In the dark night in Uptown Manhattan, Chen and the turtles as well as Splinter trekked across the rooftops. The blue dragon told his uncle that he had received an important message from the turtles and needed to go with them to uptown Manhattan before he left home and Lei agreed. Chen asked the turtles about what they were gonna show him. He has been told about the turtles human friends.
"Your friends, what do they have that is something to do with me?" Asked the dragon.
"All they said is that they have someone who needs our help in protecting a scroll, and that someone saved one of them from the triads." Answered Donnie.
Chen's eyes widened the second he heard that.
"It must be one of the mystic elemental scrolls, we must get there!" Said Chen.
"You're probably right, Chen. But there's also someone waiting for us there who not only saved a friend of ours, but also needs our help." Said Leo.
"Leonardo is correct, my friend. We must find out what this person wants from us." Splinter agreed.
Before long the group arrived at a shop labeled Second Time Around. The lights were shut off, indicating it was closed, yet antiques could still be seen.
"Well, here we are, dragon dude." Said Mikey.
"Your gonna love April and Casey. They're some of the nicest people you can trust. Though Casey can be such a bonehead." Said Raph.
Chen titled his head in confusion at the term. The mutants dropped down to the streets and walked up to the door. Leo knocked on it. After a minute the door opened to reveal a woman with long red hair in a ponytail in a purple t shirt and jeans.
"Hey guys, glad you came." Said the woman.
"We sure did April. We got someone you'd like to meet." Said Leo.
The turtles and Splinter make way to reveal Chen. April's eyes widened at the sight of the blue dragon.
"Woah! May I asked who you are?" Asked April.
"My name is Chen, ma'am." Said Chen with a bow.
"Pleased to meet you! I'm April O'Neil." Said April with a smile. "Why don't you all come inside, our guest is waiting. I made some hot chocolate."
The mutants all walked inside the building.
The group walked into the apartment atop the shop and saw Casey Jones holding an ice pack to his bruised face and the mysterious woman who saved him sitting on the sofa. Upon seeing the mutants, Maggie instantly got up and entered a fighting stance. Casey immediately jumped between her and the mutants.
"Whoa! Easy there, lady! It's ok! They're the friends I told you about." Explained Casey.
The woman slowly dropped her defense and looked over at the mutants. Her eyes widened when she saw Chen.
"I am Leonardo, these are my brothers, Raphael, Donnatello, and Michelangelo." Leo introduced. "And this is Splinter, our ninjutsu master and adoptive father."
The Blue dragon then studied the lady and stepped forward towards her. Both he and the woman looked deep into their bright eyes. He sensed something familiar about this woman. Maggie herself has felt the same about Chen.
"Are you a Blue Dragon?" Asked the woman.
"Yes, I am. My name is Chen." Replied Chen.
Maggie narrowed her eyes and thought for a moment.
"If you are what you say you are, than I feel I must reveal myself to you." Said Maggie as she removed her disguise.
Everyone is shocked at Maggie's true form. She had red feathers instead of skin and large wings sprouted from her back. She had yellow hands and feet as well as sharp talons instead of nails. Instead of a mouth, she had a yellow beak. Her black hair reached down to her shoulders. She wore a Chinese orange vest with small fasteners and also wore orange silk pants.
"Woah! She's a bird?!" Exclaimed Mikey.
"Not just any bird." Said Chen. "She's the Red Vermilion bird. A member of the Four Stars."
"That is correct. I am also a phoenix." Said Maggie. "But how did you know, Chen.
"I knew because I can sensed your chi." Said Chen.
"I sensed yours as well as soon as you walked through the door." Replied Maggie. "I wasn't sure at first but I became more certain now that I have a good look at you."
"And what's your name, miss?" Asked Leo.
"I'm Maggie." Said the bird woman.
Chen's eyes narrowed as he heard the name as he suddenly began to remember a woman from his past with the same name. For some reason the Phoenix in front of him reminded of the woman he loved. Curious, he stepped forward.
"Have I seen you before?" Asked Chen.
"No, I don't think so. Though for some reason I have the same feeling about you." Replied Maggie.
"You helped this man against a group of triads. It takes great strength and skill to best them. I presume you are greatly skilled in the art of Kung Fu." Said Chen pointing at Casey who nodded in agreement. "Were you once part of a Martial Arts school? One of the top four best students along with three boys?"
Maggie's eyes widened in shock.
"How did you know about that?" Asked Maggie.
Chen's eyes slightly narrowed.
"Maggie, do you remember when I took you to your favorite restaurant? I would order some egg rolls and beef with vegetables for myself and I would order you white rice without soy sauce because-" Chen said
"Because soy sauce always gives me stomach issues." Maggie finished and her eyes narrowed. "How did you know that as well?"
