The Legacy

Rated PG

Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.

Chapter One: Rama

Michaelangelo:

I leaned in the doorway of the bedroom my eyes taking in the toys still scattered about the floor, the soft muted glow of the night light illuminating the child sleeping in the bed against the wall.

I smiled tenderly as I saw that she was sucking a bit on her thumb and had her stuffed Franklin turtle tucked in her other arm.

Ramiela, or Rama , had a thing for Franklin. In fact those two were a pretty hot item it was very rare to see one without the other in fact it was almost impossible to separate her from her toy turtle.

I shook my head as I silently reflected on the years of raising her, she would be four years old soon and I had to wonder where that time had gone as I looked on the huddled form.

There had been far too many times when I had been, almost, absolutely certain that she wouldn't make it to this age, what with the childhood diseases that we really weren't set up to treat. Or simply because as a baby I hadn't really understood her and needs as well as I did now and I often wondered if I might, just kill her by accident.

Course there were times in her terrible twos that I would have gladly of killed her purposely, sure I would have regretted it later but at the time it was, oh so, tempting.

She looked more like her mother every day Rama had Shay's dark almost black hair, Shay's natural colour at any rate, the grey green eyes and high cheek bones, that seemed to make her turtle beak all the more pronounced. She had also inherited her mom's five fingers and five little toes on each foot.

She had a lot of me in her too, she took after me in many ways. My influence was seen in far more then the turtle shell and her light green skin. Those were clearly the obvious that marked her as a hybrid of our turtle clan.

The not so obvious influence was seen and felt in her wild energy, that kid almost bounced off the walls at the best of times, and her cheerful bubbling little laugh that could melt even Raph's hard heart.

I sighed softly as I thought about Shay, Rama's mother. She had been a runaway street kid that I had managed to save from some punks one night. At first her and Raph hit it off but then that changed and she left Raph for me.

I loved Shay deeply, or I thought I had at that time. I was only sixteen and she was thirteen so I don't think either of us knew what love really was. In time Shay got pregnant and gave birth to Rama.

Yet after Rama's birth Shay didn't seem quite the same she grew distant and didn't seem to know the first thing of what to do for a child, Shay left one night to return to her own family.

She left me a note telling me she knew she had made many mistakes and she wanted to correct them and she wanted to get her own life together. She left me Rama to raise.

Shay often sent long letters or e-mails on rare occasions she'd phone. She would send small gifts for Rama, care of April and Casey's apartment. In fact Franklin turtle had been a gift from her mother on her third birthday.

Shay had written me a note saying ' Every little girl wants a doll to play with that looks a bit like them. I figured this might be the right doll for Rama.'

Shay had been, so right Rama practically ignored her other toy dolls.

I in turn often sent Shay the occasional photo of Rama it was all I could give her other then small updates of first words and other momentous occasions in our daughter's life. I was kind of glad that Shay still tried to be a part of Rama's life sometime to the point she would often send us a bit of money for her care. That really help ensure Rama got some of the things she could really use.

I admit Shay didn't write so often now, her letters and phone calls were becoming far more sporadic.

Of course Shay was almost nineteen and going to University, working two part time jobs and earning her own way in life. It seemed she had done quite well in turning her life around. In fact her last letter had mentioned a boyfriend, so it seemed her life was complete and she was leaving her troubled teen past behind her.

Still with how little we heard from Shay now I had to wonder if Franklin had been Rama's last gift from her mom. She hadn't sent anything for Christmas as she usually did, nor had she sent any money for awhile. Maybe she needed the money more right now.

Either way we would manage to care for Ramiela after all Splinter managed somehow to raise my three brothers and myself and that couldn't have been an easy task. I realized that the more time I spent with Rama causing me to have a deeper respect for my father.

Rama stirred kicking out and mumbled in her sleep. I smiled again as I pushed those thoughts from my mind.

Rama was a member of our family, the youngest, the most spoiled and treasured gift that had ever been bestowed on our family. She was well loved, even in her wild whirl wind of activity she seemed to tear down the lair itself and had the rest of us chasing our tails.

