A/N: Written for kitten's KND monthly art challenge #1 in the KND forums. It's not exactly art but gotta make do with what you know!

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kids next door mission

operation:

r.e.n.f.a.i.r.e.

renaissance

event

nurtures

fight

against

invested

rivals

extraordinarily

There was not a single cloud in the sky in Thackery Park that day. Everyone throughout the neighborhood visited the annual Renaissance Faire there to celebrate that spring had finally come after months of harsh winter.

Five particular children in fact joined the spirit of the medieval flair, each with a different goal in mind over what to do. Kuki was heading the group for once, skipping along happily as her long pink dress fluttered around her ankles.

"La, la, la, la, la!" Kuki sang happily and spun in front of her friends. "I just love spring! And the Renfaire! Grandma really worked hard on my dress this year!"

Abby grinned and elbowed Wally through her thief get-up. "Yeah, Numbuh 4. Think her dress is pretty?" Hoagie snickered from behind.

Snorting loudly, Wally instead busied himself with his jousting stick made of tinfoil and broken pipes. "Yeah, if you like pink." Kuki's growl of warning made him back up a few paces and back pedal. "I mean… err yeah. You look very…" He grimaced and stuck his tongue out when she wasn't looking. "…pretty."

"I just wished you wore something more practical this time, Numbuh 3," Nigel sighed, lowering a giant construction paper filled with crayon drawings of tactical defense and offensive positions. He had been forced to hand over all of his tech gadgets at the ticket booth, constantly forgetting that technology wasn't allowed to preserve the medieval atmosphere. And like every year, it soured his mood. "This year we're going all out, that means no messing around! This is a KND mission, team, not a day off. And one of utmost importance!"

A collective groan was not much of an answer to his battle cry.

Half-pouting, Hoagie stuck his hands into the pockets of his stained blacksmith's apron. "Can't we at least sample the food first? The Ye Ole Slop Bucket's got haggis this year!"

Everyone except Nigel cringed in disgust.

"Boy, yer the only one who eats Grandma Stuffum's nasty cooking and live to tell the tale! Numbuh 5 don't know how your stomach keeps kicking afterwards!" Abby snarked and pinched her nose when that very smell wafted on by the further they walked on.

Hoagie responded by sniffing the air with a happy sigh. "It's not that bad guys, really!"

"We'll take your word for it," Nigel drawled. "but for now, we've got business to take care of!" He pointed at a giant old-looking sign that made his team gape in awe at the medieval script.

Kingdom Wars: Two guilds shalt war for the honor of obtaining a lifetime's supply of ye olde ice cream! Holler thyselves within!

Abby pumped her fist at the mention of ice cream. "A lifetime's supply? Numbuh 5 knows where she's gonna be today, baby!"

Walking in front of the sign, Nigel turned and addressed his team at parade rest. "You won't be the only one, Numbuh 5. Global Command has asked us personally to take an interest in it. It is our duty as Kids Next Door operatives to secure the lifetime supply of ice cream to replenish our reserves on the Ice Cream Asteroid Belt. We will fight, we will conquer, and we will be victorious!" Placing a pair of sunglasses over his eyes, he pumped his fists into the air, his own makeshift armor clacking with his movements. "Kids Next Door, BATTLESTATIONS!"

"Ahem." Nigel turned and found a gangling adult wearing a jester's uniform. His palm was opened out to him. "Sunglasses weren't in the medieval times, squire. Hand them over."

With a grumble, he reluctantly took off his sunglasses and his mood dropped further as he marched off mumbling about stupid adults. Wally and Abby snickered as the rest of them followed their leader toward the heart of the faire, the grounds littered with medieval kiosks and shops like a bazaar.

Whether his team actually tried to keep their minds on the mission or not, Nigel did not know. But the further they walked the more serious people took their roles. Weary blacksmiths were working on real swords that delighted Hoagie's mechanical side while lutes and drums from bards lifted their spirits as deep voiced men chanted a manly song and slammed their tankards together in merriment.

Thou shalt fall but do not falter!

Earn your dignity be it rich or squalor!

Fight for love or fight for honor!

Either way ye will be a goner! HYAHH!

Robin Food and his ilk were dancing and entertaining passing customers, singing about fair maidens and honor on the battlefield. People of every age were wearing the simplest of peasant get up to the most elaborate of dresses. Bows and curtsies were abundant with each meeting and there was even one argument over the payment of horseshoes.

Squealing with delight, Kuki made her way to the plastic jewelry stand. "Ooooh! This necklace would go perfect with my ribbons! No, no, wait! This one! I change my mind! This one!"

"Numbuh 3!" Nigel protested, only to find the rest of his team disperse just as quickly as she did. "Guys!" he whined out but to no avail.

This was going to be a major problem.

"Numbuh 1?"

