"Drama can describe so many things, to so many people. It is there in every relationship, present in every loss. It is both heartache and joy. And these writers here gave us some of the very best."
Matt nodded in response. "These stories here have brought us some of the very best of it. Pain, loss, angst… love… all of them brought out in so many way here. And here to introduce the nominees for Best Drama Story, are Senor Senior Senior and Senor Senior Junior!"
Senior and Junior walk out together, dressed in full formal wear. Senior smiles broadly to the crowd, though Junior appear to be sulking.
"Ah, Junior, isn't it nice to be out and about, to be a part of such august company for such a worthy event?"
Junior stood to the side, pouting greatly. "They would not let me sing."
"Junior, do not be rude. Perhaps, if you do well here, they will permit you to sing for next year's gala event. After all, this is your opportunity in the spotlight, is it not?"
Junior's face brightened, as he gazed about the room. "You are right father!" Puffing his chest out, Junior struck, what was to him anyways, a dramatic pose. "Drama is an essential part of any fanfiction. It allows the depth of emotion to be played out in every story, from humour to romance. It is what fills your hearts after an epic struggle, and makes a love story sing." Junior paused, looking gleefully to his father. "See father, I read everything perfectly! Now they have to let me sing next year!"
Senior just sighed. "Whatever shall I do with you. The nominees for Best Drama Story are…"
A Road Not Taken, by Apoptosis…
It was during these fights, Shego realized, that she was developing an attraction to her arch-nemesis. The way they moved together, the way their bodies did the talking for them – it was a wordless dance that they would rehearse time and time again, the only audience present would be a blonde-haired sidekick and a blue-skinned scientist. They went well together – light and dark – equal, but opposite. There was fire, there was excitement, and even though Kim tried to deny it, she enjoyed the chase.
Kim was a growing obsession Shego knew she must have, and Shego was a temptation Kim could not refuse.
A loud creak shook Shego out of her reverie, and she blinked as she felt the branch under her sway and waver. She instinctively grabbed tighter to the rough bark as a gust of wind threatened her balance. Another powerful burst of air blew through, and this time, Shego had no control over the tree branch as it cracked and sent her flying through the air. With a muffled thump, Shego found herself slammed against the glass of Kim's bedroom window, her gloved hands scrabbling for purchase on the slippery ledge. She stole a look inside, only to see the sleeping girl stir, consciousness becoming apparent.
Aw, crap…
The rain seemed to be falling more insistently now, and Shego's already weak hold on the ledge was failing.
Do something!
Quickly and quietly, Shego slid open the window, pausing for a moment as she saw Kim begin to wake up, probably disturbed by the sudden influx of cold air, a yawn drawing itself from her perfect mouth. With a satisfied sigh, Kim began to rub her eyes unconsciously. She tossed her head, her copper hair spreading out behind her. Shego continued to stare at the girl; however, her hold on the edge of window sill was precarious. Kim began to stir again, and Shego knew she had to make a decision.
In or out Shego…one or the other…fall or face her.
Buried, by Charles Gray…
"Help! Someone Help!" Kim screamed, again. She couldn't get out—the Coffin was heavy, and the only light came from a small lamp, revealing the obscenely cheerful pink fabric it was done in.
"Enjoying yourself?" The voice said. "Don't worry—if you have any last words, I do have a recorder running inside—no doubt in a few weeks or months, when they find you, they can replay any messages you might have." Kim tried to keep from whimpering. She'd been walking home, when something had shot her—she'd only had a chance to pull a dart out when she'd passed out.
Then she'd woken up in here… in a coffin. She shouted, demanded and hammered her fists on it, but to no avail.
Then she'd felt it being moved, and heard an odd rattling sound…and then lost it completely when she realized that the sound was dirt being shoveled in on her.
"Don't worry… I've buried you at regulation depth—six feet." There was a pause as Kim waited, tears rolling down her face. "But, I think it's wrong to waste power, don't you? I don't think you need that light anymore."
