DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fan fiction. It was written for entertainment purposes only, and falls under the "fair use" provisions of the Copyright act. Unless indicated otherwise, all characters herein are © Disney.


The sky above the prison was a deep, deep purple, with a thin line of fading orange just above the horizon. An icy wind blew through the November sky. Winter was on its way, and it looked like it was going to be a bad one. Not a good night to be outside.

The prison gates shut behind him with a loud CLANG, followed by harsh silence. This wasn't quite the reception the blue man had in mind upon his release. No reporters, no protesters, no screaming fans, no one at all to greet him. Nothing but the cold air whipping past. The sad truth that the only face he had wanted and hoped (but didn't really expect) to see wasn't here either made the blue man even bluer. Dressed in a t-shirt, khakis and a light jacket, Dr. Drakken longed for his trademark blue wool outfit. It was itchy, but it kept him warm. Ever since the accident, he was susceptible to the cold, even in summertime.

Drakken was a little unsure just what to do with himself. This was his first release from jail legally. Usually, he and Shego made a break for it together. He had no idea where she might have been incarcerated, her criminal record was long and she was wanted in countless jurisdictions. In fact, of the two of them, Shego was the only one the authorities considered dangerous. Dr. Drakken was a bit miffed. He was the evil genius! He was the one who made all the diabolical plans! The mastermind! Shego was merely his lackey! Of course when the facts were presented in court, it was discovered that plotting to take over the world wasn't exactly illegal. That fact that he never actually succeeded, foiled every single time by teen wonder Kim Possible, worked to his favor. If he could be so easily defeated by a TEENAGER, he couldn't be considered that much of a threat. Hell, he didn't even merit parole! What turned out to be a blessing in court was a massive blow to his ego. Drat! How he hated that teen-aged do-gooder, goody-goody, goody two-shoes! Drakken's over-priced shyster was able to get him sentenced to only six months in jail, his previous capers were either pleaded down to misdemeanors, time served, or blamed on Shego. Drew Lipsky was merely a victim, dragged down by his affections for the evil, nefarious, green-skinned siren. Whatever the defense was, it worked. He was free.

Free to starve. He may have been considered nothing more than a public nuisance by the criminal court system, but the civil courts were another matter. His finances were wiped out. All of his resources had been eaten away by the fallout of the Bueno Nacho affair, to pay for the Diablo-bots carnage. Not one red cent had he left. All Drakken had was $35.00 and a bus ticket to Lowerton. And these dreadfully thin clothes. He shivered, turning a shade bluer, and trudged off into the twilight, toward the bus depot.


It was the single most beautiful sunset the two of them had ever seen. Of course they said that damn near every evening, but tonight,...well, tonight was just special. The crisp, chilly breeze, the colors of the sky, the taste of the cocoa, the scents in the air, the warmth they shared ... Heaven itself couldn't be this wonderful.

Sitting on the Possible's rooftop as they had so many times before, Ron and Kim had a spectacular view of Middleton valley and the exquisite sunset. Snuggling together in a sleeping bag (it was chilly outside...at least that's the rationale Ron gave MrDr P...), talking about everything and nothing in particular, enjoying the view and each others company, was one of Kim's favorite things to do nowadays. The hero thing had kind of taken a backseat in her new world with Ron. Not that she and Ron didn't go on missions anymore, quite the contrary. Just last week was the disturbing incident with Monkey Fist at the Upperton zoo. And Wade had issued a few warnings about some new nut-case trying to make the scene. Nature abhors a vacuum. But other than that, the calls to duty just weren't as frequent after the Diablo disaster as before. The usual suspects were behaving themselves. It might be a case of the calm before the storm, but Kim certainly hoped not. Everything was absolutely perfect. And it seemed to keep getting better and better.

"That was the second most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life," Ron sighed happily.

"Really? What was the first?" Kim asked, knowing full well what his answer would be.

"Watching Brick score the winning touchdown against the Lemurs the other...OUCH!" he yelped as Kim gave him a pinch. "No, wait a second," Ron recovered. "That was the third thing. The first was a certain red-headed cheerleader on the sidelines!" He smiled down at her.

"Good answer," replied Kim, and she rewarded him with a warm kiss. She snuggled deeper into him. "Oh, Ronnie..." she sighed quietly, resting her head on his shoulder and laying her arm across his chest. She wore a rather forlorn expression for someone who was happy.

