*~I am the queen of the universe! However, lawyers have dethroned me. I don't own the TMNT. Warning, major tear-jerker coming up! It even made me cry, and I wrote it!
Splinter leaned back in his old recliner, wincing slightly as one of the springs dug into his back. Leonardo shifted on his knee to accommodate the movement. His blue eyes sparkled in the lamp light with a child's natural eagerness.
"Please read some more, Master."
"Yeah! More!" Michaelangelo piped up from his other knee. Raphael and Donatello cuddled on the floor chimed in with the begging chorus.
Splinter chuckled,"Good things come to those who wait, my sons."
"Like Christmas?" Don asked.
"That's right," Splinter grinned. His sons never failed to make him a proud serrogate father,"We had better discontinue. It's well passed your bedtime."
They all naturally groaned, but a gleam suddenly appeared in Michaelangelo's large amber eyes.
"Because Santa Clause is coming?"
Ah, Michaelangelo. Always the first to see the bright side of every tragedy. He never doubted that Mike would one day evolve into a very wise man. Before he could reply, however, Donatello interrupted his thoughts.
"Oh Mikey, those are just silly people stories."
Donatello, the ever reasonable one. Always keeping his facts straight and logical, Splinter mused.
"They are not!"
"To!"
"Not!"
Suddenly, Mike gasped," You don't think he'll skip us because we're down here, will he?"
Leo seemed to consider this with a cock of his head while Raph rolled his eyes.
"Master Splinter, does Santa Clause exist?" Mike added.
"That depends on what your heart believes, Child."
Mike paused and listened for a moment. A grin slowly broadened on his young face,"Mine says yes!"
"Mine too!" Leo chimed.
"No!" Don snapped, folding his arms.
However, a fourth echo did not reply. All eyes focused on Raphael.
"Santa's a sissy," he said with a wave of his hand.
Leo and Mike visibly bristled at the remark, and Don nodded approvingly.
"We can discuss this tomorrow. All of you need your rest."
Splinter gathered them into a small flock and herded them to their bedroom door. Mike immediatly seemed to go into a stupor, and he yawned widely.
"But I'm not tired."
"G' night, Splinter," Leo said before passing through the door frame.The other three echoed the same phrase and each plopped onto their futons almost instantly asleep. Sometimes their intense discussions did get the best of them.
Splinter returned to the living room and slid "Scrooge" back into the empty slot on the bookshelf. He was surprised they could already understand the novel. At only five years of age, their intellect had spanned immensely. After all, the four Christmases before they'd never bothered to question where their presents came from. His bosom always began to swell when he dwelt on their accomplishments. Donatello so clever and patient. The boy could whip several inventions together in one day. While Leonardo ever striving for perfection and justice, and Michaelangelo's good nature and works. Although Raphael seemed to be the most aggressive and confused of the bunch, Splinter knew he'd find his place someday.
With a slight limp, the rat turned the lamp off and strolled through the oily blackness to the coat rack. There, he wrapped a long robe-like jacket made of wool around him and carefully tied the knot about his emaciated waist. This was his least favorite part of Christmas Eve, but he'd do anything for his sons. Every year on this night, he explored the topside for presents to give them on Christmas Day. The bone-biting cold, long hours through the night, and straining physical work was well worth seeing joy tug at the corners of their smiles the next morning. And this year was extra special because they'll soon officially begin their ninjitsu lessons. Just as his former master, Yoshi, had enforced on his own students. A tiny tear escaped the corner or his eyes as a pang of sorrow engulfed him. He knew in his heart that his master would be avenged by his fine sons one day, but good things come to those who wait.
Making a final examination of the lair, he softly closed the door behind him and sloshed further into the darkness. When he finally came to the manhole, he raised his arms above him and heaved at it for a moment. Then it finally budged and the scrape of metal echoed around the small alley before his head poked out. He allowed his vision to adjust to the street lights, and he then hoisted his almost weightless frame out of the hole. The air was crisp and oddly fresh as Christmas carols pervaded the city with laughter in the background, making a cheerful essence throughout the streets. Cars hummed by, throwing water into the air, and crowds strutted past the alley entrance oblivious to him. After replacing the lid, he cautiously maneuvered into the shadows and watched them. A woman passed by holding a bouncy girl by the hand.
