"NINJAS!" The Hamato Teen yelled in fright as they ran through the forest. They had just defeated Savanti Romero and reclaimed the Time Scepter but they were marooned in a modern Japan without Renet to bring them home and were being chased by red ninja warriors.
They were soon surrounded and drew their weapons, "When are we?!" Leo questioned as they formed a circle, back-to-back.
"We just saw the city so that at least proves we're around the modern age," Naomi said to him as the Ninja started attacking and the ten defended themselves.
"Yeah, but where do these ninjas fit in?!" Jenny questioned as she blocked a sword. "They don't look or fight like the Foot!"
A ninja yelled and threw a chain at Leo's sword, Leo was pulled down and kicked him away while Vee blocked another with her fans. The ninjas were outnumbering them as one of them cut off Donnie's wizard beard.
"Well whoever these guys are, they're good!" Donnie said in shock as Raph blocked some shurikens from another Ninja as one embedded itself in a tree.
Miwa, who was choke holding a ninja, saw a familiar symbol on the shuriken. "They're not the Foot Clan, they're the Hamato Clan! Father's Clan!" She exclaimed in shock before the Ninja elbowed her and broke free.
"They are?!" Ames asked before ducking under a kick.
"But the only thing left of the Hamato Clan is the Shell Tribe! Right?" Raph asked while caught in a grapple with another Ninja before he was headbutted, his helmet falling off before he was thrown to the ground.
The Ninja were aghast by Raph's appearance, "What the…?!" One ninja asked in shock and japanese as Raph picked himself up.
"Child, what creatures are these?" Another ninja asked, pointing a sword at Miwa.
Leo turned to his sister, "What are they saying?" he asked, knowing she could translate japanese.
"He's asking what are you, guys." Miwa translated before she turned back to the ninja, "Hamato Ninja, be calm. These Kame and I mean you no harm, we merely wish to return home," She explained in Japanese.
"What is going on here?" A familiar voice asked which shocked them, the ninja stood aside and as a middle-aged man walked by them and gaped at the sight of the turtles, "Yokai?!" the man asked as the teen recognized his voice.
"Shredder?!" Miwa and Leo both ask in complete shock while the others have their eyes widened, seeing Shredder much younger, unscarred and most of all wearing robes of the Hamato clan.
"This cannot be." Saki said in shock as they all got in a defensive stance before Saki turned to Miwa, "Young one, step away from those demons, lest you wish for them to consume," He told her seriously.
Miwa looked at Saki as she was breathing heavily and glared at him as her fist clenched, which made the others look nervous. "Uh, oh," Ames muttered.
"Uh, we should grab her before she…" Donnie tried to say, but then Miwa hissed as she brought out her snake face and her snake arms. "Does that." He muttered.
Saki and the Ninja backed away in shock as Miwa glared at Saki with deep hatred, "Nure-onna." Saki breathed out.
Miwa was about to lash out at Saki, but Leo and Raph quickly grabbed her by her snake arms as she struggled to break free. "We need an exit!" Leo called out as Mikey nodded and brought out a smoke bomb, tossing it down as they vanished while Saki and the Hamato ninjas stood there in shock.
"Saki-san, what were they?" A ninja asked.
"I do not know," Saki said while giving a serious look, "But I intend to find out."
In the treetops, the Hamato Teens were jumping from tree to tree, having discarded their disguise, "Close call my sibs, awesome save by Mikey. Thank you very much," Mikey commented.
As they landed on the ground Miwa glared at Leo and Raph, "How could you do that?! I had him!" Miwa yelled in frustration.
"Miwa, you know that wasn't the same Shredder we know, right?" Leo questioned.
"Not yet anyway," Raph commented with his arms crossed before Leo elbowed him.
"Oroku Saki was part of the Hamato Clan before he became the Shredder." Donnie stated, reminding them of what Splinter told them.
"Meaning, we're at least 16 years in the past from our present time." Tal theorized while rubbing her chin.
Then Miwa realized something, "Wait, then, this must be around the night Shredder rebuilt the Foot clan and killed my mother!" Miwa said while giving a panicked expression. "We need to warn father-!"
"Whoa, whoa, hold on there Snakey! You heard what Renet said," Jenny eased Miwa with her hands up, "We change anything, we change everything, remember?" She reminded.
"Yeah, I still don't get what she meant by that," Mikey said while rubbing his head in confusion.
"What she meant was our present is the result of key events of our past occurring which sets off a chain of the other events that influenced the future into what is now," Naomi explained as they all looked to her, "If even one of these events fail to happen and yielded a difference result, then the future could erratically change," She said seriously.
"Uh, are you saying that we have to make sure not to change anything so time stays as it is?" Ames asked with a confused look. "But of all the points in time, why did we land here? Why now?"
"Who knows?" Raph said while marching ahead, "20 bucks says its all Renet's fault, she doesn't know the first thing about time travel!" He complained.
"Oh, and I suppose you're the expert?" Vee questioned with a brow and crossed her arms as Raph gave a shocked look before turning with a pouting face, "Yeah, that's what I thought," She said smugly.
"Yo guys, check it," Mikey called as they saw a wooden house with Hamato banners hanging from it, "That's Splinter's old dojo, right?" He asked.
"A ninja temple in a peaceful place in the forest with the Hamato banners hanging, yes. That's the Hamato dojo." Miwa said to Mikey with a brow.
"Come on, ninjas. Maybe Splinter's in there." Leo said as they all snuck up to the temple.
Inside the dojo, a shot of a photo of an old warrior with a blade, as Saki explains what he saw to Hamato Yuta with the other Ninja behind him. "I saw it with my own eyes, they were.. small green creatures in strange costumes, one of them was a girl with the eyes and fangs of the Serpent, they may be the Yokai of legend," Saki explained as Yuta listened with attention before the laugh of a familiar person was heard.
"Yokai? Your imagination has grown wild Saki!" Yoshi said as he walked in while waving a fan with an amusing smile.
The Hamato Teens, who were hiding at the door, gasped and realized who the man was, "Wow, Human Splinter," Leo said in awe at seeing their father as his former self.
"He looks so weird without fur," Mikey commented as he took a peek before Raph pushed back.
"Small green creatures? A snake Girl? Spirits? Monsters?" Yoshi listed in amusement as he walked towards Saki, "Your head has always been in the clouds brother." he said, lightly tapping Saki's head with his fan, much to his annoyance.
"Do not be too dismissive of the supernatural world Yoshi." Hamato Yuta said, which Yoshi turned to him. "There are many dimensions, many beings, that permeate what we call reality." He advised.
"My apologies father." Yoshi said bowing his and kneeled next to Saki, "Please, continue Saki, let us hear more of this interesting tale." He encouraged, which annoyed Saki even more.
"Do not mock me, Yoshi, I know what I saw!" Saki said upset with him before they heard Hamato Yuta cough for a moment.
