6) Under no circumstances is a Creator allowed to change the creation after it has happened. Doing so will ensure the Creator's expulsion from the order.
Mon·o·lith: [mon-uh-lith] noun
1. An obelisk, column, large statue, etc., formed of a singleblock of stone.
2. A single block or piece of stone of considerable size,especially when used in architecture or sculpture.
July 9th, 2012
Los Angeles, California
5:45 P.M.
Robert heard the sound of a car pulling into his driveway and he knew immediately who it was.
Don't be cocky, don't let him be cocky, he pleaded silently as he heard the knock on his door. Walking through the hallway that led through his house, Robert unlocked his front door and saw his friend standing on his porch with a smile.
"So you see, this is why you buy a PC," he joked.
"This is why you buy a PC," Robert said mockingly, "Look can you just fix my computer?"
The smile never left his friend's face and with a quiet nod from Robert, he entered the house.
August 13th, 1257 A.D.
Castle Stoppable, The Kingdom of Middleton
8:08 A.M.
The soft caress of silk sheets on her cheek was the first sensation Kim felt upon waking up. Rolling onto her back, Kim stretched and let out a contented sigh.
"You read my mind," Ron said from next to her, his voice sounding almost awestruck.
Kim started at his voice but like a crashing wave, the night came back and Kim blushed awkwardly, "thanks," she mumbled.
Ron laughed jovially and sat up in bed and looked towards the open window as Kim rested her head on his bare chest and felt his golden beard rub against the top of her head, "can I ask you a personal question?" she asked.
Ron looked beneath the sheets at their state of undress for confirmation and nodded, "now would seem an appropriate time."
She punched him playfully in the shoulder, "about last night..."
Ron nodded, "I agree completely: Amazing."
Kim nodded, almost perturbed that Ron interrupted her but feeling too good to care, "Where am I?"
Ron smiled, "I know I was pretty good last night but memory loss is something new."
This time Kim pinched him and he smiled, "I'm serious," she countered, "Where are we?"
Ron pulled away from Kim and got up from the bed, allowing the sheets to fall from his body. To Kim he looked older, more distinguished but she was hardly focused on his face as her eyes lingered…else…where…
Focused on the goal Possible, Focused on the goal, she chastised herself, and not on that perfectly formed-
"Hard to believe isn't it?" he said as he shrugged on a robe and walked to a set of doors and flung them open with a flourish, "Hard to believe that all this is ours."
Kim gasped sharply as the doors opened to a balcony and the world opened before her. Walking from the bed as if in a daze, she pulled on a robe similar to Ron's and joined him on the balcony overlooking this world.
"Behold," he said reverently and gestured from the mountains to the fields near the city walls, "The Kingdom of Middleton."
She hadn't been able to see it last night, but the tower was part of an enormous castle that sprawled across a hill and slowly tapered down to a large and imposing gate. Beyond the gate began the town. Row upon row of beautiful white washed houses lined the space inside the city walls, their red slate roofs catching the rising sun and giving the town a beautiful pink hue.
The houses tumbled town until they reached the edge of the city walls and Kim let her mouth fall open at the beautiful workmanship displayed in all the architecture and gardens of the city. Slowly the city began to stir and noises began as people rose to begin their days.
Kim's eyes rose as she watched the near endless rows of white stone houses expand further out until they brushed up against was enormous gray wall that rose from the fields beyond the edge of Middleton and stretched to the sky.
Beyond the gates of the city rested a patchwork quilt of golden fields and emerald forests. Fields of grain and barley waved and danced in the sun and Kim laughed in delight as a warm breeze rose from below, carrying the smells and sounds of the kingdom to her. To the west lay a smaller town, winking and glimmering in the sun. A river flowed from that town towards their city and it came under the walls and wound its way through the city in a series of canals. Midway through the city the river vanished underground before appearing again at the far end of the city before continuing its trek towards the sea on the far edge of the horizon.
"It's beautiful," she whispered as she felt Ron's arm encircle her waist and he whispered in her ear, "and I'd trade it all for you."
She turned and was about to kiss him when they heard a cough from behind them.
"Ahem," a man coughed politely from behind the couple.
Ron looked frustrated for a moment but it quickly passed as he kissed Kim lightly on the cheek, "later," he promised before turning around and facing the intruder.
"Yes?" Ron asked politely with just a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"I'm sorry sire," Kim heard Felix Renton say with laughter permeating his tone, "It's just that you asked to be informed when Emperor Cho and his wife arrived."
Ron nodded thoughtfully, "And they're here now?"
