TMNT: Forbidden Love II Chp. 5

A/N: My AU
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Chapter 5: Gathering

The site was awash in an orange glow as the crew sat around the campfire. Laughter rang through the air as the men shared stories and drank beer. After a long day of hard work, it was nice to unwind. Zachary, however, did not drink the sour-tasting beverage, but water instead. Casey, who was sitting next to the teen, noticed this.

“Hey, why don’t you try some beer, Zach?” the black-haired human questioned.

“Uh…” the brown-eyed boy began, “no thanks.”

“Come on, Zach, lighten up” Casey said.

“Really, I don’t want to” Zach insisted.

The older man shrugged and tilted his head back, gulping the alcoholic beverage down.

“So, do any of you think that no one else is inhabiting this land?” the young boy questioned out of the blue.

“Nah, I doubt it” a man with a thick British accent answered. “If so, we probably would’ve seen them by now.”

“But this land looks like it goes on for miles and miles” Zachary argued. “That means there’s bound to be somebody living here.”

“Well, if there is, we’ll just get rid of them” Casey said. “We came to the New World to claim it for Britain, so that’s what we’re gonna do.”

The brunette teenager looked into the fire that warmed his body. A small dread filled his stomach at the thought that the crew would just get rid of the people living here if there were any. He just hoped that if someone was living here, it was far, far away from where they were settled.

…

Lively tribal music filled the warm night air as the Lions and Turtles gathered in song and dance. In the village square, couples old and young danced together. Included in the group was Ember and Michelangelo, Donatello and Celestia, Leonardo and Venus, and Raphael and Angie while the rest of the royal family watched on in enjoyment.

Soon, the music came to an end and the entire tribe applauded. While the dancers returned to the crowd, Gabriel and Rose stepped to the center of the square.

“Brothers and sisters; tonight we have gathered to recognize the ones who are officially of marrying age” the lion leader announced proudly. “Included in this group is my granddaughter, Ariel, and Donatello and Celestia’s son, Aaron.”

The Lions and Turtles all cheered, causing both the lioness Princess and turtle Prince to blush at the recognition. Gabriel held up his paw to silence the crowd.

“To celebrate this occasion, my daughter, Ember, has prepared a song for the young ones” the elder feline explained.

The brunette lioness stepped forward and curtseyed as her parents stepped back and the audience applauded once again. Ember turned back to her mother and father.

“Thank you, Father” Ember said before turning to the crowd and speaking to the sixteen-year-olds. “Growing up and watching the traditional mating ceremony, I never wanted anything more in my life than to find that one perfect man to spend the rest of my life with. However, doing so proved to be more difficult than I had anticipated, and by the time I was your age, I felt that I would never find my one true love.”

The older Princess turned her gaze to her husband. “But when I met Michelangelo…I knew deep within my heart that I had found the love that I so desperately craved.” Ember faced the audience once again. “I didn’t know it or understand it at first, but when I finally did, I never felt happier in my entire life, and I hope that you will all feel the same when you find your one true love. Let this song guide all of you into finding that perfect one.”

With her speech at an end, the musicians began to play a slow, melodious tune. The tribe waited expectedly, excited to hear Ember sing. It was known that she had one of the most golden singing voices within the village and they couldn’t wait to hear what she would sing. After a few more measures, the lioness lifted her head.

“Love’s a curious thing
It often comes disguised
Look at love the wrong way
It goes unrecognized

So look with your heart
And not with your eyes
The heart understands
The heart never lies

Believe what it feels
And trust what it shows
Look with your heart
The heart always knows

Love is not always beautiful
Not at the start

So open your arms
And close your eyes tight
Look with your heart
And when it finds love
Your heart will be right

Learn from someone who knows
Make sure you don’t forget
Love you misunderstand
Is love that you’ll regret

Look with your heart
And not with your eyes
The heart can’t be fooled
The heart is too wise

Forget what you think
Ignore what you hear
Look with your heart
It always sees clear

Love is not always beautiful
Not at the start

But open your arms
And close your eyes tight
Look with your heart
And when it finds love
Your heart will be right”

The entire tribe cheered once the song came to its end, leaving everyone with huge smiles on their faces, especially Ariel. As a child, her mother sang this to her and it was always pleasant to hear. The young lioness heeded the song’s advice and longed for her heart to soon show her the love that she always pined for.

TBC…