Chapter 9: Family Ties
Bradford crouched in front of the growling Japanese Akita. "It's okay Hachiko. I'm not going to hurt you." He started to reach out to pet the dog's head. In response, it bit Bradford's hand. "Ow!" The martial artist yanked his hand back, examining the bleeding wound.
"He is not pleased with you." Bradford and Xever turned to face Shredder. "Nor am I." The ninja master began walking forward. "I entrusted you both with the task of destroying Splinter and his loathsome turtles." It had been a week since their last encounter, and neither of his lackeys had succeeded.
Bradford kneeled as his sensei drew near. "I spent years molding you in my image, teaching you my darkest secrets. And you shame me with your incompetence." When Xever chuckled, the assassin whirled on him. "And you! I should have left you to rot in that prison where I found you." The leader of the Foot Clan sat down on his throne.
"The turtles have been lucky so far. But it won't last forever."
"The next time we meet, I promise you-"
"Enough! I grow weary of your excuses. I will now destroy the turtles myself." The Shredder glared at Bradford. "If I run across your wayward apprentice, I shall bring her back alive so you may punish her as you see fit." The martial artist bowed deeply, backing out of the room.
"Thank you Master Shredder." As soon as the doors closed, he sighed in relief. It soon faded to sick anticipation as he walked down the dark hallways. "Prepare yourself, Fallyn O'Neil. Your time is at hand."
~ *.* ~
Fallyn shifted in Raphael's lap. He chuckled at her. "Comfortable doll-face?" Fallyn whipped her head around, glaring at him.
"Doll-face?" She was thankful that the manhole cover didn't provide much light. Well, not enough to let him see her blush anyways. Earlier that day, she and April had been ambushed by a giant mutated pigeon. The guys had come up with a plan to lure it out into the open, using April as bait. Fallyn had finally, grudgingly, consented to the plan when Raph offered to let her hide with him.
'Though had I known that it would involve me sitting on his lap in the darkness of a sewer pipe, I might have just gone with Mikey. At least he isn't stuck in Stinkville or Garbage Junction.' Leo was hiding in the dumpster in the alleyway above. Who knows where Donnie was.
"What's wrong? Pigeon got your tong-oof!" Raphael shifted his position so he was squatting against the tunnel walls, his feet on the ladder. He rubbed his plastron where Fallyn had elbowed him. "What?" He whined.
"You are enjoying this way too much." Raph opened his mouth to retort, but Fallyn clamped a hand over his mouth. "Sh! I hear arguing from the lovebirds." Both leaned up to hear better.
"How do you know how bait talks?"
"I know bait doesn't talk back." Fallyn pressed her lips together as Raph lifted both of them up, pushing the manhole cover off of them. They rose simultaneously with Leo and Mikey.
"Ooh….." They drawled in unison. Mikey wagged his finger.
"Oh no you didn't." Everyone returned to their hiding places. Fallyn snickered, covering her mouth with her hand.
"That was awesome." Raph chuckled with her, the sound reverberating in the cement walls.
"No joke." He looked down before making eye contact again. "Um… Fallyn?"
"Yeah Raph?"
"Have you uh… I mean…" Screams cut him off. He mentally cursed at the timing. Fallyn's eyes widened. She moved to get up, but Raph held her down. "Wait! We have to wait for Leo's –" Screams of someone being electrocuted, as well as the sound of electricity crackling meet their ears.
"Now!" The duo leapt from the manhole, Raph pinning the bird down with his brothers. He groaned in disgust as the skin squelched against his hold. Fallyn shuddered at the sound as well, her ears flattening. The mutant began to tap out.
"Okay, okay! Uncle! Jeez Luiz!" Donnie lowered his homemade taser as he looked at April.
"And you said I wasn't good bait." Fallyn chuckled, walking up to lay a hand on her sister's shoulder. She looked up as Leo stood. He glowered down at the captive mutant.
"Okay start talking, Pigeon Man." The bird grunted.
"I have a name." Raph tightened his hold on its arm.
"Yeah we just don't care what it is." The bird swiveled its head around to glare at Raph.
"It's Pete!"
"Why were you trying to hurt April and Fallyn, Pete?"
"I didn't want to hurt them. I was just bringing them a message. From their father." Fallyn's eyes widened minutely as April gasped.
"Let him up!" The mutant clucked in thanks.
"We were both guests of the Kraang. They poured some ooze on me and turned me into this." Fallyn winced as a slight breeze blew the bird's stench towards her.
