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Drabble sets. TMNT 2k3 verse.", "count": "28", "submission_left_submission_id": "2565150", "submission_left_file_name": "3780784_hummerhouse_snapshots_of_time_xxviii.doc", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/3780/3780784_hummerhouse_snapshots_of_time_xxviii.jpg", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/3780/3780784_hummerhouse_snapshots_of_time_xxviii.jpg", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/3780/3780784_hummerhouse_snapshots_of_time_xxviii.jpg", "submission_left_thumb_huge_x": "300", "submission_left_thumb_huge_y": "269", "submission_left_thumb_large_x": "200", "submission_left_thumb_large_y": "179", "submission_left_thumb_medium_x": "120", "submission_left_thumb_medium_y": "108" } ], "description": "Disclaimer: The TMNT are not mine. No money being made.\nWord Count: 2,150 Drabble sets, 2k3\nRated: T OT4\nSummary: Momentary glimpses of life, captured and placed into an album.\nCover art by the multi-talented @MomoRawrr\n", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Disclaimer: The TMNT are not mine. No money being made.
Word Count: 2,150 Drabble sets, 2k3
Rated: T  OT4
Summary:  Momentary glimpses of life, captured and placed into an album.
Cover art by the multi-talented \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\tMomoRawrr\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\tMomoRawrr\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

