I have returned! So sorry for the delay, but now that my computer is working again, hopefully I'll be updating at a good rate (If I still have any readers :P)
I would like to extend my long overdue thanks to CajunBear73, screaming phoenix, Mengsk and James MacPherson for sharing their opinions on the last chapter.
Disclaimer: Even after all that time, I still don't own Kim Possible.
The field was getting quiet as they approached the iron gates of the 'Dark One's' citadel. Ron was leading the way, keeping low to the softened ground.
Benedict wasn't sure what he was going to do. He had seen with his own eyes what Ron was capable of. More than half of the 'Dark One's' forces lay scattered across the broken ground, the stench already drawing a crowd of crows and ravens to feast. The moon above had been completely covered by ash and smog, so the only light was the flame pillar Ron had made, giving the land around them an infernal look. This did not comfort Benedict.
He had been given a chance to redeem himself and his family. And after seeing what this man had done, it seemed like an obvious choice. Yet Ron had only caused this carnage in righteous fury. And there was this strange presence about him that seemed to radiate good. And Benedict knew better than anyone that an action intended for good almost always had consequences...
Kim and Anna slunk quietly through the trenches as they made their way towards the opposite side of the flame pillar. Benedict had gone ahead to make sure Ron was okay when some of the 'Dark One's' tanks had cut across their path. But for some reason that didn't comfort her. She had seen what Benedict was capable of when he was mad. What if he still blamed Ron for Matthew's death?
Kim shook her head to try and get control of her thought. She needed to get her head in the game. The battle was drawing to its climax. The 'Dark One's' forces were thinning, and the path to the gates was clear. The main army of the rebels was apparently attacking the side of the castle where someone had disobeyed orders and blown a hole in, thus drawing most of the 'Dark One's' able-bodied soldiers away from them. All that was left were a few battalions and the gate. And she hoped by now that the gate would be compromised...
They had given him a very important task. Kim and Ron were counting on him. And he wasn't going to let them down. No way.
Rufus slunk stealthily through the walls of the 'Dark One's' citadel, making his way to the gate. He would occasionally be heard or seen by a soldier running frantically to another end of the citadel, but none of them ever paid him any mind. Why would someone care about a rodent when they had an army to face?
Rufus stuck his head out yet another hole in the wall, and found what he was looking for: the controls for the main gate. And it was completely unguarded. Rufus did his own little rodent smile. This was going to be easier then he thought.
Ron and Benedict raced up behind a large piece of tank that was stuck in the ground and used it for cover, peering cautiously around it. They were less than fifty feet away from the moat that spread in front of the main gate. And this close, Ron couldn't help but admire the ambience of the scene before him. The 'Dark One' had really gone all out on the main gate. Lying Before the gate stood a magnificent moat that would have but everyone in the King Arthur era to shame, the water black and sleek as ice in the penetrating darkness around them. Across the moat was tremendous drawbridge made of several long planks of wood bolted together and held up with chain. Behind the bridge Ron could just make out large iron bars.
"So, how you planning on getting through that?" Benedict asked, cocking his thumb in the direction of the bridge. "You gonna use some more of that mystical mojo of yours?"
"Actually," Ron replied, a smirk appearing across his lips, "I was thinking of different approach."
As if on cue, the great bridge gave a shudder, than fell into place with a mighty crash. Behind it the mighty wrought-iron portcullis rose, showing the way into the depths of the citadel.
Ron looked towards Benedict and smiled at his dumb-founded look. Ron just winked, then moved on towards the maw of the citadel...
Dementor smiled to himself as he felt the ground shudder as the bridge hit the ground. It was time. It would end here and now. Taking one last glance at the gate winch, he left the room, tossing the unconscious mole rat over his shoulder.
Kim did a roll behind a row of upturned earth, ducking her head to avoid fire while she loaded her assault rifle. Wade ran up behind her, loading another grenade into the attachment of his own gun, then firing it into the hole in the citadel. That hole had NOT been part of the plan. Her scouts had confirmed the body of Jake Director before they were pushed back by the oncoming soldiers. She should have known he wouldn't stick to the plan, and her lack of insight had cost the man his life. And what had happened to his squad? None of the girl's bodies had been found: just Jake and his lackey Paul. That meant she had six teen girls unaccounted for. In a castle full of vile and cruel soldiers. Kim gave an involuntary shudder. She had to get in there and find those girls ASAP. And she still needed to give her younger self enough time to get to the 'Dark One'. Breathing in, she reached to her arm and activated her battle suit. Time to kick things up a notch...
Ron and Benedict ran towards the open camp, ducking their heads to avoid enemy gunfire. They were close. Then he stepped out.
Ron had at one time made a list of the most intimidating of the villains he and Kim had fought back in their timeline. He had never really put Professor Demonter very high on that list. Yet when the German Madman stepped into the middle of the bridge and held his arm before him in a halting gesture, Ron could not help but grind to a halt, Benedict right at his side. The gunfire behind them ceased, and Ron had a feeling that they were waiting for the short man to finish off the enemy himself. The Mad Scientist had changed very 'little' over the years. He still carried himself with the same proud stride, still had the same skin tone, same light brown facial hair, same height. But instead of his usual black helmet, Dementor now donned a wicked gold helmet, with the 'Dark One's' insignia on the front: a golden phoenix with black eyes rising out of crimson flames. Dementor looked at his two opponents, than let out his magnificent laugh.
