Hello there! I've had quite the amount of views for January so far in most of my stories, so I want to thank you so very much for reading them! It means a lot to see you enjoying them. So here is my filler chapter, and Lily is now 16! I am also introducing a small piece of my "Toy Story" fanfiction called "The Sheriff's Daughter." This may or may not inspire me to continue on with that story (do not worry; I will still work on this story). Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "Meet the Robinsons," "TMNT," nor "Toy Story." I only own Karena, Lilianna, Ryan, Venus, & Athena.
May 29, 2040 - New York City, New York, USA
LILIANNA'S POV
The alarm went off. I fumbled around in my dad's old bed trying to find my phone to turn it off.
"Shut up, Lilianna!" I heard Venus yelling next door.
I groaned, finally turning off the alarm. I stretched myself in the comforts of my dad's bedroom in all positions possible. Then I got changed out of my lavender nightgown and into a red dress underneath a black leather jacket. I brushed my long red hair and bangs and parted all of it to my left side. I put on black mascara and very little blush. I finished the look off with red lipstick.
I walked out of my dad's room, through the living room, and into the kitchen. I found Athena making a breakfast pizza.
"Good morning," I greeted my youngest cousin.
"Happy birthday!" Athena replied in a singsong voice. "I'm making this pizza just for you."
"You know I can't eat all of that, right?"
"Then we'll share," Mom chimed in. "Good morning, birthday girl."
"Morning, Mom," I replied as she kissed me on the cheek. "Where's Dad?"
"He'll be joining us later," Mom answered with a confused expression. "He texted me this morning saying Cornelius gave him an important call and that he'll be late to the party."
"Did he say what it was about?" I asked.
"No, just important business."
"But school's not in session anymore."
"May your dad won some sort of award for being one of the most inspiring professors?" Mom suggested with a grin.
"Karena does talk about Dad often in that manner," I replied. "If this is about an award, he deserves it."
"Hey!" we heard Uncle Raph yelling excitedly into the kitchen. "It's the birthday girl! And it's also the kunoichi girls!"
"The what?" Athena asked with a raised eyebrow as he and Venus entered the kitchen.
"I think Uncle Raph means it's the day of the ceremony," I explained. "You and Venus are going to be initiated into the Hamato Clan as full-pledged kunoichi. You both turned fourteen last fall."
"I cannot believe we'd be old enough to go to high school now," Venus said with a dreamy look. "Lily, what's it like?"
"I want to know too," Ryan chimed in, walking into the kitchen with his father Leo.
"High school is pretty amazing," I explained with a smile. "But it's not for everybody. I'm a cheerleader, which means I'm cheering on the boys of the football and basketball teams, and when I'm in school, I try to lift others' spirits. But high school is all about school spirit, finding yourself, and preparing yourself to survive in the outside world, outside your parents' shadow. If I didn't have the cheerleading squad and the friends I had made backing me up, I would have convinced my dad to keep on homeschooling me."
"I cannot believe you are now sixteen," Uncle Leo said with a big smile. "It only seems like yesterday when we were sixteen."
"I was sixteen when I met you guys," Mom replied in awe. "Sixteen seems to be the age that changes everything."
"Not in my case, Mom," I said. "Fourteen was that age for me."
"Well, life may change again, Lily. Don't rule sixteen out yet. Heck, your life will already be changing today. I'll be taking you to the DMV to get your driver's license."
"When will you be leaving?" Uncle Leo asked.
"The DMV opens at eight," Mom explained. "So I want to get on the road by seven-thirty."
"You need to eat then, Aunt April," Athena replied. "It's already six-thirty. The good news is the breakfast pizza is just about done."
"What smells so good in here?" we heard Uncle Mikey asking us.
"Breakfast pizza with bacon, cheese, eggs, peppers, and onions."
"Mmmhmm!" Uncle Mikey exclaimed happily. "You are a wonderful woman!"
He kissed his daughter on the cheek.
"Happy birthday, Lily," Uncle Mikey said.
"Thanks!"
"Uncle Leo, are we doing a sparring session today?" Venus asked.
"No. Today is a day for celebration."
We all cheered.
"Lily turned sixteen and we have an initiation ceremony for you two girls," Uncle Leo explained with a smile on his face.
"So, Lily, what are the Robinsons doing over the summer?" Mom asked me.
"Wilbur took a job at Futureburgers when the school year started," I explained. "So he's working there full-time this summer. Karena's got her gig at Denny's as an assistant manager. Asides from that, I think the Robinsons are doing their normal, quirky thing as they always do."
"They don't take vacations?" Auntie Renet asked.
"The last vacation Wilbur remembered taking was a trip to Cancun, Mexico with his dad."
"No wonder Cornelius seemed stressed lately," Mom replied. "I remember Donnie talking about it. He made... some bad decisions regarding the safety of the high school students when the parasitica epidemic occurred."
There was a pause.
"I want to do something for the family, especially after they took you in and treated you as one of their own, Lily."
"Dad might agree with you," I replied.
"Let's call him."
I watched my mom take out her phone and dial my dad.
"Donatello."
"Hey, Donnie!" Mom greeted him with her sweet voice.
"April! Hi! Did Lily get her license yet?"
"No, not yet. The DMV doesn't open until eight. We're heading there soon. Hey, D, I have an idea. We were talking about the Robinsons and how they haven't vacationed in a while. Does Cornelius still seem stressed?"
"Yes, but he seemed excited when he called me about some business happening in Todayland. What's your idea?"
"You first, Donnie. What business? Can you tell us?"
"Us?"
My dad sounded skeptical.
"Lily's listening in with me. You're not on speaker."
