Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom or A Christmas Carol. All rights belong to the original owners. Do not repost.
VALERIE'S EYES FLEW OPEN, the blurry world slowly came into focus. The dark-skinned girl groaned, lifting her head up from her pillow, her head throbbing painfully. She could feel her heart beat pounding in her head, the cold air stinging her skin, the blankets of her bed balled up in her fist.
A groan escaped her as she sat up, cringing heavily. Her hand rested to her forehead, her brain felt like mush.
The huntress sat in her room, her window closed, the small cheap lamp bringing light and casting shadows onto the wall.
It was deathly silent. Too silent.
Valerie groaned, ripping the covers off as she swung her feet off the side of the bed. Her feet landed on the wooden boards which creaked loudly as she limped to her window.
She needed some air.
Her suit whirled as it activated, appearing out of nowhere and encasing her in its safe hold. The metal plates skinned as they slid into place, small clicks following as they were secured. The Red Huntress hoped into the air, her hoverboard forming underneath her boots.
Valerie pushed open her bedroom window and zoomed outside. She wasn't sure where she was going as long as it was away.
She wish she could feel the wind, she wish she could feel it dragging its fingers through her hair. But the metal of of her suit blocked it, maybe that was good. It was after all about 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
Her hoverboard vanished from underneath her as she approached the park, she landed the remaking two feet on the snow. Her suit retracted to a place she didn't dare question.
She collapsed onto the park bench, hugging her knees to her chest. It was freezing, she was only wearing her pajamas, a thin layer of fabric to protect her from the cruel hands of winter.
But the painful sting of the cold, bitterly wind on her cheeks and the wind blowing her hair barely registered to her.
Was she a bad person? Why did she hunt Phantom? Did she hunt him for costing them her father's job or her loosing a popular spot in her school?
Why had the Spirit of Christmas Past shown her images of herself and ghosts?
Why did she hate ghosts? Was it because she despised one so much that she assumed they were all evil? Were ghosts evil?
Yes, hissed the devil on her shoulder.
No, whimpered the angel on her shoulder. You're not a bad person.
"You're a good person... I think-"
Valerie screamed, flailing her arms, as she fell off the park bench. She gapped, spluttering at the ghost floating above her.
No, that couldn't be...
"PHANTOM?!"
The white-haired teenager grinned, tilting its head to the side, its white bangs sliding into its face. "Hey, Red."
Her eyes widened, she stuttered. "What- how- why- HOW-?"
Phantom floated over the park bench, smirking playfully. "Not quite."
"What?"
"I'm the Shadow of Christmas Present."
Valerie felt like she had just been punched in the stomach. "Oh," she said quietly, glancing at the ground.
The huntress looked back up at the spirit, staring, trying to find a flaw that this wasn't Phantom. But every feature was the same.
Its jaw line was still sharp, its cheeks were still slightly squishy. Its skin was still tanned, glowing white faintly. Its eyes still glowed ectoplasmic green like green fires, its hair was still messy. Its eyes still danced with mirth, like it knew something you didn't. Its grin pulled from each side of his face, a mischievous smile that made everyone whom looked suspicious. It still wore a black suit and white gloves, belt, boots, and that symbol.
There was a tense, long, uncomfortable silence until Valerie gained the ability to speak once more.
"Y-yo-you're not P-P-Phan-ntom?"
He- no, it- shook its head, locks of white hair shaking in front of its eyes. "No," he answered, his grin slid off his face. "Phantom is exactly where you left him."
Valerie flinched, Ouch.
The Shadow tilted its head to the side, a smirk forming on its face. Valerie opened and closed her mouth, "What... What do you represent...?" Christmas Present raised an eyebrow. "I mean... I saw Danielle in... In Christmas Past," she said softly. "What do you..."
"Freedom, protection, generosity," the Phantom-look-alike shrugged. "Something around those lines..."
"But that sounds more like Dani..."
"Maybe," the Shadow shrugged. "But I guess you can only see the reflection of somebody once."
"But Phantom doesn't represent protection or generosity to me..."
"To others he does," said Not-Phantom, rolling its eyes. "The world does not orbit around you."
Valerie scowled, "Well, the last Shadow was personal."
The Shadow shrugged, offering his arm to her, smirking. It was Phantom's smirk, everything about it belong to him- no, it... Danny Phantom did not deserve to be personified.
Valerie sneered at the Shadow whom sighed heavily, grumbling under his breath. "Fine, fine."
Copy Phantom clapped his hands together, the air around them rippled like a stone dropped into water. Valerie's vision blew up in an explosion of white light, and then she was being sucked through a vacuum, the wind howling, wailing.
Phantom- the real Phantom- tackled a girl into a hug. A girl whom was an exact replica of the Shadow of Christmas Past.
