8) Under no circumstances is a Beta allowed to take over from a Creator unless said Creator has violated Order 6.
Siege: [seej], Noun, verb, sieged, sieg·ing.
1. The act or process of surrounding and attacking a fortified place in such a way as to isolate it from help and supplies,for the purpose of lessening the resistance of the defenders and thereby making capture possible.
2. Any prolonged or persistent effort to overcome resistance.
June 30th, 3019
Global Science Headquarters
Go City, Colorado
9:45 A.M.
Those colonists on Venus had discovered oil.
How had they done that? Oil came from dinosaurs and the last time Dr. Betty Director checked, there had never been any dinosaurs living on Venus. She peered at the report in front of her wondering why she even cared about this pointless discovery.
End of the Universe and we start making all these crazy discoveries, she thought sadly as she leafed the folder angrily on her desk and fought the urge to fix herself a drink. She knew she needed one, but she also knew if, When, not if but When, she mentally corrected herself, when Kim arrived she would need to be sober.
Sure the scientific community was going crazy at the prospect that there had once been dinosaurs on Venus but she couldn't care less.
Sure the universe was happy and peaceful for now but Betty was still in her own private hell.
Only a mad man wanted there to be senseless death and destruction, even Betty acknowledged that, but she was...what was the word?
Bored?
Yes that word would work, Betty Director was bored and she wanted to feel that thrill of adventure again. She missed those long sleepless nights when some rogue dictator threatened the free world with stolen nukes. Instead her nights were now sleepless because her daughter Nicole kept having bad dreams and Betty knew Steve Barkin wasn't going to get up for his daughter when Mommy would.
She now knew what her predecessor had gone through after the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War. At the time she had privately and publicly chastised him for wanting the war to continue but she now knew that while world peace was an admirable goal it also served as the hell on earth to the defenders of the world. Somehow after one thousand years Kim Possible had somehow adapted, but Kim was special. She always had been.
She shook her head and set the folder down on her desk that contained that information from Venus. She'd been staring at it for well over twenty minutes without seeing a thing and knew it was pointless to keep looking at it. The last estimate placed their collapse somewhere between the next twelve to fifteen hours and Betty seriously considered just sending everyone home for the night.
She spun in her chair and looked out her window across Global Science's front lawn and at a tree where a family of squirrels scampered and played with each other without caring. She didn't see the uncaring little creatures, all she saw was the end. She knew the world was dying and there was nothing she could do about it.
But then she remembered Kim and Tam. Those two were the only reason she kept everyone working hard here at the former Global Justice security complex instead of with their families. Those two were the only reason she wasn't home with Steve and Nicole at this moment and she didn't know if they'd make it back in time.
"Ma'am?" Will Du's voice sounded in her office and caused her to jump.
Placing her hand on a hidden button on the side of her desk she quietly asked, "Yes Will what is it?"
The line was silent for a moment and Betty could almost hear his mind trying to word his next statement but eventually he gave up and answered, "It's happened."
Betty closed her eyes and fought the urge to cry, "when?"
"About three minutes ago," he replied, his voice devoid of emotion.
She nodded even though he couldn't see it, "I'll be right down."
One of the perks of being the leader of Global Science was that she had priority over the elevators and now she stood in the tiny cylinder as it rocketed deep into the earth. She looked at the video display above the floor selection buttons and watched as the display showed how far below the surface she was.
Ding
"5,280 feet," she remarked as the doors hissed open, "one mile below the surface of the earth and all is not well."
Will was waiting for her at the doors and as soon as she saw his face, Betty knew her bad day was going to get worse.
"Report," she ordered.
Will led her past a set of large windows that showed Kim Possible's comatose body on a hospital bed. Next to her Josh Mankey slept while cradling her hand. In the bed next to Kim lay another man. He was clad in a gray jumpsuit with the Global Science logo plastered on on the front. Above his heart was stitched the name, Agmiln and as Betty watched a doctor checked at the monitors above his head before making some marks on a chart in her hand and walking out of the room.
Betty approached the doctor and pulled the chart from her hand, "How's Agmiln doing?"
The doctor shook her head, "We've had no response from Tam once you sent him to contact Kim."
Betty nodded, "And Kim?"
The doctor replied, "She's back to her comatose state after you tried pulling her out," she peered at the chart in Betty's hand, "heart rate back to normal, brain activity gone," she paused, "she's a vegetable."
Betty nodded, "Thank you Doctor Robbins."
Robbins nodded, "Scarlet will do just fine Ma'am."
Betty handed the chart back before walking away with Will, "Now that it has happened, has the time table been moved forward at all?"
Will shook his head, "Yes," he took a deep breath, "we've moved up the time table to somewhere between the next three to five hours."
"Correction," The MAMA answered, "complete collapse in eight hours, six minutes and thirty-eight seconds."
Will shrugged sheepishly, "or that too."
Betty nodded in acceptance as a set of double doors opened before them and she allowed herself to be led into the dark expansive room beyond. It took her a moment for her eyes to adjust to the inky darkness of the room but when she did and saw exactly what Will had been saying with her own two eyes, she closed them in defeat.
They were running out of time.
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Plains of Middleton
8:20 P.M.
Fear.
The city reeked of it. Its inhabitants only screamed in defiance because their leader was with them but Monkey Fist knew that all he had to do was take Ron out of the picture and the defiant soldiers would scatter.
He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply as his army murmured around him.
"Monty?" he heard Amy whisper, the fear resounding in her voice, "the army is growing restless."
Monkey Fist couldn't care less as he felt victory in his grasp. He inhaled deeply again, tasting the fear in the air and he knew exactly what was needed.
"MONTGOMERY!" Amy shouted into his ear.
With a flash, Monkey Fist's eyes opened and he shouted loud enough for both armies to hear, "CHARGE!"
His army of nightmares let loose a collective howl and as a single unit, sprinted towards the city of Middleton. Screams and cries of hatred rose from the horde as the enormous siege towers moved towards the city, while the occupants of the city steadying themselves for the fight ahead.
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Great Wall, Kingdom of Middleton
8:35 P.M.
From his position on the wall Ron could feel the earth tremble as hundreds of thousands of beasts and monsters ran at his city with every intention of killing the defenders.
