Alright! I finished another chapter for you. Things get a little... steamy here. We get both the good kind of steam and the bad kind. Sorry for the delay, but I wanted to write the entirety of this arc first, which will span over three chapters.
I did write the chapter about Diana going to Pittsburgh again, but this time, we get Little Donnie's side since he's going, too. I had envisioned this to be different, but back then, Knuckles wasn't even in the picture. But I'm happy with what I wrote. I will say that one of my goals with Lily and Knuckles is not just them growing with each other, but also to have them be a team when it comes to Little Donnie, Mika, and Vaia. I hope I displayed that well here.
Well, enjoy the chapter! You may or may not want tissues.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "Meet the Robinsons," "TMNT," "Choices: High School Story," nor "Sonic the Hedgehog." I only own Lilianna, Little Donnie, Mika, Vaia, Karena, and Diana.
April 22, 2061 - Westport, Connecticut, USA
LITTLE DONNIE'S POV
I went with Amy into practice after school and saw everyone huddling over a laptop.
"What're you guys looking at?" Amy asked.
I read one of our castmates' minds and my eyes widened.
"Umm, that's trouble!" I answered. "Come on!"
I dragged Amy to the group.
"Fairfield posted an acting clip on their official Facebook and tagged all of us," Emma explained with a frown.
"The video description says Fairfield vs Westport at Spotlite," Rory told us.
Amy and I watched the Fairfield theatre department act out a little play where Fairfield won the competition and killed Westport with a chainsaw. I growled in anger.
"That's... terrifying," Amy spoke hesitantly. "They went through the trouble of making this just to scare us?"
"My mom needs to psychoanalyze these kids!" I yelled furiously. "They're crazy!"
"I have so many questions," Michael said out loud.
"That prop chainsaw was really convincing," Graham chimed in. "I don't know if Donnie and I could build one that intricate."
"Way to back me up, dude!" I shot back.
"And their acting was legitimately disturbing," Maria spoke with fear. "I have goosebumps."
"Subject matter aside, they're A-list level actors," Erin said.
I shook my head as everyone started talking over each other.
"QUIET!" I yelled, clearly having enough. "First the election, and now this? Have we learned nothing from it? We need to work together to overcome this obstacle!"
"I don't know, Donnie," Caleb replied with a frown. "If the competition is cutthroat, I wouldn't want to drag us down as a newbie. If it'll improve Westport's chances at Spotlite, I'll drop out."
"I was just thinking the same thing," Graham chimed in, also with a frown. "Their tech work makes mine look like child's play."
"Wait, don't get cold feet now!" Amy cried. "We need you! Caleb, Graham, I was new to the theatre department last show, and I was fine. You will be, too!"
"Easy for you to say," Caleb replied. "You've been acting your whole life. I still don't know stage left from real life left."
"And I'm not good enough to beat out Fairfield's tech," Graham said. "Not even close."
"Oh, for goodness sakes!" I yelled, not believing that I was not being counted in this.
"That's quitter's talk!" Rory chimed in. "Everything will come together as long as we try."
"Exactly," Amy agreed. "Remember, you both bring something special to the show. Graham, you build the coolest robots and so does Donnie. You two, when you are together, are going to be unstoppable! And Caleb, you make a perfect Antonio!"
"Really?" Graham asked. "You really think my robots are cool?"
"I mean, that's nice to hear," Caleb said. "But acting aside, this Old English talk is still gibberish to me."
"So we'll teach you!" Ajay angrily chimed in. "Caleb, step outside and run your scenes with Erin. She knows her Shakespeare. Graham, team up with Donnie and Skye. Put your visionary heads together to brainstorm special effects like the world has never seen!"
"Yes, let's get to work instead of marinating in our self-pity," Aiden suggested.
"Diana, let's start with Prospero's final song," Karena suggested.
"You got it!" Diana replied with confidence. "Everyone, get ready to clap for me when I beg you to free me!"
I returned backstage to take notes on the lighting. I heard Diana sing her song and I had never imagined just how beautiful she sounded.
"But release me from my bands with the help of your good hands. Gentle breath of your good hands--"
"I don't like it," a grumpy male voice suddenly chimed in. "This scene is ridiculous."
"I agree," a woman echoed. "Stop it immediately!"
Skye and I poked our heads out from backstage and I sensed her tensing up. Her parents were here today.
"Whoa!" Amy exclaimed in surprise. "I didn't realize you were here, Mr. & Mrs. Crandall."
"You can't just..."
Ajay took a deep breath in and then let it out.
"What about it isn't working for you?"
"Why would Prospero give up his magic?" Mr. Crandall asked. "It's so unrealistic that he'd willingly relinquish his power."
"It's the most meaningful thing he does in the whole show! It has to stay."
"With all due respect, you can't just change Shakespeare," Amy chimed in. "He wrote the ending that way for a reason!"
"Yes," Mrs. Crandall debated with her. "And I'm sure he never meant for it to be a musical. Don't be a hypocrite."
I growled in anger before Ajay continued.
"There's change in the medium and then there's fundamental change in the message itself."
"I like this Prospero fellow with his magic," Mr. Crandall threatened us. "And you should remember who's funding your show."
"Let him be a duke again and still be a wizard," Mrs. Crandall chimed in. "It will be worlds better."
Just as I was about to mark my way across the stage and give them a piece of my mind...
"Fine," Ajay said angrily. "We'll cut that song, if we truly must."
"WHAT?!" Diana and I exclaimed at the same time.
I paid no attention to the rest of the conversation as I walked up to Diana and hugged her. But when the Crandalls left...
"First, Fairfield has to stomp on us," Michael furiously spoke. "And now this?"
"There's no way we're gonna win Spotlite now," Clint mourned.
"Or even have a good show at this rate," Rory replied with a frown. "The play doesn't make sense without the ending."
"This is ridiculous," Amy voiced herself. "Ajay, can't you stand up to them?"
"I tried, but my hands are tied. If they aren't happy with our production, they'll withdraw their funding."
"Are you serious?" I asked angrily, now starting to wonder if it was worth signing up for the trip to London.
"What if you told Mr. Olson?" Amy suggested. "He wouldn't want to change the ending."
"Yeah, and he wouldn't want to be fired either. You'd be shocked at the influence money can buy."
"So money turns people into narcissists," I mumbled angrily. "Noted."
"My bad acting isn't helping," Adam, who received a negative comment earlier, chimed in. "I should've stuck to sports. Maybe you should find someone else to play Ariel."
"Don't say that!" Amy told her twin. "Cut yourself some slack, you're new to this. Mr. Crandall has no idea what he's saying. He's cruel to everybody."