"But… NO! Why are you doing this?" Kim said, her voice uncontrollably shaking.
"Because it will be my ticket into the upper echelons of crime. Because, I don't like know it alls…because at the end of the day, your family will hear your last moments…and because I can." The light went out. Kim started hammering again, even though she knew she couldn't get out. She kept hammering, her hands skinned and bloody, her feet kicking desperately against the unyielding hatch, her voice begging, screaming, pleading to anyone to help…
The Fallen, by WesUAH…
"Speaking of Possible, how's she doing these days? Oh that's right, she's dead," the henchman said with a laugh. "You should have seen it here, Stoppable, when the news came: a brief moment of silence, just to remember the old times… and then out came the champagne. Still, it was a pity: she really was hot stuff, 'specially once she grew up, and me and some of the boys figured that if we ever managed to capture her, we'd-"
At that Ron's control broke and he lashed out, but not at the henchman who had been speaking. He struck at the man who had been sneaking up behind him, whose approach the henchman's monologue had been cover for. His first blow was a kick to the stomach, which stopped the worker in his tracks and doubled him over. The second blow was an upward kick to the worker's right hand, which knocked the lead pipe he'd been carrying out of his hand and sent it arcing up into the air. Ron caught the pipe and then delivered a third blow by slamming it into the side of the worker's head. The worker went down and deflated as green slime oozed from the tear in his head.
A synthodrone.
"B-b-b-b-but," the henchman stammered, "You're not supposed to brain us; the good guys don't fight like that. It's those rules that Dr. D. used to go on about."
"First off… don't you ever talk about KP that way again," Ron said quietly, looking over his shoulder. "Secondly, I don't distract as easily as I used to. And thirdly…"
He turned to face the henchman, and there was no mistaking the intent in his eyes.
"Thirdly," he said, in a voice so quiet it was almost a whisper, "after what Panther did to Kim… this time, there are no rules."
What She Can't Say, by The Wise Duck…
Panic!
Pure unadulterated panic unlike anything ever experienced before, not even when she'd been shot at.
Confusing, nauseating, gut wrenching disjointment of the entire space/time continuum that no one should ever be subjected too.
And there could be only one possible cure—
Kim almost blew the doors off of the ER but it didn't even register. Her entire being was consumed by feelings unlike any she had ever known and was at a loss to explain. Her world seemed to be at the verge of ending—
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
She had just been dosing, blissfully cuddling Pandaroo (and wishing it was Ron) off when the sirens and the helicopter had disturbed her. From the moment her Dad had come back from investigating all the activity down the block she had had a strange, uncomfortable feeling. She had tried calling Ron and her uneasiness grew into downright fumbled fingered fear over the next couple of hours with each unanswered attempt.
She obviously couldn't relax, couldn't sleep. In fact she became more fidgety, more agitated. Finally, her restless pacing around her loft attracted the attention of her Mother who was up at three, getting ready to fly to Denver for another series of surgeries.
Her Mother was about to call Ron's Parents phone when their own main house phone rang even as her Mother stood next to it.
Kim felt her heart go into her mouth as her Mother answered it. And that heart stopped as her Mother inhaled a sharp breath, a hand coming up involuntarily to her mouth and she turned as white as her Residents jacket.
"Ron's been shot." Despite the fact that her Mother had whispered them to her, those words had literally screamed between her ears the entire drive over to the hospital.
The Staff of course recognized her, one of the nurses coming around to block her way, "Ms Possible?"
"I need to see him!" she wailed in a voice that was quiet and yet shrieked her pain.
"He's in surgery. I suggest that you join his parents in the waiting room."
"Nnnnoooooo!" Kim brayed like a wounded animal as her eyes exploded in tears. She felt hands that she knew where her Mothers close about her shoulders and gently push her numb person forward.
