Prologue...

What is it with me and luck? It's terrible to me if you didn't know already. Does the world simply hate me? Lord, are you up there enjoying throwing me to the wolves at the moment? Do you intend to let me burn with my newest best friend in life by falling to our doom into a volcano's belly below? Not funny! What is this? I didn't ask for this to happen nor would I ever but here I am, hanging onto a crumbling ledge for dear life, and there she is, Tina Stoppable or Possible or whatever it is, barely holding onto my hand with eyes wide with uncertainty! I could use a freaking miracle here, please! Perhaps I'm just talking to myself... Anyone?

"August!" Distracted from my mental prayer, I looked down at my recent best friend as she yelled up to me. I focused onto her frightened expression as well as instantly took in the obvious panic in her once confident voice. Within a second, it frightened me too. The possible fate of being melted alive... that was a horror one could not face bravely. Yet, NO, I wouldn't let her go! That was something I would not let my best friend in the world suffer! We were better than that! Weren't we? Come on, god! Answer me, please!

Tina tried to better her grip on the only thing keeping her from falling into the boiling lake of molten magma below, my hand, but could not do so. As she slipped, she screamed out! The fumble pulled at me, urged me to slip, to lose my stubborn will as well as my foothold! However, my fingers didn't let go of hers nor did her weight drag me down. Instead, with a pained grunt caused by the already sore muscles in my body worsening against the conditions, I willfully retained my hold on the girl that had flipped my world upside down for the past month. For better or worse? Well, considering the current situation, that was still up for debate! Regardless, I was leaning towards better, honestly. If we got out of there, that is!

"August! I - I can't! Just-"

"Don't say it, Tina! Don't say let go of you! We've been through a lot, good and ill, since we recently met but I can't do that!"

"August-"

"No! I won't! We're going to make it! You're going to see your family again! I promise!" When I shouted this out, fighting against the lack of stamina to go on, I saw the surprise show in Tina's eyes. Her pair of green pupils, practically emeralds, also revealed to me that she understood my unsaid statement. "Yes, I want to help you be like your mother. Yes, I will be there in the future to see the day you earn the respect that Kim Possible did. I take back everything before this. Just have faith in me now and it all can happen! You'll see, Tina!" I cried out, my soul twisting on the inside, "Just hold on! Hold - hold on!" Slowly, I felt my best friend's loosening grip tighten.

Finding new courage, urged by anger along with bolstered by my inspirational lecture there, - I even seriously surprised myself - I looked up and around at my surroundings. There was nothing, no hope of me getting into a life saving position. All that greeted my wandering eyes was rock wall lacking anything helpful. I couldn't lift Tina up to anything for there was nothing there. Smoke, thick clouds of the stuff, choked me as well as clouded my vision. The heat was horrible. Everything, EVERYTHING, was against me! Even so, my stubborn will continued to hold and fight back the pains growing in my body. I loudly shouted out, my voice echoing throughout the large den of the volcano as I did, "Omega? Tow cable anytime soon? Need it, like, NOW!"

My roar, meant for Tina's loyal husky companion, Omega, reverberated on for a long moment that felt like eternity. Then, some feet up where the walkway Tina and I fell from a minute ago, several rocks tumbled downwards past our precarious spot! Someone was there! Let it be Omega, for the love of all that is good, please!

"Impressive. It seems that you two are not as easy to kill as I predicted." My heart froze up and my stomach felt as if it had been punched when a ominous voice answered my call for help instead of a friendly bark. I, Tina too, knew it all too well. It was the reason for us being in a volcano plus experiencing the dire life-death moment in the first place! Though somewhat blinded by the infinite smoke billowing upwards past me, I could make out the figures of my rather bold archenemies at the moment. The shadows of a man and a woman present were clear.

