Legacy Mutation (Book Eight)

Chapter 1: Training

The kids train in the dojo, using their weapons expertly even at their young age.

Dean holds his ninjaken sword carefully in his hands, grinning at Copeland. He's wearing a green mask, making the dark feathers of his wings and his black fur look even darker in contrast.

Copeland swings her chigiriki, giving him a dangerous smirk. The pink mask tied around her face emphasizes the hazel in her eyes, and she slowly corrects her stance.

Dean is prepared. The two oldest Hamato children always spar the most often, mimicking the playful rivalry Leonardo and Raphael once had and still do.

"Think you can beat me this time?" he challenges, his strange eyes glinting.

"I don't think. I know," she retorts.

Nearby, Asher and Mitch prepare to face off. Asher spins his hanbō, the three foot length of it spinning easily in his three-fingered hands. His mismatched brown and blue eyes are surrounded by a deep purple mask, and from the space where the parents are observing, Donatello smiles proudly at his chip off the old block.

Mitch swings his kamas a few times, letting the sharp blades slice the air effortlessly. Usually, both him, Dean, and Dakota don't wear masks, but today he felt like it. The material of his mask is a faded orange, less exuberant than his dad's. Even so, it works for him.

"Maybe I'll go easy on you today," Asher says casually.

"Ha. My kamas will slice your little staff in half. Right down to..." Mitch stops, thinking over the math.

"One point five feet long?" the turtle boy asks.

"Yeah! That!"

Dakota rolls her eyes at her brother and cousin, flicking one of her kunais into a dummy effortlessly. She smirks proudly, her soft grey mask tails swinging. Beside her, Venus swings her hamadashi blade, her pale blue mask surrounding her cute green eyes. She's braided the long ends together, and the whip-like end mingles in her dark hair.

"Kota? Am I holding it right?" the seven-year-old asks.

The older girl stops, smiling down at the younger turtle girl. "Almost. Try this."

She fixes her grip, and Venus immediately feels the difference.

Today, the dads and Splinter are the ones watching over the training. They watch the children warm up, smiling proudly the whole time.

"They are eager learners," Splinter comments as Dean dodges Copeland's mace attack. "They are becoming skilled quickly."

Raphael smirks. "Well, they're our kids."

Michelangelo and Donatello grin, calling out an encouraging word to Mitch and Asher. The two boys grin and keep sparring. Leonardo smiles as he watches his little girl swing and jab with her blade. She got her weapon only a little while ago, but she's learning just as quickly as her older cousins and brother.

"Donnie, Asher is so much like you, dude!" Mikey laughs, watching the turtle boy sparring.

Asher showed skill in the bojutsu more so than any of the other kids, yet found the six foot bō difficult, making the hanbō the ideal weapon. Even with that, he is tallest of the kids, has a tooth gap, and likes wearing purple, albeit darker than Donnie's mask.

"He really is," Donnie agrees.

Leo sees the perfect mixture of himself and Destiny in both Dean and Venus. One looks like Destiny but has his personality, and the other is the exact opposite.

Raph punches Leo's arm suddenly, grinning with victory as he sees Dean collapse to the dojo floor with Copeland's foot on his chest.

"Copey finally beat him! Take that!" he whoops.

"Good for her," Leo says calmly.

Dean looks to his dad as he gets up, and the blue-masked turtle nods approvingly. The wolf-raven boy grins.

"Hard to believe we're sending them off to school in a week or two, hm?" Donnie asks.

"Completely," Mikey agrees.

"But all young birds must leave the nest eventually," Leo points out.

Raph bursts out laughing. "Yeah! And one of them is a bird!"

The other two brothers laugh, and Leo rolls his eyes, a tiny smirk on his face.

"One third bird, guys," he reminds them.

"Still a bird," Mikey giggles.

"Oh shush," Leo snaps teasingly.

"Ya mae!" Splinter barks the "end warm up" command, and the kids all settle down before their grandfather, ready to begin the real training.

The four brothers look at each other as Splinter starts explaining the lesson.