Chapter 7

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Enter April O'Neil.

The reason why the turtles and Splinter were even alive.

I couldn't help but stare as we sat in the lair, facing this woman as she spoke. Her hair was a dark auburn, and her eyes a deep brown.

From what I could gather, after their last adventure together, April had moved to another city, away from the turtles. It was why I hadn't met or heard about her since coming here. She had tried to keep in contact, but, according to her, life had gotten busy. She decided not long ago to come back and visit the city she was from, finding the turtles old lair had been destroyed.

She managed to track Donnie, with something that Donnie had given her before she'd left. He didn't even know she still had it.

Either way, the turtles and even Splinter were extremely happy to see her.

Raph was still MIA with Rachel, but I didn't really want to bother them. I was sure there would be plenty of time for catch ups later.

"So, who are you?" She asked finally, turning to me. She hadn't said it in a nasty way, but I felt myself become a little defensive.

"Uh, Jade" I got out, looking away a little. I was sure my face still looked a mess.

"Hey Jade, what brings you here?" Her voice was like honey, sweet and caring. For some reason, it just made me feel uncomfortable.

"Well... that's a very long story" I rubbed the back of my neck, looking up at Donnie. He looked at me, frowning a little.

He knew I was worried. And he knew why.

"Jade, do you believe..." Splinter looked at me, searching my eyes. He knew what I was thinking too.

I sighed, looking over at April, who was now confused.

"April, there is something I want to show you. Please, don't be scared" I got up, walking over to her. She backed up a little.

"Uh...okay"

I closed my eyes, feeling the shift begin.

"Whoa" I heard her say, stumbling back and hearing her hit something.

"Hey" Came Leo's voice, feeling my body stretch a tail emerge. The second set of legs exploded out of my chest, making her yelp a little as my weight made me fall forward. I tried to keep it as slow as possible, so not to scare her too much.

Finally completed the shift, opening both sets of eyes to look at her. She was pressed back against Leo, who was trying to hold her up, and steady.

"What...what's..." She looked at me. I had become a perfect copy of Ax. It was the only... and best...way to know.

(So you don't know what this is?) I directed at her, and she stared at me.

"What...in my..." She seemed clearly freaked out.

"Jade, what do you think?" Donnie asked, coming to me.

Before I could say anything though, she fainted, Leo catching her as he did.

(I think that says it all)

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And so, April learned about the Animorphs, and about me and my crew. Safe to say... she was more than a little shocked.

She had also agreed to stay with the turtles for three days, to make sure she didn't have a Yeerk in her. Sure, she had fainted, but that didn't mean Yeerks couldn't play us either. Surprisingly, she agreed.

"Thank you for doing this for us, it means alot" Ithiell told her from the monitor, and she smiled at him.

"Not a problem. I kept the turtles secret, I'm sure I can keep yours"

"Look, I'm sorry if this is a shock to you" Jake said from another monitor "But you understand why we need to keep this secret"

She nodded "I understand"

We signed off from the two, and she turned to me.

"So uh... animals huh?"

I nodded "Well, pretty much anything"

She stared at me.

"Want me to show you?" I smiled a little.

"Uh, yeah sure" She said finally, and I locked my eyes on her face.

Slowly, I started my shift, my hair starting to lengthen and go wavy. I kept concentration, watching her jaw dropped as I pretty much became her doppelganger.

"Whoooa!" Now I have two girlfriends!" Mikey perked up, coming up to me.

"Watch it Mikey" I said in her voice, and he stopped.

"What..." April moved around Mikey, coming up to me. She hesitantly touched my face, my eyes, my hair...

Well, her face.

"How...did you... you're me?"

"Well no, not you. I just look like you" I told her, waiting until she moved away so I could shift back to myself.

She smiled at me "That's a pretty cool gift"

"Thanks" I replied, trying my best to smile at her. She seemed so genuine...

