Chapter III: The Second Ghost
"No Lynn, come back I love you still," Keldor cried out, the memory of his love leaving him still fresh in his mind ,as he opened his eyes.
He looked at his surroundings and much to his happiness he was back home, sitting in his bed, he was starting to think it was all dream and decided it was because he was hungry that he was having these dreams.
"I need something in my stomach," Keldor remarked to himself. He got out of bed and went into the kitchen to fix something to eat.
After he had eaten up his snack and cleaned the dishes, he went back to his room and went to back in bed.
"BONG, BONG," went the clock in the sitting room; it was now two hours after midnight, and the second ghost was due to appear, but Keldor was in no mood to see him so he closed his eyes
He had just gotten drowsy when he saw a bright light and music coming from the parlor.
"What in blazes is going in there?" he asked himself as he got out of bed to see what was going on.
He peeked inside and saw a huge feast and sitting on a golden throne in the midst of this awesome sight was a large man with a brown beard. The being wore a red tunic with green trousers and over top of the tunic and trousers; he wore a green robe with white trim. On his head, he wore a metal helmet and encircling the helmet was a green wreath made of holly.
"Keldor of Eternia, come in and know me better man!" the man said as he beckoned Keldor to enter the room.
There was food of every kind, roasted waterfowl, wild pigs, Eternian cattle, Eternian lamb, pies of all flavors, and wine flowing like rivers, not since the days of old had such a banquet been seen, and Keldor thought he was dreaming.
"Who are you?" Keldor asked, as he took in the awesome sight of the feast and the man responsible for it all.
"I am the Ghost of Christmas Present," the ghost introduced himself jovially.
"You seem surprised to see me have any of my older brother visited you?" the spirit asked Keldor jovially.
"Can't say as they have," Keldor answered thoughtfully, thinking he saw anyone that resembled the Ghost of Christmas Present.
"Odd, there are over eighteen-hundred of them," the ghost replied shocked that the spirit of Christmas had not visited Keldor before.
"That's a lot of mouths to feed, speaking of food, where did all this food come from?" Keldor asked as looked at the mouth-watering banquet.
"This is the Feast of Life, Keldor, is not life grand?" the spirit asked Keldor
"No," was Keldor's reply; although he was taken aback by the feast he did not hold the spirit's opinion that life was grand.
"And why do you think life is bad?" the Ghost asked Keldor astonished by Keldor's pessimism.
"Life treats me unfairly," Keldor replied as he crossed his arms and looked the ghost straight in the eyes.
"Keldor, you miserable little wart of a human being! You are the richest and most powerful sorcerer on Eternia and you say that life is unfair to you. Tonight you will know what it truly means to be treated unfairly and maybe then you will learn what Christmas is about," The spirit said enraged by the audacity of Keldor's reply as he stood up and shrunk himself to Keldor's size.
"Come Keldor, touch the hem of my robe and we shall begin our journey," The Ghost told him as he stood up and walked down beside Keldor.
Keldor did as the ghost said and as he did a whirlwind transported Keldor from his room to the streets of Eternia.
"Welcome to Christmas Morning, Mr. Keldor," the ghost said as he began trough the streets as Keldor followed close behind him
The spirit had what appeared to be a cornucopia filled water or some other clear liquid he was sprinkling it on every bit of food he saw as if it were salt.
"What is that you are putting on the food?" Keldor asked as he watches the spirit sprinkle the liquid some bread that being sold on a cart.
"It is my special Christmas Blessing, I bless all food given kindly on this day but I especially give it to a poor man's meal," the spirit said sprinkling his blessing on the food.
"Why especially a poor man's meal?" Keldor asked intrigued by the spirit's comments.
"Because it needs it the most," the Spirit replied as blessed the meager ration of bread an cheese of a beggar in the streets
"Come Keldor, we have much to see." The Ghost of Christmas Present said as we started to walk down the streets with Keldor close on his heels.
They walked for several blocks until they came to old house on the other side of Eternos.
