This is based upon the episode "The Christmas Aliens," but I am now veering off extremely into hypotheticals. Even so, I own none of the characters or places shown. I also do not own the NIV Bible, but I highly recommend it.

So, April, Leonardo, and he left the orphanage to go to a nearby "mall." This "mall" turned out to be an indoor marketplace, which Usagi thought a good idea if one had a large enough amount of building materials.

During their time there, Usagi got tired of being bumped into and nearly stepped upon by what April O'Neil called "last minute shoppers." It seemed malls could be every bit as busy and crowded as outdoor markets if not more so even on cold dark nights. Perhaps especially then, since April said these were people who hadn't bought gifts earlier for the Christmas festival.

Thankfully, April still managed to find at the third stall, or "store" as they called it, which sold children's toys, a rabbit doll. At his horrified expression and questions, April and Leonardo both insisted that its snow white fur, so like his own, was "fake." The "fake" rabbit also had a sewn-on smile and bright red bow tied around its neck to make it look more "Christmassy," Leonardo said. April admitted the toy was rather "pricey," also likely due to the Christmas season, but she still decided to spend the amount required to get it for the little girl at the orphanage he'd talked to. "It'll be something she can snuggle with at night when she's feeling lonesome. And it will remind her of you!"

Usagi frowned at this. The toy might be quite nice for what it was, but it had not only a happy, but a rather stupid looking expression on its face to his own mind. It wasn't clothed and definitely had neither sword nor anything else that marked it as a Samurai. "It does not resemble me 'that' much Miss O'Neil."

The human lady with red hair smiled down at him in silence before walking over to a very long table where another woman took April's money for the toy. The same lady put the toy in a paper bag. Then he, his friend, and the female friend of his friend, left the mall to go back out into the snow and dark.

A gust of cold wind blew several flakes into their faces. Usagi, who had so often crossed mountains shivered. He wondered if all the big warm buildings he'd been in since coming to Leonardo's world were already making his warrior body softer than it should be.

The walk back to the orphanage, unlike so many others he'd been on, was neither long nor uphill. Soon they were back at the orphanage, and April gave the toy to a smiling woman who worked at the orphanage, who then gave it to the girl he's spoken to. The child grinned and thanked them while hugging it.

Then it seemed it was time to leave. Casey and Raphael wanted to take the long path to Leonardo's home to see if there were any more "skulls that needed bashing" on the way. Gennesuke thought that might be a good idea and asked about collecting rewards. Usagi was feeling his energy wane. He feared running, as he had before, on the ice coating smooth metal route he and Leonardo had taken here might cause an accident that would ruin his hosts' as well as his own Christmas festival. So, he decided to get into the big iron chamber on wheels he'd avoided taking before. Part way through the trip, he repented his decision.

To be moving even while one's body remained still was one of the strangest experiences he had yet had even with Leonardo. He was quite glad to arrive in the "garage" above Leonardo's home despite the elevator trip down yet to take. Once that was through, he sat cross-legged on the floor and concentrated on his breathing to settle his stomach. His turtle friend sat down next to him in the same position with a smile. "How are ya doing?"

"I am … well enough Leonardo san, but while I appreciate new and strange experiences generally, I find my body and spirit almost overwhelmed by them today. Your world is very wondrous and different from my own."

"Well, I don't think there's much more on the agenda tonight."

Then Casey's voice rang through the large cavern of a room. "Alright guys, who wants to hear April and me read the Christmas story before we all head home?!"

April glared at him with her hands on her hips. "Casey!"

He looked back at her and shrugged. "What? We did it last year at my grandma's house."

The very tall human in the mask and cape grinned. "I wouldn't mind taking part in that tradition."

The two other humans in more ragged clothing, who almost always stood together shrugged. Then one of them said, "I guess we can hang around for that."

The human called the professor added, "In the spirit of the season I would not argue against taking part in a tradition that brings my hosts together to enjoy time and a long and oft repeated story that binds us to so many generations that came before. You know, I have a theory about that …"

The two other men in rags groaned, but Donatello stepped closer to the older human with a grin and intent eyes. Casey Jones, however, called in his usual loud voice. "Okay everyone, go over near the couch! Ape and I are gonna read about the Nativity from my grandmum's Bible for use all!"

Leonardo looked away from the group headed over to the furniture and to Usagi. He also looked away from this sight to meet the turtle's warm gaze above a gentle grin. "You want to head home before they start?"

Usagi thought for a moment. True, he was tired, but not sore, nor cold after the ride in the … vehicle, as Donatello said things like it were called. He had been exhausted, cold, and in pain on far more lonely nights … He was even "less" hungry now than he ever remembered being. It would be rude to repay all that, all his hosts had done for him, by leaving so soon, being the first to leave in fact.

"No, Leonardo, I will stay and listen to this ancient story of your world told during this festival day. I want to enjoy all the good things this festival you have invited me to has to offer."

He got up on his feet and walked with Leonardo over to the large group sitting in front of the couch on which April and Casey Jones now sat. Casey Jones held something that seemed mostly wrapped in black leather in his hands. He opened it. Usagi's eyes widened as he saw what looked like perhaps hundreds to thousands of rectangle sheets of rice paper tightly stacked together inside.

