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Neon signs and towering skyscrapers fill New York's night sky. An explosion of bright colors illuminates the bustling streets below. Not a single soul is in sight...well, a human soul. Yet, the scenery becomes even more captivating when a pink flame erupts from an alleyway between apartments. Propelled by such an occurrence are four reptiles masked in purple, red, orange, and blue as smoke fills the area, their weapons clutched in their hands as they successfully land on the rooftop. Sheathing them, Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo cheer.
"That was awesome!" Leo, exclaims.
"I haven't fought like that in a while," says Donnie.
Raph flexes his muscles. "Those guys didn't even stand a chance against us!"
"I know, right?" Mikey pops up behind him. "It's like we were born for this or somethin'!"
Raph grabs his little brother by the neck and gives him a noogie. "You got that right! We're the best there is!"
Mikey struggles to escape him, giggling. "Hey! Cut it out!"
Leo crosses his arms. "You know what, guys? I think this calls for a celebration."
"Ooh! I know a place we can go!"
Everyone turns to Mikey, their eyebrows lifted.
"There's this karaoke bar not too far off that has the best pizza in town! We should go there!"
"What?" they shout.
Raph pulls him closer, nearly choking him. "You mean to tell me you've been holding out on us this whole time?"
"And what about keeping a low profile?" Leo demands. "Master Splinter warned us about that. We can't risk exposing ourselves."
"Relax, Leo!" Mikey waves a hand, pushing the matter aside. "I only visit whenever cosplayers are around...and on Halloween. Besides, there was a con today, so the place will be packed with people in costumes. We'll blend right in!"
Donnie holds up a finger. "That's...actually pretty smart. I mean, it's the perfect cover. We can enjoy ourselves without drawing any unwanted attention."
Leo sighs. "All right, Mikey, but we have to be on our guard. If something seems suspicious, we leave immediately." He looks around at his brothers, a small smile forming. "But I guess we could use a night out. Let's do it—karaoke and pizza it is!"
"Just you wait! I'm gonna blow you guys away with my vocal skills," says Raph.
"Raph, the only thing you're gonna blow away is the speakers!" Mikey dodges a playful swing as they jump off the roof.
~oOo~
It takes them a good ten minutes before they finally arrive at the place. Rainbow hues fly around, catching their eyes at every turn as loud, pumping music blasts from the speakers. Different aromas of food waft through the air, making their mouths water. On a wall nearby is a small, white alien for a logo. The words "Space Karaoke" are plastered underneath it. A smorgasbord of costumes fills the room, from mythical creatures to anime characters to horror figures. Their chatter and laughter bring a lively feel to the entire atmosphere. No one even bats an eye at the mutants.
Leo, Donnie, and Raph gape at the sight. "Whoa...”
Raph speaks up first. "Mikey, you weren't kidding! This place is lit!"
"See? I told you guys!" Mikey wears a proud smirk on his face. "Now let's grab some food and get going!"
He leads the way to a business-casual-dressed, tan-skinned man with dark hair and shades at a stand. The man waves the second he spots them.
"Hey, Mikey! Good to see you again," he greets. "And I see you've brought some friends this time. How can I help you?"
"What's good, Tony? These are my brothers: Leonardo, Donatello, and Raphael. Thought I'd bring 'em here for some fun. They're new to this whole karaoke thing, but I'm sure they'll catch on quickly."
Tony smiles and hands them a songbook. "Great! I'll set you up with your usual room. Pizza and sodas, as usual?"
"You know it! Thanks, man!"
They prepare to head out when...
"Well, well, if it isn't the cavalry," says a familiar voice.
The turtles' eyes widen as they face the person approaching them. "Casey!" they shout.
"What are you doing here?" Leo asks him.
"I should be asking you guys the same thing. I come here all the time. The parties here are epic!"
"In that case, we got a party coming right up! You in?" Mikey asks.
"Uh, yeah! I've been dying to show you my singing chops for a long time. I'm very popular with this hit song, you know."