The house old and run down, the roof was leaking; obviously, whoever lives here does not have the money to fix the place up.
"Who lives here?" Keldor asked the ghost, as he looked in the window, why would the ghost bring him to this old ramshackle of a house.
"This is the home of your employee, Bob Tri-Klops," the ghost informed him as he transported himself and Keldor inside.
He could see that Tri-Klops had a family and that they were preparing Christmas dinner, something Keldor found truly amazing, as couldn't figure out what they had to be happy about.
"This feast look delicious," a young boy with green hair and blue eyes, Tri-Klops eldest son, William Tri-Klops said as he tried to snatch a fig from the table. He was excited about this Christmas, as he was every Christmas; it was his favorite time of year.
"Now my dear, we must wait for your father and Lookee to get home." The boy's mother, Catra Tri-Klops, replied.
She was beautiful with green eyes and black hair; she wore a simple red dress with a cat mask, that her husband bought for her birthday.
Just then Tri-Klops came home carrying a small, brown creature with blue hair, pointed ears and a multicolored tail wearing red overalls and carrying a crutch on his shoulders it was Tri-Klops' youngest son, Little Lookee.
"Sorry we're late," Tri-Klops apologized to his wife as he gave her a kiss and set Lookee on the ground so they could both take off their coats, hats, boots, and gloves.
"That's okay my dear," she said as watched Lookee take off his boots and walk over to the table.
"How was he in church?" she asked turning back to her husband.
"As good as Eternian gold and better, you know he said the strangest thing coming home today," Tri-Klops told his wife as he watched Lookee's eyes light up at the sight of the feast.
"What's that Bob?" Catra asked wondering what her son said.
"He said that it was good that he a cripple be in church, so that on Christmas Day, people might remember who it was that made blind men see and lame beggars walk," he said thoughtfully.
Before Catra could answer the Tri-Klops daughters, Erica and Pauline came in with the goose.
"Let's say grace now," Bob suggested as they bowed their in prayer.
Keldor looked at the food, "Such a meager feast for such a large family," Keldor remarked looking how at how puny the goose was and how it could feed four kids and two adults.
"It's all he can afford with the salary you pay him," the Ghost of Present told Keldor as if to hint to him to pay Tri-Klops more money.
Just as Keldor was about to say something, Little Lookee raised his head as if he had finished saying grace.
"We're not finished saying grace yet," Tri-Klops reminded his son as not once raising his head.
"I know father," Lookee said, "I just wanted added something to the prayer father." He continued hoping his father would agree to his request.
"What's that?" Tri-Klops asked curiously wanting to know what his son wanted to say.
"God bless us, everyone," Lookee said as he concluded the prayer with the standard 'amen' to which everyone 'amen' back.
"What's wrong with him?" Keldor asked noticed that Lookee walked with a crutch. He thought the boy broke his ankle while playing and thought nothing more of it.
"He was born a cripple, and his parents can't afford a physician," the ghost told Keldor as he watched Keldor's expression on his face.
"Will he die?" Keldor asked worriedly looking the ghost right in the air, he could see that the ghost's beard was starting to become gray, and wondered if a ghost could grow old, but this was not the time to ask.
"That realm is the future, mine is the present," the ghost told Keldor, "However if these shadows remain unchanged I see an empty chair by the chimney," he said grimly, "but if he is going to die, he better do it and decrease the surplus population" the spirit, using Keldor's own words as a weapon against their owner.
Keldor remained silent; he looked at the child, and wondered about his future.
The spirit turned to Keldor, "Who are you to decide who will live and who will die; it might be that in the sight of Almighty God, you are less fit and worthy to live than millions like this poor man's child!" The spirit scolded Keldor, "Oh Keldor if you are a human being take back those words, what a world it is when the worm declares on the leaf that there is too much life to those laying on the ground!" the spirit told the old miser.
The very sound of his own words made Keldor feel uneasy in the stomach, but soon as he was distracted from pain when he heard Tri-Klops about to give a toast.
"My dear a toast! To Mr. Keldor, the founder of the feast" he said raising his glass.
