Author's Note: Hi all! Sorry for being so late on updating the story ~_~; Lol~ and hold your horses, you'll all discover who Kim is married to in the next Stave, which is all about the present ~.^. again, thank-you for the wonderful reviews, and I hope you enjoy this next instalment~! (And I promise not to take as long uploading the next 3/!)
Stave 2: The First of the Three Spirits
When Shego next awoke she found it not to be the next morning but still night. It was such a dark the Shego had never seen before, not that she could see anything at all. There was no difference between her walls and the window; no moon shone its beams to lighten her room in a silver cast.
She was much surprised by this, for she was not one for restless sleep. On the contrary, she would always sleep from night to morning and even in bed ill would she never wake in between. Shego was half inspired that daytime had indeed come but the sun had forgotten to rise.
But that was not probable and she knew this. It's because of… of the dream I had. Convinced she was that the phenomenon with Drakken's ghost had all been but a dream in the night; a dream that had been of cause from her over-stressing day, dealings with Christmas and what-have-you. She wasn't happy about waking in the middle of the night, she'd blame it on Kim and dock some more pay from her, Shego had thought nastily.
And now that she found herself awake, she realized that she was no longer the least bit sleepy. Her eyes were wide, her mind active, she just could not seem to settle down. Try as she may, her efforts were in vain as she lay her head upon her plush pillow, trying to fall asleep. It did her no good to keep her eyes open or closed as there was no difference in effect.
It was as if something or someone had cast a spell on her, a negative Sand-man? Shego felt as though she had eaten a box of chocolates, she couldn't settle down!
So there she laid, her hands behind her head, gazing up blankly in the direction of the four-poster bed roof, waiting… waiting for sleep to take hold of her. O, if she felt groggy in the morning, Kim was sure to be on the receiving end…
It was because of Kim, Shego had that dream of Drakken… she had defeated him and so the stress caused by Kim caused Shego to reminisce Drakken. Simple, no? Perhaps not… Why had he said what he did then? Shego snorted (twas!), she was overly certain that she did not have some deep conscience stirring her to believe that what she was doing was 'wrong'. That she should 'repent'. Just because she had some stupid dream that Kim had triggered, she ought to give up her power? She thought not.
Wasn't there something else Drakken had told her in her dream? Yes, there was and Shego recollected being terrified at those certain spoken words. (Ha! Now she knew it had been a dream, Shego was never petrified of anything or anyone!) But what he had said: "You will be haunted by Three Spirits.". … As Shego thought of that again, involuntarily she shivered. Well, it had been rather disturbing, truth-be-told. But no-one was here to know that was how she felt, and so be it forever!
A smile curved on Shego's green face while she continued to stare ahead at the pitch-black roof above her head. Ok, so Shego was allowed to be unnerved by a dream, but that didn't mean people would know! Sure, it all made sense now. This filled her with some sort of fake content. So, with it, she decided to close her eyes and try once more to sleep…
But wait! Something in the slight corner of Shego's eye caught her attention. How could something in such a dark room? Because it was light! Light that Shego had not created; she did not flip a switch or light a candle. It was a pure, golden light and Shego was almost too afraid to turn to see what caused it.
But she did.
And when she did turn her head, her jaw dropped a mile long! So stunned was she, that she propped herself up with her arms to become transfixed to the sight before her own eyes. Her very own eyes!
There was a lone figure, standing in her room. The light resonating from the figure, so divinely, the figure could have been mistaken for an angel, for it neither burned like the cast off from a fire, nor glowed like a light from a bulb. Indeed, it was such a pure light that no human could have captured it into a tamed form.
The figure stood there in front of Shego, wearing a decoratively simple dress in a white so innocent. Along the trims were wild flowers along a vine that wrapped all around. So fine were the details on the freesias, it almost looked to be real. And a belt! A belt so golden, so like the sun, it reflected all its surroundings and hugged the waist of the figure into a v-shape; it shone brilliantly in the room, perhaps even subjugating the shine from the figure, if that was at all possible. Yes, the belt would make any prospector trade in their very soul for such lustre! If Shego could avert her eyes from the belt (it was difficult!), she could see the figure holding a single branch of the greenest and freshest holly with the ripest and fullest berries. And under the arm of the figure, was carried a giant candle snuffer, made of a brassy-gold.
