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Is the strange Turtle he meets the worst thing that's ever happened to him, or something else?\n\nMulti-chapter 2k3", "count": "28", "submission_left_submission_id": "1041899", "submission_left_file_name": "1436747_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_4.doc", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/1436/1436747_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_4.jpg", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/1436/1436747_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_4.jpg", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/1436/1436747_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_4.jpg", "submission_left_thumb_huge_x": "152", "submission_left_thumb_huge_y": "123", "submission_left_thumb_large_x": "152", "submission_left_thumb_large_y": "123", "submission_left_thumb_medium_x": "120", "submission_left_thumb_medium_y": "97", "submission_right_submission_id": "1044564", "submission_right_file_name": "1440445_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_6.doc", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/1440/1440445_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_6.jpg", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/1440/1440445_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_6.jpg", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/1440/1440445_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_6.jpg", "submission_right_thumb_huge_x": "152", "submission_right_thumb_huge_y": "123", "submission_right_thumb_large_x": "152", "submission_right_thumb_large_y": "123", "submission_right_thumb_medium_x": "120", "submission_right_thumb_medium_y": "97" } ], "description": "Disclaimer: The TMNT are not mine. No money being made.\nWord Count: 100K+ multi-chapter 2k3\nSummary: Donatello sets out to do April a small favor and winds up in another dimension.\nRating will vary by chapter, from G to NC-17\n\n~~The amazing preview image created by @dragona15", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Disclaimer: The TMNT are not mine. No money being made.
Word Count: 100K+ multi-chapter 2k3
Summary: Donatello sets out to do April a small favor and winds up in another dimension.
Rating will vary by chapter, from G to NC-17

