Welp. This is the end of the Tales of the Hidden City. I hope you enjoyed that little extra with the Mud Dogz, every version of the turtles needs a Kara. We'll talk about the others eventually shhhhh.
By the time they teleported to Jason's, Brilliance was waiting outside with Dragan in hand. "Oh, good, we were hoping you would show up on time. Given your behavior today." She eyed each of them for having gotten arrested, smirking at Draxum, "She's speaking with Jason right now. Donatello, you should be present since you helped him out. " She moved aside allowing him to walk by and into the store. "The rest of us will wait out here until they're finished."
Donnie nodded and did as he was told, heading to the back of the store. He glanced up at the ceiling hearing footsteps and raised a brow but ignored it, opening the door to see Jason's back to him seeming to be mixing something. "You've made some changes, I see." He walked over to the wings, touching and pulling to test the fabric and strength of the base, "Thinner."
"Yes, but more flexible. She'll be able to manuver the skies like a bird of prey!" Jason turned around, holding a glowing canister in his hand, smiling excitedly. "Thanks for picking up the ingredients, by the way." Voice oozing with sarcasm he turned around to complete the concoction, "Alright, it's done." He set it aside and heard knocking, "That's her." He pressed the brooch on his belt, changing to the form Kara's familiar with, "Come in."
She walked in wearing a bandana type shirt that covered her chest but left everything else bare and baggy pants. Upon seeing Donnie in the room as well, her face lit like a fire and she tried to walk away but Jason leapt up and tapped her on the forehead, "No need to get cold feet now. What you've been waiting for is just two steps away."
"B-B-But I'm practically topless.." She muttered, crossing her arms over her chest and stomach area, glancing shyly to Donnie, her cheeks feeling hotter.
"Oh, don't worry, he's already seeing you topless."
"WHAT?!" Kara screamed, her antennas standing up straight like bunny ears and her floof standing up.
"W-w-w-wa-wa-wait, not like that!" Donnie yelled, sweat trickling off his body as he tried to explain what he saw.
"Enough." Jason groaned while hopped over to Donnie and to his shoulder, "He saw Tolo disguised as you to help with my project and he saw her. So it wasn't you, per se. Now, let's focus on what's really important; our creation." He said in a whispered awe, holding his hands out at the wings.
Once her eyes laid on them, the world around her stopped. The wings were thinner than her own, almost bat like with how the coastal margin was pointed at the top and the skin curved between each margin, the lower wings similar. She gasped softly when they even added frill on the lower wings. "All it's missing is the color." She thought as she gently touched the skin but blinked when it felt soft like satin but it changed color from it's dark blue to a familiar lime green, the margin a dark brown. Even the fake eyes were back! Tears welled in her eyes, "They're beautiful. How do I get them on?" She turned to the two excitement in her eyes.
"Well, first, I need to explain this." He hopped off Donatello and landed on the table to pick up a glowing canister about his size. He held it up for him to take, Donatello doing so. "Despite the look of them they're not organic; they're machine, and with machines they need a power source. This is said powersource. Now, once we attach it to your wings you will feel a stabbing sensation and..an odd feeling but don't worry, it's only the wings attaching themselves to you that way you'll have full control over them. Are you ready?"
When she nodded he hopped back to Donatello's shoulder, "Please, move the wings, Donatello, and you lay face down on the table." He pointed to both and watched them do as he said. Once she was laying down he hopped off Donatello and changed back to his original self, pushing a button that moved the table upright and pushed another button that moved the wings inches from her back, using Donatello to align it perfectly.
"Donnie..could you hold me hand?" Kara turned her head towards him clearly nervous. "Please?"
Donnie nodded and moved so she could look at him comfortably and squatted down to her level and grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers together. She smiled thankfully at him and gave it a gentle squeeze when she heard Jason say he was about to begin.
Outside, the boys, Draxum, Splinter, Brilliance, April, and Dragan waited nervously, all of them flinching when they heard her screaming. Raph and Mikey held each other. Draxum flinched and moved to run inside but Splinter stopped him, shaking his head. He clicked his tongue in annoyance, wanting to snap his arm for stopping him, but knew he was right so he stood back in place, looking away. Splinter sighed and touched his hand, "Not only is she strong willed, but one of my sons is with her. She's not alone." Draxum nodded and sighed to calm himself.