"It will be a cold day in Despondos when I'll drink to that cheap, egotistical, self-centered old miser," Catra said angry that her husband would say anything like that.
"But my dear it's Christmas day" Tri-Klops insisted still holding up his glass.
"Very well, I'll drink to the day, but not I will not drink to him," she said "to Mr. Keldor may he have a very Merry Christmas," she muttered raising her glass and taking a sip of wine.
"To Mr. Keldor, the founder of the feast" Little Lookee said taking a sip of his drink.
The ghost turned to face Keldor, "Come we have more to see" he told Keldor as he pored his blessing on the Tri-Klops' Christmas dinner.
Keldor touched the hem of the ghost's robe and they arrived at another house.
"Do you recognize this place?" the ghost asked Keldor, as he transported Keldor and himself inside the house.
"Should I?" Keldor asked as he looked around the house. He did not know why the spirit though he should know this old building and who lives in it.
"This is your nephew Adam's house," the spirit told him as they entered the guest room.
They saw that Adam and Adora were throwing a party for their friends, everyone was there and celebrating this joyous season, everyone except Keldor.
Keldor looked inside the house, he could see Adam and Adora were enjoying themselves and was beginning to wish he didn't turn their invitation.
While he was watching them he noticed that Adora was walking towards Adam to tell him something; Keldor walked closer to them in order to listen to what they were saying.
"What shall we do now?" Adora asked her brother as she looked at the festivities, there were at least fifty people at the party, but she didn't care it was Christmas and what better way to spend it than with friends.
"How about a Christmas carol?" Adam suggested as he watched Seahawk head to the piano.
"What a splendid idea!" Adora said as she tapped the side of her glass to everyone's attention. "Attention everyone, we will now a Christmas carol," she announced as Seahawk started to play the piano and everyone started to sing:
Hark! the angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King! Peace on Earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled" joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies; with th'angelic host proclaim "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"
Keldor was caught in the moment listening to the music and watching the people celebrate when the Ghost of Christmas Present tapped him on the shoulder.
"Come Keldor we more to see," he told Keldor indicting to him to touch the hem of his robe and go to next location.
"But I like this song" Keldor protested trying to get to stay a few minutes longer, like a little kid.
"Keldor, we have more to see," the ghost told him sternly.
Keldor reluctantly went over to the spirit touched his robe transported out his nephews house by a fierce whirlwind.
He now found himself underground, he felt the oppressive air and began to feel claustrophobic as he looked around at the small tunnels he was near, "spirit, where are we now?" he asked half curious and half scared.
"A place where men dig into the bowels of the planet and pluck out her bounty, but even here Christmas enters souls of all sentient beings," the ghost informed him as he pointed to a tunnel out in front of him.
Soon, two miners came out from the tunnels, they're covered from head to toe in suit but they did not seem weary.
From their appearance Keldor could tell that they were an Andreenid and an Avion.
Keldor could see that they were arguing but soon his attention was diverted over to his guide who walked up to them and poured his 'Christmas Blessing' upon them and soon they magically became friends.
"I don't know what we were arguing about but we should stop it is Christmas after all, come let's celebrate," the Avion said as he took out a bottle of cheap wine from a bag he had been carrying.
'I agree, it is stupid to fight, especially on Christmas," the Andreenid replied as he took out two metal ladles and helped the Avion fill them with wine.
"To Christmas!" the Avion said holding up his ladle.
"To Christmas!" The Andreenid replied as they clanked their ladles together and drank their wine in one gulp as it was very sour.
After that they began to sing Christmas carols, the sight of this astonishing truce mesmerized Keldor as he stood staring at the two miners, he was shocked that two enemies who hate each can lay down they're hatred and drink with each other just because of a holiday.
While he was watching them, his guide turned to him and said, "Come, there is more to see," Keldor touched his robe and left the mine leaving the miners to their festivities in whirlwind of rain and snow.