~~The amazing preview image created by \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdragona15\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t		\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdragona15\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
", "writing": "\tDon drew his bo as soon as the baboon creatures hit the ground. Nicco had the presence of mind not to release Don’s belt but also not to pull on Don once the younger turtle took a defensive stance.\n\n\tTurning his back to run was not an option. The baboons were moving too fast and were already close; the safest course of action was to keep his eyes on them.\n\n\tWith Nicco’s guidance, Don shuffled backwards to get nearer to the edge of the clearing. As he did so, Don simultaneously spun his bo out in front of him, the front tip forward and slightly elevated. When the lead baboon jumped for his throat, Don jabbed it right in the gut and sent it flying back.\n\n\tDon had wanted to avoid an altercation with the baboons, but once it began, he was in his element. Years of practicing against his highly skilled brothers and numerous battles with the Foot and assorted other enemies gave the ninja a powerful advantage.\n\n\tA second baboon rushed towards his legs and Don shifted his grip on the bo, sweeping it down and across. The end rapped against the creature’s skull with a resounding [i]‘thunk’ [/i]and dropped the beast in its tracks.\n\n\tDon barely even noticed Nicco gripping his belt; the other turtle seemed adept at anticipating his moves.\n\n\tCareful to avoid striking hard enough to kill, Don twirled his bo quickly, using the momentum to swing down and smack the side of a third baboon. The strike lifted the creature off its feet and sent it careening into a fourth baboon. The pair became tangled and went tumbling into the bushes.\n\n\tNicco was suddenly standing next to him, his hold still solid on Don’s belt. One of the baboons lay unconscious on the ground, the other three had vanished.\n\n\tDon was hyper aware of Nicco’s arm pressing against him. The larger turtle turned towards Don, a move that brought the ninja’s elbow into contact with the other’s plastron.\n\n\t“Do you hear that?” Nicco asked, his mouth close to Don’s head. “There are more of them coming.”\n\n\tSucking in a lungful of oxygen, Don held his breath as he listened, releasing it when he caught the sounds that had alerted Nicco.\n\n\t“Lots of them,” Don said.\n\n\t“Move it,” Nicco urged, yanking on Don’s belt to turn the younger turtle around.\n\n\tA hand on Don’s carapace sent him towards a narrow trail and he followed it, shoving his bo into place as he ran. He could hear Nicco thudding along behind him and had a moment to hope they were going in the right direction before the sound of at least a dozen baboon creatures screeching behind them took that worry out of Don’s head.\n\n\tConcentrating on the trail, Don didn’t notice a movement in the trees ahead of him until one of the baboons swung directly at him, its teeth bared and eyes focused on Don’s neck.\n\n\tBefore he even had a chance to blink, Nicco shoved him aside and sent a rocklike fist plowing directly into the baboon’s chin. Its head snapped back with the force of the blow and it landed with a solid thud at their feet.\n\n\tDon had a second to stare wide eyed at Nicco before the turtle grabbed his arm and propelled him forward. “Go!” Nicco yelled, instantly reminding the ninja that they were still being pursued.\n\n\tRunning hard, Don lifted a forearm in front of his face so that the low branches and vines wouldn’t slap his eyes. Nicco was right on his heels, his longer legs making it easy for him to keep pace with Donatello.\n\n\tAhead of them a thicker branch stretched across the trail and rather than fight his way past it, Don jumped over. Glancing back, he saw Nicco do the same, turning in mid-air so that he landed facing backwards.\n\n\tGrabbing the heavy branch, Nicco pulled it back just as three baboons came into view. Snarling, they simultaneously leaped at Nicco, who released the branch at the exact same moment.\n\n\tDon skid to a stop and watched as the branch caught all three across the stomach, tossing them heavily to the ground several feet away.\n\n\tTurning with a cocky grin, Nicco saw that Don was waiting on him and waved the younger turtle forward impatiently. The sound of pursuit diminished slightly but had by no means stopped, seeming to indicate that the baboons were becoming more cautious.\n\n\tThe pair continued to run, needing to lose the feisty baboon creatures entirely. Don continued to look up into the trees as they ran, wondering why the baboons hadn’t taken their chase skyward, where they would have a distinct speed advantage.\n\n\tA minute or two later he saw that they finally had. Swooping towards them from on high were a half dozen of the creatures, thoroughly enraged.\n\n\tNicco saw them too. “Not much room to fight!” he yelled at Don as they zigzagged past the trunks of trees.\n\n\t“We need a clear spot to make a stand!” Don shouted back without much hope.\n\n\t“Go this way!” Nicco called, barreling off to the right past a group of boulders, the first large rocks they’d come upon.\n\n\tHoping that the boulders meant fewer trees, Don darted after Nicco. They dashed past another grouping of boulders, and then began moving over rougher, rock laden ground. Looking ahead, Don saw what appeared to be open space just beyond a line of trees about ten yards in front of them.\n\n\tDon took a second to glance back over his shoulder, trying to gauge where the creatures were, and nearly slammed into Nicco’s carapace.\n\n\t“Why’d you stop?” Don demanded testily.\n\n\t“Dead end,” Nicco said with a demonstrative wave of the hand.\n\n\tLooking around Nicco, Don realized they were on a cliff above a broad lake. The slope down to the water was steep, strewn with pebbles and clumps of rough grass.\n\n\t“We have to get in the water,” Don said urgently. “Baboons, at least the ones on Earth, won’t go into water that’s more than knee high. They won’t chase us anymore if we swim out to the center. Let’s see if we can find a way down.”