Rapunzel, Eugene and Pascal are watching Scrooge at McCopper Manor with Santa and the elves.
"The second spirit is about ready to arrive and show McCopper everything about his present." Grace said.
McCopper is resting in his bed again after getting exhausted by strengthening the curse. "Well, it's been almost two hours since my last visit. I think it's best if I got some rest." Suddenly, his clock struck midnight. "Huh? It's midnight already? Wow, I'd better get some sleep, pronto."
Suddenly, the lights in his room glow brighter than the arrival of the first ghost and when he opens the bed's curtains, he sees that the entire room is filled with Christmas dinner foods, and it is all being enjoyed by a figure of Varian who is wearing a wreath on his head, a dark green robe and green slippers. The boy magically levitates a torch that resembles a cornucopia. He laughs in a jolly tone.
"Oh, no! Here we go again!" McCopper exclaimed with worry.
"Well, hello there, McCopper. It's nice to finally meet you." Varian greeted the man. "I have to admit, your actions after the last ghost's visit have really been disappointing."
"Okay, who are you, the Ghost of Christmas Dinners?" Scrooge asked.
"No, the Ghost of Christmas Present. I have come to show you what your actions on this very day are currently having an impact on."
"Okay, so you've been sticking your nose in my life, too, have you?"
"Wow, you DO need some help. But, no, we ghosts don't do such inappropriate stuff. We know because… well… we're ghosts that represent the spirit of Christmas."
"Well, what's with all the goof you're stuffing in your face?"
"Oh, they're not for me. They're for everyone on Christmas. You might know that Christmas feasts play a big role in Christmas. All the food you see before you are of your liking."
"Really?" McCopper scoffs. "These are all foods that I have liked to eat before, huh?"
"Yeah. Your community has been more achene to pastires and other non-meat dishes. See for yourself."
McCopper sees the food and gasps at one of them. "Plump goose with chestnut dressing?!" He sees more. "Figgy pudding! Suckling pig! Candied yams! Spiced sugar cakes! And…" He gasps and sees yet another dish. "Oh, my dear favorite! EGG CUSTARD TARTS!" He grabs one and eats it. "MMMM! It's like a taste from the heavens!"
"Yes. I have been in many feasts, and I've even witnessed the ones that you were present in before you were the scroogy person you are today."
"But where did all this food come from and how did you make it?"
"Don't have to make it. These dishes were made by the heart of millions. This is the food of generosity which you have been denying your fellow employees for years."
"Generosity?" Scrooge scoffs. "That's a laugh. Nobody in my life has EVER showed me any generosity whatsoever. Not even my family."
"That's because you never gave them any reason to show you generosity. The last spirit showed you clear proof of that. You treated everyone you loved so badly, they don't want anything to do with you."
"Thanks for reminding me!"
"Don't fret. There are those who can find warmth and joy in the hearts of even the darkest of people. People like you."
"HAH! You don't know anything about the people I interact with. I assure you there's nobody in the world who have shown me ANY possible respect aside from my nephew."
"Oh, don't underestimate what I know, McCopper. And I should tell you that if I hadn't shown up at this very moment, you would've destroyed your relationship with you nephew."
"What?"
"Let me show you. I should warn you that you're about to see a sad fate that'll become a reality if you don't lighten up."
McCopper sees that he and the Varian spirit are now in a new location.
"Where are we?" Scrooge asked.
"We're at Christmas Eve." The Varian spirit replied.
"That's tomorrow, isn't it?"
"Well, technically, no. It's already Christmas Eve since it just turned midnight. But metaphorically speaking, yes. But I'm sure that here, you'll find that it's not like you had expected it to be with that curse. Behold!" He points out a building. As they look inside, they see a room where everyone is happier and the opposite of what the curse is doing.
"Spirit, why are those people acting like I never casted the curse?"
"This is an alternate reality. As you can see, the people have clearly resumed with their lives, unaware of what became of you. Already, even when only a day away, Christmas is a joy to all." Music starts playing.
"Wait, are you gonna sing, too?! I've already had enough of that from the Weasley! I'd rather not have that—"
"May I welcome you, to Christmas Eve!" Varian shouted and then started singing.
It's in the singing of a street corner choir
It's going home and getting warm by the fire
It's true, wherever you find love
It feels like Christmas
The local citizens started singing too.
A cup of kindness that we share with another
A sweet reunion with a friend or a brother
In all the places you find love
It feels like Christmas
Varian:
It is the season of the heart
A special time of caring
The ways of love made clear
Varian and the citizens:
It is the season of the spirit
The message, if we hear it
Is make it last all year
A family:
It's in the giving of a gift to another
A pair of mittens that were made by your mother
It's all the ways that we show love
That feel like Christmas
The townsfolk:
A part of childhood we'll always remember
It is the summer of the soul in December
Yes, when you do your best for love
It feels like Christmas
Varian and the citizens:
It is the season of the heart
A special time of caring
The ways of love made clear
It is the season of the spirit
The message, if we hear it
Is make it last all year
It's in the singing of a street corner choir
It's going home and getting warm by the fire
It's true, wherever you find love
It feels like Christmas
It's true, wherever you find love
It feels like Christmas
It feels like Christmas
It feels like Christmas
"It's like I'm trapped in a bloody musical." Scrooge commented.
