December 20th, 2015 A.D.
Paris, France
7:12 P.M.
Death was nothing new to Felix Renton. In fact death had almost become routine in his life, just another habit to form: brush your teeth, wash your face, avoid killer aliens, kill killer aliens, go home, go to bed.
Lather, rinse, repeat.
With the entire human population having been systematically hunted down over the last seven years in what could only be described as a brutal genocide, Felix had developed a coldness and detachment that had had made him callous to death.
On more than one occasion he had sent soldiers to their deaths on suicide missions, heck he'd executed his fair share of brainwashed Humans that had tried to kill his team on multiple occasions. He'd been an angel of death on the battlefield but Kim made Felix look like Mother Teresa in comparison.
When Kim's motto had said she could do anything, that applied even to battle field tactics and a cold wartime brutality that even Dr. Director had never seen. It was never discussed openly around Kim but it was only whispered in shadows but there were those who thought Kim's tactics were almost too brutal.
Too dangerous.
...too Lowardian.
Kim had changed after the loss of her family in the retreat of Middleton and maybe that was why Felix had been drawn to the cheerleader over the next couple of months.
Granted Felix had always been there for Kim and Ron in High School, seeing their future as a couple long before the two of them ever had but never once had he wanted Kim as anything more than a friend.
But then the war happened.
Kim had taken the death of her family hard and over the course of a year Felix had watched Kim slide into madness as all she loved had been taken from her.
Ron had tried to keep the relationship with Kim going but she could never look at him without seeing the man who murdered her family. For almost a year he had tried to keep the relationship alive with Kim but no matter what he said or did, she would always push him away.
Finally Ron had had enough and did what no one ever thought he would do: He left Kim.
For months after the invasion the Yamanouchi School had requested Ron's help in holding back the Lowardians and after Kim's final rejection, Ron had left.
Ron leaving to join Yamanouchi had been the final straw for Kim and Felix had watched in horror as Kim became more reckless and at times suicidal in her missions.
After Kim had pushed Ron away she'd pulled into herself and Felix saw that without someone near her, Kim was going to snap and possibly kill a large number of people as well. The sheer fact that in less than a year after her family's death Kim was the most feared human being on the planet, at least in the Lowardian's eyes had shown Kim to be powerful in their eyes.
Kim was power.
Kim was death.
And that had made Felix realize that Kim was on the tipping point, hanging over the edge on the brink of insanity.
He knew that all it would take would be one final push and Kim would snap.
Because of this undeniable fact, Felix stayed close to Kim through it all. No matter her mood he was there for her. He was caring for her despite the limitations, despite the times she would retreat to within herself, Felix would be there, always caring, always there to lead her away from the darkness.
Away from the edge.
Felix wasn't sure when the desire to protect Kim from herself had transformed to love but regardless, Felix had fallen for Kim and for the next several years they became the most feared duo on the planet. It was the ultimate power the two shared as they were the world's last hope or maybe it was the fact that getting to know Kim had been the best thing to happen to Felix in...well pretty much ever.
He'd prepared himself for this contingency, for Kim dying. Every time a soldier under his command died, Felix imagined it was Kim in preparation for this day. To Felix they were just numbers, never anything more than names. They were anyone.
But Kim wasn't just anyone, she was Felix's wife.
Correction: She was Felix's Life.
In that bright tunnel beneath Paris he was cradled Kim's head in his lap, rocking the still body back and forth, not caring about the blood pooling around him or coating his hands.
"Felix," Josh's voice cut through his detachment and Felix looked up with eyes not seeing anything.
"What?" he asked in an emotionless voice.
Josh shook his head, "She's gone. We have to go."
"Why?" Felix asked and clutched Kim all the tighter, "Without Kim and Betty there's nothing left for us to do. We're all dead."
Tara appeared next to Felix and tugged at the man's shoulder, "they're both dead now, but if we fail they'll have died in vain," she paused, "but not Betty, she sorta went crazy there and killed Kim-oof."
Josh nudged her in the side long enough to break her concentration and she turned to him with a questioning expression.
He shook his head and held up his hands as if to say what are you thinking?
Realizing her words Tara shook her head and fumbled over her words, "I mean…that's not what I…wait…"
"All right," Bonnie said hurriedly and interrupted Tara to pull at Felix's suit, "we have to leave her Felix."
Felix refused to acknowledge Bonnie's tugging.
Bonnie shook her head, "Brick grab him."
Without a word, the former Middleton Football star grabbed Felix under the arms and pulled him away.
