? POV
"Wow…" I couldn't help but gasp. The milky way, a system so far from home, yet so beautiful in its own rights. I've always admired this system ever since I found out about it, something about it entranced me. Now that I was here, I felt so excited and a little nervous.
What if it wasn't everything I dreamed it would be? And what if it was?
I heard my mother calling me and walked away from the observation desk. My class and I were on a field trip to the Milky way, a little celebration for the newest graduating cluster of Lightfuries. For most of us, this was the furthest we've ever traveled from our home. Because of this, we needed to have chaperones along with us to protect us in case anything happens. My mother and father were one of many parents who make up the crew guarding the ship.
"My spark, why do you always wander away from the group?" My mother sighed.
"I can't help it, I'm so excited to finally see it." My skin was probably glowing from excitement.
My mother must have noticed. She just smiled fondly. "I know, but we must head back with the others."
I groaned but followed my mother back to the group. Just as the ship was struck and an alarm went off, my mother held me in her arms to protect me from the shock. Then, like any other Lightfury, she stood tall with the face and demeanor of a warrior.
"We're under attack, do you have your weapons with you?" She asked.
I nodded, checking for the uni-weapon I have in my belt.
"Head back to the main chamber and stay with the others. Do not engage and remember your training." She commanded before turning back and looking at me with a soft gaze, "Stay safe, my spark."
I started to run back to the main chamber, only to see two weird androids with brain-like aliens inside them. Immediately, I knew what attacked our ship.
"Kraang, it is one of which is known as a Lightfury." One of the Kraang said.
"You will halt for which will be beneficial to both Kraang and the one known as the Lightfury. Doing what is known as surrendering will allow Kraang to spare the life of the Lightfury for further research." The other one commanded in a monotone voice and pointed his gun at me.
"I don't think so." I dodged out of their range of fire, activating my uni-weapon into a whip. I tripped one of them and sliced the head of the other robot down before running down the hall.
"Kraang, destroy for Kraang." I heard them shout, but I didn't look back.
More started showing up and I was forced to turn away from the main chamber. Without a choice, I started running down a different way. I needed to get to the main chamber before they capture me. I hid in a small closet while they run by the door. It was then I realized the chaos that was echoing throughout the ship. Screams and the clanking sounds of robots falling to the ground. I was shook to my core when I could feel Lightfuries getting taken out too, one after another. Another explosion rocked the ship and I could hear even more heavy metal footsteps.
We were getting overwhelmed. I needed to find my parents and escape the ship before we all get blown up. I took a moment to calm my nerves and took in my surroundings. I noticed the air vent above me and use my whip to open it. I climbed the shelves and pulled myself up into the air ducts. I started crawling in the narrow vents to the center of the ship, keeping myself as quiet as I can. Through both skill and sheer luck, I made it to the main chamber, and I was horrified by what I saw. I saw my fellow Lightfuries from my cluster, all of them died on the deck of the ship. There were no guardians left standing. Weapons, green slime, and blood coated the floor and the bits of walls I can see. What I could see were Kraang walking around the bodies of my friends, but not in the way that looked like they're in combat. It was the relaxed kind of posture someone would have when they felt they've won the battle.
I was outraged, everyone was gone. I screamed and jumped out of my hiding spot. My uni-weapon was now a sword, and it sliced straight through the Kraang I landed on. Blinded by everything else, I started attacking every Kraang that came at me. But more kept marching in, three more appeared for every one Kraang I struck down. I knew I wasn't going to win this, but nothing mattered to me other than avenging everyone they killed.
An idea then popped into my head, a stupid reckless one. But it was one that would kill everyone on this ship and that was enough for me.
I started charging my power, letting it overwhelm me. The Kraang seemed afraid of me as the air around me started to cackle with sparks and electrons. My parents always warned me to never let myself overload on energy or I would go supernova. But then again, they weren't here to stop me.