"Well, if you got a song, you can tag along! Let's go!"
The boys rush into their designated room, and...it's very much like Mikey in a lot of ways. Much like the main room, this one is decked out with colorful lights, a disco ball hanging from above, and a massive screen for playing songs and lyrics. Record discs line the entire room with a karaoke machine on the opposite wall.
As they settle in, Tony brings in their order of pizza and sodas, setting the stage for an unforgettable night of singing and laughter. "Here you guys go! Extra cheesy pizza with pepperoni and sausage. Anything else, just holler!"
"Will do, Tone! Thanks again!" Mikey gives a thumbs-up as Tony nods and leaves. Flipping through the book, he explains, "So, this is how things work. You just type in the code, and the machine will pull up your song on the big screen." He points to the controls. "Once you're ready, grab the mic and hit 'play', and you're good to go! Trust me, it's super easy!"
Eager to be the first, Leo steps up. "Really? Let me try it," he says, scanning through the songbook. Once his eyes settle on something, they gleam. He punches in the code and grabs a mic. He takes a deep breath as his brothers cheer him on.
The song begins with a piano. The opening notes of a familiar tune fill the room. Drums and an electric guitar kick in. The lyrics appear on the monitor above and behind him. Tapping his foot, Leo grins as he sings, "In the darkness of time and space, the universe unfolds. Their journey begins, a thrilling chase, a story to be told!"
As soon as the first line passes his lips, everyone groans.
"Jesus Christ..." Donnie rolls his eyes.
"Seriously?" Raph yells, throwing his hands up.
"This ninja right here..." Mikey shakes his head, laughing with Casey.
"Chosen by fate, they fly so free, fighting for justice, for all to see! Space Heroes!" His voice rises, enthusiasm clear in every word. His movements are exaggerated as he mimics his favorite characters. Every swing, kick, and salute was met with amusement and frustration. Without a care in the world, Leo sings passionately, lost in his favorite show. "The galaxy's far, the stars are our guide, we fight for justice, with courage and pride! United we stand, protecting the land, protecting our loved ones, hand in hand! Space Heroes!" He finishes with a shout.
His performance warrants applause, a sigh, and boos from Mikey and Casey, Donnie, and Raph, respectively. The latter points his thumb down as the blue-masked turtle takes his seat.
Leo bounces. "That was so much fun!"
Raph scoffs. "Tch! Maybe for you."
Casey crosses his arms, smirking. "You're lucky we love you, man. But I wouldn't quit my day job if I were you."
"I second that," Raph adds.
"And I, third. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to cleanse everyone's palette." Donnie stands and flips through the songbook. Going row by row, he carefully considers which song to pick. "Aha!" He beams.
Typing in the code, Donnie grabs his mic and clears his throat. Like Leo's song choice, this one starts with a piano melody. But it's one everyone recognizes instantly.
Donnie nods to the beat and, flawlessly and beautifully, sings the opening line: "Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world. She took the midnight train going anywhere. Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit. He took the midnight train going anywhere."
Already, the rest of the group buzzes with excitement. Raph, Mikey, Leo, and Casey all strongly desire to sing along as the song progresses, but Donnie's stage presence, voice, and charisma make it hard to try. They are all too enticed by him.
He continues, his body moving in perfect harmony with the music. His free hand gestures emphasize the lyrics as he brings passion to every note. "Some will win, some will lose. Some are born to sing the blues. Oh, the movie never ends. It goes on and on and on and on. Strangers waitin', up and down the boulevard, their shadows searchin' in the night. Streetlight people, livin' just to find emotion, hidin' somewhere in the night!"
Sliding on his knees, the purple-masked turtle plays his air guitar solo. Everyone loses it as the room suddenly transforms into an electrifying concert hall. Leo has his T-Phone out, recording the whole thing. Mikey waves a lighter in the air back and forth with vigor while Raph has tears streaming down his face at the sheer beauty of it all. Casey head bangs and flashes his horns.
"Whoo-hoo!"
