Heroes in the Half-Shell
Chapter 14 – Our Origins
Disclaimer: I do not repeat DO NOT own TMNT and crew in any way cause they belong to Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird (Only knows as the Greatest Guys on Earth!). Other characters like a certain OC that happen in these fanfic rightfully belongs to me and only ME!
Announcement from the writer: Hey guys! We are at one of my favourite scenes in the movie of all time. Before we do that, please forgive me if anything in my fanfics do not make any sense at all. It is late here at the moment on a Tuesday night. I gotta balance myself out.
Anyway, time to move on cause its …
FLASHBACK TIME! Gotta love them!
(The Sewers, Manhattan, NY – 7:05am)
"Listen closely, girls."
Splinter strokes his long beard, ready to tell an interesting tale. One that only April was present and how he and the Turtles came to be since the laboratory's fire. Only the 15-year-old was absent during that event as she was not yet born. Only the rat and the two humans were on wooden crates; cross-legged, rather than sitting on the dirty concrete ground.
On his left; one-by-one, his sons all began to kneel down and rest on one knee; all huddling their master and their visitors in a tight semi-circle. Well, almost. One of them - the youngest – sits on his behind and shimmy a bit closer to their guests, or in his terms, his angelcakes. He does produce a goofy giggle. It was Storytime.
"I don't remember a time before living in that laboratory. That fateful night started like any other."
As Splinter just said, he has no memory from his past life before he was chosen for this experiment. But he does remember one thing: he was a lovable pet to not one small girl, but…to another as well. One who has no hair on his head and has light blueish eyes with a crooked smile. The soon-to-be father and a dear friend to the late scientist himself, Dr. Hope. It would explain how he knew Sally. It was because Splinter has heard of the last name of the scientist and from time-to-time, the name of his unborn child was mention.
Sitting in his cage, the small rat was witnessing the daily routine of the experiment. Only two people are examining one of the tiny baby turtles and injecting the substances into their bloodstream while the third was writing down notes in their workbooks. Only Sacks wore no gloves and lab coats while the others did. And they were Sally's father and April's father – Dr. Kirby O'Neil.
"Sacks gave us our injections."
He finishes pushing the substances into the little test subject by using a syringe before passing to Dr. Hope and putting it back into its glass home. Once the subject was safe, it was onto the next one until the rat was finished. O'Neil's sleeves of his coat were rolled up as he watches on.
"Both your fathers made sure our vital signs were strong."
Spending time in the lab, an 8-year-old April O'Neil has brought a special present for his little turtle friends. With a camera in her hand and a triangle shape food in the other, April lowers it into one of the glass tanks.
"And you April, as always, provided us with a special treat."
The deep dish serving of pizza was acceptable as food for her little friends. No wonder these teens have come to love pizza as their favourite meal, 24/7. Little April was the one who introduced it to them and the aroma left an imprint on their tongues; especially before their mutation. Little bits were taken off as each turtle takes a mouth of them. April giggles at this. As a child and maybe as an adult, she would find this adorable.
"After the brothers went to sleep, I heard loud voices.
After the routine was completed, Splinter wakes up to the sudden shouting. His vision was some-what blurry as the conflict continues. But the small creatures can make out only two people in the room. It was Sacks and Dr. O'Neil having a fit with each other. Only O'Neil's voice was made when the words "…in there!" was emitted. Were they disagreeing with each other about theories? Or was it something much deeper?
Splinter wishes it was the theories, instead.
After the team have left the room for the night, only one remains behind. Sitting alone on the same table as the rat, a large torch was now in the hands of a familiar face. O'Neil, all shaken-up, was thinking of the kind of action that he was prepared to make. His dear friend was nowhere to be seen. Probably went home. But even he didn't know what was going to happen tonight.
He wanted to help change the world. But after learning more about the company, it was far from anything but good. He had a choice: walk away or stay to stop it. He has to do it. Who knows what the cost will bring if he succeeds or fail?
Lighting up the torch to show the blue flame, he has made his choice.
Looking at the work & paper files and adding gasoline to the table, the fire was lit up. There was no light on other than the orange wildfire inside the workshop. The fire alarm went off the second the grey fog was emitted.
"There was the smell of smoke. Alarms sounded."
Splinter's heart was racing at the sight of a miniature version of hell itself. And so were the turtles. But why would O'Neil go through all the trouble of making a hot decision? The noble scientist has a very moral reason.
