The Christmas party will be an unforgetable party for Musaki and his friends.
Chapter 9: Christmas Party
The next day became December 24th; Christmas Day. Po, Shifu, Tigress, Crane, Viper, Monkey, Mantis, Musaki, Ichi, Fu, Kaguya and Jo were all geared up for the holiday party. Musaki was the one that is most definitely ready to go to the party, being his first Christmas party since his isolation in the Orphanage for several years as a young kid.
As he got himself ready, he looked at himself in the mirror and realize how far he had come since his adoption from the Orphanage, as if it had happened last year. And also to celebrate his first Christmas with his new family for the first time and to go out with them to the party. He smiled at himself and told himself, "You've come a long way to get the family you ever wanted and that Christmas wish had came true."
Then, a knock came on the door and he turned around and said, "I'll be out in a sec."
"How long will it take? I need to check my hair and see if everything is perfect." Tigress said.
Musaki scoffed and said, "This is a Christmas party, not a graduation ceremony."
"Don't I want to look gorgeous?"
"You're hardly gorgeous, anyway."
Tigress sighed amused-like and said, "You know what, since it's Christmas, I'll take that as a joke."
"Seriously?"
"Of course."
"Well, okay then."
Musaki came out of the the room and smiled at her for the first time. Tigress smiled at him too and said, "I think you look dapper."
It was the first time that Musaki ever got a compliment from Tigress and he still had the red and golden necklace on his neck. He smiled at her and said, "Thank you. You look very pretty."
"Thank you."
"For a tiger."
"Aww, this is so cute. You guys are a couple!" Po said.
"Po!" they said, embarassed-like.
"We're not a couple." Tigress said.
"We're just complimenting each other instead of going at ech other's throats since it's Christmas." Musaki said.
"Oh, okay. Well, I still think you guys are cute together."
Then, Po walks away with his usual giddy personality, leaving Musaki and Tigress kinda confused. Musaki asked, "How does he even think that we're a couple?"
"I really don't know. That's kinda weird."
"And disturbing."
"I'll get ready."
"Okay."
Musaki walked off, and then went to his room to see Kaguya, Ichi, Fu and Jo getting all ready for the party. He asked Jo, "So, you excited about?"
"Most likely. I think this will be the best Christmas ever!" Jo said.
"That's cool."
"So, should I look classy or just holiday classy?" Kaguya asked.
"It doesn't matter, each way."
"Are you serious? This is a Christmas party. Am I supposed to look perfect?"
"I think you're okay with what you're wearing."
"You think so?"
"Of course."
"Well thanks, Musaki."
"I think I'm gonna puke." Ichi muttered.
"Come on! We're not dating!" Musaki exclaimed.
"I know. I'm just joking."
"Please, Ichi. That was so not funny, okay?" asked Kaguya.
"You wouldn't know funny if it bit you on the neck."
Jo and Fu looked at each other and Jo asked, "Are they always like that?"
"Well, not really. Ichi and Kaguya always start off with each other, and Musaki tries to completely set the issue apart, but somehow it kinda backfires, but really doesn't, because Musaki handles it pretty well. He's being the peacemaker for this." Fu said.
"Come on, guys. It's Christmas. Can't we at least put the drama behind us, please?" Musaki pleaded.
Ichi and Kaguya looked at each other and realized that this is pretty much not suited as an issue and Kaguya said, "Musaki's right. It's Christmas."
"We might as well get along." Ichi said.
"Exactly!" Musaki said.
"Hey, guys. We're almost ready to leave. Shifu said we need to meet in the front of the Jade Palace in 30 minutes." Po said, as he came in the door.
"30 minutes? That's pretty much enough time. We're almost ready, anyway." Musaki said.
"Okay. We're gonna make it an awesome Christmas that you won't forget! Well...since this is your first anyway."
Musaki chuckled and said, "Thanks, Po."
"See you guys later."
Ichi, Musaki, Kaguya, Jo and Fu stood there in silence and didn't know what to make of that. Jo asked, "If you don't mind asking, how come he said that it's your first?"
"I think he said that this is my first Christmas party."
"Oh, okay."
"So, we got to meet at the Jade Palace in like, a half-hour?" asked Ichi.
"That's what Po--or in this case Shifu--said just now."
"A whole half-hour?" asked Kaguya.
"Yep."
"Well, that seems like an awful amount of time."
"So we have to get ready and head out for at least 15 or 20 minutes or whatever the case may be."
"Okay, then."
Thinking ahead, the gang got themselves ready for the party and sooner or later, they came out looking good and groomed themselves nicely. They all left the room in a mere 15 and a half minutes and as soon as they went outside, they were the the only ones waiting on the palace doors for the others to come alongside. They were waiting in the breezy air near the steps and they got a little bored.
