Note: A huge thank you and credit to Tyroth Darkstorm for his help and imput in this chapter! Merry Christmas my dear friend, or should I say God Jul (Swedish for Merry Christmas!)
Chapter Ten
Before long, it was time for the final few acts of the show.
Sonia was next after the Geckolings, and she put on a fantastic dance number that included some hip hop and street dance to a mix of techno tunes.
After seeing that, Pandora decided she wanted to learn a few moves from the chameleon.
Leona the Fox showed off some strength skills by lifting heavy objects which included some very large weights and even a large concrete block showing how strong she really was, not just because she was a Mutopian being over three times as strong as the average human, but also because she was Mutopia's prime carpenter and was very strong because of her manual skills.
Patch the Badger came on after her, and she wowed the crowd by putting together beautiful flower arrangements in time to music from 'The Nutcracker' and then presented them to the human guests in Mutopia which involved April, Casey, Richard, Erica and Hugh who were surprised as well as grateful to receive them.
Donatello then surprised everyone with some test tubes in a row and he created a show by adding formulas to the liquids in the tubes making colourful smoke appear from them in time to some classical music which earnt him a few cheers and applause.
Next, was Bill the Duck.
Walking onto the stage, Bill waved at the crowd as he stood before them wearing a simple pair of blue shorts and a white vest.
"Hey! In case anyone here doesn't know, I'm Bill, and I'm a duck!" He said to the crowd as he gestured to himself.
"Duh!" someone was heard in the audience followed by an "Ow!" after a slap up the head.
"Shut up Rattletrap!" a few other voices were heard.
Bill ignored that comment and carried on.
"I'm also quite the joke, and I will get to that in a minute, just trust me on it for now!"
A few titters were heard and Tyroth also chuckled.
"Now, I'm not gonna do anything fancy up here, no dancing or magic tricks, nothing like that, Instead, I'm gonna tell you all a short story about myself!"
Everyone murmured curiously as the duck cleared his throat and began to speak.
"As we all know, a core tradition here is picking a new name after we've mutated, as a symbol of renewal, and that's pretty sweet if you ask me. But then we have my name, Bill. Why did I pick that? I mean, it's both a name and a noun, and that noun in a synonym for beak! So, in short, I'm basically a duck called a beak, or a bill in this case!"
Great peals of laughter were heard from the audience and Michelangelo clapped.
"That was gold dude!" he cheered.
"Not really that original when you think of it, but then again, we got a shark called Sharky!" the duck continued pointing at said shark.
"No offence meant pal!" he called over.
"None taken!" Sharky replied with a big smile and giving a thumbs up.
"Like I said, not very original, but at least I got good company! But going back to the question, why did I just pick Bill?"
Bill took a breath and continued.
"Well, that all began shortly after I was born. Now, many of us here can be rather tight-lipped about our past, and that's fair, but many of us haven't even told our old names to anyone more than a select few, so take what I'm going to tell you all as a sign of just how much I trust every darn one of you here."
There was a round of applause in response, and Bill gave a small bow in return.
"So, back when I was born, my parents decided to name me – you're allowed to laugh at all this by the way – they named me Donald."
There was a small amount of laughter from some in the audience.
"I know, right?" Bill said with a chuckle "If you ask people about famous ducks, Donald Duck is one of the most common answers, together with Howard the Duck. But it doesn't end there, because I only told you my first name, and my second name is Howard."
More people laughed whilst other jaws dropped.
"No way, dude!" Michelangelo gaped and Kate blinked.
"Stone me!" she muttered.
"Get outta here!" Raphael said.
"Well, I'll be remade as a newt!" Monalisa gasped.
"Yeah, we got Donald and Howard. Luckily, I got no third name, but I did have a last name – hold on folks – it was Mallard." Bill ended.
The entire hall erupted in laughter and Michelangelo almost fell off his seat.
"No way, dude!" he cried.
"Shut up man!" Percy exclaimed shaking his head.
"How ironic can you get!?" Sarah gasped.
"Donald Howard Mallard." Bill continued once the crowed had calmed down a bit. "I don't know if my parents were drunk, sadistic, or psychic, maybe a bit of all, but they had the duck theme going for me long before I got here, and trust me, it didn't stop there. Throughout my life, I got all the duck-based nicknames. Daffy, Huey, Dewey, Louie, Scrooge McDuck, Ducky, you name it, I most likely had it at some point. I think my favourite was when I was working briefly in IT and got called Gizmoduck.
But then, why Bill? Well, when after I mutated, with all the pain and all, and I saw that I had become a duck, I knew, I just knew, that the universe was messing with me, and here is what I said, my very first words as a duck.
