Me- Welcome back to another exciting and eventful chapter of "Country Rose"...
Donnie- Umm...don't you mean "Turtles rose"?
Mikey- Yeah...even l remembered you changed the name of the title...
Raph- That's saying something along the lines of...major accomplishment
Me- Aww...Raph, you do have a heart! ^.^
Raph- Don't get used to it...'_'
Leo- So, WOLFJADE, where are you taking us in this story?
Me- That remains to be seen, young Padawan...
Donnie- Why are you trying to make fun of STAR WARS?
Me(gasps)- Why Donnie, how could you accuse me of insulting my favorite science fiction series? Besides, would you rather me quote your journal entry about April?
Donnie- Touche...wait, how did you even know about that? *glares at me suspiciously*
Me(gets nervous, clears throat)- *coughs 'irrelevant*...Well anyways, l hope you all enjoy this chapter everyone...especially RBBH, since you have been a faithful reviewer and awesome supportive fellow fan-fictioneer!
Leo- Is that a word?
Me- Just go with it...Enjoy!
Mikey POV-
I had a strange feeling that there was something odd about Rose. Not bad, but different. Hehe , this coming from the Master of Oddity himself. At least according to Donnie, who has mentioned it after some of my memorable creations.
Now, l know my brothers don't always believe me when l say something's off...an instance that comes to my mind was when we were all at Aprils' farmhouse after we were forced to flee from New York after the Kraang invasion. Back when we found that thing that looked like her mom, but wound up trying to eat us, and capture April. l told them, but they didn't believe me then. They wouldn't even listen then...l wonder if they'll believe me.
"Hey Mikey" Rose said, as she walked by me.
"Hey Rose..." l replied.
'Wait a second...ROSE!' turning quickly after her and Akira walked past me and headed towards the main lair area. l had to stop them.
"Hey, Rose, can l talk to you for a minute?"
Turning around, she looked up at me, with Akira on her shoulder, tilting her head in what l took for curiosity. I had to admit it was kinda cute, but l still think Akira is one evil little turtle. l mean, come on! Who bites a turtle for no reason? Akira, that's who.
"Sure Mikey, where at?" Rose asked.
"Umm...my room probably, since Raph's in the dojo, Donnie's in his lab, and Leo is watching Space Heroes"
As if on cue, Leo walks into the hall, stopping when he gets to us.
"Hey Rose, hey Mikey...hi Akira..." he trailed off, petting Akira's head, causing the little she-devil to close her eyes and move closer to his finger.
"If you want Leo, you can hold her for awhile while Mikey and l talk about...well, something" she finished uncertainly, both her and Leo looking at me, expecting some form of an answer.
Well, l don't always live up to others expectations anyways. Though l was secretly pleased to be rid of Akira for awhile. My finger was still hurting. Whoever said that turtles were harmless sure hadn't met Akira...or me and my brothers for that matter.
"We'll be quick Leo...l just wanted to ask her a couple of things" l said, evidently satisfying him for the moment.
"Fine Mikey...but don't forget we have training in a couple hours...meanwhile, wanna go watch some Space Heroes Akira?" Leo asked a very pleased- looking Akira, scooping her up gently, and walking back to the living room.
"Okay Mikey...lead the way.." she said, gesturing for me to lead the way.
Thankfully, my room was pretty clean aside from ...Sensei just having me clean it as punishment for making a mess in Donnie's lab the other day with a prank gone wrong. Hehe...good times.
Coming in and closing the door, l figured l should probably be subtle in my approach to what l wanted to know. After all, l didn't want to upset her.
"Okay, that acting excuse you pulled in the dojo with us may have convinced my brothers, but you can't fool me with that. l know a fast one when l see it. What were you really doing? There's no way you were practicing an acting career...that was a terrible act...l think you were having a conversation with Akira..."
Rose gasped, and l wondered if maybe l was too forward. So much for being subtle. l was about to bolt, when her hand flew to cover my mouth, bringing out a very manly squeak out of me.
Looking at me with wide eyes, she whispered, almost as if she were frightened.
"How the hell did you guess that? No one has ever even come close to guessing that in the 18 years that I've been doing this, and you guess this within 20 minutes of meeting me. What on earth gave it away?"
I was speechless, as l stared into her wide, green eyes. There was so many expressions going through them as l studied those sparkling gems, drawing me in as l took a step towards her.
l was right- she was talking to Akira, using her mind...wait, did that mean she could-
"Yes, l can read minds...l don't know how exactly, but I've been able to do this for as long as l can remember..."
She paused, taking in a deep breath slowly, unknowingly mesmerizing me. She was so beautiful, even if she was nervous and scared. She looked so delicate and vulnerable. There was nothing l wanted more than to wrap my arms around her and provide comfort and reassurance, but something told me now was not the time for that, especially since we just met and all.
"...this was not an easy secret to keep. l didn't have many friends growing up, because it was so hard being able to read their minds, while having to hide what l was able to do. The only time l felt truly comfortable and free to be myself was when l was able to spend time in the barn. l could communicate with the animals, and they became my friends. They never judged me, they never told me to hide my abilities, and they gave me a chance to be...free to be who l am.." she trailed off, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear again.
There was a spark of hope rising within me. Maybe...
"You can be free around my bros and l...l think it's pretty cool that you can read minds!" l said cheerfully, earning a surprised and amazed expression from her.
"You mean...you're not at all weirded or freaked out about the fact l can read every one of not only yours, but everybody's mind?" she asked.
l chuckled "That all depends on how much our being mutated ninja turtles, plus a Sensei, who happens to be mutated as a rat.." l said, winking at her, causing her to laugh deeply.
l was cheering on the inside...l made her laugh. Sure, l could make everyone laugh, but being able to make her laugh made it all that more special.
