NOTE: Many of the elements and characters in this chapter come from Tyroth Darkstorm's fic 'Ancient Legacy' so if you haven't read it then I suggest you do.

Also, places and characters in this chapter belong to Tyroth Darkstorm.

Enjoy!

Chapter Nine

Arrival and Preparations

Hours past and soon the gang arrived in Mutopia.

During the journey, the mutants had watched the landscapes pass out the back windows and sang a few songs to stay upbeat.

But by the time they arrived at the entrance, everyone had been fast asleep in the back until Casey decided to frighten everyone by banging on the side of the Battle shell.

At once everyone awoke with a start and Tyroth almost coughed out a few flames in shock causing Michaelangelo to duck.

"Watch it Tyroth!" he shouted "I'm not the Christmas Turkey!"

"Sorry Mikey." said Tyroth.

The doors soon opened and Casey appeared.

"Wakey wakey!" he shouted "We're here!"

The turtles, Tyroth, Splinter, Mona and Sephie shook themselves awake and started to climb out of the back of the battleshell with their bags.

"Couldn't you have woken us up more gently?" asked Mona crossly as she whacked Casey with her closed fan as she climbed out making everyone laugh.

"Sorry." said Casey "I couldn't resist!"

Raphael frowned and made a mental note to get revenge on Casey later.


Sephie lead the way to the secret rock door and punched in a few codes, and before long the rock door moved aside to reveal the long rock corridor.

"Okay, single file everyone!" said Tyroth standing at the front and leading the way until they finally got to the end and the gang heard voices, talking singing and cheering as well as some upbeat music.

Mona had to shield her eyes as the light hit them and she lifted her fan up to act as a shield for her eyes. The turtles followed suite as they did, and soon they were greeted by the most beautiful sight they had ever seen!

The whole sanctuary of Mutopia was set up like a Winter Wonderland! There were Christmas trees with lights, holly, fake snow and wreathes along with lights that made the whole place light up, as well as statues of Santas, reindeer as well as Angels.

"Wow..." said Mona looking around at the beautifully decorated sanctuary "It reminds me of when I used to go around town with my parents when I was child..." her eyes glistened slightly but she blinked the tears away.

Seeing her eyes Raphael walked up behind Mona and hugged her close and nuzzled her.

The others were just in awe as they stared at everything in front of them.

"We told you you'd be speechless!" said Tyroth as he looked at the faces of April, Casey, Splinter and the turtles as their eyes were wide and their jaws were dropped.

"Speechless is the right word babe!" said Sephie.


The gang were indeed blown away by the sight, but they were soon awoken from their trance as the shouts from some voices they knew very well rang in their ears.

They looked forward to see the Chicago Knights, and an elderly turtles Gramps walking up waving and cheering to them.

"Hello!" they shouted "Merry Christmas!"

"Uncle Tyroth! Uncle Tyroth!"

Tyroth looked down and saw a small humanoid Chameleon running up to him excitedly.

"Sonia!" cried Tyroth kneeling down and embracing the little girl earning a few awwws from everyone.

"How was the journey?" asked Gramps with a smile as the Chicago Knights began hugging everyone saying 'Merry Christmas' and 'Welcome to Mutopia' "I trust it was a safe one?"

"It was." said Sephie "It's been a long journey though and everyone's pretty tired!"

"Not surprised!" said one of the Knights, a male wolf named Jack "And you're bound to get even more tired after all the stuff we got planned!"

"Yeah!" said a humanoid Shark known affectionately as Sharky "We got a Carol Concert in the canteen tomorrow at dinner and some music will be played during mealtimes!"

"Sounds like fun!" said Donatello.

"And we're part of the group!" said Kate, a snake girl "I love carols at Christmas!"

"Me too!" cried Sarah, a mutant cheetah.

"All sounds exciting!" said Leonardo.

"Yeah!" said Mona "I can't wait to see it all!"


As everyone was talking and laughing, a grey Rhino and a brown warthog walked over waving to the gang.

"Heya all!" they called.

"Cam! Barry!" cried Tyroth "You okay?"