"I also know that you demonstrated your Kung Fu with grace and beauty. And I commented that you fight like a beautiful but mighty phoenix, Maggie Ling." Continued Chen.
Maggie's eyes widened in shock.
"Ben? Is that you?" Asked Maggie.
Chen replied by planting his lips on Maggie's beak and wrapped his arms around her waist. Maggie kissed him back wrapping her arms around his neck. Everyone else was surprised by the scene playing out in front of them.
"Oookay. I wasn't expecting that." Said Casey.
Ben and Maggie broke from their kiss.
"I thought you were dead." Said Maggie.
"I was. But fate had other plans for me." Explained Ben.
"As much as I want to catch up with you, I'm afraid there are more important things we must discuss." Said Maggie as she pulled out the scroll.
"I agree. We should sit down. We have much to talk about." Said Ben.
Everyone sat in the chairs and sofas in the living room with tea and hot chocolate. Ben introduced himself to Casey. Casey then explained how he caught a bunch of triad thugs trying to mug an old man but got overwhelmed when Maggie intervened and saved him but that the old man died in the conflict. Raphael growled at that detail.
"Bastards! Those fuckers got what they deserved." Snarled Raphael.
"Raphael! No interruptions!" Scolded Splinter.
Maggie then explained that the old man had the scroll and entrusted her to look after it and use it bring the triads to justice. She than took out the scroll from its red casing and showed some of its contents.
"This is the Book of Fire. It allows those who study it to manipulate and create fire for combat purposes." Explained Maggie. "At first I can only manipulate heat and fire to a certain extent. I can't create it yet. Which is why I have to use the fire scroll to complete my training in the ways of fire." Said Maggie.
"I have been trying the same thing with the water scroll." Said Ben.
"Wait you found it, Ben?" Asked Maggie.
"Yes. In the warehouse in the Southern east part of Chinatown." Explained Ben.
"I saw the news about that. Can't believe it was you who trashed the place and wiped the floor with those thugs!" Said Casey.
"I am not surprised. Ben here was the best in our martial arts school and the Azure Dragon is meant to be the best of the Four Stars." Said Phoenix.
"There's still the matter of the triads and their obsessions with the scrolls." Said Splinter. "Ms Ling, do you know why those men want the scrolls?"
"No I don't unfortunately." Replied Maggie.
"Maggie if I may ask, how did you came to be?" Asked Donnie.
Maggie looked down at her mug with a grim look.
"A couple years ago, the Triads broke into our home. They set the place on fire. My father and I tried to fight but we were quickly overwhelmed. I was shot in both knees before I was doused in oil and lit me aflame. My parents were forced to watch before they were gunned down point blank. The night after, I rose from the ashes like a true Phoenix and I have hunting triads ever since." Explained Maggie.
Everyone was appalled, especially Ben. Leo gritted his teeth. Raph and Casey snarled and squeezed their fists. Mikey looked like he was ready to vomit. Donnie looked horrified. And April covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes welling up.
"Bastards!" Said Casey.
"Those motherfuckers!" Growled Raph.
"Monsters!" Said Donnie.
"Damn demons!" Said Leo.
"If only I was there for you, Maggie." Said Ben
"It wasn't your fault, Ben." Said Maggie. "Didn't you die too?"
"Yes, I was killed by none other than the triad leader Qin Lao himself." Explained Ben.
"That monster! He must be brought to justice." Said Maggie before turning to the turtles. "Will you help us?"
"We will. It's our duty to defend the innocent and vanquish the wicked." Said Leo.
"Smashing bad guys is what we do best." Added Raph.
"Ditto." Said Donnie.
"Aye." Said Mikey.
"Best we get going, it's almost dawn." Said Splinter after checking the window.
"I agree. My uncle's shop opens soon." Said Ben getting up from his chair. "Maggie, do you have somewhere to stay?"
"Yes, meet me in Chinatown at your uncle's restaurant later tonight." Said Maggie. "I want to hunt some triads with you."
"I would like that." Ben said with a smile.
"April, Casey, it was an honor to meet you." Said Ben and Maggie with a bow.
The Turtles, Splinter and Ben walked out the door, while Maggie got out the window and spread her wings and flew away.
"Interesting new friends we made." Said April.
"Yeah, especially that dragon dude. He's badass. I wanna try and help them with the triad situation when I get the chance." Said Casey.
"You just got beat up by them, honey! You got to be careful, they are not like the Purple Dragons." Said April.
"I know, it's said they're worse, much worse." Said Casey.
So Maggie turned out to be a red Vermilion bird or Chinese phoenix. And she explained her backstory, met the turtles and reunited with Chen who turned out to be her long lost boyfriend.
The ninja turtles have agreed to help the two find the triads and protect the scrolls. And both the dragon and phoenix plan to meet the next night to do some crime fighting together.
How will that turn out? Find out next chapter or two.
This is MergingEmperor7, bowing out.