Authors Note: All characters in this work of fiction, including any representations of royalty and celebrities, are completely fictitious, except for Rufus, who is now retired after his years of dedicated public service.
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"Everyone down!"
Kim and Ron both moved to duck as many people as possible out of the way as the golf ball sailed clear over their heads, impacting into the ceiling above with a loud explosion.
Kim immediately went into mission mode.
"Come on Ron. Time to go to work."
"Right behind you KP." Ron paused a moment before silently adding "at least this tournament won't be boring."
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"Fore!" Killigan cried out again as he dropped four golf balls next to each other on the ground, hitting each one in rapid succession across the area, scattering people ever more in all directions in search of safety.
"Tha's right, run. Cower in fear before Duff Killigan, the world's deadliest golfer!" The mad Scotsman cried out across the field.
"Ok, I gotta ask, just how many other deadly golfers are really out there? I mean, that cannot be a crowded field." A voice taunted.
"It can't be." Killigan turned around to face the voice, a look of shock on his own face. "Tha' buffoon!"
"Yeah, he doesn't know my name either. That figures." Ron rolled his eyes as a look of disappointment covered his expressions.
"But, that means…" Killigan was cut off from voicing his conclusion as a fiery redhead leapt out in front of him, landing neatly beside Ron. "Kim Possible!"
"Present and accounted for." The teen super hero announced cheerfully.
"Well now, looks like we 'ave ourselves a real man's game now!" Killigan seemed more pleased than concerned at the duo's timely arrival even as he clenched his driver in hand all the more tightly.
"Ok, I don't think a guy who runs around in a skirt has any business talking about man sports!" Ron interjected.
"I's a kilt!" Killigan cried out in rage even as he dropped another golf ball, which he let fly before it ever touched the ground.
Kim and Ron moved together in perfect unison as the explosive landed less than a foot away from them. Even as the pair rolled on the ground, they came up to see two more balls flying at them both. Practiced ability and honed instinct guided them both across the field as explosion after explosion chased after them, each one landing not more than a few inches away, each drawing seemingly closer and closer. The pair finally found refuge as they dove into the outdoor sitting area, leaping over an abandoned table and over turning it for protection, even as another explosion thundered just a few feet away.
"Ron!"
"Distraction, yeah I'm on it." Ron called back as he immediately moved out, running back across the open field, trying to draw Killigan's fire away from the large crowds of people who had foolishly decided to remain to watch the battle and back out towards the open fields.
"Hmm. Distance, 'bout a hundred n' twenty five yards." Killigan calculated to himself. "Ah'counting for wind, I'll be needing me wedge for this shot."
As Killigan retrieved the necessary club, he dropped another ball onto the grass. Pausing for a moment as he took aim, he drew back and let fly.
The ball sailed cleanly through the air, landing inches in front of Ron Stoppable's path. The blonde hero leapt back at the last second, too late, only to be caught in the force of the explosion as it knocked him back to the ground, leaving him only to stir weakly.
"No, that's ok. You can leave that train there, I don't mind." Ron murmured nonsensically to himself as he battled against unconsciousness.
"Ha! A sidekick in two shots! There be a person'l record." Killigan grinned as he lined up another shot on his helpless target, only to be cut off as a wave of red hair leapt directly over him, grabbing his club from his hand and another from his bag.
Kim Possible landed with both clubs in hand, twirling them briefly before drawing them ready for combat.
"Can't you ever take up something quiet for a change? How about knitting?" She asked.
"What? Wha' kind of a sport is that?" Killigan proceeded to draw two more clubs from his back bag, one in each hand. "Besides, golf's a game with mor' of a swing to it!"
"Do you have to go so heavy on the golf puns?" Kim asked with a groan.
"Well now, i's kinda my thing, now isn't it?" Killigan replied defensively.
"Point."
With that, the two combatants moved into action. Both wielding dual golf clubs as though they were swords. Despite the unreal ness of the situation, the stakes were quite serious. Their weapons clashed as both combatants wielded them with equally impressive skill, entrancing the crowd of onlookers that had remained in spite of Killigan's attack.