'Or that could just be Leo. That dumpster wasn't exactly the cleanest on the East Side.' She growled slightly when the mutant began to shake Mikey. "Um, our father?" The bird looked up.
"Oh! Right." He dropped the turtle, reaching into one of his jean pockets to hand April a phone. Fallyn looked over her sister's shoulder as the recording started to play.
"Something terrible is about to happen. I don't know what but it's extremely important that you get out of the city as soon as you can! Save yourselves. Remember, I love you two." Fallyn wrapped an arm around April's shoulders as the redhead held the phone to her chest.
"I love you too Daddy." Leo turned to Pete.
"Do you have any idea what he's talking about?"
"I'm just the messenger." Donnie laid a hand on April's arm.
"We have got to get you out of the city." She hit his hand away.
"I'm not going anywhere without my dad." She crossed her arms, trying to invoke Fallyn's glare. It didn't work.
"But you heard him. Something terrible is going to happen."
"Then we better hurry." Fallyn walked up to the bird mutant.
"Can you tell us where the Kraang are holding our father?" The creature smirked. At least he tried to. His beak wasn't too cooperative.
"I can, but it's gonna cost you a lot of brea-" A cold blade pressed against his throat stopped him midsentence. "I mean, of course!" Fallyn smirked, sheathing her odachi.
"Then let's go." The mutant took off. Fallyn gathered herself to spring after it, but a restraining hand from Leo made her turn around.
"That wasn't necessary, you know. We could have bargained with him." The girl just narrowed her eyes at him.
"I've already lost one parent to the Kraang. I'm not about to lose another." She shook off the hand, leaping up the side of the building. Donnie kneeled down, letting April climb onto his back.
"Come on guys. Let's go after her." The brothers nodded, following the kunoichi. All the while unaware they had an audience.
~ *.* ~
Xever grabbed the fish out of the tank. "That is the ugliest thing I've ever seen. Present company excluded." The punk scowled at Bradford, throwing the fish to the shopkeeper. "So… we have a problem." Xever chuckled.
"No. You have a problem."
"We've both failed Master Shredder. Can you live with that shame?" The street thug growled.
"If I had the opportunity, I would crush those turtles like bugs." Bradford's phone beeped. Taking it out, he smiled at the message. "What is that?"
"Opportunity."
~ *.* ~
Fallyn paced the roof as Donnie fiddled with the lock on a ventilation fan. Her father's scent was overruled by Kraang, but it was still there. Better yet, it was growing stronger, signaling that they weren't too late. 'Dad's here. He hasn't been moved yet.' A hand on her shoulder made her stop. She looked up to see Leo's concerned face. "I'm just worried, that's all." Was her answer to his unspoken question.
He nodded, squeezing her shoulder lightly. They joined the group as Donnie slid the fan off the pipe. "Piece of cake." April clenched her fists.
"Let's do this!"
"Uh-uh." April gaped at her sister. "You are not going in there."
"Are you crazy?! Dad is in there!"
"Along with who knows how many Kraang! You're not ready to face them yet."
"I'm not going to sit back and do nothing!"
"You won't be doing nothing." Fallyn took a length of rope from Leo. "We need you to hold this rope and use it to pull Dad up when we get him." April pursed her lips.
"Fine." April jabbed a finger at her sister's face. "But I'm not happy about being left behind." Fallyn chuckled, swatting her hand away.
"If we wanted to leave you behind, I would have had Donnie drop you off at home." Not giving her a chance to answer, Fallyn jumped down the pipe behind Leo. She landed, back-flipping over some crates. Mikey dropped down after her, grunting when he landed on his butt.
The Kraang in front of them turned, warming up its weapon to fire. Just before it could, Raph landed on its back, jamming his sais into its neck. The droid dropped, crushing the Kraang underneath. When the teens began to move, Raph hit Mikey on the head for being a klutz.
Leo peeked around a corner, tapping his lips with a finger. He rolled out, slicing the Kraang guarding a door. The rest followed, unsheathing their weapons. Sneaking up behind two more droids, Fallyn waited till the door was open before stabbing the Kraang through with her odachi. When the Kraang inside turned, Raph threw his sai, the weapon lodging in the droid's head.
The ninjas crept inside. Fallyn looked in from the doorway. "Looks like a database of some sort." She glanced at Leo. "I'll keep watch from out here." With that, she closed the door.
