Forever and Always

Family Reunited

April sniffed through the bag. "Are we... in the sewer?"

"No..."

"Technically, yes."

"Yeah. It's the sewer." The bag was removed from her head, letting April look around.

"We brought them here, April." The woman looked to her left. A very familiar young woman was standing next to a massive rat. She stepped down the ledge, walking over to them. The young woman smiled at her, and opened her arms. "Hey."

"Emily!" April flung herself into her elder cousin's arms. "I... I can't believe this!, This is where you've been all this time!?" Emily laughed, pulling back.

"Yep. April, this is Splinter." Emily rested her hand on the rat's shoulder. "Remember him?" April nodded.

"Yeah, but... a lot smaller." Splinter chuckled. Motioning to the ground, he sat down. April sat directly in front of him. Emily sat next to him, while sat on his left.

"Listen closely, April." Splinter stroked his beard. "I don't remember a time before living in that laboratory. That fateful night started like any other..."

"Sacks gave us our injections. Your father made sure, our vitals were strong. And you, as always, provided us with a special treat. After the brothers went to sleep, I heard loud voices."

"There was the smell of smoke. Alarms sounded. Your father had discovered the truth behind the man, he was working for. He set fire to the lab. His last breath was taken, trying to destroy Shredder's plan."

April's hands fisted themselves on her lap. Emily reached out, patting her younger cousin's left hand. April smiled softly, nodding in thanks. Emily sat back, allowing Splinter to continue his story.

"I was terrified. But then, you and Emily appeared, and ushered us to safety. I never had a voice then, but I thank you now, April, as I thanked Emily." Splinter bowed his head in respect towards the younger O'Neil. "We wandered the sewers until I found this place."

"It was then, that the mutagen that was injected into our blood began to change us in miraculous ways. I saw how your father loved you, and I knew I had to same love to the turtles. I became their father, and they became my sons. Like all children, they were drawn to the distractions of popular culture. And I knew one day, they would want to explore the world above."

"They would be ridiculed. They would need to learn how to protect themselves. Both mentally and physically. And then, I found a way."

"First, I would teach my myself, the ancient art of Ninjutsu. The brothers followed my lead, accelerating at a wondrous rate. Their gift was also their passion. They lived, breathed, and dreamed all things martial arts."

"Then, they were ready. Everything they are, and everything that they've become, was made possible by the bravery that you displayed that fateful night." April shook her head in disbelief.

"I... We... were just little kids."

"And you gave us freedom, where others would have kept us in cages." Emily smiled at her cousin. Her reaction was as much as the same as Emily's had been , when Splinter told her the story. Splinter nudged Emily's knee with his, not expecting her to keep the contact. She did.

"Why did you bring me here?" April asked.

"To find out, who you told of our existence."

"Nobody that believes me. Except for Eric Sacks." Splinter signed.

"Sacks..." The rat ninja stood. "just as I feared. Sacks is not a friend. His soul has been poisoned, by the influence of a dark master: The Shredder. Shredder practically raised Sacks in Japan. He's like a father to him. Sacks will do anything for his master."

"Wha... Sacks and Shredder?, So why aren't we out there hunting them down?"

"Because, Raphael, the Shredder is a skilled warrior, who's cruelty is ever-reaching. And you are just teenagers." Raph growled. "The mutagen in your blood is of great value to them. Now that Sacks has confirmation that you are alive, I fear they will bring the fight to us." Emily looked at April as she took out a business card. Jade eyes widened at the name.

"Oh no." Just then, alarms went off.