Qtpie was just leading Mariko back through the maze that was the backstage of the Fannie Awards when she was stopped by one of the stage hands. "Ma'am, you're not supposed to be back here."

Qtpie grimaced, keeping a tight hold of her young charge. "Sorry, I didn't mean to cause any problems. I was just trying to find this little one, she got away from me earlier."

The stage hand looked closer at the young girl who was smiling innocently up at him. "Sorry ma'am, but considering what this event is, I'm going to have to call security down here to verify who you are."

"Is that really necessary?" qtpie was very dismayed, hearing the Fannie Awards still going on while they were there. "I mean, I wouldn't have done anything."

"Sorry ma'am, we can't take any chances. We've already had several incidents."

The stage hand spoke into a radio and instantly a dozen Global Justice agents were surrounding her. Qtpie just frowned deeply, glaring at the agents. "Where were all of you when Mariko was missing and wandering around back here?"

Distracted by questioning, qtpie never noticed Mariko release her hand. The young girl had heard something off to the side, and drawn to the sound of laughter over the increasingly heated comments being exchanged by the adults, decided to check out the new noise. She pushed past the hanging curtain, the sound picking up now, clear enough to hear his voice.

"Steal my girlfriend will he? Shego should be my date, and once I remove that pesky writer, she will be mine again."

Mariko approached slowly as the strange blue man laughed, until she was right beside him, looking past his elbow. She could see him fiddling with one of the small golden statues that looked a lot like Rufus, though he didn't notice her at first. Not understanding what was funny, but wanting to join in, she started laughing as well, trying her best to imitate him.

That brought Drakken up short, as he wheeled in surprise. "Kim Possible, I... wait... you're not Kim Possible."

The young girl just smiled up at him. "No, I'm Mariko." She rocked back on her heels, hands clasped behind her back.

Drakken glanced around, concerned that someone else might be nearby. "What are you doing back here? Is someone with you?"

"Michelle is with me, but she's busy talking to all those men over there." She pointed back to where she had come from and Drakken could clearly hear the arguing. He breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he'd know when the arguing stopped that someone might be coming.

"Whatcha doing?"

The innocent question caught him off guard, afraid she might spill the beans, but decided to play on her innocence... and the need to rant to someone about his plot. "Can you keep a secret?" When Mariko nodded, Drakken smiled. "Well, you see, I'm going to play a prank on a friend of mine. He'll be presenting an award soon, and I want to surprise him. I'm making the statue very sticky so he won't be able to let it go. And then, when he can't let go, the rockets I've installed in the bottom of this will launch him into the stratosphere, where Ghostwhiter shall no longer be a problem in my goal of world dom... umm... I mean, our pranking war."

Afraid he might have said too much, Drakken eyed the young girl warily, as her expression went thoughtful. For a moment, he was afraid she might tell someone. Thankfully, her smile returned. "So... you're friend will go flying?"

Drakken nodded quickly, his smile bright. "Yes, he is going to go flying and have all kinds of fun, but you have to keep it a secret, okay?"

"Okay."

"MARIKO!"

The young girl looked sheepish at the calling of her name. "Oops, Michelle is calling me, I better go so we can watch the rest of the show."

Drakken patted her on the head, smiling all the while. "Yes, you do that dear. Just remember to keep it a secret."

"I will."

Drakken watched young Mariko disappear through the curtains, and his smile turned evil. "Soon Ghostwhiter, I shall have my revenge on you, and then nothing shall stop me! Bwahahahaha..."

The petals that seemed to pop up spontaneously happened to choose that moment to spring forth, disrupting his evil rant in mid cackle. Growling, Drakken turned back to the statue, intent on finishing his work.