\n\n\tNicco was tracking the baboon creatures swift approach as Don spoke. “No time for that, little ninja. Here, hold my pack.”\n\n\tDon sputtered as Nicco shoved the backpack into his arms. “What are you doing?”\n\n\tGrinning, Nicco spun Don around so he was facing the water and wrapped his arms around the younger turtle, pressing himself tightly against Don’s carapace. “Cross your fingers that nothing in that water will eat us.”\n\n\t“I don’t underst . . . Nicco!” Don shouted as Nicco stepped off the edge.\n\n\tNicco curled his body as much as possible so that his carapace slid against the side of the cliff, the position forcing Don to ride in his lap. Together they bumped and skidded over the uneven terrain, going so fast the landscape around them was a blur. Don was still yelling the last syllable of Nicco’s name when they shot into the water.\n\n\tWith his mouth open like that, Don unintentionally sucked in a mouthful of water as he hit. Don swiftly clawed his way to the surface, spluttering and coughing. Nicco pulled the backpack out of his arms and pushed it out in front of them as he began swimming out to deeper water. Choking out the last of the water, Don flipped over and swam out with him.\n\n\tWhen he thought they’d gone far enough, Don turned to look back towards the cliff. A line of baboon creatures stood at the top, jumping up and down and screeching at them. Several began throwing rocks, but Don and Nicco were too far out to be hit.\n\n\tNicco was chuckling as he watched them. “Guess you were right, they don’t like the water.”\n\n\tDon spun in the water, sending a spray of it up into Nicco’s face. “Are you out of your mind? Is that your problem? What kind of stunt was that?”\n\n\t“It worked didn’t it?” Nicco replied, his pleased expression cocky. “You and I both know we didn’t have time to look for another way down. What are you complaining about anyway? My shell’s the one that got scratched up.”\n\n\t“You could have given me a hint about what you were planning to do,” Don said grumpily.\n\n\t“Not fond of surprises, huh?” Nicco asked with a twinkle in his eye. “I’ll file that for future reference. By the way, you’ve got some nice moves little ninja. Looks like you and that bo staff have been together for a while.”\n\n\t“It was good to see that you aren’t all talk,” Don shot back, though with much less rancor.\n\n\t“That’s me all over; less talk, more action,” Nicco said, drifting closer to Don. “You want to know my favorite part of that ride? Hearing you scream my name.”\n\n\tDon felt his face heat up, even in the cool water, and had absolutely no idea why. Clearing his throat, he paddled backwards, trying to put some distance between them, but Nicco kept floating nearer.\n\n\t“M . . . maybe we should concentrate on getting out of here and onto dry land,” Don finally stuttered, managing to pull his eyes away from Nicco’s mesmerizing gaze. “The fact that we haven’t been eaten yet doesn’t mean we still can’t be.”\n\n\tNicco’s grin was enigmatic. “I suppose you’re right. You do look like a pretty tasty morsel.”\n\n\tDeciding that Nicco was just trying to find another way to taunt him, Don focused on swimming to the opposite shoreline. He was a strong swimmer and discovered that Nicco was as well; the larger turtle stayed alongside him all the way to dry land.\n\n\tCrawling out of the water, Don lay back and stared at the sky while he caught his breath. Tossing his wet backpack onto the ground, Nicco rolled onto his carapace next to Don, taking the opportunity for a breather as well.\n\n\tAfter a few minutes, Don felt Nicco’s eyes on him. Though he didn’t want to, Don couldn’t help but roll his head in Nicco’s direction.\n\n\t“What?” Don asked with a touch of confused belligerence.\n\n\tNicco was still wearing his grin. “Are you usually this defensive, or is it just with me?”\n\n\tDon took a deep breath, trying to slow his heartbeat. “Sorry. I keep expecting you say something else I don’t want to hear.”\n\n\tLaughing, Nicco lifted himself onto one elbow so he could stare down at Don. “You’re all right little ninja,” he said with a toothy grin. “At first I was worried that I was going to have to coddle you, but you’re more than capable of handling yourself.”\n\n\t“Um, thanks,” Don said. “You aren’t too bad either.”\n\n\tHe knew it sounded lame, but he couldn’t think of what else to say. Don suddenly felt like he was swimming again, only this time in Nicco’s eyes. Every time he looked into them he seemed to get trapped in a place that was very foreign to him.\n\n\tLeaning further over him, Nicco said, “I was thinking I’d miss my brother’s company on this adventure, but I’m actually starting to enjoy myself.”\n\n\tThe heat that had suffused his face earlier returned, only this time it seemed that Don’s entire body was flushed with warmth. It was a little like how he’d felt years ago when he and his brothers had first met April O’Neill and he’d enjoyed a brief crush on her.\n\n\tThat thought jolted Don back to reality and he rolled away from Nicco quickly, jumping to his feet in a rush. Nicco sat up, staring at him in confusion.\n\n\t“We should get going,” Don said, his words tumbling over each other. “I have a feeling those baboons may have knocked us off course.”\n\n\tNicco got up slowly, a knowing expression on his face. He grabbed his backpack and swung it onto his carapace, then dug out the compass.\n\n\t“Yep, we’re certainly not where we need to be,” Nicco agreed. “We’ve got no choice but to start walking again.”\n\n\tDon managed a wan smile. “At least until the sun starts to go down.”\n\n\tNicco clapped him on the shoulder before leading the way back into the jungle. “You learn fast little ninja.”\n\n\t“Stop calling me that,” Don replied automatically.\n\nTBC…………………..", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "\tDon drew his bo as soon as the baboon creatures hit the ground.  Nicco had the presence of mind not to release Don’s belt but also not to pull on Don once the younger turtle took a defensive stance.