Felix nodded, "Yes sir, they arrived mere moments ago," he saw Ron's expectant look and pulled out a sheet of paper that Kim guessed was a schedule, "Lady Monique is showing them around the castle and will keep them entertained until breakfast is ready at which time you both will join them."
Ron smiled, "Very good Felix. Now leave us both to get ready."
Felix bowed to Ron and Kim and backed slowly out of the room. He pulled the large oak doors shut behind him and when they were closed Ron turned back to Kim, "We wouldn't want to keep the Emperor waiting now would we?"
August 13th, 1257 A.D.
Castle Stoppable, The Kingdom of Middleton
9:38 A.M.
Breakfast was on a large outdoor terrace that overlooked the sprawling city and continued beyond the walls to the far reaches of the South. Kim looked beyond the walls and towards the horizon and saw the start of what appeared to be an ocean. The large sand dunes leading up to the beach appearing to be no larger than a speck of dust upon the ground but Kim knew that looks were deceiving.
"Is there anything troubling you my Queen?" a voice said from behind Kim and she jumped in her form fitting dress.
She turned around and saw Zita Flores bowed behind her with a tray of food held in her hands, "You have been staring for the last few minutes and I was concerned for you," the girl smiled and Kim struggled to keep her mouth from falling, "My lady?"
Kim nodded, "Yes Zita," she heard herself saying, "I was just overcome with the view."
Zita smiled and walked to the table where she placed the platter carrying the breakfast overflowing with food down with hardly a sound, "You look to the sea?" she saw Kim nod slightly and spoke, "I know Prince Senior Junior and his wife Princess Rockwaller do miss Middleton."
Kim turned to face Zita, "Princess Rockwaller?" she demanded.
Zita nodded, "Yes, Princess Bonnie Rockwaller and her husband Prince Senor Senior Junior," she bowed, "If you'll excuse me my lady," Kim nodded as Zita left the room, leaving Kim alone for a moment.
Seeing no one else around, Kim strolled past the table heaping with food and paused at the balcony looking to the ocean and let out a large sigh, "Figures that someone as shallow as Bonnie would marry someone like Junior," she paused mid-thought and leaned against the railing.
Silence fell on Kim as a warm breeze rose from the plains and swirled around the room, rippling the tapestries and curtains that lined the room.
She leaned on her elbows and stared at the beauty on display before her, "Where am I?" she asked quietly at the Kingdom arrayed before her, "and what's going on?"
She was silent and heard only the sound of the wind. Turning from the balcony, she walked to a large mirror at the end of the table and paused to admire her complexion for the first time upon arriving here.
She shrugged almost dismissively at her reflection before giving it a double take. She had aged gracefully, that much was certain but even she wasn't prepared for the face staring back at her.
I look like my Mother, she thought almost morbidly.
Her emerald eyes still carried the same intensity but there was something more, almost a sense of wisdom and grace that came with age. Must be the wrinkles, she thought to herself as she pulled back at the skin around her eyes and saw her youthful face staring back at her. Sighing softly she let go and saw her mother's face staring back at her. Shaking her head she gasped as her hair had not lost any of it's former luster but instead seemed to radiate all the brighter.
Pulling it closer to the mirror for inspection she smiled and shrugged, "Even in my late thirties, early forties I do look good," she conceded as she took in her reflection a final time.
Several long moments passed before she heard the sounds of laughter and approaching guests. Turning away from the mirror, Kim strode to the entrance where Ron and his guests were approaching.
"...and then it turned out that her brothers were the only two who could save the day," he finished, "their quick thinking was what saved us all."
The man standing next to him smiled as he looked up to see Kim standing at the doorway, "Queen Possible, your husband was explaining some of your brother's antics to us," he smiled good naturedly, "it seems they were quite...how do you say?" he paused, "spirited."
Kim laughed and curtsied, "You don't know the half of it Hiro," she smiled as Hirotaka, his wife and their hooded body guard followed Ron and Kim into the dining room.
Kim approached what she guessed to be her seat and waited until she got a head nod from Ron before sitting down at the table.
"This looks good," Ron commented as he looked at the food, his gaze filled with desire. Looking to Hiro and his wife Ron gestured to the platter, "feel free to take what you like."
Hiro nodded, "Thank you Ronald-Chan," he studied the food for several moments before selecting some fruit and placing it on his wife's plate and then on his own, "We normally do not eat fruit like this..."
Kim's gaze was naturally drawn to the mirror behind Ron as she saw movement in the reflection. The body guard had appeared behind her and appeared to be fidgeting nervously.
Kim's eyes narrowed as a knife appeared in his hands and he lunged for her chair.
Without thinking, Kim kicked away from the table, allowing the oak chair to slide across the floor so it hit the guard in the chest. He tumbled away with a grunt of pain and the knife clattered harmlessly to the floor even as the guests reacted.