Kaguya sighed and asked, "What's taking them so long?"
"We've gotten ready for, like what, 10 minutes or so?" asked Jo.
"Of course. We've been here for 5 minutes at least." Fu said.
Eventually, they saw Shifu, Po, Crane, Viper, Monkey, Tigress and Mantis walking in the steps and they saw them in the steps. Shifu looked at them and said, "There you are! Where were you five?"
"What do you mean?" asked Jo.
"We've been looking for you guys." Viper said.
"We've been waiting for you. You said to meet us in the front of the palace." Kaguya said.
"Well, we didn't know that you were waiting for us." Monkey said.
"How long were you there?" asked Po.
"Six minutes."
Shifu chuckled embarassedly and said, "Sorry about that. Anyway, are we all ready?"
"Yes, master!" they said, in unison.
"All right, then. Let's party."
Shifu led the way and the others could not believe what he just said. Mantis turned to Jo and asked, "Did he just actually say, 'Let's party'?"
"I heard him say that." Jo replied.
"I'm surprised that he didn't say 'dude'."
"Why would he?" asked Crane.
"Don't know. Just had a feeling."
Several minutes had passed during sunset and within 20 minutes later, they were in Miju Valley, where they have beautiful temples all around there. They had never experienced anything like it, even beyond their wildest dreams.
"Wow. This place is awesome, even at Christmas time!" Po exclaims.
"Doesn't it, though, panda?" asked Shifu.
"Yeah, well, one can only see it to believe."
"So, where's the Magnolia Palace?" asked Kaguya.
"Right over there."
Shifu pointed the ginormous orange-red and green palace with only 45 feet of stairs. They looked up at the stairs and Musaki said, "This is a lot different from the stairs back at the palace."
"Well, it is. We go around 2 stairs." Shifu said.
"2 stairs?!" they all exclaimed.
"Yep, but it seems to go smoother."
"What can be smoother about walking 2 flights of stairs?" askesd Mantis.
Shifu chuckled and said, "Do not doubt my intelligence, Master Mantis. Leave it up to me."
Soon, they came across a guard and asked, "Name?"
"Master Shifu."
In a few seconds, the guard looked at him and got familiarized by his blue eyes and said, "Hello, Master. How are you this holiday season?"
"Doing just fine, Moku."
"Who are those?"
"My students."
"Well, in that case, you all can go in first."
"Thank you, Moku. Merry Christmas."
"You, too."
Shifu brought them along with them and they got past the security rhino and let them all in. Musaki was amazed from that point and said, "I cannot believe that."
"Neither can I." Mantis said.
"Like I said, leave it to me."
Mantis hopped on Musaki's shoulder and said, "You know, that seems like he's like a sneaky little dude."
"Is that right?"
"Yep."
As they got in the palace, they were surprised and amazed by the entire inside of the Mongolia Palace, seeing the whole place decorated with Christmas decorations and lights and all animals having a good time there. Musaki felt completely blown away with so much Christmas-like spirit across the place.
"Wow. Now that's an awesome party." Musaki said.
"You said it." Viper said.
There were everything there; games, plays, concerts and everything like that. Musaki, Ichi, Fu, Kaguya and Jo were walking around the palace, looking for something fun to do there. Kaguya asked, "So, what do we have to do?"
"Honestly, I'm not quite sure at the moment." Ichi said.
Then, Musaki looked at the costume outfit contest over there and thought that he should try it out. He said, "I think I might know."
Minutes later, Musaki wore a reindeer outifit with antlers and a fake red nose to showcase that he's on the holiday spirit. When he showed it to his friends, he asked, "What do you guys think?"
"You look so cute in that reindeer outfit!" Kaguya said.
"Thanks."
"I could just eat you up."
"Don't push it."
Musaki took a little peek at the audience, waiting for his turn. He felt completely anxious about it, but felt a little ounce of confidence towards him, because his friends are behind him for his support. Then, the announcer called his name and he went on the stage and gave it his all.
All of the audience were cheering while Musaki walked across the stage, striking a pose and being himself. The Five, Shifu and Po were wondering what the fuss is all about and to their surprise, Musaki was in the stage with a reindeer outfit, being more outgoing. Their response was completely a surprising one.
"Musaki looks definitely cute on those." Viper said.
"I think he's getting into the Christmas spirit after all." Po said.
"Looks like he's getting into it now." Crane said.
"I have to admit, he does have a sense of fashion...kinda like me." Tigress said.
"I think your fashion sense has been trumped by him." Mantis said.
"Easy to say, Musaki takes the cake for best holiday spirit." Monkey said.
"That's his way of enjoying himself and all I can say is that he's definitely having some fun with it." Shifu said.
