We were running across the rooftops, just having plain ol' fun. After the whole spider incident, I sure could use it. After that, I've seen enough spiders for one day. I thought it was a good idea to take Charmander with me.
From the building we were on, the next one was about three feet away. I skidded to a halt and watched as Donatello and Michelangelo jumped across the gap, doing some tricks of their own.
"Top that, chumps!" Michelangelo yelled over to us. I raised an eyebrow, my competitive side ready to show. "Who are you calling chumps, little man?" I asked Michelangelo, all in a tizzy.
He pretended to be deep in thought. "Uh... You." He said. Why that little stinker!
"I'll show you, chump!" I yelled to him. I took several steps back. "Clear the way. This could get hot." I warned. I drew out my torch, lit it up, then did some cat stretches. I'm gonna need it if I'm gonna perform Flame Wheel.
"Quit stalling!" I heard Donatello yell. "I'm not stalling!" I said back.
I inhaled through my nose, and exhaled through my mouth. Gathering as much strength as needed, I spun my torch in my hand. It spun faster until I was completely consumed in a Flame Wheel. I ran like a hamster in its ball to the edge of the building. The boys just watched in awe. Charmnader looked like he was having the time of his life.
When I was airborne, I struck a pose. When I felt the floor of the rooftop hit my front paws, I launched myself back into the air, did a backflip, and stuck the landing. I shook myself like a dog, getting rid of any remaining embers in my fur. But I didn't shake so hard I flew Charmander off my back.
"Beat that." I said competitively. I got cheers and applause from the boys. "Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all night." I said as if I was on a stage. I wrapped an arm around Michelangelo. "Don't call me a chump again." I said into his ear. If he had ears.
Leonardo took a step back, ran toward us, did a flip, and landed next to me. "Impressive." I said, giving him a fist bump. "It won't beat my Flame Wheel, though." I added.
"Cute kiddies," Raphael said. He stepped back, ran, but didn't do any flips. He's heading straight for us! I didn't have time to react. Raphael crashed into us. The boys were scattered around, Charmander was sitting on my head, and Raphael was sitting on me, period. "What on Earth was that? You didn't do any flips." I said, my voice a bit strained. "Oops." He said. I faked a laugh. He did that on purpose.
"At least now I know what a pancake feels like." I said. "Now, Raphael, if you would be so kind, could you please get off of me." He did what he was told.
My ears jerked when I heard a noise. I arched my back so my fur stood on end, turning to where the noise came from. The boys pulled out their weapons. It revealed itself to be... A small gray cat Pokémon with a spring-like tail?
"Huh. Haven't seen one of these in a while." I said, putting a hand on my hip. "You know, your Charmander might actually win this fight." Raphael teased. "Well, he is at level 5 now, so he knows Ember, but this Glameow looks like she's level 10 at the most, so..."
"Aww, it's a little kitty!" Michelangelo said, picking it up. "What's this?"
"That would be a Glameow, the Catty Pokémon, a Normal type. I heard if you stare into its eyes, you'll fall into a hypnotic trance. I wouldn't know, I'm immune to hypnosis." I said. "The Psychic type move hypnosis, or actual hypnosis?" Donatello asked. "Both." I answered.
Charmander walked up to the Glameow. He remembered what I just said about the hypnotic trance and tried not to make direct eye contact with it. The Glameow hissed with her back arched. Scared, Cmarmander bolted and climbed up my back and on my shoulder. "Welp, he tried." Raphael said.
"Mittens!" Someone said. We looked up and saw a guy in a white shirt at an open window of an apartment building. The Glameow meowed. Oh, I've seen this Glameow before... And I know the guy. "I think that's it's owner." Donatello said. I nodded. Michelangelo started walking away.
"What are you..." I trailed off. Then it hit me. "Wait a minute, Michelangelo."
"What? I'm returning Mittens to her owner." Michelangelo said. "Are you an idiot? Wait, let me rephrase that. You're an idiot!" Raphael replied. I glared at him, "He is not an idiot."
"But he can't show himself to a human," Donatello said. "But I can." I added. The entire city knows of my existence. In fact, they've done a good job when it came to leaving me alone. I'm like one of those legends everyone knows about, like how Arceus created the world we're living in, that sorta thing.