In fact Splinter probably regretted ever spouting that age old parents curse. That good one about ' I hope you have a child that is just like you so you know what I went through.' Splinter forgot one thing when he cursed me, and that was he would also have to live with the tiny terror of the sewers all over again.

I often heard him mumbling, "How could I?" when Rama had been teething course her favourite chew toy happened to be Splinter's tail.

As it was Rama's terrible twos had started early and ended awhile ago, though there was some time I had to wonder if she was still in them.

Yeah, I will admit she was a brat and a real handful but I didn't know what I would do without her not after the years of caring for her. I enjoyed slipping into her room and just watching her sleep peacefully in her bed.

Maybe because it was almost the only time she stayed in one spot and remained quiet and maybe it was because I just couldn't seem to get enough of my little girl.

However there was a patrol waiting for me, so I slipped out of her room and headed to work. It was time to get down to business.

….

" Daddy, daddy. Ake up daddy?"

I barely cracked open one eyelid to see Rama standing by my bedside. I groaned inwardly, " Hey Rama it is too early to be up. Go back to bed okay?" I mumbled sleepily.

" Daddy up!" she announced in a yell as she climbed up onto my bed and proceeded to jump on it. The movement alone jolted me into opening both my eyes.

Ah, well I knew getting her back to bed was a long shot anyways.

" Rama stop that you know better" I scolded her as I sat up rubbing sleep from my eyes with one hand.

She immediately flung herself at me, wrapping her thin arms about my neck, her momentum of her tackle caused me to fall back on the bed.

She giggled hysterically as her fingers reached under my shell to tickle me " Yaaah 'ickles."

I reached up an arm and sweeped her off of me pinning her to the bed beside me with one hand. She squirmed under my hand trying to wriggle free.

" Rama you forgot your t but you did get the L." I laughed at her, " It is tickle."

" Ticke" She laughed.

" I give up" I replied throwing my hands in the air releasing her as I did so. However I quickly crooked my own fingers wiggling them a little " I'm going tickle you." I threatened, " Best look out here comes the tickle monster. Whahahahahahaha!"

She gave a squeal of delight, as she fell back onto the bed writhing under my adept fingers as they tickled her. She slapped at my hands in vain for I moved them far too fast to be caught.

I finally eased up and tousled her hair.

" Daddy?"

" Yeah babe?" I wondered, now that the morning tickle fest was over she would have something else in mind.

" Story?" She asked looking up at me expectantly.

" Okay you go get a story and I'll read it to you" I agreed. Story was one word that Rama always seemed to remember her letter t on.

Rama grinned and scampered off to her bedroom while I fluffed up the pillows and yawned.

Typically Rama returned with more than one story, she had all four of her Franklin books for me to read as well as Franklin himself. I rolled my eyes knowing Rama wouldn't even sit still for one story never mind four of them.

Not only that I was bored of reading Franklin books what about good old Dr. Seuss but Rama had no interest in Sam-I-am.

Then again I suppose she couldn't really be blamed for her obsession with the turtle. After all she knew that four members of her family looked like grown up versions of Franklin, though personally, if you asked me, we could kick shell on Franklin any day.

I reached down and picked up Rama tucking her in beside me as I started to read Franklin.

In moments though Rama was up bouncing on the bed singing " Frankin, Frankin." She paused and looked back at me, while I was trying to figure out if it was even worth it trying to continue reading.

" Kiss Frankin daddy" She demanded holding the stuffed toy out towards me.

" Sorry babe, he's not my type" I replied.

" Why?"

Oh, no the dreaded why question, everything was why lately.

" I prefer to kiss cute little girl turtles better" I responded lying the book down and pulling her to me for a kiss.

Before I made it she asked " Why?"

" Just the way it is hon."

" Why?"

" Uh, Rama how would you like some breakfast now?" I asked hopefully.

It was fairly easy to distract Rama, but I had to wonder if we had bothered Splinter in such a fashion. Don probably would of, most of the time Don still asked why, but he was usually able to figure it out for himself.

" Hungry daddy I wan' breakfas." She agreed quickly.