"Oookay. Well, there's a woman flying to Todayland from Tulsa, Oklahoma this weekend. Her name is Bo Pride. She saved her daughter's life earlier this month, and a doctor who was driving by to try to help recommended she become a licensed medical professional to help the people in her town. Cornelius wants me to head to Todayland to test her, because this is not a normal case. I was spending the past hour doing research on her."
"What kind of research, exactly?" Mom asked.
"April, do you remember when Cornelius paid us a visit after we got married?"
"Yeah."
"Our situation wasn't normal, and Cornelius had given me an exam to test out of college."
"And you earned three Ph.D. degrees and a license to practice medicine."
"Well, this situation is exactly like that. Bo Pride is not of this world."
"Wait, what?" Mom and I asked at the same time.
"Bo Pride used to be Bo Peep. She came to life as a porcelain figure on a lamp in the 1990s. Her husband, Woody, was a cowboy ragdoll who was created in the 1950s. They lived in the same bedroom and fell in love. Of course, kids grow up and want to give away their toys after a while. They were apart for about ten years before reuniting in Grand Basin. After Karena moved to Todayland, Bo and Woody transformed into human beings and not only started their own lives and marriage, but they also built a town called Elkhorn in 2017. They have a daughter together named Justine. She's actually only a few months older than Lily."
"Dad, you're not talking about the Toy Story movies, are you?" I asked into the phone.
"That's exactly what I'm talking about," Dad answered. "I'm spending the weekend in Todayland to test Bo Peep and to get to know her as a doctor and as a person."
"Would you like some company on your trip?" I asked.
"Thank you, Lily, but I think-"
Dad paused.
"Actually, if you want to come and keep yourself busy with the Robinsons, you may. Mom can come too if she'd like."
"Thanks, D, but that's too soon a notice," Mom replied. "Lily, you go and have a good time in Todayland."
"Will Justine be there?" I asked.
"No, just Bo. April, what's your idea?"
"Idea?"
"The vacation," I whispered to my mom.
"Oh, that idea! We were thinking that since the Robinsons haven't had a vacation in years, we would suggest they go have fun."
"I don't know, April. That's not really our business."
"Oh, come on, Donnie! We've never gone on vacation, but then again, we've always managed our stress. We've always had the woods to ourselves."
"I will discuss it with Cornelius, but no promises."
"A discussion is all I'm asking for, Donnie. Thank you."
"Now don't you have an exam you should be driving to? You need to put the heavy to the metal!"
"Donatello, are you trying to sing a song or write a comedy routine?" Mom asked.
"Huh?" Dad and I asked at the same time.
"Never mind. We're going now. We love you, D."
"I love you, too. Drive safely, Lily Mae."
"Daaad," I replied angrily.
He hung up. Suddenly, my mom let out a loud gasp.
"What is it?" I asked.
"We have the Party Wagon and the Shellraiser," Mom realized. "We don't have a normal car!"
"And the only other car we have is made with Kraang technology," Athena chimed in.
"How did you know that?" Mom asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Uncle Donnie told me."
"Looks like I'm giving him another call."
My mom called my dad again.
"Donatello."
"Hey Donnie, it's me again. I just realized we don't have a normal car for Lily to use. Do you have any ideas?"
"I'm sorry, April, but I never thought we needed another car. Maybe have Lily call Wilbur?"
Todayland, North Montana, USA
WILBUR'S POV
I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. I groaned, because it was now summer break, and I did not want to be awake at six o'clock in the morning.
"Hello?" I greeted my caller angrily.
"Hey, Wilbur, it's Lily. Did I wake you up?"
"Yes, Lily, you did. It's six in the morning. Now what do you want?"
"I'm in New York City and my mom and I were about to leave for the DMV. I'm taking my driving exam. But we don't have a normal flying car to use. We only have the vehicles my dad invented, and they're all weaponized."
I rubbed my head, feeling more awake and less angry than before.
"Yeah, I don't think you want to be turned away on your first attempt because you brought weapons with you. On the other hand... come on over. Our dads put their money together to get you a birthday present. Since today's your birthday, I think now is the perfect time for you to have it."
"You want me to come over right now? But Wilbur-"
"I promise, Lily, it will be the best present possible."
"Well, alright. Where should I meet you?"
"The garage. I'll be down there in five minutes."
"Okay. I'll see you soon."
I hung up and got out of bed. I did the usual morning routine of taking the levitation platform down to the bottom floor and taking a peak in my closet. Today was Lily's birthday, and I wanted to wear something special. I took out a purple T-shirt and black jeans, and I wore purple converse shoes today over black socks. I combed my cowlick and greased it. Then, I took the travel tube to the garage, where I found Lily looking around. I whistled at what she was wearing: a red dress underneath a black leather jacket and black boots over black leggings. Her long red hair stayed down and straight.
"You look like you should be driving a motorcycle, not a car," I complimented her with a wink. "You look ready to pass your driver's test."
"Thank you!"
"Follow me!"
I led her toward her birthday present that was parked next to my navy blue flying car.
"Lilianna Mae Hamato, happy birthday!"
I took the purple covering off her birthday present, revealing a lavender-colored flying car. Lily gasped with delight. She examined all of the car, including the inside of the car, which resembled the interior of a car from the 1950s. The interior was white.
"This is really mine?" she asked excitedly.
"Yep! Our dads built the car together and put it under your name and your dad's name. My cousin Laszlo painted the car lavender because it's your second favorite color. He painted the inside, too, because white's your favorite color."
"Wilbur... I'm... speechless," Lily replied with excited hesitance. "I LOVE IT!"
Lily hopped out of her car, ran up to me, and hugged me.
