Hello everybody! It's me again! Thank you for the reviews I've gotten so far (two). Before we go on, I'd like to explain a few things. One is the reason why I chose God rest ye merry gentlemen for the song Popo and Nana sang outside. When I was in A Christmas Carol a few years ago, that was the song we sung and it was my favorite.

Also, I had trouble filling all of the roles, so if some of the characters seem out of place, that's why.

Chapter Two – Captain Falcon's Ghost

Dedede rubbed his eyes to make sure they weren't playing tricks on him. When he looked again, he took a hasty step back in surprise. Captain Falcon was still sitting on his bed, cocking an eyebrow at him.

"It can't be," Dedede murmured to himself. "My eyes are just playing tricks on me. After all, you've been-"

"Dead for five years?" the captain asked. "Yes, I was. And still am. I am the ghost of Captain Falcon, now bound to wander this world forever for the deeds I have done."

He voice came out in a low hiss and the king also noticed that he was wrapped in chains that rattled noiselessly. Dedede shook his head to clear it. He scowled, refusing to believe that his dead friend was sitting on his bed.

"All right," he growled. "Just what exactly do you want anyways? I'll have you know that I don't believe in phantoms."

"You never did," the ghost said with a sigh. "Well that will certainly be a problem tonight. Just what exactly do you think you're talking to?"

"I am most certain that you're a figment of my imagination," Dedede explained, his voice shaking a little. "Probably an upset stomach from something I ate at lunch time."

Captain Falcon let out something that sounded like a laugh and a moan at the same time. It sent chills rushing through Dedede's bones. He felt ice in his blood when the Captain glared at him.

"So you believe you are talking to a figment of your imagination?" He asked the shivering penguin. "I think they have a name for that. It's called insanity."

"All right, ghost," Dedede growled, trying to regain his composer. "What do you want from me anyways?"

"I don't want anything," the ghost replied calmly. "I can't anymore. Instead ask me why I am here."

"Fine then," Dedede sighed. "Why are you here?"

"To warn you!" Falcon suddenly screamed, flying off the bed and rising into the air. "So that you don't succumb to the same fate that I now suffer!" At his sudden outburst, Dedede took a startled step back and collapsed in the chair behind him, shivering in fear. Captain Falcon ignored his fear, the chains that bound him were rattling furiously, giving off a low ringing noise. "These chains are the deeds that I have created while living, unknowingly bounding myself every day. Now I am forced to carry the burden of my actions for all eternity!" The ghost let out a cough, as if he had been suffering much. He glared back down at the king, who was quite scared out of his wits. "Everyday your chain grows longer," he told him in a deathly whisper. "It far surpasses even mine, choking away your life. Do you see it, Dedede?"

An image suddenly flashed through Dedede's mind. He was walking, bound in cold, heavy chains, dragging his feet, his head bowed as others laughed at him. Nothing was real, nothing mattered anymore. He was doomed to walk alone, chains dragging behind him, forever…

Dedede blinked and gasped. It had seemed so real! It was so cold, so frightening.

"Please Ghost!" Dedede cried, dropping to his knees and weeping. "I don't to end up like that! Please, what can I do? Please, help me!"

"I'm afraid I cannot help you, old friend," his former partner told him in a sad whisper. "You must help yourself. I am only a messenger, and I told you my message." He started to fade from sight until Dedede was left in the middle of the room, alone. Suddenly, he heard Captain Falcon's voice, near the window. "Come with me if you wish to know more."

Shakily, Dedede slowly stood and moved towards the open window. Mist was slowly drifting into the room and covering the floor. Looking out the window, Dedede gasped at what he saw.

Countless of spirits, all with blank expressions and bound together with chains stood in the streets, staring desperately at him. They all looked tortured, though their eyes showed nothing, not even suffering. Captain Falcon floated above them, staring at Dedede, a sober expression on his face.

"Who are these people?" Dedede asked in a small voice.

