Changes: chapter 5
#5 of Changes
This was originally made Haloween day, but I was without Internet for a few months.
Changes chapter 5:
This is the 5th chapter, I don't think I need the disclaimer anymore. Look at chapters 1-4 for it.
Also some chapters will purposely be out of order with the story. Will leave out unimportant parts of the show, so I may skip around a lot.
"Splinter's final day of training is in a day. I don't know what to do when he goes from Master to Father"
-Leo & Raph
Chapter 5: Halloween Live, Trick or Treating the Dragons
October 30th
Halloween was the topic that day, it was the 20th birthdays of the turtles, and the retirement of Splinter. It was also tomorrow.
Techie and Blake decided to stay over. It was the only thing that let Zero and Raph stay sane. Raph was breaking down by now.
It was heart wrenching for him. Zero himself was a mess. He spent his time comforting Raph, who would only allow Zero to see him fall apart
He had spoke with Splinter, who had only sighed and told him that Raph would feel better on Halloween. April had closed the shop for the week, and was holding the birthday at the store.
Zero sighed as he looked at Raph "Raph, look at me, nothing is going to change. Splinter will be with us for a long time to come. It won't change, he will always be surfing channels for a soap opera, giving advice when needed, and still being a father to adult Turtles. Your 20 tomorrow. It's not like you to break down like this, what's really wrong?" he asked.
Raph says up, his eye hollows were darker green, almost black contrast to his dark green skin "It is Splinter, and other things. My head is spinning, clouded thoughts that I will break up everything. Without Splinter as Master, he can't make sure I'm not creating a tear in the family. It was safe to be whoever I wanted to be. Rage and passion is me, but I might do som--"
Zero slapped him "Raphael, get a grip, your worrying for nothing. Your bonds are strong, they will never break. It's stronger with me, Blake, and Techie. We all make sure nothing breaks. Trust me Raphie" he said.
Raph looked sad, but no longer struck with worry and dread. He looked tired now "Tomorrow, we need to head to April's house for a birthday party for you guys."
Raph nodded "Your right, nothing's going to change. Lie with me please Z?" he asked as he went to lie on the bed.
"You know of like nothing more" he sat in bed with the turtle, he nestled his head into the hollow of Zero's neck. Zero embraced him "Sleep, for tomorrow is the day that nothing changes, even of they physically do. He will always be your Master and your father, And I'll always be your mate, your stuck with me, so count on it. "
Halloween day.
The antique shop was awesome as Zero, Techie, and Blake stepped in "you know, I have to say it, this should be fun" Techie said zero hefted a large gym bag inside.
"Hey April, we're here..." April and Casey shushed them. They were quietly trying to do something, which was heartening.
They were carefully making a huge cake. It was mixed in with the colors of the turtles masks. A dark red icing created Tge wording, while it was laced with purple. Orange icing created a vine design on the cake, a blue created the boarder, and finally a green image of a turtle was on the cake.
The three friends smiled "A delightful surprise for the guys, if I do say so myself" April said, with a puff of contentment for the work she had done. it was great to see her settling in to the existence of the turtles.
She smiled "the guys will be happy" Zero smiled back at her
"I hope so too..." he said.
The turtles loved the party, and splinter called them out. Zero, Techie, and Blake as well.
Splinter went up to everyone in the room "my sons, Xercies, Keith, Blake. My final lesson to you all, and the first to two of you is the largest secret of them all. Magic exists in this world" Everyone looked shocked, and Donnie, along with Techie started that that was impossible.
Zero saw it as an opportunity, and a large responsibility. If Splinter told them, and he was a no nonsense rat, then it must be true. "Splinter, why now to tell us?" Leo asked.
"Because it is the largest secret of a ninja that magic exists. Ultimately it is no secret to most of existence. I cannot teach you everything of magic, I can teach you simple things. And other things when the time arises. Please forgive me for holding this secret 20 years of your life" he said.
Everyone was speechless. Donnie and Techie were somewhat skeptical. Raph, Zero, and Leo said the same thing at once "No need to apologize"
Splinter smiled "Thank you, but I had to apologize anyway. I can't physically teach you how to use it, but I can give you instruction"
He smiled and sat down and nodded "whenever you want to learn, ask me"
Zero and Raph snuck downstairs "It's weird. Magic, I had a feeling existed, but never did I know Splinter to know of it..." he said.
