"OH MY GOSH CHRISTY!" Draculaura exclaimed embracing Christina, "That was amazing!"
"Raven was amazing," Christina replied, "I just followed her lead,"
Raven smiled, "It was your choice,"
"Nonetheless," Alissa interrupted, "We're so proud of you!" she embraced her daughter happily.
"Yes," Radu nodded, "Very proud,"
"Like, I take it that isn't normal?" Shaggy questioned.
"No kidding," Melinda laughed.
"Come on," Clawdeen smiled, "Let's get to the party,"
…...
The next day:
Christina woke to the sunshine streaming through her windows. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up with a yawn.
"Christina?"
"Yeah, Shaggy?"
"Your mom made pancakes,"
"Give me a minute and I'll be right out,"
A scream tore through the air as she was doing her hair.
Nefera.
…...
"WHY? I'M THE FIRST-BORN IT SHOULD BE MINE. MY KINGDOM, MY THRONE!"
"Because you are cold, selfish, and cruel," Ramses deadpanned, "And although your sister can be shallow at times she deeply cares for her people and those around her,"
"But, Daddy I do care,"
"Oh? I seem to recall you dumping your friends,"
"I never-"
"Clawdia? Viperene? Christina? You also led miss Stripe to believe she would be cheer captain, running a kingdom is about building bridges not burning them,"
Nefera ran from the room screaming incoherently.
…...
"Maybe you should slow down?" Christina laughed, watching Shaggy inhale his pancakes.
"I'll be okay," Shaggy said, pausing briefly to wipe his mouth before starting again.
"So, Butterfly, what are you going to do now that you've helped change the world?"
"I didn't help change the world, Mom," Christina replied, face flushed with embarrassment.
"Ah, sure you did! I believe you did,"
"I-I just followed Raven's lead,"
"So what are you going to do for the weekend?"
"I dunno," Christina shrugged, "Draw, learn a new spell, help you-"
"No,"
"No?"
"No, you're a teenager for fairies sake, go to the mall, the movies, lurk around the bookstore just do something other than helping me and your father,"
"but I like helping,"
"Ve know you do but you shouldn't put your life on hold for us, for me, go have some fun,"
"And if we do need your help. We'll ask," Alissa added with a gentle smile.
"Okay,"
Silence fell for a few minutes and Alissa, who always grew uncomfortable with silence, had to break it.
"You know," she said, "I heard Fenris was coming here on business,"
"You heard," Christina arched an eyebrow with a playful smirk, "Wasn't the last council meeting a week or to ago, you're on the Council, Mom and wasn't The Alpha Moon a week ago?"
"Yes, and yes," Alissa nodded, "And I am excited to meet the new Alpha, whoever that may be,"
…...
Weekends in the Wolf household were anything but quiet and peaceful. Howleen stealing her clothes, her brothers wrestling in the hallways were all normal, expected Saturday events. Clawdeen in her coffee deprived state simply walked past, moving to the kitchen for breakfast where freshly brewed coffee, still pipping hot awaited her.
She was almost done with it when the doorbell rang.
"Kids," their mother called, "Come here, please,"
Sighing, Clawdeen set the mug down and went to the living room where her mouth dropped open, mirroring her siblings.
Fenris Silvermane stood in the doorway.
The Alpha of all the world's werewolves stood in the doorway.
Why?
"I do apologize for showing up so unexpectedly," Fenris said after he was invited in by her awestruck parents, "But I have wonderful news!"
"What is it?" Clawdeen asked, sinking into the nearest chair.
"The next Alpha has been found,"
"Who is it?"
"You,"
"M-me?"
…...
"What's the council?" Shaggy asked.
They were in Christina's room now. She was at her desk thumbing through a book while Shaggy watched Scooby play with the wolves outside.
"The Monster Council of Royals govern the Monster community,"
Shaggy still seemed confused so standing from her desk, Christina grabbed an atlas and joined him at the window.
"Here," she said opening the book, "Ever After is a bunch of kingdoms big and small, kingdoms that govern themselves,"
Studying the map Shaggy saw each kingdom was labeled with it's ruling family.
Christina turned the page, revealing another beautifully painted but much more recent map that showed the Monster kingdoms
"To avoid another great war, the monster leaders assembled a council to help with problems big and small, they rely on each other, gathering to hear and aid their subjects,"
"Like, your mom isn't a monster though so like, why-"
"The council invited the ruling families of Ever After to join them, only my grandmother accepted,"
"What's this place?" Shaggy tapped a green vortex in the corner of the map that had caught his attention.
