I was sparring with Raphael in the dojo, with Leonardo and the others watching. My Fire types are doing great, by the way. My Charmander can be a real big softie sometimes. But he's an excellent fighter. Yeah, my Charmander spars every now and then.
I mean, he doesn't have to know ninjutsu to be a good fighter. I just hope my Charmander evolves soon. He's close to evolving, I can feel it.
Just imagine; a Charizard on my team. I'll be unstoppable! I'll be the ultimate Fire Type trainer there's ever been!
Donatello walks in with some... Eggs? "Check it out, guys. We're about to take our ninjutsu to a whole new level!" He exclaims. "Bodacious." I purr. I trip Raphael with my tail. "Hey!" He barks. "Sorry not sorry." I said playfully.
"What's with the eggs, then?" I ask. "Last night, I learned how to make ninja smoke bombs!" He answers. Donatello drops one of those smoke bombs to demonstrate. He appears behind us, purple smoke in the air.
"Nice." I said. They're like little teleportation devices. I can do something similar to that. "Now, to make them, I carefully drill two holes into an eggshell without cracking it, slowly blow out the contents, wait for the insides to dry, then pour in flash powder and seal both holes with wax,"
I found this procedure interesting, but Raphael didn't seem to care. "Blah, blah, science, blah. Do it again!" He said, excitedly. "I know you like these smoke bombs, but I don't think that's the point of the conversation." I kindly reply to him. He gives me a frown though I can see a playful look in his eyes.
"Thank you, Marcel. What I'm trying to tell you guys is, they take a long time to make, so use them sparingly." Donatello tells us. "Consider it done. Cause with what I can do, I won't be needing those smoke bombs." I said.
I proceed to turn invisible. Everyone's eyes widen. "Where'd he go?" Donatello asks. The others shrugged. I give Raphael a playful slap in the face. He takes a fighting stance. I went behind him and tugged on the ties of his mask. "Who's doing that?" Raphael asks angrily. "It wasn't me." Leonardo said.
I turn visible again and jump on Raphael's back. I start laughing. "You should've seen the look on your face!" I pat his back while trying to keep my laughter under control. "Th- That was you?!" Raphael asks. I nodded, still laughing.
I gave him a broad lick on the side of his face. Raphael growls at me. Don't worry. It was a playful growl. But even if so, my expression changed. I held a paw up. Undeterred, Raphael proceeds in tackling me to the ground.
A playful wrestling match ensued. We were rolling around the dojo, laughing all the while. This is common between the two of us. We're rough, but we're not too rough. Sometimes I go a little too far with the teeth. I never use my claws.
I was completely unaware that we were in the living room in the midst of this. A whistling noise stopped us abruptly. Everyone was looking at us. "Uh, sorry, sorry, we were just playing." I said sheepishly, standing up. Raphael takes my hand and I pull him up. We each put an arm around each other.
"It's okay," Leonardo said. "Anyway, his talons were razor sharp. He would've torn me to pieces if he hadn't slammed into the glass." April said. I give her a confused look. Razor sharp talons. Slamming into glass. "Is this a pigeon?" I ask. She nods. I hear laughing. It's right next to me.
I jabbed my claws into Raphael's shoulder, not to the point where they went through his skin. He cries out in pain. A pigeon that big must be a mutant. Why would it go after April is the question.
"Oh! I almost forgot. The pigeon dropped this after he flew off. And what's weird is that Marcel's name is on it." April said, taking out a box. "Odd. Why me of all people? I've never met this pigeon. Heck, as weird as it is, I used to chase them for a living!" I said, almost hysterically.
My Charmander chirped as I opened the box. There was a flower inside. I carefully took it in my hands. One wrong move cold set this ablaze. I should know. The last time I held a flower, I sneezed and burned it up. I have a sneeze of fire.
There was a note inside, but I didn't really care at the moment. "Not now. We'll have to see what we can do about this pigeon." I said. Raphael starts laughing again. We all glare at him. "Really? Just me?" He asks us. Splinter hits him over the head with his staff.