"ARCHERS!" he shouted and he could hear the sounds of his army stringing their bows and pulling back the strings.
He raised his hand to the sky and counted silently in his head, studying the advancing army and their commander, "ONE THOUSAND GOLD COINS FOR THE ARCHER WHO TAKES OUT MONKEY FIST!" he heard the archers laugh at his challenge before dropping his hand, "FIRE!"
Thousands of arrows sang into the night and fell among the approaching army with deadly accuracy. Of course with the amount of enemies before them, striking a monster wasn't exactly hard but it still made for a good morale boost when a nightmarish creature tumbled screaming in pain to the ground.
Ron allowed himself a tiny smile and looked at Kim whose face was strained from fear, "Ron?" she asked quietly.
"Yes my Queen?" he asked with a bit of a smile in his voice.
"Will we survive the night?" she asked low enough so that no one but Ron would hear.
He shrugged, "if they make it onto the walls, ask me again," his hand rose again, "FIRE AT WILL!"
Thousands of arrows sang into the night and sank among the advancing horde that surged towards the wall.
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Plains of Middleton
8:40 P.M.
Monkey Fist smiled as he saw portions of his army fall, "Excellent," he smiled.
"Excellent?" Amy asked him in anger, "those are my children dying out there."
Monkey Fist smiled and signaled to his catapults, "Move the catapults into range."
"Target?" a troll like creature asked in a guttural voice.
"Take out their archers," he smiled as he heard the order barked to the catapults, "Use stones for now and fire when ready."
Monkey Fist waited as the catapults moved before he concentrated on his greatest weapon, "Where are you my child?" he whispered to the sky as he closed his eyes.
Silence reigned in his mind as he sought out his terror and with a scream of hatred that echoed from above the clouds he found his dragon circling the city overhead.
KE-RAWR
"Go my child, destroy their precious city," he murmured softly, "but do not touch the castle."
KE-RAWR
He smiled as his pet rose even further into the heavens and as the sound of catapults being maneuvered into position resounded across the battlefield Monkey Fist smiled at the apocalypse that was to come.
For a brief moment there was silence.
"FIRE!" the creature roared and in sequence, the catapults fired.
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Great Wall, Kingdom of Middleton
8:50 P.M.
BOOM
Ron felt the wall itself shake from the first catapult and he shouted above the din, "TAKE COV-"
BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM
Boulders the size of several men bombarded the walls, causing the defenders to lose their footing and fall from the wall. Other stones punched through weaker portions and slammed into soldiers, instantly killing them before continuing into the city itself.
Ron saw a portion of rock explode next to his wife and he pulled her out of the way of the deadly shrapnel before it hit her.
"And I didn't want a helmet?" she yelled above the din, Ron laughed, "What's so funny?"
"We're probably in the safest location if the entire city," he explained.
BOOM
Another rock exploded against the wall, "and this is safe?"
Ron smiled, "lightning doesn't strike twice," he thought to himself for a moment, "even if a rock lands near us, chances our they won't land near us again."
BOOM
"I feel safer already," she remarked sarcastically as a rock shattered a portion of the wall a few meters away, "And where does our survival play into that?"
Ron didn't answer but instead peeked over the wall as he saw the catapults reloading.
He jumped to his feet, "TAKE OUT THEIR CATAPULTS!"
Instantly hundreds of arrows, ballistae and rocks were hurtling over the wall and towards Monkey Fist's army.
A cheer arose from the defenders as the projectiles cut through the opposing army like a scythe through grass. However, Ron's face remained stoic as he saw the Monkey Fist merely order more troops to man the catapults.
"TAKE COVER!" Ron shouted over the din as another volley of stones was launched at the wall.
BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM
Kim was nearly deafened as the stones cascaded into the wall, shattering on impact sending countless deadly pieces of shrapnel every direction.
The screams of the defenders rose as scores were cut down and as Monkey Fist's army reloaded several men and women raced onto the wall. Kim watched as they pulled the injured off the wall into the safety of the city.
Kim pointed at the scene, "where are they taking them?"
Ron looked to where Kim was pointing as he tightened his grip on the sword, "Your Mother at the house of healing."
KE-RAWR
Like some forgotten demon, the dragon burst from the clouds overhead and plummeted towards the ground like a stone.
Ron's jovial mood instantly vanished as he saw the dragon skim above the roof tops of Middleton, its claws sending up sparks as they drug along the red slate roofs. With a battle scream, the monster pulled up just enough to slice above the wall, grab several soldiers and haul them into the sky.
"TARGET THE DRAGON!" Ron shouted to the archers who responded in kind. Instantly hundreds of arrows whistled into the night sky in pursuit of the dragon and although many hit the dragon, none stuck but instead bounced harmlessly off the scales. A few lucky arrows stuck in the dragon's flapping wings but this observation was lost on all but one person.
Ron watched helplessly as the dragon flew in front of the moons before diving again. This time the beast flew above the city square and let out an enormous jet of flame. The flames fell to the ground and wherever the flames landed, they spread. Soon citizens who were just concerned with surviving the siege were drafted into makeshift firefighters in a vain effort to save their houses from the dragon's flames.
KR-RAWR
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Plains of Middleton
9:00 P.M.
Monkey Fist smiled as his dragon flew among the city and his army cheered as they saw the havoc the monster wreaked upon Middleton.
His eyes shone darkly even as the dragon flew above the wall and released another jet of flame. Within seconds, an entire section of the wall was bathed in flames and the screams of those caught in the blast sounded across the battlefield. Not only did it clear portions of the wall, but it also emboldened Monkey Fist's army while discouraging Ron's.
"Move in the towers," he ordered to his second in command, "let them remember why they fear the dark."
He paused for a moment and smiled, "unleash The MAMA."
Those within earshot instantly stiffened in horror, "but sire-" his second in command, a large creature that vaguely resembled a human but now looked more like a man with the body of a bear.
Monkey Fist cut him off with a wave of his hand, "Do it now."
No other words were spoken as the bearish man walked towards a nightmarish creature so horrendously mutilated, one didn't know where the beast ended and the nightmare began. It was large, well over 15 feet tall with spikes of solid bone protruding from its shoulders and joints. The creature's gargantuan clawed hands were bound by an enormous rust encrusted chain that it struggled with but to no avail. It looked up with something in its eyes that was a cross between hope and pure hate at the approaching Lieutenant of Monkey Fist. The bearish man walked up to MAMA and grabbed it by the jaw and stared past the mottled and decaying flesh that made up the MAMA's face.
