Home Sweet Mountain Home

Some Dwarves workers are working in the mine near the town of Rudix Hollow seem like another day of hard working for them, that is until suddenly the caves started shaking and the rocks fell from the ceiling making the dwarves scared as they hurry to get out.

But some rocks were about to fall on them sealing their fate though a green magical barrier shield them from the rocks.

"Look, the Mysticons!" One dwarf worker pointed at the heroes outside.

"Hurry, get out now!" Wind Ninja called out.

The dwarves hurry towards the exit though the continuing shaking is making it harder for the Dragon Mage to hold up her shield, but thankful to see that the workers have gotten out.

"Is that everyone?" Mountain Ninja asked wanting to make sure there isn't anyone missing.

"Help!" One dwarf worker with a white bread called out for help, being stuck under a rock.

Emerald hurry to the dwarf worker as she pushes the large rock off and putting up her shield carrying the dwarf out as fast as they can go without tripping, the other Mysticons called out cheering for their knight while also telling her to hurry before more rocks fall on them.

"Don't worry, as long as my shield holds out. We'll be fine." Mysticon Knight assured.

However, she shields soon fade after taking so many hits from the falling heavy rocks and now they are defenseless.

"Okay, you can start worrying now." Knight gulped as they start running.

"Hang on, sis!" Mountain Ninja jumped into the entrance and slam his axe on the ground.

Using his rock power to form a tunnel dome to protect Knight and the dwarf worker while running out of the mine at the same time, and it hold out just long enough for them to get out.

"You okay, sis?" Mountain Ninja asked.

"I'm fine, we both are." Knight nodded and smiling at the dwarf.

"That's one rock show I don't want to see again." Forest Ninja commented.

"Thank you, Mysticons. We're honored to have you here at Rudix Hollow. And I'm forever in your debt, Mysticon Knight and Mountain Ninja." The white-breaded dwarf said bowing a bit.

"We're always happy to help, sir." Mountain Ninja nodded.

"Yes, we were only upholding our code of honor."

"Quickly men, more jacks!" The white-breaded dwarf called out to his men, and they all left the Mysticons while Mysticon Knight was still talking.

"Em, they're gone." Donnie said.

"Oh, okay." Emerald sighed, feeling hurt from that.

The Mysticons look around seeing there is no more danger here besides that termer shaking and take in the sight of the valley.

"Wow, what a magical valley!" Arkayna amazed of the scenery.

"Oh yeah, you never get tired of seeing sights like these every now and then." Donnie nodded.

"Yeah, yeah, real cool. Now, let's get going!" Emerald hurried as she pushes Arkayna onto her griffon and Leo.

"Whoa, Em, what's the rush?" Arkayna asked.

"Yeah, it sounds like you were trying to get away from something." Leo noticed that behavior and tone.

"What? No, of course there isn't. I just had this… salon appointment for me and Topaz!" Emerald proclaimed with a nervous smile.

Topaz screeches in confusion, clearly not remembering her owner saying anything about going to a salon as the other griffons are curious as well, but Donnie is the only one who knows why Emerald is acting this way and knew this day would come since they are close to someplace, they know.

"Actually Emerald, I seem to remember that we promised to do a surprise visit to our hometown soon." Donnie grinned.

"We did?" Emerald asked, confuse.

"You guys want to see your family?" Leo asked.

"Yep, and lucky for us that the town we grew up in is right over there!" Donnie pointed his axe-staff at the view of a town.

"Aw, what a cute little-townie-poo!" Piper complimented.

"Wait, so that's Rudix Hollow over there?" Zarya asked.

"That's right, or as we like to call it…" Donnie paused with a smirk as he turns to Emerald finishing the sentence.

"Ugh… the Jewel of the North." Emerald introduced the nickname of the town.

"Jewel of the North, is it under that rocky-looking town." Raph joked earning a look from Donnie and Emerald.

"In fact, we were wondering if you guys would like to come with us. Learn more about ourselves and see the "rocky" life we grew up in." Donnie grinned.

