87Hello everyone! Welcome to the start of a new tale!
A little house keeping first:
The first couple of chapters (for the sake of world-building) take place in the aftermath of September 11th, 2001. (If for some reason you are unaware of the importance of this date, PLEASE go look it up before diving in.) I know that in America, we still sometimes tread lightly around this time in our history. Believe me when I say that I will be treating this setting with the utmost respect, along with doing thorough research to keep everything as accurate as possible.
Some of you may be aware of my Miraculous Ladybug Fics and are wondering where the latest installments of those are. Fear not. I am simply re-immersing myself into the TMNT fandom for a time. Once Miraculous comes back or the (Lady)bug bites again, I will finally finish the last bit of those stories.
I also find that I am enjoying the new 2018 iteration of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! While OUADN takes place within the 2012 universe, there maybe some 2018 elements mixed in. If you haven't seen ROTTMNT, you should go give it a try!
Many of these stories are influenced by music. If there is a chapter that is particularly inspired by a certain song(s), I'll include it/them at the beginning of the chapter so that maybe you can see that song in a new light!
Finally and without further adieu, I present the first chapter in Once Upon a December Night!
Lost Boy by Ruth B.
December 9, 2001
New York in the winter experiences a special type of cold; especially in the wake of a tragedy depriving the world of warmth. Hamato Yoshi -once a proud ninja, now a mutated rat humanoid- bowed respectfully to one of the pop-up shrines of those lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The streets leading up to his usual scavenging spots were covered in them. It broke Yoshi's heart to see so many innocent lives lost to such violence.
The biting cold of the wind blew through the thin material of Yoshi's robe; the only thing he had managed to save from his previous life. The day he had encountered that mysterious ooze was the day Hamato Yoshi died- now only Splinter remained. That was also the day Splinter was introduced to his sons. He smiled under his hood. No. He would not trade the boys for one more day with humanity. They were his life now… and they were probably hungry.
A rogue snowflake landed on the pink of Splinter's nose, returning his mind to the task at hand. The snow continued to pile higher as the rat shivered. If he was cold, he could only imagine how cold the boys would be. Maybe there will be some blankets or heavy coats behind the thrift store downtown, the rat mused.
Splinter chuckled to himself as he inspected the next dumpster. He was truly blessed to have his four sons. They deserved something special for their first Christmas in their new home located deep within the city's sewer system. The small family were safe for the time being from the creatures hunting them.
"Kraang is ordering the one known as Experiment 273 to halt and return with Kraang to Kraang testing facility."
The voice approaching the alley sent Splinter scurrying for the shadows. His ears twitched once he was hidden. This voice sounds familiar…
"No! Stay away from us!" A woman's voice. A scared voice.
Splinter's humanity wanted to leap from the shadows, confront the problem, and aid the woman in trouble. However, his ninja training and his recently acquired rat-like tendencies won over in the moment. He observed from his current position. Splinter's curiosity piqued when a blond woman darted into the alleyway. Her nervous gaze scanned the space around her, placing something behind the dumpster across from where Splinter hid.
After murmuring something the man could not hear, Splinter got his first look at the woman as she turned toward the alleyway's entrance. Her dress was in tatters, tears snaking their way down her cheeks. Her almost frantic breathing slowed and the fear on the woman's face melted into defiance as two dark haired men blocked her only exit. One of them held a heavy looking silver device.
"This is the final warning for Experiment 273 to return with Kraang to the secret Kraang testing facility." One of the men stated in a monotone voice. "What has Experiment 273 done with Experiment 274? Experiment 274 must also return with Kraang to Kraang secret-"
"STOP CALLING HER EXPERIMENT 274, YOU FREAK!" The woman screamed. "She's not one of your lab rats; she's my DAUGHTER!" With all of her remaining energy, she charged at the two men. The one holding the strange device raised it, emitting a beam that passed through the crazed woman. Her mouth opened in a silent scream before she crumbled to the pavement.
"NO!" Splinter roared. Within seconds, he had the men unconscious on the ground. He shook out his hand, amazed at how hard their heads had been; almost as if they were made of metal…
A gurgling noise brought his attention to the woman on the ground. Splinter knelt by her side, assessing the damage. Seeing that there was nothing he could do to save her, he simply held her hand.
"Who were those men? What have they done to you?"
Her eyes were glazed over, only focusing when they fully understood what she was seeing. "You!" She gasped. "Were you experimented on by the Kraang too?" Splinter shook his head.
"Never mind that now. They said they were after your daughter as well. Where is she?"
The woman weakly pointed to the dumpster she had visited earlier. "Her name is April. She turns 6 in February…" She choked out. Her grip on Splinter's hand tightened. "Please! Promise me you'll keep her away from those men, the Kraang! If they… ever get ahold… of… her…" She wheezed. "End of the… world…" And with that, her chest went still.
Splinter closed her eyes, muttering a prayer for her spirit. With a jolt, he realized she had never told him her name.
"Mama?"
His ears twitched as a small voice pierced the air. Splinter kept his place beside the woman as a small, red-headed girl peaked around the corner of the dumpster. Her eyes went wide at the sight of a giant rat kneeling next to her mother, but she didn't scream.
"Did the bad man hurt her?" She asked timidly.
Splinter nodded, gesturing for her to join him. As the little girl sat, she brushed the hair out of her mother's eyes. The man was curious about how this child didn't weep for her mother or scream at the mere sight of him.
"Are you not afraid of how I look, young one?" He asked quietly.
"Nah," She replied casually, not taking her eyes off of her mother. "There were weirder things living in the woods back home." She lifted her head to meet Splinter's gaze. "You look nicer than the bubble-gum hamsters." Splinter chuckled.
"Your mother told me your name is April. Is that right, dear one?"
"Yep! And I'm almost 6!" April proudly held up six fingers.
Taking a deep breath, Splinter broached the next topic cautiously. "She also asked me to protect you for her. Is your father somewhere safe to care for you?"
April's smile drooped as she returned her gaze to her mother. She scrunched her face like she was trying to remember something important. "The last time I saw Daddy, he told me and Mama to run. We were going to play hide and seek with the bad men and that we needed to win." A tear fell. "Daddy didn't come with us to play." Splinter tipped April's chin up so he could wipe the tear.
"You are welcome to come home with me. You can help my sons decorate our Christmas tree tonight."
The girl's eyes lit up. "You've got kids, Mr. Rat? AND a Christmas tree?" She scrambled to her feet, casting one last look at her mother. "Bye Mama." She whispered. April retrieved a small yellow backpack from behind her dumpster.
Running back to Splinter, April grabbed his hand to lead him to the street. "Come one, Mr. Rat! What're we waiting for?"
He gently redirected the girl to where his pack was, scooping her into his arms. "We have to travel a special way to get to my home. Are you afraid of heights, child?" April shook her head, nuzzling further into his warmth. Her eyelids began to droop as her exhaustion overpowered her excitement. Splinter sighed, wondering what this poor girl had been through where nothing surprises her.
"Alright then. Hang on!"