Chapter 10:
A turtle’s decision

The group was heading to their bedrooms, but on the way red, blue, and purple had to listen to the others complaints about their brother. “There’s no words.” Mantis said to the others as he leapt from rock to rock to keep up with the others.

“No denying that.” The flyer added to his friend’s comment as he walked along side. By now Michelangelo had come too and was using Donatello for support, but as that was going on Leonardo made sure that Raphael didn’t show the five how angry he was getting.

“I don’t understand what Master Oogway was thinking?” The serpent questioned to them before adding, “The poor guy’s gonna get himself killed.” Viper was referring to the youngest of the foursome who did not seem to be good at fighting.

“He is so mighty!” Crane said to her in a sarcastic tone. “The Dragon Warrior fell out of the sky on a ball of fire!” The bird continued to insult not knowing of the angered turtle following after them.

“Please, can I hurt `em.” He pleaded to his brother who had taken the warrior’s sais for good measure.

“No, these are friends, or at the very least we’re trying to make a good impression.” Leonardo said to his brother while keeping a firm hold on the angered one’s weapons.

“When he walks the very ground shakes!” The bug said to the others causing the bothered brother to pick up a rock to chuck at the insect, but it was snatched by the oldest brother. Leo knew that Raph had his own way of watching out for his brothers, but kicking the Furious Five’s butts will not help.

“One would think Master Oogway would choose someone who knew Kung Fu.” The tiger said as she made her way past them and up the stairs first. It was then the second oldest vowed to kick her butt first - regardless of what Splinter junior says to him. There was other comments, but they were easily ignored.

‘Is that what they really think of me.’ The slacker thought after signing to his brother that he was okay to walk on his own. ‘I know Raph was getting ticked off at what they were saying, but that won’t fix things.’ He thought as he saw the ticked look on his brother’s face as he walked past.

‘Was that a mistake?’ The swords-turtle thought as he entered his room after tossing his fellow ninja’s weapon back to him. Regardless he obeyed the ‘candles out’ move that the others were doing.
“OK.” Michelangelo said as he arrived after everyone’s lights were out. With a single step the youngest was reminded of Hisomi’s test after hearing the creaking floor. ‘Let’s see if I can do it without my amulet.’ He thought and after a moment of focus he found that he was doing it, but in his praise the turtle wasn’t watching his footing and fell into a bedroom.

‘Well, this is good.’ The flyer thought as he saw the lamest of the four stand upright.

“Hi. You’re up.” The New Yorker said as he was feeling all kinds of awkward at the moment.

“I am now.” The master said to the new guy trying to make him feel less embarrassed.

“I was just…some day, huh? That kung fu stuff is hard work, right? Are your biceps sore?” The turtle said to him; trying to strike up a late night conversation with the man before him.

‘What is he doing?’ Donatello thought after peaking from his room and saw Mikey fall into Crane’s room and was now speaking with him.

“I’ve had a long and rather disappointing day, so…Yeah I should probably get some sleep now.” Crane said to the turtle: gently telling him to leave his room; even tossed a chest scratch to prove that he was not comfortable at the moment.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Of course.” The young one said to the master before him.

“OK, thanks.” The bird said back to the warrior that was about to leave his room and enter the main hallway.

“It’s just…Man, I am a HUGE fan!” He shouted in praise as he swiveled around to face the long necked fighter. The New Yorker saw the surprised/happy face on Crane, so he continued, “You guys were awesome at the Battle of Weeping River. Outnumbered a thousand to one, but you didn’t stop. You just…” He stopped when one of his kicks went through a paper wall. “Sorry about that.” He said to the miffed monkey.

‘I think you’ve done enough, Mikey.” A new voice said as the owner of the voice grabbed him by the shoulder and dragged him out. The flier saw that it was the one in purple.

“What you do that for Donnie? I was just chillin` with my new pal Crane.” The joker said to the book smart turtle.

“That’s good if you’re with us or Casey, but these guys need their sleep, so that they could train in the morning.” The smart one said back to him. “Besides you really shouldn’t be in there.” The third oldest said in a calm tone while thumbing to the room in question.

“My dream when we got here was…” The fourth one was cut off by the one he was speaking to.