Leo gripped his crossed arms but blinked when he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Dragan's spirit smiling comfortingly at him, he smiling back at her.
Brilliance stayed calm on the surface but hearing her scream caused her to bite her lip, bringing back bad memories.
Placing the canister inside the slot, the margin of the wings began to glow where the liquid was flowing through. Once it was complete, there was a hint of a glow in the skin of where Jason had worked without break after Donatello left to create and attach the 'veins'. He watched in anticipation when the fluid came out of the back plate and took the shape of large needles. She felt a chill when the needle-like objects touched her skin and gasped when it punctured her skin. She let out a noise of discomfort as the needles went deeper, clenching Donnie's hand. It wasn't til it reached her nerves and spine that she let out an ear-piercing scream, burying her head in the table while Donnie held her squeezing hand in both of his. It took all her willpower to not wiggle and writhe from the pain. Once it had subsided it took a moment for her to collect herself, her body trembling and breathing heavy from the whole situation. Donnie grabbed a hanky from his armor shell, using his mechanical hand to wipe away the sweat and tears from her face.
Jason left and came back with a glass of water and a straw, handing it to Donatello to give to her while she calmed herself down. Taking 3 large slurps of water she gasped in relief, Donnie wiping the water from the side of her mouth, "How you doing?" He asked, staring at her.
"My back feels sore and heavy...but I'm happy about that." She smiled at him while closing her eyes, the heavy feeling welcoming to her.
"If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to do a few basic tests to make sure the wings are set properly." Jason said, setting the table back horizontal. Donatello helped sit her up while Jason grabbed a clipboard. "Now, stretch them out to full length."
Kara closed her eyes forcing herself to but blinked when Donnie touched her arm, "You don't have to force it. Think of when you had your original wings, it's just like that."
She nodded and sighed to calm herself down, the thought almost feeling foreign to her, but when the memories came back to those days she smiled, the two scientists watching the wings move on their own til they were covering half the room. "Excelen!" Jason shouted, almost throwing his clipboard.
"Good! Good!" Donnie exclaimed, he too getting excited.
Kara smile only widened hearing them act like fangirls, "Um anything else, Jason?"
Clearing his throat, Jason nodded and looked to his papers, "Now, move them up and down, like a flapping motion but do it gently because they're gonna be sensitive."
Being able to move them naturally she was overcome with confidence and was itching to really try them out, "I want to test them for real."
"Out of the question. Your back is very sensitive not with just the plating but the magic attaching it to your body. We need to give it and you time to get adjusted."
"Please! You have to do this for me!" She stood to her feet, Jason switching back to his frog yokai, staring up at her as she dropped down to her knees, "How would you feel if one of the few things that gave you joy was taken from you and when you had a chance to get it back you were told to stay away from it?"
He stared into her eyes, brows lifting, and in a soft voice, "I would be asking the same thing.."
"Then please..atleast two minutes. I just want to feel free again.." She lowered her head, clenching her fists into the ground.
Jason glanced behind her at her wings, eyes widening in awe to see her wings reacting to her emotions, they slowly lowering before wrapping around her in a sort of hug. His eyes trailed to Donatello who he could tell was having a debate in his mind, so it was up to him. "Are you willing to accept the pain just for two minutes of joy?"
"Yes." She said with no hesitation.
He scratched at his head, groaning in annoyance. "Get back on the table and keep your back to me. Donatello, help her up." He turned around, hopping to the other side of the room where his chemistry set was.
Donnie gently helped her to her feet. "What is he doing?" She asked as she was helped on the able again. "Looks like he's compromising." He crossed his arms watching him change again, his hair grabbing filled bottles and mixing them together. He squinted his eyes thinking he wasn't an ordinary yokai.
