Disclaimer: This is what happens when I watch A Muppet Christmas Carol and YouTube videos with Kingdom Hearts. The beginning is drawn heavily from Dickens, and rest is only taking the main idea from the original story. Just the basic story structure is Dickens, which we all know and love, the rest is my story. With Kingdom Hearts characters playing the roles that Dickens created. I own none of this stuff; it belongs to their respective owners, like Disney and Enix. Please don't sue me. I just wanted to tell a story.
To begin with, Marly was dead. That is the truth without any doubt in anyone's mind. The register of his burial was signed by all those that needed to sign it; the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Xemnas signed it: and Xemnas' name was good upon anything he put his own name upon, for he was always of a sound mind and always aware of his actions. Marly was as dead as a door-nail.
Look! I don't know what it is meant, exactly by someone being as dead as a door-nail, for why a door-nail? What is so important about a nail in a door? Naturally there is no life, it is just iron and it was never alive in the first place, so to say that something is dead without being ever alive is odd. But maybe, one may have been inclined, myself included, regarding death as a coffin-nail since that piece of iron does have some bearing with the imagery of death. Dear reader, please allow me repeat what has been said, wholeheartedly, that Marly was as dead as a door-nail.
Did Xemnas know that he was dead? Of course he did. How could he not have known? Xemnas and he were partners for many years in the game of politics; they learned from each other and became better in their profession by not only knowing, but being friends with the other. Xemnas was Marly's sole executor, his sole administrator, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend and sole mourner. As an excellent man of business Xemnas was not completely saddened by the unfortunate event. He observed the service of laying his dear friend to rest with a very good bargain.
While we are on the subject of Marly's funeral, it brings me back to the point I began with. There is no doubt that Marly was decaying in his grave long gone from this plane of existence. This must be fully understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story which I shall tell.
***
The floor of the Senate is busy with chatter, ranting, raving, and other forms of protest. Every member of the Senate was called for a special session of Congress, the house had already passed the bill, but in the Senate, the caller is determined to kill it here and now. The bill in question would legalize same-sex marriage throughout the nation, no longer was it just a state here and there, but that kind of marriage would be recognized anywhere in the republic. The Senate Majority leader would hear of no such thing happening while he still drew breath.
The Republican leader, majority, is a man that had made his way as a very influential and powerful businessman. During his many years in politics, his power had only grown, years back when he was just a freshman senator; he was picked out to be the party whip, the second most powerful position in the senate. At first many of the older members were outraged, but they soon learned that he filled the position nicely, and was a not a person to be crossed. Due to his large wealth, those that sided with him would easily get re-elected, whereas those that found themselves in bad favor with the whip soon found themselves in the unemployment line.
When the majority leader passed away seven years ago, it was natural to think that the whip would take his place, and he did, during the burial ceremony, thus cementing his power. With elections coming up soon most expect him to run for president, and this was probably the show he wanted to give to the people that he is the kind to get things done.
One senator speaks out, "Who does he think he is? It's Christmas Eve; we should be with our family and friends, not in this cold room talking about a bill that can wait until Congress is back in session."
"Be quite, be lucky you're amongst democrats, if you weren't and that got back to him, you'd be done for."
"Please…I'm not scared of him."
"Well, that makes one out of ninety-nine."
The doors to the chamber fly open, hitting the walls on either side, the noise quickly escapes through the opening that was created and not a sound is heard, save for the steps of the man heading to the center of the room.
Once he is at his mark the man speaks, "My fellow members of the senate, we are he together in a time of great need for our country. The very ideals that were set forth at its founding are in peril. We stand at a precipice of morality and below us lay an endless hole of sin. We cannot be tempted, like our brothers and sisters in the House, to take that last step that will send us into that abyss. We cannot stay still any long, for the foundation may give, we have to act now. I move to have the vote tomorrow, since it is already late, and both sides have had their say, and took more than enough time to say it. My fellow members of the Senate, what say you? Shall we put this to rest?"
With that the Republican majority, in unison, and cheered their leader. Orange eyes fell on the democrats in the room, they soon gave a half hearted, "Aye"
His working being down for the night, he left to go back to his office, to get ready for the next day, and make sure that his speech was written for when the vote was to start, and when he would announce that morality and goodness yet again prevailed under his watch. Eyes glared on his back as he made his way back from whence he came, he may be the most powerful man there, but he is the most hated too.
