Kim Possible and all related characters are the property of Disney. Green Lantern and all related characters are the property of DC Comics.
In days of peace and nights of war, obey the laws forevermore.
Misconduct must be answered for, swear us the chosen,
The Alpha Corps!
-Oath of the Alpha Lanterns
Kim Possible stood (or was she floating) in the midst on an indoor star field deep within the Guardian citadel on planet Oa. Before her floated the Guardians of the Universe; immortal blue skinned beings who had taken in upon themselves to impose order on the chaotic universe.
Behind Kim were two other members of the Green Lantern Corps; a spindly four armed alien with an elongated head and several ring generated computer screens surrounding him. This was Salaak, the Corps administrator and next in line after the Guardians in the chain of command. Beside him was Kilowog, the Lantern Corps drill instructor who had fought alongside Kim during the battle with the Sinestro Corps.
"This is most unusual," a female Guardian with a heavily scarred face said. "Ganthet and Sayd have been banished, and are in no position to recruit new Lanterns."
"They gave Kyle his ring back," Kilowog pointed out, referring to Lantern Kyle Rayner.
"Yes," a male Guardian said, "but Lantern Rayner was already in the Corps. Kim Possible was not."
"She did handle herself with valor in the conflict," another female Guardian interjected. "Do not forget, brothers and sisters, that not just anyone can work a power ring. Kim Possible was found to be worthy of the ring, and has proven that she has the will to use it."
"But what of the glut of representatives from Earth?" the scarred Guardian asked. "There are already four Green Lanterns not only from Sector 2814, but from Earth. We do not need a fifth."
"I disagree," Kilowog huffed. "Possible held her own better than a lot of vets!"
Kim was getting more than a little fed up with the back and forth. "Can I say something?"
"And like the other Earthlings, she shows disrespect," a male Guardian said coldly.
"On the contrary," Salaak finally said. "Her fate is being decided. She should have an opportunity to speak on her own behalf."
"Look, I know you don't want me here, but the ring chose me." Kim's ring glowed intensely when she said that. "I've been saving the world for years without a power ring. You don't want me in your little club? Fine! Just give me a good reason why I don't deserve this ring! I left a lot of people behind who I love. I'm putting my own future on hold for this. I've already made sacrifices for the Corps. That should say something about me."
"Well said, poozer," Kilowog smiled.
"Are you finished, Kim Possible of Earth?" a female guardian asked. "Then we will decide on your fate. Lantern Salaak, please escort Lantern Kilowog and Kim Possible from these chambers so we may deliberate."
Meditation was never easy for Ron Stoppable. He was so prone to distraction that the very thought of letting go and relaxing mind and body was a near impossibility. But he was trying. He was meditating in the courtyard of the Yamanuchi school, trying to find his center, trying to feel nature around him and in him, and trying to reconnect with the Mystical Monkey Power that was so violently torn from him just days prior.
But it wasn't just his own problems focusing that were hindering Ron's attempts, but thoughts of his now absent girlfriend Kim Possible. Kim leaving for college was something he had accepted. Kim being recruited into the Green Lantern Corps came completely out of left field.
"Ah I can't do it, Rufus!" Ron exclaimed. As he fought to get his now asleep legs out of the lotus position, a figure in the shadows was watching him.
Yori Katahira was an accomplished ninja, and could hide in the shadows as easily as a spider could spin a web. She wanted to rush to Ron's side, but knew she shouldn't. He needed to stand or fall on his own. Yori watched Rufus help Ron untangle himself, and thought back to when she first met this humble hero.
It was not love at first sight, she thought. But it was infatuation. No, love did not come until he rescued me from Fukushima. But I knew even then that his destiny was not to walk alongside me. Yori let out a sigh so low that not even Superman could hear it. She had always put the good of others before herself. Partially because of duty, but also because that was who she was.
Your place is at Kim Possible's side, Ron-kun; and it is at her side that you shall walk again. She needs you, and I feel that the universe will need her.
At that moment there was a flicker in the emotional spectrum; an indigo pulse that was all too rare in the cosmos. Had anyone attuned to that spectrum been there to see it, it would have been a sight to behold. It was a display that did not go unnoticed.
"Nok," a man floating above the courtyard said to his female companion.
"Lek nok," she agreed.
