Y2K

Ten-year-old Tucker Foley stared at the TV. He chewed his bottom lip, twiddled his thumbs.

"Tucker," sighed his mother. "The world isn't going to end."

Her son ignored her. Five minutes left until all his precious, beautiful technology- no. Best not to think about it. He had already said his goodbyes, just in case, and now all he could do was wait in tense silence until he knew.

"Tucker." Lola's voice was louder now, more insistent. "I've told you a thousand times, the world will not end in four minutes."

Once again, he ignored her. Lola huffed.

Maurice hid his laughter behind his hand.

Yacht

"-and I'd let you stay on my yacht!"

Danny snorted. Vlad had been listing reasons that he should join the older halfa. They ranged from compelling to fruit-loopy to inane. "No thanks, cheesehead. Sam already has a yacht, and I'll bet anything that it's bigger and better than yours."

"Anything? What about your mother's cell phone number?"

"Only if you agree to announce your fruit loop status to the entire city when I win."

"Cocky, aren't we, little badger?"

Two day later, the mayor called a press conference. "I would like to announce…" a wince "…that I am a seriously messed-up fruit loop."

Yale

Another day, another college acceptance letter. Ivy League this time, one of the biggest names in the country. Jazz ran her fingers down the thick paper, a sad smile on her face. She was already composing her rejection.

"You know," said a voice from behind her, "there's no reason to give up your dreams just because of me."

"I know, little brother. And I'm not." She held out another letter, acceptance to a much closer, just as prestigious (though less famous) school.

Danny smiled, relief lighting up his face. "Good."

Yeast

"Okay, I can almost understand the turkeys you have to deal with every year. I mean, they were alive at one point-"

"Which is why eating them is wrong!" Sam interjected.

Tucker ignored her. "-but seriously, a loaf of homemade bread just came to life on you when your mom added the yeast?"

"Yes," Danny's voice snapped through the cell phone. "And now it's terrorizing the city. If you turn on the news, I think you'll see it."

Sam clicked the remote, changing the channel to the local news. Sure enough, a giant monster was attacking the city, Danny Phantom hot on its tail.

"Man. Mrs. Fenton has got to stop cooking."

Yes

What will you do, little Phantom, young halfa so full of fire and strength? Will you use that power (so bright, so blazing) to protect others, to ward against the raging storm? Will you offer the hand of protection even to your enemies when they are in danger? Will you stand by your friends day in and day out, a rock, a refuge? Will you be a candle in the night, a lighthouse, the glimpse of a new dawn? Will you be a hero for the ages?

No, Daniel, don't say a word. I already know your answer.

Yeti

"Danny?"

"Yeah?"

"Why is there a picture of a snow monster in your cell phone? No, wait. There are several pictures of snow monsters on your cell phone."

"Haven't I told you about the Far Frozen yet?"

"No."

"Oops. Well, no time like the present, right?"

"Are you telling me that there's an entire province in the Ghost Zone that's populated by yetis?"

"Yeah. They're great people. Remember when Vlad got frozen into an ice sculpture and then dumped in the middle of town?"

"Your yeti friends did that?"

"Yep."

"Then I like them already."

Yorkshire terrier

The female smelled nice and didn't growl when he approached. Instead, her tail wagged, her ears lifted most becomingly. Cujo's own tail perked up. He gave a tiny yip of invitation. The female hound, her silver fur glowing softly, barked back.

"Aw," Sam crooned. "Look who found a friend."

"They are pretty adorable," Jazz admitted, watching the two dogs tug at a stick.

Cujo grew, eyes filling with red, fangs tearing into the hapless stick. The Yorkie, though, didn't bat an eye. Instead, she expanded to match his new size, batted her new best friend across the muzzle.

Jazz shook her head. "And the sad thing is, that's still adorable."

Young

Danielle Fenton-Phantom had aged quickly, pumped full of chemicals even before her 'birth' so that she grew into the body of a twelve-year-old girl. Physically, she stood on the cusp of puberty. Mentally, she was an amazingly quick learner. She'd had to be just to survive, to get through. Emotionally, she was capable of complexities, of everything from love to hate.

All in all, she was quite mature for her age… but nothing could replace experience. Not Ecto-Dejecto, not intelligence, not strength of the heart.

At the end of the day, she was still a child in a teenager's body- a child without a childhood, who had every intention of getting all the experience she could.

Ysame

It was the Box Ghost of all people who first figured it out. The Phantom was mighty enough on his own, but when his friends stood at his side, they were unbeatable. So he would divide and conquer- or at least try to. His attempt failed miserably, but it got the other ghosts thinking. Danny did rely pretty heavily on his friends….

So Desiree stalked Sam, used her magic to break up the trio. It almost worked- the Phantom was reduced to a mortal boy….

…until Team Phantom came together once more.

Yucky

"Hey, Dash?"

"Yeah, Kwan?"

"Um…." His friend fidgeted, feet shuffling. "…why in the world were you carrying around an old pair of underwear? I mean, did you expect to make that bet with Fenton or something? Because…. I, I don't know how to say this gently, man, but carrying around dirty old undies is weird."

Dash looked at him with unblinking blue-purple eyes.

Kwan flushed. "No, seriously. Have you ever heard of someone who does that? Me neither- well, not until you. Because that's kind of- well-gross."

Dash narrowed his eyes. "Are you finished yet?"

"But aren't you going to ans-"

"No."

"Ysame" is a fancy old word that apparently means 'Together.'

The final stretch... Z should be up by New Year's. I hope. My family has a way of eating up time, and since I'm home for Christmas, I have to worry about that.

Merry Christmas!

-Corona