Opening/Tenar's Last Gifts to her Children

*(We open on a beautiful winter evening in London, England. And the streets are busy now because of one thing and one thing only; Christmas is coming, and it is Christmas Eve)*

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms Parodies Studios present....

*(Out on the streets, carolers are singing some Christmas songs out of their hearts)*

Carolers: **Deck the halls with boughs of holly**

**Fa la la la la la la la la**

'**Tis the season to be jolly**

**Fa la la la la la la la la**

**Don we now our gay apparel**

**Fa la la la la la la la la**

**Troll the ancient yuletide carol**

**Fa la la la la la la la la**

*(In a Victorian mansion in a nice neighborhood, the maids and butlers are busy working on polishing the Christmas decorations. Nearby them is a 22 year old human woman with short teal green shoulder-length hair in spiky pigtails, amber eyes, and wearing a blue police cap with red lining at the top, a gold badge on the front, and a shiny navy blue visor with gold buttons on each side, white gloves, a blue short-sleeved officer’s uniform with a baby blue upside-down triangle on the chest, blue pockets (With gold buttons) on her breasts, red trimming on her neck collar flap (Along with a gold yellow stripe on the left), and red sleeve rims, a black belt with a gold buckle, a blue miniskirt, and navy blue shoes, and sometimes carries a navy blue phone purse with a black strap across her shoulder. She is Officer Jenny. Anyway, as they did so, they were singing)*

Butler 1: **Deck the halls with boughs of holly**

*(Then he sprinkled more holly onto the dining room table)*

Butler 1: Always got to have more holly.

*(A maid walks by)*

Maid 1: '**Tis the season to be....**

*(She suddenly noticed all the holly on the table that she stopped singing)*

Maid 1: (To herself) Oh, dear. That's too much holly. *(To Jenny)* Go get your siblings and brother's girlfriend please.

Jenny: Sure.

*(Then she walked away to find her siblings and brother's girlfriend with another maid. The second maid is a female elderly anthro mouse with a plump figure, light brown fur, rounded ears with pink interiors, a light red nose, short curly light gray hair, gray eyes, and wearing a pair of small glasses, a navy blue long-sleeved dress with white neck and sleeve rims, a white apron, a pale blue frilly nursemaid hat, white frilly, ankle-length pantalettes, burgundy stockings, and black shoes. She is Mrs. Judson. Nearby, another maid has finished dusting the garland on the doorway)*

Maid 3: **Don we now our gay apparel....**

*(Then she stopped singing upon noticing another butler holding a mistletoe above himself and her, giving her a handsome flirty look)*

Maid 3: (Giggling a bit) No, no, no, no, no more mistletoe.

*(But she and the butler kissed anyway. Jenny and Mrs. Judson continued their way, looking for Jenny's siblings and brother's girlfriend)*

Jenny: **Dee, dee, dee, dee, dee, dee, dee, dee**

*(Outside at the attic window, a cute little male mouse ran across the gutter and then climbed into a small hole leading to the inside of the attic. Once inside, the mouse began exploring the area curiously and happily until he came upon a piece of bread laying on the floor in the middle of the room, unaware that some figures are watching him secretly. The first figure is a 12 year old human girl with long brown hair braided in pigtails, brown eyes, and wearing a red headband, a yellow medium-sleeved shirt with poofy sleeves, an orange belt, red pants with poofy legs, and purple slip-on shoes. She is Sheeta. The second figure is a female 5 year old anthro mouse (Unlike non-anthro mice) with light brown fur, rounded ears with pink interiors, a light red nose, a white bucktooth, brown eyes, and wearing a red ribbon on her left ear, a white short-sleeved shirt with poofy sleeves, a blue sleeveless dress, white frilly, knee-length pantalettes, white socks, and black Mary Jane shoes. She is Olivia Flaversham, Sheeta's little sister. The third figure is an 18 year old Native American human woman with copper skin, long black hip-length hair, brown eyes, a red pattern tattoo around her right shoulder, and wearing a short yellow sleeveless, one-shouldered Powhatan dress with light yellow fringes, a brown sash around her waist, and one strap on the left shoulder, her mother's blue necklace with a white spike charm, and yellow ballet slippers. She is Pocahontas, Sheeta and Olivia's older sister. The fourth figure is a 5 year old human boy with short black hair in a little crewcut, brown eyes, and wearing a yellow short-sleeved shirt, brown shorts, and white shoes. He is Sosuke, Sheeta and Pocahontas's little brother and Olivia's twin brother. And the last figure is a 5 year old human girl with short coral pink hair, brown eyes, and wearing a red short-sleeved dress with poofy sleeves, white pantalette-like shorts with poofy legs (Without the frills, of course), and pink Mary Jane shoes, and sometimes carried a Nemo the Clownfish doll. She is Ponyo, Sosuke's girlfriend. Anyway, they are in the attic, preparing something fun for the mouse while hidden)*

