Michelangelo watched his brothers one by one abandon him. How could they?

He'd never met Ever Tilley before but she gave Leo a look that could've shattered glass, and while it didn't faze Fearless it sure straightened Mikey's spine. What do I know about talking to mothers?

Ever raised a perfect black eyebrow then pointed to a clean table. "Perhaps we should sit. I think you will find this conversation a bit unique compared to others."

She removed a thick cream-colored coat that Mikey thought might be too warm for the early fall weather. From the bracelets sparkling and jangling on her wrists, and the rings adorning her manicured fingers he was pretty sure her entire ensemble was a status symbol. Her shiny high-heel shoes clicked on his linoleum floor, in a steady, one, two, one, two, rhythm that impressed upon him her impatience for the situation.

Whose situation is this really? I didn't do anything wrong. Not this time anyway.

"Mrs. Tilley, there's been some mistake. I haven't seen or talked to Renet since 2015. She wrote me a few letters, but I'm seventeen years older than her so…" Mikey frowned as he reluctantly settled into a chair opposite the socialite.

Little wrinkles creased around Ever Tilley's eyes, the corners of her mouth tipping upward into a smug smile. "I know that Michelangelo. Just as I know how gently you tried to let her down because of your age difference. But, Renet adores you, and the gap is gradually closing. She's maturing enough it will soon become irrelevant."

As he listened to her, Ever sat straight-backed, hands folded before her. She faced him dead on and spoke-matter-of-factly. She grew silent after addressing their closing age gap. She stared at him with drawn lips, a stony expression, and hazel eyes that packed enough contempt in them he considered crawling under the table to escape her. Michelangelo suddenly found his mouth so dry he was certain if he opened it sand would pour out. "Can I get you a soda, or some water, Mrs. Tilley?"

Her laugh was a haughty dry sound that made Mikey shudder. "You may call me Ever. And no, thank you. I'd like to continue if you don't mind." She raised her eyebrows as if daring him to deny her. It was hardly a question.

I've fought aliens from outer-space less terrifying than this woman! Is this a social-status thing or are all moms this scary? "Uh-sure." But is it okay if I get a drink? Uncertain of socialite etiquette Mikey opted to attempt to stay still. Something, that even with a lifetime of practice, he still found difficult.

Ever gave him a disapproving frown as he fidgeted in his chair. Gradually, he stopped moving, his eyes locked on the frigid woman. "Renet just had her 21st birthday," she began, "She's been studying under Lord Simoultaneous for 17 years now, and it's almost her time to reign as master."

"Renet will be the new Time Master?" Why has this never occurred to me before? Of course she will be. She was his apprentice when we met. Ooops. I interrupted her.

Mrs. Tilley squint her eyes, tapping a heavily ringed finger on the table. "Michelangelo, when Renet ascends to master she will become transient, as all Time Masters are during their rule."

Transient. T-r-a-n-s-i-e-n-t. That sounds like a word Donnie would know. Since his brother wasn't there that didn't leave Michelangelo much choice, so he asked, "What, what's that mean?"

Ever drew in a long breath, the way Donnie did when he was tired of explaining something again and again, only this woman hadn't even explained it to him for the first time yet. Her lip curled before she spoke again as if it were beneath her to speak to him. "She will not live in this plane, but will move from one to the next governing time. Ensuring that the natural flow is not disturbed and resolving any conflicts that arise."

What? Wait—that sounds worse than living in a sewer! "But that would mean-"

"That you could never be together." Ever nodded, her your-beneath-me expression and lack of warmth rubbed Michelangelo the wrong way, and she appeared to not only know it, but enjoy it. "Not during her rule, and she's looked into your future. She's knows it will be too late when her reign is over."

Too late? As in what? I'll be… Michelangelo swallowed then shook his head. No. This isn't about me, and as much as I like Renet I can't let it be about me. This should be about her, her life, what she wants, and from the look of it, her mother doesn't care. "Mrs. Tilley, we're just friends. I— I would miss writing to Renet. Can a transient still do that? Can she keep her friends, or speak to her family, have any kind of relationship with anyone she cares about? Do you realize what you're asking her to give up? A family of her own, the security of home... her friends?"

Ever sniffed, looked down her nose at him. "It is not only her birth right Michelangelo, but the very thing she's trained her entire life for. And if you think I don't know how the nature of your letters has gradually shifted over the years, you are sorely mistaken. Renet has seen two futures. One where she forfeits her birthright and you are together, and one where she accepts it and you go on without her. She wants to forfeit because the time draws near for her ascension, as does the time where you will meet again for the first time since you were children."

I don't know about us being kids, we were teenagers. Mikey resisted the urge to smile recalling how the Time Masters Apprentice had tumbled out of the sky and he caught her. Well she kinda landed on him. But he was trying to catch her. It was true he was smitten with her from the start. She was smart, funny, and a great fighter. He felt his insides warm. And she was a little clumsy, got herself into scrapes just like him. He had written to her, and she had written to him. He took a deep breath, knew Mrs. Tilley wasn't wrong, that they'd decided to have lunch sometime soon. But he'd not heard from her since, to actually schedule the reunion. Michelangelo sat up straight, looked Ever Tilley in her eye. "Me, or no me, this is something she should decide on her own. And it's her life Mrs. Tilley, doesn't that matter to you?"

Ever Tilley's nostrils flared, her eyes flashing with a fury that reminded him of Raphael's. he could almost see flames rise up in the black moons at their wood colored center. "How dare you! Of course it matters!" She took two controlled breaths, her face smoothing into an expressionless mask as she continued. "You see, she's run off before giving me a chance to explain the reward for serving your time as Master. When she's completed her reign she is gifted with the privilege of going back to the point in time she became master, and she gets to live the life she would've, had she never been chosen."

Would he remember all of this, if that happened? Would it be this him, if he lived two different lives? How did this work? I wish Donnie were here, he'd know. "Isn't that like an alternate reality or something?"

"Time is a funny thing Michelangelo. It takes only one tiny stone in the water to make many ripples. Now, level with me young man, have you seen my daughter?"

Mikey shrugged. "No. I really haven't."

She studied him a moment. He suspected to determine if he might not be telling her the truth, but he didn't care, because he was telling the truth. "Well, if you see her please share with her what I've told you."

Michelangelo leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms. "Sure, but I won't pressure her to change her mind one way or the other."

Ever's already burning-timber gaze raged like wildfire. "You say that now, but let me show you something, then I'll go and you can do whatever you feel is best." She pushed back her sleeve, depressed a sapphire stone on one of her bracelets and Michelangelo's world dropped out from beneath him.