Where ways I and Tina were outfitted in spy gear, what can be provided for teens that is in this day and age, our foes were much more into the serious villain costumes category. Like, dressed in robes of white holding a exotic staff, battle maiden armor, costumes. The visible man was at least in his later twenties, very handsome which reinforced his large ego, with a slender body. His sandy colored hairstyle was wavy, making the facial hair he had, a thin goatee lining his narrow chin, go with the appearance well. Even a distance away, I could see his golden eyes sparkle triumphantly. He was about to gloat over me! Over my imminent defeat if Omega didn't show up soon! His aid, a stunningly beautiful Indian woman about the same age with a back length ponytail of raven black hair, stared down at us with lightning blue eyes of her own. She closely resembled a hawk about to strike helpless prey.

Even as our villains held the better end of the deal at the moment, Tina defiantly yelled their names with no trace of surrender, "Drake! Victoria!" This fiery spirit she showed was so much better than the depressing one recently displayed. Feeling a slight bit better to see her becoming normal again, I bettered my hold on the ledge. A second of relief shot through me at this action. Immediately later, my body resumed screaming for relief from the constant strains punishing it.

At being called, our enemy in classy armor, Victoria, assumed a sneer. She lazily waved a hand at us afterwards. The robed man, Drake, stood straighter after her reaction, eyes flashing as he came to enjoy his position over us too. They were the masters now. We could die in front of them if they wished it. Hatred seized me at the thought. Any emotion, anything at the moment, helped me attempt to hold on a second longer for any possible hope to come. There had to be something! Come on, come on! Even as I fended off doom, Drake assumed a thoughtful expression with his victorious one, holding his staff at his side as his robes waved with the heated breezes howling from below. He spoke again, making fun of my attempts to stay alive in his own way, "It seems bombs won't do the trick for you pair, will it? I suppose the lava will simply have to finish the job."

Not eager to listen to being tormented until death, I screamed the husky's name out with all my strength, "Omega! Here boy! Here!" I quickly regretted the reckless action. Not only did my body sag after the effort but my voice cracked in the worst, humiliating way. I could hear Victoria laughing at my explosion. Drake's sneer broadened. From underneath me, I heard my best friend utter my name with sympathy at the show of my frustration. At this, I said aloud to her, "I will not let go. I will not give up. We will make it out of this. I promise!" Again, Tina repeated my name with concern.

"I'm afraid that the tide of battle has turned against you, uh, what was it?"

When Drake questioned purposefully of his assistant for our names, Victoria's elegant voice rang out, "I believe they called themselves Tina Possible and August Cousitar, sir." I gritted my teeth at hearing Drake's laughter after this. My eyes burned from the smoke too as did my frame from stress.

"Tina Possible I am well aware of but this August fellow is nothing! The daughter of the famous Kim Possible and here she dangles for dear life due to my very actions? Why, I believe I have done better than any other villain in the past few years for such a feat!"

At Drake's exclamation, I could hear Victoria once more speak. She coolly praised her master with utmost admiration, like the dog she was, "On your first operation too, sir. Most impressive. More so than those so called pair in the past, Dr. Drakken and Shego. They accomplished nothing!"

Drake let out a disgusted sound at the voiced names of Tina's mother's former foes in the past, "Worthless dogs, those two. Didn't have the backbone to do dirty business in the end, did they? Even when the world was in their grasp! That Drakken drew all attention away from my moon plan with his little robot rewards in those fast food meals years ago! Ugh, well, no matter." Once again, rid of contempt, his voice carried through the air with pride, "Yes, well, I never considered them to be villains to begin with, Victoria. Did I not tell you that we would be different than any other evil pair ever before us when I offered you the job?"

"Ha ha, indeed. Again, most impressive, sir. Most impressive."

"OMEGA! TOW CABLE! PLEASE!"

"Has it not occurred to you two nitwits that your dog will not be of assistance at the moment? Victoria, you did see to that mangy mutt that was unfortunately called a dog, did you not?"

"I did, sir. Here he is."

Tina gasped. At hearing this, when I thought things couldn't make me feel worse, I looked up with a growing sense of distress. Muzzled up by a firm mask with bruises showing through his white pelted frame, Omega was dragged into sight by Victoria for us to see fully. The canine looked as helpless as we with his ears drawn back and eyes solemn at the sight of our position downwards. The tow cable he was supposed to have, a subtle device ingeniously designed as a small hair dryer, Victoria held instead. With a smirk, she gracefully handed the contraption to her master who looked over the item curiously. I heard Tina whisper sorrowfully, "Omega... Oh, Omega. I'm sorry, boy." I couldn't say anything. My heart felt as if it had stopped.