"Y-you go into the city, and kill everything," the Lieutenant said, his normally deep baritone voice squeaking in fear.
MAMA didn't say anything but instead offered the bound hands and an expectant look. The Lieutenant nodded and cut the chains binding the hands together with his sword. As soon as the chain was cut the creature was gone, running and bounding from his captors towards Middleton.
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Great Wall, Kingdom of Middleton
9:15 P.M.
Ron watched in horror as the soldiers caught in that latest blast of flame screamed and threw themselves from the wall. He didn't blame them, after all there was nothing he could do for them but it didn't stop the feeling of hopelessness that had been growing ever since the dragon appeared.
It started out as a tiny annoying sound but soon the sound of squeaking wheels reached Ron's ears and he turned back to the advancing army.
"Siege Towers," he whispered angrily.
Kim looked over his shoulder, "Siege Towers?"
Her husband nodded, "Enormous towers that act as a bridge of sorts into our city," he pursed his lips, "if Monkey Fist can get even one of those on the wall, he'll have a direct line into the city," he pushed her to the ground as the dragon made a pass overhead.
When it had passed Ron looked up and cursed softly but stopped as he saw Kim smile, "What are you smiling about?"
"I think I have a plan," she replied as her eyes tracked the dragon as it flew into the night, "I just need Wade."
Ron nodded as he saw the look in her eyes, "We'll handle the siege towers, you take care of that dragon."
Kim's gaze shifted back to Ron, "Gee thanks, way to throw yourself on that grenade."
She saw his look shift to confusion before she realized what she had said, "You won't understand that for another few hundred years," she kissed him on the cheek, "but one day you will."
Ron nodded, "get going," he paused as if he was trying to remember something when it hit him, "KIM!" he shouted above the din and she turned on her heel.
"What?" she shouted back.
He tossed her a rock wrapped in a cloth bag, "Wade made these for us, they act as a communicator of sorts," he saw her disbelieving eyebrow and just shook his head, "look don't question it, just remember that if you need to talk to me just speak into it."
Kim smiled tucked the stone in a forgotten pocket of her armor before sprinting towards Wade who was further down the wall. Ron watched her run for a moment but after several seconds turned back to the siege towers.
"STAND BY TO REPEL INVADERS!" he shouted and the sound of swords being unsheathed rang from across the wall.
The squeaking of the wheels lessened as the towers neared the walls and Ron drew his sword with fear in his heart.
Hurry up Kim, he thought nervously as the towers thundered against the wall, causing Ron to reach out for support. He felt a beefy hand hold him in position and he smiled as his mentor reassured him.
"It's all right your Majesty," Barkin smiled, "just some nightmarish creatures just like when I was serving with your father at the Battle of Diablos-"
"Steven," Betty Director chastised, "if I remember correctly you were in charge of watching out for our fair King during that battle," she smiled good naturedly, "Ron and Kim snuck out to stop that attack-"
Ron smiled and held up his hand and silenced both, "I know you two enjoy bickering but for the moment, let's focus on the task at hand. Shall we?"
He could hear the hidden laughter from his body guard and his head of security, "now," he cleared his throat, "try not to let me die."
"No monster will touch you today sire," Barkin promised as his grip on his enormous war hammer tightened.
"I'll hold you to that," Ron answered back.
The large siege tower had finally been moved into position and was resting comfortably against the wall. With a loud creaking, the connecting bridge lowered and slammed into the wall. For a moment, the entire wall fell silent as everyone stared into the inky blackness that inhabited the interior of the tower.
Ron tightened his grip on his sword as a low roar sounded from inside the tower.
"Steady," his voice carried out over the battlements.
It was silent for a moment but with a feral cry, the nightmare creatures of Monkey Fist sprang from the blackness and attacked the defenders of Middleton.
"FOR MIDDLETON!" Ron shouted and jumped to meet them head on.
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Further down the Great Wall, Kingdom of Middleton
9:20 P.M.
Kim heard Ron shout his command and was soon caught in the midst of a surge of troops as the remaining troops on the wall raced to their King's aid. She pushed and shoved her way through the crowd and soon lost track of where she even was but suddenly felt a hand grab her by the shoulder and pull her roughly into a hidden alcove.
Kim instantly drew her sword and had it at the throat of her assailant even before it registered who it was.
"Queen Stoppable-San," a girl no older than fifteen breathed heavily with the sword at her throat, "I trust that is not how you greet all your allies."
Kim shook her head and lowered her sword, "'I'm sorry..." she waited for the girl to give her name.
"Hana-Chan," the girl bowed respectively," but you may call me Han. I am sorry to bother you but I am looking for my mother."
Kim was silent before asking, "Yori?"
Han nodded, "have you seen her?"
Kim shook her head, "not since we've returned from negotiations," Kim was silent, "I'm going to Wade, come with me and we'll try to find your mother."
Han looked torn for a second but nodded, "Yes your Majesty."
Kim looked from their hidden alcove but ducked back in with a scream as a flaming chunk of rock tore through the sky above her.
She waited for a moment before sticking her head out again and seeing that the coast was clear, pulled Han along as they searched for Wade.
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Great Wall, Kingdom of Middleton
10:06 P.M.
Ron's arm was stiff and was growing stiffer by the minute. It seemed that for each one of these creatures that he sent to the abyss, another ten stepped in to fill the gaps. Ron had lost track of how many of the walking nightmares he had killed but his two body guards seemed to be having a competition with each other.
"I'm up to thirty-seven," Barkin announced as his enormous hammer crushed the ribcage of another creature.
Ker Smash
"Thirty-eight," came the report, "How are you doing Betty?"
Elizabeth Director allowed a smile on her lips, "That is a pretty good score," her rapier stabbed a creature through the eye, "in fact," stab, thrust, "that is a brilliant score," she ducked under a blade thrust and used the creature's momentum to follow it through into an approaching nightmare.
Moments later both fell to the ground dead, "if I was blindfolded," she continued as her thin strip of metal sang through the night air and another creature fell to the ground wondering why it suddenly was without a heart. Betty laughed as she felt a blood lust creeping into her movements, "If you think about it, I'm almost blindfolded," two more fell as the deadly blade flashed in the night, "and that brings my count up to sixty-seven."
