The Mutant Ninja Turtles
Donatello's Biography: Part 15
By B.C.
Goals
It was about nine in the morning when the flight took off. I totally love flying. I've only done it twice before, and both times, no window seat. This time Ape was kind enough to let me have it, and I loved it. Watching cars become micro machines, neighborhoods become colored squares, and then the squares become multi colored patterns was just awesome. The air sickness, however, was not. I didn't puke. I just got nauseous. Start to finish the flight was only about an hour. It wasn't bad. We didn't have that far to go. At first I wondered why bother flying, but I then realized that driving there may bring back bad memories for Ape and me too.
I had never been in the town before. Not that I had wanted to. Both times we took this trip we weren't exactly in the mood to go sight seeing. It was just a straight highway drive to the burial sight. This time Ape booked a hotel, rented a car, and did some research on restaurants. As long as they have a pizza joint I'm happy. We chilled, we ate, and we talked (a lot), especially about Leo. I never really knew what was going on between Ape and Leo. They did a real good job hiding it. I started to feel kinda bad about all the passes I threw at Ape. Leo controlled his real emotions while I was flirting with the wind, not thinking about my behavior. I'm such a dic#. I didn't matter anymore. Nothing did. The fab four was gone, and only three lost boys remained.
It was like eleven a.m. when we got to Donny's. His house was awesome. At first I was kinda of like "huh" when we had to turn down this black paved road almost hidden by the trees that seemed to go nowhere. Then after like three hundred trees we saw the gates (tall gates). They had spikes on top, and had thick smooth white bars. You could just tell they were expensive. Me and Ape kinda gave each other a look like "Damn!" We pulled up to the gate and parked. We were about to get out of the car when there was this loud clang. Ape gave a quick scream and jumped almost into my lap in the car. This three foot tall rectangle popped outa the ground. It was basically black except for a square that was about a foot squared. There was a digit pad at the bottom (probably to put in security numbers) and a glass circle that was obviously a camera. Ape kinda looked into it and said "Hello?" Suddenly I heard "Yes, welcome Ms. O'Neal and Mr. Hamato. Please come in and park in the front."
We looked at each other again with a goofy smile, the gates opened and we drove up. I have to hand it to Donny. He knows luxury. The house was white with those tall roman like polls. It was three stories high, and was wide as hell. There were all kinds of bushes and flowers spread out everywhere. It reminded me of those southern houses but with a more modern look. Me and Ape were practically spinning as we were trying to look at everything at once. We somehow made our way to the door without tripping and knocked. Slowly one of the huge white doors with the blue trim opened, and a middle aged man with moderate wrinkles in a classic butler suit popped out and said hello. Ape introduced us as guests of Donny. The butler gave a warm smile and said "Oh yes, do please com in."
Inside, there was that echo that comes from high ceilings. The first thing you see is the enormous staircase. It goes back then splits from left to right. The floor was tiled, but I'm willing to bet it was made of something far more expensive. As me and Ape stared down the house like Japanese tourist in NYC, the butler said "Please make your way to your right in the den. Master Hamato will be with you shortly." Master Hamato? What the hell are you doing Donny? It was starting to bug me. Why wasn't he out front to great us? Why do we have to wait in the den? He's showing off, I thought (and still think). We sat down on the nice furniture, enjoyed some drinks served by "Jeeves", and started whisper to each other.
"Donny has gone mad." I whispered.
"Why do you say that?"
"Look at this place. Is he auditioning for MTV's Cribs or what?"
"I know." She giggled as she said this. "This is a little much. Where is he?" I shrugged my shoulders at her question. We both continued to look around for a few moments until there was a knock at the door. I listened as "Jeeves" clacking foot steps made their way to the door. There was the sound of the door opening and then a very familiar voice.
"Welcome Mr. Hamato." I heard Jeeves say. "We've been expecting you."
"Thank you."
Is that…no. I stood up. Ape was kind of looking back and forth at me and the hallway. Then muted footsteps came closer to the end of that hallway until a raggedy old figure emerged.
"Holy shi$, Raph!" He looked like he fell off the face of the earth and crawled through hell to get back. Although, he looked like that physically, something seemed better about him.
"Hello Michelangelo. You look well." He said with a control in his voice I have never heard before. A little stunned by his voice, I popped to and motioned for him to sit (as though it were my house or something). I quickly wondered if that was a mistake, because I knew Raph would leave dirt marks on Donny light colored furniture, but I fought the new clean freak inside me and turned my attention back to where it was needed.