He put his blazer on the coat rack as he entered his office, "Cratchit? Sora Cratchit? Where the devil is that man?"
"Y-yes, sir? What is it that I can do for you sir?"
"What matters to me now is what you have done, not what you will do. Now, have you done as I have instructed, and prepared the research, the speech, the other notes, and have them on my desk for my reviewal…neatly?"
"Yes, of course sir." Xemnas passed his clerk and sat behind his desk to review the notes and key pieces he would have to present the following day. Sora went back to his meager desk in the front of the office, and slightly ajar door separating the two. Sora rubbed his arms together to try to get some warmth, his employer liked the cold, for he was as hard and sharp as flint, totally alone, secretive, solitary as an oyster, and the cold reflected that.
A loud burst from the door, "A merry Christmas uncle! God save you!" It was Xemnas' nephew.
Without looking up from his papers, "Christmas, eh? Bah…humbug!"
"Come now uncle. Christmas a humbug? You must be joking. So you do have some holiday spirit in you!"
"I am serious and I have no Christmas spirits. What right or reason do you have to be merry? You're poor enough."
"Well, why should you be dismal and morose? You're rich enough." His nephew releases a slight chuckle at throwing his uncle's words back at him.
"If I could have things the way I saw fit, everyone that wished a 'merry Christmas' would be cooked with his own turkey and a have his body stuffed with holly."
"Oh uncle-"
"Nephew, you keep Christmas in your way, so let me keep Christmas in mine. Bah Humbug."
"But Christmas is such a loving, honest, peaceful, and charitable time. True it has never put a single penny in my pocket. I believe that Christmas has still done me good, and furthermore, will do me good in the future. And I say, God bless it"
Sora, involuntarily, applauded the nephew's little speech.
"So tell me then. How does one celebrate Christmas in the unemployment line?!"
With an "Eep!" Sora went back to his work.
"With such a command of language, I'm surprised you're not a part of Congress too, nephew."
"Don't be angry uncle; I know what will cheer you up. Come join us for Christmas dinner tomorrow."
"But, Why?"
"Why what uncle?"
"Why did you ever get married?"
"Why, because I fell in love uncle, that's what one does."
"Love, ha! Bah humbug!" The idea of love was even more idiotic to Xemnas than the possibility of a merry Christmas.
"So will you be joining us then? There really is no reason for you to object."
"Good Afternoon."
"What's the matter uncle, why have we never gotten along? I've always been cordial; we've never once had a fight that I took part in. Why can we not be friends?"
"Good Afternoon."
"It is a shame that you are so steadfast in your ways uncle, but I will keep my Christmas spirit and my humor to the very last. I wish you a Merry Christmas, uncle!"
"Good Afternoon."
"And a Happy New Year!"
"Good Afternoon!"
As his nephew walks out he exchanges a goodbye to his uncle's clerk, "Merry Christmas, Sora."
"Merry Christmas, Zack."
On his way out the door two plump men use this opportunity to come into the office. They make a motion wondering if the owner of the office is in. Sora throws a thumb in the direction of his boss and the men come into the inner portion of the office.
"Hello, Mr. Marly, I presume?"
"Marly has been dead for seven years, seven years tonight."
The men look at each other in confusion then direct their attention back to the man behind the desk, the shorter doing the talking, "But, sir the name out front says that this is the office of a Mr. Marly."
"And so it was until he died, now I have the office, the only reason that is still up is because it would cost unnecessary time and money to remove it, and there is no reason for the waste. So who the hell are you? All those that have business here know of me, so who are you?"
"We apologize sir, we represent the Salvation Army and we feel that, during this festive time we must take care of our poor and homeless."
"Are there no prisons and or poor houses?"
"Unfortunately yes there are plenty of those sir. Though we wish they weren't"
"Excellent, you had me worried there, I thought that something bad had happen and they stopped them from taking their useful course."
Thinking that this man be the generous type, due to his sudden change of attitude, becoming quite jovial, the man gets to his point, "So how much can I put you down for?"
"Nothing."
"You wish to remain anonymous? How humble of you sir."