Valerie's eyes widened, "Danielle?" she whispered, she could feel Copy Phantom next to her.
"The real one," he added, casting a side glance to her. The Shadow smirked, his eyes gleaming with mirth.
Valerie stared at the cousins who hugged and laughed. Phantom's arms were wrapped around the small ghost girl. Danielle laughed, pulling away from the hug.
Phantom's face was full of glee, not the mischievous humor he normally had, but pure, genuine happiness. "I can't believe you came!"
Dani grinned, "It's Christmas!" she laughed, "My travels can wait!"
Phantom hugged her, "You are legitimately the best cousin to exist."
She shortly laughed as he ruffled the top of her hair. "Yeah, I know."
"Why would you show me this?" whispered Valerie, turning to the Shadow of Christmas Present. "Why?"
Copy Phantom did not reply, the huntress stared at him, her eyes scraping over his features.
He looked exactly like Phantom.
She could feel her stomach twisting into an uncomfortable knot, she felt sick.
"If you think this is the worst," chuckled the Shadow, "then we have a long ways to go."
White light exploded around them as the scene shifted. Valerie found herself standing in a familiar living room decorated in Christmas decorations. Jack, Maddie, and Jazz Fenton sat around the couch, all three of them looking nervous.
Valerie frowned, Where's Danny?
Knock, knock.
Her head snapped to the door, it swung open, the howling wind flowing inside. Two people stumbled through the doorway, quickly slamming the door shut.
Tucker gasped, pulling off his hoodie, while Sam pulled off her scarf. Both of them we covered in clothing, shivering.
Maddie stood up from her seat, "Did you find him?" The mother looked pale, her choppy red hair was messy.
The unsettling feeling grew in her stomach.
The best friends shook their heads. Jack stood up, pulling his wife into a hug. She sobbed, wrapping his arms around him.
Jazz looked down, she whispered something so softly that barely anybody could hear it. "Where are you, Danny?"
Valerie whipped around to face Copy Phantom, "Where is he?!" she hissed, "WHERE?!" she shouted, her voice rising, cracking near the end.
The huntress felt helpless, consumed in fear and terror.
The Shadow did not answer, white light enveloped them, a new scene appearing in front of them. Valerie's eyes scanned over the room.
Through large glass windows the lights of New York City glowed, the apartment they stood in was small but nice. A Christmas tree was pushed to the side, decorated in ornaments made by a toddler. Colored holiday lights hung from the ceiling, music played softly from a radio on the marble kitchen counter.
A woman sat hunched over a table, her once young face covered in wrinkles from stress and depression. Her short curly black hair fell around her face, her eyes full of pain. Her hands curled around a phone, it's shrill ring alarmed her. She quickly accepted the call, anxiously pressing the phone to her ear.
She exclaimed excitedly, "Dam-!"
Valerie recognized the voice of her father cut the woman off, "-This is ridiculous, Marilyn-"
Mom?
"Damon, please-"
"-Stop calling Valerie-"
"-She's my daughter-!"
"-The daughter you abandoned! I have full custody of her-!"
"Please, Damon. Be reasonable-"
"-Reasonable left the table a long time ago-"
"-Let me wish her a Merry Christmas-"
"-No-"
"-At least let me tell her about her brother-!"
Suddenly Valerie was falling- falling, falling- she was plummeting. "What?"
"-No," Damon's voice was gravely and solemn. "She's not ready."
Valerie glanced over her shoulder to the Shadow of Christmas Present, the Shadow smiled softly, pointing to the living room.
The hunter's feet moved on her own, she realized the Tv had Ben turned on to a kid's channel. Two grey couches formed an L, a rug lay in the center, facing the television. A little boy around the age of four sat in a center of toys. He had dark skin, big turquoise eyes, and messy, glossy black hair.
He stared at the TV screen, giggling with joy. Valerie felt sick, light-headed. This child in front of her was not her father's, it was the result of an affair her mother had.
He was her half-brother...
Suddenly, the huntress felt betrayed. Her father knew about him, he didn't tell her- and oh, god...
Valerie stood in her room again, alone, feeling disgusted and sick... Her head throbbed terribly, her stomach felt loose like she was plummeting down at huge roller coaster.
Phantom was locked up, near obliteration, about to die all over again.
Danielle had seen him earlier today.
She had a brother.
Danny was missing. The person she cared about the most was MIA. He was gone. Where was he?
Valerie's knees felt weak, she collapsed to the ground, her hair fell in her face. And for the first time in a very long time, Valerie let herself cry.
{Okay, so this was terrible... Yep, really... Um, terrible... Mhm...And really short... But um, I mean, I posted...
Invader Johnny: THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING, you are a beautiful person.
Merry Almost-Christmas,
Book117Worm.}