A sound resounded out audibly closely followed by a yelp from Drake. He wore a astounded face at seeing a hook show itself from the hair blower's blower. After recovering from the surprise, the villain laughed, "A rather interesting gadget." Then, to ruin my dignity a bit more, he held it out over the ledge he stood upon for me. He called, "Perhaps this is what you keep wailing for? Here you are." He dropped it! My mind raced as the object quickly descended with Drake cackling overhead! Hastily, I tried to swing Tina over to the right grab the cable. I was too weakened, too stupid, to complete the task. Not even close to grabbing our salvation, all we could do was witness the hair blower be claimed by the lake of lava ready for us too. For god's sake, help me!

I squeezed my eyes shut when Tina practically cried, "NO!", then even thought about giving up. This was instantly forced away from my mind. Therefore, I continued to cling to life where I could manage. There was no other choice! I continued to exist, to hope!

Above, Drake laughed at my possible last hope being destroyed. He shrugged to himself, glanced at Victoria when she ceased Omega's rough tugging, then mocked as if unknowing, "Oops, I forgot, your hands are full! Ba ha ha ha!" Teeth still gritted, I ignored the shot. Even so, the villain wasn't finished lecturing us on our failure. He swept his robes up dramatically, pointing his staff upwards towards where a isolated platform jutted higher up the volcano's opposite wall from us. There upon it, a mechanism with buttons and dials worked at upsetting the volcano. Drake explained proudly, "Today will make history, friends! In a matter of minutes you shall see, if you do not fall that is, the volcano we stand within erupt as I have planned! It's explosion will trigger a chain reaction through the Hawaii islands, causing other slumbering volcanoes to awaken, and do you know what the result will be?" I gave no answer to his purposeful inquiry. I merely focused on staying alive. Tina was dead silent in my grasp. She was getting to be so very heavy despite my willful efforts.

"In the future, Hawaii will be known on the maps as nothing more than black spots against the sea's blue! Not only that but they shall say in the books that it was the very beginning of the age of Drake Edenfire and Victoria Blackrose! When this comes to pass, that age shall come! It shall and I will then gain revenge on those who mocked me so in the past! They will see my glory! They will fear it! They will-"

"Oh, give it a rest!"

Silence, occasionally interrupted by the rumbling of the angry volcano, commenced as soon as I shouted this out. I took the chance to vent, to roar out perhaps the last words I would, "I know the whole deal, Mr. Evil! World domination, revenge, death, tyranny, money, fear, you want it all but it won't be enough! You're going to destroy everything!" I paused, knowing full well that he understood my words from up there. I knew what his plot was not only due to Tina but due to my imagination of plots! I had been writing since middle school. I knew where evil would go! I also knew the hero was supposed to win the fight! So why not me? Am I not the hero along with the girl I cling to? "I've been writing lectures like yours, Drake man, since sixth grade! I know what you're going to say and congratulations! You've done it! Now would you let me - ugh - go in peace?" After a pained inhale, I finished, "Put short: would you SHUT UP?!"

Nothing came in my direction for a time. At first, I thought I had actually gotten through to the pair making fun of me. Yet, finally, Drake's laughter reached my ears. I must admit, I was slightly surprised to hear such a reaction. I honestly prepped myself for an explosion where the antagonist would describe himself as being unworthy of insult. Then, he stated something else that took me off guard, "I must admit, the Cousitar boy seems to be putting up more of a fight than the Possible girl. Victoria!"

"Yes, sir?"

"Call the chopper! The plan is to execute soon but, first, I wish to see if this boy is willing to be talked into common sense."

"But-"

"Do not question me now, Victoria! Victory is ours! You honestly think I will risk letting it fail when it is so certain? I am aware of what I'm doing! Therefore, just do what I have said... Things shall not be misdirected!"

"I - Yes, sir, very well."