"What I wish, is to be left alone. I do not make merry during Christmas, nor do I make idle people merry. I know how to take care of the poor, my taxes go to fund the prisons AND the poor houses. So the homeless should go there."
"But, some would sooner die than go there."
"If they'll going to die then they better do it and decrease the surplus population. Not only that but stop wasting the money that is spent on all welfare programs that eat up the national budget."
Seeing that their efforts are in the vain, the gentlemen excised themselves from the office and ventured else, in search of some kind sole that had something to give to the needy.
Xemnas' clerk, after some minutes ticked by from the leaving of the Salvation Army members, got up from his desk and waited in the doorway connecting the outer office to the inner. He knew not to upset his employer, especially since he had a favor to ask of him. He was taking a large risk, trying to find some compassion in nothing more than a shell of a man, a bitter old soul, though his age his middle.
"M-Mr. Xemnas sir." The receiver of this remark looked up in a manner most unnerving Cratchit, but he had to continue, "Excuse me sir, but it appears to be the end of the work day."
"Very well, I'll see you tomorrow at eight in the morning."
"Sir, but…but tomorrow is Christmas."
"Fine, eight-thirty then."
"Sir, I know what this session means to you sir, but tomorrow is Christmas, and a half hour off hardly seems to be customary on Christmas."
"Tell me them, Sora, what exactly is customary."
"Thee…thee whole day sir."
"Thee entire day?"
"Sir, the only thing that will happen tomorrow is some speeches and then the final vote, you really don't need me here for that do you sir?"
"Sora. When I'm here you're here! When I have stayed late, you have stayed late. When I have left early, you have left early. Now you think that just because tomorrow is the twenty-fifth of December that you don't have to be here, yet I am?" Xemnas huffs to his side and leans back in his chair, moving his head back to the front, his eyes look at other's, unblinking, "If you must have tomorrow off so be it, but you better be here earlier the next day."
With that Sora does a little happy dance in the doorway.
"Will you stop that!" the white-haired man yells.
Sora immediately does as he's told, "Thank you sir."
Xemnas demises that statement with a wave of his hand. He gets up from his chair and goes to the coat-rack to get his blazer on first, then a body-length great coat. His last words to Cratchit that night are, "Remember earlier the next day."
On the street, outside his place of business he tried to call a taxi. Nearby there are protesters to the bill, wanting it to get voted down. On the other side of him lay the camp of those in favor of the bill chanting their want of equal rights.
A taxi finally stops in front of senior senator, he never called for public transportation, but the way he thought, even paying for a taxi ride here was better than having a driver, which he could easily afford. As he opens the back right door to get in he looks at the crowds, the one against it seeming so much in uniformity, and the other a bright array of many colors, he thinks he sees one supporter with blue hair, "Equality, huh? Bah…humbug!"
After a short ride, the taxi came to a stop in front of a dismal stack of brick on a dark street. Xemnas left the taxi to proceed to his place of residence; they place where he and Marly had lived together and planed their plots in the senate. To this day, as was in his office, Marly's name is still on the front of the building.
"Yo, buddy! The fee!"
"Fee this," the long term senator flips the bird to the driver. "I'm a member of Congress, I can't be bother with paying taxi fees."
"Sure, and I'm the Emperor of Norway. Now pay up ya cheap smuck, or I'll call the cops on ya."
"Call the police to arrest someone that is close friends with the not only Chief of police, but the Attorney General. Sure you do that."
"Eh, you ain't worth my time anyway ya old miser!" With a squeal from the wheels the taxi was off leaving a smoke that lingered in the cold night air.
At the door Xemnas reached his hand into his pocket to take out his key. In putting in the key, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the knocker in his door. It had always been there, true, but tonight it's of a shape that it wasn't supposed to be, it's the perfect shape of Marly's head.
"Marly?"
A load moan that would cause the ears of the most vicious of an Irish banshee to bleed emanated from the ghastly knocker, causing Xemnas to fall over, backward, in fright. When he arose he saw the knocker was the same as it ever had been. No resemblance to a face, no eyes, no ears, no nose, and no bright pink hair it just a second ago had.
"Humbug!"