"We're doing fine Tyroth!" said Barry the Warthog with a smile "Cam and I have good news, the carpenters are working on the sets for your play and we'll have everything set up and done by tomorrow, yet it's still under wraps for the rest of the residents so they'll have a huge surprise when it's finally time!"

"Oh how wonderful!" said Tyroth "That's great! And how are our costumes coming?"

"They're going great too!" said Cam "Tania's been hard at work to make them for you! She said she'll have them all ready by tomorrow so you can all see them!"

"Brilliant!" said Sephie excitedly "I can't wait to see them!"

"I promise you won't be disappointed!" said Cam.

"I'm sure they will be very happy!" said George "But first, lets escort our guests to their rooms, they are very tired and had a very long journey..."

"You can say that again!" said Raphael "A few hours in the battle shell is rather tiring."

"Don't blame you!" said Jack "Come on! All the beds are made up and you can all settle straight away!"

"Thanks Jack!" said Leonardo as he and the others followed Jack and the other Mutopians to the guest rooms to rest after such a long journey.


The next day, the mutants were gathered in the Canteen and were staring at the stage that was set up at the end with a couple of curtains over it.

The canteen itself was set up beautifully with Christmas Trees and tinsel and lights almost as much as outside.

Cam and Barry were up on the stage and were explaining the drill.

"Well we have this stage often if we're putting on entertainment for everyone here in Mutopia!" said Cam "We have the odd play, concert, music, etc, etc, but we got this all ready for you when you do your show! And the carol singers and performers later will be performing in front of the curtain so they won't see anything and we won't have to move everything!"

"Great job guys!" said Tyroth.

"Genius." said Donatello "So you want to show us what you got there?"

Cam and Barry nodded at each other and walked to the sides of the stage where they raised the curtains to reveal the set that had been painted on canvas as well as some wooden props.

"Oh wow!" said Leonardo as he saw the set which looked like an old fashioned kitchen along with prop to go with it.

"The kitchen of Cinderella!" cried Sephie

"We got all the other sets too!" said Cam as he pulled a rope showing a forest scene, then another of the Prince's castle where the ball would be set.

"We also got the pumpkin carriage and everything else!" said Barry making all the mutants and April and Casey cheer loudly.

"Fantastic!" said April "You've done well! You and the carpenters! Just make sure everything's hidden from everyone until the big surprise!"

"Yes ma'm!" said Barry as he closed the curtains again "Cam!" he shouted "You got everything hidden behind back there?"

"Yeah! No problem!" Cam shouted back.

"Great!" said Barry "Now we can meet Tania and she can show you what she's made for you all!"

"Fantastic!" said Mona.


As soon as the Rhino and Warthog had made sure everything was hidden and put away, they lead the gang to where Tania the Panda was at her salon.

The panda was cleaning one of the tables in her salon and singing along to some Christmas songs that were playing on the radio when she saw the mutants appear.

"Hello there!" she cried happily "Wonderful to see you!" she walked over and everyone everyone each a hug, as soon as she saw Mona she kissed her on both cheeks.

"Hey there Lizard Lady! I think you're gonna love what I've made for you!" she gushed "You too Sephie!" she said looking at Sephie.

"I can't wait to see!" said Mona with a smile.

"Well follow me!" said Tania with a grin "Don't let me make you wait any longer!" she lead the way to a door at the back of the salon and guided everyone inside.


In the room it was light a huge room with a large mirror and changing rooms.

"Wow!" said Mona "This is amazing Tania! I've never been in here before!"

"Well, I said before that clothes was another of my passions, not just hair and make up, and I found another place to store my products so I turned this room into a clothes making room and changing room so I could do some designing in here."

"It's amazing!" said Donatello "Well, I got a lab back home so it's nice to have a room dedicated to your work!"

Tania smiled.

"Thanks!" she said "Now if you want to go into the rooms I've allocated you, there are some clothes bags there with your outfits in there!" she pointed out the curtained areas so everyone could go in and they did.

"I hope you like the outfits!" she said "And more importantly that they fit!" she added with a chuckle.

