Golden Angel

Artemis stared out the window, her cuts bandaged.

Leo had holed himself up in the barn, and she got the feeling he wanted to be left alone.

But she didn’t WANT to leave him alone.

Mitsukai had run off into the grass and forest, enjoying her freedom.

So the gold-banded turtle was left alone in the attic, eyes half-lidded as she stared at the barn.

“…I’m going to tell him.”

Standing up, she walked straight downstairs, past a confused April, a worried Splinter, and a slightly-distracted Don.

Grabbing a large coat, she pulled it on as she stepped out into the snow.

She was most susceptible to the cold, so Splinter had gotten Casey to find a thick jacket for when she wanted to step out.

Heading for the barn, she peeked in the door cautiously.

“Leo?”

Seeing the heavily-bandaged turtle, her heart tightened again.

“…Leave me alone, Artemis…”

She steeled herself.

“I’m not leaving you, Leo. Remember?”

He was facing away from her, as if the fire in the oven was more interesting.

“…Why can’t you listen sometimes?”

Stepping inside, she tried to calm her heart.

“Because sometimes, I don’t think you’re really thinking.”

“That’s not true!”

She stepped towards him.

“Leo…I’m not the same little girl you used to protect…I’ve grown up, and I can fight. Sometimes…it’s like you forget that.”

“…I haven’t…”

“…Then you know I don’t run.”

“…Sometimes…I just hope you would.”

He turned a bit to see her, and he saw the tears in her eyes.

“Artemis-.”

“Why couldn’t you have let me come with you? You got so hurt…”

She bit back a sob.

“I was so scared…”

“…I didn’t mean to scare you…”

“But you did…Y-You wouldn’t wake up, and I thought you never would…”

“I’m here, Artemis…Don’t cry…” He soothed, turning fully towards her.

“B-But I got so scared that I’d never have the chance…”

“…The chance to what?”

Biting her lip, she fiddled with one of her smaller fans.

“I…I’ve realized that…I really like you…More than a brother…”

Turning back to the door, she tried to keep her voice from sounding broken.

“I’m sorry…I should just go…”

She hardly took a step to the door when he grabbed her by the shoulder.

Artemis was then whirled around, surprised.

“Leo-?”

She was cut off when their lips touched, and her heart fluttered.

Closing her eyes, she managed to wrap her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

He licked her lip, asking for entrance.

Opening her mouth, she let his tongue in.

A churr rumbled in her chest, and they only pulled apart when they needed air.

Breathing deeply, she looked up at him as his uninjured arm wrapped around her waist.

“…I feel the same…I was scared YOU wouldn’t…”

Nodding, she churred, nuzzling his chin.

He flinched, and she pulled her arms back, looking concerned.

“Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“I’m okay…”

Looking unsure, she frowned a bit.

“…Do you need help?”

He followed her eyes to the furnace and the scraps of metal.

“…I can do it…”

She smiled.

“You don’t have to do ANYTHING by yourself anymore.”

Smiling softly, he nuzzled her cheek.

“…Thanks…”

“No problem…”

There was a short cough, and both turned to see Raph.

Looking between them, Artemis smiled.

“Actually, I think I’ll be practicing outside. No better place to try Earthbending.”

Slowly releasing the blue-banded turtle, she gave them both a smile before practically skipping outside.

The snow didn’t feel nearly as cold anymore, and she decided staying near the back of the house would be best.

Lifting her hands, she moved the snow away from a large area, to make a sort of ring.

Stepping into the center, she closed her eyes.

Trying to center herself lower to her feet, she almost felt some…vibrations…

A car’s engine reached her ears, and she stopped moving, feeling the large van come closer.

Opening her eyes, she saw it stop in front of the house.

Stomping the ground, she brought up a wall of earth.

‘I’m starting to do it!’

Bringing it down, she spotted Mikey around the side of the house.

Walking up behind him, she tapped him on the shoulder.

“AHHH!!!”

He whipped around, looking startled.

“Artie!”

“What’s going on here, bro?”

