Trial of the Hearts
Chapter II
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The sun shone through the light curtains in her room. Stretching her arms up over her head, Kim opened her eyes. The clock on the bedside table revealed that it was 7:00 am. Rolling over she put her feet on the floor, put on her robe and stepped out of her room into the central part of the suite that she and Ron were sharing. Tiptoeing lightly across the room, she quietly pushed open the door to Ron's room. A light snoring emitted from the pile of blankets and sheets. She edged over to the side of the bed to see a foot sticking out from under the covers. Smiling she stepped back out into the central room and went to the ice bucket they left on the table. Most of the ice had melted but she slid her hands down into the frigid water. She smirked as she held them there until she almost couldn't feel them. She pulled her hands out, dried them on her robe, and walked quietly back into Ron's room. She pulled back the covers and exposing his left legs up to the edge of his boxers. She set herself for the reaction, and then grabbed his leg running her hands up his leg as far as she could reach.
"EEEEIIIIYYAAHHHHH, whOOOOwhoooOOOOOO"
Ron levitated off the bed with a bloodcurdling scream. His scream cut off when he hit the floor on the other side of the bed. A mop of blonde hair appeared over the edge of the bed to glower at his girlfriend.
"Very funny KP, it is to laugh."
Kim giggled as her best friend/boyfriend gave her an icy look.
"Come on. We need to call up some breakfast. The Embassy staff is supposed to be by later this morning to help us get ready for whatever they want us to do."
Ron stood part way up pulling the sheets around him.
"Will do Kim just as soon as you return something."
Ron pointed to the bed right in front of Kim. His boxers lay there on top of the sheets. Kim's hands had pulled them off during Ron's escape from her ice cold hands.
Kim felt the blood rush to her face. She backed up, her face getting redder the further she retreated.
"Ok, uhhh, I think I'll go call up breakfast and let you. You know."
Ron stood up quickly. Kim screeched and covered her eyes.
"RON!"
"It's ok KP you can look."
Kim slowed parted her fingers to stare at Ron. He was standing there in his boxers and t-shirt twirling the other pair of boxers.
"Whaa…" Kim asked.
Ron smiled. "I dropped these on the bed last night. I just thought turnabout was fair play."
"Oh you!" Kim growled as she advanced on Ron. She stood in front of him for a second then wrapping her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. A knock sounded at the door and the two separated. Ron put on a pair of sweat pants while Kim went and opened the door to the suite.
Mabel, the suite maid came in pushing a food cart covered in silver serving dishes.
"Breakfast is served, young miss and young sir. Ernie and I have set you up with hotcakes, bacon, fresh fruit and milk. There is butter and warm syrup to go with the hotcakes."
The wonderful smell coming from the serving dishes made Kim's mouth water. Ron held Kim's chair as she sat down, then took his seat beside her. Ernie, the suite valet, stood at the table pouring some juice into two glasses. The two teens were happy to see their two friends from their prior stay at the hotel. Ernie placed the two glasses of juice in front of the teens.
"Well now. Looks like the two of you rested well. Please eat before the hotcakes and bacon get cold."
There was another knock at the door and Ernie went to open it. A U.S. Army Major and a sharply dressed young woman entered the suite. The officer approached the table and saluted.
"Good morning Team Possible. I am Major Ian Grantham, this is Ms. Jennifer Lions. We are from the American embassy. We are here to help you get ready for your audience with the Queen this afternoon, then a formal dinner in your honor after the ceremony."
Kim and Ron looked at each other then back at the American Military officer.
"Ceremony, what ceremony?"
Major Grantham smiled. "Oh that's right, you haven't been told yet."
Alarm bells were ringing in Kim's head as she sat back in her chair.
"Told what?"
Ms. Lions motioned to the door and several people came into the room, some carried clothing bags, others small cases. She turned back to the teens.
"Well Miss Possible, Mr. Stoppable. Before the dinner tonight, the two of you shall be Knighted into the Order of Bath. It is one of the highest honors that can be given to someone who is not a British citizen."
"Knighted?"
