WoM- 'laughs' It's nice to know so many people are interested in this fic! The votes were close, let me tell you, much closer then I expected! I was almost worried I'd have to push back the date and wait for a tiebreaker between some characters. Still, all votes are in and tallied, and I'd like to thank everyone who participated. And, without further adieu, here's chapter two!
Parrot: (With ship underwater surrounded by ghost shield in reverse) Let me out of here! Let me out!
Youngblood: Actually, it would be more like, "Ahoy, matey! I'm marooned on this island!"
Parrot: Oh, shut your gob, you twit!
Scrooges
Winter Break. Most kids look at it as another welcome holiday from school, but the Middleton Cheer Squad and Football Team (And Ron, the official Mad Dog Mascot) had a different purpose on their minds. They gathered for the Homage for the Orphans fund raiser and were going caroling for spare change for The Oakview Orphanage. When they finished they'd head over to give the money to the woman who took care of the orphans and give the orphans a surprise.
Earlier that month, the orphans had been told to conceive of lists of what they might want for the holidays, with the warning that they had to keep it reasonable. Each Caroler had picked a kids name out a hat and bought one of the presents on the list. The orphans had also saved up some of their own allowances to get the Carolers something as thanks for helping out.
"Okay, you need to step off, girl," Monique said, glaring at Bonnie, annoyed as she heaped insult after insult on everyone she saw, "This is a charity for orphans in the spirit of the holidays, not one of your snooty rich girl parties!"
Though not a cheerleader herself, Monique had found the Caroler's cause very worthy, and decided to contribute. Not many people had objections to having an extra voice along for the ride, and those that did lost them fast under the crippling power of Monique's fury.
"Still steamed you weren't invited to the Hollywood Christmas Ball?" Bonnie said smugly. "Don't worry, maybe you can get in next year. On the wait staff…"
"Excuse- Oh, you did not just go there!" Flinching, Kim hastily grabbed Monique to prevent a potential homicide. After restraining her friend, the teen hero turned to scowl at Bonnie.
"What's your deal, Bonnie? You don't have to be such a Scrooge…"
"Excuse me?" Bonnie said, "I am not a Scrooge. I'm doing this stupid Charity thing, aren't I?"
"Any you're so enthused about it," Kim pointed out dryly.
"Look, I don't have time for this, okay?" Bonnie snapped, "I just want to get this over with and go home so I can make it to the Party at Eight." Kim frowned.
"It starts at eight?" she repeated.
"Yeah, so?" Bonnie snapped.
"The party for the orphans, the one where we exchange gifts with them, starts at the same time," Kim said.
"I repeat; So?"
"Bonnie, an orphaned little girl bought a present especially for you!" Kim said frowning, "And she's expecting one in return."
"I'll get the kid a gumball," Bonnie said, "You can drop it off for me when you go there." Kim gasped as the Prima-Donna flipped her hair over her shoulder and walked away.
"Girl's got ice for a heart," Monique grumbled, glaring at Bonnie's back. Both she and Kim exchanged glances, feeling sorry for the poor child Bonnie was supposed to Sponsor for the Holiday. "Gonna buy an extra gift for her kid?"
"Oh, yeah." Kim said smiling. Then her face feel, "Too bad I don't know what the kid wrote on the list, or even if Bonnie got a boy or girl. That'll make things way harder…"
"Maybe," Monique said, "But don't forget, girl, you can do anything." Both girls shared a feeble grin.
"Okay, people!" Mr. Barkens yelled, "Everyone's been accounted for! Now you've got three hours to warm up and get all necessary refreshments before we head out to Upperton to start our cause! I don't want any funny business in that time, Do I make myself clear?"
"Kyyyaaaaaaaa!" A scream rang out from outside the gym before anyone could answer. Acting on reflex, Kim ran to help, Ron behind her.
Throwing the double doors open, they found a wide eyed Bonnie being engulfed in a black smoke. She was struggling to get away, but the smoke seemed to be alive.
"Don't just stand there, HELP!" Bonnie screamed when she saw Kim. Kim glared for a second before jumping over some of the smoke and grabbing Bonnie's hand. The intent was to pull her out, but Kim was instead yanked down. After she landed in a heap on top of Bonnie, the smoke began engulfing them again.
"KIM!" Ron yelled grabbing his girlfriend hand, unaware of the smoke snaking up his legs.
There was a brilliant flash of green light, and all three teens found themselves floating in what looked like an endless pit of darkness, with no one and nothing else around. Weirder then that, though was the fact that they all cast a strange, iridescent light.