"Thank you so much!"
"Don't just thank me. Thank your dad too."
"I will! Oh, this is exactly what we needed for me to take my driving test. Thank you so much!"
To my surprise, Lily kissed me on the cheek. I blushed and rubbed the spot.
"Right... Do you need me to come with you?"
"Actually, could you? I'm still on a permit and I'm not supposed to be by myself."
"Sure! You're the birthday girl. I'll just text my family that I won't make it to breakfast."
"Oh, Athena's got breakfast pizza made. You are more than welcome to a slice or two when we get to the sewers."
"Thanks, Lily. Well, hop on in. I'll drive the car while you activate the portal."
New York City, New York, USA
I successfully drove Lily back to the sewers, and I parked her car in the garage with the other vehicles that were present.
"Follow me," Lily encouraged me.
I followed her into the living room.
"Mom, we're back!" Lily yelled.
"That was fast," April O'Neil-Hamato greeted us, and the rest of the family, excluding Donatello, followed her out of the kitchen.
"Where's Don?" I asked.
"Donnie's home working on some business," April explained. "He'll be joining us later."
"Hey, Wilbur," Ryan greeted me.
I walked up to him. We shook each other's hands and hugged each other.
"Good to see you, man," I replied.
"Ohayo, Wilbur," Leonardo greeted me with a smile.
"Good morning, Leo. No training today?"
"No, none today, though you are welcome to stay."
"I'm here to support Lily on her driving exam," I explained.
"Mom, you'll never guess what Wilbur showed me," Lily said excitedly. "Follow me!"
We all followed Lily out of the lair and toward the garage.
"I take it you found a car to borrow?" April asked.
"Not exactly," I answered.
Lily led us to her lavender-colored flying car and put a big smile on her face.
"This is what Dad and Cornelius got me for my birthday," Lily said excitedly. "I haven't been this excited since Dad gave me my T-Phone!"
"Lily, this is absolutely beautiful!" April replied, sounding just as excited as her daughter. "So this was the huge secret your dad was keeping from me!"
"Don and my dad were building this together in the garage," I explained. "It was their big project while we were at prom. The interior was Cousin Laszlo's idea, and Donatello was hooked. My dad allowed me one peek before giving it to Lily for her birthday. So you're going to use this car for your driving exam?"
"Yep!" Lily answered. "And hopefully, I'll be able to drive this baby home all by myself."
"You may have to drop me off at work, Lily," April reminded her. "My shift's at nine, but my boss is letting me come in late for this special occasion."
"Well, let's go then!"
"Good luck, Lily!" we all yelled excitedly.
I watched April and Lily hop in the flying car, and they took off from the lair.
"Athena, Lily mentioned you had breakfast pizza?" I asked her youngest cousin.
"Yes! Right this way, kind sir."
I followed Athena back into the lair and into the kitchen to enjoy my slices of pizza.
DONATELLO'S POV
Shortly after getting off the phone with April, I made myself some scrambled eggs and coffee. After I enjoyed myself, I cleaned up the kitchen. Then, I went to the barn and grabbed my portable portal. I activated the portal and made my way to the lair. April and Lily had taken the Party Wagon down to the lair last night, so I was left with no vehicle.
I arrived in the lair at eight-thirty.
"Hi, everybody!" I yelled excitedly.
"Donnie!"
Everyone who was currently in the lair ran out of the kitchen to greet me. I laughed merrily. Everyone, including Wilbur Robinson, had given me a hug.
"What's the occasion?" I asked, still laughing. "And Wilbur, what are you doing here?"
"We're all just happy to see you, Donnie," Leo answered. "Today is a day of celebration."
"Speaking of which, that's why I'm here," Wilbur answered. "Lily asked me to be here to support her, so here I am."
"Were your parents okay with this?" I asked.
"Oh yeah, I texted them before I left. It's all cool."
"Good. I guess April and Lily haven't come back from their exam yet?"
"I think Aunt April mentioned that Lily was going to drop her off at Channel 6," Athena answered.
I immediately felt nervous.
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea. Wilbur, would you come with me to Channel 6 just to be sure Lily and April will make it there safely?"
"Sure."
"We'll take the Party Wagon. We'll be back!"
Wilbur followed me out of the lair and into the Party Wagon by the garage. I drove the van through the sewers and out into the city.
"Don, Lily's going to be fine. She's sixteen now, remember?"
"It doesn't mean I won't worry," I replied, letting out a long sigh. "I'm worried that Lily is going to get herself into an accident while driving in the city. I'd rather have her drive in the woods!"
"Don, please relax," Wilbur tried to comfort me. "She's a big girl. And besides, she drove a time machine all the way to Los Angeles by herself and did not get into an accident. And with all the patrolling she's done here, I think that gives her an advantage. Please have faith in her, especially on her birthday."
I felt tense the entire drive. I was fully aware that she was now sixteen years old, old enough to drive by herself, but she was still my baby girl. I was still worried that something was going to happen to her. Thankfully, I was not alone. Wilbur had done an amazing job trying to calm me down during the drive to Channel 6 News. Just after we arrived there, we watched a lavender-colored car land next to us. I immediately recognized it as Lily's new car that Cornelius and I built together for her birthday.
"You gave Lily her present?" I asked Wilbur with surprise in my voice.
"You guys don't have a normal car," Wilbur explained. "So Lily asked me for help. This was the only solution I could come up with. I hope that didn't ruin any plans you had for her."
"Actually, this may be better," I replied with a smile. "A brand new license that is earned by driving a brand new car. What can go wrong?"
Something was wrong. My smile disappeared when I watched a downcast Lily hugging her mother outside the car.
