The Mutant Ninja Turtles
Donatello's Biography: Part 5
By B.C.
Flashing of Time
I can't keep typing, thought Donatello as he felt his throat tighten; an early warning sign of tears to come. I miss him so much. What was I thinking? Why write a biography? What good will it do? I don't think anyone will ever see it anyway, he thought as he now leaned forward. It was becoming too much for him. His fear of death was making him irrational. His hands were shaking as he rubbed the top of his head. Even though the typing stopped, his reflection on the past was going at full speed.
Donatello couldn't stop recalling the odd years when they were five and their shells began changing into the odd work of evolution they are now, for the Turtles skeletal structure is quite unique indeed.
Their faces are chubby and wide. Their skin is green and thick yet still very similar to human skin. However, their shells are one of a kind. Like normal turtles, their spines are partially fused with their shells. Unlike normal turtles their shell is actually eight plates that glide smoothly over one another.
It's really quite logical. If their shells were simply a whole piece, bending forward and bending backward would be impossible. When they were younger their shells began to separate. Now each of their shells consists of eight plates that slide underneath each other when they bend backward and rest on top of each other when they bend forward. There is a tough hide that connects between each plate and allows them to expand, although, this hide is never exposed even when they bend forward. The design of their shells resembles the armored plates of the armadillo, but in a more turtle like fashion. The shape of the shell is close to an upside down tear drop with the point ending right above their buttocks. Yes, buttocks. They have butts, and genitals. This is why they wear pants. The pants are a thick black cloth that is held up by a leather strap that goes through belt loops similar to those found on jeans. The leather belt ties in the front and is held together by an originally designed silver belt buckle with the first Kana of their name in Kanji. On their knees are thick leather knee pads that are a very dark brown. Covering the space between the knee and the ankle are thick gray cloths that are cross corded by thin black leather straps. The shoes they wear are two toed with thick black shoe material on top and near tire like rubber on the bottom for maximum traction. Aside from their wrist, elbow, and bandanas, the only other apparel they wear are their weapon belts.
Donatello's mind, however, was not on his skeletal structure. After the odd years he began remembering their first fight. They were fifteen when Splinter-sensei told them of their mission. At this time the once prosperous neighborhood that their sensei had lived in had become a hood. Akane's store was robbed, and she was beaten as a result. Jubei, for fear of this, closed shop and moved months before it happened. The streets were getting wild, and the sound of gun shots was becoming all too common.
At this time the four of them were at each others throats. Michelangelo was over weight from eating pizza and playing video games. He used to be a "First Person Shooter" addict. Donatello remembers when he disappeared in his room for a month playing "Golden Eye", trying like hell to get the "invincibility cheat from the Facility level. Never did.
Leonardo forgot that they were raised in America and started living and speaking in Japanese only. Donatello admits it kept them fluent, but you can imagine how annoying it would be. One moment that has been burned into Donatello's memory for eternity is when Leonardo was in his "meditation" faze. What would later be discovered is this was also when Leo learned "self entertainment". Occasionally Leo would say he was meditating, light incense and request to be left alone. Well, sure enough, one day Splinter asked where Leo was and Mikey with a snicker told Splinter he was meditating. Splinter walked in Leo's room. Fortunately for Leo he was sitting with his legs crossed, and being dark Splinter didn't notice. For two hours Leo had to sit there in silence, hoping Splinter would not open his eyes and see ANYTHING.
In Donatello's mind, Raphael hasn't changed much. He remembers when he used to get in his moods and just lift weights and beat the crap out of his, many times replaced, punching bag. He was just the usual angry teenager who listened to Hard Core punk.
As for Donatello, "computer geek" goes without saying.
Regardless of their leisure activities, they were all suffering from an extreme sewer form of cabin fever. Only going up for food and supplies caused quarrels for who got to go. Training martial arts like hell only to be told to do chores was depressing. They all felt like they spent their youth training for a fight that will never come. That is until Splinter gave the order.
Donatello remembers Splinter calling them into the den. They gathered as they always do. Only now there was an air of curiosity. The night before Akane arrived crying and covering her face. She had spent the night, which was unusual because she usually complained about the smell. She was still sleeping while Splinter spoke.
"Sigh, my sons there is a time when all must find our destiny. Chosen wisely the path will always lead to a brighter end. Chosen foolishly and the end comes sooner. I had always hoped that your path would be one towards enlightenment, but with light comes shadow." Splinter paused.
"You all have been trained because you are different. Protection was my intention, love my motivation, and danger my justifier. Now, one with power must accept duty. One from our family has been hurt, and this hurts us all. Yet those who would hurt us would hurt anyone. It is time you walked your path, my sons. In one month you will go to the surface and find the ones responsible for this. You will strike hard and fade away into the night. I trust you will choose wisely."
After that he rose and walked into his room. We were confused, thought Donatello. We all knew we were to fight those guys, but we didn't understand about the path. What choice? We had no choice, we were gunna beat the crap outa those guys. It wasn't until the fight that Donatello learned what Splinter had meant.
