Note: I don't own the lyrics in this chapter! They belong to Danny Elfman!
Also, references to Tyroth Darkstorm's story 'Sonia's Trial' is mentioned here, a fantasitic fic in my opinion! You can find the fic in my favourite authours or stories category!
Chapter Thirteen
After the five kids left the grown-ups to go off on their own, they couldn't help but feel excited, especially since this was the first Halloween they were allowed to explore without the grown-ups.
All the previous Halloweens, they had been anywhere without someone accompanying them.
Sonia was especially excited, as she felt like one of the grown-ups, but she knew she had to be in charge as the eldest of the children, and some worried pangs filled her belly as she looked at Pandora, Freya, Loki and Kemeko and hoped that she could keep them all safe and together.
Memories of when she was first given the chance to babysit them when she was still young, barely even a teenager and she had been put in charge.
Luckily, since she was in Mutopia, she didn't have to worry about any humans discovering them, but it was still difficult to keep an eye on all of them especially since Pandora, Freya and Loki kept wandering off and she had to keep bringing them back only for one of them to slip away again.
Pandora had always been the worst offender when it came to running off, the hybrid at the time was as curious as a cat, and Sonia agreed that her name had been the perfect choice when she was born, since like the Greek Myth Pandora, she was curious about everything and everyone, but she couldn't deny that it was sweet to see Pandora so interested in everything even if she did get into scraps.
Even now, Pandora could still be difficult, but this time it was due to wanting to grow up fast and getting impulsive, but Sonia hoped that today Pandora would take the grown-ups words of warning to heart, as reckless as she was, the hybrid was not stupid.
Freya and Loki weren't complete angels themselves, as they could get rather silly when together, being typical twins and having a sibling rivalry and they sometimes forgot their own strength as well as the fact they couldn't use their wings or their developing magic when not in Mutopia, but luckily their father had given them the strict rule of being careful when they went topside.
Kemeko as far as Sonia was concerned seemed the most well behaved, even though she had had her moments, she was the easiest one to watch as she always did as she was told, well, with Leonardo as her father, he installed his good leadership and behaviours in her.
Now, as they walked amongst the festivities, all the kids had a go at sampling the games and entertainment as well as some tasty food!
Pandora had a go and hanging from some monkey bars for a prize which included soft toys and some other expensive items for those who made it to the full time, the goal was to hang on for two minutes, and most people hadn't even made thirty seconds and won consolation prizes which included a small soft toy.
But the hybrid, ever wanting to show off jumped on the monkey bars and after a minute and a half by the time many gathered to watch her and were amazed how long she held on for she started to do chin ups for the remaining time!
When the two minutes were up, she continued to hold on! And when she finally came down, she had held on for three minutes!
No sooner had she let go than the crowd cheered for her and even the man in charge of the game was astounded and even asked the audience if they could have held on that long to which there was an agreement of no's and shaking of the heads.
Pandora had walked away with both a prize of new sneakers and a smirk as well as cheers from the younger children, and a slight abolishment from Sonia about showing off to which the hybrid had retorted she should try something better.
Sonia, accepted the challenge and took part in a hoopla where she managed to hook a hoop around a crystal encrusted wrist watch she had her eye on and Pandora, as much as she was shocked at Sonia's skill wasn't too surprised as the Chameleon had been practising throwing objects in training.
Seeing the older children win at something, Freya and Loki decided to have a go and they took part in a Test-Your-Strength. Freya went first and she managed to strike the bell much to the amusement of Pandora, Sonia and Kemeko, and the shock of the adults.
"How did a kid get so strong?" one man asked.
"I couldn't even get the bell that high!" his friend had agreed.
Loki too had a go, and like his older sister he too struck the bell and the couple in charge of the stall rewarded them with two large teddy bears as well as asked them how they were so strong to which the Geckolings replied they did strength training at home, which was almost true, yet they couldn't say that their strength was due to being part dragon and Mutopian.
Freya's teddy bear was green and wore a witch's outfit and Loki's was purple and was dressed as a vampire.
As they walked away from the stall, Sonia glanced at her new sparkly wristwatch, and she realised.
"Oh gosh guys!" she said, "It's almost time for the Talent Show!"
"That time already!?" Pandora cried.
"Oh gosh!" Kemeko exclaimed.
"Well, we better get there fast!" Freya and Loki said together "We don't want to miss our slot!"
Sonia nodded and quickly lead the way to where the Talent show was taking place which was revealed to be a large outdoor stage with a large curtain at the back saying 'Chicago City's Halloween Talent Show' where a crowd had gathered and were talking and cheering excitedly.
Hurrying to the back of the stage, the gang were met with some bouncers who lead them to an area where all the other competitors were, and they were met with groups of people, both young and old, all practising their acts for the show.
