Chapter 8 Mona is missing
As the days went by Raphael and Mona they made as much time as possible to be alone together because they wanted to keep on trying to have a baby. As for Mona's cousin Mindy she was still having a difficult time processing the idea of the changes in her cousin Mona. One day while she was watching the news she started mumbling to herself, "This isn't right. Mona is a mutant lizard and she is married to a giant talking mutant turtle who knows ninjutsu. On top of that she is living in the sewer which is gross!" While Mindy continued to mumble to herself she got an idea and started to put it together. Later on nothing much was going on with the turtles, Mona and Splinter. They were tidying up the lair when all of a sudden Mona's turtle phone was ringing. Mona didn't know who was calling her until she saw Mindy's name and number appear on the little screen. Mona picked up her phone and began talking to her cousin, "Hi Mindy it's good to hear from you. How are you? Oh wow really? Well sure that sounds great. Ok see you soon bye."
When Mona hung up her phone she said to the turtles and Splinter, "Guys I just finished talking to my cousin Mindy and she has invited me to spend the night with her just like when we used to have slumber parties as kids." "That sounds like fun" said Raphael. "I know right?! I wasn't sure when I was going to hear from Mindy again since the night we rescued her from those thugs. She took it kind of hard when I told her what happened including the death of her parents. I'm so happy to be spending time with her. I'm going to pack a bag" Mona said as she went into her room and packed things she would need. After Mona was done packing Raphael escorted Mona out of the lair to the surface all the way to Mindy's apartment. "Thanks Raphael see you tomorrow" Mona told her husband. "You're welcome and call me when you're on your way home or if you need me to come pick you up. I'll miss you" Raphael said as they kissed each other goodbye before Raphael went home.
"Mona I'm so happy to see you!" Mindy said as she greeted her cousin when Mona came inside. "I'm happy to see you too. I'm surprised you wanted to have one of our slumber parties. We haven't done one of those since we were children" Mona stated. "That's true but I want to make up for lost times so what better way to do that than to enjoy one of our favorite things from our childhood" Mindy pointed out. Mona decided to go with it because she remembered how much fun she and Mindy had as children. Mona placed her bag in the living room and the slumber party began. They were dancing and singing along to their favorite songs from their childhood. As the slumber party continued Mona and Mindy started to get hungry. "I know the perfect thing for us to eat for our slumber party" Mindy said as the doorbell rang and a guy with a pizza was on the other side of the door. Mindy paid the pizza guy and thanked him before closing the door. "Remember how much we loved crazy extra cheesy pizza as children?" "You better believe I do!" exclaimed Mona as she grabbed a slice and started eating.
"So Mona tell me how are things with you? Are you happy?" Mindy suddenly asked. "Things are great. I have a wonderful life and I'm married to the most wonderful guy in the world who loves me for me and is ok with the fact that I'm happy being myself. So yes Mindy I'm happy. Life did have its ups and downs for me in the past couple of years but I've learned to cope with it and also there is something else I want to tell you…" Mona began to say but before she could finish what she was saying Mindy interrupted and said, "Have you ever thought about what it would it be like to turn back into a human? How can you be happy being a lizard woman?" Mona was surprised by what Mindy said out of nowhere. "Wow Mindy I didn't think that you would say that. Are you upset with the way I am? I've come to terms with my mutation and Raphael loves and accepts me for who I am. Staying this way is one of the best decisions I've ever made and of course marrying Raphael and becoming part of his family. If you're unhappy with the way I live my life than this slumber party is over. I'll call Raphael to come pick me up. I don't want to walk around New York City at night alone" Mona angrily said as she went to pack up her stuff.
"Wait Mona please I'm sorry. It's just I'm having a hard time dealing with what you told me when you and the turtles rescued me from those thugs who would have done god knows what to me. You turning into a mutant lizard, your former friends betraying you and my parents who were the same people who took you in after your own parents passed away died as well. Also finding out that you're married and I didn't know anything about it until our reunion. Please stay" Mindy said as she was sorry for her outburst.
Mona saw how sorry Mindy was by the look on her face. "Alright I'll stay I know that you're upset and truth be told I'm rather enjoying our slumber party. Also Mindy I have turned back into a human twice" Mona pointed out. Mindy wanted to know what was Mona talking about. That was when Mona told Mindy about the cure Donatello created for her and if she ever changed her mind it was there for her to take. "Oh wow well at least you have that option if you ever change your mind. Thanks for staying. Why don't you freshen up I'll make some hot chocolate just like I used to when we were growing up" Mindy said and Mona replied extra marshmallows in my hot chocolate please."
While Mona was in the bathroom freshening up Mindy was making the hot chocolate. As soon as Mona came out of the bathroom Mindy handed Mona her mug of hot chocolate and the two cousins began drinking it. "Just like old times right?" Mindy asked. "Yes it is" answered Mona but at the same time Mona felt like the hot chocolate tasted a bit different from how she remembered it. However Mona didn't want to hurt her cousin's feelings. After talking for a while Mona started to feel really sleepy. "I'm getting really sleepy" Mona said and before she could say anything else Mona fell fast asleep.
The next day Raphael waited for his wife's phone call either to tell him that Mona was on her way home or to request for Raphael to come pick her up. "Guys I'm getting worried. Mona hasn't called me to let me what is going on" Raphael said to the others. "You're right and that's not really like her unless something was going on. I think we should pay a visit to Mindy's place and see what is going on" Leonardo suggested as he lead everyone out of the lair and they all headed to Mindy's place only to find the apartment emptied and two mugs of cold hot chocolate sitting on an end table. "Something isn't right. Mona loves hot chocolate and would rarely not finish her favorite hot beverage" Raphael pointed out. Donatello took a look at the mugs of hot chocolate and one of them smelled funny. "Guys come here and smell this hot chocolate" said Donatello. When the other turtles smelled the beverage they all recognize the smell of an herb that helps people relax and fall asleep easily. "Do you think Mindy has anything to do with this?" Leonardo questioned. "I think so but the question is why would Mindy do this? She is Mona's cousin" said Raphael. Everyone began to wonder the same thing when all of a sudden Raphael found a pamphlet from a laboratory that the turtles were very much familiar with.
When Raphael showed them the pamphlet the turtles were shocked and all agreed that they had to hurry. They called Michelangelo and filled him in on what happened and he agreed to meet up with the others at the location where they believed Mona was being held at and wondered what Mindy was planning.