"I swear to God next time Renet comes by we're runnin' the other way!" Yelled Raph coming out of the shower. After their "little" trip in time back to the cretaceous period, months of living in a hut and in the mud they all ached for the comforts of the modern days. Even a sewer dwelling mutant turtle has some standards. In any case, now they had been back home for a few days and could keep on working on their new lair. Leo was wielding some leaky pipe and Donnie working on the electricity while Mickey was well, Mickey-ing on the sofa. When the power suddenly went out. After a little melt-down from Mickey, Master Splinter came in with candles to light up the lair and suggested that they tell stories to pass time.
-"Hey, maybe Leo could tell us about his time with the Ancient One?" Suggested Donnie, after all, they hadn't talked about it yet and now was the perfect time.
-Yeah let's hear it about the Ancient One, I wanna learn about all the new ways to kick butt!" Said Raph, eager to know about the old master.
-Well, I wouldn't know where to start… but I can tell you this story about master Splinter's master Hamato Yoshi!
-Let's hear it!
-It's a story… about a girl.
-A girl? Does she kick butt?
-Hush Raphael! Please Leonardo, continue.
And so Leo told them the tragic tale of the friendship and fallout of Mashimi and Yoshi, the murder of Tang Shen as well as how Master Yoshi came to America. By the end of his tale, Splinter commented how events that may seem sad are a part of the weaving of fate and all things happen for a reason. Leo's thoughts were going a thousand mile an hour by now "It's now or never… If I wait any longer… Who knows how badly it'll go, it probably won't be pretty anyway."
-There's another story I would like to tell you. About Japan.
-Wow why so serious all of a sudden bro?" Raph asked, seemingly joking when he was bursting with anticipation. He hadn't forgotten about that strange trinket in Leo's hand that night. Nor his questions for his older brother.
-Because it's important, at least to me. Also… Ugh I've been putting this off for far too long…
-What's wrong Leo?" Mickey was starting to really get worried. Of course he wanted to know about the gears and somewhat attitude change he had observed. But… he didn't want to upset his older brother either.
-You're all probably going to be very pissed at me for telling you sooner… 'Sigh' I wasn't the only one there, with the Ancient One. In fact, there were many others…
-You allowed many humans to see you?" Splinter didn't mean to sound angry but you could still hear it. What had his son been thinking?
-Not humans. Mutants.
There was a dead silence. His family was utterly and completely flabbergasted. Many. Other. Mutans. Leo allowed a minute or two for the shock to set in.
-Most of them were humans before. They were mutated by various organizations, legal or not. Government or criminal. And from various places in the world.
-Ok ok, let's wind this back a little! How and… why... " For a rare instance, words were failing Donnie.
-What I want to know is why didn't you tell us." Raph's voice had taken a menacing edge. Of all things… he had not expected that. This was a total game changer! Other beings like them yet their brother could not be bothered to tell them about it!
-Between the Foot, Bishop, the mutant crisis, the new lair… I didn't know how to bring this up... " Leo dared not to look at them.
-My sons please, calm. I am sure Leonardo had a good reason for waiting. Now we're here, with nothing better to do for a few hours. Leonardo?" Leo looked at his father, unsure about how to continue but nonetheless had to.
-Very well… I'll start after I arrived at the temple. I had met the Ancient One a few days prior and traveled the rest of the road with him.
-What happened then?" Mickey chirped in.
-That part… is something that I'll go back to later.
-Okay… tell it your way bro...
The Ancient One's domain was beautiful. For Leo, who had grown up in the sewers, such large spaces beneath the sun was… breathtaking. He was following the Ancient One to the other side of the main entrance building.
-Come on kumquat! If you're going to stay here for awhile, you'd better meet and get along with the others.
-The others?
Then they walk passed the back door onto the back of the temple. Leo did not know what he had expected but it surely wasn't THIS. The court opened into a vast space into the mountains and the forest. With small houses upon the slope of the mountain, people coming and going. Not just any people. Mutants. Mutants of all gender and… kind? It was hard to process all that he was seeing. The main court was like a plaza with a pond in the middle. There were a few kids running around and playing. One of them spotted him and the old master and run up to them. He was a fox-like anthropomorphic being. Around the height a 12 years old would be
-Hey master! You didn't tell us there was gonna be a new guy!" The kid spoke in a thick irish accent.
-Hello Sean, I had not planned on it. Anyway I do expect that you lot will be nice to him.
-Of course! Hello I'm Sean! Welcome! What kind of mutant are you? A turtle? Cool we don't have any here! Where do you come from? How did you find out about this place? You're gonna move in with us? Whoa are those swords? You a ninja already? Awesome! Come on, we'll give you a tour!" The kid was practically bouncing around him, speaking so fast Leo was having a hard time keeping up.
-Slow down little one, the kumquat just got here, give him a second.
-Kumquat? Hahahaha!" All the children burst out laughing, but for some reason, Leo didn't mind much. He took a second to look at the little group. There were 6 in total. Four boys and two girls. Beside Sean, the little irish fox, the other boys were respectively a wolf-like mutant and two were cat-like and very similar, brothers maybe? The two girls' mutation inclined more to a bug-like appearance. Butterflies? In any case, everyone here seemed to be some kind of mutant hybrid between human and some animal.
-Anyway, as I said I'm Sean and here you have Alex, Nicholas, Cyril, Laura and Evelynn!" Said the little fox pointing to each of the other kids. They all smiled at him, although the two little cat-like boys, Nicholas and Cyril, seemed a little shy.
-Alex? Could you go get your brother please?
-Sure thing!" The little wolf darted off running toward one of the houses on the left.
-Alright kids off you go! You'll have plenty of time to question the new guy later!
-Okay… See you later kumquat!" Laughed Sean while running off with the others close behind.
-Why do I get the feeling that no matter what my name is, they'll never stop calling me like that?" Pondered Leo.
-You would be quite right, kumquat." Laughed the Ancient One. "Ah! You made that quick!" Leo looked to the left to see Alex coming back with another wolf-like being. Much taller, but it was hard to tell his age, as it often happens with mutants.
-My bro is really quick when he wants to be! Hi! I'm Jake!
-Hi, I'm Leonardo." He somewhat timidly extended his hand.
-Welcome to the Sanctuary!" The wolf teen, at least by his voice Leo assumed he was around his age, shaked his hand smiling. He did seem like a nice guy.
-Thank you… Pleased to meet you all." Leo had never felt so shy of his entire life. Never had he met so many people at the same time. People he would be living with nonetheless.
-Jake, I believe there's an unoccupied room in your shack?
-True, you want us to take him in?
-That'd be appreciated.
-Wait, I don't want to impose or…
-Don't sweat it roomie! That's how things work around. Squeeze in the new guys where we can! Come on follow me, I'll show you around!"
With those words, started one of the most changing experiences Leo would ever go through in his life. Despite all the crazy stuff that happened before, this would be something else.
Two chapters in two days! I'm on fire! Or maybe a sugar rush from all the ice-cream I've eaten yesterday… Who knows? :) The next chapters will mostly take place in Japan during those six months Leo spent there, lots of things are about to happen! Stay tuned!