Barkin growled and grabbed a lantern from the wall. Heaving it into the enormous siege tower, he was rewarded with the screams and cries of the nightmarish creatures as they burned and were unable to escape their sudden prison. The fire however wasn't done and caught the internal wood construction of the tower on fire. As the wood crackled and burned, the metal started to creak in protest and soon the metal sheeting was to heavy for the burning timbers inside and with an enormous crash the tower collapsed to the gathering troops below.
Ron stabbed another creature through the stomach and kicked the monstrosity away where it was quickly dispatched by Betty.
Seeing no other enemies near him, Ron walked to the edge of the wall and peeked over the edge and was rewarded with the flaming wreckage of the tower below. Looking at Betty with admiration, both Ron and his Chief of Security turned to see Barkin who had enormous grin on his face, "That's got to be worth at least fifty of the creatures," he joked.
The laughter was short lived as second siege tower landed a few meters away and more creatures poured out. With a laugh on his lips and soldiers at his back, Ron charged into the onslaught.
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Further down the Great Wall, Kingdom of Middleton
10:20 P.M.
Kim and Han didn't have any idea as to where they were going but they knew they were getting close to Wade as they could hear him shouting commands, "No, no no!" he ducked behind a catapult and pulled on something before appearing on the other side without seeing Kim, "you have to load first and then arm the catapults," he pulled at a cord, "otherwise you're just going to destroy the launcher."
Kim shouted above the din, "WADE!"
He looked up, flashed Kim a smile and went back to work, "I'm sorry your Majesty but I'm a little busy at the moment."
Kim shook her head, "We need your help."
He nodded and pulled at the catapult as a ballista several meters down fired a flaming bolt into the night, "take a number, I'm booked solid."
Kim smiled, "It's about the dragon."
Wade looked up, "You have a plan?"
The smile faltered, "er...that's why I came to you."
Han cleared her throat, "Why we came to you," Kim corrected herself.
Wade nodded and tossed a knob to one of the soldiers near him, "turn that screw until you can't turn it anymore and then fire away."
He ducked under the catapult only to appear by Kim's side, "I think I just might have a plan," he raced over to a section of the wall holding a series of spears but Kim shook her head.
"That's not going to work," she argued, "arrows can't pierce the scales."
Wade nodded with a smile as he called out, "but we're not looking to pierce the scales are we?"
KE-RAWR
Everyone on the tower ducked as the dragon screamed over head, "We're aiming for the wing," he explained, "I saw arrows sticking in the wing so I'm to bet that the wing is made of thinner material than the other scales."
Han nodded, "and you're going to keep it tethered to the wall?"
He nodded, "It was your mother's idea."
Han instantly snapped to attention, "Where is my mother?"
Wade pointed towards a large siege tower that had latched onto the wall a few hundred yards away, "she's fighting over there holding back that siege tower. Now," he hoisted the steel arrow onto his shoulder, "let's get ready for this dragon."
For the next several minutes the trio worked on fastening a chain to the arrow and winding up the launcher, "We only get one shot," Kim said as she anchored the chain into a steel hoop in the wall, "don't miss."
Wade smiled as he turned a crank, "I could knock the flies off a dog's back at a thousand yards with this thing."
Han was silent before asking, "then why not use it on Monkey Fist?"
Wade walked over to another ballista and aimed it at Monkey Fist. He took a deep breath and pulled the trigger.
Twang-Hiss
The arrow hissed through the night towards the insane warlord but when the shaft was several meters from Monkey Fist it was batted away by one of his enormous hands. Bits of debris rained around the leader but nothing touched him.
Wade gestured to the broken bits of arrow surrounding Monkey Fist, "that's why."
Kim stared in shock, "he's moving fast enough to stop out arrows?"
Wade shrugged, "sometimes he catches them and tosses them to one of his pets as a chew toy."
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Great Wall, Kingdom of Middleton
10:45 P.M.
Hack, slash, duck, shield bash, repeat Ron thought as he bashed a creature in the face with his shield. The entire battle was growing repetitive as he continued to slash at the monsters that never stopped coming.
Ron's arm was growing stiffer and cut across his cheek and side was bleeding profusely. He hadn't seen the blade wielder until it was too late and only after the stroke fell was Ron able to kill the monster.
Ron raised his shield and fended off another blow that glanced harmlessly to the side. A quick slice from Betty and the creature found itself wondering where the battle had gone and why it was in the middle of an abyss.
"Sire," he heard a voice calling out as if from a great distance and he turned his head slowly to look.
Felix was cutting and slashing his way through the sea of monstrosities with a group of soldiers, all of which bore the symbol of Ron's personal body guard.
"Sire," Felix shouted and the word echoed strangely in Ron's head, "Sire please," Felix shouted as he neared Ron. A flick of his blade and a headless nightmare stumbled around before toppling to its knees. "Sire please," Felix shouted as he pushed at the crowd, "you simply must let someone else fight."
Felix seemed to be so far away from Ron, almost as if he was standing on the far end of a tunnel. Ron tried to focus through the hazy mess that was his vision and shouted out weakly through the noise, "I'll retreat when I'm dead."
Felix rolled his eyes and finally was at Ron's side, "Sire if you don't fall back and let some young soldier take your place I will remove you by force."
Ron winced, "I'm not that old," he moved Felix aside a half a foot to the left with his shield and stabbed a nightmare that had been sneaking up on the pair.
Felix smiled as his sword swirled through the battle, "I seem to remember-," the silver blade snaked out and a nightmare fell to the ground in pain as its sword arm fell to the ground several seconds later.
"I seem to remember that just the last week you were complaining about how you found gray in your beard," Felix teased good naturedly.
Ron smirked at his friend, "I have a personal dungeon that I throw my friends into."
"Yes Kim told me about that," Felix joked as he ducked under a blow from one of the nightmares and quickly dispatched it, "either you leave this fight now or we take you by force."
Ron smiled as he stabbed a monster that appeared over Felix's shoulder, "I'd like to see you try my friend."
