Hi, guys! I don't think I've published a new story in a while. In fact, this wasn't planned until I finished writing my current chapter on "Lilianna," but then this short story started to form in my head and I couldn't help but put it down on 'paper.'
So this will be another collection of stories, but this time solely in the "TMNT" (2012) world. No crossovers. These stories could be set during the series centering around Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo. Or they could be set in the future, where my own characters come in: Lilianna (Donnie), Ryan (Leo), Venus (Raph), and Athena (Mikey).
I usually write around 9,000 words per chapter. But as these are short stories, I want to aim for at least 2,000 per chapter. Every chapter will be based on a song I have on my Apple Music. Sometimes a character sings it. Other times, it's the character(s) listening to it.If I ever need a little break from writing a chapter for "Lilianna," then I'll write a chapter for this collection.
With that said, please enjoy this short story and review if you'd like. I'd like some ideas on what sort of adventures these eight characters could go on.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "TMNT." Song is listed below. I only own Lilianna and, of course, this story.
P.S. If you need a little background for what happens in the future, please read "Lilianna."
Song: "Remember Me" by Mark Schultz and Ginny Owens
Family: Donatello, April, and Lilianna
Timeline: June 18, 2030
Setting: North Hampton, New York, USA
POV: Donatello
"Once upon a time, there were four turtle warriors in New York City. They were transformed by a strange ooze that made them more human. They were taken in by a kind man named Hamato Yoshi, who had been transformed into a humanoid rat by the same ooze. Hamato Yoshi, or Splinter as he was called in Japan, called these turtles his own and raised them like the sons he never had. And they were trained in the ancient battle art of ninjutsu."
"Wow!" my young daughter, lying patiently in bed, exclaimed with fascination as I continued with story time.
"The oldest was named Leonardo and he wore a blue mask and wielded two katana blades. He was very courageous in the face of battle. The next oldest was Raphael, wearing a red mask and given two sai, for he was the most fearless and would always fight to protect his family. Then came Donatello, a thoughtful soul with a peaceful heart, wearing a purple mask and wielding the bo staff, for he preferred negotiations over war."
"That's you, Daddy!"
I chuckled.
"Yes," I replied sternly but kindly. "Now don't interrupt. And the youngest was named Michelangelo, the orange-masked party dude who wielded the nunchucks with much joy. The turtle warriors trained with Splinter for fifteen years. And then finally, they surfaced up to the human world for the very first time. They were in awe of this new world! There could have been adventure around every corner! And then came the warriors' first foe: the pizza delivery guy."
I paused to wink at my little girl.
"But that pizza delivery boy was no match for Raphael. Their prize for winning that first fight was their very first taste of pizza, which was love at first taste for Michelangelo."
"Daaaddy!" Lilianna whined. "Get to the good part!"
"I'm getting there, sweetheart," I replied before continuing. "The turtle warriors did their very first night patrol on the rooftops of New York City. But before they returned to the sewers, Donatello fell in love at first sight. There was a young red-haired girl walking with her father down below when suddenly, they were kidnapped!"
Lily gasped before I continued.
"The first time these turtle warriors tried to save them from these strange men, they had not been trained to fight like a team. They ended up hurting each other instead! So they returned to the lair to rethink their strategy, but not before Donatello convinced Splinter that the girl was worth saving. Leonardo became the leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and under his leadership, the turtles discovered who had kidnapped the girl and her father. And his name was Snake."
Lily made a hissing sound to mimic a snake. I couldn't hold back my chuckle before continuing the story.
"Very good! Anyway, Snake was held prisoner by the turtles but he got away. Leonardo and Raphael came up with a diversion to enter the facility where the girl and her father were taken to. But they were in for a surprise when they reached the facility. The strange men... were aliens from Dimension X called... the Kraang!"
"And you fought those aliens, right?" Lily asked eagerly.
"Yes, that's right. Donatello and Raphael worked together to save the girl, named April, and her father, only for them to be dragged away to a helicopter. But then, the turtles encountered yet another foe: Snake, who was exposed to the secret ooze and turned into a huge weed!"
"Yuck!"
"Donatello saved the girl, catching her in his arms, while his brothers distracted Snake, now named Snakeweed by Michelangelo, by luring him to a power generator. Snakeweed and the Kraang were defeated, but April was now alone without her father. The turtles swore they would not rest until they found her father."
"And did they find her daddy?" Lily asked.
"Yes, sweetheart, they did after many months."
"And then you and Mommy got married and lived happily ever after, right?"
This time, I laughed merrily while blushing.
"Well, yes, that's right, but not for many years. Fifteen is way too young for someone to get married. We got married when I was twenty years old. Mommy was twenty-one years old."
"Daddy, please tell me another story," Lily pleaded, her three-fingered hands clasped together.
"I have many stories to share with you, Lily Mae, but I will save them for another time. It's time for you to go to sleep."
"But I'm not tired!" Lily whined. "Pleeeease, Daddy? Just one more story?"
I glanced at her. Lilianna Mae Hamato, my six-year-old daughter with her red hair in two braids over purple pajamas, was giving me the puppy-dog eyes. I let out a sigh, ready to compromise.
"How about this? I'll tell you another story tomorrow night. It is time for you to go to sleep, but would you like it if I sing to you instead?"
"Oh, yes, Daddy! Please?"
I chuckled. I absolutely loved her bedside manners.
