Author's notes: I was a little disappointed with the response for the last chapter, but that's the nature of fanfiction; some stories are instant hits while others have to learn from their mistakes and carry on. On that note, I've updated Chapter 1. Hopefully it's a little better now.
Sorry about the long delay in release, I've been trying something new that takes some time to startup, but should allow a near weekly release.
Drop in Reality
Chapter 2: And the World Shuddered
Outside of Go Headquarters, pandemonium reined. For a long time, the populous had depended on the hero team to save them. If ever a villain threatened their city, team Go were there to save them. Even the police had been downsized in order to assist their hero's in building the magnificent Go tower which had become a beacon of hope for the town.
Now that that very hope had turned on them, people listlessly roamed the streets. Acts of vandalism spread the police force thin if not available at all.
It is this state that found a lone figure speeding along the rooftops. This green blur looked over its shoulder often. Finding nothing, it resolved itself as it stood on one of the roof tops, her chest raising and falling quickly as she ducked behind a small backup generator for whatever company she had stopped on.
"Ok, that was a little more than expected," She murmured, allowing herself to slump against the steel structure supporting a stupidly smiling dog selling some dog food or other.
"I figured she would be bad, but not quite so sadistic. Sure, I thought it would be a laugh. We could rob a bank or two. It would have given me a chance to show her the other side of the fence like she did for me, but that..." Shego shivered.
"After what she did to Electronique, I almost feel bad about leaving everyone else there. Well, almost."
Shego shook her head. "Why did I leave? It was only Kimmy after all. I could have taken her, evil or not. We've fought countless times after all." Shego said pacing back and forth.
"Sure you could," Shego's head whipped around, there stood the princess crouched on the rooftop, diabolical smile spread wide.
"You shouldn't have left the party just as it was getting good, Shego. It was just starting to get interesting. Without you, those idiotic brothers of yours didn't even manage to wet my appetite. Maybe you'll be able to in their place." Kim finished, waving offhandedly. She started to circle Shego, her eyes never straying from the dark haired woman's.
"Now, why don't you give me a challenge?"
Shego smirked, crooking her finger. "Ha, following me all the way here. If you're willing to go that far for a free face rearrangement, I'll be happy to oblige."
"Ha ha ha ha, exactly what I wanted to hear," Kim thrust forward with a sweep kick.
Shego tumbled over the leg, jumping away with a twist, coming about to face her advisory with green fists ablaze.
Nothing behind her, Shego instinctively rolled away, avoiding a blur that crashed into the ground, indenting the cement with hairline fractures. Kim slowly stood, flicking pieces of cement from her knuckles. "Come now, Shego, isn't it my alter ego's way to avoid everything? Are you picking up bad habits perhaps?"
Shego growled, her fists aglow as she punched brilliant balls of blazing plasma at the red head.
Kim walked towards Shego casually, blasts simply not where she was. Four feet away, a hand snaked out grabbing Shego's outstretched wrist. In a blur, Shego spotted a blurred Kim next to her, still holding her arm. The next moment, she was spinning wildly in the air, slamming straight into the sign, breaking every tooth the poster pooch had.
Shego slumped down shaking her head.
"You really disappoint me, Shego. I had high hopes you could hold my attention for awhile, but you're just as weak as those brothers of yours." The whisper came next to her ear. Shego lashed out, catching nothing but air even as she fell from the advertisement landing roughly on the rooftop below.
Kim was already on her way, twisting through the air in a flying kick.
"I'll show you weak," Shego growled side-stepping, allowing the redhead to zip by her.
Shego grunted as her head whipped back, her hair caught in the hands of her adversary. She crashed into the unforgiving ground, gasping for air.
Her eyes teared as she looked up to find Kim's smiling face hovering above her.
Shego's fingers flashed in-front of her, an eerie green blast going where Kim's head once was. "That one was just low." Shego grumbled.
"Coming from the woman throwing plasma around." Kim laughed stepping back and forth, dodging said flames. This went on for long seconds as Shego became more frustrated, Kim wasn't even paying her hands much attention, they were locked with her own, that infuriating smirk spread wide.