As Victoria went to doing what she had been directed to do, call a ride out of the death trap, my attention half focused onto Drake's voice when he began speaking to me. I wasn't interested at all. I instantly yelled out before he even got started, "Save your breath, genius!"

It was here that I heard what I never thought I'd hear from him. He actually said to me while I dangled there, "You are a writer, you say? You speak of heroics? You are not ready for these situations, boy. Not as a hero, anyway. Now, if you were a villain, you would be hardy enough for anything. You would know no mercy, no pain, no fear to let go and move on to what you crave most." My heart froze when I heard him say eerily, he probably had a evil grin at the same time, "Join me, boy. Not that girl who weighs you down. That is all heroism does. Place unnecessary burden upon your shoulders where, as a foe of that, you have no obligations. Just gain!"

My answer was as solid and firm as that which I had said before, "Shut up! I won't let you get in my head, Drake!"

At this, the robed villain laughed, "Ha ha, really? I believe I already am. I am willing to make you an offer, hero, if you're willing to listen."

Shaking my head, I roared, "No! You and I have nothing more to discuss! I'm not interested!"

"Not even if it concerns the survival of she in your weakening grasp?" My brain stopped, my breath caught in my throat, I gasped in a sharp intake of air during a long second after these spoken words. I knew exactly, due to writing again, what the menace was getting at before even getting there. Nevertheless, I didn't speak my mind as Drake deliberately slowly did.

"A hero thinks of others before himself, yes? You are certainly that type for risking your life for coming here for someone who involved you without say or permission first. Regardless of her recklessly placing your life into danger, you threw yourself over this ledge to save her own. Quite commendable but, also, quite powerful." I sensed Drake think his nasty thoughts, "Quite impressive. You could help me do what must be done, indeed."

"I'm not interested in your offer, idiot! Knock it off!"

"Nonsense! If you're such a hero, which you are, you will take my offer! I have a helicopter arriving within seconds. With it, I can help you both survive this. I can make sure you leave this place, guilt free, with your friend safe rather than dead. However, a favor-"

"Deserves a favor! You'll let Tina survive but make me your slave as the price!"

I snarled as Drake clicked his tongue and shook his head at the remark I made. He innocently stated, "Tsk tsk tsk. A slave? Why, no, you'd be much like Victoria here and she leads a very healthy life of independent villainy at my side! You'd learn the true power, the true martial arts, the best feeling of getting that which you want! Which you deserve!"

"You mean get what you want! You can't trick me, bud! I'm not-"

"But what of your friend, hm? Will you truly die alongside the eldest daughter of the famous Kim Possible at the hands of Drake Edenfire?" The madman paused at this and his voice carried when he said, probably to Victoria, "That actually has quite a nice ring to it, doesn't it?" Then, his focus resumed on me as did his words, "Anyway, I am willing to make that sacrifice for a greater prize. You may not know it, boy, but you've got potential as far as I can see. Plenty of it. All you have to do... is take the first step and accept that which I offer. Do that and your friend will live."

"I won't - I will not - I know how - I can't... I..."

A life for a life. The actual lecture was starting to take it's toll on me, on my exhausted mind perhaps. It was obvious to me now that, in my hand still, Tina was unconscious from whatever. It could be due to numerous reasons. She had no say, no knowledge, in the matter. Her life, it was actually precious to me. More than I realized. Like every other villain in the book, Drake was using that against me. I couldn't stand death myself. It was frightening. What was even more horrifying was allowing Tina to die. That would never allow her to live her life, to see her family, go to school, or anything. Just done. Not just that but her parents! What would the say? I promised them... that she'd be in safe hands with me! I promised them!

Drake also spoke some other truths. I didn't want the life that the daughter of Kim Possible offered at first but, due to my own reasons, it urged me to try. Never before had I ever felt the way I did when I came after her into Drake's lair for a rescue mission. Never did I guess that I'd be allowed to possibly be the aid of the world's next teen hero when I usually only woke up, endured the day, then fell asleep and repeat. Tina had a action packed life where mine severely lacked it. My realization of loving adventure, of coming out of my shell, was, in the end, due to Tina and I couldn't thank her enough. I really did appreciate the sense of journey she gave that I could never have gotten out of writing. Therefore, did I not owe her something in return? Perhaps her life, no matter the cost? I had to keep my promise.