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"Sure, the mountain can go right next to it, I don't mind." Ron Stoppable slowly regained a hold of his bearing, rising up and shaking off his confusion as he took in his surroundings.
Not a hundred yards away, Kim and Killigan battled each other with fierce prowess, the sound of golf clubs clanging against each other reaching out across the entire field.
"Hang on KP, I'm coming." Ron cried out as he pulled himself to his feet. Searching around for something to help with, his eyes eventually settled upon a discarded croquet mallet. Grabbing the object in his hands, Ron clenched it tightly.
"Hold on Kim. I'm on my way." Ron ran out across the field, straight for the fighters. His eyes were so focused on Kim that he failed to notice an abandoned croquet ball directly in his way. Ron's foot attempted to settle directly on top of the ball, only to slip out from beneath him, causing the sidekick to fall face first onto the grassy ground beneath.
A muffled "ouch" could be heard coming up from the ground as Ron Stoppable lay unmoving for a moment.
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Kim deflected another attack, then another. Taking a step back, she was able to take in the enormous Scotsman charging her with both clubs held together over his head, poised to come down upon her. Bringing her own two clubs together, Kim set them in a scissor like shape, catching Killigan's two shafts together in a grip. With all her force, Kim pulled up on her clubs, jerking Killigan's from his grip and tossing them out away from his reach.
"Give up Killigan. You lose." Kim Possible declared firmly as she eyed the villain.
"Oh, nae lassie. You may have beat'n me wedges…" Killigan declared confidently as he reached back into his golf bag, "bu' for me short game, nothing beats ma putter!"
Killigan flashed the putter, twirling it in his hand as the head began to glow with a sizzling yellow energy. Gripping it tightly, Killigan took a swing. Kim moved to block the swing with her clubs, but the glowing putter cut cleanly through the both of them, leaving Kim holding nothing but the severed handles.
"FORE!" A loud voice warned from across the grass.
"Tha' be my line!" Killigan turned about to complain even as a large croquet ball flew through the air, hitting the Scottish golfer directly in the face before bouncing off down to the ground below.
"Tea an' crumpets! Why thank ye." Killigan replied politely to a blunt force trauma induced hallucination as he stumbled about a bit before collapsing unconscious onto the grass. Kim looked across the field to see Ron Stoppable holding a croquet mallet high in the air, his body and legs turned in accordance with the form of a perfect swing.
A roar of applause arose from the gathered crowd off to the side. Both Kim and Ron turned to see the patrons and other guests of the Open moving onto the field toward the pair, their hands clapping together as they shouted praise and encouragement for the duo.
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"That was amazing! Simply amazing. I haven't had that much fun at a tournament since… well I've never had that much fun at a tournament." The prince continued on as the trio road back across the streets of London with full royal escort.
"Oh it was no big." Kim assured.
"Dueling golf clubs with that maniac, and then knocking him out with a shot to the head. Ha!"
"Just part of the job, dude." Ron assured him.
"Well don't think I'll forget it anytime soon, or that I won't live up to my end of the bargain. A night at the palace is the least I can do for you after all that."
"It's no big." Kim assured all over again. "We don't want to impose."
"Kim Possible." The prince's voice took on a tone of almost shock. "I am a member of the royal family. If there's one thing we know, it's how to host for guests." The prince raised an eyebrow proudly as he spoke.
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"Over here is a portrait of my great grandfather, commissioned and painted just weeks before his illness." The prince continued with his lecture tour of the palace, all the while Kim and Ron struggled to keep their mouths closed in spite of their awe at its elegance. Both were so amazed by its splendor that they were almost afraid to touch anything.
"What a way to start a vacation." Kim mused with a smile as she felt a hand reach for hers to hold. Kim turned to see Ron smiling warmly at her, causing her to blush as she returned the smile.
"And here will be your rooms for the night." The prince's voice rose slightly to gain the pair's attention. He gestured to the door in the wall, opening it to reveal a grand room, elegantly decorated with, among other thing, an enormous English style bed, complete with drapes tied back over the frame.
