Author's Note:

Alright, so this is my very first story I decided to post online, I hope people will enjoy it~ ^-^ When I originally wrote this (only a couple of days before Christmas), I hadn't seen the episode Go Team Go, only heard of it, so I had to improvise mostly. But recently, a friend mailed me the tape (I live in Canada and they haven't aired that eppie here yet ~_~;), so I was able to revamp my story; so now Shego's past will fit the one in the story. Also, at the time, I hadn't seen A Sitch In Time (saw it for the first time this Tuesday!), so please don't think this story is to correspond with the movie in any way. Because it simply is not .___. Anyway, I do hope you'll find my story enjoyable, please R&R! 3

insert Kim Possible disclaimer here

~A. King (SE) 3

Stave 1

Drakken's Ghost

Drakken was dead: to begin with. There was no doubt whatever about that. It had occurred seven years ago to this day. One would have thought this to be a merry occasion, especially since he was on the very brink of world domination; the world, so it had seemed, and the briefest of hopes that Dr Drakken would fail. Everyone had prepared for the worst, no one dared to pray. But swiftly and suddenly he had fallen, perhaps an error on his part, but mostly due to a certain teen heroine who, like all good stories, came through without the merest of seconds to spare, thus already quoting her a heroine. From there, she hindered Drakken's plan along with the help of her team of three.

His death, however, had not been fulfilled purposefully, an accident, for our hero had not meant to carry death in her wake. Ironically, she had tried to save Dr Drakken at the last moment, but it was too late, and perhaps it was for the better, prison had never held Drakken for long.

To some, our heroine was a murder, but those were a very selective few, for the population of the world, she was the ultimate hero, her and her posse. Everyone had been overjoyed and relieved beyond measures at this super-villain's downfall. Why, when his death was witnessed, the future had been briefly forgotten and all had rejoiced to this jubilant occasion. Even our heroine had been briefly blindsided by the death and wonder of finally conquering her arch-foe.

So no-one had noticed the deceitful doctor's glamorous assistant slip into the shadows, making her self scarce, but her mind was certainly not. While everyone celebrated, while everyone had diverted their attentions for this ephemeral moment in time, fate itself was sealed.

One moment of commemorate brought years of desolation.

*

            Seven years it had been since the downfall of Dr Drakken and since then Shego, the late Dr Drakken's assistant, had most certainly been making a name for herself. Lying back in her broad, plush armchair (a pale neon green, respectively), she reminisced deviously on how everyone had been so stupidly elated at Drakken's defeat.

How could they have all, all been so utterly doltish to have ignored her? Did they actually expect her to just stand there like a doll just because Drakken made one wrong move? Certainly the great Kim Possible knew her better than that!

Well, it has cost them severely. All of them.

Shego had slipped into the shadows to pursue Drakken's unfinished plans for global conquest. It had actually been a rather rare and wonderful plan and Shego had no reason to believe it would fail her; especially while everyone else had been preoccupied.

Evidentially, she had succeeded.           

Shego chuckled to herself right then in her chair, sinking herself further into the plush. She plucked a cherry from its little green plastic basket sitting upon her desk made of ebony and brought the little red berry to her lips of black lipstick, gleaming like dripping vile venom against the cold blood cherry as she sat before her amble picture window that out-looked most of Middleton below.

What a place to situate Go Headquarters, INC., right in Kim Possible's home town; a convenient reminder. An immense, lofty, black building it was, that towered forebodingly in the middle of the town. No-one could ever 'forget' her omnipotence now!

But the building now was accompanied beautifully with a pristine layer of freshly fallen snow. It seemed to be the only thing in Middleton that allowed the citizens some tranquillity of mind, for the snow blanketed the constant black and green colours that had consumed the town since Shego's uptake. The colour of white, an ever-representative of purity, graced the town every year, reminding and stirring perhaps even the littlest of hopes in all.

