Chapter 7 - A new evil emerges

With Velius defeated, and all hope of resurrecting 'bloody angel' seemingly gone, the Aries stone was returned to the museum from where it came from. Of course Kim told the new museum owner that the stone was very dangerous and not to keep it on display, and so the Aries stone was stored in a secret location. Yet Ron was not satisfied..

"This isn't over yet boy...my master will reawaken....and you and the world...will be doomed..." were the last words of Velius as he laid dying on the monastary floor. Ron remembered it like it was just yesterday, yet in reality it had been several months since that confrontation. Unfortunately, there was no parades or anything to greet Ron as he returned to his normal life, and the only evidence that anything had happened was kept in a shoe box in his closet: The Virgo stone. Ron was confident that he had the power to protect the stone and keep it for himself...

IN A DARKENED ROOM IN MIDDLETON....

"What is it?" said a shadowy figure as he sat in his chair which was parallel to the window. A man then opened the door and let in light from the hallway outside. The man then stood in the door way, apparently afraid to enter the dark room.

"Excuse me sir, but I have news about the Aries stone..." said the man nervously.

"I assume you have finally brought it to me?" asked the shadowy figure.

"No sir. It seems that Jude never intended to come through on his side of the deal." said the man.

"Then why are you reporting to me? Go and kill the traitor!" yelled the shadowy figure.

"That is the news sir. It turns out that Jude somehow discovered how to use the Zodiac stone and turned himself into a monster. However, his new found power was short lived as he was quickly stopped by Kim Possible and her sidekick."

"I guessed they saved us the trouble then....either way, where is the stone now? Do they still have it?" asked the shadowy figure.

"Our network of informants tell us that they have returned the stone over to the museum..which hid it in some unknown location." said the man.

"Well go and find that location!" said the shadowy figure, who was now clearly iritated.

"The museum owner has already been informed of the stone's power and has therefore put it in a very secure location...it would be very risky to attempt to get it from there....but. I have figured out a better course of action sir...if you want to hear it." said the man.

"Continue..." said the shadowy figure.

"We will get the stone eventually sir...but first we should add some more fire power to our side and to do that I propose we steal a quite powerful (although not as powerful as a Zodiac Stone) artifact known as the 'Black Materia."

"What is that?" asked the shadowy figure.

"A very ancient weapon sir, even older then the zodiac stones, that at the time had very fearsome power and hopefully still does." said the man.

"Where is this Black Materia?" asked the shadowy figure.

"What? Oh..it is located in the home of some rich millionarie here in Middleton..and although it too is heavily guarded I am confident that I will be able to retrieve it and bring it to you." said the man.

"Perhaps you can...but I will not take anymore chances with just sending one person to accomplish this goal. I need a system of checks and balances, so I will send another with you." said the shadowy figure. Just then a man dressed in brown armor emerged into the small area of light in the room. He was pretty old, around 59-60, but it was easy to tell that his old age was not a factor and that he was forced to be reckoned with.

"This is Gafgarion...a very expensive, and loyal, mercenary. He is very powerful...perhaps more powerful then you." said the shadowy figure, "He will ensure that you complete the mission correctly and return the Black Materia to me.."

"Do you think I would betray you sir?" said the man, offended by the shadowy figure's last comment.

"I didn't think Jude would betray us...but he did. All these powerful artifacts are of no use to me if they ae in the hands of my enemies...they must be mine, and I assure you that if you get any funny ideas like Jude did, I will deal with you personally." said the shadowy figure, "Now go...and bring me back the Black Materia."

MEANWHILE...

"So Ron, Kim tells me you were quite the hero during your last adventure!" said Monique as she sat next to Kim and across from Ron in their little booth in Bueno Nacho. Ron instantly grinned at the mention of his adventure.

"Well.." he said while scratching his nose, " I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I was pretty amazing!!"

Ron then jumped on top of the table. "You too should have seen it, me and Velius locked in mortal combat, fighting for our lives!" Ron then struck various poses, " and I kicked butt...who's the man Rufus?" said Ron.

"You...You!" responded Rufus.

"And all this time I thought this would go to your head!" said Kim sarcastically.

"Well, if you had saved the world you..." said Ron.

"Uh, Ron...I save the world on a near daily basis!" interupted Kim.

"Yeah...but, it's only people like Drakken and that Scottish dude...not an ancient evil Zodiac Monster like Velius, who I might add you couldn't even lay a finger on!" said Ron.