"Some legends say, that when the Yokai arrive, tragedy is sure to follow." Hamato Yuta explained which concerned the two men.
"Dude, these Yokai sound like trouble." Mikey whispered before Jenny smacked his head quietly.
"They're talking about us!" Jenny said in annoyance.
"Yokai are mythical Japanese monsters," Naomi explained.
"It's common in Japan. I guess since mutants weren't a thing yet, Yokai is a proper term in Japan." Miwa explained before looking back inside. "I still can't believe I'm actually seeing my father as a human." She said in awe.
"And something tells me he's not at his master level of maturity yet," Vee noted after seeing Yoshi's behavior. "Compared to Saki, he's the immature one."
"Did you just say Shredder is better than Splinter at something?" Raph questioned.
"Who said that Shredder was better?" Naomi questioned with a smirk. "This is Hamato Yoshi. At least we have an idea where Miwa got her teasing side from."
"Hey!" Miwa questioned quietly before she saw the smirks on their faces before she sighed and give in. "Okay, I suppose that's true. Who knew father had a sense of humor." She commented before they looked back in as Hamato Yuta and the Ninja walked out while Saki and Yoshi stood up.
"I tell you Yoshi, we all saw them." Saki argued as he and Yoshi bowed and prepared to spar.
"Reminds me of the Yokai friends we invented as children, remember Saki?" Yoshi asked, getting in a fighting stance before they proceeded to spar as the teens watched in awe.
"You never listen to me! Just like.. Tang Shen!" Saki argued before kneeing Yoshi in the chest, knocking him back for a moment.
"Yet again you speak of Shen?!" Yoshi asked, upset as he was dodging a lot of strong kicks.
"You care nothing for her, only for the clan, only for yourself!" Saki shouted as he jumped in the air and delivered a roundhouse kick, which made Yoshi duck under; Yoshi swept Saki's legs and grabbed his body before throwing it behind them, making the teens all flinch seeing that.
A bowl rolled over to the side as Saki was on his hands and knees and Yoshi looked down at him. "That is not true, brother!" Yoshi said firmly as Saki turned to him and Yoshi's expression softened, "I have always been there for you." he said as he offered Saki his hand, but he knocked it away and growled with anger before he noticed some figures running by the door.
"What?" Saki asked in in confusion as he and Yoshi stepped outside and saw nothing.
Later that night, the Turtles were gathered around a campfire while Mikey was holding some berries as he groaned with his tongue out. "We haven't had any real food in days." Mikey complained as he fell to the ground. "A turtle can't live on berries alone, bros." He added as he crawled up to Raph. "I'm feeling weak." He dramatically said as Raph groaned and pushes his brother away in annoyance.
"Sorry, Mikey, but this is the only food we can forage," Ames said as she ate some berries. "And any other outdoor nature food."
"Is Renet gonna find us and bring us home? Seriously. I hate time travel!" Raph complained.
Leo then came back with some firewood and put it in the fire, "I've been giving this some thought," He spoke, holding his hands to the fire, "Kinda seems more than just coincidence we're here, right?" He asked them.
"Well, the odds that we're in this exact time and place by sheer accident is 879 quillian to one," Donnie noted.
"But if we're here for a reason, what is it?" Tal questioned with a serious look as they all shared the same expression.
"Of where and when, where is Miwa?" Naomi wondered as she noticed the girl was gone.
Vee then had a thought, "Wait, remember back in the Dojo, Splinter, and Shredder were talking about Shen?" She asked her team as their eyes widened.
"Oh boy," Leo uttered, realizing where Vee was going with this.
"You don't think that Miwa would…" Jenny trailed off.
"What are we thinking, of course she would!" Raph groaned.
At Yoshi's home, Miwa snuck behind a large tree before peeking out to see her father on the bridge and let out a small gasp when she saw him caressing a woman in a white shirt and jeans by the cheek, "Beautiful night, isn't it?" The woman asked with a fond smile.
"It's nights like this that I realize how lucky I am, to have you, and little Miwa," Yoshi said as they looked down at the baby in Shen's arms as she reached for the flower Yoshi held playfully above her.
Teen Miwa looked at the family breathlessly as she saw that woman's face anywhere. "Mother," She whispered, her voice thick with emotion at seeing her mother for the first time.
Shen brushed Baby Miwa's hair with a motherly smile. "Yoshi, let's leave this place, move away from here." Shen suggested to her husband, "I've always wanted to visit America. New York City." She said with an eager smile while Yoshi gave a sigh.
"Shen. I have.. many responsibilities, you know this." Yoshi reminded her slowly, "With father being here, the dojo.." he tried to say.
"The dojo. When are you going to leave this life? This is the last clan of its kind." Shen said, turning away from him.
"And that is why it must endure." Yoshi said, turning to her before leaning against the side of the bridge, "Must I explain this again?" He asked.
"Ninjas have no more place in this world!" Shen stated firmly, calming down a bit. "You must decide, this is no life for Miwa, if she ever followed you." She said looking at their baby daughter in worry.
Present Miwa was shocked by what her mother had just said, "She, didn't want me to be a ninja?" She asked slowly, feeling a bit hurt that her mother thinks that she's not destined to be a ninja.
Shen then began to walk off as Yoshi turned to her. "Shen. Let me walk you home." He insisted, not wanting her to leave.
"I can take care of myself. I've always have." Shen said as she walked off, leaving Yoshi alone while Present Miwa looked at her mother walking away from her father as she looked heartbroken that she had become something her mother never wanted her to be, and even worse as she looked at one of her snake arms in shame.
Having enough, she took one last look at her father before rushing back to the woods.
A bit later, Miwa had stopped by a large rock, sat on it, and curled her arms around her legs, "What was I thinking?" She asked herself with tears building up in her eyes. "Wanting the chance actually to meet my mother, only find out she never wanted me to be a ninja, and not only did I still become one, but I'm a mutant snake-human hybrid and raised by the man who killed my mother. What would she think of me now? A disappointment? A disgrace? A…a monster?" She questioned herself as she then began to whimper in despair.
As she cried, however, she didn't notice Shen and her past self walking by. Shen was busy playing with Baby Miwa before she heard the sound of crying and turned to see Present Miwa on her rock.
Feeling concerned, Shen walked over to the future version of her daughter, "Young one, is everything alright?" Shen asked.
Present Miwa stopped crying as her eyes widened before she turned and saw her mother and her past self behind her before she looked away. "I-I'm… just fine Mo-Ma'am." She said, trying to avoid eye contact with her mother.
"Young one please, do not try to spare me of your pain, a mother can tell when a child is hurting," Shen said softly as Present Miwa still looked away, "At least, be polite and face me."
Present Miwa hesitated to turn at first, but after a few moments, she slowly turned around and faced her mother, "Please, you shouldn't burden yourself with my problems, just go home, I'll be alright." Miwa told her mother who looked at her quzziedly.
