Chapter 2: The Death of Team Possible
Kim sat impatiently on her bed, kicking her legs nervously, while staring at the phone expectantly. She blinked a few seconds for she grabbed it and pressed her speed dial.
"Hello?" Mrs. Stoppable spoke on the other line.
"Hi, Mrs. S. has …" Kim started but was cut off by Mrs. Stoppable's sigh.
"No, Kimberly, as I said not three minutes ago, Ron hasn't gotten in yet." Mrs. Stoppable sighed agitatedly.
Kim hung up the phone and laid back on her bed limply. "Ron …" She whimpered throwing her arm over her eyes.
Kim laid there for a few minutes and started to reach for the phone again to call Ron's house again when her Kimmunicator started beeping. She grabbed the device quickly and watched as Wade's chubby face came on the small screen. "What's the sitch, Wade? Have you found Ron yet?"
"For the umpteenth time, I haven't found Ron. His signal's all fuzzy for some reason. Like he's everywhere … yet … no where …" Wade said drawing off in thought, while rubbing his chin. "As for the sitch, the legion of goofball evil has reared its ugly heads again."
"Hook me up with a ride, Wade, I'll give Ron a call and we'll …" She stopped suddenly in realization and had to pause to try to calm her now trembling lip, "Probably take this one solo then…" she finished softly.
"On its way, Kim," Wade nodded, "And don't worry. Things will work out." He said consolingly before the screen faded out.
---
"Alright," Kim said as she eased down the open window into the same museum that the villains broke into earlier that morning. "Heard of criminals returning to the scene of the crime but this is ridiculous."
"Well, well, well, what have we here guys?" Shego's voice chimed in the shadows.
"Indeed, we can test out our new abilities," Monkey Fist agreed from another shadow on the other side of the museum floor.
"Oh how grand it will be to watch Kim Possible fall out our hands!" Drakken squealed from behind her followed by Motor Ed making electric guitar sounds.
"I've heard the wind blow before," Kim smirked taking a fighting stance. "Bring it on if you think you can top me a-" Kim was cut off when she doubled over by a hard hit to her ribs. She could taste a coppery fluid start to bubble up her throat, and when she opened her eyes to see Shego and the other villains surrounding her. When her vision cleared and she could make out their altered appearance she did the only thing she could do: scream.
---
"I have summoned you for a very important reason," Zordon stated seriously, "There is a job that must be accomplished. And this can only be accomplished by you five."
"Why didn't you call lil miss hero Possible?" Bonnie snorted at Zordon, "You got her blundering sidekick, what good are we going to do?"
"Have any of you heard of a group of young heroes by the title of Power Rangers?" Zordon asked, a smirk playing slightly on his lips.
"Yeah, they show up every so often with multicolored costumes and robots and fight off bad guys," Josh answered, scratching his chin, "Haven't seen any since the Reefside accident a few years ago."
"There hasn't been a need for a team of Rangers since that time," Zordon stated, "But now, as you put it Josh, a new bad guy has come and requires a new team of Power Rangers to rise to their challenge."
"I'm sure Kim and Ron can handle whatever it is," Zita said confidently, "They've saved the world more then a couple times."
"I fear this is beyond Kim Possible's reach," Zordon sighed, before looking over the five teens, "You five must rise up and meet this enemy."
"Um … us?" Brick stuttered, "Dude, um Ron's in the hero stuff but … we're not Power Rangers."
"Yet." Zordon added, "Alpha-7, release the Power."
The five pillars began to glow and a beam of energy flew toward the five teams, different color hitting a different teen. When the flash of light settled a mechanical device with a coin in the center appeared on their wrists.
Zita looked down at her orange trimmed design, "Zita, graceful, bright, and full of hope, as the Orange Ranger the power of the Phoenix is yours." Zordon said before turning to Josh.
"Josh," Zordon stated, as he looked at his blue trimmed devise, "Wise and patient, as the Blue Ranger the power of the Panther is yours."
