SURPRISE! So, lots of coincidences here. Where I am at, May is just one day away. I had just finished reading the Hartfeld series on "Choices" where the main character graduates from college. It is also very much a coincidence that this May marks 10 years since I graduated high school, and this year will be 10 years since I posted my very first story: "Catastrophe." I was very inspired and the words just started to pour out into this chapter. But I am happy to assure you that this is NOT the end of the book. I still have lots more stories in mind for Lily Mae. The best has yet to come for her.
Happy reading, and many congratulations to those graduating elementary school, high school or college, and to those celebrating new, exciting things!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "Meet the Robinsons" nor "TMNT." I only own Lilianna, Ryan, Venus, Athena, Karena, James, and Principal Jameson.
May 23, 2042 - North Hampton, New York, USA
LILIANNA'S POV
I stirred myself awake when I heard my alarm go off at five-thirty this morning. Knowing that I did not have to be at Todayland High School for five hours, I tried going back to sleep. Unfortunately, I was not able to do that. Instead, I tossed and turned.
I glanced at my T-Phone. I groaned. It had only been fifteen minutes since my alarm went off.
"Just lying here isn't going to do me any good," I said out loud to the ceiling. "Dad's usually awake by now."
I got out of bed and put on my white vision quest dress and brown boots. I grabbed my white mask and thought about putting it on. I hesitated, remembering that I had a second identity that I could use freely. I set my mask down and without thinking, I spun around. Just as the sun rose, a bright light entered the room, and I was now dressed in my white jumpsuit and white boots with my red hair in a French braid, assuming my identity as Aumanil. I had decided to ditch the mask since I had decided to wear brown contact lenses as Lilianna Hamato and could wear the white mask during my ninja training.
I opened the window and made the jump all the way to the grass, landing safely on my feet. I first walked to the barn where my dad's lab was. I smiled, seeing my dad working on something. I decided to not bother him and get myself some exercise. I backed up a distance so my dad could not hear me, and then I ran into the woods.
I started off with a jogging pace and when I felt ready, I sprinted. After feeling the adrenaline kicking in, I put my psychic powers to use, activating my ability to fly. I flew up with the trees, and then I was flying over them. I smiled and laughed, enjoying myself in the moment. I enjoyed myself even more when the eagles decided to join me in my flight. I grinned, doing some flying tricks I had learned the past few months as Aumanil.
I saw a mountain up ahead, the same mountain I had traveled to during my vision quest at the very end of 2038. I flew to the top of the mountain, to the same spot I slept in before riding an elk back home. I gazed out at everything below me. I started to reflect on everything that had occurred since I was born.
I had been born to two wonderful people eighteen years ago. April and Donatello Hamato had raised me extremely well, teaching me to be independent and wise and encouraging me to create my own path. According to my mother's journal, I had learned to crawl at only five months, I was walking when I reached ten months of life, and I was running by the time I completed my eighteenth month of life. I started training to be a kunoichi shortly after that. Venus and Athena had just been born by the time my training began. While Uncle Leonardo taught me the ways of the ninja and the Shinto religion, my dad homeschooled me and taught me about Christianity, which my foundation is heavily based upon. I had trained for twelve years, being fully initiated into the Hamato Clan by the time I turned fourteen years old.
I was kidnapped by Carl Jackson just months after that, after I had a disagreement with my dad, and my life totally changed. I found myself in a strange city, and this city became a city that created hope for me. I created a new life and discovered I could do anything I set my mind to. Wilbur Robinson, my best friend, helped me reunite with my family, and I am also thankful to his now-wife Karena for her help. It was because of their kindness that I had convinced my parents to let me continue my education in Todayland.
And here I am today, graduating from Todayland High School with the highest honor. I was selected to be the valedictorian of my class due to my exceptional grades there and at Todayland University. I had spent the last two weeks polishing my speech, and now, I was ready.
"It is great to see you again, Lily. Or should I call you Aumanil?"
I turned around to see a younger version of my dad, the same version I met in my vision quest. This time, he really was my age, but he still wore his lavender-colored cape and white pads. He gave me a kind, gap-toothed smile as he took off his hood. I smiled, walked over to him, and gave him a hug. He hugged me back.
"You know of my dual-identity?" I asked with surprise in my voice.
"Like I said before, you learn everything in the spiritual plane," Dad explained in his teenaged voice. "I take it you're here to reflect?"
"Yes. After tonight, I will be a high school graduate. And next week, I'll be an adult, an independent woman."
Dad chuckled.
"You already are an independent woman, Lily. I see that I have raised you with everything I know and you have become bold like the sun. Aumanil is a good name for you. It suits you very well."
"You helped me pick it out, believe it or not. I know you had faith in me all along."
"Yes, ever since I learned about you. And I'm not just talking about myself here in the spiritual plane."
My teenaged dad let out a sigh, and his smile disappeared.
