Chapter 10

It took Emily some time to get used to being somewhat "cured" from having CP, and for quite awhile she couldn't focus on anything else. I finally got her attention with the question of whether we should go looking for Vlad, now that we supposedly had the power to beat him.

Emily shook her head. "No..." she said slowly. "I don't think we should go looking for Vlad, that doesn't seem like a very good idea. No, I think we should let him come to us." And so we did. "Are you scared?" I asked her.

"A little." Emily admitted. I hugged her gently. "Don't worry. Everything will be OK."

We went back to Danny's house to lounge around a bit. Emily tried to absorb herself in a book, but she kept glancing up. I knew she was nervous. I think we all were.

Then, finally, it happened. Vlad Plasmius materialized in Danny's living room. Emily leapt up, changing into ghost form. Danny also changed into ghost form in case Emily needed any help during the fight.

The fight began with Emily firing a photon blast directly at Vlad. Vlad rolled over to avoid it and gave her his evil grin.

"Well, well, well, it seems like Little Miss Cripple can now shoot a photon blast!" he said in a mock impressed tone. Emily moved to the side, and I caught a glimpse of her face. She was definitely furious. I could tell that she would fight him until she won. I just hoped that afterwards she wouldn't be too weak.

"Don't...call...me...a CRIPPLE!" Emily roared. Then one Emily became ten and they all fired photon blasts directly at Vlad. While Plasmius screamed in agony, Emily deftly flipped the lid of the Fenton Thermos, and pointed it at Vlad.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Vlad screamed. And then it was all over.

I clapped and Tucker let out an admiring whistle. I looked over at Danny. His expression was half amazed and half slightly annoyed.

"Ten? I can't even do two!" he complained. But I could tell that he was happy for Emily. Emily fingered the stone on Isabelle's necklace.

"And it's all because of this." she whispered. Danny stood up. "Come on," he said. "Let's go back and return the necklace to Isabelle."

We found Isabelle's lair with no problems this time, unless you count the Box Ghost crooning over a cardboard box, then screaming BEWARE at us. Isabelle was outside of her lair.

Emily stepped forward, beaming.

"I did it!" she exclaimed softly, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "And it's all thanks to you, Isabelle! Thank you so much!" Isabelle smiled.

"I knew you would do it, Silver Lining." Emily undid the clasp of the necklace, and in that instant, I could see CP coming back to her body, like a shadow bearing down on someone. Her limbs became rigid and jerky again, and the eyes started wandering outwards once more. Emily stumbled a little bit, and I knew she was having trouble keeping her balance. I wished we had thought to bring the ghost crutches along.

"Here." Isabelle took the necklace and put it back on her own neck. On her, it looked like it belonged there, the stone fitting exactly in that little dip between neck and chest.

"Did you like having your CP lifted?" Isabelle asked. Emily nodded.

"Yes. Very much."

"Would you like me to cure you of CP forever? I would not like to, of course, because I want to see how you progress as a ghost contradiction. But it is, however, up to you." To my surprise, Emily shook her head no, vigorously. I couldn't believe it. This was the chance of a lifetime for Emily!

"No. Thank you anyway." Isabelle smiled.

"Goodbye and good luck, Silver Lining."

As soon as we were out of earshot of Isabelle, I turned to Emily, and the words tumbled out of my mouth.

"Why? Emily, just think! Isabelle could have cured you! You could have been like you were with the necklace...forever! And yet when the opportunity to be cured is held in front of your nose, you turn away! Why!"

I became aware that all eyes were on Emily. Everybody wanted to know the reason why Emily didn't want to be cured.

When she answered, it was in a slow and thoughtful manner.

"I've given a lot of thought to the subject over the years. But I don't want to be cured. I was born with CP. It influences so much of me: my personality, my outlook on life, my wisdom, even my friends. Remember? If I didn't have CP, I would have never gotten that leg operation...and never met you guys. Since CP influences so much of me, taking that away would be like taking away something that's a part of me...like my ghost powers, for instance. I would be left with so little. CP is me."

There was a stunned silence after that explanation. Finally it was broken by Danny's soft "Wow." Emily giggled, then smiled widely.

"I'm a ghost contradiction." she said confidently. "And I like it."

A/N: How'd you like the ending? Sequel should be up soon! Btw for the one or two of you that were wondering: Emily's point of view on the cure is EXACTLY the same as mine. I have a great life because of CP. Being cured would ruin it. Anyway pleeeeaaasseeeeee read and review and tell me what you thought of the whole thing!