\tTurning his back to run was not an option.  The baboons were moving too fast and were already close; the safest course of action was to keep his eyes on them.

\tWith Nicco’s guidance, Don shuffled backwards to get nearer to the edge of the clearing.  As he did so, Don simultaneously spun his bo out in front of him, the front tip forward and slightly elevated.  When the lead baboon jumped for his throat, Don jabbed it right in the gut and sent it flying back.

\tDon had wanted to avoid an altercation with the baboons, but once it began, he was in his element.  Years of practicing against his highly skilled brothers and numerous battles with the Foot and assorted other enemies gave the ninja a powerful advantage.

\tA second baboon rushed towards his legs and Don shifted his grip on the bo, sweeping it down and across.  The end rapped against the creature’s skull with a resounding ‘thunk’ and dropped the beast in its tracks.

\tDon barely even noticed Nicco gripping his belt; the other turtle seemed adept at anticipating his moves.

\tCareful to avoid striking hard enough to kill, Don twirled his bo quickly, using the momentum to swing down and smack the side of a third baboon.  The strike lifted the creature off its feet and sent it careening into a fourth baboon.  The pair became tangled and went tumbling into the bushes.

\tNicco was suddenly standing next to him, his hold still solid on Don’s belt.  One of the baboons lay unconscious on the ground, the other three had vanished.

\tDon was hyper aware of Nicco’s arm pressing against him.  The larger turtle turned towards Don, a move that brought the ninja’s elbow into contact with the other’s plastron.

\t“Do you hear that?” Nicco asked, his mouth close to Don’s head.  “There are more of them coming.”

\tSucking in a lungful of oxygen, Don held his breath as he listened, releasing it when he caught the sounds that had alerted Nicco.

\t“Lots of them,” Don said.

\t“Move it,” Nicco urged, yanking on Don’s belt to turn the younger turtle around.

\tA hand on Don’s carapace sent him towards a narrow trail and he followed it, shoving his bo into place as he ran.  He could hear Nicco thudding along behind him and had a moment to hope they were going in the right direction before the sound of at least a dozen baboon creatures screeching behind them took that worry out of Don’s head.

\tConcentrating on the trail, Don didn’t notice a movement in the trees ahead of him until one of the baboons swung directly at him, its teeth bared and eyes focused on Don’s neck.

\tBefore he even had a chance to blink, Nicco shoved him aside and sent a rocklike fist plowing directly into the baboon’s chin.  Its head snapped back with the force of the blow and it landed with a solid thud at their feet.

\tDon had a second to stare wide eyed at Nicco before the turtle grabbed his arm and propelled him forward.  “Go!” Nicco yelled, instantly reminding the ninja that they were still being pursued.

\tRunning hard, Don lifted a forearm in front of his face so that the low branches and vines wouldn’t slap his eyes.  Nicco was right on his heels, his longer legs making it easy for him to keep pace with Donatello.

\tAhead of them a thicker branch stretched across the trail and rather than fight his way past it, Don jumped over.  Glancing back, he saw Nicco do the same, turning in mid-air so that he landed facing backwards.