"Forgive me, my dear but have we met before? There's something familiar about-wait…" Shen said before she looked towards her baby and then at the girl who looked a bit worried. Then after a few moments of looking into each version of her daughter's eyes, it clicked. "M-Miwa?" She asked in sligh shock.
Present Miwa's eyes widened when she heard her mother say that name. "Uh, Mi-who?" She asked innocently, trying to act like she doesn't know her, "M-My name is Karai and-" She tried to lie only for Shen to place a hand on her shoulder.
"I know it is you, my daughter." Shen said, with a small smile while still a bit shocked to see Miwa much older than her baby one in her arms. "You can't fool your own mother." She said with a wink.
Miwa blushed and looked away before she noticed Baby Miwa reaching her hand to her, "Uh, hi there…me?" She said slowly as Baby Miwa babbled and giggled while reaching her arms to her future self.
Shen giggled at the sight before she looked at the present version of her daughter, "Look at you," She said warmly as she rubbed her hand on Miwa's cheek, "You are so beautiful,"
"Uh, t-thanks, mom." Miwa said with a sheepish smile while rubbing her arms. "I take it that this is awkward and shocking to you, right?"
"Well, a little." Shen said with a smile. "But after marrying Yoshi and spending time at the Hamato Clan, you tend to believe that the impossible is possible." She said before frowning in concern, "But Miwa, please tell me why were you crying."
Miwa was conflicted on telling her mother about what she heard. "It's… it's complicated." She said.
"Complication is where Yoshi comes in." Shen said with a chuckle. "You can tell me."
Miwa looked at her mother again before she sighed. "While I can't tell you everything, since it might screw up the timeline, but I will say that, I am just, upset and sad about what you and father talked about at the bridge, and that I didn't want you to reject me,"
"Reject you? Miwa, how can you say that?" Shen asked in shock that her daughter would think such a thing.
"Because, I knew you wouldn't like what I become," Present Miwa said with her head down.
Shen gave Miwa a comforting look, her armor and tanto made it clear what she would be, "Miwa, though the path of the Ninja is not one I had envisioned for you, I can see it is part of who you are," She said with a smile, "So do not think because of that I-"
"I…wasn't talking about being a ninja," Present Miwa cut her off as Shen looked more confused. The girl then took a breath as she focused and stood up before she shifted into her mutant snake form.
Shen gasped in shock at the sight of Miwa's mutated appearance and instinctually to a few steps back, "My goodness…" Shen breathed out while clutching Baby Miwa close to her.
Miwa hissed sadly while lowering her head before returning to her human form. "I knew you could never love me once you saw what I was underneath," She sadly said while hugging herself.
"N-No, dear." Shen quickly said as she slowly stepped forward. "I just got caught off guard. But, how… who did this to you?"
"If I tell you, that might damage the timeline further," Miwa said sadly. "Let's just say that it isn't so bad. But at first, my humanity was slipping away with my snake side taking control. But, thank to some friends and father, I'm myself again,"
"Is Yoshi, a good father to you in your time?" Shen asked hopefully.
"Well, don't tell father in this time, but yes, he's the best." Present Miwa said with a smile. "The greatest father I could ever hope for."
Shen gave a smile at that. "Then I knew, I had chosen the right man." She said while looking at Baby Miwa.
"You did," Present Miwa confirmed before realizing something, "Mother, come with me. There are some people I want you to meet," She said, holding her hand.
Shen was surprised before she gave a smile and took her future daughter's hand. "Then show me these friends of yours." She said as Miwa guided her mother through the forest.
Back at the campsite, Raph's stomach started growling as he sighed. "So hungry." He said as he laid down with a groan.
"You know, if there were any fishing ponds, and fruits like apples or so, this forest would have provided us more to survive." Jenny commented while leaning on her head.
"Aren't we a bit concerned that Miwa is out there trying to spy on her parents in the past?" Vee questioned with a brow. "What if she tried to change the timeline?"
"Hey, this is Miwa we're talking about, she's not like Mikey or Ames," Jenny told her.
"Hey!" The two youngest turtles called in annoyance while Mikey is doing something.
"I guess you're right. I might be just a bit too worry." Vee said, seeing her sister's point.
Naomi then notices what Mikey is doing as he picks up a worm from the ground. "Michelangelo, what are you doing, exactly?" She asked in confusion.
"Making a pizza." Mikey answered as he turned and showed him a bark word with gross contents. "Berries, spider-eggs, and worms with a thin slice of bark. Covered in mud sauce. Mmm, mmm, mmm!" He said, which made the others grossed out. "Here, Raph, try a bite." He said as he shoved the nature pizza into Raph's mouth, which caused the red-clad turtle to gag and cover his mouth as he growled at Mikey.
Close by, Shen and her daughters were walking together, "So tell me Miwa, what are these friends of yours like?" Shen asked her future daughter.
Present Miwa rubbed the back of her neck, "Well, they're…I can't really describe them. They may be strange, but on the inside, they are brave and loyal, and you can always count on them to have your-" She was cut off when Raph and Mikey rolled out in front of them, wrestling with each other.
Shen gasped as Baby Miwa then started crying, which got the other's attention as Mikey and Raph stopped wrestling. "Yokai!" Shen exclaimed.
At the dojo, Yoshi was meditating before he flinched and heard Baby Miwa's cry in the woods.
Back in the woods, while Baby Miwa cried, the Turtles and Present Miwa gave Shen nervous expressions, "No, mom it's okay, these are the friends I told you about," Present Miwa said with a smile, gesturing to the turtles.
"Miwa, you brought your mother and your past self here?!" Naomi asked in shock.
"I have to! She already knew when she saw me!" Miwa said in defense.
"Wait, what?" Tal asked in surprise.
"It is true." Shen said after recomposing herself. "Just, assure me that you will not harm me or my daughter," She said as she tried to calm Baby Miwa down.
"We mean no harm." Leo said to her. "We're friendly Yokai."
"Yeah, check out the cute eyes." Ames said as he gave a cute face.
In the forest, Yoshi was running through the forest as fast as he could.
"So, you are all friends of Miwa." Shen said while a bit surprise to see the turtles.
"Not just friends, family," Present Miwa said with a warm smile to the turtles.
"Family?" Shen said, a bit surprise her daughter calls them that but gave a small smile, but before they could go any further, Saki yelled with rage as he jumped in the air and slashed at them from above, causing them, to dodge the slash as they hid behind the trees as Saki ready his weapons while the others did with theirs as well.
"Mikey, we need an exit." Leo whispered to his younger brother.
"I'm out of smoke bombs, dude!" Mikey pointed out.
"Why did we agree to pack only one smoke bomb per use!?" Jenny questioned.
Saki looked around as he sensed his targets as he stabbed his sword through a tree where Miwa was, causing her to gasp as it nearly hit him before Shredder came from a corner and palm struck her down.