But there sat Shego, in all her glory, eminent in power and greed.  Everything was hers for the taking, she owned it all and no-one dared to up one on her. She continued to recall the day it had all happened, that fateful day Shego had  recalled many-a-time and it all began with that one name.

Kim Possible. O, if only she could have kept a record of little Kimmie's face when the machine began to whir and clank, becoming fully operational once again. How shocked she had been! Lesson one: Eyes wide, especially to people who can hurt you. But, I must admit, I do accommodate you, Kim Possible. If it hadn't been for you, my dream never would have been, well, for a lack of a better word, possible! And that's why I have saved a 'special' place for you, dear. One that will be etched in our minds forever; for mine, exultation and contentment; and for yours, defeat and disgrace.

At that moment the buzzer toned off from the intercom upon that ebony desk that embodied her power.

Irritated at the interruption, Shego pretended to ignore the irksome sound. But when it rang for a second a third, no- a fourth time, Shego caved in. Swirling her chair around and leaning forward across her desk, she reached for the button and snapped viciously into the intercom: "What?!"

The familiar voice sounded from the intercom, "There's someone here to see you, Shego."

"Who is it and how did they reach this floor?" Shego snarled giving the speaker no slack. "I have no meetings planned, who dares to interrupt me? This had better be good…"

The speaker continued to speak through the intercom in a steady voice seemingly unshaken by Shego's harsh tones. The speaker had heard this over a dozen times (plus ten!). "It's your brother, ma'am, he wishes to speak with you."

Shego paused to ponder this, her brother, h'm? While Shego had not chained him to her legions or workforce, he was still not one of her most favourable peoples. A do-gooder is what he had always been, optimistic and one for helping others. It sickened her. But no means, if he had dropped by, her must have something, at least entertaining, to say.

"Bring him in."

Leaning back into her beloved chair, Shego folded her fingers in front of her anticipating the arrival. Not a moment later did two figures walk into the room. There… there was her brother, he remained exactly how Shego remembered him; although now he was decked in a long winter coat, snow was sprinkled upon his shoulders and blue hair. Kindly was his smile as he hung up his coat on the coat rack in the corner. So he planned on staying awhile did he?

Shego turned her attention to the second figure that had entered the office room; her own personal assistant and her secretary. The perfect job for her and O! the mockery it induced! "You may leave, but keep the door open," she glanced back at her brother, she drawled, "I predict he won't be staying long."

Acknowledging, Kim nodded, retreating from the room, but as ordered, left the door open.

"So." Shego began, casting her hand through the air in a bored (and quite rude) manner, "What brings you to Go Headquarters on such a cold and dreary day? Not asking for money, I hope, there may be a shortage, I'm fully aware of, but just because you're related-"

"Not at all!" Hego responded jovially, mistaking Shego's hand gesture for an act of wishing him to take a seat. "I came merely to wish you a Merry Christmas!"

Shego coughed a laugh into a fist, "Whatever! What good is a Merry Christmas to you or to anyone? I've left not much than a penny in the world and you come here wishing me Merry Christmases?"

Hego clicked his tongue but remained composure in his voice and ventured, "Come now, Shego, surely you don't mean that?"

"Are you joking me? 'Merry Christmas' indeed! You and I are both adult enough to know that it's just one big commercialized holiday for companies to profit from! You're all nothing but impoverished and have no money to spend on each other! Now you tell me," Shego sneered at her brother from across the desk and jabbed a gloved claw-like finger in his direction, "Tell me, how 'merry' is that?"

"The world is so poor because you hoard all the money!" Hego retorted.

No-one in the world would have ever risked their heads at being so brash and open-minded with Shego, Hego seemed to be the only person Shego allowed that from, preferably for her entertainment, but no-one knew for sure. But he still had his place and even though Shego allowed him to be a little more, shall we say, impudence, she still reminded him of his place from time to time.

"And what exactly are you insulating by that remark?"