"Wilbur, please stay here. I need to see what's wrong."
I got out of the Party Wagon just as April walked inside. I ran up to my daughter.
"Lily! Are you alright?"
"Yeah, Dad, I'm okay," she answered. "The guy at the DMV wanted me to show you this."
Lily handed me a slip of paper, still looking down at the ground. I unfolded the piece of paper, revealing whatever notes the examiner wrote down. Words could not describe how I felt when I saw what I saw, however.
"Oh, Lily!" I exclaimed with a huge laugh. "It's your driver's license!
Lily had a huge smile on her face now as we hugged each other.
"I am so proud of you!" I happily told her.
"Thanks, Dad. Me too. I told you I was going to pass with flying colors!"
"Well, you definitely had me fooled with your downcast look."
"You even had me fooled!" Wilbur chimed in, joining the two of us on the sidewalk. "And I'm usually good at reading people's faces. So you passed your driver's exam?"
"Yep!" Lily answered with confidence. "I am now a legal driver. I really was sad that Mom had to work on my birthday."
"Well, it's Tuesday," I replied with a frown. "It didn't sound like your mom could get today off. But we'll see her later tonight."
I put the smile back on my face.
"So, what do you think of your birthday gift?"
"This is definitely the best birthday ever!" Lily replied enthusiastically, throwing her arms around me, and I hugged her in return. "Thank you so much, Dad. I love it!"
"You're very welcome! Well, shall we head back to the lair?"
"Yes! Wilbur, did you want to ride with me or my dad?"
"I'll ride with you," he answered. "We'll see you back at the lair, Don."
I walked back into the Party Wagon and started to drive my way back into the sewers with Lily and Wilbur behind me. We parked next to each other in the garage and greeted each other. We walked into my lab through Venus's greenhouse, and then we walked into the living room.
"It is way too quiet," I remarked. "Where is everybody?"
"Maybe they're out patrolling?" Wilbur suggested.
"At ten o'clock in the morning?" Lily replied with a raised eyebrow, and then shook her head. "It's way too early for that."
We heard footsteps, and we turned toward the kitchen to watch Athena walking towards us.
"Hi, guys!" she greeted us with a big smile. "Lily, how was the test?"
"I passed," Lily replied, returning the smile.
"Yay! Congratulations! First, you become a kunoichi. Then, you become our leader. And now, you can drive us around with no adult to watch you."
Athena let out a dreamy sigh.
"I can't wait until I get my license someday. So, what's going to happen next year?"
Lily shrugged.
"Who knows?"
"Oh! Uncle Leo wanted me to tell you guys to join him in the dojo for a sparring session. I'll be coming with you."
"I thought today was going to be a day of fun?" Wilbur replied, rubbing his neck.
"I'm just the messenger," Athena said. "Come on. It'll be fun!"
Athena led us to the dojo, where we found everyone else waiting for us.
"SURPRISE!" they all shouted.
The dojo was decorated with lavender, purple, and white birthday decorations and a big banner that said Happy Birthday!
"Happy birthday, Lilianna," Leo told her with a big smile. "And congratulations on passing your driver's exam. We are all very proud of you."
"Did you get your license?" Venus asked.
"Yes, Venus, I did," Lily answered. "Would you like to see it?"
Lily took out her paper license and shared it with everybody.
"Why is it just on a piece of paper?" Ryan asked.
"It's temporary. The real one is will be mailed to the farmhouse in a couple weeks."
"Doesn't Todayland have digitalized ID's?" Venus asked.
"Yes," Wilbur answered. "But you can choose to carry physical copies if you want. It sounds like Lily decided to do both. Let me show you mine."
Wilbur took out his phone and pulled up his ID in a hologram.
"Whoa!" all the kids exclaimed.
"That is so cold!" Athena exclaimed happily.
"So cold?" Lily asked with a smirk. "I think you mean so cool."
"My mom's always said so cold!" Athena defended herself. "And besides, it sounds much cooler than so cool."
"Come on, everybody," Raph said loudly, but happily. "We need to let the birthday girl open her presents!"
June 1, 2040 - Todayland, North Montana, USA
LILIANNA'S POV
My dad and I opted to take the portal to Todayland to spend the weekend there. Cornelius was generous to pay for our hotel room for the entire weekend, and we were looking forward to having long overdue father-daughter time together... that is, when my dad would be finished with his work for the day.
After we checked into our hotel, we had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. I ordered a chicken Caesar salad while my dad ordered the spicy chipotle chicken pasta.
"No pizza today, Dad?" I asked with a smirk.
"I'm no Michelangelo," he replied, returning the smirk. "Do you remember when we both stayed in Todayland for the entire spring semester last year?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I have learned to cook and experiment outside the Michelangelo box. Plus, your mother has inspired me to open my taste buds to a whole new world. So here I am, trying something new once more."
"Good for you, Dad!" I said with a big smile. "And I agree. Having pizza every night does get old after a while."
"When your uncles and I first started to patrol the city, all we had was pizza. It drove your mom crazy to order pizza for us every day. But, I eventually worked in tech support and brought some dough in for the family so we could pay for our own food."
"I thought you hated working in IT?"
Dad shrugged.
"Honestly, I thought I would hate it too. But I learned to be patient. I actually enjoyed it at first. When your mom and I started having dates in the lair, I was getting tired of it and started dreaming of what my future could be like."
"And that's where Cornelius came in?"
"Exactly. And now, I'm here to see if Bo will qualify to be a doctor."
"I hope it goes well," I replied. "So what was the first food you ate after having pizza for so long?"
