Stave 1
Life was bleak in Robotropolis. The city skies were filled with smog and garbage lines the streets. Robot police patrolled the sidewalks and arrested anyone who dare so much as cross against the lights. It was a city devoid of hope and light.
Except for once a year. Once a year, in December, the people courageously came together to celebrate Christmas. Everyone in Robotropolis loved Christmas.
All except for one man. Julian Robotnik, the despot who ruled over the kingdom. He hated Christmas. He only allowed the frivolity because his nephew enjoyed it. But anyone who dare wish him a Merry Christmas was immediately thrown into the roboticizer in the first year of his reign and the lesson was learned. No one dare wish the sour, selfish, crotchety old man a "Merry Christmas" again.
No one quite knew why the old man was so nasty. He was in charge. He had everything a man could want.
However, that Christmas Eve, he was just as sour as ever as he sat at his work desk, building another module. "Ha! This! This is how I will defeat the hedgehogs once and for all!" He held up a small device. "Sleet, Dingo!" He shouted, bringing them at a run.
They prostrated themselves before him. "Yes, sire, what would you have us do?"
Robotnik laughed. "It's perfect. I have it on good authority that every year, the hedgehogs go to Sanctuary for the day. This is the ideal moment. I want you to find the hedgehogs and fix this device to their van. It'll lead us directly to their hide-away. They'll be sitting ducks."
Sleet took the device. "Sire, are you certain. Tomorrow is Christmas…"
"Bah, I don't care about all that rot! Go and do as you're told! If you fail, I will roboticize you!" He barked, sending them scurrying out of the castle.
As they left, a young mink appeared at the door to his office. He held a green wreath in his hands. "Merry Christmas, Uncle!"
Robotnik looked up from his desk. "Bah, humbug. How can anyone be merry at any time of year with this war going on? Answer me that, Bartleby."
Bartleby rolled his eyes. "It's only going on because you allow it to. But never mind that. Why can't you be merry. Despite the war, you have everything. You're in power. You want for nothing."
"Nephew, you keep Christmas in your way, and I'll keep it in mine. And I say humbug!" Robotnik decreed with a sharp tone that made his nephew jump.
Bartleby sighed. "As you say. But I say, merry Christmas. I only came to invite you to Christmas dinner." He explained as the SwatBots marched in two old dogs carrying briefcases and trembling like leaves. "Oh good afternoon gentlemen."
"Good… good morning, sir… We are sorry to trouble you, Your Lordship," the dachshund in his suit began. "You see… we are…"
"Spit it out!" The despot demanded harshly, glowering darkly at them.
He nodded. "Yes… Sire… We're collecting alms for the poor and the hungry. There are so many children without milk and food or even clothing. Some are very sick."
Bartleby smiled. "Well you came to the right place. I know that Uncle will certainly want to help. As do I."
Robotnik nodded. "Certainly I do. I obviously need to build a few more poor houses and workhouses. They must be getting full."
The other, a bulldog shook his head. "No sir. There are plenty but they are terrible places, sire. Most would rather die."
He shrugged. "Well if they would rather then they should get to it already and decrease the surplus population!"
The mink's mouth dropped. "Uncle, you don't mean that. He doesn't mean that." He insisted to the two gentlemen. "Here, take this." He offered the dogs a fat bag of coins. "From us. And we should take our leave. We're eating early tomorrow, Uncle. If you decide you want to come, there will be a chair waiting for you." He herded the men out before his uncle could lose his temper.
Robotnik rolled his eyes and snapped to himself. "Humbug!" He looked back at his tools and his blueprints. He would defeat the hedgehogs once and for all.
Later that night, he walked up to his bedchambers. He had received confirmation of his bounty hunters' success and was ready to sleep with giddy thoughts of disposing of some rebel filth.
He went into his bathroom and changed into his long, plush red and black robe. He washed his face. He was looking into the mirror as he groomed his mustache when something caught his eye. He looked closer into the mirror. Deeper, deeper into the mirror until the face of an old blue hedgehog appeared in the mirror.
"Robotnik!" The Blue hedgehog cried out with a mournful howl. The sounds of chains being shaken echoed behind him.
Robotnik was normally very taciturn. It took a lot to frighten him. However even he couldn't hold back the terrified scream he gave as he ran from the bathroom. He panted as he looked back into the bathroom at the mirror. "Nothing… Robotnik, you're working too hard." He poured himself a nightcap and sat in his overstuffed chair. He looked at his fireplace, at the mantle. He sighed to himself just before the fire went completely out and the room was plunged into darkness and his bedroom door was flung open.
A chill filled the room and Robotnik slowly turned. He heard the sound of metal being dragged across metal. "Who… who's there!" He called.
A hedgehog with chains wrapped around his extremities hobbled into the bedroom. "Robotnik…." Fog billowed up around the apparition and he looked so weak and tortured.
"King Jules…. but I... I killed you…" Robotnik stammered.
The dead king raised his head, his eyes were red around the iris and he looked as though he'd not slept in months. "Yes… Robotnik… You killed me and took my throne… but do not fear me. I know that I deserved your wrath for the crimes I committed on my people."
"Then why are you here if not for revenge?" Robotnik demanded. "Why am I even bothering? You're not real."
Jules chuckled. "So you doubt your eyes and sanity?" He asked.
Robotnik trembled. "Just tell me what you want and leave!" He demanded. "Why have you come if not to torment me?"
"I bring a warning, Robotnik… A warning that you are going down the very same path of darkness that I followed… These chains you see were forged by every wicked deed I did. If you don't change your ways, a set of these chains will be waiting for you when your days are done." Jules shook his heavy chains at Robotnik. "And yours will be far heavier."
Robotnik felt ice fill his body. "Heavier… How? How can I avoid this fate?"
Jules held up three fingers. "Tonight, you will be haunted by three spirits!"
Robotnik shook his head. "I've been haunted quite enough, thank you."
"Your only hope is to listen to these spirits and heed their advice! Expect the first ghost when the bell tolls one!" Jules decreed before he vanished and left Robotnik to his fear.
Robotnik trembled madly as he forced himself into his bed. Just a dream, just a piece of underdone potato or something surely. He pulled his blankets around himself and fell into a fitful sleep.
AN: Will Robotnik listen to the three spirits? Or is he doomed to be eternally wandering the world laden with heavy chains? What's your favorite version of A Christmas Carol? I love the muppet Christmas Carol and the Alistair Sims version.