Ron noticed this (he was a goofball, but he wasn't dense. Not when it was important, anyway) and asked her: "Everything O.K. KP? That was a heavy sigh."

Rufus, empathetic little creature that he was, sensing something was upsetting his pet girl, popped out of Ron's shirt pocket for a quick check-up. The mole-rat gave Kim a brisk once over and hugged her cheek. "Hhnnk...OK!" he chirped.

Kim pressed her cheek back against him and said, "I'm fine. Really, I'm beyond 'fine'. I love you too, Rufus." She gave him a little peck and patted his head, and, satisfied Kim was good to go, Rufus went back to his post-snooze nap.

"Oh sure! You love him!" teased Ron. "He's cuuute! What about me?"

Kim looked at Ron with an intensity he had rarely seen before, and even then only when she was angry. This was different. Those piercing green eyes of hers cut right into the very core of his soul. No fortification on earth could withstand that onslaught.

"KP? I was just kidding..." She looked so...sad? Happy? Old? Young? Maybe all that combined, maybe something else there was no adequate word for. He was clueless and needed help. "What's going on with you?"

Kim continued gazing into his eyes. Ron wasn't sure what she was looking for, or at, but whatever it was, she seemed to like it. "Love doesn't even begin to describe how I feel...," she trailed off. "It's just... everything is so perfect right now. I never thought I could be this happy, or contented, or...I don't know..." She took a deep breath. "I mean, you and I, all this time and now we're together, and I can't even remember before...when we were best friends, which we still are of course, but then there's... ARRRGH!" A tear of frustration ran down her cheek.

"You always did have a way with words, KP". She pinched him again.

"I mean it, Ron! You mean so much to me, I mean you always did, but now...everything's been so incredible and exciting and,... I don't want it to ever end..." As competent and fearless as she was at practically everything else, Kim had difficulty expressing her deepest feelings, even to Ron. "...I love you. I can't imagine my life without you," was about as close as she could get. She had told him this before, and it still wasn't quite "right," but she could tell Ron understood. It'd have to do, for now.

"S'okay, Kim. I know exactly how you feel" It wasn't a lie. Ron always thought of himself as kind of shallow, and he was often overwhelmed by the depth of his feelings for Kim. He couldn't quite explain it either. So instead, he gently kissed her forehead and reassured her "If I have anything to do with it, you'll never have to." She held him tighter. "Oh, Ron..." she sighed again, her heart and her voice lighter this time.

Beep beep BE deep

Saved by the Kimmunicator. It's familiar ring helped break the sweet melancholy they found themselves in. "What up, Wade?"

"Hey guys!" Wade greeted them cheerfully. "Howzit goin'? I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

"Naw. It's a little early yet for that!" Ron piped up. Kim pinched him once more. "OW!"

"Settle down, Ron. We're good, Wade. What's the sitch?"

"Just letting you know Drakken got released today." Wade announced.

Kim rolled her eyes. "So much for everything being perfect...".

"For once, you have nothing to worry about Kim. I think you guys pretty much defeated him for the last time, last time!" Wade's grip on language was comparable to Kim's, thought Ron. As if she knew what he was thinking, Kim shot him a "you're SO gonna get it if you don't knock it off" look. She made a pinching motion with her fingers. Ron froze as Wade continued: "Even if he did go back to his old habits, he doesn't have much to work with. State prison standard release protocol consists of about forty dollars and a bus ticket to the town of your choice. Within sixty miles of the prison, that is. Be hard to take over the world on that tight of a budget, even for Frugal Lucre."

"That depends..." said Kim. She knew what direction Drakken would most likely take first. "Any luck locating Shego?"

"Nope," said Wade, "Like the rat she is, she's good at hiding, Kim. Hannibal Lecter good. If I can't flush her out, no one can. GJ had to drop her from the 'Most Wanted' list. They listed her as 'presumed dead'."

"Not likely," Kim said. "Shego's out there somewhere. Even Hannibal Lecter was found out eventually." But of course, that was in a not-so-good movie sequel. This was real-life. But, if Wade couldn't find her, there was no way Drakken could. "Thanks, Wade. You rock as always! Keep us posted." She signed off.

