When greed is in control, and the powerful do nothing but opress the innocents,
The Just must become Outlaws.
The Mark of Possible
PROLOGE
The wind howled with fury as the might and fury of the massive rain storm beat itself against the settlement. All of the inhabitants were inside their homes, trying to keep warm and dry as the storm passed by overhead. Inside a near by cantina, several Spanish soldiers were huddled together as they tried to keep warm, drinking the weakened watered down wine that sat in each of their mugs. At the foot of the massive roaring fire, the lazy sergeant sat with his feet propped on a near by chair as his foul smelling boots sat beside him and let their heinous odor float about the cantina like the stench of a dead skunk. He gulped down massive amounts of the fine wine that sat in his glass while he let his bare feet warm themselves from the heat of the fire. As he slammed his glass back onto the table, a loud belch echoed off of the walls and almost cracked the adobe they were made of.
The few patrons, as well as the soldiers he commanded, all shuddered at his actions as a massive fart echoed not too long after the belch. The man was rude, conceded, and so irritating that everyone just wished they could choke the life out of him. They would too, if he didn't have his saber by his side. No matter how rude or idiotic the sergeant was, no one wanted to be near him when he had that sword in his hand. With one slash of it, he could cut any of these tables in half.
No one knew where he got that much strength to wield that weapon. There were many rumors that he stole something from one of the Indian medicine men since his skin was blue, or that he simply worked out. Either way, he was dangerous with a sword. Since he had consumed so much alcohol that hadn't been watered down, he may be more dangerous than usual tonight.
"That rotten swine. How dare he take all the heat and wine for himself." On soldier mumbled.
"You want to complain to him about it? Be my guest. He can practice using his saber on you." One of his comrades said.
"You first." The shivering soldier replied. "All he does is slash and hack. If he went up against that bandit, he'd probably make an ass out of himself."
"What bandit?" one of the other soldiers, a new recruit, asked.
"Zorro, you idiot!" the first soldier whispered.
"ZORRO?!" the sergeant bellowed and stood to his feet, scaring everyone in the Cantina. "Zorro is nothing more than a thieving bandit! A filthy peasant trying to make himself a hero!" the sergeant bellowed as he drew his saber and gulped the last of his wine. "If I see that masked bandit, this is what I'll do to him!" he shouted as he slashed his blade across his table and turned it into pieces of splintered kindling. "Goats milk and meal mush! That's what he is, and the stories about him! Goat's milk and meal mush!" the sergeant said as he drank from his glass, and slammed it back down. "INN KEEPER! MORE WINE!" he screamed.
As the inn keeper scrambled to refill the sergeant's glass, and avoid the further destruction of his inn, the door to the Cantina opened to allow a cloaked traveler from the pounding storm outside. The wind that blew from outside caused the soldiers to huddle closer together as the chill it carried pierced through their clothing. The Indian servant that had been sitting in the corner quickly made his way to the new arrival, his duty being to help with the coat and hats of their guests. When he stepped to the figure to take his articles of clothing, his eyes became wide as he saw the travelers features. The front of his pants quickly became damp as he shook and slowly backed away and let the figure venture toward the fire place. When the traveler stood behind the sergeant, that's when he decided to speak.
"I could hear your boasting from outside, Senor. Are you truly as trained with a sword as you claim?" The figure asked, their voice low and somewhat rough.
"Indeed I am! I am as fast as a rattlesnake, and twice as deadly. Zorro would be a fool to try and fight me!" the sergeant boasted as more of the wine's effects began to take hold of him.
"Well then Sergeant Drakken," the figure said as they slid the hood of the cloak back and drew a razor sharp rapier. "let's see how foolish I am." The figure finished as he kept the tip of the sword at the man's throat. The other soldier's stood to try and grasp their weapons, but soon received a piercing glare from the masked figure. "Don't move, or your commander dies where he stands!" the masked figure ordered.
The soldiers lifted their hands into the air, showing that they were not attempting anything as they backed to the wall behind them.
"You've trained your mongrels well, Drakken. Order them to remove their weapons." The figure said.
"That will be a cold day in hell!" the sergeant said, and felt the edge of his blade being pressed against the skin under his chin. "Remove your weapons! Cast them away from you!" he shouted and tried his best to keep still. A small sigh of relief escaped his lips when heard the clattering of steel and guns hit the floor.
"Very good. That shows you have some brains, Drakken. Let's see you use them." The figure said and backed away a few steps.
"Huh?" Drakken asked.