"So, you helped in making this for me?" She lifted her eyes shyly at him making him cough and look away with a light tint to his cheeks, "Well, he clearly needed my brain and as a scientist and inventor it only made sense to help. He was missing crucial information that only I knew." He blinked when he felt the slightest touch and looked down to see a single finger touching his hand. "Thank you. Not just for this but..never giving up on me. It's one of the things I like about you." She lowered her gaze to their hands, blushing and it darkened when he gripped her hand. "Oh yeah? What else do you like about me?" He pulled out his phone pretending to be typing but was side-eyeing her curiously.
The question caught her off guard but had to smile at how non-nonchalant he was trying to be. Decicing to play along she lifted their hands up and placed her lips to his fingers, "In what order would you prefer?" Slowly, her colorful eyes looked up at him his reaction being sudden sweat sliding down his body like rain on a window, his face frozen and twisted in confusion and joy; his eyes looking both directions but that curvy smile showed her she didn't make the wrong decision.
"I would PREFER you two separate." Jason, now a frog again, hopped between them tapping both their faces, though 'tapping' Donatello's harder to where he dropped to the ground. He landed on her lap and pointed up at her, "I made a numbing agent that'll last EXACTLY two minutes." He then pointed to Donatello, who snapped out of his trance and was rubbing his cheek. "It's on the table in a syringe already. You need to inject it in her back."
The boys and fathers were becoming impatient.
"They've been in there for almost two hours.." Draxum grumbled, tapping his clawed finger on his crossed arm.
"Patients is all we can give." Splinter sighed though he, too, was starting to get bored. The boys and April were occupying themselves by talking with Brilliance and Dragan, but after their first meeting he'd rather not get too close.
Suddenly, the doors burst open and out came Kara soaring into the sky cheering as loud as her lungs would allow. When her wings opened and they saw the colors and design their eyes and mouth were wide in shock.
"Woooah! They're so pretty!" Mikey smiled in excitement at not just the wings but seeing Kara's pure joy, even the others agreed.
Donnie walked out with Jason on his shoulder, smiling with pride at their work.
"What are you doing down here with us?"
Donnie turned to Leo in surprise to see him smiling at him with his arms crossed, leaning his weight to one leg, "Can't you fly too? You should be up there with her." Seeing his younger brother's surprised expression his eyes softened and gave him a wink, "Go get her, tiger."
Jason hopped off his shoulder and went to Brilliance, "Hurry. She doesn't have much time left."
Without hesitation, he brought out his drone and flew up to her.
Leo watched him reach her and they start to playfully chase each other. His brows furrowed, his heart aching for just a moment til a welcoming cold touched his hand. He suddenly found himself inside Dragan's dimension but they were in a tavern. She was sitting alone with an empty mug in front of her, her finger trailing the top. "It's weird watchin' those ye care 'bout find love, isn't it? It's always a joyful experience but ye wonder..what 'bout me?"
By this time he was sitting beside her, a mug appearing in front of him.
"Sacrifices. Heh, a word that's etched in our muscles an memories.." She drank the rest of her drink and gently set the mug down before turning to him, leaning her head on her arm that was resting on the bar, "So. How are ya feeling?"
"Well, for starters, what does a guy need to do to get a drink around here?" He waved his empty mug making Dragan giggle, "Honestly? I'm ok. It's not meant to be, I get it, but it was nice to feel warm when she looked at me or talked to me." His voice slowed when he realized how close they were, getting lost in her eyes.
Dragan smiled and sighed softly, "That's the spirit, Leo. This world is large an vast. Ye will find your soul mate someday."
"Yeah. Maybe soon." He said in a daze but was snapped out of it when he was literally snapped out of Alastair, blinking when he saw Kara standing in front of the group, everyone talking to her at once.
"Kara, go gather your things, it's getting late." Brilliance said ushering Kara inside, who nodded and ran off inside. When she was out of sight she turned to Draxum and pulled out a disk case from her pocket, "Here, this was in her jacket. It's clearly for you."
Draxum raised a brow, staring down at the disk that clearly had his name on it but took it regardless, though was suspicious of it, pocketing it for later.
When Kara returned, she had a bag with not just the clothes she wore at the start of the day, but the ones from the resort too. She held her coat in her lower hands as she ran up to Brilliance and turned to them all, "Thank you for sticking through this with me. I really appreciate it. I-I'll see you guys around." She smiled wide enough to show her teeth and waved bye as she, Brilliance, and Dragan left to go home.