They found them quickly; a group of seven kids whose ages ranged from sixteen to twenty. They called themselves the Purple Dragons. Funny, thought Donatello, such an Asian name for a bunch of American mutts. The watched them, waiting for the day to come.
They trained. They trained hard. Each day was a count down to victory, and all were going to be proud. Lifting weighting, practicing balance and sparing were the beginning. Mastering their technique and mastering their weapons would be the challenge.
Each one of them was trained from day one with a different hand-to-hand combat technique. Donatello was taught "Saolin Long Fist", a well rounded style that included an equal amount of upper and lower body attacks while keeping the enemy at a distance. Splinter taught him this style because in their early training years Splinter noticed that Donatello gets frantic when in close quarters with an opponent. Of course this was a fear that Donatello would have to overcome, but at that time Splinter felt that Donatello needed a little more control over the combat situation. In time Donatello became a master fighter with incredible grappling attacks. Master knows best, huh?
In Donatello's case, being five feet and seven inches tall, Shaolin Long Fist was an excellent choice. As for Mikey, being only five feet and five inches tall, something else was needed. Mikey had energy, no doubt about that, and he had excellent control. His only problem was Mikey was so unpredictable, never sticking to the formula. Splinter remembered a style he learned in Brazil. It was called Ballistic Monkey. Corny as the name may sound in English it was a very deadly style that was hard to monitor. Its principle was unpredictability and remaining close to the ground with spontaneous and sudden maneuvers. The enemy simply can't keep track of you and when he does it's already too late. Mikey mastered it and mastered a similar style from china called Tigers Claw.
Raph was five foot nine, tallest of the four. Not only was he tall, but built like a brick *&%$ house. It's because he worked out so much. His anger made him a force to be reckoned with. Splinter saw in him someone who had no disadvantage point physically, yet one disadvantage point mentally. He was simply hot headed. Raph needed a simple style that, in the heat of battle, would work for him instead of against him. Splinter taught him a form of Japanese kick boxing. Considering Raphael's size and strength, all that was missing was speed and maneuverability. This style allowed him to use his power as quickly and efficiently as possible. Because of this, Raphael is the second best fighter among them.
The best, as I'm sure you've probably guessed, is Leonardo. Leonardo has strength, speed, agility, concentration, and, most important, passion. In Splinters eyes, Leonardo didn't need a style to overcome his weakness, he needed a style to challenge and perfect his ability. Splinter taught him three powerful styles. One was Chyodan Ten or Breaking Point. This style, coupled with an extensive knowledge of the human skeletal system, allowed the user to break, twist, or dislocate an opponents bones in as little as two moves. The second style required not only skill but experience and an uncanny ability to predict and react to an opponents attack. It is called Chess boxing. Through a series of false kick, punches, and choice blocking the user can position the opponent to receive a critical blow without being able to counter. Difficult to master, and impossible to perfect, it is one the most powerful techniques that has ever existed. The third style, which is so powerful that its legend has still found its way into the lives of people today, is called Shin Kang Fist. It is an ancient technique that only the Shaolin Monks of old china could master. It utilizes pressure points on the human body to kill an opponent by placing pressure on key areas in unison or in a pattern that causes blood flow, muscle control, and even cause brain electricity to cease or run in reverse.
Because of the nature of Leonardo's style, he only spared with Splinter. Donatello remembers a time when Raphael talked Leo into a spar. Donatello supposes Leo felt he had enough control over his technique that he wouldn't hurt Raph. It began. No one was watching. Donatello only knows because Raph told him. Raph told him how he couldn't land a punch, how Leo seemed to move but didn't, how every punch Leo threw at first didn't hurt but after a few seconds began to burn or sting like hell. Raphael got frustrated and began attacking more aggressively. Raphael didn't tell Donatello many details as to what happened in the fight. Raph only said "It wasn't Leo's fault. He was just defending himself." But Raph was sick for a month and couldn't walk for a week. They all feared Leo after that. Not the way they feared an enemy, but the way a child fears his or her father. There was no doubt Leo was the leader.
He was never cocky about it, nor egotistical. He was a gracious and humble leader. A good leader. That is why they worked so well. That is why is they defeated the Purple Dragons. That is why they are all still alive. That is why they will avenge Splinter. Donatello was no longer afraid. He knew now they would survive. When the four of them gathered in the dojo after eating, they discussed a battle plan, and by midnight that night they were ready to fight the devil himself.
"Shunbi ga dekiteiruka? (Are you ready?)" asked Leo.
"Hai!" said all three.
"Ikazu" And with that they flew into the night.
To Be Continued…
Author's Notes: I am so incredibly sorry for the unnecessarily delay in this chapter. Let's just say moving to a college nearly 4 hours away is a real pain. I'm trying to speed things a little bit without losing any important moments. I hope this is satisfactory with my few but loyal followers. My attention has been turned to my original fics that are not nor will be posted on any website. Not that I don't enjoy or encourage original fic sights, I just plan to actually publish mine (one day). Once again, thank you for reading, and your criticism, whether positive or negative, is always welcome and appreciated. Thanks again.