A Sonic Christmas Carol

Chapter 2
With Tails as Bob Cratchit

Marine and Alias stood nearby at the outside window when Robotnik had entered the building. Alias was just leaning against the wall whereas Marine was standing and staring at the man.

"Man!" Marine gasped, "I know from Sonic and Tails that Eggman was a real pain, but that guy's really cold!"

"Ah, you don't know the half of it," Alias said before turning back to the audience. "Tight fisted and hand to the grindstone are the perfect phrases to describe mis-… oh dear!" he said seeing that the window they were to look through was complete filthy making it near impossible to make out anything. "Man alive! Ya' think he at least clean his windows."

"Oho and you're supposed to be author and still didn't see this coming?" Marine said smugly.

Alias stared angrily at the raccoon until an eyebrow came up in an idea, then a tightlipped smile came. Marine noticed this and stood back.

"What are you doing?" she asked fearfully.

Alias quickly grabbed her shoulders, lifted her up and then started to wipe the window clean with the captain. Face first mind you.

"I'm gonna kill you for this," she managed to mutter.

"Ah join the line!" Alias said before throwing her into the snow and turned back to the audience. "Tight fisted and hand to the grindstone are the perfect phrases to describe mister Robotnik. His will driving him into the state of a clever, uncaring and conniving little ol' sinner."

In the building, Robotnik had entered only to stop and stare at a cowering man.

"Mr. Prower…" Robotnik called. "Who is this?"

"That's Mr. Applebees sir," Miles Prower replied from his desk where he was writing the accounts of their customers, his twin tails occasionally flicking. "He's here to speak to you about his mortgage."

"Please Mr. Robotnik, I know you're very angry about this and I didn't mean to fall behind in the payments. Lord knows it being Christmas and all. Oh please don't shout at me sir. That and of course little Gwen. Her lungs aren't right. The doctor takes his share too, don't he? I mean you can yell and scream and you're right, but I'm the stone you can't squeeze blood from, and that's the truuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuth!"

Okay, let fill you on what happened. While Mr. Applebees was ranting like that, Robotnik had sighed and went to his office where he took off his coat and hanged on the coat rack. He then came out and picked up Applebees by his collar, carried him to the front door and threw him out.

"Thank you for not shouting at me!" Applebees yelled.

Robotnik then slammed the door shut and glared at his workers. The chao then immediately went back to work, their nonexistent noses in their books.

"Let's begin with tomorrow's eviction notices Mr. Prower," Robotnik spoke as he entered his office to sit at his desk.

"Eviction notices?" Miles said timidly. "But tomorrow's Christmas sir!"

"Fine then," Robotnik said with a tinier edge in his voice. "You may gift wrap them."

The rather large stack of papers was laid into Miles' hands, easily over towering him.

"Wow, sure are a lot today," Miles gasped.

"Chao chao chao chao!" one of the chao workers said as a few of them came up to Miles. Roughly translated, they said 'Let us help you with that Mr. Prower.'

Miles slowly handed the papers to the chao who were flying to keep them up. Miles backed off and stared as the chao suddenly ran to one end out of a lack of balance, then the other way where they crashed into the wall.

"Christmas is very busy time for us Mr. Prower," Robotnik said as he wrote the record of income in his book. "People around this time use their mortgage money to buy presents, extra food, to throw parties even! One could say that December is the foreclosure month. The harvest moon for the money lenders" he finished with a smile and a gleam in his glasses.

All of the chao then clamored around Miles, whispering to him and urging him fro something.

"Ah, Mr. Robotnik?" Miles pipped. "May the chao workers have another shovelful of coal for the furnace? They say that their pens have frozen up, their bodies are becoming frozen, and they can't do the bookkeeping when it's this cold."

"Well then," Robotnik said unchanged, "how would the chao like to suddenly be… UNEMPLOYED?!?!?!?"

"CHAO!" the chao said in happiness, now dressed in tropical attire and they sang as they went back to their desks.

"It looks like you've convinced them again Mr. Robotnik," Miles said with a sigh.

Robotnik only smiled with a chuckle before going back to writing in his book.

Outside, Marine and Alias were watching these occurrences while Alias turned back to the audience to narrate.

"At that time, who else was to appear than Maria Robotnik, Ivo's only remaining relative" he said.

