(Now, we join Megatron Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Present in this next part of Scrooge's journey of discovering the true meaning of the holidays. Also, the OC's Phoenix, Achilles, and Sapphire, belong to me. Also, please don't be angry if Grimlock *Who plays the role of the Ghost of Christmas Present* does not speak in his well-known cave man-like dialect.)
Awaking from his slumber, Megatorn Scrooge wiped at his optics, finding small dried streaks of his own tears on his cheek plates. He had recollected everything that the first ghost had shown and shook his head, his hand holding his fore head. "Why was I so foolish? I could have married Moon Gem. Why was I foolish?"
He sat himself up on his bed and looked about him. The curtains were undrawn, all was in its place, and there wasn't any sight of a specter in the room. He sighed and was close to laying his head upon his pillows, when his olfactory sensors picked up a very unfamiliar scent. He hadn't taken upon the idea of sniffing around his house, but he did recognize the familiar scents of the home. However, this scent was not that of the mold, or dust. This scent was of food.
He was out of the bed the instant and made his way to the door, when he noticed that a faint, yellow glow was seen from under the door. "Who has snuck into my abode and lighted all the candles?" Megatorn Scrooge mumbled as he slowly opened to the door, and gasped.
The staircase, and the extra bedroom on the other side were gone. He had soon found himself in an entirely new room. A large, glowing living room, with golden alabaster tables and chairs. the wall paper and floor was constructed of fine silver and porcelain, with various depiction of Cybertronian's in festive spirit singing, dancing, or kneeling on their knees in prayer to Primus. What had really gotten Megatron Scrooge's attention was all of the delectable foods and drinks that filled each corner of the room. Spiced sugar cakes, boiled Cybertronian swine, bowls of some of the finest energon beverages anyone could find, and benzene infused grapes and other delectable fruits. Large, bronze lanterns were hung above the room, the flames gold and white.
As the miser observed the room, a loud, booming voice rang about the room. "Come forth! Come forth, Scrooge, and know me better!" Megatron Scrooge followed the voice's origin, and saw a very large, mountainous mech in gold, grey, red and black armor, wearing a green robe bedazzled in red, blue, and yellow diamonds. A crystalized wreath was upon the specters head, worn like a crown, and in its hand it held a large glowing lantern in the shape of a horn, holding it up high as Megatron Scrooge came to him as he sat upon a heap of food. "Come forth, and know me better!" Megatron Scrooge was intimidated by the size of this spirit, but had to look upon him. "I am the Ghost of Christmas Present." it introduced. "Look upon me, Scrooge." he said in a cheerful bellow.
Megatron Scrooge did just that, and watched as the giant rose and came down to the miser. Megatron Scrooge was submissive and was hesitant as he spoke. "Conduct me where you wish. I have been led when the first spirit, and I have indeed learned a lesson from her visit. If you are to teach me, let me profit by it, Spirit."
The Ghost of Christmas Present extended the rope of the green robe and cooed. "Touch my robe, and we shall go forth." Megatron Scrooge held it fast, and watched as the spirit raised his lantern and waved it above them. Specs of golden dust and embers flew out about them, and all the room and its food and drink all vanished, and soon taking the empty space of the room came the town square. Megatron Scrooge noticed that instead of it being nighttime, the town square was alight by the morning sun, and all of the towns people were out and about, singing gyms and carols by the side walks, younglings playing in the snow, and the words, "Merry Christmas" could be heard form every greeting from all around.
"It's Christmas morning." Megatron Scrooge said as he looked all around him. The air was filled with cheer, which brought great jovial warmth to all of the towns people's sparks, despite the fact the gray clouds had swarmed above the city. He saw the poultry shop and saw a huge, tin-foiled turkey was well presented at the window, displaying its massive size. He saw a toy shop that was filled with many toys; from marionettes, stuffed animals, miniature war figures made of hardened plastic and rubber, dolls, and pretend weapons modeled after ancient weapons of the past. Many carts were lined up on the streets, selling their various contents; toasted iron nuts, fresh fruits, and trinkets.
