyed at the pun. Out of nowhere, Mikey was hit in the forehead with a thrown apple.
"Booooo!" a young girl jeered.
"Katharine!" Nadia admonished. "Don't waste food!"
"Sorry," Katharine said sheepishly.
"So what happened from there?" Donnie asked.
"He chased the bear off, then escorted me out of the woods," Nadia replied. "Unfortunately, he fled before anyone else could see him. I have never forgotten his kindness."
"That settles it, then," Kagome declared. "We've definitely gotta stop HAVOC from raiding the Rookery."
"Indeed," Nadia nodded. "We'll head out at first light."
The next morning, the caravan departed on the journey to Wyvern Peak. The day wore on as they went, and Mikey started doing what he did best in order to pass the time: telling bad jokes.
"...so the waiter takes the potato and starts spanking it while shouting 'Bad potato! Bad potato!'"
He chuckled, while Katharine just stuck her tongue out.
"Boo!" she jeered.
Mikey just rolled his eyes. "Everybody's a critic."
Hisako leaned over to Katharine.
"At least it's better than your dad's bagpipes," she whispered.
Katharine nodded in agreement.
"I'm not giving up until I get you to laugh, Kathy," Mikey vowed.
"Well, by then she'll most likely have hit puberty," Vee deadpanned.
That made everyone laugh.
"I'm the jokester here, Vee," Mikey insisted. "Stop being funny!"
"How about you start being funny?" Vee shot back.
The laughter escalated, spreading to Nadia.
"Alright, if this one doesn't get you to laugh, I'll eat my bandana." Mikey cleared his throat. "You're on a horse, galloping at a constant speed. On your right side is a sharp drop off, and on your left side is an elephant traveling at the same speed as you. Directly in front of you is another galloping horse but your horse is unable to overtake it. Behind you is a lion running at the same speed as you and the horse in front of you. What must you do to safely get out of this highly dangerous situation?"
Katharine sighed in resignation. "What?"
"Get your drunk butt off the merry-go-round!" Mikey exclaimed before laughing himself silly.
Surprisingly, that got a loud, obnoxious laugh from Angus. Everyone turns to see the large man slapping his leg, bellowing with laughter.
"Finally!" he declared. "A joke that's actually funny!"
"Not quite who I was trying to get a laugh out of, but I'll take what I can get," Mikey mused with a grin.
Angus slapped Mikey on the back, nearly sending him off the wagon. Kagome quickly caught him, pulling him back in.
"Okay, you got someone to laugh," Raph began. "Now can you stop with the jokes, please?"
"Aw…" Mikey groaned.
"Eh, don't let it gitcha down," Angus assured. "Nadia won't let me play me pipes on the road account ah it gittin' te the others."
"Your pipes could raise the dead," Nadia said flatly.
Hisako and Katharine snickered as if sharing some joke.
"You know what they say," Donnie began. "Music soothes the savage beast… and bagpipe music can break solid rock."
That got a laugh out of everyone, whereas Angus was less than amused.
"Hurtful, laddie," he said flatly. "Very hurtful."
-X-
Eventually, as the sun was about to set, they arrived at the cliffs. They looked up, seeing the sheer height of the peak.
"I can see why they hid up there," Leo mused. "You'd need a pair of wings to reach the Rookery."
"Indeed," said Nadia. "Now we wait."
"Alright!" Angus declared. "Let's get camp set up! And make sure ta make a double helpin' ah dinner! We're gonna have guests!"
They all got to work. Soon, the camp was set up and food was being prepared. Mikey was helping with the food, while Raph got stuff situated. As he did, he came across a large wooden box, recognizing it as a sword box. He looked it over, and curiosity took over as he reached for the lid, just as Angus entered.
"I see you came across me pride and joy," he noted.
Raph backed off in an instant.
"Relax," Angus assured. "Ya wouldn't have bin able ta open it anyhow. This beau, it's enchanted. Only I cin open it."