He then glanced at Brick who was fiddling with his black trimmed devise, "Brick, steady, strong and reliable. As the Black Ranger the power of the Tortoise is yours."
Zordon focused then on Bonnie and her yellow devise, "Bonnie, cunning and determined, as the Yellow Ranger the power of the serpent is yours."
He finally focused on Ron, "And you, Ron," Zordon smiled at the unsure young man, "Gentle and kind, yet fiercely protective of those in whom you care for, as the Red Ranger the power of the Gorilla is yours to command."
"A monkey …" Ron sighed, looking down at the Gorilla Power Coin, "Why always a monkey …"
"That's all well and good, Mr. Wizard," Bonnie shrugged, "But I think I'll just pass."
"You are not forced to do anything you do not wish to, Bonnie," Zordon stated, "But our enemy, Shiva, she was created for the sole purpose of bring an end to everything, while mine was to prevent this. Should she succeed, all life will end. You can help stop this. If she is not stopped, she will destroy the world, and soon … quite possibly before your brother's eye sight has been repaired."
Bonnie froze from where she was walking toward the exit and stiffened before turning quickly. "How did you? … No one outside my family and my close friends knows about Bobby's accident!"
"Accident?" Ron blinked in surprise.
"Bonnie's little brother," Josh whispered to Ron and the other confused teens, "He's three years younger then her and worships the ground she walks on. Last year, he was in a bike accident riding his dirt bike, hit his head hard, damaged some of his nerves, the ones that relay eyesight … they say it's treatable, but will take several surgeries to get his vision back."
"Ooooh, ok …" Brick slurred, nodding in understanding.
"How do you know that?" Zita asked, quirking an eyebrow at the spiky haired artist.
"Me and Bon have been practically brother and sister since we were four," Josh stated, watching as Bonnie ignored them all to yell obscenities at the floating head. "She's mellowed a lot …"
Once Bonnie's line of curses and put downs ended, Zordon looked down at her expectantly. "So, are you in?"
"Yes, but let me make this clear, I'm only doing this to make sure my little brother stays ok, got me?" Bonnie sneered.
"That is fine," Zordon nodded before looking at the others. "How about all of you?"
Zita looked around at the others, "Sounds like fun, like one of my RPGs, only no reset button, right?"
"Last week was my last football game of my high school career," Brick rubbed his chin, "not like I've got anything better to do."
"If Bon's in, I might as well stick around to keep her out of trouble," Josh stated, giving a wink to the still fuming cheerleader.
"What about you, Ron?" Zordon asked, looking toward the last member.
"I think it would be better off without me," Ron said quietly, "I'll just mess everything up and get in all of your way."
"Who in the world put those loco ideas in your head, Ron?" Zita asked forcefully.
Ron was silent for a moment, "Doesn't matter, it's the truth." He then glanced at the spherical monitor, and gasped at the image that just flashed. "KP!"
Ron's brown eyes filled with panic as he watched his best friend, or ex-best friend, being held up and beaten by a demonic versions of their own rogue gallery. "That's … those are the guys we fought with all the time, but … what happened to them?"
"It seems Shiva has recruited her generals, and is sent them to attempt to release her armies," Zordon stated, "You must go there and stop them, thus saving your friend."
Bonnie snorted 'she's no friend of mine' but the others nodded. "So how do I … we get there, that's gotta be the museum in Upperton!" Ron asked in a panic.
"Once you morph, Alpha will teleport you five to that location," Zordon stated, "I believe the power has given you the knowledge of how to activate and use it. Stop Shiva's generals and make sure she does not release her army. May the Power protect you."
Ron looked around to see the others looking at him expectantly. "What?"
"Hey, we're still new to this, Ron," Zita nodded, "you've been at this hero stuff longer then we have. You lead the way."
"OK …" Ron gulped, before stating loudly a phrase that brought back many memories to Zordon.
"It's Morphin' Time!"
"Black Ranger Power up: Tortoise!"
