"What have you done?!"

Baron Draxum fled his lab in a rage with his two gargoyles. Lou Jitsu scooped up three baby turtles and looked around frantically for the fourth one. Assuming it was already crushed, with a heavy heart, he too ran from the crumbling lab.

Unknown to Lou Jitsu however, a tiny green body was crawling away from the building, into the streets of the Hidden City. The baby turtle found itself in the bustling streets of the Hidden City. It tried to reach out to people to be picked up, but it was kicked away. So they baby turtle crawled into an alleyway to find something to eat.

<~<~>~>

Big Mama had to give it to him. Lou Jitsu was a slippery one. She had just called off the search to return to the Nexus Hotel. Why bother to waste time looking for a champion who refuses to fight? That time is better spent looking for and promoting a new champion.

She was in her true, beautiful spider form walking down the street when a faint chirping sound grabbed her attention and halted her stride. Her many legs started creeping into the filthy alley to her right. A small creature with the most darling red markings over the cutest turquoise eyes was curled in a little ball holding its stomach.

"A child? What a scrumptious little thing you are. Has anybody lost this little one?"

Big Mama scuttled to the edge of the alley to see if there were any frantic faces. She did make sure to keep the little creature within her line of sight at all times. Said infant was sitting upright and shaking uncontrollably. Not from fear, Big Mama could sense fear from miles away. The poor thing was freezing cold. A big gummy smile was plastered on its face as it reached out toward her with grabby hands.

"Hello again little child. You want Big Mama to pick you up, yes?"

She relented and lifted the small baby awkwardly into three arms. She wasn't accustomed to holding children in her true form, let alone one so tiny and fragile.

"Where are your parents, sweetiekins."

She was asking herself more than the child, obviously. It was sucking on its closed fist while seeking warmth in her fluff. She changed into her humanoid form to hold the child more efficiently and to wrap the tiny thing in her coat. Now that she could see the child better, its pretty green skin had a variety of purple-blue bumps and tiny scrapes. Most likely gained from the unforgiving streets.

"Big Mama will get you food, medical treatment, and help you find your family."

Big Mama was far from being the most benevolent Yokai in the New York Hidden City, but she would flay the Yokai or human who hurt this poor child.

"...ma."

"Did you say something sweetface?"

"Mama!"

"Where is your mother dear one?"

She looked around her once more for a Yokai she could have missed.

"Mama!"

Big Mama slowly turned her head back to the baby in her arms. It was extending its pudgy little arms, wanting to be held closer. She did so, figuring out the poor child's situation.

"Ma'am, there is no Turtle Yokai within the immediate area or any concerned parents nearby. It appears this infant was abandoned and the parents have fled the Hidden City."

"Very well. Go to the hotel. I want food prepared as well as formula, a infant sized outfit for this little one, and the best pediatric doctor you can find."

"Yes Mum."

Her darling assistant vanished as quietly as she appeared, leaving Big Mama to walk back to her hotel. This infant was starting to whimper and snuggle closer to her chest.

"Don't fret little one. Big Mama's got you."

She sped up her walk and held the child closer. As soon as she set foot in her hotel, a bottle of warm baby formula was in her hand. The lobby was void of any life, save for herself, her assistant, her team of six bodyguards, and an unfamiliar Yokai.

She was a Cheetah Yokai with immaculate fur, small diamond stud earrings, cute flowery scrubs underneath a pristine lab coat, dark gray flats, a stethoscope around her neck, and a clipboard in her hands. Her bright gold colored eyes were hidden way behind a pair of thin, red framed glasses.

"You the pediatric doctor I sent for, yes?"

"Yes, hello Big Mama. I'm Maria Davies from -"

"Yes yes, come along dear girl. You will accompany Big Mama to her office."

Unperturbed, Maria followed Big Mama into the elevator. The ride up was long and awkwardly quiet.

"What are your degrees to be in your field?"

A question Maria gets asked far too often by overprotective parents.

I did four year at a human medical school, three more years of the required specialty training, five years interning under the best Yokai doctors in France, three more years interning under some Yokai doctors in California, a doctorate in biology and chemistry, two doctorates in veterinary medicine, and a bachelors in psychology."

You are quite accomplished for someone so young. How old are you?"

"I am nearing my ninety second birthday, ma'am."

"What made you pursue medicine?"

