Author's Note: This is set during TMNT Fast Forward and is a parody of Beauty and the Beast. It centers around the Dark Turtles and shines a bit of a what if light. Rate and review.

Chapter 1: Underground Crisis

It wasn't uncommon to see aliens and mutants in New York these days. After all, this was the 22nd century, and everything was abuzz due to something about ninja turtles coming from the past to befriend the heir of O'Neil Tech. Advanced technology really wasn't a thing Keelee Lockhart was fond of, though you couldn't hope to tear her brother Connor away from it. Being a teenager, she was considered odd for not liking all the latest tech, but she was normal to her friends…well, they were somewhat-normal.

Now her brother was bugging her and their parents to go meet the Ninja Turtles and Cody Jones in person, and her parents agreed, much to her chagrin. And if that wasn't enough, Uzume wanted to tag along as well. Uzume Yamano…the two girls had been best friends since they were both in diapers. It wasn't a coincidence that they were best friends; friendship extended all the way back to their great-grandmothers. But Keelee found herself starting to worry when Uzume wasn't the first to show up as usual. If there was anything Uzume was good at, it was being early.

Her mind blocked out her brother currently talking with the one called Michelangelo about the Justice Force comics when she started to furiously text her friend questioning her on her current whereabouts. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she thought the turtles were actually cool; Leonardo was her favorite, but she knew if her great-grandmother were alive, she'd argue for Raphael. Knowing Uzume, Donatello would be the one she'd bet for.

"Are you sure Uzume's not sick?" Keelee's mother questioned.

Keelee shook her head, her cowboy hat almost falling off. "No…if Uzume was sick, she'd tell me. I've sent five texts and she's not answered any of 'em." She paused and shoved her phone into her pocket. "Mom, I'm worried. This isn't like Uzume at all."

"I'm sure she'll be here; don't worry so much Keelee. Now come on, maybe you can get an autograph from the turtles."

The brunette sighed and skulked forward to meet the four Ninja Turtles from the past. The skulking was a complete act; she really was pretty excited. If Uzume wasn't going to show up, she would at least get an autograph for her from Donatello. She also had other autographs in mind…but it would be a bit sensitive for one. After her annoying little brother got his autograph from Michelangelo, she stepped forward for her turn.

"'Scuse me, I don't mean to bother y'all, but is it all right if I get an autograph from you three?"

Leonardo, Donatello, and Raphael glanced at each other before looking back at Keelee and nodding, the blue-clad turtle speaking first. "Sure thing…all for you?"

"No…just one…the one from you. Make it out to Keelee Lockhart." She suddenly turned to Donatello. "Make out an autograph to Uzume Yamano; she's my best friend who should've been here right now because she had some inventions to show you."

Donatello laughed. "A fellow tech-lover, huh? Sounds like you have a good friend!"

Raphael snorted. "And who's mine for?"

Keelee's smile faded. "It's…to put on my great-grandmother's grave."

The red-clad turtle's face dropped. "…I'm sorry."

"Oh…don't worry 'bout it. She just knew about you guys growing up, and you were always her favorite. Make it out to Chey…a true hero. I really appreciate it."

The three turtles got to work on the requested autographs just as Michelangelo finished giving Connor an autograph. Once they finished, Keelee took the papers and read them to herself.

Always be true to yourself and those around you, Keelee. –Leonardo

To Uzume. Don't be afraid to be creative. –Donatello

Here's to Chey. A great hero to friends and family alike. –Raphael

Keelee smirked and placed the autographs into her leather vest pocket; wouldn't Uzume be surprised? Speaking of whom…it was time to go find her. She walked away from her parents and brother and started heading down the street, the one she knew her friend usually took. Deep down, Keelee was worried; it wasn't like Uzume at all to show up late for anything and not let anyone know ahead of time. Once she found her, she would smack her upside the head and then present her Donatello's autograph. She stared down the street and didn't see anyone remotely resembling Uzume…and that's when a dark feeling sank into her.

Something wasn't right…and it literally stank.

There was a reason her great-grandmother was a hero…and she inherited it. Closing her eyes, she breathed out and stared sniffing the air, hoping to track Uzume's scent. To her surprise, the scent led towards an alley. Why on earth would Uzume go down an alley? Unless…someone forced her to. Fearing the worst, she ran in the direction of the scent until it died…right at an exposed manhole. What was Uzume doing in the sewers? Something bad was going on, and she was going to find her friend and get out of there as fast as she could. Pausing a moment, she finally jumped down the manhole and into the sewer water, which came up to her ankles. Great…she would have to wash her boots twice.

And then something caught her eye.

Lying on the ground…was one of Uzume's kimono fan hairpins.

The Japanese girl wouldn't be caught dead without her beloved pins, passed down from her great-grandmother, among other things. Despite the stink filling the air, she inhaled whatever residual scent was on the pin and determined where Uzume went…and she wasn't alone. She knew that her friend wouldn't come here of her free will…someone forced her down here…and that someone had the same stink as the sewers. No…there was more than one with Uzume. She was in danger! Feeling her heart start to race, Keelee raced down the pathway deeper into the sewers, her nose literally as her only guide. But as she got further down into the sewers, she began to hear voices…one of them a terrified Uzume.

"P-Please…let me go! I-I'll do a-anything you want, j-just l-let me go!"

"UZUME!" Keelee shouted. "I'm comin'!"

The brunette began to run faster and faster…until she came across something that wasn't a normal addition to a sewer unless you were a freak of nature: a lair, and a foul-smelling one to boot. She found some mildewed crates to hide behind when she got inside to see what was going on…and it wasn't good at all for Uzume.

