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thegodovereverything · 2 years ago

Text

TMNTober

prompt: Mutant

Gen: Rise

Crossover with: King Arthur and Her Knights by K.M Shea

ao3 link

@tmntober-2023

You don't need to have read the book series to get a lot of this, but I'll place all needed info here (spoilers ahead for the book series) Britt was brought into the past by a spell Merlin cast on the sword in the stone, and now she has to become King Arthur. Only Merlins trusted men, the lady of the lake, and some other people know about her gender. This is set in book four, a little after Merlin found out Britt had a crush on him and was a complete ass about telling her she's going to become some calf-eyed girl blinded by love now.

Characters: Sir Ywain and Griflet (young knights who are following Britt around due to some recent assassination attempts) Sir Kay (her foster brother. He is aware of where she is from and her gender) Sir Ulfius (her chamberlain, which means he's in charge of rooms and stuff. Also aware of her gender) King Leodegrance (a king who is very greedy, morally dubious, and has no backbone. He sent some of his knights to stay at Camelot, along with Guinevere and the Round Table)

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The day was brisk and windy, a storm brewing in the horizon. Sir Griflet and Sir Ywain lurked by Britt’s side as she made her rounds. First she checked on Sir Kay, who was scribbling something into that log book of his. She still has yet to be able to decipher Old English writing. Then she popped her head into the main hall, but instantly turned around. Lancelot was holding court, but she was in no mood to entertain him. Almost by habit she poked her head into Merlin’s study, stopping herself just in time. She still didn’t forgive him for being a misogynistic asshole.

She ended her patrol at the stables, where she found her horses staring somewhat distrustfully at a stranger in the shadows. They were an odd shadow, as if half of their head didn’t exist, their shoulders strangely curved. They were also quite small, only reaching around Britt’s kneecaps.

Sir Ywain acted first, stepping forwards, one arm protectively held in front of her, “Who are you? Reveal yourself before the mighty KING ARTHUR!”

The shadow jumped, curling slightly into themself. She gently pushed down the eager knight's arm, giving Ywain a reassuring smile, “I’ve got this, Sir Ywain, thank you.”

She walked a little closer to the shadow, raising her hands as though she was calming a horse.

“Hey, don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you.”

Every step she took, the shadow took another one back, until their back hit the wall of the stables with a solid thunk. With a small sigh, Britt sat down, grabbing some of the horse's hay to fiddle with. She looked up at her knights, who were holding themselves ready for any reason to defend her. “Sir Griflet,” she said, the young knight perking up, “please fetch Sir Kay for me. Do not infer that I am in any danger.” That last sentence she made sure to emphasize, the full breadth of her command as King Arthur in her voice. Griflet gave a deep bow, before hurrying off to fetch her foster brother.

Sir Ywain stayed, still on guard.

“Alright,” she directed this to the shadow, “do you have a name? You don’t have to come out, but I’d rather not call you The Shadow in my mind for all of eternity.”

There was a pregnant pause, before the shadow stiltedly whispered their name, “Mikey.”

Her brow furrowed. She considered herself well versed in most names of medieval times, but that was not one she recognized. “Well, Mikey, my name is Arthur. It’s nice to meet you.”

There was another pause, before the child–now she had no doubt that the small shadow was a child, spoke again. “Are you going to dissect me?” His voice was tiny, scared.

Britt was pretty positive dissection wasn’t a word yet. “No, no one in Camelot will dissect you. Is that something you have to worry about frequently?”

The idea of someone threatening dissection on a child filled her with a nauseous feeling in her gut. Just what has this poor kid been through?

“Just from humans.” Mikey supplies, “Daddy says humans don’t understand us, and when they don’t understand something they get really scared. He said to be super safe and not to get caught by any humans ever . He said if we did too hide somewhere and stay there until he can find us. So I hid, but Daddy hasn’t come yet and it's been hours . This place is filled with humans, bunches of them! And they’re all dressed weird and there’s no TVs or comic books. But you’re super nice! So maybe you're different. I dunno. Donnie would. Do you know where my brothers are? Maybe they went through the portal too? That’d be nice… well, maybe not too nice. This place is scary…”

He trailed off, and Britt struggled to grapple with everything Mikey said. “Sir Ywain?”

“Yes, My Lord?”