"Yellow Ranger Power up: Serpent!"
"Blue Ranger Power up: Panther!"
"Orange Ranger Power up: Phoenix!"
"Red Ranger Power up: Gorilla!"
---
Kim tried to crawl away, but screamed when Shego's burning hands scalded her ankle, before whipping her in the air crashing through a glass display and hitting the hard floor on the other side with a thud. "What do you think of the new look, Kimmie?" Shego asked, giving the girl a fangy smile.
Shego towered over her, she was in green and black, skin-tight body armor, her burning green hands were sharpened into claws, and her facial features were changed with glowing red eyes, pointed ears, and sharp fangs in place of her teeth. "Awe… your bleeding all over the place, Kimmie!" Shego laughed, as the villains surrounded the teen hero, each have undertook the same changes as the green skinned woman.
Kim glanced down at her ripped mission shirt and several bleeding cuts and bruises. "What happened to you?" Kim said pulling herself back to her feet, "If you think some fancy new powers are going to help you take me out, you've got another thing coming!"
Shego simply backhanded the girl sending her spiraling to the ground. "I've wanted to see you crawl on your belly like the pathetic little spoiled girl you are for so long, Kimmie," Shego smiled down at Kim who was struggling to catch her breath.
"Well," Shego sighed intensifying her blazing hands, "It's been fun, Kimmie, ol' girl, but … it's time to die." The green skinned, demonic woman reared back to slash at the girl, but a thick, yellow cord whipped out and wrapped around her wrist.
"That's not a very nice thing to do, Mrs. Green Giant."
Kim glanced up to see a girl in skin tight yellow body armor with a white diamond shape on her chest and a large coin-like serpent symbol in the center, and a full yellow helmet in the shape of a serpent's head, its mouth being a large black visor and a large silver face cover over the girl's mouth. "How Ironic, you being rescued by me," the yellow heroine chuckled.
"Who the heck are you?" Drakken asked, blinking his red eyes at the girl, only to be kicked in the face by a guy in a blue version of the girl's suit only a large cat or panther theme to his blue helmet and symbol.
"We're the Power Rangers," Another girl in an orange suit and bird-shaped helmet said proudly. Pulling an arrow from the quiver on her back and materializing a long bow in her hand.
"Of the Mighty Morphin' variety," A larger, more built figure, in a black uniform and tortoise themed helmet, said confidently.
"You have two options," A fifth figure, this time in a red gorilla themed armor, "Option A, you guys get out of here. Option B is we make you." He warned, extending two blades backwards from his gantlets, and then spinning them forward as broad swords.
"I'd like to see you try Option B," the demonic Monkey Fist smirked egotistically.
"You should have picked Option A …" The Red Ranger narrowed his eyes behind his visor, before glancing at the barely standing Kim Possible, "Orange Ranger, see to Possible, the rest of us will take these guys down."
The four Rangers ran into combat while the Orange Ranger quickly leapt to Kim's side, and fired an arrow at the approaching mutated Duff Killagan, pinning him to a statue by the sash of his kilt. "Oy, Lass, let me go! The naked stone laddie's pecker's poking me neck!"
"Need to work on my aim," Orange Ranger shrugged before helping Kim down. "Hey, relax Chica, the Calvary's here." The Ranger looked over the redhead's wounded body, "Boy they did a number on you, hold on …" She said placing her hand, which was now glowing orange over Kim's chest, "This might burn a little but it'll help.
Kim blinked in a dazed confusion before she whimpered as a burning heat surged her body, causing her cuts to close and her bruises to heal. "How … how did you do that?" Kim asked looking up at the reflective visor of the Orange Power Ranger.
"Trade secret, chica," the Ranger shrugged.
-
"So you're the Power Rangers Lady Shiva told us about," Drakken smirked as he stood before the Blue Ranger. "Yeah, you think you're all that, but ya know what? YOU'RE NOT! We're all that, so there!"