"Come on Shego, I'm giving you every chance, but you keep using the same dried up moves over and over again. I want to see something new."
"You want to see new, I'll show you new!" Shego back flipped, her flamed hands swept along the roofing, gravel dislodging itself as if sand on the beach, hurling it at Kim's eyes.
The gravel met thin air as Kim jumped. Shego was right behind her, flaming hands outstretched to deliver the final blow. Time seemed to slow down as it did with any of their matches. Small details came into focus. The wind waving through Kim's red locks, her green eyes framed by a smirk meeting her own. Time abruptly sped up, the girl's hands latched onto her outstretched arm, using it to pivot out of the way, and just as quickly swing around straight into Shego's stomach with a kick. With an extra thrust, Shego was flying. It certainly wasn't the first time, and Shego's mind was already coming up with potential counters as soon as she came back to the roof top. 'Which should be about now…' Disbelieving eyes saw the edge of the building mere centimeters away from her outstretched hand.
Shego frantically flipped herself around, head shifting everywhere to find anything close to stop her. She came to the sickening realization that unforgiving pavement four stories below would be the first to greet her.
'This can't be how it ends, not like this, not by her.' Her body plummeted, eyes facing the sun. From out of that bright spot, she saw a flash before an idiot with a blue grin came whizzing by.
With a loud thump, Shego found herself in a cushioned seat, zooming away.
"Shego! I've been looking for you everywhere. I need you for a new project I've been working on."
Said woman didn't respond, looking back at their impromptu battlefield. On the edge Kim merrily waved.
"God damn bitch, you may have won, but I'll beat you black and blue next time!" Shego snared.
Kim simply watched the little speeding hover jet go off into the distance, her smirk changing into a frown. "Not even Shego," She mumbled. Cocking her head to the side, she turned in the opposite direction. "On that note, I have a date with a mind device," with a final giggle, she was roof hoping away.
"Ro..." Ron floated in darkness. It embraced him like a mother. Nothing could harm him here. He was safe.
"Ro..."
If only that annoying voice would stop. It tugged at his consciousness, so faint and yet persistent.
"Ron..."
There it was again, he's eyelids scrunched as he tried to remember why that voice was so important.
"RON!"
Said boy jerked, his body roughly being shaken. His eyes saw the world wobble all over. In front of him was someone, maybe three or four people, all weaving about wildly.
Ron squinted and the shadows merged into a single person... with red hair.
"Ah!" Ron jumped back crawling against the wall.
Kim Possible jerked back in response looking all over the room in a ready stance. Her gaze crossed the unconscious team Go, but no movement from any of them. With a small sigh, the girl let her fists drop. "Don't do that Ron, this day has been strange enough as it is without any more scares."
Ron blinked, and then blinked again
"Do you know what happened here? I remember them capturing me and then everything became hazy." Kim whispered, her voice going distant as her eyes seemed to try and piece some unseen tapestry together. "Did you rescue me?" Kim asked, her eyes focusing on her long time partner.
"Kim?" Ron asked, leaning forward hopefully.
"Who did you expect? Whatever you did, it seems to have worked though I think you were a bit rough with them..uff," Kim grunted, Ron grabbing her into the mother of all bear hugs.
"I'm so happy to see you, you turned all evil and whipped ass on all those guys and then you wanted me to turn evil and now you're good again and..."
"Hold on," Kim said, stopping the non-stop explanation. "What are you talking about? I'm just me."
Ron stared into those green eyes, the light blush at his intense scrutiny going unnoticed. Ron's lips spread in a hesitant smile "I…I guess you're right. I was so worried that the whole world was going to be destroyed," he whispered to himself.
"Seems like a lot happened after I blacked out, how about we take care of team Go and get out of here?" Kim asked, already walking towards a groaning Hego. "Where did that device go to?" Kim asked looking around. Not finding anything, she sighed. "Guess we'll have to call global justice to get this figured out."
"Sounds like plan to me, KP," Ron said. He had plenty to celebrate after all, his Kim was back. 'Maybe the effects were only temporary? Or maybe Kim just beat it out.' Ron thought before shrugging, it didn't matter. Kim was back to herself and life was good.
