[Darkness receded, returning Ebenezer Scrooge back to his bedroom as if none of what transpired occurred. He shot up with a fright, looking over his shoulder and grabbing a fire poker from the fireplace in a maniac daze. His eyes turned to the clock, the time ticking away to the stroke of two.]
Darby: (panting heavily) After the horrors that madwoman put me through, whatever specter comes at me next can't compare to her.
[After checking his surroundings to be sure he was alone, he threw the fire poker down and pointed to the void of his room, angrily shaking his wing.]
Darby: Oh, you know very well I'm directing my anger at you! I read this book over and over for your silly play, so I need answers! Is there any particular reason everyone has been going off script? First I'm uninformed of the casting choices, then I find out you bring Nero in as Jacob Marley, and now I've been assaulted by that devil woman of a doctor! What is going on?
[And yet again, Scrooge continued to yell at the darkness as if someone was there.]
Darby: (scowls) Oh, we're playing this game, eh? Well, you know what? I'm not interested in humoring your antics, Mr. Author! (huffs and marches toward the edge of the stage) I can show myself out! I am not partaking in these childish—
[A loud, cracking boom ignited in front of the Prinplup's face, sending him flying back to the center of his room with a mighty crash. He sat up in alarm as crackling explosions went off all across his room, igniting with brilliant sparks of light in multiple facets of color.]
Darby: Oh no, what devil is haunting me now?
[A cavalcade of explosions wrapped around the walls of the room like shooting stars from the night sky, throwing Scrooge off his feet and sending him skyrocketing off the stage as his room transformed around him in a most glorious manner. The room turned to ash, shifting and shaping into that of a grand dining hall topped with…more explosions?]
Darby: (drops into one of the chairs, stares in bewilderment) What the…?
[A booming laugh echoed across the nebulous dining room. Before Scrooge could assess the strangeness of his surroundings, a mighty pillar of blue, explosive light erupted from the center of the table. From the light burst forth a jolly Delibird dressed in green. A decorative wreathe sat upon her head with chestnuts and fruits growing off top. Orbs of exploding light hovered around her.]
[Krystal Frostwood – The Ghost of Christmas Present]
Krystal: Hahahahaha! Welcome, welcome, my esteemed guest! Come in, and know me better, man!
Darby: (blinks twice, then smirks, looking the Delibird up and down) Alright, I like where this is going.
Krystal: (taps dances across the table, spreading her wings and laughing with glee) I am the Ghost of Christmas Present! Look upon me! You've never seen the like of me before!
Darby: (stands on the table and approaches her with a wry grin) Indeed, I haven't. (takes her wing in his and bows) I didn't imagine I'd be greeted by such jubilant charm and beauty this night. As you are of the present, shall we partake in this night while it is still young? (leans down to kiss her wing, but she pulls it away)
Krystal: (bellows with laughter, wrapping her arm around Scrooge's neck so tightly that he gasps for air) Oh mortal, let's not get ahead of ourselves. I am quite young in my family and have no time for such romantic delights. (leans closer and whispers) And because we want to see this play to the end, I'd advise caution with the flirting. My girlfriend has a gun trained on the center of your skull.
[Scrooge looked warily toward the audience, barely making out the sight of a Furret peeking out from behind the chairs with a rifle aiming at the stage.]
Krystal: (waves and blows a kiss to the audience) Hi Cybil! How do I look? (pushes Darby away and spins to show off her costume)
Cybil: (nervous chatter) K-Knock that off!
Krystal: (laughs and roughly pulls a dazed Darby back onto his feet) She's so shy. Anyway, I bet you're wondering why I'm here.
Darby: (frees himself from her grasp, cautiously putting distance between them) I…take it you're here to show me the wrongs of my actions. (glares) And possibly subject me to more torment.
Krystal: (roughly slaps him on the shoulder) You catch on quick!
Darby: Ow…(massages his shoulder and groans) Okay. I suppose you want me to touch your robe or something so you can—GOOD LORD!
[Scrooge recoiled as the Ghost of Christmas Present lifted her wings, summoning a massive ball of explosive energy above her head. Before the Prinplup could retreat, the Delibird slammed the explosive down, washing the stage over in a mighty boom of fierce light that swallowed all in an impenetrable blue.]
[When the light receded, the two found themselves on Christmas morning, standing in the middle of town as the citizens conducted merriment and cheer as was tradition. Businesses were closed for the day so all could partake in this wondrous holiday, joining each other hand-in-hand with song belted from the soul. Wondrous aromas permeated the air, a feast unlike any other from homes across the street.]
Krystal: (spins and laughs as she skips through the snow) Mortal! Does this not bring you such whimsy and fun?
Darby: HUH?! (rubbing his watery eyes) You blinded me with that flash, you crazy bird!
Krystal: (laughs) Yeeeeeah. I used to blind myself like that all the time as a kid. Good times. It'll go away soon enough.
Darby: (rubs his eyes, trying to blink the stars out of his vision) Good grief, what were my lines again? Something, something…depriving us of dining on the seventh day? Something about this holiday's religious roots, I don't care.