A few minutes later when the whirlwind had vanished, Keldor found himself in a ship at sea in the middle of a terrible storm, inside the captain a scaly creature named Merman, and his crew were trimming the ship's Christmas tree and were singing:
"Silent night, Holy night! All is calm, all is bright. Round yon Virgin mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace!"
The crew continued to sing , trim the tree, and having a good time, paying no attention to the storm that raged outside.
"Even here in a ship in sea that might not make it back to shore, Christmas finds the hearts of all sentient beings and brings light to their dismal lives," The ghost said as he watched in astonishment before another whirlwind surround them and took him off the ship.
When the winds died down, Keldor could that he was in a prison on Horde World, it was a dreadful sight thousands of prisoners crying and screaming; guards beating a torturing hapless men, women, and children.
The Spirit walked up and down the corridor and sprinkled his blessing upon the prisoners who seemed to quiet as if the Blessing had turn them to stone
"Why did you bring me here?" Keldor asked the ghost inquisitively as he looked at rows of cells and watched his guide bless the poor souls shut in here.
"Look in here and see why," the ghost said as he pointed to a cell in the far corner of the hall.
Keldor walked over to the cell and looked in, he saw two people a man with brown hair, mustache, brown eyes wearing blue pants and gold chest armor with a red hear in the center and woman with pink hair and turquoise eyes wearing a blue and purple battle suit sitting in the darkest corner of their prison.
The Ghost of Christmas Present came over to the cell and sprinkled his blessing upon them.
As the blessing descended on them, the man, who name was Bow, lifted his head and told the woman, "Merry Christmas Glimmer," as he handed a small present
She opened it, it was a small plaque made of old decayed wood and stones which were arranged to write out 'I love you' on it, "Bow it's beautiful, thank you very much" she said as she hugged him and gave him a kiss as she handed him a small box
"Here's your gift Bow" she said handing him a box.
"Why thank you Glimmer," he said as he opened and found a plaque with a heart made of stones on it.
Keldor turned to face the ghost, "how could they say such nice things those gifts are horrible," Keldor told the ghost.
"It came from the heart, that's all that matters," the ghost remarked.
Glimmer stared into Bow's eyes, "How about a Christmas carol, Bow?" Glimmer asked her lover.
"Okay, how about The First Noel?" he asked her as he got out his harp, which he kept hidden from the guards who would take it away if they found he had it.
"I like that song," Glimmer remarked as Bow started to play.
She stood up and walked toward the door as if she could see Keldor standing there and sang:
"The First Noel, the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; in field where they lay, on a cold winters night that was so deep:
Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel"
Glimmer's eyes seem to pierce through Keldor's dark soul and capture what light he had left in his spirit.
"Even here as these two people are about to die, Christmas' light shines turning their tears to laughter," the spirit explained to Keldor.
Just then a trooper comes in, "Bow, Glimmer, it's time," he said as he snatched away Bow's harp, shackled them and led the two rebels off to be executed.
"Come Keldor," the ghost told him as he walked along the hall with Keldor following close behind him.
They followed the trooper till they reached a special room with a scaffolding in it, no doubt the scaffolding was used for executions.
Bow and Glimmer were led off the scaffolding, when the reached the top they kissed passionately for the last time, before the guard rolled back the collars on their clothes ,forced them to their knees and secured him the neck brace to prevent them form moving during the execution.
"Merry Christmas Bow," Glimmer said fighting back tears and trying to keep her voice from cracking, "Shall we continue our song?" she asked bravely as she could in the face what was going to happen to them.
"Merry Christmas Glimmer," Bow replied, there was a deep sadness in his eyes and after a moment of silence he replied to Glimmer's question "Of course what a splendid idea," as he began to hum the tune while Glimmer sang:
"They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east beyond them far; and to the Earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and…"
The song was cut short as the trooper's axe was brought down on their necks, but before Glimmer was executed she turned to look at Keldor, her gaze pierced through Keldor's darkened soul again, she looked as if wanted to say something but was silenced by the trooper's axe coming down on her neck, she closed her eyes as she felt it cut through flesh and bone and with that she left this world.