“…Um…Monster Hunter?”

“…I just KNOW this is your fault…I’m gonna go practice in the back woods.”

“Um…maybe you shouldn’t…”

“…They’re looking for you, aren’t they?”

“…No?”

“…I’m leaving…”

Turning, she headed into the woods.

Stomping her foot, a column of earth rose into the air.

“…I LIKE Earthbending…”

Punching it with her fist, she watched it shatter.

“…I REALLY like Earthbending…”

The whir of something in the air caught her attention, and she spun, the air lifting her up into the tree branches.

‘But Airbending will always have a special place in my heart…’

A large, well-muscled woman ran beneath her, and she narrowed her eyes.

‘The crazy monster hunter lady, I presume…’

Jumping through the branches, she heard something hitting against metal.

A truck came into view, and she jumped down, looking into the back.

“Donnie? Mikey?”

“ARTIE! GET US OUT OF HERE!”

Rubbing her ears at the loud scream, she looked at the metal.

“Alright…If metal comes from the earth, and I can Earthbend…”

Getting into a stance, she hit her palms against the door.

The vibrations seemed to go through her brain like sonar, and her eyes seemed to glow.

‘Come on…’

Securing her footing, she managed to grab onto the metal like it was paper.

With a mighty tug, the doors were pulled off their hinges, and both brothers stared at her.

“Get out before you become frozen turtles on a stick.”

“Don’t have to tell ME twice!”

They jumped out, and she melted the ice off their skin and shells, pulling it off and dropping it onto the snow.

“Now…WHAT were you two doing in there?”

Crossing her arms, she quirked an eye-ridge at them expectantly.

“Artie, I don’t think now is the time.” Don stated.

“Why?”

She felt the air shift.

“…Get moving!”

They ran into the trees, and she jumped up to be among the branches.

They headed back to the farmhouse, where still-frozen Don and Mikey were warmed up.

Artemis had a slight chill, but she just sat near the fire.

“I can’t believe ya bozos walked right inta a trap!” Casey stated.

“I believe it…” Splinter muttered.

“Me, too…”

“An’ when could ya crumple metal?”

Looking up at him from beside her sensei, she smirked.

“Earthbending. If you want to be technical, Metalbending.”

Sitting back on her hands as she stared at the fire, she tuned out Mikey’s inevitably-stupid idea.

The three ‘idiots’ headed out to do this ‘plan’, and the gold-banded turtle started to doze.

“Artemis?”

Starting, she looked up at April.

“Sorry, I was dozing…What’s up?”

“I thought, since all the boys are out, why don’t we have some girl time?”

Looking a but unsure, the jade-skinned turtle shrugged.

“I’ve never really…”

“I know. I kind of figured. Why not try?”

Still looking uncertain, she nodded, standing.

“We can watch a movie.”

“Chick Flick?”

Seeing the insecurity in the crimson-eyed turtle, April realized that Artemis was completely out of her element.

“Yes, but I’m sure you’ll like this one!”

Dusting off the TV, she pulled out the video.

“’Miss Congeniality’?”

“Trust me. You’ll love it.”

Sitting back on the floor, she quirked an eye-ridge.

“Where’d you get it?”

“I found it hidden in the attic with a bunch of other movies.”

Nodding, Artemis settled as the movie started.

Splinter, from the other room, chuckled as he heard his daughter cheering on the people in the movie enthusiastically.

Her and April were talking and laughing, enjoying each other’s company as much as they enjoyed the film.

As fun, the gold-banded turtle made some water into an ice flower, doing the same fake crying as was going on in the film.

April laughed, and soon, both were nearly breathless.

After the movie was over, the jade-skinned turtle stretched her arms over her head.

“Well, that was nice…”

“What’s it like? Living with only five guys?”

Artemis blinked, really thinking about it.

“…It’s not so bad…I guess I just got used to it. Sure Raph and Mikey are a pain in the shell, but everyone else is great most of the time.”

She smiled softly, sure her father could hear their conversation.

“No matter how hard my life is, I’d never change it for the world. Because, in another life, I’d be without them.”