Sheeta: (Shushes everyone) Guys. Now, be very still. This is how we'll do it.

*(Sheeta then lights a match she pulled out and lit a candle held in a small hot air balloon)*

Sheeta: With science and mechanics....

*(She blows the flame out on the match)*

Sheeta: And a bit of luck. First, we've got energy. The heat from the candle will make the balloon rise.

*(Then on cue as she finished her explanation, the balloon slowly floated into the air by the energy of the candle's flame's heat. Then the balloon gently struck a nearby ball track's trigger, making it spin towards a nearby ball laying at the start of the track. Then as the ball was gently struck by the trigger, Olivia continued for Sheeta, which she lets her)*

Olivia: With the momentum from the ball.... That hits the monkey....

*(Then the ball gently hits a nearby toy circus acrobat monkey, making it pivot to a nearby bellow blower)*

Pocahontas: And pivots onto the bellows.

*(Then the bellow blower blew a gust of wind onto a nearby sail of a toy longboat laying on top of an arching wooden board)*

Sosuke: (Starting to get it happily) Which blows the longboat.

Ponyo: Exactly.

*(Then the toy longboat struck some books at the end of the board and the books fell onto a nearby stick that is used on a spinning wheel, knocking it onto a nearby pillow, pulling the string and making the wheel on the spinning wheel spin slowly)*

Pocahontas: Giving us Newton's third law of physics....

*(Then the spinning wheel's slow spinning made a small toy unicycle rider glide slowly across a string)*

Olivia: That says every action has an equal....

Sheeta: And opposite...?

Sosuke: (Now happily getting it) Reaction!

*(Then the toy unicycle rider gently hits a cricket bat nearby, making it fall onto a footrest cushion nearby, activating a trigger laying on there, dropping a basket over the mouse, trapping him in there like a cage)*

Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas: (Happily laughing a bit) Yes!

Sosuke and Ponyo: (Happily) Yes!

*(Then they came out of hiding, approached the mouse, and kneeled down to him. In the basket, the mouse looked at the siblings and Ponyo, not with fear, but with curiosity)*

Ponyo: Do mice bite?

Sosuke: Out of curiosity?

Olivia: I suppose so, if you're horrid to them. Except for me. I'm an anthropomorphic mouse.

Sosuke: What does "Anthropomorphic" mean?

Olivia: "Anthropomorphic," or "Anthro" for short, means "An animal who is described or thought of as having a human form or human attributes."

Sheeta: Therefore, Olivia is a mouse who is described as having human attributes. Just like us.

Pocahontas: That's right. And further studies *do* say that it *is* true on mice, except Olivia, biting people if they're horrid to them.

*(Then the trapdoor the basket and mouse stood on opened, knocking the basket aside and freeing the mouse, making it run off. Then emerging into the attic is Mrs. Judson)*

Mrs. Judson: Oh, there you are. Up and down I've been looking for you rascals. Worn out, I am.

Sosuke: We were catching a mouse.

Ponyo: The same mouse that likes to hang out in our attic.

