Oddball had no idea where he was.
Yes, he was in an alleyway. But other than that- nothing looked familiar! All the familiar smells faded away and his nose felt funny.
He had gotten so used to the Krang world that he forgot how to operate in this world!
But at least he had water. Little puddles in the road and Oddball felt so lucky to dip his toes into water again!
He wished his brothers were with him. He'd have loved to splash Chunky in the face. And then Chunky would chase him.
Although… Oddball knew that he had gotten faster in the Krang world. How fast?
Well… it was time to try it out!
Oddball took a deep breath- and started running. Wow! He was fast! Really fast! He was up and down the alleyway and he didn't feel that tired.
He was no longer a slow little turtle, that's for sure!
Oddball heard a noise- a loud crash. Then some yelling. Kids yelling! Why were they yelling? Where were they?
Oddball listened carefully- and tracked the sound to behind a wall. No problem- if Oddball could climb a Krang droid, he could climb a wall!
It was easy to start, but it got harder and harder to find the right grips. He had to use his mouth sometimes. His entire body hurt but he had to keep going. Because if he stopped, he might fall- and falling isn't very nice.
It took a long-long time to get to the top of that wall. And Oddball was exhausted.
But then he saw something that had all his tiredness disappear.
The kids were playing a game! With long sticks and they were moving really, really fast. Oddball wondered if he could move as fast as them!
He tried to climb down, but ended up slipping! For a moment, he was terrified, until he landed on something very hairy! He barely had time to hold on tight before he was shaken around and then he was falling-falling-falling and then he wasn't.
Oddball recognized that these were human hands. Little human hands. Smaller than Hamato Yoshi's and smaller than his old caretaker!
Soon, he came face to face with a little boy's eyes. He had black hair that fell over his face. But his eyes were big. Big, brown eyes. Curious eyes. And when the boy realized he was just a turtle, his eyes got very kind.
Like Friend. Like Hamato Yoshi.
Kind, nice eyes.
Oddball liked this kid. It was a lucky thing he fell on him!
"Hey little guy," the kid grinned at him. He had two missing front teeth. It made him look cute!
Oddball chirped back- hello!
The kid giggled, "Where did you come from?"
You wouldn't believe it!
The kid looked up, and then behind him. Then he looked a little confused. But then he shrugged. Oddball got comfortable in the boy's warm, warm hands. He could stay here for a little while. He could rest a bit.
Maybe he could take a nap.
Even though he was napping on Friend earlier, this little human had much softer skin. Softer than anything he'd ever touched. It felt really nice. If Cutie was here, he'd be fast asleep! Chunky might want to bite the human, but Oddball wouldn't let him. This human was nice and he had kind eyes!
Oddball wasn't sure what Longy would do if he were here- he might try to escape. And go find out what kind of games the bigger kids were playing!
Oddball looked at the little boy in front of him, and he chirped out to get his attention. The kid was curled into a corner, watching the bigger kids play the game. Oddball chirped again and gave him a curious look. The kid noticed, and smiled.
"They're playing street hockey," the kid said, "But Dad said I'm not allowed to play with them. He said they're too rough for a little boy like me,"
The child huffed, "But I'm not a little boy! I'm a big boy. I'm starting big-boy school this September!"
Wow. He was a big boy! Because only big boys go to big boy school. Duh.
How big was Oddball? Was he a big boy? No. He can't be a boy- he had to be a turtle! Was Oddball a big turtle?
Oddball noticed that the boy's hands were so much bigger than his own shell, and he realized that no, he was still a very small turtle.
But he will grow up soon! He had to. He needed to grow up quickly. To find Hamato Yoshi. To find his brothers. To… find Friend again. One day.
The child sighed loudly- and Oddball felt sad for him. He knew what it was like to want to play with others. He remembered one time, when he was feeling playful, and his brothers were all sleeping. He didn't want to wake them up, but he really wanted to play.
