Christina burst into tears and ran to her room despite his pleas for her to stay and hear him out. Christina wasn't having any of it. She had worked so hard but it had all been in vain! Throwing open the door to her room, she flew to her bed slamming the door behind her in the process. There she stayed crying her eyes out for hours upon hours. It wasn't fair it just wasn't fair! All her hours of hard work. All the tears she shed. The sleepless nights where her legs were on fire from all her work. Now, she had nothing to show for it. Dejectedly, she sat up brushing the hair from her face as she slowly moved from her bed to her desk. A stack of textbooks sat before her. If she was out of the race that at least meant she'd have more time to study. Being on the fast track to graduate early was draining but so worth it.

Headmistress Bloodgood had even said she could take the test early if she kept her grades up.

November couldn't get there fast enough.

Armed with her Dead Languages textbook, Christina set to work copying down the translations quickly. She worked until her hand began to cramp. Pushing her work away she stood, catching herself on her desk as she started to wobble. Grabbing the crutches from her closet, she made her way to the bathroom and grabbed her medicine. The doctor had upped her dosage which is what made her sleepy. Plopping into her reading chair she jabbed the syringe into her foot and grabbed a blanket. Time for a much-needed nap.

…...

"Christina, Christina, wake up,"

Christina cracked open her eyes. Her vision was swimming and her head was pounding. She really didn't want to move. Nevertheless, she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Shaggy was there.

"Draculaura called said you were upset," Shaggy explained.

Then Christina remembered.

"Uncle Dracula won't let me race!"

"Why not?"

"Why do you think?" Christina choked.

"I'm sorry, Christina,"

"It's not fair!" Christina wailed, breaking down once more.

Shaggy was quick to wrap his arms around the distressed girl. He lifted her from her chair as she sobbed moving her to the bed in the process. Shaggy just couldn't bear to see the usually happy girl in tears. It was like a knife to his heart but as much as he tried he couldn't console her. She was devastated. He looked around her room hoping to find something with which to calm her but finding nothing he asked Christina what she needed.

"My book,"

Shaggy lifted the heavy fairy tale book from the nightstand and passed it to Christina who opened it with a shuddering sigh.

"It always cheered me up in the hospital," she explained.

Shaggy wanted to ask but knew it was better not to. He just kept quiet and listened as Christina pointed out her favorite stories with a faint smile.

Tomorrow would be better he was sure of it.

…...

Christina seemed just as downcast the next day. She shuffled from class to class without so much as a smile. She hardly spoke, preferring to keep her head in her books that day. If she spoke she might break down again. Staying quiet was her only choice. It was the only thing she could do.

"Christy?"

"I don't want to talk, Shaggy," Christina mumbled.

"Like, that's okay. We don't have to,"

So they sat in silence. Deafening silence. Shaggy longed to cheer Christina up but he didn't know how.

"I-I worked so hard. I can WALK again. I-I just need some extra help sometimes. I'm never shaky on my bike! How could he-"

"I wish I knew, Christina," Shaggy replied as he pulled the shaking girl in close.

"I was looking forward to this, you know. And now, he ripped it away,"

"I know,"

Then Shaggy had a lightbulb moment.

"I have an idea,"

"What?"

"You can ride with me in the race! Sure you like, won't be driving but-"

"Perfect,"

And for the first time in several hours, Christina smiled a real smile. you would have a hard time believing she had been so upset minutes earlier. She was back to her usual cheery self as they walked to their next class. Then Christina remembered this was Shaggy's last day at Monster High and she was saddened again. Shaggy slipped his hand into her, smiling as he surprised her.

"I decided I'd like to stay here,"

"Really?"

"Yes, it's where you are after all,"

"Not for much longer," Christina sighed.

"What do you mean?"

"I'll be testing out of here soon,"

"What are you like, going to do then?"

"Teach. Miss Grimwood offered me a position to teach magic,"

"Like, you'd be good at that,"

"Shaggy, you've never seen me do magic remember?"

"I'd like to,"

"Right now?"

"Please?"

"Okay, but nothing big,"

Christina dropped his hand and backed up a few steps. Shaggy watched curiously as she brought her hands together. When she opened them a fire danced across her palms.

"It's called pyrokinesis. I was born with it, I can also do this"

Now, there was ice floating above her palm.

"cryokinesis. I learned this. Can't do very much though,"

then the ice was gone and the two joined hands and walked to Cooking Class where they were soon baking cookies. Christina reached for a pan while Shaggy got out the baking sheets. Noticing her hesitation though he stopped.

"Can you get it instead, Shaggy?"

"Can't reach it?" Shaggy asked wondering why she didn't just fly up and grab it.

"No, it'll burn me if I touch it,"

"Burn you?"

"Iron burns fairies. That's what happened your first day here. I grabbed one of the iron pans by mistake,"

"Oh, I thought you didn't have weaknesses?"

"Everyone has a weakness, Shaggy. weaknesses could be anything really, something you're scared of, trauma you suffered not just something that physically hurts although most of mine fall into that category," she explained as she rolled out the cookie dough.