"People like Drakken? I saved you from Drakken if you don't remember?" said Kim getting upset at Ron.

"Whoa calm down you two...let's just agree you're both pretty amazing!" said Monique trying to play peacemaker.

"Anyway...I'm out of soda...so I'm going for a refill...you two want anything?" asked Monique as she got up.

"No thanks." said Kim.

"Naww." said Ron, Monique then walked to the refill station, leaving Ron and Kim alone for the moment.

"Why ya being a punk Ron? You know I DO save the world!" said Kim.

"Yeah...well...I guess I did let it go to my head...but come on! I actually fought against a Zodiac Brave and was victorious! I don't know anyone else who could say that..." said Ron.

"I forgive you...anyway, I have a question for you..." said Kim.

"What's that?" said Ron.

"I was just thinking...when Jude...I mean Velius took me, he mentioned something about using me to summon his master...I wonder how could I possibly do that?" said Kim.

Rom smiled, "You probably can't...I think he just said that...and he actually just kidnapped you hoping that I wouldn't try to beat him knowing my best friend was in danger."

"I guess so...but...hey, if you 'knew' I was in danger, why did you rush in and fight Velius instead of finding the other stones like the priests told you to?" asked Kim.

"I don't know..It seemed like a good idea at the time...and..." said Ron.

"And?" asked Kim.

"Well, honestly, I figured that if Velius was there then maybe you were there and...well..I had to save my best friend, you know?" said Ron, who was surprised that he was embarassed to say that...in fact, he was always a little embarassed around Kim ever since that one priest mistakenly said Kim was his girlfriend....and, he didn't want everyone to start thinking that.....not that he didn't like KP, but he knew they would never have a relationship like that and if people thought they were, it would ruin his chances with the other girls...

"You would risk fighting against that horrible monster for me? I'm flattered really." said Kim.

"Oh? Well, I'm sure you would have done the same for me!" said Ron.

"OOOh! I hope I didn't ruin the moment for you two!!" said Monique half-laughing as she sat back down.

"NO! NO! Me and Kim weren't having a moment!! We...were just talking about my adventure again! Yeah, cuz you know you can't get tired of that story, heheheh!!" said Ron.

"You don't have to get all embarassed Ron....I just meant a special moment between friends...It's not like you two were talking lovey, dovey....were you?" said Monique.

"OF COURSE NOT!!! We're just friends!" said Ron.

"You know were just friends Monique, now stop playing around." said Kim.

"Sheesh....I wonder why Ron is all defensive all of a sudden." thought Kim....

MEANWHILE.....

"T-t-take anything you want..." said the well dressed man as he cowered at the feet of Gafgarion. Gafgarion resheathed his sword as this well dressed man was the only one left in the building. The bodies of security guards lay all around the destroyed office he now stood in. Gafgarion then reached down and picked up the man by his collar.

"Where is the black Materia?" he asked the man.

"Don't be stupid...he doesn't know what the hell you are talking about!" said a voice coming from the hall.

"T-t-that's right...I don't know what you are talking about...I don't have any Black Materia!!" said the man nearly crying.

Just then a very tall man, about 6 foot 3, walked in dressed in gold armor covered by a sort of pancho that was white with a red trim around it. Unlike Gafgarion, he did not wear a helmet, but he did carry a sword. He was very young, probably not even 20 years old, but he was very athletic looking with defined muscles. He had blonde hair and green eyes and by all accounts he was a handsome man.

"Then how are we going to find it if he doesn't even know where he keeps it? And don't call me stupid again Gurdu, remember I work for your boss...not you..." said Gafgarion angrily to the man who just walked in.

"Fair enough....," said Gurdu. He then adressed the well dressed man, "Tell me, if you want to live, where do you keep a valuable jewel....It looks like a black marble with a golden handle thing attached to it."

"It's..it's over there....in the safe in my desk...please..." said the well dressed man.

"Good...Gafgarion...kill him.." said Gurdu.

"What? No! I..." were the last words of the well dressed man as Gafgarion disposed of him and sent him to be with his security guards...

Gurdu then broke the safe open with his sword and he bent down and looked in the safe.

"Is it in there?" asked Gafgarion.

Gurdu then got back up with his 'black marble' in hand, "You tell me..."

"Hand it over Gurdu...it's the boss' orders..." said Gafgarion with his hand on his sword...just in case.

"Calm down..I said I was no traitor and I meant it...here take it if it will ease your mind." said Gurdu as he tossed it over to Gafgarion.