Raph nodded with him, equally confused "I don't know of I want to know it... I just don't think it's my kind of thing." the turtle was toying with a Sai, and sighed, and Zero kissed him.
A few seconds after that, the door flew open, the lock was picked. Raph drew his other Sai. Zero smiled, dressed in a black cloak, and withdrew both scythes, and hooked them together. The other blade extended and reformed onto a longer blade, because it was bits and pieces of metal connected to a clockwork construct. The other one straightened.
He pulled up the hood and grinned. There were creeps on costumes. A cat girl, a guy with a pumpkin on his head, a werewolf, and others. There were five in all.
They looked confused at the pair, but charged the less. Zero sent one flying with a pole vault kick, and hit pumpkin guy in the face, squishing the pumpkin, and knocking him back. Raph took care of the other two, which left cat girl. She had taken that creepy multi-armed statue, and had darted out the door, accompanied by her lackies.
Zero and Raph ran after them. Zero sent a text to Leo through shellcell. He replied, saying to get him when they figured where the people went.
The costumed guys ended up at a hotel. Zero sent the address to Leo. There was evidence the Hotel was abandoned recently. There was voices in the room. "Finally, after all these years"
Zero nodded and busted the door. The 5 costumed thieves were there. So was another man. He was dressed like a highwayman. He wore no headpiece "ah yes, pests. The King of Thieves should not have to deal with you." he held the statue, Tge ruby on its head sparked eerily "your too late I'm afraid."
He chanted, and Zero realized with dread he was not normal. The ruby glowed and the sky darkened to pitch black outside. Foreboding enough zero muttered "Not even a day, and we're stuck in the world of magic" he said.
The statue was no longer a statue, what stood was living stone. It had grown, and broken through the ceiling of the first floor "Raph, you saw that too... right?" the turtle nodded, stirring from shock.
The rest of the gang popped up "Dudes! Large creepy thing! Bats! Haloween has come alive!" Mikey was frantic, and Raph slapped him.
"The ruby in its head. We need to hit that." Zero said "Wait... did you bring the Battle Shell?" Leo nodded "Sweet."
They found the statue pretty easily, and batted a few demonic bats along the way. Zero was on the roof of the Battle Shell, holding on to a a grip bar fastened to the top.
The plan was for Zero to scale the living statue and destroy the ruby. The statue wasn't that huge at least. Upon nearing the event, Zero launched himself at it, and threw one if his scythes. It spun towards the things head, but the thing moved, slicing its hand off. The hand regrew. And zero ran, catching the scythe as it fell.
He hooked them together again. He held the large scythe. He broke out into a sprint, the wind whipped his hair, he was somewhat nervous. the thing regenerated, it was stronger. The thing he was confident about, was that he was smarter.
He cut an arm as it almost punched him, and climbed it. The statue was weaker than he thought it was. He slashed at the hands coming at him. He jumped, as he reached the shoulder, and threw the scythe. A wrist of the statue was severed, and the curbed blade of the scythe stabbed into the ruby.
The flash was blinding. And Zero felt searing pain in his body. shards of the ruby had stabbed into him, presumably most of them. The statue had shrunk back down, the ruby missing and all the shards nowhere to be found. There were no scars on Zero, but he had felt them stab into him.
Sighing, he stood and retrieved his scythe, which was not damaged the slightest. He frowned and turned around. The Battle shell was pulling up close to him as he sheathed Tge separate scythes In their holders under his torn cloak, his only reason he knew the ruby shards were inside him.
He sighed "Magic is annoying when pit against you" he said, and boarded the can "Can we please go now? We can still get candy" Mikey said.
"I'm going home with splinter, so I'll see you Mikey" Zero said. Raph agreed and stood and let zero by "Let's get back to April's." he said.
The fiasco of returning Tge statue proved bad, but April forgave them. Zero had asked to speak with Splinter "And speak to him alone please Raph" the turtle nodded and Zero went to talk to Splinter.
Splinter was watching his shows on April's tv. He turned toward Zero and nodded "And what happened to that Statue, Xercies?" Zero explained the story, up until shattering the ruby
"Upon shattering that thing, I think all the shards stabbed into me, but there are no wounds. It's like it never happened. What is going on, and why did something magical suddenly happen after telling us? It makes no sense"
Splinter looked at the cloak he wore and sighed "Magic is always unpredictable. Never think you know what it will do, But this ruby you speak of is intriguing. You should refrain from telling too many this, Donnie could... whats the word... ahh yes... X-ray you for those shards."