"Amy's right," Ajay said. "You were cast for a reason. Nobody's a seasoned pro at the beginning of the rehearsal process."
"I don't think I'll get better, though," Adam replied with sadness. "I'm hopeless!"
"Adam, what part of Ariel do you feel like you're struggling with?" Karena asked.
"Uh, all of it! For starters, he's an ancient spirit! I'm a human being. I don't know how a spirit is supposed to think."
"Perhaps you should focus less on the spirit aspect and more on his human-like attributes," Ajay suggested.
The discussion continued to where Amy, Rory, and Adam left rehearsal early to help Adam adjust to his role.
Todayland, North Montana, USA
LILIANNA'S POV
"Here we are!"
I glanced over at Knuckles the entire time to see his reaction. He gazed in awe over all of our surroundings.
"What is this wondrous metropolis?"
"Welcome to Todayland, my friend. I actually had no idea how close it is to Green Hills. But this is where Wilbur was raised, where I met James, where I went to college--"
"You have a lot of history here," Knuckles chimed in, grinning over at me.
"Yes. This was my first home away from home after I was kidnapped. I learned to love it after a while. It impacted me so much I lived here for a few years. James even proposed to me in the arboretum."
"What does it mean to propose?"
"You haven't seen a lot of movies, have you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, yes, I have. But we watched a lot of action movies."
"To propose means to ask for your hand in marriage. But anyway. The bowling alley is this way. I can give you a tour of the city afterwards."
We got into the bowling alley and I paid for an hour for two people.
"So this kind of bowling is slightly different," I explained. "You don't just get to pick your balls. You get to pick the color of your pins as well. Unfortunately, red is not an option. Pink is, though."
"Is yellow an option?" Knuckles asked.
"Yes!"
I picked his color and I picked purple. I set us up in our lane and then I took my turn. I got a strike, knocking down all ten pins.
"You showed those pins no mercy!" Knuckles said with excitement.
"Thanks!" I replied with laughter before pointing a finger at him. "No powers."
"Yes, ma'am."
To my surprise, he took off his gloves and gave them to me. I stopped him and took a look at his right hand. I had told Wilbur that he had normal-sized hands before. But now I saw that his hands were just as strong as his strength.
"Lily, what are you doing?" Knuckles asked me slowly, his cheeks turning red.
"Sorry!"
I quickly let go of his hand and he went to retrieve the ball. I watched him bowl. He walked up to the lane, swung his arm back, and released the ball on the right side of the lane. My mouth gapped open as his ball did a spin towards the middle, and he knocked all ten pins down.
"Where did you learn to spin the ball?" I asked.
"Do you remember my story about Wade Whipple?"
I nodded.
"He taught me everything he knew about bowling after our quest in Reno."
"I have a feeling I'm going to have tough competition," I spoke, winking at him.
"So do I. May the best bowler win."
While Knuckles and I had different styles when releasing our balls, our results mirrored each other. In our first game, we both bowled a perfect game.
"I am impressed, Lilianna," Knuckles complimented me. "Tell me, where did you learn to bowl?"
"I had amazing teachers in two of my uncles: Raphael for his strength, and Michelangelo for the aim. It looks like Wade was just as good a teacher for you."
We chuckled.
"I'd suggest another game," I spoke again. "But I have a feeling it would be a repeat."
"I agree. We should eat dinner instead. Pizza?"
"That sounds fantastic."
I ordered the pizza and we waited at our table. I could not help but stare at his bare hands. Meanwhile, I caught him looking at my three-fingered ones.
"You are a fascinating creature," Knuckles said with a small smile. "You appear human but your hands are different."
"My father is Donatello of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I inherited half of his genes."
The Echidna looked at me with curious intrigue.
"May I?" he asked.
"May you what?"
He put his right hand on top of my left one. Then he brought my hand up and we put our palms together. To my surprise, our hands were the same size! He caught on quickly, putting his thumb on mine, two fingers on one of mine, and the other two fingers on my other finger. Then, we held hands. I gasped, my heart skipping a beat. He easily slid his fingers between mine. I smiled, realizing just how much strength was in his hands. Once again, I felt safe.
We heard someone clear their throat next to us. We both blushed as we released our hands. The robot put the pizza in front of us and we ate to our hearts' content.
After we ate, I showed Knuckles around the city and explained everything Cornelius Robinson had invented: the monorail, the bubble transport, the insta-buildings, and so on. He was all smiles, which I absolutely adored seeing. Afterwards, we took the monorail to a very special place.
"Where are we?" Knuckles asked.
"The arboretum. This was my favorite place in all of Todayland. It's so peaceful and always smells amazing. Come on."
I led him through these woods.
"You always seem to have a fascination with trees," Knuckles observed. "Why?"
I smiled.
"I was raised in a farmhouse surrounded by trees, as you already know. But I always felt a calling to train in the trees. I loved studying all the birds and I loved to climb the trees to where I could see the stars. It was always peaceful in the woods, and my love for them never changed, even after I was kidnapped. What about you? Have you ever climbed a tree before?"
"It depends on your definition of climbing."
"Simply climbing a stable tree. Not like swinging off of branches."
"Then, no, I have not."
I had a mischievous smile on my face.
"You're gonna climb now! Come on!"
I started to climb and I was thankful I wore the right shoes. I used the branches to climb. I glanced down and noticed Knuckles was using his... knuckles to climb.
"This is like rock-climbing!" the Echidna yelled in excitement.
I made a mental note as I continued to climb. Before we knew it, we made it to the top, emerging from the leaves. I turned around and admired the view of Todayland from above.
"Knuckles, look!"
He eventually emerged from beneath the leaves and looked out with me.
"Whoa!" he exclaimed in awe.
"Isn't it amazing?"
"Yes. Yes, it is. This was not how James proposed to you, is it?"
"No, it wasn't. He always put on a light show with all of his proposals and played the song we did our very first dance to."
"What is a dance?"
I gapped my mouth open in surprise.
"You don't know what a dance is? Okay, we're getting down and I am teaching you what dancing is."
Suddenly, I saw a vision. I moaned.
"Starlight? Are you alright?"
My eyes widened.
"Donatello's home! And he's angry."
I glanced over at Knuckles, who gave me a firm nod. Our second date had come to an end.
Westport, Connecticut, USA
We took my portal home and we went up the stairs to my son's room. We knocked, opened the door, and entered the room to find Little Donnie on his stomach.
"Are you alright?" Knuckles asked him.
"Leave me alone," Little Donnie said angrily.
