Chapter 1: Role Model To Pariah! The Fallen Heroine!
"Welcome back to the Shelly Early show!" A fairly attractive blonde woman greeted with a smile, seated at a black metallic table. "Now there have been talks all around the world about one simple subject. Two words: Kim Possible! As you've might've heard, Kim Possible has been revealed to be one of those Mu-Type thingies that keeps being talked about. But does that make her any less of a hero? With me to discuss this matter is the panel for today! From "The Twist Zone", is Will O'Shaney!
The audience cheers as a long-haired middle-aged man nodded in acknowledgement as Shelly continued, "Next, from the new movie opening in theaters on the 28th 'O.C.' Brad Winters!"
A lean, yet well-built young man gave a fist pump as Shelly proceeded, "And last but not least, we have author, actress, and motivational speaker, Trisha Banks!"
A fairly-young woman smiled with a wave as Shelly took her seat at the end of the round table. "Alright guys, now we all know all of what Kim Possible has done over the years. Helping others throughout the world, participating in various charities! And then this comes out!"
"I don't know what to say, Shelly." Brad states, "I mean Kim Possible, one of those Mu-Types we've been hearing about lately? I mean, yeah I've known Kim ever since she gave us a hand as an extra on the set. But I'm not sure if I can support her on this!"
Trisha rolled her eyes, "Oh c'mon Brad! This is Kim we're talking about here! Kim would never do anything like that!"
"Oh how young and naïve you are…" Will shook his head, "Isn't it obvious? Kim obviously supports Alexander Xanthos' avocation of Mu-Type Supremacy! I mean lord only knows when all the Mu-Types are going to attack and enslave all of us!"
Shelly blinked, "Aren't you going to be a bit hasty about this?"
"We're talking about a group that contains a person who could choke anyone or slam them through the wall just by use of hair alone, and another who can turn his body into diamonds. Have you been to Newport? The whole place is full of 'em! Do you really want to take that risk?"
"I know this call for major consideration, but this is Kim Possible we're talking about!"
"Exactly! We were all fooled by her Girl Next Door charms and charity. We all thought of her as the girl who could do anything! Only to find that she's just another one of the menace known as Mu-Types!"
"Still doesn't change the fact that she's used her powers for good," Brad reminded.
Will scoffed it off, "While there may be a few good apples – and I emphasize few – the fact remains that Mu-Types are a threat. With all things considered, especially the fact that she gave him the chemicals that caused that explosion in the first place. Kim Possible and Alexander Xanthos are of one of the same cloth! Both are threats to humanity and need to be dealt with immediately! That goes for all the other Mu-Types out there! Until a permanent solution is found, all Mu-Types-and I do mean ALL of them-are a danger to us all!"
"Did I ever make a difference?" Shutting off the TV, Kim let out a deep sigh. This was another long line of shows that placed her heroism into question. How long has it been since word got out of her involvement with Alexander Xanthos? Though while the charges have been dropped when it was explained that she was fooled and manipulated, the damage had already been done.
Reputation among the public was very similar to that of her peers at school. No, it was even harsher than high school! At least you only had to deal with those people for four years and aside from class reunions, most of those people you'd never have to see again. Within the public, it was on a grander scale! The whole aspect of your life wasn't restricted to just a small group of people, it was displayed throughout the whole world. Being a regular person who happens to become famous or at least a hot commodity was one thing. They would have their 15 minutes of fame before fading to obscurity. If it was out of infamy, it would be the longest 15 minutes one would have to endure. However, when one was a celebrity, anything and everything could and would be held against you, even after a few years have passed and the incident in question was no longer relevant. Unfortunately for Kim Possible, she was among the latter…
It was supposed to be so simple, so clear cut: X was obviously the bag guy working for Helix. It explained his breaking into Middleton Labs. It made perfect sense! And Dr. Burgess was supposed to be the one who really had the people's best interests at heart. The one who really had the antidote to this Mu-Type nightmare! Perhaps that was her downfall. She only saw things through black and white, quickly believing the guy in the mask dressed in black was the evil one while blindly believing the words of a friendly face. She should've known something was up when she not only considered the idea of drugging someone, but actually going through with it. Either it was some sort of mind manipulation on Bur… Xanthos' part, or was she really…
Kim shook her head. She couldn't have been that willing to do what she did, even if it was for the greater good, could she? And that wasn't getting to the worse part of it all: The number of lives that were lost that day when the warehouse exploded… Who knew how many were there. Hell, even being around the area was dangerous enough to risk lives. It was a miracle the Ra Celsius managed to escape in time.
"Are you still watching that, Kimmie-Cub?"
Sighing, "I'm so not in the mood, Dad."
James took a seat at the table next to his daughter. "Beating yourself up over this isn't going to erase what has happened. And watching dribble like this isn't going to help you, either."
"I know Dad, it's just…" She shook her head, "How could I have been so foolish? All I wanted was to help people, to solve this Mu-Type mess! And now look where it got me!"
"Kim, I know what you did was making a big mistake. B-"
"'Making a big mistake' is putting it mildly! I ended up ruining Bonnie's life to the point where she left for god knows where! I basically gave a known Mu-Type Supremacist what he needed to basically commit genocide! Marcella, Liz, Crystal, and Bonnie probably still hate me… It's like every time I try to help, I make things worse."
