User blog:Violetofen4/Vi writes a Christmas Story for all WCRW wikians to Enjoy~ :D

OK

So

I wrote this story for all your enjoyment, especially for those of you who like A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

It's called Richtofen's Christmas Carol. No, not my RP character, Richtofen from the video game.

The back plot is that it takes place 7 years after Moon. Richtofen had escaped a bomb explosion there, which took Samantha, Nikolai, Takeo, and Dempsey's lives. In his guilt, he had taken a new name and started a new life in his old, abandoned home. His insanity had faded, but he had hardened from his own fury into a wealthy, cold man with no generousity or kindness in his heart.

Maxis (equivalent to Jacob Marley) visits Richtofen and warns him that three spirits (Takeo, Nikolai, and Dempsey) will haunt him as in warning to change his ways or suffer immortally after death.

So, here is my story, please enjoy! :)

Richtofen touched the scar beneath his eye as the flickering fire reflected his own face. It was past midnight. Cratchit had left his shop hours ago, and he had followed shortly after.

Zombie fighting was his main rememberence. The earth had never exploded-merely everyone's imagination at the whole epidemic. It was 7 years past Griffin Station. He would never forget his guilt. It was a fading memory in which he clutched Dempsey in his hands as his friends all died slowly around him. The bomb, that cursed bomb. That wretched rat Samantha had set it off, it had taken innocent lives. Everything was gone. Maybe he would have died too, if he hadn't fled the scene.

But now he was different. The voices, the evil voices were also mere memories. Gone. His insanity had faded when the MPD had also been wrecked in that fatal night. Cradling Dempsey in his arms, he had made a promise, a promise to change his life for the better.

"Richtofen...please, help me..." Dempsey had pleaded, more like a moan.

"Dempshey, I-I..." Richtofen had began, eyes watery.

"If I die...please...change your ways..." Dempsey near-silently had murmured.

"No! No, don't leave me here alone in zis cruel vorld!" Richtofen had begged, Dempsey's fragile body in his arms. He was sitting on the ground, sobbing. Dempsey's burnt face had seemingly smiled, and took his last exhale. His last remaining friend was dead. And then, sadness and loneliness had prickled Richtofen, then rage. Richtofen died, and a new man took his place, sobbing beside an old friend. Alone.

Nikolai and Takeo had been instantly killed-because Dempsey wasn't in the direct explosion, he had only partially burned, but enough to take his life. Samantha, however, had slowly crawled towards Richtofen menacingly before wilting like a dying flower. She was gone too. He still seemed to miss her today.

To him, he was still Richtofen. To others, he was known as Mr. Edward. Just Edward. Nothing more, nothing less. He daren't say his last name, for he could here nasty things said of himself among others, his former self that died with Dempsey. Now he was a cold, harsh man, very, very rich, but still without feelings, or so he thought.

Dempsey's death, his friend's last request, had changed his ways, but not for the good. For the worse.

He sat down in his chair, staring blankly at the small fire, when his silver bells hanging above the mantlepiece began ringing.

Ding...ding....ding ding ding...They kept going, until they went into a rapid pace. Chains rattled as his door swang open, a ghostly figure standing there.

Locks, this spirit was covered in locks and long chains, a few weights as well. No key. It looked heavy.

"Vha-vhat do you vant vith me!?" Richtofen screeched, and then put a hand on his mouth. He hadn't outbursted so...insanely in a long time.

"Much." the spirit replied with a grin.

"Who are you!?" Richtofen angrily snapped, jumping out of his chair, hands in fists.

"Ask me who I was." the ghost asked, still wickedly smiling.

Richtofen stopped. This spirit was clearly insane. Who he was? Who asks that? His hands unclenched.

"Vho vere you, zen?" he sarcastically asked with a laugh.

"In life, I was your boss, Ludvig Maxis." the spirit answered. It was true-Richtofen knew he recognized the face.

"Z-vhat? Leave me alone, Maxshis! I don't vant anyzhing do vith you, I'm a different person now! Leave me be!" Richtofen cried, slumping against the wall. He put his hands over his face. Guilt pricked him once again, but less to the extent of his friends' dying around him 7 years ago. He had caused Maxis' death. This was his fault of this man's depraved soul.

"Don't feel sorry for me, Edward. I come to give you a second chance. See these chains? I forged these in life. Your's are much, much heavier, but you can fix that. On this Christmas Night, 3 spirits will haunt you. Expect the first one in an hour, the next at two, and the final at the stroke of three. Good luck, Richtofen." Maxis finished, and ebbed away into nothingness. Frozen in fear, Richtofen still was slumped against the wall, dumbfounded.