Mrs. Judson: (Remembering with interest) The same mouse that Ponyo and Jenny fed their cookies to?

*(The kids nodded)*

Olivia: And the same mouse that Daddy said "Yes" on letting us catch to have as a pet.

*(Then Mrs. Judson chuckled a bit)*

Mrs. Judson: (Chuckles a bit, jokingly) Well, if you catch one, I'm not cooking it.

Ponyo: (Playing along) Too many bones?

Mrs. Judson: (Winks at them) Too many bones.

*(Then the mouse ran up to them happily and Ponyo picks him up gently by letting the mouse climb onto her hand)*

Mrs. Judson: That little guy seems to have grown attached to you.

*(The mouse lets out a cute happy squeak. Then they changed the subject)*

Mrs. Judson: Now, come on, be quick. We have a lot to do before this evening, please.

*(They then leave the attic and headed downstairs where Jenny awaited them)*

Jenny: There you all are. Where were you?

*(She then noticed the mouse in Ponyo's hand)*

Jenny: Is that the friendly mouse you and I fed the cookies to, and that Father said we can keep if you caught it later?

Ponyo: Yep!

Jenny: Lovely!

*(Then she let the mouse climb onto her hand)*

Jenny: My guess; You were in the attic he hangs out in, and caught him somehow.

Ponyo: We certainly did.

*(Then Sheeta lets Jenny hand the mouse to her)*

Olivia: It's wonderful that you immediately like each other.

*(The mouse then climbed onto Sheeta's left shoulder)*

Sosuke: What're we gonna name him?

*(After pondering a bit, Sheeta perked up)*

Sheeta: We shall name him.... Cookie.

*(The mouse, now called Cookie smiled in agreement. Sheeta then looked at the others)*

Sheeta: I decided that name because Sosuke and Jenny won him over with some cookies.

Pocahontas: Not a bad name.

Mrs. Judson: I'll say.

Jenny: Anywho, how did you catch Cookie, per chance?

Ponyo: It was easy.

Olivia: We set up a piece of bread, then used some toys, along with momentums and matches....

Jenny: (Surprised) Matches? In the attic?

Ponyo: It was Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas's idea.

Jenny: But you are aware that Father forbids us from using matches unattended in the attic.

Kids: Sorry....

*(Jenny then got curious)*

Jenny: Well.... Did you blow it out after using the match?

Sheeta: Yes.

Jenny: Good. At least that's the smart thing to do with matches in an attic.

*(Then, after looking at her watch, Mrs. Judson realized and changed the subject)*

Mrs. Judson: Oh, goodness! Your father is expecting you all in the family room.

*(Realizing, the kids immediately hurried down to the family room while Mrs. Judson returned to her work. Once there, they arrived to see a man standing right next to a beautiful Christmas tree, somewhat perfectly decorated. The man is a 32 year old human man with short dark brown hair and beard, an old white healed scar on his left cheek, brown eyes, and wearing a brown long-sleeved long cloak, a light red balaclava over his head with gold yellow lining, beige pants, and brown shoes and sometimes carried a stick that glows at times. He is Sparrowhawk AKA Ged, the children's father. Upon seeing them come in, Sparrowhawk greeted them)*

Sparrowhawk: Ah, there you all are.

*(He noticed Cookie on Sheeta's shoulder)*

Sparrowhawk: Ah, you caught that mouse in the attic?

Ponyo: We certainly did.

Jenny: And rest assured, it was easy.

Pocahontas: It was me, Olivia, and Sheeta's idea even.

*(Sparrowhawk took a closer look at Cookie and then asked away)*

Sparrowhawk: What did you name him?

Children: Cookie.

*(Sparrowhawk looks at Cookie again, who then nods with a happy squeak)*

Sparrowhawk: Well, not a bad name.

*(The children then noticed the Christmas tree)*

Sheeta: Anyway, is that tree why you called us here?

*(Sparrowhawk, upon hearing Sheeta, then points at the Christmas tree)*

Sparrowhawk: What do you think?