'32… 33… 34… 35.' The door opened again, revealing Leo and Raph. "35 seconds. What went wrong?" Leo shrugged.
"Mikey." Fallyn rolled her eyes.
"Of course it was him." She lifted her head, closing her eyes. Raph opened his mouth to say something, but Leo slapped a hand over his lips.
"Sh." Raph glared over the gag, but didn't try to remove it. He watched intently as the girl's nostrils widened as her mouth opened slightly.
'What is she doing?' Fallyn's eyes opened two seconds later.
"This way." She tore down a hall, the boys following.
"How do you know?" Fallyn didn't say anything, instead stopping in front of a door.
"Dad? Dad!" Kirby O'Neil looked up in shock. Walking over to the door, he saw his eldest daughter standing there with two turtles.
"Fallyn? What are you-"
"Just hang tight, Dad. We'll have you out of there in a sec." She motioned to the turtles, blue mask first, red mask second. "This is Leonardo, and this is Raphael." She knelt at the lock, breaking it open. The turtles took up guard positions next to her.
"What are you still doing in the city, Fallyn?" The girl didn't look up from the lock.
"Rescuing you that's what." Kirby frowned.
"At least tell me you got April out."
"Nope. She's right outside." Kirby shook his head.
"You two are so stubborn." Leo chuckled.
"Yeah. We've noticed." He flinched in anticipation, but the blow never came. "Okay…" Fallyn chuckled.
"I took that as a compliment, Leo."
"Oh." Raph growled.
"Since it's taking Fallyn forever to pick that lock-" He yelped when a wooden practice shuriken hit his head.
"I'd like to see you do better Fruitcake." He glared at Fallyn's back before turning his attention back to her father.
"Maybe you could tell us what the heck's the deal with the Kraang." Kirby sighed.
"They're aliens from another dimension. When they came here they brought the mutagen with them." Leo glanced at the scientist.
"Why? What's the point of turning people into monsters?" Fallyn's fingers flinched, unconsciously releasing her claws. It actually turned out for the better, cutting the alarm.
"The mutagen doesn't work the way they thought it would. Apparently the physical laws of their universe are different from ours."
"So they're grabbing scientists to help them modify the ooze!"
"Wow! You figured it out." Raph glanced at Fallyn's back. "How's that lock coming?"
"It would be coming along better if you stopped distracting me!" Leo laid a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder.
"So what do they want the ooze to do?"
"I wish I knew." Donnie appeared around the corner.
"Guys! They've planted a mutagen bomb downtown! They're going to use it to disperse mutagen over half the city!" Don looked up, noticing Fallyn's father. "Oh hi Mr. O'Neil. Your daughters are really nice, especially April."
Fallyn growled. "Come on you stupid door! I guess the Kraang have upgraded their security since we escaped the last time." Mikey cleared his throat.
"Have you tried this?" He slammed his hand on a button.
"NO!" An alarm started blaring. Raph glared at his little brother.
"And that's why no one wants to be with you!" He jabbed a finger into Mikey's plastron.
"Got it!" The door opened just as Kraang droids appeared around the corner. Fallyn grabbed her father's hand. "Let's go!" Leo shielded the family, escorting them towards the ventilation hatch. They dived behind the crates.
Fallyn lifted an eyebrow when Leo started cooing. Raph just gaped. "What are you doing!?" He cupped his hands around his mouth. "April! Throw the rope!" The redhead appeared.
"Dad!"
"April!" She disappeared, throwing the coil of rope down. Fallyn stood up, throwing two smoke bombs at the droids. The cloud covered them, disorienting them momentarily.
"Go! I'll be right behind you!" She drop-kicked a droid, causing it to drop its blaster. A streak of orange-red made her turn around. "Dad! What the hell are you doing!?"
"Get out of here! Save yourselves. Save the city!" He ran at the droids, shooting them down. Leo grabbed Fallyn's hand.
"Come on!" She took one last glance at her father to see him dogpiled by several droids.
"I'll come back for you Dad! I swear!" Fallyn jumped up the rope, hauling herself out of the ventilation shaft. The second her feet touched the ground, she walked over to the edge of the roof. She braced herself against an adjoining wall.
April looked down, gasping when she saw Kirby being led away. She threw herself at Donnie. He embraced her before pulling back, talking to her. Leo walked over to Fallyn, laying a hand on her shoulder. He frowned in concern at the shaking. When he pulled her to his chest, she didn't fight it, instead collapsing into him. He rested his chin on her head, rubbing her back.