"I'm sure they'll be fine!" Sephie called from inside her curtained area.

Splinter and Casey waited outside with Cam, Barry and Tania as they waited for everyone to get ready.

First to step out was Leonardo, he was wearing a blue trousers, a baggy white shirt and a blue waistcoat with gold decoration as well as a flat blue and gold hat!

Next was Raphael wearing red trousers with frilly white waist coat and a red coat with a large rat hat with a fluffy feather in it.

Casey, Barry and Cam instantly began laughing as the turtles stepped out and Tania smiled cutely.

"Oh wow!" she said "You do look handsome!"

Leonardo and Raphael frowned and stared at each other in their outfits.

"Oh God!" said Leonardo with wide eyes "Raph! Your costumes so poofy!"

Raphael glared.

"You should talk!" he said "You look weird wearing that flat hat!"

"My sons!" Splinter snapped making the two turtles look at him. "You look very nice indeed!"

Mona was next to step out and almost everyone's jaws dropped at the sight of her.

Mona was dressed in a sparkling white and silver A-line dress with sparkling see-through sleeves, wearing a diamond tiara in her dark brown hair, and she also carried a wand.

"Oh wow Mona!" said Leonardo "You look amazing!"

"Yeah!" said Raphael who was drooling at the sight of her "Truly...amazing..."

"I feel amazing!" said Mona as she waved her wand and did a little tiptoe dancing "I always wanted to play the pantomime fairy! Thanks Tania!"

"You're welcome Mona!" said Tania "And you look beautiful!"


Sephie then stepped on in her ragged dress as Cinderella to which everyone applauded and Tyroth then stepped out, he was wearing an outfit similar to Raphael except his was more sparkly and we wasn't wearing a coat but rather had his wings folded over his shoulders like a cape.

"That looks great Tyroth!" said Leonardo "Your wings acting as cape!"

"I just thought it would save on a cape or something." said Tyroth "And it looks pretty epic too right!"

"I'll say!" said Raphael

"I love it!" said Sephie in a flirtatious way making Tyroth blush.

"Hey what's keeping Donatello and Michaelangelo?" asked Leonardo "Come on you two! Your dresses can't be that hard to get into!"

"Alright! Alright! We're coming!" said Donatello "Just feeling a little silly that's all!"

Raphael chortled slightly causing Mona to kick his foot to which he gathered himself and watched as Michaelangelo and Donatello came out of their changing room.

As soon as they came out, no-one could help it as they started laughing at the sight of them!

Michaelangelo was wearing a pink and red dress with poofy sleeves and bloomers as well as a curly blonde wig!

Donatello meanwhile was wearing a blue dress similar to Michaelangelo and was wearing a brunette wig!

"Oh my God!" cried Mona "You look...well..."

"Wonderful!" squealed Tania "Just wonderful!"

"So ridiculous!" cried Raphael who was clutching his stomach.

Barry and Cam were also laughing, as was Casey who had tears rolling down his cheeks.

"You look great boys!" said April also laughing hard.

Donatello and Michaelangelo looked at everyone and frowned and looked like smoke was going to come out of their ears.

Splinter frowned at everyone else laughing.

"You look lovely my sons!" he said "You really are going to light up everyone's faces at the show!"

"I suppose..." said Donatello with a sigh.

"If we don't die of embarrassment first!" said Michaelangelo.

Mona had stopped laughing and also walked up to the two younger turtles.

"You're gonna be just fine!" she said with a smile "Don't be embarrassed!"

Michaelangelo smiled back at his sister, but he looked back at the others laughing their heads off and sighed again wondering if his brothers would ever let him forget this moment.

So everyone's arrived in Mutopia and the theatre has been set up and the costumes have been made!

Looks like everyone's happy to be there and the gang are ready to perform! :D

Though Donatello and Michelangelo are still embarrassed they got the short end of the stick! Lol! Poor sods!

P.S. Hope I got the facts right with Mutopia, Tyroth, and the characters right too! I read and re-read Ancient Legacy to make sure. :D