Scrooge screams awake and finds himself back in his room. "I'm back in the manor!" He looks outside and sees that the town isn't barren. "MY GOD, IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE?!" he sighs in relief. "Thank God, that spirit nearly gave me a heart attack! They've given me another chance!" He takes a deep breath and looks determined. "Alright, McCopper, grab your moneybags. You've got so much to do. I'm off!" He gets dressed, goes out the door and approaches Miss Porter.
"Oh, hey, McCopper, I—" she said before McCopper cuts her off by giving her a moneybag. "What the?"
"Merry Christmas, Miss Porter!" he greeted her. "Consider this your early payment for helping."
"Wow, Scrooge, you're in a chipper mood this morning."
"No time for that, I've got to do a few things right quick. Tell the others I'll be back soon!" He goes out the door.
"Oooookay, what'd I miss?"
McCopper approaches Henry, who is grooming the horse used to pull the carriage, at the stable. "Henry!"
Henry lets out a startled gasp as he tumbles to the ground. "OOF! Oh, sir, you startled me!"
"Henry, grooming the horse will have to wait. There're a few visits you need to take me to. I had a life-changing empiphany!"
Henry realized he was changed. "Well, why didn't you just say so? Of course! Does it have anything to do with your curse dying out?"
"More than that! MUCH more! Oh, and uh…" He gives his butler two bags of money. "Here's some bundles of cash for you when you're done. I've already covered Miss Porter. Now let's go!"
"Where should we go first?"
"I'll tell you on the way." They both hook the horse to the carriage and they ride off.
Nigel and Stanley are doing their jobs in charity as the carriage drives right to them and stops in front of them.
"What the?!" Nigel exclaimed as McCopper comes out.
"AAHHH!" Stanley screamed as he stumbles into the snow headfirst by accident. "I'm okay!"
"Good heavens!"
"Is that McCopper's carriage? He doesn't want to be mean to us again, does he?"
McCopper appears to both. "Oh, don't worry, gentlemen! I've been thinking about your concern for the budget of Prison 42 and all relief efforts your associated with and I decided that bygones be bygones! Here!" He gives them a bag of money.
"20 dollars, oh no!" Nigel wailed.
"Oh, is that not enough? Well okay, 50 dollars!" Scrooge puts another bag inside Stanley's pants.
"Well, McCopper, that's—" Stanley started to say.
"Still not enough? THEN HAVE SOME MORE!" He throws five whole moneybags on them, covering them in a pile of dollars. "10,000 dollars and not a penny more!"
"10.000-I-BU-JU-WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?!" Nigel exclaimed in surprise. "By Jove! It's like you've had a major experience."
"Don't ask! By the way, MERRY CHRISTMAS! Enjoy making sure that peace is kept." He jumps into the carriage and horse pulls it off.
"WELL, THANK YOU, MR. MCCOPPER! AND A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!"
"That's the weirdest act of meanness yet." Stanley said. "Has McCopper lost his mind?"
"It's not an act of insanity, Stanford! It's a Christmas Carol-based miracle."
"Yeah, a miracle that made him insane. McCopper isn't normally nice."
"Trust me, Stan. A spontaneous change in demeanour isn't considered being insane. It's all a part of mysterious forces that even science will never understand."
"Okay, I'll take your word for it. Now let's hurry and take the money to the office before McCopper snaps out of it!"
"We can take all the time we need. I think Mr. McCopper has finally seen the light."
At Copper & Weasley Toys HQ, the employees arrived depressed, even the security guards.
"It almost doesn't feel right. Especially the news about him magically cursing people into being jerks." James said. "Imagine what that could do to our lives if he doesn't stop it in time."
"James, Mr. McCopper will be much different after this." John spoke.
"Oh, PFFT, what? Like he's gonna suddenly come here and tell us he has an important announcement—"
The carriage arrives and McCopper runs cartoonishly quickly to them. "ALL OF YOU, I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT!"
"That still doesn't mean anything."
Scrooge clears his throat. "People…I have this to say… WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?! Especially on Christmas Eve?!" Everyone starts to become confused.
