Stave 2
"Expect the first ghost when the bell tolls one!" The voice of the old king rang in his ears at the same time his clock began to chime the hour and a bright light illuminated the room. Robotnik sat up in his bed, looking from side to side. His eyes couldn't see anything amidst the blinding light and he had to shield his face as his eyes began to hurt. "Whaaa! Turn that light down, I cannot see!"
The light began to dim as a tiny feminine voice said. A tiny girl appeared before him, floating in front of his eyes. "That's not unusual, I'm the Ghost of Christmas Past and the past can be blinding. I'm the first of the three spirits and I have come to guide you."
Robotnik waved her off. "You? Guide me? To where?" He asked as his body shook. The large window opened and he looked at her. "You can't mean to take me that way? I will fall and possibly hurt someone."
The Ghost shook her head and offered her small hand. "Touch my hand and you will fly with me." When he hesitated, she pushed. "We only have a short time. Do not fear, I only wish to help you."
The man growled at her. "I am not afraid!" He took her hand to prove it and before he could withdraw it, they were flying out of the window and into the night sky. They flew up over the city and Robotnik dared to look down and the empty streets. All was quiet and there was no one to see him flying through the skies. He turned his eyes to the horizon as a light appeared in the distance. They were flying right towards it and it slowly grew. "What is that?"
"That is the past…" She explained. "It is where you begin your journey…" They sailed swiftly into the bright light and when the light was gone he no longer recognized his city. It was so green with grass and trees. Wild flowers dotted the countryside.
Their flight brought them to another palace far away. They landed smoothly and Robotnik looked around the snow-covered fields around the palace grounds. He saw a barred window on the ground level and he walked towards it.
"Do you recognize this place?" She asked as they knelt and peered inside. A young boy with frizzy red hair trembled with cold and fear.
Robotnik nodded. "That boy was me. My family had just been executed with the rest of my people. I was waiting my turn…."
She nodded as the door of the jail opened and a tall mink-male entered. He looked with pity at the boy before addressing the guard. The guard nodded and the mink knelt by the boy.
"It's okay. You're safe now…" He whispered and he took the young Julian by the hand.
Robotnik and the spirit followed them to the throne room. A navy blue hedgehog sat on the throne while a small hedgehog princess played with her toys nearby.
"Julian Robotnik," the king addressed him. "You are the last human that exists in this city. I was prepared to execute you as well but several have spoken on your behalf. Lord Montclair tells me you are very intelligent and feels it would be a shame to waste your mind."
Young Julian nodded. "Yes Your Majesty sir…" He spoke with a stammer to his voice.
The king sneered at him. "Lord Montclair has asked to make you his slave. You will thus go with him and you will be grateful." He ordered.
The boy nodded and Robotnik looked back at the spirit. "I had no family after the King's law. Only Lord Montclair's actions saved my life. I owed him and his family everything."
The spirit listened. "Yes, and he took you home with him…" The room changed to the familiar family room of the Montclair Mansion.
A giant evergreen tree stood in the center of the family room, glittering with millions of multicolored lights. Silver and gold garlands wrapped around the boughs of the tree and ornaments hung strategically from its branches. Gifts were piled underneath the tree.
The boar-mink led Young Julian into the living room as Robotnik and the Ghost watched.
A sow-mink with soft brown hair was reading a book to her two children when they entered. She looked over and smiled sadly. "Hello dear." She put aside the book and came over. Her children followed her. Gently, she hugged the child. "I'm so sorry."
Julian looked at her. "I am to be your slave. Thank you for asking for me. Thank you for saving my life." The child said with sadness in his voice.
"You're only our slave if anyone asks." Lord Montclair explained. "I would have adopted you if I could but the king is very small-minded. I'm sorry I couldn't save your family."
"But let us look to the future now and not the past. I am Lady Lilian Montclair but you may call me Lily." The woman gestured to her children. "This is our son and daughter. I know they're very eager to meet you."
The boy-mink bowed, his long blonde hair covering his face before he stood and extended his hand. "I'm Albern." He said. "I hope that we'll be friends."
Julian took the other boy's hand nervously while the girl curtsied. "And I'm Maria. I'm really glad you're here." She hugged Julian excitedly around the middle. "You couldn't have come at a better time. It's Christmas Day." She pulled the shell-shocked boy over to the tree. "This is our Christmas tree."
The young Robotnik felt his lip shake. "It's very pretty…" He looked down, his body shaking.
Robotnik looked at the tree. "That was when it really sunk in. I was safe. I was not going to die that day. I know what you're doing…" He looked at the Ghost. "You're trying to make me remember that I used to like Christmas. Of course I liked Christmas. I was a foolish child."
The Ghost nodded as the scene changed to several years later on Christmas Eve. A twenty-year-old Robotnik sat on the couch tinkering with a device. Maria was hanging ornaments on the new tree.
"Julian, put your books and come help me decorate the tree!" She pleaded with a smile that lit up the room. The ghost looked at her student and saw a light in his eyes.
"I can't Maria! I'm in the middle of project…" He explained as he watched her on the ladder. He watched as she leaned out just a little too far and the stepladder tilted. She let out a yelp as she began to fall. He leaped up spryly and caught her. "You need to be more careful."
Maria giggled and kissed his nose. "But then you wouldn't be able to catch me when I fell." She hugged him.
Julian chuckled. "I suppose that makes sense…" He kissed her. "Maria, I was going to wait until tomorrow but… I got you a present this year."
She looked at him with astonishment as he handed her a small box. "Your father gave his blessing and helped me with the ring." He explained. "Will… will you marry me?"
Robotnik smiled at the memory. "I loved Maria. She was the only one who really understood me. Albern and his wife Delilah were our best friends."
The Ghost nodded. "There was another Christmas with this girl. Do you remember?"
The man froze. "No… no please… don't show me that Christmas…" He visibly trembled as time moved forward.
The mansion and everything inside was a blaze. The tree in the center of the home was burning. In the middle of the room, the Montclairs lay dead. In the doorway, Julian stood in shock, holding his infant nephew in his arms.
"Maria… Maria…" He tried to reach her but the ceiling caved in. He could only run from the mansion with Robotnik and the Ghost following.
"My entire family was taken from me again. All I had left was Bartleby. It all happened on Christmas. Why do you show me this? Why do you delight in torturing me?" Robotnik demanded of the Ghost as they watched the younger man standing outside the mansion and mourning his family.
The Ghost looked at him sadly. "These are the shadows of things that have been. They are what they are and I cannot alter them."
Robotnik sat down on a rock, burying his head in his hands. "Leave me!" He commanded as he reappeared in his room, sitting on the edge of his bed. He hadn't thought of that night in years. He lay back on his pillow and sobbed.
AN: That's the first ghost done. Please comment on the story, I love reviews.