"Maria?" Marine asked looking about but seeing no one. "I don't see her. And how'd you get her into this movie anyway?"

"Ah, I have plenty of Dusk Nobodies following me. I use them for extra characters," Alias explained. "As for not seeing her yet, don't worry. Just wait."

Then said girl came up and knocked on the door, causing Marine to leap in fright and land face first into the snow again. Maria then began to enter as Alias looked at Marine with a smug look.

"Well?" Alias asked. "What does the raccoon say?"

"The raccoon says you must feel very happy right now," Marine mumbled.

"Hello cousin Ivo!" Maria said cheerfully as she entered. "Merry Christmas to you!"

Charmy: Guys, I see dead people.
Shadow: MARIA!
Amy: Shush!

"Merry Christmas?" Robotnik said as he looked at his cousin. "Bah! Humbug!"

Outside Marine stood up, snow covering her face. "Quick! Let's get inside! It'll be warmer."

"Ah Marine? Actually uh…" Alias said as she already rushed in. "Oh dear oh dear oh dear…" he sighed as he followed.

They both slipped in as Maria closed the door, nobody seemed to have noticed them. Marine then suddenly shivered. "Wow! I think it's even colder in here!"

"Christmas humbug?" Maria said as she began to hang her coat on the rack. "You must be kidding!"

"You say Merry Christmas," Robotnik muttered. "But with what right do tell others to be merry? You're poor enough."

"With all due respect cousin Ivo," Maria said, "what right do you have to be so depressing? You are rich enough."

"Ha ha! Even I would be speechless with that!" Marine said with a smile.

"If I had my way," Robotnik said with a dark tone, "everyone who walked around saying Merry Christmas would be baked with their own holiday feast and buried with a steak of holly through the heart."

Marine, along with everyone else except Alias, was struck shocked with that. "I guess it's the ones who barely speak that don't end up speechless," Marine muttered.

"In other words my naïve cousin Maria," Ivo continued, "I'll let you celebrate Christmas in your own way, if you let me celebrate it in mine."

"But cousin Ivo," Maria said grasping onto a wreath she brought in, "Christmas is a time of love, honesty, and charity. Now, while it's true that it hasn't truly brought me any income, I know that Christmas will do me good and has done me good!"

This caused a clamor of cheers from Miles and the chao. Of course until…

"I wonder how one celebrates Christmas on the UNEMPLOYMENT LINE?!?!?!?" Ivo shouted, causing the workers to go back to their duties.

In the background, Marine was at the heater, trying to bring forth more flame while Alias continued to face the audience.

"Now, like any time to this day, charities often came to many different businesses in hopes of donations for those in need. In other words, people were imitating Christians more than usual," he narrated.

At that time, the door opened again as two certain people came through. One was an armadillo with a red back, and the second was a purple chameleon with a green scarf. If you don't know who these two are, then you don't truly know the Chaotix.

Charmy: Yeah… it was good to see Mighty again…

"Mr. Robotnik I presume?" Mighty called as he and Espio came in.

Ivo cast his gaze upon his visitors with a critically judging eye. "Who are you two?"

"My name is Mighty, and this is my associate Espio," Mighty introduced. "We are with the Annual Chaotix Charity Drive, and we would like to speak to you about a donation."

"Ah!" Maria spoke with a smile. "Well this friendly gentleman is Ivo Robotnik. He's very generous, particularly to charities!"

"Cousin Maria!" Ivo growled, but was cut off by Mighty.

"Mr. Robotnik, in particular during this time of year, we believe we must help or take care of the poor and homeless," Mighty continued.

"But aren't there any poorhouses, orphanages, or perhaps prisons?" Ivo asked with fake interest.

"Ah, there are plenty of those Mr. Robotnik," Mighty answered uncomfortably.

"Ah, good." Ivo continued with the same tone. "For a moment I was worried."

"As a way for the Chaotix Detective Agency to help with the matter," Mighty continued, "we yearly collect a fund together to assist the needy. So for what amount shall we put you down for?"

Ivo paused his writing to answer. "Nothing."

"You want to remain anonymous?" Mighty asked, still not getting the point.

"No," Ivo answered, "I want to be left alone. I'm not one who likes to make my Christmas merry."

"I'm afraid that's true," Maria sighed.

"And I won't afford to make others' merry," Ivo finished.

"Now that is not true!" Maria stated.

