The halls of Monster High were bustling with activity. Friends lost in conversation, the chimes of icoffins, the slamming of locker doors. It was a symphony all its own but Christina Dracula couldn't stop to admire it.
"I can't believe I'm late for the meeting," she moaned, slamming open her locker.
Shrugging off her messenger bag the hybrid paused only long enough to make sure she wasn't a mess. Wearing her favorite long-sleeved dress with a swirling thorn design, black leggings, and knee-length boots she found her outfit to be free of wrinkles or lunch stains but her usual braid was falling out.
"Typical," she mumbled tugging what remained of the bow out of her hair
"Like, I didn't realize your hair had gotten that long!"
"Hey, Babe," she greeted Shaggy's reflection in the mirror, "We're late"
"Then it's like lucky that they pushed the meeting back by half an hour"
"Thank goodness," Christina turned from the mirror, sweeping her hip-length hair from her face, "You didn't put the pizza place out of business, did you?"
"I promise, it's still there," Shaggy laughed, stealing a kiss before grabbing Christina's hand, "Let's go we can like, chill in the student lounge before the meeting"
"And I'll have time to finish my homework"
"I like, forgot what the assignment was"
Before Christina could fill him in one Toralei Stripe stepped into their path, blocking the door to the catacombs.
"Late for the gathering of freaks and misfits, are we?"
"Better not let Headmistress Bloodgood hear you," Christina warned, "She expelled Gory last week for those comments"
"ooh, I'm sooo scared!" Toralei mocked, "Whatcha going to do, Half-Breed? Tell on me?"
"No," Christina's eyes flashed red as she smirked, "But call me another name and Shaggy might cut you down to size"
The normally easy-going newly minted magic-wielding half-human had gone tense, grabbing Christina protectively, watching the werecat with a snarl.
"You really, really, really don't want to provoke him" Christina further warned, "Excuse us," she guided Shaggy around Toralei and her flunkies, opening the catacomb door with a wave of her hand.
"Like you should've let me-"
"It's alright, Shaggy," Christina paused to kiss his nose, "She doesn't bother me"
"But she called you-"
"I know and I know it isn't right but we're talking about the ghoul dating our school's rival, it will all catch up with her evetually"
Relaxing, Shaggy pulled Christina close, "What did I do to deserve you?"
"I dunno"
…...
Back upstairs Toralei's fur stood on end.
"Cut you down to size," she mocked with an eye roll, "She thinks she's all that! I think it's time she was taught a lesson, don't you ghouls?"
"You aren't saying-" Purrsephone gasped.
"It was way to risky last time, Serena could've ratted us out," Meowlody reminded the scheming werecat.
But Toralei was far too caught up in her idea, "Full moon tonight," she grinned wickedly.
…...
The Hybrid Support group meeting ran until the end of the school day, with all members using their dedicated time to share triumphs and traumas. The meeting was just letting out as the few stragglers were headed for the school's parking lot.
"Are you sure you can't come over for dinner?" Shaggy asked Christina.
The duo walked with their hands swinging between them, each far more relaxed than prior to the meeting.
"Sorry, I have Mad Science homework"
"Can't that wait?"
"Sweetie we both know that dinner at your place turns into staying the night-"
"Which is why you have half of my closet, a fuzzy blanket stash and a cabinet in the kitchen"
"That reminds me I need to get my dragon wing top from your house but what I'm saying is that if I stay over I won't get my homework done at all"
"Okay, okay but this weekend?"
"I'll be all yours," Christina stopped in front of her locker. "But for now"
"But for now-" Shaggy grabbed her, kissing her passionately, "Call me later?" he asked when they came up for air.
"Of course"
After Shaggy had gone, Christina opened her locker causing a note to flutter to the floor.
"What?" she picked it up confusedly.
If you want your stupid stick back, meet me in the caves on Hollow Island at midnight tonight. COME ALONE!
Stick?
Christina felt like throwing up when she realized her wand-which had been propped in a corner of the locker-was gone. Heart racing, Christina gripped the locker door, mulling over her options. It would be so easy to go to Bloodgood's office to ask to see the security footage.
But, what if the thief retaliated? What if they broke her wand? Her mother had built it by hand just for her!
I guess I have no choice!
…...
Two minutes to midnight Christina entered the cave on Hollow Island to find Toralei waiting for her, wand in hand.
"Big surprise", the hybrid deadpanned sarcastically. "I think I'm gonna have a heart-attack and die of 'not-surprised', Meow-mix, NOW GIVE ME MY WAND BACK!"
Toralei's gaze drifted lazily to the roof of the cave before refocusing on Christina who stood with her hand outstretched, waiting.
"You want your mommy's trinket back, half-breed?", the orange tabby werecat smirked, holding up her prize. "Go get it!" With that she tossed it into the moon-pool...tied to a rock, making it sink!
