The bells over the petshop door rang out as the door was closed back. Bringing attention back to the glass tank, the shopkeeper squinted his eyes to see inside. Picking up a tiny green fish-net, he opened up the lid of the tank and reached inside, scooping up the dead turtle within and taking it out of the pool of water, laying it down on a rag.
"All is well little friend. Your siblings are bought, so don't worry. They are in good hands, I reckon." the shopkeeper said to the dead turtle, which made no reply back. Picking the turtle up and wrapping it up in the rag, he walked to the door of his shop, and the bells jingled once more as he made his way out into the semi-crowded streets. Looking to his right, he could see the boy he had sold the other turtles to. Going to the curb and looking into the gutter, the shopkeeper could see the street drain; there was a hole torn in the center, which left a big enough opening for -----
"Rest in peace, little buddy." the shopkeeper whispered, as he dropped the dead turtle into the drain hole. He could here the "Plop!" as it hit the water, and he straightened back up, turning and going back into his shop.
At that moment, the boy with the other 5 turtles, let out a startled cry. A large truck that was out of control zoomed by at a fast speed, a canister flying out of its back and twirling in the direction of the boy. The canister hit the glass bowl and it was decimated into thousands of pieces, as the turtles fell in a hole on the side of the street. The boy got on his knees, and looked into the hole, but there was no sign of his pets... the hole was too deep. The canister had went with the turtles.
"I am the forsaken. The lost soul who wasn't meant to be with the others."
"And how does your sob story benefit me?"
"I have no loyalties to my brothers and my sister. No emotional connection. If you pay me the right amount, Hun, I will be obliged to erase them from your checklist."
"Don't have to pay you anything until you get the job done. Expect nothing until you hand me their heads... including their master. If you can dispose of Splinter, I may consider apologizing for ever doubting you. Eh'... what did you say your name was again?"
"For so many years I had no name. Not until my master found me. He named me Plato."
"Fine. Get out of my sight for now. You have no place with me unless you prove yourself. You know the deal."
Inside of the deepest caverns of south New York City, there lives two mutants who the world knows nothing about. No rumours have yet been spread throughout the masses, no sightings, and no mention. They keep secret, and to themselves. Always in the dark they work, and during the day they sleep. One is the master, the other the student. Working to acheive their means, and planning their future battle with their counterparts.
If the shopkeeper had known what would become of the dead turtle he tossed into the drains, he would have witheld his hand and threw the turtle in the trash instead. But fate does not change the past, for the past is what sets the darkest futures into motion. Had the turtle been alive at first, the boy would have also bought him. But behold---everything fell into place. When the sixth turtle splashed into the water of the sewers, he floated along, snagging onto some soggy newspapers... as a sliver of ooz made its way in his direction. Pumping life back into his stiff body, the ooz transformed him as it did the other five turtles. But not for the side of good---but for the side of darkness. A darkness that only comes from knowing that you are not part of the group.