"Fear not, Shen. I will destroy these wretched monsters." Saki said as he ready his sword over Miwa as she backed away in fear he gave a yell and swung down.
"Saki, no!" Shen yelled as Saki's sword stopped just at the edge of Miwa's nose as the man turned to Shen, "Please, she is only a child!" she pleaded to him.
"She is not what you believe, Shen, merely a Yokai in disguise!" Saki told her as he glared at Miwa who glared back at her.
"Saki please, I can see it in her eyes, she is not evil nor are those Kappa she is with." Shen insisted as Saki gave a conflicted look, "Please just let them go, for me." She begged.
Saki looked at her a moment before turning back to Miwa and pulling away his sword, "Do not make me regret this mercy, demon," He sneered at the girl.
Miwa glared back before she and the Turtles rushed off into the forest as they vanished into the night as Saki sighed and placed his sword away. "What were you doing with them, Shen?" He asked.
"I had gotten lost on my way home and they had shown me a safe route," Shen lied, knowing she couldn't tell Saki where the Teens were from, "Still, I am grateful you coming all this way to protect me,"
"I would never let anything hurt you." Saki said, rubbing Baby Miwa's cheek, "I... overheard your conversation with Yoshi. It is futile you know, he will never leave the clan." He said resentfully.
"Perhaps you speak the truth..." Shen said, still unsure of this.
"Shen, take me back. I will take care of you and Miwa, we can go to New York together, The three of us." Saki offered while holding Shen's shoulder who was still unsure, "I am a different man then the one you once knew, believe me." He said softly, giving a small kiss on her forehead which made her smile a little as she turned to leave. What either of them didn't see was Yoshi had seen all of this and growled with disbelief before he turned and left.
Up on the tree, the Hamato Teen were watching the whole thing while Miwa gave a disgusted look, "Whoa, you know Oroku Saki's kind of a good guy right?" Mikey asked, curious looking at the others.
"Are you crazy? He's a total creep!" Raph said not convinced.
"He did that to try and win mother over." Miwa said with a glare, "But we have a chance to save her. If we kill Shredder here then the Foot Clan will never be reborn and my parents stay together," She told them, while clenching her fist.
"She's right. Maybe we should take Shredder down." Leo said, crossing his arms which concerned Donnie.
"If we interfere with history, Splinter will never move to New York and buy 4 baby turtles," Donnie reminded them. "And then, who's gonna stop the Kraang Invasion and save all of New York, huh?" He questioned.
"But we already interfered with history." Vee spoke up. "Oruku Saki just saved Tang Shen from 10 monsters. Us!" She pointed out, which got Tal worried.
"Wait," Tal said as she took out her T-Phone and saw their group photo with Olly and the others they took after defeating the Kraang, as they saw The Mutanimals fading. "The Mutanimals pictures are fading away. Like we never knew them! Time is already being altered."
"Change anything, change everything." Naomi muttered in dread.
"It's just like that one movie! We're doomed dudes! Doomed!" Mikey said dramatically, which annoyed Raph.
"Calm down man!" Raph yelled, which snapped Mikey out of it.
"We just need to make sure my mother doesn't like Shredder!" Miwa stated with a serious look.
"We have to convince her that he's the evil jerk we all know and hate. So history stays on course." Leo explained to all of them.
"We should talk to her when she's alone." Naomi suggested. "Because after what happened last night, she might need time to process."
At the dojo, Hamato Yuta saw his two students in ready stances. "Hajme." He said as Saki and Yoshi were training together while clashing wooden swords.
"I saw you last night in the woods with her brother! What did you say to Shen?!" Yoshi demanded in anger.
"What concern is it of yours, Yoshi?" Saki countered by taking his other sword from him.
"Shen is my concern, Saki," Yoshi said, still ready to fight. Saki charged at Yoshi with both of the wooden swords and slashed at him; Yoshi blocked a sword swing with his elbow and kicked him back; he then grabbed his sword back and kicked him away again, giving him his sword again.
Before long, the two started fighting with their hands and feet, roaring and charging at each other, and Yuta nerve pinched them. Saki then reached for his sword for one more strike.
"Enough!" Hamato Yuta shouted, stopping Saki as he fell to the ground before he let the two go and walked away. "End this now, you are brothers. Act like brothers." He instructed as he left them alone to try and talk it out as the two brothers glared at each other.
Saki huffed and then walked out of the Dojo, and out the back. As he marched away, he didn't notice a familiar woman, dressed in black and Red, leaning against a tree he passed, "At long last I found you," The woman spoke as Saki froze and turned to see her smirking at him, "Oruku Saki," She greeted.
As Saki looked at her, a dark-haired man in a black and red robe with a sliver dragon design came out behind Saki. "Forgive our intrusion my friend, but we have much to discuss," He said as Saki turned to him.
"Who are you?" Saki questioned in suspicion as the woman chuckled.
"We are but mere nobodies like yourself, or so all have labeled us to be," The woman explained while holding Saki's shoulder, "But together, perhaps we can be more and you could have all that you deserve,"
"And what is that?" Saki questioned with an intrigue look.
"The full truth of who you are, Oroku Saki." The man said before reaching behind him and pulling out a familiar looking helmet, "Who you are destined to be," He said with an enticing smile as Saki took the helmet in his hands as he inspected it really hard.
"The Kuro Kabuto?" Saki asked slowly, seeing his reflection in it.
"One of many gifts we have for you, my lord," the woman said like a demon whispering into Saki's ear, "If you choose to take what is yours,"
Saki's eyes darkened at her words and glanced at the woman, "I am listening," He said as the woman and man smirked.
In the forest, Shen was walking by as Miwa looked down and saw her and her past self walking by from the treetops. "Here she comes." She said as they jumped down to her. "Mother, we need to talk."
"Indeed, I still have many questions," Shen said as she looked at the future warriors, "How are you here? Why are you here?" She asked.
"We will tell all that we know, but not everything that would change her timeline." Leo lied, pretending to be a Yokai to avoid any spoilers as Baby Miwa giggled.
"Very well, follow me to my home." Shen said with a smile.
In Shen's home in the city, the Hamato Teens are inside as Miwa look at her old home while Shen is making something while they're in the kitchen. "My sister and I were raised in Fukuoka, but our Grandfather is Chinese," Shen said while Leo was holding Baby Miwa, who was pulling on his Bandanas while Vee giggled at him.
"You have a sister?" Present Miwa asked her mother in surprise, as her father never mentioned her mother having a family.
"Yes, Tang Amaya. She loves you very much. I moved here to be closer to Yoshi while Amaya found love with an old friend, Yukio Mashimi," Shen said with a smile to her daughter, "I've heard that Yokai are always hungry." She said while giving an amusing smile to Mikey, who was biting on the desk next to Shen as Miwa bonked him, which caused him to stop biting and rubbed his head. "That's why I made a meal that all kappas love."
