Heya guys! Only three days till Christmas and here's another chapter!
Hope you're in the Christmas spirit, I think I am, well I'm off work for four days so if that doesn't put a smile on my face what will? Lol!
P.S. A big thank you to Tyroth Darkstorm for his help in this chapter!
Chapter Nine
After ten minutes had passed, Monalisa was talking with Tyroth's parents about how she and Raphael had thought up the dance in just under a week.
"We just choose a song we enjoyed and put together a routine and the American Smooth we felt was the best one to go with it." The Lizard lady said as she took a sip of soda.
"And it was amazing!" Richard said to which Erica agreed.
"I wouldn't call myself a dancer." Monalisa admitted with a blush "But I did love watching 'Dancing with the Stars' with my parents, still enjoy watching it now much to the Turtles's displeasure, but Splinter and April enjoy it so I'm not watching it alone." She added with a giggle.
"Me too!" Erica said "Well, I don't follow it religiously, but I do enjoy seeing the routines they put together in their themed weeks!"
"Me too!" Monalisa agreed "Especially Movie Week, Halloween Week and Musicals Week."
As the Lizard Lady continued her conversation with Erica and Richard, she glanced over at Chloe who was standing by a table with Bill the Duck and Rose the Lynx.
The Butterfly was listening to the Duck and Lynx and sipping some water.
She wondered if Chloe was going to give the show a go as a few hours earlier she had heard the Butterfly doing vocal warm-ups in her room and felt hopeful that she was practicing for the Talent Showcase.
Flashback
Monalisa brushed her hair then shook it about, as it was the night of the Talent Showcase, she decided to relax a little, especially since there was no training or patrol until after the Christmas celebrations.
She pulled on some blue jeans as well as a pink Christmas Sweater which had some polar bears in white sequins and some white fluffy boots.
She and Raphael had practised their American Smooth dance to 'Baby It's Cold Outside' and were satisfied that it was ready for the showcase, and she knew her mate would be with his brothers in the rec room playing video games or having a go on the Pool Table.
Pandora of course would be spending time with Sonia, Kemeko and the Geckolings in Sonia's playroom either playing games or watching Christmas films or cartoons.
Sephie had asked her earlier if she wanted to join her, April, Amber and Tania in Tania's quarters for some drinks and girl talk.
Monalisa accepted without hesitation was excited to have some girl time with some of her best friends.
Checking herself over a few times, the Lizard Lady felt satisfied and left her room to head to Tania's salon.
As she walked, she heard some vocal sounds coming from one of the bedrooms and she stood still listening.
As she listened, she realised they were coming from Chloe's room and grinning excitedly, Monalisa walked over stealthily to the Butterfly's room, and she saw her standing there in a pink dressing gown doing a few vocal exercises.
Taking a breath, Monalisa knocked on the door and at once Chloe turned around and almost jumped out of her skin.
"Mona!" she cried.
"Hey Chloe!" Monalisa smiled "Um…not interrupting, am I?"
Chloe blushed deep red and looked down, but she shook her head.
"That's okay then!" Monalisa laughed "Anyway, getting ready for the day? Showcase is tonight!"
"Yes..." Chloe said still looking at the floor and fiddling with her fingers "Yes, it is!"
"You thought any more about joining in?" Monalisa asked hopefully "Raph and I have a dance routine!"
Chloe bit her lip and gulped.
"Me? Perform?" she asked.
"Just curious?" Monalisa said with a shrug.
Chloe bit her lip and shuffled her feet.
"I…I don't know…" she mumbled.
Monalisa smiled in a comforting way.
"I won't force you to do something you don't want to do Chloe." She said placing a hand on the butterfly's shoulder "But just give it some thought, okay? After what Sephie and I heard, you'd blow everyone away with that angelic voice you have!"
Chloe looked up at the Lizard Lady.
"Honest?" she asked.
"I'd bet my ninja skills on it!" Monalisa winked "Anyway, I'll catch you later, just, have a think, okay?" she said then left the room, the butterfly smiling softly.
"Thanks Mona!" she called.
"Anytime!" Monalisa called over her shoulder.
End Flashback
Monalisa then saw Sephie walking over to join her and Tyroth's parents.
"Fantastic skills Sephie!" Erica praised "I remember you were skilled as a human but seeing your skills you performed up there! Even the most famous stunt men and women in the circus don't compare!"
Sephie blushed at her mother-in-law's comment.
"Awww thank you!" she gushed.
Richard too agreed and clapped his hands.
"You should soak it up child!" he said, "You are a real talent!"
"Unlike a certain Rat." Erica muttered "What did that guy think when he got up there?"
Sephie and Monalisa shrugged.
"Dunno." They replied.
"Rattletrap is just…well…. Rattletrap." Sephie said.
Erica and Richard were about to speak until a loud coughing as well as some clapping of paws got their attention.
"Okay everyone! If I could have your attention?" Tyroth's voice was heard, and everyone stopped talking, eating, and drinking to look at him.
"Thank you! In about five minutes time we will begin the show again, so if everyone would start taking their seats, please?"