"Mommy! Mommy! Look!"
The mother impatiently dragged the child forward in her rush. The two disappeared, but a man in a suite replaced them. A cell phone was glued to his ear, discussing some trivial matter while his other hand sported a fine black suitcase. Did he not have a family to remain home with tonight? Splinter pondered this momentarily, but a new man appeared. The older person, dressed in raggedy attire, dragged his feet behind an empty cart. He shivered visibly in the cold and passed by with sad eyes watching the side walk.
When a sudden jingle approached, Splinter craned his neck around the brick corner to get a better look. A white carriage with a large black horse at the front, trotted down road. The driver sat contentedly, snuggling his coat tightly about him while holding his whip loosely. As it passed by, Splinter quickly ran underneath and snatched some loose bolts and straps dangling uselessly from the belly of the cart. From there, he lifted his back off the pavement and suspended himself. The carriage bounced slightly with each of the horse's steps, but he managed his grip easily. Peeking below the edge, he observed people and cars whiz by and also tried to avoid the nearby cars splashing puddles in his face.
After what seemed hours, the people and objects began to slowly thin out until only a few passer-bys could be seen at every block. Making a random choice, he let go of the carriage and his back rested on the pavement until it no longer hovered over him. When a black cloudy sky came into view he scurried out of the road into another empty alley. Instantly, he made his way to the garbage cans on the far side. Luck was with him. He very rarely got a ride to his destinations. However, it will be difficult to journey back home, he thought as he approached the cans. A few cats scurried away from his presence, and he immediatly ripped one of the durable black bags open. Junk scattered out as if the pressure inside was to much for it. He began to sort it carefully, plucking out anything useful. A banana peel, smashed brush, rotten Burger King Whopper, shattered mirror, decapitated barbie, various scattered documents, and an empty stapler he placed in the discard pile. Few things seemed usable. He did find a small floppy disk, however, in which he figured Donatello would appreciate. When, that bag was empty, he placed all of its loose contents back inside and moved to the next can.
Another cat meowed at him angrily and hissed from its now revealed hiding place. Slowly, he bent over and kindly offered his hand to it. The gray feline watched curiously and eventually accepted his touch. He stroked it rather amused as it purred back, making a figure '8' around his legs.
"Well, my friend, do you not have a master to return to as well?
"Meow."
"I see."
Suddenly, the cat paused and anxiously glanced around. Splinter paused his sorting and suspiciously looked also. A slight thud sounded behind them, and the rat flipped around into fighting stance as the cat scurried away. A net appeared out of no where and engulfed him. He struggled with surprise, letting his claws fray the nylon imprisoning him.
"Hey! I got 'im!" his imprisoner nearly sang.
More men approached from a joint alley that he hadn't observed before. 'POUND' was printed in bold letters across the back of their red coats. Already he hated them. They all grabbed the quickly diminishing net and dragged it through the joint alley and into another where a large van waited. Slowly, they all hoisted him into the back within a cage just before he broke through the net. The pound men made a semicircle around him, staring in awe. He merely snarled back.
"Well, I'll be.."
"Now I've seen everything!"
"Boys, we're going to get promoted for this find!"
"Yeah, well a job's a job. Did you get the rest of the cats over there?"
"Yep."
"I'll be damned," one man whispered leaning closer to his cage.
"He's huge! I knew there was some big rats around here, but...," he seemed to be at a loss for words.
"Well, let's get going. We've met our quota for the day."
"I think that rat alone will fill a week's quota!"
With that said, they disappeared and the van bobbed up and down slightly as the front of the vehicle was boarded. Doors slammed shut and the engine started with a hiss, as if laughing at his demise. His fingers curled around the cold steal bars, and his eyes flooded with tears as the van jerked into motion towards his new fate.
