Elisabeth 'Lisa' Langstein was painfully average. She was a plain girl with shoulder length stringy brown hair and a smile that revealed too much of her slightly crooked teeth; a side effect of her parents not being able to afford proper braces. Her grades were average too, never straight As, but also never failing. She had some friends but never any close ones. She simply faded in the background with her peers.
Now, this wouldn't be a huge issue if it weren't for her siblings. Her older sister (by only fifteen months embarrassingly enough) was extraordinary—and that wasn't an exaggeration. Irma was beautiful, with her thick, jet black curls and bright green eyes hidden by cute, trendy glasses. She was nerdy, but in a quirky way that made guys blush and talk nervously around her. Everyone wanted to be her partner in projects since she was so gifted and smart. She had lots of friends too, since she wasn't introverted by any means— despite the stereotypes of nerds being quiet and awkward. Indeed, Irma was an enigma. Something that Lisa constantly strived to be but failed miserably.
"Lisa, maybe if you tried joining a few clubs, you'd actually make friends," Irma had reminded her several times, staring at her calculus textbook instead of her distraught sister. Typical.
"I've done that," Lisa snapped, crossing her arms and glaring moodily at the ground. "But everyone keeps comparing me to you!"
"You're always welcome to join my study group."
Her dark eyes flickered to the textbook and shuddered. "I'm not smart enough for your genius friends. I'm barely passing algebra."
Irma shrugged. "M' not sure what else to tell you, sis. You barely even try to study," She turned a page. "Or make friends."
Lisa bristled, "I do try it's just...really hard," but her retort dissolved seconds after they left her lips. Irma had returned to studying, ignoring her as if she hadn't said a word.
It wasn't only her sister that made her feel inadequate. Her little brother Nathaniel- who was barely a teenager was also equally as extraordinary. He was not as bright as Irma, however he was gifted in many sports and joined a plethora of clubs- thus making him very popular and gregarious. Not only that, but being the youngest and only son of the Langsteins, he was doted on by their parents.
Which left Lisa stuck in the middle, pun intended.
Irma was the beautiful, intelligent oldest daughter. Nate was a charming and talented son. And Lisa...well Lisa was just there. She loved her family, particularly her mother but she wouldn't lie and say she felt a bit out of place with them. Even her teachers had little to say about her.
Until everything changed.
From the moment Mr. Filch (or rather Doctor Filch as he preferred to be called) stepped into the science classroom, Lisa had a funny feeling about him. Not because he had a strange appearance or anything; actually he looked like any other balding white man but because he was just plain odd. His assignments were complex, however he was patient and understanding to the students who were struggling- particularly Lisa. In fact, he was kinder to her than any other teacher she had. She visited him after class nearly every day for help, and he happily obliged. As time went on, it was clear he respected her as a pupil, and her grades in that class vastly improved.
She glowed with pride every time he would compliment her or insist she was his favorite student. Sure some of his lessons were unorthodox and he seemed slightly erratic, but it felt amazing to be appreciated, even if the guy himself wore two different colored socks on a regular basis.
"Something about Mr. Filch makes me uneasy, nene," Lisa's mother told her once, "But I'm proud of you for working hard! Now can you put the same amount of effort in your other classes, eh?"
"Mm-hm."
She didn't of course, she focused primarily on Filch's class. She loved the attention, she adored the praise. Her other teachers did not understand or give her the time of day. In his class, things felt right. She trusted him, in a way.
One afternoon after school, she had to retake a quiz in his class. It was on the Krebs Cycle, and she totally flunked it. But as usual, he was kind enough to let her retake it- and if she got a higher grade: she would keep the score. She stepped inside the classroom, taking a shaky breath.
"Mr. Filch?"
"Ah, yes, if it isn't my favorite pupil Lisa. Take a seat anywhere you'd like," Filch drawled, handing her the blank quiz. "Have you studied?"
"Yes sir."
"Excellent. You may begin."