"Uh…because you told us to?"
"Yeah? Well guess what, you can forget about that crap and acknowledge me saying that…YOU CAN HAVE THE HOLIDAYS OFF!" Everyone gets even more confused. "Did you guys hear me? You've got the holidays off! I will do what I can to make the curse kick the bucket and now you're looking at the new McCopper."
"But you're still the same."
McCopper scoffs. "I didn't mean it that way, you knuckle-head! I'm backing off the deal with Darwin today. I have been told recently of where he came from and how he betrayed a good friend of mine! In fact, he hired an assassin on me to dispose of me so he can have this company for him, and maybe fire you all in the process in the likely chance he'll replace you all with machines." The employees gasped.
"Dang! I didn't know Darwin had it in him. He seemed like a guy I would drink with."
"I realized now!" John exclaimed. "He's the same Darwin that's been harassing my wife over her father's company for cleaning supplies."
"So, for Christmas's sake, I'm baking off the deal and you get today and tomorrow off again and don't have to work extra for boxing day for less pay. Oh, and another thing!" He uses his magic staff to make bags of money appear. "DUE CHRISTMAS BONUSES FOR EVERYONE!" He magically makes the moneybags erupt like a volcano while everyone paused at first. They then cheered as they ran around collecting money.
"WHOOOOO! SORRY I DOUBTED YOU, JOHNNY BOY!" James cheered. "YAAA-HOOOOO!"
"He changed!" John cheered as McCopper came up to him.
"John? I'll meet you personally at your house in a minute." He said. "Right now, I've got some unfinished business to take care of." He chuckles as he walks out the door.
"Okay, I'll just get the money I need." He joins the others in collecting money.
At the corporate base of Darwin's store chain, Darwin chuckles as he was counting his piles of money. "Just enough money to eventually buy out the cleaning supplies place from John! After someone personally deals with McCopper."
"And you have me to help you win this case, boss!" said his lawyer, Hammy, who is right beside him. "I love being a company lawyer! I never lose a case."
"What about the one with your last boss?"
"A fluke."
"The one with Kevin."
"Had to face legal issues."
"Those rednecks."
"It didn't end badly for them."
"Uh, not from what I heard. To put it short and sweet, one of them bet their liver on the case, but we sowed it back in, so it's not all that bad, right? But anyway, I assure you that this court case will win."
"It'd better. But at least I know that by now, McCopper will be destroyed in due time." Darwin sips tea until he sees McCopper's carriage appearing, and when Scrooge appears angrily, he spits out his tea in surprise. "WHAAAAT?!"
"MCCOPPER, GO EASY ON THE GUY!" Henry shouted from the carriage.
"I'm sure I will!" Scrooge answered. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a present for him!" He takes out his staff and goes inside as everyone is shocked to see him and he comes up to the lobbyist. "Tell Mr. Darwin his business dealer is here!"
"Yes, sir!" The lobbyist replied. Scrooge goes up the stairs and everyone is shocked to see him again. He bursts into Darwin's office.
"DARWIN!" He shouts. Darwin screams like a girl and hides inside a money pile. "I'll get right to the point! THE DEAL IS UP!"
"UP?! On what grounds?!" Darwin asked. "Our companies have never been more profitable!"
"Profit schmofit!" McCopper smacks Darwin to the window as his mushed face slides down to the floor. "You tried to get rid of me by sending a hitman to assassinate me! YOU EVEN BETRAYED MY OLD FRIEND! THAT'S WHY I'M DONE DOIING BUSINESS WITH YOU!"
"NO, PLEASE, LISTEN TO ME! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! THIS DEAL IS GOING THROUGH THE ROOF! You do not know what I have done to get this position! The lies I've told, the LIVES I'VE RUINED!" His scared face shrinks. "This isn't helping me."
"If my partners had warned me about you beforehand, I wouldn't have trusted you. So starting after Christmas, not only will I cut off deals with you, but you will be put in court for attempting to murder me!"
"WHAT?! HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY KNOW THAT?! You cannot prove it! Plus, may I remind you that you signed a contract?"