"Perhaps if you could share some of your wealth with-"

"Huh, and there you go again, Hego!" exasperated, Shego lifted her arms. She was sure Kim could hear every word of their conversation through the open door. But no matter, this conversation contained nothing that Kim hadn't known about Shego before. "Now if I gave out more money, people would hoard it… probably but it in banks and let it grow so they can have more money and before you know it, economy will rise and then where will I be? No. The people are doing just fine on their own, regardless of your so-called 'Merry Christmas'es!"

Hego's expression softened and his own azure-blue eyes gleamed dismally. "Shego, what right have you to do this? To demand so much of others? To make them miserable and impoverished? Do you get some sort of sick pleasure out of it all?! You have the world, you can do as you wish, but why? Why make everyone so penurious and pitiful?"

Adverting the question, Shego just returned this with a snort and replying in a much child-like fashion, "Whatever."

"Shego, don't get all angry at me!" Hego implored, leaning forward in his seat.

"You can have your Christmas your way and I'll have it my way."

Hego decided that this conversation wasn't going to go anywhere. Shego, not only to-day, but on other occasions had expressed her dislike for this joyous holiday. But that never stopped him from trying to change her around, oh-no. Every year, he always hoped, dreamed, that something would turn his sister around. He strolled to the coat tack in the corner of the room and plucked off his coat; Shego stood up from behind her desk and joined Hego. Walking out of the office with his sister tailing after him, they just stood outside the office beside Kim's working desk, Hego trying in his last attempts to somehow sway Shego's already set mind.

"Shego," Hego pleaded, "There are many wondrous things about Christmas you have yet to uncover! I'd only wish I could peel the blinder away from your eyes to make you see. Christmas is a splendid occasion; an occasion for allocation, celebration, forgiveness and repent." Then he mumbled darkly to himself, "And God knows you need to repent."

Continuing, he raised his arms in spirit, "It's the time of year when we forget our wrongs and be kind to our fellow beings! Old and young, poor and rich! Christmas isn't about the money, but you're right, it is over-commercialized, but that doesn't mean that's all that remains of Christmas. You can rekindle the flame of the true Christmas spirit, if you only give yourself a chance. Christmas allows people new aspirations and dreams, it does us all good, it's not just about giving material items, but giving the spirit you have inside to others!"

Shego returned this with a non-expressional face and blew a strand of hair from her face.

"Here, here!" Kim cried graciously from her seat to the right and she clapped her hands jubilantly at Hego's well-given speech. "There's Christmas spirit for you!"

"Don't let me start on you!" Shego thrust her face rudely in front of Kim and snarled bitterly. "You mind to your business or you may find yourself out of a job!"

Startled, Kim turned her head back to her papers, not wanting (or needing, rather) to be put out of a job, but couldn't help and give a dirty look to Shego behind her large auburn hair.

Hego was the only one who caught this, thankfully, and gave a slight chuckle at Kim's hidden response. As he slipped his jacket on, he turned to his sister again and shook his head sadly. "Look, I didn't just come here to wish you a Merry Christmas…"

"Perhaps you're worth my time after all?"

Aggrieved, Hego rolled his eyes, "I don't know why I bother, for after this miserable conversation, I think I can safely say I'll know your response. But it's Christmas, and I ask you as my sister: Will you come to my Christmas dinner to-morrow? I'm sure we'd all be… well, I'm sure I'll be pleased to have you there."

"You're kidding me right?" Shego retorted the answer Hego had dreadfully predicted. "Did you listen to, like, a single word I've been saying to you? Or has the lack of clatter in your pocket-bags defeat your ears?"

Tsking again and heaving a mighty sigh, Hego turned to leave. "I don't understand you, Shego, you weren't always like this."

"Go away, I'm done with you."

"Can't we just ever get along like we used to?"

"Go away."