"Raphael. Clearly April is upset." He said. "Yeah. I wouldn't laugh at you if you said anything similar, now, would I?" I ask him. Raphael shakes his head. I try to be a good role model for the boys, but sometimes I wonder if my work pays off.
"Just a suggestion, as much as I don't wanna have to say this, maybe we should set a trap for this pigeon?" I suggest. "We just have to find something for bait."
"I know what we can use for bait," Donatello said. "Bread crumbs! Pigeons eat bread crumbs," Michelangelo exclaims. "That's... Actually what I was thinking." I said, nodding my head.
"I meant April," Donatello said in an annoyed tone. Michelangelo shields her. "You're gonna let him eat April? I thought you liked her!" Michelangelo exclaims. "He's right, and I don't appreciate your little tone of voice!" I retort to Donatello.
"Don't sweat it. We got your back." Donatello answers. "Alright, mighty mutants, let's do this," Leonardo orders. I wag my tail. "Ha! Mighty mutants! I love that name!" I said, giving Leonardo a fist bump.
They proceed to leave the lair. "Wait a second. We don't know what we're up against yet. Don't you think we should study the pigeon before confronting him?" I ask, stopping them.
"It's a pigeon, Marcel. We know what we're up against." Raphael said with a tone. I glare at him for a second. "Marcel is right," Kijani said behind me. "What you know is dangerous to your enemy. What you think you know is dangerous to you," Splinter patted Kijani's head. "I fear you are all becoming overconfident."
I took a deep breath. "He might be right there," my Charmander said. "Especially the boys. Thought I'll admit, they've taken on a mutant spider, alien robots, and so on and so forth." I patted his head. I should take him with me. Besides, he might evolve into Incineroar.
Worth a shot.
"Don't worry, Splinter. I'll look after them." I said to him, then turned to leave with the boys.
...
Why am I hiding in a dumpster again? Oh, right.
Charmander kept complaining about the smell inside the dumpster. Hey, I slept in a dumpster before I met the turtles, I'll have you know! Not with the trash inside.
I heard a zapping noise, and a cry from a pigeon. I lunged out of the dumpster, Charmander on my shoulder, and pinned the pigeon man's arms down, growling in his face. "N-nice kitty." It said.
I put my teeth out of sight. "Please don't call me a Kitty. Do you have a name or what?" I asked nicely. "Pete. My name's Pete." The pigeon man said. I got off of him. "You definitely a mutant. A man mutated into a pigeon. What a shocking discovery I just made." I said dramatically.
"Actually, I started out as a pigeon." Pete said. "Oh. Well, there you go." I purred. "Told you breadcrumbs would've worked." Michelangelo said, crossing his arms. "You've got breadcrumbs?!" Pete picked up Michelangelo, excited, trying to find the breadcrumbs.
"Typical pigeons." Pātonā said.
...
Man, I couldn't be any more frustrated.
Okay, let's start with the fact that Michelangelo's brothers seem to hate him. Donatello complained that he was always stuck with him. Leonardo said he didn't want him, and gave me an attitude when he said he was in charge. Raphael was just flat out nasty. He said "Over my dead body!"
Sometimes I straight up hate Raphael. Michelangelo set an alarm off, and Raphael said to him, "And that's why no one wants to be with you!" I gave him a good punch in the shoulder.
Second, we couldn't get April reunited with her father.
Right now, Donatello was trying to defuse a mutagen bomb, and Bradford and Xever kept us company. Pātonā was knocked away and never came back up. Poor guy. I hope he's okay...
I was having a showdown with Bradford's Machoke and Xever's Feraligatr. I blocked a punch from Bradford's Machoke and an Ice Fang from Xever's Feraligatr. One on each arm. I slammed my knee into Machoke, knocking the wind out of him.
My Charmander used Flame Charge into Feraligatr's back, biting his tail with Fire Fang, throwing him into Xever and Bradford. He's been growing confident when he fights Water types. He just needs to remember not to use his Fire type moves.
