Hey all! Happy late Christmas and every other holiday!
My apologies for the extended delay; I've been stuck in a loop of indecisive brainstorming, which left little room for actually typing things down. But, I'm at last getting a grip on myself, and feel ready to dish out some new content for my current tales, and perhaps some fresh stories (stay tuned for possible new summaries on my profile).
So without further ado, other than a quick shout-out to my co-author, XxWolfLord95xX, and to my other PM buddies Cyberbee15, Amber Is A Fossil, White Hunter, WolfWitchHuntress1318, drakin6345, and StoneBright for providing me the inspiration and friendship I continue to treasure (I haven't heard from a few of you for a while, but I refuse to forget you), let the story recommence!
Oh, and there will be a minor Mario reference in here somewhere, so credit to Nintendo.
Picture a world unlike anything you've ever seen, a world with rich grasslands and cliffs making up the majority of the landscape, the skies aglow with planets against a misty dark and light purple backdrop, and a floating city connected to the ground by a single bridge...That would be the setting for the latest side-adventure of one terrapin, a certain girl with the Hime cut deep brown hair, and an older man with a strange power that's yet to be named.
"Being a ninja turtle, I've seen alot of crazy things in the last few years...but this really takes the prize."
Zooming down to the bottom of the bridge, we find Donatello standing at ready with his bō staff, staring down an army of ghoulish creatures dressed in armor preparing to storm the city above.
"At first, I thought I was dreaming...Then, I wished I was."
He then leaps over one charging monster, and strikes down another with his weapon before leaping backwards towards Ortensia, who gazes at the enemies before them with fear.
"But this was no dream. This was definitely, a nightmare."
A Few Hours Earlier...
It's been about two days since the Hamatos and Emily were forced to evacuate from the former's underground home after the teen ninja returned from their adventure deeper below, only to discover soldiers from the Foot skulking around the usually quiet sewer tunnels. Considering the circumstances, including a sick Shiori, they all head for the closest safe zone they could think of: April's loft and antique shop. Though a little unprepared for the extra guests, the young woman with velvet red hair welcomed the Hamatos in nonetheless, refusing to turn away her own cousin and the friends who were steadily becoming extended family members...
Of course, it wouldn't be long before one of the four turtle shinobi became impatient with hiding and waiting around.
"Look, we need t' go back down there, and flush those stinkin' Foot Ninjas out'a our sewers, and I mean flush."
"Raph, we don't even know what they're doing down there."
"I don' care!"
"You should!"
As Leonardo and Raphael stood with their opposite opinions, we peer around the open floor plan to see where everyone else was at. April is seen sitting on the couch with Ortensia, while Donatello and Michelangelo sat on their own cushions a few feet to the right on the floor, and Emily and Splinter are sitting on their knees at the opposite end of the room near the closest window...The rat master cuts into the 'conversation' between his eldest sons, stopping what would've developed into a needless argument.
"My sons. You have thwarted their many schemes and defeated their master. Clearly they are searching for our lair."
"But I thought with the Shredder gone, we'd see the last of those bozos."
The young lady with deep brown Hime cut hair - currently wearing a pair of track pants the same colour as her amethyst irises, her dark pink canvas shoes, her off-shoulder tan brown top and black beret - counters with a trace of old fear in her tone,
"That didn't stop them from kidnapping me and the others while leaving poor Yori for dead on the streets. (Shiver) I barely got any sleep after that night. To think what could've happened if you guys and Casey hadn't come to rescue us..."
April places a comforting hand over Ortensia's, while Mikey rethinks his statement with a frown.
"Fair point...Do you guys really think they could find our lair? I just got my room the way I like it, and, my famous ninja trading card collection is just lying out in the open! If they take that, I'll, I'll...!"
Almost laughing at his brother's attempt to quell some of the uncertainty in the air, Donatello then offers his own brand of reassurance.
"Relax, Mikey. With all the techno-camouflage and security devices I installed, (glance) with some welcomed help from some genius women I know..."
The pair on the couch blush modestly at the turtle's compliment, and the bō staff wielder finishes,
"There's no way they'll find our place...Barbecue Soy Chip?"
"(Smile) Fire away, bro."
Donatello obliges, tossing said snack into his younger brother's waiting open mouth...
"Those nin-jerks are keepin' us from our home. We should be down there smackin' heads, preferably before they ge' any ideas of tryin' what Ori just mentioned again."
It would be Emily's turn to cut into sai wielder's thought process, stating with a frown,
"While your concerns are in their right place, Raphael, attacking head-on may prove to be just as dangerous."
Splinter nods in agreement:
"Running into battle without knowledge or preparation is foolish. Sometimes it is best to sit still. The answers will come."
Leonardo brings it home by saying,
"They're both right. Besides, our home is where we're all together as a family. That's what really matters...And currently, the other place our friends call home is still outside the Foot's radar, so as long as they're careful, they'll be safe."
Ortensia nods in confirmation, adding to herself,
And thanks to a new sensor Don and I installed, we'll have a better chance of knowing if we have an intruder in our 'seemingly' abandoned building.
The owner of this building then cuts into the conversation bubble, having grown slightly annoyed by the position the older turtle boys were occupying...which was, blocking her television screen.
"Ahem. You guys are welcome to stay with me for as long as you need to...just as long as you don't stand in front of the TV?"
Turning around, Leonardo and Raphael realize their mistake and move to the sides.
"Uh, sorry."
"Sorry, April."
(...Ding-dong)
Suddenly, the doorbell rings, causing the mutants in the room to tense slightly...
"Oh no. Who could that be?"