"With every bit of empathy inside of me I'm very sorry to have heard and seen what has become of you. You sadden and weary me. We've never had a real fight, and yet you remain so cold and sour. Is it just because I enjoy Christmas? Well, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to give up my delight for Christmas, even so I can be on good terms with you."

"Go away."

"Well, think about what I've said. And my invite will always remain open, should you decide to come."

"Go away."

And he did. Inclining his blue hair to both Shego and Kim, he slipped outside the door, closing it gently behind him without a rude remark or expression. But he left with a sadness in his heart for his sister: how had she become what she was to-day? And why be so cruel to Christmas? Well, those were her problems, not his and he had done all he felt he could do for someone in his position. Riding the elevator down to the final floor, he stepped out and into the harsh winter outside.

Back in the office, Shego snorted in his wake and flipped her hair airily. She stood, still leaning in the doorway of her office in bad posture. 'Merry Christmas' indeed. He had to have been joking. They had had conversations like this one before and they had all ended the same. Certainly he could have learned from her past behaviour? Why did he try year after year? He wants my money, Shego thought greedily: and my power. But he won't have any of it; trying to warm up to me like that with exclamations of 'Merry Christmas' and what have you…

Twirling a black lock of hair around her finger, Shego went into thought. There was something else she was going to do out here, wasn't there? What was it..? At that moment Kim coughed and began stapling some papers. Aa, yes. That was it.

Approaching Kim, Shego's voice remained emotionless, "As you heard, to-morrow is Christmas day." She pointed a finger at Kim, "Am I right to assume you want a day off work?"

After stapling the papers, Kim was preparing herself to leave for home. But she had been much taken aback by Shego's sudden address, not only that but the question she had asked. Would Shego possibly give Kim a day off? She never had before, but then, Shego had never asked before either and Kim most certainly wasn't going to bring up a topic like that. Perhaps if she played her cards right, she'd be able to stay at home for one whole day, Christmas day at that!

"Um…" Kim stuttered, trying to form words, but making a fool of herself. "Well, yes, actually!" Although Kim would not truly appreciate anything from Shego, she decided to flatter her nonetheless in hopes of that single day of break, "I'd greatly appreciate it… so would-"

"Well, 'NO!' actually!" Shego snapped back. Her long, black hair had flopped over her shoulder again as she leaned forward on the desk to face Kim. So she brushed it back vengefully while saying: "And you expect me to pay you for a day when you don't even earn it?!"

Kim wanted to cry out loudly then and there! She more than deserved it, that was what! She drudged on for Shego day after day for seven years with no break with squalid wages. Wages that were support six people! (Soon to be seven!) One pay of no-day's work would mean nothing to Shego's pocket-book with what the way she was paying Kim now! Shego knew very well that Kim needed as much money as she could scrounge for, and here she was ridiculing her for it! Kim wanted more than anything to hurt Shego… make her pay…

But Kim knew wiser than this and replied, "Well, Shego, I have to say: I think I've most certainly more than earned it. You know how hard I work and that… and that, well, we really need the money…"

Dropping her gaze to Kim's round belly, Shego slurred, "Yes, you most certainly do, h'm?" But she cracked a devilish grin that only Mephistopheles himself could have mustered. "Well, you should have thought of that before you allowed this to happen, h'm? Why should I have to pay because you miscalculated how much you earn?"

"You know that's not fair!"

"Sure, whatever. Blame me for your misjudgement. The only thing marriage cost you was a trip to the poor house!"

"That's not true! I married for-"

"Wait! Stop! Don't tell me. You married for looove. You gotta be joking me. Yes, and all that 'as long as we're together, nothing matters' garbage that's everywhere on TV nowadays just to make you poor lot feel better." Shego snorted again (was it becoming a habit?), "In fact, I don't care for your talking back to me, so I expect to see you here bright and early to-morrow!"

"Shego!"

"Make that two hours earlier and no pay for the extra hours!"

"But-"

"Don't make me say three!"