And then there was the figure herself! Yes, I said herself. Her expression was blank, but not in a cold nor distant manner, but just blank, like it had been painted upon her face. Her hair… it was pale-black, wavy, long; down to her waist is where it ended. Her form was slim and lovely, oh-so lovely. Her skin was smooth and a graceful amber colour. The eyes… they were black and though Shego tried, like the figure's expressions, they depicted no emotion.
Shego had seen this person before.
"You!" Was the first words she cried. In a daring attempt, Shego leapt from her own bed and stood on the wooden floor, pointing a sharp finger at the figure. As she shouted this, the figure inclined her head, but spoke not a word. "What the hell are you doing here?! I know who you are… you… you're that friend of Kim Possible's! Monique! Did she send you here? To try and frighten me? Well, because of your little prank, Kim'll pay and pay-"
"I am not Monique." The figure spoke for the first time, a voice calm and sweet like honey. Then she labelled herself for the first time: "I am the Ghost of Christmas Past. Your Past."
Shego was silent for a moment, taking in the words that seemed to slap her round the face. Like what Drakken had said! 'You will be visited by Three Spirits.' Surely she was not dreaming now! It was just then that she was having trouble trying to sleep!
"Excuseme?" Was all Shego could muster.
The Monique-Spirit inclined her head again at Shego. "I am here on your behalf. Come… follow me!"
Shego didn't move a centimetre. Instead, she watched dubiously as the Monique-Spirit glided over to the now open window. Then she floated up and into the frame of the window as the Ghost of Drakken had done previously.
"Well, come on!" the Monique-Spirit beckoned Shego forwards.
"Yea, and what?" Shego rested her hands on her hips and starred at the Monique-Spirit through half-eyes. She had noticed a change in the Monique-Spirit's voice. It had started out expressionless, almost mystic, but now it was like that of an average person on the street. "Like, sprinkle my magic fairy dust and fly?"
The Monique-Spirit sighed heavily then held out her hand, "Take my hand and you'll be able to fly, your whole body upheld."
"Are you implying that I'm fat?!"
"Just take the hand, I'm running out of time!"
"Fine!!"
Moodily, Shego reached out and grasped the Monique-Spirit's hand; it felt neither warm nor cold. To Shego's sudden stupefaction, they flew out the window, and to the Monique-Spirit's true words, Shego felt her whole body being upheld like in a breeze.
When Shego was able to look down, she found themselves flying higher and further, and faster! Soon, Shego's own tower and penthouse-mansion were no longer in sight. Then the ground speed, were they in fast forward?! The lights blurred together so it became a mass of black and vibrant yellow. Abruptly, the landscape below began to slow down and lighten, like the sun slowly rising. While this was happening, the two were descending from the sky and they had reached the ground.
Where were they? I know! Shego thought, and suddenly she felt the feeling of anticipation. The Monique-Spirit and Shego had landed in a school-yard… the playground. All around were children playing (all in school uniform all girls), whether it be tag or Red Rover, all were screaming with delight and laughing cheerfully.
"I know this place!" Shego spoke her words aloud to the Monique-Spirit jovially. "This is the all girls school near where I lived!"
Beside her, the Monique-Spirit surveyed the scene of children playing. "But you're not here."
"No, I'm not." Shego dropped her voice. "Hey, wait, what do you mean 'I'm not here'? I am… right here, talking to you! I mean, like, hellooo~"
The Monique-Spirit gave an exasperated sigh, "Didn't I tell you? I'm the Ghost of Christmas Past. Your Past.-"
"Déjà vu."
"So, obviously, we're visiting your past. No-one can see us, nor hear us. We're not within their sense, y'know? So," the Monique-Spirit scanned the play ground again, "Where are you?"
"I…" Shego found her for some reason known to her, her voice had falter. She paused for a moment to regain confidence in her speech. When she did, she spoke: "I didn't attend this school. We… my brothers and I were orphans, we didn't have money to attend a school. We… we lived in a tree-house…"
"But we've come to this school, so where'd you normally be?"
Shego tilted her head to the sky in remembrance adrift. Steadily, she began to reply, her black lips twitching in the corners of her mouth, "I often wished I could have attended the school with the other girls. So every lunch and recess, I'd find a reason to leave our tree-house and visit the school-yard." Another painful clog caught in Shego's throat. She smiled to herself, as if she thought of some particular humorous joke. "I… I wanted to make friends with these girls… after all, I lived with four brothers." And she gave a chuckle to tie end to her sentence.
"Then let's go find you. Lead the way, if you remember."