*(The children looked closely at the somewhat unfinished Christmas tree and calmly got a bit sad, but giving a little smile as Mrs. Judson came in with a feather duster and began dusting the chandelier)*

Jenny: It's.... Wonderful, Father.

*(Hearing her tone, Sparrowhawk looked at the Christmas tree again and got a little sheepish)*

Sparrowhawk: With a few adjustments, perhaps.

Mrs. Judson: (Agreeing) No shame in that.

Ponyo: (A little sadly) That's not how Tenar did it.

*(Hearing him, Mrs. Judson and the family got calmly sad)*

Sosuke: Indeed.

Mrs. Judson: Mary sure knew how to make the decorations beautiful.

*(A brief sad silence descends, that even Cookie noticed in calm silent concern. For it turned out the children's mother, Tenar, had already passed away a week ago from cancer, and they are now currently in the process of overcoming their grief over what they had lost. Anyway, after that brief silence, Sparrowhawk perked up a bit along with Mrs. Judson, who resumed dusting away)*

Sparrowhawk: Well, children. I have some early Christmas presents for you and Ponyo.

Children: (Calmly interested) Really?

Jenny: On Christmas Eve? Tonight?

Sparrowhawk: Yes. They're from your mother. She asked me on her deathbed to give them to you on Christmas Eve.

*(The children gave a calm sad smile, glad to know that Tenar had thought of bestowing them their Christmas gifts before her passing. Then Sparrowhawk picked up some Christmas present boxes and began handing them out to each child)*

Sparrowhawk: This one's for you, Sosuke.

*(Sosuke accepted his gift from Sparrowhawk)*

Sosuke: (To Sparrowhawk) Thanks, Dad. *(Looks up in gratitude)* And thank you, too, Mom.

*(Sparrowhawk then hands another gift for Ponyo)*

Sparrowhawk: Ponyo.

Ponyo: Thank you to both Tenar and you.

*(After Ponyo accepted the gift, Sosuke opened his and got happy to see it's....)*

Sosuke: (Happily) Wow! Tin soldiers! Just like I wanted!

*(As Ponyo opened her gift, Sparrowhawk then hands Jenny her gift)*

Jenny: Thank you.

*(Ponyo got happy at her gift, revealed to be....)*

Ponyo (Happily) Yay, a traveler backpack!

*(Then finally, Sparrowhawk hands the last gift to Sheeta while Jenny opened her gift)*

Sparrowhawk: And the last one, is for you, Olivia, and Pocahontas.

*(Accepting the gift, Sheeta opened her, Olivia, and Pocahontas's gift. At the same time, Jenny got happily amazed by her gift)*

Jenny: (Gasps happily) Mother's favorite evening dress!

*(Sparrowhawk nods at Jenny, feeling a little sentimental)*

Sparrowhawk: Yes, it was.

*(Then Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas, upon opening their gift, realized their gift is a beautiful golden egg-shaped box with a stand connected to it)*

Sosuke: What is that?

Sheeta: A golden egg-shaped box.

Olivia and Pocahontas: Yes....

*(Even Cookie was interested)*

Jenny: If it's a box, are there any jewelry in there?

Pocahontas: Don't know yet.

*(Sheeta tried to open the egg box gently, but couldn't. She tried again, but a little harder this time. Then she, Olivia, and Pocahontas noticed a keyhole on it)*

Olivia: Looks like it's locked.

Sheeta: Yes, it is.

Sparrowhawk: Are you sure it opens?

Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas: Yes.

Sheeta: In fact, there's a keyhole right here.

*(Then she gently rummaged through her gift box to find a key to it, but to her, Olivia, and Pocahontas's confusion, there's no key)*

Olivia: Odd.

Pocahontas: There's no key.

Sheeta: Why would Mom give us this box without a key?

*(Ponyo went up to the other girls and looked closely)*

Ponyo: How very peculiar.... An egg-shaped box with no key....

