The following journal entry takes place in between the episodes "In Dreams" and "Race With the Demon". As always, all rights of TMNT go to their respective owners.
"April O'Neil: Journal of Our Journey"
Hey journal, it's me again. Yeah, I know. It's only been a day since my last entry, but...the craziest...scariest thing happened today. Something that I don't think I can keep bottled up in me, I've tried to do that with a lot of things, but lately it has become much more difficult to do so. This is almost too crazy to believe...okay I say that a lot, and with my life, nothing is "too crazy". But this is definitely up there.
We just experienced Dream Beavers...
Yeah...it's a long story...
So kick back figuratively journal. This is going to be very, very weird.
Casey - With a Little Help From My Friend
It's not often I start these entries with Casey, but there really is no where else to start for he was the only one I was with when all of this crazy mumbo-jumbo started. The both of us met this crazy old kook named Bernie, I can't lie, he freaked me out. And with every thing I've gone through that's saying a lot. I think it's to the point now where I don't think I'll ever see a regular, normal person again. He claimed a bunch stories about his past, and Casey went to confront him while I tried to help the turtles; based on what Casey told me, he "had fun" in his mind which usually means I don't want to know what has happened. Casey in the time that I've known him hasn't shown a lot of instances where he looked worried or nervous about anything, but this whole dilemma with the guys has certainly left him shaken. He hasn't said a whole lot since all this...then again, now that I write this...I hope this isn't because I kissed Donnie in front of him...
Oh please don't let that be the reason...
After the way he handled himself in helping the guys, I hope he didn't let that little peck on Donnie's cheek dull him out. It would be a shame to waste such a brave effort to save the turtles because of being jealous of something so child like...
Then again...knowing Casey... :/
Leonardo - Rising Above
As I kind of hinted at, these "Dream Beavers" had some very unique abilities to capture souls while sleeping. While the turtles mentioned that they suffered through tremendous nightmares during this, some said far more about what happened than the others. Leonardo as you might expect was the most vocal of his experience. Most likely to help us and himself grow and heal about the problems we face. Just as a true leader should. Listening to what he went through helps me put into perspective everything that Leo went through while he was unresponsive to us for the first several months we were here at the farmhouse. The games his mind played on him, making him think that he was alright when he was really far from it.
I hope I don't ever have to experience anything like this. But I know heaven forbid if this did occur, I could nearly bet that Leonardo will be by my side to help me.
It shows the strength and evolution of Leo to be so open about what he endured during his deep trance of sleep. Which tells me that when we are finally ready to go back to New York, I know we will be stronger than ever...
Because our leader is stronger than ever.
Raphael - Messed Up Head you have Raph...
Raphael wouldn't go into great detail about what his nightmare was, but the little bit that he did talk about was very strange. Something about snakes, and bass guitars, and...
...What the heck was Raph talking about?
Sometimes I wonder if it's a good thing that Raph keeps a lot of these things to himself, upon brief glimpses, he sure does have a messed up head. No wonder he and Casey like each other so much. I guess Donnie was right all those many moons ago. They really are two Raphaels.
It's a good thing he's on our side, I can't imagine to think what it would be like if he wasn't. :)
Michelangelo - The Funny Side in Everything
Being the youngest, you would think that Michelangelo would have had his share of nightmares in his day, and you would expect him to be frightened and afraid to talk about it when it was over...
Just like Mikey, it's completely the opposite.
Michelangelo was more than happy to talk about his nightmare...or as Mikey called it, his "Delightmare". Yep, only Mikey... :)
And after while he was just babbling on and on...uh, it's hard to even recall everything he mentioned. Most of it was something about someone named Dave.
Yeah, I basically turned into Mikey myself and toned out a lot of his chat. It obviously wasn't anything that he needed consoling over, so at the time I felt it was more important to tend to the one who did...but I'll get to that in a bit.
Hard to believe for even something like deligh...nightmares that Michelangelo is still the same old goofy turtle after such a traumatic event. Completely unphased, continues like nothing ever happened. In a way, it is a very powerful advantage and a must for a ninja to not let your emotions affect you. Kinda surprising for being the baby of the family. Not baby literally though...
Don't tell Mikey I said that, okay Journal? ;)
Donatello - Please Talk to Me...
As much as I've tried, as much as we all have...Donnie won't talk about what happened to him during his nightmarish state of sleep. I feel really bad for him, he went to sleep after finishing fixing the farmhouse from the Frog Invasion, so lord knows how much longer Donnie suffered through all this than the others, which would for certain explain his far weaker state than the others when we found them. Even though based on what I have learned from what all the other's dreams were, which weren't to the point of a complete state of silence, ...he just won't talk to me about it. In a weird way, I think Donatello has gathered the realization that I did in fact find a way to tap into his mind, managing to find his slumbering spirit, maybe in a way he feels invaded. Maybe he thinks I learned something he doesn't want me to know. Even if I had, he would never admit it to be the truth, he'll bury his head in the sand or his shell before confessing, Donnie's definitely stubborn...just...just like me...
I know you feel terrible Donnie, but you have no idea how I feel either.
Donnie...you stopped breathing...you died in my hands. I'd never so scared in my life. Over anything...even with everything that has happened in my life, seeing my best friend basically die in my hands was the most frightening moment in my life.
I know he's scared, I can sense it. I don't think he's recovered from what we left behind in New York, but time is running out. His brothers are on their road to recovery and Donnie is struggling to find his...but we can't help someone who doesn't reach out for help.
Please Donnie...talk to me... :(
April - Thanks Guys!
While there are times where I don't feel as useful to the turtles as they say, it is times like these where they're proven to be right all along. Thanks to Casey, we managed to save the lives of our friends, the same friends who have gone life and limb to do the same for us. But the thing that makes it even more gratifying, is that they weren't surprised by what we did, they expected it of us. To me it is a testament to how far myself and Casey have come to not only our training with the guys, but also the friendship and trust we have gained from them.
Casey and I both know that we'll never have better friends then the four of them, which makes it kinda sad knowing we could never reveal to the world what great people the turtles are. Yes...they're people in my book.
But above all, more importantly...they're my friends.