"Your father, April, had discovered the truth behind the man he and Hope were working for. He set fire to the lab."
Putting the torch down, he moves over to the lit workbench, not caring about the heat of it. Grabbing a lone pole, O'Neil produced enough force to do a baseball swing at the large canister on the work bench, smashing the glass side; letting a few broken pieces to fall on him and releasing the green substances within. Most of them dripped down into the sink, while others made a puddle on the tile floor.
Next, he moved onto the other side of the room, shoving every single flammable item into the hungry blaze. The blaze continued to grow and grow with every single piece of evidence is now turned into ash. Only those not destroyed are left inside the small cardboard box in the girls' apartment as proof.
The sprinklers were switched on, letting loose its own moist contents but not even the liquid substances can tame this hot beast. Drops from the sprinklers was running down the man's face as the heat from the fire tries to overtake him.
"His last breath was taken trying to destroy Shredder's plan."
It was indeed a noble sacrifice.
His physique form was remained on the cold floor before the flames consumed him, leaving only five small beings; breathing in the same smoke.
Trapped inside a can, Splinter did not dare to walk out in the foggy room for he too would end up in the same fate as Dr. O'Neil's. Wiggling his little black nose, he watches the fire dancing in the background. Sooner or later, it would catch up to him and the small reptiles.
"I was terrified."
Until, heaven has answered his call. And in comes another friendly face.
"But then, you appeared."
Little April must have stayed in one of the rooms on the same floor when the tragic event happened. She was looking for her father. Poor thing. Her long brown hair was flops forward as she bends her head down to look into the container. Seeing the helpless rat, she opens it up and gently takes her pet out. There was four more to collect and they were scattered around the bench. One by one, she picks them up. Without a second thought, she hurries out of the building. By the time she has exited out through the main door, her first thought was to take her pets somewhere safe. And out of anybody's reach. That is why she rushes over to the other side of the streets, towards a storm drain.
"And ushered us to safety."
Bending down on one knee, she gently places each of her pets near the grate. They all crawled over to it. Only the third story of the building was lighting up the streets but April didn't bother to look at it. She was too busy watching her pets for what could be the very last time. All four turtles went through the small holes of the drain, leaving the scared Splinter by himself.
"I never had a voice then,…
Just before he joins the rest of the reptiles, the rodent looks at the human before him.
"…but I thank you now, April."
The rat, since then, has been touched by this little girl's courageously. He would never forget it.
Soon after, Dr. Hope shows up and finds her, all alone on the streets, and brings her back to his place.
The first part of the story finished by the heroic efforts of the young woman herself. Closing his eyes, the now-mutated Splinter nodded his head in acknowledgement and opens them up once more. "Mmm." Even as a normal pet rat in a science lab, he clearly remembers the fateful day to him.
April and Sally were all dazed by this. Especially to the ex-reporter herself.
The Shredder. The man who was in charge of the whole operation, who hired their fathers to work on this project, and thanks to him, led one of them to their early death.
Both their fathers, unknowingly until they learnt the truth, worked for a horrible man. The same monster that has terrorise the city from within. It was too much to bear. There was a horrible shadow lurking within the company and it was no surprised that he was behind it all. No wonder Sally's father didn't bother to tell his own daughter or April. The events that night must have shaken him down to the core. Losing his best friend. His own brother.
The incident… That is not what she was told. She thought that something caught on fire and her father was trying to extinguish it out or something.
As for the rat and the baby turtles…. That was the last time she has saw any of the pets ever again. Before that night on the rooftops, she has no idea what has happened to them. It was time for Splinter to tell the rest of the story.
"We wandered the sewers until I found this place."
With four small turtles and a little rat walking through the sewers at their usual size, the hike that they were on proved to be exhausting. But their long journey becomes easier than before as the ooze in the bloodstream causes to take effect. Being more exposed out in the open provided to be a helpful advantage to them.
"It was then that the mutagen that was injected into our blood began to change us in miraculous ways."
Hours went by. Even days as well until it has reached its final stage of the process. No longer that they were standing on four legs. Walking around on their hind legs and doubled in size has changed the course of their lives forever. Soon after, more extraordinary things began to happened.
They all began to speak words. Human words.