Donatello defused the mutagen bomb and joined the fight. Xever and Bradford were back to back, cornered. "You are worthy adversaries, but the fight is ours. Lay down your weapons." Leonardo said, pointing his katana blade. I cackled. "Yeah! What he said!" I said.
"Never!" Xever said. "You don't have a choice. You've lost." Leonardo said. Bradford grinned. This can't be good. "If I'm going down... I'm taking you with me." He said just as he stabbed the contraption that contained mutagen.
Leonardo pulled me towards him. And down those two went. Okay, so we beat the Kraang and two of Saki's henchmen. Overconfident? Maybe, maybe not. I can't say yes or no.
"Your skills are impressive," a deep voice said. A man in silver armor stared at us, a Bisharp by his side. The sound of a sword being drawn could be heard. "But they will not save you."
I glared at him. "Saki. We meet again." I said, curling my hand into a fist, unsheathing my claws. I could feel my Charmander trembling on my shoulder. I could tell he was scared.
"Indeed, Marcel. There is undoubtedly a fascinating story of how my old nemesis came to train the art of ninjutsu to four mutant turtles. And a mutant tiger. Perhaps I will let one of you live long enough to tell it."
Saki's Bisharp glared death at me and Charmander. I heard the sound of an egg cracking. Saki took a stance, and his Bisharp ran into me, the blade on his head hitting my chest. Even if I have impenetrable skin, that hurt like shell.
It was me, Charmander, and Saki's Bisharp. Charmander jumped off my shoulders to I have no clue where. Bisharp unsheathed a blade from his arm, ready to use Slash. I avoided it, using Blaze Kick to trip him. Charmander used Flame Charge from above, hitting Bisharp.
Furious, Saki's Bisharp got back up and used Slash into my throat. It felt like I got hit with Throat Chop. I tried to block a series of kicks, punches, and slashes. I blocked most of them, but I was growing weak.
Charmander used Fire Fang in Bisharp's arm, burning it. Saki's Bisharp just threw him off like it was nothing. He continued with his slashing.
Two Slashes at once sent me on my side, covered in bruises and bloodless cuts. I was nearly unable to move. I raised my head, only for it to be pinned down by the Bisharp's foot.
I could see my Charmander staring at the sight with wide eyes. He then bared his teeth, cried out in rage, and attacked Bisharp with Flame Charge. The Dark and Steel type tries to use Slash, but Charmander was too quick. I'm watching the whole battle scene occur before my eyes. Unbelievable. A level fifteen Charmander taking on a level 20 Bisharp.
I was beat up pretty bad. I can't imagine the boys look any better. From where I was lying down, I could see their battle scene. All of them had bruises, and I could see that their shells were cracked some. I knew I had bruises, but they weren't as bad. I heal pretty quickly. Think about it like this; three months to heal would be reduced to about two weeks at least.
Saki's Bisharp fainted after a painfully long amount of time, thanks to Charmander's blinding speed and intent to protect me. Then I saw that Xever and Bradford mutated. Bradford looked like some sort of dog, with one arm bigger than the other. Xever looked like a red fish with two long teeth and yellow eyes.
I gathered the last bit of strength I had, inhaled deeply, and gave off a lion roar, sending Saki, Bradford, and Xever flying elsewhere. Keep in mind that we'll have to fight them again at some point. Charmander ran over to me and gave me a rough nuzzle. I purred and nuzzled him back. "You saved my life." I told him. He puffed out his chest and wagged his tail.
"Marcel!"
My eyes snap open, and I see the boys standing there with relieved looks on their faces. I let out a breath, grinning. They're okay. Down on all fours, I ran to Leonardo, nearly on the verge of tears. I threw my arms around Leonardo, hugging him tightly. Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo gathered around us, and soon enough, I was in the center of a group hug.
They were talking all at once in my ears, ecstatic that I was okay. I buried my face into Leonardo's shoulder, breathing shakily, crying without a care. They were hurt, but the best part is, they're not dead.
...