Shego snorted after being woken out of her dilatory state, "Of course I remember!" She snapped. "C'mon!" Shego broke into a swift walk down the dirt play ground path kicking up the gravel as she went (My socks are so going to need to be laundered) while the Monique-Spirit trailed in her wake solemnly not becoming spoiled by the dirt, nor causing a trail of her own behind herself.
They walked down the path and towards the fence bordering the school-ground. But rather than continuing down the path, they turned left and trotted across the grassy field. (Now I'm going to get grass-stains. UGH, Shego rolled her eyes in thought.) As if it were yesterday, Shego recalled the familiar landmarks. The slide to the left, the houses on the other side of the fence… and she led the Monique-Spirit to a gallant, noble oak tree right in the middle of the worn and wooden fence, half of the trunk on the school grounds, the other facing the sidewalk, devoid of anyone but a singular person.
"That's me." Shego said.
"What a lonely child."
"I was."
Truthfully, there was a little girl in old tattered clothing, maybe around the age of ten, sitting alone under the tree on the side of the playground far from the play equipment… The girl had to be a younger Shego, the only difference was age. The little girl had raven-black hair, dark green eyes and the most distinctive of all, pale green skin. Alone she sat her attention no-where but on the book she upheld in front of her, reading intently.
Silently Shego watched in earnest for a few moments then decided to elaborate. "See, they wouldn't come play with me because I was different; because I have green skin. But I didn't care; it helped mould me who I am to-day!"
"And you're proud?" The Monique-Spirit asked this inquisitively, showing no-signs of hostility.
"Of course!" Shego retorted. "I mean, I'm powerful now. I'm strong, inside and out! Huh! They wouldn't dare pick on me now…"
When Shego trailed off, the Monique-Spirit spoke: "And what's she reading?"
Smugly, Shego responded, "Tae Kwan Doe. All that time that I spent alone under this tree, I put it all to good use (and to get away from my brothers)." And she chuckled sinisterly, "I studied the art of fighting skills. Hehe, the books I read… I'm a force to be reckoned with now. They actually helped me in the long run…"
The Monique-Spirirt nodded but not in agreement. "Power… but lonely it can be on top, when you've shunned away those of who need you. Who you need."
Before Shego could make some sort of remark (but most likely it would have been a retort), a group of school-girls in forest green uniforms crossed the grassy field, making their way past both Shego and the Monique-Spirit.
Shego narrowed her eyes in a hidden rage. The Monique-Spirit, tilted her head to look into Shego's eyes only to find a reckless emerald fire blazing fiercely behind those glazed eyes of this daemon…
Unperturbed by the passionate response of this sudden approach, the Monique-Spirit looked ahead at the girls nearing the young Shego in this past vision. Speaking quite casually, she ventured, "You know these people?"
"Yes!" Shego spat viciously, her eyes ever so narrowed, it was difficult to even see her glistening eyes. But there was not only hatred in those eyes of her, but true pain as well… "Those girls tormented me… all I wanted was to be friends with them! What had I done to them?! Nothing! Nothing!!"
"Yet you still came back every day…"
"Huh?" Snapped out of her emotional cage, Shego stood up straight, eyes wide to the Monique-Spirit. She found that the Monique-Spirit was not looking at Shego, but staring straight ahead at the scene about to unfold. Turning her head, Shego followed the Spirit's gaze to watch the scene. Even though she already knew it all too well…
There were four girls looming over the little Shego who had just put her book down.
A girl with brown hair and brown eyes, who was obviously the leader for she stood forwards, the others on either side, put a hand on her hip. "So you've come back here again. When will you learn: you're not welcome here!"
The little Shego stood up, pushing back a wave of black-hair. "I can come to look, can't I? Besides you're not the only girl's on the play-ground. Others might want to play with me too and-"
"You might be free to look, but not on our side of the playground!" The brown haired girl interrupted with her nose in the air. "You're not allowed on the school-grounds. You don't attend this school because you're too poor."
"And ugly!" Giggled a girl with red-hair.
"Yea!" Spoke another brunette, "I mean, look at her skin, she looks like a frog! Ribbit-ribbit!"
The four girls laughed maliciously all the while sneering and taunting little Shego, they called out cries of 'frog!', 'snake!' and other such names which stung the little Shego painfully as the touch of a wasp. This could easily be seen in her eyes, for she hid naught an emotion, unlike the Shego of now would have. Emotions made you weak, this was how Shego had learned this.
"Look, the frog is crying!" Squealed a girl with brown skin, "Aww, she doesn't have a Prince Charming to rescue her!"