A giant fan moves at a slower place high above the giant rat. The place was clean of any art as it will be in the distance future when his children discover the joy of tagging. Now that he is transformed, the lab rat was wearing human clothing from different rags. Long bits of fur was pulled back into a high ponytail. The rat's clothing was a one-piece dirty yellow cotton jumpsuit with a navy-blue sleeve-less tunic placed over the top. Around his waist is a much darker skirt that spilt off on the sides, forming into two separate long strips, and a white karate belt. On his feet are plank of small wood which are wrapped around white straps, acting like sandals.
The tiny turtles were now at the size of newborn babies. And all four of them are placed in little cardboard containers into makeshift beds that the newly-appointed parent constructed. Each turtle was chosen with a preferred blanket of their own colour. The same colour that was painted on their shells. From the far left with the orange blanket was stretching its little arms out. Next to him was sucking his thumb as he grabs his red blanket with its shell turned away from the third child, who dearly grabbed onto rat's pointer and snuggle it. And the final one but a rubbed his eyes in weariness.
"I saw how your father loved you, April. And I knew I had to show that same love to the turtles.
Stroking each one of them and pulling their blanket to cover them more with care, he has gained a forever job. Becoming a parent-figure to four young turtles. And soon, he named each of them the names that they were appointed to during their early year in the lab.
"I became their father and they became my sons."
And he did so for the first seven years of their lives as his job has just got a whole lot harder. Their curiosity got the better of them as the years went by. How come all the excitement is happening on the world above them and not down there?
Like their father, each turtle is dressed in individual style of clothing. The eldest is wearing a white headband with a dark blue outline of a lotus flower that is wrapped around his head, a blue apron that has been ripped in half, a blue/white checker shorts and a pair of black sneakers boots with laces that are so old that needs to tie it around five times.
The second oldest has a zebra bandana that covers that top part of his melon and ties it behind in a knot behind his head. On his left arm was one skater elbow pad and his wrist was all wrapped up. Draped around his shell and chest is a red ski vest, a pair of tighty-whities for the bottom and a pair of cotton Ugg Boots.
The second youngest's first goggles was a plastic kind with a white card placed on the top. His wearing his tortoise shell glasses with a tape wrapped around the rim. He is wearing a button-up short-sleeved shirt with one sleeve ripped off and a small pocket on the breast where he stores his pencils. Holding his parachute pants are rainbow suspenders and a brown belt around his turtle waist with two lunchboxes on either side attached to it. He has a children's backpack on him with a typewriter resting on top of it. On his feet are a pair of worn-out flip-flops.
And then there is the youngest one of all. On his head is a pirate eyepatch with the infamous symbol on it. And the only clothing he has on him is a pair of orange overalls and snugged around but slightly above his left ankle is a traffic cone that has been sliced clean.
"Like all children, they were drawn to the distractions of popular culture."
And right now, all four of them are looking through the grate at the topside for their enjoyment. Traveling around the sewers was the only adventure that they ever since they took their first steps. Walking among the humans would be a dream come true. There were other games within their home but this was nothing compared to this.
The tallest out of all of them has attached a jagged piece of a mirror to a long pole. He then slides it out of the storm drain and with both his hands, he lifted with his might as his brothers all gathered around to see what the little mirror has captured. One of them climbs on to his brother's shell to even get a slight view of the outside music. None of the civilians seems to take notice of this as this city does attach all kinds. They continue on with their business.
"And I knew one day they would want to explore the world above."
Right above and behind them is an electronic store with hundreds of TVs. And what is showing is a music clip of the hottest artist on the market. The music video of Gwen Stafani's Hollaback Girl was on and it just came to the chorus.
Few times I've been around that track
So it's not just gonna happen like that
'Cause I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl
Few times I've been around that track
All four children were now bopping to the Hip Hop music. The second-oldest pushes his youngest brother off and goes back to the show. Instead of finding a different spot, the youngest simply listen to the music and begins to show off some idiotic breakdancing moves.
Their father was simply watching at a distance so if they tried to do anything stupid or dangerous. Nothing yet so far.
"They would be ridiculed."
And wasn't just the dance that the youngest was trying to pull. It was more of what they are rather who they are. The rat father lets out a sign at their immature.
And the youngest today was nodding his head to the music that he would still consider a hit. It was only a matter of time before it got very annoying for his brothers.
The human girls were still in trance with the story as it got deeper.