"Pizza gyoza," Dad answered with a fond smile. "I remember it well. Your mother took us out of the sewer to try something new to eat. She took us to a noodle shop where the owner was having a rough time with the Purple Dragons. We helped him, so our meal was free. He asked us what our favorite meal was."
"Pizza?"
"Yep! We watched him make our meal with such pizzazz and finesse. We were skeptical at first, as was your mother. But we fell in love at first bite."
"Dumplings with pizza ingredients, right?"
"That's right. I convinced your mom to try one and she ended up taking the rest of mine."
We both laughed at the memory.
"Was that a hint at how your relationship was going to turn out?" I asked.
"You could say that. The only food she would take from my plate was pizza gyoza."
"So, how is your pasta?" I asked with a smile.
"It's very delicious!" Dad answered happily. "The sauce has got a kick, but the chicken and asparagus balance it out very well."
"I'm sorry, asparagus? Yuck!"
"You say that now, but wait until you're my age. Heck, I'll bet you you'll like it in five years. Asparagus actually tastes the best when it's roasted."
"Dad, I think you've been hanging around Athena too much," I replied with disgust.
"Lily, you've had asparagus in some of the meals I've cooked for you," Dad replied with a raised 'eyebrow.' "You hadn't complained once."
I stared at my mutant turtle father with an expression of disbelief.
"Well played, Dad. Well played. So when's this meeting with Bo?"
My dad took a glance at his T-Phone.
"Soon. We should wrap this up so you can head to Wilbur's."
"I'll be seeing James, too," I replied dreamily. "I'm excited about that."
"I'm so glad you two have made up," Dad said with a smile on his face. "And I mean that."
"I know, Dad," I replied, returning the smile. "Thank you for believing in us."
"I want to say I'm sorry too."
My smile turned into a look of shock.
"You're sorry? What on earth for?"
"When we were your age, I had thought your mom was falling for Casey. While I got jealous, I never acted like a jerk, and that was not easy. Then, I hear of you and James making up and I ended up being a jerk and even saying that I didn't approve. I had no right to judge you on your choices. As your father, it is my job to guide you to make the right choice. And I did something stupid and we ended up fighting. I hope you can forgive me."
"Of course, I forgive you, Dad," I replied, my smile coming back. "You're my father and I love you so much. You've actually proven to me many times this past month that you're not perfect either, and I love you even more because of that."
"Oh, Lily."
We stood up and hugged each other.
"You really are the best dad I could ever ask for," I spoke into his shoulder, and I just now realized that I was just about his height. "Dad, I've grown up."
We broke our hug and my dad looked straight into my eyes with a surprised smile on his face.
"You're right. Since when are we the same height?"
"I don't know, the past year or so? I just now noticed."
"Just last year you were about your mom's height," Dad replied with a proud smile. "You grew a couple more inches since then."
After my dad paid for our food, I followed him out of the restaurant and got into the flying car Cornelius had rented us for the weekend.
"I'll be dropping you off at the Robinsons, and then I'll be on my way to Robinson Industries to meet with Bo."
"I'd say good luck, but I don't think you're the one who'll be needing it," I replied.
DONATELLO'S POV
I kissed my daughter goodbye and then I drove my car to Robinson Industries to greet Cornelius in his office. I knocked on his door.
"Come in."
I opened the door to reveal myself. Cornelius smiled at the sight of me.
"Donatello, it is wonderful to see you."
We shook each other's hands.
"The pleasure is all mine," I replied.
"Please, take a seat."
"Thank you."
We sat down in our chairs.
"So I take it you have done the research on Bo Peep?" Cornelius asked.
"Yes, sir. I'm looking forward to meeting her."
"She sounds like a sweet and determined woman from how Dr. Crane described her."
My smile went away as I tried to figure out who Cornelius just described.
"I'm sorry, who is Dr. Crane? Is this another doctor from another world?"
"I'm not sure," Cornelius answered with a puzzling look on his face. "In fact, it was a mystery when he called. I had never heard of him before. But somehow, he had my number and told me that Woody recommended us to test Bo on her knowledge. I'm very surprised Woody didn't call me himself."
"It sounds like I have some more research to do," I replied, and then I realized what he just said. "You know Woody personally?"
"Yes. Woody had learned who I am when I was just starting out. He asked for my help to marry him and Bo and to start building their little town of Elkhorn. I've visited their ranch a couple of times. They are a very sweet couple."
"This is going to be a very interesting interview," I replied. "First, I was floored with the news that Karena was present in my world. Now I'm hearing news that other worlds have merged here."
"Karena was right to trust you, Donatello," Cornelius said with a smile on his face. "And I'm proud to have gotten to know you as a fellow scientist and as a friend."
"Thank you, sir. So, where am I meeting Bo?"
"In the conference room on this very floor. It will be just the two of you."
"Noted. Thank you."
"Good luck, and please tell me your findings."
We shook each other's hands again and I left the office to head to the conference room. It was very spacious with quite the view of the city from the window. It did not take too long for me to hear two female voices outside the door.
"Good luck, Bo. You got this!"
"Thanks, Gigs."
The door opened, revealing a woman with wide blue eyes and curly blonde hair. She was wearing a blue jumpsuit along with a purple cloak. I put a smile on my face and walked up to her.
"Good afternoon," I greeted her, holding out my hand. "I'm Dr. Donatello Hamato."
"Bo Pride," the woman replied, firmly shaking my hand. "You're Donatello the mutant ninja turtle?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"You are not at all what I pictured," Bo explained, still carrying her smile. "The Donatello I knew was... more round."
I laughed.
"You must have met my interdimensional counterpart. I was born in 1997. How did you come to meet him?"