"No, no, no, we don't. I'm sure they got other things to do." Emerald tried to drop the idea and want to leave right now.

"Actually, we're all cleared on our schedule today." Mikey mentioned which made Emerald glare at him fiercely.

"Oh my goblin! I can't wait to see where you two grew up. Let's go!" Akayna excited.

"Then it's decided Mysticons, we're going to Rudix Hollow!" Leo declared.

"Last one there is a dirty, rotten zombie!" Piper and Mikey excited as they fly towards the town.

"Wait, wait, guys. It's super boring." Emerald tried to stop them, but they have already gone off.

Emerald turns to Donnie with a grin trying to act all innocent.

"Donatello! What the Thunderia do you think you're doing?" Emerald asked angry.

"Hmm, let me think. Perhaps thinking it's really time we go see our family, including seeing our dad." Donnie revealed his intention.

"But Donnie, what if our friends think we're lame because of our family, and dad hasn't exactly reach out to us since we moved to Drake City." Emerald reminded him.

"We tried calling him." Donnie mentioned.

"But he never replies to us, probably still disappointed in me about then job I got." Emerald rolled her eyes.

"I tried telling dad that you're also my assistant." Donnie said as they hop onto Topaz.

"Oh sure, that should make him feel happy." Emerald said as they fly away their friends.

But unknown to the Mysticons deeper in the mines, a rumbling sound can be heard, and a giant drill car came through a wall driven by none other than the evil skull general, Dreadbane.

"It should be here." Dreadbane looked at the map seeing they're in the right place.

"General Tibion! Find me that solarite." Dreadbane ordered.

"Spectral Hand, dig!" Tibion ordered the skeleton troops.

"Are you sure we're in the right spot, Dreadbane?" Rahzar asked walking next to the drill car.

"Solarite is a very rare power rock that no one has seen in decades or more, even though one little rock alone could power half of a city." Rahzar recalled of what he knows about Solarite.

"Which is why we're going to find it out, and once we do, the Mysticons will cower in fear." Dreadbane smirked.

"I do love seeing the tremble in fear before sending them to the afterlife." Rahzar chuckled.

"But it's not going to be easy even with that map of the mine tunnels you have." Rahzar pointed out.

(Emerald and Donnie's Family Home)

The Mysticons arrive at the family house Emerald and Donnie used to live in as they're now in their normal forms and have to leave the griffons behind at the forest.

"This is so awesome! We get to meet your family." Arkayna smiled.

"I just hope mom remembers to water that cactus plant I got from one of my experiments." Donnie said.

"You did experiments on a cactus?" Zarya asked.

"It was his idea to help grow cactus in deserts and have water inside than the nasty juice." Emerald explained.

Mikey, Piper and Choko are ringing the doorbell together playfully.

"Honey, we're home!" Mikey joked.

"If you're another scam artist trying to sell me a fake forge—" A dwarf woman comes out holding a wooden hammer looking angry, but her expression soon turns into a happy face when seeing Donnie who is holding Emerald trying to escape.

"Great garnets! Emerald, Donatello!" The woman smiled.

"Hey, mom." Emerald exclaimed with a force smile.

"We came home for a surprise visit." Donnie smiled at his adopted dwarf mom.

"Oh, you certainly surprise me, my little purple-nurple turtle!" Citrine smiled hugging her two children.

The others snort trying to hold in their laughter upon hearing Donnie being called "Purple-Nurple" earning a firm look from Donnie.

"Oh my—oh my, and you even brought Princess Arkayna and Prince Leonardo. I didn't know we were getting a visit from the royal family." Citrine surprised to see the two royalties.

"You could say we're also the added surprise for you, ma'am." Leo said.

"My hair!" Citrine gasped realizing her hair is a mess and hurry into her home.

They can hear loud crashing noise coming from inside of the house as Leo looks worry though Donnie gave a hand gesture that everything is fine.