The familiar voice from behind made him snap to attention and salute his Supreme Leader. "Numbuh 362! I see you've arrived to start the guild!"

Rachel opened her mouth, but apparently one of her knights was happy to do it for her. "You mean High Queen 362! Show some respect, knight!"

"At ease, sir knight," Rachel sighed and patted her on the arm. "One problem with renfaire is the dresses. I can't even carry… ugh!" She righted the sash around her waist which slipped around when she tried to show him the lone sword strapped to her hip. "Nevermind! I probably won't even use any weapons with you guys doing the fighting anyways."

"Apologies your majesty, but with you off Moonbase extra precautions had to be made," Nigel said with an air of professionalism. "And with The Steve representing the Teen Empire for this competition, I understand your reason for being here but if anything happens to you-"

"I've got the best operatives here defending me, Sir Nigel," Rachel interrupted with a reassuring grin. "And I'm not made of glass. I was a spy a buhmillion years ago after all!"

His smile was minute, but her words were effective in calming him down. "My mistake, your majesty. I'm well aware that you are capa-"

Two older teens brutally shoved against him so hard he fell over.

"Hey! That was uncalled for!" Rachel said coldly, truly in her guise as a high queen. Even her crown seemed to glimmer dangerously in the spring sun. "Turn thy selves around and apologize to my knight, you rambunctious cur!"

"Gladly." One of the teens turned around and took off his black helmet. Rachel's guards immediately drew out their swords.

"Chad," Nigel drawled and unsheathed his sword. "What was the crime for traitors in the medieval times? High treason? I bet they did worse than decommission traitors."

Chad brushed his blond hair back and sneered at the both of them. "Cute. I'm just shaking in my gauntlets. I hope you're both ready for a good thrashing on the battlefield because you long since need one. Especially you, Uno." He growled when the tip of Nigel's plastic sword nearly pressed against his throat.

"I'll be looking for you on the battlefield too, Numbuh 274," Nigel swore, keeping an eye on the battle-ax clipped to Chad's belt. "Then we'll see who's the better operative."

"Easy. That'll be me," Chad spat and smacked the blade aside. "And then I'm going after your queen and once she falls the teens will win a lifetime's supply of ice cream."

Rachel narrowed her eyes at him. "Save your gloating for the end, Sir Chad, though you probably won't need it. The Kids Next Kingdom Over will be victorious in this battle."

"You wish." With a parting snicker, Chad and his fellow knight shoved another one of their kids and disappeared into the crowd.

"Don't let him get to you," Rachel warned once she noticed Nigel shaking in anger. "He wants you to lose focus and screw up. Show him what loyal operatives can really do, soldier."

"Yes sir!" he grounded out.

"NIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGIIIIIIIEEEEE!" His back suddenly stiffening, Nigel switched emotions and nervously laughed at the curious expression on his commanding officer's face.

Lizzie Devine bounded toward them in her flowery yellow dress while waving a handkerchief at him. She stopped just inches away from him as if realizing something and curtsied before pulling him in for a bone crushing hug. "I mean… Sir Nigie!" she giggled.

To Nigel's surprise, Rachel was trying not to laugh through her own smile. "You must be Lizzie. I mean, Lady Lizzie."

Probably realizing that Nigel had just been conversing with another girl, Lizzie immediately became defensive and tugged Nigel's arm close to her. "Yeah and who are you?! My Nigie has a girlfriend, thank you very much!"

Rachel shook her head and shrugged with good humor. "I'm his boss."

"Oh." Lizzie blinked. "Well he still has a girlfriend!"

"Well I'm not here to steal any boyfriends from anyone," His commanding officer defused the tension with a snicker, much to his horror. This was a side of her he'd never seen before. "I'm the queen of his guild and I was just telling him about the Kingdom Wars that we're participating in."

Lizzie bounced up and down at her words with excitement. "You're fighting in the Kingdom Wars, Nigie?! How romantic! Make sure you wear my favor so everyone can see!"

Nigel tried to smile. "Uh… okay, Liz… err, m'lady." Clearing his throat, he was back into his cool KND persona again. "This is an important mission, Lizzie, so I can't spend time with you today."

"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Lizzie growled and began pulling him away. "You've got at least an hour before the Kingdom Wars begin, Sir Nigel Uno! And you're going to spend time with me on this beautiful day whether you like it or not!"

Rachel shrugged back as if to say, 'she's right you know'. "Don't worry, sir knight. When you come back we'll have a plan ready to go against the Teen Empire. Enjoy thy self!"

"But I want to strategize for the mission!" Nigel whined right on back, wishing he'd rather be going over battle strategy with Numbuh 362 and the other tactical commanders than go on a 'date'.

But you can't say no to Lizzie Devine. Not for long anyways.

transmission interrupted