He ended up playing with his own reflection in the pond.
But this kid… didn't have any big pond to play with. But… he did have a new turtle friend!
Oddball chirped at the kid, making him smile again.
Come on! Follow me!
The kid looked confused, "Huh? You want me to go somewhere?"
Oddball nodded, and hopped out of his hands. The kid scrambled to catch him- and Oddball appreciated it.
"Woah- you're a good jumper! I wish I could be as fearless as you," the kid looked at Oddball in awe, and Oddball felt very proud of himself. He was fearless, wasn't he?
Tboy cupped his hands around him, blocking out most of the light. Oddball chirped in surprise, and saw the boy's eyeball through one of the cracks. Oddball really didn't want to bite him, but he did want to get out! So he pushed his head through the finger gaps. The boy giggled.
"You're such a weird turtle," the boy said, "But I'm not going to let you jump out again! You're a little guy, and you could get hurt!"
Put me down! Let's play a game!
The boy's brows met, and then it clicked, "I have an idea!"
The boy knelt to the floor, and gently set Oddball to the ground. Oddball climbed out, and promptly started running.
Woah! He was going fast!
Could the little boy keep up?
Oddball stopped, and looked back, the boy looked surprised! But, the boy wasn't chasing him.
Oddball shook his head- the boy didn't know how to play chase, didn't he? Oddball wasn't surprised. Maybe chase was a game only turtles knew- and human boys didn't know about it. So Oddball would be happy to teach him!
Oddball ran back to the surprised kid, and ran forward again. He had to do it a few more times before the kid got the hint.
"Oh! You wanna play chase?"
Yes!
They spent the entire afternoon running around- the kid was fast, but Oddball was faster! It felt good to play. This street was so much bigger than Oddball's old tank, and the boy was so much faster than Long, Chunky and Cutie! And best of all- the kid didn't look so sad anymore. He gave the most beautiful sounds of giggles and laughter. Oddball wished he could laugh with him- but he couldn't. Turtles can't laugh.
And finally, Oddball let the kid catch him. The boy collapsed to the floor- yelling in happiness!
That was so fun! And the boy's hands were sweaty, but it was soft and warm.
This was nice. This was so nice.
Oddball really liked this boy!
All of a sudden, the boy brought Oddball up to his face. He looked determined, very serious- like a real big boy.
"Okay, listen here turtle," the boy said seriously, "I don't know where you came from, or where you're going- but the world isn't nice to little guys like you. So, you should stay with me till you're big and strong, okay? We can be friends!"
The turtle thought about it. He looked at his little legs, and then to the boy. The boy had a point. He was fast, but he needed to be strong to find his family. He needed to be big to pull Friend away from the Krang. As much as he wanted to find his family, and save his friend, he was only one little turtle.
Oddball made a choice. He would stay, but only for a little while!
Oddball nodded once, and the boy's eyes widened, "Yeah? You'll stay?"
Only until he grew up big and strong! And then, he had to go!
"So, you're gonna need a name," the boy told him, "How about… Speedy?"
Speedy? No!
"Okay, you don't like that. How about Itty Bitty Mr. Turtle Guy?"
Oddball gave him a disgusted look. Too long!
"Yeesh, someone's hard to please. Okay, so… wait a minute-Fearless. That's what I called you earlier, right?"
Fearless.
It sounded important!
It sounded… like a special name…
Much better than Oddball. Right now, he didn't need to be odd. He needed to be Fearless.
Fearless sent the boy one more nod, and the boy gave a whoop in happiness.
From now on, this turtle would be called Fearless!
The boy laughed, and he kissed Fearless on the head. Fearless was so surprised that he pulled himself back in his shell. The boy gasped, and Fearless popped himself back out.
The boy giggled, "You're such a weird little turtle."
They started walking, and Fearless felt rather happy about the situation. He had a good feeling about this!
"Oh, by the way," the boy said, "My name's Casey. Casey Jones."