Note: References to Tyroth Darkstorm's first fanfic 'Mutant Vigilanties' is mentioned here.
Chapter Seven
Before long, everyone was in their seats as some Christmas music was being played through the speakers, and refreshments were being handed out which included Mulled wine, mince pies and other Christmas treats.
Before long the lights began to dim, and everyone quickly quietened down and took their seats. As the Mess Hall went dark, the only lights seen were from the Christmas Trees and wall lights.
Backstage, Monalisa and Sephie were watching Tyroth as he walked onto the stage to announce the show.
"You nervous Gecko Gal?" Monalisa asked.
"A little!" Sephie replied.
"Awww!" Monalisa smiled "I'm sure you're going to do amazing!"
"Thanks!" Sephie replied "You too!"
"I just hope I can remember the steps!" Monalisa said "More than anything, I hope Raph does too!"
She glanced over to Raphael who was talking to some of the other performers waiting to go on stage.
Sephie chuckled and looked back at her lover as he bowed and waved his hands as he addressed everyone.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, mutants and humans of all ages!" Tyroth said in a loud booming voice "And welcome to our annual Yuletide Entertainment!"
A cheer was heard around the hall.
"Even though we only had under a week to prepare for this event, I can safely say, everyone has worked extremely hard to put together some amazing performances! And we can only hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoy putting on this last-minute show! Thank you!" he bowed, and the audience clapped and cheered again.
"And now, without further ado! One with the show!"
Tyroth then stepped away and the curtains began to go up and the first act was a group of Mutopians who did a small dance and chorus line.
The males were dressed black suits and the girls were in sparkling different coloured dresses and they sang the song 'There's no business like Show Business'
Amongst the singers were Sharky the Shark, Percy the Grasshopper, and Jack the Wolf as well as Vincent the Owl, Tania the Panda, Leona the Fox, Patch the Badger, Sarah the Cheetah, Rose the Lynx, and Bill the Duck.
They did a wonderful funny chorus line which caused the audience to break into wild applause.
Tyroth watched proudly and laughed as the chorus trooped off stage
"Wonderful way to open the show guys!" he praised "Perfect song choice too!"
"Thanks, Big T!" everyone replied.
"And well-done Tania for making and putting together those amazing clothes!" Tyroth praised.
The Panda blushed.
"Thanks boss!" she replied as she walked off to the side so she could watch the rest of the show but not before wishing everyone else luck.
Tyroth smiled then looked over at Donatello and Hacker who were expertly working together to play the music as well as manage the lighting to the different cues.
No sooner did the first act leave, than Jake walked onto the stage with a black and white soccer ball.
As he walked on, Amber patted his shoulder and Monalisa blew her little brother a kiss.
"Good luck!" they mouthed to which Jake winked and walked onto the stage.
"I heard he was good at soccer!" Amber whispered to Monalisa as she watched her human Chicago Knight partner introduce himself and his act to the audience.
Monalisa nodded.
"He did play for the local team when he was younger, then of course school got in the way, and then, I disappeared…" she added hesitantly.
Amber sighed sadly.
"Yet, he's kept his skills!" Sephie commented as she watched Jake start to bounce the ball on his feet then on his knees as well as on his head to a music piece.
Monalisa nodded.
"He and Callum used to practice this kind of skill together." She said, "I remember watching them on sunny days in the garden or in the local park, they would have competitions between each other to see who could keep the ball bouncing the longest."
"And who was the best?" Amber asked.
"Jake of course!" Monalisa replied "Cal enjoyed soccer, but he preferred other sports." She sighed as she thought of her youngest brother.
Even though the current predicament of her brother still caused her great pain, she still tried to remember the happier times with him, just as Jake did.
Before long, Jake managed to finish his routine as the music piece ended by catching the ball in his hands and bowing to which the audience clapped and cheered.
He then trotted off the stage pleased with himself.
"Well done, Jakey!" Monalisa cheered as she hugged her brother "Your skills are amazing!"
"Thanks sis!" Jake replied as he hugged his sister.
"Well done!" Sephie and Amber said together patting Jake's back as he walked to the side and the others nearby congratulated him.