Felix laughed, "I will Sire if you-"
He didn't finish as an enormous boulder suddenly tumbled through the wall and fell to the city below, instantly killing Felix and taking him along several of Ron's soldiers with it. The boulder tumbled through a house before stopping in the middle of a second house. Felix's body wound up next to the boulder, bloodied and bruised with a piece of Ron's royal seal still clutched firmly in his hand.
As a fresh barrage of stones rained down upon the city and the troops, both Ron's and Monkey Fist's, scattered, leaving Ron alone atop his wall. He tried to move but found a heavy weight upon his chest and struggled to move. After several seconds he felt a great weariness come over him and he let his head fall back onto the warm stone as unconsciousness claimed him.
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Fields of Middleton
10:50 P.M.
Monkey Fist allowed himself the first real triumphant laugh as he saw the rock tear through the wall and strike near Ron. For the moment it appeared that Stoppable was out of the fight entirely.
"My babies!" he heard his Sorceress beside him scream as the walls started to shake from the rock barrage, "You're killing my babies!"
Monkey Fist shook his head at Amy's screams and sighed at the vast army behind him that thankfully had fallen back when Monkey Fist had given the order to fire.
"Calm yourself Woman," he ordered from atop his horse, "They've given their lives for you." In truth, he didn't care at all about their deaths, a fact that both Drakken picked up on as he watched from his position next to Monkey Fist.
"And how are we doing tonight good Doctor?" Monkey Fist smiled.
Drakken didn't say anything as he watched the dragon fall from the sky again and shoot a stream of fire on the city. From within the walls a wailing cry arose that chilled him to his core and his eyes teared up as the flames danced into the night.
"Cheer up Drakken," he heard, "they're deaths mean you'll get your precious freak back," Drakken's tied up fists clenched in rage, "but of course your wife is so crazy I'd probably be doing you a favor by killing her."
"She's not crazy," Drakken growled, "she's just-"
Drakken didn't finish his thought as Monkey Fist called out to his catapults, "hold your fire and let your brothers back on the wall."
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Great Wall, Kingdom of Middleton
11:07 P.M.
Ron awoke slowly and tried to move and after several minutes he was able to move into a semi sitting position. Fighting unconsciousness that sought to reclaim him, Ron looked up at the starry night that illuminated the battlefield and simply relaxed. His world had gone silent, pain was nonexistent and surprisingly, he didn't care. All that mattered was that he now was able to relax.
He felt a weight return to his chest, a clamoring of metal and he turned his head to look through darkening vision.
One of the nightmares was crawling on his chest and attempting to reach his throat. In its hand was a rusty dagger and from it appeared to be drooling. Drunkenly Ron tried to push the creature away but to no avail, it just kept coming.
It inched up Ron's breastplate, the rough metal screeching against Ron's. Where are my guards? he thought weakly as it raised its dagger in victory.
Ron put up a hand weakly to defend himself as the dagger fell.
Or at least as the dagger would have fallen if the creature had still had an arm. A katana flashed from outside Ron's vision and severed the creature's arm at the shoulder and it screamed in pain just before Yori kicked the monster away with a cry of defiance.
Roughly she pulled Ron to his feet and throwing one of his arms over her shoulder she held him in place even as more monsters tried to stab Ron. However not a single blade landed on Ron as Yori deflected each and every one while carrying Ron.
Seven steps later Ron found himself among the caring arms of his soldiers and he allowed them to pass him through the crowd and away from the battle.
"Yori," he called out weakly, causing his troops to fall silent, "follow Yori until I return."
Silent affirmations followed and Ron finally allowed unconsciousness to claim him.
Yori nodded slowly and wiped the blood and gore from her blade as she turned back to the siege tower that continued to spew out Monkey Fist's army like a fountain.
"Their armor is weak at the joints and near their knee," she said as another siege tower moved into position, "their body also secretes a flammable liquid, if you can try and light them on fire."
She heard the forces behind her murmur as her words were passed along moments before the siege tower slammed into the wall and nightmares poured forth.
Yori smiled as her eye twitched in excitement and she raised her katana to position before jumping headlong into the fray.
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Further down the Great Wall, Kingdom of Middleton
11:25 P.M.
Kim finished tightening the last bit of the chain onto the arrow and stepped back to admire her handiwork.
"It's a spear with a chain clipped onto it," she observed dryly.
"And this is going to stop the dragon?" Han asked in confusion.
KE-RAWR
The dragon fell from the clouds and fired at the city again with a steady stream of flame. Enormous tongues of flame jetted into the sky as the buildings caught fire and Kim turned her head as the heat suddenly rose.
Wade looked at the city that was now aflame and nodded, "This has to stop the dragon."
Kim nodded, "why?"
"Because it's the only idea I have," he explained as he grabbed the ballista and angled it at the dragon flying right at the trio.
"Steady," he said loudly as the dragon approached.
KE-RAWR
"Steady," he said in a more subdued tone as he concentrated.
"Wade?" Kim asked. The dragon was getting closer and her pulse was rising.
KE-RAWR
"Steady," he whispered.
"WADE!" Kim screamed.
"FIRE!" Wade shouted as he released the ballista and the spear flew right at the dragon.
The dragon easily dodged the incoming bolt but in doing so exposed its wing to the spear that sank into the thin flesh of the dragon's wing and punched through before sticking like a splinter.
The dragon cried out in pain as it felt the bolt dig in and it tried to dig out the bolt but each time the creature touched the spear a wave of pain radiated through the dragon and it was forced to simply leave it alone. Crying out in agony, the dragon flew off into the night sky, dripping blood and screaming loudly.
Whisp Clink
Kim turned away from the cheering defenders as the clinking of chains sounded behind her. She slowly turned and saw the chain being quickly unwound from its holder. Her eyes traveled up the length of the chain and saw the only thing connecting the dragon to the wall was a length of chain and a "U" shaped bolt in the wall.
"Hey Wade?" Kim asked above the cheers.
Wade turned back to Kim, a grin covering his face, "Yes your Highness?"
She nodded to the wall, "What's stage two of this plan of yours?"
He was silent, "I really didn't have one," he admitted as he stood transfixed by the rapidly vanishing chain.
"So your plan was to anchor a large dragon to our wall?" she asked incredulously.
He nodded sheepishly, "I didn't say it was a good plan," he took a breath, "and in all reality it was Yori's idea."
