About an hour later, Starlight is awakened to the sound of joyous humming and laughter coming from her living room. She groaned and got out of bed, walking grumpily to the source. When she got there, she came to see a pink unicorn with a yellow, hot pink, and purple mane and a pair of purple eyes sitting in her room with a long green robe. The alicorn bared a pleasant welcoming smile as she saw Starlight "There you are! Come on in, Ms. Scrooge!"
Starlight groaned again in response and just walked over
"Oh don't be such a grump. Loosen up a bit. You'll be surprised just how great this time of year is if you let yourself feel the joy in your heart."
"Bah humbug...let me guess...you're one of those spirits aren't you?"
"Duh. I'm the ghost of Christmas present. Now we're going for a walk around town. Here. Touch my robe."
"That's...there was no better way that could've been worded?"
The spirit just rolled her eyes smiling "Just do it."
"Fine fine." Starlight begrudgingly did as asked as the spirit began walking out to the town as it became the next day. Everypony was out and about spreading cheer and joy everywhere. "Look around Starlight. Look at all the smiles on everypony's face. Everyone's just so happy and joyful. The love they share. Now that's Christmas."
"Humbug!..."
"Still not feeling the joy of the holiday season? The love and caring in the air? The welcoming of your fellow pony? Come. Let me show you something a little...closer to home." she led her to Jackie's house where there was a warm family celebration going on inside. The spirit brought her inside through the wall as they observed
"Alright now. Who wants to play a game?" Jackie asked as the family happily shouted "we do!" with glee in response "alright. How about 20 questions? I'm thinking of an animal"
"Does it live in the city?"
"You bet"
"Is it a cat?"
"Nope."
"A dog?"
"Nuh-uh"
"An ass?"
"Well...yes AND no..."
"I KNOW! It's Auntie Starlight!"
"Bingo!" she'd respond as the whole family laughed."in all seriousness, though. The mare's still family. And if ya ask me, ah just know there's still some good in her...I say we toast to her" she picks up her glass "To Auntie Starlight!" the family returned the toast and drank as Starlight smiled a bit
"They included me in their festivities..."
"Of course they did. Just because you despise your niece doesn't mean they feel the same towards you. You're still their family whether you like it or not...now come. Time is of the essence"
"Of course, Spirit. Lead the way" And that she did, to a very poor-looking home, almost looking more like an over-sized tool shed
"Why have you brought me here?"
"you'll see. Just take a look"
The two looked in on Twi Cratchett's husband, Rainbob, was cooking dinner as the kids were having their fun as one walked over to him "when's Mom gonna get home Dad?"
"She should be home any minute now."
As she said that, Twi came in, a young orange pegasus filly riding on her back with a crutch in her hooves "we're home!"
"Welcome home dears."
"Twi Cratchett!? She lives in this run-down old place?...Spirit?" Starlight asked "who is that filly?"
"Her name is Tiny Scoot. Poor crippled filly can hardly walk or fly...to top it off she's also been diagnosed with quite a severe illness...but, let's keep watching"
"So how was church?" Rainbob asked
"It was awesome, Dad"
"I tell you she has quite an interesting way of thinking. She said she hoped the church ponies saw her a cripple, so it would remind them on Christmas Day who made low beggars walk and blind ponies see"
Rainbob smiled "absolutely wonderful." he said as he checked the food "dinner's ready!" he said as she brought the cooked bird to the table. The scrawny little thing looked barely enough to feed them.
"Well surely they have a bigger turkey than that" Starlight said in disbelief.
"Not on the salary you pay her"
"Oh...um...yes, of course..."
"I say we make a toast" Twi suggested "to the founder of this feast, Ms. Scrooge!"
"Founder of the feast?" Rainbob said annoyed "oh I'd make her feast on something if that witch were here!"
"Now dear. She may be unsettling, but everyone deserves cheers at Christmas. Besides, we couldn't have afforded this magnificent feast if not for her"
"Fine. I'll toast to her for your sake. NOT for hers."
"To Ms. Scrooge! And God bless us! Everyone!" Scoot exclaimed excitedly as they began to eat drink and be merry
"Spirit?" Starlight asked "what will happen to...Tiny Scoot..."
"My domain is mainly in the present. The future is normally out of my jurisdiction. However, I see an empty chair by the fireplace...and a crutch without an owner...carefully preserved...if these shadows are not changed...the filly will die..."
"That...that's terrible..."
"Why? 'If they have to die, they'd better do it...and decrease the surplus population'..."
Hearing her own words used against her caused her guilt to begin surfacing as the world became a black void as she looked to the spirit. "I have one last thing to show you...but my time grows short..." two children emerge from her robe, one colt and one filly
"Are they yours?"
"No...they're yours...the colt is ignorance...the filly is want...both have been abandoned...but with a little generosity...could become far more...heed our warning..."
"Yes. Of course, spirit."
"my time is now up Starlight...change your ways...it's your last hope for redemption..."
The spirit and the two foals begin to slowly fade away into the void, leaving Starlight alone in the darkness