Woo! This one was..very difficult to put together for I was afraid I would be stuffing so much character info into one chapter that it would be overwhelming but with some thought and encouragement I feel confident in posting this chapter. Apologies for the long wait..*looks back at last chapter* wow..a very long wait but I hope you enjoy it and with whats the come. On with the story!
"Wait.." She slowly turned her head to look at him, pupils shrinking as she felt a pulling sensation on her back. "Stop..." She began to struggle, thrashing under his foot but he used his other hand to pin her head down the sensation now becoming painful. "Baron, DON'T!" Tears gathered in her eyes trying to look at him but all she could see were the guys rushing towards her in a panic til she let out an ear wrenching scream as her wings were ripped from her back.
"KARA!" The guys shouted, she screaming into the ground from the pain rushing through her body, the air stinging her open, bloody wounds before she was kicked into the ocean.
Sweat trickled down Kara's face her mind replaying the events that happened several hours ago causing her to groan and toss her head side to side til her eyes shot open with a gasp, her body shooting up to a sitting position on her knees. Her eyes scanned her surroundings, the only sound being her heavy breathing, and when she noticed she was in a room she slowly began to relax til she fully slumped forward with a sigh only to hiss in pain now noticing how achy her body felt and reached up to rub at her shoulders. Climbing out of the surprisingly comfy bed she made her way towards the door but stopped at a picture sitting on a shelf to see it was of the turtles as babies and a semi younger Splinter, "Heh. How adorable." She said with a smile while moving her hand to pick it up when her eyes landed on the full length mirror and froze, her eyes widening to see not only was her chest wrapped completely in bandages but her wings were gone.
She slowly turned around to get a look at her back only to see more bandages. Her breathing became uneven and heavy using all of her hands to grab at them and began to grip and claw at the restraints til they eventually gave in and started to rip. When the last of it unraveled she let out a choking noise to see two large scars with the stitching in place of where her wings should be. She sank to her knees and let out a cry only to cover her mouth with her upper hands before it could fully escape her.
It happened.
It was real and not a horrible nightmare.
Tears streamed down her face at the realization that something that brought her joy was taken from her that she didn't hear the door open or the reaction of the turtles and guest til Raph was in front of her, shaking her out of her trance. Her eyes trailed up to his face, their eyes meeting, with his showing worry.
Before anyone could speak Kara's face twisted in pain and let out a scream, beginning to weakly pound her fists on his plastron, her cries filled with rage and sorrow. Raph stared down at her, his body still despite her attacks, and looked up at his family and friends.
Leo, Donnie, Splinter and April's brows lifted in sadness, turning their heads away unable to look at the scene before them. Mikey, unable to look away, tears gathered in his eyes. And lastly, Leafe crying at the scene. Despite this situation being nothing new to her, winged insects losing their wings mainly due to attacks from predator, this was no different.
When Kara fully leaned into Raph, once she was out of energy, he placed his hands on her arms in fear of hurting her exposed injuries and looked to Leafe, who nodded and touched Donnie's arm so they could get to work repatching her wounds. "Come on, Kara, we need to take care of you." Leafe gently explained, crouched behind her with her hands on her shoulders but she wouldn't respond. "Bring her to the bed, please, Raph." She asked and so he did as carefully as he could while Leafe and Donnie prepped. Once they were done Raph moved aside for them, Leafe behind her and Donnie in the front. Leafe made sure the stitches were in place while Donnie grabbed the bandage roll and when he glanced down he noticed one of her hands were twitching. Not wanting to contaminate his gloves he brought out one of his metal arms and placed it over her hand. She flinched slightly from the cold metal and reached her fingers to it, wrapping them around it. Donnie watched this and his brows lifted, his own fingers twitching, wanting to touch her but knew he couldn't right now. "Donnie, please begin." He heard, causing him to look up at Leafe, "R-Right. Ahem. Let's do this."
While the two were doing their work and everything was calm and quiet something in Kara began to stir; her brows furrowed, her lips curled into a scowl, and she began to fidget.
"Kara, please stay still." Leafe gently requested only to gasp when Kara suddenly stood up forcing both of them to lean backwards.
"Kara?" Donnie questioned watching her pick up a blanket and wrap it around herself.
"You have to sit down. We need to cover your wound for it to heal properly." Leafe called out following after her as she was walking out the door only to stop short when Mikey and Leo got in her way, "Kara, let us help you." Leo said in a soft voice reaching out for her.
"Help me?...Help me?! When I tried to GET help I was hurt by you! Ever since meeting you my life has been nothing but a nightmare and, in case you forgot, here's a reminder: My wings, which are a part of me, were ripped off by a half-man, half-goat thing who not only kidnapped me but mutated into a freak like you!"
Anger clouded her mind and eyes that she couldn't register their heartbroken expressions til it began to dissipate, her eyes widening and covering her mouth at what was said, "No, wait, I-I..." She let out a yell before running out the lair and into the darkened sewers leaving everyone where they stood.