Just before I could anything, I felt something hit me. A beam that was draining my energy away from me, I turned to see one Kraang holding this energy draining weapon. I rushed at him, only to be tied down. They used their own plasma whips, much like my own, to restrain my arms and legs. Unable to move, I was drained by the machine till I collapsed and could do nothing more.
"Kraang will take this one for further examination. The power of the Lightfury could prove useful to Kraang. Prepare to return to Earth." It was the last thing I heard before I felt them dragging me away on the ground and I blacked out.
I've lost track on time since the attack on my ship. The Kraang took away my weapons, they've probably taken it apart by now. The one thing I have left was the universal translator on my neck, but even then it didn't make it without a scratch. I could still understand them, but I couldn't say anything back. My speech was reduced to Lightfurian clicks and noises. Not that great when youe were on a planet that didn't understand it. From what I've gathered, they brought me to a planet named Earth for researching purposes. I was locked into a holding cell while they used that gun to drain power from me, leaving only enough to keep me stable. They were trying to see if I could be some kind of replacement power source, but my energy wasn't enough. Now that I was useless to them, they wanted to experiment on me.
I wished I could say I fought back every single time they showed their disgusting faces in my cell, but I lost any will to escape after the sixth time they blasted me with that gun and locked my hands up with draining handcuffs after my second escape attempt. There was no way to escape and no one was there to help me.
That was when I heard new voices, a girl who sounded just as unhappy of being here as I was. I walked up to the door of my cell and saw some Kraang putting a girl with red hair who looks about my age and an older looking man with the same color of hair on his face, he must be her father.
The girl kept screaming at the Kraang to let them out but the Kraang couldn't be bothered with her. The girl glared angrily at them, just like I did when I first arrived. She then noticed me and her angry gaze turned into one of confusion.
"Hello? Did they capture you too?" She asked.
Unable to speak, I just nodded and hoped that it means yes on this planet as well.
I think she understood since she just continued, "I'm sorry to hear that. My name is April, what's yours?"
I wished I could tell her but she couldn't understand anything I say until I can fix my translator.
"You can't speak?"
I noded again, and the look of understanding did confirm to me that nodding meant yes in this world too. Maybe it wouldn't be too different after all.
"Are your parents with you too?"
It pained me to hear any mention of my parents. Seeing her captured with her father made me wished that my mother was still by my side. I shook my head, and she understood.
"April? Who are you talking to?" I heard a deeper masculine voice while April turned around to see into her cell. That must be her father.
"There's another girl in here too, dad. I think she's mute." April explained
Mute? I guess that was what being unable to speak was called here.
"Do you know why these things captured us?" April asked. She must mean the Kraang.
I shook my head. While I knew why they captured me, I had no idea why April and her father were here.
That answer didn't satisfy April, she looked frustrated and walked away from the door. I looked away, feeling guilty that I couldn't give her a better answer. I wished I could talk to them, if nothing else, to give them an idea of what the Kraang are.
Suddenly I heard April crying out from her cell, "Oh my stomach! The pain is unbearable!"
I looked up to see a Kraang entering their cell and April attacking it, by pulling and biting on it…
I knew better but I couldn't help the disappointment I felt when their weird escape plan failed. I sighed and leaned against my cell door. The motion felt awkward with my handcuffs, drawing my attention to them. I scowled at these stupid things on my wrists, what I wouldn't give to be out of these things.
Not long after April and her father arrive, I heard the alarm going off. It made me jump and soon there were more new voices and one talking with April. I looked up out my cell door and I couldn't even describe what I felt when I saw these new people.
First of all, they looked nothing like April and her father, humans, which I was taught was the dominant species on this planet. They seemed to act and talk like humans, despite their odd appearances.
Secondly, they seemed to be fighting the Kraang. I hoped that meant there were forces here that were powerful enough to stop them. I couldn't help but admire the way they fight, it was powerful and swift. Something I didn't think was possible with their forms.
Lastly, they seemed to be here for April. One of them, a creature with something purple on his face, immediately rushed over to April's cell and was trying to open it from what I could hear.