"NO!", Christina cried, diving in after it.
Below the surface of the water it wasn't dark at all much to Christina's shock it was actually kind of pretty, glowing kelp swaying with the motion of the water. Water that began to boil and bubble though she paid it no mind. Her focus was solely on the glowing tip of her wand as it sank deeper and deeper. Hand outstretched she kicked furiously trying to reach her wand before it was lost forever. With a sudden surprising burst of speed, the hybrid finally managed to grab onto it in the nick of time, the water calming as she broke the surface gasping for breath.
"Now you're even MORE of a freak!", Toralei taunted with a laugh. "Better try real hard not to get wet at school now, Fish-Stick!"
Confused for a moment as her werecat wanna-be bully left, Christina found she was having difficulty climbing out of the water. She looked down and to her anguish learned why: she had a purple fishtail instead of legs! Then it all came together: the island, the moon-pool, the full moon...that felonious feline had tricked her! Her legs would return when she was dry, but anytime she got wet she would turn into a MERMAID!
…...
Shaggy rolled off the couch, being woken by the urgent pounding on the front door. Peeling his face from the rug he found Scooby unaffected by the noise still happily snoring away with the late-night creature feature still playing on TV. The pounding continued while the sleepy teen got to his feet, thanking the stars that his parents were heavy-ish sleepers, something that occurs when the master bedroom is on the third floor in the hall farthest from the front door.
Disabling the alarm, Shaggy pulled open the door to find Christina, eyes puffy from crying and shaking on the porch.
"Christy what-"
The hybrid all but threw herself into his arms, sobs of anger racking her body, "She-she-she t-t-tricked me and-and I-I-I-"
"Shh," Shaggy soothed, rubbing circles into her back, "Let's like, sit down and you can tell me from the beginning, okay?"
"O-Okay," Christina choked.
"I don't think I understand," Shaggy admitted, his brain still sleep-fogged after Christina finished her explanation.
"C'mon. I'll show you"
With shoulders slumped, Christina led him to the nearest bathroom, stepping into the tub before turning on the water.
"Whoa," Shaggy caught her when she tipped over the tub.
"She's going to destroy my life!" Christina moaned.
"Now, I'm sure that's not-"
"Oh, trust me, she means it!" Christina snapped, "She's totally got something up her sleeve and-and-and-"
"Shh, let's get you dried off," Shaggy easily lifted her from the tub, "Then we'll like, go back to your house and explain everything-"
"I'm scared," Christina whimpered, "Don't you remember what happened at my birthday last year? He was going to rip her to-"
"Shh, shh, one thing at a time, okay?"
Shaggy chose not to mention that he would've gladly helped Dracula rip Toralei and her party-crashing flunkies to shreds if Vana hadn't stepped in.
The drive to castle Dracula was silent with Christina turned to the window for most of it. They found the gates to be open upon arrival, someone had noticed her absence. This was further confirmed when they stepped inside, the entire household was awake.
"Vhat happened? Vhere did you go? Vhy did you-" Dracula started questioning Christina only for Vana to yank him back by the collar.
"Christina," she asked calmly, "Vhat vere you doing out so late?"
With a shallow, shaking breath Christina sank onto the sofa, retelling the events of the last few hours again while Shaggy stepped into the other room.
"I never would have done something so stupid but she had my wand, stole it right out of my locker, I-I-I fell right into her trap," Christina finished her explanation with barely any composure.
"I like, called Uncle Vincent, he should be here-"
Vincent Van Ghoul arrived in his robe and slippers before Shaggy could finish.
"Paardon my appearance," the great warlock yawned, "But I was told it was an emergency"
"I don't have to explain again, do I?" Christina leaned into Shaggy defeatedly.
"No," Vincent assured her.
His examination of her magic, of the effects the moon pool had on her, was fast but for everyone but Vincent time seemed to be moving slower than molasses.
"I fear it cannot be reversed", Vincent said after examining Christina. "By sky and dry land, Christina will be as she has always been: the half-vampire/half-dark fae she was born as. But add even the smallest amount of water, and she becames a mermaid version of herself. And from what I can tell, as a mermaid, her powers and magick are altered."
"NOOO!", Christina cried.
"Like, shhhhh, Christina", Shaggy soothed, holding her gently in his loving arms.
"But will she be all right?", Draculaura asked, with Sibella nodding next to her in concern for their cousin.
Just as Vincent Van Ghoul was about to answer, a brilliant burst of green fire burst in the room, revealing Maleficent when it faded.
"What has happened to my grand-daughter?", the Queen of the Dark Fae demanded imperiously. "I could sense her distress all the way in Ever After!"
Dracula looked paler than usual but as Christina was in no place to explain herself for the third time that night the duty fell to him. Something he didn't look forward to, though they could come together to raise Christina they'd often clashed on how to do so and had been on the receiving end of the dark fae's temper before Dracula wasn't looking forward to it.
