A/N: in this chapter, Charlie is five. but she is fourteen when she's writing it. in the story, Charlie Duncan's fifth birthday is referred to as the New Day. This is what that term will mean when you see it in later chapters.
Disclaimer: I don't own Good Luck Charlie. Or Mountain Dew. Though I really wish i owned the second one.
Prologue
"Happy Birthday, Charlie." My mother said, her face plastered with an almost clownish smile.
At five years old, I didn't understand the look. But I knew she meant well. Even as young as I was back then.
Ivy came in then asking where Teddy was. My mother told her that Teddy was in her room and Ivy went up there to hang with her "bestie" before the party.
It seemed to me like it would be a normal day, but I had a nagging feeling that something was wrong. Terribly wrong. We hadn't watched the news that day. From then on, I would always find someway to find out what was going in the world. Even with the lack of newspapers and television, I would never be out of the know. It just wasn't my style.
PJ and Gabe walked in the front door. God knows where they were.
"Charlie, we have your present." My older brother PJ said. Gabe said nothing as usual. He had always been the silent type.
The party was a quiet, intimate one. When Ivy drank all of the Mountain Dew, my mother went to the kitchen to get more. That's when the screaming started.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" my father ran into the kitchen, the rest of us trailing after him.
We were faced with a horrifying sight. My mother, lying face up in a pool of her own blood. I was five. Five. I shouldn't have understood. But I did. One look at her face, eyes wide in pure terror and skin already paling, and I knew she was dead. The creature dove from the side of the kitchen, hitting my father in the head and killing him instantly. He lunged toward PJ and he let out a fierce battle cry that will forever be scarred into my mind. PJ spoke, which I expected. It was his words I did not expect.
"Wait! Don't kill me. I'll help you. Whatever it is, I'll help you."
"What of your family, child? Do you not care of their fate?" the demon's raspy voice seemed to Emanate around the room, as if it didn't come from his own body.
"Do whatever with them, I don't care. Just spare me and I am forever yours."
"I need more selfish ones like you in my army. Come minion, let us be gone. Zachariah, eliminate the mortal fools." And with that, my brother and the demon lord, whom I would learn to be called Durian, disappeared in a thick black fog.
Zachariah came forward, bearing a very threatening looking mace. He went after Gabe first. I had to think quickly. I grabbed the antique sword that my father kept on the wall and thrust it toward the demon in front of me. A very lucky shot caught him through the heart. He evaporated in a black mist. At my close range, the clouds dyed my sandy blonde hair a deep black.
I heard Gabe cry out in pure anguish and relief.
When the mist cleared, Ivy and Teddy were gone. Gabe and I were alone and would remain that way for quite some time.