"Oh, yeah? Well, here's what I say to that!" Scrooge takes out the contract, magically turns it into some broccoli with his staff and stuffs it in Darwin's mouth.
"YOU IDIOT!" Darwin's shouts muffled from the broccoli. "I'M ALLERGIC TO BROCCOLI!" He swells up and spits out the broccoli.
"Good thing I knew that since before you even betrayed my friend! I'll see you in court this 26th, you big jack!" McCopper leaves as Darwin looks stunned.
"You want me to defend you on that?" Hammy asked.
"At least it won't be worse!" Darwin replied through his swollen state as his words were muffled. Suddenly, guards are heard.
"Oh, I hope you don't mind, but I let the authorities in on your little scam." McCopper said from down the hall. "And my friend as well. He would like to deal with you personally in court as well."
"You know, seriously, saying it can't get worse just makes it worse." Hammy commented. "It's a known karma trigger."
"Hammy, you'd better win this, or you're fired!" Darwin threatened his lawyer.
"You're going to fire me as a lawyer altogether? That makes no sense at all!" Darwin sighs.
Back at Santa's workshop, Rapunzel, Eugene, Pascal, Santa and the elves saw the whole thing through the Snowveillance globe.
"Well, everyone, the scroogy mastermind has finally reformed." Alfred said. "Looks like there is only one thing left to do. Pick him up and have him avert the curse crisis and prevent the death of peace and goodwill in time for Christmas Eve. Normally, problems tend to last before Christmas Day."
"Then there's not a moment to lose!" Santa declared. "Everyone, to the sleigh!" The group runs to Santa's sleigh and the reindeer take off at high speed to find McCopper.
Meanwhile, at John's house, John's wife is preparing breakfast as the children wait patiently but sadly.
"Dad's missing breakfast again?" Teeny Tom asked.
"You know dad has an obligation to that old man McCopper." His mother sighed. "Especially that he didn't even get a break on Christmas Eve, much less—" Before she could finish, John bursts in, surprising everyone.
"DADDY!" Holly and Jonathan Jr. exclaimed as all but Tom ran up to their father and hugged him.
"John? You're home?" John's wife asked. "Why?"
"You won't believe this, Helena, but Mr. McCopper came in and gave me the day off." John answered. "And what's even better is that I finally have the money for Tom's polio vaccination!" He takes out the money.
Helena was speechless.
"I always knew Mr. McCopper would come through!" Tom exclaimed delightedly as he hugs his father. "I'll finally get to walk again!"
"Are you sure this is the same McCopper?" Helena asked. A knock on the door was heard.
"Oh, that must be him." John opens the door and sees it is McCopper. "Yep."
"John…" Scrooge began. "I had known about your son's sickness for a while and I hope the Christmas Bonus helps. But also, I have news regarding the company. I plan to retire after my successful lawsuit against Darwin for attempting an assassination on my life. I will finally make Paige the happiest woman in the world. Which is why you and James shall be granted full authority to the Toy Company."
John and his family are surprised. "What?"
"I think I died and gone to an alternate life." Helena claimed.
"Sir…you're giving up on your dream for the best business ever?" John asked.
"It was an attractive pipe dream, but if it were to become the best…it'll have to be without my interference." Scrooge answered. "I'm entrusting it to you and James."
John smiles. "I promise you won't be disappointed, sir."
"Thank you. Well, I had better get going. I have got things to do. I hope your son gets better. Merry Christmas."
"And God bless us everyone." Tom said as he hugs McCopper. When he pulls away, Scrooge leaves.
"I am clearly alive!" Helena exclaimed. "McCopper has officially lost his marbles."
"No, Helena!" John said defensively. "He just found the spirit of Christmas… and true happiness."
As Scrooge rides in his carriage being driven by Henry, he says to his butler, "Henry? I never realized how great it is to be making amends to the people like this. I'm glad to be making them."
"It's wonderful to hear things like that from you, sir." Henry replied. "And it's especially wonderful that you're donating the Weasley Manor as a new orphanage. Those people can certainly look forward to a new profession. I'll miss working with you, sir."