“Leave us. Do not let anyone enter but Sir Kay or Sir Ector.”

“But–” Sir Ywain lifted his hand, hesitant to leave his king alone with the shadow.

“Leave.” Britt’s tone brooked no argument.

“Yes, My Lord,” Sir Ywain bowed, and Britt was left alone with the child. The kid from a different time. The child that has, just like her, been taken from his family against his will.

“Can I tell you a secret?” Mikey said nothing, so Britt took that as permission to continue. “I’m not from here either. I’m from America.” Mikey perked up at this.

“Me too!”

Britt smiled at the kid, who was still cloaked in shadows, “Really? That’s awesome!”

Mikey moved closer to Britt as she continued her tale. She talked about how, after touching the Sword in the Stone in some random graveyard in the future, she was pulled to the past. How Merlin told her about the actual King Arthur running off with a shepherdess, and the role she was going to be put in. She talked about her adventures as king, the friends she had made. She didn’t mention that there was no way back home.

As she talked, Mikey moved closer, until he was nearly out of the shadows. His leg was the first thing clearly visible and it caused Britt to stumble over her words. His leg was green and scaled, with two toes poking forwards and one in the back.

She forged onwards. She didn’t want to scare the kid, even if she was burning to know what he was. As she continued talking, Mikey moved closer to her. Slowly, he completely revealed himself. He was small and green, with orange spots peppering his face and splotching his shoulder. His shell raised to nearly half his face, explaining the high shoulder effect she noticed in his shadowed figure. An orange mask was tied back into a little bow, covering the middle of his face. He uncertainty moved until he was leaning against Britt’s leg, absolutely enraptured by her tale.

Sir Kay enters, around when Britt was talking about her sneaking into King Leodegrance’s castle to look at the round table. Mikey shoots up and scurries to Britt, hiding behind her shoulder as he stares up at her foster brother. Sir Kay frowns.

“I heard there was an intruder. Where are your guards?”

Britt rolled her eyes. “There was no intruder. Sir Kay, meet Mikey. Mikey, meet Sir Kay. Mikey’s like me.” Mikey gave a little wave from his hiding place.

Sir Kay stared at him blankly for a moment before abruptly turning around, “I’ll go fetch Merlin.”

“Wait–” He left as quickly as he came. Britt sighed.

“So,” she refocused on Mikey, lighting patting his head, “do you remember what happened before you got here?”

He moved out his hiding spot as he talked, moving back into his position by her legs.

“Well, it was my birthday, so I gotta buncha gifts ‘n stuff. Donnie n’ Leo were arguing over who gave me the better gift (It was Leo, by the way. He got me so many art stuff!), n’ Raph was trying to break them up. Daddy was having one of his bad times, so I went to my room cause I was getting bored and my room is always the funnest. But then there was this portal, like in Jupiter Jim: Portal to the Planet of the Lamas. It was even orange! And it was very glowy. But when I went through I came here and now I wanna go back. Maybe Merlin can take me back? He’s the super wizard dude, right?” He placed both of his green hands on her feet, excitably leaning forwards.

Britt didn’t know what to say. This kid has been completely separated from everything he knew, at such a young age. She opened her arms and Mikey rushed into her arms, nearly knocking her on her back. Outside of the shed, she heard the muffled protestations of Sir Ywain before he was silenced with a threatening “Let me through, or else.” Merlin came into the stable.

Britt hugged the kid closer, glaring dagger at the wizard. “Hello, Merlin,” She snarled his name, making it clear that she would only tolerate his presence for so long. Mikey perked up at the wizards name.

“Please, Arthur, just let me help.” Merlin entreated, holding both hands up in the sign of surrender. She didn’t trust him, but she had no choice. She had to see if there was even a tiny way to get the kid back home.

Her approval was given in a slight nod, followed by a bone weary sigh. Mikey bounded over to the wizard, tugging at his gandalf rip off cloak.

“Hi! My name's Mikey! King Britt told me you're a great wizard that can do anything !”

Merlin gave her a sharp look, “Can you understand him?”

His words cause MIkey to pause his excitement, confusion replacing it.

“You can’t?”

Merlin shook his head.

