I wasn't going to do an actual chapter of this episode, was only planning to a small bit, but it soon became its own thing for reasons. I'm posting this one only for now because it's been awhile but a second chapter will be completed and posted soon. And I KNOW the order in which I'm posting is OFF, this is how the website I was using (before Rise aired on Netflix(first season only)) so I will continue to use the websites order cause haha..I'm not changing it.
"So according to our findings the worm with the pompadour-"
"-And gauntlet."
"Yes, and Gauntlet," Kara nodded to Muninn, "should be here." She and the others looked up at the rinky-dink, cheap apartment building while lowering the paper to her side, "You think with all that fame money they would be living somewhere more fancy." She frowned when the smell of wet cheese and dirty socks poked her nose causing her to wretch and cover her nose, "I hate this place. I wanna go back."
"You are staying til we retrieve what is ours." Baron walked inside the apartment making her groan and follow him, her wings covering her like a cloak, the hoodie moving over her head on its own.
After knocking on every door and not finding them Baron had reached the peak of his patience now slamming his fists on to the last door til it burst open creating a large dust cloud. When it cleared Baron stood at the door with his arms crossed, Huginn and Muninn at their rightful places on his shoulders, "You know what I've come for. Hand it over."
"Preferably peacefully so I can bathe in sanitizer." She brought out her weapon leaning against the staff still having a set of hands around her nose.
"If you think I'm handing over my roommate/friend/magical assistant then you have another thing coming!" Hypno said throwing his circular blades at them but Kara slid in front of Baron spinning her scythe around parrying each one til they were all stuck in the wall and ceiling around them, "Look, all we want is the gauntlet. You can keep the worm for all we care. Is that good for everyone? Yeah? We good?" She forced a smile wanting to get out of there as fast as possible.
"As if I believe you." Warren pointed the gauntlet at them to fire but Baron was faster sending an attack at them that sent them flying while destroying the wall behind them, they free falling out on to the street.
"You sure like to over do it, don't you?" She raised a brow, tilting her head towards him.
"It gets results quicker."
She blew a light raspberry before giggling, "Well, I guess I can't argue with that logic." She sighed softly watching him walk past her towards the gaping hole in the wall not able to see the small smile on his face that lasted a second, staring down at Hypno and Warren, "Your Gauntlet will be mine, worm-man." He closed his eyes, tilting his head to the right, dodging Warren's attack this making the gargoyles fly away.
"Breaking News: The gauntlet stays with me!" He fired more at Baron who jumped down, the bricks of the wall making a path for him, levitating more bricks around him, and sending them at Warren. Each blast was getting closer to him forcing him to distance himself when a wall suddenly was over him, "Enough of this!" He heard Baron shout just before the wall was coming down at him til one of Hypno's blades hit it square in the center making it explode into flowers, "Alakaboom!" Hypno shouted, both standing side by side.
"Take that you horned headed freak." Warren taunted.
While this was going on Kara was watching the fight unfold, the gargoyles on her shoulders, when she spotted the Turtle Tank and blinked in surprise, "Ugh, how do they always show up wherever we go?"
"Could it be fate?" Muninn asked with a smile on his face, cupping his face.
"Didn't you fancy the purple turtle?" Huginn asked making Kara's face burn red only to look away with a saddened expression in her eyes, "It doesn't matter anyways, I don't deserve anything less than hate." The grip tightened around her weapon closing her eyes but her thoughts were stopped when she noticed the lightning had stopped, Baron focused on Hypno instead. With a sigh she floated down to the top of the Turtle Tank and gently knocked on the hood.
"Who is iiiit?" Mikey sung while opening the door, poking his happy face out. He let out a startled noise when he saw Kara crouched in front of him with her eyes closed, she listening to the voices inside the tank hearing Warren as well as, "April." She sighed again while putting away her weapon in hopes to show them she wasn't there to hurt them, "Can you hand Warren over? All we want is the gauntlet attached to his hand. You can have him back for..whatever it is you guys do with worms."
"Nu-uh we can't allow that." Raph butted in, poking his head out next to Mikey's.
"It's a piece of the Dark Armor!" Donnie shouted between his fighting with Warren.
"Well, yeah." She shrugged as if it wasn't obvious already.
"Wait, do you even know what the Dark Armor is?" Leo poked his head out too, looking at her suspiciously.
"No, armor to make him stronger, I guess? Just like every generic evil scientist, he keeps things to himself..even after everything I do for him.." She muttered the last part, leaning her head into her arms that were crossed over her lap.