Kim was about to say something back but at that moment the chain ran out and Kim saw where she was standing: Directly in front of the chain.
"Oh son of a-" she didn't get to finish her curse as the chain snapped free from the wall, zipped through Kim's legs and carried her into the night and above the battlefield.
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Plains of Middleton
8:20 P.M.
Monkey Fist felt a stab of pain in his bicep and massaged the area to eliminate the pain that had magically sprang up.
KE-RAWR
Monkey Fist looked up in horror as his dragon skimmed above the wall with a spear through its wing. A faint glittering in the night told him something still tethered the spear to the wall and he gritted his teeth at the pain that would come when the dragon ripped the spear out of its wing just by flying to the end of the chain.
What happened next surprised even him as the chain snapped taught and instead of pulling out the spear pulled out a brick from the wall and took a soldier with it. He squinted as the soldier rose into the night with the chain and turned to one of his attendants.
"Telescope," he ordered and instantly a telescope appeared in his waiting hand.
He peered through the tiny glass and let his mouth fall open when he saw Queen Kimberly Ann Stoppable attached to that chain several hundred feet above the ground.
He dropped the telescope and focused on the dragon several hundred feet above Kim and struggled to create his telepathic link with the beast. Several seconds of searching and his arm started aching again.
THEY HURT US the Dragon screamed into Monkey Fist's mind as soon as it sensed his presence.
I know Monkey Fist whispered into the dragon's mind in the vain hope of calming the creature, I can feel your pain so long as I keep up this connection.
THEY HURT US AND I WANT BLOOD! Monkey Fist felt a surge of anger radiate from the beast and he felt the pain in his arm diminish as the dragon banked back to the city.
KILL, KILL THEM ALL! the dragon screamed into Monkey Fist's mind, KILL THE CITY AND LET THE STREETS RUN RED WITH THEIR BLOOD!
Monkey Fist had to act quickly or else the entire plan would be ruined, You don't want to do that, he teased, not when the one who did this to you is right below you. He waited as the dragon looked down and saw Kim dangling by the end of the chain.
She's the one who did this to you, Monkey Fist said to the dragon, kill her but leave me my city.
WE'LL SEE ONCE I'VE FINISHED HER, the dragon growled.
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Great Wall, Kingdom of Middleton
11:35
The Angel of Death had come upon Middleton in the form of Yori. In the three hours since the first creature was killed, she had slain over one hundred of the monsters and had sustained no injury. It was as if the Creators themselves were protecting her as she charged recklessly into the fray of monsters that threatened Middleton.
She was diving, vaulting, slicing up each and every one of Monkey Fist's army but it wasn't enough, it was never enough to quench her lust for revenge.
Hack Slice
It didn't mean she was going to stop trying to quench that thirst for blood but she was certain that until Monkey Fist died, she wouldn't stop.
KE-RAWR
She heard the dragon cry out in pain and turned briefly to see the dragon fly off into the night sky with a glittering chain trailing behind it. And then she saw Kim. A wordless curse escaped Yori's lips as Kim rose into the night sky and soon vanished with the dragon.
Shaking her head, Yori turned back to the fighting and slicing of monsters. Before she had turned around, she felt more than saw something coming towards her and she ducked, just missing the clawed hand that hissed through the air above her head. When she regained her feet she took the whole creature in and couldn't help the disgusted feeling in the pit of her stomach as the monster stood before her, shaking in fury.
The MAMA was easily twice her size and carried two enormous clawed hands that it used in place of weapons. It swung at Yori and she barely dodged the killing blow, instead the monster's hand slammed into the wall next to her where it gouged out a jagged hole. Yori rolled back as the creature screamed and swiped at her again, this time The MAMA missed her but succeeded in catching several soldiers with a clawed hand and batted them off the wall and into the field below.
"FALL BACK!" Yori screamed as the creature tore after her retreating form.
A lone soldier appeared before it and hacked at the MAMA's arm, eliciting a scream of pain.
Yori turned back and watched as Joshua Mankey rolled under the creature's swipe, bringing his shield up to deflect the MAMA's claws.
The creature screamed at this annoyance as it swiped again at Josh but he ducked under the assault again even as an arrow hissed past Yori's cheek.
Turning her head Yori watched as Lady Tara Mankey notched another arrow and fired, the bolt striking perfectly in the MAMA's cheek, mere centimeters from where the first had landed.
The MAMA now turned its attention to Tara, giving Josh the necessary seconds to get in position behind the creature.
Tara notched a third arrow and calmly fired even as the MAMA charged at her.
A fourth arrow was notched as the MAMA launched itself into the air towards Tara.
At the last second, Tara ducked under the creature's assault, sliding on the cold stone as her armor cast sparks in every direction.
CRASH
The MAMA slammed into the battlements and tumbled over the edge with a scream. As the nightmare fell, a single claw caught the stone of the wall and stuck. The creature let loose a bloodthirsty cry of victory and scrambled back onto the wall.
Yori threw a dagger at the creature and was rewarded with a scream of pain in response.
The MAMA bounded towards Yori, batting aside Josh and Tara easily as its tail flicked out and cast a lantern on the stone wall, instantly creating a large wall of flame that rose into the night sky.
Yori let out a silent curse as she realized she was now cut off from the rest of the defenders by the wall of fire.
The MAMA turned to admire the fire before turning back to Yori, the grotesque body silhouetted by orange flames.
With a low growl the creature advanced on Yori, the bone claws clacking dangerously on the stone.
Yori raised her katana and tightened her grip on it.
The MAMA growled and launched itself at her with blinding speed.
The creature was nearly upon her but it let loose a scream of pain and tumbled to its side, sliding along the cold stone of the wall as a thin strip of metal in the shape of a star dug into its decaying eye.
Yori's eyes flicked up and saw Han standing on a ledge with a second ninja star ready. Yori smiled at her daughter as the second star hissed overhead and buried itself in the monster's leg. The MAMA let loose another scream of pain and struggled to rise from the ground. Seeing a moment of weakness Yori dove on top of the monster, hacking with her katana while her daughter motioned for Wade.
"GET READY WADE," Han shouted.