Yet, as he watched all of this, he suddenly noticed one stately mech walking with his bag of food he had manage to buy on the last minute form a bakery, as he stopped at the entrance of an alley way, where a femme covered in bits of cloth and rags, holding an infant inner arms as it cried in discomfort. The stately mech looked upon her and to Megatron Scrooge's astonishment as he took of his own coat and draped it on the femme, and reached into his beg and offered her a loaf of bread and a cube of energon. "Spirit, why does he hand over his own belongings to that femme? He gave her food and drink, even though he has no idea who she is."
The Ghost of Christmas Present chuckled as he explained. "It is food from the spark, Scrooge. It is generosity fill one's thoughts of kindness, and that kindness cannot be kept to ones self. It must be given to all who are near, as well as to those who are in need of it. It is this generosity that you have long denied your fellow Cybertronains, Scrooge, but there are those who still find enough warmth in their sparks to show kindness, even for the likes of yourself."
"Who would think of being generous to me?" asked Megatron Scrooge.
"You shall see one of those begins soon, but come with me. We must be at a party at this moment." the spirit led the white miser over to a stately home along the suburbs of the city, bit Megatron Scrooge noticed that as they did the day had turned into evening, the sun setting amongst the hills from beyond. The Ghost of Christmas Present phased through the side of the building with the miser holding onto his hand. They came upon a well lit living room, where many guests had gathered about, all of them watching one mech that was standing in the middle.
"Why, it's Hot Rod." Megatorn Scrooge spoke, and watched as his only relative began to walk about from side to side, in a manner that looked as if he was partially limping, with a scowl upon his lip plates.
"Are you a horse?" asked one of the guests.
"In a way, yes." answered the nephew.
Megatron Scrooge listened at the many guesses called out. "A dog? A cat? A horse? A pig? An ass?" The last mention had gotten quite a few chuckles and giggles from the guests.
"That is one thing that I often question myself when I think about this animal of which I am pretending to be." Hot Rod said, but then turned as his wife, a gold and red femme named Phoenix, raised her hand. "Phoenix? You have an answer?"
"Yes, I do believe that I have. It's your Uncle Scrooge."
All of the guests began to laugh uproariously as Hot Rod declared the winner. "Yes, my wife. And to think that my Uncle would even think about joining us, right after the moment he called Christmas a 'Humbug'." The mech then cleared his throat and continued. "Yet, he is quite the comical mech, despite his unpleasant personality, and he has no idea that his offenses do go against him, and I cannot go against him for that."
"But, Hot Rod. I can't bare to tolerate that Uncle of yours. He hasn't established you to his wealth his he is to pass. What Uncle would do that to his only relative?" said Phoenix, and Hot Rod sighed.
"I cannot get cross with my Uncle even if I'd try. I bare no ill will against him. As I have said, his offenses do have consequences. And his offense for not joining with us today brings about the consequence of missing out moments that could do him some good rather than harm to himself. A consequence in becoming acquainted with new companions, be it the ones in that Counting House of his or in his dark, dismal fortress he calls home." He then grabbed a glass and held it up. "But, no matter how much he will deny, I will continue to give him a chance to join, whether he likes it or not."
As he watched all of the guests clap their hands in awe of their host, Megatron Scrooge felt something he never felt before. Compassion. To think his nephew had enough warmth in his spark even for the likes of his shred, greedy, before he could watch the party continue, the giant led the Scrooge out of the room, and back into the streets. It was now the middle of the night, the moon glowing high up in the clear skies. However, Megatron Scrooge saw that the house belonging to his nephew was no longer behind them, nor was the street it had been built alongside with. They had now appeared along a dark, lonely street, where no lamp post was about to bring source of light. A small home stood in front of the miser and ghost, its foundation old and partially withered by the weather.
Just then, the sounds of laughter came from the right side, and Megatron Scrooge saw two younglings race down the street to the home, opening the door and shutting it fast as they entered. "Come, Scrooge." the spirit beckoned the miser, and they went inside. The home from inside had two levels; the one where they stood upon, and the other was above them. The lower half was comprised of two rooms; a kitchen where the table stood with five chairs, and a small living room that was bare save a small sofa and old rug.