"ASSASSIN!" Ron shouted as he pushed away from the table and the guard shouted something to the room's shadows.
Shapes suddenly dissolved from the shadows as half formed monsters tried to attack the guests. Kim hear a guttural growl from behind her as one of the shapes lunged at her but a quick chop to its neck from her and the monster had fallen to the ground in a daze. Two more appeared to take their comrade's place.
It was here that Kim got her first good look at the attackers and almost wished she hadn't. They were malformed monsters with boils and pustules on their skin that oozed and gushed a yellow liquid with each movement. The eyes glinted with hatred and malice as they drew their swords and sprang at her with surprising speed. She grimaced as she lunged at the left attacker even as the other swung at her with an enormous hooked sword.
The monster collapsed under her assault and before it could react, Kim had slammed the monster's head to the ground, knocking it senseless and on instinct she rolled off the creature even as its partner's sword descended from above. The creature screamed in agony as his comrade's sword missed Kim and cut him in the midsection.
Without missing a beat, the monster retracted the sword and swung at Kim again. Its blade sending up sparks from the stone floor as she rolled out of the way again. She found herself up against the table with nowhere to go and the horrific monster gave a laugh at her predicament and it raised it's sword for a killing blow. The blow never fell however as a tiny metallic star suddenly embedded itself in it's large yellow eye and killed the creature before it hit the ground.
Kim looked up to find Hirotaka's wife vault over the table and retrieve the star from the fallen monster's eye. Pulling the blade from the body with a wet sucking sound, the woman turned and offered a helping hand to Kim, "Stoppable-San, we must leave," Yori gestured to the room that was now thankfully clear of monsters.
Ron appeared next to Kim, a gash in his cheek and a sword in his hand, "She's right. We need to get to the throne room now."
The food long forgotten, the guests ran from the carnage that was the dining room and prayed for it all to be over as they sprinted to safety.
"Who are these people?" Ron yelled as they ducked through the hallways before entering a spacious and elegantly decorated hall.
"I'm not sure," Hiro answered as another swarm of monsters ambushed them from all directions, "but I feel that we should focus on surviving before establishing who they are."
"Agreed," Ron shouted as a monster suddenly found itself without a sword arm and then without a head.
Kim dropped to a slide and ducked under a killing blade aimed for her neck, she punched at the monster's exposed back while chopping at the neck at the same time.
Ron saw Kim duck and knock the creature out but paid no attention to it as a monster jumped on his back and attempted to strangle him. He leaned forward before pushing back, slamming the monster against the wall where he heard the stone masonry crack in protest. Still the monster refused to collapse and instead only tightened it's hold on Ron. He slammed against the wall again but felt the monster's grip continue to tighten. His vision starting to flicker from lack of air, Ron leaned back a final time and slammed the monster with all his strength.
Through the haze of near unconsciousness Ron heard the monster scream in pain and a wave of heat suddenly sprang up on his back. The monster dropped to the ground and ran away screaming as it suddenly found it's body aflame. Looking behind him, Ron saw a torch holder and a now smoldering torch on the floor, its flame sputtering out of existence.
The flaming monster continued to run screaming down the hallway but suddenly stopped as a sword sliced it's head clean off. Hiro smiled as the headless monster fell to the ground, it's flames finally dying and smoke replacing it all. He looked up at Ron and nodded but suddenly stopped as he felt a dull pain in his back. He looked down just in time to see twin swords explosively emerge from his chest and he cried out in pain as the assassin twisted the blades and pulled them back before sheathing the blades.
Yori saw her husband fall and let out a mournful cry that transformed into a feral cry of hatred. Launching herself across the room, she tackled the assassin to the ground and struggled to pull at the hood covering his face but he grabbed her wrists and used her momentum to flip her onto her back. She sprang to her feet and readied her sword but before her eyes he melted into the shadows.
Kim jammed the heel of her foot into the stomach of an approaching monster and grinned as the creature howled in pain. Her hand jutted out and her fist connected with an approaching monster. The force caught the monster in the sternum and he flew down the hallway where Ron easily dispatched the fallen monster.
The two of them looked around the hallway and nodded silently to each other, "Let's go."
A mournful cry sounded from down the hall and the two looked to see Yori cradling Hirotaka's head to her chest, his blank eyes and bloody chest telling them all they needed to know. Ron bowed his head silently for a moment and Kim felt a pang of sadness but that was quickly replaced with fear as echoes of approaching monsters sounded from behind them.
Ron heard them and he grabbed at Yori's shoulders, "Yori," he pleaded as he pulled at her, his golden beard slick with sweat and blood, "We need to go."