Realization hit Leo, "Kara, listen, this thing is-"
A smack to the window jostled the Turtle Tank making Kara lose her balance and stand up while causing the turtles to get stuck together in the hole, Kara leaning over to see Hypno and Warren sharing a moment til Baron snatched Hypno with his vines as well as lifting the Tank off the ground, this causing her to stumble around, "Baron, I'm still on here!" She blinked when large exhaust pipes popped out from the tank and began to light up, "Uh-oh." She flew up as fast as she could before the Tank could fly away and take her legs with them, lowering down in time to see Warren and Hypno reach out for each other, crying out the other's name. "Aww.." She whispered with soft eyes, feeling as though she was watching a romcom.
Watching them escape into the sky, soaring away, she began to feel bad for Hypno whose hand grasped at air for the friend who left him behind. She walked up to Baron's side staring down at the fearful Hypno before Baron dragged him away to another location.
"Do whatever you want with me just don't hurt Warren!" Hypno shouted while being tied up by the gargoyles, "Maybe we can cut a deal!" Muninn smacked a piece of tape over his mouth only for Baron to walk up to him, ripping the tape off him, "I'm listening."
Following the hound in search of the turtles with their scent she soon came upon them at a playground. It barked to announce its presence before becoming a pile of goo at their feet. She landed behind the goo and poked at it curiously with her foot in sync with Leo before letting out a grossed-out noise from the look of it then shook her head to compose herself, "Baron sends you all a letter regarding the whereabouts to the hippo. We'll make a trade: The Hippo for the gauntlet. Oh, and please read the letter, the boys worked hard on writing it." She gave them a two second smile before flying into the air, Leo calling out for her to stop but she was already gone by that point.
"What's gotten into you, Leo?" Raph asked.
"Kara doesn't know about the Dark Armor; Draxum is keeping her in the dark about the whole thing. If she knew what was really going on she wouldn't be a part of it; she'd come back to us."
"Do you really think so?" Mikey asked softly.
"You remember what dad said after fighting them in the train station? There is still good in her. We just gotta get her to see that for herself."
"She runs away everytime we get close to her. Face it, Leo, she's a lost cause. She doesn't want to come back to us." Raph's brows furrowed not wanting to say it out loud but right now they had a larger mission at hand though it wasn't til he glanced at Donnie that he regretted saying it, even he not believing his own words.
Donnie glared at the ground knowing if anyone could get to her it was him but there was some truth to his words; every time it felt as though they were getting through to her she'd either disappear or something would disrupt them. He squeezed his eyes shut when his mind replayed the scene of her getting captured after taking care of the League of Mutants, his fingers twitching as if wanting to grab at her now.
"Why can't we do both?" April asked, grabbing everyone's attention, "While we help Hypno we try and persuade Kara to joining our side again."
Kara watched the gargoyle brothers doodle while waiting for the turtles smiling at their excited faces thinking of them as little brothers, pointing out their cute doodle they made of her and laughing, it getting harder when they showed Hypno of one they made of him with stink lines around him and his doves pooping on his head and shoulder. When she calmed down she glanced at Baron who was still as a statue, eyes focused ahead, and lowered her gaze her thoughts wandering back to what Leonardo was trying to tell her.
Thinking of the past events perhaps he would be willing to share his 'dastardly' deeds with her, specially after the pain she went through, idly rubbing her stomach where Raphael had hit her. Making a decision, she stood and moved to his side, he not even glancing her way. "Sooo, Baron, when are you going to share your plans/what we're doing gathering these pieces of armor for?"
"All will be revealed in due time."
She wasn't happy with this answer, her brows furrowing, "Are you serious? After everything I've done for you you still won't trust me?" She crossed her arms, looking away from him while listing dangerous, ridiculous things that she would have to do that would get him to trust her, this causing his eye to twitch at her nagging til they softened some after recalling the incident at the train station. He opened his mouth to speak but stopped noticing she had gone quiet and looked down to see her frozen, eyes wide, and her antenna's twitching, "They're here."
Muninn and Huginn put away their notebook taking their place on Hypno's shoulders trying to look menacing when Warren was before them.
Kara glanced upwards seeing figures moving through the shadows but said nothing her eyes going back to Warren.
"Tonight's top story: I'm here to make your trade, Draxum."
"Good. Now hand over the gauntlet."
Kara moved to retrieve it but stopped when Warren began to speak, "We could do that or I could make you an even sweeter offer."
"Oooh, like what?"
"A lifetime supply of gum?"
"You're not allowed to have gum anymore, Muninn, not after...that." Kara's facial features darkened, remembering.
"No. How about your mutant loser turtles? I brought them right here."
"Wait, did he just give us up?" Donnie asked only for his answer to be being shot down to the ground, he, his brothers, and April dogpiling in between them.
"So, how'd you like the note?" Kara asked in a sort of welcoming them to the party.
"Betrayal!" Leonardo shouted just before they were caged up by Draxum's vines. "I feel like we should of seen that coming."