"Hey, that is not how you talk to a guest," I reprimanded him. "What happened?"
"This play is going downhill very quickly. You know how the Crandalls are funding the trip to London?"
"Yes."
"Well, apparently, they are also in charge at how the musical is run. They cut Diana's song out from the ending because they wanted her character to keep his magic. The play doesn't make sense without it!"
"You never did tell me what the musical is called," Knuckles chimed in.
"Oh, it's Shakespeare's The Tempest," Little Donnie explained. "It's about this sorcerer who was usurped from his kingdom and he shipwrecks a crew on an island. His daughter meets one of the men and marries him. Then the sorcerer changes his mind and begs the audience to free him from the bonds of magic."
He growled.
"And it's not just the Crandalls that are giving us issues. Fairfield is trying to intimidate us to where it shattered our confidence. We're fine now, but still."
"How do you feel about all of this?"
He sighed.
"I'm starting to wonder if the effort is worth going to London. I'm starting to wonder if my signing up was a good idea."
"Donatello, why did you sign up for the musical in the first place?" Knuckles asked him.
"Because going to London would be a lot of fun."
"Then that should be your focus."
"It's not just a trip for fun, Knuckles," Little Donnie explained. "We are performing this musical in front of prestigious judges. There's a lot at stake. And right now, the odds are against us."
"You know who you are, Donatello," I assured him. "And you are very talented at what you do. Don't let the Crandalls get under your skin. Stand up for your beliefs. It may cost you the trip, but it will feel right when you choose who you really are. If you don't get to go to London, then it will be disappointing. It's how you react that matters. You are still performing the musical here, correct?"
"Yes, before we leave for London."
"Donatello, keep doing what you love to do."
"No matter what you do, we will be proud of you," Knuckles chimed in.
"Oh!" Little Donnie exclaimed. "How was your date?"
Knuckles and I glanced at each other and grinned.
"It went well," I answered. "Thank you for asking."
"What's next for you two?"
"We will see," the Echidna answered. "Can you promise me one thing?"
"Sure."
"Handle your anger before the sun sets. You have the right to be angry, but using your anger to justify something is wrong. When you are angry, you are not in a position to see things clearly, and you can hurt someone instead of help them."
"He's right," I chimed in. "Whenever you feel angry, just take some deep breaths and clear your mind. We'll leave you alone to collect your thoughts, okay?"
"HERE I AM. ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRICANE."
We jumped at the sudden loud music. Knuckles hastily took his phone out and answered it.
"Hello, Fox."
I watched his expressions range from seriousness to confusion.
"Alright. I will be back soon."
He hung up and glanced at me.
"The fox says he has found a strange substance in the hedgehog's old cave," Knuckles explained. "I need to leave."
"I'm coming with you," I told him.
"Me too," Little Donnie said. "You need someone who knows how to properly collect a sample."
"But we already know--"
Little Donnie already used one of Knuckles' rings to open a portal.
"Someone," Knuckles finished his sentence with a growl. "Come on!"
Green Hills, Montana, USA
"I saw it over here," Tails explained as he led me and Little Donnie to the cave.
My son and I examined the ground as Tails did some readings.
"I have never seen these radioactive readings off the charts before," Tails continued. "It's not an element found on this planet."
"I believe I have seen this before," I spoke as Little Donnie collected a sample. "But I'll have to take it to my dad to see if this is what I think it is."
"What do you think it is?"
Little Donnie and I glanced at each other and answered at the same time.
"Mutagen."
April 25, 2061 - New York City, New York, USA
DONATELLO'S POV
"That is exactly what it is, Lily Mae. This is mutagen. But where did it come from?"
"That's a good question," my daughter replied. "Tails found it in an area of Green Hills, Montana."
"North Montana?"
"South Montana."
"And who is Tails?"
"An anthropomorphic fox, Father. He lives with an anthropomorphic hedgehog named Sonic and an anthropomorphic echidna named Knuckles."
Lily blushed when mentioning the latter's name.
"None of them are mutants, are they?" I asked, raising a brow.
"No. They're from a planet on the other side of the universe."
"Fasincating. And did I see you blush just now?"
"What are you talking about?"
I crossed my arms.
"Lilianna Mae."
"I've been getting to know Knuckles the past few months," she explained. "Actually, I've been meaning to ask you something."
"What's up?"
"The more I get to know Knuckles, the more I'm seeing James in a new light. And then I start thinking of you because of what you said about true love. Before I met Knuckles, I thought my marriage to James was wonderful. But now..."
"You're having doubts about whether you married the right person?" I asked.
"Dad, you didn't like James at all until I married him. What if you were right this whole time?"
"Lily, sit down."
We sat down together at my desk, just like we had done when she was a teenager and young adult.
"Lily, I was wrong about James," I confessed, clasping my hands together. "You are my baby girl. When you started talking about James, I got jealous and worried that he was going to take you away from me. And I was worried that he was going to hurt you. But he did the exact opposite. He loved you and your children so much that he sacrificed his life to ensure your safety. Now I have a newfound respect for him and realized that, yes, you have married the right man."
Lily smiled fondly at me and then she frowned again.
"But then there's Knuckles, who has been absolutely wonderful with me and the children. Every time I'm around him, I feel safe and secure. He challenges me every time we do a trial by combat."
"What is a trial by combat?" I asked with confusion.
"It's his way of saying a spar, like what we do in the dojo."
"Ah."
"Umm, and it turns out we have a lot in common. We were both kidnapped and survived. Our tribes share a similar history. We both love to fight and protect our families."
"Does Knuckles have children?"
"No. He's the last Echidna. He's been living with Sonic and Tails the last forty years because all they have is each other."
Lily paused.
"Well, alright, they do have friends around the globe and their adoptive parents are still around. But he's been a huge help with the children, especially Donnie."
I smiled, feeling encouraged.
"I'd like to meet him," I said. "In fact, I'd like to meet all three of them. And besides, I have to give them advice regarding the mutagen. Can we go after work?"
"Oh! Um, sure."
Green Hills, Montana, USA
Lily knocked on the door and it opened to reveal a blue creature.
"Lily, hi!"
He glanced over at me and he started to pant with excitement.
"Oh... my... gosh! You're Donatello!"
I laughed.
"Yes, I am he."
"I'm Sonic," he introduced himself, vigorously shaking my hand. "It is an honor to meet you in person!"
"Uh, it's nice to meet you, too."
"Tails! Come here! Your idol is here!"
"Wait, what? Seriously?"
"Come on in, guys," Sonic beckoned us.
We walked into the living room where Tails approached.