She fought against him, but he pulled her away with gentle strength, "Yori, we need to go now."
Yori's mournful cry became a scream of hatred as Ron continued to pull her away from Hiro's dead body.
As they sprinted through the hall Kim heard the sound of approaching soldiers and she readied herself for an assault from every direction. However her fear was misplaced as-
"Sire," a woman shouted as she and a contingent of guards emerged from a doorway. She bowed quickly before Ron with her sword drawn before looking him in the eyes, or eye, depending on how you looked at it.
"Sire we apologize for not being there," Betty Director said as the soldiers took up positions around the King, "it seems that assassin killed off your closest guards before attempting to dispatch you."
Ron nodded, "and is it safe?"
Betty shook her head, "Right now we don't know where the assassin is and until we do, I'm not letting you out of my sight."
Kim pushed her way to Betty and pointed at Hirotaka's dead body, "and what of him?"
Betty shook her head, "We are moving back to the throne room until-"
Schink
A guard screamed in pain as a sword sliced through his torso and he fell to the ground amidst a shriek and clamor of blood. Kim could only see bits and pieces of the assassin as he dove and dodged his way through the guards, slicing them and batting them aside as if he knew he couldn't be hurt. But then she understood.
He's toying with us, she thought morosely as another guard fell to the ground.
Within seconds, all but Betty, Ron, Kim and Yori were left and the lone assassin stood silently in front of them, his shoulders rising and sagging as he took deep ragged breaths. Seeing an opportunity Betty raised her sword defensively, fully ready to die for her King and with a muted smile, the assassin launched himself at Betty.
A clash of blades brought about sparks as steel met steel and for the briefest of moments, the two combatants were frozen as each struggled to push the other off balance. Years of training paid off and Betty pushed the assassin away, his once white robe now stained with the blood and dirt of the castle as it continued to swirl throughout the confrontation.
Not giving him a chance to gain his footing, Betty sprinted at him and brought her sword up for an overhead attack and he countered that with his own blade and he was able to deflect the blade to the stone floor, the impact sending out a loud clanging and jarring both fighters to their bones. The assassin used his sword to keep Betty stuck in place as he brought back his hand and backhanded her across the cheek, the impact launching her through the air to a nearby table. She slammed into the table, causing the plates and dishes to clatter and she slumped to the floor.
Seeing Betty knocked aside, the assassin smiled and launched himself at Ron and before Ron could react, the sword flashed out and caught him in the stomach.
Or at least it would have if a large, meaty hand hadn't grabbed the sword arm mid thrust, stopping the killing blade mere centimeters from Ron's stomach. The assassin turned his head in confusion and found himself face to chest with a mountain of a man. His muscles and sinews hardly straining as he held the sword in place and with hardly any effort he moved the sword away from Ron and led the assassin to a safe place in the room as easily as a father leads his child.
Kim stared at the confrontation that had taken place in less than five seconds and she gaped as Steven O. Barkin held the tiny assassin's arm with hardly any effort. Without warning, the assassin broke free of Steven's grip and jammed the blade into the man's side with a cry of vengeance.
Not a sound was uttered from Barkin even as the blade sliced through his side and popped out the back. The two combatants looked down and the assassin, eyes wide in shock, could only stare as Barkin grabbed the hilt of the sword and pulled it out, inch by painful inch. When the sword was free he smiled jovially and brought the sword down on the foot of the assassin, nailing the man's foot to the floor.
"You'll have to try a lot harder than that to kill me," Barkin laughed as he held a hand to his side to stem the bleeding.
The assassin tried to move but Barkin held the sword in place with an iron grip, "I don't think so," he taunted.
"Are you all right Steven?" Ron asked, sweat dripping down his face as he sheathed his sword.
Barkin smiled, "Stoppable, how many times do I have to save your life?" Barkin shook his head, "it's like herding cats."
Ron nodded without smiling as he directed his attention to the assassin, "You've failed assassin," he explained and he took a step forward, "you've failed, you've tried to kill my wife and you've killed a friend of mine," he took another step towards the assassin, "the only thing keeping you alive is the fact that you have knowledge I desire," a final step, "who do you work for?"
The assassin was silent as he steeled himself through the pain that burned in his foot even though the shame of his failure burned hotter, "I'm going to ask you again, who do you work for?"
Barkin twisted the sword, causing the assassin to wince and let out a tiny gasp. Ron held up a hand and the hulking guard stopped, "feel like talking?"
The assassin spat at Ron weakly and Ron simply nodded, "have it your way."
Before the assassin could question the statement, he felt a blade at his throat, "please bear in mind that you have just killed my husband," Yori hissed, "I wouldn't hesitate to kill you."