"You claimed that you would be the victor in a fight. Let's see it." The masked figure said and gave Drakken a salute with his sword.
"Today you die, Zorro!" Drakken shouted as he lunged and slashed as the masked figure.
The alcohol in his system had long since unbalanced him, causing his attack to be slower than normal and unbalanced. Zorro merely stepped aside as the commanding officer charged, and slapped him in the butt with the flat side of his sword which caused him to stumble and fall onto his face.
"I thought you were an officer, not a rabid bull." Zorro teased.
"I am an officer!" Drakken shouted as he stood back onto his wobbling feet.
"Really? I couldn't tell the difference with all the drool coming out of your mouth." Zorro replied and was answered with another charge.
Zorro stepped out of the way again of Drakken's path, and chuckled when Drakken forced himself to a stop so he wouldn't fall into the fire. Drakken literally stood on his toes as he did his best to keep his balance. His breathing became quicker as Zorro stepped next to him and eyed him carefully.
"Fast as a rattlesnake are you, Drakken? It would seem you are clumsier than an ox." Zorro said as he slapped him in the abdomen with his sword and swept Drakken's feet out from under him, causing him to fall onto his back and groan in the pain that followed. All he could do was look at the emerald eyes of his attacker as Zorro stared down at him. "And you are also twice as dumb. Let the Alcalde know that it'll take more than a drunken oaf to arrest me. So my dear Drakken, allow me to give you something to remember me by." Zorro said as he made three slash marks across the chest of Drakken's uniform. Zorro quickly sheathed his sword, and dashed back out of the cantina into the blinding storm outside.
The soldiers quickly rushed to their commander's side and helped him stumble to his feet. When Drakken was able to maintain his own balance, he quickly shoved the others away. Not wanting any more help with his injured pride. As he claimed his saber and sheathed it, he noticed what the masked bandit had done. On his uniform stood a large Z, making him growl in anger.
"Goat's milk and meal mush!" Drakken said as he sat in front of the fire and began to drink the rest of his wine.
I.
MONTHS EARLIER
Madrid, Spain. A cool breeze blew through winding streets and old stone buildings of Spain, passing through areas and barriers that no normal men could go. The air swept its way through over the distance between buildings and streets and over the stone walls of the elegant school that was one of many of the country's jewels. The breeze made its way from the winding trees, carrying a few leaves with it as it went along its way. The gentle wind blew through the open courtyard and soon found itself blowing through the wild mane of flaming red hair that belonged to one of the students as she read through one of many books that the old building housed within its walls. A small smile graced her lips as she felt the cool air caress her skin like a lover's touch and enjoyed the relief it brought to her. She loved attending the school and had learned a great deal about many things, but sometimes the heat was just unbearable.
But she enjoyed being at the school. She had learned so many wonderful things in the school, but was annoyed at some of the thinking of the tutors that worked in the University. Many thought a woman's place was at the home, tending to the children and meals while the men were earning money and food. A smile crept to her face as she began to think back at how much she had been a thorn in their sides and had enjoyed every minute of proving their thinking wrong.
One of the incidents that had outraged many at the school was when she had enrolled in the defense courses. Not just the teachers had become outraged at the fact that a woman wanted to learn how to fight, but many of the students were upset as well because she had enrolled in the courses of fencing and sword play. She also enjoyed their outraged looks when the teachers discovered that she was the best fighter among the whole student body. The only thing that kept them in check was her name.
That was a small thorn in her side. Her name had gotten her into this university, and not her knowledge or talents. Her name had made it able for her to learn what she wanted, and not her determination. And it was her name that frustrated her so much every so often. Kimberly Anne Possible.
Many of the older families in Spain didn't think highly of her name, but that's because it wasn't dominated by Spanish heritage. Never the less, she was a descendant of Spanish nobility. Her bloodline belonged to the noble Spanish family of Vega. Her grandfather was the son of a Rich family from America, and had set out to make a name for himself in the world. While her grandfather was in Spain, he had fallen in love with a beautiful Spanish woman, and she had also fallen for him.
At first, the young woman's father would not hear of his daughter being with an American, no matter how much wealth he had. It took many months to prove himself to the old man, but her grandfather had proven his worth when he fought his beloved's father in a dual, unarmed him, and spared his life. It was then that the name Possible became part of the house of Vega. Almost nine months after their wedding, her father James had been born.
