I own nothing! Please enjoy anyway. :)

Usagi sat puzzled at the newly returned kame's words. The Battle Nexus Champion's greeting had set his heart at ease. His words of comfort to Leonardo earlier had not been proven false. He doubted even a hardened, fierce, formidable warrior like his sensei could pull off sounding so joyful and relaxed if badly wounded or deeply worried. It was not likely then that Leonardo's, until now, missing brother brought any ill news.

He had recognized Michelangelo's greeting as one used for this particular celebration he'd been invited to. He'd heard and practiced it many times himself to prepare for this visit. So, it had felt almost familiar.

Michelangelo's new friend, however, made him freeze. The shape of its face and ears reminded him of Tomoe Ame, but also of Chizu, and other Neko in his home world. Its color, however, reminded him particularly of Kagemaru. Noriyuki had fled that particular Neko Ninja by casting himself down a hallow tree, which could have killed him. He had briefly believed it "had" killed the young Daimyo. Kagemura was from all he'd heard and seen was a fierce and ambitious ninja. This creature, Michelangelo held, looked gentle and docile, however.

Usagi felt … confused. This creature was so like and so unlike Tomoe Ame, Chizu, Kagemaru and other Neko, ninja or not, he knew. In behavior and size, even in the way it looked out through its eyes, what the Battle Nexus Champion held seemed more like a tokage.

Michelangelo and Leonardo's skin seemed more tokage-like than this "Klunk's." His own skin and Splinter's were very like this creature's. Before visiting the Battle Nexus with Katsuchi, Usagi had always associated scales with tokages rather than people. Indeed, Hebi was the only person, exalted or not, with scales he knew of in his home-world. The Battle Nexus, though, with its greater range of guests in appearance, ability, and origin had broadened his view of what a warrior could be before he even knew of Hebi.

Now, Usagi reoriented his thinking again. He placed this new creature, the latest Battle Nexus Champion held, in a similar category as tokages. The latter could be wild beasts, nuisances, or pets. Indeed, Michelangelo was bringing this "Klunk" in very like Usagi had dreamed as a child of bringing a tokage home to his father to ask if he could keep it as a pet. Usagi had barely settled his mind thus on the "Klunk" matter before realizing he should be taking note of other things in his surroundings. Katsuichi would have been furious with him.

Usagi realized Splinter was making his displeasure at his son's lateness known. Michelangelo seemed genuinely contrite upon hearing this, but then suggested something had happened to him that would not be believed. For someone who'd been to the Battle Nexus and won its tournament that was quite a statement. Raphael seemed disposed to disbelieve Michelangelo's tale. The Battle Nexus Champion's next words, however, tugged at a blurry question that had been on Usagi's mind since the Battle Nexus' Daimyo began to teach him about this celebration Leonardo had invited him to.

"A time of giving," Christmas had been called by the Battle Nexus' Daimyo, just "a time of giving" not a time to give to a certain person in your family, or village, or city, but something far more broad. It seemed Christmas was a time to give to everyone! He had asked the Daimyo how anyone in Leonardo's world, or even just city, could afford to give gifts to everyone else every year! The Daimyo had replied that at Christmas a person in Leonardo's city, indeed, nation and home-culture, usually gave gifts to those they were related to, good friends with, or interacted with very often like coworkers. He also said the gifts given could vary in value often depending on how much one valued the receiver. This made Usagi very glad his gift to Leonardo was so valuable.

Now, Michelangelo also described Christmas as "a time to remember those less fortunate than ourselves." Usagi frowned slightly. The less fortunate were often seen with both pity and suspicion by others in his world. After all, somehow, bad fortune had fallen upon them. Others often wondered why.

Had they made the powerful in control of their fortunes angry? Had someone close to them done so? Did they deserve bad fortune or been the receiver of a sour overflow poured into another's cup somehow? Were they only innocent recipients of an evil person's acts?

He had run into many suffering from misfortunate for one reason or another. He'd been such a person himself. He had also aided many he'd found in unfortunate situations.

He had never before heard of a "time" set aside, especially a day each year, to remember such persons, however. Now, it seemed he had. He had to reorient his thinking again. He remembered how exhausted he'd been in mind after his first visit to the Battle Nexus. He'd hoped it wouldn't be as difficult to understand Leonardo's world since it was just one new world to learn about and not a nexus to many with guests from many in it. But perhaps it would be worse!

As he continued listening to Michelangelo, he learned there was a "home" filled with "orphans" who should have a very Merry Christmas, particularly, if they all stopped by and wished them it. It, therefore, seemed their duty to do it. Usagi thought it would indeed be an honor for orphans to have such distinguished people as this great hero and Leonardo's family drop by just to wish them well. He would accompany them to perform this Christmas duty if they but asked then if it was expected in this world.

. . .

Leonardo was pleased, and then horrified, and then pleased again. His baby brother started off his story with how awesome his visit to Central Park had been. He'd taken in the view of people enjoying the snow at Christmas time, talked someone into letting him borrow their sled to take a ride on, and then met Klunk, apparently. All this was about what he should have expected from Mikey.

He should have expected what came next in the story from Mikey too. Mikey had been bringing home their new pet (if their father allowed it to become so), when he'd happened to overhear the carjacking of a delivery truck. Purple Dragons had been involved after all.

Of course, the delivery truck had to have been filled with toys meant for orphans. And, of course, Mikey couldn't say "no" to stopping a crime like that, even if all the backup he had at the moment was a kitten stuffed down his coat.

Why did I have to let him go up "alone?" I could have sent Donnie, I could have sent Raph …

Leo was pretty certain if they'd all been there, or at least if he'd been there, they could have taken out a few thieves and gotten the truck back to the originally intended driver within minutes. Instead, Mikey had apparently spent hours fighting Purple Dragons, both around and 'on top' of a speeding truck, driving said truck along icy roads while avoiding other cars driven by Purple Dragons and their launched rockets, and being chased by police after that. Leonardo could feel a ginormous headache coming on.