"More magic," Raph muttered. "I remember the days when the weirdest things around were me and my family. Seems so long ago now."
"Aye," Angus nodded as he approached the box, placing a hand on it. Celtric runes began glowing, and there was a click. "But magic does have its upsides."
He opened the box, revealing a large Scottish claymore inscribed with the same Celtic runes.
"Me granddad forged and enchanted this back in his day," Angus went on. "Bin in the family ever since."
"Whoa," Raph whistled in awe. "Impressive."
"Yep," said Angus. "Them Celtic runes make it practically indestructible. It'll never rust, never break, and can cut through just about anything in this world."
"Damn," Raph let out. "Now I am jealous."
"Eh, don't be," Angus replied. "A weapon doesn't make the man. It's the other way around."
"Right," Raph nodded. "First lesson our sensei taught us."
Before the conversation could continue, a roar rang across the sky. Everyone perked up at that, looking up at the cliffs.
"It's time," Nadia reported.
"Alright," Leo began, "I'll handle the talking. Whatever you do, do not give them any reason to think of us as a threat."
"No offense Leonardo, but perhaps it would be best if I greet them first," Nadia offered.
Leo thought it over for a few minutes before nodding. "Okay, Nadia. You're up then."
Nadia nodded, and they all watched the skies. Several figures came flying out the side of the cliff. They were vaguely humanoid in shape, with massive bat-like wings and long, serpentine tails. As they began circling around the camp, it became clear that no two gargoyles were shaped the same. They were all unique in their own way and just about every color of the rainbow. Eventually, they landed before them, eyeing them warily, though not making any move to attack. Nadia stood, approaching one gargoyle in particular, a larger male with long black hair and lilac skin.
"Do you remember me?" she asked.
The gargoyle looked her over for a few moments before recognition dawned.
"Yes," he nodded. "The girl who was lost in the woods."
"You saved my life that day," Nadia continued, "and now, me and mine wish to do the same."
A red gargoyle with a long beak scoffed. "You want to save us? How?"
A blue female with short, wild blue hair shushed him.
"Quiet," she hissed. "Let us hear her out."
Leo got up, going to stand beside Nadia.
"I can explain," he began. "My name is Leonardo. We came here in pursuit of a group that's hunting creatures like you."
"We are no strangers to hunters," the lilac gargoyle said. "We have been prey to humans for centuries."
"But these humans aren't out to kill you," Leo clarified. "They want to use you to take over the world."
The red one cackled.
"I don't know about you trolls, but we're gargoyles," he remarked. "We don't bow down to mere humans."
"Hey!" the blue one admonished. "They're not trolls!"
"Yeah, don't you know a turtle when you see one?" Mikey tapped his shell for emphasis.
"Forgive our brother," said the lilac one. "But while his words are harsh, they ring with truth. Mere humans cannot hope to subjugate us."
"There's nothing mere about these humans," Leo insisted. "They've got mutants and monsters at their disposal, and advanced technology that puts magic to shame. As strong as you are, even you can't handle all that."
"Is that so?" the red gargoyle's eyes began to glow as he spread his wings. "Clearly, you've never seen a gargoyle fight."
"Stop it!" the blue one snapped. "You're causing a scene!"
Raph had reached the end of his patience by that point. He stormed over, jabbing a finger into the red one's chest.
"Hey, we're here trying to help you, so maybe you should take the stick outta your ass and learn some manners!" he snapped.
"You want a piece of me, troll?!" the red one demanded.
Just as they were about to come to blows, Kagome and the blue gargoyle intervened.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Kagome shouted. "Break it up, you hotheads!"
"You know, it's stunts like this that lead to gargoyles being despised!" the blue one snapped.
"What do you know?" the red one shot back. "You're not even one of us!"
The blue one looked beyond hurt, and the lilac gargoyle promptly grabbed him by the horn.
"That was out of line," he growled.
The Hamato family exchanged looks at that.
"Pardon me," Splinter began. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
"She looks like one of you to me," Kasumi added.
