WoM- Well, nobody's castrated me yet for not putting their favorite character in… a good sign if there ever was one! Please ignore the Fright Before Christmas as you read this fic, since it can't fit with what I've already written no matter how you look at it. And with that, let's take a dive into the past with Youngblood!
Danny: I'm going ghost! (Goes ghost and tries to attack Clockwork)
Clockwork: Time out.
(Scene rewinds)
Danny: I'm going ghost! Whoa, serious déjà vu.
Christmas Past
"Okay, this is seriously not cool," Bonnie scowled, "I think the atmosphere of this Loophole or whatever is really messing up my hair!" Kim gave Bonnie a look, which she noticed right away, "What?"
"You're not at all concerned with the fact that you're a scrooge?" She asked.
"No," Bonnie said shortly, "Like I said, they have the wrong girl. Name one person more charitable then me,"
"Vlad the Impaler," Kim answered at once, her tone dry.
"Is he a movie star?" Bonnie asked. Kim rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Uh, Ladies?" Ron said, blinking, "Think we have a sitch here," Bonnie and Kim started as the world around them morphed away, leaving them floating in a snowy wonderland.
"Were are we?" Kim asked, looking around.
"The past," A voice above them answered. All three teens turned, their eyes widening at the sight before them. "Duh! Even I know that much, and I didn't pick up a single book the whole time I was alive! Don't you watch Christmas Specials?"
"Uh, who are you supposed to be?" Bonnie asked, eyeing the ghost in a skeptical way.
"The name's Youngblood!" He answered, "I'm Christmas Past! Or, at least I am today…"
"Funny," Kim said, suppressing a smile "I pictured you… taller," Youngblood glared at her.
"Haha," He grumbled, "Can we get this over with?"
"Lead the way," Kim said, still fighting a laugh.
Ignoring her, Youngblood brought them into the house below them. Inside, wrapping paper was skewered all over the place, and new toys piled into a corner. Bonnie herself, though, was half-asleep in her mother's lap, somewhere around seven or eight years old.
"Hey, I remember this!" Bonnie exclaimed, a shocked and hurt expression working it's way over her face, "This was my last Christmas at my grandparent's place, before we moved to Middleton. We used to go there al the time, but…" Bonnie faltered, coming out of her memories to look at Kim, "…You know what? Never mind!" Kim frowned, and opened her mouth to talk when soft singing cut her off.
"My bonnie lies over the ocean… my bonnie lies over the sea… my bonnie lies over the ocean… so bring back my bonnie to me," Bonnie's mother sang softly. Little Bonnie giggled, and she raised an eyebrow. "What, you're not going to leave me, are you, Bon-bon?"
"Nope!" Little Bonnie said happily, "We'll be together forever and ever, Mama!" Bonnie blushed.
"Aww…" Kim smiled, "That's so sweet, Bonnie! I didn't know you were so close to your mom…"
"I'm not," She said coolly, "Not anymore, at any rate." Then, a light of realization struck in Bonnie's eyes, "And this is the Christmas that changed that." Before anyone could ask her what she meant, a large man entered the house, his eyes intent on Bonnie's mom.
"Viviane," he said, his voice deep. "We need to talk," even at her young age, Bonnie knew trouble when she saw it. Sleep was gone from her face as she frowned at the man in worry.
"There's nothing wrong, is there, Daddy?" she asked.
"It's nothing, Bonners, just something between me and your mom," He said, his big hand ruffling the girl's hair. She giggled, but stopped as she watched her parents leave for the kitchen, where they could talk privately.
"What's this about?" Bonnie mother asked worriedly. Her father took a deep breath.
"I lost our savings."
"…WHAT!" Bonnie mother went horror-struck. "Oh my god! All of it!"
"Every last penny," He said grimly.
"But… HOW?" The large man refused to meet his wife's eyes, which were now narrowing suspiciously as her lips pursed. "Don't tell me… Were you gambling again?" the man flinched, "How could you! You swore to me that you'd stopped! Our life's savings! What are we gonna do for the girls now?"
"I'll think or something!" Bonnie's dad said defensively.
"You've done enough!" Bonnie's mother yelled back, "You promised to stopped gambling, and you didn't! How can I take your word now, especially now that you've proven exactly how honest it is!" Bonnie's father glared.