April gets up to answer, though she too was feeling a few nerves creep up.
"You guys can't be seen. You all better-"
She cuts herself off when she sees that the Hamatos were one step ahead of her, making themselves scarce in whatever hiding spots they could think of, leaving Ortensia and Emily in their respected seats while smiling secretively at the O'Neil. She herself forms a knowing smile, before turning to answer the door, unaware that the wielder of the double katana was poised above her on the door frame.
(Ka-chank)
"Chinese Take-Out. Fourteen Ninety-five, lady."
"But I didn't order any..."
"Oh! Uhm, that was me, cousin."
Emily gets up and walks over to stand on April's right with a sheepish smile, her eyes smirking at the two boys truly responsible for the food delivery.
"I decided to order in for us. My treat."
Or rather, a treat for two sneaky turtle teens...
"Hm?...Oh! How sweet of you."
As the older woman with dark auburn hair rummages into the purse she brought over, the courier of the Chinese cuisine glance off to the side...only to widen his eyes when he sees Michelangelo on the blue chair!
"Uh?!"
Shaking his head and blinking his eyes a few times, he'd see a purple stuffed bear in place of the turtle...
"Is something wrong, sir?"
He snaps his vision back on the smiling Emily, and stutters,
"U-Uhm, no, nothing. I'm, just a little tired from my shift."
"Ah. I understand...Here's the money I owe you."
She gives the courier a twenty dollar bill.
"Huh? Oh, I only need-"
"Consider the extra as a tip. Thank you for the delivery, and have a safe trip back to work."
With that, he's gently lead back into the hall, and door is shut...Turning around, the O'Neils see the turtles and rat back in their original positions, much to April's awe.
"Wow. You guys are good."
Smiling modestly, Leonardo bows and replies simply,
"It's our job," his younger siblings chiming,
"We're ninja."
"Yeah! Check out my ninja stealth action."
Michelangelo then holds up a bag of chips, before jokingly stating while placing it back and forth between his chest and face,
"Now you see me...now you don't. Now you see me, now you don't."
Donatello snatches the bag from him and retorts,
"Gimme that, Houdini! You've been hoggin' the nachos all afternoon."
That's when Emily walks over with the bag of Chinese she paid for, smirking down at the boys on the floor in a mix of sternness and amusement.
"Am I correct to assume you two were responsible for this?"
"...He did it!" "...He did it!"
Shaking her head, the woman with jade green irises then says,
"Next time, a little heads up would be nice...and I expect one of you to pay me back once the money is available."
"Oh, of course! Thanks."
The brainiac of the terrapin bunch takes the bag to set between him and his comic-loving brother, and they each take a box of food for themselves.
"One from column A, one from column B."
Watching the two immediately dig into their individual choices caused Emily to giggle under her breath, and her cousin comes over to comment,
"I'm almost surprised you haven't been completely spoiling the boys."
"Yes, well, if I did that, they'd become lazy in their daily routines, and I don't want to ruin what my old friend has raised them to be...Still, (gentle smile) I'm gradually finding myself being fitted for the role of mother figure for these children."
(...Ka-chank)
Speaking of kids, we finally get an appearance from the youngest sibling of the ninja teen quintet, she having been previously sleeping on the cot set up in April's bedroom. Based on the bags under her eyes and slight clamminess in her skin, it's safe to conclude that Shiori is still feeling under the weather.
"Huuaah, did one of you turn up the TV again? Kkf-koff, I thought I heard a doorbell..."
"You did, but that was the real doorbell, my daughter."
She glances over at her father with mild surprise.
"Really? (Looks down) Huh...well how abou' that. April has a doorbell that sounds like a TV..."
Michelangelo lets out a laugh at the random observation from his sister, prompting her to look at him funny before he says,
"Sorry. I probably shouldn't be laughing, but you say the weirdest things when you're sick."
"...Gee, thanks."
Shiori then feels a hand on her shoulder, and turns to meet eyes with her older brother Leonardo looking down at her with mild concern.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping?"
"Hey, it's not for a lack of-koff, tryin', but every little noise is shell-bent on waking me up today. Mph, (rubs her neck) plus it doesn' help my throat feels drier than the Sahara..."
Donatello comments with a half-smile,
"If that were true, you wouldn't be able to talk...Still, sounds like it's time for another round of cold medicine."
"Ergh, again? I'd rather sleep it off than take any more of that gross syrup...Khm! Um, not that I'm ungrateful for the medicine, of course."
April waves the girl off with a smile.
"Heh, it's fine. I'm not a big fan of the taste myself, but it does the job better than others I've tried."
A small pout of doubt forms on Shiori's face, and her attention would be drawn back to her katakana-wielding brother when he suggests,
"Would some juice help persuade you to take the medicine?"
"...Maybe..."
"Heheh, alright. Head back to the cot and I'll grab both for you."
Nodding with a yawn and muffled cough, the girl with black beach waves and silver roots shuffles herself back to April's bedroom, with Raphael seeing her there and joined shortly by Leonardo after he procures a glass of juice and the cold medicine bottle...Watching the interaction, Ortensia then turns to ask the other two turtles,
"Uhm, am I crazy, or do Leo and Raph seem a little more, attentive than usual?"
Chuckling under his breath, Donatello replies,
"Yeah, I figured you'd notice. You see, whenever Yori gets sick or receives a particularly hindering injury, their overprotective sides start to creep out and they baby her a little. Thankfully not to the point where she gets too annoyed."
Michelangelo adds,
"Not that we don't do it sometimes. Leo and Raph are just more obvious, heha!"