"Why do we keep helping her? All she does is blame us." Despite his words and narrowed brows Leo looked away with crossed arms to hide the pain in his eyes but he couldn't hide it from the tone in his voice.
"Yeah, maybe we should just give up. All we do is make things worse.." Mikey reluctantly agreed, lowering his head while rubbing his arm.
"So, she was human after all? Poor Kara." Leafe took a step to follow after her but stopped when she felt a scrawny hand on her arm and looked to see their dad who had an air of melancholy, but she wasn't sure why.
"Wait, it's best if I go and talk with her. We have more in common than you know."
"That's right! You were also mutated by Draxum. You can talk to her and show her she's not alone!" Raph said, starting to get his smile back.
All Splinter did was nod, keeping a solemn expression as he made his way in the direction she ran off, everyone watching him. Donnie, not having said a word the entire time, turned and left to his lab.
The closer Splinter got to finding Kara the louder and clearer her voice became til he stopped in view to see her using her lower arms to punch the wall and her upper arms to keep the blanket in place around her, "Why do you have to be like this?! Why do you keep running away, you coward?! Why can't you accept their help?! BECAUSE I DON'T DESERVE IT! I'M A VILLAIN! I've hurt them to stop my own pain which makes me no better than the bad guys!" She spun around and dropped to the ground, curling into a ball, "They should give up on me. I'm nothing but a lost cause.." She muttered with a quivering voice into her lap.
"Hurting yourself isn't going to change what just happened nor fix what has been said."
With a gasp, Kara jerked her head in the direction the voice came from to see, through teary eyes, a calm Splinter. Wiping her nose with her arm she turned her head away in shame, "W-What are you doing here?"
"Despite what you think I'm the only one who understands what you're going through." He said with a huff as he sat down near her but gave her the space she needs.
"Oh yeah? What do you know?" She snapped with a glare.
He gave her a look, choosing to ignore her tone, closing his eyes as he spoke, "I was also kidnapped and mutated by Baron Draxum."
Her eyes widened as she looked at him only to lower her gaze in embarrassment, "Right. Sorry.." She muttered. "How did you deal with it? How did you find happiness?" She asked softly, desperation in her voice.
"Through my sons, actually. With my DNA normal, pet turtles were turned into what they are now; beings that can speak, express and grow. I couldn't leave them in that burning place to die and you know what?" She looked at him waiting to continue, "They were the first to accept me. These baby turtles who were experimented on came to me and showed me trust and love." Splinter stared with loving eyes at his hand recalling the memory of that dark moment that became hope. "Ever since then I have taken care of and taught them many things."
"You're a really good father..better than mine.." She said with a depressing sigh, "My father was absent most of my life...all of my life..he wouldn't even send me a card for any event. He's busy with his career so I understand..somewhat."
"Your father is a good man. I worked with him in my younger years." Splinter tried to reassure her only to sweat when he noticed her frown, "Then you know him better than I do." She muttered under her breath, but he heard it anyways. "A-Anyways, haven't they showed the same love and trust for you?" He asked with a soft curiosity, watching her intently to see her eyes seem to come to life for a split second this bringing a smile to his face, "They will continue to do so you just have to let them in."
"How do I do that?" Her voice small and shaky, fear evident, but her watery eyes still had a sliver of hope in them, "I-I mean my father is never around, my mother hates me; all she does is berate me on my appearance and the way I live my life. And my Aunt...nothing I do is good enough..what if they come to hate me too? What happens if they suddenly want nothing to do with me and I'm alone again? I'll have no one.." She gripped the blanket tight, her body starting to tremble at the thought before turning away to look into the darkness of the sewer drains, her eyes widening before burying her head in her lap. "Not again..." She whimpered.
Splinter stared at this lost child and placed a gentle, comforting hand on her shoulder, "The future is not set in stone so whatever happens here on out you embrace it with your head held high. We must not let our lives be ruled on 'what ifs' but things we can do. And the first thing you can do is apologize to my sons and set things right." He stood to his feet, "This feels like a curse now but soon you will realize how much of a blessing it can be. When my old life was taken from me it made way for my new one with my sons and it was because of that I was able to not only understand myself but find my purpose. You will find yours also. Together." He held his hand out to her, giving her a smile just as gentle as his touch.
Kara stared into his eyes and felt warmth and comfort, her hand reaching out to his, but when they made contact she pulled him into a hug, giving him a tight squeeze, tears streaming down her face, "Thank you." She whispered while burying her head in his shoulder, her own trembling as she tries to hold in her crying but was obviously failing.
"You are fine, my child." He said with a sigh, a small smile on his face til his ears perked up, sensing they weren't alone and turned his head slightly and in time to see a flash of purple pass his vision, "Come now, dear, let's get this over with."