"Why not?" Michelangelo asked. "Because they'll freak the heck out, that's why!" Donatello retorted. "No they won't. I'm not so scary." Michelangelo said. "You're an ugly green mutant armed with ninja weapons." Raphael said.
"Well, first off, not trying to be offensive, but, you're all, as you put it, ugly green mutants armed with ninja weapons, sooo..." I paused. The three gave me a look. Charmander, the little sassmaster he is, gave them a look back. "Second, I don't think that any of you, including Michelangelo, are ugly." I continued. But my point seemed to be proven wrong when I heard screaming.
"Aaah! Ugly green mutant freak!"
"But I got your cat-"
"Help! He's got my cat!"
I facepalmed when Michelangelo fell into some trash bags. And the angry Glameow on his shell. "Someone wanna help me with this?" Michelangelo asked. "No." The others replied. I sighed. Sometimes, if you want things done right, you have to do it are the words I like to live by.
"Alright, I'll take her." I said, taking the Glameow off of his shell. This shouldn't be a problem. The guy knows me. I jumped up to the fire escape, carefully holding the cat, and up to the window. He was still there, but a little freaked out.
I casually knocked on the window. The guy opened the window and saw me. He jumped a little, but he didn't flip out like last time. "Hey, I remember you." He said.
"The feeling is mutual." I said. "I believe this belongs to you." I handed him his cat.
"Thank you." He said.
"You're welcome." I purred. I climbed down the fire escape when I saw Michelangelo doing some odd but amusing moves. I shook my head. He stopped, putting his hands on his hips. "Now, don't tell anyone you saw that." He said. "No problem." Leonardo said. I didn't have much of anyone to tell, anyway.
"Now what on Earth were you doing?" I asked him with amusement. Leonardo pointed to a Chris Bradford billboard. Okaay... "You want Chris Bradford to be your friend?" I asked Michelangelo. I have a sneaking suspicion about that guy.
He nodded. "When I meet him, we'll be friends, and then he'll show me his secret kata, the Death Dragon!" I had some sort of idea what he was talking about. I rolled my eyes and shook my head with a slightly amused grin. But it slowly faded. If the man from a few minutes ago flipped out when he saw Michelangelo, how would Chris Bradford react?
"Listen, kid, I hate to break your spirit, but I don't trust that guy." I said to him with honesty. "The last time we saw each other..." I paused. A bad memory played through my mind. "Let's just say it didn't end well."
"Face it, Chris Bradford is the last person on Earth who would be friends with you. Well, tied for last, with everyone else on Earth." Raphael said to Michelangelo. I felt like punching him. That's true, but you don't tell him that!
Instead of punching him, I elbowed him. Hard. "Ow!" He yelled in pain. "Jeez, what was that for?"
"For not keeping your mouth shut." I hissed.
My super sensitive ears picked up a noise. I whirled around, got down on all fours with my fur standing on end, arched my back, and growled loudly with my teeth bared towards an alley. The boys jumped.
Black, bug eyed looking ninjas jumped in front of us. I took a step back, but kept my posture. "Ninjas? In New York? Other than us?" Donatello asked. I was thinking the same thing.
This'll be interesting.
We started fighting the ninjas. I tackled one to the ground and scratched it in the face. After a while, a large dude in armor came with reinforcements. I wonder if this guy was Chris Bradford. We heard police sirens, we made a run for it, end of story.
...
I was biting and clawing at my torch. Don't worry, it won't break. My torch is virtually indestructible. Chamander grabbed the end of it. "Tug-o-war?" Charmander nodded. "You know I'm gonna win, right?" Charmander just growled, his tail wagging. "Okay. Don't get upset when I win, this was your idea." I grabbed the other end. This would be much easier if we had a rope. Charmander began pulling. I barely moved. I gently pulled, and he held onto my torch as he was lifted into the air.
Charmander glared at me with an adorable grunt. "Don't give me that look. This whole game was your idea." I told him. Then I did something I thought I'd never do. I picked Charmander up with my mouth. Some animals, like lions and cougars, do this with their cubs. I wasn't applying much pressure with my teeth. Enough so I wouldn't drop him.
