Disclaimer: I do not own "Kim Possible" or its characters. They are property of the Walt Disney Company and its affiliates.
"Candlelight"
By TwilightSparkle3562
Chapter 1
"Disconnected From God"
A lot had certainly happened since I had become accepted into the world of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. I, Kim Possible, was nearly completing the eight years I needed to achieve my goal of obtaining my doctorate in Global Studies. All I ever wanted to be a teacher, a mentor to today's current generation of young Global Justice agents. Yes, I was no longer going out on missions with my boyfriend, Ron Stoppable, but that wasn't going to stop me from doing what I love. With all of my enemies either in jail, reformed like my archenemies Dr. Drakken and Shego or on the run, there really wasn't anything for me to do from my perspective per say.
But regardless, being with Global Justice was the best part of my life since well…anything, and I wouldn't give it up for anything else in the world. I still wanted to contribute to the cause of trying to protect the world not just from some wannabe villains wanting world domination, but because of real world dangers that were starting to become more and more noticeable.
But in order to do all of that, I was required by my boss, Dr. Betty Director, to have a doctorate in Global Studies and that was already becoming more of a blessing than a curse. The demands of obtaining this goal was beginning to get to me and this is where this story really gets its start. For you see, there was a time that I needed to be at the Happiest Place on Earth in order to reconnect myself with my lord and master.
…
It all started back in the summer of 2014, where I had just finished the third year of my doctorate program at Brown University. Ron and I were living together in a really nice townhouse not far from Brown University's main campus. In fact, we were right next door to the famous Moses Brown School on Lloyd Avenue. Ron and I both had jobs at Providence Place Mall to support ourselves until I got the doctorate that would give me the job that I so desired. I worked with my girlfriend, Monique in the women's department at Nordstrom's while Ron was working over at Newbury Comics.
But, there was something inside of me that was missing and it was not because I needed a new paying job to pay the bills.
"Kim, I've been a little worried about you," said Ron as we drove home from our respective jobs one summer's night. "I don't know, you've been very distant to say the least. Care to tell me what it is?"
Normally, I wouldn't want to get personal with anyone, even Ron Stoppable, the man that I truly love. However, I couldn't hold it in forever.
"Well, it's just that I feel as if," I sighed, turning over to Ron. "That God and I have distanced from each other. I know you are not a Catholic, Ron, but you know what I am talking about, don't you?"
"In a sense," remarked Ron, shrugging his shoulders as we drove past Kennedy Plaza. "But, I can't give you the proper answer, KP. I don't do what you do and that kind of makes it difficult to help you. However, I will say that maybe you need to talk to that priest at La Salette Shrine."
Ron had a very decent point to get across to me. He knew that talking to a priest was the only best therapy for me, just as he would talk to a rabbi. Still, I had my reservations about everything.
"If he is available to talk," I advised. "And I need to be available on my end, Ron. But, with the summer rush coming, it makes it impossible to become available."
"So what if there is a summer rush?" suggested Ron. "When I see a beautiful young woman in despair like you, KP, I go for putting whatever we need to do aside and focusing on the immediate task at hand. They can wait, but ending the despair that we all have cannot."
…
Soon, we arrived back at our townhouse in back of Moses Brown and got inside to settle down after a long work day. Sliding off my black suit jacket and black low heel sandals, I collapsed onto the couch as my bare feet touched the soft carpeted floor.
"Actually, KP," suggested Ron as he got himself a bottle of soda. "There has been something that I have been meaning to talk to you about."
"What's that?" I asked as Ron sat down next to me.
"Remember how we talked about attending the Candlelight Processional at Disneyland?" answered Ron, handing me a Disneyland pamphlet that had the processional advertised from a few years back. "Everybody should go to it at least once in their lives. Yes, it's the story of JC's birth, but I think it would do both of us good, especially good. Heck, nothing would make me happier than to see you narrate the story at the happiest place on earth."
My eyes widened at this remark that Ron had made. How could I, just an ordinary young woman who saved the world dozens of times, be even considered to host such an important tradition like the Disneyland Candlelight Processional?
"In your dreams," I said, nudging Ron in the stomach. "Why would Disney even consider me for being a narrator when I am not even a film celebrity? They aim for screen personas and I am not a screen persona."
"There's a first time for everything, KP," suggested Ron. "You are not as famous as you ought to be, but I would still at least try it out and hope for the best. I am saying this with love, KP, but it will do you some good if you are disconnected with God and there is no better time to get reacquainted than during the holidays."
I hoped Ron was right, but there was no doubt in my mind that there was always a chance for God to turn me away. Yes, I went through all the requirements of being a Catholic: baptism, confession, first communion, confirmation, etc., but those requirements were often times not enough.
"If I would be willing to open myself up to him again," I remarked getting to my feet and removing the dark blue scarf I had around my neck. "Ron, there's something that you need to understand about the relationship between God and I."
Ron rose up from the sofa with a worried look on his face as he advanced towards me. He had seen me worried plenty of times, but this was something completely different.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, putting his hand on my right shoulder. "Care to tell me what it is?"
I turned back to Ron and gave him a small glare, as if he was thinking that I wanted to end our relationship right then and there. The sharp glare caused him to step back in shock and surprise.
"Oh, sorry, Ron," I corrected myself. "I didn't mean to scare you like that. It's just that I feel as if God failed to protect me a few times."
"What do you mean?" he asked. "What are you talking about?"
Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I walked out onto the deck of our townhouse and sat down on a lawn chair as Ron followed me outside.
"I was thinking about what happened when we had our first date," I explained. "You know, when Eric came back for revenge against us and he tried to peel me like a carrot?"
The memories of that fateful night were coming back to haunt me and I could still remember him ripping off the left strap of my sleeveless navy blue dress and saying that he was going to undress me right then and there. Had it not been for our jack-of-all-trades teacher, Mr. Steve Barkin, I would have suffered much worse.
"Yeah, I'm glad he's out of the picture," remarked Ron. "But, I can't help but wonder why you wouldn't talk to a priest about this sooner, Kim? You can't keep your back turned on God forever, you know. If I were you, I'd pay whoever is available a visit and perhaps get the best advice you can get. Who knows? Maybe attending the Processional this December might do you some good. It will help you reconnect."
I had to take Ron's words to heart as we went to bed that night. A lot had certainly happened in the years since I had graduated from Middleton High and we fought our last battle against the Lowardians when they invaded Middleton. Perhaps maybe I had not fully forgiven God for the alien invasion as well, but I kept it hidden from Ron as the events with Eric were still fresh in my mind, even though it's been almost ten years since that fateful night.
…
The next morning, I got up and after throwing on a clean yellow dress shirt and a brown skirt, I went into work still thinking about what Ron had said to me about the Processional helping me to reconnect. Little did I know that God had plans to bring me and the Disneyland Candlelight Processional together…