Man, Dickens did not make it easy. Difficult chapter I must admit. Please enjoy.

I do not own Pokémon, or a Christmas Carol.

Chapter 4: The Last of the Spirits

The Absol neared Drew and Drew was petrified by the eyes that were not even glaring at him. The Pokémon was merely gazing upon him. The simple tred belied the strength in the claws and Drew knew indefinitely that this was no normal Absol.

The dark seemed to shape around him and Drew had never been scared of a Pokémon how this one filled him with dread. Drew could not move as the Absol came up with his belying tred, the dark so very well suited and Drew thought he could stand next to a royal person and not feel this overwhelmed.

"You are the Spirit of Future Christmas, are you not?" Drew asked but the Absol just stared at him solemnly. This did not calm Drew, a mild feeling of panic overcoming him.

"You will show me what will happen in my future, time that has yet to come?" he asked, but the Absol gave no sign of having heard the coordinator. Instead it turned and seemed to lead Drew.

Drew himself, having gotten somewhat familiar with ghosts now, even if the two dog Pokémon of the present had freaked him out somewhat, followed. But this Pokémon had an effect on him that Drew had not yet experienced and when the Pokémon stopped for Drew to catch up through time stream, Drew imagined this dark was, it did not calm him. The idea that the disaster Pokémon was so keenly aware of him that he knew where he was, was nothing but freaking Drew out.

Now, in the original Carol, Drew was supposed to be brought to whispering old ladies, who were selling his bed sheets and people rejoicing because he couldn't collect debts because of being, well…dead. Drew knew the story, hell everyone knew so why wouldn't Drew. Not that he was intending to die so he was really disconcerted when the Absol had transported them, not to a dark room with a body on the bed, that was supposed to be his.

Drew was in a contest hall and it was busy.

"Listen," Drew spoke. "I know I am supposed to change so can we not do the 'look at my dead body'- thing? I know I haven't been a good person."

The Absol stared at him, almost seeming confused and Drew sighed heavily. "You will show me, no matter what, huh?"

The Absol nodded towards a little group of trainers and Drew went over to them, feeling solemn. "What? You are actually using a Flygon?" one of them laughed, mockingly.

The other coordinator spun a ball around on his fingers, a neat trick Drew noted. "Why shouldn't I? It's a good Pokémon!"

Another coordinator scoffed and bit his lip: "Well, it's not like it is a special Pokémon. Won't do your contests any good," he said.

The second trainer seemed to bristle at that. "Hey! There have been coordinators who used Flygon!" he protested.

The first trainer bent down and Drew could almost touch the carelessness he had towards the topic. Drew almost wanted to shout at the trainer who was wearing a hooded red jacket which clashed horrendously with his hair. "Really?" he said. "Name one."

This held the second trainer back and Drew smirked at the first trainer. "Here's one, and an amazing one too!"

But the second trainer let out a short laugh, "Brianna!" he said, self-satisfied.

The redheaded trainer and the third looked at each other and started laughing. "Really," the third said. "You refer to her? She never got really far." No, that Drew knew. Brianna never had never gotten far.

The first shrugged, "Really, if you want to use it, go ahead but if that's the best you can come up with, you certainly have to beat a few odds." Drew frowned at this: it had been a while that he had used Flygon, but certainly not so long that people had forgotten?

"Laugh all you want! You will sing a different song when I am the best!" the second trainer claimed, a scowl marring his pale face,

The two other trainers sniggered. "Sure thing bud, but you will treat us then!" the third said and the first trainer slung an arm around his pale friend and the three laughed. Drew frowned and looked at the Absol for an explanation but the ghost shifted his eyes towards a group of girls.

Now Drew had never quite paid them some attention, but he could've sworn he did recognize some of his old fans. "Did you hear the new gossip?!" one asked excitedly, a blond female Drew knew was quite fanatic.

"No, what is it?!" one of her followers asked and the blond squealed.

"They are getting married!"

It had a flood of 'no way's and 'oh my gosh's as a consequence, but Drew was confused. Why did the spirit want him to hear these conversations in particular? The only wedding close to him had been Harley and Soledad's and that was the past. The other group was only badmouthing Flygon. Both of these conversations would have no impact on him or let him know how he was supposed to change.