"My bush! Where's my bush! By my anvil, it's the Royal Siblings!" Citrine shouted panicking.

"Mom, have you try checking the drawer in the sink?" Donnie called out.

"Oh, great goblins." Emerald muttered and Citrine came back out busing her hair.

"It's an honor to be in your presence, your Highnesses!" Citrine greeted with formality this time.

"The honor is all ours." Arkayna said.

"Do I bow or curtsy?" Citrine whispered asking her kids.

"Don't worry, mom, they don't a normal greeting." Donnie assured.

"Well then, come here, you two!" Citrine hugged the two royal siblings making them giggle.

"Mom!" Emerald exclaimed, feeling embarrassed of this.

"It's fine, Emerald." Leo chuckled.

"Curse that Dreadbane. What he did to your parents was just terrible." Citrine mentioned, feeling sad for the two.

"Mom!" Emerald gasped of her mom bringing up a painful memory for them.

"Thank you for concern, I don't think we would be feeling of anything if we didn't have our great friends like Donnie and Emerald." Leo said kindly.

"Em's home!" One boy shouted.

"Donnie's home too!" Another boy said.

A pair of boys who are almost identical except for having different hair color come running to hug their older siblings, but suddenly start trying to shove each other.

"Hey, I wanna hug them first." The boy with brown hair complained.

"No, I want to hug them first." The boy with orange hair argued back.

"Easy you two, it's great seeing you guys again too." Donnie stroked their heads making them smile.

"Everyone, meet our little brothers, Halite and Ferrus." Emerald introduced the twins to the others.

"Whoa, dudes! They're named after minerals, so cool!" Mikey amazed.

"Oh, that means Emerald's name is a mineral too!" Piper realized with a giggle.

But when the twins saw Piper and notice her pointy ears, they freak out.

"Ah! Elf!" The twins rushed back into the house with a little crashing noise.

"Set the table for our guests. And use the good hammerware." Citrine ordered.

"What was that about?" Raph asked.

"Halite and Ferrus heard an old story about hoe scary elves are and how they and the dwarfs used to hate each other. Classic different race opinion scenario, but don't worry, the twins will grow to love Piper as a new friend." Donnie explained.

"That's good because I don't want Piper to feel bad about scaring them." Mikey whispered to the two.

They hear a thundering noise as they look up seeing a storm cloud just appearing over the town.

"Better get inside before that storm hits us." Citrine said and hugs Emerald.

"I missed you, Pootinkle! Oh, just wait until your dad sees you." Citrine smiled as she walks inside.

Then everyone starts laughing at the two inventing geeks because now they know Emerald also has a silly nickname known as Pootinkle and they walk inside.

"Pootinkle, hilarious!" Zarya laughed.

"Man, you sure had a good life here… Purple-Nurple." Raph teased.

"Yep, they're hilarious." Emerald exclaimed.

"Come on, Emerald. It's time we face the music." Donnie said with a hand on her shoulder.

Emerald didn't want to agree and just back to go back to the hideout, but she knew that Donnie is right that she is going to have to face her dad sooner or later and now might be the time since they're already here.

Everyone has gathered at the dining table, eating some of Citrine's home cook soup as most of the group are enjoying it.

"Mmm, this is delicious, Mrs. Goldenbraid." Arkayna complimented.

"Yeah, this soup makes my soul feel at peace." Leo nodded.

"Peace for the afterlife, no thank you." Raph pushed his bowl away.

"Yeah, I'll take street food over home-cooked any day." Zarya disliked how the soup looks.

"Don't be rude, just taste it." Arkayna elbowed Zarya's arm.

"It's like Master Splinter once said, "One may look worse for wear, but cannot know it fully until you learn to embrace it fully."" Leo said the wisdom words.

"Fine!" Zarya rolled her eyes.

"If I end up dead, I'm hunting you." Raph warned.

