Turtlefreak121: Howdy! In case no one knows, I'm Turtlefreak121 - the fanfiction author typing to you right now! I have two on going series (this being one of them), a trilogy, one horror story (as we speak), a romantic fiction, and soon enough, a very confusing adventure story based from the "Truman Show". So in other words, I'm a very busy girl. School ends for me this very week and my summer involves a tennis camp, a church run to Gatlinburg (Tennessee), vacation at the beach, three books to read for Honors English, video games, and Volleyball practice beginning in July. Again, I'm very busy - so please bear with me.

Another thing you should know is that I'm a self-proclaimed artist. I own an account on the blessed where I have a current fan comic for the TMNT. It is 'The Journey' - the very fanfiction you're reading. I have decided to release it also as a fiction to get more in depth and to cover for those people out there that - for whatever reason - like my 'Jewels Series', but not my art. So, here it goes...

The Journey

Prologue

By Turtlefreak121

Disclaimer: I do not own the TMNT nor related ideas/characters/settings that deal with them. I own Nova Dane, Taku, and a handful of other characters found in this story. Please do not use them without permission. As of today, this is your only warning.

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Prologue: A Journey Begins

For whatever reason he had agreed to this, he did not now. A camping trip didn't truly bother him that much, and as far as he was concerned it was just a little romantic adventure - especially after the both of them were nearly torn apart this past winter. So it was very understandable that she would want something like this to get away from his family and his friends. These - and him - were the only people she knew.

Heck, Raph seriously doubted she knew that much about herself! After all, she spent ten-or-so years of her life brainwashed. Now, however, she was so much freer and less whinny than when they first met - something he thanked God for!

Still, something about how she was able to drag him into this didn't sit well with him. All she had to do was wait until late spring, walk from the lair's kitchen, find him asleep and alone on the couch and sit next to him with her chin resting on his shoulder. He knew from that moment he was a goner.

After all, Nova can be very persuasive when she needs to be - and being the cunning wolf-furre she was, Nova always needed something. Always...

And since Raph knew very well about wolves - even humanoid furres, like Nova - and that they only mated once in their lives and were very cautious about being romantic, he learned very well in the first weeks of dating her that a wolf also very much believed in assistance before they meet their mate. He didn't do anything, but Nova made it very clear, just in case.

Still, even someone in love knows when they've gone too far. And Raphael Hamato had gone too far!

As he looked up at the ceiling of the wood farmhouse that belonged to his good friend, Casey Jones, and listened to his brothers snore for once -considering how it was usually reversed - he had to wonder if the trip tomorrow was worth it. He wasn't sure about it at all.

He knew that downstairs Nova had everything she needed packed and situated and no doubt rested easily with her tail tucked between her legs and her head rested on her arms, even though she did have a pillow. He also knew that - no doubt - she was excitedly dreaming about how much fun they'd have together tomorrow - her and him. In Nova's world, it wouldn't surprise him to find out that the only people to exist were her and him.

And that was just fine.

He looked out the window next to his bed and watched the glistening stars in a way you couldn't see under the lights of the city. They glistened in vast arrays of clusters and constellations and looked barely important compared to the large, almost full moon. Maybe this was the calm, beautiful nature Nova so loved and held dear.

Then again, maybe it wasn't, or maybe just a part. Raph wasn't for sure - and he doubted he ever would be.

Another thought then occurred to Raph. Maybe Nova wasn't sleeping soundly like she usually could - Raph was a sound sleeper and he couldn't. Perhaps she was looking at the stars out the window next to the couch she was supposed to be sleeping on. Maybe she was looking at the moon at the same time as him.

Perhaps Nova was sitting on the swinging chair on the front porch and watching - the stars reflecting perfectly in her wide, sapphire eyes. Maybe... Maybe she was waiting for him.

Raph slowly sat up and was rethinking throwing the covers off and running to the porch where Nova was waiting for him. He stopped himself, though. That was stupid of him. Nova was a person who didn't think about the next day, she waited and then acted under the split-second rush. This was a reason she argued with Splinter that she would not make a good ninja - she waited too long to act and a ninja needs to act.

So the idea of Nova waiting for him on the porch and ready to talk about tomorrow was a fantasy and not much more than that. As much as Raph could wish that it was true, the only way he could sit on the porch with Nova was if she woke up when he walked down the stairs and wanted some morning tea while he got a hot cocoa.