"We'll get him back Fallyn." Before he had time to think, Leo pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I'll help you in any way I can. I promise." Fallyn took in a shuddering breath, betraying her tears.
"Thank you Leonardo." She looked up at him, a small smile twitching at her lips. Leo smiled back, stroking her cheek with his thumb to remove a stray drop. He motioned with his head to the others. She nodded, her eyes hardening.
"We gotta go."
複
Leo knocked on his bedroom door. "Fallyn? You good?" After the failed attempt to rescue the girls' father, the group had returned to the lair, but not before Fallyn split off from the group to grab something from her home. When she had returned, she had asked to change her clothes in Leo's room. He had consented, hence his current position.
Inside, Fallyn slung her odachi over her shoulder before opening the door. She looked up at the turtle. "Ready when you are." Leo blinked several times when he saw what she was wearing.
It was a tightly-woven cotton shureido-like hakama, heavier than a normal sparring gi, but light enough to provide free movement. The color had faded, but it was still had enough color to lend itself useful for stealth. The black of the fabric accented her hair, which was done up in a high ponytail. The top was tied fairly tight, hugging her curves. The obi, while not necessary, kept the entire ensemble together.
"Um... Leo? You okay?" The turtle mentally shook himself.
'Idiot! You were just staring like a creep!' "Yeah. Just not used to seeing you dressed like a ninja." Fallyn chuckled.
"Then maybe I should wear this more often." She walked out into the hall, closing the door behind her. "Let's join the others." Leo nodded.
"Yeah." They walked into the living room side by side. When April saw her sister's outfit, she didn't say anything, instead wrapping her arms around the taller girl's waist.
"Be careful sis."
"I will." Fallyn started petting April's head like she had done when they were kids. "No matter what, don't leave the lair. Sensei will take care of you." April nodded.
"Yeah I know." She pulled back, sky blue staring into molten gold. "Go save the city already." Fallyn smirked, yanking softly on the younger girl's low ponytail.
"Stay put, young lady." April released her sibling, watching as she joined the guys. Splinter came out, resting both hands on his staff.
"Be careful my children." The ninjas bowed to him, while Fallyn blinked in acknowledgement. "Good luck." The teens nodded before running out of the lair.
~ *.* ~
Fallyn sliced through the droid, cutting it and the Kraang inside in half. She smirked in satisfaction when the dead body fell to the roof, bouncing as it's rubbery skin made contact. The girl jumped down, landing next to the brothers. "Fifteen."
"This isn't a contest, Fallyn."
"Just trying to keep the mood light." Leo rolled his eyes.
"Okay Donnie. It's up to you." The scientist removed a panel.
"Uh-oh." The others peeked over his shoulders.
"Uh-oh? Donnie! You said you knew how to do this!" Donnie growled as he dropped the metal he was holding.
"I didn't count on a design this complex, Leo!"
"The-they're aliens from another dimension! What did you expect!? A big round ball with a lit fuse that said 'Bomb'?!" Leo used his hands to illustrate his point.
"No but this is-" Raph pushed himself in front of his geeky brother. He did so by shoving Leo to the ground via his face.
"Boy I hope this argument goes on for another four minutes and fifteen seconds." He slapped Donnie. Fallyn snickered from behind her hand, making sure the guys didn't hear her.
The scientist examined the bomb before hesitantly reaching for it. You could practically see him drowning in sweat. "Careful!" Donnie's head whipped around to glare at Leo.
"Watch out for those wires!"
"You guys are not helping!"
"Why don't we just push this button?" Raph grabbed Mikey's hand.
"Don't you think you've pushed enough buttons tonight?" Donnie started humming to himself, tapping his upper lip.
"Donnie! You're going to have to speed this up!"
"I cannot work, with all this pressure!" Don slapped the sides of his face. Fallyn froze as the sound of feet on metal came from the side.
"Well Don… how about a little more pressure?" He glanced at the girl. "'Cause we just got company." All of the teens turned to see Bradford and Xever standing on the scaffolding.
The men leapt off, running towards the younger ninjas. Fallyn stayed back by Donatello, unsheathing a odachi. "What are you-"
"Guarding you while you diffuse that bomb!" Donnie nodded, turning his attention back to the device. Fallyn gripped her sword, watching the others fight. Her knuckles turned white. 'Protect Donnie. Then worry about the punks. That doesn't mean I can't listen in though.'