Zarya and Raph sniff the bowl at first finding the small to be disgusting, but their tones soon change once they start tasting the soup finding the flavor to be unexpectedly good. So good, that they finish their bowl and took Arkayna and Leo's bowl.

"Looks like your home cooking won them over." Leo commented.

"Thank you. And it's great to finally meet all of your friends, I knew you two wouldn't feel alone that you need me to hold your hands." Citrine smiled.

"Mom!" Emerald embarrassed.

"I remember how nervous Donnie was on the day you two were about to leave for Drake City, he almost below up the bathroom with one of his potions." Citrine giggled of the memory.

"Mom!" Donnie exclaimed, now feeling embarrassed like Emerald.

Suddenly a rough shaking came to the house causing everyone to feel rumbling.

"Earthquake! Everyone, hide in your shells!" Mikey popped into his shell as Piper hold him.

The shaking only last for a few seconds, and Mikey pop himself back out once he notice the shaking has stop.

"Okay, that was… something." Raph said.

"Yeah, not ominous at all." Zarya joked.

"Just the tremors, dear." Citrine said.

"The tremors?" Emerald and Donnie confused.

"We're learning to live with them. Nothing to worry about." Citrine assured everything is fine.

"Odd, Rudix Hollow never gets tremors like this before. This is actually the second one we felt on our way here." Donnie said finding this to be strange.

"It's been happening for a few days, but like I said, nothing to worry about." Citrine said.

Then they hear some thunking sound coming from Halite playing on Piper's ear as she didn't seem to mind at all.

"Check it out, Ferrus! An ear banjo!" Halite laughed exciting.

"Oh yeah, Piper's ear are their own music instruments!" Mikey smiled proud.

"I'm already feeling up some beat wanting to come out right now!" Piper smirked as she stands up.

"And out they shall." Mikey decided to make this more fun.

"Yo twins, give us a beat!" Mikey requested and the Goldenbraid twins start making some rap beat sounds with their hands and mouths.

"What's up, this Michelangelo in the house!" Mikey started off.

"Along with Piper, looking for fun with some shouts!" Piper rapped as well.

"We're the ones everyone says we're two of a kind, meaning we're the unique that does our own thing." Mikey smirked.

"Now we're hanging with the dwarf, seeing the gold in their hearts. Rapping like old school!" Piper excited.

"Somebody, smash me with a hammer." Emerald slammed her face on the table while everyone else is enjoying the rap.

Mikey and Piper continue their rapping until the music stops when everyone gasp and the two bump into a large, breaded man behind them with a scary glare.

"H-Hey, Em's dad in the house." Mikey chuckled nervously.

"How it going?" Piper chuckled.

"Hi, dad." Donnie waved hello to his adopted dad.

"That was wonderful, you two. Wasn't that wonder, Malachite?" Citrine asked her husband, he sat at his chair with grunting noncommittally.

"He's not a fan of the rap." Citrine informed.

"Yeah, the mean look tells us that already." Raph said.

"Pootinkle and Purple-Nurple came by for a surprise visit with their friends, dear. We're in the presence of royalty." Citrine explained to her husband while giving him some soup.

"Oh, it feels like just yesterday you two were leaving to go work at the palace." Citrine remembered that day.

"How's that going, anyhoo?" Citrine asked.

"Doing great, mom. I've been making some great progress with my invention like this one time we tried making a music player that could music notes fly around you." Donnie mentioned.

"And the color would be different depending on how you're enjoying the music." Emerald added.

"Yeah, Emerald has been a big help assisting Donnie whenever she is not doing her royal Griffon wrangling." Arkayna mentioned Emerald's official job.

This causes Malachite to spit out his soup shock to hear one of his kids is wrangling and slam his fists on the table before walking away.

"Oh dear." Citrine worried as Emerald look sad.

KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!

The Mysticons have made a visit to Donnie and Emerald's hometown seeing their family in a long time since they left home, but it looks like the dad doesn't appear to be in the mood to know about their days in the palace, especially now with hearing about Emerald's job.

KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!