"Yes, Shego." Kim caved in, there was nothing she could do now, if she continued on in plea, she'd just be digging her own grave, as they say. Grievously, Kim cleaned up the desk while Shego watched, her arms crossed and looking as nasty as ever. Collecting her things (coat and hat, a bit shabby, I must say), she bid Shego farewell (but not really meaning it), leaving her alone in the now deserted office.

That'll teach you good to argue with me! Shego thought wickedly as she watched Kim close the door behind herself. She stood to herself for a few moments in mindless thought then decided to pack it in herself.

Returning to her office, Shego stood poised with her hands behind her back in front of the picture window to survey the snow drifting down from the sky. She could see most of Middleton from this standpoint, although she could have a more sweeping view from her penthouse atop of this very building.

There the people walked around in the snow, in their warming hats and faux fur coats. Ambling along aimlessly from store to store to home in the melancholy town that was Middleton; people trudged through the snow on that cold Christmas Eve. Kim Possible herself came into Shego's view. Her tattered and worn Club Banana jacket's collar was pulled up high against the wind of Jack Frost.

Shego enjoyed her view, seeing everyone disheartened below. Again Shego thought: 'Merry Christmas' indeed! How merry is it for these poor, unfortunate souls who walk the very streets in front of me? How merry are they to have this… this vision of Christmas all around them, only to become miserable for not having any money to celebrate this… this 'joyous' occasion? They've got to be kidding me. How Merry is it for Kim Possible to return to a dilapidated and deficit home with more people than she can handle, to tell them she won't be able to be with them the next day… Christmas day, because she'll have to work, and early too! Christmas is nothing but an illusion that shrouds people in charlatan merriment!

From there, Shego pulled herself away from the window and scene below. She had no coat with her, so the last thing she did was flick off the lights in the office and lock the doors with her brass key. Stepping into the elevator, Shego pushed for the top floor and waited for the elevator to carry her up, up and up to her warm home.

Once up on the roof, Shego wished she had brought a jacket down to her office with her. For even though the distance was short, the air was cold; the night itself was dark, a deep, rich blue and the stars shone above her head in the darkest regions of the sky. The patterns of constellations watched her make haste to her house upon the tower and shook their heads, visioning what was to come.

Upon reaching her doorstep, which was covered in ice and frost, Shego reached into her pocket for the door key and was about to unlock it when she stared into the black, metallic knocker that sat ruefully on her front door. It had changed. Shego was no-longer looking into the face of the knocker she faced everyday, but the face of Dr Drakken himself!

Shego's dark-green eyes widened in the utmost shock, it was Drakken's very face that had replaced her usual knocker! It was a clear form of Drakken, no-one could have misjudged that hair, that scar, those eyes, still blue-skinned. He was translucent and an eerie light resonated from his form, a spectre of astounding proportions. His eyes were as wide-open as Shego's were at that moment, wide they were but moving they were not. The expression was more like a statue carved of marble, but the form of it certainly was not; the hair ruffled as if in a zephyr. Everything about this chimera of Drakken horrified Shego.

Quickly, she shut her eyes and when she opened them not a second later, she came to find Drakken's face was gone. Nothing but a memory. "I've been stressing too much to-day," Shego rolled her eyes while talking herself and walked into her house. "First the deal with Hego then with Kim Possible… it's causing me to see things, I think I'm gonna need a pill."

Shego's house was the most grand of home's in all of Middleton, nay, all of the Tricity area (Middleton, Upperton and Lowerton). A mansion on top of a tower all owned by Shego herself, how much more lavish could you become? Like the tower, the house was completely black, all but the windows which shone a silver hue when the light hit them just right.

Despite the dignified approach of the house, the inside was very much a lonely place to live. In fact, most of the loneliness was due to the noble extensity of the house, but the other part was in cause by the darkness and lack of good-will Shego brought in with herself every day. The house was yet to see merrier times, which it was best suited for.