To say that Xemnas was not unnerved by the incident is to say that he is not conservative and not filled with hate and avarice. What was done was done, and that's all that he cared about, it was in the past, let it stay there. The house was dark, for it was cheap and he enjoyed the dark. Tonight, however, what happened at the door made him weary, so he checked every room in his house, turning on the lights as he entered, then off as he exited, feeling a bit of a fool when he was done.
In his study on the second floor he had his dinner, while he studied his legal texts, and memorizing what he could about the laws form civil to criminal from about animal to vegetable, as he usually did spend his nights alone. He sat in his large chair by the fireplace, text in hand while the remains of his dinner sat on a nearby table. He wore his best nightgown tonight, white and black, creating many designs and shapes on the fabric.
As he flipped the page he hears a bell ring. He looks in the direction from whence it came, but already the sound is gone. Then another ring, slightly longer, just to suddenly stop. Xemnas looks around the room and to the open doorway, "Humbug."
As if on cue, the house is filled with the ringing of a crisp clear bell, it lasted a minute, maybe only half a minute, to Xemnas sitting in his chair experiencing this, it lasted and hour or more he felt. The room dropped to freezing temperature, causing the fire to die out.
Chains, clinking chains, rustling chains; he hears from downstairs, getting louder and louder, coming closer and closer.
"Humbug! Still nothing more than Humbug."
Strolling into his study is a figure that he knew all top well, he was just Xemnas remembered in life; the suit he wore, the pink hair, the way he walked; only now it was hindered. Chains are lashed about his body; thick chains that still the bulk must be in the hallway, and maybe on the stairs. "Marly? Can that be you? No. Your dead, it can't be."
"Oh it is Xemnas, and I've come for you."
"Why? What is it you want with me?"
"Much." Marly says with a keen determination in his voice.
"You look like how you did, but it can't be you."
"Why do you doubt your senses, clearly I am here."
"This can't be happening, I don't believe it. You can't possibly be here. It's late, I've been up for many an hour and I just ate, and this is just a dream. This is just my body acting against me, a slight befoulment of my stomach maybe, yes that's it. You're no more than some undigested meat, a piece of cheese, a crumb of bread even. Yes, that's it, there's more of gravy than of grave about you."
"HAHAHA. More of gravy than of grave? What a terrible pun, I expected better out of you." He lets out an ear piercing scream; just like the knocker did just a few short hours ago. "Do you believe me now?"
Cowering behind his chair he peeks out, "I do. Mercy!"
Regaining his senses, "Why do you haunt me?"
"I visit you to give you a warning Xemnas."
"A warning? What kind of warning? A warning of what?"
"You see these chains that are latched to me? These are the chains I carry, which I forged in life. You too wear such a chain, but mine stopped seven years ago, yours has grown to surpass mine, and continues to grow."
"Why are you punished? You were good in life, a great politician and sound businessman."
"Humanity was my business! The common welfare of my fellow man was my business, what I did for a profession was just a speck of water compared to the ocean of that business. Hear me Xemnas, for my time in this world draws to an end."
"Yes speak what is it that you wish to say? Don't be flowery in your words, speak plain, what is it?"
"I am here to warn you and to try to escape my fate. A chance of hope."
"Thank you Marly, you were always a good friend to me."
Marly held up a hand, "You shall be haunted this night Xemnas, by three ghosts."
The living senator was shocked, "Is this the chance of hope you spoke about Marly?"
"Yes it is."
"In that case I'd rather not have any more dealings with spirits tonight…thank you."
"Without these visits, there is no chance of your salvation Xemnas, no chance of redemption. Expect the first ghost when the bell tolls one tonight, the second when the bells tolls two, and the third at three."
"Can't they all just come at once, and we can get this over and done with?"
The poltergeist faded in and out, "Expect the first at one."
In seconds the shade was gone and the fire came back to life. Xemnas went over to where his friend and mentor hovered over and felt nothing, no lingering cold or anything of the sort.
"Hum- ah forget it." The experiences of the night left him tired and drained. In a groggy trance-like walk he made it to his bed. Sitting on the left side of his bed he pulls of his slippers and lays down, "Marly, spirits, nothing more than a whole bunch of Humbug." Xemnas reached over with his left hand to flick the switch, as the darkness took him, he fell asleep.
AN: Thanks to my editors: Lovetoread1983 and Sammy-Dee. They're always there for me.
I'll try to have this story up by Christmas Day, so no pressure right?