"Don't worry, I'll have you out of there in a second." The creature in purple said as he opened the control panel for their cell.
"Okay, giant lizard thing." April answered, sounding just as confused as I felt.
"Turtle, actually," The turtle corrected her, "I'm Donatello."
"April." She replied.
"Wow, that's a pretty-" Donatello sounded mesmerized, until another turtle in blue bumped into him.
"The lock, Donnie!" The turtle in blue exasperated.
"Oh right, yeah. Sorry." Donatello apologized as he went back to fiddling with the panel.
The turtle in blue looked into April's cell, and spoke in the most reassuring tone I've ever heard, "We're going to get you out of here. Just hang on."
"Wait! There's another girl in here." April exclaimed.
Leo's POV
"What?" I looked back at the redhead.
"Yeah, she's right across from us." She pointed behind me.
I looked over and sure enough, there was another cell and there was someone else locked in there. I turn back to her. "Don't worry. We'll get her out once Donnie's done with your door."
I saw a Kraang coming at us, I kick it away from Donnie and jumped back into the fight. Now that we knew they're alien robots, we were not holding back as much. Raph seemed to enjoy it a lot more now that he didn't have to care about hurting their robot bodies. Mikey was just riding the high of being right, thankfully that extra energy meant he's jumping all around the place and smacking Kraang with his nunchucks. We were running out of time, the longer we stayed here the more likely they were going to outnumber us.
"For the love of -, get out of my way!" Raph finally got tired of Donnie and just pushed him aside. He started stabbing at the circuits and wires with his sai. Somehow it worked and the doors opened just as April and her father were taken away.
"They got her!" Donnie shouted as he ran after them.
"Wait! Donnie!" I called out but Donnie didn't turn back, leaving us to rescue the other girl.
"Raph, we need to open this one too."
"Don't worry bros, I got this." Mikey grinned as he started mashing random buttons on the panel.
"Mikey!" Raph and I exclaimed.
But to my surprise once again, the door opens to reveal a girl on the floor who looks about the redhead's age. Her skin was extremely pale, almost glowing. Her light beige hair was in a messy braid that falls off her left shoulder. Her biggest feature that caught my attention was her bright expressive eyes, they were grey, more like silver actually. This girl looked so exotic that I couldn't help but stare at her. Those silver eyes widen as she looked at us. However, she didn't seem scared of us. She looked like she was shocked to see us, she probably thought we'd leave her behind.
The thought made my heart ache in a way I never thought I'd have for a stranger, she looked at me like I just changed her world. How could the world just abandon someone like her?
"Miss, we're getting you out of here." I reached out to her with my hand, only to notice the handcuffs on her, as well as the metal ring on her neck. She wasn't said a word yet, but I could see the conflict in her eyes: disbelief, doubt, then a look of absolute trust that knocked me off my metaphorical feet. I helped her up on her feet as Raph and Mikey approached us.
"Woah, what's that?" Mikey poked over my shoulder, looking curiously at the handcuffs on her.
There was no time for answers. We heard the Kraang rushing towards us, in numbers.
"Guys, we gotta go!" I picked the girl up and we all run out into the hallway Donnie ran down, catching up with him. The Kraang were hot on our tails when we saw a door at the end. We all but crashed through the door with the Kraang right behind us.
"Get the door!" I shouted, out of breath and panicked. Raph managed to push the door shut, just as a Kraang robot was reaching through the space in between. In a sick move, Raph grabbed his arm and slammed down onto it, breaking the robot's arm off before kicking the rest of the bot back. He then used the arm to barricade the door, which was holding up better than I dared to imagine.
"That'll hold 'em." He said with confidence as he turned around to us.
He seemed confused when we all just looked at him without a word, "What?" He asked.
I still couldn't get over what just happened and neither did any of my little brothers. "You. Are seriously twisted." I stated outright.
"Thanks." He grinned, knowing exactly what I meant. I just rolled my eyes in exasperation.
