To RandomFanAuthor- Oy. Mind your manners. I am a delight. I know John Cena and the Rock and there's an Undertaker and Cain apparently, but that's about it :P And thank you ^_^ I couldn't believe it about Chadwick; he never told anyone and just forged on. That man had my utmost respect when Black Panther came out, but even more now. RIP my dude, you were the best!
To someone- Jason's inner bastard is here! And more, but that's later :P
To Anonymous Person- (Chapter 1) I can never spell 'anonymous' properly, it's one of those words, so thanks for that :P And yes? I couldn't leave Jason dead, so it's like an AU, I guess. Maybe an alternate timeline if I can be bothered/have the time to do all the others with him alive O.o
As soon as it was understood that work- or Louisa herself- was involved, all but one of the group of nature spirits scattered into the woods. The one that remained did so because their new friend Lavinia nearly wrenched his arm from its socket.
"Oh no you don't. You're going to make yourself useful for once, Don." Behind his round, rainbow-tinted glasses, Don's eyes were panic-stricken. Apollo understood Louisa was one angry and terrifying young woman, but this seemed… off? Then he remembered the differences between satyrs and fauns- outwardly, the same, but the Roman equivalents were not as good at… anything really. "No excuses, Don." Lavinia demanded as he began squeaking said excuses. "You owe me."
"Just because I said Poison Oak might be at the picnic doesn't mean, you know, I promised she would be." Lavinia burned as pink as her hair.
"That's not what I meant! I covered for you! Thousands of times! Now you need to help me with this." She gestured broadly behind her, at Apollo and Meg, the wreckage of the car, the trees, the world. She appeared uncomfortable in her armour, repeatedly shrugging her shoulders, bending her knees, tugging at the silver Star of David pendant she wore. Now closer, Apollo could see her soft brown eyes, another tally in the baby giraffe look-a-like list.
Lavinia marched to the car, leaning down to look in the still open back door. She audibly hissed and winced, reaching in. "You'd better not have killed Lou," she said over her shoulder, "Reyna will have your heads." A few seconds passed and then, "She's not dead." She confirmed. "Probably going to have the mother of all headaches when she wakes up." With a single glare, she spurred Don into helping her. Between them, they wriggled Louisa free. Apollo was quick to check her over.
"Nothing broken." He sighed, relieved. "Bruised and battered, but she'll be OK."
"Ah. She's always OK." Lavinia shrugged a shoulder, looking Louisa up and down. Apollo had a feeling she wasn't looking for injuries. He cleared his throat, raising a brow pointedly.
"Poison Oak?" He prompted. Lavinia flushed even pinker.
"Lou's not my type." She said defensively. "It's just…" She flailed her arms, flexing half-heartedly. Apollo snorted, bemused.
"And she's the praetor's girlfriend." Don reminded her. Louisa groaned, shutting them up. She didn't wake, mumbling disjointed sentences.
A second angry shriek sliced through the air, much closer this time. The sun had already set.
"We'll never make it." Apollo winced. "Climbing all the way up to the Caldecott Tunnel, we won't make it."
"There's another way." Lavinia said. "Secret entrance to camp, a lot closer."
"I like close." Meg nodded.
"Thing is," Lavinia winced, "I'm supposed to be on guard duty right now. My shift is about to end. I'm not sure how long my partner can cover for me. So… when we get back to camp, let me do the talking about where and how we met."
"If anyone finds out Lavinia skipped sentry duty again…" Don shuddered.
"Again?" Apollo inquired. Lavinia shushed the faun. Apollo weighed it up- Lavinia's troubles paled in comparison to being eaten by a ghoul, but he was also aware that legion punishments could be harsh. They often involved whips, chains and rabid live animals. "You must really like this Poison Oak." He realised. Lavinia grunted, retrieving her manubalista bolt. She waved it at Apollo.
"I help you, you help me. That's the deal."
"Deal." Meg said before Apollo could speak. Lavinia nodded once, leaning down to pull Louisa's arm around her shoulders. Don took the other side of their unconscious charge under another glare from his pink-haired friend. Louisa's head lolled, chin on her chest, drooling a little.