", "writing": "[b][u]Pilgrimage[/u][/b]\n\n\t``My foot's stuck.''\n\n\tLeonardo turned to look at his brother. They were hiking through a heavily wooded conservation area near Northampton in the daytime and doing their best to avoid the humans who were on the regular hiking trails.\n\n\t``You're kidding, right?'' Leo asked.\n\n\tRaph scowled. ``Do I look like I'm kidding?''\n\n\tHe waved a hand down at his foot, which was invisible amongst a tangle of branches and low growing shrubs. Leo walked back to him, following the route he'd picked through the underbrush.\n\n\t``I thought you were following my trail,'' Leo said.\n\n\t``Yeah? Well, maybe I didn't feel like following ya','' Raph snapped.\n\n\t``Uh-huh,'' Leo murmured, pulling a katana in order to slice away at the branches. Everything in him wanted to lecture Raph for that tendency, but he held his tongue.\n\n\tRaph stood with his arms crossed, refusing to look at his older brother, who had squatted down to pull away the plants. ``I still don't know why Master Splinter insisted we go on this damn nature walk.''\n\n\t``He explained it to us,'' Leo said. ``What don't you understand?''\n\n\t``For one thing, why Don and Mikey get to slack off back at the farmhouse,'' Raph said.\n\n\tLeo chuckled. ``Trust me, they aren't slacking off. Master Splinter had a list of chores he intended to hit them with as soon as we left. Would you rather be cleaning the fireplace or taking a walk with me?''\n\n\t``I sure as hell would rather be taking a walk,'' Raph said.\n\n\tSilence fell between them. Somewhere in the distance they heard voices and Raph lowered his body as best he could.\n\n\t``Just not with me,'' Leo murmured. The voices passed their location. ``You stepped in a gopher hole.''\n\n\t``I didn't say that.'' Raph pulled a sai and started chipping away at the edges of the hole. ``Damn, the little bastard made the opening between solid rock.''\n\n\t``Your foot went in, so it's got to be able to come back up the same way,'' Leo said. He used a kunai to break off some of the rock on one side while Raph continued to work on the other.\n\n\tMore voices sounded; this time much closer.\n\n\t``Shit, they're off the trail,'' Raph hissed.\n\n\t``You didn't have to say that,'' Leo whispered. ``It's not like you haven't been telling me the same thing our whole lives.''\n\n\t``Did I or did I not just follow ya' all over outer space?'' Raph asked.\n\n\tAgain Leo swallowed the desire to ask what other choice Raph might have had. Finding a way home meant they had to stick together. Instead he took a solid hold on Raph's ankle.\n\n\t``Hold onto my shoulder and lift your foot straight up,'' Leo told him. They heard crashing in the underbrush. ``Don't rush, we've got time.''\n\n\t``Or ya' could toss some branches over me and go hide,'' Raph said. ``Hurry up.''\n\n\t``I'm not going to just leave you standing here,'' Leo said. ``Stop arguing and lift your foot.''\n\n\t``I tell you, Mark, I saw something big moving over here!''\n\n\tRaph grabbed onto Leo's shoulder to brace himself and lifted his foot. It caught on the rocks, but Leo stopped him from just yanking his foot out. Using both his hands, Leo manipulated Raph's foot to angle it enough so that it slid out of the hole.\n\n\tAs soon as he was free, both turtles bolted through the thicket to the nearest tree and bounded up into its branches. Hidden by the leaves, they looked back to see two men walking in their direction, both holding rifles.\n\n\t``Dammit, Neil, you scared it off. Don't you know anything about stealth?''\n\n\t``Screw you, at least it proves I was right and there's big game out here.''\n\n\tKeeping his voice to a whisper, Leo said, ``Hunting is illegal in this conservation area.''\n\n\tRaph looked at him. ``So what're ya' gonna do about it?''\n\n\tLeo could feel Raph's body practically quivering with excitement. The two men drew closer, both trying to walk silently but to a trained ninja, they sounded like a herd of buffalo.\n\n\tWhen they were below the tree, Leo said, ``This.''\n\n\tHe jumped down onto one of the men and the heavy thud to his side told him Raph had leaped at the same time. One hard blow was all it took to knock out the hunter. Glancing over, he saw Raph grinning at him, his prey out cold at his feet.\n\n\t``Knocked mine out first,'' Raph bragged.\n\n\tLeo chuckled as he reached down to retrieve the rifle. Taking it to the tree, he smashed it against the trunk, and then bent the barrel with his hands. Raph followed suit and then both turtles frisked the men for additional weapons. They found two handguns, a pair of knives, and extra cartridges.\n\n\t``Nice steel,'' Leo said, examining the blades.\n\n\t``Gonna keep `em?'' Raph asked.\n\n\t``Yep. The guns we're tossing in the lake.''\n\n\t``And these two?'' Raph indicated the men with a jerk of his thumb.\n\n\tA corner of Leo's mouth quirked up, making Raph smile as well. ``Take their shoes. It will be at least a week before they'll feel like walking again after they bang up their feet getting out of here.''\n\n\tWith the men's boots and guns in hand, the brothers set a course for the lake. Raph walked alongside Leo, who could sense that his brother was much less tense than when they'd begun their journey.\n\n\t``Guess Father was right,'' Raph said after several minutes of silence.\n\n\t``Yes?''\n\n\t``We did need to find the balance between us again.'' Raph nudged Leo with an elbow. ``And it ain't terrible taking a walk with ya'.''\n\n\tThat was high praise coming from Raph, but Leo knew better than to call attention to it.\n\n\t``You either.''\n\n[b][u]Dr. Fix-It[/u][/b]\n\n\t``Donny, Donny, Donny!''\n\n\tDonatello gave an exasperated sigh. To his ten-year old mind, the book his father had found on Mechanical Engineering Design was the holy grail and all he wanted to do was read.\n\n\tThe urgency and hint of panic in Michelangelo's voice told him that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Not unless Don could find a place to hide from both the voice and the little brother who was screaming his name.\n\n\tHopping out of the lower bunk on the set of bunkbeds he shared with Leonardo, Don stepped into the open. Mikey saw him immediately and raced towards him, one of his hands wrapped around the wrist of the other.