"NO!" We looked up to see the Kraang dragging the redhead and her father on the rooftop, heading towards a helicopter.
We ran over to help, only to be stopped by a loud stomp. We looked on in horror when we saw that it came from the legs of a giant plant mutant. It had thorny vines all over its body with his heart in the center, its head looked like a praying mantis's complete with being unnerving yellow eyes protruding from the sides of his face. It had vine arms too with crab-like pinchers at the end of them.
"Uh oh" Mikey exclaimed.
"You did this to me! Now you're gonna pay!" The mutant shouted angrily.
"Guys, it's Snake!" I started backing away once I recognized him. "He mutated into a… giant weed!" I felt something shaking and moving closer to my plastron. I remembered the girl I have in my arms and tightened my grip ever so slightly in a protective manner.
"That's weird. You'd think he'd get mutated into a snake." Mikey commented in confusion.
"Yeah, you would, if you were an idiot." Raph snapped back.
"But his name is Snake." Mikey remarked like that explained everything.
"So?"
"You don't understand science." Mikey shrugged his shoulders, like Raph was the crazy one.
Snake wasn't happy being ignored, "I'll crush you turtles!" He declared angrily.
"Uh, would it help if we said it was an accident?" Donnie asked nervously, to which Snake just swings his pincer arms at us.
"So, heh, I'll put you down for a no?" Donnie stuttered before dodging another attack. Snake's attack knocked Mikey onto the ground. I took advantage and leaped into the air, slicing down onto his arm without dropping the girl I'm carrying. She winced as purple fluid startss spewing from Snake's severed vine.
"Eww! Eww! Don't let it touch me! Don't let it touch me!" Mikey panicked as he inched away from the purple fluid, which meant he got some on himself and started whining. "Aah! It touched me! Ahh."
I put the girl down near the corner of the building. "Stay here, don't be seen."
She hasn't said a word yet, but her eyes told me everything. She's still scared, but also worried and a little angry. However, it seemed like she was going to do what I said.
With the girl now hidden away, I jump back into the action.
? POV
I didn't know what just happened. One moment I was in my cell, defeated that my last chance at escaping this place had left to go after April. The next I was rescued by the turtle in blue and outside for the first time, also there was a giant green monster attacking the turtles. Donatello or Donnie, as the other turtles call him, had gone after April while the others were battling the creature and the Kraang. I found myself frustrated again, I'm a Lightfury for Solar's sake! I'm a warrior and I won't let them fight my battles for me. A fire that I thought the Kraang had snuffed out burned with passion.
Suddenly I had an idea, one just as reckless and crazy as letting myself go supernova. But it does seem doable. With nothing left to lose, I run out into the fight and get in front of a Kraang just as he was about to shoot at one of the turtles. I hold my arms up in front of the blaster and prayed that it would work like I hoped it would. Thankfully I still had my arms and the blast shot the center of my handcuffs, breaking them in half as I planned.
Finally! I could fight again. With a smirk, I took down the Kraang right in front of me with a high kick and I took the blaster that he dropped.
Remember your training, my mother's words rang in my ears as I started shooting at the Kraang. The turtle in orange, Mikey I heard them call him, surprised and looked at me, I smiled and nodded at him before turning back to the battle. "Alright! We got this, Leo." Mikey exclaimed. The one in blue looked over and noticed me. He looked worried before returning his focus. "Raph and I will take down Snakeweed, you guys keep them busy."
Raph must be the turtle in red and the one in blue was Leo.
The creature they called Snakeweed didn't seem happy with the turtles and the Kraang attacking him. With a screech and a single sweep with his arm, he knocked us all down onto the ground. Raph called out to Leo, "What's the plan, chief?"
"I'm working on it." Leo exclaimed before he was pulled into the air by Snakeweed, hanging upside down by his leg. In the moment, he dropped one of his swords and it landed next to me. He screamed as Snakeweed thrashed him around in the air. He noticed something and shouted to his companions, "The power conduits!"
