Hello again friends!
It seems the plot bunnies have bitten me and I got a new story!
I think I'm on a roll again, especially since I've had really bad writers block and I've been busy at work.
Also, there is news we may be free of lockdown soon, but I'm not holding my breath since I know Covid-19 will be a part of our lives for a long time. But we can only move forward and not let fear control us!
Notes: The characters Tyroth, Sephie and the Geckolings Freya and Loki belong to my good friend Tyroth Darkstorm, check out his fics on his page! You can find him in my favourite author's category!
Also there are references to the 2003 TMNT cartoons 'Turtles in Space' and Tyroth's fics 'Ancient Legacy' and 'Mutants Misplaced' and 'Cursed and Blessed'
Camping Trip
Chapter One
It was a hot afternoon in May, and the woodlands in the state of Massachusetts was almost in full growth showing that summer was almost here.
The hot sun shone through the leaves making them light up like stained glass and the colourful flowers brightened the series of green.
In a large clearing under that same hot sun, stood a farmhouse and barn and in the open spaces surrounding it, the inhabitants were enjoying the hot weather.
Amongst them were the New York mutants, and their human friends April and Casey and their guests, the Mutopian Mutants.
The New York turtles, Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo were sitting on a couple of blankets deep in conversation with their Rat sensei Splinter, and Sephie the Gecko.
April and Casey soon joined them with some extra chairs, a table and a couple of baskets filled with food for a picnic.
Behind them, the red Dragon Tyroth and the Lizard Lady Monalisa carried some more food and drinks in bags.
"Sweet! Foods arrived!" Michelangelo grinned, he then looked over to an area near the woods where a line had been hung between two trees with a large sheet over it to make a tent.
"Kids!" he called over "Lunchtime!"
At the sound of his voice, a pre-teen hybrid turtle/lizard mutant with long dark hair popped her head out.
"Coming Uncle Mikey!" she called before turning her head to the tent "Come on guys!"
Emerging from the tent, a young Japanese girl with her black hair in a single bun, and twin Geckolings of a similar age, a boy and a girl followed their companion out.
"Oh boy! Eats!" the male Geckoling cheered as he ran ahead of his sister who grabbed his tail "oi!" he protested.
"No cutting in line!" the female snapped.
"Freya!" Sephie called over "Loki! No fighting!"
"Sorry mum!" the twins called together.
The hybrid mutant ran ahead and slid over to the red masked turtle Raphael.
"So what's on the menu?" she asked eagerly.
"Patience Pandora." Mona said as she started to arrange the dishes on the table as well as on the blanket, swatting Michelangelo's hand away as he tried to make a grab for a sandwich before she had finished placing the plate down.
The young Japanese girl walked over and gracefully sat next to the blue masked turtle Leonardo who smiled.
"Good girl Kemeko." He said "That was a very controlled sit."
Kemeko looked proud of herself as she looked at Leonardo.
"Thank you, father." She replied.
As soon as the food was arranged, everyone helped themselves.
"This is the life huh?" Michelangelo stated "Sunshine, food and fresh air!"
"You bet!" Sephie agreed "I'm so glad we came here for some well-deserved R'N'R!"
"Indeed hun!" Tyroth added "It can get a bit much back in Mutopia and keeping tabs on everyone and it's nice to relax without worrying about the humans seeing us."
"And we get to enjoy the daytime for a change!" Donatello said, "I do miss the sun on my skin sometimes!"
"Don't we all?" agreed Monalisa.
"We're always happy to have you here!" Casey said raising a glass of soda.
"Indeed yes!" April agreed.
"Awww yeah dude! I love picnics!" Pandora said with a mouthful of sausage roll.
"Don't talk with your mouthful Pandora." Raphael scolded.
Pandora looked at her father before muffling 'sorry' still with her mouthful.
Michelangelo laughed as he shoved crisps in his mouth and Pandora turned to him before putting out her tongue still with bits of food on it.
"Pandora!" Mona snapped "Quit it!"
Pandora quickly slipped her tongue back in and looked sheepishly at her mother before swallowing her mouthful.
"Sorry mum." She simpered.
"Behave yourself Pandora." Tyroth frowned "You can fight with Mikey later."
"I'll give him a few rounds with Mr Swinger!" Pandora smirked playfully.
"Bring it!" Michelangelo said with his mouth full making Raphael groan.
"What did I just say to Pandora?" he growled at Michelangelo who swallowed, "You're still giving her bad habits!"
"I'm her favourite Uncle!" Michelangelo said, "It's my job!"