\n\n\t``I broke my finger!'' Mikey wailed.\n\n\tDon glanced over to where Raphael and Leo sat on the floor, playing a board game. Neither even looked up. Don sighed again. Master Splinter was out of the lair, scavenging for supplies. Though their father had never actually made it official, Don had somehow wound up being the family medic, at least when Master Splinter was gone.\n\n\t``What were you doing?'' Don asked, leading Mikey over to the curtained off area that served as their bathroom.\n\n\t``Practicing with my `chucks,'' Mikey answered, taking a seat on the toilet lid at Don's direction. ``They hit each other and my finger went backwards!''\n\n\t``Father told you not to try doing any fancy stuff with them,'' Don scolded.\n\n\t``I have to! Raph can twirl his sai and Leo can chop stuff in the air and you . . . .'' Mikey paused to sniff and scrub at his eyes with his forearm. ``You can spin your b? so fast you can't even see it!''\n\n\t``You're mastering a weapon that's really hard to use,'' Don said as he examined Mikey's finger, ``and you're doing it with two of them. I read that very few people can do that.''\n\n\t``Really?'' Mikey looked up at him, a smile quivering at the corners of his mouth. It disappeared before it could fully form. ``But I can't do it either. I broke my finger!''\n\n\t``I can fix this and you'll be good as new,'' Don promised, patting Mikey's shoulder.\n\n\t``Is it gonna hurt? Will it ever be the same? I'll never be able to hold my `chucks again!''\n\n\tDon bent down and kissed Mikey full on the lips. When he straightened, he saw that Mikey's eyes were as wide as saucers and he immediately looked towards the closed curtain.\n\n\t``Donny! Leo said we can't do that in the . . . .''\n\n\tHe was mid-sentence when Don suddenly yanked his dislocated finger back into position. Mikey let out a blood curdling scream and then clapped a hand over his mouth.\n\n\t``There. It wasn't broken, Mikey. I popped it back into place.''\n\n\t``Why didn't you warn me?'' Mikey asked, glaring at his brother.\n\n\tDon began to splint his finger. ``I didn't want you to tense up. You have to wear this on your finger for about six weeks. And try not to do any fancy `chuck work unless Master Splinter is here. He can be the one to patch you up next time.''\n\n\tMikey gave him a sly look. ``But I like the way you play doctor better.''\n\n[b][u]Tot Tales[/u][/b]\n\n\t``Back fist strike!''\n\n\t``Kyah!''\n\n\t``Again!''\n\n\t``Kyah!''\n\n\t``Upper rising block!''\n\n\t``Kyah!''\n\n\t``Again!''\n\n\t``Kyah!''\n\n\t``And finish!''\n\n\tMaster Splinter tapped the floor with his walking stick. His pupil stopped moving and then bowed.\n\n\t``Very good, April. Your training is progressing nicely.''\n\n\t``Thank you, Master Splinter.'' April could feel her muscles quivering after the extended training session, but was loathe to appear weak in front of the ninjutsu master. ``Do you suppose I could train with the guys some time?''\n\n\t``Hmm, perhaps so,'' Master Splinter said. ``It would be prudent to limit your initial training to Leonardo or Donatello. I am afraid that Raphael sometimes does not know his own strength and Michelangelo can be . . . erratic.''\n\n\tThey walked over to the side of the dojo together and April picked up a towel to wipe the sweat from her face and arms. ``I still can't fathom how you managed to corral all four of them for training when they were young. They must have been a handful.''\n\n\tMaster Splinter smiled. ``Those years are something of a blur now, but they were all very rambunctious.''\n\n\t``Even Leo?''\n\n\t``Oh yes,'' Master Splinter acknowledged. ``He was so determined to master everything that he was taught that he would sneak out of bed at night to practice. The next morning he would be so tired that his brothers would run circles around him. That would make him even more determined. It was quite a while before I could make him realize that sleep served a purpose.''\n\n\t``He still practices when everyone else is relaxing,'' April said. ``I'll bet they were all adorable.''\n\n\t``Remind me to show you my pictures,'' Master Splinter said. ``Donatello found an old instant camera when the boys were barely three and somehow managed to take it apart, put it back together again, and make it work. The film inside was old and the pictures are not the best quality, but I have some.''\n\n\t``Oh, I would love to see them!'' April exclaimed, her eyes shining.\n\n\t``Then come, no time like the present.''\n\n\tApril followed Master Splinter to his room. The turtles had gone out to patrol and the lair was quiet except for the TV that someone had left on.\n\n\tMaster Splinter retrieved a photo album from its spot on one of his shelves and kneeled at his chabudai. April sat crossed-legged on the tatami rug across from him as he opened the album. \n\n\tThe pictures were slightly fuzzy and washed out along one edge, but they gave April a good glimpse into the way her friends looked when they were younger.\n\n\tShe giggled and pointed at a couple of the pictures. ``Raph seems to have loved tormenting Mikey.''\n\n\t``Believe me when I say that Michelangelo often deserved the torture,'' Master Splinter said with a smile. ``From an early age he had a penchant for practical jokes and Raphael was his favorite target. Donatello has an inquisitive mind, but Michelangelo has an imaginative one.''\n\n\t``Even when he was little, Raph tried to look like a tough guy,'' April said, indicating a picture of said turtle hoisting a pair of free weights.\n\n\t``He was trying to find his way,'' Master Splinter said. ``Raphael has a difficult time recognizing his uniqueness and his place amongst his brothers. He decided that he would be the strongest warrior and to this day still works to achieve that goal.'' He shook his head. ``I am hoping that some day he will realize how important and needed he is.''\n\n\t``I'm certain he will,'' April said. ``You've done an incredible job with them, Master Splinter. You raised four heroes in a world that sorely needs heroes.''\n\n\tThe aged rat looked with fondness at the images of his sons. ``More importantly, I have raised a family. That is all I hoped to achieve.''\n\n\t“Mission accomplished,” April told him with a smile.", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Pilgrimage