She nodded and was helped to her feet.
When they returned it seemed everyone had been crying, which made Kara feel even more guilty thinking their reaction was due to her hurtful words; not knowing they had been listening in on their conversation through Sheldon, Donnie's robot assistant/child.
"Boys, and ladies, Kara has something she'd like to say." He held his hand out and gestured for her to come forward which she did, now standing by his side. Everyone gathered in front of them and waited for her to speak but this only made her nervous, clenching the blanket tightly around herself, "I-I'm really sorry for what I said. I didn't mean anything by it. Honestly, meeting you guys before...this whole situation," She gestured to herself, "Were the best days of my life. I was just projecting my feelings onto you and...you don't deserve that..and I don't deserve your forgiveness or friendship." She lowered her head in shame, her antennas flat on her head to where they covered her eyes that she didn't see someone walk up to her til she felt a presence and lifted her head to see Donnie in front of her. Gulping nervously noting his expression looking unpleased, to say the least. Sweat trickled down the side of her head as they stared at each other before she closed her eyes to await her punishment only to feel warmth instead. Opening her eyes, she looked over to see Donnie holding her, making sure not touch her back.
Next, Mikey walked up slowly, gently rubbing his hand, hesitant about stepping forward but blinked in surprise when she reached one of her arms out to him, the one with the burn scar. Speechless, he looked from her hand to her face seeing a soft smile with teary eyes, and took her hand with a large, gleeful smile and soon joined the hug.
Leo walked to her other side and placed his hand on her arm. Seeing him smile at her made her own a little brighter. April soon joined in and lastly Raph came and wrapped his arms around them all in a group hug. "Thank you...thank you!" She let out with a cry though her smile showed they were happy tears.
Not a single dry eye was in that room, Splinter and Leafe watching from the sidelines, Leafe happy for everyone only to tense up when Raph lifted the group making Kara yelp in pain, "Ah, Raph, her back!" She yelled while running to them, the others backing up so she and Donnie can examine her back. "Luckily, the stitching hasn't broken yet, but we better get this cleaned and covered." Donnie explained, giving her shoulder a gentle pat.
"The sooner the better." Leafe agreed, changing to her Yokai form to speed up the process unaware of her deepest fears.
Once everyone had calmed down Kara turned around to look at them only to freeze upon seeing a life-sized spider touching her shoulder. "A S-s-sp-spi-spee-" She let out a scream while backing away from them, losing her footing in the process. Luckily, Leo caught her blinking in confusion as she clung to him, burying her head in his plastron.
"No, it's ok, I'm a vegetarian!" Leafe reassured hoping that would ease her mind, but Kara continued to stare at her with fearful eyes causing her to lower her head in sadness.
"She's a friend, Kara, she won't hurt you." Leo tried to console her, gently rubbing her arms. Kara let out a shaky breath, looking at her to see her looking miserable, "I-I'm sorry. I've had bad experiences with spiders...I just can't look at you like that." She said with a light wretch.
"Oh..oh, yeah, here..I'm sorry.." Leafe now back in her human form she looked to Donnie worriedly before walking to the room, "I'll be waiting in there.."
"I'm sorry. I really am." Kara kept saying while Donnie and Leo helped her up.
Leafe worked on her back to keep out of sight til Kara was comfortable with her once more before saying her goodbyes, giving Kara one last look before leaving.
The next few weeks felt like days since Kara was being treated like a fragile doll, the guys tending to her every need. There was only so much she could take.
After hiding away from them inside Donnie's lab did she find a sketchbook. She picked it up and flipped through it to see not only was it unused, but it was just what she needed to get her mind off how much of a wreck her life was. "Uh, Sheldon, are you in here?" She asked in a soft voice to keep herself from being found by the others.
"Yes, I am. What can I do for you, bra?" He asked appearing out of nowhere.
"Shh!" She placed her hand over his mouth to keep his voice down despite it not doing anything. "I was wondering if you knew where I could find a pencil in here. This place is huge, and I don't want to mess anything up by accident."
He nodded and led her to where Donnie's workstation was and she eventually found a pencil, "Thanks, Sheldon." She said with a smile and sat down, immediately working on a drawing, her hand guiding the pencil to create what's in her mind.
"Aw, sweet, I didn't know you could draw."
"No one does, not even Ba..Draxum. It's something I keep to myself because I don't want people comparing me to my mom." She looked around, making sure she was alone, and lifted the book up to show a picture of a featureless person wearing the outfit she first picked to her and Donnie's date, "It's a secret but I like designing outfits. I have a book full of different ideas at my apartment but I'm too scared to show anyone." She stared at the image remembering what she looked like in the mirror only for it to flash to what she looked like now and immediately closed the book. "I'm still not great at it."
"I think it looks great." Sheldon said while closing his eyes to show he was smiling.