"Oh... my... gosh!" Tails exclaimed excitedly. "It really is you! The inventor of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Donatello! It's an honor to meet you!"
Like Sonic, Tails vigorously shook my hand.
"Goodness, I'm popular today!" I said with laughter. "It's nice to meet you too, Tails."
"You inspire me so much to invent more gadgets to help my brothers."
"You are an inventor, too?" I asked with intrigue. "That's wonderful!"
"Oh, yeah," Sonic chimed in. "Tails has gotten us out of a jam because of his gadgets more than thrice."
"Speaking of jams, I am here to talk to you about the mutagen Lily found. But isn't there one more of you?"
As if it was right on cue, the echidna showed up at the door. He looked serious at first but this expression softened when he saw Lily.
"Oh! Lily! Hi!"
Lily walked up to him and embraced him. He returned the embrace with a contented smile on his face. When they pulled apart, Lily took his hand and walked over to us.
"Knuckles, this is my father, Dr. Donatello Hamato. Dad, this is Knuckles the Echidna."
I had expected Knuckles to be taller, so words could not describe my thoughts when I found he was the same height as Lily. He walked over to me and firmly shook my hand.
"Wow!" I exclaimed. "You've got quite a grip. No wonder you're called Knuckles!"
"It is an honor to meet the head of the Hamato Clan," Knuckles replied.
"Umm, that's Leo. I'm the inventor."
"Oh!"
He blushed, turning as red as his fur.
"I am sorry. But still, because you are Lilianna's father, I honor you."
"Knuckles, relax. I forgive you. It happens. Now, everyone is here. Lily and I have come to talk to you about the mutagen."
Knuckles' eyes widened.
"It really was mutagen?" Tails asked.
"Yes," I answered. "Thank goodness you didn't touch it. Just one drop of mutagen can transform you into something unimaginable, and this is no joking matter, Sonic."
Sonic's eyes widened.
"He is good," Knuckles mumbled to my daughter.
"So what do we need to do?" Tails asked.
"Have you ever heard of a patrol?" I asked in return.
"Yes," the three answered at the same time.
"Do an evening patrol every night. Lily has told me the Shredder is planning something big and mutagen is playing a huge part in it."
"May I ask where the mutagen comes from?" Knuckles asked.
I sat down with the group and told them stories of my adventures between Earth and Dimension X. But when it came to describing the mutagen, Tails' eyes sparkled with fascination.
"So the mutagen comes from some creature named a Kraa... Kraa..."
Sonic struggled to pronounce the name.
"Kraathatrogon," Knuckles and Tails pronounced it correctly.
"Yes," I replied. "Although they themselves are harmless unless someone or something agitates them. But there are those who want to use the mutagen for their own gain. The Shredder and Baxter Stockman are two of those people."
"And they are the people that we need to stop, right?" Sonic asked.
"Two of them, yes."
"I'd like to go back to your cave, Sonic," Lily said. "Maybe I can use my telepathy to find out what happened."
"Take Tails and Knuckles with you," Sonic suggested. "Tails can use his technology to find tracks. Knuckles is a master guardian and will guard you from harm."
Lily glanced over at the echidna and winked at him.
"I already know."
She gasped.
"Speaking of guarding, Knuckles, you mentioned that the Master Emerald can turn thoughts into reality. Do you think the Shredder would know about it?"
"No. But you have given me some thought. Depending on what we find in the cave, the Master Emerald may no longer be safe here. We need to find another warrior to guard it."
"Who is guarding it right now?"
"The three of us have been guarding it ever since Wade passed away," Sonic answered with a mournful look.
"What do you look for in a guardian, Knuckles?" I asked.
"Someone who knows the ways of the Echidna. And there is only one other who knows these ways."
"Really?" Lily asked. "Who?"
"Donatello Akihito Hamato."
"WHAT?!" Lily and I exclaimed at the same time.
"How would my son know the ways of the Echidna?" Lily asked. "Unless..."
She slowly turned back towards him.
"You've been training him... behind my back!"
"Lily, please let me explain--"
"You have been training my son without my permission?" Lily roared. "No wonder Donnie's been more angry lately. Because you are teaching him to be angry!"
Knuckles clenched his fists and he suddenly started glowing red.
"Lilianna, you need to listen to me!" Knuckles spoke sternly. "I am not training your son to be angry. I am training him to become a warrior."
"He already has a teacher for that, Echidna: me! I have been training him in the ways of the ninja since birth. I am his MOTHER! You just came into our lives. So what gives you the right to train him?"
"This is your last warning, Lilianna," Knuckles spoke, his purple eyes turning red. "You do not want to fight me. Don't do this."
Lily unclenched her fists, took some deep breaths and let them out. I watched Knuckles do the same thing.
"You're right," Lily spoke. "I don't want to fight you. But I cannot believe you hid the truth from me."
"Lily, I--"
"Stop! I'm going to the cave alone. I don't need protection, especially not from you."
Lily transformed into Aumanil and flew off.
"Lilianna!"
I put a hand on Knuckles's shoulder.
"Let her go," I told him. "Give her some space. Meanwhile, can we talk privately?"
"Of course, Donatello."
Knuckles and I walked into the house together while Sonic and Tails remained outside.
"Donatello, I need to tell you the truth since Lily will not hear me out," Knuckles explained. "Your grandson asked me to train him. He asked me because he believes the way I fight can add to the skills he already has."
"He clearly trusts you," I replied.
"Yes. And yes, I do get angry from time to time if I believe someone has been treated poorly or unfairly. But I am not teaching Donatello to be angry. I am teaching him a different way to fight, and I am teaching Lily the same thing."
"I believe Lily has forgotten the most important lesson in ninjutsu: a ninja always adapts. You were right to teach her and Donnie, especially if they have given you permission to do so. Donnie has clearly spoken his mind about asking you to train him. Lily needs to respect that."
"But she needs to know that, too."
"That is true. But I think she needs to hear the truth from her son. She's angry at you right now. Unfortunately, she is prone to jumping to conclusions from time to time."
"That would explain why she is stubborn."
I chuckled.
"Yes. She gets it from her mother. But please, Knuckles, tell me about your family."
"My people were killed by a race of giant owls," Knuckles explained with a depressed tone. "I am the last of my tribe."
"Oh my!" I exclaimed, and then I let out a sigh. "My father, Hamato Yoshi was the last of his tribe, too."
"Yes, Lilianna told me of the story. The hedgehog told me he kept going despite failing again and again and again and again because he had hope. Did Hamato Yoshi move on with hope as well?"