"Proposterous! The clock says half 'till one, now a quarter 'till! I'm going insane again!" Richtofen yelled, and scurried to his bed, sitting down. He clutched his forehead, terrible memories flooding his head, scary frightening beasts: Imagination, Consideration, and Kindness, laughing at him.

Darkness flooded his thoughts until a bright light engulfed him. Blinding. Unbearably bright.

And there stood Nikolai, but without his russian hat, no vodka, in very formal looking clothing. His hair had a shiny glow, and he held a cap, like one to put out a candle, in his hand.

"Nikolai!" Richtofen cheerily squealed, and started running towards his lost friend. Nikolai stopped him in his tracks.

"I am only here to give you a second chance, my old friend." Nikolai said in a very dull tone, as if he was disappointed in himself.

"Can you please wear your cap-It is extremely bright?" Richtofen asked quietly.

"My light shines with truth, so that will be a no. Come, step out into the air. I am now the Ghost of the Christmas Past." Nikolai answered quietly.

"Long past?" Richtofen asked.

"Your past." Nikolai replied, and grabbed Richtofen's hand blisteringly tight. The scenery changed to a small forest, where a young boy with brown hair and green eyes sat, reading his book, titled, "A Christmas Carol."

"Christmas humbug." Richtofen snapped angrily in arrogance, turning away from the boy.

"Do you recognize the boy?" Nikolai asked very quietly.

"Nein, not at all. Vhy should I care!? Take me home, please!" Richtofen begged.

"The boy is you when you were but eight. Watch." Nikolai growled, forcing Richtofen to turn around.

The boy flipped through the pages, a small brown cat with silvery eyes prowling forward, eyes intent. The boy returned the gaze, watching the cat stalking a mouse. This mouse was fluffy and white, like the snow. The cat lunged and bit the mouse, which squeaked in terror.

"No! Leave it alone!" the boy shrieked, and ran to the cat, kicking it. The cat bit onto the boy's hand, who screamed in pain and grabbed his book, running and crying his innocent eyes out. The mouse shot down a hole, leaving an angry cat in the scene.

"Let's go further." Nikolai suggested, and Richtofen found himself in a small cottage.

"Mum, I got bitten by Crinkles again!" young Richtofen cried, showing a pus-covered puncture wound.

"Quiet Edward, you rotten child, you already broke the pretty dolls that was Antoinette's present this Christmas. You disgrace our family!" the mother yelled, smacking young Richtofen across the face. The boy hissed, "Well, I hate you too!" and stormed to his room.

"You were a terrible mother-beat me senselessly for things that were not my fault." Richtofen grumbled.

"These are but shadows, Edward. They have no consciousness of us." Nikolai strained to say, as if he really didn't want to break that to his friend.

Richtofen removed one of his black gloves, and stared at two small, identical scars on his hand. The cat's bite.

He quickly put his glove back on with a sigh.

"Can we move on?" he asked.

Time around him swirled, back to a party at Group 935, when he was but 19 years old.

A young lady danced with his younger self. Richtofen watched.

"I forgot about her...she vas beautiful." Richtofen murmured in awe, eyes wide.

"I loved you, Edward. For a long time now..." the girl said with a smile.

"I do to, Jen. Always have." the slightly-older, but still young, Richtofen replied.

The couple stopped dancing. Jen pulled off her engagement ring and placed it into the young Richtofen's hand.

"Then I return your pledge, for I do not love the man I see here. You have changed, Edward, and the change I do not enjoy." she grimly said, and bolted out the door.

"Wait-Jen!" the young Richtofen began, but it was too late. She was gone.

The scenery changed to darkness.

"Is there anymore to show me!?" Richtofen spat.

"There can be your sister's death. I believe...she had children." Nikolai replied.

"One child." Richtofen glumly blustered out. He didn't like to talk about his constantly-visiting, fool-of-a-nephew. His nephew, Aldrick, was always wishing him a Merry Christmas or visiting while he was too busy working. He could almost here Aldrick going on with another preaching about how Richtofen should like Christmas and come visit, but Richtofen knew he would never do such a stupid thing.

"Or Griffin Station." Nikolai offered.

"Nein!" Richtofen shrieked.

"Then there is no more to show you. So long, Edward." Nikolai replied with a smile, and faded away. Richtofen numbly sat back down upon his bed.

"Nikolai...don't go..." he stammered, but his friend had been long gone. It was quarter-to-two, then DING. Two.

MORE COMING SOON