"No, NO!" Felix shouted and started kicking as Brick pulled him away as easily as one does a misbehaving child in the store, "WE CAN'T LEAVE HER!"
"I'm sorry Felix," Bonnie said as she closed Kim's eyes, "she'll just be additional weight."
"NO! WE CAN'T LEAVE HER!" Felix continued his screaming, "WE CAN'T JU-"
CRACK
He stopped her hysterics as Tara whacked Felix at the base of his skull with her rail gun, instantly knocking out the hysterical man.
The tunnels descended back into silence as everyone turned to stare at Tara, "He's going to be angry when she wakes up," Bonnie cautioned the platinum blonde haired woman.
Tara nodded, "I know," she paused and checked her gun, "that's why I'm hoping we'll be back at the castle at that time."
The group descended back into silence as they cast one last look back at Kim's dead body before they continued their descent into Paris.
The group stopped in confusion as water droplets rose to the ceiling, forming puddles that reflected back to them.
Tara reached a hand up and touched the water congealing above them, "Bonnie?"
"Yeah?" came the short reply.
"I'm not going crazy right?" Tara asked as more water formed above them.
Bonnie was never able to answer as a tendril of Nothing passed through her and erased her from existence.
Plip
July 9th, 2012
Los Angeles, California
7:38 P.M.
"Hey!" Mark said in an excited tone as he was about to unplug the computer, "Come check this out!"
Robert walked into the den with his coat and car keys in hand, "What?"
"The computer just started working again," Mark reported.
"What do you mean?" Robert asked in confusion.
"I mean the computer just started erasing S1 through S4," Mark leaned forward and stared at the screen, "and it appears to be going quickly," he paused and his eyes widened, "I mean really quickly. If we wait for a few minutes the entire thing will be gone and then we can go pay Sidekick a visit."
Robert was silent as he put down his coat, "All right, we'll wait."
July 9th, 2012
Los Angeles, California
7:40 P.M.
"Let loose the bonds…" he muttered, "…shrug this mortal coil…" he coughed weakly, "...only then will the path to the creators open," The Real Sidekick was silent before uttering his last word, "Jump."
SilverWolf05 looked over her shoulder at the creator in shock, "Sidekick?" she asked hesitantly, "you OK over there?"
Looking at the bed Wolf let out a sigh of relief as The Real Sidekick was only mumbling in his sleep. She watched him for a few more seconds before taking a deep breath and turning back to the computer. She looked at the clock at the bottom of the screen and blinked quickly as she realized how much time had passed.
She looked at the chapter and nodded quietly at her handiwork. She'd need to proof read it, but she was confident in her abilities to finish another chapter before Mark and Robert arrived. When they did, she wanted to focus entirely on the handling of Sidekick. Even though he had broken the rules, she still cared for the Creator and as such felt the need to write enough to get the story back on track.
"…have a choice…" he mumbled in his sleep and Wolf turned back to him, "…Ron is the key…"
She watched him muttering in his sleep for several minutes as portions of thoughts and ideas flowed from his mouth. Eventually he slipped back into a silent sleep and Wolf leaned back in the chair, deep in thought.
You made the wrong choice, she told herself.
"No I followed the rules," she answered her mind.
Screw the rules, her mind countered, You and I both know he was doing the right thing.
"Well it didn't stop me from killing Kim," Wolf answered.
She's not dead yet, her conscience answered, You saw his notes.
"She's dead," came the reply, "She took two rounds to the chest and then I collapsed the universe. Kimberly Ann Possible is dead," she paused and took a deep breath, "And nothing and no one can bring her back."
So that's it? Her inner voice answered, You're going to betray Sidekick after all this time?
"It was his fault he got into this mess," Wolf answered as she stood to her feet and moved towards the kitchen.
As she passed the door leading into the kitchen she stopped by a large framed picture hanging on the wall. She'd never noticed it before but stopped and stared at the list and silently read the contents.
The Rules of Being a Creator
Wolf stared in wonder, never realizing how often she had passed these rules without ever seeing them.
1) Under no circumstances is a Creator allowed to never get emotionally involved with the Chosen Beings.
Broken Wolf thought to herself.
2) Under no circumstances is a Creator allowed to self insert themselves into creation. Doing so will result in an automatic expulsion from the order of Creators.
Broke that one Wolf observed.
3) Under no circumstances is a Creator allowed to create original characters that supersede the role of the chosen beings unless you have permission of the Founders.
Tam she answered herself, Tam was a broken rule.
4) Under no circumstances is a Creator allowed to work without a Beta. This will ensure continuity and that the creation will remain cohesive.