The pain that Keldor had in his chest had become a sharp sword; it was so unbearable that he was brought to his knees.
"Come Keldor we have one final place to visit," the ghost said as he watched Keldor get to his feet.
As he stood up, Keldor looked at the ghost with a look of wonder, as he noticed that spirit had changed.
The ghost's face had become wrinkled and his beard which was as brown as rust now was a white as snow.
"Spirit, do you age?" Keldor asked his guide curiously.
"I do, my time in this world is very limited," he told Keldor, "but come, we have one last thing to see" he informed Keldor as he held out his arm.
Keldor touched the hem of the robe and was taken up by another whirlwind and was spirited away.
When the wind stopped, Keldor found himself under an old stone bridge, he saw homeless people huddled under it, they were all cold and hungry and some looked as if they would not make through the night.
"What is this place?" Keldor asked as he looked around at the appalling sight.
"Just a place, one of many on Eternia, the name is of little consequence," the spirit snapped as he and Keldor continued to walk.
Then about a few yards into their walk, Keldor spied a family of Caligars living under the bridge.
"Why have you brought me here, I don't know these beings," Keldor informed the spirit as he looked at the family.
"Are they not your brethren, fellow sentient beings who think and feel?" the spirit bellowed as he pointed to the family meaning that Keldor was to observe them.
The father handed his family a couple sticks lying on the ground and placed a small loaf of bread on it and heated over the fire.
"Where did you get the bread from?" the child asked her father curious as where the father got the food at.
"I didn't steal it if that's what you mean!" the father snapped defensively, "Your father is not thief, not yet at least" he continued now more in despair than anger.
"That's not what she meant," the mother informed her husband.
The father looked at his wife, then at his own hands, and walked away saying, "It's not that I don't want to work, it's that I can't find any work and I want to work to provide for you and the kids," he looked up at his wife and instructed her, "Tomorrow morning we're going to the Workhouse, at least then we can eat and won't die out here from starvation.
The mother's eyes grew wide and protested, "NO, we can't go there they'll separate us, I'd rather die then be separated, things will get better I promise you. Now come back ro the fire," as she led the husband back to the fire.
Keldor stood silent for a moment, thinking about this scene and what it had to due with him, when he startled by something poking out from the ghost's robe.
"Spirit what is that, it looks like a claw?" Keldor pointing at the object, he was sacred it might some sort of monster or something worse if there was such a thing.
"It might as well be a claw for all the flesh it tears at, but come here and see for yourself!" the ghost said as he pulled back his robe, his red and green armor could be seen but standing beside him were two disheveled and malnourished children, a boy and a girl.
"Are these your children spirit?" Keldor asked as he gasped in horror and shock at the sight of the two children.
"They are your children Keldor, and of all those who walk the planet unseen." The ghost accused pointing at the blue-skinned being. "Their names are Ignorance and Want. Beware of them both, but most of all the boy for on his brow is written the word 'doom' and unless that word is erased he shall be the downfall of all sentient beings!" the Spirit warned Keldor.
"Don't they have any refuge, any shelter?" Keldor asked worriedly, this sight took him a back with fear and shock.
"Are their no dungeons? Are there workhouses?" the spirit said mockingly as he once again used Keldor's own words against him.
"You use my own words against me," Keldor finally remarked to his guide, hearing his own words sickened him and made him wished had never uttered that remark.
"Yes I do, so maybe next time you will hold your tongue before speak about your beloved institutions," the ghost scolded Keldor as hid the children with his robe again.
Keldor was about say something when heard the church ring out the hour.
"Well Keldor, my time is up and I must leave you," the spirit said smiling.
"Aren't you going to take me home?" Keldor asked his guide worried about being left here without a way home.
"You poor doomed soul, it's too late for that," the spirit said laughing as he vanished, leaving Keldor all alone.
"WAIT SPIRIT COME BACK!" Keldor yelled but no one answered except his own echo.
He walked a few feet and found a bench to sit on, it was then for the first in his life that he realized the he was alone in the world.