As soon as Musaki went backstage, he hears the cheers coming out of nowhere, then turned around and saw The Five, Po and Shifu cheering for him. He smiled and waved at them and then, as he went backstage, he saw his friends cheering for him too.
"That was awesome!" Ichi shouted.
"Best one ever!" Fu said.
"Loved it a lot." Kaguya said.
"So, what do you think, Jo?"
"That was amazing." he said.
Several hours later, Musaki, Po, Crane, Shifu and Monkey were listening to some Christmas music and they were getting into the beat of the song and danced a little bit of it. Mantis, Viper and Tigress were sitting around, sipping some hot chocolate and Ichi, Kaguya, Fu and Jo were playing some Christmas games and soon enough, Jo went onstage and grabbed the mic, which brought everyone's attention.
"Hey, guys. I can see that this is an awesome party after all." Jo said.
"What's he doing now?" Musaki muttered.
"I don't know." Monkey said.
"Anyways, this is a little song that someone wrote and I think it's an awesome song, so I'm gonna sing it for you guys, okay?"
The crowd was cheering and clapping to hear Jo sing. He cleared his throat and started singing the first lyrics.
I'm wishing on a star
And trying to believe
That even though it's far
He'll find me Christmas Eve
I guess that Santa's busy
Cause he's never come around
I think of him
When Christmas comes to town
Musaki was surpised after hearing that Jo can sing and also, that he was familiar with the first part of the song and whispered, "That's my song."
"It is? You've gotta sing the next part." Mantis said.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Knowing that he wrote the song, he felt the need to sing it with him, so he picked up another microphone and started singing the next verse, which made everyone surprised, including Jo.
The best time of the year
When everyone comes home
With all this Christmas cheer
It's hard to be alone
Putting up the Christmas tree
With friends who come around
It's so much fun
When Christmas comes to town
Presents for the children
Wrapped in red and green
Jo: All the things I've heard about
But never really seen
Musaki: No one will be sleeping on
the night of Christmas Eve
Both: Hoping Santa's on his way
Kaguya: When Santa's sleigh bells ring
Ichi: I listen all around
Musaki: The herald angels sing
Fu: I never hear a sound
Jo: And all the dreams of children
Musaki and Ichi: Once lost will all be found
Kaguya, Jo and Fu: That's all I want
When Christmas comes to town
Sooner or later, it brought the audience in deep emotions and Jo, Musaki, Fu, Ichi and Kaguya all sung the last verse together.
Together: That's all I want
When Christmas comes....
to town
When they got finished with the song, the whole crowd roared with cheers and applause. They all put their hands together and took a bow and looked at them, looking like they're really having fun. They waved at everyone in the audience and they looked at Shifu, Po and the Five cheering and they waved at them.
"Great song, Musaki." Jo said.
"Thanks, Jo."
"How'd you write it?"
"Well, upon all the times I spent with The Five, Shifu and Po, I always thought my Christmas wish would come true and when it came near last year, that's when I wrote the song as an inspiration for them. It's like their early Christmas present, basically."
"Wow. That's radical." Ichi said.
Soon enough, Po, Shifu, Crane, Viper, Tigress, Mantis and Monkey came towards them in happiness, because of the performance. Musaki asked, "Did you like it?"
"Are you kidding? We loved it." Viper said.
"I can't believe you wrote that song." Mantis said.
"You wrote it?" asked Tigress.
Musaki chuckled and nodded his head as a 'yes'. Shifu asked, "What gave you the cause to write that song?"
"My Christmas wish was to spend Christmas with one family that can actually take me in and since you guys came to my life, it was like asking Santa Claus to please let this family take me in and that song was about you guys and how I hope to spend Christmas with you all." Musaki explained.
"You wrote that song....for us?" Po asked, tearfully.
"As an early Christmas present. I was supposed to save it until Christmas Day, but when I heard Jo sung it, I thought it's a good time to sing it with the others, since this is Christmas Eve."
"That's really sweet of you." Viper said.
"Writing that song and have all of you sing it together, that shows that it comes from your hearts and I will forever be grateful of that moment." Shifu said.
"Thank you."
Shifu couldn't hold back the tears and he got to Musaki and hugged him tightly. Then, he whispered, "You got your Christmas wish, Musaki. Keep it with you."
"Yes, master."
Everyone joined in for a group hug and they started hugging each other and later, everyone went home after a great night of a Christmas Party, waiting for Christmas Day to arrive. Musaki already knows that this is the best Christmas ever and it wouldn't be complete without Christmas Day coming forth.
Was that awesome or what? The song is called "When Christmas Comes to Town" from 'The Polar Express.' Pretty cool right? The next chapter is basically about Musaki going to memory lane for the first time. It'll be heartwarming!