Kemeko looked around and she saw a male dance troop wearing skeleton outfits and warming up, a jazz band testing their instruments, a ballet couple doing some stretches, and a man in an oversized size and shoes muttering to himself.
"Wow! There's a lot of people here!" she said nervously.
"Don't worry Kemeko!" Pandora comforted "We're gonna be awesome, I know it!"
Kemeko looked up at her hybrid cousin and sighed.
"I hope I don't fall over or get myself tied up!" she muttered.
"Trust me! You'll ace this! I got faith in you!" Pandora grinned and pinched Kemeko's cheek affectionally before turning to Freya and Loki.
Kemeko smiled and rubbed her cheek then glanced to her left where she saw a group of boys and a girl no older than fourteen wearing street gear and warming up.
She still had that smile on her face as she looked over, but the girl, who was dressed in combat trousers, a crop top and bandana that covered her black hair turned and sneered.
"What are you looking at?" she spat.
Kemeko gulped and quickly looked away and back to Pandora who had her back to her and was in a huddle with Freya and Loki about their act.
Sonia noticed Kemeko's fearful look and put her arm around the Asian girl.
"You nervous Kem?" she asked.
"Yeah…" Kemeko admitted yet she couldn't shake the negative feeling for the group in street wear nearby, the way they looked at her, almost with disgust or hate, but she thought they were just a competitive group and felt threatened by the other competitors, so she decided to try and brush it off and stood close to Sonia.
After ten minutes it was show-time and after the show was opened, the acts went on one by one, and the five kids watched from the back and cheered for the good acts as well as cringed slightly at the really bad ones.
In fact, Pandora and Sonia equally gagged when a woman dressed as Amy Lee from Evanescence came on the stage and performed 'Bring Me to Life' off-key.
"Yuck! Since when did she think she could sing?" Pandora drawled.
"Beats me!" Loki replied.
Another bad act was a comedian who thought he was funny and before long people were so fed up, they started booing him and he was forced to leave the stage humiliated and the kids couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
"Should have stuck to slapstick." Freya had mused.
But despite the bad acts, there were some really talented ones to enjoy.
Pandora loved one act where there was a dance troop dressed as heroes and villains that demonstrated fighting skills within their dancing as well as a ballet couple who performed the Coda of Odile from Swan Lake.
Sonia laughed so hard she cried when a really funny and intelligent woman came on the stage and made everyone laugh with her comedy routine as well as a couple of old ladies wearing a red and blue suit and sang 'Me and my Shadow' together.
Freya was especially impressed with an opera singer in a Viking outfit, as well as a classical bad who performed the theme tunes to 'Game of Thrones', 'Jurrassic Park' and 'Titanic'
Loki cheered when he saw a group of dancers dressed as the Transformers dance to 'The Touch'.
They were dressed like the actual characters and their costumes were made in such a way that they made themselves look like the vehicles modes when they knelt or lay on the floor!
He was also impressed with another dance troop dressed as characters from the Pokémon show and when they came off stage, he begged to have a couple of photos take with them which they gladly did.
Kemeko especially loved a group of girls and women who were dressed as Geishas and danced to some Japanese music along with a classical band who played some famous suites from different ballets and three women dressed as the three Witches from 'Hocus Pocus' performing 'I put a Spell on You!'.
Before long, it was Pandora, Freya and Loki's turn to perform and after a few words of encouragement from Kemeko and Sonia, the three walked onto the stage in front of the crowds and the announcer.
"And now we have," The announcer who was dressed a black tattered suit and in skeleton make up, three very enthusiastic young performers to treat us with a song from one of our favourite films to watch at Halloween 'The Nightmare before Christmas'!" to which the crowd cheered loudly "Please give it up for 'The Three Imps'!"
Pandora, Freya and Loki fist bumped then as the music started, they began to sing their parts whilst getting into character, pulling off funny moves and dances.
All: Kidnap Mr Sandy Claws?
Pandora: I wanna do it!
Loki: Lets draw straws!
Freya: Jack said we must work together!
All: Three of a kind, Birds of a feather, Now and Forever, Wheee! La, la, la, La, la, la!
Pandora: First we're going to set some bait inside a nasty trap and wait when he comes a sniffing, we will snap the trap and close the gate!
Loki: Wait I've got a better plan to catch this big red lobster man! Let's pop him in a boiling pot and when he's done, we'll butter him up!
All: Kidnap the Sandy Claws, throw him in a box, bury him for ninety years then see if he talks!
As the three kids sang and danced, the audience cheered and sang along and they got more excited as they continued to perform.
Freya: Then Mr Oogie Boogie man can take the whole thing over then! He'll be so pleased I do declare! That he will cook him rare! Whee!
Pandora: I say that we take a cannon, aim it at his door and then knock three times and when he answers Sandy Claws will be no more!