Sosuke: Maybe it's just a silly egg-shaped box just for decoration.

*(Feeling calmly hurt, Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas sighed sadly)*

Olivia: It's not just a silly egg-shaped box.

Pocahontas: We know, for certain, this opens.

*(Sosuke got apologetic gently)*

Sosuke: Sorry.

*(Accepting Sosuke's apology with a nod, Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas got up)*

Sheeta: Excuse us....

*(They leave the room with their gift, with Cookie going with them)*

Sparrowhawk: Girls?

*(In the nursery, Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas looked in the gift box closely, hoping to find a key, while Cookie is seated nearby, but to the three girls' disappointment, there isn't a key. Then Olivia noticed something in the box's corner)*

Olivia: What's that?

*(Noticing it along with Pocahontas, Sheeta then pulled out the object, revealed to be an envelope, and written on the front are their names that reads "Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas." Curious, Sheeta opened the envelope and and discovered a letter in there. Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas then read it together)*

Sheeta: (Reading) To my dearest Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas.

Olivia: (Reading) This gift I bestow upon you is a really special one that will show you need when I'm gone.

Pocahontas: (Reading) And to find it, you must find the key to it on your own.

Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas: (Reading) For everything you need is inside. Love, Mother.

*(They got curious)*

Olivia: "Everything you need is inside...."

*(Then they heard Sparrowhawk come in)*

Sparrowhawk: Girls? Is everything alright?

Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas: Afraid not.

*(Then the three noticed the shape of the keyhole on the egg-shaped box and recognized it)*

Sheeta: It's a pin tumbler lock.

Olivia: It's impossible to open it without its matching key when it's locked.

Pocahontas: That's right.

Sparrowhawk: I see....

*(He shrugs)*

Sparrowhawk: Well, why don't you get ready for the party, and then you can work it out tomorrow.

*(Then feeling sad upon hearing him say that, Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas sighed sadly. Noticing that, Sparrowhawk got sympathetic)*

Sparrowhawk: Girls, I miss your mother, too, especially when she got the cancer that took her. But Christmas comes, whether it's good times or not. We must do our best to enjoy it.

*(But that didn't make Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas better)*

Sheeta: Sorry, it's just....

Olivia: It's hard.

Pocahontas: None of us feel like enjoying it right now.

Sparrowhawk: (Sits beside them in comfort) Well, that may be the case, but it's important to maintain traditions as a family. It's what's expected of us.

Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas: (Sadly) I know.

*(They hug each other calmly, reassuring each other. Then they heard Jenny)*

Jenny: I'm sorry to interrupt, but....

*(Ending their hug, Sheeta, Olivia, Pocahontas, and Sparrowhawk looked at the nursery's entrance and saw Jenny standing there, wearing Tenar's old evening dress, meaning that Jenny is now wearing a fuchsia sleeveless, strapless ballroom dress, fuchsia shoes, fuchsia arm gloves, and a fuchsia beaded necklace)*

Jenny: What do you think?

*(Sparrowhawk and her three sisters smiled calmly, but with a hint of sadness)*

Sparrowhawk: You look just like your mother in that dress.

*(Jenny returned a soft sad smile. Then they calmly snapped out of it and Sparrowhawk got up to leave)*

Sparrowhawk: Could you please get ready for the party?

Sheeta, Olivia, Pocahontas, and Jenny: Yes.

*(Then Sparrowhawk left. As Sheeta, Olivia, Pocahontas, and Jenny are getting ready with and Cookie sitting nearby, watching, while Jenny helped them, they and Jenny were talking)*

Jenny: Still couldn't find the box's key?

Sheeta: No.

*(She sighs sadly)*

Sheeta: I wish Mom was here.

Olivia, Pocahontas, and Jenny: Yes....

*(Then Olivia showed Jenny the letter Tenar left them, and Jenny read it)*

Jenny: That's a very sweet cryptic note Mother left you.

Pocahontas: Mm-hm. But something tells us we might find the key somewhere else.