"We were lost toys once. Woody and I were traveling around the country with a carnival when I ran into Donatello. He was very smart and helped us navigate around with his brothers."
"Ah, that makes sense," I replied. "Well, I hope that I will help make your stay in Todayland comfortable."
"You seem to be a very wise being, Donatello."
Bo paused with an awkward expression on her face.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot take you seriously. You look so different! Is there another name I may call you?"
"Everyone calls me Donnie," I answered with an understanding smile. "That is, except for my daughter. But if it makes you comfortable, then you may call me Dr. Hamato."
"Donnie, it is," Bo replied. "You have a little girl, too?"
"Yes, I do. Her name is Lilianna, Lily for short. She just turned sixteen this week."
"Please give her birthday wishes from me. My daughter is sixteen also. Her name is Justine."
Bo pursed her lips before she continued.
"If we ever meet again, Donnie, I'd love for our daughters to meet. So far, you seem like a gentleman."
"Thank you kindly," I replied with my gap-toothed grin. "Well, shall we get started?"
I gestured her to her seat. Bo sat down in her seat where there was a laptop on the table.
"Before we get started, I wanted to let you know that I was in your shoes a long time ago. Cornelius had given me an exam to test out of college, and this test I am giving you is that same test I took twenty-two years ago. Just remember to remain calm and focus on everything you know. I am not expecting you to get all of these questions correct. I am expecting you to do your best. There is no time limit. Please take as long as you need to complete the test. You may open your laptop to start the test."
While Bo took her test, I took the opportunity to do research on the other doctor Cornelius mentioned. Unfortunately, Crane was a popular last name. I ended up texting Karena.
"Hi Karena, I'm in Todayland today giving a test to someone who could become a doctor. And speaking of which, have you heard of a certain Dr. Crane? Cornelius has never heard of him before. I'm thinking he was not originally of this world either."
I sat in silence waiting for my phone to vibrate in my lab pocket. I felt my phone vibrating after a minute, and Karena had replied.
"Sorry Donnie, there are a lot of people called Dr. Crane in the world. Unless you're talking about the Scarecrow, maybe ask Cornelius if he caught a first name?"
I let out a quiet sigh, and then I texted Cornelius.
"Hey Cornelius, what was Dr. Crane's first name? I'm trying to do research on him but Crane's a pretty common name."
I put my phone away again, waiting for a response. It came a minute later.
"Dr. Russell Crane."
I did a Google search on this doctor. The name Russell was just as common as the last name Crane, but there was a link that caught my attention.
"Criminal Case?" I asked myself quietly. "That game Raph used to play? Hmm."
I tapped on the link. Dr. Russell Crane was a profiler who worked for the Pacific Bay Police Department all the way in California. While he had achieved a lot during his tenure with the police, I noticed that he had dated the junior officer of the team, Amy Young.
"That name sounds familiar," I said quietly to myself.
I clicked on the link to Amy's profile. Her tenure with the Pacific Bay Police was her first job, and from what I read, it was a trying experience for her. She had to arrest her own brother for murder, and I immediately felt sorry for her. It also made me thankful for my brothers, knowing that they would never resort to murder. Then I thought of Leo, who was the only one who could take the Shredder down once and for all by beheading him. Then I thought about how he had comforted Lily after she killed the Magician on accident. It was one of the few times that I realized we were living in a grey world, not a black-and-white one.
I continued reading about Amy. In the year Lily was born, she moved across the country to New York City to become the team coordinator for the crimes division of the TIME Agency. So my question was, did Russell move to New York with her? How did Russell come across Bo Peep in Oklahoma?
I texted Karena again.
"Hi again. I was doing research on Dr. Russell Crane from Pacific Bay, California. I did some research on a woman named Amy Young also because she's connected to him... or at least she was. Is there any way you can do further research on this? Both people were characters from a game Raph used to play."
I decided to use this opportunity to check on Bo.
"How are you doing, Bo?" I asked the woman. "Do you need a break?"
"No, thank you," Bo answered with a smile on her face.
I gave her a thumbs up, and then my phone vibrated. Karena had replied back.
"According to the Machine of Possibilities, Russell and Amy got married in Pacific Bay in the year 2024 and moved to Westport, Connecticut together so Amy could work at her new job. They have two children together: a son named Jasper and a daughter named Jessica. Russell had taken a job as the profiler for the Boston Police Department, but he quit after his daughter was born to take care of her and Jasper.
"I know exactly which game you are talking about, by the way. I LOVED playing it. But I didn't know the Pacific Bay Police Department existed. It might have been released after I moved to the future. I only knew Jones, Grace, Alex, Nathan, and Ramirez."
I smiled at everything in Karena's text. Russell and Amy reminded me of myself and April. Amy kept her name just like April kept hers. I had always encouraged April to chase after her dreams, and it sounded like Russell was just as supportive of his wife. I also admired Russell even more after discovering he sacrificed his dreams to take care of his children. I was quite surprised to hear that Russell and Amy lived close to New York, and I found myself wondering if I would ever meet them. I doubted it, however, and took a look at Bo. With a look of confidence, Bo closed the laptop.
"I am finished!"
"It only took you an hour," I replied with a smile. "Very impressive. So the next thing we will be doing is an interview. So, Bo, please tell me about yourself. Where do you come from? How did you come to be?"
"I used to be a porcelain figure on a lamp with my three sheep," Bo explained. "I guess you could say I was Molly's angel when she went to sleep. Molly and her brother Andy, Woody's owner, were raised in the Tri-Country area outside of San Francisco. I was given away when Molly was a young girl, and after a few years of being owned by another girl, I found myself in an antique shop. I got tired of waiting for my life to happen, so I left. Woody found me, and he realized that he needed to let Andy and his past go so he could move forward."