"Even if you kill me you'll still die," the assassin finally said with just a hint of laughter in his voice. A flick of Barkin's wrist and the laughter turned to a pained gasp, "my master will use his army to over run this land and kill you all."
Ron leaned forward, "who is your master?"
The assassin didn't answer but shrugged off his hood. For a brief moment his face was exposed for all to see and yet only one person recognized him, "Fukushima?" Kim asked.
"You know this man?" Ron asked, whirling on Kim.
Kim nodded, "not directly, but yes I know this man."
"And?" Betty Director asked as she returned to the group, gingerly fingering her bruised cheeky, "who is he?"
"His name is Fukushima Brasco, a Yamanouchi drop out with a chip on his shoulder. He betrayed Yamanouchi and attempted to steal the Lotus blade," Ron fingered the sword on his side cautiously Kim noticed, "failed at that and we haven't heard from him since."
"Who does he work for?" Yori asked, "Who would order the death of us all?"
Kim rubbed the back of her neck nervously, "Actually, he just wants Ron dead-"
"Who is it?" Barkin asked as he held the sword in place.
"Lord Montgomery Fiske," Kim said quickly, "you might know him as Monkey Fist."
Ron approached Kim, "And how do you know all this?"
Kim looked around the group before answering before her eyes settled on Ron, "You told me."
August 13th, 1257 A.D.
Castle Stoppable Throne Room, The Kingdom of Middleton
12:38 P.M.
"So let me get this straight," Ron said as he sat on his throne, eyeing the woman standing before him, "You're a time traveler from the future and you just happen to look like my wife?"
Kim shook her head, "No Ron, I am Kim Possible," she paused and thought for a second, "Or Stoppable...whichever it is," she paused and tried to find a rational explanation in her mind. Not finding one she continued, "Anyway my mind has been thrown through time to this area for some reason."
Ron nodded, "And we're just supposed to believe you?"
She nodded back, "I don't understand it anymore than you but I'm here and that's all I know."
Ron looked over Kim's shoulder to Felix who was eyeing her suspiciously, "Leave us Felix."
Felix bowed and quietly exited the throne room, letting the doors swing shut with an enormous BOOM that echoed throughout the room.
It was silent for several long seconds as Kim felt Ron's eyes pierce her to her soul. He broke the gaze and leaned back in his throne with a groan while massaging the bridge of his nose, "What would you have me do Kim?"
She didn't answer as Ron rose from his throne and started walking through the now empty throne room his footsteps echoing loudly, "You would have me do what?" he gestured towards a window that was bathed in the midday sun, "You would have me go to war with that traitor Fiske simply because you claim to be a traveler through time?" he shook his head, "I could have you locked away right now and everyone would side with me."
Kim knew she had to think quickly, "I know this sounds crazy Ron," she said even as her mind raced, "but the man you know as Lord Fiske is a bad guy," she saw his questioning look, "I'm serious."
He raised an eyebrow and was silent for a long moment before nodding, "Fine, let us assume you are a time traveler," he paused, "When are you from?"
"The year 2005," she answered confidently.
"That's about seven hundred years in the future," Ron explained as he continued to circle around Kim, his gaze traveling up and down her body, "And I assume that we are both rulers?"
She shook her head, "We are both seventeen years old," she explained and she saw Ron's face break into a smile, "Still in school."
"We are not thirty-eight years of age?" Ron asked mockingly.
Kim's brow furrowed in anger, "Look Ron, I know this sounds crazy, it sounded crazy the last time I explained it to you-"
"Indeed?" he interrupted, "You've explained it to me before?"
She knew he was leading this conversation somewhere but she didn't know where, "Yes?" she answered hesitantly.
He nodded, "And how pray tell were you able to speak with me if I am now living in the past?" he chuckled softly, "Reincarnation?"
She was silent and for once was without an answer. She opened her mouth to speak, "I..."
Ron smiled at her reaction, "And if you really were from the future, why didn't you know about the attack this morning?"
Nothing from Kim.
He took a step towards Kim, "So you really have to ask yourself, 'am I a time traveler or am I just crazy?"
She didn't have an answer for him.
She didn't have an answer for herself.
The two stared in silence for a long time, neither one wanting to speak for fear of shattering the other's concentration.
BOOM
The doors to the throne room entered and Betty Director entered with a fast walk that almost bordered on a run, her blue cape trailing behind her elegantly.
Ron didn't remove his gaze from Kim but asked, "Yes Elizabeth, what is it?"
