A/N: Merry Christmas and God bless us, everyone! :D
This is primarily based on the Mickey Christmas Carol. What can I say, it's my favorite version of all the Christmas Carol adaptations out there! X3
Which is your favorite Christmas Carol adaptation? :D
…
A Zootopian Christmas Carol
Chapter 1: The Warning
Zootopia 1843
Christmas was always a wonderful and joyous time of the year to many, but to one miser of a cape buffalo, it was just another day of the year. Ebeneezer Bogo, the middle aged and grouchy cape buffalo in question, hated the season. He found it to be such a waste and an unnecessary excuse to get mammals a day off work and not make money for that day.
Yes, to Bogo there was absolutely nothing more important than money. He cared little for trivial things like family, friends, or other things he considered to be unimportant distractions, like Christmas.
He'd never admit it to himself, but he wasn't always like this. He knew that he was cold hearted, but he had never taken the time to think about why he had become this way. All he knew was that he was bitter, hated Christmas, and loved money.
He owned his own counting house, which used to be a shared business with his former business partner, Dawn Bellwether. She was cruel and money hungry, just like her business partner, Bogo. And today Christmas Eve, marked seven years on the dot since she had died.
But to Bogo, none of it mattered. They were close in their youth, but as the years passed, they each began to grow more and more selfish. The profits of their counting house came to be all that mattered to them, as was evident when Bellwether died - Bogo was to have her buried at her family's mausoleum, but he instead had her buried at sea.
It brought an amused smirk on his face as he made his way toward his counting house. He saw that the sign hanging outside of the counting house still read 'Bogo and Bellwether's Counting House'. "Ah Bellwether, my old partner," he said, "Seven long years since you've been gone and my personal profits have more than doubled since then. I hope there are no hard feelings between us. I remember that you did love to swim, so perhaps my choice of burial for you was more than appropriate." He chuckled quietly and went inside.
Inside the counting house, was Bogo's only employee, Nicholas Wilde. He was a thin red fox with a black tipped tail, though given his current state he might as well have been a pawpsicle seeing how much he was struggling to keep warm. Not even his thick winter coat was enough to keep him warm.
He was standing by the coal stove with a single piece of coal in paw as he heard the bell above the door ring, signaling to him that someone had just entered. He immediately turned in a panic, hiding the piece of coal behind his back as he saw that it was none other than his boss who had entered. "Mister Bogo! How are you doing this fine day!" he exclaimed with a false excitement, hoping that the buffalo hadn't noticed anything, "Is that a new coat? You know it really brings out the color of your eyes and-"
"Shut your mouth, Wilde," said the buffalo as he simply walked past the fox.
Nicholas watched him go, as he quietly sighed in relief. It appeared that he hadn't noticed that one of the pieces of coal was missing.
"Wilde?"
Spoke too soon, thought Nicholas. "Yes sir?"
"It feels much warmer here than it should. Did you put it another piece of coal without my permission?" questioned the buffalo.
"Wha-?" Nicholas exclaimed with an affronted paw to his chest. "What kind of mammal do you take me for? Of course I'd never go against your wishes without your permission."
Suspicious, the buffalo lightly kicked at the bucket of fresh coal, "Are you certain about that? I counted eleven pieces yesterday and there appear to be only about ten in here."
"You actually count them?" Nicholas asked incredulously.
"That's not the point!" Bogo scolded, "You better have a good excuse for using my coal, or I'll have to deduct that piece from your pay."
"But I promise you sir, I haven't taken anything," he lied as he dropped the piece of coal from his paw onto his tail and let it roll down as he cautiously led it back inside the bucket.
"That's not true. Show me what you're hiding behind your other paw," ordered the buffalo.
"Okay, but I don't think you'll find anything." Nicholas brought forth his hidden paw, "See nothing."
"Mm," huffed the buffalo with a low annoyed rumble in his throat, "Your never can tell with your kind. Sneaky red devils is what you foxes are."
"Of course, sir," Nicholas agreed sarcastically under his breath, "And you cape buffaloes are just such kind and chipper fellows, am I right?"
Bogo eyed him suspiciously, searching for the hidden malice in his words. Nicholas shrunk in front of him, "Hehe, I mean that with the utmost sincerity, sir."
"You better for your sake. Now get back to work," said the buffalo as he headed toward his office.
"Actually, sir," Nicholas said, causing the buffalo to stop and turn to him, "Would you mind if I use that piece of coal?"
"And waste my valuable resources? You foxes have winter coats. How can you possibly be cold?"
"It's not for me," replied the fox, "I can't work with frozen ink." Nicholas held the frozen quill pen as it was stuck inside the ink vial. "Unless we suddenly want to start selling ink pawpsicles. Get it?" Nicholas laughed, "Because it kind of looks like…" Nicholas slowly stopped his laughing when he noticed that Bogo was not at all amused, "...a pawpsicle…I'll be quiet now."