Splinter leaned back in his old recliner, wincing slightly as one of the springs dug into his back. Leonardo shifted on his knee to accommodate the movement. His blue eyes sparkled in the lamp light with a child's natural eagerness.
"Please read some more, Master."
"Yeah! More!" Michaelangelo piped up from his other knee. Raphael and Donatello cuddled on the floor chimed in with the begging chorus.
Splinter chuckled,"Good things come to those who wait, my sons."
"Like Christmas?" Don asked.
"That's right," Splinter grinned. His sons never failed to make him a proud serrogate father,"We had better discontinue. It's well passed your bedtime."
They all naturally groaned, but a gleam suddenly appeared in Michaelangelo's large amber eyes.
"Because Santa Clause is coming?"
Ah, Michaelangelo. Always the first to see the bright side of every tragedy. He never doubted that Mike would one day evolve into a very wise man. Before he could reply, however, Donatello interrupted his thoughts.
"Oh Mikey, those are just silly people stories."
Donatello, the ever reasonable one. Always keeping his facts straight and logical, Splinter mused.
"They are not!"
"To!"
"Not!"
Suddenly, Mike gasped," You don't think he'll skip us because we're down here, will he?"
Leo seemed to consider this with a cock of his head while Raph rolled his eyes.
"Master Splinter, does Santa Clause exist?" Mike added.
"That depends on what your heart believes, Child."
Mike paused and listened for a moment. A grin slowly broadened on his young face,"Mine says yes!"
"Mine too!" Leo chimed.
"No!" Don snapped, folding his arms.
However, a fourth echo did not reply. All eyes focused on Raphael.
"Santa's a sissy," he said with a wave of his hand.
Leo and Mike visibly bristled at the remark, and Don nodded approvingly.
"We can discuss this tomorrow. All of you need your rest."
Splinter gathered them into a small flock and herded them to their bedroom door. Mike immediatly seemed to go into a stupor, and he yawned widely.
"But I'm not tired."
"G' night, Splinter," Leo said before passing through the door frame.The other three echoed the same phrase and each plopped onto their futons almost instantly asleep. Sometimes their intense discussions did get the best of them.
Splinter returned to the living room and slid "Scrooge" back into the empty slot on the bookshelf. He was surprised they could already understand the novel. At only five years of age, their intellect had spanned immensely. After all, the four Christmases before they'd never bothered to question where their presents came from. His bosom always began to swell when he dwelt on their accomplishments. Donatello so clever and patient. The boy could whip several inventions together in one day. While Leonardo ever striving for perfection and justice, and Michaelangelo's good nature and works. Although Raphael seemed to be the most aggressive and confused of the bunch, Splinter knew he'd find his place someday.
With a slight limp, the rat turned the lamp off and strolled through the oily blackness to the coat rack. There, he wrapped a long robe-like jacket made of wool around him and carefully tied the knot about his emaciated waist. This was his least favorite part of Christmas Eve, but he'd do anything for his sons. Every year on this night, he explored the topside for presents to give them on Christmas Day. The bone-biting cold, long hours through the night, and straining physical work was well worth seeing joy tug at the corners of their smiles the next morning. And this year was extra special because they'll soon officially begin their ninjitsu lessons. Just as his former master, Yoshi, had enforced on his own students. A tiny tear escaped the corner or his eyes as a pang of sorrow engulfed him. He knew in his heart that his master would be avenged by his fine sons one day, but good things come to those who wait.
Making a final examination of the lair, he softly closed the door behind him and sloshed further into the darkness. When he finally came to the manhole, he raised his arms above him and heaved at it for a moment. Then it finally budged and the scrape of metal echoed around the small alley before his head poked out. He allowed his vision to adjust to the street lights, and he then hoisted his almost weightless frame out of the hole. The air was crisp and oddly fresh as Christmas carols pervaded the city with laughter in the background, making a cheerful essence throughout the streets. Cars hummed by, throwing water into the air, and crowds strutted past the alley entrance oblivious to him. After replacing the lid, he cautiously maneuvered into the shadows and watched them. A woman passed by holding a bouncy girl by the hand.