"I wish my visit was full of good news, but I feel that I should give you a warning. Your trials are only beginning."
It was my turn to frown.
"Dad, I'm already aware that not everything is a bed of roses. But what are you talking about? Is something going to happen in the future?"
"I think you know enough about time travel to know that I cannot tell you what will happen. But I do know that if anyone can save the world, it's you, Lilianna Mae Hamato, Aumanil. I have faith in you with every ounce of my spiritual being, and so does your mother. I love you very much, Lily."
"I love you too, Dad."
We hugged each other one more time, and then he disappeared. I decided that now was the time to return home. Unfortunately, my mind was swimming with questions by the time I came back and spun myself back into my vision quest dress and brown contact lenses.
I went to the barn first, but my dad was no longer there, so I walked inside into the kitchen. To my big surprise, my dad was cooking breakfast while my mom was sitting in the dining room. Knowing she had a gift of foresight, I sat down across from her at the dining room table. She looked up at me with a smile on her face.
"Good morning, Lily! Care to help me in today's Wordle? I can't figure it out."
"May we talk first?" I asked.
Mom's smile disappeared, knowing something was wrong.
"Is everything alright?"
I let out a sigh, clasping my hands together.
"I went up the mountain this morning to do some reflecting and the teenage version of Dad showed up to talk to me. He told me my trials are only beginning but he can't say anything else. Is there something that is supposed to happen?"
"No, not that I'm aware of. Maybe he was talking about the trials in your own life?"
"No, he expressed confidence that I would save the world someday, as if this planet will be in danger."
Mom pondered my thoughts for a few moments.
"I can't think of any threats at the moment, honey. Shredder's been gone for years. The Purple Dragons and the Vizioso mob are disbanded. Lord Dregg and the Newtralizer have both been destroyed, and Armaggon and the Triceratons are no longer a threat. Even our interdimensional counterparts are assuring us that their Shredder and Krang are not a threat. Lastly, the Kraang have reverted back to Utrom and have been at peace for years."
"Mom, you have the gift of foresight," I sternly replied. "You can't see anything in our future that could indicate there is trouble?"
Mom closed her eyes for a few moments.
"Lily, my gift of foresight can only go so far in the future, and as far as I'm aware, nothing is going to happen."
I let out a sigh of defeat, and then another idea came to mind.
"Mom, when I saw those videos of you and the Turtles, there was a video of a very distant future where humankind had been destroyed and there were only mutants left. You didn't make it. Auntie Karai didn't make it. I don't think even Auntie Renet had made it. Dad's mind was transferred into a Metalhead prototype. Uncle Raph had some sort of amnesia and Uncle Mikey... is some sort of guru. Uncle Leo was bent on power after undergoing a second mutation."
"Lily, Lily, Lily!" Mom yelled, grabbing me by the shoulders. "Please calm down!"
I took a few deep breaths as I felt my dad's presence in the room.
"Is everything okay?" Dad asked with worry in his voice.
"Oh, Lily's afraid the world's coming to an end and she'll have the burden of saving it. She even mentioned the alternate reality of there only being mutants left in a wasteland."
"Oh, Lily, sweetheart."
My dad hugged me from behind and then kissed me on the cheek.
"Lily, the Kraang have been gone for years. Kraang Prime died when the Triceratons destroyed his ship and Kraang Subprime is stuck in the mirage universe. Without her advanced technology, there's no way she can escape that. This wasteland thing is just something Hollywood made up. It's just a movie."
I smiled a little, relieved that it was close to impossible for that scene to become reality.
"How are you feeling now?" Dad asked me.
"A little better. Thanks, Dad."
"Anytime," Dad replied, kissing me again on the same cheek. "Now please eat! You've got a long day ahead of you."
"Sure thing, Dad. Now, Mom, what were you saying about your Wordle?"
Mom gave me her phone and I glanced at her puzzle. Her first word, FIRST, had the "I" in the correct place but the rest were greyed out. She then used SILKY for her second word. Every letter asides from the "I" was greyed out. Her third guess was blank. I typed in NINJA. Every letter was green.
"Here you go."
I handed the phone back to my mom.
"Oh sure, now it's NINJA," Mom replied with a laugh.
"Yeah, and this ninja needs to eat her food," Dad sternly replied, glancing at me. "You only have an hour before you have to be at the high school to practice."
I ate my pancakes in the presence of my parents and it was a delightful meal. I rushed upstairs then to change out of my vision quest into my favorite black outfit before taking the portal to Todayland for the first time today.
New York City, New York, USA
APRIL'S POV
After Lily returned home from her graduation practice, the three us made the drive from North Hampton to the lair. I had taken paid leave today to be with my daughter on the most important day of her life. The four turtles, Karai, Mona Lisa, Renet, Lily, Wilbur, and I all went on a patrol around New York City. Ryan, Venus, and Athena had gone to school in Todayland. After hearing Lily's worries, all of us wanted to assure her that we were living in an overall safe world.