In the kitchen, a pink, rose colored femme was by the stove, preparing the dinner for herself and her family, while the two younglings sat by the sofa to rest. The first of them was a mech of 10 with reddish-orange, blue, and yellow armor. The second was a femme with blue and white armor, and was also at the age of 10. "Mama, we had been playing amongst the other children in a snow ball fight. I believe it tired us out." said the little femme.
"I see that it has, Sapphire." said the pink femme. This was Optimus Cratchet's wife, Elita 1. And the two younglings were their children, yet the other was missing. That missing child was with his father at the church, and the wife knew that they would be returning in a few minutes. "Darlings, put away your coats in the closet and freshen up for dinner. Your father and Tiny Bee will be here soon.
"Yes, Mother." said Achilles as he and his sister went to the closet and placed their ragged and hole covered coats into the closet, and went to the kitchen with their mother to wash their hands and faces. Megatron Scrooge looked upon them and noticed that they barely had enough necessities for the meal, and aside from the children's coats, the mother wore an old, half stained dress.
"Oh, I wonder what has gotten your Father. He would set foot inside the minute you two arrive at the basin." Elita 1 wondered aloud as she looked out the window, while at the same time keeping the spoon in the pot in her hand as she stirred the contents inside to a fine mixture.
"It must be the snow, mother. It is very cold out their. Even with my coat I still felt a chill." answered Achilles as he wiped his hands with a torn cloth. The sister also answered, believing that it might have been the wind and that it might have frozen their father and sibling, but Elita 1 smiled and shook her head with a friendly giggle.
"I find that hard to believe, my dear. Oh, here they are." she spook up as she saw the form of a mech, and a very small youngling sitting upon his shoulder, sauntered down the street, and from inside they three inhabitants and invisible observers heard them singing. "Achilles, will you and your sister set the table while I get your Father and brother?" the mother asked in a dainty smile.
"Of course, Mother." the son nodded and he and Sapphire grabbed four plates, bowls, cups, utensils, and began setting the table as the adult femme went to the door and opened it, allowing Optimus Cratchit and Tiny Bee to enter the home.
"A Merry Christmas, Elita!" beamed the mech with a smile as he reached over with one free arm; the other was keeping his son upon his shoulder, as he brought his pretty wife to him and they kissed.
"Merry Christmas, Mama!" exclaimed one of the most innocent voices that Megatron Scrooge had ever heard, and it came from the small yellow and black youngling upon his employee's shoulder. He noticed that this little mech held a crutch close to his side, and that his left foot and stabilizing servo were crooked. A cripple; a crippled youngling. But, the little mech did not seem to care, or even had the slightest notion that he had a crooked stabilizing servo in the first place. All that could be seen from that tiny yellow mech was an innocent and precious grin.
The wife smiled and kissed her youngest child and helped him down to the floor and helped him settle the crook underneath his left arm joint. "Why don't you go rest yourself, you have had a very long day, little one."
"Yes, Mama." gleamed Tiny Bee as he limped his way towards the sofa, and nearly tripped due to his excitement of the Christmas Dinner his mother was preparing, and Elita 1 went over to help him along. "Mama, I can make it. I know I can."
"Yes, Darling. I know that you can, but until then watch where your crutch is being placed. You don't want to harm yourself." Elita 1 cooed as she lifted him to the sofa and helped him lie down so he could rest. The little mech instantly fallen asleep as soon as his head softly planted itself upon the mattress.
Megatron Scrooge was seemingly very curious about the little youngling and was close to asking about the youngling when Optimus and Elita 1 went into the kitchen, the sounds of Sapphire and Achilles's happy cheers as they went to hug their father.
"Hello, my little ones, and a Merry Christmas. Oh, you set up the table for your own mother?"
"Yes, Father." answered Achilles, and his answered received him a friendly rub on his forehead from Optimsu Cratchit.
"That's my boy."
"So, how was church tonight, Optimus?" asked Elita as she returned to her station by the stove.