The two aliens, dressed in what could be considered mere rags, continued to watch. They both wore the same symbol on their tunics; a circle with an arrow pointing above it, and one below. This symbol was also painted on their foreheads, and the female had it on the sides of her legs. In their hands they both carried long staffs that looked like they were carved from rough hewn rock. The tops of these staffs looked like the power batteries of the various Lantern Corps. They continued to watch Yori, knowing that she was special.
Elsewhere at the Yamanuchi school, Sensei could sense his student's frustration. It was a frustration he shared. The meditation is only to calm him, and right now his mind is too chaotic. His soul is in turmoil. A knock at the door roused Sensei from his musings. A young man with spiky hair entered the room.
"Something troubles you, Sensei?"
"Yes, Hirotaka," Sensei sighed. "As you know, both I and the Han are linked to the Mystical Monkey Power through or bloodline ties to Toshimiru. Like the Han, I too felt Stoppable-san's separation from the power and feared his death."
Hirotaka closed his eyes. He was in America during Ron's exchange trip to Japan, so he didn't get to know the Monkey Master very well. But he learned much about the young man from his best friend Kim Possible. "Is it possible to restore his power to him?"
"I do not know, my student," Sensei said in a grave voice. "I truly do not know."
Kim poked at her food in the Corps mess hall. "Are you sure this is macaroni and cheese? It looks more like... hyper irradiated mystery meat."
"Ugh," Kyle Rayner grunted. "I remember mystery meat. And I remember when I found out what was in it." The Green Lantern shuddered. "Snouts."
"Yeah, major gross out," Kim agreed. "So, have you had your meeting with the Guardians yet?"
"Yeah. It turns out I was never intended to be the host for Ion, I was just in the right place at the right time."
"That's pretty messed up," Kim said, deciding to give up on her meal. "So what happens to you now?"
"Well, I had a little adventure with Sodam Yat, my replacement as Ion. We managed to take down a nut job with a yellow ring named Alex Nero."
"And?"
"And I'm now on the Honor Guard," Kyle said with a bit of pride. "I've been partnered up with Guy."
"He's kind of a jerk," Kim said with a grimace.
"Apparently, he used to be worse," Kyle laughed. "I've heard horror stories from Hal and John, not to mention Wonder Woman, Superman and the rest of the Justice League. Just never mention Batman around him; Guy and Batman don't get along."
"Why's that?"
"Batman floored the poozer with one punch," Kilowog snorted as he walked up to the table Kim and Kyle were sharing. "The Guardians have made their decision."
"And?" Kim asked, clearly anxious.
"And I'm sorry. But you get to keep the ring."
Kim did a double take. "If I get to keep the ring, why are you sorry?"
A sneer crossed the large alien's face. "Because now yer scrawny ass belongs ta me! When I say jump, you say how high! When I tell you to run, you run till yer legs feel like lead, then you run some more! And I'm gonna make you give me one hundred and fifty percent at all times! I'm gonna be yer best friend and worst enemy rolled into one. You may have been big stuff on Earth, but now you're just another poozer among more poozers! I'm gonna make you the best Lantern you can be, or break you." Kilowog leaned down and got in Kim's face. "The choice is yours."
Kim gave Kilowog an almost arrogant looking grin. "Bring it."
The days had stretched into weeks for Ron as his training progressed. He sat in silence in his room, finally getting the hang of meditating. Ron's serenity was short lived when he heard Sensei come to the door. "May I enter, Stoppable-san?"
"Sure," Ron replied, trying to untangle his legs. "What's up?"
"I regret to inform you, Stoppable-san, that Yori will no longer be able to assist you."
"Why?"
A look of sadness and pride crossed the old man's face. "She is achieving her destiny," was all he said. "But that is not all. I have more bad news..."
The days had stretched into weeks for Kim as her training progressed. Kilowog wasn't kidding when he said he was going to push Kim to her limits. There were times Kim retired to her bunk at night thinking the large alien should have been a super villain. He could make Shego cry, Kim thought more than once. But at the same time she knew that this relentless training was for her benefit. She also knew that she was more more advanced than the other recruits. But the training had borne fruit. Kim's skill with the ring had greatly improved. She even learned how to alter her uniform.