" Okay. What would you like?" I asked as I threw back the blankets and began to pull on my gear.

" Eggs, oasies and jam pease daddy."

" Great breakfast it is, but you be quiet now because the others are still being sleepy heads. We don't want to wake them up" I told her winking at her as I tied on my bandanna.

" Sssh!" she hissed holding a finger to her mouth.

" That is right hon," I agreed as I took her hand to lead her out to the kitchen.

Rama tried to pull away from me as she saw Raph's bedroom door.

" I see Unca Raph" Rama insisted.

" Uncle Raph doesn't like being woken up so early in the morning." I warned her, " So you leave him alone."

Sure Raph was her favourite Uncle but he hated to be woken up by the bundle of energy that was Ramiela before his alarm had a chance to go off. Not that Raph would hurt Rama but he would sure make the rest of us pay.

In the kitchen I started scrambling eggs, making toast and that all important pot of coffee while Rama climbed into her chair and set Franklin on the table nattering away to him about, who knows what.

I knew the coffee would be greatly appreciated by the rest of my family as they came staggering out of bed.

Rama had her own time schedule and though I had tried hard and often to get her in sync with our schedule it just didn't seem to work. Especially when it came to sleeping Rama was eager to start the day, as a consequence I never had a chance to sleep in anymore.

I remembered the days when Leo would have to come in my room and, literally drag me out of my bed for morning practice. Now I was up earlier then he was and I often had this wild urge to haul his shell out of bed just for the sake of doing so.

Rama was soon busy eating, and she was still fiddling with her meal when Splinter came in.

" Good morning Ramiela." He said greeting her with a small bow.

" Rama Spiner" she corrected him scowling slightly.

I grinned at her as I took a bite of a piece of toast and placed the kettle on for Splinter's tea, " Rama llama ding dong."

She laughed at the nick name I had given her, and Splinter chuckled as well. That kid was silly enough she easily warranted a ding dong to her name that was for sure.

I had gotten it from an old fifties type song, sung by a group called the Edsels and once in a while I would sing the chorus to her. I wasn't much of a singer but Rama didn't seem to mind so much.

Splinter tousled Rama's hair " Good morning to you too Michaelangelo."

" Morning Sensei or it might be when I wake up."

Rama giggled suddenly hiding her big smile behind a hand as she did so.

I turned to look at her " What?" I had to ask, " Just what is so funny all of a sudden?"

" Piner Miangeo" Rama laughed uproariously as she tried her best to wrap her tongue into saying my full name.

I chuckled " And what is so blasted funny about Michaelangelo?" I demanded, " It just happens to be my name."

" No!" She protested shaking her head furiously.

" Yes it is my name that is why my brother's call me Mike or Mikey." I informed her.

She laughed harder and through her merriment managed to say " Mickey mouse. Daddy not mouse. Piner Mickey mouse." She tittered over her little joke.

I shook my finger at her as she took a large bite of toast and jam " You behave Michaelangelo is my name Ram-ie-La"

" No" Rama grinned " You daddy." She announced firmly letting me know she wasn't about to fall for that.

" Hmmm. You got me there, I am your daddy too" I admitted, " but Splinter happens to be my daddy, which makes him your grandpa."

Rama scowled as she munched her toast, it was clear from her puzzled expression that she was trying to figure out how her dad had a dad.

I shook my head " I wonder why she never picked up on my full name before, she had to of heard it a few hundred times before now."

" Perhaps she is starting to develop her sense of humour and she finds amusement in the longer name" Splinter suggested, " I seem to recall you started joking around at a fairly young age, mostly to get attention." Splinter smiled " It often worked. At any rate a child's humour is ever unique."

I smiled a little " In that case I think I'll get her a whoopee cushion for her birthday."

" Oh no Michaelangelo not that" Splinter protested.

I leaned against the counter as I sipped the hot coffee in my mug it was helping me get more awake and energized. Rama finished with her meal stood up in the her chair and prepared to jump, the movement was bound to topple the chair and her so I moved in to grab hold of her.