"This will be your room Kim and your room Ron is just down the hall."
Kim and Ron shot each other a brief look; unsure of whether or not that was really a good thing.
"Thanks." Kim replied finally.
"Dinner is in just half an hour. A formal affair. I've already taken the liberty of having some things appropriate for the occasion to be sent to your chambers. I didn't know what sizes you wore, but if you need anything or if they don't fit you, let the staff know."
"Uhh, yeah. Sure thing dude."
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Ron pulled at his collar for the seventh time as he still struggled to try and flex out in his suit. It was a formal black item that fit a little too snuggly for Ron's taste. Ron was almost afraid to flex in it, as if it might tear and he was quite certain that he couldn't pay for it if it were damaged, which did little to ease his mind. Still, he had to admit he looked good in it.
As Ron looked up from his collar, a thought popped into his mind. Moving quickly, he turned away from the direction of Kim's room and ran down the palace hallways, guiding himself as best his memory could until he finally came upon a room he had noticed on his way in.
"Excuse me." Ron called out to one of the servants walking down the halls.
"Sir." The older man responded formally.
"Yeah, is this what I think it is?" Ron indicated to the room.
"Yes sir, this is the formal b…"
"Great. This thing has to have a sound system right?" Ron didn't mean to interrupt rudely, but his anxiousness overwrote his manners.
"Indeed sir." The gentlemen's gentlemen never once lost his composure. "I gather classical music is quite popular, though we do have a rather extensive collection for all occasions."
"Could you do me a favor?" Ron asked desperately.
"Sir, you are the formal guest of the prince. I would be most happy to accommodate you as best I can."
"Thanks dude. Here's what I need."
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It was some time later after Ron had worked out the details, and had returned to his room briefly to retrieve something, that he finally made his way to Kim's room. Ron took a minute to hide his excitement at his own ingenuity before knocking on the door.
"KP?" Ron called out.
It was a minute before the door finally opened. The sight awaiting on the other side dropped Ron's jaw to the floor.
Kim wore an elegant, black as night, strapless gown that ran down to her feet, save for a seam that worked its way up along the side of her left leg. On her arms were formal long length gloves that matched the dress perfectly. Her hair was tied up with curls that dangled from the sides, perfectly focusing attention on her slender neck.
"Hi Ron." Kim's voice was soft and inviting. She paused for a moment before twirling around in place to allow Ron to get a total view of her appearance. "You like?" She asked with a grin.
"Ye….yea…yeah." Ron let out weakly, before finally adding in an almost hushed whisper. "We have got to ask Prince Edward if you can keep that."
Kim just giggled as she walked towards Ron. "I don't think that's going to happen, but thanks." She leaned in, planting a light kiss on his cheek. "Ron, you look absolutely amazing." She added as she took a step back to admire him. His physique was perfectly captured and enhanced in his suit, making him seem to stand an inch taller and his shoulders at least half an inch wider. Ron had even combed his hair back, reminding her somewhat of his experience with the French shampoo. Even if it did make him act like a self centered air head, she had to admit, it did look good on him.
"Thanks KP. This thing is so tight that I think it's at the expense of some of my favorite organs, but it's a small price to pay for good looks."
Kim just laughed, before the two paused for a moment, admiring each other in all their splendor. Ron finally let out his arm in proper fashion.
"My lady." Ron invited.
"Good sir." Kim wrapped her arms around Ron's, leaning in closely against him as the pair left her chambers. As they stepped out, Ron looked both ways down the hall, as if checking for traffic.
"Ron, what's the matter?"
"KP, I have no idea where we are. Which way is the dinning room again?"
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"Be serious. One of your childhood friends was turned into a hideous mutant?" Prince Edward gawked as Ron went on with the story.
"Well, not really a friend, but yeah. Hideous mutant pretty much covers it. Still, coulda definitely happened to a nicer guy."
"And you did battle with this abomination?"