"I was my village's medic. My people pooled their money to send me to school in the states with a cloaking broach. I worked and studied until I was an accomplished doctor. After a few years of being a surgeon, I went back to school and became a veterinarian, and after a few years of that, I became a pediatric doctor. My family back home is very proud of me and the work I do. I traveled all over the world from South America to Japan learning all different kinds of medicine and practices."

"You are a very honorable little lady."

The elevator dinged and the two women made their way into the office. The child was already finished with its bottle and was happily sucking on its fist again.

"Go ahead Miss Davies.Give Big Mama's child a very thorough examination. One mishap and Big Mama will gain a new fur coat."

Frighteningly used to those kinds of threats, Maria took the baby turtle from her.

"For starters, he is a male red-eared slider."

She patted his head and tested his reflexes, pupillary responses, etc. She continued his check-up, recalling her time in Japan learning about and caring for Kappa.

"Minor scrapes, bumps, minor shell bruising...He's a little too cold for my liking. Do you have clothes for him?"

Big Mama snapped her fingers and a neatly folded outfit was placed in her hands. A lilac colored turtleneck sweater and a pair of plum colored footie pants.

"Why is him being cold a worrying matter?"

"When turtles get too cold they go into a state called brumation. I've seen it happen to Kappa during my time in Japan, but when Kappa went through Brumation they were essentially in a near fatal coma."

"Understood."

Maria tickled the baby's tummy earning some premium grade giggles and squeals. The innocent laughter brought a warm smile to Big Mama's face.

"Alright, the check-up is complete. He is a little malnourished. Once you get him on a feeding schedule that should be no problem at all."

"Thank you Miss Davies. One more thing, Big Mama has a proposition for you."

Maria was put on the defensive, but retained her outward appearance of a kind smile.

"I would like for you to become a full time, on-call medic for my hotel staff, their children, and my little turtley-boo. You will be given full access to the hotel's accommodations, your own room, two paid vacations a year, full pay, paid time off, full benefits, and a personal bodyguard assigned to you. No strings, no last second twists. Do we have a deal?"

This deal was a literal once in a lifetime offer and Maria knew it. To gain this type of deal from the infamous Big Mama was monumental and was to not be repeated twice.

"I accept your gracious offer. Where do I sign?"

"On the dotted line. There are two copies, one for each of us. The terms can only be modified or broken if both of us agree to it."

After the contracts were signed and dated, Maria was escorted to her room by her new bodyguard. A Winged Lizard Yokai called Amanda.

"Well my young turtle son, it appears I am you Mama after all. I will have to give you a name befitting my heir. Bring me a book of baby names."

"Yes Mum."

Within minutes the desired book was on her desk with a chilled teething ring for the baby. Big Mama flipped through the book writing down names she approved of.

"Sebastian...Bartholomew...Leonardo...Cornelius... Let's have you choose your name, my sweet little giggly-bun."

Big Mama wrote down the names she approved of and placed them on the floor in a pile. The baby was set in the pile and was only retrieved after he had a piece of paper in his hand.

"Leonardo. Personally I thought Cornelius was more sophisticated, but you choose this name. My sweet little Leonardo."

"Mum, I have prepared amenities for the young master in your bedroom."

"Thank you. In two weeks, I want a full staff meeting in the lobby. I will introduce my son during that meeting. Leonardo's existence does not leave this room until that time, is Big Mama understood?"

"Yes Mum."

The resonating agreement echoed in the office.

<~<~>~>

"Hold still my little Shelly-poo."

Big Mama was dressing little Leonardo in a cute indigo colored suit with a turquoise colored bowtie. His darling red markings would never not be adorable to the doting mother.

She carried him to the elevator in her humanoid form to better cradle him and kiss his forehead. She learned early on that her lipstick caused a minor allergic reaction so she switched to a safer and more environmentally friendly brand. She enjoyed the best elevator ride of her life to the ground floor.

Sadly all good things must come to an end. It didn't take long to reach the main lobby where all of her hotel staff stood whispering amongst themselves. She gave LEonardo one last peck to his head before gathering her staff's attention. To say that they were flabbergasted to see her holding a baby, would be an understatement. There were dropped jaws and bugged out eyes everywhere.

"Hello everyone~ Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend the meeting. I'd like to introduce my son to you all and provide a warning. If any harm comes to my baby boy, my beloved Battle Nexus will be getting some new players. So do your best to protect your new young master, Leonardo Venus Nexus."

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