"Where the hell have you been man?" Raph barely wore any clothing. He had some weathered brown pants on that were covered in stains, some of which looked like blood. His feet were covered by a custom leather boot (Had to be custom cause no one makes our size) that looked very broken in. He wasn't wearing a shirt at all, but did have a hat and some gloves on. Both were brown, leather, and worn. No doubt he would stand out if people saw him. You could tell from a mile away he was … different.
For a moment I felt over dressed in my dark blue jeans and black and green stripped button collar shirt. Ape was just wearing a sleeveless low cut light yellow shirt with a dark orange knee high skirt.
"I just got back from Thailand. I've been
there for a while." I was a little shocked.
"Really, why were you there?"
"Well now, that is a long story. Back when I left, I was lost, both literally and emotionally. I needed release my tensions, and to prove something. I needed to prove that I was the best. I was, to say the least, very egotistical at that time. I felt that I was the greatest fighter in the world, but that I just needed to prove it. What Donny said really got to me. I wondered what I really wanted to accomplish with my life. What were my goals? At that time I didn't care if the whole world knew what I was. I wanted recognition for my abilities, and I became determined to get it. I knew that if I wanted to be recognized as a martial artist, I would have needed to go somewhere that still honors the sport, such as China. This was no easy task, but using my skills in ninjitsu, and sneaking in a plane that was departing at one am on a Sunday helped immensely.
Once in china, I began wander aimlessly. Being unable to communicate quickly became a problem. I mugged a few men who where whoring children, and began my studies of the Chinese language. After a few months of rough conversation and constantly searching my books, I became versed well enough to find out what I needed to know. Where do I go to build a name for myself, and who do I have to beat. I met a man named Shin Yu Lung. He was a master of Shaolin martial arts, but more than that, he a supreme Buddhist. Master Splinter had taught us many of the Shaolin arts, but never the philosophy behind. I won't go into it too deeply, but it opened my eyes to the realization of perception."
Me and Ape kind of looked at each other a little confused. Raph saw our look and chuckled to himself.
"I don't mean to confuse you. Heh, let me put it simply as, I realized there was more than just the tangible. Lung helped me to enhance my strength and control to levels I never knew existed. I lost my desire to compete and only wished to stay under his teachings. However, this would be short lived. Students still quarrel with students from other schools. A few of Lungs students became entangled in a fight where a woman was hurt. She wasn't hurt seriously, but she was the daughter of a close friend of the school's owner. He came to our school, demanded an apology from Master Lung for the woman's injury. It was one of our students who lost control and accidentally hit her, so Master Lung apologized without hesitation. The Man, Mr. Chow, was unpleased by the quickness of my master's cooperation. It was clear his intentions were to fight. While my master was on his knees bowing in apology, Mr. Chow stuck him in the back of the head with a short metal pipe. Needless to say, I flew at him, and had him on his back with my hand at his throat. However, I had not let my emotions take control. I knew very well, what I was doing. I raised him back to his feet, all the while my hand still firmly at his throat, and told him never to return. I could see the intense fear in his eyes. Master Lung is legendary. He was a direct disciple of Shaolin hierarchy. Mr. Chow would later tell that Master Lung had a demon as a hell hound, and the four men that accompanied him to demand an apology from master, became witnesses.
It was only a matter of time. Soon, students began to withdraw. People began to talk, and now the thing that used to sneak among them without being noticed, was fiercely stared at the moment he left the school. Even my brothers began to shy from me. I knew I would have to leave. I talked to Master Lung about it. He rejected the idea of course, but I insisted. I expected that day would come, but I didn't expect what happened next. The day before the day I had planned to leave. Thirty uniformed men came to Lung's school. They had automatic weapons out, and among their many cars had a large military van. They stormed in while all the students were eating, and began sending students out, all the while screaming and putting guns up against peoples' heads. They wanted me, so I surrendered. I became a prisoner of the Chinese army."
To Be Continued…
Author's Notes:
I lied. There will probably be a few more chapters. I'm sorry for the delay and I hope I can finish this soon. I feel a little bad about my lateness in posting new chapters considering all the positive feed back this series has received. So don't think your words of encouragement aren't heard, because they do help. I have been distracted by college crap, and so on. I'm hoping when summer comes I can avoid healthy activity and sit inside and write until I'm blind or my fingers fall off. I would like to finish a few fics so I can get started on some new ones. Oh well, blah blah blah. As always, your criticism is welcome whether positive or negative, and thank you again for reading.