Bogo thought for a moment and huffed, "Take one of the ink vials from my office and get to work. No coal. I spend enough on your salary as it is already."
"I take it this would be a bad time to ask for a raise then?" asked Nicholas with a cheeky grin.
"Get to work Wilde!"
Nicholas cowered a little and walked past the buffalo, "Speaking of work Mister Bogo, tomorrow is Christmas and I was wondering if I could have...half a day off?"
Bogo snorted, "Christmas eh? First you ask me for a raise and now this."
"But sir, I never ask anything from you and I have worked for ten consecutive Christmases in the past. Wouldn't it be alright to have just one Christmas where I could spend at least half a day with my family?"
"Hmm, well...I suppose so. But! I'll deduct you half a day's pay."
"Really? Thank you sir! And just so you know, I really mean that kind and chipper comment from before now."
"Just get to work Wilde."
"Yes, sir!" Nicholas said with a hopeful smile as he rushed into Bogo's office to fetch a vial of ink.
Bogo just rolled his eyes as the fox disappeared inside the office. Just then, the bell hanging above the entrance to their office rang. Ah, a customer, thought Bogo.
His smile faded however, when he saw that it was just his nephew, Fred Bogo. "Merry Christmas uncle Bogo!" cheered the thin young cape buffalo. He bore a striking resemblance to Bogo, with the only two exceptions being Fred's more lively demeanor and his thinner build.
"Fred! Is that really you?" asked a smiling Nicholas when he came back out from the office.
"Hello Mr. Wilde! Merry Christmas!" cheered the actually chipper young twenty year old buffalo.
"And a Merry Christmas to you too Master Fred!" replied Nicholas in return.
"Bah. Humbug," muttered Bogo as he headed into his office. Fred shrugged at Nicholas and followed his uncle into his office. "Come now uncle, surely you don't mean that."
Bogo plopped down at his work desk to count coins on a scale, "Then tell me nephew, what is Christmas to you? But another day for mammals to get a day off from work and not an hour richer. Humbug, I say to such a lazy custom."
"Well uncle, perhaps I haven't profited from it but I believe that Christmas is a time for giving and to be with one's family. It's a time when mammals can come together and find the good in their hearts. And though it has never put any gold or silver in my pocket, I believe it has done me good and will do me good and I say, God bless it!"
"Hear! Hear!" Nicholas cheered from outside Bogo's office.
"Wilde!" Bogo shouted, "Do you want to get fired?"
"I'm shutting up now sir!" shouted Nicholas in return.
Bogo huffed, then turned back to his nephew. "Are you done yet, nephew? I am quite busy."
"I'm not uncle. I've come to ask you to Christmas dinner with my wife and I."
"No thank you," Bogo huffed.
"Why not?" asked his nephew innocently.
"Why did you marry that penniless girl? You're just as bad as Wilde out there. Marrying a rabbit. Puh, ridiculous."
"But uncle, if Mr. Wilde and I chose to marry our respective wives out of love, then I don't see the harm in our unions," argued Fred.
"Love," scoffed Bogo, "Love without profit is a bad investment. It can't possibly compare to the profits of a good dowry. I told you that when you turned down that rich girl in favor of the poor one you married! What a waste! So if there's nothing more important to discuss nephew, then I must ask you to take your leave!" Bogo loomed over his nephew.
"But uncle," his nephew tried to object. The next thing the young cape buffalo knew, he was being escorted out from his uncle's office and out the front door.
"I already said no. So good day, nephew!"
"But, but, but-"
SLAM!
Bogo slammed the door right to his nephew's face. "Merry Christmas just the same uncle," Fred muffled through the door.
"Humbug," said Bogo.
Nicholas shook his head in disapproval of Bogo's behavior. "He forgot to add the 'buffalo' in front of all those 'buts'." Nicholas muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" asked the irritated buffalo.
"Nothing! I said, 'he's a kind buffalo but not at all practical like his uncle.'"
"Ah, well, I suppose my nephew always has been a little bit peculiar," Bogo said as the front door's bell rang once more, "And stubborn." For a moment, he thought that his nephew had returned, but it turned out to be a hare and vixen couple at the front door. "Oh, customers," said Bogo, delighted. "You keep busy Wilde, I shall handle this. Good evening sir and madam. How may I help you today?"
"Good evening, sir," answered the vixen by the name of Skye Savage. "My husband and I are seeking donations for the Zootopia Charitable Foundation and would really appreciate your help."
"I'm sorry, for what?" asked Bogo.
The striped hare accompanying the vixen - by the name of Jack Savage - politely removed his hat, "We're collecting money for the poor, sir."
"Oh... I see," replied Bogo through greedy, gritted teeth. "Well I wish you much luck in your charitable venture. Good day." Bogo said turning his back to them.