“Well, I guess that makes sense, what with him being from the future and stuff. Guess that means he’s from around my time period then. Or maybe the far future? I can’t imagine anthropomorphic turtles exist in my time,”

Mikey cocked his head to the side, “am-throw-porthoric turtles? What’s that? Daddy just calls us mutants.”

A mutant? Like from one of those comic books her sister loves so much? If Britt remembered correctly, a mutant was something painfully transformed by something radioactive. She winced at the imagery of a child being put through such a thing. It was best she just moved on entirely.

“Hey, Mikey, what year is it? That you and your brothers were in.”

The tot kicked his feet on the dusty ground, considering. “Mmph. Well, I’m six, so, whatever year I’m six! Daddy says I was born in 2005…” The kid frowned in concentration while Britt did the math. That would mean he was supposed to be in 2011… a full three years before her.

Britt shook her head. She didn’t want to consider this.

“Ok, we’re going to help you. We’re going to get you your own room, and you can eat whatever you want, ok?” She stood up, then reached down her hand for Mikey to grab it.

“Merlin,” the wizard looked up from his notebook, which he had been furiously scribbling on. “Huh, oh, right. Yes, yes, we shall provide for the… kid? Either way, they are probably faerie and it is best we treat them with respect.”

Britt didn’t bother to correct him, he’d learn soon enough. She led the kid to Sir Ulfius, the chamberlain. As they walked, Mikey drew closer to her, nervously observing her citizens and knights as they gathered around. Whispers bounced off the walls, echoing with words like “demon”, “faerie”, “brought the devil”, and other nonsense that made Britt happy Mikey couldn’t understand old english.

She knocked on Sir Ulfius’s door, “Sir Ulfus, I once again have another guest for you to prepare a room for.” She looked down at Miket, considered for a second, then, “One near mine, please.”

After they got Mikey settled into his new room (“Wow! Leo’s gonna be so jealous when he finds out about this!”), Britt bid the kid farewell, assigned a guard to babysitting duty, and went about the tiring task of damage control. She knew for this, she had to assure them personally. Merlin tried to offer his input, but Britt ignored him. She’s gotten really good at that lately.

Quickly, all her people that were able to be spared were gathered into the main hall. They whispered amongst themselves, but silenced almost instantly when Britt walked out onto the dais.

“I have brought another guest into our castle!” She started, “a child who is but six years of age. He is lost, and alone. He does not look like you or I, for he is not from our land, but beyond. He is what is called a ‘mutant’. He is not the devil or a demon coming to bring misfortune. Nor is he a faerie. He is but a child, who is stuck in a land different than his own, with none who speak his native tongue. I trust in all of you,” She locked eyes with some of her knights, driving the point home, “to treat him with kindness and respect. He will be under all our charge, so that we may ensure he is kept safe during his stay. If I find that any of you have not treated him chivalrously, I will cast you from Camelot.”

The room was uneasily silent. One of King Leodegrance’s knights came forth, his face red from anger. “You cannot believe we will tolerate this mutant, ” he spat out the new word, like it was a curse, “who knows what sort of devilry this thing could invite into these walls! Surely you cannot allow this!” He shrunk back under Britts icy gaze.

“If you are so offended by his presence, then you are free to leave.”

The knight blustered for a moment, before cowing under the weight of her gaze.

“I will not tolerate any of you making him feel unwelcome, no matter what status you may hold,” She directed this at Lancelot. She almost hoped he would break this rule so that she may have an excuse to cast him from her walls. However, she didn’t want Mikey to be mistreated, so that hope was an empty one.

“However, I know you all,” she looked amongst her knights and people, “and I trust that you will be as chivalrous as I know you to be. So, I ask you all: Is that trust warranted?”

Her people roared their approval, nearly bursting her eardrums. Britt smiled at them proudly.

With one last cheer, she departed from the dais, disappearing into one of the many secret hallways scattered about the castle. She was sure there would still be some adjustment and push back, but eventually he will be welcomed. She only hoped they could find a way to get him home, but she doubted it. Like Merlin said, it was easy to pull someone back, not so easy to push them forwards. She’ll wait a bit before telling the child, however. No need to inundate him with too much change when he was still adjusting.

#oh boy this is long #words exist #this is like the longest fic I have ever made #This prompt was a bit hard #But I do believe I am happy with the results #rottmnt #King Arthur and Her Knights #K.M Shea #tmntober 2023 #tmntober2023

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