"Kids! Dinner's almost ready!" came the sing-song voice of MrsDr P from inside the house. Rufus popped out of Ron's pocket, alert and ever ready at the prospect of food. And he sure loved Mom's cooking. "Yay!" he squeaked. Dinner did smell good.

"Thanks Mom! We'll be right there!" Kim shouted back.

As they climbed the tree down to the back yard, Ron said thoughtfully, "You forgot to ask what city Drakken got a ride to."

"Does it matter?" replied Kim. "Like Wade said, he's got nuthin'!" As they went inside to eat, Kim added, "I mean really, Ron, how much trouble can he cause on his own?"


Trouble was attracted to Drakken. Yes sir, Trouble (with a capital T) really took a shine to good ol' Dr.D. In fact, you could say Trouble was downright crazy in LOVE with him. Trouble stalked Drakken, and no restraining order on earth could keep it away. He hadn't even gotten on the bus before it walked right up and kissed him.

Drakken waited in line at the ticket window to purchase an upgrade to Upperton. If he was going to be destitute and homeless, at least he could do it in the nicest part of the Tri-City area. When he reached the window, the clerk told him: "That'll be forty dollars."

"FORTY DOLLARS!" Drakken choked. "That's outrageous! It's only fifty-two miles difference! I refuse to pay it!"

"Fine, " said the clerk. "When you get to Lowerton you can walk."

Why did everyone give him lip? When he ruled the world, this little man was going to feel the mighty wrath of Dr. Drakken! At the moment, however... "Fine!" Drakken growled, "Here!" He thrust all the cash in his pocket at the clerk.

Looking down at the money, the clerk said,"There's only $35 here. I said forty."

"What?" Drakken counted the money. Blast! He must have been short changed by the deputy at the prison! "Why does this always happen to ME?" he whined to himself.

Changing tactics, Drakken assumed a smarmy air. "Say there, pal! How's about helping out a fellow who's temporarily, I stress temporarily, down on his luck? Care to float me five bucks? Just for a few days? Hmmmmm? I've got a really big check coming in the next few days!" he cajoled. Out and out lied was more like it.

The clerk looked at him skeptically. "Sure you do."

Drakken feigned being affronted. "What do you mean? I would take care of you, buddy! Throw in a little extra moola, you know? Cabbage, semolians, greeny goodness?" Wiggling his fingers, Drakken wheedled his best. Which wasn't very good. "For your trouble, I mean. How's an extra dollar or two sound? Pretty good, eh?" Gilding the lily, he gave the clerk a wink.

"No," said the clerk. "Next!"

Fuming, Drakken stomped off towards the loading area. As he reached the doors, he saw the bus pulling away. Fortunately, it was close enough for him to catch up with it. Running alongside, he banged on the doors. "Hey!" he bellowed. "Ho there! STOP!"

The bus stopped, and the doors opened. Drakken entered and asked, "This is the bus to Lowerton, is it not?"

"Sure is, chum," said the chubby man behind the wheel. "Last one of the night. Got your ticket handy?"

Drakken fumbled through his pockets. No ticket! He must have left it at the counter... "Hold on, I just left it inside. Be right back!" he said cheerily as he exited the bus.

"Sorry, buddy," said the driver, "I got a schedule to meet." The doors closed and the bus drove off.

Coughing through the exhaust fumes, Drakken glowered furiously at the bus as it disappeared into the cold, cold night. "Dandy, just...dandy" he mused angrily. He marched back to the station, and went to see "Mr. Personality" at the ticket window.

"Hey, Blueboy!" yelled the clerk. "Forget something?" He waved Drakken's ticket in the air.

"Give me that!" snapped Drakken, grabbing the ticket from the clerk's hand. "When is the next bus to Lowerton?"

"8:00 tomorrow morning" The station went dark as the clerk shut off the lights. "Nighty-night! Don't let the bedbugs bite!"

"Cute," thought Drakken. "I'll bet the ones in this god-forsaken hell-hole leave nasty welts." Plopping down on a filthy, sticky bench, Drakken savored the darkness. All the better to enjoy the murderous thoughts tap-dancing through his mind.

Miserable, infuriated, and utterly alone (except for the rats), Drakken finally fell into an uneasy sleep. He dreamt in shades of blue and green.

To be continued...