"And the winner is…
A Road Not Taken, by Apoptosis!"
Her knee-high boots making soft rhythmic clicking sounds as she walks across the stage, a surprisingly familiar figure appears from behind the curtain. An emotionless expression on her sculpted face and a few strands of ebony black hair falling into her viridian eyes, Shego gracefully saunters to the podium. Wearing a strapless black dress that falls slightly above her knees, jade-colored gloves that go up to her elbows, and a silver necklace that lightly rests in the middle of her collarbones, she is an archetype of elegance stemming from simplicity. Tossing her head nonchalantly and flipping her hair behind her, Shego softly clears her throat and peers out into the audience, her sparkling eyes a stark contrast to her otherwise neutral expression. Once she has commanded all the attention in the room, she speaks, her voice elemental and slightly melodious.
"I regret to inform you that apoptosis is not able to make the ceremony today, and for her absence, she sends her deepest apologies. However, she has requested that I speak in her stead, and has forwarded a statement she would like to share with you."
Momentarily casting her emerald eyes downwards, Shego unfolds several small pieces of paper before beginning to read.
"To my fellow KP fans,
This letter has been started and restarted several times already. And even in its umpteenth draft, I'm still fearful that it will not be an adequate representation of how I feel; there really are no words. First of all, I would like to thank all of you. Thank you for reading, thank you for commenting, thank you for criticizing, thank you for voting, thank you for everything. I've said this many times, but it is absolutely true: The writing, the stories – they're all for you, the fans and the KP community. I'm extremely honored to have been nominated tonight, and-"
Biting her lip, Shego pauses, narrowing her eyes as she reads the rest of the paragraph to herself. After a few seconds, she crumples entire letter into a small ball and with a muffled whooomp, ignites her hand, incinerating the pages.
"Okay okay okay, I think we've got it apop. You love us yadda yadda sentimental musings blah blah blah. Oh, and I'd like to thank God too. And my parents. And my dog. And I want world peace." Shego grined, all semblance of formality lost. "I think that covers it. Okay then. Moving on…"
Stepping away from the podium, Shego turns around, her silky hair lightly swishing behind her, dark green ribbons woven in between a few braids. She barely manages three steps before a sharp and commanding voice rings out from the back of the room.
"Hey! Finish the speech."
Within a few heartbeats, her eyes widening in pleasant surprise, Shego slowly pivots around, turning to face the audience once again.
"Well, I expected you to be getting ready for your presentation…Princess."
Dressed in a crimson red long dress, her auburn hair piled in a neat bun with a few silver hair clips, Kimberly Ann Possible stood with her arms crossed, and her eyes glaring at a certain thief.
"Thought it might be a good idea to keep an eye on you, after the trouble you've caused already. Any reason I shouldn't?" She inquired.
Shego shrugged, her eyes beginning to shine with her usual predatory gleam in anticipation of a fight.
"Oh, I don't know." Shego answered airily, arching an eyebrow.
"I see." Kim answered squarely. "Now, finish the statement. You promised that poor author."
"Promises were made for breaking, Pumpkin."
"Don't make me come up there." Kim warned, taking a few steps towards the stage, her diamond earrings catching the light.
"Why would I want you to do that? Besides Kimmie, you should have seen what she had written. That stupid letter was like, eight pages long. I think I'm entitled in cutting her speech a few hours short. And if that isn't enough justification, she's a Kigo shipper."
Pausing midstride, Kim stopped. Understanding swept through her, and she nodded to Shego, her expression serious. "I see. One of those."
"Yeah. One of those."
Throwing her hands up in a mock gesture of defeat, Kim took a step backwards. "Kigo shipper. That kinda says it all, huh? My apologies. Feel free to stop whenever you see fit."
But as the redhead began to make her way back to the rear of the audience, she nodded to Shego. And Shego grinned back, a mysterious and knowing sparkle in her dark eyes.