Ortensia joins in the laughter with her own giggle, before complimenting,
"You guys really do go the extra mile as brothers...I dunno how many times I'll say it, but, I'm really glad you found Shiori those years ago."
Though momentarily taken back by the sincerity, the two humanoid turtles smile and nod nonetheless...Meanwhile, in the other room, the topic girl is just settling herself under the thick wool blanket given to her by April for the cot in the latter's bedroom. The brothers who followed her in wait until she's comfortably seated, before Raphael hands her the tiny plastic cup full of her daily dose of medicine.
"Bottoms up, sis."
"Do I have to?"
"Faster y' swallow it, faster you can get it over with."
"...Haaah, fine."
Knowing full-well that further protests would be useless, Shiori plucks the small item out of her brother's hand, and just as quickly chugs it down, grimacing at the flavor.
"Urh, k-hh, seriously, they need to stop promoting this mockery they call grape. That is not grape."
Chuckling at their sister's disgruntled comment, Raphael then takes the medicine cup back and allows Leonardo to replace it with a larger glass of fruit juice.
"Here, drink this. It should get rid of the aftertaste."
"Thanks."
The girl with honey-shaded irises slowly guzzles down the whole cup with gusto, humming in satisfaction at the approved mixed berry...She then turns a smile towards the caring souls in the room with her, though with a weariness etched in the corners.
"...You two have gotta be the biggest worrywarts I know whenever I-kf, get sick. Even sensei knew when to draw the line when we were younger."
Smirking the slightest at the humor in her voice, the oldest of the turtle brothers then guides his sister to lie down on the cot and pillow again.
"You know we do it out of love."
"I do...and it makes me happy to see you both willing to put your tough guy acts on hold for moments like this...It's funny, though."
Laying her head fully back, Shiori then ponders aloud (or as loud as her sore throat would allow),
"Leo may be the unofficially written leader, while you Raph act as second lead and all-around ultimate protector, to me...I feel like you both share eachother's roles more often than most will see."
The two terrapins are left speechless, more so when their sister falls asleep almost immediately after saying her peace...They watch her slumbering form for a minute, then get up to leave as quietly as possible.
"She really does say the weird'st things when she's sick..."
"Yeah...but, maybe not all of it's nonsense."
Small Time Skip, Donatello's POV
It's almost four in the afternoon now, and I've since moved from the floor to the small kitchen table to work on a few gadgets that have been sitting in my 'bag of tricks' for a while now. The one I'm currently tinkering with is...Well, actually, I'm not sure what the ultimate plan for it is quite yet...
"I still think it's gonna be a radio. You need something like that to help drown out the quiet in your lab at night."
That's where Ortensia comes in. Over the years I've known her after being introduced through my sister, the girl's become one of the more important second opinions outside my family. She always has something to offer in every conversation we have, even when most of the time's taken by me rambling on and on...I've really grown to appreciate her company...
Ahem, anyway, I pause in playing with the electrical connection to smile her way.
"I'll admit it can be deafening here and there, but overall, the quiet at night helps me think."
"...You do know you're contradicting yourself, right?"
"I do. I just wanted to check to see if you were zoning out."
She gives me a glaring smirk and lightly whaps my shoulder.
"You tease!"
We both let out a laugh, but stop as soon as our ears pick up on Raph's 'melody'.
"...Does he always sing in the shower?"
Smiling in embarrassment, I reply,
"Hauh, unfortunately. Mind you, compared to Mikey and Leo, his shower songs are less annoying."
"Haha, them too?!"
"Yeah, (lowers voice) but don't tell them I said that, or I'm gonna feel it next time we train."
Ori makes the silent motion of 'my lips are sealed', smiling mischievously all the while...just as I hear my dear brother suddenly yelp and nearly slip.
Wha'd he do now?
I'd get my answer soon enough once he opens the door, revealing his towel-clad self and letting all the steam out of the bathroom.
"Yo Donny! Can ya do something abou' the hot water? Turtle can't even get a decen' shower in this join'."
"Been there, done that."
"Well go down there, and do i' again!"
Ortensia glares mildly at my brother and retorts on my behalf,
"You could at least say please, mister. Remember that Donnie's your brother, not the call-in mechanic."
"Oh so~rry, miss turtle's assistant. (Coy smirk) Geez bro, you got 'er wrapped around your finger perfectly, don'chya?"
W-What?!
I feel an angry blush heat up my face as I look up from my mystery project to retort,
"First of all, cut that out, and don't say what 'cause you and I both know. Second, why is always me?! Why not ask Mikey to fix something once in a while?"
...All three pairs of our eyes trail over to the brother I just mentioned, who's currently lounging in the blue chair and eating more of the barbecue soy chips...Feeling our stares, he glances up our way with an understandably confused expression.
"What?"
...Leo just had to pick now of all times to check in on our sick sister.
Letting out a puff of air, I mutter,
"Nevermind. I'll go fix the water heater, again..."
I set my things down and prepare to walk down to where that dumb heater would be waiting, thanking myself for being smart and leaving the primary tools I'd need down there.
I swear that thing's gonna give me no end to trouble...
"I really appreciate it, Don."
"No problem."
"But, keep an eye out for Kirby. Y'know, the guy I lease the basement apartment to? I don't need you scaring my new tenant."
I match the half-smirk of the woman sitting on the couch with my father and Emily.
"Don't worry, April. I'm a ninja. Piece of cake."
Ori then bounds over to my side and adds,
"Especially since I'll be down there as a second set of eyes. (Turns my way) Uhm, you don't mind, right?"
