A Christmas Carol (Tmnt 2012 version)

S T A V E T W O

The First Of The Three Spirits

Big Ben could be seen through the frosted windows of Leo's chamber, the time showing that it was nearly one. The curtains hang to the floor of the four posted bed, inside Leo holds a blanket over his face, he pulls it down and exhales misty breath's, suddenly a loud ringing tone echo's around London once big Ben's hand stuck one.

The bed curtains open on their own; letting in a golden light. Leo gasped and sat up, the curtain to his left opened and he was immediately blinded, Leo yelped and moved into the back corner of the bed, he watches a beam of light circle around the ceiling then comes to rest of his face, the beam lifts away, revealing its brightly glowing origin point, a hovering ghostly presence who's body was as though of a mutated alligator but on top of its head burns like a giant candle flame, Leo's mouth flats disbelievingly.

"Are you the spirit whose coming was foretold to me?" Leo asked hesitantly.

"I am." The ghost floats towards him before gliding suddenly out of the window and then re-appears on the other side of Leo's bed. Leo gasps in shock, the ghost holds a cone shaped candle shuffler.

"it is possible that you might put your cap on?" Leo asked, the bright light extinguishing from the top of the alligators tail too bright to handle.

"would you so soon put out, with your worldly hands the light I give?" The alligator moves in close, "no, no! No no! I'm so sorry! I meant nothing by it. I meant no offence I just thought I.." the spirit backs away from the turtle and began to sway his tail side to side, the tail of the flame following.

"Who and what are you?" Leo asked calmly, "I am the ghost of Christmas past. But you may call me, Leatherhead." Leatherhead twitches its head to one side and a few sparks crackle.

"Long past?" Leo asked, "your past." Leatherhead pointed to Leo's chest. "Rise and walk with me." Suddenly Leatherhead hand reaches down and clutches onto Leo's and pulls him out of bed, the alligator leads him across the room to the window.
The window opens to reveal daylight outside, Leo's eyes widened and grabs a bed curtain, stopping the ghost from pulling him any further, "But I am mortal and liable to fall." Leo's voice shivered.

"Bear but a touch of my hand there.." once again Leatherhead lays a hand on Leo's chest, except this time sparking colours emitted from it, "And you shall be upheld in more than this." Whispered the ghost, soon Leo's feet were no longer on the ground but in fact floating in the air, the room narrows and they shuffle away, and then they shoot through the window, Leo screamed as they began to fly around a field of snow and covered tree's. As they zip through falling snowflakes the spirit keeps hold of Leo's shell.

They then zoom low to the ground passing under some branches then quickly ascend above the tree tops, slowing down they hover on the outskirts of an acquaint village. They stop on a hillside just beyond a small stone bridge that leads into the town. Leo's expression brightens.

"Good heavens. I was bred in this place. I was a boy here." Leo smiled, holding a hand to his beating heart, "your lip.. is trembling." Smiled the spirit, Leo heard this and stiffened his chin. "And what's that?" Leatherhead asked before gasping and whipped to the other side of Leo, "on your cheek?" The spirit pointed out the tear rolling down Leo's green face, "nothing. Something in my eye." Averting his gaze from the spirit Leo wipes away the tear before sniffing.

"Do you remember the way?" Leatherhead asked turning towards the village. Leo chuckled, "Remember it? I could walk it blindfolded." As Leo grins at the town a few kids on horseback galloped toward them.
Leo stumbles back "these are but shadows of things that have been. They have no consciousness.. of us." Leather head spoke, a horse drawn carriage passes holding another group of children, they sang joyfully a Christmas song, "I knew them.. I know every one of them!" Leo laughs holding a hand out towards the singing kids. "They were schoolmates of mine." Leo smiled.