'Well duck it then!' If I couldn't escape the whole duck thing, then I would own it, so I picked the one duck themed name that I had actually never been called, and that was Bill.
I'm Bill the Duck, in case you missed it, and I'm happy with that. Thank you."
As he took a bow to the audience, the applause went up again with whoops and whistles as well as shouts for more, but Bill again waved as he walked off stage.
As Bill left the stage, Tyroth stared at him with amazement.
"Whoa Bill!" he cried "That was amazing! Just…wow!"
Bill shrugged.
"Just saying what's true man!" he said.
Tyroth blinked.
"That was true gold Bill!" he said, "You could have won America's Got Talent with that act!"
Bill shook his head.
"I don't know about that Dragon man, but thanks for the kind thoughts!" he walked off to the side where Splinter and George were waiting to go on and the two elderly mutants congratulated Bill and asked if they would hear more from him in the future to which the duck gave a wink and a nod.
Tyroth blinked a few times watching the Duck walk off, then turned to George and Splinter.
"Good luck you two!" he said, "I don't know what you got planned but I'm excited to see!"
George and Splinter both bowed to the Dragon in thanks then walked out onto the stage.
As the elderly rat and tortoise appeared, everyone was slightly confused.
"Sensei? Gramps?" Raphael mused.
"I wonder what they're going to do?" Leonardo asked scratching his head.
"I think we're about to find out." Jack replied.
"This'll be interesting." Hugh mused as he munched on a doughnut.
Splinter and George stood back-to-back and looked at each other winking, then Splinter pointed to Hacker and Donatello to begin the music.
Both the Spider and turtle nodded and started the music which was some upbeat Japanese music with backing singers and soon the rat and tortoise began to move in time to it.
Everyone blinked as they did a few upbeat steps and thrust their heads and canes forward in sync.
Monalisa blinked as she watched, as did Sephie, and Pandora just gawked.
"What the shell?" she gasped "Gramps? Grandpa?"
Kemeko was also in shock, and she looked at Leonardo who looked equally surprised.
Splinter and George did a few steps with their canes, then everyone gasped as they moonwalked back towards each other, then gasps were heard as they started to break dance! Splinter did a few press-up bounces and George spun on his shell before flipping back up then they struck a pose as the music finished!
At first there was a moment of silence as everyone was shocked at what they just saw, but then they broke into wild applause.
The turtles went mad with cheering for their sensei, and Pandora jumped up and down with excitement.
Tyroth was gobsmacked at what he saw, and he shook his head several times wondering if he had imagined it.
As the two oldest mutants walked off the stage, they laughed at Tyroth's speechless and shocked expression.
"Surprised?" George asked and Splinter winked.
"Whoa!" Tyroth managed "I got no words! You two surprised me that's for sure! Even I doubt I could top that!"
"Good luck my dear boy!" George said patting Tyroth's shoulder "You've done your part as director, producer, and stage manager, and now it's time for you to shine!"
Tyroth smiled softly.
"Thanks Gramps, Thanks sensei," he said bowing to them both, then walked onto the stage so he could do his act.
Everyone cheered as they saw the dragon enter and Tyroth bowed before introducing himself and saying what he would perform before turning to Hacker and Donatello to start the music which they did, and everyone recognised it as 'Night on Bald Mountain'
Tyroth then started to pose and lift his arms performing his magic as he made flames appear on his hands and tail as well as breathe a few flames into the air.
Freya clapped her hands as she watched and Loki grinned.
Pandora also smiled and clapped as she watched.
"Go Uncle T!" Kemeko cheered.
Tyroth then started to get into the music as he started to throw the flames he had created around himself along with glowing with his mana.
He juggled with some balls of fire as well as made a figure of eight with his fiery tail almost like one would with a sparkler on Bonfire Night in England.
He then made a few flames ignite around him almost lighting up the room and everyone had to shield their eyes as he did that, but they cheered and hollered as he did!
"Go boss!" Jack shouted and Sharky and Percy followed his lead.
"God of Hellfire!" Michelangelo cheered clapping his hands.
Then as the music ended, Tyroth did a final act where he shot flames from his hands and mouth at the same time, and everyone cheered in unison.
"Go Tyroth go!" everyone cheered then began to chant Tyroth's name.
Tyroth smiled at the praise from everyone in Mutopia then he waved his hands getting everyone to calm down.
"Thank you! Thank you, ladies and gentlemen! Thank you!" he said then nodded to the side where Cam and Barry were, and they closed the curtains.
Tyroth then stood in the middle of the stage.
