Had this uploaded earlier but removed it and changed the middle to end. Works much better. MUCH MUCH better. hehe

The fennec lady, Zera, and Nipal the Flying Walrus are upside down. Nipal has a rainbow pattern underneath his belly. Very strange. Why do I keep saying that word: strange? I should use another synonym to explain the magical journey in this land. Absurd. Fantastic. Erratic. Exceptional.

I'm running out of words and time. Lots of time.

A mini-Bababuster shaped like an eight ball propelled towards me before I could even blink, and the walrus, as I stated before, isn't my best balancing act. Nipal is still wailing since I tried grabbing his whiskers on the way down, and I do believe he even shook me off his body. Perhaps he was just frightened? If I survive this fall, I will be sure to get the facts straight. I didn't appreciate being flung to my doom.

The Bababusters are still whizzing past my head and body. My elbow smashed one in the face, and its piercing screech combining a car's squealing brakes and a cat's cry made my ears tremble. The other Busters aren't intimidated and continue charging towards me. Heat isn't emitting from their little wings of fire, I notice. It's hard to concentrate with so many whizzes and zooms, but I grab one of those suckers, Raph-style, and take the biggest chance by squeezing until it pops.

This will be the last time I ever mimic my aggressive brother.

As the smoke fizzles, the fire wings mutate into tiny red cakes. Yes, I said cakes. The edible ones. I have no idea what to do with cakes while free-falling, and I am not eating them. Splinter always taught us to never consume food from strangers. The Bababusters cease the attacks, and I can faintly hear Zera's voice calling me. Or for Ymoh. I am Ymoh. What is she saying to me? Ymoh, something. Ymoh, beat? Ymoh. Ymoh. Her voice is coming closer. Ymoh, read? I was supposed to read the billboards, I remember. My eyes wouldn't focus at the time. It's impossible to do that now.

"Ymoh!"

Why does it feel like my body is almost floating? She calls for me again, and giant orbs of magic dance above me as she and her weapon, Sinai, obliterate a fraction of the Busters. Nipal is sloppily cruising through the air, but Zera is holding her own. She had been depending on me to redeem this tricky situation. We barely know each other yet she still sought to help me. I had to repay the favor. I've fallen from great heights many times. This is nothing!

"Ymoh!" Sounds, colors, and senses are much clearer now. Control. I need total control. "Ymoh, eat! EAT!"

Eat, she says! The cakes. I ravaged into one, two, and it's the most disgusting yet delicious thing in my life and reminds me of the time I tried to bake a red velvet cake for April. It was the thought that counts, she said. I'm not a bad cook; I'm just a perfectionist. My family and friends are important to me and when they are in my mind, my heart is on a very short leash.

I wish to see them one last time. Even Casey.

Hues of red spread beneath me; a chillier air tickles my fingertips, and for a few moments, I'm completely numb. I ate the red cake and now I own a pair of flaming wings, bursting from my back. They stretch upwards to the sky, showering everything in its crimson glory. Nipal wails blaze across the land, and the Busters are right on my friends' tails, squealing and screaming through the air. Manipulating their fear empowered me and immediately, the Bababusters are consumed and disintegrated by the wings. By my own virtue.

I would like to see the Battle Nexus Champion do tricks like this. Eat your heart out, Mikey.

We're still falling, but the citizens of Zera's land have a spectacular fireworks display. Speaking of Zera and Nipal, where are they? I can't see them through the smoke, flames, and hot runny icing that is now burning parts of my body. In fact, the flames are emitting heat and growing! What's going on? Have I lost control of my own power so soon? Do my many years of discipline and strict training not matter in this land? The only thing I can do is cover myself and pray the ground hits me before the fire eats my flesh.

A thick, balmy wave of chunky liquid plunges over my curled form, and as the smell strikes my nostrils, I would have chosen the fire over this mess. I should also mention that I'm no longer falling. After I wipe the crud from my face, the flaming wings downgraded to tiny red orbs. Zera and Nipal halt in front of me.

Zera is breathing hard, her dark eyes almost protruding from her head. "My sincere apologies. There wasn't enough time to get water from the Littos."

"So," I groan and toss away the cold chunks off my body, "you had Nipal barf on me?"

Nipal whimpers, and Zera's eyes slit and her ears fold closer to her head. "He was getting dizzy."

The smell is atrocious. I'm too busy cleaning myself and barely noticed the orbs disappearing. Good riddance for now. I will need better training before I tackle that again.

As I climb on Nipal, I am very careful to step on every sensitive spot on his face and head. Jackass. Don't try to throw me off or hurl on me again.

"Very good work, Ymoh. Very good." She grinned and bent over to access Nipal's ears.

What a view. It's almost hard to look away, and my brothers would tease me into Eternity but I want to repeat back to her, Very good, Zera. Very good. Yuck. I really mustn't think this way. I have more important issues at hand.

I quietly cough. "Your help was appreciated. You're a great fighter. I'm proud to have you in my corner."

She removes her yellow top hat and smiles back at me. "Likewise. We are almost to our destination."

"The rave at the cornerstore to meet RomRom, Nipal's second cousin on his mother's side?" I can't believe I remembered, but it was something that glued to my mind.

"We got word that RomRom is dead. Plans have changed."

I removed the last of Nipal's stomach contents from my shell by spinning on Nipal's squishy body. Express dry cleaning. "My condolences. May those plans include getting me a proper wash?"

"Of course. I will get you whatever you need."

"Fantastic. Show the way."

Even Zera's frilly underpants flapping in the wind couldn't hold my attention. I can't believe a giant walrus puked on me. On second thought, I'll skip this part of the story when I tell Mikey; I believe I'll tell him that a group of beautiful female turtles in exotic firefighter suits hosed me to safety.

Much, much better.

RomRom died of _? You decide.