"Thanks, buddy." She smiled at him while rubbing at his head only to tense up when she felt she wasn't alone and slowly turned around to see the guy's shadowed bodies towering over her, their eyes pupilless and white. "Uh-oh." She snatched Sheldon from the air and placed him between them, "Uh...yay, you found me.." She said in a small voice while hunching her shoulders, but they still kept their stern looks. "Fine, fine." She got up while grabbing the sketchbook and pencil and followed after them to get her bandages changed, keeping Sheldon in her upper arms. "Psst, can I show you more later on?" She whispered to Sheldon who nodded with a smile, this making her relax.
"Ok, boys, this next training session will teach you how to work as a team, let your minds become one." Master Splinter explained, the lights suddenly going out. Kara looked around, holding the sketchbook tight to her chest, hearing the guy's grunt in pain in the darkness til the lights came back on and noticed she and Splinter were the only two in the room, "What the?"
"Your enemies have you in their grasp. Now think. Your next move could be your last."
Kara lifted her head to see the guys entrapped inside a giant Chinese Finger Trap. "Woah. Where'd you get such a large finger trap from and how'd you get them up there so fast?" Her eyes sparkled in amazement this making Splinter smile with pride, "You can buy anything off the internet and if you train your body and mind there isn't anything you can't do. Do you hear that, boys?" Splinter shouted watching them struggle to get free.
"Can I help?" She asked, looking down to him.
"I'm afraid this is something the boys must do on their own but perhaps, when you are well enough, we can do some one-on-one training and get you up to par with the boys."
"I'd like that." She smiled at him, this making him smile in return, before looking up at the guys her eyes scanning the area, "If I had my wings I could fly up and cut the ropes lickity split.." Her eyes trailed to her shoulder, placing her hand over it in sadness, "I'm just useless now."
The more the guys struggled, the more irritated Splinter became for it seemed they weren't taking his words to heart. It wasn't til Donnie managed to free his arm that Splinter began to have some hope for them, "Yes. Yes, you're getting it!" Donnie then reaches inside the trap and pulls out his phone typing while holding his phone, which she found very impressive. "Wait, what are you doing!?" Splinter raised his voice thinking he was wasting time.
"I am looking up how to get us out." Donnie said as he continued to type away.
"Hohoho! Great thinking, Donnie!" Raph shouted.
"No! That is not what ninjas do!"
Kara placed her hand over her mouth to hide her smile.
"Got it! We just need to push forward to trigger the release aaaannnnd viola~!" Hearing the rip of the trap Mikey, Raph and Leo dropped to the ground with Donnie landing in a lounging position on top of them only for Splinter to throw a book at him and be sent flying into the sewer waters with a yell, "Noooo!" Splinter shouted, "Ninjas need to be able to THINK their way out of a problem."
"We did. With our phones." Mikey said while waving his to show.
"It was pretty effective." Kara agreed with a shrug.
Splinter gave her a look that said, "Not helping", before looking back at his boys, "What if you don't have your phones?"
"Who took our phones?" Leo immediately questioned in anger while Mikey nuzzled his cheek against his phone.
"No one. They-uh- just stopped working."
This made Mikey get emotional. "What's the point of even living then." He grabbed his head before turning away into the arms of his comforting brothers while letting out a cry, Raph, Donnie, and Leo staring at Splinter in disgust while Leo shook his head.
"I didn't know they were this dramatic." Kara muttered behind her hand, her smile twisting to keep herself from laughing.
"Oh, you have no idea." Splinter muttered back, sounding drained before clearing his throat and puffing out his chest, "That is it! We are going to the woods!" He shouted, pointing towards the exit. This got Kara to perk up some while Donnie looked at his brothers, "The what?"
-The woods-
Kara wandered a ways from the group wearing Leo's clothes which was a plain blue shirt and matching shorts since he was the perfect size where the clothes wouldn't restrict her back and allow it to breath, but she still kept the blanket around her, finding comfort in the heavy feeling around her shoulders and back. She sighed in content feeling the grass on her bare feet and turned around hearing Splinter go on about the beauty of not hearing phones only to hear just that.
He turned around to see them typing away and had zoomed through them, grabbing at each phone to take away if not for Leo making a portal and snatching them back, but Splinter wasn't having that and squeezed himself through the portal not only grabbing the phones but their weapons and gear as well and tossed them into the Turtle Tank. "YOU'LL COME BACK BETTER NINJAS OR NOT AT ALL!" He shouted as he turned on the tank and sped off leaving them all behind.
"He'll be back, right?" Raph asked, starting to look concerned.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, he's gonna turn around riiiiiight-he's gone." Leo deadpanned as Splinter was now out of view.
"So, what do we do now?" Kara asked, stepping up to them curiously.
"I need my phone and MY PHONE NEEDS ME! We can't survive in the woods!" Donnie panicked, squishing his cheeks together as tears gathered in his eyes.