Yori looked up in confusion as she tried to figure out what her daughter was up to. That moment almost cost her everything as the creature rose up and kicked Yori away where she hit the wall with enough force to crack the stone and mortar. As she struggled to regain her senses she watched in vague wonderment as her daughter swiped at the creature with her blade. MAMA swiped at her again but only succeeded in hitting more of Middleton's defenders.
Then Yori's worst nightmare happened: Han slipped.
Han slipped on the stone and tumbled to the ground. But as she slipped Yori heard a TWANG from down the wall and a spear suddenly erupted from the creature's shoulder. MAMA howled in pain and tried to dig it out but Wade's cast iron spear refused to budge. Instead he casually pulled at the chain attached to the spear.
MAMA turned around slowly to see what fool would shoot it in the back. Wade just smiled and pointed to the siege tower behind him that Barkin had already thrown a lantern into. The MAMA followed the chain's path and felt something akin to horror as he saw the chain attached to the burning tower. Like before, the tower creaked and groaned as the timbers inside burned to ash before the entire tower collapsed in on itself, taking MAMA with the burning mass of metal.
MAMA was pulled from the wall and fell into the burning mess that used to be a siege tower. For several seconds all that could be heard was the screams of pain from the monster but soon all that was left was the crackling of the burning tower.
Han ran over to her mother and held her tight, "Empress," she whispered as she clutched her mother and Yori squeezed her daughter tightly.
"It's all right Han," she whispered as she held her sobbing daughter, "Everything's Going To Be All Right."
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Above the Kingdom of Middleton
11:45
Kim held onto the chain with all her might and struggled to pull herself up but found that the only thing she could do was hold on and pray the dragon didn't notice her.
She looked up just in time to see the dragon peering down at her, bits of drool falling from the open mouth and pelting her armor.
For the umpteenth time that night Kim cursed herself for not wearing a helmet.
KE-RAWR
The dragon let loose a deafening scream and angled its head mid flight to bite her but at the last second she brought her feet up as a shield and pushed off the Dragon's chin. The chain clinked as she kept pushing off the head of the dragon and eventually the dragon was forced to give up as it couldn't stay airborne and bend its neck to eat her at the same time.
She saw the mouth move away and without thinking pulled the crossbow given to her earlier and shot the dart at the creature's mouth. The dragon didn't notice when the barb locked onto a gap between two teeth and Kim allowed the wire to spool out until there was quite a bit of slack between the arrow in the teeth and her.
"I am so going to regret this," she mumbled to herself and let go of the chain. She tumbled through the air and felt the crossbow in her hand start to pull away from her grasp as she continued to fall and with a grunt, Kim triggered the rewind feature on her crossbow and was instantly swung up and around the dragon's sharp teeth and arced up onto the creature's head.
She tumbled head over heels along the spiky head but stopped herself mid tumble as her hand snagged a jagged spike and she instantly stopped. She felt her grip slipping along the spike and she pulled her dagger from the hidden sheath in her back. The wind buffeted her body as she struggled to remove the dagger but after struggling she succeeded in pulling the dagger out and jamming it between two scales. Now with a second hand hold she felt her body stop its slide off the dragon's back and thought about how she could kill this monstrosity.
Kim? a voice echoed around Kim and she nearly lost her grip in surprise.
"Wade?" she shouted through the wind.
I'm here in your pocket came his reply don't reach for me, just focus on taking out that dragon.
"Do you have any ideas?" she shouted as the dragon flapped its wings, causing her to shake and fly about on the dragon's back. She felt her dagger slip and jammed the tiny sliver of metal forward.
Whether the Creators were on her side that night or she simply got lucky she couldn't say. All she did know was that something unique happened: The dragon dove to the ground.
Screaming at the sudden change in altitude, Kim pulled back on the dagger and suddenly found the dragon zooming back into the sky.
The dragon seemed as confused as she was and tried to roll onto its back but Kim slid the dagger the opposite way, causing the dragon to remain level.
A smile spread across Kim's face as she experimented with turning the dragon and was rewarded that whichever way the dagger moved, the dragon followed. Experimenting cautiously, pried the blade up and was instantly blinded as an enormous jet of yellow and gold fire billowed from the dragon's mouth.
Kim screamed out of surprise and released the blade, instantly the golden flame was cut off and she blinked profusely to gain back her vision. When her vision had cleared she squinted her eyes and tilted the knife again. This time the flamed didn't blind her but instead jetted out, the heat warming her in the cold night air.
"Hey Wade?" she asked, the laughter barely hidden in her voice as she clamped her legs down on the dragon almost as if she was riding a horse.
Do you have a plan? came the response.
"You're not going to to believe this," she laughed and banked the dragon back towards Middleton.
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Plains of Middleton
11:57 P.M.
Monkey Fist clutched at the side of his head in anguish as he felt like a knife had been plunged into the base of his skull. He knew his attendants were rushing to his side and he waved them away.
"I'm fine," he growled as the pain flared up again, "I'm fine."
He knew exactly what had happened and he tried to establish a mental link with his dragon again but found that each and every time he had almost established the connection, the knife like pain erupted into his skull.
He thought quickly about his options and found only one option left to him. He sighed, knowing Amy was going to kill him but frankly he didn't care. All that mattered was making sure Queen Stoppable didn't figure out how to-
KE-RAWR
Every eye on the battlefield looked skyward as the dragon bearing Kim fell from the sky. The dragon flew low above Monkey Fist's army and with a flick of Kim's wrist a jet of fire erupted from the dragon, instantly consuming a vast portion of Monkey Fist's army in an unholy glow.
The screams of burning soldiers echoed across the battlefield and Monkey Fist started cursing Kim silently under his breath as he prepared for his final option.
August 17th, 1257 A.D.
Above the Kingdom of Middleton
12:10 P.M.
Bank slowly, Kim thought to herself as she straddled the enormous dragon beneath her. Even through her armor she could still feel the heat from the dragon's fire but as for right now it was only an inconvenience. She tried controlling her newly acquired dragon as she would a plane but found that it only made things worse. Instead she was finding that Ron's advice when she played those stupid video games with him was actually useful in this situation.
If I ever get back I will not tell him that video games saved the world, she promised herself as Monkey Fist's army came back into view. Flying above his catapults, Kim tilted her wrist and within one flyby the catapults were nothing more than burning ash. From Middleton, Kim heard shouts of victory and raised a fist in response.