Zero nodded sullenly "I don't know what to do, but I should ask you some training on magic." he picked up a pen from the counter, and paper from the copy machine "Let's begin I guess"
Splinter started instructing and Zero gingerly wrote it all down, amazed that it was possible to use magic still. He sighed as splinter gave him enough, and allowed everyone to flow in "Everyone, as I said, I must retire from being a Sensei, but my sons, you may still call me Sensei or Master Splinter. For I always will be a Warrior in spirit."
Mikey cried, and Donnie went to support him. Raph held on to Zero, looking exhausted. Leo stood in silence, and everyone didn't say a thing.
Zero sighed "I need caffeine, I'll go get some soda. everyone should head back home, I'll be there soon."
Zero walked out of the store with the drinks everyone asked for. He took a sip of Coke and walked down the path to a sewer hole "looking here, it's a Phoienix brat" someone said as he walked into the ally
Purple dragons popped up on both sides of the alley "And it's the big guy himself." A large man with blond hate and a claw mark scar stood with a sneer on his face "I've come to put you out of the game, permanently"
He couldn't control himself, He laughed "this'd be funnier if you had brought some foot, Hunter" He said. He recoiled from his name "You honestly didn't think I don't study up on my enemy did you?" H threw off the cloak, dressed in jeans and a no sleeve underarmor shirt, He slid the Scythes out and the blade popped into place on both "Do you dance, Hunter?"
The gang members charged, But not Hun, he stood as Zero began knocking them out. He refrained from killing these thugs, they were not much of any threat "you really need to stop using those guys dude. You could really get hurt." he said, Hooking the Scythes together. Hun frowned, but took off, not taking any chances.
Zero frowned "damn it, I'm not in the mood for this" he sheathed Tge scythes and picked up the drinks. He picked up the sewer cover, and slid it back over him as he went into the sewers.
Whhen he dropped into the sewers, something darted in the corner of his vision. It was big, his first thought was Hun. But he voted against it. He walked off towards home.
Upon arriving, no one was in sight, except for two figures too close to be safe. He flicked the light on "ok then... that's odd to walk in on"
Leo had shrunk back behind Blake, who looked stunned "Umm... Hey Z. I was just telling Leo something" zero shook his head.
He sighed "hickey is forming" he said to Blake's neck "can't fool me" he handed them their drinks. "don't go too far my friends" and with that he went searching for the others.
Everyone else was in the dojo "I bring drinks and news!" He said. He grinned and passed out drinks. After doing that, he told them what happened.
Raph was seething, but Zero quickly calmed him down "It's ok..."
Casey called "Guys! I have a problem!" zero sighed "My friend asked me to look after her daughter when she is at work right? Angel snuck out, and I followed her, she is heading inside a purple dragon warehouse... hurry" he gave them an address, and angels appearance.
Zero frowned "Casey is in trouble."
The warehouse was pretty large "you could fit a boxing ring in here" he said. Raph and his brothers had disguised themselves with winter clothing April had. Zero walked in, a fedora on his head. He was stopped by a bodyguard "password"
Zero knew it of course "The dragon sinks into the purple mist" that was why a mole was nessesary. Blake and Techie were off a distance in the Battle Shell. They were the getaway. The turtles and Zero were the infantry. Zero was wearing a leather duster, hiding his scythes from prying eyes.
Walking in Zero sighed in frustration "it's a Fucking purple dragon fight club initiation" Angel was a short 13 year old girl with purple hair in pigtails she was a sore thumb. Zero nodded and walked up to her "Angel I presume" she looked worried, but cleared her visage into a blank look.
"Let me guess, you heard I was some spy, well, sorry to disappoint, I'm not" Zero laughed a little
"No, but you just told a spy, your also a spy" He said, shifting the fedora. He looked around for Amy listening ears, and laughed, pretending it was a joke. It was all he could think of to throw off listeners.
she looked shocked again, and calmed quickly "I came here to see why Casey hated them so much... I never expected this" she said.
He sighed "where is he? He called because he followed you." at that moment Hun popped up, speaking nonsense until he started talking about the prize of tonight's championship, which to Zero's dismay was Casey.