"Rock on, Donnie!"
"You're killing it, bro!"
"I didn't know you had it in you, brainiac!"
The energy in the room amplifies even more as Donnie reaches the peak of the song, his confidence following suit. "Don't stop believin'. Hold on to that feelin'. Streetlight people!"
His voice soars as he triumphantly reaches the final high note. And even after he's finished, the room is still buzzing. The four chant his name as he makes his way back to his seat. He takes a bow and gives them high fives...or threes, depending on who they are.
"Now, that was a performance!" Mikey tells him as Casey and Raph slap their hands on his shell and dap him up.
"No kidding! You blew us all away!" Leo grins widely as he looks at the footage on his T-Phone. "April's gonna freak out when she sees this!"
Donnie's cheeks turn red at the mention of April's name as he rubs the back of his neck. "Y-you really think so? I hope she doesn't think I'm too much of a dork."
"After what you just did? No way! Anyone with a brain could see how awesome you were up there!" Raph exclaims.
The red in the taller turtle's face deepens. "Gee...thanks, Raph!"
Cracking his knuckles, Raph steps up with a gleam in his eye. "All right, my turn!" he says.
"Let's go, Raph!" Leo says as everyone claps.
"I wonder what he's gonna sing?" Casey asks, to which the others shrug.
"Knowing him, probably 'Eye of the Tiger'," replies Mikey.
"Or 'Kung-Fu Fighting'," Donnie adds.
Their curiosity is soon answered when a soft ballad begins to play, surprising everyone as they instantly recognize it.
"Wait...what?!" they all shout.
Raph shuffles his feet nervously as four powerful chords resound through the speakers. In that brief pause, he takes a deep breath and sings...
"Share my life, take me for what I am. 'Cause I'll never change all my colors for you. Take my love, I'll never ask for too much, just all that you are and everything that you do..."
It's...unexpectedly gentle.
The room falls silent. The whites in everyone else's eyes are clear to see. Mikey nearly drops his slice of pizza back onto his plate. The same, however, can't be said for Leo and his T-Phone. It falls to the floor with a clatter, yet no one hears it. Raph's tense posture melts away as he immerses himself in the song. His eyes close as tears stream down his face.
"I don't really need to look very much further, I don't wanna have to go where you don't follow. I won't hold it back again, this passion inside. Can't run from myself, there's nowhere to hide..."
Raph is at full confidence by this point, adding personal flourishes to the song. The tears burst from his eyes as he belts,
"But don't make me close one more door, I don't wanna hurt anymore. Stay in my arms if you dare, or must I imagine you there? Don't walk away from me. I have nothing, nothing, nothing if I don't have you."
The others exchange glances, moved by the raw feeling in Raph's voice. Leo's eyes soften, filled with a newfound respect for his brother's vulnerability. Donnie nods subtly, acknowledging the courage it takes to reveal such emotion. Mikey, usually the one for jokes, simply listens in awe, while Casey's jaw hangs open, stunned by the unexpected performance.
Raph's fingers tremble as he reaches out to the audience. He occasionally clutches his chest, as if feeling every word deep within his heart. He shakes his fist dramatically once he hits the climax of the song.
"Don't...make...me...close one more door, I don't wanna hurt anymore. Stay in my arms if you dare, or must I imagine you there? Don't walk away from me, no, don't walk away from me. Don't you dare walk away from me. I have nothing, nothing, nothing...if I don't have you...you, if I don't have you. Oh, you..."
As the song ends, the room remains silent for a moment longer before breaking into a sudden applause. Raph opens his eyes and wipes away his tears. Blushing, he takes a bow, grinning at their stunned faces.
Casey is the first to speak. "Dude, that was incredible!"
"Yeah!" Donnie practically yells. "Seriously, you poured your heart out there!"
"And with a Whitney Houston song? That's so unlike you, Raph." Leo chuckles as Raph sits.