Kim patterned it after her latest mission uniform. In Corps colors, of course. She wore a short sleeved green shirt, form fitting black pants with a green stripe running down her legs, green boots that went to mid calf, and wrist length white gloves. The uniform was all one piece, so the stripes on her legs appeared to connect her shirt and her boots with the pants. The only thing Kim couldn't change was the empty white circle on her chest. The badge would come in due time.
Kim had seen a lot in her short time on Oa. The Corps was changing, and a lot of those changes scared long time Lanterns. Another new law had been added to the Book of Oa, authorizing lethal force against all enemies of the Corps. Several other Green Lanterns had been upgraded with Manhunter technology and turned into cyborgs called Alpha Lanterns; or as Hal described them, Internal Affairs. Their first duty was to expel Laira, the Green lantern of Sector 112, from the Corps for murder.
Kim sighed. Laira had murdered Amon Sur, the Sinestro Corpsman who attacked Ron and cut the Mystical Monkey Power from him. He was mine, Kim thought again. I was going to hunt him down, bring him in, and throw him into a sciencell myself! Then I was going to watch him rot in there for the rest of his life! But I wouldn't have killed him. No, Laira had killed him for slaughtering the family of a Lantern named Ke'Hann, who had died during the war with the Sinestro Corps. Laira was stripped of her ring, expelled from the Corps, and sent back to her home planet of Jade. That was the plan, anyway. Then a red ring found her. It looks like the War of Light is coming. The Red Lanterns are already here. At least the Blue Lanterns are here, too.
But that wasn't the only thing. Today Kim had been training on a moon in Oa's star system with rookies who had been granted temporary badges. In addition to advanced training, Kim had a front row seat to some heavy flirting between Kyle Rayner and Dr. Soranik Natu; Corps medic, neurosurgeon, and Green Lantern of Sector 1417. Not only was she from Sinestro's sector and wearing his old power ring, she was from his home planet of Korugar. The flirting was fun to watch. Too bad it hand to end.
Kim shuddered as she remembered what everyone thought was rainfall. Only it wasn't rainfall. It was eyes. Some monster massacred the families of Green Lanterns, and made their eyes rain down on us. Kim was walking outside of the rookie barracks, looking for a Lantern who looked like a polar bear.
"Zevon?" she said. Zevon Parzxx was one of the Lanterns who had just learned his family was dead. "Are... is there anything I can do?"
Zevon looked at Kim with his wet eyes and tear streaked fur. She still remembered Kilowog gently placing a hand on the young Lantern's shoulder.
"No shame, rooks," he'd said. "There's no shame in feeling this." Kilowog was a survivor himself. He'd lost not only his family, but his entire race. His home planet of Bolovax Vik was no more than an asteroid belt now.
"I don't know what you could do, Kim," Zevon said. "I mean I... my mother..." Sobs again racked his body. Kim quickly embraced her fellow Lantern. She simply held him as he wept. Kim said nothing. She just held him and let him grieve.
After several minutes, Zevon pulled himself together. "Thank you," he said in a quiet voice. "Thank you."
"No big," Kim replied. "We're all Green Lanterns. We stick together."
"We do," the bear like alien agreed. "And the Corps is the only family I have left." Zevon quietly walked off, not knowing or caring where he was going. It was after curfew, but Kim doubted there would be any repercussions.
"How are the rookies?" a voice from above asked.
Kim neither jumped in surprise or looked up. "As well as can be expected, Salaak," she answered.
"And how are you?" the Protocol Lantern asked.
"I really don't know," Kim said. "I keep thinking that it could have been my family. Or Ron."
"I am authorizing extra ring com time for all rookies, Possible," Salaak said. "Go speak to your family and your loved one."
Kim gave the four armed alien a small grin. "Thanks, Salaak."
"If you'll excuse me, I now have bereavement leave to authorize for several dozen recruits."
Ron sat in his room at Yamanuchi, trying to absorb what he'd just been told. "Well, Rufus, I guess this is it," the blond man said.
"Sorry," the small rodent squeaked. Rufus had been hit with a double whammy. He had been in Ron's pocket when the Mystical Monkey Power was stolen from him. The naked mole rat heard and felt the assault on his human. "What now?" Rufus asked as he watched his human begin to pack for the trip home.
"Dunno," Ron answered. "I really don't know."
"Don't know what?" a familiar and missed voice asked. Ron looked up and saw a glowing green projection of Kim.