"Oh yeah. Ron was amazing." Kim added in. "He was smart, resourceful and totally had the sitch under control."
"My word. I had not idea you Americans had such astonishing adventures. I must convince mum to let me visit again sometime soon." The prince mused.
"I had no idea you would actually have a place for Rufus to sit." Ron indicated over to where a special chair had been brought in. It was raised so that the seat was at level with the table and an elegant red pillow with golden laces was placed on top where Rufus sat, nursing his stomach swollen with fine cuisine.
"I told you, the royal family knows how to host for guests. In fact, the Danish princess brought her dog, a poodle in fact, to dinner just the other week." The prince declared plainly.
"Really? Badical."
"Quite so in fact. She was very…" As the prince went on with his story, Kim turned to smile at Ron. Casually chatting with the future monarch of an entire country like they were old friends catching up. When was he ever going to stop surprising her?
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"Of course the last ball we held ended rather embarrassingly for the prince of Rodeghan, though I dare say he laughed harder than anyone else at the whole thing." The dinner had ended with a rather impromptu second tour. Ron tried his best to sound fascinated, all the while hoping that he would get a chance to put his plan into action.
"Sir." A polite voice came from behind. The trio turned to see another of the palace servants standing attentively. "Please forgive the intrusion sir, but the Queen is calling. I do apologize."
"Oh. Mum must want to check up on me. Please excuse me, this may take a while." The prince bowed politely to the two before following the servant.
Ron's ears perked up at "a while." That was all he needed to hear.
"Hey KP. Come on, I saw something you got to see." Ron took Kim's hand and hurried them both down the halls around corner after corner, till finally they came upon it.
The formal ballroom of the royal palace.
It was huge. Even dimly lit, as Ron had requested, the size was overwhelming. The walls of the room were well decorated with more portraits and statues, but the center of the room was plain and bare, and far too inviting for Ron Stoppable to pass up on.
"May I?" Ron asked as he held out his hand.
At first Kim, could only look at him quizzically. Then on cue, the song played, filling the entire room. Kim's eyes went wide and damp as she looked on Ron in astonishment.
Ron took her facial features as a sign of acceptance as he led her to the center of the room, pulling her close for a dance. The two moved naturally in beat with the music as well they should have, for it was a song they both knew well. A song played seemingly so long ago on a magical prom night that had changed both their lives ever since in ways that they could have never imagined.
The two pulled each other as close as possible, wrapping their arms tightly around one another, Kim's eyes closed with a look of overwhelming bliss as her head rested peacefully on Ron's shoulders. Now, as he had then, Ron looked around with concern and anxiousness before finally steeling himself as he pulled himself away just long enough to bring himself face to face with Kim's heavenly visage. His voice was a trembling whisper.
"KP…"
"Yes Ron?" Her voice was soft and warm, and reached down to his very soul.
"I am so sorry, have the both of you been waiting ages?"
Prince Edward's voice startled the both of them, pulling them down from the clouds that they had danced on back to the world below as he walked towards them, apologizing.
"You know how parents can be, always popping up right when you're in the middle of something. It's just a bit more so when they also happen to be the queen." The prince explained rather awkwardly, even as the pair sighed.
"Yeah, they're just pesky like that is all." Kim explained, even as she leaned in to rest her head on Ron's shoulders.
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It was some time later, as the Prince had formally said goodnight, that the pair stood outside Kim's room.
"Thanks for the dance." Kim's voice was still soft.
"Anytime KP. We'll have to do it again sometime. And I'm still going to ask about that dress." Ron insisted in the same hushed voice.
Kim just smiled as she leaned in, the two sharing a long passionate kiss good night.
"Good night Ron."
"Good night Kim."
As she closed the door, Ron was left to reach into his pocket, grabbing and clenching for support and strength, before turning around and heading back for his own room.
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Thanks so much everyone for the reviews, and for your patiences. Apologies for this most recent chapter taking so long to update, but there have been some technical problems on both ends. And now, I turn you back over to Zaratan, who has some wonderful chapters coming up.