"Creepy…" Ron said, cringing. He jumped when his voice echoed in the darkness around them, clapping his hands over his mouth.
"Where are we?" Kim asked looking around.
"If I miss my party, so help me-!"
"I think we have bigger things to worry about, Bonnie," Kim snapped back.
"Indeed," A strange voice made them all jump, "Such as saving you, young lady." Three sets of eyes widened as a strange looking man materialized in front of them.
"Who are you?" Kim demanded, "Where are we? And what do you want with us?"
"Forgive me for startling you," The stranger said politely. "It wasn't my intentions for you and young Ronald to come along with Miss Bonnie, Kim Possible."
"Okay, too late for that…" Ron muttered, hiding behind Kim. He didn't like that this stranger knew his name.
"I am Clockwork, Master of Time. Currently, you are in a loophole in the Timeline, a moment that does not and shall never exist. As I said before, my intentions are only with Bonnie Rockbell,"
"Why me?" Bonnie asked, "How do you know me, anyways?"
"I know everything," Clockwork said, "Past, Present and Future. And I know you've become cold, Bonnie. Selfish. I am here to save you before you corrupt yourself beyond repair."
"I'm not selfish!" Bonnie said, insulted. Kim snorted.
"Are you familiar with A Christmas Carol?"
"The Book? Yeah," Kim answered. "Three ghosts visit Scrooge on Christmas Eve, Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and-!" Kim stopped, "Wait… wow I feel stupid right now…"
"So, Bonnie really is a Scrooge?" Ron asked. The cheerleader glared at him.
"Precisely,"
"Look, you've got the wrong girl!" Bonnie snapped, "Now let me go or I'll-!"
"I assure you, Bonnie, I've made no mistakes," Clockwork interrupted. "Now then, Youngblood will begin your test as I return Kim and Ron to their proper times."
"Pass," Kim said, smirking at Bonnie. "I wanna see this." Clockwork smiled.
"As you wish…" he said, before disappearing.
"That's the first one?" Danny said, frowning, "Wow, I wasn't expecting someone so young…"
"The old aren't the only ones who can be bitter, Daniel," Vlad said.
The three ghosts (And a parrot) hovered around Clockwork's portal, watching the victim's arrive and getting a basic feel for their personalities. The two ghosts who weren't taking a dip in the time stream would also be watching the show from afar.
"So, what, I just show her what she was like at Christmas as a kid?" Youngblood said skeptically, "I thought this job was supposed to be hard,"
"It will be," Danny sighed, "This girl refuses to admit she's wrong. Who knows what the other three will be like."
"I suppose we'll have to wait and find out, won't we?" Vlad said, smiling malevolently.
Idle chit chat and laugher filled a large, expensive looking party. All of the guests wore fine clothes and jewelry, and many of them also had presumptuous expressions on their face. Fine wine was being poured by a wait staff, and a small group of violinists played a soft number, which seemed to set the mood of the party.
"Hmph. I hate violins…"
Red X gave an unseen smirk under his mask as he shouldered a bag of goods. He had gone into hiding after Robin had tried to flush him out, but now that the Titans were away and the Titans East were around, he decided to get back to petty thievery.
And what better time to strike then Christmas?
"Hold up, Mr. Grinch!" A female voice shouted. Drawing Red X's attention to a skylight, where the Titans East had gathered, "You're not getting away with a Christmas Haul on our watch, pal!"
"¡Si!" Mas y Menos backed Bumblebee up. Red X narrowed his eyes.
As one, all five of the Titans East jumped for Red X, who evaded all of them. Even without the belt to the suit, which he would get back soon enough, Red X was still an accomplished thief and a fighter who could keep up with the best of them.
"What's the matter, wanna be Titans?" He mocked, "The real deal weren't even as bad as this, and I had my weapons back then…" Bumblebee scowled, and Red X knew he'd hit the sore spot he was looking for.
Before anything else could be said, though, there was a blinding flash of green light. Went it faded, the Titans East found themselves with a bag still full of loot, but no Red X.
"¿Donde está?" Menos asked his twin.
"No se…" Mas responded, shrugging.
Red X himself was wondering the same thing (Only in English) as he looked around the barren, desolate and (oddly enough) purple field where he now stood. He tensed immediately, ready for anything.
"Hello, Jason,"
…Except that.
"Who are you?" Red X demanded in a clipped voice, wary at hearing the name he'd shed so long ago. He glared at the figure that emerged in front of him.