The quiz started without a hitch. She had crammed in some extra studying, so she knew the answers easily. In fact, she would be done in ten minutes if there wasn't an obnoxious buzzing fly fluttering by her ear. She waved one hand at it, but it continued to fly erratically. She glanced back at the insect, realizing it wasn't a fly at all but an even worse villain: a damn mosquito. Rolling her eyes, she swatted at it without a second thought.
"Stupid bloodsucker," She grumbled, swatting once more. The insect flew away and perched on Filch's shoulder, who didn't seem to notice as he was grading papers. "Uh, Mr. Filch you've got a—"
It was too late. The insect pierced his neck with its proboscis. Although, the blood it was sucking wasn't a usual crimson color— instead an acid green.
Filch smacked at the mosquito, crying out in pain.
"Sir?"
Then he started screaming. Screaming and screaming and screaming the most horrible screams she had ever heard. This was no average pest, it was beyond anything Lisa had ever seen. And it was currently torturing her teacher.
To her horror, it did not stop. Filch howled an agonizing yell—pushing the papers aside until they crumpled off his desk. Gills dotted his skin, which was now turning into a greyish green. Lisa fought the urge to vomit or scream herself when she heard the horrible sound of bones cracking and contorting until a hideous dorsal fin formed by his own muscles and bone appeared on his back.
She couldn't bear to watch any further, praying to God this was just a terrible nightmare. Her vision became hazy, each sound fading away and the increasing nausea made it difficult to stand. The floor was swaying, and she may have yelled for help—but it disappeared in her throat.
Then everything went black.
Her head was pounding when she finally woke up, and she was dying of thirst. She wondered how long she had been asleep. Hours? Days, perhaps? She shook her head, rubbing the temples, trying to remember anything prior to her passing out on the floor.
"Ah, you're awake!" boomed a familiar voice.
She saw the outline of a giant fucking fish in front of steel bars. Oh wait, outside of bars. Which meant she was in a cage or a prison or-
She was trapped with a man sized fish keeping her captive.
"I know I may look different, but I'm still your favorite teacher!" cackled the fish, looking pleased. "Lisa, honestly, don't be rude and speak up."
Something about the way he said her name this time, made her shiver in uneasiness.
"Mr. Filch?" She whispered groggily. "No...it can't be."
"Brava, you get an A+ for figuring that out!" Filch said sarcastically. "Why, yes it's me Mr. Filch."
"My teacher isn't a fish!" She sputtered.
"You saw the entire thing happen, did you not?" He said, pressing his snout against the bars. "I was against the idea at first, but now I realize it's simply marvelous! I can breathe underwater, I have sharper teeth that can gnaw at bones, I'm much stronger than any man on Earth. This is the best thing that's ever happened to me. And, it's all thanks to this little fella," He presented a jar with the same mosquito trapped inside. In his other fin, he held a bottle of the same glowing green ooze.
"This is crazy. This is insane. You're insane!" Lisa exclaimed, her voice raising several octaves. "This is just a dream, and I'll wake up in a second," She pinched herself. Nothing happened. "Okay, this is a really intense dream. Either that, or I've completely lost my mind."
She lifted her head. "Where am I?"
"That isn't important. While you've been napping, I have been doing some special testing with this little mosquito."
"How long was I asleep?"
He ignored her. "In fact, you've woken up at the perfect time! Because my ooze combined with the mosquito's- I have created the ultimate concoction!" He cackled once more. "Along with some blood of a salamander…"
Lisa looked confused. "What are you doing with that?" She pointed at the canister.
He gave her a sinister sneer. "Lisa, Lisa, Lisa, Lisa... How would you like to be a part of a truly incredible experiment?"
Her eyes went wide with fear. "No, no, stay back!"
Lisa was awoken the following morning by the soothing chirps of birds outside her clear window. Thinking she was home in bed, she yawned, rolled over, and fluttered her eyes open- only to realize she was not in her bedroom at all. She was in her temporary sleeping quarters that Donnie made for her. And she experienced a nightmare.
Except it wasn't a nightmare. It was all real. She was dreaming of everything that had happened.
Lisa...Lisa...Lisa...