Betty didn't answer but continued past the two of them to the large curtained window that swayed from the breeze outside. Throwing the curtain aside Betty gestured a black line that snaked it's way across the grass lands outside the city, "I apologize for interrupting you but I believe you need to see this," she said as she produced a telescope made of pure gold from a pocket in her armor.
Ron walked to the window, Kim following behind and taking the telescope from Betty held it to his eye.
It was blurry at first but after twisting the golden rod for a moment, he was rewarded with a clear picture. He couldn't understand what he was seeing at first but then it made sense and the viewfinder trembled in his grasp.
Kim pulled the telescope from Ron's grasp and gasped as she saw what the line was.
People.
But people unlike any Kim had ever seen. These people were bloodied, rips and tears covered their clothes and as the clothes shifted in the wind, Kim saw the blood stains and bruises that adorned each and every person. Young and old, big and small, this band of people that Kim guessed numbered three thousand all followed two riders on horses. Their owners carrying themselves amazingly well but Kim could tell they were both injured.
The man had an enormous gash running down the side of his face that Kim could see was hastily bandaged but did enough to stem the flow. His pale hair beneath his golden crown mirroring the snowy climate he had just fled from.
Kim saw the man slouch over in his saddle but right himself, causing Kim to see his face. A worried smile crossed her face as she saw Josh Mankey adjust his seat in the saddle to inspire his people. To his right sat a woman of extreme beauty. Even Kim's mouth opened in shock even as she recognized the woman. Tara Matthews had always been beautiful but here, Kim wondered why Ron had chosen her and not Tara. Even bloodied and bruised Tara carried herself with a grace rarely seen in dignitaries.
"Sire look to Upperton," Betty said as Ron took the telescope back and looked beyond the travelers.
"Upperton is gone?" he asked in disbelief as he viewed the city.
Kim snatched the telescope from Ron and looked through it at the desolation before her.
The city behind the travelers was shrouded in darkness despite it being the middle of the day. Peering closer, she saw the blackness was nothing more than a haze generated by entire rows of housed being burned to the ground. Through the blackness she saw creatures skittering about. Not just the monsters that attacked her earlier in the day, but some monsters that she prayed lived only in nightmares.
She continued to peer as something large and hairy skittered along the rooftop of a house. Seconds later an enormous jet of fire enveloped the house and a clawed and scaly forearm smashed through the roof, shattering the house and crumbling it to bits.
She lowered the telescope from her eye with a shaking hand and gave it back to Ron. Ron peered through the lens for several minutes, silently taking in the scene.
Minutes passed before he lowered the telescope from his eye. A confident look was written across his face and Kim instantly felt calmed by it, out of the corner of her eye she saw Betty snap to attention.
"Send out the word to all the towns and villages," Ron ordered as he gazed upon the burning city, "Tell them that war is upon us. Have them send their finest warriors to aid us in our hour of need," he thought for a moment, "and prepare the infirmary for refugees from this attack. There will be wounded by nightfall."
Betty bowed reverently and exited the room as Ron started towards another door. Seeing Kim still standing by the window Ron called out, "Well aren't you coming?"
She turned away from the horizon, "Coming?"
"The Monolith only works if the two of us are present," he said, "and we need all the help we can get."
Kim stopped mid-stride, "What in the world is a Monolith?"
August 13th, 1257 A.D.
Beneath Castle Stoppable, The Kingdom of Middleton
2:38 P.M.
The room that housed the Monolith was unlike anything Kim had ever seen before. An enormous cavern deep beneath the Castle housed the enormous object, the roof rising to the very foundations of the Castle. In the center of the room, surrounded by a pool of ever flowing water rose a platform of bare stone.
Kim's eyes journeyed around the cavern, awe filling her as twelve waterfalls cascaded down the walls filling the pool that swirled around the platform. Kim followed the current's path and watched as the water tumbled from the pool off a cliff and into the inky blackness beyond the reach of her torchlight.
Ron saw her gaze, "The River Middleton as it journeys to the sea," he explained as he walked across a stone bridge connecting the edge of the chamber with the platform that elevated the Monolith.
Kim followed him as she kicked a pebble off the bridge and waited for the sound of the pebble striking bottom.
Only it never came as the pebble was lost among the sound of crashing water.
Kim turned her gaze from the falling pebble and gazed fully upon the foreign shape of the Monolith.
The Monolith was unlike anything Kim had seen before. It was twelve feet high and thin as a razor's edge. The black stone that comprised the rock acted as a background for the dark object and as she entered, Kim felt the warmth of her body flee. The rock gave off the impression of the waves of the sea from a distance but upon closer inspection, Kim saw the surface was covered in water that traveled up the rock, defying gravity in the process. The water droplets swirled and brushed against each other, their interactions causing the surface to shimmer and swirl before they tumbled back into the flowing water of the pool.