Kara blinked at him, unsure of how to reassure him til a voice got their attention, "That's why I'm here." She and the others turned to see Todd in a scout's uniform waving at them, "Hey guys!"
"Todd?" The boys questioned, confused.
"Oh, hey, Todd, was wondering why you were so quiet all of a sudden." Kara smiled in relief having a feeling he was the only one who knew what he was doing.
"How'd you get here?" Raph asked.
"We..drove up together. In your tank, like, ten minutes ago." Todd hesitantly said while pointing out all of them in the Turtle Tank with Splinter driving and the others on their phones, the only one paying attention to Todd being Kara. "We're gonna learn knot tying, berry picking, sun blocking and learning to be best friends." Kara smiled at him while giving his head a pat. "You don't remember this?"
Leo, Mikey, and Raph were trying to remember leaving Donnie in his state of misery rocking himself back and forth at being exposed to the elements without his techy comfort. Kara glared at them all at how inconsiderate they were being to Todd.
"Welcome to Todd Scouts! Where fun meets wilderness survival skills." Todd said happily.
"I don't think I'm gonna make it." Donnie muttered with pure agony written on his face.
Kara crouched beside him and reached a hand to comfort him but noticed that since he was no longer wearing his gear that she got a good look at his shell and went to touch it curiously only to freeze when she saw him flinch, "Sorry, sorry, I've just never seen you without your armor shell..you going to be ok?"
"I feel naked and incomplete." He began to scratch at his arms his eyes wandering everywhere but looking nowhere.
"Heh, I understand that.." She rubbed her arm nervously wanting to help but wasn't sure how, "I'm here if you need a distraction or..someone to talk to.." She internally groaned thinking she wasn't helping in the slightest not noticing he had stopped scratching and was staring at her.
"Guys, if we run, maybe we can still catch Splinter."
Kara deadpanned watching Leo, Mikey, and Donnie run in the direction Splinter went only to reach her hand out, "Guys, wait, stop!" But it was too late. Hearing the snap of the rope she watched them get lifted off the ground by their ankle and dangle in the air by a trap before turning to Raph, "You're not freaking out as much as the others..you keep surprising me, Raphael." She said with a small smile this causing him to blush shyly, "Eh, a day or two without my phone isn't the end of the world. I think this will be a great team exercise. I could say the same about you too."
"I grew up outside. My Aunt owned a farm so not only would I help with the animals, but she showed me a few handy tricks. For instance, how to spot a trap." She pointed at the group she and Raph watching Todd bite the rope and drop the guys to the ground, both of them snickering at their faces.
"Now, let's get learning! Survival Lesson One: Food. We have none. So, what would you eat?"
When Raph picked up a rock, getting ready to put it in his mouth, Todd responded with, "Wrong."
Donnie picked up a stick. "Wrong."
Leo grabbed Donnie's head, opening his mouth to take a bite, "Wrong, you're terrible."
Mikey tiptoed towards a berry bush, smiling as if he had the answer only to tense up when Todd began to yell at him in a panic, "STOP! Never eat those, you hear me?! THOSE ARE NO-NO BERRIES! Don't forget~" Todd chuckled and gave his cheek a pat then turned to see Kara looking around, "Have a suggestion, Kara?"
She turned to him and gave a slight nod, "There isn't anything edible around here so we keep searching by looking for a clean source of water."
"Correct! Which leads us to our next lesson! Lesson Two: Shelter. When looking for the perfect shelter, make sure it has protection from the elements and a water source for drinking." Todd explained, pointing out a cave and a river.
Kara walked to the river and bent down, smiling to see some fish. "Wow..it's been so long." She blinked when Todd dunked his head in the river and pulled it out with a fish between his teeth, his wet hair flowing majestically in the breeze, "Woah." She muttered.
"Who's hungry?" Todd asked with a mouthful of fish. "Lesson Three: Fire. Nature's stove." Todd showed them how to make the fire and stabbed the fish with a long stick before placing it over the fire. "Lesson Four: WHERE AM I?! Is what you might say if you're lost. A Todd Scout navigates by the sun."
Kara excused herself for a moment and wandered a ways from the group unaware she was being followed by a member of the group that had snuck away and found a clearing where the full moon shone its light on. She breathed in the fresh air while closing her eyes and dropped the blanket while taking off her shirt and hugged her chest while leaning forward feeling the sensation of her wings starting to unfurl and spread out. The gentle wind tickled her skin imagining herself in the open sky without a care in the world only to open her eyes when she heard her name being called and began to put her shirt back on and placed the blanket around her shoulders.
"Hey, Kara, we managed to ditch Todd cause Donnie wants to show us something. You coming?" Leo asked, stepping into view with the others. She stared at them for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly but followed them anyways.