"KP!" He was about to run to his girlfriend.
"Whoah, Ron!" the image said as it held up its hands. "Remember what happened last time?"
"Uh, yeah." Ron had run through the paper walls of his room, and through three more before he finally stopped. "So, as you like to say, what's he sitch? I mean, you only get one call a week, and that was a few days ago."
"Something happened here," Kim replied. "Something major. The families of a lot of rookies were murdered. Guy, Kyle, and a Green Lantern strike force found the monsters who did it. Big surprise, it was some of Sinestro's cronies who got away after the war. I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"All right as rain, KP!" Ron said, not wanting to worry Kim anymore than she already was.
"And Rufus hates cheese," Kim replied. "I know you too well, Ron. Besides, you're packing to leave and you're not gushing about how you got the MMP back. Now what's the sitch? How are you really?"
Ron slumped. "Not so good. Sensei says that the power has returned to nature, and that there's no way for me to get it back. That Oracle person even got involved and told Wade about these magic dudes called the Shadowpact. They couldn't help, Zatanna couldn't help. It's really gone, Kim. My powers are really gone."
"Oh Ron..." It was times like these that Kim wished she had flown back to Earth so she could comfort the man she loved. "You have other things going for you. You have your mad running away skills."
Ron sat down on his meditation mat. "I think I'm hanging up the mission duds. Jim and Tim are doing pretty good, and no one gets their names wrong. Besides, you get those two and Wade working together, and you get better gadgets then we ever had. I think my sidekick days are over. It's just... I don't know what else to do." Ron lowered his head. "It feels like I don't have anything anymore."
Kim's image crouched down beside Ron. "Monkey powers or no monkey powers, you were always a hero to me. You'll find a path. I know you will. And I'll be back just as soon as I can. Okay?"
"Sure, KP," Ron said dejectedly.
"I love you."
"Love you too, Kim."
"I have to go," Kim said. "I've used half of my extra com time. The other half is for the fam." Ron nodded. "I will be home soon. I promise."
The North Star has been used as a guiding beacon in the night sky by human sailors for centuries. But it also has another name; Polaris. And like other stars, Polaris is orbited by planets. One of these planets is a lush garden world called Odym. It was here that two immortal beings, Ganthet and Sayd, settled after being banished from Oa by the Guardians of the Universe. The two blue skinned beings levitated above the ground hand in hand, their eyes closed.
"I can sense it fading," Sayd said with a bit of sorrow in her voice.
"As it has for several weeks," Ganthet added. "Before it would rise and fall like ocean waves, but now there is no recovery. The time must be soon, before the light is extinguished forever. We must bring him here."
"Saint Walker and Brother Warth are with Hal Jordan in the Vega system, learning the truth of the orange light of avarice and the Guardians' pact with its bearer. We have no one to send." Sayd opened her eyes. "This will also be a departure from our plan. We sent the first ring to Saint Walker in Sector 1. He then found Warth in Sector 2, who will go on to Sector 3 to find the next of out Blue Lanterns. This candidate is in Sector 2814."
"Then we must adapt ourselves and our plan, Sayd. Being unwilling to change has been one of the Guardians' failings." Ganthet lowered himself to the ground. "We can either send a ring, or one of us can do to him."
"I sense we must do it soon," Sayd added, "before it is too late."
"In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape our sight! Let those who worship evil's might beware our power; Green Lantern's light!"
The new recruits, rookies who had been forged in the crucible of Kilowog's training, floated before the Central Power Battery on Oa, and had just charged their rings from it for the first time.
"Fellow Lanterns," Salaak said, "I give you the newest members of the Green Lantern Corps!"
Every Lantern on Oa who was gathered erupted into thunderous cheering and applause. Kim Possible, now a full fledged Green Lantern, admired her new badge. It wasn't just a lantern patch inside the white circle, it was a metallic looking construct that was now a part of her uniform. I made it. The Guardians didn't really want me here, but I still made it! As Ron would say, this is beyond badical! I wish he was here right now.
"And now," Salaak continues, "it is time for the new Lanterns to receive their assignments, Lantern Zevon Parzxx..." One by one the new Lanterns were assigned to their sectors and were introduced to their new sector partners. In the old days, the Corps consisted of 3,600 Lanterns; one for every sector of the universe. Now there were 7,200 strong with each sector being represented by two Lanterns. Hal Jordan and John Stewart were the Green Lanterns of Sector 2814, which was probably the reason Guy Gardner and Kyle Rayner were both in the Honor Guard. Kim was almost afraid she'd be assigned to a support roll.