Sore muscles loosened as Kim sank into her bed, her arms wrapped around her little stuffed animal. "This has been one wacky week," Kim whispered to the little marsupial as she raised it aloof. "I had a good time with one of my fiercest rivals, battled team Go with said rival and then..." Kim frowned, her vision going hazy. "...I'm not sure what happened after that, but when I came to, Ron was unconscious." The distance disappeared into a small fit of giggles. "It's kind of cute the way he's been so worried."
"Still, it gets a little tiring," Kim rolled her eyes as she heard noise below her window. A glance confirmed the little cricks of a ladder placed against the sill.
"Well, kangaroo, I guess we should let our guest in," Kim sighed, flipping herself up in her pjs.
With a light touch, she flipped open the window just as a bushy crop of blond hair crept into view.
Kim watched as the owner of said hair awkwardly held onto a small sleeping bag while trying to ascend.
"You need help with that?"
"Ahhh," Kim winced as the boy mistepped and fell to the grass below.
"Ah, KP, didn't know you were up." Ron giggled, his hands wiping the grass from his outfit.
"Kind of hard these days, you've only been over every single night since that sitch with team Go." Kim shook her head before waving the boy up. "Come on, at least get out of the cold."
"Sure thing!" Ron redoubled his efforts with twice as much fumbling. He eventually came over the window edge, flopping in on his butt.
"It was all right the first couple of nights, but how often do you plan on sleeping over?" Kim asked, leaning against her bed.
"Uhh, I don't know, I just need to make sure you're really all right."
"Come on Ron, how long have we been doing the hero thing now? You better than anyone knows I can handle myself." Kim rolled her eyes as Ron seemed to find his hands very interesting.
"I know that KP, it's just that last mission..."
"You just got hit on the head Ron. I didn't turn into some maniac out to destroy the world," Kim shuddered at the thought.
The dim lighting hid the healthy blush forming on the boy's cheeks. Another set of vivid memories flashing through his mind regarding the maniacin question.
"It was all just so real," The boy said, twisting his hands uncertainly. He stilled them with a look before returning his attention to the girl. "Come on, just this one last night. Oh please, please, please," Ron begged on his knees.
Kim sighed, 'I'll never let him know, but that has got to be almost as potent as my pout.' Aloud, she gestured to the corner of the room recently designated as Ron's. "Fine, but this is the last night. If my parents figure out you're sleeping in here, they're going to be none too happy and you know how Daddy gets when he's upset."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you," Ron said, keeping his voice low as he rolled out his sleeping bag and lay back on it.
Kim shook her head, returning to her bed and turning off the light. The silence of the night relaxing her as visions of her day flashed before her. Her lip curled at Bonnie's incessant needling as they performed their tower in practice flashed through her mind. 'In the future, adding a twist on the dismount would be nice,' she thought slowly giving way to the land of dreams.
"Kim?... Ufff" Ron grunted as a pillow hit him straight in the head.
"I've got a really early morning tomorrow. You stay, you sleep." Kim mumbled, her right hand stifling a large yawn.
"Sorry, I was just thinking...?"
"Yes...?" Kim's voice whispered, already drifting off again.
Ron smiled as he listened to Kim's even breathing. 'It must have been a bad dream, this is my Kim.'
"It's been awhile, why don't we hit Beno Nacho tomorrow." Ron finished, whispering to himself.
"An absolutely fantastic idea." a gentle voice responded next to his ear.
"Awww!" Ron jerked up, flipped over, and landed roughly on his side. Ron shook his head, a trickle of giggles coming from somewhere to his left.
The figure moved next to the lamp, a sharp click illuminated the red head, eerie shadows playing across her face.
"Kim? Don't scare me like that, I…I thought you were asleep."
"Oh, I'm sorry baby, I just woke up after a nice long nap and wanted to say hello."
"Nap?" Ron scratched his head, one eyebrow raised.
"Yup, ever since Go tower..."
"Go tower..." The red head slowly turned around, a smirk that had haunted Ron's dreams ever since that day playing across its features.
"But… you… dream... uh."
"Oh, I'm no dream," Kim said, swaying back and forth in her pajamas moving up on Ron.