Needless to say, it wasn't a pretty sight.
…...
Christina was thankfully permitted to stay home until Maleficent could find her some help. Sitting on the chaise lounge in her library she tried to focus on her book but with the construction going on in the ensuite bathroom she was having trouble. Slamming the book shut, she let it fall from her lap, grabbing her drink from the side table only to watch the water freeze.
"What?" she gasped, waving her free hand over it to thaw it out.
It boiled only to gel over. Frustration mounting her movements became more frantic. This caused the water to leap from the glass, jetting toward the ceiling in an unending stream. When she dropped her hand, the water fell, soaking her through which made her transform, falling onto the floor.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" she screamed.
"Christy?" Vana eased open the door.
"Please go away," Christina begged without looking at her aunt.
She could just feel the worried looks. She didn't want to worry, she didn't want pity. Yet, here she was back at square one. Altered magic, a curse she fell into, powers that weren't obeying her. What was she to do?
This was a nightmare!
…...
Meanwhile, at Monster High Toralei was still reveling in the success of her scheme while the twins remained quiet listening to her gloat.
"TORALEI!"
Shaggy stormed towards her his usual laid-back easily scared self replaced with white-hot rage.
"What's your problem?" the werecat drawled.
Shaggy slammed her into the locker, "Like, you have a lot to answer for!"
"Get your hands off of me you magic freak"
Shaggy only pushed harder, "Did you like, think is was funny to take Christina's wand? Did you think it was funny to like, curse her? "
"Yes," Toralei finally broke from Shaggy's grip, "She had it coming, Look at me! I'm a fairy I dance with squirrels in the forest, I'm just so perfect!"
"Do you have ANY idea what you've done?" Draculaura asked, arriving with the others, "She won't leave her room"
"What did she ever do to you?" Clawdeen demanded.
"Christy's one of the sweetest ghouls and you RUINED her life," Duncan added.
"Consider yourself lucky Amora isn't here today," Draculaura warned, "She'd tear you to bits"
One nearby student had had enough, storming from his locker looking ready for trouble. The slender, well-muscled reptilian boy pushed through the ring of Christina's friends to stand beside Toralei and the twins, fangs gleaming as he spoke.
"Hey! Back off my ghoul!", Sisko Basilisk hissed in defense of Toralei. "It ain't her fault Li'l Miss Perfect can't take a joke."
"A 'JOKE'?!", Duncan snarled, smoke pouring from between his fangs. "DON'T make me hurt you, Sisko!"
"THAT A THREAT, CHARCOAL BREATH?!", the basilisk boy snarled, reaching for his shades, his eyes glowing threateningly behind them.
"Toralei Stripe! Report to my office immediately!", Headmistress Bloodgood paged through the PA system, her...disappointment clear in her voice despite the crackling in the speakers. Then the bell rang. "The rest of you students get to class! NOW!"
The group scrambled to class lest they risk a three-hundred-year detention while Toralei sauntered her way to the office, easing the door open she stepped into quite a scene:
"...my niece could have been killed! Drowned vhile being overwhelmed by strange magick!", Dracula roared. "As it is her magick has been turned upside down and inside out! She vill have to practically re-learn how to use all her powers at the same time she learns to use her new mer-powers!(turning to point angrily at Toralei) I VANT THIS IRRESPONSIBLE, MEAN-SPIRITED HAIRBALL HEX-SPELLED IMMEDIATELY FROM MONSTER HIGH!"
"You know I can't do that, Dracula," Bloodgood solemnly stated.
"SHE NEEDS TO BE PUNISHED!" Dracula shouted,
"Me?" Toralei put a hand over her heart, "What did I do?"
"YOU ALMOST KILLED MY NIECE!" Dracula roared.
"Dracula, please, I understand you're upset but please try to calm yourself," Bloodgood spoke, calmly while Nightmare separated the vampire lord from the faintly smirking werecat, "Toralei will be promptly suspended for the maximum two weeks-"
"I think I can do better than that," A regal voice chuckled humorlessly from the shadows.
"Ma-Maleficent," Bloodgood gulped as the imposing dark fae queen stepped out of the shadowed corner, "I-I wasn't aware you were here"
"Forgive me for deceiving you, Headmistress but I wanted to hear what Miss Stripe's defense was," Looking to Toralei she asked, "Do you know who I am?"
"Maleficent," the werecat nonchalantly replied, "Headmistress Bloodgood just said so"
"Yes, she did," Maleficent nodded with a wicked smile, "Care to guess why I'm here?"
"It has something to do with little miss sunshine, doesn't it? Honestly, I just wanted to fang out with her. I don't see what the big deal is"
Dracula opened his mouth but Maleficent held up a hand.
