Golden Angel

“OH SH-!!!!!”

BAM!!!

“…-ell…”

Artemis sat up from the rocks she’d landed on, rubbing her shell.

“…I hate Ultimate Drako…And I HATE that damn scepter!”

Standing, she looked around at her surroundings.

Everything seemed full of SPACE, of grass and what looked like mountains farther off.

‘…Am I even on Earth anymore?’ She wondered.

‘I don’t think there’s many places this beautiful still around…’

Looking over her shoulder when she sensed someone coming, she slid behind the boulders and peeked out.

Was that a Sky Bison?

It looked like Mitsukai, but was colored differently.

White and chocolate brown, wearing a saddle and reins on its horns.

It landed rather lightly for its great bulk, and four figures jumped off.

Only one seemed her age, and the other three were younger than herself.

One had blue arrow tattoos all over, exactly like the ones that glowed over her skin when she went into the Avatar state, and another seemed to be as blind as Chi.

Said girl, who was the smallest of them, looked in her direction…

‘Earthbender…’ She surmised, not afraid.

If they were hostile, she could fight back.

“Someone’s here.”

The eldest, a boy with a sharp boomerang, whirled around.

“Fire nation?”

“No.”

“Whoever you are, come out!” The younger boy shouted, a staff in hand.

‘Why not?’ She wondered, stepping out of her hiding place.

“Yo.”

Confused looks, probably from her appearance.

“What are you?”

“WHO are you?” The older girl corrected.

“I’m Artemis. Mutated ninja turtle, technically.”

“…I’m hallucinating again, aren’t I?”

“I’d think so, but I’m not a hallucination.”

She smirked a bit.

“You could pinch yourself, see if you’re dreaming.”

Pinch!

“OW!!!”

“…Didn’t think you’d do that…”

“Sokka’s one of a kind…”

“I see…”

The blue-eyed girl stepped forward, smiling in a friendly manner.

“Hello, I’m Katara. This is my brother, Sokka.”

“I’m Aang.”

“Toph.”

“It’s nice to meet you all.” Artemis replied, smiling.

The Sky Bison roared softly, nudging her softly with its nose.

“Hey there, boy…” She said softly, patting its forehead so it seemed to purr.

A little lemur, with wings on its arms, landed on her head.

“Hey! Watch it!” She giggled playfully, scratching its head and lifting the creature into her arms.

“Guess she’s not evil…”

“Maybe she’s tricking us!”

“Yeah, because a giant turtle is a carnivore meant to trick people to their watery dooms…”

“SEE?”

“…Sarcasm is a foreign language to you, isn’t it?”

“…HEY…”

“Just as slow as Mikey.” She noted with a smile.

Then the worry came in full force, and it fell a notch.

Were her brothers okay?

Her sisters?

Splinter?

…Leo?

If anything had happened to Leo, Ultimate Drako was going to be in so much AGONY he’d WISH she’d just kill him and banish him to the deepest, most fiery pits of hell…

“Are you okay?”

Looking down at the arrow-headed boy, something nagged at her brain.

‘Do I know him from somewhere?’

“I’m alright…Just worried about my family.”

“There are more like you?” Toph asked, looking unconvinced.

“Yeah. My brothers, boyfriend, dad, sisters…friends…”

She smiled a bit.

“Not all of them are giant turtles. My dad’s a giant rat, and my sisters and friends are humans.”

“How is that even POSSIBLE?” Sokka demanded.

“We…adopted each other. We’re not biologically related, genius.”

Katara sighed, walking up to the two as they bickered.

It was rather obvious Artemis was wittier than Sokka, which seemed to frustrate the boy to no end and left Toph amused.

“You guys going somewhere?” The crimson-eyed turtle wondered.

“Just making camp. Want to join us?” Aang offered.

“Why not?”

She helped them unload the Sky Bison, Appa, when she noticed Toph not helping.

“Tired?” She asked, dropping a heavy bag.

“Just pulling my own weight.”