Raph seemed frustrated by the statement, "Are we really gonna start talking about that again?"
Leo, who I now realized was the leader, called out to the other two, "Raph! Mikey!" He then started doing some motions with his hands that I didn't understand. Luckily, I didn't have to as the other two went behind Snakeweed and cut at his legs, while Leo used his remaining sword to cut himself down. I picked up his sword and started to fight with it. It wasn't like any sword I've used before and I keep expecting it to change when I needed it to, like my uni-weapon. Nonetheless, I defended myself well enough with it.
Just as I was ready to block another attack, Snakeweed was hit with something from behind. It turned out to be Leo who threw some kind of weirdly shaped metal knives at him. "Hey, come and get me Stinkweed." He mocked and made a really silly face. He kept taunting both Snakeweed and the Kraang by slapping his back and I couldn't help but laugh a little.
Snakeweed took the bait and attacked Leo, who jumped out of the way just as the Kraang shot at the power generator he was standing on. It shocked Snakeweed who was touching it and caused him to explode. The explosion took out most of the Kraang while we were coated with bits of plant flesh. I cringed as I tried avoiding it as much as I could. Donatello showed up with April and we were all alive. The battle was over and I felt myself relaxing for the first time since I came to Earth.
"Let's go, guys." Leo said. I smiled and handed his sword back to him. I was finally free from the Kraang. Walking never felt so good!
We escaped the facility with our lives. Once we were sure the Kraang weren't chasing us, we slowed down our pace as we headed to the city. "So we never got to talk." Leo broke the silence, "My name's Leonardo or Leo. These are my brothers." He gestured to the other three beside him.
"Name's Raph." Raph grunted.
"April already knows me. I'm Donatello, but please call me Donnie." Donnie introduced himself. I couldn't help but notice the look of adoration Donnie had on his face when he mentioned April.
Mikey had a big cheeky grin as he struck a pose, "And my name is Mikey D, the mighty all powerful- Oww!" His introduction was cut off after Raph slapped him on the back of his head.
"MIKEY!" The three of them groaned.
Leo had his hand on his face with a pained expression, "His name's Mikey, or Michelangelo."
"I'm April O' Neil." April introduced herself, then all eyes were looking at me. April noticed and spoke on my behalf, "And umm… I don't think she can talk."
"That's weird." Leo commented before looking at my translator, "Is this thing stopping you from talking?"
I shook my head frantically and shielded my neck with my hands. I couldn't let them take it from me.
Donnie must've noticed my behavior and made a deduction, "I think it's what lets her talk."
I nodded just as frantically, happy that someone understood me.
"Must be broken." Donnie pointed out, "We can head down to the lair and I might be able to fix it."
I brightened at the idea. I'd get to talk again and properly thank my saviors, especially Leonardo.
However, Raph was not happy with it, and he made sure we all knew, "What? We can't take her down there! Why doesn't you just take the thing and bring it back to her when you're done?"
Donnie just shot him a look then asked Raph, "Do you honestly think you can get it away from her?"
Raph looked over to me and I wasted no time glaring at him, my hand still on my translator. It wasn't smart but I was daring him to try and rip it off my neck.
Raph looked like he was actually going to do it before Leo stepped in to cut the tension, "We can settle this later. Do you girls have somewhere you can go?"
"My aunt's in New York so I can go live with her for a while." April answered, giving them the address.
I shook my head, there was no place for me to go. I didn't even know what to do now.
The turtles looked surprised and somber, especially Mikey whose expression turned into one of sympathy. "You have nowhere to go? What about your family?" He asked with an innocent tone.
I shook my head again, much slower as I felt tears forming. I missed them so much.
The turtles looked at each other nervously, like they didn't know what to do. I just must look ridiculous to them.
Mikey suddenly jumped up with a wide grin, "Dudes, I just had the best idea! She can stay with us!"
He looked at his brothers proudly, like he just solved the hardest problem in the world. I wished I could say his brothers reacted the same way.
Leo and Donnie shouted, "What?!"