And he knew he had to: he was being visited by three spirits for Lugia's sake!

He looked at the participant board, expecting to see himself somewhere. To see a future self? How scary to see yourself in the future, but he needed to know what became of him.

But he wasn't up there. And this confused him: why would he be brought here by the spirit if there wasn't any relation to him? But the spirit gave no sign of understanding his conflict: instead it walked out of the door into the cold air.

Drew shot the contestant board one last look, all faces unfamiliar, before following the Pokémon. He had no idea where they were going until they entered a little dingy shop. Confused, Drew followed: what would this shop, that he didn't even know existed,, have to with him?

But the Absol continued to all the way in the back, where a man was sitting on a rickety chair. Curious Drew looked around. In the shop, various prizes and other stuff were show-cased. All of the items looked as if they had been important at one point in time, but now they were just dusting away behind glass.

A woman, a little older than him came in hurriedly in a dust of cold air and the man behind the table let out an exasperated breath. "Are you back again?!" he asked her in no way friendly. It sounded as if the woman came here one time too many.

"But I have another ribbon of him! It looks really nice!" the woman whined.

The man slammed his hands down on the table. "So did the other 20 you sold me, and guess what? They are worthless!"

The woman seemed taken aback, the box in her hand shaking and she swallowed. "But he's a famous coordinator…"

"No, he was!" The man said harshly. "Now, he is nothing more than a shade of the past and better left that way!"

The woman was barely holding back the tears and Drew figured she was depending on the money. Yet he couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor sod's who's ribbons got sold. He couldn't imagine if his own were the object of such transactions. Not likely: they were probably worth a but more than that, but Drew certainly did feel sorry for the man.

"But why? A few years back…" the woman tried and the man scoffed.

"A few years. Who cares about them. Now they aren't worth anything"

"But it's still history! Even if the man was an asshole, he still was popular back then!" the woman tried again. She was tugging her hair nervously. It did not help her dry strawblond hair and for some reason, Drew felt a little sorry for her. He supposed it was Christmas and here this poor woman was in a grey dress that had seen better times, haggling with an old wretched balding man. He did not wish this to quite a few people!

The man scowled, "You want to know why the stuff isn't worth anything anymore? Because all he had is already on the market!" The man seemed unhappy and Drew balled a fist in frustrated anger. The man who had owned and earned these had nothing of his prizes left? "I gave the fool more than I should have if I had known I wouldn't get it sold."

The woman opened her mouth but the man seemed to have tired of her. "Yes ok? The idiot sold me his awards himself to get more money for whatever ditch he's lying in now. Who'd care about that either way. He was a dislikable man at best. Where did you get this ribbon any way?"

The woman shuffled a little bit guiltily and the buyer snorted a laughter. 'What? You grabbed it from his body?" he questioned.

The woman turned away her face: "He was sleeping," she murmured.

The man burst out laughing, "I can't believe it! You took the one ribbon he did not want to let go! Some sort of personal bond or regret or something!" He laughed some more until he couldn't breathe anymore. "Ok," he finally sighed when he stopped laughing. "I will take this one off you. Only because this is a special one."

Drew continued to look on aghast as money changed hands and when he went to stare at the spirit the scene around him changed to a cold back alley.

For a moment, Drew was confused again: why were they here? But the Absol continued towards a clump of cloths and upon a better look, Drew saw it should be a human and dread filled him. The Absol went to sit next to the person as if it were a Pokémon waiting for its master.

But the one laying here was utterly alone and forgotten by the world and with a shock, Drew realized this man was the one the woman had stolen his one and last precious item from while he had sold the rest for some money.

Drew took a step back: he did not want to get close to this man. "No! Spirit, I see! Fame is temporary. People will forget you no matter what your deeds are if there is no-one who wants to remember them!"

The Absol stared back to where the man's face should be and it was clear to Drew that it wanted him to see the man, but Drew shook his head. "No. Ghost of Future Christmas. Please don't make me. Let him rest! He who is forgotten by everyone. I know this could be me if I continue on!"