Kim and Ron glanced at each other, and then back at Ms. Lions.
"That is correct. We have brought a complete line of formal wear for the two of you as well as hair stylist and other staff to help you be ready. You parents have been notified and will watch by a direct satellite feed. They suggested what you might want to wear. Since the two of you arrived with only your mission cloths and what little extra clothing you carry, we thought it prudent to bring a few things with us."
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The grand hall was filled with dignitaries and government leaders. Historic flags of Great Britain hung from the casemented walls. It was time.
Ron presented his arm to Kim as they were escorted forward. She smiled at her BFBF; he looked as handsome as he ever had. Now they walked forward to be honored together. This was a dream come true for her. It had always been her to receive the awards. Ron just seemed to be forgotten each time. But, now he was at her side as together they moved forward to be honored. He so deserved this. No one could ever ignore the fact that he was a full partner in Team Possible.
They slowly walked forward. Kim felt like it took forever the walk the distance to the podium. Soon they stood before the Queen. The protocol officer mentioned that since they were not citizens of England, they were not required to kneel. The two of them had been given dual citizenship with their permission and the approval of their parents. Even so, the two of them felt it would be better if they knelt, just to honor the Queen and England. The two teens arrived at the end of the walkway and stood before the Queen. She stood and took the sword as it was handed to her.
"Kimberly Anne Possible, Ronald Eugene Stoppable. You have performed great deeds of bravery and service for England. These feats were done at danger to yourselves and with great sacrifice. We the people of England wish to thank you for this service. Kimberly, Ronald would you please kneel?"
The two teen knelt on the cushions provided and bowed their heads as they held hands.
The Queen stepped forward and raised the sword. As she spoke she tapped Kin and Ron on each shoulder.
"I, Queen Elizabeth of England do hereby bestow upon Kimberly Ann Possible and Ronald Eugene Stoppable the Knights Order of Bath. Rise Sir Ronald, Rise Dame Kimberly."
The Queen motioned for them to turn and face that audience as they applauded
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Kim and Ron could hear the mummer of voices as they approached the doors of the State Dining Room. She and Ron now both wore the vestments of the Order of Bath. The staff bowed as they approached the door. Other couples waited to enter the dining room watched as Team Possible passed. The men would bow and the ladies would curtsy. Kim glanced over to Ron as she maintained her hold on his arm. This was getting to be a little heady for the two teens. They arrived at the door and were ushered in by a doorman. As they entered the room, a chamberlain by the door raised the staff he held in his hands and brought it booming to the floor three times. The room became quiet as he called out.
"The Lady Dame Kimberly Possible, and Sir Ronald Stoppable."
Kim and Ron stood just inside the door as the room exploded into applause. The two teens glanced at each other as they remembered another night and another place they entered hand in hand only to be greeted by applause. They smiled to the assembled host as they were escorted to their seats.
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Kim and Ron sat at the desk that they had set up in Kim's room. There was a large storage bin that contained all papers and magazines they had appeared in. There was also a large stack of offers they were going through. The wastebasket on the floor was labeled "You have got to be kidding". There was no explanation needed about the offers that landed here. Mud wrestling and the like landed here. There was a file basket on one side to the desk label "Sounds Interesting". This basket contained the offers that the two of them would consider with a little more information. The basket next to that was labeled "BOOYAH!" This small basket contained the offers that the two of them agreed to do. It was agreed that for them to consider any offer both of them had to be invited or included or they agreed that it would be okay to go separately.
Kim giggled at the face Ron was making.
Ron held the paper out in front of him and started to read. "Charity, Danny. You need to face it. Pim and I accepted it. We are so different, yet perfect for each other."
Kim twirled her hair back and read from her paper. "That's right. Accept it as we did. Don't accept what others say. You love her, she loves you."
Ron finished as he read the narrator's part.
"Don and Pim held hands as they turned to walk back to the bus. Charity and Danny watched as the famous teen pair walked away. They looked at each other and realized that Don and Pim were helping them. Their love would face whatever life faced them with. Just as the two hero teens had shown the way."
