Together As Mutants (Book Six)

Epilogue: Part One

The next school year flies by, even without having to fight for the safety of New York. April takes a gap year to work, saving up extra funds for tuition and keeping an eye on Casey while he works on recovering the credits he missed last year.

The turtles find their own niches. Donatello and Sarina keep building, experimenting. Michelangelo plays video games, listens to music, and visits Annalise whenever the gets the chance. Annalise, of course, focuses on getting through high school and surviving her minimal shifts at her retail job. Leonardo works at the Hamato Dojo with Karai and Shinigami. Raphael stays dedicated to the vigilante role his brothers used to carry with him, helping out the Mutanimals when they happen to be in town. Slash makes sure Raphael knows that his previous offers are always on the table.

Taylor takes the cheque her mother left her and starts laser tattoo removal. Once it's as gone as it possibly can be, she plans to cover it with ink that actually suits her tastes. That's one battle she's eager to fight through. College applications are another thing as, letter after letter, she tastes rejection.

Shortly after her eighteenth birthday, the last letter comes in, her last chance.

"Last one, huh?"

"Yup. I've gotten replies from everywhere else I applied to."

Raphael and Taylor sit in Raphael's bedroom, staring down the envelope that holds Taylor's future. Altoona Beauty School.

Taylor sighs as she pushes her dark hair from her eyes. "It's in Pennsylvania."

Raphael raises an eye-ridge. "And?"

"If I got in, then I have to leave New York. I'll be far away."

"You could come visit."

"Yeah, but...I like being close."

She hugs herself, staring at the letter again, and Raphael thinks of the conversation he had with Slash months and months ago. He didn't think he'd have any reason to accept.

"Well..." he starts. "The Mutanimals have their main base somewhere in Pennsylvania. I could drive out with you, stay with them while you're on campus."

Her eyes widen. "But your family? New York?"

"They'll still be here when your program ends."

She starts to smile before she shakes her head, waving her hands around. "Ay, we're talking like I got accepted! Let's do this! Carpe diem!"

She snatches up the envelope and rips it open, sucking a breath as she pulls out the letter. They hold their breath as she unfolds it. She skims the first few words until she sees what she's looking for.

"We are happy to accept you as a student this coming..."

She lets out a shriek of glee as Raphael leaps to his feet, hollering and hooting. He scoops her into a tight hug, shaking her and bellowing like a madman.

"THAT'S MY TAY! SHELL YEAH!"

She howls even as she starts to laugh. "WHOOOOO!"

"We're going to Pennsylvania!"

"Hell yeah, we are!"

It's a moment of joy, a small victory, before things get rougher.

----------

Graduation arrives and Taylor, Andy, and Casey receive their diplomas, finally finishing their high school journey. Sure, Casey never imagined walking across the stage at the same time as his little sister, but he'll take it. Things are looking up for all of them.

That is until about a week later when Casey finds himself seated in the school counsellor's office.

"So, as it turns out, you didn't graduate," Ms. Somerset says, hands folded on her desk.