"I am Clockwork," The old man answered. "Though the better question is 'who are you?' Do you even know anymore, Jason?"
"I'm Red X," The thief growled, "I don't know why you think that's my name, but-!"
"I don't think it's your name at all," Clockwork said softly, "I know. Just as I know you're destroying yourself, Jason, with the life you now lead."
"I don't need you to tell me what to do," Red X growled, "And don't call me that!"
"Fair enough," Clockwork sighed, "I'm not here to tell you to do anything, I'm merely giving you a warning,"
"Oh?"
"Tonight you shall be visited by three ghosts, a representation, if you will, of You Christmas Past, Present and Future," Red X rolled his eyes.
"Already read the book, old timer," he said, "Didn't like it. All that corny peace on earth crap makes me wanna hurl,"
"We'll see how you feel at the end of your test." Clockwork said with a smile. "Until then… Red X,"
"Okay, he's gonna be hard," Youngblood grumbled, watching the newcomer.
"Please," Vlad scoffed. "He's only human."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't my 'only human' Dad send you packing into the Ghost Zone, Vlad?" Danny asked innocently. Vlad eyed him evilly for a moment before turning back to the screen.
"At any rate, this is two down. That leaves two more to go," he said, frowning.
"And twice the headache," Danny sighed.
"198… 199… 200!" Vicky laughed loudly. "Oh, man! Those Turners are a couple of idiots! And the twerp with those dorky teeth and that stupid hat… Vicky chuckled to herself again as she stashed her money away.
It was Christmas Eve, and she just pulled in a nice haul since Mrs. Turner had desperately needed to do some last minute shopping. This left her with three hours of tormenting her ten year old captive and a nice addition to her savings, which was still recovering from Rick.
Vicky came out of her musings with a scowl when she heard her sister giggling from her room.
"Oh, Timmy…" The younger girl sighed.
"KEEP IT DOWN IN THERE!" Vicky roared.
"Y-Yes, Vicky!" Tootie called back.
"Hmph!" Vicky said, rolling her eyes. She made a face when she thought about her little sister's fixation with one of the boys she regularly baby-sat. She might've forgiven a mild crush (Maybe), but a shrine-in-the-closet obsession was going a little too far.
Absently, she heard the doorbell ring and sighed in annoyance, knowing that her parents were at work. Irritated, she headed downstairs to confront whoever was disturbing her peaceful, money-filled afternoon.
Only to come face to face with Timmy's dorky friend from Europe.
"What now?" Vicky asked irritably.
"Evil Earth-girl Vicky!" The boy said loudly, "I have come to you to take part in the ritualistic offering of seasonal endowments to show one's affections!"
"Huh?" Vicky said, raising an eyebrow.
"Please accept this bag of Manure I have purchased for you!" Mark continued, not noticing the way Vicky's eyes widened in horror at the sight of the large bag of mulch. "May you think of me while you are enjoying this rare and tasty delicacy!"
'SLAM!'
"Freak…" Vicky muttered as she walked back to her room, brushing her hands off as she went.
When she opened her door, though, it wasn't her room that she found.
"H-Huh?" Vicky stammered, her jaw dropping.
In front of her was what looked like one of those freaky paintings you see in all the museums. It looked like someone had taken all the colors and just splashed them all over the place, not caring about the mess that was made. The pure white background that seemed to be endless stung at Vicky's eyes in its sharp contrast.
Paling, Vicky turned to dive back into the hall, only to find more of the same freaky effect. And no door.
Or even a floor, for that matter.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Vicky started screaming. She'd had plenty of weird things happen to her, usually around Timmy, but this took the cake.
"Calm down, Vicky," A voice said in front of her. "You're not going to be hurt. Quite the opposite, actually…" Vicky stood frozen as what looked like an infant in a cape materialized in front of her.
'He's younger then the Twerp,' Vicky realized. This though made her feel a little braver, and she scowled at the stranger.
"Where am I?" She demanded, "What happened to my room! You better answer you little-!"
"You're still not calm," the stranger said. It was then Vicky realized the voice coming from him was far too old to be an infant. "And I am not as I appear to you,"
"Who are you?" Vicky asked. Then, a little more desperate, she added, "Where am I?"
"I suppose you can refer to it as an alternate reality," The child shrugged, "As for who I am… I am known as Clockwork the Master of Time,"
"Well, what do you want with me?" Vicky asked.
"This, Vicky, is a repercussion of all the cruel things you've done in your life," Clockwork said, "Are you familiar with the story, A Christmas Carol?"
"No," Vicky said shortly.