"Alright. Now, close your eyes. Imagine you are out in a field surrounded by lavender purple flowers. The sun is about to set until morning. And the skies are orange and pink with grey clouds completing the landscape."
Lily closed her eyes with a smile on her face. I smiled myself when I saw the gap in her teeth... my gap. I still could not believe she was my little girl. I took a breath and started to sing softly.
"Remember me in a Bible cracked and faded by the years," I sang, still sitting down on the chair. "Remember me in a sanctuary filled with silent prayer. And age-to-age and heart-to-heart, bound by grace and peace. Child of wonder, child of God, I've remembered you. Remember me."
I stood up and moved the chair back to her desk. Then I walked back to my daughter's bedside and tucked her in, making sure she was all snuggled in.
"Remember me when the color of our sunset fills the sky. Remember me when you pray and tears of joy fall from your eyes."
I kissed my little girl on the forehead and she gave me a big smile with her eyes closed.
"And age-to-age and heart-to-heart," I continued to sing softly. "Bound by grace and peace. Child of wonder, child of God, I've remembered you. Remember me."
I stood at the door and smiled at her.
"Good night, Lily Mae. I love you."
Then I walked out of the room and closed the door behind me. Suddenly, I heard a small voice coming out of that room.
"Dear God, please bless Mommy and Daddy and little Yoshi. Please watch over Uncle Leo, Uncle Raph, Uncle Mikey, Auntie Karai, Auntie Mona, Auntie Renet, and Ryan, Venus, and Athena, too. Thank you for giving me your blessings. Thank you for giving me a good day. And Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
My heart melted. Every night, she had prayed for her brother Yoshi, who had died of a miscarriage. She was extremely smart like I was, but she had her mother's compassion. I silently prayed at her door, thankful that Lily was a part of my life. Ever since Lily was born, I had experienced a different kind of love: the love of a child, and my love as a father. How did I ever deserve this?
With a smile, I walked down the hallway and paused at the three windows looking out towards the east where the moon had risen. The light from the moon shone in the house, and I decided to finish the song, this time with praise.
"Remember me when the children leave their Sunday school with smiles."
Suddenly, I found Splinter's spirit in the trees. I placed one hand over my heart, feeling thankful. The other hand was clenched in a fist, and I felt confident as I put a proud grin on my face.
"Remember me when I'm old enough to teach, old enough to preach, old enough to lead!And age-to-age and heart-to-heart, bound by grace and peace. Child of wonder, child of God, I've remembered you! Remember me, remember me."
After Splinter put his own hand over his heart with a proud smile on his face, I continued my walk down the hallway into the bedroom. I found my beautiful red-haired wife sitting in our bed with her yellow laced nightgown on. Her shoulder-length hair was let loose as she read a book. I walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek.
"How's Lily doing?" April asked me with a smile.
"She's asleep," I answered, taking off my lab coat and setting it over the bed. "I told her the story of my first ever patrol."
"Really? Did she seem scared?"
"No, she was very fascinated with it. I promised her another story tomorrow night."
April frowned.
"Too bad I won't be home in time. I gotta work."
"April, on a motorcycle, it's only a two-hour drive."
"Wait a minute. Donnie, Lily has ninjutsu lessons, remember?"
It clicked.
"Right. I forgot. Tomorrow's Tuesday. We're having pizza in the lair."
"I just hope Ryan doesn't roughhouse with Lily this time," April said with a concerned look on her face.
Suddenly, a thought entered my mind.
"April, do you think Lily has some kind of superpower, like your psychic powers?"
"I don't know. What makes you think that?"
"Come on, April, you're her mother! I thought mothers are supposed to have that kind of instinct."
"It could be possible," my wife answered. "She was only two when I had the miscarriage and yet she understood what was going on. I think she gets these... feelings, too, like I did when I was training to be a kunoichi. How does that make you feel, D?"
"Honestly, a little terrified. But she's our daughter. When the time comes to where she, for sure, has powers, I want to be there for her and help her master them, just like I helped you."
April leaned in and kissed me, and I returned it, closing my eyes and savoring the taste of strawberries on her lips.
"You've always been there for me, Donnie," she said with a smile, caressing my cheek. "I know you'll be there for Lily, too. You've been a wonderful father in her six years of life."
I melted into her touch, my gap slightly showing through my smile.
"You know what I think?" I asked, opening my amber eyes.
"Hmm?"
"You're a darn-good momma, A. You've been her cheerleader all her life, encouraging her to try new things. Lily is gonna grow up to become one heck of a warrior."
April closed her blue eyes. I was no psychic, but I could tell she was having a vision.
"What do you see?" I asked.
She opened her eyes with a content smile on her face.
"Lily, but in ten years. She's got long red hair, a long white dress, a bo staff and two katana blades. And she has the grin of confidence. Donnie, I see so much of you in her, both now and in her future. I just... I love you, so darn much."
We embraced and then we kissed each other deeply. By the time we had pulled apart, we were breathless.
"I love you, too, April. And you know what? I see so much of you in her, too. She's got your spirit. But right now, let's focus on our little girl while she's, well, little."
April laughed.
"Yes, before we wish those years away and she's no longer little!"
We laughed together. I pulled her into my arms and we enjoyed cuddling together for quite some time before we turned out the lights for the night. I closed my eyes in content. I had married the girl of my dreams, and because of that, I have a child. I have a child who is half me, half April, and all Lilianna Mae Hamato.
I loved my girls so very much.