"Well, Christmas can do that sometimes. A lot of people act with a song in their heads." Varian spoke up. "Yes, it does tend to feel unnecessary and kinda out of nowhere, but Christmas is more than just a time of joy, so people aren't known to be judgemental on things like that. In fact, a lot of people express how they feel about something through singing."
"Well, I'm still not convinced. So what if my family doesn't come to me because of an oath? If there anyone else I don't know who cares about me?"
"Actually, there is." There are magically sent to an old house. The windows had small cracks, there were cobwebs all over the place, and it was basically filthy.
"Whose run-down old house is this?"
"This is the home of your beloved employee, John."
"Really? He can't even bother to fix this place up. It looks like something the cat dragged in!"
"Well, he can't do it without the proper payment of his job. Because you hardly pay him, he doesn't have enough money to properly fix the place, let alone get enough food to satisfy his wife, and three kids. This is what John's family currently goes through."
"Well, I hope they have good hygiene at that place."
"Oh, of course they do. The inside of the house, is quite the contrary to what you see now."
Scrooge is lead to the window and sees that the inside of the house was much cleaner than what it appears to be. "Well, how can they afford to keep the inside clean, but yet, the outside's a bloody mess?"
"John's wife has a father who's a cleaning-supplies tycoon."
"His wife is a FREAKING HEIRESS?! Then what is she doing living with a poor man like John?"
"Love tends to be funny like that. A rich heiress to a cleaning-supplies tycoon falling in love with a humble minimal-wage worker like John, is an example of that."
"Well, why doesn't she ask her father to prepare this place?"
"Because her father is dying of cancer."
"Ohhhh…"
"It gets more unpleasant. She only gets those cleaning supplies through a friend of hers who works for her father. But soon, Darwin Weasley plans to buy out the company from John's wife and leave her with nothing so he can stay enduringly supplied with cleaning products."
"Well, what's stopping her from becoming the new owner once her father passes on?"
"A lawsuit from Darwin for interfering with the store chain's business interests."
"WHAT?! THAT INSENSITIVE JACK! I'LL BANISH HIM TO THE UNDERWORLD FOR THIS!"
"Well, it's good that you're seeing how corrupt Darwin is in his business. But it gets worse for this family. Observe."
They witness John clanging the dinner plates, which are full of small dishes and very less food, and a boy and a girl arrive laughing and take their seats.
"Dinner's ready, kids." John said.
"I just can't believe how insensitive your boss is, John." His wife said. "Because of his new deal with that Darwin guy, I wasn't able to sue him, and now I've got a lawsuit that's threatening my position as future leader of my father's company."
"I know, but you can't blame him that much for being misunderstood." John replied. "You and I both know that he's had a bad past with his family. By the way, where's Teeny Tom?"
"Over here, father!" A small kid appears on a crutch. "I'm coming."
"Hey, kiddo!" his father greeted him with a hug. "How's the leg?"
"Still numb. Are you sure you'll be able to keep your promise of getting me that vaccination for Christmas?"
"I'm not sure if I'll be able to, Tom. Not with the budget I have. But I'm trying my hardest."
"THAT'S the son he was talking about a couple of times before?" McCopper asked.
"Yes. He's been diagnosed with polio, a rare paralyzing condition that can often result in death." Spirit Varian answered. "You see, John has been trying to tell you that needs the money for a vaccination to cure Tom of his polio before it becomes permanent, or worse."
"Wow. That must hurt."
"Well, not that much. Polio doesn't hurt that much. It just makes certain body parts numb. In Tom's case, one of his legs are numb and he can't walk until he is vaccinated.
"Holy frijoles!" Tom exclaimed in surprise as he sits at the table. "Look at all the wonderful things to eat! You know, we simply have to thank Mr. McCopper for at least being generous for the money he gave us."
"I know, son." John said. "Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas, father!" The two hug.
"He actually cares about me?" McCopper asked with surprise and confusion. "After all that crap I gave his father?"
"Yes. He's a child with a heart so pure that even he cannot be affected by your curse." Varian replied. "Don't you find that kind of love familiar?"
McCopper sees visions of himself and his nephew, Sonny, and sighs. "Wow, maybe John really does deserve a favor. Spirit, what will happen to that kind lad?"
"Well, it won't be very good. If these shadows remain unchanged, then… I see an empty chair where Teeny Tom once sat."
"You're saying that…" Scrooge looks at Teeny Tom. "He'll die?" He turns to see Spirit Varian's face turn into McCopper's.
"If he's gonna die, let him!" The spirit shouted in McCopper's voice. "His death will ease the problem of the surplus population, and one less mouth to feed."