"That's the Ghost World, some call it The Ghost Zone,"
…...
In the human world.
Amity Park.
It wasn't uncommon for Danny Fenton to fall asleep at the breakfast table after a busy night of foiling his enemy's. His family, who were recently told his secret, let him sleep knowing he needed to. And he would have if they hadn't received an unexpected guest.
"GHOST!" Jack yelled, startling Danny awake.
"Whoa!" Sam yelled, intercepting Jack's shot, "It's only Clockwork, he's a good guy,"
"Sam? Clockwork?" Danny yawned, "What's going on?"
"For your safety,"
"Safety?"
"When you battled Pariah and won you inadvertently became the Ghost King,"
"King?"
"Yes, now you and your family must come with me, there are those who would harm you,"
"Where are we going?" Jazz asked.
"And I'm not leaving Sam," Danny added.
"As expected, we're going to a new realm, a better realm," Clockwork smiled cryptically, "Come,"
…...
"Hm," Maleficent smiled, "Most interesting, I will have to speak with Grimm,"
There was an idea brewing. A perfect idea to help further merge the communities.
…...
(BP) I wonder what she has in mind.
(TP) I think we'll have to wait and see, Sis.
(MN) This will undoubtedly help-
(FN) Or jeopardize.
(MN) Always the skeptic.
(BP) Please, don't argue.
(TP) Let's get back to the story.
…...
"Where did you get the book?" Shaggy asked curiously as Christina put it away.
"It was a gift to help with school," Christina explained, "From Grandmother,"
"Your grandmother makes me-"
"Nervous?" Christina finished with a chuckle, "She makes everyone nervous,"
"Except you,"
"Except me and Mom and Dad," Christina corrected, flopping onto her bed.
"Are you like, going to do anything?" Shaggy asked, moving from the window to sit on the edge of the bed.
"But I am doing something,"
"What?"
"Talking to you,"
Shaggy couldn't help laughing, "You like, know what I mean!"
"I don't really do much on weekends," Christina sighed, "I'm usually helping-"
"Your mom said no,"
"I know she said no, I was there,"
Shaggy laughed again making Christina grin.
"What do you want to do?" she asked him.
"Explore,"
"Then let's do it,"
She jumped to her feet pulling him along.
"Can we see the town near the school?"
"Which one? Two schools remember?"
"Ever After High first?"
"To Bookend we go!"
Shaggy felt his stomach drop unexpectedly finding he'd stumbled into Christina,
"What? What was that?"
"Oops probably should have warned you,"
Shaggy blinked seeing that Christina had transported them to Bookend.
"What about Scooby?"
One burst of purple flames later, Scooby stood before them dazed and confused.
"Consider me your guide," Christina giggled, patting Scooby on the head, "Let's go!"
As they were exploring Main Street, Christina pointing out her favorite shops while Shaggy and Scooby tried to take it all in they were surprisingly approached by Headmaster Grimm. Christina grit her fangs, eyes narrowing suspiciously when she saw the smile plastered on Grimm's face. The kind of smile that made flesh crawl.
"Miss Shadowfae-"
"Dracula," Christina hissed, "My last name is Dracula,"
Grimm's eyes were cold, his voice dripping with insincerity when he said, "My apologies, I was hoping to speak with Mr. Rogers for a few minutes,"
Shaggy laid a hand on her arm before she could object, "It'll only be a minute," he assured her.
"Fine," Christina nodded stiffly before ducking into the bookstore.
Shaggy looked at Grimm expectantly. "Yes?"
"Did you get the book?" Grimm whispered, eyes darting around.
"No," Shaggy shook his head apologetically, "We like, haven't been over there, I could ask Christina-"
"No, no don't do that!" Grimm snapped, "I thought for sure you would have it by now-"
"Excuse me?" alarm bells were ringing in Shaggy's mind.
"Just because you're anxious to get home,"
"I do want to go home, really I do but I haven't gotten a chance to see the book again, excuse us,"
Shaggy walked to the bookstore with Scooby trailing behind him.
…...
"Butterfly I have wonderful news!" Alissa popped out of thin air upon their return home.
"What is it, Mom?" Christina asked curiously, setting her bags down on the desk chair.
"I know who the next Alpha is,"
"Who?"
"Clawdeen!"
"Really?"
"She came by to see you while you were in town so she asked me to pass along the good news, she's headed to the mountains to receive her blessing but she'll be back in time for school,"
Christina squealed with happiness for her friend,
"I thought you'd be excited," Alissa smiled warmly, "Now why don't you take the boys to New Salem, I think you'll find some excitement brewing there too,"
"Okay, Mom," Christina hugged her mother, "We'll be back in time for dinner,"
…...
