Chapter 9

A New Leader

"You want me to be the leader?!" Tyroth asked in disbelief, his eyes darting between Splinter, George and Leonardo.

"That is correct, Tyroth." the old rat said.

"And I thought the dinosaur was the biggest shock today." Tyroth muttered to himself, before turning back to the others. "What made you come to that conclusion? Why would you want me to lead?"

"Because it is because of you that we are all here, alive and well, far from our enemies." George explained. "It was you that suggested that we should leave Earth with the talisman. And ever since we got to this world, you have been telling people what to do. You have already been leading us for days, guiding us here, to our new home."

"We needed to stay focused. I simply made sure that we didn't loose track of our goal. That alone doesn't qualify my to be a leader."

"But you already are one." said Leonardo. "You've led the Chicago Knights for years, teaching them what you've learned, often the hard way, so that they would know how you act and react, how to help people."

"That's different. The Knights are only a small group that share my sense of justice, to a degree, but you're talking about me leading all of our people."

"And with good reason, too." said George. "It is no secret that I was against your acts as vigilantes, but I soon came to understand just how much good you and the others were doing, how much you wanted to spare other people the fate that has befallen many of us, and that alone proves that your heart is in the right place. And with how everyone else looks up to you, there was no question in my mind that you would keep the village together when I eventually would pass away."

"I share George's sentiment in the subject." said Splinter. "I, too, believe that you would make an excellent leader for your home, and will be one now for our new home."

"I was under the impression that Leo would take over after you, master Splinter." Tyroth said, then turning to said turtle. "Are you really okay with this?"

"It was actually I that suggested to them that you should lead, Tyroth." Leonardo answered, much to the surprise of the dragon. "I trust that you can lead my family just as well as I ever could, if not even better. Besides, it was you who leaped into action just now and took on a carnivorous dinosaur to save one of us. And that's not the only time you've done something similar."

"I'm just doing what needs to be done. I can't stand seeing people get hurt if I can help it, especially not when I got the power to do something to prevent it."

"And that is just why we think you should lead us." said George. "You protect us and are always willing to help with even small things. Not to mention that you know more about this world than any of us."

"But only from what I've read in the DnD books. There's no telling how many differences there might be, or what."

"Regardless, you're the only one that has read all the books, aside from Mikey of course." said Leonardo.

"Fair enough. I suppose you've got a point there." Tyroth sighed. "But if I do take up the mantle of leader, what will the two of you do?"

"I suppose you could say that George and I will retire, knowing that we are all in good hands. But we will still offer advice to the best of our abilities, should you need it."

Tyroth stood silent, just looking into the air in front of him.

"We understand that this might come as a shock to you, Tyroth, but we would not even consider this if we did not think that you would be able to lead us." said George.

"I know, and I guess that's what worries me. You might think that I can lead, but I'm not sure that I agree with that." Tyroth said. "If you'll excuse me, I'll need some time to think about all this."

With that Tyroth walked out of the room, leaving the three mutants behind.

"Do you think that he will accept his new role?" Leonardo asked.

"In time, I am certain that he will. Just as you would have, my son." Splinter said, placing a paw on his eldest son's arm.

"If only he did not harbour such doubt about his ability to lead." said George.

As Tyroth left the room, he continued through the main hall of the inn where the others were still eating.

Halfway through the room, his eyes met those of Sephie, and she smiled at the sight of him, but that smile was quickly replaced with a face of concern when she saw how troubled he looked. He nodded towards the door as a notion for her to join him outdoors, and she gave him a nod in response.

Once Sephie exited the inn, she saw Tyroth standing on the porch, leaning on the railing and looking out into the village.

The sun had begun setting, and was already below the canopy of the great woods to the west, the rays painting the most of the sky in warm yellow and orange colours, while a thin band of purple began creeping along the sky, giving way to a dark blue and the first stars of the oncoming night.

It was a truly beautiful evening, and Sephie would have loved to spend a few moments just enjoying it together with her mate and lover, but she knew that it wouldn't be in the way she hoped, not with how troubled he had looked.

"Tyroth." she said softly as she walked up next to him. "What's the matter, hun?"

"I just talked with Leo, George and Splinter."

"What about?"

"They want me to become the leader of the village."

"Oh."

"You don't seem very surprised about that."

"Not really, no. I always had the feeling that you would take over after Gramps eventually, but I wasn't really expecting that Splinter would do the same, let alone now of all times."

"Well, I wasn't expecting any of it at all." Tyroth sighed.

"Why not? If anyone should become our new leader, I can't honestly think of anyone better than you, love." Sephie said, placing her hand on his.

"Leo and the elders said basically the same thing."

"Then what's the problem? All of us know that we can trust you to keep us safe, just like you've done so far."

"But there is a difference between being a leader and a guardian."

"And whose to say that you can't be both?"

"Can I really be trusted with that?"

"Alright then, let me spell this out for you, hun." Sephie said, and began counting on her fingers. "You're the physically strongest out of all of us, you heal faster than anyone else, you can fly, you can breath fire, you possess magical powers, which have been enhanced to a level I don't think Thaenia even considered possible for mortals, you've fought demons, dragons, undead and so much more, and you've kept the Knights together.