Loki: You're so stupid think now, if we blow him up to smithereens, we may lose some pieces and then Jack will beat us black and green!
All: Kidnap the Sandy Claws, tie him in a bag, throw him in the ocean then see if he is sad! Because Mr Oogie Boogie is the meanest guy around, if I was on his boogie list, I'd get out of town!
Freya: He'll be so pleased by our success, that he'll reward us too I bet! Perhaps he'll make his special brew, of snake and spider stew!
All: We're his little henchmen and we take our job with pride, we do our best to please him and stay on his good side!
Pandora: I wish my cohorts we're so dumb!
Freya: I'm not the dumb one!
Loki: You're no fun!
Pandora: Shut up!
Loki: Make me!
Pandora: I've got something listen now, this one is real good you'll see! We'll send a present to his door, upon there'll be a note to read, now in the box we'll wait and hide until his curiosity entices him to look and then we'll have him, one, two, three!
All: Kidnap the Sandy Claws. Beat him with a stick! Lock him up for ninety years, see what makes him tick! Kidnap the Sandy Claws, Chop him into bites! Mr Oogie Boogie is sure to get his kicks! Kidnap the Sandy Claws, see what will see! Lock him in a cage and then throw away the key!
As the song ended, the crowd erupted into wild applause!
Pandora, Loki and Freya hugged each other cheering and took a bow and a few people in the front row threw flowers and candy at them to which they gathered them up and bowed again.
The announcer clapped as well and laughed.
"That was amazing! Well done kids! Happy Halloween!" he cheered.
As they left the stage, Sonia and Kemeko were waiting in the wings and as soon as Pandora, Loki and Freya saw them they embraced and cheered.
"Well done you three!" Sonia shouted, "You were fabulous!"
"We had so much fun!" Loki shouted, "Oh by Odin I wish Dad could have seen!"
"And mum!" Freya agreed.
Kemeko grinned and held up her shell cell.
"They did actually!" she smiled "Everyone's at the back of the crowd or on the rooftops watching knowing we were performing, and they can't wait to congratulate us when we meet us later!"
"Awesome!" Pandora grinned.
After ten minutes, it was Kemeko's time to shine, and five minutes before she was due to go on stage, she made her excuses and left her cousins to get ready.
Sonia, Freya, Loki and Pandora were curious to what Kemeko was going to do, but they were excited to see what she had to show.
Watching from the wings, the fur kids saw someone push what looked like a stone well to the middle of the stage and after the announcer spoke the back of the stage went black then a projection of a shining white circle was shown!
As that happened, the crowd gasped!
"No way!" Sonia whispered, "It's The Ring!"
Pandora blinked.
"Fuck…I remember those movies…they gave me nightmares! Both the Japanese originals and the American remakes…. Kemeko…. you artist!"
Freya and Loki held hands as they watched and as the haunting music from the Soundtrack of 'The Ring' was heard Kemeko emerged dressed in a dirty white ragged dress and her ebony black hair over her face and she performed contortion moves and transitions making the audience gasp and cry out in fear.
Sonia was amazed.
"When was it you watched those movies?" she asked.
"A couple of Halloweens ago…" Pandora replied, "Needless to say…I was terrified after that and refused to sleep alone!" she blushed as the Geckolings laughed at her.
After five minutes, Kemeko's act was over, and she bowed as the audience shouted and cheered and threw flowers and candy and the announcer spoke about how scary and fantastic her performance was.
Kemeko then trotted over into the wings and Sonia, Pandora and the Geckolings embraced her.
"You amazing girl! You wonder!" Sonia cheered "You took us by surprise!"
Kemeko grinned.
Pandora punched Kemeko playfully.
"I'm gonna get nightmares again!" she said to which Kemeko stuck out her tongue and laughed.
"You deserve a prize for that!" Loki commented and Freya agreed.
"Well let's just wait and see!" Kemeko winked and looked to the main stage for the remaining acts to go on.
As she did so, the dance troop in the street gear walked past and glared at her.
Kemeko raised an eyebrow, yet she saw the lips of the girl move and form the words 'You're an amateur, wait to see real talent!'
Kemeko glared as they walked onto the stage to begin their act, but she decided to not let it bother her and enjoy her triumph with her cousins and honoured sister about how hers and Pandora, Freya and Loki's act went well.
Well, it seems the kids had fun! And they performed wonderful pieces in the talent show!
Hope you liked the Transformers and Pokemon references there Tyroth! ;D
I do love 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'! best film to watch at Halloween!
Also, The Ring is another favouraite, whether it be the Japanese orignal or American remake...it scared the shit out of me when I first saw them! And Kemeko makes a great Sadako or Samara!
Keep checking in for more! Coming soon!