//------------------------------// // chapter 2 // Story: A hearths warming Carol // by Vector-Brony //------------------------------// She soon came to the dark street where she lived. The house stood tall and empty for no pony else lived their. As she stood in front of the door, she used her magic to retrieve the key from the first floor window cill. The voice spoke again "Trixieeee" At the sound she quickly put the key in the lock. As she looked back up she had the fright of her life. In place of he door knocker was the face of a unicorn, it's expression blank and vacant. This was too much for Trixie! She opened the door and quickly slammed it shut with all speed. She stood in the empty hall for a few seconds trying to make sense of what she saw. "Damm that restaurant! Their salad cream must have been off!" she used her horn as a light so she could see her way to her chambers high on the second floor. It was the only furnished room in the whole house. It had four poster bed, a fire place, two chairs and the walls were covered in old show posters of Trixie. Using her magic she started to lock and bar her door. Locks clicked and bolts were slid into place. She hung her cloak and hat on a peg and sat in her chair by the fire place. With a flash of her magic, the coals in the fire came to life in a flicker of purple flames. She felt the warmth of the fire and she levitated a small bowl of berry and oats which had been sitting on the side. As she started to eat she suddenly heard the voice again. "Trixieeeee" louder this time and sounding as if it was downstairs. Clank The sound fixed her to the seat in fear. "Go away!" she shouted loudly. Clank "Who ever you are you are breaking and entering! Get out now or I will send for he royal guard! Clank! The strange noise came from directly behind the door this time! Trixie used all her magic to hold all the locks in place, but to her horror she watched as all the keys turned in the locks and the bolts all slid backwards. With her magic having no effect! "leave us alone!" she roared. The door swung open! Clank!! She turned around to see Grey translucent figure walking through the open door! It stopped after passing the threshold to pull his chains to his side. "What do you want with the Great and powerful Trixie?" She trembled "Much" The Grey translucent figure replied. "W..who Are You?" She asked stuttered "Ask me who I was" the figure asked. "Very well. Who were you then?" In the back of her mind she knew the answer. "In life I was your Brother. Razzle Dazzle" Trixie's face dropped as she recognized the stallion in front of her was her seven years dead brother. She waved to the opposite chair. "Can you sit down?" Razzle Dazzle raised a eyebrow at the strange question. "I can" as he walked past, Trixie looked at the chains and boxes with hung from his body. He lowed himself into the chair with a loud clank! She shook her head at him. "You Don't believe in me!" Razzle Dazzle Asked "The Great and powerful Trixie Doesn't." She returned to her bowl of food. "why do you doubt your senses?" "little things upset them. Your probably a bit of mouldy apple or an underdone potato!" At this insult Razzle Dazzle Raised himself off the chair and gave out the most horrifying moan which shook Trixie to the core of her very being. Razzle Dazzles face was one of anger and frustration "Pony of the worldly mind, do you believe in me or not!?" "I do! I'm sorry." she waved him back to the chair. "why do spirits walk Equestria and Why do they bother me? "It is required of every pony, That the spirit within walks far and wide and spreads love and harmony where ever they go. And if that pony dose not go forth in life. They are condemned to do so after death. To witness what they cannot share but might have shared and turn to happiness!" With that he gave out a great moan which scared Trixie to the bone. "Your fettered! Tell me Why?" Pointing at the chains around her brothers body. "I wear the chain I forged in life. I made it link by link and yard by yard. It is a ponderous chain. Do you know the Strong Coil you wear yourself! it was a heavy and as broad seven Hearth's warming eves ago. you have laboured on it since." Trixie was shaking at this point "Razzle Dazzle. Speak comfort to your dear Sister" "I have none to give." His tone was serious. "I cannot stay. I cannot linger anywhere! Oh the torture of remorse." he said with a tear in his eye. "Razzle Dazzle, I don't understand? Why you are suffering. All you life you were a good business pony!" His face turned to one of disgust. "That's why I'm suffering. The cruelty it did to other is being re-paid!" "Brother, It was business!" "Business! Showing kindness was my business! Helping the Poor was my business! Not being a self centred cad that I was. I suffer for my mistake. But for you their is a chance of escaping my terrible fate! A chance of my doing." "You were a good brother to me always Razzle!" she tried to put her hoof on his but it went strait through to the arm of the chair. "Tonight you will be haunted by Three spirits. Expect the First when the bell tolls One. "couldn't I meet them all at once." He ignored her completely "The second when the bell tolls Two and the third more mercurial will come in her own good time." He rose from the chair and walked to the window. "Now look to see me no longer." With that the window opened wide letting in a gust of cold night air. He raised a fettered hoof to point outside. Trixie rose from her chair and stood by her brother. She was horrified at what she saw! Hundreds of ponies all wrapped in chains circling around the towers of Canterlot like a great snake. Down in the street was a grey Mare clutching a lavender unicorn filly. They were wrapped in thin blankets, trying to keep warm as they slept in the doorway. A Spirit was sitting beside her with his fettered hoof resting on the little fillies head. "These spirits try to interfere for good but they have lost the power forever." The pony lifted up to rejoin the others. Razzle Dazzle looked into his sisters eyes. "This is the curse we bear" With these last words he floated out the window to join the others. She watched him float away and Suddenly Trixie noticed a pair of ghost ponies sitting on the opposite balcony. They both looked identical with straw hats and stripped waistcoats apart from one having a moustache. She could hear them talking. "Hey Flam. This place filled with ghosts." The other replied "Hardly surprising Flim. This story has been done to death!" "Dooohohohohohohoho". Trixie was frighted at this sight and the terrible jokes and so she quickly close the shutters and ran for her bed.