"They would need to learn to protect themselves," Splinter explains the next part of his story, "both mentally and physically." Back then he knew, a father like him cannot live forever to protect them. He needs to find an answer. But how long will it be?
Despite watching the surface for some fun, the Turtles do have their own little game that they created. All four buckets, with numbers painted in their chosen colours, hanged by hook and a wire. The objective is to knock them off, one-by-one.
"Hey. Does anyone want to play Buck-Buck?"
They didn't need an answer. Because they were already lined up for the game. Rubbing his hands, the eldest take a short running start as his bucket was the first one. Since he was the first one, he has to leap in the air. "Buck one!" He whacks it away. Just before it hits the ground, he quickly drops to the floor and curls up. This gives the next player the lift up for him to hit his own bucket.
The second oldest was next. "Buck two!" He does the same process as his brother before it is the third brother's turn.
The second-youngest steps on both his brother to reach his bucket. "Buck three!"
This leaves the fourth and final bucket. Just as the youngest takes a running start, the second-oldest – who was known especially when they were kids as the troublemaker – sees his brother coming. Just as soon he steps on the first turtle…and at the last second, the troublemaker moves out of his spot just before his baby brother's feet makes contact with his shell. With a turtle missing from the line, it causes the runner to lose his footing, and falls on top of the turtle before him, causing him to roll over him and his brother to go on his side thanks to the sudden force.
"Where are you going, Raph?" the oldest asked. His younger brother decided to ditch the game while they are in the middle of it was kind of getting to be a habit. Raph – as he was called back then and now – gives a silent wave and starts to walk off.
The youngest recovers from his fall. "Come on. I can't do it by myself," he begged his brother to participate as he gets back onto his feet. "I need all four!"
"You're a Buck short," estimate the tallest one before he and his other brother all got onto their feet.
Stuck down here playing the same game over and over, day after day, can really get old-fashioned. Raph doesn't understand why he and his brothers need to play it all the time when they should be up there, playing with the other kids. But despite their…forms, it will never happen. Instead, he decided to let out some steam by going up in all their faces.
'Yeah, that sounds stupid," he barks at little brother as he advances on him. "Like you, Mikey!" It was now turn into a game of cat and mouse with the orange mice running away from the red feline.
He runs around his older brother as he does his best to try to break up the fight. Very soon, the role of leader will fall onto him. The only one staying out of the fight is the smartest one of all as he was checking out his gear if they were damaged in the game.
But Mikey keeps on playing, hoping to calm his brother down as while keeping his distance from him. "That's why you're just the hype man, bra. See these moves?" That is when he started to do some his own version of breakdancing.
But Raph wasn't taking it. He tries to push the medium down between him and the goofball. "Yeah, whatever, man."
A small pile of rubbish was close to where his sons are occupied and where he was doing his daily task. Despite living down in the dirty place in the city, Splinter sweeps the rubbish that was left by the ignorance who didn't bother to clean up their own mess. It was one of his main hobbies. This is their home and it needs to be in tip-top shape. Although it doesn't get rid of the smell and such.
That is until a few blue books caught his eyes.
He stops his task to pick up one of them. Getting the feel of a furry cover, the rat brushes off the dust and small dirt of the beautiful fabric.
On the cover was a man kneeling on both knees with weapons circling around him. Splinter had his attention on the headline.
The Art of Ninjutsu. By Eastman & Laird.
The book peeks the rodent's interest as he opens the covers. Inside there were two people in the same clothing in different types of forms, are using different types of weapons and the inscription were in different dialect as only the cover speaks his native tongue.
But these men fighting…against each other…to either win…or protect…
The more he looks at the drawings, the missing answer that Splinter has been searching for becomes very clear.
"And then I found a way."
For the past few weeks was the start of something new.
After retrieving a number of weapons that were achievable in Chinatown, Splinter only need four kinds of weapons in tow. Perfect for his four sons.
After reading the books back to forth; day-to-night, the knowledge of the forms - both the hand-to-hand combat and weaponry - are now implanted inside the rat's mind. He is ready to showcase his new talents to the rest of his family.
Swinging the first weapon above his head with a kick in dispose, the new rat ninja master does a block with a wooden Bo Staff before spinning around in a full circle and finally finishing up by slamming the end down; hard.
"First, I would teach myself the ancient art of Ninjutsu."