\tGrabbing the heavy branch, Nicco pulled it back just as three baboons came into view.  Snarling, they simultaneously leaped at Nicco, who released the branch at the exact same moment.

\tDon skid to a stop and watched as the branch caught all three across the stomach, tossing them heavily to the ground several feet away.

\tTurning with a cocky grin, Nicco saw that Don was waiting on him and waved the younger turtle forward impatiently.  The sound of pursuit diminished slightly but had by no means stopped, seeming to indicate that the baboons were becoming more cautious.

\tThe pair continued to run, needing to lose the feisty baboon creatures entirely.  Don continued to look up into the trees as they ran, wondering why the baboons hadn’t taken their chase skyward, where they would have a distinct speed advantage.

\tA minute or two later he saw that they finally had.  Swooping towards them from on high were a half dozen of the creatures, thoroughly enraged.

\tNicco saw them too.  “Not much room to fight!” he yelled at Don as they zigzagged past the trunks of trees.

\t“We need a clear spot to make a stand!” Don shouted back without much hope.

\t“Go this way!” Nicco called, barreling off to the right past a group of boulders, the first large rocks they’d come upon.

\tHoping that the boulders meant fewer trees, Don darted after Nicco.  They dashed past another grouping of boulders, and then began moving over rougher, rock laden ground.  Looking ahead, Don saw what appeared to be open space just beyond a line of trees about ten yards in front of them.

\tDon took a second to glance back over his shoulder, trying to gauge where the creatures were, and nearly slammed into Nicco’s carapace.

\t“Why’d you stop?” Don demanded testily.

\t“Dead end,” Nicco said with a demonstrative wave of the hand.

\tLooking around Nicco, Don realized they were on a cliff above a broad lake.  The slope down to the water was steep, strewn with pebbles and clumps of rough grass.

\t“We have to get in the water,” Don said urgently.  “Baboons, at least the ones on Earth, won’t go into water that’s more than knee high.  They won’t chase us anymore if we swim out to the center.  Let’s see if we can find a way down.”

\tNicco was tracking the baboon creatures swift approach as Don spoke.  “No time for that, little ninja.  Here, hold my pack.”

\tDon sputtered as Nicco shoved the backpack into his arms.  “What are you doing?”

\tGrinning, Nicco spun Don around so he was facing the water and wrapped his arms around the younger turtle, pressing himself tightly against Don’s carapace.  “Cross your fingers that nothing in that water will eat us.”

\t“I don’t underst . . . Nicco!” Don shouted as Nicco stepped off the edge.

\tNicco curled his body as much as possible so that his carapace slid against the side of the cliff, the position forcing Don to ride in his lap.  Together they bumped and skidded over the uneven terrain, going so fast the landscape around them was a blur.  Don was still yelling the last syllable of Nicco’s name when they shot into the water.

\tWith his mouth open like that, Don unintentionally sucked in a mouthful of water as he hit.  Don swiftly clawed his way to the surface, spluttering and coughing.  Nicco pulled the backpack out of his arms and pushed it out in front of them as he began swimming out to deeper water.  Choking out the last of the water, Don flipped over and swam out with him.

\tWhen he thought they’d gone far enough, Don turned to look back towards the cliff.  A line of baboon creatures stood at the top, jumping up and down and screeching at them.  Several began throwing rocks, but Don and Nicco were too far out to be hit.

\tNicco was chuckling as he watched them.  “Guess you were right, they don’t like the water.”

\tDon spun in the water, sending a spray of it up into Nicco’s face.  “Are you out of your mind?  Is that your problem?  What kind of stunt was that?”

\t“It worked didn’t it?” Nicco replied, his pleased expression cocky.  “You and I both know we didn’t have time to look for another way down.  What are you complaining about anyway?  My shell’s the one that got scratched up.”

\t“You could have given me a hint about what you were planning to do,” Don said grumpily.