Artemis quirked an eye-ridge.

“Wouldn’t that mean you’ve got more work to do?”

“Why should I?”

Katara seemed ready to retort snappishly, but the crimson-eyed turtle cut her off.

“Because that’s what friends do for each other.”

Toph didn’t seem to have a reply for that, and Artemis settled, almost cat-like, on a boulder.

“Friends help because they care, just like family does.”

That seemed to strike a nerve, and the small girl turned away.

“My parents never did that…”

“Parents don’t always act like it, but they’ll always love you.”

“…Are you sure?”

“I’ve asked myself that every time I make a mistake…And I always come up with the same answer. A parent’s love is unconditional.”

“Tell that to my parents…”

The mutter was almost whisper-soft, full of pain and some kind of longing Artemis imagined her own sisters felt for their own parents.

She leaned back on her hands, gazing up at the darkening sky.

“I guess human families are different from mine…We’ve been together our whole lives, and can’t seem to function well on our own. We live for each other, fight for each other…Love each other…”

The jade-skinned turtle sighed, even when Momo landed on her head once more…

“I miss them…”

“Where are they?” Katara wondered.

“I don’t know…And that’s what worries me…”

“How’d you get here?” Aang questioned.

“It’s a long story…”

“We have time.” Sokka assured.

The group settled around the crimson-eyed turtle, and she took a quick breath…

“Alright…Look, I’m not exactly from around here. I’m from another dimension, and I was sent here by something called the Time Scepter. An enemy of ours got his hands on it, and separated us.”

“…You have GOT to be kidding me…”

“Trust me, I wish HALF of the things that have happened to me were dreams, too…”

She sighed wistfully…

“Too bad he came right in the middle of a great make-out session…”

“You and your boyfriend?”

“Who else?” Artemis asked playfully.

She grinned wide, losing herself in the memory of her mate…

“He’s a GREAT kisser, by the way…”

“Why do you like him?” Aang wondered.

“Well…It’s not one thing. Even the things that annoy me seem to attract me…”

She furrowed her brow, trying to find the right way to explain it…

“It’s like…We fit each other. We’re two pieces of a whole, and I feel empty without him. When I’m playful, he’s serious…When I’m angry, he’s calm…”

She breathed out, looking up at the stars…

“He’s my stability, my earth for all the freedom of air I have inside me…I just love him so much we’re connected. Our hearts are strung together, pushing and pulling like the tides…”

She almost hung her head, feeling that faint ache in her heart…

“I can almost FEEL him right now…As if he was right next to me right now, holding my hand…”

She blinked, escaping her world of memories and warm touches…

“Sorry, I was rambling, wasn’t I?”

“Don’t worry.” The blue-eyed girl assured.

“It’s just…Well, what you have is beautiful. I don’t mind hearing about it.”

Artemis blushed, smiling shyly.

“Well…I don’t get compliments like that often…Thanks.”

The turtle suddenly perked, eyes narrowing with the look of a practiced warrior, and she looked around.

“Don’t look now, but we’ve got company…”

A girl, younger than Artemis herself, stood there like a warrior princess, confident and strong.

“It seems you’ve all made a new friend…Allow me to destroy her for you.”

The others seemed ready to attack, but the jade-skinned turtle held up a hand, standing.

“I’d like to see you try it.”

“Artemis…” Aang warned.

She flashed a reassuring smile, stepping towards her opponent.

“Just you and me. One on one.”

“Perfect.”

A burst of blue flame, and crimson eyes narrowed for a moment before plants withered, the water coming up to shield her.

The others seemed surprised…

“She’s a Waterbender?”

Artemis whirled away from another blast, bringing her hand forward in an open-palmed strike that sent earth flying at the surprised Firebender.

Sokka’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“How could she-?!”

“She said she was from another dimension…Maybe she’s from another time…”

The group turned to Aang, who had a thoughtful look on his face.

“I don’t know why, but I feel like I know her from somewhere…”

Artemis jumped high over a massive blue blast, and spun, water moving around her in a tornado of sharp blades.