Tyroth rolled his eyes and Splinter just chuckled.
"So what were you kids doing in your tent?" Donatello asked, deciding to change the subject.
"We were talking about having adventures!" Freya said "Pandora was re-telling stories of your adventures, like in Space, and Skyrim and when mum and dad along with you fought the demons, and chased that weird guy across Chicago to save Daddy's life!"
"Oh was she?" Sephie asked with a raised eyebrow.
Pandora looked at her aunt and nodded.
"I was!" she said "As well as the time I outwitted the V5 that Christmas ago!"
"Man, I can't wait for some adventures!" Loki said, "Once we're big enough to join you in fighting!"
"Long way to go yet Trickster!" Tyroth chuckled patting his son's head.
"A very long way!" Monalisa said.
"I'll be ready soon!" Pandora grinned.
"You're only twelve Pandora!" Raphael corrected "Your Uncles and I didn't even start to fight bad guys until we were at least sixteen!"
"Four years though!" Pandora said holding up her four fingers on her right hand.
"It'll fly by!" Michelangelo smiled pinching Pandora's cheek "I can't wait to have you as my sidekick!"
"Correction Uncle Mike!" Pandora smirked pointing at her orange masked uncle "You'll be the sidekick!"
"Don't get cocky babe!" Michelangelo snickered.
"Those Foot Soldiers and Purple Dragons will be my bitches!" Pandora grinned.
"Language!" Mona snapped narrowing her eyes.
"Watch your mouth young lady!" Raphael warned "Or you'll be doing backflips!"
"Slip of the tongue, sorry!" Pandora grinned again sheepishly.
Raphael rolled his eyes and groaned, Mona gave her mate that look that said 'I blame you' to which he just shrugged and took a drink of soda.
Leonardo shook his head with a chuckle and looked at Kemeko.
The 9-year-old Japanese girl was sitting elegantly next to him eating some sliced peaches and oranges.
Unlike Pandora who was spirited and wild, if not a little cheeky, Kemeko was quiet and reserved, very much like him, she was like the calm to Pandora's storm, almost the perfect reserving Yin to Pandora's raging Yang.
"So, are you keen to go on adventures Lotus?" Leonardo asked.
"Hmm?" Kemeko looked up and placed her plate down before she spoke.
"You keen to go on adventures with your cousins?" Leonardo asked with a smile.
Kemeko then realised and she nodded with a smile.
"Oh, I do!" she said "After all the stories you told me!"
Leonardo chuckled.
"Well, you will get your chance Lotus!" he said, "But right now, you should enjoy being young."
Kemeko nodded.
"I will!" she said.
"That's my turtle child." Leonardo smiled stroking Kemeko's cheek.
"You know dad." Loki said suddenly, looking at Tyroth "Pandora and I did speak about camping in the woods whilst we were here! Not just hiding under the sheet over there!" he pointed to where he and the other kids had been earlier.
"Oh?" Tyroth asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah!" Pandora cut in "We thought maybe we could have a real adventure! Go exploring in the woods, build fires, roasting marshmallows and maybe spotting wildlife!"
"I agree with Pandora!" Freya piped up.
Kemeko's eyes sparkled.
"Oh yeah!" she said, "That does sound like fun!"
Mona frowned slightly as she looked at the children.
"Hmmm." She said, "I'm not so sure."
"Aww mum!" Pandora whined "Please!"
Michelangelo chuckled.
"Aww come on sis!" he said, "I think the kids are old enough to have a little fun on their own!"
Mona looked at Michelangelo and frowned.
"Twelve, ten and nine are still young Mikey." She said sternly.
"She's not wrong." Sephie agreed.
The kids looked a little crestfallen until Splinter coughed.
"Please." He said getting the grown-ups attention "I do understand your concerns, but we must remember, we are in rural areas and there are few humans here than in Chicago or New York, and the dangers here are minimal."
"How about we have a conference later?" April suggested "Then we can say either yes or no to the kids?"
Mona still looked unsure, but she nodded.
"Very well April." She said with a nod.
The kids looked hopeful, and Loki and Freya held their thumbs.
"Please say yes!" the Geckolings muttered under their breaths.
Looks like our heroes are having fun during their picnic, but now the kids have requested they have their own camping adventure, what will the grown-ups decide?
Find out in the next chapter!
Note: Freya and Loki hold their thumbs because according to Tyroth Darkstorm, who is Swedish, he holds his thumbs for good luck, very much like how I being British cross my fingers for good luck!
Hope you liked that little reference Tyroth!