Just sitting or standing close to their fathers, the four young turtle brothers were bored out of their minds. That is until they are all witnessing what their father is performing. The rat has moved onto the next weapon or weapons. Both of his hands were now occupied with a pair of Nunchakus as swings them around in perfect motion; going around his body and under his arm.
The kids have now taken an interest on their father's new hobby. As they removed themselves from their previous spot and came a bit closer, one of them gives out a bit of an excitement chuckle as he mimics the same movement with his arms. They have never seen their move like this before.
Two down, two to go. That is when Splinter decided to pull out one of the most dangerous arms in Federal Japan: the katana.
Holding the lone blade in his hands, he begins to swiping the sharp sword around like he was Miyamoto Mushashi. Kneeling so close to their fighting father, the Turtles all dodged every single slash made by him. Luckily, no-one was hurt especially the swordsman himself as he slides the weapon back into its gauntlet; finishing the form and the demonstration.
The young ones have certainly enjoyed the show and now, they are as curious onto why their father would show them this? He simply explained to them that it was a way for them to be able to protect themselves in the real world if he is no around or when he's...no longer in their lives. But that won't happen for many years to come.
Once Splinter has achieved the rank "master", it was the Turtles' turn.
"The brothers followed my lead,..."
And the first one up is his eldest son. Giving him the sword was the best choice for him. Pulling the blade from its scabbard, he holds it to his side. He was ready to show his father's and brothers of what he can do with the sharpest weapon in the room. Just by mimicking his father's training, he leaps up and does a vertical spinning jumping before he lands on his two feet. Spins around in one full circle before going into a kneeling position and thrust his sword through an invisible target. The master, watches on with his arms crossed over, nods in approval.
"...accelerating at a wonderful rate."
Like father, like son. Even faster than the greatest martial artists in the world and they would all be baffled by this.
The next one to hold the Bo Staff was very ideal for the tallest reptile of all. He was not as violet as his brothers but this weapon does have a hard side to it when it comes to combat. Instead of the wooden that his father used, he has customised a special staff with a unique mechanism. Picking up speed, he starts off with a few downward spins on one side before doing one spin with one hand. By bringing the stick under his arm, it moves the weapon behind his head. Grabbing hold of it with his hands, he joins it with a "clouding" move.
The rest of his brothers all watched on as the Bo Staff turtle spins around and aims the end at the one with the zebra headband. The turtle that was pointed at flinches a bit because for the fact that he almost got whacked in the face by a lousy stick. How long does he have to wait until it was his turn. Maybe his father didn't find the ideal weapon for him, or something that would be perfect for him?
Well, Splinter did find something for him. And it is his turn now. What the rat will give to his son will be a smirk on his face. With dual Sais in his hands, the second-youngest was having no trouble striking, slashing & stabbing in any possible direction and also adding a turn in the process. Before finishing off his form, he crosses them over like an "X" and swings them both to his sides.
This only leaves the youngest one of all. And he was sure having the time of his life with a pair of Nunchakus or "Nunchunks" in his case that his dear father has given to him. Swinging the wooden sticks in a fluidly motion just like what his dad did, he has added a few turns & kicks in the action. Close by was his older brother with his makeshift wooden stick that was smaller for some reason. As the cocky turtle moves, so does his mouth.
"Wassup, bra? Want some of this? I'm like a ghost!" he brags to the 'bra' before him. The cocky child continues to provoke him but doesn't seem fazed at all as he somersaults in the air on the air before he lands in a perfect split. He then gets up with no help from anyone or his hands. "I'm over here,..." he moves his right foot to his right, twirls his 'chucks' around and secures them under his armpits before facing his foe. "...now I'm over here, bra. Like a shadow! I'm a flame shadow fire dragon!"
Ok, FSFD. Dodge this!
He directs the end of the Staff close to his brother and with the push of the button, the customised Staff extends outwards. The end close to the smallest turtles jab hard into his stomach. With enough force, it sends him back a few feet and flat on his shell; dropping his weapons in the process. Down but not out from the sudden attack, the defeated reptile grabs hold of the already sore muscle in the region. He rolls over to his right side and begins to rub the pain hoping to ease the tension. Guess he shouldn't get too cocky. Or leave himself open. Or noisy.
But their new discoveries don't stop there.
"Their gift was also their passion."