\t``My foot's stuck.''

\tLeonardo turned to look at his brother.  They were hiking through a heavily wooded conservation area near Northampton in the daytime and doing their best to avoid the humans who were on the regular hiking trails.

\t``You're kidding, right?'' Leo asked.

\tRaph scowled.  ``Do I look like I'm kidding?''

\tHe waved a hand down at his foot, which was invisible amongst a tangle of branches and low growing shrubs.  Leo walked back to him, following the route he'd picked through the underbrush.

\t``I thought you were following my trail,'' Leo said.

\t``Yeah?  Well, maybe I didn't feel like following ya','' Raph snapped.

\t``Uh-huh,'' Leo murmured, pulling a katana in order to slice away at the branches.  Everything in him wanted to lecture Raph for that tendency, but he held his tongue.

\tRaph stood with his arms crossed, refusing to look at his older brother, who had squatted down to pull away the plants.  ``I still don't know why Master Splinter insisted we go on this damn nature walk.''

\t``He explained it to us,'' Leo said.  ``What don't you understand?''

\t``For one thing, why Don and Mikey get to slack off back at the farmhouse,'' Raph said.

\tLeo chuckled.  ``Trust me, they aren't slacking off.  Master Splinter had a list of chores he intended to hit them with as soon as we left.  Would you rather be cleaning the fireplace or taking a walk with me?''

\t``I sure as hell would rather be taking a walk,'' Raph said.

\tSilence fell between them.  Somewhere in the distance they heard voices and Raph lowered his body as best he could.

\t``Just not with me,'' Leo murmured.  The voices passed their location.  ``You stepped in a gopher hole.''

\t``I didn't say that.''  Raph pulled a sai and started chipping away at the edges of the hole.  ``Damn, the little bastard made the opening between solid rock.''

\t``Your foot went in, so it's got to be able to come back up the same way,'' Leo said.  He used a kunai to break off some of the rock on one side while Raph continued to work on the other.

\tMore voices sounded; this time much closer.

\t``Shit, they're off the trail,'' Raph hissed.

\t``You didn't have to say that,'' Leo whispered.  ``It's not like you haven't been telling me the same thing our whole lives.''

\t``Did I or did I not just follow ya' all over outer space?'' Raph asked.

\tAgain Leo swallowed the desire to ask what other choice Raph might have had.  Finding a way home meant they had to stick together.  Instead he took a solid hold on Raph's ankle.

\t``Hold onto my shoulder and lift your foot straight up,'' Leo told him.  They heard crashing in the underbrush.  ``Don't rush, we've got time.''

\t``Or ya' could toss some branches over me and go hide,'' Raph said.  ``Hurry up.''

\t``I'm not going to just leave you standing here,'' Leo said.  ``Stop arguing and lift your foot.''

\t``I tell you, Mark, I saw something big moving over here!''

\tRaph grabbed onto Leo's shoulder to brace himself and lifted his foot.  It caught on the rocks, but Leo stopped him from just yanking his foot out.  Using both his hands, Leo manipulated Raph's foot to angle it enough so that it slid out of the hole.

\tAs soon as he was free, both turtles bolted through the thicket to the nearest tree and bounded up into its branches.  Hidden by the leaves, they looked back to see two men walking in their direction, both holding rifles.

\t``Dammit, Neil, you scared it off.  Don't you know anything about stealth?''

\t``Screw you, at least it proves I was right and there's big game out here.''