"Is he serious?" the Blue Ranger asked glancing around at the other Rangers in combat. The Red Ranger nodded dodging a pounce from Monkey Fist, earning a sigh from the Blue Ranger. "Alrighty then, Let me guess, this Shiva character gave you super powers, but didn't do jack to that head of yours."
Drakken blinked in confusion, "Never mind, let's just get this over with," the Ranger sighed drawing a blue clawed short-staff. He then grabbed both clawed ends and pulled them apart leaving a thin wire holding them together. He began spinning the clawed chucks around his body, mesmerizing the demonic mad scientist, before popping him right between the eyes with his free fist sending him down to the floor and to unconsciousness. "Oh give me a break." The Ranger said turning his back to join the others.
-
"You're pretty tough, Blackie," Motor Ed groaned as he increased the pressure on the Black Ranger's fist as they continued to push and shove on each other like a pair of bulls. "Seriously."
"Yeah, you're not bad yourself," the Black Ranger replied, "But seriously, don't call me Blackie, or I'll do something you won't like."
"Oh seriously? Like what, Blackie?" Motor Ed chuckled.
"Ok, you asked for it," The Black Ranger shoved the mullet haired mutant backwards.
Motor Ed shook his head clearing it, before hearing the call of "SPEAR!" he looked up to see the Black Ranger barreling towards him, with his upper body lowered. All the air in Motor Ed's body left through his mouth violently as the Black Ranger's shoulder rammed roughly into his sternum and belly, sending him to the ground with a thud. "JACKHAMMER TIME!" The Ranger shouted, jerking the wheezing villain up, shoving his head under the Ranger's arm, and pointed to the air, looking around the room as if an audience was watching.
The Black Ranger lifted the mechanic by the waistband of his pants and held him perpendicular to the ground, then began to spin around in circles, before slamming the psycho to the hard ground with a sickening thunk.
The Black Ranger jumped back to his feet, "Aright, who's next?" He growled, glancing around the museum.
"Nice job, mi Amigo," The Orange Ranger said patting the big man on the shoulder, making the new hero thankful for the full helmet hiding his sudden blush.
-
"So you're the bitch who keeps giving Kimmie hell?" The Yellow Ranger asked, as she back-flipped away to dodge one of Shego's pounces. "This is for giving her all that trouble through the years," the Ranger snapped, moving in to barely tap Shego's cheek with her palm.
"Now, that that's out of the way …" The Yellow Ranger cleared her throat, "This … is for beating her up just now." She said before slugging Shego right in the jaw. "Not that I care or anything, or that I consider her or that loser friend of hers friends or anything," She continued, bringing her knee up hard to Shego's chin, "I just gotta prove that I'm the better girl before she goes six foot under, once that's over with you can do what you want." She said grabbing Shego by the hair, and slamming her face into her yellow armored thigh.
Shego stumbled back, and tried to shake the cobwebs from her mind, before the Yellow Ranger's whip shot out and wrapped around her shoulders and arms, "Did I say you could leave yet?" The Yellow Ranger asked cockily, "GET OVER HERE!"
Last thing Shego saw was herself flying toward a yellow fist then bright white light. "Kim made it look so easy … and it was," Yellow Ranger snorted before turning her back on her KO'ed opponent.
-
Monkey Fist barely dodged the Red Ranger slashes by flipping away from his precise slashes and jabs. "That's certainly fair, isn't Red Ranger?" Monkey Fist stated, staring at the twin blades in the Ranger's hands.
"Funny," the Red Ranger growled, "five on one really doesn't seem fair either."
"We didn't make her get in our way," Monkey Fist stated, before blinking, studying the Ranger's fighting stance, "Are you who I believe you are?"
"You want a fair fight, fine," The Ranger said quickly replacing his swords, and taking another fighting stance.
"Fine, but it explains a lot if you are," Monkey Fist grinned, "Only Stoppable would come running to his mistress like a lap dog like this. Am I right?"