Ron backed up until he came to the inevitable wall someone had left behind him. Even before he realized his dilemma, Kim blocked his escape, two lithe arms on either side locking him in.
"I've given you a few days to think about it, now it's time to make your choice." Kim whispered next to his ear, one finger making little circle's in his own night cloths.
"Cha… choice?" Ron shivered as he felt a phantom hand constrict around his neck.
"Yup, go evil by your own hands or leave the world in mine."
Ron flopped to the floor, his knees giving out. Kim moved, allowing him to slump down.
"No, no, no, this isn't possible. Kim was back, everything was normal. How did this happen?"
"Now that is a secret. But we are drifting from the topic. I've given you the time, your choice...?" This person that looked like Kim asked, kneeling down next to him.
If Ron hadn't been so distraught, he may have caught the look of anticipation or the building excitement in her voice.
For him, there were only tears. The seconds stretched, his hands covering his eyes. 'Everything was good! Sure I got teased at school, but Kim always had my back and now….now there is only one choice.' He slammed one fist against the floor in frustration.
"I don't know how, but if it saves the world, I'll do it, I'll go evil." Ron stood up to find he was talking to an empty room. "Uh evil Kim?" Ron asked looking around in bewilderment.
"Yes?" For the second time that night, Ron jumped as Kim leaped in from the window, a small bag over her shoulder.
"You were here than..."
"Sorry about the delay, it took a second to get this out of hiding," Ron's jaw dropped open as she uncovered another item that had featured very prominently in his recent nightmares. Crackles of lightning arched out from the helmet's twin antennae.
"But that had vanished at Go tower," Ron said pointing to it.
"Hardly, I simply hid it in the car. But enough of that it's time to say hello to evil Ron." With a small umph, Ron found that he now held the device in his hands. Looking up, Kim sat on her bed, a video recorder held in one hand. "Don't mind me, please continue."
Ron sighed, hefting the helmet up, a horrible sensation going through his stomach as he felt that weight. A weight far heaver than the object he held. The fate of countless people he would very soon threaten. His eyes cringed together before an idea fluttered through his mind to turn it on evil Kim. A quick glance found said girl waving her other finger back and forth.
"No, no naughty boy. Remember what will happen if you try."
Looking down at the helmet again He hefted it up towards his body, the heat from the shocks mere inches from his face. "Mother, Father... please forgive me." His voice squeaked.
There was an explosion of light that blew away the night as Ron shook violently, falling to the ground.
With a flourish, Kim flipped the recorder away, closing it carefully while placing it lightly on the bed. "Now the fun part," She whispered with glee.
Ron slowly rose to his feet, the device rolling across the floor.
"Byhaaa!" Ron's eye's snapped open as he pumped a fist into the air. "I'm back."
"Kimmy Cub what's all that ruckus up there? Is everything all right?" drifted the concerned voice of Mr. Possible from below.
"Looks like it's time for a change in venue." Kim said, gesturing towards the window.
A frown crossed Ron's visage before he nodded, "Indeed, I believe we have much to discuss." Ron flipped through the window lightly landing on his feet to sprint away. Kim sprung after him mere moments behind, a smirk firmly on her features.
They didn't go far before Ron came to an abrupt stop, not even breathing hard from the rigorous run.
"Ah, that was a nice stroll through the moonlight, don't you agree?" Kim asked, leaning up against a nearby tree, her hair shadowing one eye.
"That was a good piece of work." Ron answered with a nod crossing his arms as he leaning against the tree opposite Kim's.
"What could you be talking about?" Kim asked, flipping her hair back. "I just made it easier for you to come out and play."
"Ha, play indeed. People simply don't give you enough credit with your martial arts. You put yourself into a hypnotic state to make it appear you had changed back. Once a trigger was spoken, you returned. Very very evil, leading me on to believe that it all was just a figment of my imagination.
"Why thank you, I thought it was a nice touch." Kim shrugged her shoulders.
"Yes, but you forgot one part," Kim raised an eyebrow and a questioning finger.
"You didn't bring me out to conquer the world. With my mind and your power, it would be a snap, no challenge at all. What you want is something bigger, a challenge to your ability."