"Yes, he did, and he instilled that hope in the four of us. And you must have learned something about hope as well, or else you wouldn't be here today. You have lived with Sonic and Tails since you came here, right?"
"Yes. Yes, I have."
"How have you felt this whole time?"
"I feel..."
He let out a sigh of contentment.
"I feel like I am home with a family to fight for."
"And when you met Lily and her children, how did you feel then?"
"I have felt things I have never felt before," Knuckles answered, slightly blushing. "I feel hopeful. I feel challenged. I am in high spirits every time I see Lilianna. And her children are a new form of life, especially Vaia, who is pure and innocent, always smiling at me when I hold her."
I smiled, now knowing my grandchildren trusted him.
"What do you want out of this relationship with Lily?" I asked him.
"Lily has always taken care of herself and her family. If I may, I would like to take care of her, for a change, because she deserves it. I have spent my entire life protecting something. But to take care of someone is a new and precious kind of protection."
"You know, I felt the same way about April when we started getting to know each other. The very first night I met her, she was kidnapped and I helped free her. I promised myself to be sure she was safe every night. And that is a promise I have never broken to this day."
"That is all I want for Lily as well, Donatello, and her children. We have gone on two dates and they both ended with us talking to her son together."
I grinned, feeling hopeful about him.
"It sounds like you already know what it's like to be a parent."
"I do not have children of my own," Knuckles replied. "I am the last Echidna. I had no hope of starting a family because of it. But then I started to get to know Lily's son and now I see him as if he was my own son. I care for him and his sisters just as much as I care for Lily."
I put a hand on his shoulder and smiled at him.
"I have a feeling you are in this for the long haul, Knuckles, and I am honored to have met you."
My phone went off.
"Donatello."
"Dad, it's me," Lily spoke. "I know what happened in the cave."
April 26, 2061 - New York City, New York, USA
LILIANNA'S POV
"Dr. Farrell?" Dad asked with surprise. "Wasn't he a part of the Vizioso gang?"
"Yes, but I think you are talking about his father. The Dr. Farrell from fifty years ago is dead. His son is a doctor as well, working for G.U.N. to study alien and mutant physiology."
"I'm sorry, G.U.N.?"
"Guardian Units of Nations. It was formed after Sonic's trials in San Francisco. Wilbur helped me do some digging."
"Oh! That reminds me. Bring Knuckles over more often. He's not just a fascinating creature, but he's an awesome person to talk to."
I blushed.
"Thanks, Dad. But back to this?"
"So Dr. Farrell brought Kraathatrogons from Dimension X to Green Hills and milked the mutagen out of them in Sonic's cave. That would explain the presence of mutagen. Did you figure out where he was sending the mutagen?"
"Back to Dimension X via an interdimensional portal," I answered.
"So you're telling me that the Foot Clan, the Purple Dragons, and the Vizioso gang are all dimension hopping?"
"That is a possibility. It would definitely explain why I couldn't sense any of them here."
"I'll tell everyone at the lair to patrol both New York and Dimension X. You tell Sonic and his friends to patrol whatever they can of the entire country. They seem to have the speed for it."
"Tails also suggested someone should stay at the lair in case someone comes while everyone is out," I suggested. "It's possible the Shredder knows where it's at due to the address on our medical records."
"He has a good point," Dad replied. "I'll tell Leo and Raph to stay. They would be the guardians of the lair."
"And I'm going to hate suggesting this because I'm mad at him right now, but if Leo and Raph go down, then Knuckles should be the next in line to guard the lair. He's got super strength as well as super speed."
"Yes, I gathered that."
Dad rubbed his hand.
"Speaking of which, you need to talk to Donnie about Knuckles."
"Why?"
"Since you won't listen to Knuckles, perhaps you'll listen to your own son regarding his training."
April 30, 2061 - Westport, Connecticut, USA
LITTLE DONNIE'S POV
The musical kept going downhill and downhill. Thankfully, the Fairfield kids had not attempted to contact us. But the Crandalls continued to be a thorn on our side.
After Karena dropped me off at home, I made a beeline to my bedroom. I took Knuckles' advice and did not resort to anger this time. But, once again, I hated high school. I plopped down on the bed and silenty cried into my pillow.
I heard knocking at my door.
"Come in."
The door opened and closed. I felt someone sitting on the bed.
"Donatello, is everything alright?" Mom asked me.
"Can I ask again why I decided it was a good idea to sign up for the musical?"
"Because you wanted to go to London. Did something happen again today?"
"Yes! The Crandalls showed up again after Skye revealed the musical would have a lot less singing."
My mom looked at me with confusion.
"Why? It's not really a musical then without the singing."
"Exactly! But Amy was a badass!"
"Donatello! Language!"
"Sorry, Mom. But she stood up to them. Long story short, the Crandalls want a production just like a soap opera would look on TV. And worse, the staff Graham and I built for Diana caught on fire. I feel like a failure right now."
"Keep moving forward, Donatello," Mom told me. "Learn from your mistakes and keep going. Things will turn up in due time. But hey, going to London is a dream come true that many kids have. How often do you hear someone, a young child like you, say they've been to London?"
I smiled.
"True."
"After all, I am coming with you. I'm rather looking forward to spending time with you in a very historic city."
"I wish Knuckles could come with us," I spoke. "But I get it. Someone has to watch Mika and Vaia. Speaking of which, I haven't seen Knuckles in a few days. Did you two have a fight?"
"Yes, Donatello, we did. Apparently, he's been training you in his ways without asking me first."
"Wait, Mom, why do I need your permission for Knuckles to train me? I was the one who asked him to. I thought, hey, you train me in ninjutsu and my psychic abilities and I'm teaching myself how to use my invisibility. I figured, hey! I could use another skill set, a different way to fight in case being a ninja doesn't work. We're ninjas, Mom. We're supposed to learn and adapt in all ways."
I read her mind and noticed something else.
"He's been training you too, hasn't he?" I asked. "So why be angry at him for doing the same thing to me as he is doing to you? He's training both of us to be warriors in the way of the Echidna as well as ninjas."
My mom chuckled.
"Once again, the student is the teacher. Has he been training Mika, by any chance?"
"Mika has joined in sometimes. But she's already fierce because of you. Please, Mom, give Knuckles a chance."
"I just might. Let me challenge him to a trial by combat."
Green Hills, Montana, USA
This time, I found the Echidna on his training grounds instead of the other way around. He must have sensed me coming because he turned around as I approached him.
"Lily, let us just talk tonight."
"Really? You don't want to do a trial by combat?"
"No. Not when we are angry at each other. We need to talk this out."
"You are certainly handling this better than I am," I replied.