"I couldn't take it anymore, being away from the world, technology and my sweet, sweet phone." Donnie explained while scratching himself some more, this becoming more concerning to Kara. "So I built." Donnie grabbed hold of a tarp and pulled it down to reveal a treehouse he made, "Behold, Donnie Town! Also known as Donnie-apolis, Donnie Estates, Park La Donnie, Donna-Stan, Notre-Don or Donnie-Stans a Noble; I still haven't landed on one." He pulled a lever as the entire room lights up, a ceiling fan made of leaves turns on and a jacuzzi began to heat up, all of this being powered by two squirrels on a treadmill while a beavers sculpted a battle shell for him from wood as well as a sculpting of his head.
"Woah, Donnie, this is incredible, your genius never ceases to amaze me." Kara had a wide smile on her face but it slowly dropped watching the guys lounge and relax. "But..this isn't the point of camping or your training."
"Are you kidding? This IS camping!" Leo said while stretching.
"Todd scouts, not for us." Raph added in.
"Agreed." Mikey said, relaxing in the jacuzzi.
"Everything I made IS from the woods so it still is technically camping I'm just adding a more comfortable touch to it. Trust me, this way is better. Boredom Survival Tip Number One: Ditch Todd." He placed his hand on her shoulder, pulling her to him to show off his work only to blink in surprise when she pushed him away rage in her eyes, "Todd was willing to give you his time and knowledge of the woods to teach you how to take care of yourselves and you guys go behind his back and ditch him. You-"
A gasp stopped her from finishing her sentence and everyone turned to see Todd with a tray of lemonade, "You ditched me?..What even is this place?..Well," Todd's eyes started to water and his nose became runny, "I guess you guys' advanced past survival to..betrayal."
"It's not what it looks like." Mikey began to say while hunching his shoulders, his eyes starting to water too.
"Well, now you're probably too cool for my Todd Scouts Lemonade E-spec-i-al and it's made with extra LOVE!" Todd began to cry as the lemon slices revealed to be in the shape of hearts and split in half. Todd turns around to leave while crying, the tray spinning midair but he comes back and sets it neatly on the ground, adjusting the flower, "Oh, let me fix that, sorry that you got caught up in this, there you go." He goes back to cry running and falls out of the treehouse. "Ow.."
Kara glares at them all before running after him, "Wait up, Todd!" Luckily, she was able to catch up to his rolling away, stopping him not that far from the treehouse, the guys able to see them.
Raph sighed, not looking too pleased at the situation, "We really beefed this good. We should probably go apologize."
"All we need to do is explain it's not Todd we don't like it's just EVERYTHING HE STANDS FOR." Leo said, putting emphasis on the last part while Mikey picked up one if the canteens with lemonade. Everyone stopped what they were doing hearing not only Todd crying for help but Kara fighting off some doctor looking guys trying to reach a tied-up Todd only to get overpowered by two muscled guys and join Todd in being tied up, she being thrown in the back of the jeep and Todd on the hood.
"Hey, what do you think those guys are doing to Todd?" Leo questioned til Mikey jumped into view in a panic, "No! They've been Todd-napped!"
"How are we suppose to find them if we don't know where we are-where's my phone?" Donnie scratches his neck having a weird look on his face.
"They probably took them back to their campsite, wherever that is." Raph said looking down in thought.
"I mean it's gotta be near water because Lesson Two: Shelter should be near water-that's it! They're at the river-what is happening-did you hear that?! I actually learned something!" Leo had the biggest smile on his face.
"Hey, look at us, we don't even need our phones for this one super specific mission-but in general, and I cannot make this clear enough, I need my phone." The seriousness on Donnie's face began to worry his brothers only to ignore him as they huddled together, "Hey, let's use everything Todd taught us and go save him and Kara." Raph said with a smile as he and his brothers changed into the uniform, "Todd Scouts!" They shouted in unison.
"Alright, lets roll. Shut it down, boys!" Donnie turned to the treehouse while making hand gestures which the animals inside seemed to understand, one of the beavers ordering the other animals before the treehouse immediately burst into flames and burnt to ash to the ground.
"His teeth are MASSIVE, Doctor."
"Yes, they are doctor. They're beautiful."
Inside the main tent Todd was being tied to an operating chair while Kara was tossed to the side like nothing. She gritted her teeth letting out a noise when her back made contact with the ground and forced herself to her knees, her arms tied at her sides and her feet tied at the ankles, "Don't you dare lay a finger on him or else!" Despite what little hand to hand combat training she had and with no weapon to use she tried to be as intimidating as she could. She flinched slightly when the supposed leader walked up to her, "Fret not, my dear, we mean him no harm. We just want something of his then we'll send him on his way." He wiggled his fingers in a scurrying motion before grabbing her by the chin and pulling her close him, "I've never seen a creature quite like you before." He pressed hard on her cheeks forcing her mouth to open and got a good look inside, "Healthy but nothing that catches my eye." He muttered, his eyes showing little interest before letting her drop.