I hope they don't put me to work in the mess hall, Kim thought. Then again, my cooking can't be any worse than what they already serve. Maybe now that I'm not a rookie anymore I can finally eat at Warriors.
"Kim Possible of Earth," Salaak announced. "You are assigned to the Honor Guard, and will be reporting directly to Honor Lanterns Gardner and Rayner."
A huge grin came to Kim's face, especially when she saw the looks she was getting from Guy and Kyle.
"You planned this," Kim said to them when the ceremony was over.
"Planned, no," Guy said.
"Requested, yes," Kyle added. "We figured that since we worked well together before, we would again."
"Exactly right," Guy smirked. "Now, down to business! You're first assignment, Honor Lantern Possible, is to join us at Warriors for a celebratory drink!"
"Uh, Guy, I'm underage."
Kyle tried not to snicker. "Laugh it up, pretty boy," Guy huffed. "Okay, you can have a root beer then. And a burger and fries. I'm pretty sure you're sick of that slop they try to pass off as Earth food.
Back on Earth, not too long after the fall of the Green Lantern Corps, Guy Gardner opened a super hero theme bar and restaurant called Warriors. It was destroyed during the adventure that brought Hal Jordan back to the land of the living. After the Sinestro Corps War, Guy and Kyle reopened it on Oa as a place where Lanterns could commiserate, and where Guy could finally get a decent beer. Guy was standing behind the bar, enjoying one of those adult beverages, while Kim savored the first real Earth food she'd had since coming to Oa.
"This is really good," she said between bites. "Makes me miss the barbecues we used to have back home." A thought came to Kim. "You know, it's too bad Ron isn't here. He could make good food great!"
Kyle cocked an eyebrow. "Ron's a good cook?"
"Ferociously good, Kyle!" Kim gushed. "He turned the cafeteria at Middleton High into a gourmet restaurant. Until the health department shut it down because he had Rufus waiting tables."
"Who's Rufus?" Guy asked.
"Ron's pet naked mole rat."
"Bwa ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaa!" Guy cackled. "Is that what they're calling it now? I've never heard it called a naked mole rat before!"
Kyle rolled his eyes behind the white lenses of his mask. "Get your mind out of the gutter, Guy."
An image of Rufus sprang from Kim's ring. "This is Rufus, you pervert!"
"I like my definition better," Guy said, wiping his eyes. "So anyway, how good a cook is this boyfriend of yours? Really?"
"Ever heard of the Naco?"
"I love Nacos!" Kyle said. "I haven't had one since we left Earth. Why?"
Kim smiled with pride. "Who do you think invented them?"
"Something to think about," Guy said with an air of seriousness that Kim rarely saw from him. "Definitely something to think about."
Since returning from Japan, Ron had dedicated himself to getting into college. Unfortunately, his streak of rotten luck was continuing. He finally started getting letters back from the schools he applied to, but they were all rejection letters. The colleges that didn't respond had lost his applications. Ron was close to giving up. Kim wouldn't want me to, though, he thought. But Kim can do anything. I guess I can't do anything at all.
Another shift had ended for Ron at Smarty Mart. He still hadn't replaced his wrecked scooter, so he was taking to bus to and from work. It was only eight o'clock at night, but to Ron, it felt even later. He started the walk to the bus stop. Alone. Rufus was taking a Hana day, leaving Ron to his own devices. "I can't give up," Ron said aloud. "I mean, Kim said it herself! I'm still a hero to her. Even if she's a super hero now."
Ron was coming to the bus stop bench when he saw a bright blue light streak down from the sky. "Uh oh," he gulped. He then noticed that the light was coming right for him. "Major uh oh!" Ron took off like Shego was chasing him. Ron was fast, but the light was faster. It flew passed him and and exploded into a nearly blinding super nova of blue radiance. Ron had been panicking when the light chased him, but he went into hysterics when it spoke to him.
"Ron Stoppable of Earth..."
Next chapter: Ron is mising and Kim is on his trail. And as Earth celebrates Hero's Day, a new threat emerges from the darkness.