Happy Fourth of July my American Friends!
Note: The character Diablo mentioned in this chapter appears in the fics 'Oh Sister Where Art thou?', 'Falling Inside the Black', 'United by Fate' and 'My Saviour'
Chapter Three
The next day, everyone was gathered on one of the large Islands on Lake Michigan, and as the sun was setting, they knew the Fireworks would start soon.
Despite the fading light, it was warm, and the mutants couldn't think of a more perfect Fourth of July evening.
Louie and Patch along with a few others were overseeing the barbeques, snacks and drinks tables, whilst the other residents of Mutopia and their friends were relaxing on blankets or picnic chairs.
Although some Mutopians were taking advantage of the calm cool water of the lake.
Michelangelo and Kate were bathing in it together.
Sonia and the Geckolings were paddling in the shallows along with Sephie and Amber.
Sharky was swimming a little way out with Pandora holding onto his fin.
"Whee!" she cheered as she was pulled along.
"Enjoying yourself there?" Sharky called over his shoulder.
"Oh yes!" Pandora cheered.
"Me next! Me next!" Kemeko cheered as she paddled on the shore holding onto Leonardo's hand.
"Patience Lotus." Leonardo said as he squeezed Kemeko's hand.
Monalisa smiled as she relaxed and watched Pandora in the water, resting her head on Raphael's shoulder.
"It's great seeing our Little Geisha having fun." Raphael said as he kissed Monalisa's head and nuzzled her hair.
Monalisa squeezed her mate's hand.
"She seems to be enjoying her little ride in the water!" she said, "Do you think we should go for a dip before the end of tonight?"
"I think so!" Raphael smirked and winked "Maybe." He lowered his voice seductively "We'll hang back a little more or come back here tomorrow? For some private time?"
Monalisa grinned as a few naughty thoughts ran through her head.
"That's a very good idea!" she said tapping her mate's beak gently and giggling.
The lovers giggled then Monalisa heard a voice behind her as well as felt them sit down behind her.
"Hey Mona!"
Monalisa heard her younger brother Jake's voice and turned to face him "Remember when we used to watch the Fireworks from the Garden back in the day?"
At once thoughts of their old life in Wisconsin came back to the Lizard Lady.
"Yeah." Monalisa sighed softly "All too well, those were good days."
"I remember the three of us would run around the garden with our sparklers and cheer every time we saw the Fireworks go off." Jake said, "The evening was always so warm, just like tonight."
Monalisa agreed.
"I wonder if he ever remembers?" she asked in a small voice as thoughts of Diablo entered her mind.
"I hope he does." Jake sighed "Despite everything, and what he became, I know Callum is still in there."
Raphael sighed sadly as he looked at the siblings and he also looked at the scar on his hand where Diablo had shot him there.
As much as the Mutopians feared and hated Diablo for betraying Mutopia, he knew that he was still Monalisa and Jake's brother, and they still cared for him and missed him.
Back in the water, Pandora had let go of Sharky's fin as he had taken her back to shore and he held his hand out to Kemeko.
"Ready for a spin Lotus?" he asked.
"Yes please!" Kemeko grinned as she let go of Leonardo's hand and took the shark's.
"Be careful!" Leonardo called out "And have fun at the same time!"
"Don't worry Leo!" Sharky called "She's in safe hands!"
"You'll love it Kem!" Pandora called to her cousin/honoured sister.
Kemeko held tightly onto Sharky's fin and the Sharky took off into the water causing the young Asian girl to squeal with joy making Leonardo smile.
After about an hour had past and everyone was relaxing on their chairs and blankets enjoying their food and drinks, the sky had gotten dark, and it wasn't long before the first lot of Fireworks shot up from the city lit up the skies in red, blue and white colours.
The Mutopians gasped as they watched, and the kids got excited.
"Looks like the fun's truly started!" Sarah called out.
"Amazing!" Heather cried.
Devina blinked as she watched.
"Wow!" she said, "In all the new stuff I've seen since coming to Earth, I couldn't never get bored of watching Fireworks!"
"I know right!" said Jack.
Before long, more fireworks from the city lit up the sky, and a few large party boats on the Lake, luckily a long way away from the Island where the Mutopians were sitting, let off their own fireworks and the colours were reflected on the waters.