"Let me properly introduce myself," Maleficent circled Toralei, "I am Maleficent Thorn Shadowfae, Queen of the Dark Fae... and Christina's GRANDMOTHER. And as of the sad passing of her mother, Christina is the Heir to my Throne."
Toralei paled speechlessly. The hybrid freak was a ROYAL?! Crown Princess of the Dark Fae of all things?! Just then there was a knock on the door, prompting Bloodgood to call out "Enter". Duncan and Clawdeen came in.
"You sent for us, Headmistress?", Duncan asked.
"Your text made it sound important.", Clawdeen added.
"Indeed", Bloodgood confirmed, removing her head and placing it on her desk. "Given Christina is a Royal, I thought it best to call upon witnesses who are also Royals. Miss De Nile is absent today, but you two are here. I also understand that as close friends of Miss Shadowfae-Dracula, you are fully aware of her circle of friends?"
"Yes, ma'am", they both said.
"Miss Stripe claims that her 'jokes' are just her attempt to 'fang out' and make friends with Christina..."
"*SNORT!*Are you kidding me?!", Duncan guffawed. "Toralei has been nothing short catty and a bully to Christina since Christy began attending Monster High!"
"You got that right!", Clawdeen growled. "I've lost count of all the times that we, Frankie, 'Laura, and any of our other friends have had to make this alley-cat and her friends back off!"
Maleficent turned back to Toralei, "Yes, I seem to recall Christina mentioning a bully though she was much too kind and never did give me the name"
Toralei gulped.
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE, YOU WITTLESS FURBALL?" Maleficent roared, catching the werecat with her magic to prevent escape, banging her scepter on the ground she cast Christina's current whereabouts on the wall.
Christina sat on her closet floor, hands shaking, "C'mon, please, please" she was begging trying desperately to ignite a flame but the magic that had once been uncontrollable, lighting whether she wanted it to or not was now completely unresponsive.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH," She screamed for the second time that day, pounding her fists in frustration.
"All the control, all the understanding, all the CONFIDENCE I taught her is GONE because of your joke!" Maleficent leaned close to Toralei with a predatory gleam in her eyes, "The school might not be able to punish you Miss Stripe but rest assured you will SUFFER at my hand"
…...
The school was violently shaking, so much so that all lessons were disrupted, the students ducking for cover while the teachers sought answers.
"WHAT IS GOING ON?" Mr. Rotter exclaimed, ducking behind his desk.
"Like, Christina's grandmother is here and she's pissed", Shaggy said nonchalantly.
"Ruh-huh", Scooby confirmed, then slipped back into his nap next to Shaggy's desk.
"Vould you mind explaining that, Shaggy?", Mr. Rotter asked of the normally easily frightened boy "Who is her grandmother?"
"Maleficent."
"WHAT?!" everyone shouted in shock. Well, everyone but Abby, Draculaura, and Clawd; the rest of their friends were in other classes that period. Whispers and murmurs went through the class.
"What is problem?", Abby asked. "Everybody chill!"
"Yeah! Like, it's not like Christina was hiding anything", Shaggy added.
"That's right!", Draculaura sniped, defending her cousin. "It's in the Scare-itage Report she's giving in class next week!"
If she gets some help.
…...
There was a blinding flash of green leaving Toralei dazed.
"You shall spend your ENTIRE summer in my service," Maleficent declared, "Not just this year but EVERY YEAR for your nine lives! And when I step down it is CHRISTINA you will be serving!"
"Pft. As if"
"Don't believe me?" Maleficent smirked, "Fine, just wait until your summer break"
With that, she dropped Toralei.
"I believe my work here is done"
…...
Shaggy knocked softly on Christina's door that Saturday.
"Come in," she called weakly, the door creaking open.
"Christy?" Shaggy stepped inside to see her packing a suitcase, "Like, what are you doing?"
"I'm going to Grandmother's for the week...maybe two, she's trying to help me regain a grip on my magic"
"Are you going in the next hour?"
"Not until after dinner," she finally looked up at him, brushing hair from her face, "What's that?"
"I brought you doughnuts with sprinkles," Shaggy held up the white paper bag, "Do you like, want to maybe take a break? Watch a movie in the den?"
"Can we watch it in her?" she replied, moving her suitcase to the side.
"We can watch it wherever you want, Christy"
Retrieving the laptop from the desk, Christina fell onto the bed, Shaggy quickly took his spot, wrapping her in his arms while handing over the treat.
"What do you want to watch?" he asked.
"I dunno"
"A Disney movie?"
"Sounds good"
Shaggy took control of the computer finding Christina as usual had five tabs open. Two book shopping websites, one for baking supplies, one recipe, and a craft tutorial.
"You can close them"
"If you're sure-"
"Yes"
A movie was chosen, Shaggy keeping an arm around the quiet Christina for the entire run time.
How dare Toraelei.
How Dare she!
…...