The sweet smile melted away from the redhead's lips turning wicked. "I knew you at least wouldn't disappoint me." Ron nodded back bringing both arms up into a stance.
"Wonderful, I've been waiting so long for the main dish," Kim pushed off with her feet, flying towards Ron with her right fist
Ron countered by rolling back, jumping off with his hands to flip into the tree above, continuing with the momentum, he used it as a gymnast, launching himself feet first at Kim. She ducked to come up in his guard, but found that the attack was a feint, he had rolled in mid-air to face her capturing one of her arms and used his momentum to throw Kim.
She quickly stabilized, tucking herself to control flight. With a light tap, she rebounded off of her previous leaning post to rocket forward. She landed in a neat roll, coiled to spring only to find that her target was currently down the street running. With a small growl of frustration, Kim was off after him.
"Oh Ron, please don't disappoint me this early." Kim called, flipping onto a nearby roof to gain the high ground. Her gaze scanned left to right, not spotting him. She frowned before hearing a garage door open further down the street. Her head whipped around to find a small light turn on. With a quick smirk, she was off again, leaping from one house to the next landing in front of the garage.
"Come out, come out where ever you are." Kim called in a sing-song manner.
"Whatever you say," Kim whipped around as the voice behind her caught her off guard. The black engine oil to the face didn't help, but she was able to turn away from most of it. Instinctively she ducked, wind whipped past her and she slid in for a low kick. The sound above her indicated he had flipped over it. Kim crouched and pushed off with her hands generating a mammoth mule-kick.
Ron managed to land a kick on her's using the power to fly over the roof-top.
With a little extra space, Kim ripped off the lower half of her pajamas, using them to wipe away the majority of oil that still covered her face.
With little effort, she followed Ron's path over the roof, landing in the back yard next door. She spotted him going over the next fence and followed. She was forced to dodge midair as a thin pipe rammed through where she once was. A few hand springs and she was again facing Ron, his impromptu garden hoe/staff held in front of him.
"Running away and using tricks? I expected better from you. At least other villains fight first before running with their tail between their legs." Kim uttered as she slowly circled around.
Ron's sharp gaze never faltered. "True, but than I am not an idiot either. I'm fully aware that you have the advantage in a straight fight. I'm simply evening the playing field with my mind."
Ron flew through bow forms, striking precisely as Kim back flipped away, trying to spot any weakness in the guard. Dodging flipping, and finally, she found him just slightly over extended. She used her last spring's momentum as she caught the staff head and added her own weight to it.
Ron immediately let go, jumping back. Having obtained the staff, Kim exercised a few kata of her own before throwing it over the fence and onto the road.
"Now it's just you and me." Kim jumped forward, using fast jabs and kicks to keep him on the defensive and remove any possible ways to retreat again. He flowed with her movements, allowing a few through with a grunt in order to angle his own hits in. Not nearly as hard as her own, but still raised a grimace.
Kim smirked as she saw another slight falter in his form. Going in for a hit, she found that he too was grinning. His guard suddenly snapped into place and a kick on its way to her exposed midriff. She shifted her punch to pivot off his leg, thrusting up and over him. As she came down she noticed he threw something onto the ground that gushed forth a dark noxious cloud.
With a quick breath, she was engulfed by the cloud, quickly rolling to the side. A few more steps and she left its cover, finding Ron hovering over some tools left carelessly out in the yard, hands nearly a blur as they took and assembled pieces together. Kim had no intention of letting him finish.
She was running low, flicking a loose rock at his head along the way. It was only luck that one of the tools intercepted the rock. A wrench flew into the air, landing with a thud in the evening night.
Grunting in frustration, Ron turned the weedwacker towards her. A sharp punch on the side and the blades flew out at her. Her eyes wide, Kim ducked, the blades shaving a few hairs from her head. When she stood back up, she found that Ron's little achievement cost him as the altered device exploded in his hands.
He shook them to remove the fire.
"Impressive, very impressive indeed. Anything else you plan to show me? Not likely, by the sound of your breathing."
"Not quite, I still have an ace up my sleeve." Ron said, through his labored panting.