Leonardo was telling Splinter about the fight we just had. "Their leader was crazy good, by which I means that he was good but seemed a little crazy. Besides, he had all these guys with him, it wasn't a fair fight." Leonardo said.
I set CHarmander down. "Since when was a fight ever fair?" I asked him. "You know, a fair fight, where either side could win?" He said. I shook my head. "Okay, allow me to demonstrate." I said, walking up to Leonardo. I knocked him down with my legs (Which took some intense footwork, by the way). Impressed, Charmander made a noise that sounded like "Wow."
"Hey!" He shouted at me. I giggled a bit.
"Was that fair?"
"No."
"Did I win?"
"I get your point." Leonardo said, slightly amused.
"Seek victory, not fairness." Splinter said.
I knelt down to his level. "I was just messing with you!" I said, wrapped an arm around Leonardo. "You knew that. Right?" I was teasing him. He moaned a bit. "Right?" I said, shaking him. Laughing, he stopped me. "Yes, I knew." He said, still laughing.
I let him go. Then I just wandered around until I was positive I was by myself. I need a little alone time.
Michelangelo and I have a similar problem. Michelangelo seems to be longing for a friend, while I'm still longing for a partner Pokémon to call my own. Before I met Charmander, that is.
But ever since my Gliscor died when I was five, maybe six, I gave up on finding a partner Pokémon. That was over a decade ago. I've been living by myself prior to the turtles' first time in the city. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my privacy. But sometimes I just... Wished I had a partner Pokémon every now and then. And now that I have one, I feel as though my life was compete.
Hoping no one was around, I let my tears fall. It was such a heartbreaking moment of my life, but having Charmander with me, I can't really tell you if I was crying out of sadness or happiness. My breathing became heavy, and the sniffles came. I laid down, one paw draped over the other, put my head there, and just cried softly. Charmander nuzzled me, wondering if I was okay.
I felt a gray hand on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Kijani looking at me sympathetically. "You thinking about... You know what, again?" Kijani said, trying not to make me feel worse. I nodded. "Have you ever had a close someone in your life, lost that someone, and stat feeling depressed?"
Kijani thought for a moment. "Now that you mention it, I have. Sadly, I don't remember who it was." He said after a while.
"Oh." I said, looking down
"But I do remember that you're just getting to know your Charmander. So I'll tel you what, I'll tell the boys where you went, and you two can spend some time together."
"That sounds great, Kijani." I said, looking down at Charmander, who also liked the idea. "Thank you."
Kijani nodded. And without another word, I left. At least Kijani was telling the boys where I was. He's probably gonna have to tell them about my current situation, but I'm willing to give myself a chance.
...
I was at the surface now. There were Pokémon roaming around pretty much everywhere. I'm actually glad I decided until now to look. Oh, and who knows? Maybe I'll evolve Charmander!
Now, even though the city knows who I am, I still decided to look in alleys. I wouldn't want to be caught by the police, though they've seen me before. The first alley I entered had... Some Dark types. I saw Sneasel, Poochyena, a few Houndour, and a Sableye. Not bad.
I meowed, getting everyone's attention. A Poochyena came over and sniffed my hand. I giggled a bit. "Well, hello." I said. This cute little guy just walked right up to me-
But I'm guessing it didn't like me, because it bit my leg. "Ow!" I screamed. Poochyena have sharp teeth! I'm not exaggerating! That hurt!
The rest of the Poochyena, about nine of them, ambushed me. One by one, they sunk their teeth in. It felt like spears stabbing my skin. At this point, me having impenetrable skin is useful. You know what else is useful? Setting my fur on fire.
That's exactly what I did. Four of the Poochyena fled, but the remaining six were snarling in front of me. I made a short roaring noise, and they came pouring in. Charmander took a stance.
I swiped my paws at them, either tripping them or sending them flying. After a while, they ran. The Sneasel, Houndour, and one Sableye, who saw the entire thing, wandered off as if nothing happened. I shook my head. Then I heard a swooshing sound behind me. I turned, but saw nothing. I shrugged.
A little while later, it came down to wandering around. I've been our for a day or two, today about an hour and a half, at least, and nothing! I wonder how Michelangelo's doing with Chris Bradford.