"Everyone knows God made yucky things green," scoffed the red-haired girl. "Snakes, bugs, crocodiles, toads, vegetables…"
"And Shegos!" Laughed the second brunette pointing a rude finger at Shego, "Who names their kid 'Shego' anyway, what kind of stupid name is that?"
The first brown-haired girl who was the leader smirked, "Yea, so why don't you GO and get off our playground. No-one wants to play with you, just looking at you makes people sick!"
Tiny glistening tears formed in the corners of the past Shego's eyes and her mouth tilted down in a distressing frown. But still, she was defiant not to give in to these taunts, "I can stay here if I want! If you don't like me, why don't you just leave me alone?!"
The brown-haired girl lifted her head and stared down at Shego, her eyes narrowed nastily, looking upon Shego as if she was nothing better than scum under her black shoes. For a moment, the two just stared at each other, a contest of wills. Finally, the brown-haired girl hissed, "If you won't leave, then we'll make you!"
At that sudden moment, not even before she had finished her sentence, the girl leaned forward and shoved Shego ruthlessly into the hard bark of the oak tree behind her. Caught unaware, Shego hit the tree with a thud! And slumped down onto the grass.
All four girls laughed out callously at the expense of Shego's embarrassment. Her cheeks tinged red as yet more tears formed in her eyes both of anguish and of disgrace that were now streaking down her light green face serenely.
Young Shego stood herself up, still leaning against the tree, her back aching from the abrupt impact of the tree. Now all attention was drawn to Shego's hands, she curled her fingers into a claw-like state and her hand began to vibrate… and then… out of no-where, little black dots surfaced in the air all around Shego's quivering hand. Not just small black dots… but soon, a green atmosphere swirled all around her bare hands…. Yes, it was her green flames.
And just when the four girl's began to contemplate what to do next, Shego's curled-fingered stance dropped into a flat palm, the green plasma diminishing like a flame upon a candle blown out for the night.
Shego stood up straight and opened her mouth to speak when the brown-haired girl took a brazen step forward and declared: "Shego, you are such a freak!"
"Did you see her hand glowing?" The brown-skinned girl whispered to the red-head, "Gross!"
"She won't hurt us!" The brown-haired leader boasted, "We're not afraid of you. If you hurt us, no-one will want to play with a brute like you! No-body will want to be near you!"
A chorus of agreements circled throughout the group of four and together they drew closer, forming a tight U-shape, slowly approaching Shego, who backed herself up against the tree in fear.
Just when it looked like the young Shego was going to be cruelly tormented in a physical form, a new voice rang out.
"Hey, what's going on?"
Uncontrolled, the present Shego let out a small remark of glee: "Hey, look! Aww, it's Hego when he was young, isn't he cute? Just like me!"
Just like his sister, Hego was not in a school uniform, but in worn clothes of blue. Once his presence was noticed by the younger Shego, a smile creept across her face and looked up at her brother happily. "Hego!" She cried out. Standing up fully, she flung herself and embraced her older brother once he had reached the oak tree.
When the siblings pulled away, Hego drew himself up to his full height (taller than any of the four girls). Repeating himself, he announced firmly, "So, what's going on here? Shego… are you having fun playing with these girls?"
He turned his sight to the girls who appeared to be greatly intimidated by him. And indeed they were, for Hego was an impressive sight. Although he did not have his firm muscles like he had in the present, he was still a formidable sight for a boy his age; everything about his ambiance commanded respect.
Then, Hego spoke casually, "This fence doesn't look straight to me? How about you, Shego?" He didn't wait for a response, for he then lifted the entire fence, using his own special ability of super strength, shocking the four girls something awful, to lift the fence and place it down just a smidge to the left. "Much, better. So, were you girls going to say anything?"
"Yea…" The brown-haired leader stammered, staring wide-eyed at Hego, "Yea, we were just playing… um… um, see you later, Shego. I-I think the bell is gonna ring soon so we'll…. We'll see you… Bye."
The other three girls nodded their heads in a hasty unison and together they scampered off across the field and towards the other students in the far distance.
Once they were out of sight, young Shego looked up to her brother, "Um, thanks…"
Hego flashed a toothy grin just like he always had and gave a little chuckle, "How about we head back to the tree-house? We can play with Mego and the Wegos."
"O…. okay." Shego stammered, her cheeks alight with blush. She stooped to pick up her book which had been left unharmed on the grass. Before the two strolled off, Shego (still quite flushed with embarrassment) asked, "How… how did you know I was here? I never told anyone where I went…"
Turning to his sister, Hego's smile played about on his mouth in amusement and a twinkle lit in his eye, "I've always known you came here, Shego."