You have all of this and more among your merits, and we all trust you with our lives because of it. As far as I see it, you've almost been our leader for the last years in all but title. We wouldn't even be here now without you, love."

Tyroth looked at his wife in amazement, and then turned his gaze to the sky above them.

"I was hoping to get some advice from you, Sephie, but it felt more like a pep-talk." he chuckled.

"Whose to say it wasn't both." Sephie replied with a smile. "My point is that you don't have to be worried about misusing your new power, you have more than enough discipline, and heart, not to."

"Do you really think I should accept this?"

"I do, and I'm sure that if you asked anyone else the same question, they would give you the same answer. Aside from maybe Rattletrap."

"I don't doubt that. He'd probably nominate himself to be in charge."

"And I don't think anyone would even put him in charge of his own tail." Sephie giggled. "But if you still don't believe it, why not bring it up with everyone and put it to a vote, let them decide."

"Not sure if that thought scares me more or less."

"The result will be the same, you will be our new leader, love, I know that. And I know that you'll a great one."

"No pressure, huh?"

"Look, you might stumble every now and then, you might make some mistakes, but who wouldn't, and you will learn from every experience. Besides, you still got all of us here for you, so just because you're our leader won't mean that you're all alone."

For a few minutes, Tyroth stood silent, thinking about everything that Sephie, and the others, had told him. Looking back at the door, he took a deep breath.

"Well, let's get this over with then." he said, turning towards the door proper.

"So what are you going to do?" Sephie asked as she followed his lead.

"I'm gonna call for a vote in the matter, see what people say."

"I think I can guess the outcome with ease." Sephie said smiling, giving her mate a quick kiss on the cheek.

As they entered the inn again, most people were just finishing their meals, with Leonardo, Splinter and George having joined them since their meeting with Tyroth.

After taking a few breaths to steel himself, and receiving another kiss from Sephie, Tyroth walked into the centre of the room and cleared his throat.

"Can I have everyone's attention please." he said in a loud and clear voice, and as everyone quieted down, he instantly started to regret it all, but he had see this through to the end.

"A little while ago, our elders came to the conclusion that it's time for them to step down as our leaders and have one of us take up the role, for all of us. They have also, together with Leonardo, decided on whom they are passing on the torch to, a decision that I did not have any real say in, and they have chosen me."

As soon as Tyroth had said that, many of the Mutopians erupted into cheers and applauds, especially Freya, who was over the moon that her dad was going to be the new leader.

"However." Tyroth continued in a loud voice, waiting a moment for everyone to be quiet again. "I don't intend to take charge without your approval, as I think that leadership is something that should be earned, not taken, so I'm putting this to a vote. Anyone who thinks that I should lead, raise your hand."

It didn't take very long before a sea of hands were raised high in the air, far more than Tyroth had anticipated.

"And against?"

This time, not a single hand was raised, and as Tyroth looked around confused, Leonardo, Splinter, George and Sephie all watched both him and the results with big smiles.

"I'd say that the results are unanimous." said Leonardo as he walked up to Tyroth.

"I guess they are..." Tyroth said, still rather shocked, and that didn't wear off when Leonardo grabbed him by the wrist and raised his hand high.

"All hail our new leader, Tyroth!" the blue-masked turtle cheered, and people soon followed suit, but there was one that went even further.

"All hail Jarl Tyroth!" Michelangelo cheered loudly and enthusiastically, and it didn't take long before more and more joined in in a chorus. Tyroth couldn't help but roll his eyes. Michelangelo had taken quite a liking to the sort of title the dragon had been given by them back in Skyrim, and it seemed that the turtle hadn't forgotten.

"Speech! Speech!" someone cried out, and like before, more soon followed suit.

"Alright, calm down everyone." Tyroth said, waiting again for some silence. "If you all believe that I should lead you, then I will do my best to be the leader you deserve. Regardless of who would have become our leader though, we still have a lot of work ahead of us for months to come if we are to fix up this village, and then far beyond that to survive, continuing tomorrow. Before that, however, as my first act as leader, I am appointing Leonardo as my steward."

"Wait, what?" Leonardo said with a confused look.

"That means," Tyroth continued before Leonardo could say anything else. "that he will be my second in command for day-to-day business. If I'm not around, you can go to him instead."

"Hold on, don't I get a say in this?" Leonardo asked in a low voice, while the others applauded again.

"About as much as I did." Tyroth said with a smirk. "All of this was your idea to begin with, and now you know how I felt."

Tyroth then turned back to the others.

"If you want to celebrate, go right ahead, because tomorrow we'll get very busy."

Said and done, the very next day the Mutopians worked tirelessly to fix up their new home.

But as the sun reached its zenith on that day, a pair of eyes spotted the smoke from the tavern rising into the sky from a distance.

"Well well, seems like someone else had the same idea."

So it begins, a new life for the Mutopians under the leadership of Tyroth. He isn't too thrilled about it though, but if I were in his shoes... place, I don't think I'd be either. At least he pulled Leo in with him, and I guess it serves him right, if you look at it that way. :)

But now it seems like someone has discovered the new Mutopia. Who and what might they be?