"Mikey, are you crazy?" Raph looked like he was about to beat Mikey again.
Mikey put his hands up as if that would protect him against his brother, "Look, the Kraang and her obviously don't get along. What if she gets kidnapped again? Besides, where else could she go?"
Donnie shared a look with Leo before conceding, "Mikey does have a point…"
"Donnie, you can't be serious. She was in handcuffs," Raph pointed to the broken handcuffs that were still on my wrists, "you guys saw the way she fights!"
"Exactly, whatever the Kraang want with her can't be good. It's safer if she's with us." Donnie refuted.
"Let's just head back to the lair. We can talk about this after she can actually talk to us and let her say something about this." Leo stepped in once again between Donnie and Raph.
I smiled at him again, grateful for his words and everything he's done for me so far. I never thought I'd trust someone on this planet so easily after the Kraang, but something about Leo comforted me and softened any doubts I had. I trusted him with my life.
"I can't believe this. Have fun explaining this to Splinter." Raph crossed his arms, ending the entire argument.
The rest of the trip was spent in silence as we got April to her aunt's apartment. She went into the building while the rest of us waiting on a metal structure attached to the building. The turtles called it a fire escape. April soon met us by the window, "My aunt said I could stay here as long as I need."
"Do you mind if we could back tomorrow to check on you?" Leo asked.
"Not at all. Thanks for saving me." April answered, but all of us could see the sorrow in her eyes.
Donnie saw this and spoke up, "April, we'll get your dad back too. I promise."
"We will?" Raph questioned his brothers skeptically.
"Yes." Donnie shot a look at Raph before replying with determination, "We will."
April appreciated it and we left the building. I tried to keep up with them, but the gravity here was weird. I couldn't run as fast as I used to or jump as far. Leo noticed this and picked me up again for the rest of the way. I ignored the feeling of helplessness that being on this planet gave me in favor of the sense of security being around Leo gave me.
We soon arrived in a branch of the city in between two buildings, I looked around puzzled before Raph picked up a metal plate that was on the ground. He moved it to reveal a hole with an odd smell coming from it.
"I know it looks weird, but this is home to us." Leo said before entering the hole.
The others waited for me to go in before the rest followed. Raph covered up the hole again and we were now in an odd tunnel. I was perplexed beyond my mind and I looked to them for answers.
"You'd get used to the smell eventually." Mikey just said nonchalantly. "Like Leo said, the sewer's our home."
So this place was called the sewers. I just started look around at everything, the long stretching tunnels, the endless numbers of openings, and the little creatures that scutter between the cracks. Mikey was helpful, explaining more about their home and warning me when I was about to step on a rat or a cockroach, the last one seemed to unnerve Raph every time one came near us.
After a while of walking, Leo stopped all of us and turned to me.
"Here." He handed me a piece of cloth like theirs but there were no holes on it.
He looked sheepish as he explained, "Sorry, but we need to keep the lair a secret. It's only going to be a while and we'll be with you all the way." Leo looked at me in the eyes again, the same way he did when he first spoke to me. I found myself trusting him just like before. That was when I knew what he was to me.
He was my guardian.
I nodded and allowed him to tie the cloth around my eyes. It was strange and a little intimidating, losing two of my senses and relying on someone so much without being able to do otherwise. Leo kept his word, his hand was holding mine like he did when I was in his arms, strong and reassuring as he guided me to safety.
"We're here." I heard Leo say, he untied the cloth and I can honestly say I didn't expect what I saw. The wide spacious room we were in had machines around the space and items all over the floor, it looked messy and lived in. It reminded me of my old room back home, I was never one to keep my room clean either.
"Come on, the lab's this way." Donnie led me to a set of doors on the left. We walked in and I could tell this was the lab he mentioned. The tools in there weren't as advanced as I was used to, but a tool was a tool. Donnie suggested I removed the broken cuffs from my wrists first. Taking them off was easy once you had a laser to cut through them. After that, I fixed my translator. I almost laughed at how simple it was, just a couple of wires and circuit boards that got knocked loose in the tussle.