Kim dropped the script from Agony County onto the desk. She dropped her head into her hands.
"Ron do they really believe that we can say those lines with a straight face. I mean showing up as guests on Agony County is one thing, but being the reason that those two finally get together and during the ending show. No way!"
Ron dropped his script on the desk next to hers.
"Yeah KP, they want us to be a hero pair of cheerleader and school loser turned leading running back. We are supposed to be the two big opposites showing two other opposites how to buck the food chain."
Kim picked up another packet. The front had "Celebrity Dance" written on the front.
"Well, we could always try and dance on this stage."
Ron snorted. "Kim, as much as I love dancing with you, that I am not ready for. Besides the dancing they want us to do is not quite what we are used to."
Kim rolled her chair over and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Don't you want to show everyone what a Bon-Diggity dancer you are?"
Ron took Kim's slim waist in his hands.
"I'm up for it if you are KP."
Kim shook her head. "SO not going to happen. If you look inside the packet and see the dresses they want me to wear you would know why. That would end up as a months grounding from dad. Some of the costumes are tighter than my battle suit and a lot less material.
Ron looked over at the pile of folders and picked up a number of files.
"Well, you have been invited to Cheerleader University. They want me on Iron Chef. We agreed on doing those separately. Then we have the talk shows, local, regional and national."
Kim got up into his lap.
"Well Summer Gayle did ask first and she is local, so I think we should be on her show first."
Ron nodded.
"How about the national ones?"
Kim thought for a moment.
"Well, we have the evening ones, and the day ones. What do you think? I am thinking the Betterman show, and the Clay Deno show. We can decide on the morning shows later. Right now I think my BF needs his weekly allotment of Nacos."
Ron gave her kiss on the tip of her nose.
"Booyah."
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The score was 21-18 in favor of the Wart Hogs. Jason had already been sacked a couple of times, and Ron had been targeted the entire game. He had been able to get past the line of scrimmage only a few times, but he never could get very far downfield. Each time he had been tackled, there were plenty of punches thrown under the pile, which were unseen or ignored by the officials. The Maddogs were on their own 45, with 20 seconds left in the game. Jason knelt in the huddle and looked over at Ron. Ron held his side and winced.
"Dude are you okay?"
Ron nodded, and Jason patted him on the back.
"Okay guys, last play. Does everyone remember the play Coach Barkin drew up that one day?" Everyone nodded in agreement. "He just gave me the signal for it."
They broke the huddle and settled into a modified wish-bone formation. The full backs were split behind Jason, who was in shotgun formation, and Ron was directly behind the quarterback about two yards further back. The ball was sitting on the left hash-mark, so the two wide-outs were set up on the right.
He barked out a long count in an attempt to draw the defense off sides, but they didn't bite. Finally Jason yelled out "Hike", and immediately a number of different things started to happen.
The near receiver ran a quick post route, and the far one ran a flag. Jason immediately went to his right as if to pass to one of the receivers. His fullbacks however, peeled off to the left, and Ron was a few yards behind them. Jason saw his defender break through the line as expected and did a pump-fake, which slowed the man down. Then he turned and threw a lateral pass to Ron!
Ron caught the ball about a yard and a half behind the line of scrimmage, and barreled forward behind the full backs, who by now had picked up their blocks and a huge hole had formed in front of Ron. He turned on the speed, and ran like there was no tomorrow.
He made it to the 50, the 40, the 30… Ron didn't realize that the Safety was coming across the field, until he had reached the 10, which was when time had run out in the game. It was all or nothing now. The Safety's name was Nelson McDavis, and he was widely known for his speed and strength in the secondary. In fact, he was being actively recruited by a number of colleges.
Nelson caught Ron at the five, grabbed him around the waist, and tried to muscle Ron to the turf. It didn't work. Just before the Safety had wrapped his arms around him, Ron had switched the ball to his left to free his right arm. Stumbling backwards Ron had worked his arm between himself and Nelson, and pushed!