And what brave soul would ever guess that such a day would come? When all that looked upon the monstrous and foreboding sight that was the tower and mansion, all they saw reflected in its blackness was Shego's own voracity and ominous power. It always reminded them, as was its purpose for being so ungodly divine, the spiteful hold that Shego had over the people.

But as was previously said, the snow that had fallen over the past days softened the draconian might of both buildings. It brought a brief calm over the people that they might relax, forget about Shego's ruthless reign and think of Christmas in all the ways and more that Hego had exclaimed that very day.

Now Shego stepped into her household and looked around herself, perhaps half-expecting Drakken himself to immerge from the shadows like Death coming to her door. But he did not; somewhat insouciant, Shego brushed the snow brusquely from her shoulders and the flakes fell to the mat she stood on and melted into the warm fabric.

Sauntering forwards, Shego decided to skip her supper (the Drakken apparition really put her off any sort of food), and head for an early bed. She sighed heavily, to-day had been a rather stressing day. Three things that set her off, that had been too much! She decided not to switch the lights on in the darkened house, for she would only be passing through the hall. Instead, she brought up a gloved hand, curved her fingers and lit a green-plasma flame, shrouding her hand in a casting light like a candle as she climbed up the lengthy staircase that wound around the side of the wall.

The floor made not a sound as her feet padded on the wooden floor of each step. With one enflamed hand held high casting an eerie green glow, she placed her other gloved hand in black upon the staircase railing made of the finest wood in the world. Her shadow was cast on the wall so vast to her from the green flame and trailed her a pace behind like a mysterious stalker.

Slowly Shego walked up the steps, adverting her eyes forward, not allowing them to wonder in the least. When she finally made it to the top of the flight, she walked almost mechanically to her bedroom.

Once she entered her room, Shego let the flame around her hand burn out to flick the light switch on in her room. Fleetingly, Shego surveyed her prodigious bedroom, for what, I have no notion of. But from there, she strolled leisurely to her walk-in closet, pulling out her night-shirt/dress and stripped out of her day-suit of black-and-green into her black-and-green nightwear. She picked up a pair of socks from a drawer, closed the closet door behind her and went to sit on her bed.

After slipping on her socks (one green and one black, thank-you), she then made her way to her exquisite fireplace. The mantle was carved with an elegant pattern and the pillars refined still all in a rich Tuscan red. There were no photographs or mementos residing on the fireplace, twas bare and cold, much reflecting the owner's personality.

Shego pulled over a comfortable chair from her in-room desk and placed herself in front of the fire that she had just kindled. The red and orange flames clashed gallantly with each other all while casting the light they had to offer around the room. She sat there for a few moments, then turned to flick off the light-switch, leaving the fire to burn itself out over the night.

To her four-poster bed was the last stop, its curtains all drawn back from that morning. Shego settled herself in and was just about draw forward the curtains for a peaceful sleep when the noises began.

It was faint at first and for a moment, Shego could have reckoned she was hearing things. My mind is still ringing from the trials of the day; Christmas Eve day. I really should have taken a pill, damnit… Shego contemplated climbing out of bed to her bathroom for one when the noises steadily grew louder and louder; and louder still! This was no trick on her weariness.

She was the only one in the whole house! What damned fool was lurking inside her home? O, they were going to feel her wrath, that's for sure. I don't need anymore bloody circumstances to-day! I'm through and you will be soon enough for this little stunt…

Pissed, Shego raised her voice, "Look, if you're trying to break in and steal something, buddy, you're gonna have yourself some tough luck because I'll beat the-" She paused.

The sound. What was it? Did it sound like… like chains rattling? They were incessantly growing in pitch… and as they did, Shego realised that they were headed right for her door! Not just rattling chains, but (Shego could recognise this sound anywhere) the rattling of money in a box? And clunking noises! What was going on?!