"They were the countless of souls that are lost forever, to suffer the same fate. They are nobodies, they no longer have a future, and their pasts are gone. They have no thoughts but suffering, no memories but regret. They feel nothing but fear and pain." He looked sadly down at them. "Many of them were given several chances to amend their ways. All of them failed."

"But what can I do?" Dedede asked in a fearful voice.

"You can learn from what you see tonight," CF growled. "Learn and never forget!" He paused for a moment before continuing. "You will be visited by 'three' ghosts tonight." Dedede wondered briefly why the captain put three in air quotes. "Listen to them and do not forget, only then will you be saved from your terrible fate." As he spoke, the spirits, one by one, started to fade from sight until only Captain Falcon was left. Then he too started to fade away.

"Wait!" Dedede called, reaching out a hand pleadingly. "Don't go yet! I'm still so confused!"

"Find yourself, my friend," came the ghost's voice. "Only then will you know the answer. Do not forget in me… do not… forget…"

Then Captain Falcon was gone. The wind started to pick up, blowing away his voice. The snow started falling again, blasting Dedede in the face. Shuddering, the king closed the window and waddled over to his unoccupied bed. The wind roared behind the shutters, seeming to call his name as the penguin fell into a troubled and light sleep.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

That's what woke the king from his sleep. It sounded like it was at the door. Dedede let out a long groan. That was some dream he had. His head was still reeling.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"I'm coming!" Dedede growling, pulling on his robes. "I really need to hire some butler to do this for me." But that dream seemed so real, like it actually happened.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Hold your horses! I'm coming already!" Dedede barked. He opened the door and looked around. He thought there was no one there, until he heard a small cough. He looked down and frowned. "Oh great, it's you two," he growled at Popo and Nana, who were staring up at him, covered in snow and smiling. "What are you doing here? And why are you dripping snow all over my good carpets and rugs?"

"Well," Popo started, glancing at Nana. "You see, there was this huge snowstorm and Nana and I ran for the nearest shelter, which happened to be your castle. And then the snow blocked the entrance, so we were stuck here."

"What?" Dedede growled. "Impossible!" He stormed over to the shutters and threw them open. Sure enough, what the boy said was true. Snow covered the streets and blocked every doorway. Grumbling, he stomped back over to Popo and Nana, glaring down at them. "Fine, you can stay. But if you give me any trouble, I'm kicking you out."

The children's' grins widened. "Gee, thanks, Mister!" Popo said.

"Yeah, whatever," Dedede grumbled. "Follow me to the guest bedrooms." As they silently followed him, Dedede suddenly felt shivers crawling up his spine. He was not quite sure why either. But he did feel another presence beside him, though he saw nothing. The air became colder as they walked, until Dedede could see his own breath. He briefly wondered if the two kids noticed too.

"It feels weird," Nana commented with a shiver. "I think this place was visited by a ghost recently."

Dedede suddenly halted, causing the two children to run into him. His mind was racing. How did she know of his dream? Unless… it wasn't a dream? What if it was real? The king shook his head and continued.

"What are you talking about?" he growled at Nana, not looking at them. "How would you know about being visited by ghosts?"

"Oh there are signs everywhere," Nana explained. "I was visited by a ghost once. But this one looks like it was trying to tell you something."

"Nana's just amazing like that," Popo added rather proudly.

"Whatever," Dedede grumbled, opening the door to the guest's room and shoving them inside. "Now do not come out until morning."

"But what if we have to go to the bathroom?" Popo asked quickly.

"It's down the hall," Dedede growled, slamming the door behind him. Then the king turned and slowly waddled down the halls towards his room. His thoughts were trapped on the conversation and the strange things that had been happening this night. He had thought the whole thing had been just a bad dream, but now he was not so sure…

And the stage is set! The Ice Climbers are there for a reason, just so you know. They're not just there for the fun of it. Next chapter, we get to meet our first ghosts. Whoo! I'm excited! But maybe I should finish that chapter so I won't be stuck finishing this after Christmas…

Please read and review. I want to know what you think. I know you're out there, reading this. Read and review… read and review… read and review… (Subliminal messaging. Ya gotta love it!)