Apollo and Meg recovered their things from the car, taking up the rear and hobbling along as quickly as they could. Louisa was an unhelpful patient, feet dragging. Lavinia assured them that the secret entrance was just over the lake. Except, it was literally over the lake, a quarter-mile round trip.
Don considered the water lapping on the shore as they got closer. He looked over at Lavinia.
"If we throw her in, would she wake up?"
"Mm." Lavinia looked at the water too. "It's not salt water… worth a try though." The pair waded into the shallows. They lay Louisa down and pushed her out like a boat. Apollo watched curiously. Meg was keeping an eye on the way they had come.
Louisa groaned, face crumpling, and coughed. She had drifted out about ten, fifteen feet. Another yard or so, her eyes fluttered and she touched her head. Her lips moved, a single swear word, although they did not hear it. "Hey, Lou?" Lavinia called. "Please tell us you're not dying. Reyna might forgive us if you're not dying."
"Ow ow ow…" Louisa splashed, kicking and rolling onto her front in the water. Her bruises were fading, the nasty head wound was looking cleaner and less nauseating. She squinted around suspiciously, focus settling over her features as her head healed.
Her gaze fell on Apollo and she frowned. "'N' I thought I was a bad driver. Meg, cover your ears."
"Insult me later." Apollo said hastily. "We've got trouble. We need to get to camp. Can you walk?"
"Pfft, walk." Louisa snorted, rolling her eyes. "Vinny, ya goin' ta that secret tunnel?"
"You know it?"
"I know them all. I'm cool like that." Louisa splashed her face. Apollo held his tongue, making no comment on the dirtiness of the water. "Right, we ain't walking. Get on."
"On what?" Apollo puzzled. She turned her head slowly, fixing him such a disbelieving look, he realised the answer all on his own. "Get on the water." He nodded. "Um, how?"
"Well, you just… step." Louisa shook her head, grumbling about being stuck with idiots.
Lavinia moved first, carefully pressing her foot on the water's surface. When she did not pitch forward into the lake, she moved her other foot on as well, walking carefully towards Louisa. The others tailed after her.
Louisa waited until they were all huddled around her. She frowned up at Apollo, narrowing her eyes.
"What?" He asked.
"Don't drown him, Lou." Lavinia laughed.
"Just a little bit?"
"No."
"Mmph. Fine." Louisa huffed. She settled for soaking Apollo's shoes instead, twisting in the water. Water swirled around them, knocking them into sitting down. They did not land in the lake, but instead in a makeshift rowboat made of ice. It bobbed in the water, crackling as it froze and took on its final shape. Apollo watched, fascinated, as the water solidified before his eyes.
Louisa was not in it, moving behind the vessel. She peered across the lake, searching for their destination.
"Is this safe?" Apollo asked, still examining the edges of the boat, its transparency and how it was melting under the warmth of his body and soaking his pants.
"You can always walk." Louisa offered.
"No, I'm good." He smiled feebly. She rolled her eyes again, pressing her shoulder to the boat and holding onto the sides.
The boat lurched, currents filing either side. They picked up speed, zipping along quite neatly. Louisa pulled herself up once she was satisfied, squashing herself between Meg and Don. The boat kept going. It could have taken them an hour, maybe more, to walk around the lake. This way, they reached the secret tunnel within minutes. Every so often, Louisa was swipe her hand across the water's surface, just to keep them going. Apollo studied her sidelong, trying to be discreet. She noticed anyway.
"What?" She demanded, making a face at her reflection in the boat's side and rubbing at her ear.
"You have a very strange skillset."
"That's 'cos she is very strange." Lavinia smiled lopsidedly.
"I can 'n' will throw you both over."
"No." Meg pulled on her sleeve. Louisa looked round, patting Meg on the head.
"How is ice part of Neptune?" Apollo inquired.
"Well… it's water. But harder."
"You struggle with it?"
"What? No. It's harder." She rapped her knuckles on the side.
"Oh."
"What kind of bullshit-?"
"There!" Lavinia pointed. They could see a sign at the trailhead, one that read Lake Temescal- swim at your own risk.