Her stomach squirmed, and she smacked her forehead.

“…Mikey and those guys left to do something stupid, didn’t they?”

“Yeah…”

She sighed.

“I’d better go and save them…”

The kunoichi smiled at her friend as she stood up, heading for the door.

“But…let’s do this again sometime.”

Feeling that she’d done something good to connect with her friend, April nodded.

Artemis headed out into the snow, jacket pulled on snugly.

Looking at all of the snow, she quirked an eye-ridge.

‘…I wonder…’

Lifting her hands, she made the snow under her rise, condensing enough to lift her, and then moved her hands so she could move it forward.

Going through the trees at an increasing pace, she narrowed her eyes so she wouldn’t hit anything.

The sound of machinery was on the wind, and she jumped up onto a tree branch, releasing her hold on the snow.

Looking down, she saw the same muscular woman run below her, two little machines following her.

‘…What did Mikey do?’

“…What moved the snow?”

‘…Aw SHELL…’

The gun fired at her, hitting the tree.

‘SHELL!’

Jumping away into the shadows, she froze the ice beneath the tree so the woman would slip.

She DID, and Artemis almost laughed before jumping away.

‘Sucker…’

Once she was a safe distance away, she jumped down to the snow again.

A strange sound reached her ears, and she turned to see a green-furred creature coming towards her.

Wary, she stepped towards the monster, touching it’s forehead lightly.

A jolt spread through her, but it wasn’t a bad feeling.

“Hey, girl…” She muttered, patting the matted fur.

The creature seemed to do a mix between a purr and a growl.

“You’re a nice little creature, aren’t you?”

It seemed to nudge her towards its back, and she quirked an eye-ridge.

“You want me to get onto your back?”

It seemed to nod, so she used some wind to make it up.

Straddling the strangely-shaped neck, she gripped tight as it loped off.

The air was shifting ahead, and she grinned as three familiar figures came into view.

“Hey, guys!”

Don and Mikey turned, and their eyes widened.

“ARTIE!?!”

Jumping off as the monster stopped, she grinned.

“SO…Have any trouble with a certain crazy scientist?”

“Um…no?” Don supplied.

“…I don’t think that’s the case…because the crazy lady just tried to shoot me…”

Casey’s eyes widened.

“She SAW ya?”

Her eyes narrowed a bit.

“Who do I look like? MIKEY?”

“HEY…”

“I’m a fully-trained kunoichi. My first lesson was stealth, smarty.”

As she was talking with Casey, Mikey started feeding pistachios to the large ‘Green Man’.

“Mikey, are you sure you should be doing that?”

“Donnie, what could go wrong?”

Artemis smacked her forehead.

“He has jinxed us all…”

“Can we keep him?”

“…No.”

“But ARTIE…”

“Whining will not change my mind. Try it again, and I’ll Airbend your sorry shell into the ozone.”

Mikey didn’t respond, just gave a sheepish smile and patted the creature’s head.

It started roaring, and little machines came.

“Shell no!”

Pulling up snow, she used it like blades to cut one or two in half.

The ones that got past her started shocking him, and she glared at the metal.

“Not on MY watch!”

Securing her footing, she tried to bring up the earth around the poor creature.

Unfortunately, the little metal buggers were pretty persistent, and one shocked her.

“OW! Why you little-!”

The creature smacked Mikey into a tree in its pain, and ran to try to escape the bullying machines.

“Damn things-! Come on, guys!”

She started running, bringing up snow to speed up her movement.

She stopped behind some bushes, the others catching up, as the ‘Green Man’ was herded into the very containment unit Artemis had saved her brothers from.

‘Don’t they ever learn?’

“…Okay…Don, you and Casey come with me. I’ll save our friend while you two get the film of MIKEY strolling through the woods.”

She glared at her youngest brother.

“And YOU, shell-for-brains, can distract the crazy scientist. Everybody got it?”

The three males nodded.

“Good. Let’s go.”

They split up, Artemis staying close to the snow.