At once, the Mutopians and their guests made their way to their seats or those waiting to perform went backstage.
Monalisa and Sephie sat in their seats near the front and Monalisa looked around for Chloe, but she couldn't see her.
At first the lizard lady felt worried that Chloe had decided to not take part and had retreated back to the living quarters, but the other half of her hoped she had gathered enough courage to give it a go.
She glanced at Sephie and nudged her with her elbow.
"What is it?" Sephie asked.
"Do you think Chloe's going to be okay?" Monalisa asked "When I passed her room earlier tonight, she was doing some vocal exercises and I asked her if she was going to perform, but she kept saying I'm not sure."
"Really?" Sephie asked "Oh gosh, I do hope she does decide to take part, a voice like that has got to be heard."
"Well, I guess we'll find out." Monalisa replied "But we can't force her to do anything she doesn't want to do."
Sephie agreed but before she could say anything the lights dimmed, and the show began again.
As the curtains opened, the music from Wham's Last Christmas began to play, and there on the stage stood Sarah the Cheetah, Amber the Dragonfly (With dry hair) and Amber the Marine Iguana in sparkling gowns and moving in time to the music.
Everyone cheered then swayed along as the girls started to sing together in sweet harmony.
Jake sighed as he watched.
"You alright bro?" Michelangelo asked as he glanced at Jake next to him.
Jake looked over.
"Yeah," he said, "It's just, the song was one of my mother's favourites, and she did have a crush on George Michael."
Michelangelo smiled comfortingly and winked.
"Your mama had good taste!" he said to which Jake smiled in thanks.
After the girls had finished performing which earned them a huge round of applause, it was then Kemeko's turn to perform to which she performed to the classical music of 'On the Beautiful Blue Danube'.
She started off with some ballet moves as well as some graceful pirouettes then she did a few contortions which made everyone gasp in amazement as well as a little shock as they had never realised just how bendy and flexible, she was.
As he watched her perform, Leonardo sniffed and wiped a few tears, feeling proud of his adopted daughter.
Splinter too felt moved and wiped a tear to which George patted his back saying to the old rat he must be honoured to have such talented grandchildren.
"More than my soul can say." Splinter replied.
Before long, Kemeko's solo came to an end, and she took a graceful bow to which everyone jumped up and cheered and clapped.
Leonardo got up from his seat and walked over to the stage intending to go back and congratulate his daughter, but she surprised him by leaping off the stage and into his arms!
Leonardo had to take a step back as she landed in his arms, but he held her close and spun her around to which everyone cheered again as well as sighed cutely.
"Awww! That's so cute!" April gushed.
"Aint it just?" Casey agreed.
Hugh also nodded and chuckled.
"It's such an inspiration to see the love those too have for each other!" he said as he took a sip of beer "Seeing two totally different species but with such a strong bond."
"He's a such a good father to her." April said, "After everything that happened, Kemeko's a very lucky girl!"
Leonardo kissed Kemeko's cheek.
"I'm so proud of you Lotus Blossom!" he said, "You graced that stage so beautifully!"
"Thanks so much daddy!" Kemeko said hugging Leonardo around his neck "I love you so much!"
"I love you too!" Leonardo replied as he went back to his seat with her and soon the young Asian girl was being congratulated by her uncles, Aunts and many other Mutopians making her blush.
After a couple of minutes, Cam and Barry entered the stage both dressed in smart black suits and sang along to Bobby Darin and Johnny Mercer's 'Two of a Kind' which made everyone clap along and laugh.
Both the Rhino and Warthog loved singing the song and, in a way, it described them perfectly, the way they worked together and helped each other out, given their pasts when they used to be worst enemies from different gangs as human, but then after a few fights and injuries, they eventually became the best of friends, almost inseparable.
After the two best friends were done, they too were applauded greatly then after leaving the stage and fist bumping each other and being congratulated by Tyroth, it was time for the Geckolings to do their act!
The audience awed at the Geckolings walked onto the stage in their suits and they started to share a few sibling jokes at each other making everyone laugh then the Geckolings burst into song, singing Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis's 'Me and My Shadow'.
Tyroth grinned from backstage as he watched and Sephie shed a few tears in the audience.
"Awww my babies!" she gushed and Monalisa put her arm around her knowing the feeling of pride after watching her daughter and niece perform.
After the Geckolings finished their act, they took a bow then walked backstage where they were greeted by their father who knelt to their level and hugged them close.
"Well done my talented babies!" he praised kissing Freya and bumping his fist against Loki's chin lovingly "You make me so proud!"
"Thanks daddy!" Freya grinned.
"We loved it out there!" Loki agreed.
"When are you going on stage dad?" Freya asked.
"Soon Little Valkyrie." Tyroth promised "Now you and Trickster go and relax, we still got more to watch!"
Geckolings agreed and went to look for Pandora and Kemeko in the audience so they could watch the rest of the show.
So some more acts have performed, a group number by the girls of the Chicago Knights, Kemeko, Cam and Barry, and the Geckolings!
Who else will perform before the night is over?
Well check back for the final Chapter which should be up before Christmas!