"Oh, it was wonderful, Elita. Tiny Bee was as good as gold and better." answered Optimus as he removed his coat and Sapphire gladly took it and hung it up for him as he went on. "You know, he always begins thinking about some of the most fantastical things whenever he sits by himself at the church. You see, as we were on our way home he told me that he was hoping for all the people to see him in the church because he was a cripple, and that it would help them remind themselves that on Christmas day, Primus himself made the lame walk, the deaf to hear, the blind would see, and that the dead would live again." Optimus's voice was shaking as he said this, and added that their littlest child was growing much stronger in terms of his spark and life force. It really did him proud to see his youngest son be so optimistic about life itself. True, he was proud of all of his offspring, but Tiny Bee seemed to speak much more wisdom than either he or his family have ever heard. Even Achilles often times marveled about his younger brother's goodness and innocence.
As the discussion came to a close, the wife went to the stove and saw that the dinner was ready, and as she lifted the pot to the table Optimus called to his children to arrive at the table. Achilles was the first to enter, while Sapphire aided her little brother to the table. As she brought him to his seat, Achilles pulled out a chair and helped his crippled brother to his seat and went back to his own as Sapphire went to place the crutch by a stool next to the empty fireplace.
Optimus Cratchit took his seat and he and the younglings watched as Elita 1 brought over the stove over to the table and placed at the middle of the table, using a ladle to scoop up steamy, hot liquid mixed with bits of condensed mineral substances that would give flavor to the meal. The meal, however, did not appear to be the type of meal that Achilles and Sapphire were looking forward too. "Mother, why must we continue to have soup? Surely there must be something else worth having for Christmas Dinner." Achilles tried to sound polite, but his hunger and disappointment was making difficult to find the right words without hurting his mother's feelings.
Elita 1 sadly shook her head. "It's all we can afford, my children. If we could have raised more income, we could have had a more appropriate feast, and I could have gotten you all of the gifts you have wished for so long." she emphasized. Elita 1 Cratchit never believed in spoiling her children, and saw that in order of them to get what they wanted they would have to earn that privilege. Yet, due to her husbands insufficient payment, she found herself wanting to spare her children the pain of not receiving their well-deserved reward for the holidays.
Optimus then held his wife's hand in comfort as he spoke to them all. "I do understand how we all want a perfect Christmas; everyone does. Yet, even though we are in poverty, we still have the gifts that we treasure everyday, and for the many days to come. We still have this house to live, we still have two bedrooms upstairs, we still have a table to eat our meals, and most importantly we still have each other. Family is a far greater gift than any gift in the galaxy."
Achilles and Sapphire were awed by their father's wise words and reconsidered their meal. Even thought they still longed for a delicious tin-foiled turkey to grace their glosses they still loved their family and would appreciate what their mother had to offer.
"Forgive me, Mother, if I had offended you." Achilles apologized, and Elita 1 lovingly smiled and kissed him in understanding and affection.
"Now then, let us say our grace to Primus, and give our thanks to our Christmas Dinner." Optimus Cratchit announced and all of his family sat down and lowered their heads and joined hands, saying ancient prayers of thanks to the immortal creator. After the final word of the chant, Optimus rose his head and held up his cup and proposed a toast to the founder of the feast; Megatron Scrooge. The red and blue mech saw a look of disagreement. "Elita 1, what is it?"
"What is it? It's Megatron Scrooge. how could you think of making a toast to that miserable miser after what he does to you?" The pink and rose colored femme then sighed before she continued. "No one knows more about that stingy, odious codgers cold intentions then you do, Optimus. He hardly gives you a shilling after all those long hours of work. He does not care for you, only himself. Founder of the feast indeed. If that cruel mech were here at this moment I would give him a piece of my mind." Megatron Scrooge huffed at the femme and scowled.
"But, Darling. He alone has given you enough income to pay for the soup we are eating. Even if his payments are low, we still make the best out of it. I know there area those who doubt that he is incapable of showing any kindness, except for me. I know there is some goodness somewhere in his spark, and I am sure that time will help change." Optimus Cratchit spoke in defense. Elita 1, however, was still not convinced. But, Optimus held her hand once more in a firm, yet gentle hold and their optics met. In the optics of her husband, Elita 1 saw that he was being true to his word and only asked for her to spare his master. "Please, my love. It is Christmas. We should show our gratitude to Megatron Scrooge."