"Well, you know of Ebenezer Scrooge, yes?"
"The cranky old guy who hates Christmas?"
"Precisely," Clockwork smiled a little, "You see, Vicky, every year we find people in need of reform, such as Scrooge, and help give them a gentle shove in the right direction."
"Where, over a cliff?" Vicky asked irritably. "Are you saying I'm Scrooge? But I love Christmas! It's the best money making time of the year!"
"Which is why I must reform you," Clockwork said, frowning. "You enjoy this Holiday for the wrong reasons," Vicky sighed.
"Alright, I get it!" She snapped, "If I promise to be good, would you let me go home?"
"It's not that simple, Vicky," Clockwork chided. "I shall see you again after you've been visited by the ghosts." And with that, Clockwork disappeared.
"One must wonder why she is a Scrooge," Vlad said dryly.
"Maybe," Danny said, "But I don't think she'll be that much trouble. This ghost stuff seems to intimidate her."
"Yeah!" Youngblood said, "Once she gets a load of me, she'll go good for sure!"
Vlad and Danny exchanged dry looks.
"Well…" Danny sighed as the smoke in the portal began to clear. "Here comes number four…" He trailed off, his eyes going wide.
"Alright, were are you hiding…" Valerie murmured as she glared through her red radarscope for the ghost she was hunting.
She smirked underneath her mask when her target came into view, her finger tensing on the trigger.
"Bye-bye, Box Ghost…" She murmured.
'FLASH!'
Valerie gave a startled scream, her hands going up to protect her eyes from the sudden, bright green light. When she opened her eyes again and the spots cleared from her vision, she found her surroundings drastically different.
Instead of the snow covered roof top of an old, abandoned store in Amity Park, Valerie was in a narrow hallway with various portraits on their walls, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Immediately suspicious of foul-play, Valerie went instinctively for her ecto-gun, only to find it missing.
Along with the rest of her equipment, suit included.
"You know, you're a very paranoid girl, Valerie." A voice behind her made the ghost hunter jump. Wheeling around, she came face to face with someone she knew right away was a ghost, "I wonder if it's as justified as you believe."
"Who are you?" Valerie demanded, "And where have you brought me? What have you done with my weapons?"
"You won't be needing them," The strange ghost said, "Not for this." Then he sighed, "So many introductions get taxing on an old soul, especially with the power I extend by claiming you in the first place,"
"Claiming?" Valerie repeated. "Explain yourself!"
"I am Clockwork. I control Time and Space, and you, Valerie Grey, have not been appreciative of a gift you've been given. Therefore, I am here to make you see what a gift it is,"
"Huh?" Valerie said, her eyebrow kicking up.
"You shall be visited by the ghosts Christmas of Past, Present and Future. They will show you your life as it has been, is and will be. Then…" Clockwork shrugged, "We'll see where it goes from there, won't we?"
"What if I don't wanna play your stupid game?" Valerie snapped.
"I'm afraid you won't have a choice," Clockwork said apologetically. "Now then I suppose it's time to begin the Tests. I wish you the best in your stroll down memory lane." And, before Valerie could protest, Clockwork was gone. Valerie growled.
"Dumb Ghosts…"
"Valerie?" Danny said to Clockwork as he re-appeared in the tower, "VALERIE is a Scrooge? I mean, sure she's a workaholic, but she's not that bad!"
"She isn't," Clockwork agreed, "None of them are. But they have the potential to be. A long time ago, we decided to start getting to people before the darkness could sink in too far, so we'd have a better chance of brining them out from the shadows."
"That's why they're all teenagers," Vlad clarified, glancing at the portal again, though it just showed a thick green smoke.
"Precisely," Clockwork agreed. "Now then, I believe you have a job to do, Youngblood?"
"Yeah, yeah," Youngblood griped, "I'm on my way…"
WoM- There ya go! The results of your voting! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and will leave more kind reviews! And tune in for the Next Chapter, Christmas Past.
Thanks to-
Tetsukon
DannysGirlForever
Just Plain Insane
deranged black kitten of doom
alboc
Light Dragon SunsSong
Brolly's Broth3r
epobbp
Celestial Moonshine
Jack Nightmares
Hunter
captain deoxys
Colormyworld
jacketslacker
Amber
Christopher
Tree Flower
Firehedgehog
xMeTaLliC RaVeNx
SalanTrong
cheetahs-sperit
Questions-
cheetahs-sperit (Nicely spotted! I probably don't have to tell you now, so here's a cookie for you observational skills!)
Next update- December 8th
See you then!