He couldn't deny the surge of and lingering sense of pride in his baby brother the story brought him too, though. Mikey would try such a thing for sure. The fact he'd succeeded was eye-opening. Maybe Mikey was capable of more than he'd given him credit for? What he now asked of them, though, seemed … questionable …

"The guy at the orphans home said the folks who were supposed to help hand out the presents to the kids backed out! The Orphan's Home now has all these cool costumes for Santa, Santa's helpers', and Santa's reindeer, and no one to wear them! So, I told the guy, I knew a whole bunch of really cool people, who'd 'love' to help him out: my awesome family and friends!" Mikey waved his arms around to apparently gesture to them all.

They all stared back. Donatello did so dumbly. Only Michelangelo could accomplish that feat with regularity. Then their genius brother asked, "You want 'us' to wear North-pole themed outfits while handing out presents to human-kids?"

Mikey raised his hands in the air again, having already put Klunk down on the floor during his story, to keep gesturing throughout it. The kitten had been circling the table lifting its nose to sniff the air coming from its surface ever since. He was apparently looking for a way up to what he smelled. It was a boy Leonardo had noticed while watching its movements. It didn't seem bad for a potential pet ...

He waited to hear Sensei's reply before giving his own opinion of either of Mikey's stated plans, keeping Klunk and handing out presents to human kids, aboveground, in pretty much public fashion, just wearing North Pole costumes to disguise themselves. Of course, Raphael replied even before their Sensei.

"Are you nuts?!"

Leo glanced at Mikey to see how he reacted to the hot-head's exclamation. The blue-clad-ninja kept the orange kitten in the outskirts of his vision so as not to lose track of it entirely while he watched his brothers. Mikey's big grin fell into a frown. "Why not, Raphie?"

"Because we're mutant turtles, in New York City, right after an alien invasion has freaked out every human in it!" Then he slumped a bit while muttering, "Present company accepted ..."

The Silver Sentry broke in. "I can go. It sounds like a great thing to do, Turtle Titan! I can vouch for my sidekick to any nervous citizens, as well as for all his family and friends."

Casey grinned, "I'm in."

April added. "At least we who are human can go. The rest of you can stay and eat if you want …"

The human professor spoke up. "Why don't we all go after the meal if we can wait that long? It sounds like a worthy occupation for all of us this fine Christmas Eve!"

Splinter hummed to himself while stroking his beard and staring down at the floor. Mikey stared at him. The orang-clad turtle's body was stiff with tension as he chewed his bottom lip. As Leo watched his father and youngest brother, awaiting the outcome of this interaction, he forgot what else he'd been watching till then. So, he was humiliated by what came next.

Laughter from the opposite side of the table caused Leo and others to turn and look up. Klunk was climbing toward the surface of the table by clawing his way down the Battle Nexus Daimyo's robe-sleeve. He must have decided the bright, red clothing of the ruler of a nexus connecting the multi-verse made a fine way to his goal of food on a high table.

Leo bowed his head and nearly covered his face with his hands. Why couldn't the cat have climbed up anyone else there, including him? Why?

The sounds coming from the Daimyo didn't sound offended, however. He, along with others, were … laughing? As the cat leapt off his arm toward the prize, the Battle Nexus' Daimyo caught the creature in his metal-glove-clad hands. He apparently held the kitten gently enough. Klunk only gave a pitiful meow and reached out with his paws toward the dishes instead of squirming in a panic or yowling in pain. The Daimyo said, "Perhaps we should feed this little one before going anywhere as well."

Splinter straightened out of his thinking pose as he stared across the table at his old friend. "My apologies, Daimyo!"

"Nonsense Splinter," The ruler of the Battle Nexus raised the little creature toward his face, turning it around to study it from behind his mask. It stared sadly and hungrily back. The Daimyo continued, "It reminds me of you when we first met. Do you remember that day? Yoshi left you with me as he participated in the tournament. He was concerned for you welfare while he competed and wouldn't have done so otherwise, which would have been a shame. We watched every bout of the tournament together from my platform. You sought the best view of your master from my shoulders or my head the whole time."

Splinter smiled sadly. "I do remember it fairly well. It was a good day. I'm afraid, though, I didn't take your comfort or dignity into as great enough account then. Knowing where my Master Yoshi was and how he was at every moment occupied my whole thinking. For, my entire life was wrapped up in him then."

Usagi straightened and perked his ears up staring first at the Daimyo and then Splinter as they spoke of this. Leonardo watched wondering what questions were entering his friend's mind. Mikey kept his eyes on the prize much like his new friend, who'd turned its feline-head to keep staring at covered, but still aromatic dishes on the table. The orange-clad turtle asked, "So, can we do it sensei?!"

Splinter turned to look questionably at Mikey. "This … man you spoke to, did not seem disconcerted by your appearance?"

Mikey shrugged. "Naw … he was just happy to get the toys back, like really happy!"

Splinter turned his gaze upon a confidently grinning Silver Sentry. Leo turned a questioning glance at his father. Splinter smiled and looked back to Mikey. "Then we can go."

April added, "Why don't we all eat quickly and then whoever wants to go on this new excursion can?"

Donnie grinned and added, "We can go in the Battle Shell, well, whoever can fit."

Mikey added. "We can take two trips! It's not so far! 'Or' some of us can go ninja-style! Going straight across the roofs won't take much longer than going by car anyway!"

April scowled a bit and clapped her hands. "Food first! Then travel plans!"

What do you think?

God Bless

ScribeofHeroes