"What kind of doctors are you?" Todd asked groggily.
"We're Dentists who have a particular interest in collecting rare and exotic TEETH. And we've got you now Sasquatch!" The leader pulled down his mask to show off his face while getting close to Todd and pulling at his mustache before doing an evil laugh.
"Are you sure this is a Sasquatch, Doctor? He's pretty small." One of the lackey's was staring intently at a photo going back and forth from Todd to the photo.
"Oh, who cares, his central incisors will look amazing on my trophy wall."
While the 'Dentists' were daydreaming Kara looked around for something to cut the ropes with and spotted a tray with different dentist equipment and began to shimmy towards it while Todd distracted them with his depressing advice, "Oh, Todd, just because you're different doesn't make you boring. He's too pure for this world." Reaching the tray, she leaned up and tried to grab at a sharp one with her teeth only to lean backwards when the leader threw a scapel at her, "Nu-uh, patience, my dear, it will soon be your turn after I painfully rip this Sasquatch's teeth, thank you for the idea, doctor, you know me so well." He lassoed her with thick dental floss and tied her up completely, "Now, where were we? Oh, yes, SUCTION!" He ordered, they immediately getting to work til a bright, orange light forced them to stop. "The nature force found us! Cavity stations, men! Floss the perimeter!"
Kara internally groaned at the Dentist puns relieved that Leo wasn't here to join in watching them arm themselves with life sized dental instruments carrying them like weapons and walk out the tent.
"Todd, use your teeth to get us free so we can get out of here."
"Why bother? So my supposed friends can ditch me some more? At least here I'm wanted for something.." Todd pouted, sniffling and crying.
"Todd, I know you probably don't ever hear this at all but you're a really special guy and it makes me so mad that people treat you the way they do. You're such a kind, giving being but you're also too naive and trusting. You gotta put your foot down from time to time and not be a pushover. So, come on, let's get out of this and give the guys a good earful on what you do best." She tilted her head to get a good look at him, seeing he was no longer crying so that was a start.
"Do you really mean that?" He asked shyly in which she nodded in reply. He began to smile but stopped when he heard the guards at the entrance distressed.
Kara's antenna's twitched hearing the guys and looked up in time for them to be gathered around them, Raph dropping from the ceiling with a loud crash.
"Todd, are you ok?" Leo asked, he and Donnie setting him free while Mikey worked on Kara, "What about you?" Kara rubbed her arms and leg, the floss tight on her limbs, "My back is sore but I'm ok. Thanks for coming for us but that still doesn't excuse what you guys did to Todd!" She shouted angrily but stopped when she heard Todd sniffle.
"Wow, you look terrible.." Leo muttered while Todd turned away from them, gripping onto the seat, "No, I'm fine. J-Just go. Leave me."
"Todd, I'm really sorry, my brothers, said those terrible things about you. And again, it was just them and not me." Donnie said til Leo grabbed his head and moved him away noticing Kara glaring at them with her arms crossed, her lower arm placed on Todd's shoulder. "Why don't we leave the apologies to the pro?"
Suddenly, the room around them was glowing pink with sparkles and bubbles in the background, Leo hunched over with a solemn expression on his face, "Todd, you're our friend and we should have never been such jerks to you." Leo slowly opens his eyes tears brimming in his sparkling, starry eyes and reaches a hand out for him, "We're really really sor-" Todd immediately hugged him, squeezing him tight. "APOLOGY ACCEPTED. You really ARE good at that. Wow."
"Do you accept our apology?" Leo asked, looking to Kara who still was ticked at them for how they treated Todd. Kara blinked when Leo brought out his big, anime eyes and looked down at Todd who gave her a smile and nod. She let out a sigh, smiling herself, and nodded. "Yeah, I do. It's effective." She walked up to him and gave him a hug, not quite as tight as Todd's but enough to get the message, which Leo gladly accepted. "Wait, do you guys hear th-"
The sound of a running vehicle caught Kara's attention til a jeep crashed into the tent.
"Surprise!" The main Dentist shouted, the guys, Kara, and Todd being thrown into the wall by the impact of the crash, Kara feeling the wind get knocked out of her not only from the contact but the pain of her back. "Tooth Fairies!" The leader ripped his shirt off showing off his muscular body, squinting his eyes with a devilish grin, "Get me that squatch.."
Donnie and Leo were checking on Kara when they looked the Dentists way, and not liking the look they were giving them. "Are these guys Dentists?" Donnie exclaimed, confused.
"Yup." Kara groaned while forcing herself on her feet, grabbing their hands, "Move!" She shouted as they all fled while the Dentists shot darts at them and soon were chasing after them in their jeep.
"Those big, beautiful, buck-teeth trophies are mine!" The Dentist shouted as he fired his weapon while laughing maniacally. Raph was the first to get hit in his arm while carrying Todd, his arm going numb and limp. "Ahh! My arm! I'm hit!" He shouted, dropping Todd who was now running at his side.