Bo let out a sigh and continued.
"One summer's day in 2013, Woody and I noticed we were bigger in size. The days went by and we felt lingering pain for the first time. We realized we were turning human, and we could no longer travel with the carnival. We ventured east, hoping to settle in a place of our dreams, a place where we could start our lives together."
"And that's where Cornelius came in, right?" I asked.
"Yes. He was going to a conference in Florida when he found us roaming around Oklahoma. He was the one who suggested we start building a town. So we did. It was just us at first when we reached the plains of Oklahoma in 2015. We had earned money doing little jobs on our journey eastbound. We had built a sheriff's office and discovered a mine. Elkhorn, Oklahoma was born in May 2017, and Woody and I married a year later with Jessie and Buzz as our witnesses. The more time had passed, the more prosperous our town became. The friends that we once knew were able to find us in Elkhorn and make lives of their own. To our pleasant surprise, Woody and I discovered we were going to have a baby. After a very strenuous labor, Justine Jessica Pride was born in our barn on Valentine's Day in 2024. Life went smoothly in Elkhorn with the lack of technology. We only relied on each other, and that was all we needed."
Bo let out another sigh.
"A month ago, Justine fell on the stairs, but we couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. Woody and Slinky had ridden their horses all over the state to try to find a doctor who made house calls. Woody found a doctor named Russell and brought him to our house, only for us to discover he wasn't a medical doctor. Russell had studied forensic psychology. He was very encouraging, however, and after reading Justine's medical book, I was able to remove Justine's appendix and save her life. And that brings me to today. Woody had suggested I become a doctor because of my resourcefulness during my time as a lost toy. I had repaired every toy I could find, and I realized while saving my daughter's life that I had a gift to help people take control of their health."
I smiled when Bo finished her story.
"I know this weekend is supposed to be about me, but how did you find yourself here in Todayland?" Bo asked me. "Aren't you from New York?"
"I still live in New York, actually," I answered. "Cornelius called me here to see you. Why don't you tell me what you know of my interdimensional counterpart? That way we can compare notes."
"Did you invent the Turtle Van, Turtle Blimp, and Cheapskates?" Bo asked with an intriguing smile.
"I have invented the Turtle Blimp. We have two vans called the Shellraiser and the Party Wagon, which actually was a van at first. I have no idea what Cheapskates are, but I've invented the Patrol Buggy, which is more commonly known to my brothers as the go-kart."
"What about the TurtleCom?"
"I have the T-Phone," I replied, taking out my phone and showing it to Bo.
"This is so cool!" Bo said happily. "I take it you have a college degree?"
"Three of them actually. I have doctorates in biology, physics, and medicine. I have my own practice in New York, and when I'm not helping my patients, I remotely teach biology and physics for Todayland University."
"Do you prefer to fight or find a peaceful solution?"
"I would much rather find peace. Fighting is nice and all, but it's not always the answer."
"Are you right or left-handed?"
"Ambidextrous, actually," I answered with a grin and a wink. "Learning to fight with a bo staff means using both hands. But if it's any consolation, I prefer my right hand over my left."
"Do you believe in time travel or interdimensional travel?" Bo asked me.
"Both do exist. In fact, my daughter uses interdimensional travel everyday to get here from New York for school. As for time travel, I have made quite a few trips through time, none of which I'd like to talk about."
"None of them pleasant?"
"Two trips turned out the way me and my brothers wanted them to. One of those trips actually changed all of our lives, and it's why you are here."
"I think I understand," Bo replied. "Woody and I have greeted two time travelers from the year 2041, a female and a male, and they were engaged to be married. The female had moved to the future to be with her fiance-"
"By any chance, are you talking about Karena Edwards?" I asked.
"That's her! You know her?"
"Yes, I was her age when we met, but when she moved to the future, the rest of us aged normally. She's been one of my students the last two years, and we're now good friends because of that experience. I take it she told you about her life?"
"One of the first things you will learn about my husband is that you should never lie to him," Bo explained. "He will see right through you. Karena had tried to cover up her life in the future to not break the rules of time travel, but once she told her story, we believed her, and we treated her like she was one of us, because she really is one of us."
"Did she tell you that you and your family were in the Toy Story universe?" I asked.
"Yes, she did. Meeting my sister-in-law Jessie was the first giveaway for Karena. Karena truly changed the world for all of us, it seems. I had never heard of you until Giggle mentioned you had a gap in your teeth. Because the Donatello I knew back then didn't. He had perfect teeth."
"Me and my brothers could not take our interdimensional counterparts seriously," I replied with a laugh.
"Well, of course you can't!" Bo said, returning the laughter. "All four of them had some sort of sense of humor. And they did the same thing every day: they train to be ninja, they save April, they stop the Shredder, and then they go back home and have pizza. Was your life that way, Donnie?"
"Thankfully, no. We did train every day unless our sensei tells us there wouldn't be any. Our April didn't need to be saved every day. That's actually what I love about her the most. If she was in danger, she would try to save herself first, and she's pretty resourceful. She's even saved my life from time to time. And she never gives up."
"Did you have a crush on April?" Bo asked with a fond smile.
"I have more than a crush on her," I answered with quite the smile. "She's my wife."
Bo's smile grew bigger.
"And you had a baby girl together?" Bo squealed happily. "Aaaah, Donnie!"
I laughed at her enthusiasm.