---
Sighing in amusement at the televised exchange, a girl tapped a pencil against her black moleskin notebook as she gently shook her head.
"I'm 'one of those,' huh? Next time, they're BOTH getting amnesia."
---
Jason just shakes his head. "You can't take those two together anywhere, can you folks?"
Matt just groaned. "Why haven't they fought yet? I was looking forward to a fight. You know, if you had just…"
"Matt, I told you, we are not having them jello wrestle!"
Matt just sulked. "Next year, I get to plan the acts."
Jason just shook his head. "Here's Ron and Rufus, with Naked Mole Rap!"
(Hit it!)
Yo', listen up, have a howler from Ron.
'Naked Mole Rap' is the name of the song. (Word!)
Here's a story in all it's glory.
Ain't hidin' nothin', don't know what the truth is how Ron met Rufus.
Never heard a cat bark,
Never heard a puppy purr,
My dad's allergic to every kind of fur.
So I surfed for hairless pets on the internet,
Saw a jpeg of a pink thing...
Gonna need sunscreen!
What is that? That freaky thing?
(Yes, that's right, it's the naked mole rat.)
Come on y'all, let the girlies sing!
(Listen to the naked mole rap!)
Uh huh! What is that? That freaky thing?
(Yes, that's right, it's the naked mole rat.)
Hey, wait, I can't hear the girls sing!
(Listen to the naked mole rap!)
I heard'a Smartie Mart was havin' a sale on a hairless pink rodent with a long skinny tail.
(That's me!)
It seemed to be this good be a solution,
The perfect pet for my dad's sensitive constitution!
So the manager came to open the cage,
He said, "You know this pet's hairless?"
I said, "I couldn't care less!"
Handed him to me, said, "Be careful don't drop it, and do you want this cage?"
"No, i'll keep him in my pocket!"
(Yay-hay!)
What is that? That freaky thing?
(Yes, that's right, it's the naked mole rat.)
Come on y'all, let the girls sing!
(Listen to the naked mole rap!)
(Oh yeah!)
What is that? That freaky thing?
(Yes, that's right, it's the naked mole rat.)
Gonna buy me some bling-bling!
(Listen to the naked mole rap!)
(...Ooh, super freaky!)
Guitar baby! Uh! What are we missin' here?
(Rufus, the naked mole rat!)
Can I get a boo-yah?
(Boo-yah!)
Oh, can I get a boo-yah?
(Boo-yah!)
Look at the camera, say, "Cheese!"
(Cheese!)
Smile for the camera say, "Cheese!"
Can I get a boo-yah?
(Boo-yah!)
Oh, can I get a boo-yah?
(Boo-yah!)
Look at the camera, say, "Cheese!"
(Cheese!)
I'd smile for the camera say, "Cheese!"
We've heard of Bueno Nacho, chimerito and a naco.
Always grande size it. Why not? I'm buyin'!
Rufus in my pocket, you can't stop it, can't top it,
Don't drop it, you might just pop it!
Rufus and Ron Stoppable with our best friend: Kim Possible.
We're not afraid of any attack.
I say "Yo, KP, we've got your back!"
(Hai-yah!)
What is that? That freaky thing?
(Yes, that's right, it's the naked mole rat.)
Come on y'all, let the girlies sing!
(Listen to the naked mole rap!)
What is that? Super freaky thing!
(Yes, that's right, it's the naked mole rat.)
Come on y'all, let those girlies sing!
(Listen to the naked mole rap!)
Yeah! This ain't no, no freak-o!
Yeah that's right, it's the naked mole rap!
This ain't no, no disco!
Come on y'all, it's the naked mole rap!
This ain't no, no chico/Shego!
Yeah, that's right, it's the naked mole rap!
This ain't no, no wrong-o!
Come on y'all it's the naked mole rap.
Listen to the naked mole rat!
(Muah! buh-bye, buh-bye, buh-bye, buh-bye...)