"Yeah, I know," Raph says, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I just…I've always liked her music. She's got some powerful stuff, you know?" The others nod, impressed by his honesty and newfound vulnerability as he quickly adds, "And admittedly, The Bodyguard was a pretty good movie."
"Aww, ya big softie!" Mikey coos. Raph bonks him on the head. "Ow!"
Brushing off his knees, Casey gets up. "Okay, okay, enough with the sappy stuff. Let a real pro show you how it's done. He quickly puts his song's code in the machine and strikes a dramatic pose. "Prepare to be amazed!" He clears his throat and, mic in hand, flips his hair back as if he's about to perform a rock classic.
The turtles wait in their seats with bated breath. They drum roll on the table as the song loads. The sudden sounds of a rhythmic acoustic guitar and clapping hands stop them. Before long, an upbeat saxophone melody kicks in, enhancing the joyful tune...but Casey just stands there. No words, no movement.
"Yo, Case, what's going on? Aren't you supposed to be belting out some lyrics by now?" Mikey asks him.
The turtles exchange puzzled glances. Donatello raises an eyebrow and tilts his head, trying to make sense of the situation. Leonardo scratches his head.
"Yeah, man, what's the hold-up? Most songs have words, you know!" Raph calls out. He crosses his arms, eyeing Casey with suspicion. "Don't tell me this is a tune where you mumble the same thing over and over. We both know there's only one track like that and...hang on a sec..."
Casey snaps out of his trance, the corners of his lips slowly pulling into a smirk. Everything comes together as he blurts out one word in the microphone...
"Tequila."
The turtles groan in unison, throwing their hands up in exasperation.
"Seriously, dude?" Mikey shakes his head in disbelief.
Leo facepalms. "I can't believe we fell for that..."
"Me neither." Donnie rolls his eyes.
Raph, of course, is the most upset of the four. "That's it?! We waited all this time for that?! We were ready for a show, not a one-word wonder! You had us all pumped up like it was gonna be something epic, and then you pull this crap?" He gestures dramatically, clearly disappointed. He points a finger at the boy. "I should've known you'd do something like this! So, what do you have to say for yourself, huh, hotshot? You owe us an explanation for that antic!"
"Uhh..." Casey just shrugs, a sheepish grin spreading across his face as the saxophone picks up once more, its catchy riff echoing through the room. There's a brief moment of silence when he leans into the mic again, timing it perfectly, and says, "Tequila?"
"Dammit, Jones!" Raph yells, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt.
The door swings open with a dramatic flourish, and before Casey can even process what's happening, Raph gives him a playful boot to the behind. Casey flies through the air like a cartoon character, landing outside with an exaggerated THUD and a cloud of dust. As he sits up, rubbing his sore backside, he can't help but chuckle. "Guess I better work on my lyrics," he calls back with a wink, still grinning from ear to ear as the door slams closed.
"Finally, some peace and quiet." Donnie sighs as Raph plops into his seat.
"No kidding...all right, Mikey! You're up!" Leo chimes in.
"All right, dudes! Prepare to be dazzled!" Mikey states as he inputs the code, mic already in hand.
The familiar beat kicks in with a catchy rhythm that instantly gets everyone's heads bobbing. A few men scat along with the bass line. A guitar strums from the speakers. Lively horns blast, setting the stage for Mikey's energetic performance. As the beat drops, Mikey starts grooving, embodying the vibe of the track as he sings,
"Awww, this hit, that ice-cold, Michelle Pfeiffer, that white gold! This one for them hood girls, them good girls straight masterpieces. Stylin', wiling, livin' it up in the city. Got Chucks on with Saint Laurent, gotta kiss myself I'm so pretty."
His voice carries through the room, perfectly in sync with the beat, as his brothers cheer him on. Mikey's enthusiasm is contagious, and soon, even Donnie can't help but tap his foot to the music.
"I'm too hot!" Mikey sings.
"Hot damn!" his brothers sing.
"Call the police and the fireman. I'm too hot!"