Krystal: (jumps and balances atop Scrooge's head) There are those upon this earth of yours who claim to know us, speaking on our behalf in service of their own pride, passion, ill-will, and the like. They are as strange to us and all our kin.
Darby: What does that mean?
Krystal: It means you mortals will often act upon your impulses in our name rather than take responsibility in your own actions. How does it go? Oh right. Forces greater than I persuaded me to act upon this righteous need for sin. Or something like that. Would you say you are of the same mind, Ebenezer?
Darby:…(for once, wisely keeps his beak shut, knowing full well whatever answer he gave would not reflect kindly upon him)
Krystal: Hmph. (jumps off his head and skips through the snow) Shall we check on your faithful clerk?
[Present guided Scrooge through the snowy town as the stage shifted around them, leading them to a decrepit dwelling in the poorer section of town. The stage rotated around, bringing the duo inside the old, yet somewhat cozy home. Standing over the stovetop in the stone-styled kitchen was a green Mew with long hair and striking red eyes, wearing a gown with miscolored patches here and there.]
[Gwyn Belladonna – Mrs. Cratchit]
[Assisting Mrs. Cratchit was her second eldest, a Vaporeon in a similar style of dress, who worked diligently to slice up the potatoes.]
[Agnes Ravenfield – Belinda Cratchit]
Agnes: Stew's looking good, Mom!
Gwyn: (hugs her daughter) Thanks for helping, sweetie! This year's dinner is going to be our finest!
[In came two more of the Cratchit family. A Glaceon wearing large, square-shaped glasses, dressed in a neat shirt collar and trousers. A Jolteon followed suit, dressed in the fanciest of dresses found in the Cratchit home. She strutted across the dining room, showing off her stylish outfit to the audience.]
[Dustin and Rachel Ravenfield – Peter Cratchit and…unnamed daughter. We'll just call her Rachel. Actually, there were two unnamed kids in the Cratchit family, so…eh, simplicity and whatnot. Wait, Rachel, where's the costume we gave you?]
Rachel: (laughs) As if I'm making my big debut without a little class. I have to make a good first impression, unlike Doofus over here.
Dustin: (adjusts his glasses and huffs) Yeah, good luck wowing everyone with that big stain on your skirt.
Rachel: Stain?! WHERE?! (spins around trying to find the offending mark, stepping on her skirt by mistake and toppling onto her face)
Dustin: (bursts into laughter) Oops, never mind! Must've been my imagination.
Rachel: (jumps up and growls) Why you little…!
Gwyn: (immediately gets between her children) Uh, let's not fight on Christmas day, kids. (sighs) Now then, where is your brother? I hope he isn't late this year.
[Out from around the corner, a normal colored Mew with orange, whisker-like marks on his cheeks entered dressed in collared shirt and trousers similar to his brother.]
[Vaughn Ravenfield – Milton Cratchit]
Darby: (raises his brow) I thought the eldest kid's name was Martha.
Krystal: (shrugs) Eh, that's how adaptations go.
[Please stop casually breaking the fourth wall.]
Vaughn: Hello, dearest Mother! (hugs Gwyn)
Gwyn: (hugs him back) Aww! This is nice. All my kids are here to year. Finally got time off work?
Vaughn: We had quite the deal of work to finish up last night, and just as much to clear away in the morning. But I'm here now!
Gwyn: Wonderful! Get yourself seated. Your father will be home shortly with the meat.
Rachel: (smirks) Ooh, how about we play a prank on Dad? Make him think you couldn't show up this year?
Vaughn: Dear sister, that is so cruel—where do I hide?
[Milton vacated himself from the kitchen, hiding just out of sight as the door opened off to the side. From outside came Bob Cratchit, shaking the snow out of his mane. Riding atop his back was a green Mew, similar to her mother, with a crutch under one arm.]
[Clara Ravenfield – Tiny Tina]
Flint: Good tidings to all, my lovely family! (sets Tina on the ground) Has Milton arrived yet?
Gwyn: Oh, sorry, dear. But it looks like Milton won't be joining us this year.
Dustin and Rachel: Milton's not coming!
Flint: (gasps) And on Christmas Day, no less? Good heavens!
Vaughn: (laughs, stepping out from hiding and approaching his father with a hug) Oh, fret not, Father. I cannot bear to stress you even with a practical joke.
Flint: (laughs and hugs him back) Thank goodness! The Cratchit family all together.
Clara: (hobbles along on her crutch) Church was pretty boring, though.
Flint: (glares) Tina, sweetie! That's not nice. (leans forward and whispers) That's not part of the script.
Clara: I thought everyone was adlibbing.
Vaughn: (leans toward his other siblings) It's almost scary how intelligent she is.
Agnes, Dustin, Rachel: (nod in unison) Here, here.
[A whirlwind of activity erupted through the Cratchit home as the table was set with a lovely variety of foods. Gravy, mashed potatoes, applesauce, pudding and the main entrée of the night: the Christmas goose.]
[Laura: Wait, is that an actual goose or…?]
[Can we please not have this conversation? Explaining berry-made meat is already enough of a headache.]
Flint: A Merry Christmas to all! God bless us!