They all waved bye to them as they left. "I think we better follow their example and leave." Raph said now that they were gone their faces were filled with exhaustion and stress.
"Agreed." Draxum sighed, they all heading home as well.
Brilliance sighed with her hand to her face listening to Kara groan in pain from not listening to Jason's instructions and let her be. "Goodnight." She said over the groaning, Kara groaning a goodnight in between the pain groans. As she laid on her stomach dealing with the consequences of her actions her mind going back to her and Donnie flying in the sky. From feeling the freedom of the wind in her face to them circling each other, holding hands, it was magical. She fell asleep with a smile on her face, sharing her adveture with Dragan in her dreams.
~~Extra~~
Draxum was sitting in the livingroom of the lair with the others while Donnie placed the disk in their player. He chose to stay quiet while everyone else got situated.
"Popcorn?" Mikey asked, holding out a large bowl to him.
Curious, he grabbed a handful and sniffed it, "Looks like the eggs of sluggarents." He picked one up and popped it in his mouth, surprised at the soft yet salty taste. "Hmm. Not bad."
Donnie sat down on the floor as the video started.
It was that day Draxum took Kara to meet Big Mama.
"Well, hello, Draxie-poo, it's rare for you to visit me. Oh. And who is this?" She asked looking from him to the new yokai she's never seen before.
Kara gulped not liking the look she was giving her.
"This is my first soldier for my plans in taking over the humans but she needs help with her training. I want you to use her in your Battle Nexus to get her more experience and become my ulitmate creation."
"You sure liked to bring up your 'evil' plans any chance you got, huh?" Mikey snickered, the others chuckling causing Draxum to blush in embarrassment but began to grow worried knowing the result of spending time with Big Mama but didn't know what happened in between so he watched.
"That sure is an interesting favor but what do I get in exchange? After all, my Battle Nexus is for entertainment, what if she ruins my reputation?" Big Mama stood from her seat and walked up to him before walking around her to get a good look.
"Do what you will to shape her into the ultimate warrior." Draxum turned to leave.
Big Mama changed into her yokai form causing Kara to shout out in fear and grab Draxum's arm, "Woah, woah! You're gonna leave me with her? Do you see what she is?! She's gonna eat me!"
"Oh, pish-posh, I don't eat my clients or employees..unless you act out of line." She smirked at her while squinting her many eyes.
"No. No. No. No. Don't leave me with her, please. I'll train harder, I-I'll get rid of my humanity like you wanted." She clutched his arm, practically begging, but he just snatched his arm away, "Use that fear to do it quickly then." He opened a portal and walked through leaving her alone with her greatest fear. She tensed up hearing her many legs tap on the ground as she made her way towards her.
"Do you fear spiders?" Big Mama asked, leaning down to where her head was next to hers.
She gulped to remain calm knowing the first rule is to never show fear, "N-No. You're just ugly to look at."
"Ooooooohhhhhh!" The boys cheered making Draxum roll his eyes, but a small smile cracked his lips.
"I see you have some spunkery. We'll make quick work of that. So, here's what will happen; you'll start with our weakest fighter. The more fights you win, the stronger your opponents will be. If you survive and make it to the top, then I'll release you to Draxum." She changed back to her human form, this surprising Kara. "Wait." Big Mama blinked when she pointed at her brooch, "I want one of those."
"Oh? I only give these to my employees who work in the hotel. What's in it for me?" She leaned her chin on her interlocked fingers.
Kara lowered her eyes in thought, if she was doing this..might as well go all the way, "I'll be your number one champion."
"Oh! Hahaha! How splendifurous! I haven't had a champion since Lou Jitsu and that was years ago."
She rolled her eyes and sighed, "I'm not completely helpless. Do we have a deal?"
"Hmm. Very well. Become my champion and I'll give you one of these." She pointed at her brooch before holding out her hand. Kara stared down at it before closing her eyes and shook her hand. There's no going back anyways.
