April O'Neil just recently lost her father in a mysterious laboratory fire. At the tender age of only 12 years. She knew, deep down that something wasn't right. Question was, how could she prove it? Remembering that terrifying night that claimed her father but she rescued four tiny turtles and small brown rat, ushering them to safety in the street outside that blazing building as the sirens of fire brigade and police were on their way to the scene.

Watching the turtles fall in the sewer crate, one after the other then finally the rat followed in afterwards.

Remembering that night had always played repeatedly in her mind. Some years later, she was walking home alone in a dark alley that was only a few minutes away from her home when had saw a young boy but was not a normal boy, he appeared to be a turtle. Wearing a black and white striped bandana over his head and red sleeveless overcoat, hanging upside down from the fire escape. Rubbing her eyes to have a better look then realised that he had vanished. Looking around and saw nothing, saw no one. She was indeed alone where she stood but was watched from above. "April." Her mother called. "April, where are you?"

"Coming mom." April finally answered and ran home, unhesitant. The young terrapin child watched the young brunette girl run home before returning home.

******
Present day

Chasing a worker of the local dock on the east side of New York, April was following her gut instincts to find answers for the mysterious vandals and unexplained theft that swept the city. "Mister parkerson. Can I have just a few minutes of your time about the mysterious vandals and unexplained theft of broken into stock crates that had swept the city's ship docks and log for the last three weeks."

"Look, Miss O'Neil, I gave all I knew about what happened to the police and the other reporters that asked the same questions and here is the answer I gave them. I don't know or what did it as according to surveillance footage there were no solid proof to back up your theory."

"Mister Parkerson." She called out once more when Vernon called out to her. "O'Neil, the story on time square is about to start and have to cover it."

"I know, I just need a moment to get what I need for this story." April answered then Vernon sighed, tapping his watch. "Time is ticking, O'Neil. And if we don't cover this one, the boss aint going to be happy." April sighed defeated then finally agreed with a irritated grunt. "Fine."

Meanwhile in time square, April did the coverage of the story as expected for channel six news and once it was completed, she was irritated and gravely disappointed that her skills and career was treated less than worth. For four years in journalism college, she had spent in becoming the best new York city reporter had become nothing more than a dream.

Taking her coat before placing her helmet on and rode away on her bicycle through the city, enjoying the scenery on her way home. But on her way, she had stumbled upon activity from the notorious foot clan that vandalised the crates, searching for high scientific technology for their employer. April saw this as her opportunity to video record on her mobile phone to be her very evidence to back up the story she will be airing on the news or as hoped to be. Apparently her phone presented low light and unable to record. Lowly grunted then placed back in her pocket then climbed the fence to get a closer and better view of the activity in progress when clamouring of cries and grunts while meeting the concrete pavement or the crates.

"Retreat!" karai ordered, running away as her soldiers were taken down; one by one. From the distance, as she hid away and witnessed all. Seeing the vigilante standing on top of the crate, without hesitation reached in her pocket for the phone and pointed directly to take the photograph but was too late. "Damn it." She grunted, continued on and searched for clues then finally she found one. The symbol for family but she didn't know what it meant at first but knew she had seen it once before. Only had to forgotten, until now.

*****
The following evening, April was captured and held hostage when the four vigilantes came in from the shadows as the train drove by, shielding their existence while they beaten every foot soldier and tied them up, leaving for the authorities to collect but unfortunately, karai had escaped once again. Shortly afterwards April had chased after the vigilantes from the subway as they made their escape, hoping to be unseen which they were not. Hanging over the edge of the rooftop, taking the photograph of the four unware vigilantes that had assumed to vanished from sight, only to realise they were discovered.

She was brought up over the edge with only the tightening of a chain that was used to drape around her petite waist. Grunted when she was released and confronted, slowly stood up then begun to feel woozy and light headed. To the shock of what she had discovered, and had seen. The overwhelming pressure caused her to faint. Thirty minutes later, she awoke and learned of their names but became more connected with the largest of the four. Raphael.

Raphael also felt the same connection deep inside but neither, realised their infatuation for each other will bring them closer. April was more fixated on the story, she was and had been chasing to fully understand her destiny is going to be so much more than she will soon realise. Although her ever growing curiosity to know more about those she had confronted. Taking photographs as they leapt the rooftops then finally went home to find the evidence she needed to back up her story. It wasn't long until april had came to the box with all of the video recordings and written reports on the test subjects that she had forgotten and discovered, all had made perfect sense. It was time to find them and questions were to be answered. But they were already one step ahead of her, and sent a request to meet them in a specific location also to be alone. Wanting to know and confirm her instincts were indeed correct, she agreed to meet and arrived to the location alone as requested.

The next evening, she was taken to the lair with a pink cotton bag placed over her head. The old rat stood in the far room where the stereo wall stood behind. "Come closer." He asked. "This is crazy." She whispery stated as the four terrapins walked and finally stood behind her, in silence. "You always had your father's eyes." Splinter commented with respect and remembrance. April was unsure how this old rat knew her father until he requested her to sit and listen to what he remembered and gave his thanks.

"I didn't have a voice then, but I am able to thankyou now. For your sacrifice and kindness, we were to exist because of you." Splinter told her, gently. Leonardo knelt down and said. "Wait a minute, master. You told us that shogua, a great guardian spirit had rescued us."

"That's right. This is the shogua." Splinter presented April as their guardian spirit but she indeed was not a spirit but in fact a guardian that had given them, the life they are living in present. Donatello took a quick look while raphael stood in silence as both Leonardo and Michelangelo bowed as he commented. "My girlfriend is so the shogua." Leonardo lightly punched his arm to show the proper respect.

"Come April." Splinter requested as he stood up. April followed quietly. "This is the perfect time for a new photograph." He continued, gently smiled. "Where would you like me or should say, us to sit?" she asked.

"Anywhere is fine." He answered. Leonardo sat on the left with raphael beside him and in the centre; April and Splinter sat as Michelangelo on centre right with Donatello on far right as he waved. The camera took the photograph once the timer had ran out.

April felt her hand gently grasped within a large hand, looked down and blushed as she looked up then smiled. The smile was returned then a sudden embarrassed frown was seen and stammered excuse spoken, as he made for his escape. April chuckled quietly to herself, as her heart fluttered faster than usual and her stomach filled with butterflies. "So, girlfriend. Ready to go out for dinner?" mikey asked, with a hopeful grin.

To be continued in chapter two