"O-Oh, not at all."
So with that, we both make our way to the stairs, ignoring Mikey's taunt of,
"No funny business down there, you two!"
Ugh, why must they be so persistent with...that?
"Isn't this like, the fourth time April's heater is trying to file for retirement?"
Thankful for the distraction, I lightly complain with a rueful smile,
"More like the sixth, and I dunno how it keeps finding a new problem. I almost feel like it's mocking me for no good reason..."
"Hm, maybe April should look into a new heater altogether. End the battle before you get too many war wounds."
"I tried suggesting that, but she says it's outside her budget right now..."
We reach the door to the basement, and don't waste time in wandering down, carefully since the light's out...
"Wow, it's really dark down here..."
"Eh, I've been in sewer tunnels darker than this...I know there's a light around here somewhere..."
...Aha!
Grabbing the pull cord, I give it a yank and turn the main light bulb on to illuminate the hall...just as a creepy shadow suddenly appears on the wall near the next corner.
"Huh?...What's that?!"
It emerges, revealing itself as a winged bat creature that almost reminds of those, yokai from a few stories sensei used to tell my siblings and I when we were younger! Letting out a yelp, Ori's then forced to duck near the stairs out of the monster's path when it tries to dive at us, while I flip twice before trying to whack at it with my weapon. Seemingly scared by my willingness to fight and defend, the bat-thing flies out of sight from where it started...
"Hah, hah, what was that thing?"
I peek behind the corner, but don't see it...
"I could've sworn it went this way...Hm."
That's when I notice the lights were on in a room I previously never went in, which is where I'm guessing the creature started from.
It's about as logical a guess I can make at this point...
"I-Is it gone?"
That's when I remember that I have a helper with me, and I hurry over to make sure she's okay.
"Yeah, it's alright. We're safe."
"Phew, good..."
"Are you okay, though? You look a little pale..."
She gives me a shaky smile and confesses,
"Well, if it's not already obvious, I, don't really like bats or things associated. I was the victim of a Halloween prank gone wrong involving fake bats when I was six, and now every time I see one, I become as useless as a watering can for a bonfire."
"Oh...Well, you won't have to worry from hereon."
I give her my bravest smile and assure her,
"I'll make sure nothing hurts you, whether bat or, remotely related."
"Don...Mm, (small smile) thanks."
She gives me her hand so I can lift her up, and I turn my eyes to the door nearby.
"I'm not sure where something like that even came from, nevermind where it went...but I have a feeling it started from there."
We wander over for a closer look...and spot someone inside at a drafting table drawing something.
"That must be April's new tenant."
"Yeah, I think she said his name is Kirby...Wonder what he's up to?"
We'd get our answer soon enough when he finishes up his latest creation...only for it to suddenly come to life and fly around the room!
"Whoa...How'd he do that?!"
"I dunno...but maybe it has to do with whatever's attached to his pencil...Oh! Incoming!"
Ori and I barely duck in time as the strange fly buzzes through the top area of the doorway, and it flies a few feet down the hall before fading out of reality...
So their existence is only temporary. Guess that explains where the bat-thing went...
"Whah? A green monster?"
I turn to see the man - Kirby - staring our way, more specifically at me.
Oops...
"I don't remember drawing you...Gh! (Stands up) You must...You must be here for your crystal. L-Look, pal, I was only borrowin' it for a while; just put the stick down!"
Well, he's acting a little calmer than I would've expected...
I hurry to respond and reassure the man that I'm no threat.
"Slow down, friend. I know I must look weird to you, but I'm not here to hurt you. (Puts away bō staff) My name is Donatello."
Ori steps forward to introduce herself:
"And my name is Ortensia, and neither of us knows anything about a crystal."
"But what we're really curious about, is how you just did what you did."
Kirby relaxes and tries to explain the phenomenon, a bashful smile all the while curving his face.
"It wasn't really me. I mean, I can draw, sure; been doin' it for years, but, it's this crystal."
He holds out his pencil, and we see a tiny fushia-coloured crystal tied onto the base near the eraser with string.
"It supplies the magic."
Ah, shell. Powered up crystalline structures again?
"Crystals. It had to be crystals..."
Ori pats my shoulder and comments with a sympathetic smile,
"At least this one's more innocent than the other ones we were looking at a couple days ago."
"Mm? Whadda ya mean?"
We face Kirby again as I answer with an exasperated smile,
"It's a long story, but to make it short, we've had quite our fair share of 'magic crystals' recently."
"Hm, (nod) gotchya...You two should give this a try, though. Here, lemme find you a clean page."
"Say, doesn't my appearance freak you out a little?"
He just laughs and replies,
"Fella, since my sketches started leapin' off the page, I've seen freakier, believe me! By the way, my friends call me Kirby."
We shake hands as I punctuate back,
"You can call me Don...So, uhm, where did you get that crystal, Kirby?"
"I found it in a pile of coal of all places, and accidentally discovered what it could do. Here, draw something, (glance) or does your friend here wanna give it a go?"
I turn to meet my companion's eyes:
"Did you wanna try, Ori?"
"Heck yeah!...Besides, I know out of the two of us, you're terrible at character drawing."
I feel my face heat up with embarrassment as I try to retort,
"Hey! I still have enough drawing skills for blueprints."
She sits down in front of the drafting table and counters,
"I've seen your trees, Don. They look like overblown sticks of cotton candy."
...I choose to avoid further commentary, instead focusing on the crystal.
"Whatever...I wonder if there's some bio-molecular energy transfer involved..."
"...Don, just let the little lady draw something."