We all then went to Mikey's pizzeria. Mikey ended up making Lily's favorite Hawaiian pizza as well as a pepperoni pizza for those who didn't like the idea of pineapples on pizzas.
"How was your honeymoon, Wilbur?" Renet suddenly asked.
Wilbur laughed.
"Not yet, Renet. We don't leave until June."
Renet smacked her head.
"Oh, right! Athena's last day of school is next Friday!"
"But we are looking forward to it," Wilbur added with a smile.
"None of us has ever been to Hawaii before," Leo chimed in. "What all is on your bucket list?"
"We're staying in what my mom calls a lovely hotel in Honolulu. We're going to visit the USS Arizona and Pearl Harbor memorials, Diamond Head, Iolani Palace, and there's a beautiful beach too."
"Hey, I've travelled in time to Hawaii before and it is a beautiful place!" Renet chimed in. "I think you and Karena are going to enjoy being there. But don't forget to enjoy being yourselves, too. You just got married, after all."
"That reminds me, how's Karena doing?" Donnie asked. "Is she all moved in?"
"Yes, my family has been a big help moving Karena out of her apartment into my room," Wilbur answered. "Our orange cushions have been replaced with a purple couch and purple recliners. Karena is loving it so far. Although legally changing her name is easier said than done. We... haven't gotten our marriage license back yet."
"Don't worry, Wilbur," Karai assured him. "Leo and I went to city hall together the next day to submit your marriage certificate. You should get it any day now."
"Ah, that's good. Karena can't change anything without the certificate."
"I never changed my name legally," I chimed in. "People were still scared of the Turtles' appearances. If I had changed my name and someone were to ask me where my husband is, I'd have to lie about it."
"Aren't you a kunoichi though?" Wilbur asked with a puzzled look. "A kunoichi's best weapon is deception."
"But I'm also an investigative reporter, Wilbur. I get paid to tell the truth."
"And by the truth, we mean April has to see it with her own eyes," Donnie chimed in.
"And sometimes, I have to be there," Raph chimed in. "But Wilbur, totally take pictures of Iolani Palace. I may not like reading about history, and I may not like time-traveling through history..."
"You still appreciate the architecture, right?" Wilbur finished his thought.
"Pretty much," Raph confirmed Wilbur's statement.
"I, too, enjoy a good architectural tour," Mona Lisa chimed in. "I have always wanted to see buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright."
"Illinois is the perfect state for that," Donnie suggested. "April and I drove past a few of them while searching for Lily."
"What about you, Uncle Leo?" Lily asked. "Was there any place you've always wanted to see in the country?"
"I'd love to visit Yellowstone National Park someday," Leo answered.
"And I hear the Grand Canyon is a sight to behold," Karai chimed in.
"Oh, Donnie and I were wanting to do that too!" I replied enthusiastically. "Well, at least to finish our Route 66 trip. We went as far as Oklahoma City before turning around. Now that we know what all is on Route 66, we want to travel it all the way."
"Donnie, did I hear you correctly in that you and April are celebrating 25 years of marriage on Christmas?" Leo asked.
"You did!"
"Why don't you and April head on back to the lair and relax for a little bit?" Karai suggested. "How often do you two get some time alone anymore?"
"Never," Donnie answered.
"But then Lily's going to college and will be living in Todayland," I chimed in. "We'll certainly be getting our alone time starting next fall."
"Mom, Dad, please go!" Lily assured us. "I promise we'll be back in time for me to get ready for graduation."
"Well, if you insist," I replied.
Donnie and I got up and kissed our daughter on the forehead.
"We'll see you soon, sweetheart," Donnie said softly.
RENET'S POV
We watched April and Donnie leaving the restaurant. Leo then tapped me on the shoulder. In fact, he tapped all of us on the shoulder.
"I've wanted to gift Donnie and April with the trip of a lifetime," Leo explained excitedly. "And I think I finally know what to give them!"
"What is it?" Lily asked excitedly.
"We are going to work together to find hotels for Donnie and April to sleep along the way," Leo continued to explain. "They'll be having their own adventure on Route 66 next summer!"
"Why next summer?" Raph asked. "They can't do it during Christmas?"
"Illinois is really brutal in the wintertime," I explained. "And despite you all being partly human, you are still cold-blooded turtles. Donnie would freeze to death if he traveled during the winter."
"And besides, from what I've read about Route 66, everything's going to be open during the summer," Wilbur chimed in. "Donatello would be free to travel starting in mid-May."
"And I can always take care of the farmhouse when they're gone since I'll be done, too," Lily replied. "I think this is a wonderful idea! I remember Dad talking about his adventures while searching for me."
"I think between the eight of us, we can find hotels in the eight states Route 66 goes through," Karai suggested.