When her father was still a baby, they had moved to North America and had made a home in the settlement of Los Angeles. Her grandfather was a generous man that knew how to treat the people equally, including the Indian inhabitants of the town. He also passed everything he knew onto her father who was even more generous than her grandfather. When her grandfather died, her father took over the lands and businesses that her family had control of. Three years afterward, her father met a visiting American doctor named Anne who was trying to spread the word of Democracy. After saving her from being arrested numerous times, they fell in love and became married.
She and her younger brothers were the result of that union. But unlike all of her other girlfriends back in Los Angeles and here in Spain, she was more of a tomboy. She enjoyed dolls and dresses, but she had also enjoyed playing ruff and adventuring with the other boys. She did her best not to let the fact that she was different get to her, but it sometimes did. But her parents nurtured her independent side and taught her to not care and rely on the opinion of others. Well, her parents and her best friend Ron Stoppable.
That was one thing she missed most of all was the company of her best friend Ron. Ron and his family had migrated to Mexico from America to try and begin a new life. But when Ron was only five, bandits had raided and burned his home. His father died trying to fight the bandits off, while his mother burned to death in their home. Her last act was getting Ron out the window before the roof had caved in on her. Taking pity on him, her father had brought Ron into their home. Kim thought he was weird at first, but she still liked him. They were the best of friends ever since. Even when she dragged him all over the countryside of Los Angeles and Capistrano, they still remained close friends. They were always getting into trouble and what not when they were growing up.
When she decided to head to the University in Spain, both were heartbroken about her leaving. As a token to remember him by, he had given her his pet. A naked mole rat that he had found and raised from a baby named Rufus. Why he named the rodent that, she would never know. As if on cue, the hairless rodent crawled up onto her shoulder and tapping her ear to get her attention.
"What is it, Rufus?" she asked him.
The rodent began pointing and chattering at full speed to the footsteps that were behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see her fight master, Sir Edmund Kindle, approaching swiftly.
"Thanks, Rufus." She said with a smile and patted his head.
"Anytime." Rufus said ducked into a pocket of the vest Kim was wearing. For some odd reason, it was like only Kim and Ron could understand what the mole rat was saying. Kim stood and smoothed out a few wrinkles in her clothes before addressing her teacher.
"Good Morning, Sir Edmund." She said, giving a curtsy as her teacher stopped.
"Good Morning, Kimberly. I trust all is well?" Sir Edmund asked her.
"For right now. I was enjoying my free time with a little bit of reading." She answered.
"Always with your nose stuck in a book." Sir Edmund said and glanced downward.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked him.
"Kimberly, please walk with me for a bit. I have something I need to tell you." He said and gestured toward the courtyard.
The walk to the lavish courtyard was in silence the entire length. Neither said anything until they reached the large fountain that sat in the center as it poured fresh cool water into the multiple basins it held.
"Sir Edmund, I can tell something is wrong. The headmaster isn't angry about that boy I fought?" she asked.
"No, no, no. The boy challenged you to a fencing dual, and you won it fair. We have just received word from Los Angeles." Sir Edmund said.
"Good news, I trust?" she asked him.
"Sadly, no. It appears that the Governor has put in a new Alcalde in charge of Los Angeles. And from what I've heard, this Alcalde isn't that well liked." Sir Edmund said.
"That isn't the only thing, is it?" Kim guessed.
"How can you tell?" he asked her.
"It's the way you carry yourself. When ever you have bad news, you move like you're the Greek God Atlas." She told him.
"Holding the world on my shoulders. It does seem that way, even now. Kimberly, your father has asked that you return home as soon as you can. I told him you would be on the next ship heading to California." He said as he stopped and locked his old brown eyes with her emerald ones.
"Why? I have so much I need to learn,"
"No you don't, Kimberly. You've been here four years, and have mastered every subject you have taken with flying colors. There is nothing else you can learn here. Besides, your father and your brothers need you home more than ever."
"Why is that?" she asked her teacher.
"The letter I received reported that your mother had fallen ill not too long ago." Sir Edmund said.
"Ill?" Kimberly asked him.
"Yes. I'm so sorry, Kimberly. But, your mother passed away three weeks ago."
The voyage home felt like it was taking an eternity. Her heart was still heavy with grief for her mother. It had been days since she was told of her mother's death, but still felt like a sharp slap to the face every time she thought about it. Rufus never left her side, always perched on her shoulder and nuzzling himself under her chin. She petted the little animal as he tried to comfort her, and appreciated the gesture. In a way, it was like having a part of Ron right beside her and trying to comfort her. She closed her eyes and tried her best to let her tears of sorrow fall privately.