We all let out a short laugh before she gets started on creating her character...
"He~y, not bad. I see you have some artistic talent."
"Heh, thank you. I love crafting, and I also love video games. This is suppose to be a Crazee Dayzee from the Paper Mario series."
I thought it looked familiar...
The creature in question basically looks like a smiley daisy with a stumpy body, hands and feet...And as soon as Ori was finished drawing it, it too came to life and jumped off the page!
"La-Laaa!"
"Whoa!"
It had a good trajectory, landing atop of Kirby's bed before bouncing onto the vanity dresser, and using some sort of magical note to knock over a can of spray paint.
"Haha, this is too wild!"
"Told ya, heheh."
"It's acting almost exactly like a real Crazee Dayzee!...Though alot lighter..."
The little creature then wanders our way, and sings another one of those weird glowing notes which bounces against my ankle, sending a small wave of nerve pain.
"Ouch!"
"Oh, careful, Don!"
"Gh, try telling that to them!...Huh?"
It then backs up, and fades away just like the others did...
"It just, disappeared..."
"They all do. Everything I draw comes to life, then they just, vanish...One exception, though."
Kirby walks over to an object in a corner covered by a large tarp.
"A thing I drew a couple of weeks ago, never went away."
(Whoosh)
"Can't rightly tell ya what it is."
I wander over for a closer look, Ori joining me.
"Looks like a weird kind of, doorway..."
"Yeah, like out of a sci-fi show..."
Curiousity getting the better of me, I reach one of my hands into the multi-coloured portal...and it goes right through!
"Uh!"
"(Pulls back) Incredible...!"
"Hey, be careful!"
...I wonder...
Sending a smile at the two humans in the room, I then swallow whatever nerves remain, and walk into the portal.
No POV
"Uh!...Don! Don, can ya hear me?!"
"Donnie?!"
Just when the two humans were about to really panic, the techno-turtle suddenly pops halfway back.
"Kirby, Ori, you're not gonna believe this! You've gotta see what's on the other side of this thing!"
"...Aeh, what the heck. Lemme just grab my sketchbook."
The older man would grasp his large pad of paper, and hurry into the portal without hesitation, much to Ortensia's dismay.
"Geronimo!"
"Ah! Kirby!...Oooh, now I gotta go in, don't I?"
Lord, help me...
Though a little scared, the girl with the deep brown Hime haircut knew there would be someone safe waiting on the other side for her.
"Hah...okay...Here, I, cooome!"
She rushes straight into the odd doorway...emerging on the other side mid-air!
"Whah?! Aaah!"
Thankfully, she lands in the waiting arms of Donatello.
"Gotchya! That last step's a doozy, huh?"
"Y-Yeah, no kidding...Thanks."
The bō staff wielder gently sets Ortensia to her feet, and the latter's eyes drink in their new surroundings, which to make a long detailed explanation short, looks like something out of a sci-fi fantasy story. Grasslands of vivid green contrasting a celestial sky of dark plum and lavender purple, with smaller planetoids of every shape dotting near and far. The area they were standing in now had a large stone arch hanging over their heads, leading towards a distant floating city.
"Wooow..."
"It's like some sort of alternate reality. A different dimension. It's...It's incredible...!"
"And it all looks familiar...Too familiar..."
The teens look at Kirby in confusion:
"Whaddo you mean?"
"Wait...Kirby, is this..."
Nodding at the girl's half-question, the artist opens his sketchbook to show them something.
"Look...I drew it. I drew it all!"
"...Hey, check out that weirdo!"
Looking up where Donatello was pointing, the humans spot a strange humanoid creature with muted fern skin, a blocky head and a blue-white beard wandering atop a hill. In their hand is a spiked club, adding to the aura of strength that was their muscular figure.
"It looks like one of the monsters out of your sketchbook."
"It is...I remember drawing that one."
Shifting a little closer to her friend, Ortensia inquires nervously,
"Uhm, any chance you remember what kind of personality it had? I mean, it's not gonna come down and attack, right?"
Donatello reassures her,
"Don't worry. They seem to be ignoring us...which has me wondering what their real focus is."
Kirby suggests,
"Let's go find out."
The trio make their way up the hill, stopping to watch as that beast and several others charge towards the city...
"Looks like someone's about to have a monster-size beatdown!"
In the distance and standing at the foot of the ribbon-like bridge heading to the populace, we see four male warriors dressed in different forms of gladiator-like armor readying themselves for the threat coming their way.
"Brace yourselves!"
Back at the incline, Kirby exclaims,
"Those creatures are gonna rip those guys apart!"
His words would be half-correct, for despite putting up a valiant effort with their weapons, the number of monsters would prove to be near overwhelming for the warriors...
"You shall not pass!"
The one with blue hair suddenly throws his mallet forward, colliding with the fist of another indescribable creature and creating an explosion of power...They're each knocked out cold, along with two other monstrous humanoids, which only encourages the rest to take this chance and claim the upper hand...
"We gotta do something!"
Donatello agrees with Kirby, brandishing out his own weapon at the ready.
"Stay here. I'm on it."
Knowing that she couldn't offer as much help as she'd liked to, Ortensia only says to the turtle teen,
"Be careful out there, Donnie."
He nods, before sprinting downward to the battlefield, just as the quartet of warriors were stirring awake...
"Coming through! Hiiiya!"
A few well-timed strikes with his bō staff were all the young ninja needed to take out six of the monsters at the same time, before whacking down another that attempted to lunge at him...As the warriors get up, one with long red hair eyes Donatello's fighting form with curiousity.