"Shut. Up!" Red Ranger growled, kicking at Monkey Fist wildly.
"It was fun, Stoppable, if that is you under that helmet," Monkey Fist grinned dodging a series of wild punches and kicks. "Hearing Possible scream, and even gurgle a little when the blood rose in her throat."
The Ranger took a deep breath, stood back, and once he found his center took a defensive stance.
This took the mutated Monkey Master by surprise.
The Red Ranger made a move toward Monkey Fist, but faked to the left, and kicked him in the right side of the jaw before going into a series of punches to the chest finishing with an uppercut sending the martial artist flying backwards. "Are you referring to that loser sidekick that used to run around with her, Stoppable his name? Don't think the papers ever gave his name. Do you really believe an idiot like that could be a Power Ranger?"
Monkey Fist hopped back to his feet and took a more defensive stance. "Perhaps … just perhaps I was mistaken …" He narrowed his eyes on the Ranger. "But should you not that makes thing much easier, for no matter what power you have, it pales in comparison to the combination of the Mystical Monkey Power and the omnipotent power of Lady Shiva!" He yelled, diving at the Power Ranger.
The Red Ranger was prepared though, and caught him by his fist and rolled back with him, sending the monkey man flying through the air into a unforgiving brick pillar. "Have a nice nap," the Ranger said seeing the unconscious pile on the floor that was Monkey Fist.
-
"That was it?" the Yellow Ranger snorted, as the Rangers regrouped. "Don't see why Ms. Hero couldn't handle those losers."
"Hey, back off. Somethin isn't kosher with the chica," The Orange Ranger stated, glancing back at the redhead who was sitting in the corner with her knees pulled to her chest. She then glanced at the Red Ranger who was looking away from where Kim was seated. The Orange Ranger then moved closer to him and said softly where Kim couldn't over hear. "Maybe you can go and change out of that and see what's up with your best amigo."
"Amigo's friend right?" The Red Ranger asked somewhat coldly, unsure of his Spanish. "Best friend then huh?" he asked, and the Orange Ranger nodded, "Sorry, don't have one. We better get back and report to the floating head."
The four other rangers snapped their heads toward Ron at that, up until now, mention best friend to the Red Ranger, and the response would always be KP. "I don't understand, I thought you and Kimmie, were, ya know, tight?" The Yellow Ranger nodded in more then a bit of confusion.
"Funny that," The Red Ranger said before touching his belt, and disappearing in a pillar of red.
"That … was weird …" The Black Ranger said slowly, "Well… he's the boss I guess …" he said before following the Red Ranger's lead, and teleported.
The Yellow Ranger shrugged and teleported as well leaving the Blue and Orange Rangers behind.
"Go on, I'll make sure she's ok," the Orange Ranger said, and the Blue Ranger reluctantly teleported away.
The Orange Ranger turned toward the girl in the corner and made her way toward her. Once she was before the redhead she squatted down in front of her, "Hey, you ok?"
"I lost …" Kim mumbled.
"Hey, they had you outnumbered and they were super powered," The Orange Ranger said consolingly.
"No," Kim shook her head, "I lost before I even got here …"
"I don't follow …" the Ranger said carefully, "Wanna talk for a sec?"
"I …" Kim bit her trembling lip, "My head wasn't even in this fight … I … Just a couple hours ago … me and my best friend Ron … he … I was upset and angry because they got away with some goods … Said some things to a friend on the phone. Some things about Ron, some bad things that weren't true at all … she told me it was shit, and I knew it was shit, but I just … I had to spout it, I was angry and frustrated and Ron was an easy target …" Kim paused to choke down a sob, "I don't even know why I'm telling you all this, I don't even know who you are!"
"Hey, Chica, I'm a girl too, incase you didn't notice," the Ranger smiled from behind the faceplate, "Tell the best looking Ranger of this generation what's happened."