"Yes, being married to April was the best thing that ever happened to me, but once Lily was born, nothing could top that. Anyway, back to your question. The Shredder was one of our enemies. If we weren't stopping him, then we'd be stopping some other mutant who decided to try to harm us, whether he worked for Shredder or not. We fought the Purple Dragons as well as the Italian mob. And yes, pizza was often our dinner, though sometimes we mix it up. Leo's made ramen a few times. April and I would order Chinese from time to time. Mikey would try to bring home pizza gyoza from a local noodle shop."
"What do your brothers do now?"
"All of my brothers are married and they each have a child. I have two nieces and one nephew. Leo is still the sensei of our clan while Karai, his wife and Splinter's biological daughter, is the sensei of the Foot Clan. Raph is a detective with the New York City Police Department, and I'll perform forensic analyses for him sometimes. Mikey is a pizza chef with his own restaurant. Cornelius was a key part in passing the law stating that mutants are free to roam around the country."
"That's what Giggle was telling me," Bo replied. "This world has come a long way since 2013."
"It sure has," I replied with a smile. "Sure, it has its ups and downs, but I'm content with my life here."
"Me too, Donnie. So, is there anything else you wish to know about me as far as being a doctor goes?"
"Where does your passion lie?" I asked. "Is there a certain field you wish to study and practice, such as gynecology or radiology?"
"I just want to be a doctor for my town. I want to practice medicine and save lives whenever I can. I'd like a surgeon's license also, if that is possible. I'd be the town's only doctor."
I pondered this information.
"I will take that into consideration. I am actually enrolled in a class to help me earn my surgeon's license this summer. We could enroll you also, if you're interested. Have you done many surgeries?"
"Justine's appendectomy was the only surgery I've performed to this day," Bo answered. "But I have fixed other toys when I was a lost toy. Sometimes some stuffing would be loose and I would sew that toy back together."
"It sounds like you're a gifted seamstress, am I right?"
"You read me like a book," Bo replied with a smile on her face. "Have you studied psychology?"
"Yes, I have. My wife and daughter are both psychics. In fact, Lily wants to go to college to study forensic psychology."
"That is amazing, Donnie. And it's also cool you've studied the field too so you can understand your family. I feel comfortable just being around you."
"I appreciate that," I replied with my gap-toothed grin. "When I teach my students, I try to be as relaxed as possible to make them feel comfortable. I've actually won an award recently for being the most inspirational professor on campus."
"Congratulations! How long have you been teaching?"
"Twenty-two years now, and it is such a blessing."
"You're a Christian?" Bo asked with surprise in her voice. "Boy, you'd fit right in at Elkhorn."
"Well, I'm not sure about that, but thank you. I don't think I'll ever be leaving New York. I have lived in Todayland for five months, and that was too long a time away from home for my taste. You know, you are quite observant. I'll tell you things, and you just figure out the pieces of the puzzle."
"Thank you, Donnie. It comes with being a shepherdess and a mother."
I had forgotten that all the stories of Bo Peep came with some sheep. I smiled with understanding.
"And before you ask, my husband and daughter are taking care of my sheep this weekend."
"I wasn't going to ask," I replied. "We're both observant. And besides, I don't think you can take sheep with you on the plane."
"Very true."
Bo and I continued to talk for some time before we went our separate ways at the Hilton.
June 3, 2040
LILIANNA'S POV
My dad and I woke up bright and early and headed down to hotel lobby for breakfast.
"So, how did everything go this weekend?" I asked. "Is Bo a doctor?"
"In fact..."
Dad paused, noticing something out of the ordinary.
"Why don't we ask her?" he suggested.
"She's here?" I asked.
"We stayed in the same hotel. She must be here for breakfast too. Let's go greet her."
Dad and I got up and walked towards a woman with curly blonde hair and blue eyes. She wore a purple jumpsuit as she retrieved her breakfast.
"Hi, Bo," Dad greeted her.
The woman, Bo, turned around with a smile on her face.
"Hello again, Donnie," she replied with a smile. "Who is this little lady?"
"I'm Lily, his daughter," I answered with a curtsy, holding my red dress up.
"My, you are beautiful. It's very nice to meet you, Lily. Your father has told me much about you. My daughter is the same age as you. I hope you two will meet some time."
"I'd love that! Dad was telling me about you, too. Have you passed the test?"
"Yes, I am officially Dr. Bo Pride," Bo answered with a big smile on her face. "Your dad was a huge help guiding me to this achievement. I want to thank you for that, Donnie."
"You did all the work," Dad humbly replied. "You deserve this. I was just a teacher guiding you on your way."
"May we exchange numbers? If I ever have a question, I'd like to you to be the first I'll ask. It sounds like you went on a similar path to mine all those years ago."
"Of course, you may."
I watched Bo and my dad exchange their numbers.
"I'm sure we'll meet again, Donnie, Lily."
"I agree with that," Dad replied. "I will leave you to get your food."
"And I'll let you spend time with your daughter. It was lovely meeting you, Lily."
"Likewise," I replied, returning the smile.
Bo smiled at the two of us and turned back around to get her food. My dad and I returned to our table.
"I love her Southern accent," I said.
"She was created as a shepherdess of the southern United States," Dad explained.
"Created? What does that mean? Are we talking about God creating her?"
My dad hesitated, unsure of what to say.
"Dad, what is it?"
"Lily, why don't you read my mind? It's easier to explain there."
I looked into my dad's amber eyes and peered into his mind. What I found there blew my mind.
"The Toy Story universe has also merged with our world and Wilbur's world. Bo and Woody were toys until Karena moved here, and then they transformed into human beings. It is now very probable that the stories Karena knew have come to life here. One of Raphael's favorite games have come to life here too, and Karena has played it. There are many more secrets that have yet to be opened by the decision Karena has made all those years ago."