\t“Not fond of surprises, huh?” Nicco asked with a twinkle in his eye.  “I’ll file that for future reference.  By the way, you’ve got some nice moves little ninja.  Looks like you and that bo staff have been together for a while.”

\t“It was good to see that you aren’t all talk,” Don shot back, though with much less rancor.

\t“That’s me all over; less talk, more action,” Nicco said, drifting closer to Don.  “You want to know my favorite part of that ride?  Hearing you scream my name.”

\tDon felt his face heat up, even in the cool water, and had absolutely no idea why.  Clearing his throat, he paddled backwards, trying to put some distance between them, but Nicco kept floating nearer.

\t“M . . . maybe we should concentrate on getting out of here and onto dry land,” Don finally stuttered, managing to pull his eyes away from Nicco’s mesmerizing gaze.  “The fact that we haven’t been eaten yet doesn’t mean we still can’t be.”

\tNicco’s grin was enigmatic.  “I suppose you’re right.  You do look like a pretty tasty morsel.”

\tDeciding that Nicco was just trying to find another way to taunt him, Don focused on swimming to the opposite shoreline.  He was a strong swimmer and discovered that Nicco was as well; the larger turtle stayed alongside him all the way to dry land.

\tCrawling out of the water, Don lay back and stared at the sky while he caught his breath.  Tossing his wet backpack onto the ground, Nicco rolled onto his carapace next to Don, taking the opportunity for a breather as well.

\tAfter a few minutes, Don felt Nicco’s eyes on him.  Though he didn’t want to, Don couldn’t help but roll his head in Nicco’s direction.

\t“What?” Don asked with a touch of confused belligerence.

\tNicco was still wearing his grin.  “Are you usually this defensive, or is it just with me?”

\tDon took a deep breath, trying to slow his heartbeat.  “Sorry.  I keep expecting you say something else I don’t want to hear.”

\tLaughing, Nicco lifted himself onto one elbow so he could stare down at Don.  “You’re all right little ninja,” he said with a toothy grin.  “At first I was worried that I was going to have to coddle you, but you’re more than capable of handling yourself.”

\t“Um, thanks,” Don said.  “You aren’t too bad either.”

\tHe knew it sounded lame, but he couldn’t think of what else to say.  Don suddenly felt like he was swimming again, only this time in Nicco’s eyes.  Every time he looked into them he seemed to get trapped in a place that was very foreign to him.

\tLeaning further over him, Nicco said, “I was thinking I’d miss my brother’s company on this adventure, but I’m actually starting to enjoy myself.”

\tThe heat that had suffused his face earlier returned, only this time it seemed that Don’s entire body was flushed with warmth.  It was a little like how he’d felt years ago when he and his brothers had first met April O’Neill and he’d enjoyed a brief crush on her.

\tThat thought jolted Don back to reality and he rolled away from Nicco quickly, jumping to his feet in a rush.  Nicco sat up, staring at him in confusion.

\t“We should get going,” Don said, his words tumbling over each other.  “I have a feeling those baboons may have knocked us off course.”

\tNicco got up slowly, a knowing expression on his face.  He grabbed his backpack and swung it onto his carapace, then dug out the compass.

\t“Yep, we’re certainly not where we need to be,” Nicco agreed.  “We’ve got no choice but to start walking again.”

\tDon managed a wan smile.  “At least until the sun starts to go down.”

\tNicco clapped him on the shoulder before leading the way back into the jungle.  “You learn fast little ninja.”

\t“Stop calling me that,” Don replied automatically.

TBC…………………..", "pools_count": 1, "title": "Don and the Puzzle Box part 5", "deleted": "f", "public": "t", "mimetype": "application/msword", "pagecount": "1", "rating_id": "2", "rating_name": "Adult", "ratings": [ { "content_tag_id": "4", "name": "Sexual Themes", "description": "Erotic imagery, sexual activity or arousal", "rating_id": "2" } ], "submission_type_id": "12", "type_name": "Writing - Document", "guest_block": "t", "friends_only": "f", "comments_count": "7", "views": "159" }