"My dear friends, ladies and gentlemen." He addressed the audience "May I just say it has been a joy to put on a great show for you all, and I hope you enjoyed watching it as much as we enjoyed performing it!"
A cheer rang throughout the mess hall as they answered Tyroth's question.
The Dragon smiled and nodded in thanks.
"And before we begin our final act, may I just say that we are thankful to everyone who played their part in making this Talent Showcase possible, to those who performed, to those who painted the scenery, working behind the scenes with the music, lights and curtains, and built the sets and provided the refreshments during the interval!"
Everyone cheered and clapped then Tyroth waved his hands.
"And so, what can be more appropriate to end this wonderful evening from a performance from our dear Chloe the Butterfly and her rendition of a beloved Christmas Carol!"
The audience cheered then as the curtains opened and Tyroth walked to the side of the stage, everyone saw Chloe standing there in a blue sparkling dress and her wings open and a few sparkling lights that bounced off a glitterball above her shone around.
Sephie and Monalisa gasped as they looked upon her.
"No way!" Monalisa whispered, feeling triumphant and proud as she looked upon the glamourous Butterfly mutant.
"She's going to do it!" Sephie grinned.
Both Lizard Ladies had been hopeful that the butterfly would take the plunge and they grinned at each other and held hands tightly in excitement before looking back at the stage.
Everyone was silent as the music started to play, and Chloe opened her mouth to sing.
"Oh Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining, it is the night of the dear saviours birth."
No sooner did Chloe open her mouth to sing than everyone was taken aback at how amazing her voice was.
"Is that real?" Jack whispered to Sarah.
"If it is…then that's the voice of a real angel!" Sarah replied.
"Quiet both of you!" Tania scolded to which the wolf and cheetah closed their mouths and blushed.
"Long lay the world, in sin and error pining, till he appeared, and the spirit felt it's worth, a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new a glorious morn, fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices! Oh Night divine, the night when Christ was born, Oh night, divine, oh night! Oh night divine!"
Monalisa swallowed hard as she listened, and she clasped Sephie's as well as Raphael's and her mate looked to her and nuzzled her in comfort and love.
Pandora and Sonia hugged each other lovingly as they listened with a few tears in their eyes.
Michelangelo and Kate held each other closer as they listened to the beautiful sound.
Leonardo cuddled Kemeko close, and Donatello wiped a few tears from his eyes and Hacker handed him a tissue which he accepted gratefully.
"Led by the night of faith serenely beaming, with glowing hearts by his cradle we stand, over the world a star is sweetly gleaming, now come the wisemen from out the Orient land. The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manager, in all our trials, born to be our friend, he knows our need, our weakness is no longer stranger, behold your king, before him lowly bend, behold your king, before him lowly bend!"
As Chloe sang, all the Mutopians were silent, and before long the hall was filled with sniffles as people cried at how beautifully she sang.
Monalisa lay her head on Raphael's shoulder and smiled through her tears.
Sephie grinned through her own tears, feeling proud that the Butterfly had overcome her fears to perform before them all with her beautiful voice.
"Chloe." She thought "I'm so proud of you!"
Tyroth too watched from the side and his stomach flipped at how beautifully the butterfly sang and a few tears fell from his own eyes.
Percy wept so much so Kate handed him a tissue which he gratefully accepted and a couple of other Mutopians asked for a couple as they couldn't stop crying.
Hugh sniffled softly and Erica leaned on Richard's shoulder as she cried.
Amber placed a hand on Jake's and wiped her own tears, and Jake felt his glasses steam up as he too felt a few tears fall.
"I've never heard anything more beautiful…" he breathed.
"I know right…" Amber agreed.
Rattletrap started to sob as he listened.
"I never thought I'd hear anything more beautiful!" he wailed as he grabbed Jack's tail to blow his nose, which the wolf yanked back, yet before he could clobber the rat, he was handed some tissues by Tania and Rattletrap started to weep hard into them and blow his nose noisily.
George and Splinter stared open mouthed; Sharky swallowed a lump in his throat as he listened.
"This is my favourite Carol." He whispered softly.
"Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices! Oh Night divine, the night when Christ was born, O night, divine, oh night! Oh night divine!"
After Chloe finished, she stood on the stage for a long time.
There was a moment of silence which seemed like a lifetime before everyone burst into wild applause.
Chloe blinked as she saw everyone stand up and clap for her, many shouting for more, yet she bowed and smiled before walking off stage.
Monalisa and Sephie wiped their eyes then turned to each other and high fived feeling proud of the butterfly as well as each other for giving her the encouragement to face her fears and show her amazing talent.
Afterwards, everyone was gathered in the mess hall enjoying more drinks and snacks whilst congratulating each other for their parts in the Talent Showcase.