Once she struck the shield, she flew back, steam coming off her skin…

She felt a strange pull, a tug at her heart, as the earth fuzzed and tried to disappear beneath her…

When it stopped, she had a confused look on her face, trying to understand what was going on…

There was no time to think, since another attack came at her.

Blowing it away with Airbending, she used her feet to bring up a wall of earth to block another blow.

Suddenly, the wall shattered and a fiery hand came for her heart…

‘LOVE!’

Strength coursed through her, and she brought up fiery hands to deflect the blow over her shoulder.

“Sorry, but my heart’s hitting below the belt, bitch.”

Blue flames, surprising everyone, and she slammed it into her opponents chest, knocking her back.

“HOW?” The girl demanded, hissing in pain as cloth and armor burned.

“Guess I’ve just got more soul.”

Another tug, getting more powerful, more desperate…

‘Leo? Leo, are you there?’

That hyper-awareness of adrenaline-rushed battle, of meditation, made her voice echo in her own mind…

‘Artemis, I’m sorry…’

She did NOT like that tone, and a troubled look crossed her features…

‘Sorry for what? Leo, are you okay? If he did anything, I swear I’ll-!’

‘Don’t come! Please!’

‘Like HELL I won’t!’

‘He’s after you!’

‘Then he can have my fist in his face!’

‘He’s going to kill you!’

It rang in her ears like a real shout, and she closed her eyes…

‘…I don’t care.’

‘I care! And I’m not going to let you get killed!’

‘Stop pushing me away!’ She ordered, stern.

‘I can fight on my own! I’ll tear him to shreds myself!’

Her thoughts were turning dark with rage, and even her once-confidant opponent dared not strike her with that darkness shadowing her features.

‘He can have the whole galaxy against me, but I won’t give a damn! He’s gone too far!’

Fire was burning, sparking over her skin…

‘God damn it, he’s going to wish I just killed him!’

Another tug, so powerful it began to pull her away…

“ARTEMIS!”

She turned, seeing the others frightened faces…

“Don’t worry…I think I’m just…going home…”

She smiled widely, though it was shaky over her features…

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do…”

Then it was like she disappeared, flying through empty space for a moment before hitting the ground on her knees.

“OW…”

“ARTIE!!!!!!!”

GLOMP!!!

“PRINCESS!!!”

GLOMP!!!!!!

“ARTIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

GLOMP!!!!!!!!!

“…Can’t…BREATHE…”

“Get off ‘a ‘er!”

Chi pulled the three brothers off…

“…”

“Chi?”

GLOMP!!!

Mizu and Kasai joined the glomp, and Artemis struggled for breath once more…

“I…think we…have important…people…to kill…” She forced out.

“Oh, right.”

Chi stood up, a murderous smirk on her face as her bracelet gleamed.

“I’m ready ta kick some ass. How ‘bout ya?”

Mizu stood as well, water already surrounding her feet like an obedient pet…

“I’m up for it. Kasai?”

“Let’s do it.”

Artemis flipped to her feet, anger in her eyes.

“SENSEI!”

Her eyes glowed, the tails of her mask floating as gold/white light enveloped her hands.

“You’ve gone too far!”

A blast, and Ultimate Drako was knocked back, releasing the War Staff.

Both sets of eyes widened as a ball of air surrounded her, lifting her into the air.

“You made me WORRY!”

Another blast, making him stumble…

“You made me HURT!”

She slammed into him, snarling…

“YOU THREATENED MY FAMILY!”

She managed to knock the Time Scepter away, and Raph and Mikey took hold of it.

“You’ve crossed the final line with me. I won’t allow you to live.”

The arrows glowed over her skin, and she floated up again, holding her arms out, igniting the lights of both the War Staff and the Time Scepter.

“For your cruelty, your hatred…I will make things right.”

Her voice was layered again, echoing and flowing…

Light escaped her in beams of light, and the two weapons started levitating as well…

“Keep ‘im down!”