"Nothing personal kid....but a kid your age might not be able to handle such power...look what happen to your friend Jude." said Gafgarion as he pocketed the black materia.

"Jude was never my friend....now let's go...the stench of death is not particularly appealing to me..." said Gurdu as he walked out of the office.

"I find it to my liking actually.." said Gafgarion, who then followed...

"Disgusting...." said Gurdu.

"Don't patronize me...you killed them just as brutally as I did...you kill for power, I kill for money...you are no better than me!" said Gafgarion.

"I don't need a lecture...I do what I must..now, I said let's go." said Gurdu.

"Spoiled brat...." said Gafgarion to himself. Gurdu then got out his cell phone and called his boss.

"Sir, the Black Materia has been aquired....and there are no witnesses." said Gurdu.

"Excellent...I assume Gafgarion has taken control of the Black Materia?" said the shadowy figure.

"Yes sir, he made sure to take it from me as soon as I had it in hand..." said Gurdu, who then expected an explanation and apology for this, but to his disappointment he recieved none.

"Now that the Black Materia is ours, tell me...how does it work..." said the Shadowy figure.

"The Black Materia converts the evil essence of a person into energy..energy that can be used by that person to increase his own natural ability and magical affinities...depending on a person's evil essence, the Black Materia is said to be able increase a person's natural abilities ten fold...although, anyone with a Zodiac Stone has nothing to fear from this..." said Gurdu.

"Are there any side effects?" asked the Shadowy Figure.

"Yes..it can actually weaken a person considerablely...the more times a person invokes its power the more it drains the person's physical strength to the point where the person will become completely dependent on the Materia...but the Black Materia increases your power so much that you would only need to use it once or twice..which wouldn't have any noticeable side effect." finished Gurdu.

"That is good news....Now use it's power to aquire the Aries stone and bring it to me." said the Shadowy figure.

"What's our orders?" asked Gafgarion.

"Aquire the Aries stone...." said Gurdu as he put his phone away.

"Good....time to test this thing..." said Gafgarion as he held the Black Materia in his hand...

MEANWHILE....

It was now cheer practice and all the cheerleaders were practicing the new routine Kim thought up. Ron of course sat on the bleachers with his Dog Head under his arm, waiting for when he was supposed to come into the routine.....but he knew he wasn't going to be in it.

"I'm hardly ever in any routine's anymore...but, man....I gotta go the restroom.." said Ron as he put the Dog head down He quickly went down the bleachers and headed to the door. He was all the while watching the cheerleaders and as soon as he opened the door and went through it seemed like he had just run into a Brick Wall..ironically, it was indeed a "Brick Wall" as it was none other than the popular football player Brick..

"Stoppable...watch where your going!" said Brick as stood over Ron as Ron had fell down from the impact.

"Oww...watch where your going behemoth!" said Ron not knowing who it was.

"What did you call my mother?" said Brick as he grabbed Ron.

"I...BRICK? I...no..I didn't...heheh, I didn't know it was you!" said Ron.

"I didn't think a twerp like you would try to pick a fight with me...just watch where your going next time..." said Brick as he put Ron down and continued on his way.

"Sheesh...what an idiot.." said Ron as he dusted himself...unfortunately he didn't mean to say it as loud as he did...and as soon as he finished dusting himself and looked up, Brick was coming back.

"You just don't learn do you Stoppable?" said Brick while rolling up the sleave of his letterman jacket.

"No, Brick, I was talking about someone else!" said Ron.

"I'm not going to fall for it again....your history!" said Brick.

"Hey, can't we talk something out you know? Maybe...maybe....oh here!!" said Ron as he went into his pocket and got out the Virgo stone.

"Here you can his this!" said Ron as he showed him the stone.

"I don't want your Jewelery!" said Brick as he smacked it away and punched Ron in the face, causing his nose to bleed.

"Hey, you big jerk!" Said Ron as he ran and kicked Brick in the shin. However, he was very careless and as he did it, some of the blood coming from his nose hit the Zodiac Stone and it began to glow.

"Ron Stoppable..you have summoned me..." said a voice from the stone.

"What is that!?" asked Brick, as he was rubbing his shin.

"Oh no...Kim is going to kill me for this...hey Virgo, I didn't want to summon you! Go away, I don't want to be a monster." said Ron.

"You have summoned me...and I will not leave this world now...." said the stone.

"What do I do now?" Ron asked himself....