Legacy Mutation (Book Eight)

Epilogue

Central Park is quiet, the lights of the city surrounding it not reaching far enough to disturb the sanctity. Even the noise of the traffic is lost among the trees and the smooth sounds of the lakes inside.

Destiny and Leonardo lay side by side in the grass, Destiny cuddled against her husband with her head on his plastron. She traces the stars with her finger, Leo watching her with the same love in his eyes that he's felt he's always had for her.

"Remember when I wanted to fly away to the moon?" she whispers, gazing at the glowing orb.

Leo nods and takes a deep breath. "You didn't even have wings."

Her tail flicks. "Funny how that turned out."

Donatello and Sarina sit nearby against a tree, reading a newspaper and laughing over what New York describes as "newsworthy", then continuing on to talk about current events in other parts of the world.

Raphael and Taylor sit on a picnic blanket, Taylor playing her guitar while Raph rests his head in her lap and listens to the music with a smile on his face. Empty pizza boxes and two litres of soda lay on the blanket near them.

Michelangelo and Annalise run around playing tag, tackling and wrestling each other as their laughter rings in the air. Mikey hugs her to his chest as he nuzzles her cheek, loving her more and more every second.

Casey and April spar together, imitating the moves they did back at the farmhouse when they were younger by attempting to split logs with their feet as they laugh.

Dean, Elisabeth, Copeland, and Tiki play a game of ultimate frisbee nearby. Elisabeth and Tiki jokingly complain any time Dean uses his wings or Copeland uses her ninjutsu to her advantage. They just laugh it off anyways.

Asher and Ruby play violin together, the tune of Dances with Dragons sailing across the cool night air. Dakota and Lukas fiddle with bits and pieces of electronics nearby, bickering and arguing about where certain things should go like an old married couple.

Mitch and Nixie race each other to different milestones, challenging one another to different dares as they run together as though they're never going to grow up.

Blake plays a game on his phone while Venus watches with interest as she hugs his shoulder. Every now and then, the fifteen-year-olds groan and mutter something about the game before trying again. Venus snuggles closer to Blake's shoulder.

"Have you seen this article?" Donnie asks, laughing a little. "Dinosaurs Seen In Sewers...seems kind of impossible."

Sarina shrugs, her bionic hand brushing her hair out of her flashing blue eyes. "You never know with this city."

In many ways, the circle of life came back around. The turtles and their allies fought for good, got hurt, and stood by one another at all costs. In turn, their children carried on that same legacy. Their children's lives weren't nearly as hectic as their young lives had been, but they did take on a catastrophic battle that caused some lasting damage. That's all part of being mutants in New York, especially being part of the Hamato Clan.

"Hey guys? You know what Renet said all those years ago?" Mikey wonders. "About us being famous enough to write about in history books?"

"Yeah, why do you ask?" Destiny wonders.

Mikey shrugs. "I don't think we've done anything extraordinary."

"Not yet," Annalise teases with a nudge of his shoulder.

Taylor grins and flips her hair. "I bet your opportunity is right around the corner."

Raph nods, gently squeezing his wife's leg as he smiles up at her.

The family's laughter echoes in the air, silenced by the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps. Violin music graces the night with a sense of elegance, guitar strings vibrating in simple chords that emanate in the darkness. Nothing seems to be looming on the horizon, their minds feel at peace, and no one is bothering them about anything.

All is right in the world...at least for a little while.

The End