Standing before a giant log, bigger than him but at the same height as his tallest brother, the Sai-wielding turtle was ready. There was a reason why they were named after Renaissance Artists and he was going to show them why. Drawing them out, he has got a mental image of what he was about to create.
Going at it at a chopping motion, bits of wood were going everywhere but not on the sculptor himself. Right now, he was about halfway there. A few more chops & cuts, he is done with his work.
"They lived, breathed and dreamed all things martial arts."
And creating a turtle wearing a karate ki while doing a crane pose is a fine example. Content with his masterpiece, he walks away with a smirk on his face. The viewers at home all watched their brother leave, stunned. The show that he put on and the final draft of the craft that he created was something that no one should ever blink their eyes for.
Right now, it was dinner time. And to no brainer, the choice for their meal was none other than pizza. Before they can dig in, the eldest would like to show something to his family. And it was the perfect time as the pie has not yet been cut up.
Throwing the base high up in the air - and with Dual Katanas in his hands - he goes at it. The base sliced in half. Now in quarters. In eighths! Each piece than flies off to its designated spot. The first piece goes to the second-eldest which lands nicely on his plate. He then proceeds to pick it up. The second-youngest gets the second piece but he extends his plate a little forward before the slice meets the table but only a tiny end hangs over the edge. He takes a great whiff of the delicious meal. The next one was for the baby of the family. Make that a couple of pieces as with great speed, he manages to catch not one, but two slices. Although one of them is for his big bro but...who cares? He wants more than one slice.
And the final slice goes for the day to the only grown-up at the table. The triangle-shaped greasy food comes falling down towards the table and...
SPLAT!
Instead of the plastic plate, it hits a different target that is…furry. Splinter winches on the impact which cause his sword-wielding son to tense up. The pizza has missed the plate by that much!
The two youngest looked at each other before looking back at them. The second-oldest just shakes his head. His big brother is always trying to be perfect.
Only two slices landed in the previous container. The eldest awkwardly grabs hold of the crust and slowly pulls it off the rat's head and places it on the plate. He nervously smiles at his father. Well, practises do make it perfect. Not only him but his brothers do still have a long way to go.
And they did so for the next eight years.
"Then,... they were ready."
On the day that they become at the age of 15, it was the same day that Master Splinter has entrusted them with their own weapons. The same weapons that they have been practicing with non-stop for many years now on countless times. In other words, it was Graduation Day to the next ninja level.
Their training room was transformed from a dark, dirty, colourless stone dungeon to a bright underground canvas. Every wall was either occupied with graffiti art or a few wooden stands that are bolted in where each weapon is secured. This is called "The Weapons' Wall".
Splinter was high on the platform where the Weapons' Wall is located as his sons are on the lower level before him. Now at the age of fifteen, the only difference that the boys don't have is their masks. Once they have achieved their weapons, they will create their own mask.
The first one to receive their weapon/s would be the eldest. Splinters takes one of the swords from its case and holds it carefully in its grasp. He then presents it to his son before him.
"The Katana - most noble of all the blades," he said as his son takes the blade out of his father's hands. With ease, the turtle kneels down while observing it with great admiration. "It is the weapon of a leader."
The title that Leonardo so gracefully earned. After achieving their weapons, it was time for their mask. Taking a piece of cloth of the chosen colour, the turtles then style it to represents themselves.
Leonardo has chosen the colour blue as it represents true leadership. Not to mention loyalty and calmness as he ties it in a big knot. Lifting his head up, Leo pictures a warm smile, pleased with this achievement.
The colour red was the ideal choice for Raphael who has a different style. Rage. Anger. But passion. He styles his in a do-rag. After tying the final knot, he lifts his head up but doesn't show a happy grin. Only a sneer. Fits his personality, right?
Choosing the purple fabric was perfect for Donatello. Intelligent and nobility. Doing the same way as the new leader with an extra knot, he places his glasses over the top. He pushes them up to avoid them from slipping off while showing a shy smile.
Having the colour orange brings out the brightness for Michelangelo. Creativity and Joyful are the true meaning of his mask and his own personality. Copying the same style as his older brother, he finishes up his knot and lifted his head up.
Splinter is very proud of how his sons came to be, but it would have never happened if April was never involved in their lives.
"Everything they are, and everything that've become was made possible by the bravery that you displayed on that fateful night."