For the first few fights her opponent was smaller than her, staring up at her in fear. Seeing their fear and how they shook but tried to fight made her feel sorry for them and knock them out with the end part of her weapon, not wanting to hurt them but that's not what the yokai wanted. Boos and food items were thrown at her for giving them lackluster fights but she ignored them, dragging her unconscious opponent out the arena. She walked to her cell and waited for a lecture from Big Mama but what would happen next she never would have expected.
Standing at the door of her cell was Big Mama with two of her beefy guards, an owl and a fox. "I do believe we already had a little toodle-loo about this. It seems you need a reminder of who you're dealing with." She snapped her fingers, the two guards going up to her, grabbing her arms, and forcing her to her knees. "W-what are you doing?" She tried to get her arms back but they tightened their grip forcing her to cringe from the pain. Big Mama walked up holding a metal collar in one hand while bending down slightly and placing her other hand on her floof, "Such a beautiful color and so soft. Perfectly hides your slendery neck~" She pushed the floof down and snapped the collar around her neck, readjusting the floof back to how it was before standing up and walking back to the door. "Now, we had an agreement and you may be winning but my customers aren't happy. And when they're not happy; neither am I." She narrowed her eyes while lifting up a remote and turned the knob sending a surge of electricity through her body. She let out a startled yell, the pain lasting only a second. She gasped when it stopped and stared wide eyed up at Big Mama.
"Now, the more you act out," She turned up the volume and pressed a button, she now screaming, "The more severe the volts. No more mercy because I won't be showing any." She snapped her fingers, her henchmen now going to her side, while Kara fell to the floor, panting from the pain.
They all watched in horror the more she fought the more she would get hurt from the panic of getting electrocuted but when getting hurt she'd get mad and retaliate til it was time for the finishing blow.
Standing over her opponent, scythe raised for the final strike but upon seeing their fear-stricken face she would instead knock them out.
Being true to her word, Big Mama would electrocute Kara after each match, her screams echoing the halls where the fighters were kept, the lights from the electricity flashing in her cell the shadow of Kara's writhing body visible to them all. After leaving for the night Kara's arm dropped out through the cell door, clenching the ground with her trembling hand, "Someone...help...guys...anyone. Draxum." She whispered through her sobs.
Raph was comforting a crying Mikey while the others could only watch, Donnie and Leo glaring at Draxum but he was too focused on Kara being in pain.
Facing stronger opponents, she continued to get hurt but her skills were also improving, not getting hurt as much, but she still wouldn't kill.
It was her latest punishment that someone finally spoke up.
"Give it a rest, Big Mama, there are some of us trying to sleep." A yokai said in the cell next to hers.
"Oh, forgive me my tidlery rudeness. I guess you wouldn't mind fighting three straight rounds since you're not getting much sleep anyways." Big Mama walked up to the cell smiling at the yokai before walking away, "Goodnight, you two~"
After a moment to calm herself, Kara sat up, glancing at the wall. "Thanks for that."
"Yeah, well, it's hard to sleep when you're screaming. You..seem rather young to be here. Are you a runaway?"
"You could say that..I'm just trying to get stronger." Kara hugged her knees to her chest.
"Well, you'll definitely get hands on experience. I'm Star, Dia Star." A muscled, olive green, clawed hand reached out from the cell doors. Kara smiled and shook the hand, "Kara."
If one of them wasn't fighting or Kara being tortured, they would talk and Dia would even share some tips. It was only a matter of time before Kara let her guard down around her.
"I've got good news for you two!" Big Mama shouted with glee as she walked up to the two cells, "You two are the last ones standing to claim the title of Champion! Timtomph I'm ecstatic!" She giggled while clapping her hands and leaving them to let the news sink in.
"No-No! I can't fight you, I don't want to hurt you!" Kara grew nervous gripping the cell bars, trying to peek at Dia.
"Hey, hey, calm down. Look, we'll give them a show by pretending to fight while I think of a way for us to escape. When I give the signal we'll both get out of here. Do you trust me?" She held out her hand, Kara immediately reaching for it, "I do."
"Good. We got this, Kara."
It was clear the battle was one-sided. The reptilian yokai wasn't giving Kara anytime to block or defend herself but when she would try to fight back Dia would stop her by whispering, "I'm not trying to hurt you, just make it believable." before going back to beating her up. When Kara crashed to the ground she tried to pick herself up but Dia stomped her foot on her hard and worked the crowd, the cheers egging her on. "You wanna know something, Kara? I never liked you."