"But Mr. Bogo, surely someone as well off as yourself can afford to donate something," argued the hare.
"I certainly can, but I won't," responded the cold hearted buffalo. "I support the workhouses already. They cost enough. If the poor are so needy, then they must go there."
"But many can't go there and many would rather die," cried the vixen, solemnly.
"If they would rather die, then they best do it fast and decrease the surplus population. Most notably you pesky hares and rabbits who don't stop overpopulating society enough as it is," spat the buffalo with a glare at the hare.
The vixen's eyes widened, offended for her husband. "Now wait just a min-!" Her husband brought an arm up to stop her from stepping forward and arguing further. He kept his eyes on the buffalo, glaring at him with a single flare of his nostrils.
"It's alright Skye." The striped hare turned to the buffalo, "I pity you if that's what you truly think of us."
"It is," he replied simply, and opened the door for the couple. "Good day."
"Come dear," said Jack, taking his wife's paw and walked out the door with her. Skye gave the buffalo one final humph and left with her husband.
Bogo slammed the door behind them. "Tsk, tsk, tsk...what is this world coming to Wilde?" Bogo asked his employee, who had clearly seen everything. Despite all the criticism that Nicholas wanted to give him, he said nothing. "You work hard all your life and then they want to take it all away. Unbelievable."
"Yeah, unbelievable. Just like you never giving me a raise," Nicholas mumbled.
"What was that?"
"Nothing! I just said, 'all that stress must really raise your blood pressure.'"
Bogo snorted, suspicious, but decided not to press further. Bogo headed toward his office when Nicholas spoke up again. "Uh sir, seriously though," began the fox with a tremble in his voice and a nervous rub to the back of his neck. "Now that we're on the subject, I was wondering if I, well...if I could have a raise?"
"What?" asked the buffalo, looking annoyed.
"A raise?" said Nicholas with an accompanying nervous chuckle immediately after.
"Why should I give you a raise, Wilde? You've hardly earned it. Not to mention, that I already so generously have given you half of tomorrow off."
"You have, you have," Nicholas agreed, "But I have worked for you for ten years and in that time I've been yours and Miss Bellwether's only employee - God rest her soul. And I've helped increase profits with my bookkeeping and business savvy. But, most importantly I also really need a raise because I have a very sick boy at hom-"
"Enough," said the buffalo, not even taking a moment to actually listen to any of the fox's points. "I don't need your life story Wilde. I'm afraid you already work more than the required hours for me to give you a raise."
"But sir," Nicholas attempted to argue.
"No buts Wilde! You should be thankful a mammal in my line of work even bothered to give you a job in the first place. Most wouldn't trust you to be honest with their business' money. Little did they know that you are a bit of a gold mine since you're so good with numbers." Bogo chuckled, proud. "Keep up the good work, Wilde. Maybe you'll get that raise some day."
"Yes, sir," Nicholas agreed, glum and with his ears down. He turned back to his work, stress evident all over his face. "What am I going to tell them," he sighed quietly to himself."
Bogo meanwhile returned to his office without a care in the world.
Some hours passed and it finally came time for both mammals to go home. Nicholas in particular watched the grandfather clock as its big hand finally moved forward, signaling that it was 5 o'clock. "I'm done for the day sir!" Nicholas called to his boss.
Inside his office, Bogo checked his pocket watch and saw that it had two minutes left until five o'clock. "Not by my watch Wilde! There's still two minutes left."
"Are you serious?" Nicholas mumbled quietly to himself. He took the quill pen at his desk and continued writing until Bogo called out once more.
"Actually, never mind those last two minutes. You may go Wilde."
Nicholas' ears perked up in joy. He shut the book closed and hopped off the seat of his tall desk. "Thank you sir! There's that kind, chipper side of yours showing again!" He called to the buffalo who had his office door open.
"Enough jokes Wilde. Just go home and be sure to be here all the earlier the next day!" he ordered of the fox.
"Yes sir! And a Merry Christmas to you! Even if you won't take it," saluted the fox, as he slapped on his small top hat atop his head and headed out the door.
Bogo meanwhile huffed a, "Bah, humbug."
After getting a bit more work done for the day, Bogo closed up shop and headed home himself.
With his top hat and cane in hoof, he walked the cobblestone path leading to his enormous mansion. He searched for his key in his pocket to enter as usual...but! Little did he know that this night would be anything but usual.
As he fished for his key, the knocker on his door suddenly transformed from a brass buffalo shaped face to a ghostly see through sheep face. "Bogo…" whispered the glasses wearing ghostly apparition.
"Dawn Bellwether?" breathed Bogo in surprise as he took notice of the face. "No, it can't be," he looked away in denial. When he looked back, the face was gone and he sighed in relief. Bogo carried on as usual, latching the key into the keyhole and opening the door. When he looked back up, he came face to face with the ghostly face again.