He lay back down and tried to close his eyes but couldn't draw them away from the window for too long.

Thinking of this as his last night on a bed for a while, he brought the covers up closer and sighed. Just today he was joking with his brothers and Casey that this would be no big deal as April went with Nova into town (Nova in disguise, of course) to get some sleeping bags and nap sacks. He even said he'd get the best sleep he could since Nova would probably rethink the whole sleeping bag concept and insist on sleeping on the forest floor.

He thought that maybe that statement had jinxed him. Slowly, though, he closed his eyes and began to feel too tired to think about Nova, the trip, or anything at the moment. He just wanted to sleep.

For a second before he drifted off, Raph could have sworn that he heard the chains of the swinging chair rattle from being relieved of some weight. He was too tired to take it in, though, and slowly nodded off.

Maybe they had both looked at the moon at the same time, after all...

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"Gee! Wonder how many Sleeping Beauties are out of a job now! Raph just does his job so well he might just become Rip Van Winkle's supervisor!"

Rubbing his eyes and groaning, Raph rethought looking and instead just socking who ever was waking him up at this ridiculous time. He was pretty sure it was Mikey - in fact, quite confident it was Michelangelo, but he'd look just in case.

Without sitting up in his bed, Raph opened his eyes to only have them stinging in reply. The sensation almost made him dizzy, but he didn't care - he wanted conformation to sock Mike.

He turned his head to the left towards the origin of the voice and his eyes widened in shock as he saw Nova lying on the bed next to him. She was dressed as usual - her turquoise tank top was on, baggy blue jeans, her fingerless purple gloves, and the strange purple cloth wrapped around her foot which she insisted was what furre used as shoes. Besides this, her thigh-long silver hair was hoisted into a pony tail and was still shimmering from her shower.

Jumping up into a sitting position, Raph tried to back up from Nova, but was already on the side of the bed and tumbled to the floor with a painful sounding thud.

Nova rolled her sapphire eyes and turned on her side before supporting her head with her right hand. As Raph's head finally rose above the corner of the bed, she cocked an eye brow at him and then looked to the alarm clock on the nightstand.

"You overslept..." she stated in explanation.

"That give ya da right to get into my bed wid me?" Raph snapped angrily before getting up.

Nova blinked. "Eh?" She then shook it off and swerved her hips just enough to place her into an upright position. She was so backwards sometimes - he never knew when she'd get something and when not.

"Nevermind," Raph grunted before straining his continuously stinging eyes and focusing them on the same alarm clock. His jaw dropped. "It's...It's..."

The furre looked at the alarm clock and nodded. "Yup. Three fifteen - ya woulda never woke up in time for the trip if I hadn't done so myself!"

Glaring at her, Raph remembered to keep his cool and took a deep breath. "Alright...now let me got to sleep!" he hissed before sitting back down in the bed and beginning to pull up the covers.

"NO!" Nova exclaimed before pouncing on him and knocking him and herself to the floor and ending up with her hands on his chest and looking down at his face. Raph blinked and looked around to make sure Mikey didn't pull out a camera of some sort - only to find all of his brothers and even his master were no longer in the room.

"Raph, if we leave very early, Casey says it'll be more relaxing 'cause his neighbor won't be walking there yet!" Nova exclaimed.

"Whadda I care?" Raph snorted before yawning. "'Sides, where's my brothers and Splinter?"

"Downstairs," Nova answered simply.

"Downstairs?" Raph questioned as she got off of him and he followed with getting back up, himself.

"Yup!" she said with a smirk. "Casey and April cooked a big breakfast for before we leave! I think April's even gonna let Taku eat at the table this time!"

Raph thought back to the Hawk-Wolf, Taku. He was a large, black wolf as large as a horse. He once had large, hawk-like wings but they were ripped off by an enemy this winter when he assisted in saving Don. The wolf had a telekinetic connection with Don and the two had become good friends. Since Taku could no longer fly and Leo 'accidentally' killed his mate, the turtles and Splinter had invited him to stay with them.

Lately, however, Taku had been giving into instincts. Barking at night to packs of stray dogs, running around outside, and digging in the flower gardens April had begun to plant around the farmhouse this year.