Speaking of which, I should probably tell you about that bad memory I mentioned before. Bradford and I weren't exactly friends, but we got along pretty good. But one day, he decided that he couldn't stay with a ferocious, predatory mutant like myself.
We both lost our tempers, ticked each other off, and in the end, during a sword fight, I lunged at Bradford to scratch him, but I barely missed. The next thing I knew, just before I landed, I felt the sharpest pain, worse than the bite from those Poochyena, in my tail.
I roared from the immense pain. Then the noise of something dropping to the floor reached my ears. I looked to my left and saw 1/3 of my tail lying there. Chris Bradford sliced 1/3 of my tail off. My tail is 12 inches/1 foot long. 12 divided my 3 is 4. Bradford sliced off 4 inches of my tail, so now I have 8 inches worth of tail left. You're welcome, for the math lesson.
I remember Michelangelo talking about this kata called the Death Dragon. Oh yeah, it's all coming together. The only other person that I know that knows that kata is Oruku Saki. Bradford must be one of his students. In that exact moment of realization, my fur bristled. My fur only bristles involuntarily when a sense of danger is nearby.
Michelangelo's in trouble!
In an instant, I hit the ground running. His brothers are probably coming to his rescue by now. How could I let this happen?
A bunch of dark blue Pokémon stood in my way. Sneasel. Charmander crouched, growling. There had to be at least twenty of them! They lunged at me, teeth bared. I rolled out of the way. But unfortunately, I noticed large, sky blue chunks heading straight for me.
Oh no, Ice Shard! Fire is resistant to Ice, but it takes a while for a Sneasel to evolve into Weavile.
I was midair, unable to properly react when I got hit with one of the shards. Several Ice Shards shot at me, like they were trying to keep me in the air. You know how cats always land on their feet? I would've if I wasn't low on energy. And I have 190 HP, being part Pokemon, so this took a while. Charmander tried to attack, but he kept getting nocked back by a Sneasel. Eventually, I landed on my back against the wall of an alleyway. I groaned as I tried to get back up.
The group of Sneasel slowly approached me. I closed my eyes, ready to be defeated by a group of Pokémon that I thought I could handle. I used the last of my energy to swift kick one in the nose, sending him flying a few feet. It wasn't enough. I waited for the inevitable...
But I heard the same swooshing noise from before as well as the cry from Charmander. It stood in front of me as if it was protecting me. He used Ember, dealing super effective damage to the Sneasel. I watched the scene unfold before me. No ordinary Charmander would just rush in and save me. This is a special bond I just formed, and it's only been a week. Who knew? This has got to be one of the best days of my life! I've been saved by my Fire type starter Pokémon!
After about a minute, there were only about three Sneasel left. Charmander hissed. Scared, they ran.
I was still on my back, resting. He just saved my life. Charmander licked my face. If I leave, they probably won't let me unless I take them with me. Good thing I brought a Poké Ball. But not just any Poké Ball. This ball I have in my hand, or paw, I should say, is a Luxury Ball. Pokémon caught in a Luxury Ball gain friendship more quickly. It's mostly black, with two yellow stripes with a red stripe in the middle on the top half. The lid that went around the middle was a golden color.
Charmander rubbed his head against mine. Jeez, this guy likes me this much, I don't have much of a choice but to take them with me. I stood up.
"You wanna come with me?" I asked. Out of complete anticipation, Charmander leaped into my arms and licked my face again. I'm definitely taking that as a yes!
I put him in a Luxury Ball, then brought him back out. The Charmander and I were running across rooftops. It's a good thing I remembered Bradford's address. I saw a hole in the roof. "Dudes! That was sporadic!" I heard a shout. Then I heard shushes. I looked down from the hole and saw Michelangelo tied up. But nonetheless, I let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness he's alright.
Leonardo untied Michelangelo and rubbed his head. I lightly scratched the rooftop to catch their attention. The boys looked up and saw me and Charmander. "Marcel!" Everyone whisper shouted. I jumped down, walked to Michelangelo, and butted my head into his plastron. Michelangelo put his arms around me and hugged me tight. "You came." He whispered, almost sounding like he was on the verge of tears.
"Of course I came." I whispered. "Nothing's more important than you four."