"Fine," He said shortly, "You know what? I don't have to take this! I'm leaving!"
"Go!" Bonnie's mother shouted after him, tears in her eyes, "and don't come back! We don't need you around here, The girls and I will manage fine on our own!" Her husband didn't respond, except to slam a door loudly behind him. Bonnie's mother leaned against a counter, wiping her eyes.
That was when she saw little Bonnie at the doors.
"Bonnie…." The mother started, but the girl cut her off.
"Where's Daddy going?" She asked. Her mother flinched.
"Daddy… Daddy's not going to be home again for a long time, sweetheart. Maybe never." Bonnie's eyes widened.
"Why?" She asked, her voice full of fear, which turned to anger in her next sentence, "What did you say to him?" Bonnie's mother sighed.
"Bonnie…" She started again, this time softer. She reached out to take the girl's hand, but Bonnie tore it from her grasp, glaring at her with tears in her eyes.
"You made Daddy go away!" She yelled, some of the tears breaking free "I hate you! I'm never gonna forgive you!" and with that, she ran upstairs, slamming her bedroom door behind her. Her mother made a move to go after her, then stopped, cradling her head in her hands as she rested against the counter…
"Harsh," Youngblood commented. Bonnie shifted slightly.
"I was seven," She protested, "My Dad was my world back then. Besides, money's replaceable, you can't replace a father."
"Or a mother," Youngblood reminded her, giving her a pointed look. Bonnie didn't meet his eyes.
"Can we just move on?" She asked coolly, not looking at anyone. Kim and Ron were suddenly very uncomfortable, and exchanged looks that said so. Youngblood shrugged and took then to their next scene.
They were clearly back in Middleton, though it wasn't quite present day. They were floating just above the walk to Bonnie's house, which had recently been cleared of snow.
"Come on, then," Youngblood called to the three, "Let's keep going." Before they entered the house, Kim caught Bonnie's arm.
"Bonnie…" She started.
"Save it," bonnie snapped back, "I don't need sympathy. Especially not from you!" And, tearing her arm out of the hero's grasp, Bonnie went into the house. Kim looked after her for a moment, hurt playing on her face. Ron sighed and he put an arm around his girlfriend.
"Come on, Kim," Ron coaxed, "Even I know how this story ends. She'll come around." Then, with less certainly, he added, "Maybe…" Kim gave him a soft smile.
"Thanks, Ron," She said softly, kissing him on her cheek before they followed Bonnie and Youngblood into the house.
The scene before started off different then the last one had, with a ten year old Bonnie shifting shyly from foot to foot as she waited for one of her sisters to get off the phone.
"Hey, I think I remember this," Bonnie said, her eyes going wide, "This is the day I had that fight with Lonnie!"
"Uh-huh, uh-huh, and then Ken was all, but we were just talking! And Katie was all, 'That didn't look like talking to me!'" Lonnie said as she examined her fingernails. Her other entered the room, took in the sight and frowned.
"Lonnie," She said, "Get off the phone! It's Christmas, and I think Bonnie wants to give you something." Lonnie rolled her eyes.
"Gotta go, Brooke," She said, "My mom wants me to do that whole 'family' thing… Uh-huh, call you back later." The phone hung up, and turned irritably to Bonnie, "What?"
"Gotcha something, Sis!" Bonnie said, holding a present out in front of her, "Merry Christmas!" Lonnie sighed.
"Bonnie, couldn't that have waited?" She asked irritably, "Why'd you have to sic mom on me," Bonnie frowned.
"I didn't," She protested. "Mom told you to stop just because."
"Just because you were hovering around like a little busybody, maybe," Lonnie responded. Bonnie glared at her, threw the present down and stormed out.
"I never hated her more then right at that moment," Bonnie murmured as she watched herself go, "I wanted to tell her… but…"
"But you were scared, right?" Youngblood said knowingly. At their startled looks, he added, "I had a big brother. It was a lot like that with us, too,"
"I just wanted so badly for her to like me," Bonnie sighed, "I mean, she and Ronnie were so perfect, and I was always just leftovers…"
"So you hid in your room," Youngblood continued, as the scene melted to show the same Bonnie on her bed, hugging a stuffed bear. "You didn't trust anybody."