"Wow! The fireworks are on the water too!" Kemeko pointed out to Leonardo who smiled and hugged his daughter.
"So awesome!" Pandora cheered as she sat with her parents "oh wow! Look at that!"
After a while, the Fireworks started to cease much to everyone's disappointment, but Tyroth stood up and announced that the night wasn't over yet, and he was going to let a few off himself!
"Yay!" everyone cheered.
"Cool! More colourful lights!" Kemeko squealed.
"Can we help too dad?" Loki asked.
"No Loki." Sephie pulled her youngest son back "It's too dangerous for you and your sister."
"Awww." Loki sighed.
"Don't worry!" Tyroth winked as he arranged the fireworks with Donatello's help "I'll show you when you're older!"
Even though his kids had inherited his fireproof powers, the dragon wasn't taking any chances since they were still so young.
"Fireworks are dangerous!" he said, "And you're both too young to be playing with them!"
"Yeah! You need someone with brains to work these babies!" a voice was heard to the side and Tyroth and Donatello's eyes widened, and they turned to see Rattletrap holding a rocket in his hand and was getting ready to light it.
"No Rattletrap!" Donatello shouted, but it was too late as Rattletrap lit the rocket and got ready to throw it into the air.
"Rattletrap!" everyone shouted in fear.
"Let it go!" Tyroth roared but it was too late as the firework suddenly shot off into the air leaving a trail of sparks and Rattletrap was thrown backwards into the water!
Everyone watched as the firework suddenly twisted through the air and whizzed over to them causing a few Mutopians to duck and cover!
The rocket then aimed towards them again, Leonardo and Jack had to pull both Splinter and George out of the way as it flew over their heads, then it went towards Tyroth, but the Dragon glared and used his wing to guide the rocket towards the lake where it landed in the water and was extinguished!
"Whoa!" Donatello cried "That was close!"
"Everyone alright?" Tyroth called to the Mutopians as well as the Hamato Clan who recovered from their shock.
Rattletrap sat up in the water and looked around.
"Oh oil-slicks!" he grunted "That didn't go well!"
"Rattletrap you Lame brain!" Michelangelo shouted, "You trying to kill us!?"
"Don't you know anything about Fireworks!?" Kate yelled.
"Hey!" Rattletrap called back "Just wanted to let a few off for this special night!"
"You keep away from the rest of the fireworks Pea-Brain!" Donatello snapped "Tyroth's in charge here!"
"We're gonna get you for that!" Cam shouted jumping up and snorting before Barry could stop him "For nearly blowing us up!"
"Yikes!" Rattletrap squeaked as he stood up and ran towards the tunnel leading back to the underground caverns back to Mutopia.
Cam took a step forward then stopped before snorting.
"Good riddance!" he grunted to which everyone cheered.
"Thanks Cam!" Tyroth called over glad that the accident-prone rat wasn't around to muck things up.
"No problem!" Cam called over and sat back down with Barry.
"Still want to clobber that rat later Barry?" he asked the warthog.
"Count me in!" Barry agreed.
"Leave some of him for me, won't you?" Raphael called over.
"Ditto!" Leonardo added.
"Calm down hun." Monalisa said to Raphael patting his arm "Let's just enjoy the rest of the night, and I'll help you give that rat a piece of my mind later!"
Raphael smirked at his mate in thanks then they both turned to watched Tyroth and Donatello finish setting up their fireworks.
Pandora and Kemeko giggled at their father's then gasped as Tyroth used his flames to light the fireworks and they shot up into the sky!
Everyone cheered and clapped at the right white and blue colours lit up the sky and reflected on the water.
"Amazing!" Donatello said, "Well done T!"
"Thanks Don!" Tyroth smiled then looked to his friends and family staring up in awe at the Fireworks.
"Happy Fourth of July!" he called out to which everyone raised their glasses in agreement and cheered louder.
And so ends the fic! Everyone is enjoying the Fireworks and enjoyed a Barbeque and Picnic! And of course Rattletrap had to cause some havoc with trying to light a firework of his own! Typical!
I hope you enjoyed the fic! And stay tuned for more updates coming soon!