Monalisa and Sephie instantly ran over to Chloe who had been praised heavily by everyone and was being asked if she would sing again.
"Oh wow Chloe!" Sephie squealed "I didn't know you had it in you! You did it! You really did it!"
"You were fantastic!" Monalisa agreed.
Chloe blushed and grinned.
"I'm glad you both encouraged me, I felt like fainting at first but once I was up there, I felt in my element! I had such a wonderful time!"
"We're so glad to hear that!" Monalisa smiled "You were just splendid! Tyroth for sure saved the best for last!"
"Awww! You're just flattering me!" Chloe gushed.
"Don't be so modest!" Sephie chuckled.
Chloe was about to answer when she was flocked by a few other female Mutopians who started asking if she could teach them to sing as beautifully as her and the lizards decided to let the Butterfly be swamped by her fans.
Tyroth meanwhile looked at everyone as they socialised and felt proud of how the evening had been.
He looked over at Bill who was sitting with a sulky Rattletrap and he saw the duck offering to give the rat a few tips on Stand-up Comedy to which Rattletrap cheered up and grinned as he asked the duck to tell him what he knew.
He looked over to George and Splinter who was being asked by Michelangelo and the children about how they pulled off that amazing act they did.
"Like wow! I didn't know you could do that!" Michelangelo exclaimed as he looked at George and given how frail and old he looked, he never imagined he could have pulled off the amazing break dancing moves.
The old tortoise then tapped Michelangelo's head with his cane and tutted making the children and Splinter laugh.
"Who do you think INVENTED it in the first place, whippersnapper?" he asked in a confident yet calm tone.
"Big brother?" Tyroth looked over to see Amber walking over with a drink which he gratefully took.
"You okay?" she asked.
"Yeah!" Tyroth smiled "Just feeling rather proud at how things went today, everyone did so well!"
"Apart from Rattletrap of course!" Amber quipped.
"Yes, that was a train wreck, but got to give him credit, he tried at least, and there were so many surprises! This has been a truly amazing night!"
"Oh for sure!" Amber agreed then looked at the children who were laughing and dancing together as well as pointing at the many presents under the trees showing they were excited to see what they had gotten for Christmas.
"It's gonna be like pulling teeth to get the kids to bed tonight!" she said looking at Raphael, Monalisa, Sephie and Leonardo who were walking over to remind the kids they needed to get ready for bed soon, much to their displeasure and they saw Pandora pout as she always did when she was disappointed or annoyed.
"Well they don't have to go to sleep yet." Tyroth said "They're sleeping in Sonia's playroom with Christmas movies, so they can watch a film or two before they go to sleep."
As he spoke, he saw Pandora's face light up as he saw Raphael say they could watch a couple of Christmas films before they went to sleep.
Amber laughed then took a sip of her own drink.
"Christmas is always a fun time here in Mutopia!" she grinned "And this show was just amazing! Makes me wonder what we can do to top it next year?"
"Ha! I can't wait till next year!" Tyroth chuckled "I think I might just have an idea!"
"Oh really? What's that?" Amber asked.
"We could put on Charles Dickens's 'A Christmas Carol'?" Tyroth said "And I'm sure with the right cast, we could put on a good show?"
"Oh, now that would be fantastic!" Amber cheered then took another drink before placing her hand on Tyroth's.
"But until then." She said, "Let's enjoy the holiday before it's over!"
"For sure sis!" Tyroth smiled "God Jul!"
"God Jul Big brother! Merry Christmas!" Amber replied and winked.
And so ends Mutopia Yuletide Entertainment! I do hope you enjoyed it and it got you in the mood for Christmas! After all there is only one more sleep till Christmas Day! (Quote from 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' one of my favouraites to watch at this time of year!)
Btw, the act from Splinter and George was inspired by a cutscene in the video game Okami Mr Orange Dance (Tyroth's idea!)
Also when Chloe sings 'Oh Holy Night' which is my favouraite Christmas Carol, I had Emer Barry and Affiniti in mind as I wrote it, check them out on Youtube, search 'Emer Barry, Affiniti, Oh Holy Night' it's the most beautiful version I've heard and it always moves me to tears!
And as the evening ends, Tyroth and Amber wonder what they will do next year! Hmm, I had had thoughts of the Mutopians and Hamato Clan putting on a play of 'A Christmas Carol' but I've got until next year to think it up, should I decide to do it! lol!
In the meantime, this'll be my last update on Fanfiction before Christmas, so I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! God Jul! (Swedish), Joyex Noel! (French) and I'll hopefully see you with an update of Sharks and Ninjas before the New Year! Bye guys!