Once she was at the door, she looked in through the bars.

“It’s alright…I’ll get you out of here…”

Glaring at the metal, she hit it with her palms.

Sensing the vibrations, she closed her eyes.

It was like she could SEE without her eyes…

Steadying herself, she dug her fingers into the metal and gave an experimental tug.

It seemed easy enough, and she grinned before ripping it off its hinges again.

There was a secondary door, and she pulled it off just as easily.

She looked at Casey.

“Hop in.”

“What?”

“Oh, go on!” She urged as the creature got out.

“I’ll put the door back on! It’ll be like nothing happened!”

She smirked.

“Oh, but there shall be revenge…”

Once everything was fixed up, she walked away with Don, meeting up with Mikey in the woods.

By morning, she was hidden in some bushes with her brothers, looking out at the van.

‘Stupid scientist…’

When she fell over in laughter from the scene outside, Mikey gave her a weird look before looking out.

Soon, BOTH of them were on the floor, laughing.

Don gave them both a weird look.

“…You got your revenge, Artie?”

“Yes! And it was SWEET!”

“…I just hope she doesn’t beat up Casey.”

“He’s a big boy. He can take it.”

“How’s the big green dude?”

“Safe and sound.” Don replied, pointing out to the ‘Green Man’, who was nuzzling little babies.

“Oh, and for the record, the Green Man is a she. A mother.”

Artemis smiled a bit at that.

“AWWWWWWWWW…”

They headed back to the farmhouse, where Mikey destroyed the video and Artemis continued practicing the basics of Earthbending.

Casey made it back, still in ‘disguise’, and Mikey grinned.

“See, sensei? I told you the Green Man was real!”

“What kept you, tough guy?”

“Those reporters were even more vicious than the crazy doctor! They’ll be makin’ fun ‘a Doctor Finn fer months!”

“Guys! Hey, guys!” Raph called, walking up to them.

“Come ‘round back. There’s someone I want ya ta meet.”

Artemis quirked an eye-ridge in question, stuffing her hands in her pockets.

“Alright…”

They all followed the red-banded turtle to the front of the barn.

“Allow me ta introduce ta…Leonardo.”

The jade-skinned turtle felt her heart jump with joy at seeing Leo, bandages gone and new katana in his hands.

“New an’ improved.”

“Hey, everyone…”

“Welcome back, bro!” Mikey greeted.

Everyone congratulated him, and Artemis couldn’t help hugging him.

“Guys…I think it’s time we return to New York and finish our business with the Shredder once and for all.”

Everyone agreed, and Artemis looked up when she heard a whimper.

“Mitsukai?”

The wolfish dog ran up to her, nuzzling her hand.

“Hey, girl…What’s wrong?”

The dog whimpered again, ears back, and glared at the truck.

Artemis sighed.

“…You don’t want to go back?”

The husky whimpered again, seeming to nod.

Crouching down, the gold-banded turtle put a hand on the dogs head.

“If you don’t…We won’t see each other anymore…”

Whimpering again, Mitsukai looked back at the bushes.

There was a deep white wolf, and Artemis smiled in understanding.

“I get it…As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”

Mitsukai licked her cheek, nuzzling her jaw.

“…If you ever get bored here, you know the way home…”

The husky nodded, blue/crimson eyes sad.

“…I’ll see you later, baby…” Artemis whispered, holding back her tears.

The white and gold dog turned to look back again, then back at her owner.

“It’s alright, girl…Go on…”

Licking her cheek one last time, Mitsukai trotted into the bushes, looking back only once before disappearing.

Casey seemed a bit worried for the jade-skinned turtle, and tried to reassure her.

“I’m sure she’ll be fine. There’s plenty fer ‘er ta eat up ‘ere, and she ain’t alone.”

“…I know…”

Splinter put a hand on her shoulder, smiling comfortingly.

“If you truly love something, you will let them go. And, eventually, they shall return to you. Never forget that, my daughter.”

“Yes, sensei…I just…didn’t expect to let go so soon…”

‘I thought I had so much more TIME…’