As the two of them approached, Kim noticed the water droplets suddenly stop and align themselves in perfect rows and sequences.
"Who dares disturb my slumber?" a hoarse and hazy voice asked. Kim felt a chill run down her spine even as Ron answered.
"It is I, King Ronald Dean Stoppable, son of Eugene and Barbara Stoppable," he looked at Kim as his voice boomed, "My Queen, Kimberly Ann Stoppable, daughter of James Timothy Possible and Anne Elizabeth Possible, is with me today."
His voice echoed through the empty chamber and Kim felt a twinge of fear as the voice remained silent. With the sound of falling waves, the droplets aligned themselves into the shape of a face. It was an old face, a face not unlike a Grandfather's face and Kim felt the fear leave her body as she gazed at that face as Ron called out in a softer voice, "We wish to speak with the Island Kingdom."
"As you wish King Stoppable," the voice said in it's hoarse tone.
It was silent as Kim and Ron waited for several seconds but Kim finally broke the silence and asked, "What's a Monolith?"
Ron pointed at the enormous curtain of stone, "That."
Kim snorted sarcastically, "I gathered that genius, what does a Monolith do?"
Ron smiled, "Long ago, the Kingdom of Yamanouchi created these Monoliths so they could communicate with their allies even from across great distances," he saw the beads start to swirl, "Now whenever a Kingdom is in trouble, we can speak with one another instantly."
Kim thought for a moment before asking, "Why didn't Josh call for help earlier today?"
Ron shrugged, "Upperton was not founded at the time Yamanouchi was making Monoliths," he shrugged, "so only Yamanouchi, Middleton, The Rodigan Empire and the Island Kingdoms have one."
Kim was about to ask another question but a face suddenly appeared amidst the droplets. This one seemed older, like a grandfather but Kim felt she recognized it from somewhere.
"Yes King Stoppable," the face asked, causing Kim to jump at his voice, "what is it?"
"King Senor Senior Sr.," Ron said slowly, "We need your help."
Kim's mouth fell open as Senor Senior Sr.'s face turned grave, "what is the problem?"
Ron answered, "We find ourselves at war with an unknown enemy and we have an army of insufficient size."
"And you wish me to send my army to aid yours?" the old man asked.
Ron nodded, "Yes."
Senor Senior Sr. was silent for a moment as he considered Ron's request before replying, "I have no cause to risk my troop's safety to aid you."
Kim pushed Ron aside gently, "Senor Senior Sr., if Middleton falls, the forces of Monkey Fist will over run us and will soon move on to you."
She saw the other King's brow furrow before he asked, "Are you sure it is that traitor? The traitor your fathers and I exiled twenty years ago?"
Kim nodded, "his assassins tried to kill us this morning."
Ron jumped back in, "We are still not sure it was him but right now the only thing we do know is that someone is trying to destroy the Kingdoms. Please," he paused, "please. Will you help us?"
Senor Senior Sr. answered without hesitation, "My troops will be at Middleton's gates in four days."
Before Ron could answer, the old man closed his end of the Monolith and left Kim and Ron standing in the dark.
August 13th, 1257 A.D.
Castle Stoppable, The Kingdom of Middleton
4:38 P.M.
"We still aren't sure that it was Lord Fiske who tried to kill us this morning," Ron said as he and Kim walked through the halls towards the main gates, "As royalty we have many enemies."
Kim shook her head, "It has to be Monkey Fist. He's the only one I know who is crazy enough to do something like this. And the assassin being none other than Fukushima almost seals the matter."
"Almost," Ron said as they approached the main gate and heard the commotion beyond, "but remember my Queen, almost is not cause enough to go to war."
"But you sure asked for troops quickly," Kim countered.
"A lesson I learned from my father," Ron smiled, "It is better to be careful than be dead," he saw her look of hesitation, "That's why I married you instead of Shego."
The doors opened and the two made their way down an enormous set of steps to a throng at the base of the steps. As the two descended, the courtyard turned quiet as everyone saw Kim and Ron make their way to the survivors of Upperton.
Halfway from the bottom, they were greeted by Josh and Tara, both of whom were bloody, bruised, tired and yet somehow still managed to inspire confidence in everyone around them.
"King Stoppable, Queen Stoppable," Josh and Tara bowed, "Thank you for providing sanctuary."
Ron and Kim bowed back, "of course Josh," Ron said, "But what did this to you?"
Josh shook his head, "Monsters."
Kim pressed the matter, "who was leading them?"