"I still can't believe it Rufus. I can't believe she's gone." Kim said quietly as she stroked the mole rat's head.
"Miss Possible?" a gruff voice asked from behind, briefly startling her. She quickly wiped away the tears that had been falling and took a deep breath to steady herself before she faced the voice's owner.
"Yes, Captain?" she asked.
"I just wanted to let you know that we've reached port and we'll be docking shortly. You may want to gather your personnel items." The old man told her.
"Thank you for informing me, Captain." Kim said and turned her attention to the bow of the ship.
It was in the distance, but she could see the port coming closer. She knew it wouldn't be the same anymore; that something would be missing when she returned to her hacienda. But at least she would be around people who knew her. She would be home with her father and brothers. And she would be home with her best friend again. She knew that no matter how terrible she was feeling, no matter how much her heart was hurting, he would be there to help her back to her feet. Her Ron shine, as she used to call it. The ability he had to bring a smile to her face, no matter how she felt.
The ship soon sailed into port, letting the heavy iron anchor fall from the ship into the waters below and the bow lines being tied to the dock so the currents wouldn't carry the ship away. Kim was glad that she would finally be on solid ground again and breathed in the air she had missed for so long. Before she could even make her way to gang plank, three people ran aboard the ship as fast as they could. Two men and a women holding a small baby had ran aboard the ship, looking like they had just seen a ghost. What shocked Kim the most was the man that looked to be leading them was none other than her friend Ron Stoppable!
"Ron?" she asked, gaining his attention.
"KP!" he shouted as he ran to her.
"Ron, what's?"
"KP, these people need to hide, fast!" Ron told her.
"Hide? Why?" she asked him as she was confused by her friend's actions.
"I can't explain, just trust me. Please?" he asked her, looking almost desperate.
"There should be some place to hide in the cargo hold. Captain! Where does this ship sail to next?" she called to the old sea fairing man.
"We set sail to the settlements further north in an hour." The captain told her.
"I need these people to be on this ship when it sails." Ron said to the man.
"Unless they can pay for passage,"
"Is this enough?" Ron asked him as he removed a gold watch from his pocket and handed it to the captain.
"Ron, that's your father's watch!" Kim said to him.
"I know. Is it enough?" he asked as the captain took the watch from his hand.
"It should be enough." The captain said as he examined the watch closely.
"Gracias, Senor. Get into the cargo hold, quickly!" Ron told the couple, rushing them to one of the entrances to the deck below.
Kim was confused by what was going on. She never knew Ron to act like this before. What was going on? Before she could try to ask him again, she could hear the approach of several horses. When Ron heard the sound, he quickly slammed the door closed and quickly joined Kim by her side.
"Ron, what's going on?" she asked him.
"The man is being chased by several soldiers. I'm helping him to escape." Ron said to her.
"Why are you helping a criminal?" she asked.
"Because he's not. He's a school teacher, Kim. He was teaching about democracy, and the Alcalde ordered him to be arrested for treason." Ron said.
"You're joking."
"I wish I was, KP. They didn't see me, but I can't let them find him. Just act normal." Ron said as several Spanish soldiers boarded the vessel. The commanding officer had his hair tied back into a small ponytail, with both eyebrows joined as one, and an old scar on the left side of his face that ran from his eye to his cheek.
"Check everywhere! I want that man found and in the stockades before sundown!" the man ordered his soldiers as they began their search. "YOU! Senor Stoppable! I'm willing to bet my rank that you had something to do with their escape!" he said as he marched toward Kim and Ron.
"I beg your pardon, sir; but do you have any proof of your accusation?" she asked the man.
"Stay out of this, wench!" he said as he tried to shove Kim out of the way, only to find her behind him while pulling his arm so far backward that it felt like the bone was about to snap into pieces.
"It isn't polite to treat a lady like that." She growled at the man.
"Sergeant Drakken, meet my old friend. Senorita Kim Possible." He said.
"Possible? Don James' daughter?" he squeaked.
"The same." Kim answered and pulled his arm further.
"M-my apologies, Senorita. I-I didn't know." He said, hoping she would let his arm go.
"Apology accepted." She said and freed his arm. She did her best to hide the smirk she got from watching the man rub and rotate his soar arm and shoulder. "As I was trying to explain, my friend Ronald is here to greet me. I've just returned home from Spain, and he is my escort home." She told the sergeant.
"My apologies. A fugitive escaped from the jail earlier, and the Alcalde sent me to recapture him." Drakken said
"A fugitive, you say? What crime has this fugitive committed?" Kim asked him.