"If he's going to act like a reckless puppy," April once explained, "Then he's going to be treated like a reckless puppy!"

Don had convinced her to let Taku sleep in the attic with them at night to take care of the barking problem, but the table rule stayed - something Taku wasn't used to since he was capable of speech and quite intelligent himself. He especially hated it when he'd accidentally knock something over and April would lock him outside. They were constantly feuding. April wouldn't listen to the fact that Taku was sentient and Taku wouldn't give up what came naturally.

"Really?" Raph asked skeptically.

"Yup!" Nova nodded. She was barely ever fazed by Raph's sarcasm. Whether this was because she didn't quite understand it or didn't care Raph never could sort out.

Raph rolled his eyes and stretched. "Fine! I'm coming - when're we leaving?"

"When you're done eating!" Nova said before walking towards the stairs. Her tail was swaying just a little - like it always did when she was happy. Raph was glad she was happy - windshield wipers or not, Nova walking away was a wonderful sight for her boyfriend. She then stopped and turned around, Raph thought he groaned a little too loudly. "You're coming, right?" she demanded.

"Yeah, yeah - just go on," he stated almost aggravated.

Nova shrugged and turned around again, she then suddenly turned and Raph crossed his arms. "You bringing food right?" she asked.

"Yes..." Raph grunted. He really had already gotten that ready.

Nova then walked down the stairs and was half-way down when Raph remembered to add something.

"You got the tent?" Raph questioned.

Nova didn't hear him and began humming.

"Mmm-hmm..." Raph heard come out of here.

"Alright then," Raph yawned before lying back down on his bed. "A few minutes..."

"GET OUT OF BED!" Nova yelled from downstairs.

"Ha! I'm not IN bed!" Raph lied.

He squirmed for a minute before sighing and pushing himself up from the bed.

By the time Raph was downstairs, all of his brothers were crowded at the table along with Casey, Master Splinter, and Nova. April was pacing from the stove to the table, carrying tray after tray of food varying from pancakes to eggs to bacon to sausage. There was never enough of anything.

Taku was in the living room, lying down against the wall next to the door to the kitchen. His tail thrashed against the connecting wall as his head peeked from around the door frame. His eyes were narrowed as he glared at April. Raph then noticed the fly swatter in April's apron pocket.

Raph yawned and began walking across the living room. His eyes shifted to the blanket that had been strapped down to Taku's back with a belt and remembered how Don had done that for Taku since it was so easy for someone to accidentally pet the bony stubs left from his wings and cause the Hawk-Wolf a lot of pain. Taku only used the blanket when someone had already petted him. No doubt it was Nova or Mikey.

Michelangelo was - of course - the first to notice Raphael's arrival.

The orange-clad turtle smirked and looked at his brother. "Gee, ya had us worried! What? Did Princess Charming give ya a smooch ta wake you up or has she put ya on that tight of a leash?"

Taku's ears perked up at the mention of a leash and he looked evilly at April to shoot down any bright ideas.

"Maybe I wanted to get ready for this trip!" Raph hissed.

"I doubt it," Mikey snorted.

"Glad you could join us, Raph," Leo said with a smile.

"Who's glad?" Raph snapped back as he rubbed his eyes. He then grabbed a chair that sat between Casey and Nova.

"Raph, that's April's chair," Don stated, completely ignoring the hacking Taku was making at the bare mention of April's name.

Raph blinked and scooted the chair back in. He looked around and noticed that that was the only chair without a person in it. Then the turtle noticed everyone was staring at him.

Nova stabbed at a sausage and then popped it into her mouth. "You could have my seat and I could sit in Leo's lap," she smirked.

Leo choked on the eggs he had been swallowing and began coughing. He coughed into his fist and banged against his chest with the other fist. Raph grimaced at Nova and she only raised her brows before smirking and eating some more food.

"You're despicable," Raph hissed.

"You're too kind," Nova stated before getting up and allowing Raph to sit down before sitting in his lap.

April came back with a plate of more scrambled eggs and placed it down on top of the old plate. Nearly every hand at the table reached for more as soon as the two plates clattered.

Wiping her brow, April sat down in her seat and glanced at Raph and Nova in the seat to her right before looking at Casey scornfully.