Rama immediately wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me a large slobbery sticky kiss on my face.

" Wuv you daddy."

" I love you too babe, but you are an honest mess so I have to declare bath time before you sticky up the whole lair."

" Kiss Spiner?" Rama asked.

" Not until you are clean Splinter doesn't need his hair all gummed up with jam" I informed her, " It is bath time now."

" No, nooooooo bath" Rama howled as I packed her off to the bathroom.

Her wails were quickly cut off when she was popped into a tub full of bubbles, toys and even some warm water. She squealed with delight splashing and playing in the water while I washed her hair and saw to it she did actually wash herself off. Often though I had to help her get the more difficult places.

Over half an hour later I pulled her protesting, every bit of the way, from the water.

" Rama bath."

" You did have a bath, stay in there any longer you will turn into a prune." I teased her as I wrapped her in a dry towel. Once she was dried off, I managed to get miss wiggle a lot to hold still just long enough to put a ponytail into her hair. I was now a master of ponytails. April had taught me the fine art of doing them. Once in a while when Rama was in a more agreeable mood, I could manage to give her pig tails.

I then released her so I could tidy the bathroom before morning practice. I heard Rama's delighted shouts coming from the lair " Raphie, Raphie." As I set to work.

I had no doubt she had sought him out and he was by now tossing her into the air and catching her, or swinging her about in circles or some other rough housing game that the two enjoyed.

Raph liked to act the tough ninja with the rest of us but around Rama he was just a big softie. It was clear to the whole family that little girl had him wrapped around all her fingers and toes. Raph was the only other turtle who really played with Rama. Don was too busy working on projects in his lab where Rama wasn't permitted to go. Leo played games in his lessons from time to time but Rama had learned that Leo's games were different from the sort of fun she had with daddy or her uncle Raph.

Leo would take no foolishness from her during lessons something that had often brought her to tears because she wanted to play. I had to tell her lessons were more important then play and she shouldn't play during her lessons.

Rama rather liked the games of punching and kicking that Leo showed her to play, but she had a hard time figuring out, why, those games were taught only in the dojo and any punching or kicking outside the dojo resulted in punishment.

Leo kept the lessons short two fifteen minutes twice a day and most of that time was often spent in getting Rama to perfect one move. Whether it was a stance a kick, or punch. Leo wanted it performed perfectly and to his orders. He had spent a year teaching the foundation of gymnastic and running games. Skipping rope and stuff like that to increase her stamina but now he had the fun of introducing her to early fighting arts.

Rama was his only pupil but she was easily distracted and sitting still wasn't her strong point so she often pressed his patience.

I often wished I could take her to a playground and let her be around children her own age, but I knew it was impossible.

In a world above, Rama like the rest of us, would be considered a freak and while human children enjoyed Franklin turtle I had a feeling they might find it harder to accept a child who looked like a living version of that turtle, except that is for her hair.

Even on the off chance children would welcome her, their parents might become afraid of the turtle child and end up causing trouble for our entire family.

I sighed I knew my family had done everything possible to make Rama feel safe and normal, but I knew of the dangers that waited out there, and I knew the sewers could only protect her for so long.

We had, in our efforts to give Rama a bit more natural childhood, built her a playground made of scraps we had hauled home from the dump and other places. It had a fort with a rope ladder, a small bridge that went to a platform with a pole to slide down, and a chain ladder that went up to the small wooden platform.

There was also swings a sandbox and a few other bits and pieces that helped for ninja training, all sorts of fun and games to play in her own private playground. Yet not a single friend to share it all with.

At least when I was you I had my brothers to annoy or play or fight with, but she only had adults to amuse her.

I worried a great deal about the fact that Rama was an only child, in a very big lonely world that just might hurt her if they knew she existed at all. I think my greatest fear for her was for Rama to end up alone in this world when the rest of us had died. She would have no one to help her or look out for her.

I wanted to know that she would be all right, I wanted to know that she would have a friend or family around to help her so she wouldn't have to face things alone.

I wanted to give her a legacy that would help her survive in the world she had been born into.

TBC