"...What new strange creature is this?"
The turtle vaults another monster over his head with the tip of his staff, before dodging another's charging form and split-kicking two more down, stopping in a defensive stance in front of the people he was protecting...Realizing the turtle was on their side, and feeling inspired by his determination, the warriors rise to their feet once more.
"To arms!"
They rush forward with their own battle cries, which funny enough, prompted Donatello to do the same once his surprise wore off...Now that their were five capable fighters, the little army of monsters would feel their own confidence waver...Eventually, they give up the battle and run off...
"Heha!"
"Donnie, you did it!"
Kirby and Ortensia run down the hill to join the turtle, who straightens up and exclaims excitedly,
"I came, I saw, I kicked monster butt!"
"Wow, Don. You've got some moves! I've never seen anything like that, except maybe in the comics..."
Holding down a laugh, the girl with amethyst irises then hugs her friend and comments,
"You were awesome out there. Your brothers, Yori and your father would be proud."
Barely keeping his cool under the heat of a new blush, Donatello bashfully mutters,
"Heh, y-you think so?"
Get it together, you crazy turtle! Don't let her praise turn you into a stuttering mess...
Even if your heart flutters every time she says something nice...
"Hail to you, strangers."
Attention focuses on the warriors, who approach the newcomers to their world with smiles. Donatello in turn replies to the redhead,
"Uhm, hi. I mean, hail."
"You are welcome here...We few are all that stand against the darkness, the creatures which you helped us defeat. We owe you our gratitude...but, we must prepare. They will return."
Smiling confidently, the brainy turtle boasts,
"They can bring it on. I was just getting warmed up!"
Ortensia giggles a bit at her friend, her smile quickly wiping away when the warrior informs them,
"They will be back in greater numbers, more than we can possibly defend against. And when they come, in force, we may lose the bridge, and with it, our city...I cannot bear to think of the dark powers destroying our wondrous city, our loved ones, our families. Those monsters...they will destroy everything."
The visitors to this realm form frowns that show no fear.
"We won't let that happen."
"We'll do whatever we can to help stop them."
"I certainly won't let fear get the better of me."
I just hope I won't become another soul to save...
The warrior with blue hair and the mallet then calls out,
"Sire! Here they come! Thousands of them!"
Looking in the distance, we see a massive shadow of bodies heading right for the direction of the city...
"We must defend the entrance to the bridge, even if it costs us our lives!"
Though Donatello agrees with the man, Ortensia couldn't help but half-scold,
"For goodness sake, Kirby, just how many times have you drawn these creatures?!"
"Aeh, I don't really have a good track record. All I do know is that I have a habit of drawing alot..."
"Did you have to be so prolific?! Couldn't you have drawn less, or maybe some more friendly guys?"
The artist argues back to the turtle,
"Heck, how was I suppose to know that they'd come alive and attack us?!"
There wouldn't be alot of time to debate further over the situation, when the monsters charge close enough that the warriors and Donatello would be forced to start their counterattack. For the most part, they were doing okay in terms of keeping the hoard busy...Yet Ortensia would notice a few momentary issues of strength balance between the parties.
They're all strong, but those beasts have the advantage in numbers. Even Don won't be able to keep up the pressure for long...
It almost reminds of, when the Foot and Hun ambushed us a while back...
"Yaaaaaah-cuugh!"
The girl jumps out of her thoughts when her fellow teen is suddenly clubbed hard by one block-headed monster, so hard that he'd go flying and land in a hard slide in front of her and the artist!
"Uh! Don!"
She hurries to help him up:
"Are you okay?"
"Mph, been better...Hh!"
He snaps out of his daze when he sees three of the monsters getting too close to the bridge...
"There's too many of these things! Yah!"
The turtle leaps back into the action, much to the human girl's worry.
Oh Donnie...
She turns to Kirby for some guidance:
"Isn't there something you can do, Kirby? I mean, you did create this realm, right, so, you must have some control over the make-up."
"Hm...Hey. That gives me an idea."
Taking the pencil from behind his ear, the artist gets to work on a new creation...Meanwhile, Ortensia turns back to watch the action...before finally having enough of waiting around.
Okay, Ori...You can do this...You won't be helpless this time, just like when you weren't in the church...
Now!
She suddenly runs forward, scooping up a simple club one of the monsters had lost in the skirmish, before dashing forward to clock one of the smaller, skinnier creatures on the back of its head before they could jump one of the warriors.
"Ha!"
(CLACK)
The crumple down in a heap, leaving the warrior - who wore a helmet and carried a shield as both a defensive and offensive weapon - gaping at the girl before smiling gratefully.
"That was quite the blow you dealt, young lady. You have my thanks."
"No sweat."
"Ori! What the shell are you doing?!"
Said girl turns to see her good friend run her way, knocking away another one of the antagonistic beasts with his bō staff about halfway there. She replies in an obvious tone,
"What does it look like? I'm trying not to be useless and fight!"
"But you could get hurt! You still have some ways to go before-"
"All the more reason for me to at least try! I won't get better unless I just do it...And if I don't get better, I can't help protect the ones I care about...I want to be the person who could hold her own in the church, not the one who got taken down in the streets like a helpless schoolgirl."
Donatello could only stare at Ortensia with surprise at her confession.
Ortensia...Huh?
He then feels a strange tingling around his right hand and upper arm, and both souls watch as an odd device suddenly manifests like magic!
"What the shell...?!"
Kirby calls from a couple feet back,
"I call it a Gravity Equalizer. It cancels the gravity equation. Heh, I just made it up!"