"How have you and James handled an argument?"
"Everytime I have had an argument with someone, whether it's my dad or James, I run. Because every time I fought with my dad, I would go up to my room and be in my safe space."
"You have never felt safe, have you?" Knuckles asked with a frown.
"Not since my kidnapping. In fact I hadn't felt safe in a very long time... until I met you."
"Do you feel safe right now?"
I smiled, feeling the tears threatening to leave me.
"Yes. Yes, I do. Is it safe for me to cry?"
"Yes. Yes, it is."
Feeling relieved, I let the tears fall. I walked up to him and he pulled me into his arms.
"I am so sorry for screaming at you, Knuckles. I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions. I'm sorry--"
"Shh. You are safe. I have forgiven you. Has Donatello told you the truth?"
"Yes, he did, that he had asked you to train him. He opened my eyes when I realized you had been training me as well."
"I need to apologize as well."
"No, Knuckles, you don't."
"Yes, I do. I did not take your feelings into consideration when I granted Donatello's request. I promise to ask you first every time."
I looked up and gazed into his purple eyes.
"Wait a minute. Why did you encourage me to cry just now? I thought you were going to tell me that tears are not the warrior's way."
"Sometimes, the appropriate response is to cry, to let it all out. I may be a warrior, but even I need to let it out once in a while. The hedgehog taught me that."
I smiled at him through my tears. But I didn't realize just how close I was to him. I chuckled, laughing at myself.
"Why do you laugh?" Knuckles softly asked me.
"You don't want to know what I was thinking just now. Heck, I'm not even sure I'm ready."
"Ready for what?"
I blushed heavily.
"To kiss you."
He chuckled lightly. I laughed in embarrassment.
"Forget I said that. Forget I said any--"
"Shh."
I felt his hand underneath my chin and he brought my blue eyes back to his purple ones.
"May I?" he asked with a gentle smile.
"May you what?" I asked, still blushing.
He put his right hand behind my neck and the other on my back over my waist. I wrapped my arms around his waist. We gazed into each other's eyes. We started leaning into each other and we closed our eyes. My heart raced, unsure of how this was going to go. We turned our heads slightly, then...
Our lips met, and I felt electrified! I pulled him closer to me, wanting more. He agreed, pulling me closer to him, and we kissed again. I felt something I never felt before in my kisses with James. I did not want to let go.
We pulled apart, catching our breaths.
"That was easier than I thought it was going to be," I breathed out. "I was worried with the beak and everything."
I looked at him and saw he was glowing red. He was also blushing hard, his cheeks also red.
"Well, now I know why I felt the way I did!" I said with laughter. "How are you?"
"That... was... the most... amazing thing... I have done... in my entire life," Knuckles breathed. "This takes the meaning of the phrase kiss and make up to an entirely new level."
I cracked up laughing, not realizing I was still holding on to him.
"I cannot believe I just kissed an echidna," I said out loud, still laughing and blushing.
"How did it feel?" Knuckles asked me. "Are you all right?"
I grinned from ear to ear.
"It felt absolutely wonderful. I never imagined I'd kiss anyone, especially not an Echidna, three months after meeting them. It felt electrifying, and it may have been literal with how your body lit up."
His glow went away, which meant he calmed down.
"I, too, felt electrified."
He grinned at me.
"Are you thinking what I am thinking?"
"That we want to do it again?" I asked.
"May I?"
I blushed. I loved that he asked me first. I felt like a proper lady.
"You may."
This time, I wrapped my hands around his neck underneath his dreadlocks and he wrapped both his hands around my waist. We pulled in towards each other and kissed again, this time with smiles on our faces. His body lit up and we both felt the electricity flowing through our bodies.
May 12, 2061 - Westport, Connecticut, USA
LITTLE DONNIE'S POV
I went into the auditorium for rehearsal after school after what was already a long week. At the beginning of the week, Skye came to school... as not Skye. The goth girl had been replaced by a cheerleader after her parents threatened to call off the funding. Because of it, Skye was off her game at all the rehearsals.
Today, I saw Skye sitting on the stage dressed as the goth girl we grew to love. I read her mind and found out we were no longer going to London on Monday. I actually felt relieved about it. The play was going downhill because of her parents and our chances at winning Spotlite were very slim.
"Is it true we're not going to London anymore?" Natalie asked with a frown.
"Dang!" Amy exclaimed. "Word travels fast."
"It's not looking good," Rory chimed in with a frown. "I have no idea where we could get that much money in four days."
"Plus, we were supposed to start ten minutes ago," Erin said. "And Ajay's not at school. I looked everywhere!"
"Are you serious?" I asked. "Where is he?"
"We can't rehearse without our director!" Amy replied with worry. "I hope he didn't give up on us!"
"But how are we going to fund the trip?" Rory asked in a panic. "Maybe we can beg someone rich, like Amber, or--"
THUD!
We all gasped as we turned towards the door. Diana and I went out in front. Diana took out her tessen and prepared to defend us. I, meanwhile, prepared to use everything I had learned the last four months to protect my castmates.
"What was that?" Emma asked with fear. "Is it a wild animal?"
"Stand back!" I yelled.
Adam and Erin joined me and Diana, grabbing wooden planks and standing next to us, preparing to strike.
THUD!
The door then creaked open...
"Ajay?!" I exclaimed.
"You look terrible!" Diana exclaimed with worry.
I examined Ajay. His black hair was messy. His eyes were bloodshot. And he had bags underneath them. It looked like he hardly slept at all last night.
"Everyone..."
"Dear God!" Amy exclaimed. "I'll take him to the school nurse! Ajay, lie down or something! We'll carry you to the office!"
"NO!" he shouted. "THERE'S NO TIME! Get in my car! Now!"
"Ajay, what are you talking about?" I asked him.
"I was up all night searching for means of funding, and I finally uncovered a scholarship!"
Ajay handed Diana his phone and she read the scholarship webpage out loud.
"The Miao Arts and Music Scholarship... this is a great find! If we're selected, it'll just barely cover the costs of our trip. But it says the essay application was due this morning."
"I submitted it on Westport's behalf seconds before the deadline," Ajay tiredly explained. "I pulled an all-nighter perfecting it."
"That's our director for you," Erin spoke. "But why are you kidnapping us?"
"In addition to the written application, they're holding optional in-person interviews today to select the recipient."
"Optional to some people, maybe," Skye replied. "But definitely not us."
"We should go and argue our case," Rory encouraged us. "Ajay can't do it alone half-crazed from sleep deprivation like this."
"Yeah!" Amy replied with determination. "We owe it ourselves to go! Where's it happening, Ajay?"