James saw the downed form of his daughter. He wanted to help her as much as he could to get her through this. He knew from the moment she started doing missions that she would have a lot on her plate. Juggling crime-fighting and school, and not to mention her social life was hard enough as it was. It didn't help that her friends were nowhere to be found. With Ron overseas and Monique out of town for the holidays, Kim was all alone. Her life was already a difficult one, given her responsibilities. But this? This was too much… "Kim…"
"They won't forgive me…" James could have sworn he heard sobs come from her. "They'll never forgive me. All they see me now as just another Mu-Type to be afraid of!"
"Some people do. But those who you've helped over the years? All the people who known you and seen you for the wonderful person that you are? You are still Kim Possible, the girl who can do anything, and they'll always be there to support you."
"The hate mail I've been receiving says differently." Kim looked towards her father. Small tear stains were visible on her cheeks. "I betrayed them… They all believe that I betrayed them and I don't blame them."
"Kim…"
"If I can't trust myself to do the right thing, then why should anyone else? Face it Dad, there's probably more Mu-Types running around due to the Xenocide explosion. And it's my fault…"
James placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "No Kim… It's mine…"
Kim blinked, "W-what? Dad, what are you talking about! You had nothing to do with this!"
"No Kim, I have everything to do with this! You being a Mu-Type! I should have done another checkup on the Hoverjet before the demonstration. During the time it was brought out from the hangar, someone could've snuck aboard and planted a drum within the thrusters. Time was running short and the Board of Directors was getting impatient. But even without those factors, I was just so damn sure that it would go without a hitch. That the presentation would've been perfect! We would've gotten the grant, the hoverjet would've been mass produced, and we all would receive a high payday! If I would've taken that extra precaution, the explosion would never have happened and you wouldn't be in this situation. I was so arrogant back then. So sure that the demonstration would be a success! And look where it got me. That incident stuck with me for so long I thought my career would never recover. And with your mother just finishing up Med school, this incident couldn't have come at a worse time."
"But Dad, there's no way you could've known. That jet was under heavy security up to the date of the presentation!"
"And yet someone still managed to break in and sabotage the presentation. The fact that it was Drew Lipsky makes it worse. Both professionally and personally."
"Yeah… But it is pretty ironic." A small smile formed on the redhead's face. Drakken may have almost succeeded in ruining her dad's career, but he also inadvertently created the one person who always stood in his way.
Kim's smile did not go unnoticed, "See, that cheered you up a bit."
"Yeah I guess… Drakken always was for a good laugh. Still, that doesn't do anything for my original problem…"
"Look Kim, I'm sure that you'll get through this. We'll all get through this, somehow…"
"Dad, I already had to shut down my website because of this backlash." It was one of the hardest things Kim had to do. The purpose of the website was to let people who needed help contact her. And with being her webmaster, Wade was to inform her of such contacts. But since the explosion, she has received tons of hate mail. Weather if it was shock and outrage of her actions, disappointment from the adults whose daughters (and some of their sons) looked up to her and how she betrayed them, and a few yet obvious trolling attempts. It got to the point where even Wade couldn't handle it anymore. And though it hurt him, Kim decided that her website would be closing its doors, indefinitely. Might as well been permanent, given how long this backlash may last…
"Just think this over before you do anything else. Despite all that has happened, there are those out there who still need your help."
"I really doubt that." She sighed, "Team Impossible's probably having a field day…" At the sound of a doorbell ringing, Kim rolled her eyes, "So not in the mood to deal with the press…"
"I'll handle this Kim," James walked towards the door. If there was one camera waiting outside, lawsuits be damned, heads were going to roll. It was bad enough his Kimmy-Cub was made into a pariah, but into a media circus as well? That was where he drew the line. Upon turning the knob, the door opened only to find a visitor he was not expecting. "Oh hello, young lady? Can I help you?"
The young lady in question stood tall wearing a pixie scouts uniform of orange and white. Obviously she shouldn't be older than ten. Beneath those red bangs laid worried eyes. "Hello Mister, is this where Kim Possible lives?"
James' eyes widened at the question. What would a little girl want with Kim? Unless… "Kim, could you come here for a moment please?"
"Be right there, Dad!" She answered as James turned his attention back to the little girl. Perhaps she was the thing Kim needed to get back on her feet.
Within moments, Kim came to the door, to see the girl who was waiting for her. "Hi sweetie! Is there something I can help you with?" She was taken a bit off guard as she felt a small embrace from the smaller girl. "…Is something wrong?"
"I…I thought you were gone forever…" She said, "I tried to get on the website, but nothing was there! I've also heard mean things about you. Saying that you were one of the bad guys! It's not true, is it?"
Kim could see the fear and heartbreak in her eyes. She didn't need to be a rocket scientist to know that this girl looked up to her, saw her as a role model. She looked down at her as she smiled, "No of course not! I'm one of the good guys!" Seeing the smile on the child's face, she placed a hand on her should, "Now, is there anything I can do to help you?"
Watching his daughter walk off with the girl, James couldn't help but feel proud. This was just the thing Kim needed. For one, it showed that despite the big change in opinion of her, there were still those who needed her and even looked up to her. And two, Kim was back to doing what she loved the most: Helping people. If she kept doing smaller gigs such as these, she could build up some goodwill. Who knows, maybe perhaps the public could learn to trust her again, and even then they may actually like her again…
Next Chapter: Tara thinks about Bonnie's departure as well as the power within herself.
Chapter 2: Missing A Friend! The Great Power!