"But let's take our time about this," Leo replied.
"On the other hand, Leo, the most famous hotels on Route 66 fill up pretty quickly," Wilbur explained. "I'd suggest we put our ideas together no later than June 30th. I'll look things up in Kansas since there's only 13 miles in that state."
"Then we don't need a hotel in Kansas," Leo replied.
"Wait, Uncle Leo, Mom also expressed a desire to visit Hawaii after hearing about Wilbur's upcoming honeymoon," Lily explained. "Maybe we can fit Hawaii on the agenda and Wilbur can do his research?"
"Oh, I've done the research, alright," Wilbur replied. "So don't worry about me, in fact, I can even have my dad help with some of the payments. I know how much he respects Donatello, especially since next fall will be his 25th year teaching."
"No, it won't Wilbur," Lily shot back. "He started teaching in the fall of 2018. It's only 2042."
Wilbur did the mental math and realized Lily was right.
"But, Wilbur, there's a catch," I chimed in. "The fall after next summer will be the start of his 25th year teaching. All the more reason to ask your dad for help!"
"Maybe he'll pay for the whole thing!" Wilbur replied excitedly.
"I have to admit, having your dad help us would be nice," Leo said. "Neither Karai nor I make enough money to even rent an apartment."
"Not that it has ever mattered to us," Karai replied.
"I am curious though," Wilbur started to ponder out loud. "Raph, Mikey, how much money do you make with your careers?"
"I make about sixty thousand a year with the NYPD," Raph answered. "But our salaries are nothing compared to Donnie's."
"Yeah, Donnie makes about one hundred twenty thousand dollars," Mikey chimed in. "Though I'm not sure if that's with his being a teacher or if his being a doctor has something to do with that. I make about fifty thousand dollars from the profit my pizzeria makes."
"And Wilbur, my salary is just about the same as Donnie's," I chimed in. "I make ninety thousand dollars a year as a teacher for T.I.M.E. It is a government agency, which is why I get paid so much. It's so much better than working for Lord Simultaneous. But anyway, maybe you could find your belonging at T.I.M.E. And I think April makes about the same amount as I do at Channel 6 News, if not less."
"If we're done talking about our careers, let's start our research," Leo suggested.
LILIANNA'S POV
I returned to the lair with an excited mindset. Cornelius had already agreed to pay for the majority of my parents' 25th wedding anniversary trip next summer, and the eight of us wasted no time at all in finding the most unique motels possible in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. As Wilbur had said before, Route 66 in Kansas was only thirteen miles, and Texas had a short trail in its panhandle. Instead, my parents would spend an entire week in Hawaii after driving to Santa Monica, California. And it was unanimously agreed that I would be the one to present our present to them at Christmas.
I had returned to the lair at three o'clock, which meant that I had four hours to get ready for graduation. I was supposed to be at the high school auditorium by six o'clock Central Time. I decided to check on my parents first.
My family spread out. Uncle Leo, Auntie Karai, and Ryan all went to the dojo. Athena, Uncle Mikey, and Auntie Renet went to the kitchen. Uncle Raph, Auntie Mona, and Venus lounged around in the living room. That meant the only place my parents could be was the lab.
I walked into the lab and knocked.
"May I come in?" I asked.
My parents both gave me fond smiles and firm nods. I entered the lab.
"Are you excited for tonight?" Mom asked, brushing her short red hair with her fingers.
"Yes. Yes, I am. Especially now because I know everything will be okay."
"God will always be with you, Lily," Dad assured me. "I know the future can be scary."
"Oh goodness, yes!" Mom replied. "I remember my high school graduation like it was yesterday. I didn't know what I wanted to do with myself until I got kidnapped by the Kraang and met your dad. Since then, I knew I wanted to be a journalist, to tell people the truth about everything. It wasn't easy at first because there was a lot of bias in the big handles like CNN or Fox News. But I never strayed away from who I am. I reported the truth."
"You stayed true to yourself and won quite a few Pulitzer Prizes for your work," Dad replied with his gap-toothed grin.
"And you are one of my inspirations because of that," I chimed in, holding my mother's hands in mine. "I'm so proud to have a piece of you with me as I study criminal psychology."
"You are already knocking college out of the park," Mom replied with a proud smile. "You truly are my girl. But remember that you are also your father's girl. You carry his intelligence with you."
"I know, Mom. And Dad, I promise to always ask you for help and for your advice. You are so... kind, smart, inspiring, compassionate. I promise to carry a piece of you with me too."
"Speaking of pieces, Mom and I made you something."
Mom gave me a white box with purple ribbon. I took off the ribbon and opened the box to reveal a necklace. At the center was a white sun pendant. To the left was a yellow "5" and to the right was a purple turtle. I smiled, understanding the meaning of the necklace.
"Dad, did you make the pendants yourself?" I asked.
