Chapter 35

Sorrow, Joy And The Future

Samuel looked at his daughters, who both looked back at him with the answer in their eyes.

Samuel looked at his wife, who nodded in resign, tears streaming down her face.

Horatio pitied them, but he knew that their sorrow wouldn't last forever. He could feel it.

As Mars waited for Samuel's response, the others shifted in slight discomfort.

Andromeda leaned her head against Raph's shoulder as she wondered," Is this really the wisest option for them?"

Raph put his arm around her as

Samuel finally asked in a cautious tone," You tell us that there's no other option."

"No, you have many options, sir, and I don't presume to know what's best for your family. But I have given you my vow, that I will do what I can to protect you and your family, and so I have given you my opinion about what is to be done." Mars told him calmly.

Delilah murmured," Sam, i don' think we have a choice…"

Mara sighed as she looked away. This isn't what she would have chosen. Mars cleared his throat," This won't be an exile. All of you will return."

Sybil frowned quietly as she thought about all this. it was true, she was willing to leave this place, and go with Mars… but her family… they had lives here.

Sybil felt her heart give a slight thump of sadness. She couldn't ask them to leave New York like this.

It wasn't right… it just… it wasn't.

And she ventured to say so.

Mara interrupted," What's left for us here? We have NOTHING."

"Unless you can convince everybody it was just a hoax." Raph muttered, when Don hit him on the arm," Raph, that's the whole reason WHY they're in this mess!"

"Or is it?" Horatio mused.

Everyone turned to look at him.

Horatio sighed," Whether they believe it is a hoax or not, they are all angry at you. For tricking them, harboring a mutant, whatever. It will take time for you to recover from this. You have two options; you can change your future by ignoring your past, or you can cling to your past and ruin your future."

Mara smiled grimly," Well-put, old man."

"Ach, an what have i told you about calling me that, eh lass?" Horatio scowled at the young woman, who only chuckled as she crossed her arms smugly," Yessir."

Nerissa tried to bite her tongue as Eos looked between the two with a sense of confusion. Ever since Mara and Horatio had met… they had just hit it off. extremely well. It was a bit unnerving.

Eos sighed as she observed," Mars, could you really find the way back to your island?"

"Yes. My father taught me how to find my geological location by using both the stars and heavenly hosts. I could take us back there with no problem." Mars smiled smugly.

Don added," We could keep an eye on things here, and we could tell you when it's safe to return."

Samuel finally nodded.

"Very well."

8~8~8~8~

one month later

Mara quietly crept into the submarine, which was stocked with enough supplies to last them for years.

Sybil and her parents followed. Donatello finished giving Mars the communication devices he would need.

"Oh, and send me the coordinates to your island. You know, in case we decide to crash your pad."

Mars chuckled," I will. Thank you, my friend."

Donatello nodded," Good luck, Mars."

"You too."

As the submarine hatch closed, and the vehicle disappeared beneath the waves, Eos looked a little timid as she asked," Do you think they'll really be ok?"

Daphne looked smug as she replied," They have Mars to look after them. If he can't take care of them, then they were doomed before birth. And if anyone threatens Sybil, they can just kiss their -"

"We get it, Daph." Andromeda rolled her eyes as they stood in the sewer chamber for a moment more. The communication devices had been tested, and Mars had received training on how to operate the submarine. It would take incredibly bad luck for them to NOT make it to the island Mars had grown up on.

Nerissa leaned her head against Leo's shoulder as she murmured," Do you really think… that it will be safe for them to return one day?"

"I think so, Nerissa." Leo responded confidently.

8~8~8~8~

Mars put the coordinates into the auto-pilot before leaning back, as they began to make their way across the Atlantic Ocean. He looked at his new charges and smiled, slightly bitter, but at the same time, with a sweet satisfaction. He had lost the only family he had ever known last year… but he had gained new family. And further more, he had rescued the woman who had haunted his dreams for the past five years.

The journey might be rough, and they might be once or twice cast into danger… but he knew, without a doubt, that he would get them through it all. And one day, they would return to their homeland. He made this silent resolution within himself. One day, they would go back. And nothing would stop them.

~8~8~8~8~

Nerissa was training in the dojo, full of frustration. It still wasn't clear, whether or not Bishop had escaped. She had no doubt, however, that the slime was still alive and well. Nothing was certain.

Nerissa hissed as she tripped unexpectedly. but she didn't hit the floor. Leo caught her, smiling softly, he asked," Nerissa, you ok?"

"No, i'm scared and worried about the future." Nerissa responded flatly, adding with a hiss," And damn it, but WHY can't all humans be like my father? Or Mr. and Mrs. Deluge? Hell, i'd even take them being all like CASEY!… then again." she paused on that thought, causing Leo to chuckle," Careful what you wish for…"

Nerissa sighed," Leo, i wish i knew the future."

Leonardo replied softly," It's dangerous knowledge to hold."

"But, at least things would be certain."

"Not so, my love." Leo sighed quietly," Things change, and nothing is certain in this world… but one thing will never change."

"What's that?" she asked, her eyes suddenly lighting up with interest.

Leo was looking at her solemnly and she could hardly believe it when he knelt, taking her hand, he replied slowly and quietly," The thing that will Never change, my darling Nerissa… is my love for… Pizza."

Nerissa blinked, her face drawing up in a scowl as Leo's own mouth split into a grin.

She growled," You sonuvasnapper!" as she tackled him down, grinning in spite of herself.

Leo laughed as he wrestled her, glad that he had taken her mind off the future.

At least for now, she was laughing.

And to him, that was all that mattered.

THE END

Well, as i said, i will write mini-stories, and i'm thinking about a sequel, but that's the end of THIS particular story. I hope ya'll liked it, and i have to say, even if it's not all that great, i immensely enjoyed writing it, spreading my wings of creativity, so to speak, and depsite what some might thin k, i really loved the improbability of it all. ANYWHO, until next time. *salutes*

Nerissa: as said before, RDG does not own the original characters of TMNT

Andromeda: Thank the gods...

Daphne: She does own the characters she made up... including Mars Inferno.

Mars: I beg of you, do not remind me.

Sybil: I thought i owned him! *hugs Mars*

Eos:*blushes* uh... you do, but He wouldn't exist if RDG hadn't created him.

Calypso: Dear readers, it has been a distinct pleasure. Please pay us one last review, before we say good night.

Daphne: BUT WE'LL BE BACK! MWAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAA -OW! *gets whacked over the head by Andromeda*