"Kappa?" Jenny asked in confusion.
"What's a Kappa?" Leo asked.
"It is Japanese for Turtle Yokai, a river demon," Naomi explained, "And if you remember correctly, our favorite food is cucumber, yes?" She asked Shen.
"That is what legend says, but your brother tells me otherwise," Shen said as she looked at Mikey's sad eyes with amusement.
"Cucumber?" Mikey questioned with a brow. "Little known fact, our favorite food is pizza. Thick crust, thin crust, no crust, hook a turtle up!" He called.
"Mikey!" Ames called with a brow. "At least appreciate that she's offering food."
"Right, sorry, just saying." Mikey said with an apologetic look.
"What do you know about Kappa, Tang Shen?" Vee asked.
"My grandmother told me a story of a kappa, who came out of a river as a young girl and was fetching water. The Kappa terrified her, but the girl always carried cucumbers with her to ward off Yokai. The Kappa was so thankful, it told her of a great hurricane that would devastate her village. It saved her people." Shen explained, which interested them.
"That's right, and we want to save you, Tang Shen," Raph said, despite knowing what awaits for her.
"These Kappa and I came here to keep you from making a terrible mistake. They brought me from the future to warn you." Miwa said, looking at her mother, "You can't leave father, he's a good man. Oruku Saki is not who you think he is, he's pure evil," She told her.
"No. Saki is a good man. He's just trying to look out for me." Shen said, feeling conflicted by what they were saying.
"If you choose Oroku Saki, the whole world itself could be at risk!" Donnie said.
"Take it from the Kappas, mother, please." Miwa pleaded. "I saw what happens in the future, you shouldn't choose Saki. If he truly loved you, he'd encourage you to be with father, to see you happy."
Shen looked down in thought before she looked at Baby Miwa, who is fast asleep in Leo's arms. "Yoshi is too dedicated to Ninjistu to raise a family. But from seeing how you've grown, perhaps I was wrong." She said as Mikey was eating the cucumbers.
"That's right. Splinter loves little Miwa. She's so cute." Mikey said as Baby Miwa spit out her pacifier, which hit Leo in the head as Vee giggled from seeing it.
"And know that father would do anything for his family, even if it cost him his life," Miwa said with a smile, "Trust your heart, mother, I know deep down, you know who the right man is."
Shen still looked conflicted before she gave a smile and held Miwa's hand, "Come, I would like to see the kind of woman my daughter will become," Shen said before turning to the Turtle, "Watch over little Miwa, we will be back shortly," She requested before she guided Present Miwa out of the kitchen as she gave a concerned look to the turtles.
The turtles have concerned expressions as well as the two walked out the room as Donnie took out his T-Phone and looked at the pictures. "Um, guys…" He started as he showed them their group picture as Zach, Caitlyn, Casey, Keno, April, and Robyn were fading away from it. "What's the plan now?"
Leo thought for a moment before looking at Olly in the picture and gave a solemn look and sighed.
"Leo?" Mikey asked in concern.
"I, I don't know," Leo said hopelessly, "I'm sorry guys, I tried to lead you but I only got you into an even deeper mess,"
"Whoa, hey, bro, you didn't bring us into this mess," Raph quickly said. "If anything, blame Renet for bringing us here. And if we hadn't been placed here, we wouldn't have changed history."
"Maybe we wouldn't have, if we had the right leader," Leo sighed as Vee held his shoulder.
"I know you're worried about Olly," Vee said with a frown, "We all are."
"I just wish he was here. He'd know what to do, he always knew what to do," Leo said solemnly.
"Leonardo," Naomi spoke up as Leo turned to her. "Olivier may have been a more experienced leader, but even he made mistakes at times." She said before she gave a chuckle. "I remember when we were children, he tried to impress me by practicing his katas, only to lose his balance and land in a pile of manure, he smelled like garbage for weeks on end."
"Oh, yeah, I remember that time." Jenny said as she and her sisters gave a laugh. "He had to sleep outside and take 20 baths a day."
"Did that seriously happen?" Raph questioned in amusement.
"Oh it did indeed, after that Olivier had lost much of his confidence, believing he couldn't half the leader the Grandmaster was," Naomi said before giving a sincere smile, "But then he learned to stop trying to lead as someone he's not and lead as only he could and trusted that I and his sister would always be there for him."
"So what you're saying is, that I shouldn't lead like how Olly does it?" Leo asked slowly.
"Yes. Don't try being Olivier." Naomi said with a smile. "Be Leonardo, lead this team by what you think is best." She said.
Vee then held Leo from the side with a small smile, "And do it knowing that Olly would be proud of his brother," She said warmly.
Leo looked down for a moment before he gave a determined smile. "Then we're gonna do the only noble thing we can do is finish Shredder, once and for all." He declared.
Miwa and Shen walked down the street, eating some ice cream while they each had a bag or 2 in their hands, having done some shopping together, "You seem very happy, Miwa," Shen commented, seeing the brightness in Miwa's expression.
"Well, yeah," Miwa said with a smile. "To be honest, this is the first normal and happy time I had in a long time."
"Oh, don't tell your father has kept you sheltered your whole life?" Shen questioned while giggling at the idea of Yoshi being overprotective.
"No, actually. It's just…complicated." Miwa said with a sheepish look. "Let's just say that weird things can happen in the future, like me being part snake and friends with giant turtle people."
"I see," Shen said before she gave a frown when a thought came to her, "Miwa, you have told me much about your relationship with your father but, why haven't said anything about myself?" She asked.
Miwa's eyes widened, having thought to avoid that question. "Um, well, you see, you are a great mother, I think about you alot, but uh…" She stammered.
"But," Shen encouraged her to go on.
Miwa tried to think of an excuse, but couldn't think of one she sighed. "But, you weren't around to see me grow, mother." She admitted.
Shen's eyes widened as she could only guess what she meant, "Oh," She said while looking away before she gave a smile and tilted Miwa's chin up, "Then, is this what you always hoped we would do together?"
Miwa looked at her mother for a moment before she gave a small smile. "Yes. It was what I always dreamed of: To spend some time with my mother." She said with a small tone. "I've spent my whole life wondering what it would be like if you were still around, but I think this time travel thing granted my wish, I'm honestly tempted to stay here and we can be together forever,"
Shen gave a small smile at her daughter. "But you are needed in your time with the rest of your family, correct?" She asked knowingly as Miwa gave a sad smile. "Don't worry, Miwa, no matter what happens to me, wherever I am, I will always be with you." She said as Miwa looked at her mother as she continued. "There comes a time where every girl must become a woman. Whatever a woman, is up to her." She advisedly said as Miwa nodded before she gave her mother a tight hug, which Shen smiled and returned the gesture as the two stayed that way for a while.
…for it would be the last moment they would ever had.