"Actually, I bought them at a store in New York," Mom explained. "Your dad did make the necklace itself."
"And I made so that it would never break," Dad chimed in.
My parents stood up, grabbed the necklace, and walked behind me. My dad moved my hair to the side while my mom clasped the necklace together at the back of my neck. I turned around and gave my parents a fond smile as my dad continued to play with my hair.
"Remember who you are, Lily Mae," Dad told me affectionately. "And remember that you can do anything you set your mind to. And remember that when you give up, give it up to God."
"And always remember that we love you so very much," Mom chimed in, also carrying affection in her voice.
I hugged my parents, trying so hard not to let the tears escape from behind my contacts.
"I love you both so, so much," I replied.
"Now, don't you have a graduation to get ready for?" Mom asked, putting her hands on her hips.
I glanced at my T-Phone. It was now three-thirty.
"I guess I should."
I kissed my parents on the cheek before leaving the lab. I walked into my dad's old bedroom and found my white dress and white graduation cap and gown on the bed. I quickly took off my black boots, black socks, black skirt, and black shirt. I put on my white dress that had sleeves below the elbow. The bodice had sparkles and the skirt had a sparkly transparent layer over the silky skirt. Happy with my dress, I put on the white wedge heels that I bought to go with the dress.
I suddenly heard a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" I yelled.
"It's Mom. Are you ready for me to do your hair?"
"Yeah, Mom!"
Mom opened the door and let out a gasp at the sight of me.
"Oh, Lily, that is a beautiful dress! Did you make this?"
"Talent runs in the family," I answered humbly.
"I won't be surprised if you end up making your own wedding dress someday!"
"Mom, graduation tonight. Wedding years later."
"Okay, okay. Let's do your hair."
I sat down on a chair as my mom brushed my long, layered, red hair.
"I think I have an idea on how to do your hair," Mom said out loud. "I know you want your bangs outside the cap. May I braid the rest of it into a crown?"
"Sure!"
Mom started braiding my hair from my right side, going over to my left side of my head. I felt hair pins at the bottom of my head. She started another braid on my right side and this braid was straight down. I closed my eyes, imagining what my hair would possibly look like. Mom messed around with my hair for quite some time.
"Open your eyes, Lily, and go to the bathroom. Tell me what you think."
I opened my eyes and left the room. I was immediately greeted by Athena, who gasped loudly.
"Venus!" she yelled. "Come see Lily's dress and hair!"
I blushed as Venus rushed into the living room and gazed at me.
"Lily, you are absolutely beautiful!" Venus said in awe. "Who did your hair?"
"My mom, and I don't even know what it looks like!" I answered with a laugh.
"Well, go!" Venus and Athena yelled at the same time.
I walked to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. I let out a gasp. I did not recognize the woman in the mirror at first. I touched my braid on the top of my head, and then I felt the bun surrounded by the two braids. Then I smiled, showing the gap in my teeth, my dad's gap. I was beautiful, and I was just about ready for graduation.
My smile disappeared. Something was missing. I found my makeup kit on the shelf and applied a dark red lipstick on my lips. Then I applied a light blush on my cheeks, brown mascara on my eyelashes, and white eyeshadow on my eyelids.
"Much better," I said with confidence.
I walked out of the bathroom to find my entire family, including Shinigami and Casey, in the living room.
"Shinigami?" I asked happily. "What are you doing here?"
"Your mother called me over," Shinigami explained.
"We heard today was a big day for you," Casey explained. "We wanted to get pictures of all of you."
"Why don't we head to the dojo?" Uncle Leo suggested.
"Don't forget about your cap and gown, Lily!" Shinigami reminded me.
I hurried back into my dad's bedroom to grab my cap and gown, and then I hurried into the dojo. First, I had my picture taken with the entire family without the gown. I also had my picture taken with my parents and cousins before I got told to put on my cap and gown. After I put my cap and gown on as well as a gold cord to represent my being a board scholar, I took my pictures with each cousin, all my cousins together, my parents, and then one with each parent. Uncle Leo had also asked for a picture with me, as he was my sensei.
"What time is it, Casey?" Dad asked.
"It is five-thirty," Casey answered confidently.
"Dang!" I exclaimed. "I don't have to be at the high school for another hour and a half."
"Isn't the ceremony at seven?" Shinigami asked with a confused tone.
"Seven o'clock Central Time," Dad answered. "We're in Eastern Time, so we're an hour ahead. We'd have to leave through the portal at six fifty-five to be there on time."
"Why don't we visit the Robinsons?" Athena suggested.
KARENA'S POV
I had just finished putting on my long-sleeves turquoise dress and turquoise heels. And now, I was styling my hair. I used the curling iron to curl the bottom of my hair, as I was also going to be wearing my graduation cap and gown, the same gown I wore to my college graduation just one and a half years ago. When I finished curling my hair, I put the top half of my hair in a ponytail.