"So why is it called New Salem?"
"Because that was the name of the town when they lived in the human world, no one wanted it to change, the monster community is still adjusting,"
"This is all very confusing,"
"I know but that's why you have me,"
"CHRISTY!"
Christina found herself nearly tackled to the ground by one very excited mummy.
"Whoa, Cleo! What is it?"
"My-my father-"
"Yes?"
"Has said-"
"What?"
"I'm to take the throne instead of Nefera,"
"That's why she screamed this morning," realization dawned on Christina.
"Yes! Can you believe it?"
"I'm very happy for you and Clawdeen,"
"There's more!"
"More?"
"I heard from Spectra who heard from Blondie who heard from Clawdia-"
"Can we cut to the chase?" Christina asked lightly.
"A ghost portal opened earlier today, the new king has arrived with his family,"
"How did Clawdia hear this first?" Christina pondered.
"Maybe it was Spectra," Cleo shrugged, "But they're moving here and they'll be going to school with us!"
"That is exciting,"
"We have to tell the others!" Cleo insisted, "They're at the mall,"
…...
Meanwhile at that very moment, Maleficent stood in a meeting with the two headmaster's of Ever After High.
"M-m-m-monsters?! In MY school?! ABSOLUTELY NOT! Even if they are 'Royals'!"
"You don't have a choice, Milton", Maleficent smirked. "The EAH School Board of Governors has already voted in favor of it, as an opportunity to promote unity between the communities. Are you saying that our school is incapable of teaching these bright young Royals?"
"Wha...?! Well...! UGH!", Milton sputtered with indecision. He would never say such a thing! "Can they not simply learn from their elders?"
"I've heard that the Monster Council of Royals is still stabilizing many of their communities and cities after the mass exodus from the other realm", Giles added. "That's why I suggested this program of cooperation to the Governors and Fairy Tale Royals."
"YOU, GILES?! Without consulting ME as Headmaster first?!"
"Well, as you know, our classes for Royals are the best in Ever After, bar none", Giles smiled knowingly. "I thought you would be thrilled that the monster community would trust us with their young Royals."
Milton fumed and seethed. He was trapped, boxed in. And he did NOT like it!
"Relax, Milton", Maleficent smirked at his obvious...discomfort. "There will only be four at the moment attending the morning classes for Royals. Here are their files. Daniel Phantom, the new King of Ghosts despite being half-human. Clawdeen Wolf, the newly chosen Alpha of all Werewolves. Cleo De Nile, Daughter of Pharaoh Ramses De Nile. And Prince Duncan Rosenblatt, born from the love of his human mother and the Kaiju King Belloc, who only recently named Duncan his heir to the throne. My grand-daughter, Princess Christina Rose Shadowfae Dracula can easily be their guide here, as they are ALL friends of hers. They can then easily go together to attend their afternoon classes at Monster High."
Grimm winced slightly at the emphasis that the former Dark Queen put on both her granddaughter's title AND gothic last-name. And the presence of these others as friends meant that even if HE looked the other way at students giving her a hard time, these others were very likely to quickly defend her or prevent it outright! Wearing her down will be nearly impossible now!
"They start Monday," Maleficent declared before taking her leave.
…...
(BP) Oh, how exciting!
(TP) this should be interesting.
(FN) A disaster in the making.
(MN) I strongly disagree-
(BP) Here we go again.
…...
…...
Monday:
Christina was first to arrive with Shaggy and Scooby. They waited for her friends on the front steps. Cleo arrived first where she was excitedly greeted by their friends. It was clear, however, she had been expecting a much bigger fanfare, joining them on the steps sullenly. Next came Duncan.
"Nervous?" Christina asked when she saw the look on his face.
"Just not used to this," he replied pointing to his changed appearance.
"So you have noticeable scales now, I doubt Clawdeen will care,"
"Someone mention me?"
Clawdeen had snuck up on them.
"Is everyone here?" Cleo asked, bordem dripping from her voice.
"No we're waiting for-oh, here he is," Christina watched as Danny Phantom dropped in front of them, Sam in his arms.
He reverted to his human form once he put Sam down.
"Christina?"
"That's me, and your Danny,"
"This place is huge!" Sam observed.
"CHRISTY!"
Melinda was charging toward them.
"What? What?"
"I-I have another-"
"Sister?"
"No, cousin-You"she stared at Sam moth agape.
"WHAT?"