"At the scholarship's foundations headquarters in Pittsburgh."
"PITTSBURGH?!" Diana and I exclaimed at the same time.
"Are you serious?" Adam asked. "That's hundreds of miles away!"
"I KNOW!" Ajay shouted. "WE'LL DRIVE! LET'S GO!"
"Ajay, you cannot drive in that state," Diana replied. "You're too sleepy."
"Wait, are we seriously doing this?" I asked my friend. "We're going to be in a lot of trouble."
"I can drive five people including myself," Maria offered, totally ignoring me.
"So can Rory and I," Erin chimed in. "Everyone, let's split and go!"
LILIANNA'S POV
I ate dinner tonight with Mika, Vaia, and Knuckles. Little Donnie was at rehearsal until ten o'clock tonight, so I did not have to worry about making him a plate.
"Well, Karena texted me earlier today," I started the conversation. "The Crandalls withdrew their funding and now Little Donnie's not going to London."
"Perhaps it is better this way," Knuckles replied, swallowing a piece of his hamburger. "Donatello was stressed about how the musical was going."
"Yeah, about how the Crandalls pretty much abolished the singing? That's insane."
"At least we will get to see the show here."
I smiled at him.
"That is true."
My phone suddenly went off. But I shrugged.
"It can wait," I spoke. "It's dinner time, and therefore, it is family time."
My phone went silent, and then it started ringing again.
"Perhaps you should answer it," Knuckles suggested.
"It's probably Donnie," Mika chimed in.
I went over to the living room and picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Lily, it's Karena. Is Diana with you, by any chance?"
"I thought she was at rehearsal with Little Donnie?"
"No, rehearsal was cancelled today. I got into the auditorium and found a note from Aiden saying they're doing a cast-bonding trip to New York City."
"That's odd. I haven't heard from her nor from Donatello."
"Maybe they're having fun in the city."
I smiled, but something wasn't right.
"Perhaps. Karena, they're high school students. I'm sure they're fine."
"Yeah, maybe. I guess we'll see. Keep me posted, Lily."
"You keep me posted as well. Goodbye."
I hung up and walked back to the table.
"What is wrong?" Knuckles asked with concern.
"Rehearsal got cancelled today."
"What? Then where is Donatello?"
"Karena says she got a note from the student music director saying the cast went to New York City to bond. But why would Donnie not tell me?"
"You have not heard from him?" Knuckles asked with alarm.
"No. I haven't heard from him since I dropped him off at school."
"Let's finish our dinner and then we will try to get a hold of him unless he comes home first."
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
LITTLE DONNIE'S POV
We finally entered Pittsburgh at seven-thirty. Suddenly, my phone went off. I glanced at it and it was my mom! Knowing I'd be in trouble for telling her where I was, I declined her call. A few minutes later, my phone rang again. This time, it was Knuckles. I decided to answer.
"Hello?"
"Donatello, where are you?" Knuckles asked. "Your mother and I are worried about you."
"We're at rehearsal," I answered. "It's tech week, remember? We're practicing until ten o'clock."
"Don't play dumb with me!" Knuckles angrily replied.
I gulped nervously as he saw right through my lie.
"Karena told us during dinner that rehearsal was cancelled. Are you in New York City?"
"Yes!" I answered hastily. "Yeah! We're in New York City, umm, going to see a play."
Knuckles growled. I started to sweat, worried he was going to spot this lie as well.
"Knuckles, I gotta go. We're about to go into the auditorium to see the show. Bye!"
I hung up and followed my friends into headquarters.
Westport, Connecticut, USA
LILIANNA'S POV
"DONATELLO!" Knuckles yelled into the phone.
He growled.
"He hung up on me."
"Did he say where he was?" I asked with worry.
"He says he is in New York City," the Echidna answered with a glare. "But I do not believe him. He lied to me about being in rehearsal."
"He lied to you? Alright, he's grounded. I'll turn into Aumanil and see if I can find him."
"Wait."
I froze before I started my transformation. Knuckles walked up to me and we held each other in an embrace.
"Be safe, Aumanil."
I smiled, my heart slightly melting. We pulled out of the embrace and I kissed him on the cheek.
"You too. Please take care of Mika and Vaia."
We stepped back away from each other and I transformed into Aumanil. I took a quick glimpse at my friend and noticed his look of awe. I flipped out of the window and flew off to New York City.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
LITTLE DONNIE'S POV
"Oh, gosh!" Amy exclaimed. "We're so late!"
We wasted no time finding the conference room. We heard another interview happening in there, which was music to our ears.
"There's so many activities for us to compete with," Michael whispered when we learned the interview was for a crochet club.
"I wonder what we can do to stand out from the crowd," Caleb pondered out loud.
"I did bring Prospero's staff," Graham chimed in and I gasped with excitement. "It's finally in working order, so we can show it to the scholarship committee."
"I brought a few prop swords to demonstrate Donnie's artistry, as well," Maria revealed.
"Wait, I have a crazy idea," Skye chimed in.
We turned and watched Skye taking her laptop out of her backpack.
"Like a plan for what we should say in there?" Amy asked.
"Something like that. Aiden, Donnie, I need your help."
"I'm at your service," I replied.
"What needs to happen?" Aiden asked.
Aiden, Skye, and I worked together to create a medley of all the songs in the musical.
"Our turn!" Amy yelled a few minutes later. "Let's kill it in there, Trojans!"
"You're out of luck," a student replied. "The committee said we were the last interview for the day. The committee is already packing up."
"Not if we have anything to say about it!" Diana sternly spoke. "We can't give up now!"
"LET ME IN!" Ajay yelled, trying to pull on the door.
"It's a push door," Amy revealed, shaking her head. "It says right on the handle."
"Oh. Of course, I knew that."
"Ajay, you're, like, dilirious right now," Rory said. "You've done enough. Leave the rest to us."
We piled into the conference room and two stern-looking adults looked up at us.
"What in the blazes was all that screaming and rattling at the door?" the female judge asked us.
"That was just some weirdo we don't know," Amy explained. "A stranger needed to pee and thought this was the restroom."
"Yeah, they weren't with us at all," Rory said, playing into the lie. "We fought them off so they couldn't come in."
"You shouldn't have come in either," the male judge angrily replied. "It's almost an hour after our cutoff time."
I glanced at my phone where I saw multiple missed calls from Knuckles. It was eight o'clock!
"You've got to hear us!" Adam pleaded with them. "Our musical next week is in crisis mode!"
"Yes, we read that sob story in your application," the female judge replied with a frown. "I'm sorry, but we're leaving."