The vigilante was hanging upside-down. Zero tried not to laugh "Angel, go and look for a Green truck outside some ways away." she was persistent to watch him so he sighed, walking up to the arena "How about me? I'm pretty sure you can't fight me"
Hun glared at him "fine, let's get this over with" he allowed zero in the arena, not knowing who he was this time.
Zero took off the fedora, and tossed it "Weapons or not... Hunter?" he smiled when Hun recognized him. Hun didn't bark any orders, like normal. He had a glint in his eye, telling Zero he wanted to take the glory for himself, Cocky bastard.
"No weapons, if you can handle that" that grin was starting to piss Zero off, but he smiled all the same. He nodded and took off his scythes, handing then to a disguised Raph, who just held them in one hand.
Zero smiled "Don't get cocky, big guy" Hun lunged, and was kicked in the jaw. Zero's leg was still in the air, and he brought it down "I said 'don't get cocky', didn't I?"
Hun looked a little dazed as he rubbed his jaw "Lucky shot punk. Your pretty good, I'll admit" he lunged again, dodging another kick. Throwing a punch, he didn't expect Zero to jump, and spin, slamming another foot on his face.
As he landed, he sighed "Was that a lucky shot?" he asked. Hun snuck-shot him in the stomach. He went back a little bit, but he didn't fall. He winced a little "Ok then big guy, I guess I have to stop playing. Hope you have a hard head"
Zero charged, and jumped at a sprinter speed. His legs locked onto Hun's neck. Hun went in a frenzy, charging a wall. Zero pulled back, sending him flying and landing on his hands "weight usually means nothing with judo or jujitsu." he said.
He sighed as Leo and Mikey lowered Casey. They had snuck around for the release. "You really get yourself into a lot of messes, and I should punch you"
Zero undid the metal bindings, and Casey dropped onto the floor. Zero sighed and grabbed a thing of rope and tied up Casey for looks. "And Everyone, I won against the big guy, so I am entitled to take him."
He walked out, holding onto Tge bindings he had Casey in. The turtles and Angel followed suit, leaving a stunned crowd, and a dazed Hun.
"Thanks for rescuing me dude" Casey said in the Battle shell, and Zero punched him in the face "Ow! Ok, I deserved that!" Everyone but Zero and Casey laughed at Casey being punched.
"Casey, your an idiot! You let a thirteen year old sneak off to a Purple Dragon recruiting! That is not OK, do you understand?" he asked. After he nodded, Zero sighed "can we please get to the garage, and Donnie, I think that... might as well cover your ears angel... bastard cracked a rib"
Donnie checked his ribs, indicating one was cracked "Why doesn't it hurt him when you do that?" Angel asked.
"Adrenaline, or epinephrine. Increases blood flow, and as a side effect, decreases my ability to feel pain till it runs it's course" Zero answered "It's going to hurt a little later..." Zero frowned and remembered something "Donnie, Splinter mentioned an X-ray machine, boot it up when we get home, we're going to need it"
Donnie was going to ask why, but shrugged, guessing it was about the cracked rib, which was the part truth. It was mostly about that ruby thing.
Angel and Casey were dropped off, and Techie went to drive to the garage. "Hunter was there?" Blake asked. Zero nodded "Shit, he technically runs things! He is a right hand man of someone, but who?"
Zero shook his head "I hope I meet who, I think I'll start off the meeting with my foot in his...well you get my meaning"
Raph had been awfully quiet in that time. Zero turned towards him and smiled "Raph? I know it's been a rough night, but we're here semi unscathed. I still love you as well. After I get X-ray'd, we can sleep"
They pulled up in the driveway of the garage, and it opened. They drove inside and everyone piled out, and into the elevator. The doors closed and it made its descent.
The way to the infirmary was blurry to zero, he thought he had said hi to splinter as he walked passed the rat. He couldn't remember, but now he was laying on a gurney and Donnie had a mobile X-ray machine. He turned it on and waited.
After he had shit it off, he retrieved the results "Well Z, let's see what's... oh my..."
Zero blinked at the results "what is that? And why is it on the opposite area of my heart?"
Everyone piled in, and no one said a word, not even Splinter. Zero blinked "Is it wrong? That doesn't make a fraction of sense... can it?"
There was a crystalline form fused on the opposite side of his chest and heart. it was a small ruby heart, and it had branched into the bloodstream and muscle