"Looks can be deceiving," Hisako realized. "She has memories of a different life… a life of a human girl."
The blue one looked at Willow in surprise.
"How do you-?" she began.
"You and I, we've got a lot in common," Hisako replied.
They got it at that, everyone looking at the blue gargoyle.
"She's a mutant," Karai let out.
The blue gargoyle wrapped her wings around herself.
"My name… was… Willow," she confessed. "I was an intern for a science lab in Edinburgh. Several years ago, I stumbled onto an illegal genetics facility in the basement. When I tried to go to the authorities, my bosses stopped me. When I woke up… I looked like this. I broke out and fled, and that's where these guys found me."
"We took her in as part of our clan," the lilac gargoyle added.
Leo looked at Willow sympathetically. "I'm sorry that happened to you."
Donnie crossed his arms in thought. "Must've been someone working for Krang. HAVOC's only been active for about a year."
"Krang had an entire network of guys," Hisako added. "Still, how Scotland hasn't been overrun with beings like WIllow is beyond me."
"My name's not Willow anymore," Willow insisted. "Gargoyles have no name, and that lab killed Willow when they made me."
"Well, we don't have anything else to call you," Kagome told her. "And Willow is a pretty name."
"Perhaps we should all take on names," the lilac gargoyle mused. "For simplicity's sake."
"We don't need 'em," the red one shot back.
Mikey smiled, already about to announce some names of his own, but Vee slapped a hand over his mouth.
"Respect their culture, Mikey," she insisted.
"Our sister is right," Leo decided. "We won't insult your culture. And if your companion does not want a name…" he stole a glare at Mikey, "we will not force her to take one."
Mikey crossed his arms in a huff.
"The point is, there are people who want to replicate what was done to Willow," Donnie cut in. "They want to make an army of artificial gargoyles to slaughter and enslave mankind. That's why we came here."
"Is that so?"
A new voice echoed forth from the forest as a man emerged from the forest. He had close cropped red hair, cold green eyes, and an army of men behind him. The Hamato family was immediately on the defensive, drawing weapons.
"The famous Ninja Turtles," the man greeted. "We meet at last."
"And you are?" Leo asked.
"Dr. Chaplin," the man replied. "Head of the local HAVOC branch, and former secretary of StockGen."
Kagome perked up. "Stockman's company?"
"Yes," Chaplin confirmed. "I impressed him enough that he gave me my own branch here in my home country. And then General Krang came to me and showed me the wonders of his mutagen. It was everything I never knew I needed."
They looked between him and Willow, realization dawning. Willow was cowering behind the red gargoyle. It was a face the Hamato family recognized all too well, and it made their blood boil.
"You son of a…" Raph pointed a condemning finger at Chaplin. "You turned Willow into a gargoyle, didn't you?! ADMIT IT!"
Chaplin blinked in confusion before noticing the cowering Willow, recognition dawning.
"Ah, Willow Rollins," he deduced. "So that's what became of you after you escaped the lab. It was nothing personal, but I could hardly let you blow the whistle on my operations."
By now, the other gargoyles were starting to growl, their eyes glowing. The children of the caravan were being ushered away by Nadia. Angus grabbed his sword, gritting his teeth.
"All I want is a sample of one of the gargoyles' blood, or some of their hair," Chaplin explained, seemingly unfazed. "Give me what I require, and my men and I will disappear."
"Ya ain't layin' a finger on them, ya pint-sized wood-shoed ninny!" Angus snapped.
"So let's propose a counter offer, Chaplin," Karai added. "Take your men and walk away, and we don't kill you."
Chaplin just scoffed. "Did you think I'd come all this way without calculating the probability that you would be here to interfere? Or that I wouldn't be prepared?"
"You really think you can handle all of us?" Leo asked. "Or all of them?"
"No," Chaplin admitted. "But he can."