At night in the woods, Saki had gathered the ninja for a special meeting. He stood on top of the clan's shrine with a torch in hand, "The Hamato clan has gotten weak! It is rotting from the inside! The Foot was the oldest of all the clans! But it was wiped out by Hamato Yuta! When he slayed its master: Oroku Kaiji, my father!" Saki revealed, which made the ninjas gasp in shock.
"I was adopted by the Hamato clan as an infant, raised by my enemy in ignorance!" Saki said in hate while jumping down, "I will have my revenge on them all!" He swore as he threw the torch on the Shrine, setting it ablaze. Saki then put on sharp claws and held up a flag with symbols on it as all the ninjas bowing in respect for him.
But they saw something and drew they're weapons as they saw Hamato Teens looking down at them with white eyes again."Yokai." Saki snarled
"Finish them quickly! I have a business to attend to." Saki ordered as the ninja drew they're weapons.
Leo and the others landed down and drew their weapons, too, as they looked at each other for a brief moment before charging at each other and making giving cries.
At the Dojo, Yoshi, Shen and baby Miwa stood on the porch, "I am sorry Shen, you and Miwa are my life. Without you I am a shadow." Yoshi said with regret.
"Yoshi.. I understand your loyalty to the clan.." Shen said, looking concerned.
"Father is growing worse, the dojo is all we have left.." Yoshi said sadly
Shen then placed a flower on Yoshi's hand, "We have so much more than that Yoshi." Shen assured which had held them close.
"My love for you and Miwa burns in my heart, brighter than all the stars in the universe." Yoshi said warmly as he put his forehead to Shen's.
"Pathetic. I will not abide by this dishonor!" Saki said with anger as he held out three long claws on his fists.
"Saki." Shen said with concern.
"Shen, I ask you one last time. Make the right choice." Saki demanded, not wanting to do this.
"I have already made it." Shen said firmly, stepping behind Yoshi who kept his guard up.
Saki growled as Yoshi could see what would come next, "Take Miwa and go Shen." Yoshi instructed Shen.
"But Yoshi, Saki please! You are brothers!" Shen begged, not wanting this.
"No. We were never blood!" Saki said with rage which confused her.
"Shen.. go." Yoshi ordered again as Shen complied and walked past Saki.
Before she left though, Shen turned to Yoshi and they shared a smiled and she kept walking, "How can one love and hate someone so fiercely?" Saki asked himself, drawing out his blades.
"If your desire is to fall by my hand, brother, so be it." Yoshi said, putting his hands behind him.
Saki roared with rage and slashed his blades at his hands, but he revealed to have braces on his palms, leaving them unharmed. Saki tried stabbing Yoshi repeatedly which made Yoshi punch him to the wall and knee him in the chest before Saki recovered and slashed at a pillar continuing to fight him.
Back at the Shrine, the Hamato Teens began messing with the Ninjas, laughing evilly and leaping around them. They kept laughing as a ninja was whacked by Mikey's weapon. They saw the mutants rising on the pillar with Miwa on top of the fire in her snake form.
"Booyakasha!" Mikey said spookily with all the chains around his arms.
Ames laughed at the sight, "Oh man this way too much fun! I want more!" she said as she started focusing her chi. "I wonder if we can kick it up a notch!" She called as in her mind's black abyss, a pink glowing symbol of the Hamato Clan appeared.
Ames was covered in curly pink markings as she smirked with pure white eyes as she brought her hands together and several pink-light versions of herself appeared, and gave frightening poses.
"Kappa! They will steal your soul! RUN!" A ninja shouted in Japanese again, throwing Mikey a cucumber which he ate again.
"I'm starting to get a taste for these things!" Mikey said in delight as Miwa hung above them on the gate.
"That's right ninja's! We Yokai will steal all of your souls, through your butt!" Miwa shouted, mimicking an evil laugh as Raph snuck behind them to take them down. Tal jumped across the pedestals on her hands and off one Ninja's head.
One of Ames's clones laughed maniacally as it raised its hands to a ninja's butt, which caused them to scream in fear as the other Ninja all screamed with fear and ran away.
"Through your butt?" Jenny asked Miwa in amusement.
"What?" Miwa asked as she slithered down and shifted back to human form. "That comes from real Japanese legend."
"Come on, let's head to the dojo!" Leo called as the Hamato Teens rushed to where the Hamato Dojo is at.
Back at the Dojo, Saki and Yoshi slammed through the halls and fought with each other through the paper walls.
"We were raised together, Saki! Do not make me fight you!" Yoshi pleaded to Saki while holding back his arms.
"How could I not? After so many lies! So much dishonor!" Saki countered which made Yoshi hit him in the stomach again before throwing him to the floor.
"You only dishonor yourself! You were always jealous, always scheming! Always filled with hate!" Yoshi shouted, which angered him even more as Saki slashed at him even more.
Saki then accidently slashed at a candle which caused the tip to fall on the ground which started to create a fire that started spreading through the building.
The Hamato Teens kept pushing through the forest before Vee saw something. "Guys look!" She called as she pointed ahead, which made them all stop when they saw a smoke cloud. "Fire!"
Miwa's face then paled as she put the events together, "No. Nononono, this is…that night!" She yelled in terror, which made them realize that the battle happening was the battle Splinter lost everything.
In the Dojo, Yoshi and Saki were in the training room and surrounded by flames, "Please brother! Do not make us do this!" Yoshi begged as the dojo was up in flames as he grabbed Saki's arm and threw him to the wall.
Saki quickly recovered and roared at them both and tried slashing them. Saki grabbed Yoshi by the arm and slammed him to where they're master sat as the fire was covering the entire room. Saki clawed at Yoshi on the ground as he kept moving back, before Yoshi grabbed Saki's arms.
"Saki! This whole place is coming down!" Yoshi called, gesturing to the inferno.
"Then we shall both perish here!" Saki shouted as he was kicked off by Yoshi before he twisted his arm back.
Yoshi screamed in pain before he saw the sword on the ground and quickly grabbed it and got up as Saki dodged a swipe from the sword.
Outside the burning dojo, Tang Shen rushed up to the entrance when she saw it burning up. "Yoshi, Saki," She said in worry before giving a brave face and moving to charge in as the Hamato Teens rushed to her.
"Mother, no!" Miwa yelled, grabbing Shen's arm and stopping her, "If you go in there, you'll die!" She stated, despite knowing this had to happen.
"Yoshi's life is just as important," Shen argued before giving a sad yet motherly smile, "And you know that this is how it must be." She said, holding Miwa's cheeks as the girl had tears running down them.
"Mommy please…I can't lose you," Miwa whimpered pleadingly.
Shen gave a warm smile. "I will always be with you, Miwa, and I am glad I got to see who you have become." She said before giving Miwa a letter. "Take this, and give this to your father in your time. And know that no matter what happens, I will always love you, my daughter." She said before kissing Miwa's forehead and rushing towards the dojo as Miwa stood there.
"Shen, wait!" Raph called as they were about to follow, but the ceiling collapsed, blocking their way.