"Don't you have other things to do Cousin Maria?" Ivo asked, obviously having enough of Maria's comments.

"Unfortunately I do, so I'll make my donation here," Maria said as she fiddled around her pocket and pulled out many gold coins before handing them to Mighty. Maria then went to the door before sharply turning back to Ivo. "Oh! Cousin Ivo, if it's alright, could you join me and Christopher for Christmas dinner tomorrow?"

Ivo sighed. "That Chris boy, why did you ever go out with that runt?"

"Why?" Maria asked in disbelief. "Because I love him Cousin Ivo!"

"BAH!" Ivo spat even harder. "The only thing more ridiculous than a Merry Christmas is love of any kind!"

"And yet I still shall be happy until the end Cousin Ivo," she said as she took up the wreath she brought with and hanged it on the door before opening it. "Well Cousin Ivo, I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!"

"Christmas, love, HUMBUG!" Ivo shouted as Maria left. Ivo grumbled as he went back to writing. Mighty and Espio however, remained standing there silently. Ivo then looked up at the awaiting duo. "You still wish a donation?" he guessed. The two nodded before Ivo stood up and went to the window. "Here's my donation, my taxes go to the prisons and workhouses, so the poor can stay there."

Both of them gasped. "But many would rather die than go there!" Mighty protested.

"If that's true," Ivo spat, "then they best do it soon and decrease the overall population."

At that alone a gleam came in Mighty's eye and he leaped. He would've gladly have Ivo's blood on his hands if Espio hadn't held him back.

Rouge: Who wouldn't want the doc dead?

"There's no need to stoop to his level Mighty," Espio reasoned as he dragged the armadillo to the door. "Besides, I do believe we've wasted enough of Mr. Robotnik's time."

"You're right!" Mighty shouted as he was shoved out the door before it slammed. "But we haven't wasted enough of his stubbornness! Just give me three minutes with that miser and I'll…" his rant faded as he was dragged away.

Robotnik stood by the door as the yelling faded, doing nothing until he suddenly grabbed the wreath and mangled it as if to tear it apart. He then stopped as a new voice arose from the door.

Charmy: Ah yes, my star appearance.
Amy: Shush Charmy!
Sonic groans as he wakes up. Sonic: Uhh, I had this weird dream where I-AHH! We're still watching this movie?

"Hark how the bells sweet silver bells all seem to say 'throw cares away'," the voice sang.

Robotnik threw open the door looking for the voice until he looked down to see a homeless kid bee in ragged clothes and was singing 'Carol of the bells'.

Sonic: Uhh… Amy? Can you knock me unconscious again?

"Ding dong ding dong, that is their song. Songs of good cheer Christmas… is… here…" the slowed to a stop as we saw the man's intimidating stare.

"What do you want?" the man demanded.

"…A penny for the song?" Charmy asked.

The door just slammed in his face. Charmy began to walk away sadly until he heard the door open. He turned around excitedly only to duck with a scream to dodge the wreath thrown at him.

Charmy: Exit! Stage left!

Inside, Robotnik slammed the door again, casting a glare to his bookkeepers whom immediately went back to work.

Off to the side, Alias was leaning against the wall with a knowing frown as he held a hot cup of hot chocolate in his hands. Marine was staring in shock as she held her bag of Christmas cookies.

"Wow!" she gasped. "You know, while Tails was at my house, he told me a bit about Eggman, but this worse than that!"

"Tell me about it," Miles muttered to them while still writing in his book.

Alias glared at Miles's breaking of the third wall before addressing Marine. "It doesn't matter. There'll be a difference at the end of the story, you'll see. In the meantime, there's nothing else to see until later so we'll just have to fast forward time."

Alias then pulled out a remote and clicked the fast forward button, causing everything to move about them quickly. Marine looked outside to even see the sun itself moving much faster.

"Alias, where'dya get that remote?" Marine asked in astonishment.

"Ah, I got it from Death who was working at a Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Luckily this one comes without those nasty side effects," Alias said happily.

He pressed the play button, the world now showing itself in the sunset hour. Lights were lit seldom through the building, and the chao led by Miles were coming to Robotnik once again.

"Uh, excuse me?" Miles said. "Mr. Robotnik? It's closing time again."

"Fine," he replied. "I expect you at 8:00 tomorrow morning."

Miles got nervous as he began. "Uh, Mr. Robotnik, if I may say, tomorrow is Christmas."

