Raph chuckles and pulls her close. “What? You look cute like that.”
“Hmph,” she playfully murmurs, pouting.
Mike’s snickering away, and HLM starts plotting something under her breath.
“I can tell this is going to be a long weekend,” Leo groans with a roll of his eyes.
“Wull, I can’t…” A deafening, yet familiar blast of thunder interrupts Mikey.
HLM jumps as winds come roaring in out of nowhere. The guys all look at each other before taking off in a dead run into the winds.
A bewildered HLM has no choice but to follow.
Diana’s sword clatters to the ground as she and Jae stumble through the tear.
Already it’s closing. Good, I don’t think I’d be able to close it. We’ve been battling since midnight. I’m sure Jae’s getting as worn down as I am.
Diana looks over to her lover, and, indeed, he’s having a hard time getting to his feet. She struggles to hers and retrieves her fallen sword.
They both look up at the sound of feet stepping on broken glass.
HLM nearly runs face first into Raph’s shell; he stops so quickly.
“Whoa, baby, ‘sup?” she asks as she pears around his shoulder.
He’s staring dumbfounded at an attractive red haired young woman, and a young blond man, who’s also quite attractive. They’re both exhausted looking, but she’s holding an unsheathed sword.
HLM’s about to unsheathe her claws when she hears Raph whisper, “Diana? Can that really be you?”
“Huh?”
HLM can barely hear the girl whisper, “Raph…” As Diana and Raph hug each other, HLM and the blonde guy exchange confused looks.
The other three turtles move forward as one to wrap Raph and Diana a group hug, leaving HLM and the blond to stand and stare at the group.
After a moment, they break apart and begin talking animatedly.
HLM goes over to the blond and holds out a hand in greeting.
“I’m HLM.”
“I know. You don’t know me?”
“Uh…well…no…” she gives him an odd look.
“Oh…kay…I’m Jae.”
“Nice ta meet cha.” HLM studiously avoids looking at Raph and the others. She then realizes that Jae’s looking at her oddly. “What? What is it?”
“What about Neph?”
“Who?”
“Nephrite? Your husband?”
HLM gives him another odd look.
“Tall, with auburn hair? Dark blue eyes? Likes star gazing and the occasional drink?”
“Uh, don’t think I know anyone like that, and last I knew, I’m not married.”
“Uhm,” Jae looks to the group, “Diana? Love, where are we?”
The redhead comes over and takes Jae’s hand in hers.
“This is the reality that the Dark One abducted me to.”
“Oh, that would explain why HLM doesn’t know us.”
“Uhm, I think maybe it would be a good idea to go back to the lair. We have a lot of catching up to do,” Diana says softly.
“I had the feeling this was something more than just a friendly visit,” Leo comments as the group makes their way down to the lair.
Diana sits by Jae, holding his hand and sipping tea once everyone has calmed down, and introductions have been made.
“So, what brings you two here?” Leo asks.
“We must defeat a guy by the name of Ed,” Diana answers seriously.
“…Ed?” Don asks incredulously as HLM struggles to hold back a laugh.
“Hai, Ed. He wants to not only take over the world, but to rule every reality in existence,” Jae continues Diana’s thoughts.
Everyone is silent as Diana picks up where Jae left off. “He fancies himself a sort of Evil Deceiver, as found in philosophy. He enjoys playing with peoples’ minds, and then destroying them. He must be stopped.”
Reunions Index
Chapter One
Chapter Three