Earth encased Ultimate Drako’s feet, and his hands were bound with solid ice.

“Master Splinter, what’s going on?!”

“I do not know, my sons!! Just hold on!!”

They were transported to the Battle Nexus, and Ultimate Drako cried out as the light separated them…

Drako immediately turned to stone, looking ready to crumble, but the Ultimate Ninja looked around for his father.

“Father, forgive me!”

His hand began to turn to stone, but he seemed to try and fight it…

Both turned to dust, and the light died as Artemis was gently deposited on her feet…

The girls ran up to her as she swayed, vision blurring and head spinning as she dropped to her knees…

“ARTIE!”

“PRINCESS!”

“ARTEMIS!”

The gold-banded turtle smiled as Leo pulled her into his arms, making sure she was alright…

“I’m alright…” She slurred, trying to open her eyes…

“Just…That took more out of me…than I thought it would…”

Chi smirked.

“Ya just defeated Ultimate Drako. I’ll say that took a lot!”

“I’m just glad you’re all alright…” Kasai stated.

“How’d you do that, Artie?” Mikey asked as Don put a hand on her forehead.

“I…don’t know…”

She smiled when she spotted Usagi, sitting up against Leo’s plastron.

“Hey…Long time no see, huh?”

“You did very well, my daughter…”

“Thank you, sensei…”

A bright light, and Lord Simultaneous appeared before them.

“It’s quite simple. It’s like what I told your kids the last time we met up.”

The Time Scepter flew into his hands…

“This Time Scepter has a mind of its own. It just used the Avatar as a vessel to merge its powers with the War Staff. It weighed good against evil and set everything to right.”

He sighed, looking around…

“What a horrible mess…No one ever learns! I get so sick of cleaning up after megalomaniacs and madmen…”

Artemis felt her heart ache when she heard the Daimyo grieving over the second death of his son, and stood up.

“Could you…help him?”

She tried not to move too quickly, or she’d probably faint…

“He…He deserves his son…”

The pain was mirrored in her eyes, the sadness, the loneliness…

“I can’t just watch him grieve…”

“…Let me show you the true and good power of the Time Scepter, controlled by the right hands.”

The Time Scepter glowed, and created a little red-haired boy with bright green eyes.

“Father! Father! I had the most horrible nightmare!”

“My son? Oh, my son! Do not cry. I too had a horrible nightmare, but it is over now. It’s alright…”

“And it’s high-time I sent you all back where you belong.”

“Could you send me there without the headache?”

“Nope.”

“…Meanie…”

“Usagi, thank you.” Leo stated, bowing.

“Leonardo, it is a great honor to be your friend.”

“Until we meet again, Usagi-san.”

They were back in the lair, as if nothing had changed, and Mizu sighed.

“Donnie?”

“Yeah?”

“Can we go to sleep?”

“I’m with you…”

The others agreed whole-heartedly, but the Waterbender was a bit perplexed when Don pulled her into his room…

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“Donnie…” Mizu moaned, arching as he sucked her neck…

“I thought I’d lost you…”

“I’m right here…” She assured, feeling him push up her shirt to kiss her stomach.

“They said you were dead…”

“I’m alive…”

She gently took hold of his face, putting his ear on her chest.

“Can you hear my heart beating? Feel it racing? It’s because of you. Because I love you.”

He claimed her lips almost hungrily, the fingers of his hand playing with her hair.

“Are you sure?” He almost stuttered, now looking unsure.

The thrill of having her under him, willing to be taken…

It set something primal alive in him…

But he couldn’t take this step if she wasn’t ready.

“…I’m more ready than I thought I’d be…” She admitted, smiling softly.

“I wouldn’t want to do this any other way…”

“…You’re sure?”

“I love you so much, Donnie…but you need to learn when to ask questions and when to follow your gut…”

He nodded, leaning over her and touching their foreheads.

“…I love you, Mizu…”

“I love you too, Donnie…”

They never forgot that night…