"Wow, Warren, staying true to your character, I see. Once a worm, always a worm. Doesn't help you worked for the news." Kara stared down at Warren, leaning against Hypno who was trying to warn him but couldn't due to the tape, her eyes trailing to the turtles and April.
"How could you do this? And on my birthday! I was the Vice President of the Stoneheads!" April shouted, Kara's eyes widened hearing what she just said, "It's her birthday? And she's caught between this.." Kara's brows furrowed in thought, her eyes trailing to Baron who was chuckling, "You drive a hard bargain but it's a deal. Free him."
Muninn ripped the tape off his mouth, both he and Huginn kicking him to the ground in front of Warren who welcomed his brother back with a hug, "Tonight's headline: best friends reunited and it feels-"
"-I'm so sorry. It was the only way he'd let you live." Hypno gently took Warren in his hands staring at him with sorrow filled eyes before letting out the softest, "Mesmeroo~", hypnotizing Warren. "Oh, give them the gauntlet, my golden voiced amigo."
"Oh-hoho! A Double betrayal?! Did not see that coming!"
"You're having too good a time of this, Leonardo." Kara glanced at him before walking up to Warren and picking him up, glaring down at him before tossing him to Baron.
Hypno stood to his feet, "You get the gauntlet and the turtles and Warren lives. That was our deal, right?"
"Yeah-no. I lied." Baron trapped Hypno lifting him and the turtles off the ground.
"Triple betrayal! Everyone is on fire tonight!"
Kara bit her lip, clenched fists at the events happening right now. Betrayal on top of betrayal. Who was going to be next? Her brows lifted in worry; would it be her? Why wouldn't it be? He doesn't trust her enough to fill her in on his plans, to him she's only a lackey, someone to do the dirty work. She narrowed her eyes at him thinking of a plan.
"But you said-y-you promised." Hypno cried out.
"Only a true genius could choreograph this many betrayals and double crosses." Baron smirked having Warren in a magical bubble.
"I mean, it was a total team effort."
"I am blushing."
"I was talking about me, you idiots!" Baron snapped at them.
"Yeah, and I helped.." Kara whispered, hugging herself under her wings.
"Now, time to do some light removing of one thing attached to another thing." Baron began to place Warren on a slab, strapping him down with his vines, and brought out a chainsaw made out of vines that not only looked over the top and large for a simple limb removal but the thought of the act got her to cover her mouth, sighing to calm herself down, "Hey, Baron, before you do that why not have the boys draw this moment for you? You know, sort of to commemorate this into memory? You having captured the turtles through your smarts and succeeding in gathering another piece?" She walked up to the boys, bringing them both in a hug, smiling wide at him hoping he'd say yes.
"Oh! Please, boss? Please please? I'm getting better at my coloring!" Muninn shouted excitedly.
Baron narrowed his eyes and turned to deny their request but flinched when all three of them gave him the puppy eyes, hers larger due to her mutant self. Baron rolled his eyes while groaning in defeat, "Very well, but make it quick."
All three of them shouted in victory, hugging each other before the boys began their work.
"I'll be over here in case bits and pieces start flying everywhere when you start, oh, and to keep an eye on the turtles." She flew to the cage and sat on the top her wings covering the back and sides.
"Classic April O'Neil birthday: trapped in a cage, betrayed by my idol, and facing certain doom."
"Look at the brightside: we're trapped in a cage, having been betrayed by your idol, facing certain doom together."
"That's sweet of you, Raphael, but that isn't going to help you guys escape." Kara whispered.
"Oh yeah? And what is?" Leo asked only to stop hearing a noise, turning around to see her cutting the vine with a knife, this action being hidden by her wings. "Be quiet and you'll see in a moment."
"Alright, what kind of double triple betrayal are you plotting now, huh?" Donnie asking, understandably ticked off but blinked when she stared at him in sadness.
"I deserve that but it wouldn't be you guys I'd be betraying now, would it? Besides, being trapped in a cage and betrayed by your idol to face certain doom on your birthday isn't something anyone deserves, specially not you, April." She smiled at them before focusing on the task at hand, her knife not doing its job as fast as she would of hoped til Hypno's blades surprised them all by stabbing into the front of the cage.
A tophat was thrown into their view that soon exploded into flowers, "Ta-dah. Wait, almost there. A little higher. To the right. Hold on, and yep, you're there." Ever so slowly Hypno was flown in front of them by his doves, "Allow me to help."
Donnie shoved Raph down to face Hypno, "Ok, cowboy, I don't know what kind of triple triple betrayal you've got planned but we're not interested."
"I've got nothing up my sleeve, I promise." Hypno said til a deck of cards smacked Donnie in the face, this making Kara giggle. "Please, you must save Warren. Look, I-I'm a terrible roomie; I-I-I cheat on the chore chart. He pretends not to notice but he does, I know he does. I just wanted to protect him. He's my good friend."