"Nice of them to warn about drowning and not flesh-devouring monsters." Apollo muttered.
"Mm." Louisa agreed. "Or I could make drownin' the biggest problem of this second."
"No." Meg stressed.
"Ugh, ya'll so borin'." With a wave of her hand, Louisa turned the boat towards the shore. Lavinia clambered out first, turning to help them out one by one. Louisa was reluctant to leave the water. Lavinia grasped at the air for her hand, egging her on.
Stepping onto dry land, the effect was instantaneous. Apollo had seen her leave the ocean, after sinking some of Caligula's fleet and saving them from his wrath. She had passed out as soon as she left her domain, collapsing. She was not as overwhelmed and drained now, but even the absence of fresh water took its toll. She staggered into Lavinia, complaining wordlessly.
"I'm going to get you a fish tank on wheels." Lavinia remarked.
"I need a vacation." Louisa corrected, swaying and nearly falling over backwards. Lavinia caught her by the arm, pulling her upright and letting her lean on her again. Louisa sighed, eyes closed, looking paler already.
"Don't go to sleep." Lavinia ordered, jostling her.
"Meh."
Lavinia led them on, to a small stone building that housed restrooms and a changing area. On the outside rear wall, half concealed behind blackberry bushes, stood a non-descript metal door. Lavinia kicked this open, Louisa helping a second too late, kicking wobbly at the air with a slurred, "Haha, stupid doooor." Beyond the door, a concrete shaft sloped down into darkness.
"I suppose the mortals don't know about this." Apollo guessed.
"Nah, dude." Don snickered. "They think it's a generator room or something. Even most of the legionnaires don't know about it. Only the cool ones like Lavinia."
"'N' me." Louisa protested, playing distractedly with Lavinia's hair, fascinated by the colour. "Should I dye my hair pink, Vinny?" Lavinia stared at her, as if it was all she ever wanted.
"Yes."
"Um, we were going to camp?" Apollo interjected.
"Yes." Lavinia agreed, scratching her brow with a sigh. Apollo noticed her eyebrows were pink too. "Meg stay at the back. Guard our retreat. This door can't be locked, which means…" As if summoned, the loudest howl yet shot across the lake, filled with such potent rage, it could only mean the ghoul had found the remains of its companion.
Louisa snorted, head tipping back as she cackled.
"Someone's not happy!" She cooed in a sing-song voice, grinning up at the sky. "Hi, Vinny."
"Hi, Lou." To the others, "Let's go."
They descended single-file. Lavinia had to walk sideways with Louisa, Don taking hold of her on the other side again. They shuffled along in a crabwalk. Apollo followed them, Meg behind. Their weapons gave off the only light. The gold fittings of Lavinia's manubalista cast a ghostly halo around her hair. Meg's swords cast their elongated shadows across the walls. Don's rainbow-tinted lenses seemed to float in the dark like oil on water. Louisa didn't seem to mind- or notice- their surroundings, mumble-singing the Ninja Turtles theme song, "Turtle Power!"
"Sssh, Lou." Lavinia urged kindly.
"Who's ya favourite turtle, Vin?"
"Um…"
"You haven't watched it?" Louisa hissed, disappointed and outraged. "You're fired."
"You can't fire me."
"Can." Louisa nodded seriously, eyes shut sleepily. "My girlfriend's the praetor 'n' sssshheeee will…" Louisa's words slipped and she squinted at the tunnel's walls, watching their shadows. For a few seconds she was quiet, as though searching for the end of her sentence. Then she started singing the theme song again.
"Is she OK?" Meg asked.
"Uh…" Lavinia and Don exchanged looks. Whatever they were keeping to themselves was not pleasant. Apollo wasn't sure he wanted to know. Louisa's tiredness did not come from saving them from Caligula alone. She had done something else, something bad, and now she was paying for it.
"How much further?" He asked, sensing the need of a topic change.
"We're barely inside the tunnel."
"Donatello is the brains of the bunch! Hey! Hey, you!" She patted Don's cheek. "Goat-man. You're a Don. You a Ninja Turtle?"
"Um, no." Don smiled apologetically. Louisa sniffed, raising her head a little.