"Kijani told us what happened." Donatello whispered. "I had a feeling he did." I whispered, raising my voice just a little.
"I see you've bonded with your Charmander." Leonardo said. Charmander made a chirping noise, keeping his volume in and I parted from our hug. "Okay, so what's the plan?"
...
We had Bradford and a Brazilian guy think we lived in the sewers. Not just any Brazilian guy. I know everything and everyone.
That Brazilian guy was Xever. He chipped one of my steel claws. Whenever that happens, I go crazy. And not in a good way.
A Machoke and a Feraligatr were behind them. I'm guessing the Machoke is Bradford's, and the Feraligatr was Xever's. Note to self, keep my Charmander away from the Feraligatr. Water type (Feraligatr) beats Fire. I mean, obviously. A first grader could figure that out!
Each of us kidnapped a ninja and tied it to the ceiling. Me, I just decimated the one in my grasp. "Show your faces!" Xever said. If that's what Xever wants... I dropped the decimated ninja. I ripped off its arms and legs, as well as its head. All appendages were covered in bite marks and scratches. Bradford and Xever stared at it.
Then I dropped from the ceiling, Donatello and Michelangelo came out of the shadows, and Leonardo and Raphael came from the water. "They've trapped us!"
"Take 'em down!"
Michelangelo and Donatello fought Xever. I didn't even get close to Bradford's Machoke when Xever bumped into me. "Oh, Marcel," He said. "Long time no see. Where've you been?"
"Hiding from you." I said. "Oh! Burn!" Michelangelo said. Charmander, who was on my shoulder, hissed in agreement. Now I was in front of Bradford's Machoke. I was about to strike it with Blaze Kick, but it used Strength, punching me in my head. Indestructible skull is indestructible. Machoke shook his hand, trying to ease the pain in his hand. I took this time to use Blaze Kick. Right in the stomach.
Something long, somewhat sharp, and wet hit me from behind. I landed on my side. That darn Feraligatr must've used Aqua Tail. Water types...
Okay, normally I don't do this, but I have the ability to change the type of my moves. For example, I can change the type of my Blaze Kick to Electric, which is exactly what I did. I like to call it Thunder Kick, since that's not a thing yet. A super effective hit sent the Feraligatr crashing into Xever.
A large, purplish, muscular arm choked me around the neck. Bradford's Machoke got back up. My Charmander bit his arm, hard, causing it to let go. But Charmander didn't let go of Machoke's arm.
"I like a feisty kitty." The Machoke growled, punching my Charmander right in between his eyes. That ticked me off.
"Good to know." I growled back. I used Zen Headbutt, and our heads crashed together. It hurt Machoke more than it hurt me. Seriously. Zen Headbutt is a Psychic type move. Psychic beats Fighting. That's one. Xever's Feraligatr bit my shoulder. A loud roar echoed through the walls. Using Thunder Punch, I paralyzed it. "I can't feel my anything." It wheezed.
"That's the point, scaly." I said teasingly. That's two.
I saw Michelangelo kick Bradford in the stomach, then a spin-kick. "Hit it!" Leonardo and I turned a valve, making sewage spew out at the guys. "Well, that wasn't very fair." Raphael said. "No, it wasn't." Leonardo agreed before they all started laughing.
"Seriously, bud," I said to my Charmander. "That. Was awesome." My Charmander puffed out his chest as if he was proud of himself. He should be.
I turned to the boys. "High-three!" Michelangelo said, hold his hand up in the air. They seemed to be waiting for something. Everyone looked down at Charmander and me with a smile. "What?" I asked, laughing a bit.
"Come on, Marcel! You're a part of this team, too!" Michelangelo replied. My eyes widened a little. "I am?" I asked, slightly astonished. "Of course you are!" Raphael said with a sad look on his face. I looked down a bit. "All this time I never knew I was a real member of your team."
"Why not?" Donatello asked. "I guess I just..." I trailed off. Charmander tried to get me to perk back up by nudging me. "Felt like some sort of add-on to the team or somethin'." Leonardo knelt down, followed by everyone else, and put a hand on my shoulder. "You're not an add-on, Marcel. Far from it." He said. Didn't exactly make me feel better.