"I said some horrible, horrible things about him," Kim sighed giving in and telling the stranger, feeling it was better to give in and tell someone she couldn't see her face then tell her mother or Wade and see the disappointment for her acting like such a bitch. "And when I turned around, still talking on the phone … I saw him. I hurt him … We fought and argued before … but I've never …" She had to pause, "He looked at me like … He looked so hurt … he hates me now, I could see it in his eyes …"
"Forgive me for sounding harsh, Chica, but you seem to have really messed this one up," The Ranger said carefully, "Tell me though, how long and … this Ron been best friends?"
Kim sighed and looked down, "Since Pre-K …"
"That's a long friendship, no?" The Ranger said tilting her head up by her chin, "Probably a strong one too. Have faith, chica, everything works out for the best, takes a lot to kill a friendship like that I believe. So just hang tuff, even if it gets rough, comprende?"
Kim nodded weakly, "Good, now you gonna be ok here?" the Ranger asked standing up.
Kim gave a weak smile, "I'll be ok, thanks."
"Alrighty, hope to see you around, Ms. Possible." The Ranger said before disappearing in a pillar of Orange.
Kim pulled herself up; giving a silent prayer that Ron will forgive her as she walked out of the museum.
---
"Ok, so how are we going to explain this?" Monkey Fist asked as they walked down the newly re-grown forest path.
"I say let Drakken do it," Shego stated, rubbing her sore forehead, "After all he was the first to go down." She said as they entered the stair way in what used to be a large cabin.
"I resent that, he tricked me!" Drakken complained as they walked down into a half caved in lair. The walls were decorated by occasional placement of a symbol: a circle with what looked like a gold dinosaur foot print.
"So came running back with your tails between your legs, huh?" Shiva asked, from her constructed throne in the center of the chamber.
"It wasn't our fault, we didn't know they'd be so tough!" Motor Ed complained, rubbing his sore ribs, "Seriously."
"Losing one fight doesn't lose the war," Shiva waved it off, "I didn't expect you to defeat his champions so easily anyway. Isn't that right, Hayley dear?" The Goddess smiled over at the overturned control chair next to the destroyed computer station, and the skeleton still partly in the chair, with part of the skull shattered.
The Dark Goddess sighed lightly, "Such a horrible way to die: killed by an accident created by your own friends and allies. No wonder the surviving Dino Thunder Power Rangers have such poor sleep even after all this time."
Another figure in a black and gold Power Ranger uniform stepped out of the shadows, surprising the villains. "What do you want?" he asked harshly.
"Ah, you came faster then I expected, thanks for responding to my telepathy." Shiva turned toward the new comer, flashing him a smile, "Welcome, my old friend."
"I'm no friend of yours," he said shortly.
"You were at one time, weren't you?" she smirked knowingly, "I just want to make a deal."
"You've nothing I want. I see I wasted my time coming back here." The Ranger said turning his back and starting to leave.
"What if I can bring them all back?" Shiva asked, motioning her hand toward Hayley's skeletal remains.
"They're dead, there's no coming back." He snapped, showing more emotion then he intended.
"I'm a goddess, I can control those who live and those who die," Shiva explained, smirking as she realized she was winning. "Be my Omni-Ranger, old friend, and what you have lost will return unto you."
The Ranger turned and looked toward the goddess, "So if I follow your orders, I get them back? Right?"
"Absolutely," Shiva nodded, her hands beginning to glow a pale blue.
"Fine, I'm in …" He said, before adding quietly, "Forgive me guys …"
---
The next morning, outside Middleton High School Zita started toward the front, when Brick Josh approached her with Bonnie in tow. "Morning, Partner," Josh greeted in a friendly tone. Brick gave a shy little wave, and Bonnie simply grunted.
"What's up guys?" Zita asked, as they walked toward the school.
"Well, seeing as the big guy said we'd be working together for a while," Josh said in a hushed voice, "We might as well hang out and get to know each other better. After all, if we're going to be allies might as well become friends too, right?"
"Yeah, even you agree, Cheerleader?" Zita smirked at Bonnie, who was folding her arms across her new Club Banana yellow tank top.