Casey flipped these pages till it seemed he'd found the one he wanted and began to read. "Ahem … 'This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.'"

April O'Neil rolled her eyes and grabbed one end of the leather and pages bound together trying to pull it out of the human man's hands. Usagi clenched his teeth before telling her to be careful as he imagined they must be very expensive. Her voice indicated more irritation than concern of her own. "Casey …"

The man looked up at her. "What? I like reading about how he's related to King David."

Usagi felt a little confused as well. Ancestry "was" very important. He himself was already impressed to learn this person mentioned at the beginning of the story was descended from a king.

April O'Neil, however, managed to pull the scroll-like object out of Casey Jones' hands as he gently released it to her. She then turned to another sheet of thin, white paper and began to read. "This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph , but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit."

Usagi meant to stay very still in respect and not call attention to himself, but he twitched a bit at this. A young woman was promised to a man, but a spirit got her pregnant first? This sounded like the beginning of a tragedy … He felt sorry for the woman and her betrothed. What had the spirit against them both to put them in such a situation, or had the woman just been that beautiful? He'd have thought at least a brief description of her beauty would have been mentioned if that were the case … He tried to refocus his thoughts back on April O'Neil's voice. "Because Joseph, her husband, was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly."

Usagi's form relaxed, but also sagged a bit. The man was just and compassionate, a righteous man truly. Still, it seemed like a tragedy. What would happen to the woman, and her child? Would the spirit who got her pregnant provide for her somehow and show the truth of how her condition came about to their community? What kind of father would this spirit turn out to be?

"But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Usagi struggled a bit to make sense of this. He now felt more hope for the woman, man, and baby. It seemed the man was being reassured his betrothed was not disrespectful, ungrateful, and irreligious. Still, he was expected by his God to marry her and raise a Spirit's child?

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Usagi raised an eyebrow. This babe did have a great destiny. Was this what the festival was about? A god causing a child to be born through a spirit and woman that would teach the people around him so well they would all become wiser and more righteous living well and pleasing this god and their king? Was indeed this child descended from kings going to become king as well as a wise teacher and make his people the wisest and most righteous people on earth? Did he succeed? What an odd beginning for such a story to have.

"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means "God with us").

Usagi was shocked twice over. Once, in hearing the conception of this child by the spirit happened in such a way as his mother remained a virgin. Secondly, this babe to be born of a woman would also be a god dwelling among people. Would he achieve this or simply be born so due to his conception? What would such a child with such a beginning do when he grew up?

"When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him …"

Smart as well as religious of him considering he had received a command from a god, Usagi thought. Hopefully, he was rewarded for this humble obedience. Although, perhaps raising such a child in his household would be honor and reward enough many times over …

"(And) took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."

Usagi wondered if he could ever feel worthy of consummating such a marriage knowing a god had used his wife to achieve such a plan. He thought he'd always be in a bit too much awe of her to ask her to fix him rice or wash his clothes let alone share his mat and sleep in his arms unless it was very cold and he felt she needed him to keep her warm. But perhaps her holy son alone could do that.

April O'Neil handed the stack of rice-paper bound in leather back to Casey Jones. "Want to read the Luke version now, Casey Jones?"

The man took her offering with a grin. "Sure!" Ahem! 'Many have undertaken to draw up an account …"

"Maybe skip ahead just a little bit Jones …"

"Okay … 'In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest …"

"Casey."

"Okay, okay … Skip to the exciting part here. 'In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree …"

Casey paused and looked up at April, who smiled and gave a nod. "Go ahead."

Casey smirked and leaned back on the couch. "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world …' skip a few more details … 'And everyone went to their own town to register …"

Usaig flinched a little for the peasants who'd have to interrupt their work to travel on dangerous roads. He started slightly upon hearing a few familiar names. "So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David."

Usagi pursed his lips, a great honor indeed to be descended from a king, but perhaps an inconvenient one on this occasion. He thought so all the more as Casey Jones went on. "He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in swaddling cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them."

Usagi's ears stood on end. Had they told nobody of how a god had given them this child for a great purpose? How dare anyone expect the descendants of a king to be treated thus even without this insight? How far had the line of David fallen to be disrespected so?

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'"

Usagi was relieved at least somebody, it seemed many somebodies would recognize the greatness of this child and hopefully treat him and his parents with honor now.

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'"

Usagi wondered what seeing such a sight and hearing such words must have been like: beautiful and frightening he imagined. He both longed and was afraid to experience something like it himself.

"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about.'

Usagi did not blame them one bit, and he hoped whoever was responsible with causing the holy babe to be born near and placed in a manger instead of being born in the finest room available to any in the area was effectively humiliated for the outrage both to multiple descendants of a king "and" the son of a god.

"So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."

April reached over and took the recording of this tale out of Casey Jones hands. "Aaaaaaannnnd … I think we'll end on that happy note."

There was some clapping from the listeners in general, a "good job" from the Silver Sentry, and a "very nice," from Master Splinter. Usagi joined in the clapping, but found himself wishing it had been mentioned that those in charge of housing the blessed family had been thrown out on their ears. He was also curious about the ultimate destiny of this holy child and how this story was ultimately connected to this festival of gift-giving unless it all went back to a god giving this child to a certain people long ago.

What do you think?

God bless

ScribeofHeroes