"Mommy! Mommy! Look!"
The mother impatiently dragged the child forward in her rush. The two disappeared, but a man in a suite replaced them. A cell phone was glued to his ear, discussing some trivial matter while his other hand sported a fine black suitcase. Did he not have a family to remain home with tonight? Splinter pondered this momentarily, but a new man appeared. The older person, dressed in raggedy attire, dragged his feet behind an empty cart. He shivered visibly in the cold and passed by with sad eyes watching the side walk.
When a sudden jingle approached, Splinter craned his neck around the brick corner to get a better look. A white carriage with a large black horse at the front, trotted down road. The driver sat contentedly, snuggling his coat tightly about him while holding his whip loosely. As it passed by, Splinter quickly ran underneath and snatched some loose bolts and straps dangling uselessly from the belly of the cart. From there, he lifted his back off the pavement and suspended himself. The carriage bounced slightly with each of the horse's steps, but he managed his grip easily. Peeking below the edge, he observed people and cars whiz by and also tried to avoid the nearby cars splashing puddles in his face.
After what seemed hours, the people and objects began to slowly thin out until only a few passer-bys could be seen at every block. Making a random choice, he let go of the carriage and his back rested on the pavement until it no longer hovered over him. When a black cloudy sky came into view he scurried out of the road into another empty alley. Instantly, he made his way to the garbage cans on the far side. Luck was with him. He very rarely got a ride to his destinations. However, it will be difficult to journey back home, he thought as he approached the cans. A few cats scurried away from his presence, and he immediatly ripped one of the durable black bags open. Junk scattered out as if the pressure inside was to much for it. He began to sort it carefully, plucking out anything useful. A banana peel, smashed brush, rotten Burger King Whopper, shattered mirror, decapitated barbie, various scattered documents, and an empty stapler he placed in the discard pile. Few things seemed usable. He did find a small floppy disk, however, in which he figured Donatello would appreciate. When, that bag was empty, he placed all of its loose contents back inside and moved to the next can.
Another cat meowed at him angrily and hissed from its now revealed hiding place. Slowly, he bent over and kindly offered his hand to it. The gray feline watched curiously and eventually accepted his touch. He stroked it rather amused as it purred back, making a figure '8' around his legs.
"Well, my friend, do you not have a master to return to as well?
"Meow."
"I see."
Suddenly, the cat paused and anxiously glanced around. Splinter paused his sorting and suspiciously looked also. A slight thud sounded behind them, and the rat flipped around into fighting stance as the cat scurried away. A net appeared out of no where and engulfed him. He struggled with surprise, letting his claws fray the nylon imprisoning him.
"Hey! I got 'im!" his imprisoner nearly sang.
More men approached from a joint alley that he hadn't observed before. 'POUND' was printed in bold letters across the back of their red coats. Already he hated them. They all grabbed the quickly diminishing net and dragged it through the joint alley and into another where a large van waited. Slowly, they all hoisted him into the back within a cage just before he broke through the net. The pound men made a semicircle around him, staring in awe. He merely snarled back.
"Well, I'll be.."
"Now I've seen everything!"
"Boys, we're going to get promoted for this find!"
"Yeah, well a job's a job. Did you get the rest of the cats over there?"
"Yep."
"I'll be damned," one man whispered leaning closer to his cage.
"He's huge! I knew there was some big rats around here, but...," he seemed to be at a loss for words.
"Well, let's get going. We've met our quota for the day."
"I think that rat alone will fill a week's quota!"
With that said, they disappeared and the van bobbed up and down slightly as the front of the vehicle was boarded. Doors slammed shut and the engine started with a hiss, as if laughing at his demise. His fingers curled around the cold steal bars, and his eyes flooded with tears as the van jerked into motion towards his new fate.