"Bogo!"
Bogo gasped and rushed inside! He slammed the door shut. The buffalo stood staring at the door, hyperventilating and hoping that what he had seen was nothing more but a figment of his imagination. "I-I've been working too hard, I'm seeing things." Bogo's stomach then growled in hunger, "Perhaps some dinner should take my mind off things."
So Bogo did just that. He poured himself a bowl of leftover gruel and dressed himself in his nightshirt. He ate in his bedroom, ready to spend Christmas Eve as he always did - alone.
At first, it seemed as though a nice hot meal and a good nap at his favorite chair by the fireplace had done the trick. He had completely forgotten about his frightening encounter with his old partner. Bogo slept peacefully in his chair with a full belly...when suddenly…
rattle, rattle, rattle
The sounds of chains began to rattle in the distance. "Bogo…" the eerily haunting voice of Dawn Bellwether called to him. "Bogo…!" Her voice grew louder as did the sound of rattling chains.
"Mm?" Bogo moaned as he stirred in his sleep.
"Bogo…"
Bogo peeked an eye open as he heard the sound again. "Must be the wind," he figured as he settled himself in his seat. He snored peacefully for a moment when…
"BOGO!"
Said buffalo jumped in his seat, wide awake. "Wha-? What?!"
"BOGO!"
Through Bogo's bedroom door, a phantasmic sheep with glasses and rattling chains entered. "Bogo!" she moaned with a haunting wail.
"D-Dawn?" Bogo stuttered. "No...it can't be!" he said as he shut his eyes in denial.
"Bogo…" the ghost approached him with her rattling chains. "Don't deny what your eyes clearly see Bogo."
Bogo opened his eyes and gazed upon her, "No, this can't be real. You can't be here! Y-You've been dead for seven years!"
"Believe what you see Bogo!" shouted the ghost sheep right to his face. "Bogo, do you remember when I was alive how I used to rob the widowers and swindled the poor?"
"Yes, and all in the same day. You were such a good business mammal Dawn," Bogo complimented proudly of her accomplishments.
The sheep, giggled modestly with a wave of her hoof. "Oh stop, you're too kin-N-No!" she yelled, correcting herself. "I was wrong! And as punishment, I'm forced to bear the chains I forged in life, now in death!" the ghost of Bellwether lifted the heavy chains and rattled them to emphasize her point. It was then that Bogo noticed that each of her chains was attached to a heavy safe or other money box. "Now, I've come here to warn you! Ebeneezer Bogo! Or the same thing will happen to you!"
"Th-That can't happen. That's impossible! I've done nothing wrong do deserve a fate such as yours!"
"Haven't you?!" countered the sheep, angrily. "Have you any idea the weight of the very chains you bear yourself? The ones you've created and continue to link together each greedy day you live?!"
Bogo swallowed hard, sinking into his seat.
"Listen and listen well Bogo, my time on this earth is nearly gone. I have come here to warn you that you still have a hope of escaping my horrid fate," said the ghostly sheep.
"W-What must I do?" asked a terrified Bogo.
"Tonight, you will be visited by three spirits. Listen to them and be sure to do as they say, or your chains will be heavier than mine. Expect the first when the clock strikes midnight," said the sheep as she pointed to the grandfather clock in the room.
"But, that's in an hour. How can they all visit me in one night?"
"Don't underestimate them Bogo. And remember to take into account what they have to say," Dawn said as she phased through Bogo's window.
"Wait! Dawn!" he called after her as he pulled open the wooden shutters. He gasped when he witnessed a sea of other ghostly apparitions floating about the night sky alongside Dawn Bellwether.
"Farewell Bogo. Expect me no more and remember all that I've told you and what will await you if you don't…" she said as she gradually disappeared with a haunting breath.
Bogo rubbed his eyes and gazed back out the window. The sky was now clear with no one there - not a living soul nor a dead one. The buffalo's erratic breathing slowly returned to normal. "No, no. None of this could have been real. Bah, ridiculous!" he spat in denial, "Ghosts, spirits, humbug!"
He headed to bed and crawled in. "Surely when I awaken, this will all prove to be nothing more but an absurd dream." he blew out the candle and laid down. In no time, he was snoring, fast asleep and dreaming good dreams to forget about his troubles.
But little did he know...his troubles were only just beginning.
…
A/N: I apologize again for not being able to have the whole thing ready today, but the rest should come soon before the month's over. Even if Christmas will be over by the time the rest is out, I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, a joyous New Year, and just happy days in general, because why should the season of giving and goodwill be limited only to Christmas? ;)
P.S. Don't know why I went with the name Ebeneezer Bogo, but just roll with it, lol! What is his real name anyway? Does he have one?