"Except Lucille," Bonnie said smiling at the scene, "I used to tell her everything, until I entered middle school,"
"Then what?" Kim asked. Bonnie snorted.
"Dolls and bears are for big kids," She said in a disgusted tone, "I put her in storage. Haven't seen her in years."
"So you gave up on her, too," Youngblood concluded.
"I didn't need her anymore," Bonnie corrected coldly, "I was too old for her."
"Says who?" Youngblood countered. Bonnie glared at him.
"Look, I don't need this from you, alright?" She snapped, "I've got better things to worry about then some dumb stuffed bear and my crummy childhood!"
"You should be worried," Youngblood told her glaring back. "But you're not gonna see that, are you?"
"Just send me home," Bonnie said coldly. Youngblood sighed and left, leaving the teens to be swallowed in a sudden flurry of snow.
"Wow, he didn't do too badly," Danny said, impressed.
"Of course not," Clockwork said, "The amulet gave him the knowledge he needed, what to say to certain situations and such. Yours and Plasmius' should work the same."
"It's nice to know we won't be left to sink or swim on our own." Vlad said dryly.
"I'm guessing she failed," Danny said, frowning worriedly at the screen.
"I'm afraid so," Clockwork said, "Nothing surprising, very rarely will someone turn over a new leaf after just Christmas Past,"
"So no luck getting back to the party early…" Danny sighed.
"Relax, Danny," Clockwork smiled, "You have all the time in the world…" He turned back to the screen when something hit him, "Oh, and about young Bonnie's friends…"
Red X frowned underneath his mask at the scene below him. A little boy was walking home alone in the cold, ignored by all the laughing kids around him. It was an eerily familiar scene…
"Should be," A voice next to him said, "It's you, after all," Red X didn't turn.
"Lemme guess," He said, "Christmas Past,"
"Youngblood, actually," the ghost responded, "I'm just filling in."
"Ouch," Red X responded, "Bad enough to be kidnapped and put through this, but not good enough for the real deal? That's low,"
"Hey!" Youngblood said, glaring. Red X ignored him. "Jerk…" the ghost sighed. "Anyways, you remember this day, don't you?" Red X nodded.
"I was seven," He said, "This was before my mother died…"
"And before you turned bad." Youngblood reminded him. "Let's go, you're gonna wanna see this,"
"I've seen it before, kid, remember?" Red X reminded him.
"Do you?" Youngblood countered. They entered Red X's old home, where his mother and little sister could be seen lighting candles next to a small, sparsely decorated Christmas tree.
"Jason!" His mother said, smiling as she looked up at him, "How was today, sweetie?"
"Okay," Jason responded, sitting down next to her. "Lighting the candles?"
"Yep," She smiled, "One for everyone I know and love, who deserves a warm, happy Christmas."
"Is mine lit yet?" Jason asked eagerly. His mother laughed.
"Not yet," She admitted, "It's right here, see?" Jason grinned at the candle she pointed to.
"Cool!" He said earnestly.
"I wanna light it!" The little girl next to him said.
"Alright, Anna," Her mother smiled, striking a match and closing her bigger hands around the girl's tiny fists. "Ready?" Jason grinned widely as the two lit his candle, laughing as his sister clapped in glee after doing so.
"You were really happy back then, even though you weren't rich," Youngblood said.
"I was a kid," Red X responded, "Kids are stupid that way," Youngblood glared at him.
"I'M a kid, pal!" He reminded the thief.
"And you're dead," Red X shot back. "That's a sign of intelligence."
"Fine!" Youngblood snapped, "How bout a flash forward to the last Christmas you spent with your sister, the last time you ever saw her alive?" and, before Red X could respond, the scene warped to the inside of an orphanage.
Jason sat on a bed, glaring at the falling snow as Anna sat in a chair nearby, reading a book. Laugher could be heard from the downstairs, but it sounded years away from the cold room.
"You don't have to stay," Jason said, not turning to Anna though he was addressing her.
"I want to," Anna responded, "I like it better with you then I do with them. You're all that's left," Jason didn't respond. He didn't even seem to hear her. Sighing, he took a yo-yo out of his pants pocket, playing with it a little. Anna frowned at the toy.
"Where did you get that?" She asked suspiciously.
"Found it," Jason said shortly.
"Where?" Anna pressed.