As if on cue, out lumbered a massive gray-skinned creature in a leather duster. The Hamato family gasped, all of them recognizing him as the muscular figure who aided Falco in his mutagen bomb attack at New Year's.
"Shit!" Raph shouted. "It's him!"
"I see you're familiar with my bodyguard," Chaplin remarked. "Then you should know you don't stand a chance at winning a fight against him."
The lilac gargoyle stepped forward, snarling like an animal. "We shall see about that."
He roared before charging. All of the other gargoyles did the same, barring Willow. Hisako and Kagome noticed this and hurried over to Willow, seeing her hugging her legs, her face buried in her knees.
"Hey, hey," Hisako soothed. "It's okay."
"No, it's not!" Willow exclaimed. "He took everything from me, and he's gonna do it again!"
"That's not gonna happen," Hisako insisted.
"How do you know?" Willow demanded. "How could you possibly understand what I'm going through?!"
"Because she's been through everything you have and more, that's why," Kagome informed her.
Willow perked at that.
"Like I said, we're a lot alike," Hisako told her. "We both lost everything, and we both found amazing adoptive families."
"Well, the red one's a bit of a jerk," Kagome pointed out.
"Yeah, but so's Raph sometimes," Hisako retorted. "No family is perfect."
She turned to Willow. "And you wanna know how else we're alike?"
"How?" Willow asked.
"We overcame our trauma, and we fight against the people who hurt us." Hisako replied.
"Look, the worst thing that could've happened to you has already happened, and you're still here," Kagome included. "And the only power Chaplin has over you is the power you give him."
Willow let these words sink in, then got to her feet. Her eyes began to glow, and she spread her wings.
"Thank you." she said gratefully.
Meanwhile, the others were furiously clashing with Muscles. He took all their blows while barely even flinching.
"Haven't you realized it by now?" Chaplin demanded. "His iron body is invincible! He feels no pain!"
"Is that right?" Angus asked. "Let's see if he feels this!"
He swung his blade at the monster, who raised his arm to block it. It cut deep into his forearm and drew blood, but he didn't flinch. The two started grappling before Angus headbutted him repeatedly, knocking him back.
"Okay, what does it take to beat this freak?!" Karai demanded. "We keep beating him down, and he just keeps bouncing back!"
"Just keep it up," Donnie insisted. "Chaplin claims his immunity to pain is an asset, but it's not."
"Indeed," the lilac gargoyle agreed. "Leave this to me."
He rushed to help Angus, the two of them slashing and clawing at Muscles. Eventually, the bloodied Muscles collapsed, still alive but unable to move despite his best efforts.
"Get up, damn you!" Chaplin ordered. "GET UP!"
"No use, Chaplin," Donnie boasted. "As a man of science, you should know the downsides of not feeling pain. Pain is a warning system that tells your body it doesn't like something, and you should get away from it. Without it, Muscles here has no way of telling how much damage his body's taking until it just craps out on him. Kinda like what's happening now."
"Your Goliath is defeated," the lilac gargoyle declared.
"And now, we want to have a word with how you hurt our clan mate." the red one added.
The gargoyles began surrounding Chaplin, eyes glowing and all of them growling as he gulped nervously.
"Y-you really are taking this much too personally, you know," he stammered.
Willow swooped down right in front of him, eyes glowing.
"No, they're not," she growled.
"Willow, darling, can't we talk about-" Chaplin was cut off when Willow grabbed him by the throat.
"My name is not Willow," she hissed. "Gargoyles don't have names."
"Nor do we show mercy," the red one added.
Willow pinned him down, preparing to impale him with her claws before Leo grabbed her arm.
"Don't do it," he insisted. "We won, he lost. This fight is over."
"This is our way," the lilac gargoyle shot back. "Let us do this."
"And this is my way," Leo replied. "No matter what he's done, I can't just let you kill a defenseless man in cold blood. There's no honor in that."
The lilac gargoyle looked him in the eyes before sighing. "Release him."
Willow threw him to the ground, allowing the red gargoyle to pin him down.