He was scared. He was scared of that what had brought this man to sleep in the cold in a back alley where rats would chew and he could not do anything about it.

The Absol bowed over the man's head, seemed to push it gently with his own and the man raised a hand towards his face. A gloved hand with cut off fingertips. The man would not see them but he seemed to be waking up and Drew's heart was up in his throat.

"Please spirit! Take me away! Take me to a place where someone will miss this man! Please!" Drew was desperate to see someone still having some kindness towards this man, to see there was still some hope.

Drew understood the image. He did not want to end up like that!

Absol stared at him and then passed him out of the alley. Drew threw one last look at the man and did not miss the shiver before following the image of his own Pokémon. He'd definitely care more for them now.

To his surprise, the spirit had brought him to a warmly lit room and not towards more suffering, through the same swirl of colors. A woman with brown pinned hair was sitting in a chair and even from his spot, Drew could see a big white dress on her. She was sighing deeply when the door opened.

"May!" the entering person called.

Drew took only a moment to see that it was a lot older looking Max before he turned his shocked gaze towards his old love, who was definitely all the bride today. "He didn't come, did he?" May asked in a soft voice, laced with old regret.

Max scoffed, "May, this is your happy day. I will not allow that you beat yourself up over it now. You know that he cannot be found easily. We can't really send him an invite."

But May smiled as she shrugged off the sadness. "I am not really upset about it, little brother. He's someone I once knew." The fire of the fireplace lit up her face more beautiful than ever, she was more beautiful than ever in this dress, but Drew found her words hard and cold. She really had no lingering feelings about this man.

Max smiled, "Are you sure?" he asked and May laughed.

"Max, we both knew it was a long call and it was only polite, that's all. It is my wedding day! I wouldn't let today be ruined by something so small. Max seemed proud and he hugged his sister tightly. "Careful on the hair, Max!" she laughed.

Max sniggered and smiled at his sister. "He will care for you. He will love you, so don't worry anymore."

May ruffled his hair and Max protested lightly. "I left it behind me a long time ago, Max."

Max smiled and shook his head while he offered her his arm. "Ready to get married, May?" he asked. May smiled and rose in a waterfall of hugging and soft white silks. She joined her brother on the arm and the smile of honesty broke Drew's heart: once her smile had been focused on him.

"Yeah, I've been ready a long while."

While his only love left the room, Drew turned angry eyes at Absol. "She didn't miss that man! If she was talking about him, she easily complied that he didn't come!" White hot fury raced through Drew's veins. He couldn't imagine this poor man mean so little to anyone. No matter how he had lived, anyone had to care!

Even May had not felt more than a little regret he would not be a her wedding! Drew ignored the pain stab, thinking his only love marrying and focused on the man. "This man has done nothing to be treated this badly. People taking his possessions? A passing thought at a wedding? He is human! Does it mean that nothing he achieved in his life has a lingering effect on the people around him?!"

Absol fathomlessly stared at him raging and Drew felt something in him break. "Tell me spirit, please. Isn't there anyone caring without anything in return?"

The colors were swirling again and Drew found himself in a room he had visited once already this evening. His mother's house seemed to have lost some color and the woman sitting in the chair had aged quite a bit. Her lovely hair was turning grey and her hands were shaking.

"Mum?" Mary asked, now fully grown as she entered the room from Drew's right. "Are you alright?" Drew stared at them from behind their couch and he could not completely see their faces. But he was scared to see it clearly. He still was unsure what he was doing here right now, and the spirit next to him did not help.

The woman in the chair said nothing and Mary sighed as she put down some cups of tea before them on the table. "Soledad wishes you a good health."

Drew stilled: how did his sister know Soledad? He didn't even know his sister!

Again, his mother did not reply and Mary took a few sips from her tea, hissing when the hot drink scalded her tongue. "Her little boy is quite cute. Really polite too. I suppose the boy will become a fine coordinator."

This time, the mother gave a weak glimpse of a smile but Mary seemed content that she had gotten that much of a reply. It stayed silent for a few moments before Mary put down her cup. "Mum! It's not your fault, ok?" she finally said. "Soledad said that too and she does not even know you! She said that any kind of gentleness he possessed came from you!"