"Wait, do you feel like an add-on because we're turtles and you're a tiger?" Donatello asked. No point in trying to lie. "In a way, yeah." I said, nodding. I'm not sure what came over me, but I felt a lump in my throat and didn't even realize that I was crying. Leonardo wiped a tear away with his finger and pulled me in for a hug.
"Tiger or not, you are a member of this team. You always have been. I guess the same goes for your Charmander, too." Leonardo got a lick in the face for that.
Okay, that made me feel a bit better.
"The point is," Leonardo pulled away to look into my eyes. "We love you, Marcel."
That definitely made me feel better.
I pulled Leonardo in for a hug. He returned it. "I think I found my second best friend." I whispered in his ear. Leonardo loosened his grip for a second, then hugged me tighter.
Another pair of arms wrapped around the two of us, revealed to be Michelangelo. "D'aww!" He cooed, nuzzling me before kissing me. That was a bit much, but I could care less. He probably heard what I said.
"Group hug!" Michelangelo shouted in my ear. Again, I could care less. Raphael and Donatello threw their arms around us. It's good to know that they care for me. Just like I care for them.
We parted after about five minutes and stood back up. "So, are we gonna high-three or what?" Michelangelo asked. I shook my head. "Yes, we can high-three now." I said. "Alright! High-three!" Michelangelo said. I high-threed them.
...
We were back at the lair. The boys were eating pizza, I was letting my Charmander get accustomed to it. This was pretty much his new home.
"Is that a Fire type?" Kijani asked behind me. Why do people keep asking that question?
"Yeah. He saved me from a pack of Sneasel." I explained.
"A Charmander saved you from a pack of those shifty little things?"
"Yes!" I said in excitement. "Ain't it unbelievable?"
The Charmander sniffed Kijani's hand. "He likes you." I said. Kijani tried, and succeeded, in petting him. "Yep, he likes me." Kijani said. Charmander wasn't really interested in Kijani when Raphael brought him home. Kijani and I joined the boys.
"Sensei, aren't you hungry?" Donatello asked.
"I fear we are celebrating too soon." Splinter replied. "Too soon? The guys were swept away in a river of raw sewage. By my watch, that makes it the perfect time." Raphael said. If he says so.
"Shredder knows I'm alive. And worse, he knows about all of you. This is my worst nightmare come true," Splinter explained. "So it's not over?" Leonardo asked."Oh no, it's just beginning." Splinter answered. They boys hung their heads. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Michelangelo staring sadly at Donatello's laptop. I almost forgot about that.
"You okay?" I ask him. "This was all my fault. I should've never though I could be friends with a human." He answered. I put a paw on his shoulder. "Don't be so hard on yourself."
"So it's not my fault?" He asks. "Of course it's your fault." Raphael said. I gave him a look. There are times like this where I don't wanna have to agree with him.
"If you tell the others, I'll beat the green off you, but you're an awesome guy," Raphael said. "Now that I agree with." I purred.
"Bradford didn't think so." Michelangelo said, still a little bummed out. "If I were you, I wouldn't worry too much about him." I said. "Besides, you already have a human friend. Bradford... He's just a psychotic killing machine."
"Marcel's right. You deserve way better friends than him." Raphael added. "You know what, you guys are right! Thanks!" Michelangelo said to us. "Anytime." And with that, Raphael left. I stayed with him to see Michelangelo unfriend Bradford. "Unfriend." He cackled. "Revenge!"
That not exactly revenge, but it works for me.
"Keep this is in mind," I said, getting Michelangelo's attention. "If you ever need someone to trust, it can be me. I may not be your human friend, but I'll always be there for you."
Michelangelo threw his arms around me. "Aww, thanks, bud!" He said. I returned his hug. So did Charmander. The best he could, anyway. More hugs than usual today.
I could get used to this.
...
At last, I'm done!
I've been thinking about Fire type Pokémon. I came down to Charmander. Because, come on! You can't go wrong with Charizard! I decided to choose this Pokémon mostly because it'd make a loyal partner for Marcel. He loves his Fire types.
Deciding when Charmander will evolve in what episode is my only problem. "The Gauntlet" seems a bit ideal, but I don't know.
"I Think His Name Is Baxter Stockman" will be coming soon than you think.