"Come near our peak again, and we will kill you," he warned.
As soon as he let go, Raph took his place, tying Chaplin's hands behind his back.
"Just because we're not killing you doesn't mean we're gonna let you walk, Chaplin," he told him. "Soon as we get back to town, we're leaving you to the cops."
"Go ahead," Chaplin shot back. "I'll be out in a week."
"Oh really?" Hisako asked, glowing brightly. Chaplin blanched at the sight of her as she bore down on him.
"You're going to confess," Hisako insisted. "You're going to serve your time, and if you ever see the light of day again, you are going to disappear."
The Hamato Clan gathered behind her, the Turtles' nictitating membranes (1) down, making their eyes pure white as the eyes with the gargoyles glowing behind them,
"Understand?" Hisako demanded threateningly.
Chaplin nodded frantically, knowing better than to argue, and Angus just started laughing.
"Ha!" he boasted. "I forgot how good ya were ah makin' pansies like this guy piss themselves!"
With that, Willow and Hisako dragged Chaplin to the back of one of the wagons.
"I still say you should've let us kill him," the red gargoyle insisted.
"You gargoyles have a bad enough rep as it is," Leo pointed out. "If you had done that, you'd only end up proving them right and becoming the monsters they thought you were."
The red one looked at Leo before snorting. "You're not bad, for a troll."
As this went on, Nadia approached the lilac gargoyle.
"Now that things are settled, I can finally say this," she bowed to him respectfully. "Thank you for saving my life."
The lilac gargoyle placed a hand on her shoulder. "Lift your head. I did what any gargoyle would. We are born to protect."
Nadia stood up, giving him a nod. Vee looked up at the peak.
"I hate to be that girl, but HAVOC knows where the gargoyles are," she noted. "What if they send more people?"
"They still don't know exactly where the Rookery is," Mikey pointed out. "Just the general area."
"You make a good point," the lilac gargoyle mused. "Perhaps it would be best for us to leave our Rookery for awhile."
"You're more than welcome to stay with our caravan," Nadia offered. "We'll watch over you, just as the Romani tribes watched over your ancestors during the day long ago."
The lilac one smiled. "That would be greatly appreciated."
-X-
Later, on the trek back to Edinburgh, Willow rode in the same wagon as the Hamato family. Donnie thought it over, then decided to bring it up.
"Willow, I've managed to make a retro-mutagen that can revert mutations like ours," he offered. "You're more than welcome to some of my next batch if you'd like it."
"Thank you, but no," Willow replied. "I'm happy with the clan. Like I said before, Chaplin killed Willow, but you know what? I've come to terms with that."
"I know you like to think otherwise, but no matter what condition your body is in on the outside, you're still your old self on the inside," Kasumi insisted. "One way or another, Willow Rollins lives on."
"Take it from someone who has been in your shoes," Splinter added.
Willow was silent for a few minutes before nodding, seeing the logic in their reasoning.
"Alright," she agreed. "Thank you, for everything."
Author's Note:
(1): A whitish or translucent membrane that forms an inner eyelid in birds, reptiles, and some mammals. It can be drawn across the eye to protect it from dust and keep it moist; aquatic animals tend to use it to protect their eyes from water while swimming. From what I read, that's part of the reason the Turtles' eyes tend to turn completely white in the 2012 show, and why Leatherhead's eyes glaze over when he's having one of his PTSD episodes.
Yes, this was taken from Gargoyles, but with some liberties here and there. For example, no stone sleep. Also, gargoyles have been featured in TMNT before; in Rise, Baron Draxum's shoulder creatures, Huginn and Muninn, are gargoyles, and a gargoyle-like beast was featured as one of the Thirteen Monsters in the 2007 film. Also, I know it's obvious, but Angus is indeed based on the Scotsman from Samurai Jack.
Also, the character of Willow was adapted from Author of the Insane's fic Gargoyles: Modern Day, used with her permission.
Please R&R. Until next time!