"I'd rather perish with honor, than live in shame."
'You don't know the first thing about honor Bradford.' The man yelled in pain when Raph jammed a sai hilt into his eye. 'Oh that's going to leave a mark.'
"Will you hurry up and diffuse the bomb!? We're dealing with a couple of nut-jobs here!"
"Be quiet!" Fallyn flinched.
'Note to self: Never make Donatello angry.' She stepped on guard as the men started to run at them. Thankfully, Mikey distracted Bradford. The girl's eyes widened when Donnie's heart rate picked up. "Don?"
"Down to two wires. Which do I cut? Black, or green?"
"Go for the green!" Mikey groaned as Bradford punched him in the gut. Fallyn growled, flinching when she cut her tongue on a fang.
'Wow. I didn't even realize that had happened.' She turned as the timer started to beep faster.
"Eh why not?" Moving his pliers, Don cut through the green striped wire. The device stopped. Donnie whirled, smiling. "Guys! Guys! Mikey… was right about something!"
Fallyn smirked. "Now that that crisis has been averted," she lifted her sword, "How 'bout we help your bro's out?" Don smirked back, taking out his bo staff. He ran for Bradford, while Fallyn flipped up to join Raph, who was fighting Xever on the platform above. She landed next to the turtle. "Mind if I cut in?"
"Be my guest." Smiling, Fallyn swung at Xever, Raph ducking and punching. They moved in perfect sync, forcing the man back. Coming around the edge, Fallyn saw that Leo, Donnie, and Mike had cornered Bradford in a similar manner. The two men gasped when their backs touched.
"You are worthy adversaries, but the fight is ours. Lay down your weapons." Raph and Fallyn exchanged a glance. Xever glared at them.
"Never!"
"Dude, you don't have any weapons. Just give it up." Bradford looked over his shoulder at Fallyn.
"I am so disappointed in you, Fallyn. You could have become a great warrior of the Foot." Raphael growled.
"She is a great warrior without you punks. Don't ever insult her like that again." Fallyn looked in surprise at the red-masked turtle. Bradford frowned.
"You've lost. Put the weapons, down." The martial artist glanced back at Leo.
"If I'm going down…" Fallyn's eyes widened. "I'm taking you with me!" Bradford jammed his katana into the mutagen bomb, shattering the glass. A wave of mutagen washed the men away. Raph pinned Fallyn to the wall, shielding her from the ooze. They looked over his right shoulder, watching as the mutagen disappeared down the storm drains.
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it." Picking Fallyn up bridal style, Raph jumped down from the platform. He landed silently on the roof, setting the girl on her feet. The others followed. Leo put his hands on his hips as soon as the bomb shut down.
"So to sum up, we kicked the butts of the Kraang, and Shredder's top henchmen, while diffusing a bomb, and saving the city."
"Yeah we aren't overconfident." Fallyn wrapped an arm around Raph's shoulders.
"We're just that good." She smirked at him, planting a kiss on his cheek. "Thanks for what you said." She whispered.
"No prob. I meant it." The girl pulled away, giving Mikey a noggie. Raph chuckled at her, discretely touching the spot she had kissed. It burned, but not in a bad way. He silently hoped that there would be more.
"Fallyn! Stop it!" She laughed, but did anyways. The teens began to walk away, still celebrating. Raph wrapped his arm around Fallyn's trim waist, her slinging her arm around his shoulders in response. Raph smirked as he pulled the girl to him, making sure their sides touched as they made their way to the fire escape.
"Your skills are impressive." Everyone froze at the new voice. Looking up, they saw a man in armor jump down from the sign. "But they will not save you." Donnie swallowed nervously.
"Oh man. Do you think that's… the Shredder?"
"Well it's definitely a Shredder." Fallyn unsheathed her second odachi as the man started to walk towards them.
"There is undoubtedly a fascinating story of how my old nemesis came to teach Ninjitsu to four mutant turtles." He lifted his head to stare directly at Fallyn. "And my prodigal daughter has joined Hamato as well. Perhaps I'll let you live long enough to tell it!" She snarled at him, baring her fangs.
"You're going to have to catch us first! Mikey!"
"So long sucker!" Mikey flung a smoke bomb down. Except this one was actually an egg.
'Perfect.'
"Oops. Alright that one's on me." The sound of blades unsheathing made them whip around. Raph ran at the man, sais drawn.