Then again, maybe it was because I was so used to distrusting people. You know, with so many people being Yeerks and all...

"So uh... what do you guys do for fun down here" April asked, shoving her hands in her pockets and looking around.

"Oh, April, my love" Suddenly Mikey was pulling her away "You gotta see my sweet new game!"

I couldn't help but laugh a little, finding a strong hand now pulling me away. I looked up to see Donnie, smiling down at me. I was guessing the events of earlier was still going through his head.

"Jade, I-"

I shook my head "Come here, my hottie nerd"

I pulled him towards me, leaning up and kissing him. He returned it happily, holding me as close as he dared.

"Oh get a room, you two" Came the gruff voice, and we turned to see Raph enter with Rachel in tow.

"We could say the same to you" I giggled, winking at Rachel, who was now blushing. She shook her head, and as she turned she saw April, tensing up.

"Who's that?"

"April..." Raphael looked like he'd seen a ghost, and Rachel turned to us.

"What, you mean, the April?"

We both nodded.

"Wow... Raph always talks about her" She moved to go after him, and I turned to look back up at Donnie.

"Well, there goes my awesome status"

Donnie only shook his head.

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"So, you and Raph?"

"Uh huh"

"And you and Donnie..."

"Uh, yeah"

It was just the three of us. We'd all climbed onto the roof, and were all look out into the night. Amanda and Rtaia had decided to take over for Rachel and me just for the night, and part of the day tomorrow. We had explained to the both of them about April, and they had been understanding.

And now, here we were, three girls on a roof. Well, April was probably a good ten years older, but still...

"So, how long have you been-"

"A year and a bit" Rachel answered nonchalantly, swinging her legs a little and looking down. April turned to me.

"And you and Donnie?"

I blushed a little "Well, about the same. Officially, about the same"

"Oh" She turned to look back out into the night.

I had to admit, she was very pretty. She had these big lips, she was skinny, and...

Well, she'd known the turtles since before they were...

"You know, I didn't think it would be possible. I thought... but they seem happier than the last time I saw them"

"When was the last time you saw them?" Rachel asked, and she sighed, coping Rachel's leg movements.

"A couple of years at least. I know I should have stayed in touch more, but..." She trailed off, looking almost sad.

"Raph missed you alot" Rachel finally said, looking sadly at her. It seemed to make her feel worse.

"I missed them too"

To be honest, I'd barely heard Donnie talk about April at all. I wasn't sure if it was because he thought it would upset me, or another reason I couldn't work out just then.

"Well, there's now plenty of time to catch up" I patted her shoulder, going to stand up on the ledge.

"I'm glad they at least have you" She looked up at me, and I smiled down at her.

"Who me? I'm just the juicy bait they use to lure criminals in"

April laughed "I'm sure you're more than that. I saw you with Donnie earlier"

"You did?" I blushed.

"Yeah..." She smiled up at me "He seems really... happy"

"Those two are so in love it's sickening" Rachel made a face, and I looked over at her.

"Oh, and I suppose you and Raph aren't all lovey dovey?"

"At least we-"

"Okay girls, I get it" April got up, and moved away from the ledge, with us following her.

"Sorry" I muttered as we headed for the fire escape. She shook her head, smirking.

"Don't worry about it, it's just good to see you two happy, and making the turtles lives better"

We let Rachel climb down first, then April, then me.

"You should have come back sooner" Rachel said, and I could tell she was trying not to sound harsh.

"I know. From now on, I'll try to make regular visits though" She said as we reached the sewer entrance.

"That'll make Mikey happy" I smiled "He keeps calling you his girlfriend"

She laughed "That's Mikey"

She just seemed so perfect, so gorgeous. I almost felt a twinge of jealousy towards her.

Now she would be staying with the turtles...

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Sorry if this chapter was so short, I've actually split it up a really big one into two smaller ones.

So what do you guys think?

Constructive Criticism appreciated :D