So I'm really grateful I decided to make a story out of the Punch Out Boxers and the Mutant students getting to know each other because I have a place to put this scene I imagined, to show Stripes does have her flaws from her upbringing just in case she was coming off as too much of a Mary Sue and also a chance to point out some things about Japan's 'Kawaii Culture' in particular their use of live animals for entertainment in things like Animal Cafes and I'm not talking about just cats and dogs I'm talking about wild animals and exotic pets shops
The next morning, the Teenage Students were able to shepherd the younger students to the WVBA Gym with no trouble, it didn't hurt that certain students like Scruffles lived on the human side so had no problems navigating New York streets.
Once again Von Kaiser and Glass Joe greeted them and once again Glass Joe had brought Dana with him, as she now really wanted to hear more of the story...And Glass Joe was grateful for this as it meant Dana was where he could keep an eye on her so he didn't have to worry about her creators hunting for her in their apartment when he wasn't there…
Two other Boxers were there having answered Von Kaiser's email, Bear Hugger who promised he would be on call particularly in situations if there was a really big Mutant Student neither Glass Joe or Von Kaiser could handle like a bear...Or maybe a pachyderm…Plus Bear Hugger being a nature and animal lover just really liked the Mutants and found the Mutant Children in particular adorable so he was just eager to get to know them!
The other was Piston Hondo...Soda Popinski had a prior engagement and couldn't come but when Piston Hondo saw the message that the Mutant Piglet they had encountered was there and remembered them...Well Hondo realized he did feel a little bad that he didn't do more himself in that pivotal moment...Von Kaiser spoke up for the Mutant child and grabbed the gun that was pointed at her and Soda Popinski swooped her up and got her tossed her out building...While he was horrified at the prospect of harming a child he didn't say or do anything in particular to help and felt this was his chance to make up for it.
While Bear Hugger was warmly greeting all the students happy to see the faces he recognized and enthusiastic about the ones he hadn't met before. Hondo bowed as he greeted them his aura of dignity certainly impressed a lot of the students.
"I am grateful I was able to respond to Kaiser-Sama's request…" Hondo said looking at the many varied species of the students "...I hope to be able to teach you on days when a substitute is called for...The Japanese have a deep respect for the natural world much deeper than most of the west…"
And that seemed to trigger something in Stripes, the Mutant Tigress felt the fur prickle at the back of her neck and her tail twitch as she snarled "That's freaking rich…"
A horrified gasp went throughout the students and Stripes folded her arm, she was one of the tallest Mutants in the group, if it weren't for certain youthful mannerisms and her slightly more svelte figure many could have mistaken her for an adult!
Piston Hondo remained calm "I beg your pardon?"
"I was taught about your Japanese 'Kawaii' culture…" Stripes said going over to Hondo you could feel the hot energy coming off of her "I've seen the things you've done the animals! Like that NOAH exotic pet shop, keeping wild animals in tiny cramped cages! Or all those animal cafes with wild animals! Keeping nocturnal animals like owls awake during the daytime for the entertainment of the guests! You claim to love animals but you treat them more like toys than like living creatures with wants and needs!"
At this point she was full on roaring with her claws extended! She was making no move to harm Hondo...And he was keeping very calm to being roared at with his arms folded…
Dana meanwhile had her own hackles raised seeing a student talk to one of the teachers this way! As a good dog she wanted to intervene...But Glass Joe quickly jumped in front her, his eyes wild with terror and he waved his arms to tell her 'No' she may be an attack dog, but Stripes was a tiger!
Soon enough Stripes finished her tirade, in truth the things she had been talking about had been shown to her by her creators as propaganda to scare her and her sisters about how cruel the rest of the world treats animals to try to keep them loyal to the scientists thinking of them as kindly humans who treat animals right!
As Stripes panted after her rant, Hondo was still calm he didn't flinch the entire time while Glass Joe, Von Kaiser and even Bear Hugger were quaking in their boots for the first time realizing how dangerous a Mutant derived from an apex predator really was! Their respect for Piston Hondo had now shot through the roof seeing the man had nerves of steel being able to take a a tiger roaring at him!
Instead he was quietly rubbing his chin with thought and he sighed "You do have a point…" He said
"Huh?" Stripes was not expecting calm agreement she had been expecting stubborn pride.
"In this new world of mutants...There is a danger...There have been no spills of mutagen in Japan, probably because the animal rights hooligans would not be able to get in...But...If mutagen were to get into the animal cafes and pet shops...Then you are right the animals would probably have much to complain about and we could be in real danger they could go on a homicidal rampage if they were ever mutated...So thank you...You reminded me there are aspects of my Nation's culture that could put us at risk in this new world of mutation."
And Stripes looked around at all the other mutants and humans trembling after her tirade and she remembered when Donatello pulled her and some of the other large and powerful mutant students aside and told them the story of how he became giant because of an ill advised wish and truly realized how his Dragon wife struggles being a giant in a wold made for smaller people...How nearly accidentally crushing a dear friend with his butt made him realize how the strong have an obligation to be more gentle around creatures smaller and weaker than them…
I think I'll continue in the next chapter but also this chapter shows this happened because the Turtles weren't there otherwise they would have been able to put a stop to Stripes rant immediately