"Vell, dis dewelopment is being interesting. Ze so-called boyfrient, end ze new teen hero vorking togeser."
"We don't have time for this." Benedict growled, crouching into a low stance. Ron nodded, then whipped out his pistol and emptied the clip.
They bounced harmlessly off a shield of golden energy. Laughing maniacally, Dementor released a blast of gold energy that ripped through his red coat, revealing the suit below.
Ron had to blink rapidly at the site. Dementor had on a super suit nearly identical to that of Kim's. The only difference was that instead of the blue lines of energy, Dementor's were a dazzling gold. Along with the golden helmet and his slightly yellow skin, it gave him an absurdly angelic look.
"Kno you are seeing my mighty super suit, giwen to me by ze 'Great Ruler'. You haffe no hope. Being ze surrendering now!"
"Look," Benedict said, reaching into his back pocket "as much as I'd like a big dramatic battle, we're in a hurry. So, catch." Benedict lightly tossed a small blue object, towards Dementor, a small smile creeping across his face. Dementor raised his arms in an x-block, a bubble of energy coming up around him. But the object passed right through the energy field, landing at the Germans feet. The object then latched to the ground and began to glow a deep blue. "Dementor, may I introduce the A.C.B.S.B.E.D. Bye."
And with a bright flash, Dementor vanished.
Ron turned towards Benedict, his face alive with a questioning look. Benedict smiled.
"Wade's new device, designed to take out battle suits. The A.C.B.S.B.E.D: Anti-Climactic Battle Suit Battle Ending Device. Teleports any battle suits in the vicinity to a holding cell we have down at HQ."
Ron shook his head, than gestured for Benedict to follow. And together, they walked through the gates of the dark citadel. Into hell.
Kim dropped her empty shot gun, scanning the ground around her for a replacement. Unfortunately her last shell had hit her opponent's assault rifle, rendering it useless to her. Anna came up next to her, likewise discarding her empty gun. The land around them was empty, all of the enemy soldiers having withdrawn either behind the flame pillar or to the breach in the wall.
"So now what?" Kim inquired, glancing around her for some sort of weapon.
Anna was searching through her pouch, but then gave up, apparently not finding what she was looking for. "Guess we'll have to use the super suit. I was trying to save it for the 'Dark One', but if I don't use it now we might make it."
Anna closed her eyes and began to steady her breathing. Instantly, energy rippled around her, as lines of dark blue erupted across her clothes. The air around her distorted slightly at the sudden burst of energy. Kim chose this time to appraise the suit. It was made of thin black cloth with conduits for the energy to flow through when activated. The energy itself was a darker blue then that of her own battle suit, giving this one a feeling of pure power. Wordlessly, Anna scooped Kim up in one hand, than jumped.
The ground below them cracked as they took off, practically flying through the air. Kim hadn't been wrong: this suit had a lot more brute force then her's. She had no more doubts that they would reach the 'Dark One' with plenty of time to spare.
The Dark Citadel was poorly named. There was absolutely nothing dark about it. The walls were lined with pillars of gold stretching down the endless hall, reaching up to the ceiling high above them. A crimson carpet ran all the way down the hall, flanked by tables that held thousands of red and gold statues. The hall itself was wide enough to hold two or three trucks side-by-side, and the ceiling so high up that one could fly a helicopter without disturbing the people below, if it weren't for the golden chandeliers that lined the hall. At the end of the hall were two giant golden double doors with the 'Dark One's' insignia branded across the surface. Ron knew that was his destination. He could feel the 'Dark One's' presence. It was time.
Ron and Benedict walked side by side down the hall, weapons slung across their backs. It wasn't until they were halfway down the hall that Ron noticed the trap. He was actually impressed that it was so well hidden. But you could hide nothing from him now. With a slight smile, he led Benedict on into the jaws of the trap.
It was positioned only a few feet in front of the double doors. The moment he and Benedict were close enough to see the dust on the golden door knobs, they sprung.
Out of the shadows came roughly two hundred black-clad ninjas, weapons in hand. Ron again was impressed at how they moved, swinging down from the heights on black silk ropes, landing around them without a sound, as if the shadows themselves leapt out to encompass them. These people obviously weren't armatures. But then again, he had already known that. One of the ninjas, a girl with a pair of kama sickles walked up and made a few simple hand gestures that left nothing to the imagination: surrender or die. Ron just smiled, than shook his head. Then he looked to a small shadowy part above the door. He cupped his hands and called "Hey, why don't you come and threaten me yourself, oh great ninja leader. Or are you afraid to face me."
To Ron's great surprise, he was immediately answered. Out of the shadows around him, came the cool female voice: "I fear not illusions. Thus I fear not you."
Ron raised his eyebrow, then laughed. "Really? Then come and face. Come face this illusion. Come out and fight, Yori."
And done! So good to be back in the game!