"So we got Orange, Yellow, Blue and Black, where's big Red?" Brick asked as they continued down the sidewalk.
"Speak of the loser and he shall appear," Bonnie grumbled nodding forward to see Ron walking ahead of them, and strangely alone.
"Hey, Ron," Josh said as the group caught up to the sulking teen,
"You ok?" Brick asked noticing the strange far away and serious look in the usually smiling happy face that they've known for the few years of High School.
"Yeah, I'm ok …" Ron said in a defeated tone.
"No ya not, Ron," Zita stated firmly to her friend, "What's wrong, are you having second thought about our new night job?"
"No, nothing like that," Ron sighed, as he pulled a chain around his neck, pulling a pendent shaped like half of a heart from under his shirt, "I just know what I'm bout to have to do, and … and I don't want to."
"What?" Zita asked as they walked in and stopped when Ron suddenly ceased movement and stared ahead at the lockers. The other four Rangers looked ahead to see the familiar redhead Kim Possible and her best girl friend Monique standing by Ron's locker. Zita easily noticed Kim looked especially horrified. 'Oh boy, here we go …'
The others stood back and watched as Ron approached the two. Monique glanced up and saw Ron coming. She gave Kim's arm a quick squeeze before disappearing into the crowd but not far enough that she couldn't see what she assumed to be just another make up of the ultimate team.
"Hey Ron," Kim said timidly as her best friend finally stopped before her.
"Kim … I think … I think we need to talk," Ron forced out, avoiding eye contact.
"I know, Ron, I'm really sorry," Kim said quickly, taking his hand in hers and giving it a squeeze, "I was really out of line yesterday, I just … I needed to vent, you were just … I don't know, you were what I lashed out at first. I know that's no excuse, but it's the best I can do and I hope you can forgive me for it. I really had a rough fight last night and I could really use your back up for what ever the freaks are up to now. Maybe we can talk about it over Bueno Nacho after school today. My Tre- … huh?" Kim rambled before coming to a full stop when Ron said something softly that she prayed she heard wrong.
"It was your own words, KP," Ron said, his pet name for her seemed ridden with ice and daggers, "Sorry … just doesn't cut it."
"Ron … I … I don't …" Kim said, her breath quickening and a wave of nausea striking her stomach. "I don't know what else I can do but say I'm sorry … and to apologize …"
"That's just it, Kim," Ron sighed, pulling something from his pocket and placing it in her hand, "you've apologized … but it doesn't help … at all."
Kim looked down at her hand, and found the Kimmunicator, or Ronnunicator, that she had Wade make for him a year earlier, "Ron … what's this mean? I don't … I don't under … understand?"
She looked up into his now cold brown eyes and a felt her breakfast rising in her throat, "Ron? Please …"
"Don't Kim … you've … you've hurt me a lot … over the last couple years … you know?" Ron said, his own hold on his emotions weakening, "you've … you've used me … sabotaged any chances of me ever being even remotely more then a loser or a lackey. Those it seemed you didn't … really mean … you were just trying to do the right thing, right?" Kim's stomach jerked when she saw a single tear escape the corner of his chocolate brown eyes, and she knew she was trembling now as he continued. "You know … until yesterday … you've always made me feel like … you know … I had someplace I could actually fit in, that I had someone who would look past my shortcomings and be my friend for ME, Ronald Dean Stoppable, the little goofball with big dreams, but last night … you took that away from me too."
" Ron … please … I didn't … Ron don't do this …" Kim panicked, knowing exactly where this was going. She gripped her green tank top trying futilely to control her now rapid breathing, grasping the half of a hart pendent she kept safely hidden on a chain, dangling under her top, "Please …"
"Kim …" Ron sighed, choking down his own sob, "I … I haven't been with my best friend KP since before High School … since before she became better then me. I'm just now … just now realizing I've lost her."