\tKeeping his voice to a whisper, Leo said, ``Hunting is illegal in this conservation area.''

\tRaph looked at him.  ``So what're ya' gonna do about it?''

\tLeo could feel Raph's body practically quivering with excitement.  The two men drew closer, both trying to walk silently but to a trained ninja, they sounded like a herd of buffalo.

\tWhen they were below the tree, Leo said, ``This.''

\tHe jumped down onto one of the men and the heavy thud to his side told him Raph had leaped at the same time.  One hard blow was all it took to knock out the hunter.  Glancing over, he saw Raph grinning at him, his prey out cold at his feet.

\t``Knocked mine out first,'' Raph bragged.

\tLeo chuckled as he reached down to retrieve the rifle.  Taking it to the tree, he smashed it against the trunk, and then bent the barrel with his hands.  Raph followed suit and then both turtles frisked the men for additional weapons.  They found two handguns, a pair of knives, and extra cartridges.

\t``Nice steel,'' Leo said, examining the blades.

\t``Gonna keep `em?'' Raph asked.

\t``Yep.  The guns we're tossing in the lake.''

\t``And these two?''  Raph indicated the men with a jerk of his thumb.

\tA corner of Leo's mouth quirked up, making Raph smile as well.  ``Take their shoes.  It will be at least a week before they'll feel like walking again after they bang up their feet getting out of here.''

\tWith the men's boots and guns in hand, the brothers set a course for the lake.  Raph walked alongside Leo, who could sense that his brother was much less tense than when they'd begun their journey.

\t``Guess Father was right,'' Raph said after several minutes of silence.

\t``Yes?''

\t``We did need to find the balance between us again.'' Raph nudged Leo with an elbow.  ``And it ain't terrible taking a walk with ya'.''

\tThat was high praise coming from Raph, but Leo knew better than to call attention to it.

\t``You either.''

Dr. Fix-It

\t``Donny, Donny, Donny!''

\tDonatello gave an exasperated sigh.  To his ten-year old mind, the book his father had found on Mechanical Engineering Design was the holy grail and all he wanted to do was read.

\tThe urgency and hint of panic in Michelangelo's voice told him that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.  Not unless Don could find a place to hide from both the voice and the little brother who was screaming his name.

\tHopping out of the lower bunk on the set of bunkbeds he shared with Leonardo, Don stepped into the open.  Mikey saw him immediately and raced towards him, one of his hands wrapped around the wrist of the other.

\t``I broke my finger!'' Mikey wailed.

\tDon glanced over to where Raphael and Leo sat on the floor, playing a board game.  Neither even looked up.  Don sighed again.  Master Splinter was out of the lair, scavenging for supplies.  Though their father had never actually made it official, Don had somehow wound up being the family medic, at least when Master Splinter was gone.

\t``What were you doing?'' Don asked, leading Mikey over to the curtained off area that served as their bathroom.

\t``Practicing with my `chucks,'' Mikey answered, taking a seat on the toilet lid at Don's direction.  ``They hit each other and my finger went backwards!''

\t``Father told you not to try doing any fancy stuff with them,'' Don scolded.

\t``I have to!  Raph can twirl his sai and Leo can chop stuff in the air and you . . . .''  Mikey paused to sniff and scrub at his eyes with his forearm.  ``You can spin your b? so fast you can't even see it!''

\t``You're mastering a weapon that's really hard to use,'' Don said as he examined Mikey's finger, ``and you're doing it with two of them.  I read that very few people can do that.''

\t``Really?''  Mikey looked up at him, a smile quivering at the corners of his mouth.  It disappeared before it could fully form.  ``But I can't do it either.  I broke my finger!''

\t``I can fix this and you'll be good as new,'' Don promised, patting Mikey's shoulder.

\t``Is it gonna hurt?  Will it ever be the same?  I'll never be able to hold my `chucks again!''

\tDon bent down and kissed Mikey full on the lips.  When he straightened, he saw that Mikey's eyes were as wide as saucers and he immediately looked towards the closed curtain.

\t``Donny!  Leo said we can't do that in the . . . .''

\tHe was mid-sentence when Don suddenly yanked his dislocated finger back into position.  Mikey let out a blood curdling scream and then clapped a hand over his mouth.