Mary seemed to search for words while her mother stared at her baffled. "Mum, it's not your fault! He made a mess of his life and you are not the one who should clean up his messes!"

This shocked her mother back to life: "Of course I should! I am, was…I don't know…" she was reduced to sobs and her daughter gently hugged her.

"Mum, it is not your fault. He didn't even know you were alive."

Something in Drew's stomach started feeling the dread. They could not be talking about his father. He whirled around at Absol while his sister suggested they'd grab the book to relive old memories and times. "Spirit. I have a feeling the night is almost over. I don't want to know but something in me tells me I should," he said breathless, fear in the core of his body while Absol again stared at him without any emotion.

"I need to know, spirit. The man in the alley, abandoned by everyone and the world does not care, who was he?"

This moved Absol to action. Usually, Drew would feel and see colors swirling, but nothing like that happened. He simply went through the door and Drew followed. Again the streets were silent and Drew followed after Absol who guided him towards the only place in the city where it would be busy.

Baffled, Drew stared at the first aid where an ambulance was just entering and a small crew of people surrounded the body so Drew could not see well.

"A young man in his twenties," one of the ambulance aids said.

The nurse going with him huffed, "Kids nowadays drink too much," she said blithely.

The aid fumed, "I don't disagree, but this is a homeless man, who seemed to have a case of bad hypothermia." Drew then lost them out of sight. He looked questioningly at the ghost but the Pokéman stared at the entrance through which the group had just gone.

Drew understood the message, even if every bone in his body told him to run as far as possible. But he had to do this. So he followed the Pokémon's line of sight and went after the person brought in. At the desk he found two people arguing: the nurse and the ambulance aid.

"He needs medical aid! He's underfed and stone cold! He'll die like this!" the aid shouted.

The nurse wrapped her arms. "That may be, but he has no insurance, no emergency contacts or any financial backing! We can't treat him," she said. She sounded harsh and Drew again felt a stab of pity for the man.

The aid moved frustrated, not knowing where to go and he waved his arms aimlessly. "So he will die then?" he asked.

The nurse seemed impatient, probably having dealt with this kind of cases before. "We can make it comfortable for him. But we aren't allowed to do more." She then walked away and the aid stood there for a moment.

"Poor fellow," he muttered before going back to the ambulance. His shift was not yet done, but he walked as if knowing he had not saved this person. Not really.

"Spirit," Drew started, standing before the room he knew the doomed man was in. "Is this absolute? Or can this still change? Certain ways will decide where one will end up. Are those predestined?" But just like the dark-cloaked spirit, Absol did not say anything but stared inside the room.

A shiver went over Drew's back, the silence did not do anything to comfort him but he went inside staring at the floor. A cold wind went through the room and Drew stopped at the foot end.

Trembling, his eyes went up and stopped at the chart hanging from the bed. Is eyes merely stroked over the name written on the paper.

DREW HAYDEN

His eyes raised to the man, his insides frozen and he stared at his older gaunt face, hair listless and eyes closed. "No…" Drew whispered, stumbling back, his eyes seeking the spirit. "No…then, in the alley…was me?"

Absol simply went up to the man himself in the bed and pushed his hand with his head.

"No," Drew spoke. "No, no, no, no…NO! I can change, spirit! I will change! I have not seen all this just to end up here!" Drew shook his head as he stared at Absol, not noticing how his knees gave out.

"Please, spirit! You have shown me this and taught me lessons. You did, the Past and the Present! All three of Christmas spirits! I will not forget you! I will be reminded each Christmas and show the proper mindset! Please!" Drew begged, stretching a hand towards the creature.

"Please, don't let me die here alone!"

Absol seemed to hesitate, feeling torn between the man on the bed and Drew on the ground.

"Please…" Drew whispered brokenly and then stretched the last part towards the spirit.

The disaster Pokémon stiffened and opened its mouth. Drew scrambled back when a light gather as if charging an attack, and in a white light, Drew woke up.

This chapter was confronting to me, because I see myself too much in Drew. It was hard as well, because Dickens REALLY did not make it easy for me.

One more chapter before Christmas. Oh dear. Please leave me a review!