“Stop right there. We’ve heard what your dream is in this world, but let me point out that the room you were in was his room. Property of Crane.” Donatello explained to the brother who scanned the room a bit, and realized that he was right.

“Sorry about that.” He whispered to Master Crane before walking out of the doorway’s view.

“Sorry about that. By the way - may name is Donatello.” The staff wielder said with a bow, and received a nod in return. “Come on, let’s hit the hay.” He informed the fourth turtle before heading to his room. As soon as the stealth turtle turned to follow him a door opened to reveal Tigress.

“Master Tigress! I didn’t mean to wake you.” The orange one shouted in alarm not knowing that just by saying that he woke up their secret weapon.

“You don’t belong here.” She said coldly to the reptile before her.

“Yeah, of course. This is your room.” He said and tried to catch a peek over what’s inside, but she blocked him by moving closer.

“I mean you don’t belong in the Jade Palace. You’re a disgrace to kung…” She was stalled due to a said nearly cutting her nose as it was thrown between them. Once it was embedded in a wooden pillar they both turned to face an angered turtle.

“Hey, whiskers, shove it. Only family can insult Mikey like that.” Raphael said to the stripped one as he was walking over to them.

“Yeah…hey!” The youngest said as the angered turtle came over to take his weapon from the pillar. The two instantly started glaring at one another out of anger.

“If you got a problem with us furball then let’s settle it on the training ground. I bet I’ll kick your butt so hard your fur will fly off after the first punch.” The battle crazy brother said to her as he tightened his grip on his weapon.

“It doesn’t matter what you say for if either of you had any respect for who we are and what we do all four of you will be out of here by morning.” She said back to them before shutting the door in their faces.

‘Now I’m really going to make her into a pelt.’ He thought before storming off while purposefully stomping his feet on the already squeaky floor just to aggravate her.

“Big fan!” The inexperienced fighter said to her - trying to keep them on good ground with all the Five. When that was said he used Hisomi’s training to leave the hall, and he did not stop until he found a fruit bearing tree.

“I see that you have found the Sacred Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom.” Master Oogway said as he saw the young fighter flea the building and followed after him. The uncommon man heard the word ‘sacred’ and grew concern.

“Is that what this is? Sorry. I thought that this was an average peach tree.” The fellow turtle said to the Galapagos one with a mouth full of peaches.

“I understand. You eat when you are upset.” The old master said as he walked over with his Chinese lantern guiding him up the cliff.

“Upset? I’m not upset. What makes you think I’m upset.” The chucker said to the older man after spitting out all of the peaches.

“So, why are you upset?” Oogway questioned knowing that he was right.

“I probably sucked more today than anyone in the history of kung fu.” Michelangelo said to him after a sigh knowing that lying would be pointless to an elder since that tactic did not work with his father, the Tribunal, or the Ancient One. “In the history of China. In the history of sucking!” He carried on to the curious turtle.

“Probably.” The long necked shelled man said casually.

“And the Five! Man, you should’ve seen them! They totally hate me.” The orange one shouted out since he heard what they thought of him.

“Totally.” The other said casually since this was how the five were when they first enrolled at this place.

“How is Shifu ever going to turn me into the Dragon Warrior?” He questioned and saw his boasting and comedy as a hazard then a gift. “I mean, I’m not like the Five. I’ve got no claws, no wings, no venom. Even Mantis has those…thingies.” He said while showing what he meant before adding, “And I’m not like my brothers: I don’t have Leo’s leadership, Don’s big brain on book smarts, or Raph’s savage fury.” Just by naming those differences the teen was starting to question why he followed the others to this place.

‘You are still so young.’ Oogway thought as he listened to another part of the warrior’s side of the story.

“Maybe I should let them go on without me and help father with serving tea to the people of this village.” He said to Oogway while sitting at the base of the peach tree.

“Quit, don’t quit. Tea, don’t tea. You are too concerned with what was and what will be. There’s a saying: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it’s called present.” The elder said to the young warrior before leaving, and as he left Oogway tapped his walking stick on the tree causing a peach to fall into the young ninja’s three fingered hand.

‘Oogway, you are the turtle.’ Michelangelo thought since he hadn’t gotten this far in life by punking out when things got tough.

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TMNT, and the others, are owned by Eastman/Laird and Fox Box.
Kung Fu Panda, and the others, are owned by Dreamworks.