Sheeta and Olivia: That's right.

Jenny: Well, I'm certain you'll work it out. You're extremely clever girls, just like her.

Sheeta: My sisters and I don't feel very clever lately.

Jenny: Well, maybe you might eventually realize you still have your cleverness.

Pocahontas: I guess so, Jenny.

*(Jenny then perked up in realization and then explained away)*

Jenny: Oh, by the way, my boyfriend, Lt. Surge, along with our friends, are meeting us at the party tonight. Isn't that wonderful?

Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas: (Nods) Yes.

Olivia: And I guess we shall try to be positive, no matter how tragic Mommy's death was.

Jenny: Atta girls.

*(Then Sheeta asked away as she placed her egg-shaped box she was still holding on the vanity dresser she's sitting at)*

Sheeta: Rarity, do you think we, still have our cleverness?

Jenny: Yes. I still believe you do.

Olivia: We're not sure yet.

Pocahontas: It's just that, well, the egg-shaped box....

Jenny: It'll be fine, my dear sisters.

*(Then Jenny, Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas sang together as Jenny continued to help Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas get ready)*

Jenny: **Well, our mother's gone, it's true**

**No family could be perfect**

**Especially with the loss....**

**Well, maybe let that pass**

**In all you say or do**

**You couldn't make it plainer**

**You three are our mother's daughters**

**Therefore, you are class**

Sheeta: **So we should just accept**

**We just simply move on without her**

Jenny: **That is what she wanted**

**And you can take my word**

**You are clever and unique**

***Crème de la crème***

**No matter what you do**

**We're on your side**

**And if my point of view**

**Is somewhat misty-eyed**

**There's nothing clearer in our lives**

**Than what our family and I wish and feel for you**

**And that's a lot**

**No matter what**

Olivia: **No matter what happens now**

**You make us happy**

Pocahontas: **We love the funny way**

**You stand out from the crowd**

Jenny: **It's my intention**

**My fashion shows the world out there some days**

**Just what we've got**

Sheeta, Olivia, Pocahontas, and Jenny: **No matter what**

Jenny: **Now some may say all families just exaggerate**

Sheeta: **That every relative's great**

Jenny: **We are**

*(They giggle a bit)*

Pocahontas: **And every child tends to say their parents' tops**

Jenny: **They pull out all the stops**

**To praise them**

Sheeta, Olivia, Pocahontas, and Jenny: **And quite rightly**

Jenny: **No matter what the pain**

**We've come this far**

**I pray that you remain**

**Exactly as you are**

**This really is a case of sister knowing best**

Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas: **And loved ones, too**

Jenny: **You're always clever**

Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas: **We might never change**

Sheeta, Olivia, Pocahontas, and Jenny: **Our family of us is all we've got**

**No matter what**

*(The song over, they continued getting ready)*

Olivia: Maybe you're right, Jenny.

Sheeta and Pocahontas: Yes.

*(Sheeta then reached onto the vanity dresser for her red hairband when she noticed something on her egg-shaped box)*

Sheeta: What's this?

*(She picks her egg-shaped box up and took a closer look. Even Olivia, Pocahontas, and Jenny looked with her. And sure enough, on the egg-shaped box, there's an engraved K on there)*

Sheeta: It's a K.

*(Then the four immediately perked up in realization and happiness)*

Olivia: It's Mr. Kirke's insignia!

Pocahontas: He is a really great inventor, as well as our godfather since taking our mother in when she was an orphaned child.

Sheeta: And maybe....

Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas: *He* might know where the key is!

Jenny: (Agreeing) Indeed. We should tell Father your idea regarding your gift and consulting Mr. Kirke about it.

Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas: (Nods in agreement) Yes.

*(Then they resumed getting ready even more)*

***Coming up: Upon arrival at Kirke's mansion for the Christmas party and meeting up with Jenny's group, the children then, under Sparrowhawk's permission, consult Kirke himself about Sheeta, Olivia, and Pocahontas's mystery egg-shaped box and where its key is.***