Fallyn watched helplessly as the two faced off. They were matched, until Shredder blocked the sai. Spinning, he kicked Raph into the sign. Fallyn gasped at the crunch his carapace made when it made contact with the metal supports.
"RAPH!" The turtle was electrocuted, his unconscious body falling onto the platform. Before Fallyn could do anything, Shredder attacked Leo. Fallyn couldn't get to him before he was also kicked unconscious. "Leo!" Donnie checked on his brother before attacking Shredder himself.
Soon, only Mikey and Fallyn were left. Mikey wrapped his kusarigama chain around the man's left arm, preventing him from slashing Don. The ninja master yanked Mikey to him, roundhouse kicking him. As he rolled towards the edge, Mikey flung a few shuriken at him.
Shredder blocked, turning to face Fallyn. "And now… you shall be punished for betraying the Foot!" Fallyn snarled, twirling her odachi on guard. Rage boiled inside her, her fingers twitching with electricity.
"You can't betray someone you were never loyal too!" Leo moaned, shaking his head as he looked up at Fallyn's shout. His heart dropped when he saw she was facing off against Shredder. To his surprise, she didn't rush him, like they had done.
'She was Bradford's student… Shredder must be trying to figure out how much she knows!' Leo wanted to help her, but, out of respect for the match, kept his distance. 'I'll jump in if she needs help.' Fallyn noticed Leo moving, but didn't drop her guard. Instead, she began circling Shredder, him copying the movement.
"You were trained by Bradford. My student! You are mine, just like him!" The girl cackled, throwing her head back. Leo gulped as light from the sign glinted on her pearl white...
'Fangs? Since when does she have fangs?!'
"Hate to break it to you, Bucket Head, but I am no one's property." The ninja master yelled, charging her. Fallyn flipped out of the way, slamming her foot onto his helmet, denting the metal. He stumbled, twirling to face the smirking girl. "Temper temper. Hasn't anyone ever taught you to meditate?" A growl reverberated inside the face-plate.
"Insolent child!" Shredder charged again, slicing at her. Fallyn continued dodging, occasionally landing a blow with the blades of her swords. Leo watched in amazement as the match dragged out, neither gaining nor losing ground. Still, it didn't stop from blood being spilled. Shredder's armor began to glisten, while Fallyn's hakama darkened around her arm and side.
'She must have reopened her wound!' Donnie hobbled over to his older brother.
"I never knew how good Fallyn was." He helped the katana-wielder up. Both continued watching at the battle.
"Me neither. But… she was trained by Bradford, and he was trained by Shredder. They know what the other is going to do before they do it." Don sighed.
"I guess. She's still good though." The clanging of metal brought the two back to reality. Fallyn had crossed her odachi, catching Shredder's blades. Behind his mask, Oroku Saki smirked.
"You are no match for me, girl." Stepping forward, he began to put more weight on his arms. His smirk grew when Fallyn shifted her stance, dropping lower to the ground. "I am stronger... faster... better." Fallyn flexed her fingers. The males watching saw the gesture, but only Leo and Don recognized it for what it is. They ran at the fighters when Fallyn smiled.
"But not smarter." Hearing blades scrape against each other, Shredder looked to his right in time to see Leo slice his side. The Foot Leader stumbled, bracing his foot against the edge of the roof. Donatello spun down, smacking the man across his face mask, slightly denting the metal. He skidded to a stop next to Fallyn, letting Leo take over the fight. The scientist glanced at the girl. His brown-red eyes widened at the cut on her cheek.
"You okay?"
"Fight now, doctoring later." Fallyn nudged the turtle, motioning towards the match. "Now is not the time for one-on-one. Leo needs help." Don nodded, running to help his brother. Confident they would be distracted for a little while, Fallyn sheathed a odachi, lifting her gi top. She grimaced at the sight, but didn't dwell on it.
Heating her hand, she slapped it over her side, gritting her teeth as she cauterized the wound. 'This'll work for a little while.' She looked up at a kiai, smiling at the sight. 'Thank goodness!'
Raphael dropped down on Shredder's head, punching him. The man flung the mutant off him, lifting his hand to slice his throat. A chain again wrapped itself around his arm. Mikey jumped down from the top of the sign, pulling Shredder up. The mutant hooked the blade of his kusarigama onto one of the supports.