Nelson lost his feet, and as he went down he swiped out at Ron's ankles. Ron's feet went out from under him near the corner of the endzone. His feet left the turf just inside the out of bounds line as grass and dirt flew from his cleats, and his momentum carried his body directly over the corner marker. Ron quickly extended his hands out as they held onto the ball, and Ron's body sailed over the marker, the ball passing just inside the marker!
When he finally landed, his chest was lying on the out of bounds marker, and the ball, still clutched in his hands, was in the end zone. The referee blew his whistle and raised his hands. Touchdown!
Immediately the Wart Hogs coach was on the referee. "How can that be a touchdown? His feet are clearly out of bounds!"
The ref calmly replied to the livid face of the coach. "His feet left the turf while he was still inbounds, and then the ball crossed the plane of the goal before he landed. As a result, the ball was still in play when this happened. I repeat… Touchdown!
Camera flashes filled the stadium, and Ron stood up as the Mad Dogs rushed the field. A red headed streak of lightning shot past them all. Kim bounded over them all in a head long rush to get to Ron first. Ron dropped the ball, took off his helmet, and opened his arms to greet his girlfriend. Kim leaped into his arms with a kiss that broke every PDA rule in the state of Colorado. The cameras followed the couples every move. The crowd lifted Kim and Ron to their shoulders and carried them to the center of the field. Bonnie stood off to the side with arms crossed.
"Enjoy it K! Enjoy it while you can, but I'll be there when you fall so I can enjoy watching."
She spun and left the field.
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Kim was nestled in Ron's arms as the lay on the couch in his treehouse. A number of papers lay on the floor. The one thing common on all of them was a single picture of Kim and Ron kissing with the scoreboard in the background.
Kim pouted as Ron dropped the last paper on the floor.
"Mr. Barkin didn't have to give us detention. I mean we were just celebrating."
Ron kissed the top of her head.
"It was worth it KP. Beside's the rules apply to us just as much as anyone else. We were lucky that he didn't make it more than he did."
Kim shrugged. "I know, but it was still just celebrating."
Ron pulled an errant strand of hair away from her face and kissed her forehead.
"Well, at least we will be doing something to together."
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Bonnie sat in her room cutting pictures out of the paper. A section of a wall in her room was covered in pictures. All of them were x-ed out in red marker. All featured one of two figures or both of them. Kim and Ron.
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Junior and Shego watched the news on the big screen TV in the living room on the island. The report on the game was playing. The reporter was stood on the field with the scoreboard still on showing the score. As she began her report the screen was filled with the tape of the game.
"Ron Stoppable pulled out all the stops and stepped up to win the game for the Maddogs. In an amazing run from their own 45 Stoppable showed his amazing dexterity in running. Dodging several Warthog players and literally leaping over others. He dove into the endzone for the win. Within seconds Kim Possible celebrated with her partner and boyfriend in the endzone."
The screenshot froze showing the kiss Kim gave Ron. The shot shrank in size to a small picture on the screen with the reporter.
One of the other anchors laughed as he spoke with the reporter on the screen.
"I would imagine with celebratory gifts like that we can expect Stoppable to continue his amazing runs."
The reporter smiled.
"That is true David. But on a sidenote. I learned later that that little display earned Kim and Ron sometime in detention. However considering the two teens together, I believe that those two will be spending some more time in detention. This is Sharon Parker reporting."
Junior whimpered.
"My blue fox, why is my blue fox kissing that pink sloth."
Shego snapped off the screen.
"Well, looks like the princess and the buffoon have it all right now. See you later, Junior. I think I'll go get my former boss out of that prison and see what trouble we can raise."
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Deep within in the Global Justice base, Will Du snapped off the screen to his TV. He stood as he turned to go on duty.
"Amateurs!"
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Okay everyone, that is my installment of our story. It is great working with Whitem. The two of us work together on each of the chapters with each of us being the main writer for the chapters in turn. I hope that you will enjoy this chapter and will continue to enjoy the rest of the story.
I now had the story back to my partner, Whitem.
Kim and the gang are the property of the Disney Company. Whitem and I own this story.