"Found the set."
"What set?"
"Got Leo. He's got a cousin, Raphael. Never met him, but would like ta. Needs his head kicked in. Mmm… my best friend. He's Mikey. 'N' you. You're Don. I did it. Found them."
"Well done, Lou."
"Thanks, D."
"Guys, we need to move faster." Meg warned.
"You see something?" Don worried.
"Just a feeling." Meg replied grimly, looking over her shoulder. Apollo grimaced. He hated feelings.
The path widened and evened out. Apollo trudged along, wishing their little ice boat could whisk them down the tunnel.
"Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na Batman!"
"We have to pick up the pace." Lavinia huffed, shouldering Louisa's weight as she almost pitched forward again. "My sentry shift must have ended by now. My partner's probably wondering where I am."
"Will your partner report you?" Apollo asked.
"Not unless she has to. She's my centurion, but she's cool."
"Centaur."
"No, Lou. Centurion."
"Horse-man."
"Your centurion gave you permission to sneak off?" Apollo stared.
"Not exactly." Lavinia toyed with her Star of David.
"Ooh, shiny." Louisa noticed. Lavinia smacked her hand away.
"She just… kinda turned a blind eye, you know? She gets it."
"You mean, having a crush on someone?" Don teased.
"No!" Lavinia blushed. "Like, just standing around on guard duty for five hours straight. I can't do it! Especially after everything-" She stopped herself, glancing sidelong at Louisa. Apollo couldn't read that look- worried, scared? What? He made to ask. Don waved frantically, cutting a hand across his throat and silencing the question that must have been readable on Apollo's face.
They shuffled along another few feet, Louisa piling them with random Ninja Turtle trivia. Don abruptly stopped, posture stiffening. His nose quivered.
"What is it?" Apollo inquired. "What do you smell?"
"Sssssshhhhhiiiittttt." Louisa provided, slouching between her helpers, legs refusing to obey her any longer.
"Not good." Don agreed. "It's close. And funky."
"Oh." Apollo's face warmed. "This mortal body is not built for exertion. It sweats something chronic and-"
"Haha, lardy ass." Louisa blew a raspberry.
"Listen!" Don insisted. Meg faced the direction they had come. She prepped her swords and waited. Lavinia shifted Louisa onto Don and hefted her manubalista, staring into the shadows before them. Apollo did not hear much at first, his heart pounding. Then he heard the clinking of metal and the pounding echo of footsteps on stone.
"They're coming." Meg said.
"No, wait!" Lavinia beamed. "It's her!"
"Her who?" Apollo demanded.
"Them where?" Don squeaked.
"Can we get pizza?" Louisa asked, tipping her head to the side to stare at the ceiling.
"I'm here!" Lavinia called, flourishing her hand wildly over her head.
"What are you doing?" Meg hissed.
From the direction of the camp, a young woman jogged into view. She was similar in age to Lavinia, perhaps fourteen or fifteen, with dark skin and golden eyes. Curly dark hair fell about her shoulders, her legionnaire greaves and breastplate shone over jeans and a purple T-shirt. Affixed to her chest was the centurion insignia and a spatha hung at her belt.
"Hazel Levesque." Apollo recognised. "Thank the gods." Hazel stared at him, unsure who he was. She took in Don and seemingly-drunk-feverish-gods-knew-Louisa, still humming her theme song and watching something on the ceiling. She studied Meg and Apollo again and then faced Lavinia.
"What's going on? Why's Lou… broken?"
"Guys, we have company."
At the edge of the light from Meg's blades, a dark form prowled. It's blue-black skin glittered, saliva dripped from ravenous teeth. It seemed lumpy and mishappen until another, identical ghoul stepped from behind it.
Apollo sighed. This was very typical of their luck.
Can you all do me a massive favour? Can you message Nickelodeon and tell them not to cancel Rise of the TMNT? They messed it up, no advertising, swapping it to later hours on a channel not really used, cancelled the toy line (and they weren't even the best of toys) and gave the crew six weeks to script/storyboard/colour/animate/etc the finale, when ONE episode can take 12-13 weeks!
Ta! ^_^