"We have to get in there!" Vee exclaimed. "Leo, can you teleport us in?!"
"I don't know if I can! The dojo is burning down and one wrong step, and we're fry turtles!" Leo called as they started moving the burning wood away.
Miwa then heard crying as she turned and saw her past self underneath a fire stool while crying. She knew what would happen next and though she wanted to save the child from what came next, she knew it had to happen, "Don't worry, you'll see daddy again, I promise," She said to her past self before helping her siblings.
Back in the training room, Yoshi and Saki still classed as the fire burned through everything.
They clashed weapons as they pushed each other back as the ceiling started coming down. Saki knocked Yoshi's sword out of his hand and kicked him back as he jumped and aimed his claws at Yoshi before Shen got between them with her arms out.
"Please stop!" Shen begged, but Saki saw her too late as he slashed right across her chest as both he and Yoshi both watched in horror.
"No!" Yoshi screamed in anguish as Shen fell into his arms.
"Shen!" Saki shouted with horror as he was about to run towards her and Yoshi, but they were buried under the ceiling wood as Saki looked up and looked up and saw a burning slab of wood coming down as it burned his face, causing him to scream in pain and run out the dojo.
Saki managed to get out of the dojo as he breathed heavily as his face burned with his hair gone and one eye blinded. He heard a baby cry and saw Baby Miwa was alone and crawled up to her, he got rid of his blades and picked her up.
"You will be mine to care for now, little one. I will call you.. Karai." Saki said in a gruff tone as Baby Miwa stopped crying. Saki then took his leave away from the burning dojo and turned to it with a regretful expression. "Shen, forgive me," he pleaded before limping away.
The Hamato teens rushed into the Training room and saw the woodpile "Splinter!" Leo called as they dug through the rumble before Raph and Jenny pulled Yoshi out.
Miwa moved another wood as she looked down and gasped in horror when she saw her mother's unresponsive body with three slashes on her shirt as the others looked in shock and remorse as Miwa gave a sad look as she shook her head in denial before she pulled her mother's body out too.
Once outside, the Teens placed Yoshi on the ground and Shen next to her. Miwa looked to Tal pleadingly, hoping she could heal her mother. Tal knew what Miwa was thinking, but she shook her head in despair, saying that there was nothing she could do.
Miwa looked down in sorrow before she looked up and saw her father's dojo, all that remained of his clan, her clan, go down in flames. Now, understanding the pain her father endured tonight.
Leo looked at Miwa in worry, "Miwa?" He called faintly as Miwa stood up.
"Let's go," Miwa said with borderline despair as the turtles all gave her sympathetic looks as they went into the forest.
Yoshi regained consciousness as he looked up and saw his dojo still on fire before he looked down and saw Shen next to him, but unresponsive as he saw the three slash marks on her chest and wasn't breathing as he sobbed and held his deceased wife in his arms. "SHEEENNNN!" He cried out in despair.
The Hamato Teens watched their sensei sobbing into Shen's chest in remorse and sorrow, Leo, Raph, Donnie, Mikey and Miwa feeling the most pain at watching their father suffer, and bare witnessing it. The turtle girls all gave the Hamato siblings sympathetic looks as they all backed into the darkness of the forest to leave Yoshi to process this tragic event.
Miwa stayed behind a bit longer, feeling so bad for her father and feeling she truly had lost her mother before she left after her friends too. Once she had caught up to them Miwa brushed past them and kept walking, her silence making them uneasy.
Eventually, Vee broke the silence as she went up to Miwa, placing a hand on her shoulder, "It's okay, Miwa. Don't hold it, just let it out," she said softly.
Miwa stopped as her expression melted into deep sorrow as tears streamed down her face and she took hiccuping breaths before she finally broke, "MOTHER!" She screamed out before falling to her knees and crying openly and loudly into her hands.
The turtles watched Miwa breakdown as they all felt the same way for her and huddled around her and gave her a comforting group hug as Miwa cried harder, having to witness her mother's fate and the suffering of her father's past in person just when she finally met her mother for the first time before she was gone.
The next day, Yoshi stood in front of two grave markers with Shen and Miwa's names written on them. He had a sorrowful expression as he sniffed and placed two flowers down over the Graves.
"I am sorry, Shen. I could not be the husband you deserved, nor the father Miwa needed. But I will still be the man you loved," Yoshi said in sorrow but with determination, "Though I will never forgive Saki for what he did, I will not let my hate turn me as it did him. I will try and find a new peace in New York, lice the life you wanted for us and I will do all I can to honor your memory," He said before kneeling down and placing a kiss from his fingers on each marker.
"I love you," He said before leaving the graveyard.
As he left, however, he didn't notice his future sons and daughters hiding behind a tree as they looked at him in remorse. Once he was gone, the ten approached Shen's grave with Miwa holding a bouquet of flowers.
They stood there in silent respect for the selfless woman, staring at the grave marker as Miwa walked forward and placed the bouquet of flowers next to Shen's name. They all kept silent before Miwa spoke. "Thank you, mother, for saving father's life. For trying to keep our family together." She said in sorrow but respect, "And, I am grateful I finally got to meet you and I am proud to be the daughter as someone as brave and strong as you,"
The turtles all huddled together as Leo placed a hand on Miwa's shoulder, which made her smile a bit as they all stood silent in respect for Shen's sacrifice.
Once they were finished paying their respects, the teens returned to their campsite with heavy hearts, "Well, at least the timeline is the way it should be." Tal said while looking at the picture as their friends in it reappeared back in their place.
"Yeah, but at what price?" Donnie asked sadly.
"Poor sensei," Mikey sighed, hanging his head.
"Having to go through such loss because of one man, it's terrible," Naomi said with her head down and hat off.
Raph then glanced at Miwa, who looked at the selfie she took with her mother yesterday, "You gonna be okay?" He asked.
"Y-Yeah." Miwa said slowly as she put the picture away. "It's just… I just need some time to process this."
"Yeah, I get that." Raph said, having experienced that when he first lost Spike when he became Slash and deranged because of the mutagen.
"Well, there was one good thing that came from this," Leo said as they all turned to see he had an angry expression, "Now we have even more of a reason to take Shredder down," he said lowly.
"I agree, brother." Raph said in agreement while looking at a piece of wood from the remains of the Hamato Dojo he found. "Except for the part where we're stuck thousands of miles from home, and 16 years in the PAST!" He yelled as he threw the wood down in anger.
"We might as well get used to it, guys." Ames said while looking at the cucumber, Shen gave her before they left while rubbing it softly. "Maybe being a Yokai won't be so bad." She suggested as they all looked down in sadness since they are stranded in the past and thousands of miles from America and Turtle Island.
But it didn't last long as a time portal opened up above them, which caused them to look up as they saw Renet exiting it as she stopped in mid-air, but she fell to the ground with a yelp before she stood up and moved her cape off her head. "Yes! Finally, I found you!" She cheered in relief.