After ten minutes went by, which by then three acts had gone on which included Leonardo gracefully demonstrating his sword playing skills to a New Age music piece to which the audience loved, and Splinter gave a standing ovation for his eldest son.
As the eldest turtle left the stage, Kemeko leapt into his arms and hugged him saying how much she enjoyed his performance to which Leonardo felt proud of himself and pleased he was able to inspire and please his daughter.
Then there was Sephie demonstrating her archery skills to some music which Monalisa and the turtles remembered from their first meeting many years ago.
Sephie had shown how she was able to hit all the bullseyes on some targets set up on the stage, then she had shown how she could fire arrows with her feet, and then shown her true skill by using two bows and firing arrows with her hands, feet, and tail!
Then the next act was Hacker juggling balls with his many arms, then he juggled knives, then he used clubs which made everyone gasp in awe as well as applaud the spider seeing how his talents didn't just involve technology.
Finally, it was time for Raphael and Monalisa to perform.
On the stage was a small table to which they sat then the song 'Baby it's Cold Outside' by Michael Bublé and Idina Menzel started to play, and they did an American Smooth dance to it.
As they performed, Pandora and Michelangelo watched them from the wings.
"Wow! Go Raph! Go Mona!" Michelangelo grinned as he observed the way his older brother and adopted sister glided across the stage and performed to the song.
Pandora meanwhile blinked.
She often got embarrassed when her parents got all lovey dovey with each other, but she was really enjoying the dancing.
After the song finished, Monalisa squealed happily that it went well and jumped into Raphael's arms almost knocking the red masked turtle over, but he kept his balance and hugged her back.
"Well done baby!" Monalisa cried "You were fabulous!"
"Not as good as you babe!" Raphael replied as he kissed his mate and let her down so they could bow to the applauding audience.
They then walked off the stage to the others watching and Michelangelo and Leonardo patted Raphael's shoulder.
"Awesome dancing dude!" Michelangelo cheered.
"Terrific!" Leonardo added.
"If I were a judge on Dancing with the Stars!" Amber cut in "It would be a ten!"
"Forget a ten, it would be a twelve!" Sephie said.
"Great job mom! Dad!" Pandora cried "You were gold!".
"Aww thanks sweetie!" Raphael said kneeling to his daughter to hug her and Monalisa did the same.
"And we can't wait to see you perform soon!" Monalisa said pinching her daughter's cheek to which Pandora gulped.
"I am kinda scared mom, daddy!" she said biting her lip as she looked towards the stage where the next act was to come on.
"Don't be scared Pandora!" Raphael winked "You're gonna wow that audience! Not everyone can do what you can do!"
Pandora looked down slightly.
"It's my first time performing before an audience daddy, before I only did little demonstrations before all of you back home." She replied.
Monalisa smiled.
"Awww Little Geisha!" she said as she stroked her daughter's hair that was done up in a ponytail.
"Don't think of the others out there watching you, just think of being back in the lair back home, you did beautifully before on those fabrics! You're going to wow them out there!" she then leaned down and kissed her daughter's nose area and booped it.
"Go get 'em kiddo!" she smirked.
Pandora giggled and nodded.
"Okay mom!" she said as she pumped her fist and looked determined "I'll go get 'em!"
"That's my Little Geisha! My Fearless Tigeress!" Raphael said as he flicked Pandora's chin and kissed her forehead.
Pandora giggled and walked back to join the other kids who were smirking, and Loki was looking triumphant.
"What?" Pandora asked frowning.
"You're nervous Pandora!" Loki said "I knew it! We were listening!" he pointed at the hybrid and laughed.
Kemeko nodded.
"Don't deny it! We heard it all!" she said folding her arms to which Sonia and Freya nodded.
Pandora glared.
"Shut up!" she snapped.
"You're nervous! I was right! Pandora is nervous!" Loki cheered.
"Shut up or I'll…" Pandora snarled and got ready to clobber Loki until she felt a hand grab her tail and she looked behind her to see Tyroth holding onto it.