She shut her eyes tight, rolling over in hopes of getting a little more rest. There wasn't really any point though, considering that dream was haunting her long after she woke up. She bit her lip, hoping to fight back any tears from forming.
She missed her mother. She missed her home. She missed…
Lisa...Lisa...Lisa...
Lisa sat up, blocking her ear slits with her hands. The more she thought of her home, her family, the more reality sunk in. They thought she was dead, or at least missing. They didn't know her teacher had kidnapped her, or that she was coerced into being his assistant for evil deeds.
Or that she was a giant mutant salamander.
Lisa...Lisa...Lisa...
"Stop saying that name…" She grumbled, twitching every time she heard it.
"Lisa?" A kind voice entered the room, comforting her immediately. "Is everything okay?"
Lisa rubbed her eyes, meeting April's concerned ones, "Yes. Did I wake you?" She could see the dark circles around her eyes and felt a twinge of guilt.
The other girl shook her head. "Not really, I've been awake for a while. It's been a difficult night." Her expression softened, resting a hand to her slick shoulder. "I don't mean to pry, but you were muttering a little in your sleep."
"What did I say?" The last thing she wanted was April to think she was some crazy person. Or reveal anything private.
"Nothing embarrassing, I swear," April assured her, noticing the panic she displayed. "You were just saying 'don't call me by that name.' over and over."
Lisa had no response to that. She bit the inside of her cheek.
"You don't have to tell me, I know we haven't known each other for long…" April said, contemplating her next words carefully. "I'm here for you. Whenever you need someone to talk to, alright Lisa?"
Lisa winced, looking uncomfortable. "That's just it. Calling me Lisa is ...the problem."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know why, but every time I've heard my name it brings back really bad memories. Memories of Filch yelling it at me. I grew to resent it."
"Would you like me to call you something else?" asked April.
"Well, my actual name is Elisabeth, but I'm not quite sure I like that either."
"Have you ever thought of changing your name entirely? If you don't like it, you shouldn't be forced to be called that."
"I can do that?"
"People change their names all the time," April shrugged. "Give it some thought, okay? I'm sure you'll think of something."
Lisa found herself thinking for a long time, even after April had left.
A new name. Maybe I should try that.
Eventually Lisa stumbled out of bed, still in a half asleep state and willing to snooze for another hour or two if she could, but alas—it was not meant to be. All she could think of was a new name for herself. She climbed down the step ladder towards the fire pit, where Michelangelo was stirring something that smelled delicious.
"I made gumbo!" He chirped. "I remembered an old recipe."
"For breakfast?" April smirked.
"Just give it a try!"
Elisabeth has a lot of nickname options. Elisa, Beth, Betsy...or perhaps do I want to do a name that's completely different. Beatrice, Amelia, Lucy?
Her jumbled thoughts were interrupted by someone clearing their throat rudely.
Lisa's eyes snapped up to face a very exhausted looking Donatello, who shoved a bowl at her. "Here's your food or whatever." They said, their voice flat and uninterested. Before she could say her thanks, they leaned against a nearby tree and started tapping away at their phone.
Her mouth was watering from the scent alone, but she paused. "Aren't you hungry?"
"No."
"Are you—"
"I'm going for a walk," Donnie said snippily, as they brushed past the group with a disgruntled huff, all while muttering to themselves.
"You shouldn't go alone, Don." said Raph, but Donnie ignored him and sauntered away.
"Are they okay?" Lisa wondered out loud. "Or are they normally this…" She tried to think of a better word than 'bitchy'. "...moody?"
"They always have a bit of an attitude, yes. They get into little moods once in a while." Mikey admitted quietly, stopping his stirring. "I swear Donnie's a real sweetheart once you get to know them." He whistled."Although getting to know them might take a while."
"Don't take it too personally, Lisa," Raph said.
"I'm gonna go after them." April put her food down. "I know it's been hard but it's been rough for everyone. They need someone to talk to or it's gonna kill them. Y'all know they have a soft shell. Literally."