"Where have you been?!" Raph questioned as they all stood up and looked at her. "We've been stuck here for days!"
"It's not my fault. Seriously." Renet said in defense. "I've spent like the last 6 months trying to hunt you guys down," She explained.
"Wait, six months?!" Jenny asked in shock.
"Well, at least it wasn't longer for us." Vee said optimistically.
"Why? Of all times, why did we come here? Of all places?" Leo asked, confused at all of this.
"It was the scepter, it brought you here, to make sure Splinter survived," Renet explained, showing them the scepter, which shocked them from that.
"Wait, it was always meant to be this way? We were always destined to travel through time and save Splinter's life?" Donnie asked, really confused.
"Okay, whoa. Whoa." Miwa said in awe.
"Ugh, can you just take us home now? My head's starting to hurt." Raph complained while holding his head.
"No problem. Future New York, here we come." Renet said as she raised her scepter and it glowed brightly.
In present-day New York, the portal opened up from above the rooftop as the Hamato Teens landed on the roof as Renet prepared her scepter to open another to her time. "Will we ever see you again, Renet?" Ames asked.
"Let's hope not." Raph groaned as Jenny elbowed him to the chest, which made him shrug in defense.
"Maybe someday, guys." Renet said with an assuring smile. "Remember, time is on my side." She quipped, which made them all smile in amusement as she floated up to the portal as she waved to them. "Goodbye, Mystic Hamato Warriors! Good luck saving Olivier! See you in history!" She called as he entered the portal before it closed as the others all watched where Renet was with smiles.
"Let's go home, guys," Miwa spoke up with a smile. "It will be good to see father." She said as they all smiled in agreement as they tapped on their bracelets and teleported back to Turtle Island.
In Splinter's room, the rat master was meditating before he sensed something and turned to see Miwa walking in, "Back so soon?" Splinter asked his daughter as he stood up and took his cane, "You and your brothers just left to patrol the city," He said.
Miwa looked at her father with deep emotion before she quickly moved towards him, "Father," She said softly, hugging Splinter, nuzzling his robe.
Splinter was surprised by Miwa's actions, "Is, everything alright?" Splinter asked with an awkward smile.
Miwa looked up with a small smile and a few tears. "It's a long story. But right now, I'm glad that I have you." She said, which made Splinter smile warmly, and returned the hug.
A bit later, Miwa and Splinter sat in front of each other as Miwa told Splinter about Renet, Savanti Romero, and traveling through time. Splinter listened to his daughter in wonder, but the conversation's atmosphere took a somber turn when she got to the part about the Incident 16 years ago.
"Hmm." Splinter hummed. "So, you ten were the so-called 'Yokai' Saki claimed to have seen." He said, going over what Miwa had said.
"Yeah, it was kinda crazy, to be honest." Miwa said while scratching her head. "I mean, visiting the past of how it all began, it's… it's a lot to process."
"Perhaps," Splinter said with a smile. "And I am glad that Shen was finally able to see the woman you had become."
Miwa didn't smile back however while she just bowed her head in guilt, "Still, if we hadn't gotten involved, maybe mom would still be…" Miwa stopped herself when Splinter placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Do not think such things, my daughter. Saki's hatred and jealousy had already festered within him at that point, what happened to Shen would still have happened, only I would've shared her fate had you and your brothers not been there to save me," Splinter said in comfort, "Though it would give me great joy for her to still be with us I know that all things happen for a reason."
Miwa looked down a bit before she gave a small smile. "Yeah. I guess you're right." She said with a small smile, "I mean, before it happened, at least I managed to spend time with Mother. She knew who I was the second she saw me." She said with a chuckle which Splinter shared.
"Shen was always quite perceptive, you should be proud to have been born from such a remarkable woman," Splinter said to his daughter. "She would have been very proud of you,"
"Yeah and I think she would be too," Miwa said before she pulled out the letter her mother gave her and handed it to her father.
"This is Shen's handwriting," Splinter said in surprise as Miwa nodded as she stood up and gave her father some room as he opened up the letter and started reading it.
My Dear Yoshi,
if you are reading this, then I suppose all is how it must be; you and Miwa are alright, and I, unfortunately, have long since passed. First I wanted to say I am truly sorry to have put you through such pain and suffering, had I seen the darkness in Saki's heart sooner perhaps we could have still been together.
But upon seeing how Miwa has grown and the Kappa Ninja you have raised alongside her, it seems I was wrong to believe that you were too dedicated to your clan to be a father and I am so proud of you for it. I only hope that you were able to pass the knowledge of your forefather to our daughter so that she may carry on your legacy.
As for myself, it didn't take long, from what Miwa had told me, for me to realize that I would not live to see all this transpire, but so long as you and our daughter survived, I am at peace. Just promise me you not let my death define you forever, continue being the man I chose to give my heart to, guide Miwa and your new children to where they are destined to be, as I wait for you in the other life while my love for you burns as eternal and bright as all the stars.
Be strong,
Your Beloved, Tang Shen
Splinter looked at the letter and his deceased wife's name as tears formed in his eyes as they stained between Shen's name as he wiped them and turned to his daughter. "You and our family are truly miracles, Miwa. Thank you." He said gratefully.
Miwa smiled at her father warmly. "You're welcome, father." She said as she kneeled next to him and shared a warm hug. As their eyes were closed they didn't see the ghostly form of Tang Shen smiling at them before she kneeled and joined the hug, sandwiching Miwa between her and Splinter.
Miwa didn't understand it but she felt as if her mother was hugging her right but she didn't care as she sighed and continued to hug her father as Shen's ghost faded into the afterlife while the father and daughter continued to hug each other, knowing that Shen would always with them in their hearts as small blew past them and out the window, into the village and far out from the island.
Meanwhile, far away in Asia, there was a small house in the mountains where a woman with black hair kneeled in front of a Shrine that had a picture of Tang Shen, Miwa, and Hamato Yoshi with candles between them.
But then, as the wind stirred around her, the woman perked up, sensing something familiar before she shot to her feet, her face showing an expression of shock, a perfect reflection of Tang Shen, as she realized what it was she sensed.
"My Niece is alive," The woman said in breathless joy as she stood up and looked out her window to see the family she had and couldn't wait to tell them what she had learned.
Whew! Now THAT was a total emotional Roller Coaster.
But yeah, Miwa finally met her mother, and Ames unlocked her power, which is creating realistic illusion clones of herself. It seems we may have some more family joining us down the line. As for the man who met Saki with the woman, who you probably already know is Kitsune, is actually Khan, the second in command of Shredder in the 2003 series Back to the Sewer.
Tang Amaya comes from the Mirage comics while Yukio Mashimi is from Hamato Yoshi's old friend from the 2003 series. Should these two make a full on appearance down the line? Post in the comments if you want that.