She brought the dragon around and made sure to blast the siege towers with the dragon's breath. She smiled as she passed the smoldering wreckage and her cheering troops. Just for good measure, Kim brought the enormous beast low to the ground and using the dragon's chest as an improvised spiked wall, started squashing Monkey Fist's army beneath the spiked body of her dragon. Screams flared up from around her and even from her low point on the dragon, Kim could see Monkey Fist's army was starting to retreat in terror.
One more pass ought to drive him back, she thought to herself as she pulled up and craned her head to look at her work. She let loose a victory cry as what looked like a solid line of death had been carved through Monkey Fist's army. The crushed and discouraged army was on the verge of full retreat and she brought the dragon over Middleton for one final flyby.
What happens when Ron finds out? Wade asked from the stone. Even though she couldn't see him, Kim knew he was grinning ear to ear.
When Ron finds out, he's going to give Kim whatever she desires Ron's voice echoed across the stone.
Both Kim and Wade grinned, "How's it going Ron?" she asked.
Your Mother is looking after me for the moment- he was interrupted by someone who Kim immediately identified as her mother.
Kimberly Ann I want you to be careful up there, her mother warned as Kim did another flyby and torched another section of Monkey Fist's army. She had tried many times to burn Monkey Fist to a crisp but each time the flames refused to fire. Not thinking much of it she had instead turned on his almost endless army.
She banked around and flew over the city to survey the damage. Nothing that couldn't be repaired but if left unchecked those fires would spread to the rest of the city.
"Ron, you're going to want someone to check on those fires," she said as the dragon lumbered through the air and started flying over the city back towards the now enemy free wall.
We can spare some troops now that you took out their siege towers, Wade reported almost as if he had sensed the question coming, Unless Monkey Fist figures out a way to open our gate, we're pretty safe up here.
Kim allowed herself a smile as she neared the enormous gate that separated Middleton from Monkey Fist's army.
Maybe it was over.
She felt the dragon lurch beneath her and her eyes instantly widened as the dragon seized again and stopped flapping its wings.
Maybe not.
"Wade I have a tiny problem here," she said as the dragon was now gliding over the city.
What's that? he asked as he picked up the panic in her voice.
"The dragon's not flapping," she reported as the dragon coughed weakly and twitched a final time, "and I think it just died."
Died? Wade asked disbelievingly, How?
"I don't know how!" Kim shouted as she saw the enormous gate before her swiftly approaching.
PULL UP! Ron shouted through the stone to Kim but it was too late.
August 18th, 1257 A.D.
Above the Kingdom of Middleton
12:20 A.M.
From his horse, Monkey Fist raised his eyes to the city and nodded silently as he felt the dragon's life drain away.
"I'm sorry," he said softly as he watched the magnificent creature slowly start to tumble through the air as it seized in its death throes.
"Monty!" Amy's voice screeched, "WHAT DID YOU DO?"
He looked at her sadly, genuinely touched by the death he had just inflicted, "I killed the dragon."
She looked as if he had just slapped her across the face while stabbing her in the stomach, "But..." she murmured weakly, "but I gave you an army..."
Monkey turned to face her, a quizzical expression on his face, "And you think that gives you power over me?"
August 18th, 1257 A.D.
Great Wall, Kingdom of Middleton
12:20 A.M.
KA-BOOM
With an explosive boom that everyone within several miles felt, the dragon slammed into the gate. It was simple physics really, a 70 ton dragon with scales stronger than any known metal traveling at 120 miles per hour slamming into a 40 ton solid steel door. Needless to say the dragon ripped through the door as easily as one punches through tissue paper.
The doors were ripped explosively from their hinges and flung into Monkey Fist's retreating army, their twisted steel shattering upon impact and tumbling end over end through the crowd, tearing through the retreating army like a scythe through wheat. The army stopped their flight of terror and instead turned to see the chaos unfolding before them.
The dragon couldn't be saved and augured into the ground, instantly tumbling end over end through the field like a meteorite come to Earth. The rider was flung from the dragon's back upon the first impact and landed limply on the ground, the only thing that would save her was her cheer leading skills that taught her to before impact, but instead she had smacked her head on the dragon's neck and knew no more. Kim's body tumbled off the dragon, where she flopped and tumbled across the ground before coming to a stop several hundred feet from the gate.
The dragon continued its spinning and sliding across the field, throwing fire and dragon scales around wherever it landed. Eventually the jaw dug into the ground and the dragon flipped over a final time before sliding to a stop before a crying DNAmy, a thoroughly scared Drakken and a now smiling Monkey Fist. His timing had been perfect and now he had an entrance to the city without the use of siege towers. If he had known all he had to do was throw the dragon at the gates, he would have done so at the beginning. But all that was in the past now, he had to take control of the situation and he would do so admirably.
He spun his horse around and addressed his stopped army, "THERE'S THE CITY!" he gestured towards the now gateless city, "LEAVE NONE ALIVE! CHARGE!"
As one, his army charged, a thundering mass with one goal: the destruction of the Kingdom of Middleton.
August 18th, 1257 A.D.
Before the Kingdom of Middleton
12:37 A.M.
Kim opened her eyes to an earthquake. She sat up quickly and instantly regretted it as her head throbbed painfully and her stiff muscles screamed in pain.
She felt unconsciousness trying to claim her but slapped herself across the face, instantly causing the desire to pass out diminish.
She looked and saw the torn off gates and advancing army and could only think of one word to describe her predicament.
"Crap."
Only two hundred meters of open field separated Kim Possible from an advancing army wanting to kill her.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, Disney owns it all.
Author's Notes: Vacation was fun, but I did enjoy coming back to the writing. I think I may have a problem.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the break, caught up on whatever it is you all catch up on.
That being said, I look forward to continuing the story.
Special thanks goes out to Joe Stoppinghem (It was Earth the whole time and Bruce Willis was a ghost. I can play this game too), Sentinel103 (Mayhem you say?), Darev (This is just a fraction of Paris), Taechunsa (Leading the jumps or perhaps playing catch up) and CajunBear73 (I can't leave you alone for a minute can I?).
And a special thanks to all of you who tune in and read the story each and every week.
Thank you.
If you like it or you have a question or even if you spot a grammatical/Continuity error, drop me a review.
Until next time,
TRS