"Ron, no, you haven't lost me!" Kim pleaded grabbing his arm desperately, "Ron, I'm right here, see? It's still me, nothing's changed, don't … don't do this over one stupid mistake!"
"It's more then that, Kim," Ron said jerking away, "Look at us, Kim, just look at us!" Ron said, throwing his arms out, "You're a popular girl, cheerleader, everyone loves you, and everyone looks up to you as a hero. And me, I'm just one of the losers of the school, a face in the crowd no one will remember. We're from two different worlds Kim, and it's time we stopped pretending."
"No, Ron no, please no," Kim whimpered, shaking her head desperately. "Please … Ron you're my best friend, don't do this!"
"You shouldn't have a problem replacing me," Ron said gripping the chain around his neck, jerking it lose, letting the half of a heart dangle between them. "Give this to someone more worthy of your time." He said barely above a whisper before letting it drop.
The sound of the pendent hitting the floor echoed through the hall and through Kim's mind as she dropped to her knees. She watched as if the world had dropped into slow motion as Ron broke into tears and started to turn away. She reached out and gripped Ron's pants leg, begging him in nonsense words, but he simply jerked away and pushed through the gathered crowd of stunned witnesses neither he nor Kim realized had gathered.
No one in the crowd could believe their eyes. Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable were the rock of the school: the symbol that anyone from any side could be friends. Now they all stood as witness to the icons shattering to pieces.
Bonnie Rockwaller especially had longed to see this. Her rivalry with Kim had lasted since Jr. High. She had wanted to see Kim broken as long as she could remember. But it was always joyous in her imagination. But this … this was anything but joyous. Her wide eyes watched as Kim's trembling hands reached out and took Ron's discarded pendent and clung it close to her chest before she doubled over releasing everything she had eaten in the last few hours across the floor of the school, but instead of making a move away from the putrid mess, she stayed where she was, her body jerking with sobs.
The whole school watched in morbid fascination as Monique finally pulled from her stupor, quickly moved to Kim's side, and literally lifted her to her feet. And the crowd moved as zombies, following her command as Monique shouted for them to clear a path.
"Hey, Josh?" Brick said to his good friend in a stunned voice.
"Yeah?" Josh asked, finally finding his own voice.
"Did … how did that just happen …" Brick asked in massive confusion and shock.
"I don't know, pal …" Josh said, still in a state of shock, watching Monique leading the distraught Kim out of the school toward the parking lot. "I really don't know …"
We used to have so much together,
But the dusk is already a different shade
You used to always hold me gently, now
You only push me away.
Your coldly cast away heart is
Wandering aimlessly
If you say such mischief exists,
It's strange to close your eyes
Beneath the wintry sky
We used to have so much together, but
I can't get by on just one word.
Quickly leave, now is the time.
We used to have so much together,
But the dusk is already a different shade.
At least I can sleep quietly in the moonlight.
If the moon and my fate were to pass away,
Wouldn't I surely be sad and lonesome?
How many times did you not want to hold me?
My powerless words can pass the weary night.
We used to have so much together, but
How can this strange couple
Make it in such a place?
We used to have so much together, but
When we started to meet something was revealed
In your mysterious, dark profile,
Suspended in the deepest confusion
Where is your heart?
Where is it floating?
It's as if those eyes
Are misleading
We used to have so much together, but
I can't get by on just one word.
Your passion began to flow
If the moon and my fate were to pass away,
Wouldn't I surely be sad and lonesome?
How many times did you not want to hold me?
My powerless words can pass the weary night.
To Be Continued …
C. Cowboy: I'd like to answer some of the questions, but I really can't do to saving the plot but anyway, I hope you enjoyed this emotional chapter. At least I HOPE it was emotional … now who is this Ranger who's helping Shiva, is he one of the current team or a Ranger of the past? And will Kim and Ron be able to work out their differences or is their friendship completely destroyed? More next time!
Disclaimer: the song used at the end is 'So Much Together, but ...' by See Saw made popular as the end theme for Gundam Seed.