"Treason, Senorita. He was trying to inspire a rebellion. We assumed that he is trying to flee on board this ship.
"Then why did you accuse my friend, Ronald?" she asked him, giving him a glare that could have melted ice.
"It is no secret that your father and Senior Stoppable disagree with some of the actions of the Alcalde. But Ronald is the only one that has made his opinions public."
"How?"
"I threw a rotten tomato at the Alcalde while they were collecting taxes. I spent three days in the stockade." Ron told his friends.
"So you automatically assumed it was my friend, after rudely interrupting my conversation with him. Adding the fact that you insulted me and tried to push me aside as if I were a piece of trash?" Kim asked, getting madder by the second.
"Senorita,"
"Enough! This province might be under the command of your alcalde, but it is still a province of Spain. And I will have you know that my father and myself still have many friends in the Royal Spanish Court. So the next time you decide to try and manhandle anyone close to or in my family, you better have the proof to back it up!" Kim shouted so loudly that Drakken tripped over his own boots and fell to the deck on his back.
"Again, my apologies." Drakken said as he stood and tried to dust off his blue uniform.
"Sergeant!" one of the soldiers said as he marched up to him.
"What is it, private?"
"We found him, sir. He was hiding in the cargo hold." The soldier reported.
"Excellent! This time, make sure he stays in his cell!" the sergeant said as his men brought the man back to the deck, kicking and screaming.
"I haven't done anything wrong! I was just trying to teach children about democracy!" the man shouted.
"Tell it to the Alcalde when we return." Drakken said with a smug grin as he followed his soldiers off the boat.
Ron was about to follow, but Kim grabbed his hand tightly to keep him on the ship. She knew if he just tried to barge in, they would either arrest him or kill him. The last thing she needed was to loose another person that was so close to him. She held onto his hand tightly and didn't let go until the soldiers had ridden out of sight.
"DAMN IT!" Ron shouted. "I was so sure I had out run them! I was sure of it!" Ron said.
"Ron, it's okay. You did your best." Kim said to him.
"Nice move, by the way. The trick you did with Drakken's arm and all." He said.
"I learned a few things in Madrid. When was someone like that made a sergeant?" she asked her friend.
"Since the new governor appointed the Alcalde in charge of Los Angeles." Ron said.
"Senor Stoppable." The captain said as he approached them and gave Ron his watch back. "The young woman has decided not to sail without her husband. So there is no need for me to keep this."
"Gracias." Ron said as he pocketed the watch. "Ready to head home, Kim?" Ron asked her.
"Yes, I am." She said as they both exited from the ship.
The landscape was as beautiful as Kim had remembered. The lush colors blended together in a vision of beauty that some could only dream of, and the scent of Romania floated through the air with the scents of so many of the other flowers in bloom. But one thing was still weighing heavily on her mind, and she had to ask it.
"Ron?" Kim asked as they traveled down the dirt road.
"Yeah, KP?" he asked her as he kept his eyes and the wagon on the road.
"What happened to my mother? All I heard was that she fell ill before she died." Kim said
"Fell ill my foot." Ron mumbled.
"Ron, what happened?" she asked him.
"Your father said she had fallen ill so he wouldn't upset you. The truth is that your mother was stabbed." Ron said.
"What?" Kim asked, shocked at what had come out of her friend's mouth.
"Your father and she had an argument about something, and she went to ride her horse to try and calm down. When she didn't return, we all started to get worried. Your father, me, and two others set out to look for her. We found her on the side of the road, with a stab wound to her stomach. She was also unconscious; it looked like she had hit her head when she had fallen. We tried to nurse her back to health, but the wound was infected and she never woke up. She passed away a few days later." Ron told her.
Kim just sat in shock and bewilderment as her mind processed what she had been told. She still couldn't believe it. It was hard when she had heard she had died, but to find out that she had basically been murdered was even harder for her to accept.
"Ron, what's happened to Los Angeles while I've been gone?" Kim asked, mostly to herself.
"The Alcalde." Ron grumbled. "Your father can explain everything when we get back. Speaking of which." Ron said, making Kim glance up. For the first time on her entire trip home, she smiled at what she saw. It was a large, beautifully crafted Spanish hacienda that sat on top of a hillside. Below the house on the steep hillside was a waterfall that flowed down into a rock bottom creek that made the water crystal clear. You could even see the fish that swam in it. Even thought it wouldn't be the same, it was still the one place she loved the most. Home.