I put the translator back on and turned to Donnie, who was watching beside me, "Thank you so much, Donatello."
His eyes widened and he grinned. He seemed just as happy as I did that it worked.
Just then, Mikey popped his head in, "Hey Donnie, did you get her voice thing working again?"
"Yes. It's fixed." I laughed at his shocked face, "Hello Michelangelo."
"Dude that's so cool, call me Mikey!" He beamed. He reminded me of a newborn star with the light he had.
"Ok, Mikey." I laughed again, I couldn't help but match his joy.
"What are you doing here anyways?" Donnie asked.
That got Mikey to focus on what he came in for, "Oh yeah, Master Splinter wanted to see all of us."
The three of us walked out of the lab to see Leo and Raph beside another giant creature. It looked like one of those rat creature I passed by on the way here, but he was much bigger and he was clearly as intelligent as any other human.
"You must be the girl my sons mentioned. My name is Hamato Yoshi, but you may call me Master Splinter." Master Splinter said with a welcoming but stern tone, as if he wanted to make sure I was not going to be a threat to his family.
I noticed that Donnie and Mikey have lowered themselves in front of their father, so I matched them and bowed, "Yes. Your sons saved me and I am very grateful for that."
Leo and Raph seemed surprised to hear my voice, but Raph recovered and asked, "What do the Kraang want with you anyways?"
"Raphael." Master Splinter scolded him.
"Please, it's fine Master Splinter." I said, "I owe you my story for all of this and your trust."
Leo's POV
The girl's voice was softer than I expected. It was soothing like a singer's voice.
"First of all, I'm not human. I am a Lightfury. We are a race of energy beings that live in Nebula 74, a place far beyond your galaxy." She explained.
That first statement alone was enough to break our minds.
"You're… an alien?" Donnie stuttered.
We were all a little apprehensive, she looked so human if not for her silver eyes and her near translucent pale skin. I knew deep down that she can be trusted, but the only aliens we've met so far were the Kraang. We never considered that there could be others just hovering above our heads. My head was buzzing with the idea that we had an alien in our homes and on our side.
"Yes. I came to the Milky Way on a field trip with my cluster. But our ship was attacked by the Kraang." Her soothing voice turned hard and pained as she continued, "They slaughtered everyone on the ship, my fellow Lightfuries, all the guardians and chaperones including my parents. They captured me after they shot me with a beam that drained my energy. They took me here and they were draining my power for something. My energy wasn't enough for what they wanted so they planned to experiment on me instead. That's when you four came in and saved me."
We all didn't know what to say. She was basically taken from her kind after the Kraang killed her friends and family. Just when we thought the Kraang was bad for kidnapping innocents.
Raph didn't buy her story, "Are we really supposed to believe this?"
"Well Mikey did find a brain alien, and we were mutated from an alien substance. It would make sense that there are more aliens in the universe." Donnie came to her defense, which she appreciated.
Raph accepted reluctantly, crossing his arms like a child. I rolled my eyes at his antics.
"So what does that metal ring on your neck do?" I asked her. I was curious why she was so protective of it earlier.
"It's a universal translator. It allows me to understand you as much as it lets you understand me. So if I took it off…" With the translator off her neck, her words turn into a series of clicks and pitched noises, sounds I didn't expect to come out of someone who looks so human. She puts the translator back on, having proved her point.
"That explains why you didn't say anything." I nodded and she giggled at that. I couldn't help but smile with her.
"So do you have a name? We've told you ours." Raph said impatiently and breaking the moment. Master Splinter looked like he was going to scold Raph again.
"Well yes, but I don't think you can pronounce it." She then made a series of chirps that I think were supposed to be her name. Raph didn't say anything else after that.
"I know! We can give you one. I'm awesome at naming things." Mikey puffed his plastron with pride, "Well, you're a Lightfury and your skin's all glowy, why don't we call you Light?"