We were back at the lair, right before I was attacked by a hug from Kijani. I was still relieved that everyone returned home in one piece. "Prepare yourself, my sons, because as of now, we are at war." Couldn't have said it better myself.
Later that night, I was getting cat-tongue clean, but some quiet sobs caused me to stop in my tracks. It was coming from Michelangelo's room.
I entered his room, since his door was partway open, and his shell was facing me, hugging his knees close. He looked like he was trying to block the world out. I was deeply concerned about him. I wasted no time in jumping up on his bed, and I can see the tears in his eyes and streaming down his face. "Are you okay, dude?" I asked desperately.
He raised his head s bit so he could make eye contact with me. "Why do they hate me?" Who's they? "They don't hate you." I was a bit confused. "It sure sounded like they did. They said so, right in front of me." More tears streamed down his face.
Who the heck is he talking about? Oh, son of a gun, how could I possibly forget! "Michelangelo, I'm sure your brothers don't hate you—"
"Then how come no one said anything when I pointed it out?" He interrupted me before sniffling. "They openly said that they didn't want me."
"I said something, but no one really answered me." I sighed. The four of us, minus Michelangelo, nearly got into a fight with each other. I don't just hate how Leonardo, Raphael, and Donatello treat Michelangelo, I loathe it entirely!
No one, and I mean NO ONE deserves to be treated like this! I had to do something about this. But what? He probably didn't feel like talking to them right now. Me trying to console him myself doesn't seem to be working.
But then an idea hit me.
He was crying openly in front of me, his sobs getting louder every minute, and tears were flowing down his face nonstop.
Oh, your eyes, your eyes make the stars look like they're not shinin',
Michelangelo raised his head.
Your hair, your hair falls perfectly without her trying,
You're so beautiful and I tell you everyday,
Yeah, I know, I know when I compliment you, you might not believe me,
And it's so, it's so sad to think they you don't see what you see,
But every time you ask me "Do I look okay?"
I say,
I place a paw on top of Michelangelo's hand.
When I see your face,
There's not a thing that I would change 'cause you're amazing,
Just the way you are,
Michelangelo grins. I hope he's feeling better. This was the only song I could think of that fits his current situation.
I noticed Leonardo peeking through the door. Still ticked, and not caring, I just glared at him and ignored him.
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for a while,'cause girl you're amazing,
Just the way you are.
Michelangelo sniffs and wipes his face. "You really mean that?" I give him a sad smile. "I wouldn't have said, or sung it, if I didn't mean it." I said, putting my free paw on Michelangelo's shoulder.
He inhaled, and exhaled a shaky breath. Before I even knew it, he nearly knocked me down on my back when he tackled me into a hug, burying his face in my shoulder.
His voice was muffled, but I think he said, "You're the best friend I could ask for." I just put my arms around him and squeezed him, putting all the love and protection into the hug. I don't know if I'm that good of a friend, but I guess I am.
"Got room for three more?"
We pull away enough to see Leonardo, Raphael, and Donatello standing in the doorway. I glared at them. They're the cause of all this! I growled at them. "It's okay, bud. Let 'em in." Michelangelo said, patting my back.
They sat on the edge of the bed, looks of sorrow on their faces. "Well, what do you three want? Other than hurt his feelings." I spat.
"We came here to apologize. To both of you. We weren't thinking." Leonardo said. Typical of him. "And what have I told you about thinking before you speak?" The poison in my voice didn't disappear even a little.
"We know. Don't make a big stink about it." Raphael retorts. I feel a pair of arms snaking around me and Michelangelo. Donatello. He started the whole ordeal!
The thought was cut short when I realized how tightly he was hugging us. Michelangelo nuzzles into his embrace, but I just blink. I'm pretty sure I heard an "I'm so sorry" from him.
Raphael and Leonardo simultaneously wrap their arms around the three of us. I don't think they need to tell us that they're sorry. I can feel it in their embrace. I realize that everyone makes mistakes.
I just hope they don't make the same mistake twice.
...
Hate to break it to you, buddy, but they definitely will.
That had to be one of the most emotional epilogue I ever written.