Clara: (skimming through her script) Do I really need to say it with a cutesy voice…? (sighs after a nudge from her mother, cutesy voice) God bless us every one!
[The family ate their meal, unaware of the visiting spirits standing off to the side.]
Krystal: Does this scene spark any sort of emotional reaction from you, mortal?
Darby: (smirks) Only that I wouldn't mind taking Mrs. Cratchit out for the evening. My, my, she truly is a goddess.
Krystal:…(slaps him in the back of the head)
Darby: OW!
Krystal: Do you have nothing to say for Tiny Tina and if she'll survive or not?
Darby: (rolls his eyes) Something tells me she's not in any danger.
Krystal: (rolls her eyes in return) Well, one thing's for certain, someone in this room better get to dying and decrease the surplus population.
Darby: What are you getting on about?
Krystal: You want to go off script? Fine. Want to know why I really brought you here? To show you what love looks like. Actual love. Foreign concept to you, I know. But hey, what do you expect from someone who sees the world as little pawns to move around the chessboard?
Darby: (glares) Are we even still doing the play? What's going on here?
Krystal: (grins) A little Christmas fun.
Flint: (raises his glass) And to Mr. Scrooge, for this feast!
Gwyn: (sighs) Robert, dear, surely you jest.
Flint: (grins) Jest, I not. This celebration is in his honor, after all!
Gwyn: (closes her eyes and smirks) Oh, very well. (raises her glass) A feast, this shall be, in Mr. Tetrarch's—Mr. Scrooge's name.
The Children: Here, here! (raise and clink their glasses)
Darby: (eyes widened) Wait, what did they—
Krystal: (raises an energy bomb over her head) Time for another jumpcut!
Darby: Wait, what—
[Another mighty explosion washed over the stage, casting everything in a blinding light as the scene changed once again. When the light receded, the duo found themselves transported to a grand living room filled with a strange cast of Pokémon.]
[Among them was Scrooge's nephew, Fred, along with Scrooge's niece by marriage, a Braixen with blue fur, resembling that of a Lucario.]
[Rebecca – Fred's wife]
[Fred's house guests consisted of a strange assortment: a pink Starmie in a suit, a bright-blue Banette, a Roselia with white flowers, a Mimikyu with a mustache, and a Grookey wearing a blue and white striped scarf.]
Rebecca: (laughs) Really? He actually said that?
Ren: (stomps the floor and laughs) Humbug! A big ol' humbug, he said!
Starmie: (rubbing his hands together) Yes, yes, bring more shame upon that Scrooge.
Grookey: Imma give him a big ol' bonk on the head! (jumps onto the couch and starts bonking the Starmie's head)
Starmie: H-Hey!
Banette: (laughs) What a comical fellow, that uncle of yours is. Going around calling Christmas a humbug? What a laugh.
Ren: (laughs) Yes, but I hold no ill will to my dear uncle. He is the bringer of his own punishment, thus I bring no offense to him.
Rebecca: A bigger offense is that wealth he hoards. You did say he was rich, right?
Mimikyu: Bah! What use does he have for money? Have you seen the slop he eats? Hoarding is right, yet he doesn't spend a single coin on more than what is necessary to himself.
Roselia: He thinks himself so above everyone that he even refused your dinner invitation. What does he have to lose besides an amazing dinner?
Starmie: Yeah, like we need that freak anywhere near here. An irredeemable monster, that fellow is.
Banette: Hang him over a boiling cauldron!
Mimikyu: Tar and feather him!
Roselia: Drown him with the finest ocean water!
Grookey: Death by a thousand bonks to the noggin!
Ren: (laughs) I'm not one for such horrid imagery, but I suppose there's always an exception. A Merry Christmas for bringing this group together! United in our hatred for that dastardly man!
Darby: (glares) This seems…weirdly spiteful compared to the original book.
Krystal: Does it now? (a curtain lowers over the stage as she walks toward the edge) How so?
Darby: What are you playing at, spirit? Why is it that I was visited upon this night? (glares) Doesn't sound like I'm being taught a lesson.
Krystal: (grins) On the contrary, you're being celebrated!
Darby: I think we have two different definitions of celebrated.
Krystal: Oh, but it is true. See, we don't just celebrate the things we love, but also the things we hate. Nothing makes a community stronger than banding together against a common enemy. Don't you agree?
Darby: (starts shuffling away from her) What's going on…?
Krystal: The past was horrific, so we made it comical. The present, we wait for what is most deserved, thus we remind ourselves of what makes it so beautiful. And what is yet to come…? Well, some call that catharsis.
Darby: (growls) What kind of game are you playing at, lady?
Krystal: The game I'm playing at? You want to know? Very well, but the truth doesn't come cheap. You may wear his name, but it's laughable. (raises an explosive in her wing) Laughable you think you deserve redemption like a man neglected in his youth and fearful of losing everything to a cruel world. A man who, despite ruining the relationships in his life, was afraid of being forgotten with no one to mourn him. You privileged, arrogant prince. What makes you think you deserved to bear the name of Ebenezer Scrooge?
[A bright flash explodes across the stage, and all is drowned once again…in an impenetrable darkness.]