"What's with the twenty questions?" Jason asked with a glare.
"Ryan lost his favorite yo-yo a few days ago," Anna told him, "He said it fell out of his pocket in the yard, and he couldn't find it."
"Ryan's a moron," Jason muttered bitterly, "Everyone here is," Anna gasped sharply.
"Jason… Did you steal that?" She asked, her eyes going wide.
"So what if I did?" Jason countered, "You gonna tell?" Anna's lips pursed together.
"You should give it back, Jason," She said firmly, "Stealing's wrong, if Mom-!"
"Mom's DEAD!" Jason explored, turning to glare at Anna, "She died, Anna, and she's not coming back, so why should she have any say in what I do!" Anna's eyes went wide.
"Jason…"
"SHUT UP!" Jason exploded, throwing the yo-yo at the wall as hard as he could. It broke upon impact, the two halves rolling apart on the floor. "Shut up, Anna, I don't want to hear it!" Anna looked down, tears building up in her eyes. Jason just kept glaring, though, then he turned to his dresser and began stuffing clothes into his backpack.
"Where are you going?" Anna asked, alarmed.
"Away," Jason answered, zipping up his coat, "Anywhere but here…"
"But Jason-!" Jason didn't respond, opening a window and jumping out into the hazardous snow, running away. Anna tried to follow, but the blizzard was too much for her. "JASON!"
The boy didn't acknowledge as his sister yelled herself hoarse at his disappearing form. "JAAAAAAASOOOON!"
"I was angry," Red X said defensively. "My mother wasn't supposed to die. I knew Anna wouldn't be there forever either, and instead of waiting for her to ditch me, I ditched her, knowing it'd be easier on me in the long run."
"And spent the rest of your life stealing and living like scum," Youngblood said shortly, still sore over the boy's earlier comments. Red X chuckled coldly.
"Scum?" He said in a cocky tone, "That hurts…" Youngblood scowled.
"Fine," He said sullenly, "Let's see if you still think so when this is done." And with that, he disappeared, leaving Red X to be swallowed up in a similar snow storm that took Bonnie, Kim and Ron.
"Looks like the kid was right…" Danny observed, smirking at Vlad.
"Please," Vlad snorted, "You expect a child to know how to talk a person down?"
"Patience, gentlemen," Clockwork said calmly as Danny glared at Vlad, "Red X will be a difficult case, but he isn't the only one…" With that reminder, the two halfas turned back to see how Youngblood handled Vicky.
Vicky yelped as her feet touched ground, losing her balance and falling flat on her face. She groaned in pain, but that quickly took a backseat to anger as she caught snickering from nearby. Looking up, she glared at the child in front of her.
"You think that's funny, brat?" She demanded, picking up Youngblood by his shirt.
"Yep," Youngblood responded, grinning, "But not as funny as this." Before Vicky caught the warning, Youngblood blasted her away, and through a wall.
"Ow," She groaned. Then she eyed Youngblood warily, "You're a ghost?"
"Yep," Youngblood grinned, "I'm Youngblood, and I'm your Christmas Past. Boo!" Vicky glared and stood, brushing herself off.
"Ghost or not, a twerp is a twerp," She said shortly. "Okay, now that's this Christmas Past stuff about?" Youngblood sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Come on," He said sullenly, leading Vicky down through the floor. Vicky followed, somewhat wary.
Downstairs, Vicky found a younger version of herself knee deep in Christmas presents. She'd just finished opening them, and was now hugging a doll close to her.
"Thank you, Mommy!" Little Vicky said, hugging her mother's legs, then repeating the gesture on her Father. "Thank you, Daddy!"
"You're welcome, sweetheart!" Vicky's mom said sweetly. Vicky frowned in confusion.
"They're not scared of me?" She said in confusion as she watched the young her scamper off to play. "What's going on here?"
"You don't remember this?" Youngblood asked, "This is your past. That's you when you were five. Vicky's eyes widened.
"I remember now!" She said, "That was when I got that rare doll I just sold on the Internet for $500!" Youngblood rolled his eyes.
"Not exactly the memory I was looking for…" He muttered dryly. Then he shook his head, "Don't you notice anything different about the way you acted back then?" Youngblood asked pointedly. Vicky frowned at her younger self as she helped her mom clean the living room of wrapping paper.