"(Grin) I like it!"
The turtle wastes no time in using the new toy he was gifted with, blasting a few shots of energy at three incoming monsters, who immediately float into the air upon impact!
"Ha!"
"...Don, on the right!"
He turns where Ortensia indicated, and gives those four evil souls the same treatment.
"Eat negative gravity, you losers!"
(Pow, pow, pow, pow)
They're left helpless mid-air, as would two more monsters who were trying to get the jump on the shield warrior...Blowing away a bit of smoke from the barrels, the turtle with the purple ninja mask quotes,
"The Gravity Equalizer. Don't leave home without it," and his fellow teen adds,
"No joke. Foes like the Purple Dragons would be helpless against something like this...Hh! Uh-oh!"
She cringes when she sees another monster bound their way. Donatello prepares to fire again...only to run into a technical problem when the machine shorts out before it could release more ammo.
"Uh-oh again...Or maybe..."
He waits for the right moment, dodging a clawed fist before slamming the metal gadget against their head...
"Makes a good club anyway."
Watching as the rest of the monster horde attempts to make a comeback, the brunette comments worriedly,
"Too bad it's not big enough to cause an earthquake, 'cause from what I'm seeing, that might be the only way we can overwhelm these creeps."
They turn to Kirby as the turtle asks him,
"Any ideas?"
"Add a size reference for scale...Finish it up with a few details, aaand...voila!"
Next thing the young pair of souls knew, they were standing with Kirby in an open cockpit for a giant robot with four-clawed hands and a gaping, sharp-toothed mouth!
"Whoa! Unbelievable!"
"Kirby, what is this?!"
"It's kind-of a mobile creep trapper. It's suppose to respond to my brainwaves. See?"
They watch as one arm scoops up a few of the monsters and tosses them into the mouth, which starts a cycle of each one grabbing a handful and so on...
"Looks like it's time to commence with Operation Cleanup...Alright, Kirby: you do your thing, and I'll do mine!"
Donatello leaps downward, jumping off an arm and crashing into three more monsters...Unfortunately, this new advantage came a little late.
"The creatures have broken through! We must stop them!"
The turtle chases after them:
"Hey! Get back here, you creepy creeps!...Unless you're afra~id!"
A trio of the small group that stormed the bridge turns back at his taunt, and hurry to tackle him to the ground...
"Don! I gotta help him!"
Ortensia vaults herself out of the cockpit and slides down the machine, much to the artist's protest.
"Wait!"
Ortensia's POV
I ignore Kirby's call to stop, too anxious for my friend's safety to worry about my own.
I gotta help him...I need to show him I'm more than just a welcome voice of conversation...
I want...I want him to notice me.
(Flash)
"So-koff, when are you and Donnie finally gonna hook up?"
I remember feeling so flustered when Shiori asked me that question the other day when I visited her and the rest...
It feels like so long ago now...though maybe it's because it wasn't the first time she and, other parties, asked me about my feelings towards that amazing turtle...
"I...I dunno..."
"You-kh, still haven't told him?...C'mon, what's the hold up? You know he loves you."
"I do...but, what if he doesn't love me like I love him? What if he just loves having a good friend to talk to?"
One raspy chuckle later and my sick bestie would gently lecture,
"And what's-kh, wrong with that? Friends don't become lovers overnight...Look, I've watched you and Don interact for years now, and you two have a chemistry that goes beyond simple friends. How can he not return your feelings?...Just take a chance and see what happens."
(Flash)
...She's right. Knowing Donnie, he won't say it first...so I have to be the one to do it.
And with the way things are going right now...this could be my last chance to.
I didn't want to go to that negative, but I can't help it. This battle's becoming almost more dangerous than the fights conducted by the Purple Dragons or the Foot...Still, this fear is also my biggest motivator.
"Hang on, Donnie! Hr-gh!"
It took alot of effort, but I managed to knock away the monsters long enough to pull the turtle to his feet and yank him to a safer area so we could breathe.
"Hh, hah...Thanks."
"Right...Listen, Donnie. I don't know what's gonna happen in the next few minutes, but...there's something that I've been meaning to get off my chest for a long time."
Don hurries to block another monster with his staff while exclaiming,
"What, now?! Is it even a good time?!"
"Please just hear me out! Ah!"
I in turn use the club I stole from one of these beasts to whack away another's weapon, then copy a move from Talon and football-shove them to the ground before I take the plunge.
"I don't know if I'll ever get the chance to say this before I get too scared to again!...The thing is, Donnie...I...I like you!"
...Unfortunately, he doesn't quite catch the meaning, and simply replies while whacking away another beast,
"I like you too, Ortensia!"
"No, I mean...I mean I like, like you!"
...That really caught his attention, so much so that he nearly drops his staff in shock.
"Wait...You mean...Y-You, really...?"
I nod frantically, feeling both triumphant and really embarrassed.
I did it...I can't believe I did it...
"S-So then, this whole, time, you-Wow. I mean, gosh, I...Ori...I-I don't know what to say, (small smile) except..."
Just when I was about to hear the words I desperately wanted to hear, something yanks my weapon out of my hands before hoisting me up by the back of my shirt!
"Aaah!"
"Hh! Let go of her!"
Donnie comes to my rescue and jabs his weapon against their chest, forcing whatever creature it was to let me go...which in turn would leave him wide open to getting clubbed from behind.
(WHACK)
"UH!"
"Donatello!"
...He crumples to the ground face-down, dropping the bō staff as he falls unconscious...
"D-Donnie...Mph..."