Next, Donnie got hit in the upper thigh and knee, "Oh." Was all he said and he began to go down but Kara ran behind him and swept him off his feet, carrying him bridal style. "Don't worry, Donatello, I got you."
"My hero." He said, moving his arms around her neck, this causing her to blush, but shook out of it to stay focused.
Mikey got hit in the feet but somehow, he was still running, despite how gross it looked. "Michelangelo, hop on!" She shouted, running in front of him, pointing at her back.
"But your injuries!"
"No time for that now. I'll be fine, just hurry!"
Hesitant at first, he jumped towards her wrapping his legs around her waist and arms around her neck. She bit her lip, squeezing her eyes from the pain but continued onwards, catching up to Todd, Raph, and Leo.
"They are firing numbing darts which is totally on brand! No one get hit-" Leo is immediately hit on his head causing it to go limp and flail in the wind, "-by numing arts.."
Todd, seeing his friends getting hurt, immediately steps into action by grabbing Raph and tossing him on his head, running faster.
"Eave us, Todd. Suve yourself." Leo said through two more numbing darts, Todd picking up and placing him on his head as well. "A Todd Scout never leaves a fellow Todd behind."
"Right behind you, Todd!" Kara shouted, forcing her body to keep up despite how tired she was becoming, the aching of her back not helping but followed after Todd as he made a sharp turn into a cave, evading the Denters.
Todd watched the Denters drive off and sighed in relief, walking in the center of the cave, Kara rubbing at Leo's face to try and get some feeling back into it, while secretly playing with it like play-doh.
"Don't worry about us, Todd." Raph smiled his way despite the worrying look in his eyes, lifting his limp, dangly arms, "We got shelter and food and-"
"And I got this canteen of Todd's lemonade e-spec-ial for drinking." Mikey flopped on Raph's leg waving the canteen with a smile.
"Wait. My lemonade! Bingo!" Todd took the canteen from Mikey, popping the top off, "Stand back, this is gonna get wild!" He chugged the lemonade in one swig, his eyes glowing a white with a hint of blue, veins popping out, and his chest becoming muscular, "Lemon Rush!" He roared as his hair changed from poofy to pointy and sharp.
"Woah." Kara said, her and the others eyes wide and mouth agape. She followed after him as he summoned the animals of the forest to attack and chase away the Denters watching this in awe. Not long after, the guys were back to normal and they joined her in spectating this amazing act.
"Todd's magnificent.." Raph whispered in awe, Kara slowly nodding in agreement watching Todd sitting on a deer on top of a hill with the animals gathered below him with the rising sun in the background. They all run up to him just as he starts to fall off the animal, but Raph was there to catch him in his arms. "Gotcha."
"Thanks..Well, I'm sure you guys wanna get back to your phones. You don't have to pretend to be Todd Scouts anymore." Todd muttered, looking away with tears in his eyes.
"Pretend? Who's pretending?" Donnie asked, all of them giving Todd a hug.
"Yeah, I wanna learn how to cut rope with my teeth." Raph said, making Kara giggle but stopped when a song began to play. "Oh, hold on, guys." She walked out of the hug and dug through her pocket pulling out her phone to see it was a message from Splinter, "Oh, it's your dad. He wants to know how we're doing. That's nice." She said with a smile while typing a response.
"Woah. Woah. Woah. You had a phone this whole time?!" Leo shouted, grabbing at his head.
"Uh, yeah, why?"
"Why wasn't your phone taken away?" Mikey whined.
"This training isn't for me. I just came along cause I like camping." She smiled but blinked when Donnie was suddenly in front of her, towering over her with his face mere inches from hers, " Now. Phone. NEED." The look on his face would frighten or freak the sane but for Kara..she began to giggle, covering her mouth to try and hide it til it became a laugh, holding her sides. Donnie was taken aback by this reaction but hearing her laugh after so long, his shoulders began to relax and soon his brothers and Todd were laughing along with her, Donnie sighing with a small smile on his face. After she had calmed down she took his hand with her lower arm and placed the phone in it with her upper one, "Here. Thanks for saving us. Now, who wants to take a dip in the lake up ahead?" She turned back to the others while pointing before being the first to walk in that direction, the others following after her while Todd went back to talking about survival. Donnie watched her, slowly lowering his arm to his side the phone clenched in his hand and soon ran to catch up to them.
Thank you for being patient with me. I know I don't have a set schedule unlike my first series but it's a work in progress and I hope you continue to show your support/love for my story. Also, did you see what I did there? Denters...get it? Dentist Hunters? Eh? Ahh, I crack myself up. Doesn't this villain seem more like one for Kids Next Door? Or even VAed a character from there? I dunno that's the vibe I get from the guy. Anyways, reviews are nice but so are hugs and I'll take both! Til next time~