"Yeah," She answered, "I was a sap back then, so what?" Youngblood groaned.
"Maybe we should move forward a year and compare…" He suggested.
The scene warped, and though they were in the same room of the same house, the sight before them was far different.
Before them Vicky's parents were trying to calm a crying Tootie, while little Vicky was left alone to glare hatefully at the three of them.
"Mom, Aren't you gonna watch me open my presents?" She asked.
"In a minute sweetie…" Vicky's mom answered, distracted.
"Dad, where's the camera?" Vicky pressed, tugging her father's pants legs.
"I couldn't get one, honey, we'll have to go without this year," Vicky's father answered, giving her the same brushed off attitude. Vicky looked hurt for a moment before she glared at Tootie again.
"Now do you see a difference?" Youngblood asked.
"Yeah," Vicky said, frowning bitterly, "Tootie ruined everything." Youngblood sighed.
"This is when you started to hate everyone that couldn't give you money," Youngblood clarified. "You were jealous, idiot,"
"Me?" Vicky said, "Jealous of that annoying brat? HA!"
"You were," Youngblood insisted, "That's why you started being mean. For attention. And after a while, it just became you," Vicky glared at him.
"Listen here, you little brat," She hissed if you think I'm gonna just stand here and take being talked down to by someone who has to look up at me…"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Youngblood said shortly, "I fail again. Big whoop." Youngblood flew up. "Don't expect to see me around, scrooge, and good luck with Phantom." Vicky blinked.
"Phantom?" she repeated, "Who's-?" Before she could finish, though, a flurry if snow swallowed her up.
"My, my," Clockwork chuckled, "Three strikes already… well, it's to be expected, I suppose."
"Great," Danny groaned. "She's gonna be loads of fun to deal with…"
"I'd worry more about your little ghost hunting friend if I were you," Vlad advised, smirking. "If memory serves, she still despises you," Danny glared at the billionaire.
"No thanks to you," He said shortly. Still, he turned back to see Youngblood confront his controversial friend.
"Huh?" Valerie blinked at the house in front of her, then her eyes went wide, "Hey, this is the old house!"
"Duh," Valerie jumped, wheeling around to face this new foe. "Don't you remember the story? You're in your past!" Valerie glared at the ghost floating in front of her, undaunted by the fact that he was a mere child. She'd learned not to judge ghosts by their appearances.
"I'm sorry," She said coolly, "You're not one of the ghosts who's butt I've kicked just yet. And your name is…?"
"Youngblood," He answered, "I'm supposed to be Christmas Past,"
"Good for you," Valerie said sarcastically. "Can we get this over with? I have plans,"
"Whatever you say," Youngblood smirked as they entered the house.
A six year old Valerie watched sadly as the woman who appeared to be her mother argued with two older people, all three of them looking angry. Present day Valerie frowned at the scene.
"This was the big fight between mom and Gramma and Grampa," She whispered.
"-I'm not a sixteen year old girl anymore, Mother!" Valerie's mom yelled, "Stop trying to dictate my life!"
"You think you'll be happy here?" Gramma asked, "You're much too far from home!"
"You're home," Valerie's mom corrected, "This is my home, mother, and Damon's and Valerie's." Gramma glared at her.
"How dare you," She hissed, "How dare you speak to us that way! After everything we've given you!" Damon frowned, coming up beside his wife.
"Enough," He ordered gently, "It's Christmas, no one should be fighting right now," Gramma gave him a scathing glare.
"We're leaving," She told Grampa. He followed her willingly out the door, not looking back or sparing his daughter and her family a good-bye. Valerie's mom bit her lip as the door shut sharply behind them. Damon sighed and embraced her gently.
"It's alright," He reassured her, "It's all gonna be okay, sweetie."
"Mama?" Valerie said, tugging at her mother's skirt, "Why are Gramma and Grampa mad?" Her mother looked down sadly at the girl, then knelt down to embrace her.
"Valley, honey…" She whispered, "…They were just being proud, sweetie. Sometimes people can't see when their pride only hurts everything," Valerie frowned.
"Huh?" She said questioningly.
"Never mind, sweetie," Valerie's mom said, swiping at her eyes and giving the girl a weak smile, "You'll understand when you're a big girl. Now, why don't we see what Santa left you, baby?"
