So…Seems I can't resist another chapter of this story, in an earlier story Si'Ni my Pig Janah character from the Neozoic Tales was granted visions of the past (Along with food poisoning) from eating chocolate chosen because chocolate is nearly toxic to all animals and the Aztecs called it 'Food of the Gods' I realize that was pretty hokey and Janah most likely would be able to eat chocolate like humans. So here Chanchalla will be able to eat chocolate without getting hallucinations.
After a fruitful meeting with Leatherhead, they returned to the lair to find April and Casey had come with some new clothes for Chanchalla.
Chanchalla particularly the sleeveless green dress that went down to her ankles,
"This one reminds me the most of the clothes I wore back in Dardunah," She said admiring her reflection in a mirror.
"Gotta say, Wooly Girl…" Raph said whatever he was about to say he got a sharp elbowing from Leo who realized if Raph was gonna say something even mildly suggestive, that is not the kind of thing you say to Medieval Era Noblewoman.
"April, Casey…" Chanchalla said "…Before you leave, I have something to ask you…I have many questions about this religion called Christianity… Leatherhead explained to me the tale of Noah and the Ark believing, the Fiery Chariot that brought the Janah to Dardunah might have been a Space Ark, the Turtles said they had been to different worlds before…So Don had the idea a different world with humans where something happened where Great Mother and Father had every Earth Animal aboard their ship before leaving…Since I presume you are typical American Humans…Can you teach me more about Christianity?"
"Ooh…" April said "That's gonna be a bit tough." April said "Neither of us were raised in a particularly religious family…"
"My family tried Church for a while…" Casey said "…Than gave up cause…It wasn't helping."
"Worship is optional?" Challa said
"America has this thing about separating Church and State." April said "So people are free to believe whatever they wish as long as it doesn't hurt anybody else."
"If only it were that way on Dardunah…" Challa said "…In my hometown of Hanalu I have seen more than one riot started by the zealously devout Satyan Order over some subject being taught at the Academy that clashes with their strict religious views, the riots are often quickly quashed by the Isvar but still it's unpleasant."
Don was beginning to feel he was liking Chanchalla more and more, Nilam seemed like the Scholar's Paradise of the World.
Supper came and Don chatted with about certain foods
"Kind of had to refresh myself that certain foods while not overtly 'meat foods' still aren't vegetarian…" Like this he held up a small yellow cake wrapped in some clear marital "This is a Twinkie, made with beef fat which comes from Cattle…"
Chanchalla winced
"But I also remembered what you said about how on Dardunah Invertebrates aren't intelligent…We eat plenty of Invertebrates mostly those who live in the water…Do you have crabs on Dardunah?"
Chanchalla initially wasn't sure, Don showed her a picture of a crab so Chanchalla said
"We have a few creatures like that…" She said "…One is the Marmurdi, a popular pet from Sustrum…" She found it easier to draw and describe rather than just describe Marmurdi have massive shells that can be carved into, owners often hire artisans to carve beautiful scenes into the shells turning the creatures into living works of art.
"Like a pet hermit crab you can customize!' Said Mikey
"The other is the Vasudlah…" Chanchalla said "Which is similar to what you call a horseshoe crab, these are Aquatic Mounts,"
The reason for asking about crabs, was they were preparing for her something called California Roll, cold crab meat wrapped with vegetables called avocado and cucumber and seaweed and rice, Chanchalla tried it, it was delicious!
"Good to see we found a meat you can consume…" Don said "California roll because the meat is cooked is safest sushi, sometimes…It can be dangerous…"
After supper Mikey was eager to show Challa the delight of movies but the other brothers were hesitant particularly because Mikey was so fond of monster movies and they didn't want Challa to be frightened.
But Challa bravely said "You've already explained the television to me Donatello, that whatever is in them can't get out into this world…Really is all these 'Movies' are is plays trapped within a box they are less intimidating than plays in my world particularly during festivals and religious rituals where sacred performers dressed as the Devah descend and dance among the Janah."
"That…Actually sound like quite a party…" Mikey said
"If nothing else," Don said quietly "I'll teach you where you can spot the zippers on the monster suits so the 'horror' movie will be more hilarious than scary."
Well turns out the usual horror hosting show was deviating from the usual fair to show a flat out comedy by the famous Marx Brothers Duck Soup, the humorous horror host decided to add his own horror twist by taking a 'Jekyll and Hyde Formula' that had him acting like Groucho Marx.
The Turtles were not prepared for Chanchalla to be busting a gut at regular intervals; she reveled in Groucho's witty insults and Harpo's antics…
After the show they remarked on how that was the happiest they had seen her yet.
"They reminded me so much of the tales of Muhjibh…Devah of luck, the Messenger of the Devah…The Trickster, the Laughing Devah…He is most commonly depicting as monkey dancing on his left foot and holding his tale in his right hand…Watching the antics of those brothers almost seemed like Muhjibh incarnated…"
So…mostly just a padding chapter I think Casey was referring to the time after his Father died his family briefly tried church but quit when it didn't help them feel better