Ebenezer Scrooge. You know the name, if only as an insult to those who are tight-fisted and hard of heart. But tonight we get our first glimpse at the man himself as we read the first stave in Dickens' classic work, A Christmas Carol. We join Mr. Scrooge on one fateful Christmas Eve; one that will change his life forever...
Almost shocked that no ghost had come to haunt him yet upon waking this night, old Scrooge gets up to investigate his surroundings, thinking it would be better for him to find the next spirit rather than the other way around. Nothing could have prepared him to find the very personification of Christmas itself waiting for him, ready to take him all over London to spread some Christmas cheer.
Scrooge's uncertainty as to whether or not his vision of his old business partner was founded in any degree of reality is quickly resolved when, as the bell tolls one, the Ghost of Christmas Past appears, ready to lead Ebenezer down a road of many long-buried memories; some joyous, some painful, all with a lesson to teach.
Stirring awake, Scrooge finds something even more miraculous than the visitations of the spirits: they had managed all of that in only one night! That means there's still time... still time for Scrooge to make good on the lessons taught to him by the spirits of Christmas, and to depart from the dark path he had set himself upon so long ago.
{This marks the end of my 24 Nights of Moth Under the Mistletoe. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for sharing the season with me, whether you tuned in for one single audio or for all 24. This is my favorite time of year, and although it's been quite the task to get all these done despite everything going on in my personal life and despite all the extra tasks that simply come with this time of year, I think it's been quite worth it. My first holiday season as a VA was a trying one, but it's one that I can at least look back on and be proud of. So again, thank you all, sincerely, for being a part of it. I love you all, and to all, a good night. -Your Festive Neighborhood Moth ♥}
The phantom glides toward Scrooge, and frightful though it may be, fearsome and dreadful, Scrooge knows what must be done, and resolves to do it. With what strength he can muster, he finds his feet and prepares to follow the final spirit into visions of a dark, grim future.
ruining a obviously, also possible
Special thanks to Sailor_Slattern for editing and her Ghost appearance in the audio.
A Visit From St Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore
Enter the Stahlbaum household. It’s the 24th of December in this household and that can mean only one thing: young Frederic and Maria are on the edge of their seats just waiting for the moment when their parents unveil this year’s Christmas gifts. It isn’t just their parents readying gifts for the children, however. Their godfather, and eccentric machinist, is ready and waiting to bestow upon them his own gift as well…
Calamity! Just as Maria was growing entranced by her wondrous new friend who seems to be possessed of some magic, a battle breaks out! It’s Friend Nutcracker against the forces of the vile seven-headed Rat King, with Maria caught in the middle!
Maria awakens to another day of Godfather Drosselmeier's story, wherein we hear just how the tale of the machinist, the astrologer, and the princess comes to an end. We also find ourselves coming to some revelations about the true nature of Maria's Friend Nutcracker and the Mouse-King with which he finds himself at odds...
Here in the final chapters, we bear witness to a most magical sight: a land of whimsy and wonder to rival even Wonderland itself, as seen through the eyes of young Maria and her good friend Nutcracker. By the end, perhaps we will even see the full truth of said Nutcracker's nature come to light...
Maria and Frederic are enraptured by the recount of a most fantastical story told to them by the one and only Godfather Drosselmeier. He claims it to be nothing more than a tall tale, but could it be that there is some truth to his words?
No sooner than Maria had heard the bid for favor from her beloved Nutcracker did she start getting some most unwelcome visitors in the middle of the night, in the form of the vile seven-headed Mouse-King. He makes demand after demand for Maria to sacrifice those things most dear to her in order to save her most beloved Nutcracker, but what is a frightened young girl to do?
The presents are unveiled and merriment is found by all underneath the tree! For little Frederic, reinforcements for his army. For Louise and Maria, gorgeous dresses. For them all, most wonderful picture books and a unique invention from Godfather Drosselmeier. And yet, despite all these wondrous things, one in particular that was meant for all of them catches the eye of young Maria…