Suddenly, I heard knocking on the door.
"Karr, Lily's here and would like to talk to us both," my husband yelled through the door.
"I'll be out in a few minutes!"
I glanced at my phone. It was four forty-five. I tried to do my makeup as quickly as possible without messing it up. I applied red lipstick, blue eyeshadow, black mascara, and some blush on my cheeks. I heard knocking again.
"Karena, we're waiting!" Wilbur yelled again.
"Okay, I'm coming!"
I walked out of the bathroom and took the travel tube to our bedroom. I found Wilbur, dressed in his usual Captain Time Travel shirt and blue jeans, and Lily, wearing a white dress with her red hair in a braided bun.
"Lily, it is amazing to see you!" I greeted her with a hug.
"It's great to see you, too. Our last time seeing each other in the high school."
I pondered this for a moment, putting my index finger on my chin.
"I don't think it'll be the last time," I replied. "Don't you have three more cousins going through high school?"
"I suppose that makes sense," Lily answered. "Ryan's graduating next year and then Venus and Athena are graduating together the following year."
"Would you know if any of them have plans for after high school?" Wilbur asked.
"I know Venus wants to go to college to study horticulture," Lily explained. "I can see Athena going to college, but I don't know what for. I highly doubt Ryan will want to go to college. He'll want to follow his parents' footsteps."
Lily let out a sigh.
"I was actually thinking of giving up my being the leader of the Hamato Clan and giving the role to Venus."
"Venus?" Wilbur and I asked at the same time.
"How come?" Wilbur asked. "And have you spoken to your family about this?"
"No, I haven't talked to my family yet," Lily answered. "And Venus has lots of potential for being a leader. I've seen how confident she's gotten ever since joining the color guard. Ryan is a good ninja, maybe even the best one, but despite his leadership on the football team, he's still impatient."
"Lily, I'd give this some more thought," I advised her. "And at least talk to your father. He has lots of insight."
"I agree with you, Karr," Wilbur replied. "Lily, you have more than proven yourself to be a leader, and not just because you are the oldest and not just because you were the captain of the cheerleading squad. No one, and I do mean no one, could do what you did when you were kidnapped. You remembered your mother and used that to escape. When you wanted to give up, you never did. You kept going. You've always done what you thought was right, and when it turns out you were wrong, you realize your mistakes and you apologize for them. You are one heck of a leader, Lilianna, and I know for a fact Leo is proud of you for it. He talks about you all the time."
Lily gave Wilbur a smile I would never forget, and it instantly reminded me of Donnie and his kind smile.
"Venus would make an amazing leader too," Wilbur continued. "But Venus is a different person, and thus, a different kind of leader. There's only one of you, Lily. So show it! Be bold, like Leo has said over and over again. And I know you'll be bold at this graduation. Are you ready for it?"
"Wilbur, you are one heck of a motivator," Lily replied, showing her gap-toothed grin, perfectly complimenting her hair. "I'm glad you've decided to become a teacher."
"I have you, your dad, and Karena to thank for that. You know, Karena, you were right. Donnie really is amazing at giving advice in regards to the career you're going for."
"While we're on that topic, Lily, how did your first semester of college go?" I asked.
Lily's grin grew wider.
"I made the Dean's List! Straight A's in my classes. I'm actually on the road to graduate in the spring of 2045 instead of 2046. I'm so psyched about that!"
"That is an awesome accomplishment, Lily!" Wilbur congratulated her. "What are your plans after college?"
"I thought about going back to New York and helping my dad out as his assistant at his practice... for the moment. I'd love to be Dr. Hamato alongside him."
"I'm sure Donnie would be beaming at the idea of sharing his practice with his daughter," I replied with a smile. "Forensic psychology, right?"
"Yep! While my dad treats the physical injuries, I can treat the mind."
"If you go into that, be sure to study psychiatry, too," Wilbur suggested. "You have to be a psychiatrist to prescribe medication. A psychologist simply does research and studies the mind."
My husband suddenly chuckled.
"We've been talking so much about the future that we haven't even asked you how you are in the moment. So how are you?"
"Well, I'm more ready than I was fifteen minutes ago," Lily answered with a laugh.
"Well, we still have about half an hour before we have to get you ready to go there," I replied.
"Would you like a slice of pizza?" Wilbur asked.
"Dude, I had pizza for lunch," Lily answered, laughing again. "But then again, I come from a family who would eat pizza all day and all night."
"And it's your graduation night!" Wilbur said enthusiastically. "This calls for a celebration slice, don't you think?"
Lily shrugged.
"What the heck? Let's go."
DONATELLO'S POV
Wilbur, Franny, and James joined the eleven of us in the third-to-front row in the bleachers. Karena had accompanied Lily into the auditorium earlier, so now we were just waiting for the ceremony to begin. We had enjoyed the Todayland High School band's performance of a Japanese score that had accompanied a memories video, displaying every senior as a baby, as a young child, and as a senior in high school.