"Omega."

"What's that?"

I looked up at Drake, trying not to give in to the depression growing in me, as I said, "The dog. Let him go too and... and..."

"And?..."

Biting back my tears of pain, exhaustion, fatigue, disbelief, I finally admitted, "And I'll take up your offer, menace." I yelled the finish, "I accept!"

"Excellent! The dog shall be released with the girl later on! Victoria, er, how much longer?" After hearing Drake ask this very question, I heard a different noise making itself heard amongst the growing rumbling plus boiling of super heated lava. Looking straight up, I witnessed a stealthy helicopter begin to descend through the thick billows of smoke towards us. As it came, Drake clapped his hands together enthusiastically with a broad grin across his face, "Well done! That is response time for you! These are the kind of goons every villain looks to hire but are so gosh darn hard to find these days!"

As the hovercraft came closer towards me, I realized I was crying. It became eventual why. I had signed my life away. For a good reason, a heroic one, but that was no excuse. I wouldn't try anything, as agreed. My body wasn't in the state for any surprises. Thus, I'd become a enemy of Tina along with her family in the future. However, it was for the best. Wasn't it? Lord, could you give me an answer?

"What's the hold up? They're just sitting there, Victoria!"

"I'm trying to signal them, sir! I think it's the smoke!"

"It's only gases, nothing more! You, men, get your rears in gear and get down here! I knew your timely arrival was too good to be true!" At this, the villain pointed down at me with rage, "I have valuable merchandise at stake here! Move!" I nearly yelled a curse at him after this but resisted the urge for Tina's sake. It could... risk her life further. Yet, as we all watched, the hovercraft didn't get any closer to our position. Enraged, Drake waved his staff around wildly. Victoria seemed absolutely perplexed over the cause. Then, it happened.

From the side of the helicopter actually facing the isolated platform in charge of the machine angering the volcano, a figure leapt out smoothly. With an expert landing, the stranger rolled to her feet upon hitting the ground. At once, hope sparked anew in my chest when recognizing whom had appeared. It was Mrs. Stoppable, Tina's mother or former Kim Possible, with green eyes ablaze against the smoky air and orange hair stirred by the heated breeze! A tired grin spread across my face when seeing her near the doomsday machine with Drake yelling at Victoria, "Who is that? I thought I told you to tell our employees not to ever go near my masterpieces! That's what I do! I retain that right!"

Victoria couldn't say anything. She was just as confused as her master and, like a dog with any master, she was being punished. I knew that things were turning back into my favor as Mrs. Stoppable knelt down when near Drake's so called "baby" to mess with it and better regained my grip on the ledge when seeing the chopper coming down. It passed the villains who were still bickering with one another hastily, coming towards my location. Just a little longer, body! Just a little longer and it'll all be over! Even as I observed, a cable shot from the hovercraft to quickly snag Omega from his abusers. This caused Drake to cry out curses. He purposefully lifted his arcane staff, with the ends glowing mystic light, to attack but another cable shot from the copter to unbalance him. He, along with Victoria, had no choice but to evade. Now the aircraft was feet from me! The wind roared, the lava rumbled below, but I was more determined than ever to live on. Not as a villain but as a hero now! The possibility was there!

"August! Tina!" I heard the familiar voice of Tina's father, Mr. Stoppable or Ron, call to me from the helicopter passenger area. He was a bit less impressive than Mrs. Stoppable with a dull hairstyle of blonde with brown eyes and not a fit physique but, for all I cared, he was an angel. He had the passenger bay door open to me, Omega resting inside with his mask off, reaching out with an expression of focus as well as determination. I must have looked awful with grime, sweat, plus tears covering my face. Nevertheless, Tina's father smiled a heartwarming smile, "Come on, son! We've got you now! Don't worry!"

"Ha, Mr. Stoppable!... Thank the good lord!... Who's driving the copter?"