"8:30 then," the man replied.

"Uh, Mr. Robotnik?" the vulpine spoke again. "Half an hour off isn't exactly…… well customary for Christmas sir."

"Then how much is?" Robotnik asked coldly, already seeing what was going to happen.

"The whole day sir," Miles answered quietly.

"The whole day?" Robotnik asked, his anger boiling.

"If you can let me reason sir," Miles began, "there's really no profit for opening tomorrow. Other businesses will be closed so you'll have no one to do business with. Not to mention it'll waste coal for the fire."

Robotnik remained stoic as Miles ended. "It's a bad excuse for taking from a man his profit every December the 25th…"

Miles and the chao looked down in sadness.

"…but since I'm the only one who knows this, then fine. Take the day off tomorrow."

Miles and the chao looked up as Robotnik said this and cheered. They shouted their compliments and thanks as their boss began to put on his coat.

"WILL YOU STOP THAT?!?" Robotnik shouted, causing them all to scatter. He went through and walked out the door. "Make sure here on time the day after!" he commanded before he closed the door and left.

Alias stood outside with Marine who was eating her cookies while the boy narrated. "With the boss gone for the day, Miles and the chao began one of the happiest events of all time, the celebration of Christmas."

SONG TIME!

Sonic: Oh joy.

One of the chao looked out the window as Robotnik left. "Chao chao!" he announced, which translates into 'He's gone!'.

"Guys," Miles said happily, "time to close up for Christmas."

(Miles):

There's magic in the air tonight, there's magic in the air.
The world's at its best when everybody loves and cares,
There's a feeling of excitement that this night will always keep,
After all there's only one more sleep till Christmas.

He sang happily as he and the chao began the chores for closing, including putting away the books, closing the blinds and putting out the fireplace.

The world has a smile today, the world has a glow.
And a stranger's not a stranger when that stranger says 'Hello!'
Everybody's family. We're having so much fun!
After all there's only one more sleep till Christmas.

Miles smiled and looked around as the chores finished. Some chao in the air were finishing up the sweeping. Others were finishing up with the last of the books. They were finished. They all stepped out before Miles closed and locked the door.

Sonic: Wait! Help! You locked me in here!
(Insert another mallet thump as Sonic fell unconscious again.)

Tis the season to be jolly and joyous, fa la la!
With a burst of happiness it arrives
It's the night when saints can always employ us,
To spread the news of true peace and to keep love alive!

Miles was cut off as a chao raced by. He and the bookkeepers saw the iced road before them with celebrating chao skating on it.

"Ah! We're just in time for the annual Chao Ice Skating Party!" Miles said happily.

They watched as the chao continued to skate, doing all kinds of tricks for fun. Miles rubbed his chin in thought before racing off. Everyone watched happily as Miles then skated all around on his twin tails, switching between them. He ended back with his coworkers who were cheering.

"Thank you, thank YAAAAHHH!" he screamed as another chao accidentally skated into him.

Charmy: Weird thing was that actually was a blooper.

Alias and Marine watched this while the author's smile grew. He then looked at Marine who shortly looked back in confusion. Her face then went into shock.

"Oh no! Not now! NO!" she shouted in protest as Alias dragged her away by her paw.

Shortly after, Alias was skating by on his belly like a penguin with duck tape tied Marine riding on top of him. They both screamed, one in happiness and the other in anger, as Alias steered haphazardly with his hands.

"Time to put the brakes on this thing!" Alias said happily as then steered to the wall. Marine screamed again as Alias braced his head and rammed into the hay wall, causing Marine to be flung off into an empty barrel. Alias stood back up with a laugh as he dusted some snow off of him. He looked into the barrel to see the stuck Marine glare at him from below. "Fun huh?" Alias asked happily.

Meantime Miles was leaving, the chao coworkers staying behind for the party.

(Miles):

There's something through the air tonight that's good for everyone.
Love is overflowing and it's shining like the sun,
Everyone is feeling it and the feeling's running deep,
After all there's only one more sleep till Christmas.

After all there's only one more sleep till Christmas day.

Miles finished the song while staring into the star lit sky with the full moon shining bright. He then went off, unknowingly passing by a shivering Charmy who wrapped himself in newspapers to keep warm.

Unknown Alias status: signed out.

Date of Update: 12/02/2007