Chapter 6: Graduation
The years soon flew by and before Raphael knew it he was a teenager.
Himself and everyone in his class were now 18 years old and ready to go to the sea for the first time. All the graduating turtles gathered around as Mako delivered a long speech.
But not everyone was happy with Mako at the moment.
At the back of the crowd was Raphael and his parents. Raph had his mother's Kelly green skin and his father's goo green eyes. There were several scratches and chips on his shell such as a lightening bolt shaped missing-chunk on the right corner of his plastron.
He was now ruggedly handsome as turtles go.
However, after all these years Raph still couldn't sing. Because of that Mako had told Raph's parents that he could still go fishing with the others but couldn't join the graduate ceremony.
"Blah, blah, blah." Rose hissed as Mako spoke.
"Rose!" Elvis scolded. "Who's he to say my boy can't graduate. He's not hurting anyone." She glared. "Excellisa! Ya! Ya! Ya!" Everyone suddenly shouted when Mako finished his speech.
After that all the graduating turtles began to make their way to the ocean.
"Go get them tiger." Rose smiled. "Watch out for those predators!" Elvis called out. "Thanks guys." Raph smiled as he hurried to catch up to the others. Yuma saw Raphael and turned to Mako.
"Mark my words Mako, that boy was always a bad egg! I'm telling you no good will come of this."...
Meanwhile all the graduating turtles cheered and laughed as they made their way towards the sea. "Hey guys, wait up!" Raph cried as he ran to them but they either didn't hear him or just ignored him.
Soon the teens stood at the edge of a very small cliff with the sea below them.
But they were all too scared to jump in as it was their first time. Suddenly Raphael slipped on some mud at the top of the hill and began to slid down the hill towards the edge.
He went over the edge of the cliff and splashed into the ocean.
"What was that thing?" Someone asked. "I think it was Raph." Another replied. They all stood there for a moment but there was no sign of him anywhere near the surface.
"See any blood yet?" A female asked.
Suddenly Raphael burst out of the water. "What ya waitin' fer?!" He exclaimed behind diving back under the water again. Everyone laughed and jumped into the ocean as well
Under the water Raph saw everyone dive in and start to swim around him.
Everyone laughed as they swam around at incredible speeds and they loved the feeling of the water. Suddenly a familiar face swam passed Raph. "Hey Leonarda! I adore ya and I'd like ta see more of ya!" Slash called as he chased after her.
Leonarda was a leaf green turtle with sapphire blue eyes, an hour-glass figure and she was just taller than Raph.
"Leo?" Raph smiled and began to chase after the other turtle as well. Raph had a crush on Leo ever since he heard Leo's beautiful voice. But due to his own terrible singing voice Raph had almost given up all hope of being with the female.
Leo gracefully leapt out the ocean and onto the slippery, stony surface.
Suddenly Raph burst out the water and accidentally landed on the blue eyed turtle. The two giggled as they tried to get up and off each other but kept slipping on the rocks.
Slash suddenly ran up and playfully pushed the two of them into the water again.
Underneath the water Raphael and Leonarda smiled at each other and began to swim around together. They raced each, splashed around and just enjoyed each others company.
They soon came to a stop and stared at each other.
"Leo, all my life I wanted ta say ya look so..." Raph trailed off, not knowing the right words. "Fish." Leo suddenly said. "Yeah, ya so fish." Raph smiled. "No fish!" Leo exclaimed and swam towards the large group of fish.
Raph and everyone else quickly followed.
It was every turtle for himself now as everyone tried to grab a fish to eat. As Raphael and two others chased after one fish Leo attempted to get another. However, just before she could grab it someone knocked into her and grabbed the fish.
"Leo! Ya got one?" Raph asked as he swam up to her, fish in hand.
"Not this time." She replied. "Ya can have it." Raph said and tried to pass the fish to Leo. "No Raph it's yours. You caught it, you eat it." Leo insisted. Suddenly a mutant bat dove into the water and grabbed the fish in Raph's hand, taking Raph with it.
Luckily the bat only had hold of the fish and not Raph but Raph refused to let go as the bat flew higher and higher into the air.
"RAPH! LET GO!" Leo shouted as she swam after them. Raph didn't listen and instead kicked the bat hard in the chest. This caused the bat to let go of the fish but Raph realized he wasn't above the ocean anymore.
He cried out as he hit several rocks before sliding down and lay face down in the dirt.
In his left hand was the now badly cut up fish that he had caught. Leo quickly jumped out the water and ran to where Raph's motionless body was. "Raphael are you OK?" She panted.
Raph said something quietly but Leo couldn't make it out.
"What did you say?" Leo asked. Raph finally opened his eyes and stared up at Leo. "Take tha stupid fish." He groaned. "Oh OK." Leo said and carefully took the fish from Raph's hand and quickly ate it.
"Thank you Raphael." Leo smiled.
"Ya welcome." Raph mumbled with a weak smile before collapsing again...