\t``There.  It wasn't broken, Mikey.  I popped it back into place.''

\t``Why didn't you warn me?'' Mikey asked, glaring at his brother.

\tDon began to splint his finger.  ``I didn't want you to tense up.  You have to wear this on your finger for about six weeks.  And try not to do any fancy `chuck work unless Master Splinter is here.  He can be the one to patch you up next time.''

\tMikey gave him a sly look.  ``But I like the way you play doctor better.''

Tot Tales

\t``Back fist strike!''

\t``Kyah!''

\t``Again!''

\t``Kyah!''

\t``Upper rising block!''

\t``Kyah!''

\t``Again!''

\t``Kyah!''

\t``And finish!''

\tMaster Splinter tapped the floor with his walking stick.  His pupil stopped moving and then bowed.

\t``Very good, April.  Your training is progressing nicely.''

\t``Thank you, Master Splinter.''  April could feel her muscles quivering after the extended training session, but was loathe to appear weak in front of the ninjutsu master.  ``Do you suppose I could train with the guys some time?''

\t``Hmm, perhaps so,'' Master Splinter said.  ``It would be prudent to limit your initial training to Leonardo or Donatello.  I am afraid that Raphael sometimes does not know his own strength and Michelangelo can be . . . erratic.''

\tThey walked over to the side of the dojo together and April picked up a towel to wipe the sweat from her face and arms.  ``I still can't fathom how you managed to corral all four of them for training when they were young.  They must have been a handful.''

\tMaster Splinter smiled.  ``Those years are something of a blur now, but they were all very rambunctious.''

\t``Even Leo?''

\t``Oh yes,'' Master Splinter acknowledged.  ``He was so determined to master everything that he was taught that he would sneak out of bed at night to practice.  The next morning he would be so tired that his brothers would run circles around him.  That would make him even more determined.  It was quite a while before I could make him realize that sleep served a purpose.''

\t``He still practices when everyone else is relaxing,'' April said.  ``I'll bet they were all adorable.''

\t``Remind me to show you my pictures,'' Master Splinter said.  ``Donatello found an old instant camera when the boys were barely three and somehow managed to take it apart, put it back together again, and make it work.  The film inside was old and the pictures are not the best quality, but I have some.''

\t``Oh, I would love to see them!'' April exclaimed, her eyes shining.

\t``Then come, no time like the present.''

\tApril followed Master Splinter to his room.  The turtles had gone out to patrol and the lair was quiet except for the TV that someone had left on.

\tMaster Splinter retrieved a photo album from its spot on one of his shelves and kneeled at his chabudai.  April sat crossed-legged on the tatami rug across from him as he opened the album.

\tThe pictures were slightly fuzzy and washed out along one edge, but they gave April a good glimpse into the way her friends looked when they were younger.

\tShe giggled and pointed at a couple of the pictures.  ``Raph seems to have loved tormenting Mikey.''

\t``Believe me when I say that Michelangelo often deserved the torture,'' Master Splinter said with a smile.  ``From an early age he had a penchant for practical jokes and Raphael was his favorite target.  Donatello has an inquisitive mind, but Michelangelo has an imaginative one.''

\t``Even when he was little, Raph tried to look like a tough guy,'' April said, indicating a picture of said turtle hoisting a pair of free weights.

\t``He was trying to find his way,'' Master Splinter said.  ``Raphael has a difficult time recognizing his uniqueness and his place amongst his brothers.  He decided that he would be the strongest warrior and to this day still works to achieve that goal.''  He shook his head.  ``I am hoping that some day he will realize how important and needed he is.''

\t``I'm certain he will,'' April said.  ``You've done an incredible job with them, Master Splinter.  You raised four heroes in a world that sorely needs heroes.''

\tThe aged rat looked with fondness at the images of his sons.  ``More importantly, I have raised a family.  That is all I hoped to achieve.''

\t“Mission accomplished,” April told him with a smile.", "pools_count": 1, "title": "Snapshots of Time XXVII", "deleted": "f", "public": "t", "mimetype": "application/msword", "pagecount": "1", "rating_id": "0", "rating_name": "General", "ratings": [], "submission_type_id": "12", "type_name": "Writing - Document", "guest_block": "t", "friends_only": "f", "comments_count": "4", "views": "220" }