A sickening crunch was heard. Shredder shouted in pain as his arm was pulled out of socket. Fallyn gasped in horror when he sliced through a letter. "Mikey!" She pushed the turtle out of the way just in time, preventing the metal from falling on him. Unfortunately, she didn't move fast enough.
"FALLYN!" Cutting himself free, Shredder watched as the turtles lifted the object, letting the girl crawl out from underneath. From the twist of her right foot, he knew it was broken. Nonetheless, she stood up next to her friends, her swords on guard. Shredder made the first move, yelling and brandishing his blades.
Fallyn and the boys jumped at Saki, weapons drawn. While flying at him, she saw him effortlessly bat the turtles away, giving Leo the worst of it by slashing his plastron. In doing this, Shredder had left his shoulders exposed. Twirling her odachi, Fallyn finally let out a kiai. Shredder turned at the roar, his eyes widening in horror before burning pain shot through his shoulders and across his chest. The slices sizzled with heat, the flesh popping and armor melting. He howled in pain, the sound ripping out of his throat before he could stop it.
Fueled by rage, Oroku Saki grabbed Fallyn by the neck. He threw her against a wall, jamming his blades on either side. "Tell me where Splinter is and I'll show mercy by making your end swift!" Fallyn never got the chance to answer.
Gasping made the man whip around, consequently dropping the girl. Leo and Raph helped her up, watching in disbelief as a fish, covered in mutagen, reached out for Shredder. "Help… me…"
"What is this?!" A massive dog creature emerged from the ooze behind the aquatic animal. "Xever? Bradford?!" The teens took this opportunity to disappear. Leo picked up Fallyn bridal style, grabbing her swords as he jumped down the fire escape. She didn't protest, instead finally succumbing to the pain and passing out.
Back on the roof, Shredder shouted in disappointment at losing his quarry.
~ *.* ~
April sat next to Mikey, her knees drawn to her chest. The turtle had one arm draped around her shoulders, providing comfort to both of them. He looked up as Leo joined them. As soon as they had returned to the lair, the leader and Donnie had taken a broken, bleeding, and unconscious Fallyn to the scientist's lab. The others had tried to stay, but Don had kicked them out, slamming and locking the door. With nothing else to do, Leo reported to Splinter, Raph leaned against a game, and Mikey sat down with April.
Leo kneeled down next to the redhead, resting a hand on her back. She arched her spine, pressing into him. He smiled softly, rubbing his hand up and down in what he hoped was a soothing manner. They all jumped when a grunt from Raph was heard, as well as the sound of the game scraping the ground. The hothead dropped to the ground, wrapping his arms around his knees, hiding his face behind his knee pads.
April sniffed, looking up at Leo. "Is… is my sister going to be alright?" Leo sighed, continuing to rub her back.
"I don't know, April. But Don will tell us when he comes out." Mikey sniffled, wiping his nose.
"I'm sorry April. It's my fault Fallyn's hurt. I should have gotten out of the way faster." The girl leaned her head on his shoulder, mindful of his bruises.
"No it's not, Mikey. Don't blame yourself."
"But-" April pressed a pale finger to his green mouth.
"No but's. And that's final." The orange-masked turtle chuckled softly, leaning his head on the girl's.
"Thanks April. You always know what to say."
"Indeed." The teens looked up to see Splinter standing there. "You were all very lucky." Raph scoffed. He lifted his head to stare over his knee pads.
"Well I think we define that word differently, Sensei."
"Few have ever faced the Shredder and survived." Mikey sighed, looking down.
"He was just so fast." Leo stared at his knees, dropping his hand from April's back to his lap.
"You were right about us being overconfident, Sensei. There are some things, we're just not ready for." Splinter kneeled down, resting a hand on his son's shoulder.
"Perhaps. But that no longer matters." The teens stared at Splinter. "It is clear now that the Shredder is a problem that will not go away. So prepare yourselves, my sons. Because as of this moment, we are at war."
"Well that war is going to have to wait." Everyone whirled to see Don standing in the doorway to his lab. "Because Fallyn needs us more." They stood up, worry evident on all of their faces. "You guys should come and see this."
Fallyn's Revealed Powers: Telekinesis, Enhanced Hearing and Smell, Retractable Claws, Healing
Okay… I have no idea what to say here. Um… don't kill me for changing the plot, I know that fight was drawn out to a hell of a lot longer than in the episode, and…. yeahh.
Anyways… hope you enjoyed it and keep watching for the next chapter, "A Question Answered, Another Arisen"!
Episode: The Gauntlet