"Oh, it doesn't have to be permanent, Henry. You can always visit me and Paige, especially on Christmas."
"Oh, sir! I'd be especially delighted to—" They suddenly saw Santa's sleigh land in front of them.
"Oh, McCopper, thank goodness we found you!" Rapunzel exclaimed.
"My wife's parents and many of the people in her hometown have been affected by your curse." Eugene warned. "We need you to put an end to this crisis!"
"Hey, you're those two people I saw at the end of the epiphany I had." Scrooge remarked. "There is no time to waste! I need to right all the wrongs I made!" He climbs into the sleigh and the reindeer pull it into the air and take off quickly. Upon reaching the kingdom of Corona, everyone could see the tainted victims creating total chaos.
McCopper has a look of horror and guilt on his face. "What have I done? I have to fix this!" He raises his staff and fully blasts a light of magic at the citizens. The magic spreads throughout the kingdom. In a matter of time, all the townspeople's eyes turn back to normal and they are cured from their corruption.
"Uggh…" King Frederic groaned as he rubs his head as if he had a throbbing headache. "Where am I? What happened? Where's McCopper?"
"Right here." Scrooge said as he walks up to everyone and takes off his hat in remorse. "Citizens of Corona, I controlled you all with my curse. I made you hate Christmas and cause mischief to this kingdom."
"WHAT?!" A man shouted.
"Well, that explains why I'm covered in chocolate." A boy said as wipes the chocolate off him.
The king, queen and other people are mostly either surprised or upset to see McCopper. "Oh, look who's here after he almost wrecked Christmas and somehow peace for the world!" A woman declared angrily.
Scrooge takes a deep breath before starting his speech. "Well, I don't blame you for being mad of what I did recently. My actions are unacceptable and inappropriate. I will not expect your sympathies for being the fool that I was. I made foul decisions that I had corrected out of true remorse that I will understand if it does not convince you. I gave the donation men the money they need to help their causes and Prison 42 most of all out of its financial trouble. I gave the employees holidays off and changed the deals. I got out of Darwin's deal and I gave him a piece of my mind for what he tried to do. I plan to help John will all his problems in due time. But before I do, I want to say sorry to all of you for almost ruining your reputations, your Christmas and maybe even what sense of respect you may or may not have. Even my nephew, Sonny asked me to join for his Christmas party, but I bluntly refused. I was a bit of a jerk to him. I will ask him if the invitation to his party is still open. I will not expect a yes, but at least an acknowledgement that…I am not that same fool who treated all life like dirt. That McCopper is no more. Now, I am a repenting old fool who understands if no one forgives me for what I did. I couldn't say sorry any more than I could, and I perfectly acknowledge it won't change the past. But please know that I know right now that I was wrong."
"You'll need more than THAT to convince us!" A girl in the crowd spat.
"It's okay. I plan to retire from business, give the toy company to John and James and use what money I didn't already give away and plan to use for my future lawsuit on Darwin to buy back that cottage so Paige and I can have the future we've always wanted. I even plan to apologize to my family and thank them for accepting what kind of path I wanted to walk and wish to be accepted even when I am still cautious of being a shoe shiner. And let's be honest, I'm too old to learn it again anyway. I have bad arthritis like you wouldn't believe. I just wish…I just wish my brother and parents were here to hear that."
The crowd is silent. "I see. You're unsure on how to react now. Please know and remember that…I am deeply sorry for my mistakes."
Before he could even turn, Queen Arianna approached him. "Of course, we forgive you." She said. "And as for your nephew's celebration, you should ask him if it's still open for him while you can. And I hope they got you your favorite dish for a feast, egg custard tarts."
"Really?! Uh…I mean, that's wonderful and great! Merry Christmas, everybody!" Everyone cheers as Scrooge bows in respect and leaves to make amends with his relatives and the rest of his family.
And so, McCopper has finally seen the Christmas spirit and everything has gone back to normal.
There's only one chapter left to work on before this Christmas story finally comes to an end. I'm so excited that I'm almost done since this story took months to work on! Anyway, catch you all later!