"How did you know?!" Shego cried, aghast, this was certainly news to her!
"I'm your brother, I'm supposed to know these things! I look out for you… I always do." Shego found a sudden interest in staring at her feet, somehow, she had never noticed them before. "And I am proud of you."
"For what?!" Shego lifted her head and even Hego himself was taken aback by the stream of tears running down Shego's cheek, they had not been there a moment ago. "Because I have no friends? How no-one likes me? Where's the pride in that?!"
Shego began to cry, her head facing the ground, but it was soon lifted when Hego pulled her chin high. "I'm proud because you did not act out in aggression. I saw your hands begin to light with your special power, but you listened to me… you didn't use it although you could have hurt them easily. For that… I am proud."
Sniffing, Shego pushed back some tears and looked up at her brother hopefully. "Shego, do you think that I have not been taunted as well? And so have Mego and the Wegos, we're just like you and what even more, we're family. And we stick together for that reason alone."
Shego smiled at her brother, "Hey, Hego? Is it okay if you don't tell the others that this is where I've been going? Especially Mego?"
Hego gave a hearty laugh, "Of course, Shego! I know they may be your brothers also with special abilities, but they're also boys with one sister! You'd never here the end of their friendly teasing!"
The two siblings laughed with one another as they made their way side-by-side outside the school-grounds and down the pavement. This time, both children walked past the Present Shego and the Monique-Spirit, of course, noticing neither.
"What happy kids!" the Monique-Spirit observed as she and Shego both peered down the street and watched Hego and the younger Shego skip down the street together, laughing all the while.
"Yea…" Shego mumbled, seemingly adrift – but in what? Thought? Or maybe emotion, if it was possible for such a cold heart as hers.
And then, before Shego could have even had a moment to protest, the Monique-Spirit took her hand and together they once again lifted off the ground and this time, they flew high above the school yard and were once again flying through the air. Even though they flew at a steady paste, the ground below them again, too, appeared to be in fast forward. On and on the ground sped, when until it steadied down again, and the two took a graceful land.
Shego combed her hair with her fingers, "The wind does not do justice – hey, where are we?"
A small smile crept onto the Monique-Spirit's face. "You tell me."
"Yea, whatever." But Shego really was eager in intent to know where in her past they had landed. Looking about herself, she found that they were out in the snow, though they felt no cold. And in front of them was a house, a simple house, but O! the light that streamed from those frosted windows!
Shego gave the Monique-Spirit a tentative look, then without waiting for her reassurance, stepped forward on her socked toes through the snow, drawn to the window alight. She had reached the window, squinting, she tried to peer through the frost, although the picture was blurry.
A slight push from the Monique-Spirit behind and Shego slid through the windows like a ghost and into the brightened room itself.
And what a festive room it was! There was not a spot in the room that wasn't active! Everywhere, the room was filled with people in a substantial amount, all dancing and laughing and sharing good cheer. The boom-box and surround sound carried out music to dance furiously to. And so the people did! Couples were dancing with each other, shaking their hips, swinging their arms, swaying their bodies in a euphoric fashion. Laughter was to be heard, although it was a wonder that it could reach Shego's ears, the music was so loud. Not a sour face was to be seen, all were exceedingly jubilant.
The decorations all displayed the holiday that was Christmas! There were wreaths on the doors, streamers strung to the walls, holly and even the idyllic mistletoe! The colours, green, red, white and a brilliant blue accompanied the room. Not a shadow in a corner was there for the bright lights shone to every reach.
"Heey~" Shego recalled tapping a finger to her chin and smiling, "I actually remember this! It was a Christmas party that was held with friends, citizens of Go City and my brothers! And… and if I'm not mistaken, this could be the Christmas when…"
Hego strolled into sight, he must have emerged from a clutter of people. What an improvement from the young Hego they had just seen. Not that the other one had been unimpressive, but this one resembled the present Hego, with his rippling pectorals. Was he looking for something? Someone? He must have been, the way he was craning his neck about, his eyes incessantly perusing the ruckus about him. He pushed his way past people and Shego watched him move towards the hall.
Shego trailed him, walking past people, not noticing the Monique-Spirit lingering behind her. Hego reached the hall and treaded cautiously into the adjacent room. "Shego?" He called, the noise of the partying room already dwindling. "Are you in here?"
"What?!"