Just great. I've got some sort of New York-type alley club loitering my home. What makes them think they can take me down when so many others have tried and failed? Oh, they are so going to feel the burn…

She held a hand in the air at the ready to call forth her powers of green flames when…

When at that moment the figure (note not figures!), slid through the thick doorway to Shego's room! In that instant, Shego forgot what she was doing and turned to stare dumb-founded to the figure that now stood before her.

And O! what a sight! It was Dr Drakken himself, just as how Shego remembered him. His scar on his left cheek was still intact, his hair was still in the (Shego thought) unfashionable ponytail. Drakken's clothing were the same as they always had been, the long blue overcoat with the black belt, his gloved hands and booted feet; just how he looked before he had died.

The only thing that changed him were the crude chains that clung to him like a fly caught in a spider's web. The chains hooked to his belt, wrapped around his stomach and chest, enwrapped his wrists, arms, feet and legs, all to trail behind him on the ground. And as these chains clung to Drakken, the objects clung to the chains, weighing him down; objects such as money boxes that clattered with coins and globes that rolled on the ground and looked to weigh of lead. Also were there padlocks, keys, scrolls of plans, pieces of technologically equipment or two.

All these gave Drakken a most frightening look Shego gazed upon horrified, totally forgotten of her plan to call upon her powers. What frightened her even further was the fact that he was translucent, so Shego could see the door behind him.

This is so not happening. I'm having a hallucination! It's all this stress of world-domination getting to me, that's it. There are no such things as… as… well, as ghosts! My mind is playing tricks on me and I'm paying for it because I didn't take that damned pill! How I'll suffer for it in the morning, ugh. So now what, how do I deal with this?

"Well?" Shego demanded, although underneath this thin layer of faked confidence was terror. "What do you want?"

Drakken cackled in the same voice he always had, "Hehe, wouldn't you like to know!"

"Excuseme?" Then, "But… but what are you?" Shego spluttered, her words became a jumbled mess; she had lost the momentary moment of improvised confidence.

"Aaha! The question, Shego, is not what am I, but who am I?"

Shego snorted from her spot on the bed. "I'm not blind, I can see you're Dr Drakken. Y'see, there you go again, Dr D., always dragging on the point of things, just get straight to the point, alright? I'm short on patience right now!"

"Haven't you always been?" Drakken muttered under his breath. "But no matter! In life I was-"

"Wait. Stop. Hold it right there, Dr D.," Shego held up her hands to signal the 'time-out' hand sign. Stepping out of bed, Shego stood beside her bed in front of Drakken (but keeping her distance), "Heh, what do you mean 'in life'? Are you trying to tell me you're dead? Like, like a Casper or something?"

Drakken heaved a sigh slumping forwards, then he rose his hands in the air and exclaimed aggregately: "Well, no duh I'm a ghost! Take a look at me! Have I been dead for so long that people now walk around transparent with all this junk attached to them?"

"Yea, what is that junk clinging all over you? Some kind of new exercise-fad of the 'dead'?"

"Aha!" Drakken bellowed yet again. "Finally we are getting somewhere! You see these chains that cling to me, Shego?"

"Doi."

Drakken gave her a look and continued on, "These are the chains I fashioned from my life! Every link you see here, look! Every, single link I have made myself. These objects, money-boxes and globes, are there as a reminder for what I was in life. From my own greed and evil have I constructed this misery that I am doomed to wear for all of eternity. O! woe is me!" Drakken hunched forward and covered his face with a hand in grief, Shego had no inclination to offer help or console (not that there as anything she could do to help this apparition). Suddenly, causing Shego to recoil, wide-eyed, Drakken stood straight and tall and thrust a finger straight at her. "And yours, Shego! And yours are even longer than mine!"

By instinct, Shego raised her arms in alarum to shoulder level and looked all about herself, fully-expecting to see chains like Drakkens (only longer!) dragging her down and over-powering her. But there were none and Shego turned to face Drakken again who laughed maliciously at her folly.