Ron leaned forward as Josh answered, "It was Lord Fiske and he had the aid of a Sorceress," he cringed at the memory, "she was a short and fat woman but she commanded and army of..." he searched for the word, "she commanded an army of nightmares."
Tara nodded and took over, "Monsters of half men and half animal, enormous trolls that could crush a house with a single swipe of their clubs," she paused, "And Sire, they have a dragon," she took a deep breath, "we also believe they have awaken the MAMA."
Ron took a step back as those present gasped in terror. Ron rubbed his temples rhythmically for several seconds before turning to Kim, "You can say it you know."
She looked up, "say what?"
"I told you so," he answered.
She shook her head, "suddenly I don't want to."
Josh looked from Kim to Ron before asking, "Sire what do we do?"
Ron was silent for a moment before turning to Kim, "Kim you know who we're up against," he paused, fighting the words even as he spoke them, "what do we do?"
Kim's mind raced, "We need to board up the city. Get as many people in here as possible," she thought before speaking, "and anyone who can wield a sword, get them ready to fight."
Ron nodded to his guards, "Do as she commands," he turned back, "Then what?"
She sighed, "If the Sorceress is who I think it is, we're going to need some bigger weapons. What Josh saw earlier was just the tip of the spear, more nightmares are coming," she looked around and called out , "Is Wade Load here?"
"Yes your majesty?" a voice sounded from the quiet mass below as Wade stepped onto the stairs and bowed in respect.
"We have not time to stand on formalities," Kim chastised, "do you know how to create large scale weapons?" she asked.
He nodded as his eyes lit up in glee, "Yes your highness."
Kim nodded, "Then get on it, we need as many large weapons as we can get our hands on," she saw Wade look to Ron who nodded subtly. She ignored it and continued, "Next we need to-"
She stopped as an almost familiar tingle ran up and down her spine. It swirled around her midsection before pushing it's way into the rest of her body, the push became a tug as if an enormous hand had closed around her torso and started pulling.
Before she could figure out what was going on, pain blossomed in her skull as white light clouded her vision- "Not AGAIN!" she screamed as the pain ballooned beyond anything she'd ever felt before.
She collapsed to the ground as the blinding light erupted again. It was different this time though, instead of a gradual buildup, this was as if someone had thrown a switch and the pain began. She felt something warm and sticky running from her nose before she realized it was blood.
"WHAT'S HAPPENING?" she heard her voice shriek as the pain doubled in her skull.
She felt hands pulling at her but she knew she was going to-
"Jump," she whispered.
And then...
?, ?, ?
?, ?, ?
?, ?, ?
Pain.
Many voices shouting around her. Shadows in the wind, Pain, someone screaming. Shadows of shapes flitted around her even as the screaming continued.
That person screaming was her she realized with a jolt and she then doubled her efforts to scream as the pain ripped through her body like a knife in the abdomen.
"Do you have her?" a familiar voice echoed from her side.
"We're losing her!" someone shouted from the shadows.
"If we keep this up she's dead!"
Echoes in her consciousness, pain from beyond her threshold.
"She's convulsing!"
That explained why the shadows jumped and skipped.
"Send her back," a calm voice ordered, "We can't grab her."
"Don't Betty! You almost have her!" a voice protested.
"Josh, I allowed you to stay in here as an act of good faith on my part" Betty threatened, "Don't make me regret it."
"Betty I love her," Josh yelled but Kim only heard a whisper.
Pain
Images of Ron swirled in Kim's head.
"Is Agmiln ready?" Kim heard Betty ask someone.
"He's ready," a voice confirmed.
"Send him a message," Betty ordered cooly, "tell him to make contact now."
A shadow leaned in and Kim suddenly found herself face to face with Dr. Elizabeth Director, "Kim I know you can hear me," her voice echoed strangely in Kim's head, "When you get back, find Tam Agmiln and-"
...it was all gone.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, Disney owns everything.
Author's Notes: So here we are again: another week, another chapter. I think the trouble with these Author Notes is that until a few more revelations happen I can't actually discuss what is happening without spoiling the story. So for until we reach those revelations I guess I'll have to ramble on until I think enough author notes have taken place.
Oh look, an author note completed.
Special thanks this week goes to Mr. Wizard (Star Trek for the win), Darev (An author can only write what he or she knows), Sentinel103 (You cannot enjoy scotch without cigars so here you go), Taechunsa (my unofficial Beta), Ghost iv (patience good sir, patience), CajunBear73 (The 73rd Bear division is moving out as we speak).
And of course, you. The silent reader, thank you for coming back and enjoying this story week in and week out. As always if you have a question or comment, drop me a line and I'll get back to you.
And if you all leave a review, you'll get a special surprise come Wednesday night...or Thursday morning.
TRS