The Turtle Charm

Of Childern and Parents

Mid-October brought a chill and with that chill came one of the earliest snow days I've ever lived through as a New Mexican. And with that snow day came a cancellation of training, which surprised me since this would have been great weather for intense training.  On top of that, the library and Run of the Mill were closed, so I couldn't go return and check out books, or work today.

So, with nothing else to do, I went to the park with April, Donnie, and Casey to take my first shot at ice skating. I was comforted by the fact that I wasn't the only one terrible at it. You don't get much of a chance to learn if you grew up in New Mexico or in an apocalyptic future.

I was pretty sure I was getting the hang of it, when, within character, Leo made a dramatic entrance by falling through a portal with Raph, Mikey, and Cassandra. And they just had to fall on top of me.

"Gha! My arm," I said as it felt like it popped out of the socket.

"Tina!" said Raph before he turned to Leo, "I told you we should have looked before we lept! This is what happens when you don't look!"

"Shit! Sorry" Leo approached me, "Here let me help you..."

When he touched my arm, pain rippled through it, then I punched him in the gut with my other fist, yelling, "Stay away from me, Estupido!" I got up and fell since I was still wearing the skates, then kicked them off before running into a nearby wooded area to sit against a tree, while I tried to steady my breath.

"Hey, are you okay?" I turned to see Casey approach me, "Hey, your arm's glowing!"

I took a look to my side to see my arm go back into place. It kind of tingled as it gradually felt better. "Holy shit," I said moving it around, "I...have a healing factor!"

"Healing factor?"

"The ability to self-heal," I explained, "It could range from cuts fading to limb regeneration. Sometimes it makes the person who has it practically immortal! Though...I honestly don't know if I want that big of a healing factor..." After a brief pause, I continued, "Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure I...can heal people too!'

"What do you mean?"

"Back when Mikey and I ran into Meatsweats, he tried to activate that portal power you told him about and...his hands cracked. When I touched them a teal energy like this one I have seeped though them and mended it..."

"He tried to open a portal?" Casey's eyes widened.

"Yeah, why?"

"It's just...when my Master Michleanglo sent me to the past...it took everything he had. He-he..."

After a second of thinking, I said"Oh shit! Did he die?"

"Yeah," said Casey collapsing right next to me.

After a moment of silence, I said, "I'm sorry you had to see that. Must be tough in you're time..."

"You...get used to it after a while," said Casey pulling his mask down, "It hurts...but it's normal...seeing the people you care for die like that, sacrificing themselves for the greater good like Master Michanglo, Leonardo...my mom..." Casey went quite for a moment before continuing, "Then one day you find yourself meeting the...you aged versions of the people who raised you. You're happy to see them, but it's weird because they're not the same ones you knew."

After another moment of silence, I said, "Cassandra's you're mom, isn't she?"

"Yeah...How'd you know?"

"Cassandra Jones, Casey Jones...It doesn't take a genius to figure it out. Plus I'm sure the resendint genius of the team's been trying to keep you two apart to try to preserve the timeline." I said thinking about how it seemed one time when the two Jones were about to meet at the lair, Donnie dragged Casey off in another directon.

Casey gave out a light chuckle. "Yeah, I kind of noticed the first couple times...It's probably for the best. I'd probably erase myself form the time line or something"

"Dude, I'm pretty sure you'd have erased yourself from the timeline half a dozen times by now considering how far it's diverged from your original one. I'm no time travel expert, but if I've learned anything from time travel stories, it's that we know nothing on how that works. Maybe you're like Future Trunks..."

"Who's Future Trunks?"

I thought for a moment on what that would mean. It would be kind of depressing if that was the case, actually. "Uh...it doesn't matter..." Then I switched topics, "So, you were there with your mom when she died?"

"Yeah, she saved many lives that day..."

"I'm sure she was comforted to at least see you one last time," It was my turn to hide my face as I brought my hood up and over my head, "I...wasn't there for my dad. He was dying of cancer and I couldn't bother to stay by his side with my mom and brother. Instead, I ran off to fool around with my then-girlfriend who turned out to be kind of a bitch. I...regret it to this day...If I had a chance to see him again, even if it was a younger him and risked the time line...I'd take it and say I was sorry..."

After that, we just sat there for a while. I was sure we both needed the silent cry.

Sometime later, after the tears dried, we regrouped with everyone else. Casey went to go introduce himself to Cassandra as "Arnold," which supposedly was his first name, like the Casey in the 2003 show. Donnie looked on edge the entire time...

Sitting a bit isolated from everyone else was Leo clutching his stomach and looking depressed. I felt a bit bad, so following some sort of newfound mystic instinct, I picked up a ball of snow and wrapped a handkerchief I had around it. It then lit up in my teal energy.

"Here," I said handing it to him, "It's a mystic snow compact. Put it on you're stomach..."

"Your...arm?" he said looking shocked that it was moving it fine.

"Yeah...you know...mystic powers and stuff like that. I got healing hands, I guess...Oh, just, take the compact already, idiot!"

"Thanks," said Leo taking it, "And I'm sorry about earlier..."

I took a seat next to him and said, "Yeah...well I won't hold it against you. I discovered something new about myself and grudges are bad for the spirit...Just be careful next time. Oh, and I'm sorry I punched you in the gut..."

"Actually, I'm pretty sure deserved that," said Leo smiling slightly though some sort of shadow passed through his eyes. For the first time, I wondered what was going on inside the class clown's head.