Mr. Stoppable shook his head at my remark as if humored I didn't know. His smile didn't fade all the while. It was there not just to be there but to reassure me that everything was going to be okay. I was saved, no matter what. "Wade has got the wheel with auto-pilot! He's got our backs while I get you on! Come on! Jump, son!"

Jump? I couldn't... I barely had enough strength to keep myself conscious at the moment. It must have shown because Mr. Stoppable seemed concerned. He held up a hand and said firmly, "Just hold on, August! I'll get you! Hold on!"

"I've been holding on, Mr. Stoppable, and I don't intend to let go! One, a lava bath is not very smart and, two, I made a promise to you about your daughter, didn't I?"

At this, Tina's dad became serious. He pointed at me, "That you did! Now, I make a promise to you, August! I'm getting you out of here and, once I do that, you have permission to come over and hang out with the family anytime you wish! My daughter chose the right guy after all!" I weakly smiled against the odds.

"Glad to hear it... sir... One more reason to... to make it out of this alive... right?" My vision was blurring. It was blurring despite my efforts! So tired. So very tired of hanging, lord.

"August! August, hey! Stay with me!" Mr. Stoppable clapped his hands numerous times and the gathering dark in my eyes fled his hostile actions. He pointed at me firmly, promising me I'd live to tell the tale in his own way, then half turned into the helicopter to shout, "Wade? We need to get in closer!"

The voice of someone I couldn't see but knew nonetheless, an old time friend of the Possibles-Stoppables in the past known as Wade, came over the radio. It stated quickly as well as specifically, a obvious note of intelligence in his tone, "Yes, Ron! Hold on tight!" I witnessed the craft, my salvation, hover towards me. My heart skipped a beat though when the sharp sound of the propeller meeting rock above sounded out when connecting together. I nearly lost my grip when rocks bumped me while falling from the point of impact.

Yelling out, Mr. Stoppable cried, "Wade! You're hitting the rock wall!"

"No, really? I'm doing the best I can, Ron!"

At the retort from Wade, I watched Tina's father become angrier than ever before. He yelled out into the hovercraft clearly, face red, "Well do it better, damn it! My daughter and her best friend are on the line here! Come on!"

"Yes, yes! I know, I know! I'm trying, Ron! Sorry, sorry!"

Too tired. Not going to make it. Tina. Mr. Stoppable. Tina. Home. Got to... got to... got to keep that promise! I have to keep that promise!

"Mr. Stoppable!" When I yelled his name, Tina's dad looked to me. He appeared frantic, ready to help however he could. It seemed he really couldn't. Even so, something had to be done here and now. My strength was gone. My body was ruined. My will had vanished. I couldn't do it anymore. I needed relief. Even if it meant madness. With a last ounce of strength I didn't think I had, I pushed off from the rock wall with a scream. With a powerful - more powerful than I predicted - toss, Tina was flying forward limply towards her dad. He outstretched his hand, holding onto the helicopter with the other, his expression one of shock. Then it shifted into determination. Time seemed to slow. Sound faded.

My actions were reckless but successful. Tina was caught by the arm by her father who moved to pull her in quickly. There was no help for me though and, as I began to feel myself free fall, I saw the realization appear in Mr. Stoppable's eyes at what I had done. He showed sorrow, stubbornness, disapproval, at the apparent fate I had chosen for myself. "No, you're going to make it!", his eyes said to me. I felt like saying, "Don't worry about it.", but couldn't from fatigue.

The helicopter drifted from my sight as I eventually faced downwards. Down below, there was nothing but an orange glow accompanied by a warm heat. My fright wasn't terrible. The lava's luminosity seemed welcoming, different than the pain racking my body and brain. Was it inviting me in? As I tried to think about it, it became harder. The glow became closer as well as brighter until, at long last, emptiness engulfed me and all thought was wiped from my mind. Whiteness, for good or ill, covered my everything. It took my being. Yet, I kept my promise to the Possibles-Stoppables. That was more than enough for me, wasn't it? In fact... how did it come to this, anyway?

"AUGUST!"

End of Prologue...