It's impossible for his brothers to resist the infectious energy Mikey brings to the room. Even Raph, who usually maintains a cool composure, cracks a smile and joins in, clapping along. Leo, unable to sit still, gets up and starts dancing beside Mikey, while Donnie laughs and throws an arm around Raph, creating a moment of pure joy and camaraderie among the brothers.
United by the music and the bond they share, they all come together as the worries of the world fade away, replaced by the simple pleasure of being in each other's company, celebrating life and each other.
"Come on, dance, jump on it. If you sexy then flaunt it. If you freaky then own it. Don't brag about it, come show me. Come on, dance, jump on it. If you sexy then flaunt it. Well it's Saturday night and we in the spot. Don't believe me, just watch. Come on!" Mikey belts, showing off his best moves.
The joy of the performance peaks once all four of them jump up and down, singing the last few lines. "Uptown funk you up, uptown funk you up!"
The room erupts in applause as he finishes his performance, his energy still buzzing. Leo grins, nodding in approval, while Raph gives a thumbs-up. Donnie, though usually reserved, can’t resist joining in the celebration.
"Way to go, Mikey!" Raph exclaims.
He bows. "Thank you! Thank you!"
"So, what's next?" Donnie asks.
Leo steps forward with a confident smile. "How about we all take the next one?" he suggests, already sifting through their playlist for the perfect follow-up. His brothers cheer in encouragement, eager to see what Leo has in store for them.
"I guess. Just don't give us anything dorky like 'Space Heroes'," Raph teases.
Leo feigns a look of mock offense, looking through the playlist. "Hey, 'Space Heroes' is a classic! Besides, I already...hold on." He stops abruptly. His eyes widen as he spots a familiar title. "Guys! Check this out!"
The rest of the crew gathers around him, eyes filled with curiosity.
"Whoa! There's a song! About us!" Donnie says.
"And it's from 1987? Wicked! I'm looking up the lyrics on the T-Phone right now!" Mikey shouts.
"And I'm already putting it in!" Raph says, his fingers moving quickly.
The room fills with excited chatter as the brothers gather around, eager to hear how they were immortalized in music decades ago. Mikey shows them how the song goes, pointing each parts for them to sing.
Once prepared, they activate the karaoke machine. The room is soon filled with an upbeat and energetic tune, driven by a catchy guitar riff and lively percussion. The rhythm is infectious, and it immediately gets the brothers bouncing along to the beat. As the chorus kicks in, they can't help but sing along.
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Heroes in the half shell! Turtle power!
"They're the world's most fearsome fighting team! (We're really hip!) They're heroes in a half shell and they're green (Hey - get a grip!) When the evil Shredder attacks, these turtle boys don't cut him no slack! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Splinter taught them to be ninja teens..."
"He's a radical rat!" Leo says.
"Leonarado leads, Donatello does machines."
"That's a fact, jack!" Donnie sings.
"Raphael is cool but rude."
"Gimmie a break!" Raph exclaims.
"Michelangelo is a party dude."
"Party!" Mikey shouts.
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Heroes in the half shell! Turtle Power!"
Everyone finishes the song with a shout. They fall onto their chairs laughing. Their brief moment of pure joy is only interrupted, yet amplified, by a knock on the door. Tony enters the room.
"Well, you guys seem to be having a blast! I take it you're staying longer than usual?" he asks them.
"You bet!" Mikey responds.
"In that case, you boys up for another helping of pepperoni and sausage pizza?"
"Booyakasha!" all four of them shout as he brings in the steaming hot pan.
After a brief pizza break, they get back to singing their hearts out until they've had enough. As the last note fades away and the karaoke machine falls silent, the brothers exchange satisfied grins. Their voices are hoarse, their bellies are full, but their spirits are high, and the room is filled with the scent of pizza and the warmth of camaraderie. They leave the bar, promising to make these musical gatherings a regular tradition. With a final cheer, they gather their things and head out with their arms around each other, ready to take on whatever challenges come their way, united by their unbreakable bond and the shared memories of another unforgettable night.