Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Turtles in America

Chapter 7: Heal the Pains with Compassion

Everyone gathered in the living room, sharing stories and experiences. The girls recounted their adventures in China, where they forged meaningful friendships that felt like family. The boys listened, captivated yet troubled to learn that some of their friends had faced significant hardships, though they now thrived under the guidance of their legal guardians. The girls spoke of their father, grandmother, and the wisdom of the shinobi elders, revealing the rich history of their clan within the hidden monastery.

They also shared tales of their adversaries, particularly Zhalin, who harbored intense jealousy towards Venus, the clan's first line. Zhalin had been banished from the shinobi monastery due to her destructive emotions. Envious of Venus's recognition, Zhalin resorted to studying forbidden magic from ancient scrolls. Unbeknownst to her, Yennefer and Venus had been watching and promptly alerted the elders, who were outraged by her actions. Just as Zhalin was about to strike against Venus, the elders intervened. As punishment for her transgressions, Zhalin was exiled with a vow to reclaim what she believed was hers. The boys listened in awe, surprised by the intensity of the tale.

Dai Lu, Larota's rival, was consumed by a hunger for power and resentment due to her desire to become the phoenix guardian. During the phoenix flame ceremony, the flame selected Larota as its successor, drawn to her fierce and passionate spirit. This infuriated Dai Lu, who believed her own misjudgment had cost her the coveted role. One night, she plotted to eliminate Larota and usurp her position as the phoenix guardian. However, Larota thwarted her attack and brought Dai Lu before the council of Shinobi elders, resulting in Dai Lu's exile.

Meanwhile, the girls had successfully dealt with their enemies in China, who now languished behind bars. Yet, they were well aware that the villains would eventually find a way to escape, as they always did.

As the boys listened to the girls recount their adventures in China, they were fascinated. Once the girls finished their story, the boys eagerly began sharing tales of their own lives, families, and how they came to know Casey and April, who were happily married. The girls were captivated by the boys' numerous escapades, which included battles against their formidable foes such as the Shredder, the demon Shredder, Cyber Shredder, the Foot Clan, Karai, the Battle Nexus, Draco, Bishop, Hun, the Purple Dragons, and Baxter Stockman. They even spoke of their encounters with their doppelgangers from another dimension, particularly during their last showdown with the Utrom Shredder, who had finally been defeated. However, the girls were most astonished to learn that the boys had traveled a hundred years into the future—a topic they couldn't fully disclose, as mentioning their future great-grandchildren could disrupt the timeline and jeopardize their very existence.

"Wow, you guys have had some incredible adventures and faced way more dangerous situations than we did!" Amy exclaimed, her eyes shining with awe. "We could say the same about you girls," Leo replied, with the boys nodding in agreement. "I mean, back home in China, you made six friends—that must have been amazing." "No kidding!" Lara chuckled, smirking. "Oh, just wait until you meet Casey and April. You're going to love them," Mikey said, standing beside Amy with a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure you will; they're family to us," Donnie added, sitting next to his older brother. "I'm confident we'll get along. We made friends back home too—they're like family to us. We can make more friends like Casey and April," Amy replied with a bright smile. "Absolutely... you girls have faced numerous challenges and formed both foes and allies, creating a new family of friends," Master Splinter remarked, stroking his beard with a smile. The girls nodded in agreement. "And now that you're staying, my sons will show you to your new rooms," Master Splinter announced. "Of course, Master Splinter," Venus replied. They all stood up, and the boys led them to their respective rooms.

The girls exchanged glances before turning back, spotting Amy already following Mikey to her new room. The other boys approached the remaining three girls. Donnie guided Taly in a different direction to show her room, while Lara sighed and rolled her eyes, trailing behind Raph. Meanwhile, Leo led Venus down the hall to her room.