I was proud of the photos Lily had submitted. In her baby photo, she was holding a jo staff that she would eventually use. In her youth photo, she had a big smile on her face as she played in the woods. The senior picture Lily chose to submit was a photo of her in her vision quest dress, her right hand brushing the back of her red hair with her blue eyes gazing at the camera with a gorgeous sunset in the background. She had worn brown contact lenses since, but that particular picture had defined her perfectly.
The music stopped for a moment, as did the video. The screen rolled back up as the band suddenly started to play another song: the Pomp and Circumstance, the processional at graduation ceremonies.
"Oh, Donnie, this is it!" April said as she excitedly grasped my arm.
First, we saw all the teachers of the high school in their college graduation gowns. I got out my T-Phone at the perfect time. Karena had just walked in, wearing her black gown and decorated cap with a pink tassel to represent her bachelor's degree in music education. I snapped a photo of her as she walked past us, and again as she stood at her seat.
Next, the first of the Todayland Class of 2042 started to walk in two at a time, one on each side of the gym. April and I waited with baited breath for Lily to appear. It felt like forever. Suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Donnie, over there," Leo said behind me, pointing to my right.
April and I turned to our right, and surely enough, there was our daughter, ready to make the walk. She glanced over at her partner, and she gave a firm nod. Lily started to walk towards us. We all started to shout different things at her to get her attention.
"That's my girl!" April yelled.
Lily glanced at us and waved, allowing me to get the perfect picture.
"We're proud of you, Lily!" Raph yelled excitedly.
"You're a star, Lily!" Athena, Renet, and Mikey yelled at the same time.
Lily giggled before she continued to walk. I watched her turn one corner and then another corner as she walked down the aisle with her partner. She had reached her seat. She turned towards us again, waving at us with a big smile on her face. My daughter looked amazing in her white cap and her white gown she wore over her white dress, and she looked ready.
"Donnie, you have the flowers, right?" April whispered to me.
"Yes, honey, I have them," I answered.
I patted the bouquet of flowers James helped me get earlier today. I turned to glance at my daughter's boyfriend, only to find he, too, had a bouquet.
"Why do you have one?" I asked. "I mean, asides from the obvious."
"I'm giving Lily these lilacs and lavender flowers after the ceremony," James explained.
"Ah."
After a few more repeats of the processional, all the seniors were finally present in the gym, and the band stopped playing. Cornelius was now present on the stage, seated with the school board. Principal Jameson walked up to the podium with a smile on his face.
"Seniors, please take your seats."
Lily sat down with her classmates.
"I would like to welcome the Todayland High School Class of 2042 and their families and friends to the nineteenth commencement ceremony. I am proud to watch these fine students graduating from the halls of Todayland High School to pursue their dreams. I was going to read off all of the accomplishments the Class of 2042 had achieved, but I will save that for a very special speech. We are going to jump right into the senior awards and scholarships."
We witnessed Lily winning scholarships that had paid for the rest of her tuition at Todayland University, and we learned that she had also won awards for her hard work in her psychology and English classes. She was also awarded for being the most inspired female athlete in her class and for being recognized as a North Montana State Scholar. After the awards, we listened to the salutatorian give his speech. We applauded, and then Principal Jameson walked back up to the podium.
"Our valedictorian tonight is a very special young lady who changed our lives in the most inspiring way possible. But I will have her tell her story. I will say that she has attended Todayland University part-time the past two years and has committed herself to attending Todayland University full-time to double major in psychology and criminal justice. Ladies and gentleman, may I present our Class of 2042 valedictorian, Lily Hamato."
The audience erupted in cheers as Lily emerged out of her seat and walked up to the stage, shaking Principal Jameson's hand along the way. She took a deep breath, looked out to the room full of people, and gave all of us a kind gap-toothed smile.
"My dear family, and my dear friends, it is the greatest honor for me to be here speaking to you tonight. Four years ago, I never imagined I would be here among such amazing people. It was fate that brought me to Todayland High, but I ended up being late to the party.
"My entire life changed when I was taken away from my family, and while trying to find my way back home to New York, I stumbled here instead. I remember being so terrified when my caretaker at that time registered me to attend school here. I didn't think I would fit in with my three-fingered hands. But thanks to a very special student who graduated from these halls last spring, I learned that there are good people in the world, and I learned where my piece of the puzzle would fit. It is because of my new friends that I made here, all of you, that I had decided to finish my high school career here in Todayland, and it has been the best decision I had ever made for myself.
"My friends, we have accomplished so much these past four years that I am proud to have witnessed. My cheerleading squad made it to state all four years and won all four times!"
The cheerleaders cheered loudly.
"And after the Class of 2041 left these halls, we finally won the homecoming games!"