"You'll do nothing young lady!" he scolded firmly then looked at the other children who stopped laughing and looked serious.
"Dad!" the Geckolings squeaked.
"I was just saying I was right about Pandora being nervous when she said she wasn't!" Loki blurted.
Tyroth narrowed his eyes.
"You might be right about Pandora being nervous, but no teasing, Trickster!" he said firmly then turned to Pandora "And you, rein it in!"
Pandora pouted but she nodded and relaxed then the dragon let go of her tail.
"Behave yourselves kids." Tyroth reminded them "especially you Pandora, you're on in five minutes after Moe's trumpet playing!"
So saying he looked towards the stage where the dreadlocked mole mutant was playing the trumpet in a jazz tune along to some Christmas instrumental songs and the audience were bobbing and swaying in time to the music.
Pandora gulped again and the Dragon chuckled.
Kemeko also decided to give her cousin and honoured sister some much-needed support and hugged her.
"Go knock them dead!" she said.
Seeing the Asian girl comforting the Hybrid the other children joined in and either hugged her or patted her back.
"Go slay them!" Freya encouraged.
"Amaze us!" Sonia winked "I know you will!"
"Yeah!" Loki agreed "Show them what you're made of!"
Pandora as much as she still wanted to give Loki a piece of her mind for what he said about her being nervous she had to focus on her routine.
Before long, Moe finished his trumpet routine, and everyone applauded his performance, and it was then some red aerial fabrics were raised before the stage and Pandora knew it was her cue!
"Go get 'em Pandora!" the children cheered.
"Go Tigeress!" Raphael called.
"Go my Little Geisha!" Michelangelo said encouragingly.
Pandora managed a weak smile and with a little push from Tyroth's paw she walked towards the area before the stage.
As the young Hybrid stepped forward before the audience, she could see her grandfather, Old George, April, Casey, Hugh and Jake near the front and her stomach pooled in fear.
From the wings, Raphael and Monalisa watched their daughter take her place at the Aerial fabrics to begin her routine.
Monalisa clutched Raphael's hand and the red masked turtle did the same.
"After that day we snuck into that theatre to see Cirque du Soleil when they came to New York back then, and she saw the aerial fabric performers, she begged to learn the same arts." He spoke.
Monalisa nodded.
"We gave her the fabrics, and we hoped she would use them not just for fun and the art, but that it would help her in her ninja training." She agreed.
As the music started, which turned out to be 'Sleeping Sun' by Nightwish, Pandora began her routine.
Her anxious parents held each other's hands as they observed and Tyroth promised that there was help just in case something went wrong, which was true as Heather was close by, just in case.
Michelangelo too was nervous for his niece as he watched and had to be comforted by Kate, yet both were in awe at how fluid and gracefully Pandora transitioned between moves on the fabrics.
Sonia stood close to Kemeko as she watched.
"She's amazing Kem!" she said, "Despite how nervous she felt, she's doing so well!"
Kemeko agreed with a nod.
Freya then nudged her younger brother.
"Seems she's found another way to fly without wings!" she chuckled to which Loki nodded in agreement.
"True that sis!"
After a couple of minutes, Pandora finished her routine and slid down the fabrics to the ground before giving a bow to the audience, then skipped over backstage to join the kids who embraced her and patted her back.
Raphael and Monalisa were especially proud and hugged their daughter tightly.
"I knew you could do it!" Raphael cheered as he kissed Pandora's forehead "That's my strong and powerful girl!"
Michelangelo too joined in the hug along with Kate whilst Tyroth looked on proudly.
"Such power on those fabrics!" he thought "I admire you Little Geisha, or rather Tigeress! Given your fearlessness and strength!"
He then looked to the stage as the fabrics were lowered and the next act was to perform….
So the show has started! And some acts have performed! Leonardo, Monalisa, Raphael, Moe, Hacker, Sephie and Pandora to name a few!
I have to admit I gave Pandora the skills of Aerial Fabrics as this is an art I do in my spare time as well as writing! I love it!
Keep checking back to see more acts from everyone else! And I hope you're ready for Christmas in a weeks time!