"Michelangelo, do not be rude to our guest." Splinter reprimanded him.
"It's fine, Master Splinter. But Light doesn't feel right." She answered honestly. I agreed in my head. Calling this unique girl something like Light didn't quite fit.
"Hmm. It's true that you would need a name." Master Splinter pondered, "What do you think of Hikari?"
"Hikari?" She looked at Splinter in confusion.
"It is a Japanese name, it means radiant light." He explained.
"Hikari…" She tested the name before a sincere smile appeared on her face, "I like it."
Master Splinter gave her a warm smile in return. "Very well, Hikari. We welcome you to our home. Stay as long as you need to, if you choose so."
"If you all will have me. Thank you so much." Hikari thanked Splinter and I could feel the many overwhelming emotions she had right now. More than anything, she was relieved. I guess she really was scared that we'd leave her to fend for herself.
Mikey gave her a big hug which surprised her but reciprocated all the same. He wanted to show her around the lair, but she admitted that she was tired. We all were after an adventure like that. We all brought her over to where the bedrooms were and let her stay in one of our empty rooms, it really didn't have anything besides a lamp hanging from the ceiling. Hikari didn't care and thanked us. Master Splinter told Raph and Donnie to get some pillows and a spare futon the four of us used when we were little. Mikey was sent off to bed whining, saying good night to her before heading to his own room across the hall.
Hikari and I were alone in her room when she spoke to me, "Thank you."
She looked at me with the same look of awe in her eyes she had when we first met. I could feel my cold skin heating up, "It's just a room."
"Not just for that. You saved me in ways you didn't know." She said it with so much emotion that I just stared at her.
My heart started pounding against my plastron. Her gaze, her words, they're all sending a message I understand but I couldn't begin to even comprehend. After all the chaos that happened, I could finally admire her beauty in this little bubble of ours, this mysterious and enchanting part of the cosmos that entered our lives. I felt myself getting lost in her ever-expressive eyes. Sensei told me that you can learn a lot about someone through their eyes. In Hikari's, I could see pain, lost, strength, and something else… something softer that drew me closer to her.
I heard someone clearing their throat and I snapped out of our moment. I saw Raph and Donnie with the futon and pillows, both with smirks on their faces. I just realized how close I was to Hikari and stepped back.
I was sure my face was bright red but I tried regaining some semblance of control and dignity in front of my brothers. "Looks like you've got everything you need, we'll let you get some rest. Come on guys."
"You sure you don't wanna stay and help, Leo?" Raph teased.
Whatever control I had was slipping as I glared at Raph, not that it did anything if that smug look on his face or snickers coming from Donnie proved anything.
"I'll be fine." Hikari said, "I was just thanking Leo for what you all did."
Raph finally let his guard down in front of Hikari, "You thanked us enough, princess."
"Get some sleep. We'll see you tomorrow." Donnie said as he and Raph walked out the door.
Before I leave, I turned back to see Hikari setting up the futon. "Good night, Hikari."
"Good night, Leo." She nodded.
I walked out of her room to my brothers' knowing grins. I said nothing and head for my room, ignoring the sound of their howling laughter. Luckily, I heard Master Splinter scolding them for making so much noise from my closed door. I collapsed onto my bed, allowing myself to relax under the feeling from that warm silver light.
A/N: I just finished watching the 2012 TMNT series and I fell in love with the kinds of stories the fandom has created. One of my favorites is "I Meet the Turtles", so I decided to create my own version. It didn't help that both the writer and I had the same favorite turtle (Leo is such a lovable gem). My main goal in this is to make an OC centered story that doesn't make the OC feel like a Mary Sue, so wish me luck on that.
Yes I am aware that the term Lightfury comes from HTTYD. Frankly, I think it fits Hikari's race better and they should have just called the dragon a Nightfury too since they're the same type of dragons. Lightfuries in this world are pretty much human physically except they have another form that I will get into in the next chapter.
I'm excited to hear if you have any feedback, this is my first story and I could use all the help I can get.