Shego, astonished, suddenly remembered this scene in her mind and whispered, unknowingly, only for the Monique-Spirit to hear. "O-no..."
It was her twenty-two-year old self; she was dressed in the familiar suit of green-and-black patches. A back-pack was out, already full of items, this Shego was still filling it while checking a cell-phone text message.
Hego stopped short inside the room and assessed the situation. "You're… you're going someplace?" Her brother spoke softly.
"H'm?" the twenty-two-year old Shego barely heard him speak, her attention still on the text message. After a moment or two of pressing some buttons, Shego looked up in a bored manner. "Sorry, what?"
"Where are you going?"
Shego smirked, "Got my first job; looks like this guy wants to hire me full time; seems like he's one of those evil scientists bent on world domination type of clients. Heh. The pay is good, real good. I'm leaving. Don't expect me back."
"World domination?" Hego inquired gently.
"Yup. Seems he likes my resume and has use for my talents. Can't remember his name. I think he said 'Duh'-something or other. Whatever."
"Shego, I didn't really take you serious at first, but you are, aren't you?!"
Shego had turned her attention back to filling up her pack. "Huh? Yea, sure."
Hego's face was disheartened, "Shego, why leave the Go Team? Why… why follow this path of evil?" (and he spoke the word like it was a bad omen) "It's not like you, we used to fight the very evil you're so bent on creating side-by-side!"
She stood up from bending over, her long black hair swaying as she did. "Look. Reality check: I'm past that, ok? Evil is much more profitable, and with my fighting talents and this!-" And the Shego in the memory grinned maliciously, her black lips curving devilishly, she brought a clawed hand to her face and with a flick of her hand, she lit a green-plasma flame so it surrounded her fist, little black bits burning within it. "It'll be all the more worthwhile!"
"Shego!" Hego cried, "Shame on you! That ability was given for a purpose! You're to use them in kindness… to defend yourself against the eminence of wickedness. You're letting its power take hold of you, and blind you from its original purpose. Shego, please!" Hego begged, taking a step forward towards his sister. "Don't let it consume your heart and mind… stop now before it's too late. Say no to this 'Duh'-something fellow. Leave behind these temptations of sin before it ensnares your heart and-"
"Save the preach for someone who cares!" Shego snapped back and slung her back over her shoulder.
Hego implored one last time, "Please, it's Christmas Eve. Remember the Christmas spirit, Shego. Come, party with us! Be merry and bring the heart, the joys that only Christmas can bring. You used to love it… let's go into the next room and join the throng! (That and the limbo contest is going to start in ten, and you're so good at it, Mego and I need you on our team.)"
"Cram it. I'm leaving, just deal. Christmas: bah, bug and hum!"
"You are not the sister I once knew."
"Obviously."
And on that last note, the twenty-two-year old Shego, with the cell-phone in hand, walked out of the room with not even a look back or a wave of good-bye to her dear brother. He watched, woebegone, at his sister's departing form and when she was gone from the room, he stood there still, until he heard the shutting of the front door to which he sat in a chair and buried his head in his hands.
"No!" the Present Shego cried, although this memory of Hego could not hear her. She ran to the hall and called after her own self, "Don't go! You're making a mistake!! Come back, he's telling you the truth!" But her memory self was already gone, and of course, even if she was there, she wouldn't be able to heed her.
"O, Hego!" She cried and reached out for her brother. "I didn't know I was so harsh to him…"
"It is hard to understand one's own action while living in the moment."
Shego forgot someone could hear her and she turned to the Monique-Spirit, standing just behind her. "Stop this, Monique! Stop this from happening, use your stupid faerie-dust or whatever!"
The Monique-Spirit shook her head, "These are shadows of events that once were, you can not change the past. But by learning from the past, you can alter your future."
"O, Shut-up!" Shego cried aloud, if this world was conscious of Shego's presence, the whole party would have broken to her shouts. "Shut-up; shut-up; shut-up!! Take me away from this horrible place! Do it now!"
The Monique-Spirit did not waver, but just stood where she was, studying Shego, emotionless.
"Don't just stand there!" Shego yelled, and she sprang forward, snagging the over-sized brass candle-snuffer and then with a heave of her might, she brought the candle-snuffer back, and then into the Monique-Spirit. The light that had resonated from the Monique-Spirit poured out from under the candle-snuffer, but soon they started to dim. Shego stood huffing angrily, her brow knotted, staring cruelly at the candle-snuffer.
Soon, the light dimmed until it diminished. And Shego, the memory of Hego and the entire room was plunged into darkness…