Kara's brows lifted hearing this, "He wanted to save his friend, they both did, and yet I did it out of fear...to protect myself..I really am the lowest of the low. If something happens I'll give you guys a chance to escape." She finally said after a moment of silence, grabbing everyone's attention, "They'll take your help, Hypno, my blade isn't doing the job."
"Excellent!" Hypno said, smiling wide, beginning the cut the turtles free.
"To be clear, we're doing this for April, because it's her birthday."
"Likewise, Raphael." Kara smiled at them but blinked when she felt someone grab one of her hands, looking down to see Leonardo, "What if Draxum hurts you again?"
Donnie blinked at their contact, his eye twitching, wondering why Leo was suddenly so concerned for her.
Kara smiled softly at him before removing her hand from his and placing it to her floof, "You shouldn't worry about your enemy, Leonardo. I've been through worse..but this time I can fight back." She glared ahead, clenching her fist.
"I think I can arrange something for that." Hypno chimed in making her raise a brow, "Go on?"
Just as the brothers finished their artwork, showing it to Draxum, he revved his chainsaw it inching towards Warren's body only for Hypno's blade to intervene, cutting it in half and exploding into pieces.
"Step away from my roomie or your henchman gets the cut." Hypno had Kara tied up in a handkerchief of rope another blade to her throat and inching closer to her.
While Draxum was distracted, his eyes on the frightened Kara, Leo took this opportunity to snatch Warren from him, fleeing the scene but was stopped by Draxum grabbing the gauntlet this causing Leo to get jerked off his feet but Raph caught him before he could fall and soon each side was having a tug of war with Warren as the rope.
Hypno dropped Kara to help them accidentally cutting her cheek in the process, she landing on her side, "Why do I always get dropped.." She leaned her head up watching them struggle and looked down at the blade, getting an idea, "Psst, April, the blade."
April looked at her in confusion til the realized what she was thinking and nodded.
"We can't stretch him any further!" Raph shouted til April swooped in and cut Warren's arm off, freeing him, the force of him going back to his normal size sending the turtles and Hypno in another dogpile.
"Finally, another piece of the dark armor." Baron held his arm out his vines retrieving Kara and bringing her to him while removing Warren's lifeless arm, going, "Ew, gross." before all of them entered the portal.
Kara blinked, feeling awkward when Baron began to untie her while the brothers went for the medkit, he wiping away the blood from her cheek and treating her wound. "What is..going on.." Once he was done he stood to leave with the gauntlet in his hand and stopped for a moment, placing his hand on top of her head then left.
"Aww, he's starting to like you." Muninn squeed while his brother tapped the bandaid to make sure it was secure, stopping when she flinched, "Sorry," he whispered before hugging her.
"I'm going to head out for a bit. I'll be back." She quickly walked to her room, locking the door behind her and grabbed her glove, making a portal and poked her head out to see the turtles and April starting to leave. "Wait," She called out, "Don't leave yet." Getting their attention she pulled her head back in and began searching for a gift til her eyes landed on her nightstand and taking a deep breath and stepping forward.
Coming out of the portal, she walked up to them and set down her lantern shape snowglobe. "It's my prized possession, my aunt gave it to me when I was a child. I won't go into the details so Happy Birthday." She turned it on, the inside lighting up and the glitter rising from the bottom and dancing around. She smiled softly at the gift before turning around to leave them.
"Wait." She froze at the voice and turned around to see April with the lantern in her hands, "Why do you still stay with Draxum? You know he's a villain! A bad one at that! So, why? You're still a good person."
"Because I'm not." She looked down at her hand, "I may not want to hurt you but I still can..and for Baron's true goal for peace..I will." Despite using the word peace she began to doubt them but then again it didn't matter; if they were to know what she's done they would turn their backs on her anyways. She closed her eyes bringing her portal up, "Please take care of that, it meant a lot to me."
When she left April looked from the dismembered arm of Warren Stone to the lantern snowglobe, "You know, this wasn't a bad birthday after all, one of the bests, actually." April smiled brightly, her eyes on the lantern, "She needs proof. She needs in her face proof for her to come back to us."
"We won't give up." Mikey chimed in, placing his hand on her shoulder.
"We'll keep at it even if it takes a hundred years." Raph joined in.
Donnie smiled at his brothers and April's enthusiasm before looking back where Kara last was remembering feeling a heavy, dark air around her, "What have you been through?"
I'm getting excited for future chapters to come and I hope you are too. Reviews are nice but so are hugs :) Oh, and, I'm looking for Beta readers for this series. I would prefer someone who is familiar with the Rise series as well as my work. I mainly need help with punctuation and grammar...maybe a tiny bit of help with ideas *twiddles thumbs shyly* If you know anyone or are one please let me know :)