"Oh, and what might that be?," KIm asked casually. She was winded as well, but not nearly as bad. Her eyes flicked back and forth finding nothing at hand, high walls blocking easy escape. 'Checkmate.' She thought with a grin.
"Monkey powers," Ron mumbled, a sharp yellow glow encompassing his body. Her eyes widened even as the yellow coalesced around his hands. With deep concentration, he thrust them at her. She jerked back even as they fluctuated wildly. Ron screamed as the aura exploded, rocketing him straight back into the brick fence, knocking him flat.
"Interesting, I don't believe I've seen that before," Kim replied as she quickly strode up and straddled the boy, making sure he was very well pinned. "I'll admit, you gave me quite the workout and this was far more fun than I've had in years. You're better than even Shego." Kim's eyes went distant as if pondering.
"Now what are you going to do with me?" Ron mumbled through the grass shoved into his face. There wasn't a point in struggling, his last resort had blown up in his face. It burned to admit, but he had lost.
Kim shook her head, bringing her attention to bear on the boy below him. "I think you're very good at martial arts. Good enough to excite me, but in combination with what this can cook up," she lightly tapped his head. "I think you'll be much much more fun."
Ron remained silent as she looked down at him, her smirk growing. "I think I'll give you some time to prepare for our next battle."
"What?" Ron asked, his suspicions rising by the moment.
"Yes, I'll give you a week to get ready and then I'll send little miss goody-two-shoes Kimmy after you. If you're able to beat her, I'll come out and we'll have a glorious time. I doubt the world will be the same." Kim giggled unconsciously as visions of destruction flitted through her mind.
"Still..." Kim's hand lanced out into Ron's side. He only grunted as her fingers slowly tugged, blood spilling out around them as an object immerged. Triumphantly, she held a little chip up in her hands, examining the blood-covered item. "...we don't want to make it too easy now do we?"
Ron's hand clasped his side as Kim stood up and away from him. His hands tore a piece of his own shirt to make a bandage and stop the bleeding. "I should have known that Wade would have me chipped."
"Wade may have provided the chip, but it was my Mother that inserted it. Call it a requirement from both our parents to allow bubbling little Ronny to follow me around on missions." With a small leap, Kim was standing on the fence, her back to the boy clutching his side. "Remember, you have one week. Try to run if you like, I'll find you no matter where you go." and she was away, leaping through the night.
Hate filled eyes followed her form in the distance. "You've made a mistake, Kimberly Ann Possible. When we do meet again, you will suffer before I allow you to admit defeat." His head tilted as sirens sounded in the distance. "There is much to do before then." He started a half jog, wincing as his side constricted, but forced himself to continue.
Far off on a slightly higher house, Kim stood, in the shadows, watching as the boy trotted off. "And so it begins. Now, what shall I do with a whole week?" A slow smile settled on Kim's face as she stood up and walked off. "I do believe I have a few ideas."
Author's end notes:
That ends chapter two. I'd like to thank Omnisentinel for taking the time to look over the chapter. If anyone is interested in becoming a beta for the story, please let me know. I'm interested in improving my stories which can be a little difficult on my own. On that note I've listed a few questions I have regarding the chapter. The questions are intended to help me gain perspective because honestly rereading the same story over and over again tends to lead to assumptions of what is portrayed verses what is really happening. Feel free to answer a few or all of them. Anything will really help.
Questions from the author:
Did you see any grammar or spelling mistakes?
Anything identified I'll check into and get the story updated to correct them. I know from my own reading that even a single misspelling can drag me right out of the spell woven by the author and I would like to correct any that may have been missed on mine.
Are any parts not descriptive enough?
Battle scenes can be quite challenging and the Kim Possible series is chock full of them. With any battle it is important to moderate tempo and description. Not enough of either leads to a dry read or characters flying through the air for no apparent reason.
What are your thoughts of how things are progressing within the story?
This is primarily to check if things make sense and flow smoothly instead of jagged transitions that make reading difficult.
Do any of the characters appear to be out of character?
If so, in what way?
Where do you think the story is headed?
This question can really help me understand if the direction I intend is conveyed or being interpreted completely differently. It is also interesting to see what others think.
Thank you,
brindani