"Like, how did I end up with such a smart girlfriend?"

"Just lucky I guess," Christina shrugged, "Come on let's get these in the oven,"

…...

When they arrived at lunch, Christina was a little perplexed to see Daphne standing beside her seat, gift bag in hand which she shakily gave to Christina who eyed her curiously. Just what was Daphne up to?

"I wanted to apologize," Daphne blurted, "I-I was wrong. So wrong to do and say what I did to you, Christina. I'm-I'm just really really protective of my friends and I wasn't sure about doing this whole thing and then when I saw how Shaggy had started to act around you I let my suspicions run away with me. I know that I can't buy your forgiveness but I heard you love art so I thought you might enjoy this,"

Christina lifted out a professional art set much to her surprise but Daphne wasn't done just yet.

"I also arranged for you to paint a portrait of your friends. I-if you want to. Everything's already set up in the catacombs,"

"Thank you, Daphne, I'd love too,"

Down to the catacombs, everyone marched. It was a little difficult to arrange everyone but Christina managed fairly well. Even conjuring dupilcates of Molly and herself to be included in the portrait. Daphne stood off to the side out of the way.

"You too Daphne," Christina ordered.

"You want me to be in the picture?"

"Yes, you're forgiven,"

Some might have thought they would be there a while but Christina was a very fast painter. What might have taken someone else several days it took Christina roughly two hours if that. When she was finished all who were present crowded around her to see the finished painting.

"That's impressive, Christina,"

"Yeah, really cool,"

"Awesome"

"Thanks, guys,"

…...

Over the next few weeks, Christina helped Shaggy prepare for the race. First, they repaired the Wolf Wagon. Then Shaggy took it for a test drive, Christina showing him how to avoid the traps on the t track.

Then it was Race day.

Christina woke up early. So early, in fact, that the sun had just started to rise casting her room in the soft gray light. At first, she couldn't remember why she had to wake up that early but when it finally hit her she tumbled out of bed and started getting ready for the day. After a quick shower, she dressed for the day in her usual race day attire. A long red shirt, black jeans, knee-high leather boots her jacket and a pair of fingerless gloves.

I won't be racing today the sad thought hit her like a brick as she braided her hair.

She tried to smile at herself in the mirror and remind herself that she would be riding with Shaggy but to no avail. Glumly she walked downstairs for breakfast. The castle was empty and silent even this early as everyone was outside preparing for the race. Going to the kitchen she set about making herself some breakfast finding the ingredients set out on the counter for her already save for the perishable foods in the fridge. Within minutes pancakes were cooking. When they were finished, Christina sat at the island and ate while she tried her best to banish her negative thoughts.

If I could go back in time I'd stop myself from ever befriending her.

Christina shook her head, now was not the time to travel down the road of what if and if only. Now was the time to put her best foot forward and make sure Shaggy won the race. Clearing away her mess with a wave of her hand she slowly made her way outside just in time to see Shaggy arrive with the gang. Upon seeing her, Shaggy rushed over excitedly.

"Like, you ready, Christina?"

"As I can be," Christina sighed.

Shaggy took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, "Like, I know it's not the same but at least we're like, doing this together"

"I know, but next year you'd better watch out!"

"We'll see who wins, come on,"

As soon as the starting shot was fired they were off blazing down the track. Shaggy kept his eyes on the road while Scooby and Christina kept an eye out for tricks and traps.

"Mummy's coming in hot!" Christina warned.

Shaggy swerved knocking the Mummy off the bridge.

"Witches!" Scooby yelled.

"I got this!" Christina assured them popping out of the window to engage in a fire filled fight with the two behind them. One strategic fireball later the two crashed into a tree.

It seemed for every opponent there was a solution. Cement stopped the swamp monster dead in his tracks. Webs fired Spiderman style glued the skeleton to a tree. One by one they went down. And soon the finish line was in view/

"Floor it! We got company!" Christina urged.

"I thought we knocked him off a bridge?"

"We did. NOW FLOOR IT,"

"Yes, Ma'am!"

Over the finish line at a blinding speed, they went Christina just about passed out from relief. Smiling she exited the car only to be surprised by a group of very excited Grimwood Girls. She scarcely said a word before Sibella pressed a sealed envelope into her hands. Her test results. Shakily she opened it.

She passed!

Now, there was even more reason to celebrate.

And celebrate they did well into the night never guessing that this was only the beginning.

...

Yes, it IS short way, way, way shorter than I would have liked but I didn't have very much to work with. the word count for the chapters of the original story was roughly eight hundred words so sue me. This is shorter than I would have liked but LONGER than the original with a lot more thought put into it. Eh, whatever. First story down six more to go and hopefully those will be ore up to my current speed. I'm already decluttering the plot for the next story. Cutting out Toralei's involvement Elaborating on Christina's childhood (Past me was like: THIS IS CHRISTINA THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW despite having worked on her for a year LOL) Polishing the plot. I'm open to ideas. again, not much to work with.

Review!