The Japanese girl was surrounded by giant mutant…turtles? Say, they looked a lot like the Ninja Turtles hanging with Cody Jones…only these were more monstrous. There was a blue one with an eyepatch and swords, a large purple one covered in metal, a red one hunched over with knuckle busters, and a yellow one with a long tongue and clubs. They were all laughing as the purple one firmly held onto Uzume's arms, leaving red marks. They kidnapped her, and who knew what they would do to her! Keelee knew she had to act, but she didn't need to go half-cocked…and that's when she remembered her great-grandmother's "heirlooms"…two loaded pistols she had on her person. Technically, she wasn't old enough to have handguns, but her mother told her she was the only one who could use them now…

"Oh, you're not goin' anywhere, toots." The red one growled. "We're still tryin' ta figure out how to eat ya."

"Let's eat her raw! She'll be extra juicy!" The yellow one cackled.

The purple one suddenly tapped one of his metal claws on Uzume's scalp, drawing a small amount of blood that mixed with her raven hair. "Let's use that little brain of hers first…after all, she has some impressive inventions that can destroy those shell-heads!"

"She was on her way to meet them, so maybe she can be used as a bargaining chip." The blue one stated, obviously being the leader. "Who would think to find her down here?"

"Obviously, someone who's got a sense 'a smell stronger than a bloodhound's!"

The four Dark Turtles stood straight at the sound of the voice and looked around to find where it came from. Of course, Uzume knew immediately who the voice belonged to. After all…Keelee was always the one who came to save her from trouble. And right at that moment, Keelee came…with two guns drawn on these monsters.

"K-Keelee!" Uzume cried. "W-Where did you get those guns!?"

"No time fer that, Uzume!" She turned to the dark turtles. "Let Uzume go NOW!"

The Dark Turtles looked at this new human and began to chuckle darkly. Keelee's face dropped and she proceeded to lower her pistols, standing helpless as Uzume began to whimper at the purple one's touch. Why did she freeze all of a sudden? Where did the determination that was there just seconds before go? Was she scared herself? The blue one suddenly stepped forward.

"And you must be the Asian girl's friend. So nice of you to drop by during dinner."

"What are you guys and what're you gonna do to Uzume!?"

The purple one chuckled darkly and ran his claw against the Japanese girl's cheek. "What else? We're going to play with her for a while…and then her pieces will be in our stomachs. After we're finished with her…you'll be dessert!"

Keelee angrily shook her head and raised her heirloom pistols once again. "Nuh-uh! No way! I'm not lettin' you hurt a hair on Uzume's head! Let her go or I'm gonna SHOOT!"

The blue one suddenly unsheathed one of his swords and held it to Uzume's exposed neck. Keelee gasped and brought her arms back to her side, while her friend's whimpers grew louder and she started to shed fearful tears. "One more step and her head will be on a platter!"

"K-Keelee…I-I'll be fine!" Uzume panicked. "Y-You need to get out of here…a-and call the police!"

"Shut up!" The purple one growled as he squeezed his arm against her neck, threatening to strangle her.

The brunette bit her lip; this was a no-win situation, and there were no options left. Wait…there was one option left…though that was the last thing on her mind. But Uzume needed her to save her…and she knew Uzume couldn't handle her own…she knew that since they were toddlers. She had to do this…even if she would die later on…Uzume needed to be somewhere safe. Finally, Keelee suddenly dropped her weapons and held up her arms in defeat.

"…Then take me instead."

Uzume's eyes widened, along with the dark turtles'. "WHAT!? K-Keelee…y-you can't be serious! P-Please don't sacrifice yourself f-for me!"

Keelee didn't listen; she just continued. "Believe me…I'm much tastier than Uzume…and you won't get bored with me… Are you willin' to bargain?"

The Dark Turtles, particularly the blue one, pondered on this. They've never came across a human who was so willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of her friend; all the other humans they've encountered, especially the slime they worked for Darius Dun, usually went by the saying 'every man for himself'. But this one wanted to keep her friend safe, and they sensed no ulterior motives for this action. Still…humans were beneath them, and they only cared about killing the ninja turtles…but maybe the more talkative one would be better to keep since keeping both would raise suspicion. The blue one nodded to the purple one, and he released Uzume from his grasp.

"We have a deal." The blue one stated before shoving the Japanese girl forward. "Go and never return…and don't call the Ninja Turtles or else."

Uzume whimpered and stared teary-eyed at Keelee. She's saved her enough…why did she have to do this? Deep down, Uzume knew Keelee didn't like this either, but she was only trying to protect her. For once…for once she wished she had the backbone to force Keelee to run back to the surface with her…but Keelee wasn't the type to break an agreement, no matter what it was. As she cast her head down and was about to leave, the brunette stopped her and handed her something.

"Here…it's an autograph from Donatello…and take that other one and put it on Nana Chey's grave. Oh...and you dropped your pin."

"Keelee…p-please don't do this…"

Keelee offered a sad smile. "…Give the turtles an anonymous tip when you get the chance. Uzume…I'm gonna be okay…I promise… Please…tell my momma and daddy…and Connor too…that I love 'em."

Uzume fought to keep herself from sobbing as she mumbled. "…I-I will… I'm so sorry…Keelee…"

Once Uzume walked out of the lair and back to the surface, Keelee swallowed hard and stared at the Dark Turtles. They all had smirks on their faces…except for the blue one. He suddenly grabbed her arm, pinching the skin, and dragged her to face him. He lowered his face to hers and breathed heavily, his breath reeking like the city dump.

"Why would you sacrifice yourself for someone weaker? The weak need to be wiped out! What makes you so different!?"

Keelee, instead of answering, just snorted…and spat in his face. The blue one snarled and knocked her back against the wall, stunning her. She glared up at the Dark Turtles as they approached…but the blue one stopped the others from advancing as he wiped his face off.

"You shall be kept alive tonight…but tomorrow…you shall die."