Forcing away my tears as best I could, I then rush forward and grab the weapon for my own two hands, twirling it in a manner that hopefully would scare the monsters away.
"Keep, back...Get away from him!"
I get in a few lucky hits and they back off...but, a couple of their comrades begin to join them, forming a circle around me and my fri-no...my crush...Sucking in a helpless breath, I prepare myself for what's to come.
This is it. Goodbye world. Goodbye everyone...
I'm sorry, Donnie!
I let out a scream as one monster starts the charge...
But then, a miracle happens.
(Sheen, clk-clk...)
"Huh?"
The monsters are suddenly encased in various forms of shackles, belts, chains and even stone block or two!
...Kirby...
"Huzzah! Huzzah!"
The warriors begin cheering, having finally reached victory over the darkness...and I couldn't help but smile big.
We're gonna be okay...We're gonna live!
"Mrh...Urh, O-Ori...?"
Hh! Donnie.
I whirl around and kneel down by the turtle as he rouses from his rude send-off to dreamland, sitting up with a groan and holding the side of his head.
"Oh, Don...Are you alright?"
"I, think so...Is it over? Hh!"
He suddenly jumps in his seat and grasps my arm, a worried expression on his face.
"What about you; are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah, I'm, okay...I thought, I was gonna be our last stand, but..."
We cast our eyes over in the artist's direction.
"I guess Kirby must've found a way to subdue all of the monsters."
"Guess so...So, uhm, Ortensia. About what you said, before I got the wind knocked out of me..."
Oh no...
I hurry to my feet, avoiding Don's eyes while muttering,
"U-Uh, yeah, uhm, it's, okay if...you know, if you don't-"
I'm cut off when I feel a gentle set of three-fingered hands turn me around, forcing me to look at the kind and...loving smile on my crush's face.
"Okay, now it's my turn to say hear me out...I...I like you that way too."
"Hh!...Really?"
He nods, making my hear swell like a balloon.
Oh my gosh...He likes me. He likes me!
I could only let out a happy laugh, hugging the turtle around his middle as he lets out a soft chuckle and hugs me back...And unlike other hugs we've shared in the past...this one feels, deeper...
"Heh, somethin' happen between you two kids?"
We part at Kirby's voice and see him walking over to us.
"Mm, you could say that."
Donnie compliments the artist on his saving move.
"Kirby, my friend, you are the king. How did you do that?"
"As fast as I could."
He shows us the many revisions he did on the monsters, causing us all to laugh...
"Come on. We should all go home."
Donnie takes my right hand into his left, while placing his right on Kirby's shoulder as we all head for the direction where the portal would be waiting, after waving the warriors goodbye, of course.
"Yeah, I guess you're right, though I gotta say, I really wish we had more time to explore this place. I mean, it's incredible."
As I fight to contain my blush from the hand holding mine, I joke,
"Well we would've had a bit more time if those monsters hadn't showed up to rain on the parade."
The source of my redness would chuckle back,
"True enough, but we can come back another day. How 'bout some chow? I'm starving."
Hm, me too. I see now why Yori and her bros are always so hungry after training.
"Long as you're buyin'...Uh!"
Just as Kirby makes that quip, something awful begins happening!
"The portal! It's shrinking!"
We hurry to the technicolour entrance, and Kirby urges,
"Don, you and Ortensia go first!"
"What?!" "But-"
"There's no time to argue; just go!"
Though reluctant, we do as he says while promising to get him as quick as we can...
I jump back to familiar ground first, rolling to the safety of the floor.
"Oof!"
"...Agh!"
I turn around and see Don stuck halfway, the portal refusing to squeeze him through!
"I'm stuck!"
"Hang on!"
I run over and grab both his hands, pulling him as hard as I could.
"Nnrrrrrh!"
Come on, come on...Ah!
Through what I'm guessing was combined effort of me and the person on the other side, Donnie is brought back to the reality we both know...but at a cost.
"The portal!...Kirby, nooo!"
We're forced to watch as the doorway shrinks and pops out of existence, leaving the poor man trapped in his own creation...
Oh, Kirby...Hm?
But something would be left behind, something that would tell us he'd be okay.
"What?"
"A note..."
We sit against the wall and unfold the paper airplane, only to uncover a drawing of Donnie with the Gravity Equalizer, and the following message.
Don, Ortensia.
Life at best is bittersweet. See ya around, pals, and take care of eachother.
- Kirby
I smile sadly and send a mental goodbye back to the good man.
You too, Kirby. Take care of yourself, and the people you created...
"I can't believe he's gone...but, he should be okay, right?"
I nod assuredly at Don, musing,
"It's a world he made, so he shouldn't have a problem fitting in."
"Hm...Oh, shell. What're we gonna tell April?"
Shifting myself so I'm laying my head on his shoulder, I reply simply,
"Well, we don't have to talk about what happened right away. For now, we'll just say that a, job opportunity came up and he had to leave the city."
"Hm...I, guess that's as close to the truth as we can get out."
"Yeah...and, hey. Let's not be too sad. Things could've gone worse."
I take his hand and mumble with a half-smile,
"At least, we're alive, and we can fulfill his last wish."
...I feel his hand squeeze back as he mutters with a smile of his own,
"Yeah...To, take care of eachother."
We both sigh out a breath of acceptance, cuddling closer together as we come to grips with what we lost...and what we gained...Eventually, we remember the reason we came down here in the first place, and decide to continue with the task of fixing the water heater as a way to help cope with the sadness...
Heading back upstairs now, hand in hand, I couldn't help but smile and think to myself,
Life...It truly is bittersweet...but mostly sweet.