"No, don't." Mikey stopped her. "I swear they'll be okay. We talked last night. Uh, it's not just the whole Leo thing that's making them act all…" He gestured vaguely. "y'know."
April silently nodded, an unspoken conversation between the two that neither Lisa nor Raph quite understood. "I feel bad leaving them alone."
"I'll check in with them later, but uh, can you make sure they don't wander too far?" Raph asked April, who gave him a thumbs up, "Thanks. Well, I should look for more supplies." He announced to really no one in particular .
"Actually Raphael," Lisa said once April had left, "Do you think we could talk?"
"Hm?" Raph looked at her confused. "Sure what's u-" He glanced at a devious looking Mikey and his lips formed an 'o'. "Ah, you mean…"
"Alone, yeah."
"Mikey do you…"
"Not at all!" Mikey giggled, "I'll be off doing something so you two can chat!"
Before Raph could pull his little brother back and beg him to stay, the box turtle had already bounced off. He started to sweat nervously. Clearing his throat, he tried to play it cool. "So…"
"So…" Lisa echoed.
They were now facing each other. Raph was fiddling with his hands and Lisa was looking downwards to avoid any proper eye contact.
"What did you want to talk about?" He asked her, finally meeting her gaze. The sun's beams reflected off her amber eyes, which made things distracting. He swallowed slowly.
"It's something super important," Lisa started, rubbing the back of her neck. She too seemed nervous.
"Yes?"
"Something that will affect how you think of me."
"Oh?"
"Something that might affect our entire relationship."
Raph felt his throat tighten. Relationship?
"What I'm trying to say is…"
Here it comes. Don't freak out. Remember Raph, play it cool.
"I want to change my name."
"I'm so sorry I didn't know that you- wait what?" Raph blinked thrice, not expecting that answer.
"I want to change my name," Lisa repeated, now sounding more confident. "Is that okay?"
"Of course it's okay!" Raph said, puzzled. "It's your name, after all but can I ask why?" He recalled the day they first properly met. It felt like eons ago.
"What's your name?"
The girl, who at the time he thought was dressed in costume, rolled her eyes.
"Lisa. The most boring, average name ever."
"Hey, I like Lisa!" Raph protested. "It's pretty."
So she explained to him why she wanted a change. It brought too many painful memories, and it was better to let the past behind her. She was a new person, with a new motivation. She ended up revealing more than she had with April, and found herself pouring out her emotions to him.
"You know I always loved your name," Raph admitted. "But I understand now and I respect that decision you want to make, and it'll hopefully make you feel more comfortable. Changing your name won't change who you are." He blushed. "And you're amazing. So what do you want your new name to be?"
"I...don't know." Her eyes downcasted, furrowing her brow. "I can't decide."
"Do you want it to be similar to your original name or something completely different?"
"Similar."
Raph tapped his chin thoughtfully. "How about Eliza?" Seeing her shake her head made him more determined to think of a perfect name. "Nah, you're right, it's too common. Wait...I got it!" he snapped his fingers.
Lisa tilted her head.
"You know that really old painting?" He snapped his fingers. "The one with the lady smiling? Well, I'm not quite sure if she's smiling or not, it depends on the angle but-"
"You mean the Mona Lisa?"
"Yes! It even has a little bit of your old name at the end." He grinned, looking thrilled. "What do you think?"
"I mean, I love it and I'd love to be called that but..." She winced. "The Mona Lisa is depicting a beautiful woman and I'm…not." Hugging her arms, she tried not to let any tears escape.
Raph deflated. "How can you say that?"
She met his eyes.
"How can you say that about yourself?" He asked, gently taking her hand and feeling a sudden warmth inside. "Mona Lisa, you are so beautiful."
Mona's amber eyes went wide. "You mean that?" she whispered. "Raphael…"
"I know my words don't really mean much considering I'm a giant turtle." He laughed lightly, only now realizing they were extremely close- beak to beak almost. He backed away. "It's the perfect name for you, in my opinion."
"You know what else?" Mona smirked. "Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci. Only fitting that we're going to save your brother Leonardo. So, what do you say?"
"Let's do this, Mona Lisa."