"Wait!" Amy yelled. "Five minutes is all we ask for! I know it's late and you want to go home. But we just need five minutes!"
"We're begging you!" Rory chimed in. "We won't keep you a second longer than that."
The judges sighed and gave each other an exasperated look.
"Five might be faster than convincing them to go away," the male judge whispered.
"Fine," the female judge caved in. "What can you tell us that we don't already know?"
Skye started to play the medley and the cast displayed their talent as well as ours. When the medley finished with Diana asking the judges to free her, they clapped and we bowed.
"I've never seen anything like that lightning staff," the female judge spoke and I grinned. "It was like magic."
"Great!" Rory replied. "We need your help to show that magic to the rest of the world."
"And we've worked hours and hours for this," Amy pleaded with them. "We put everything we got into this only for it to be yanked away from us at the last second. Performing at Spotlite would be a dream come true. This could change our lives forever."
"Duly noted," the male judge replied.
"There's not a more deserving cast and crew in the world for this scholarship," Skye chimed in, looking determined. "They've become like family to me, the family I always needed. I want to repay Westport High School's drama department for all they've done to support me through thick and thin. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they saved my life. This trip would mean the world to us. Even if we don't receive this scholarship, I'll keep trying. I'll do whatever it takes to give them what they deserve."
The judges glanced at each other again.
"We've heard enough. You're free to go."
"Thank you for your time," Amy replied.
Westport, Connecticut, USA
LILIANNA'S POV
I flew back in through the window and transformed back to Lilianna Hamato. I sensed Knuckles in the nursery and went there first. What I saw gave me a new appreciation for him: he sat on the rocking chair with Vaia in his arms, and he gazed down at her with a sweet smile on his face. I smiled as Vaia cooed to him, slowly releasing her grip from his dreadlock. The Echidna got up and put Vaia in her crib. I quietly walked up to him, crouched over, and gave Vaia a kiss on her forehead.
"We love you, sweetheart," I said in a higher pitched voice. "Sweet dreams."
Knuckles and I walked out of the nursery and found Mika standing at her door with her pajamas on.
"Mommy, did you find Donnie?"
"Yes, sweetheart, I did. And he's safe."
"Thank goodness for that," Knuckles replied.
"Good," Mika said. "I'm worried."
"We all are," I spoke. "I'm sure Donnie will be here safe and sound later. But right now, you need to get some sleep."
"Yes, Mommy. I love you."
"I love you, too. Good night."
"Good night, Mommy. Good night, Knuckles."
"Good night, Mika."
Knuckles and I left the bedroom and went down the stairs and out to the backyard so Mika couldn't hear us.
"So, where did you find Donatello?" Knuckles asked.
"He's in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania!" I shouted angrily.
"What in the blazes is he doing there?"
"He's gotta be doing something with the drama club. He wasn't alone."
"Is that why you did not bring him home?"
"Yes. I did not want to embarrass him by having Aumanil showing up and being a parent."
"That is a good point. So, what now?"
"We have to wait for Donnie to come home," I answered with a sigh. "You should go home, Knuckles. I'll let you know when he's home and safe."
"I am staying," he sternly replied, putting his fists on his hips.
"Knuckles--"
"He lied to me, Lily. Twice. This is very personal. And besides, you are going to need backup."
I sighed again. Knuckles was right. I needed all the backup I can get.
"Well, let me set up some blankets. We're going to camp out in the living room for now."
I ended up going to sleep right on top of Knuckles. His fur was a blanket by itself and it was very cozy. He held me in his arms as we went to sleep on the couch.
Suddenly, we heard the door open. Knuckles and I stirred ourselves awake and turned around. Little Donnie had just walked in the door.
"Donatello!" we exclaimed at the same time, running up to him and hugging him.
"Oh, hi, guys," he replied sheepishly. "Mom, why are you awake? And Knuckles, what are you doing here?"
"Donatello Akihito Hamato, where have you been?" I angrily asked him. "It is three o'clock in the morning! We were worried sick about you!"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Donatello, you have lied to me twice already," Knuckles sternly told him. "Do not lie to us again. Tell us the truth, now!"
"Okay, okay! We went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Crandalls yanked the funding from us at the last moment and we found a scholarship that would reward us before the trip. We went to Pittsburgh to plead our case so we could go to London. I'm sorry for lying to you, Knuckles, but if I had told you where I was going, you or Mom would have come gotten me. I already knew I was in trouble."
"You knew you were going to be in trouble and you still went anyway?" I yelled furiously.
"I didn't have a choice! I just got dragged into this."
"You always have a choice, Donatello," Knuckles told him. "Actually, you had many choices tonight. You could have told us the truth and told us rehearsal was cancelled. I would have come and got you and all of this could have been avoided."
"But what did you do?" I asked angrily. "Absolutely nothing. I heard nothing from you nor from Diana. Knuckles and I both assumed you were going to be at rehearsal until ten. Karena called me during dinner and told me rehearsal was cancelled."
"Then you could have chosen to answer your mother's phone call," Knuckles continued, feeling just as angry as I was. "But you did not answer her. So I called you. And you lie to me, twice. Your mother went out of her way to find you as Aumanil while I continued to call you on the phone. And you did not pick up a single phone call."
"I was busy!" Little Donnie snapped. "I was trying--"
"If you are going to be mad at someone, be mad at me!" I yelled over him.
"--to give the drama club a fighting chance! Knuckles is not my dad!"
"You DO NOT talk to Knuckles that way!"
"Knuckles has no right interfering--"
"And you most certainly DO NOT lie to ANYONE, ESPECIALLY not to Knuckles, who CARES for you like you are his OWN SON!"
Little Donnie glared at Knuckles, who crossed his arms.
"I am not your son. I'm going to bed."
"Donatello, get back here," I demanded. "We are not done."
"Well, I am!" he shot back, going up the stairs.
"Then fine! You're grounded!"
"FINE!"
We heard Vaia crying.
"You're not going to London, Donatello," I sternly told him.
He turned around with shock written on his face.
"What?"
"Knuckles is right. You have made many poor choices tonight. And instead of treating this like a civil conversation and accepting your punishment, you acted like a five-year-old child! That is very unacceptable. Now, go to bed. We will discuss this in four hours when you wake up."
He stomped up the stairs.
"And don't you DARE--"
SLAM!
"... slam the door," I finished.
Vaia's cries were getting louder.
"Lily, please go to bed," Knuckles told me with a sigh. "I will take care of Vaia."
I let out a sigh and nodded, feeling like crying myself. I got into the bedroom and cried myself to sleep.