Elita saw no hope in continuing her denial and surrendered. Even though she did detest Megatron Scrooge, she was not cold hearted as she thought he was. "Oh, for your sake and the children's sake, I will drink to him. A Merry Christmas to Megatron Scrooge." she announced, rather reluctantly at the mention of the miser's name, but she was soon followed by the rest of the family.
"Primus Bless us, Everyone!" Tiny Bee cheered and raised his cup, and all of the family smiled and chuckled. This child may not have encountered Megatron Scrooge, but he had raised his glass in honor of the miser as if he were a long lost friend. That acceptance from Tiny Bee made Megatron Scrooge lift his brow in a mixture of puzzlement and honor. This little yellow mech was truly something else; something much more precious than gold.
"Spirit, tell me about that little youngling. Despite his undeniable optimism, do you believe that this child will live long in these conditions?" Megatron asked. The Ghost of Christmas Present sadly shook his head and looked upon Tiny Bee as the child and his family began to eat the soup.
"I see a vacant seat at the corner of the fireplace and a crutch without an owner, Scrooge." he replied
"What do you mean?"
"If these shadows remain unchanged in the future, the child will die."
Megatron Scrooge gasped in shock. "What? Oh no! Spirit, please say that is not so! That youngling doesn't deserve to go offline." The spirit then looked back at the white mech with a serious glare as he interrupted.
"He and his family are poor. And, was it you that once said that if the poor were to go offline they had better do it and decrease the surplus population?" Megatron Scrooge hung his head in regret over his words that quoted by the specter, ad was overcome with penitence and grief. He then saw the room, the Cratchit's, and the warmth of the family's love disappear, and found that he and the ghost were in a vaguely foggy atmosphere. No light shown about them, save for the torch the Ghost of Christmas Present held in his palm. "Keep your wicked judgment on the surplus population to yourself, Scrooge, before you know what and where the surplus population is. No Cybertronian has the right to decide who remains online and who should go offline."
Scrooge trembled and knelt before the giant's rebut, feeling a great weight upon himself; a weight much more greater than guilt itself. It was at that moment when Megatron Scrooge spied something emerge from the bottom of the ghosts robe. "Spirit, forgive if I am not justified in what I ask of you, but is that a foot or a claw?" The gold, grey ghost looked down and said that it might be a claw of something that was not apart of him, and as Scrooge watched, the ghost parted his robe and revealed a ghastly sight. Two, grungy, ragged younglings crouched by the feet of the spirit, clutching at his legs and staring at the miser in fear. "Are they yours?" Megatron Scrooge asked, appalled by the sight.
"They belong to Cybertronains." the Ghost of Christmas Present answered, looking down upon the children; a mech and femme. "This mech is Ignorance, and this femme is Want. You must beware of them and their degree, Scrooge. However, Ignorance is the only one to watch out for, because his brow symbolizes doom. They are all over this planet of yours, be them rich or poor."
"Don't they have any refuge they can go to? Do they not have any resource to satisfy themselves?" Megatron Scrooge asked.
"Are there no Prisons? Are there no Workhouses?" the Ghost of Christmas Present retorted once last time, using the words of the white mech against him.
As the words were spoken, the sound of the bells low, dull ringing began to echo through the fog, and Megatron Scrooge watched as the children fade away, as did the ghost. "Spirit, please do not leave! I have learned much from you. Please."
"My time has come Scrooge. I must leave you now, and may you remember all that I and the first specter have brought before you. The final spirit shall be the one who will decide what is to become of you. Farewell, Scrooge." cooed the spirit, and the green robe, crystalized wreath, and body faded into the fog, leaving the lonely, frightened Megatron Scrooge to face the final spirit.
*Authors Note*
(Oh boy...I hope you are planning to keep the lights on in the next chapter, because I can promise you that the next chapter is definitely not something to read while in the dark. Sparkling Lover out.)