"Okay," Valerie said, giving her mom a smile, "Come on, Mommy!" Valerie frowned as she watched her young doppelganger drag her mother towards the tree.
"Well, Valerie?" Youngblood said, "Are you a big enough girl to understand that now?"
"What did she know?" Valerie asked bitterly, "She died three years later in a car crash. Dad got rid of every picture of her, and now he's lost his money, his job… All I've got to call mine is my pride, I'm not giving that up, too!"
"Nobody's telling you to," Youngblood frowned, "But that pride's kept you from a lot of fun stuff."
"Like…?" Valerie asked coolly. The scene changed to show a 9 year old Valerie, sitting alone in a snow bank. She was looking numbly at a green pine in front of her, not really seeing it, though.
"Valerie?" Both Valerie's jumped and turned to see Danny, Tucker and Sam standing at the top of the snow bank. Tucker was the one talking, though all of them looked worried. "You okay?"
"Fine!" The younger Valerie snapped, "Leave me alone…" All three exchanged looks and worked through the snow to sit next to Valerie. She glared at them. "Are you guys deaf or something? I said go!"
"Nobody should be alone on Christmas," Sam said firmly. "And nobody should willingly leave someone to suffer that," Valerie glared at her.
"Relax, Valerie," Danny said with an encouraging smile, "We just wanna sit with you a bit, that's all." Valerie grumbled a bit and shot him a glare too before sitting back down.
"I remember this now," Valerie said, lost in her thoughts, "This was when I was all depressed that it would be my first Christmas without Mom. Dad was working overtime, so I was all alone that night. We didn't get a tree that year, since it was usually mom's job and dad forgot, so I wanted to see one just once for Christmas before I went home. I never thought anybody would even care if I was there…"
"And somebody did," Youngblood said, looking at the younger Danny curiously. While he didn't look too different then his older counterpart, there was something lacking in this version's eyes that the older one had…
"The last people I expected, too," Valerie chuckled, "I was always so mean to them… I didn't understand why they say there with me in the cold like that, just to keep me company."
"And how did you thank them?" Youngblood asked, motioning towards the rapidly approaching Paulina and Dash.
"Valerie?" Paulina said, blinking at the scene in front of her, "What are you doing with those losers?" Valerie paled and looked between her friend and the three that were keeping her company quickly.
"Nothing," She answered, standing up, "They were just bugging me," Paulina shrugged.
"Whatever," She said as she girl approached, "Let's go, I've got $400 from my Papa and I want to see what stores are open!"
"Sure thing," Valerie said, leaving the three without a second glance back to join her friend.
"That was nice," Youngblood snorted.
They were strangers," Valerie protested, "And Paulina was my friend."
"Some friend she turned out to be," Valerie scowled, finding herself unable to protest.
"You know what?" Valerie said, "I don't need to be judged by another troublesome ghost! You think I'm bad news, fine, but don't act like you're any better, pal!" Youngblood flinched and dodged away as Valerie lashed out at him.
"Alright, Alright!" He said, "Fine, you win here. If you can call it winning…"
"Just go!" Valerie snapped.
"Augh! Fine!" And with that, another gust of snow blinded Valerie, leaving Youngblood to slip away.
"Fat load of good that did…" Youngblood muttered as he re-entered Clockwork's Tower, "They were just a bunch of stubborn jerks!"
"There, there, Youngblood," Clockwork said, amused, "You did well. Danny?"
"I know," The young halfa said, levitating up, A green light enveloped him, "My turn!"
WoM- There you go! Next up is Christmas Present! Hopefully that chapter will be a bit shorter…
Thanks to;
DannysGirlForever
Colormyworld
epobbp
Tetsukon
Light Dragon SunsSong
Celestial Moonshine
Ant Crown
alboc
cheetahs-sperit
Firehedgehog
Tree Flower
Hunter
phantomgirl07
Phantom's luver
Questions;
Ant Crown (We'll see, my friend, we'll see...)
Tree Flower (Sorry, Val's last. I wanted to keep her there specifically for next chapter. 'Grins evilly')
phantomgirl07 (Honestly? I just thought it would be cool to do a DP based christmas fic, and the idea just sort of fit into place after that. Thanks!)
Next update- December 11th (Don't get used to this, after this one, I'm going back to one update a week!)
See you then!