Kara gasped softly, slowly turning her head up at Dia, "What.."
The video switched from the fight to Big Mama's office, Dia standing in front of her desk. "So, you want me to gain and break the newbie's trust and you'll give me the title of Champion and the luxuries it comes with? No more stale food and cold, cell walls?"
"Why, yes, she'll definitely be pushed in the right direction if you do this for me." Big Mama smirked when Dia's grinned, baring her fangs, "Deal."
Dia leaned down so only she would hear, "I was never your friend. I was using you to get out of this hellhole and be moved up to the hotel." She kicked her hard across the arena, Kara slamming into the wall, "Oh, poor me, I left everyone I care for behind and now I'm alone. Please, you don't know the first thing about pain until now." Dia stared down at her in disgust, "Goodbye, Kara. I'd say it's been fun but that would be a lie." She raised her arm to send the final blow til something flashed in her eyes and suddenly blood exploded from a slash down her chest to her waist.
Kara slowly stood to her feet, scythe raised upward with blood dripping from the blade. Her pupils were small and unfocused, "No more." She whispered, twirling her blade so it was pointed downward and tilted it before bringing it down and creating another slash but this one deeper than the first. "No more." Her voice was slightly louder, her crazed eyes solely on Dia as she kicked her hard sending her flying. She flew beside Dia and sliced her arm clean off. Dia screamed in agony, writhing and holding on to her stump, "Wa-wait, Kara, I didn't mean any of it! Big Mama ma-" Her eyes widen letting out a soft choking sound before her head dropped to the ground with a thud.
The roars of the crowd snapped her out of it and upon seeing Dia's dead body she dropped her scythe and grabbed her head, letting out a scream that was drowned out by the crowd.
Big Mama smirked down at her Champion as the announcer gave her the name, Winx.
Kara kept her head down as she was escorted to Big Mama's office, the image of Dia's dead body fresh in her mind. She never killed anyone before and it did not give her a good feeling. She was left alone in the office and blinked to see an outfit sitting on the desk, a simple tank top and shorts. Quickly changing behind a wall, wanting to get out of the blood-stained clothes she looked at herself in the full-length mirror then down at her hands. "I'm a murderer.." She whispered, jolting when the doors were swung open and Big Mama stepped in, "Ah, there's my stupendious Champion. I had my doubts til you swung at the last minute and claimed victory! As promised, here is your prize." She walked over to her desk and pulled out a brooch before walking over to her, standing behind her. "I'm sure this will help you realize where you belong." She helped her put it on and pressed the button before stepping back, closing her eyes. A smirk etched her lips when she heard Kara gasp.
Kara, now a human was covered in scars from her many battles and from the collar around her neck. She stared down at her body in shock, "I'm hideous.." Her voice cracked, tears in her eyes.
"Nonsense! I'm sure the humans will accept you just the way you are." Big Mama grabbed her arm and began to drag her towards the door but Kara protested, screaming with tears running down her face, and dropped to her knees as Big Mama whispered to her how she was no longer a human, but a monster. Kara slowly reached her hand up and was now back to being a mutant.
"That's my girl. I'll give Draxie the good news in two weeks. You should be up to his standards by then." Big Mama left a withdrawn Kara laying on the floor, the life gone from her eyes.
Next was a montage of Winx's next fights, each more brutal as she finished off her opponents til she was standing at attention, being inspected by Draxum. "Excellent work, Big Mama. It seems I owe you one."
"Not at all. Just let her be my Champion in between your dastardly deeds then your debt is cleared."
He nodded and both of them left. Big Mama looked up at the camera and smiled before the video ended.
The room was silent, horror written on everyone's face.
"That explains. So much." Leo said what everyone was thinking but no one wanted to say.
It's as Leo said, everything has become clear on Kara's behavior when working with the old Draxum. Reviews are nice but so are hugs and I'll gladly take both! Also, the next episode is going to be, in my opinion, EVERYONE'S favorite episode. You all know which one I'm talking about huehue~