Mikes does a crooked smile while nodding his head. "Dude." He now feels like the complete package for any babe that comes his way.
And it was all because of her.
She was the one who set them free into the storm drain 15 years ago. And because of her action, they grew up to be the most formidable team to fight against the Foot Clan and succeed. But an 8-year-old couldn't possibly perform such a task like this.
April looks at the reptiles before looking back at the rat. "I was just a little girl." All she did was rescue her pets from the fire and left them to fend for themselves. Imagine if she did take them instead. They would still grow up like they are today. Giant turtles and a huge rat in her home.
Splinter senses her uncertainty in her tone. What April doesn't know is her action help him and his sons a lot more than she thinks. "And you gave us freedom where others would have kept us in cages." Just the vile Shredder and his despicable Foot Clan. And they would've got them if April's father didn't start the fire or if she didn't let them go.
But only four beings need to clarity one thing that was in their minds since they have brought the humans down here to their secret lair and heard the whole story. That is why the eldest child has volunteered to ask the storyteller.
He holds out one hand. "Wait a minute, Dad." The girls and Splinter all looked at Leonardo as he kneels down on one knee. "All these years you told us we were rescued from the fire by a great guardian spirit - the Hogo-sha."
The master nodded. "That's right." It was true that Splinter did tell them the story about a magical spirit that saved them from the blazing monster when they were only baby turtles. The problem is that the teens have never seen or came across the actual spirit in person. Splinter was the only one who knows the true identity of it and he believes now is the right time to reveal it.
Splinters turns to the older woman across from him and holds out his hands. "And this is the Hogo-sha."
Both April and Sally were completely shocked. "What?" the woman gasp.
"April,..." Sally finally found the chance to speak, "...I think...I think you're their saviour." Splinter nodded. She saved them no doubt about it.
Leo straightens himself up and stands once again with his brothers. After all these years, the four Turtles thought that an ancient ghostly entity has given them a second chance at life and transformed into the warriors that they are today.
For some unknown reason, Donatello pulls down his googles, leans forward and fiddled with the lens; creating beeping sounds. For someone who watches any ghost hunting shows or Ghostbusters, he had to check if she is from the great beyond. Finding no evidence, he pops the specs back to on his head.
Up until now, they were not expecting the Hogo-sha to be in the form of a human being that is sitting before them. But...it doesn't change their gratitude within their souls.
Well, for what she has done for them and Splinter, there was only one thing for the teens to do. Following their master's example, Leo was the first to take a step forward with his father and the girls watching him. He then slowly bends his whole upper body down until he makes it into a "L" shape. He was bowing.
Michelangelo, at the same time, does the same thing, and then they were followed by Donatello. They wanted to give their thanks to the one who saved them & their father and now, they finally have the chance.
The only one who didn't show his thanks was Raphael himself. Although bowing was something he normally doesn't do, he was just uncertain about this. Both April and Sally's fathers used to work for the Shredder so it would bring a level of strangeness to the group. Instead, he breaks eye contact, looks to the ground and folded his arms.
Still bowing, Mikey twists his head around so he can see his older brother right beside him. "My girlfriend's totally the Hogo-sha," he whispers loud enough for everyone to hear. He had a good vibe about the woman and her friend when he first land eyes on them. Who knew after all these years, the same girl who rescue them would come back into their lives once more? Funny how fate would draw them together again.
Still bowing and without moving his head, Leo was far enough to use his left hand to smack his silly brother in the arm. "Ow," he uttered.
Splinter looks back to the humans. The only person who is still reeling in all this is the Hogo-sha herself. April O'Neil is a hero to them but she doesn't feel like it. Her father and Sally's father used to work for a megalomaniac in which they didn't know. No wonder that they didn't talk about it when they first discover it. There was a definite connection in all this. And what about Sacks? Does he know about this? Does he know the Shredder personally?
April hopes not. Other than her own father, Sacks is a true hero...
WOW! Now that April and Sally now know the whole story, the real danger is just beginning! Catch you guys next time in:
Heroes in the Half-Shell: Learning the Truth
Author's Notes: Hey. I do hope this chapter was ok. I should really be bed now. At least, I don't have work tomorrow. Instead, I have to find work. Probably in the new year or something when I got some free time.
Right now, enjoy the rest of the week, guys!
Until we meet again,
The DragonLord2912