"DYAAHH!" McCopper screamed. "THAT'S STILL SCARY!"
"Well, that's exactly what you said about Tom beforehand."
"Was I really THAT bad? Geez!"
"I'll give you this, McCopper. You're not as bad as Darwin… or your 'insurance' friends."
Suddenly, everything turns into a wall-less room with a gray wooden floor.
"Where are we now?" Scrooge sees Varian is a little older now. "WHAAA! I don't remember you looking like THAT!"
"I'll answer that second statement later. This will be our last trip. And this is where you'll see Darwin for more than what you've heard. This will finally show you the reason why your partners never told you about him."
Suddenly, Darwin appears from the shadows along with a figure McCopper was surprised to have seen.
"It's…It's him! The monster who scared me away from shoe shining!"
"So, buddy, how goes the… uh… taking care of Ol' Coppy?" Darwin asked.
"How odd is it for me to say… McCopper has already died in someone else's hands." The figure answered.
"Duh WHAT?! What kind of hired assassin says the target's dead but he didn't kill him?"
"Because he died before I could kill him. Apparently, his old girlfriend came, smashed his magic staff and stabbed him."
"Well, dang! But at least he's gone for good. Now I can finally step in and take his place as CEO of McCopper & Weasley Toy Industries." Darwin chuckles darkly. "Then my chain of stores will be the greatest businesses in the world. It's great to have you around… father."
"Father?!" Scrooge asked with surprise. "That monster is his son?!
"Indeed." Spirit Varian answered. "He is also half-related to the Weasleys. Alan and Drakey's aunt got married to that assassin on the exact same day you berated at your family. They ended up accidentally having a child who had the exact same dream. The rest you know."
"Well, I suppose that explains where his first name comes from. But HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SO BLIND TO HIS HERITAGE?! Spirit, I've gotta do something—" He sees that Varian is much older. "WAAARRRGGHHHH!"
"My time is almost up, McCopper. I have some final words to say before I move on." The spirit shows him two young and and ugly people.
"OH MY, GOD! What are those abominations?!"
"They truly are abominations. They are Ignorance and Want! Stay clear of BOTH, and all their degree. But most of all, beware of the male one! For on his brow I see that written which is doom, unless the writing be erased."
"Okay, you're really starting to creep me out—" A loud bell chimes, and the spirit of Varian has a throbbing pain in his chest, and falls to the ground laughing as the bell chimes continue 11 times, all the while the spirit's skin starts to turn into dust as he is still laughing even while reduced to a skeleton.
"OH, THE HORROR!" Scrooge screamed as the bells chime a 12th time and the spirit of Varian disintegrates into thin air, and McCopper is sucked into the blackness of the room. "Whoa! Wha—WHAT'S HAPPENING?! NO, NO, NOOOOOOOOOO!" He disappears.
Scrooge wakes up in his bedroom screaming and starts hyperventilating, then calms down. "John… what have I done? But what can I do? The princess of Corona won't let me make amends, and her parents certainly won't hesitate to…do me in if I refuse to bow. I can't do anything to the curse now. But…I'm also afraid of… the third ghost. I'm worried this will only get worse, very worse." He runs down into the living room and finds that nobody is there. "Henry? Miss Porter? PAIGE?! ARE YOU THERE?!" He gulps and sighs. "My God, I'm starting to feel uneasy with this." He searches the manor and eventually finds Henry's room and actually ghosts through it. "WHAT?!" He finds that Henry, Miss Porter and Paige are in the room. "Guys? GUYS! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!" He sighs. "This is gonna hurt… BADLY!"
"Is McCopper okay?" Henry asked.
"I checked on him. He's still in bed." Miss Porter answered. "Possibly still experiencing… three ghosts." She shivers.
"From what I heard from the elves at the North Pole, the curse has spread over 78% by now." Paige said. "There's nothing I can do clear off the curse's range."
"Uh, princess of Corona… if you can hear me… just listen!" McCopper pleaded. "If you don't hate me, this is. I don't know how much of the present ghost you saw, but please! The curse would remain alive if your parents that I turned into harbingers remain uncured! Please, I'm not that same idiot from before who rejected his family. I'm a different idiot now! Wait, that last bit didn't come out right, but GAAHHH, overall, I'm sorry! I-I don't need to see more now! Your parents won't allow me to stop the curse! Now, please, there's no need to—"
"I'm afraid I don't just go away that easily…" a voice rang in McCopper's ear. He gasped and saw a silhouette standing before him in a Grim-Reaper-like shape and gulps.
"MOMMY, HELP! Oh, wait, she can't, darn it!"
Another chapter done. I'd like to comment about John's children. His daughter will be named Holly and his oldest son's name is Jonathan Jr. Also, the song in this chapter is another one from "The Muppet Christmas Carol".
The next chapter will have Hook Hand Thug be the Ghost of Christmas Future, See you then!