"You're kidding, right? My best friends are all practically animals anyways..." she said.
"Well, you have a mutated turtle who also happens to be quite the party animal...so does that make me twice your friend?" l asked hopefully.
Now she was laughing even harder. l could totally get used to this.
"Mikey...you're hilarious..."
"...don't forget awesome!" l said " plus l also happen to be an awesome chef, no matter what my bros say.."
"Okay Mikey, I'll believe you when l taste it, but if your cooking skills are anything like my uncle, then l'm gonna need a waiver signed" she said smirking.
Sheesh, could she get any more adorable?
l pretended to be hurt, bringing my hand to my heart "You don't trust me...hurtful!?" l said, causing her to laugh again.
"You kidding? l just met you guys...l am willing to give you guys a chance though" she said, walking to the door, leaving me smiling like a fool.
At least until she reached the door, when a panicked scream brought us both running out of the room, and towards the source of the scream- Donnie's lab.
Leo POV-
Well, when Mikey and Rose went to 'go talk', l was originally going to ask what they were discussing, at least until Rose asked if l would watch Akira. That was good enough reason for me to stay out of it.
Scooping her up, we headed towards the den, where l flipped the channel to SPACE HEROES. l don't think Akira care what was on, but then again, she was pretty content with me rubbing the top of her head. At least that's what l could gather from her reaction. Her eyes were shut, and she was kinda leaning her head closer to my hand, bringing a huge smile out of me. She was so cute...but l don't think Mikey liked her very much, judging by how happy he looked as Rose suggested that Akira go with him.
Then again, there was definitely something going on with Mikey. Something...different, but he just couldn't name it.
"Well, Akira, what do you think so far? Captain Ryan's the best isn't he?"
She nuzzled his finger and churred, causing him to chuckle.
"Best at being worst maybe" Raph said, turning my smile into a scowl.
"Yeah, well, l wasn't asking you was l?" l said, crossing my arms. l looked down at Akira, and l nearly laughed. If l didn't know any better, I would say she was trying to stare Raph down, right along with me.
"No...l was actually being generous by offering my insults. If you want any more, you're gonna have to pay up." he smirked, holding his hand out within Akira's reach.
What l didn't expect was for Akira to snap at him, nearly biting his finger.
Too bad Raph saw it coming, and snatched his hand up quickly safe from her reach.
"Geez Leo, what the shell did you do to this turtle? Brainwash her into your guard dog?" he asked.
Both of us were dumbfounded when we heard a slight growling sound coming out of Akira. l couldn't take it anymore.
l burst laughing.
"You're a whole lot smarter that others take you for huh Akira?' l laughed, rubbing her head again.
"More like vicious She- Devil" Raph said, but even he was smirking at this point. l couldn't blame him.
"Leo, Raph, come check this out!" l heard Donnie yell from his eyes. l knew that he had been studying a mutagen sample in order to create a retro- mutagen, so l was all ears...well, figuratively that is.
Scooping Akira up again, Raph and l headed towards Donnie's lab, where he had an open canister of mutagen, along with a small beaker of what looked like orange colored liquid of some sort. Was this actually to be the day Donnie succeeds in this mutagen breakthrough?
"Guys...l think l finally did it! l finally created retro- mutagen" he said excitedly.
l set Akira down on the counter, as l walked over as he was gesturing to his microscope, and looked inside the microscope, trying to figure out what he was getting so excited about...
I probably should have been paying attention to Akira, but at the moment, l was kinda drowning in Donnie's explanation about his scientific breakthrough details.
Akira POV-
Yay, Blue's holding me! l like this one...he isn't trying to hold me in awkward positions like Purple, or trying to get too close to Rose like Orange is.
l don't like Red too much...he's a big, green troll as far as l can tell, but l was proud when Rose yelled right back at him. You go girl! l taught you well.
Anyways, Blue was being nice, and he was making me feel very special...petting me and talking to me as if l were a person rather than a pet. Rose treated me the same way, but the only difference is that Rose spoke to me with her mind.
Blue talked to me in a deep, calm and gentle voice. It was relaxing.
Well, then Purple called him and Red into his big room with all the weird stuff, Leo brought me with him. At first l was excited, until Blue set me down and walked over to a looky thing and Purple blabbered a whole bunch of stuff l didn't understand- nor did l want to.
Well, seeing how l was no longer being held and coddled, l was free to explore!
l looked around, and saw a tall pillar of glowing green stuff. l wonder what it is...maybe it's a special mud, or some yummy juice...
Looking behind me, l saw that they were all busy talking, so hey, why not?
Walking quick(whoever says all turtles are slow, have never met me by the way) over to the thing, l stood up on my back legs and let myself put all my strength into pushing that glowy thing over.
Unfortunately, l didn't realize how close it was to the edge of the table, and l fell, right along with the glowy stuff, smack onto the ground...
Wow, this stuff is really pretty...but it's definitely not mud...this was all slimy, like algae, but unlike algae, it was burning me everywhere...
"AKIRA!" Blue shouted in alarm, as everything began spinning into a blur until everything went dark.
Me- Ha! Betcha didn't see that coming!
Leo- You just proved you're evil...
Me- Or did l...don't think this is the end...rather, this is only the beginning...you can thank me later though...
l promised RATCHET SCRIBE I'd try to post a new chapter to "COLLISIONAL WORLDS" before Christmas...hehe ^.^
Rose- What's going on in here?
Mikey- Yeah...l was in a different room, so you can't pin this to my shell...but you guys can feel free to read and review...hope you're enjoying the story! Peace out!