"Why didn't you tell me we're nearly out of food?" April demanded. "Nova and I could have gotten it yesterday when we went shopping! Now you and I will have to make another trip today!"

Casey shoved a fork-full of mixed bacon, sausage, and syrup from his pancakes before looking at April. "There was more food yesterday," he defended.

"Where did it go, then?" April hissed.

"The heifer with red hair took it all and gorged herself," Taku snorted from the other room.

Don turned around just enough to glare at Taku while Mikey and Nova giggled. Don hated two of his best friends fighting - now he was the middle man!

"Woo! I don't get it..." Nova stated before looking down to her plate.

"Sure ya ain't blond?" Raph snickered.

Nova paused and blinked before examining her long, silver bangs that hung on each side of her face. She then nodded. "Yeah...pretty sure... Why?"

Raph rolled his eyes. "Nuttin'..."

After she was finished, Nova leaned back into Raph's chest and stretched before looking at the digital clock built into the oven. The clock clearly read the time, but Nova blinked just in case.

"Oh...no..." she stated before jumping up.

"What?" Raph asked as she headed into the living room, passed Taku, and then grabbed one of the two knapsacks and one of the two canteens sat on the couch.

"It's four o'clock!" she exclaimed.

Raph blinked. "So?" he shrugged.

"That old man goes walking in the woods at five! We have to hurry!" Nova exclaimed.

Again, Raph blinked. "That's a whole hour away, Nov..." he pointed out.

Grunting, Nova ran at him and grabbed his arm. "C'mon!" she stated before throwing his bag and canteen at him and then dragging him out the door.

"Later!" Raph managed to get out to his family and friends before he was completely yanked out the door.

Everyone waved at them and then snickered.

"Gee! Who wears the pants in that relationship?" Mikey joked.

Taku shook his head. "Nova's the only one who wears clothes, though," he stated.

Before the conversation could go further, Leo looked over and saw that a bag similar to the ones Raph and Nova had was leaning against the wall opposite the fridge. He then remembered Raph saying he had to pack the food in a separated bag.

"Hey, Mikey," Leo piped up. "Raph forgot a bag; could you run it out to him before they get out of here?"

"Yeah, sure..." Mikey smirked before running and grabbing the bag and then slinging it over his shoulder. "Humiliation - HERE I COME!" he exclaimed before running through the living room and out the door.

Leo took another bite of food and the sighed. "I think I just made a huge mistake..."

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"Check your bag and make sure you have everything you need," Nova ordered.

"I have everything I need! I packed just last night!" Raph growled grouchily as he harshly rubbed his eyes again.

"You sure?" Nova stated with raised brows before glancing at the dark bluish colors of the sky.

Raph's eyes narrowed - she took something very important out. It'd be something that Nova would do to tick him off.

Grumbling, Raph got down on his knees and unbuckled his nap sack before going through it. Everything seemed to be there besides the food...

"Hey, Raphie!" Mikey yelled out with a smirk as he approached his brother. "Got something for your honeymoon!"

Raph could have sworn his eye twitched. "What was that, Mikey?" His brother seemed too had forgotten Raph was not a morning person...

Before Mikey could think straight, Raph had placed him in a headlock and was squeezing so hard the orange-clad turtle's face was turning blue.

"I DARE YA! SAY IT AGAIN, MIKEY!" Raph roared.

Nova looked back and sighed. "Raph! Hurry up I wanna start off before dawn! Bright and early - sooner we're gone the sooner we come back, kapeish?"

Raph dropped his brother, buckled his back and slung it over his shoulders. "Sure, whatever..." he grumbled before following her. He then walked backwards and pointed at Mikey who was still catching his breath. "When I come back--"

Nova punched his shoulder. "Stop it!" she snapped.

"What?"

"Just, stop!"

"Raph... WAIT!" Mikey coughed. "Don't you need--" He looked around and was surprised to see the two had already disappeared. "Food?"

"We'll be back after lunch, Mikey!" April called out as she and Casey climbed into the truck and began driving off.

Mikey blinked and smirked before examining the bag of of food. "Not 'til lunch, hey?"

The turtle then tucked the bag of food under his arm and began walking towards the back of the farmhouse where he was usually the only one to go.

"I bet this'll be interesting!" Mikey chuckled to himself.

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Turtlefreak121: Thank you for reading, hop you enjoyed...

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