"And… and what becomes of you and your chains?" Shego implored tentatively.

"I?" Drakken rose his voice magnificently and dramatically, sending shivers all down Shego's spine so she clung to herself in fright. "As I am doomed to wear these chains forevermore, I am fated to wander the world, never resting, never lingering-"

"You're lingering now."

Drakken slapped his forehead, "Don't get technical with me! I am forced to meander weighted down by these unforgiving chains! For seven years, I have been doing this, but time is of no concern to the dead. A year is forever, a month is forever, a week is forever, are too a day, an hour… a minute! Why, I have even stood by you and watched over you-"

"Pervert!" Shego cried, "Oh, that is so sick and wrong. Just… just ew, no!"

"Don't flatter yourself, that's not what I mean!" Drakken retorted truthfully.

"But I don't understand…" Shego picked up from the before conversation and ventured, "Drakken, you were a genius… how could this have happened to you?"

"Huh! A genius, I might have been, but what good is that when you apply your genius to the mistreatment of humankind?! Through my life I had built destructive machines, used my power to try and take over the world and brood in my worldly possessions. Think of what I could have accomplished should I have chosen to employ my genius to the welfare of others?"

Shego had nothing to say to this, so she stood taking everything in while crossing her arms.

"Look, I've got to get going, my time's almost done here-"

"That whole 'never lingering in one place for long' issue?"

"Word. Now hear this, Shego. I have come not just to frighten you with the thoughts of your current future-"

"You certainly excelled at that."

"But as a warning that you have a chance, unlike I did. If only I had a spectre to warn me… Listen, you do not have to end up the way I did. There is hope for you yet, I see it. And your last hope will come in the form of three visitors. For you shall be haunted to-night by Three Spirits."

"Excuseme?"

Drakken raised another finger into the air to stress his point, "They are your last chance, so heed them well!"

Shego smiled fraudulently, backing away into her bed, "You know… you know, I think I'll pass this opportunity up if you don't mind. See, I have a very busy day to-morrow, you know, ruling the world and all. Ok, so maybe you don't know, but-"

"Shego! Didn't you hear me? If they don't come, there is no way you can avoid the fate that has become of me."

Shego nervously eyed Drakken's chains and clatter that weighed him down dubiously, it certainly didn't look fashionable at all…

"That junk heavy?" She questioned with uncertainty.

Again, Drakken chuckled in his old-sinister manner, "Very."

From there, Drakken rose above the ground a foot or two, astonished, Shego watched as he flowed like an oak leaf caught unwillingly in a windy breeze, although at the same time, Drakken managed to seem in much control of his actions. He floated past Shego who took a few cautious and inquiring steps forward, transfixed at what was happening.

The window that had been shut by Shego herself opened itself as Drakken floated backwards to the window and was pulled outside by some unknown force. Curiously, Shego flung herself to the window that overlooked the street far, far below and peered outside, there Drakken floated to join a mass of ghosts that intertwined with each other like a bucket full of rats. They moaned piteously that tormented and disturbed Shego's ears. All of the spectres continued to float along the empty streets wandering to and fro; it all looked to be not Christmas Eve, but All Hallows Eve!

It was not long before the winter mist rolled around and consumed the ghosts from Shego's sight. Together the Christmas night fog and the phantoms became one and the wails of the dead ceased into the night.

No-more could Shego take, so she turned from the window and shut it tight. Letting go a shiver, Shego meandered to her bed, wavering as she walked softly, each step taken with precision.

It had all been too much. Too, too much. She could barely reminisce the happenings that had occurred with Drakken's spirit. She didn't even attempt to try. Once in bed, Shego placed the blankets all around, tucking herself in, her mind numb.

This had been the worst of the day by far and the moment Shego laid her head to rest on her loving pillow, she fell asleep, the encounters of the day finally overwhelmed her. The last things she remembered saying to herself before she drifted of was: I should have taken that pill…