The entire class cheered.
"Most of us tried something new after I tried out to be a cheerleader and made it. There were new players on the swim team. Some of us, along with myself, discovered our love for acting and art and music! In these four years, we became the best high school where we could become our best selves. And I am so proud to have stayed here with all of you to witness everyone overcome their challenges. We had this nasty epidemic that made some of us sick, but we were resilient and prevailed. And we also had our own personal trials to power through. Every single one of us has a lifelong friend that we made within these four years.
"I learned just this morning that the future can be scary, but you never have to take the plunge alone. A wise turtle once told me that some things are beyond our control. We may not know what our future holds, but if we support each other and encourage each other, we can accomplish anything we set our minds to, anything we never dreamed of doing! Todayland is a place where your dreams can come true if you keep moving forward. I am so excited to see most of you at Todayland University with me, but I am even more excited to see all of you in ten years so I can hear your stories about where life took you and everything you will have learned about yourselves. It is okay to be scared of the future. What's not okay is throwing in the towel because of your fears. I am confident that you will obtain the degrees and jobs of your dreams. Tonight, you have taken the first step to your dreams: high school graduation. Now, let us all take our pieces of the puzzle, and let's find a place in the world to put them."
Lily paused, letting out a contented sigh.
"Todayland High School Class of 2042, it brings me great happiness to say... WE DID IT!"
Lily pumped her fist in the air as the entire auditorium cheered. A tear touched my purple mask. I had never felt so proud of my daughter in my entire life. I watched Lily hugging Principal Jameson before she returned to her seat. The chorus sang a song to wish the seniors well on their journey. And then, it was time for the presentation of diplomas. I took my cue, walking down from the bleachers and through the auditorium, coming out on the other side. I had to wait until the first two rows retrieved their diplomas before I decided to truly emerge.
"Third row, please stand," the secretary of the class commanded.
Lily was the third student in the row, so my timing was perfect.
"Erica Gabriella Gomez."
Lily came out of the row and stood in a special spot.
"Adam Dallas Hall."
Lily then moved forward, preparing to hear her name.
"Lilianna Mae Hamato."
My family cheered wildly when Lily walked up the stairs and across the stage to get her diploma. Cornelius personally presented it to her and they hugged each other. I greeted Lily with my bouquet of white lilies as she moved her gold tassel to the other side. I gave her the flowers, and she hugged me tightly.
"I love you, Daddy."
"I'm so proud of you, Lily Mae."
We kissed each other on the cheek before we returned to our seats. When I reunited with my wife, she kissed me on the other cheek.
"I took the photos for you," April told me.
"Thanks!"
We watched the rest of the class receive their diplomas, which seemed like a long time. When the last student was called up, the secretary stepped aside, and Principal Jameson returned to the podium, saying her name. She retrieved her diploma, and then she returned to her seat.
"Seniors, please stand."
The entire class stood up and turned around to face the audience.
"Friends and family, it is my honor to officially present to you the Todayland High School Class of 2042."
We clapped and cheered wildly for the next few minutes. I could barely see her, but I could tell Lily had a huge grin on her face. The band eventually played the recessional, and two-by-two, the graduating class made their way out of the gym.
April and I waited for some time before attempting to find Lily. It turned out, we didn't have to wait. Lily emerged from behind the curtain and had her picture taken with other seniors as part of their achievements. Once she was done, she ran down the stairs, ran to us, and jumped into our arms in a group hug.
"Mom, Dad, I'm a high school graduate!" Lily said excitedly.
I chuckled. Her excitement had brought me back to her childhood when she got excited about all the little things she had accomplished. Now, she was about to venture off to accomplish the bigger things.
"Lily, we are so proud of you!" April told her. "And finding out that your tuition got paid off? Dad and I are very pleased!"
"Lily! Lily!"
We turned toward Venus, Ryan, and Athena, who ran up to her with excited looks on their faces.
"You did it!" Ryan said excitedly, something that never happens. "You're a high school graduate! How do you feel?"
"Like I'm on cloud nine!" Lily answered.
"Your speech was very inspiring, Lily," Venus complimented her. "You are going to do amazing things."
"So will you!" Lily replied. "Ryan, it's going to be your turn next year. How do you feel about it?"
"So happy that I only have one year of school left."
"What do you want to do?" Leo asked.
"I really don't know, Father," Ryan answered, his smile fading away.
"Hey, Ryan, relax," Karai assured him. "You've got a whole year ahead of you. Tonight is all about Lily."
"I know how we can celebrate at home!" Athena shouted excitedly. "Let's go to the lair and play Heads Up!"
"That sounds like fun!" Mikey replied enthusiastically.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Raph asked happily.
We returned to the lair and dug into the cakes Mikey and Athena made for Lily's graduation before spending the entire night playing Heads Up, having the best night in a very long time.