Wolf stopped, her mind conceded, Actually that one he did follow for the most part.
Except for the part where you beat him into unconsciousness her mind countered.
5) Under no circumstances is a Creator allowed to change the plan set forth by the Founders. The only exception is if they are given permission to do so by the Founders.
He was supposed to kill her and he hasn't. He's trying to do... Wolf paused, unsure of her brother's plan. She glanced back at his notebook as she realized The Real Sidekick had veered from his original plan.
SilverWolf05 sighed and skipped a few of the lines as she mentally checked off what rules her brother had broken and what rules he had followed.
8) Under no circumstances is a Beta allowed to take over from a Creator unless said Creator has violated #6.
9) Under no circumstances is a Creator allowed to work without permission from the Founders.
10) Under no circumstances is a Creator allowed to be cruel to other Creators. Doing so will ensure expulsion from the order.
11) Under no circumstances is a Creator allowed to deliberately alter the personalities of the chosen beings without expressed permission of the Founders or if the motives are properly explained.
"Aren't we all guilty of that one?" she asked herself as she thought to her own creations.
12) Under no circumstances is a Creator allowed to change past aspects of creation to fit their needs.
Note: This differs from Rule #5 in that this means altering past submissions instead of changing the circumstances in one submission.
Once submitted, everything is locked in.
13) Under no circumstances is an expelled Creator allowed back into the order unless proof of their innocence can be shown.
14) Under no circumstance is a Creator allowed to become romantically involved with their Beta.
You are paired with this Beta in the hopes that they will help you become a better Creator, not lover.
15) Under no circumstances is a Creator allowed to make things up without first thinking out the ramifications.
Note: If a Creator wishes to change plan they must first submit a guided outline and be prepared for weighed consequences.
16) Under no circumstances is a Creator allowed to stop their work halfway through unless they have filled out the appropriate forms and notified those that will be affected by the stop.
Exceptions to this include extenuating circumstances outside of the Creation.
She was about to walk away but a rule she had never seen before hovered near the bottom. It was a rule that all knew and yet no one spoke. The rule of all rules.
17) Be yourself, create what you want, have fun.
Wolf turned away from the list in victory, "See? He broke over half the rules with this creation," she paused, "And that's not even talking about his other creations."
Do you honestly blame him? Her inner voice shook her head, Ask yourself why he would break those rules.
"I don't need to know why-"
Yes you do, her conscience answered, You want to know why a Creator threw away everything he had for Kim.
Wolf knew where the conversation was going but she kept her mouth shut You're angry that he cares more for a Chosen Being than he does for you.
"We're siblings," she answered.
You're angry that he didn't ask you to break the rules with him the voice answered quietly You feel betrayed that he went behind your back.
"He should have asked me," Wolf said angrily as she fought back tears, "I would have helped him."
Well what are you going to do about it now?
"Nothing," Wolf stormed back to the room where Sidekick still rested, "Mark and Robert are on their way here and they can deal with him then."
She sat in the chair and started typing, "I'm doing the right thing," she paused, uncertainty wracking her mind, "Right?"
Her conscience was silent.
"Right," she said if only to calm her nerves, "Of course I'm doing the right thing."
July 9th, 2012
Los Angeles, California
6:45 P.M.
The Real Sidekick was hungry.
Actually he was famished. He couldn't understand why he was so hungry. It seemed like he had just eaten a little over an hour ago but here he was, standing in his kitchen wondering what on earth he was going to have for a midnight snack.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
Sidekick turned around and watched as his Beta SilverWolf05 entered the kitchen.
She reached over him and pulled out a box of corn flakes from the cupboard and poured a bowl. She poured the milk that had suddenly appeared next to her and offered it to him, "Milk?"
He nodded, "Sure."
She poured enough for him to eat before handing it to him, "So what are you doing here?"
"I'm hungry," he answered with a full mouth of cereal. He swallowed, "So I'm eating."
She shook her head, "That's not what I asked you," she paused, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm eating," he replied, "I'm taking a break from writing and this is what I do when I take a break."
She raised an eyebrow, "The story is not finished Sidekick."
He shrugged, "I know, but it will be finished," he laughed, "I'll get back to it."
Her tone shifted, "Not at this rate you won't."
Something about her words woke something inside of him and his shoulder slumped in disappointment, "This is a dream isn't it."
"Yes it is," she answered as his cheek suddenly flared up in pain.
"And you aren't SilverWolf05?" he asked.
"No," she replied.
"Then who are you?" he was silent as his half remembered dream came back to him, "If you're the person I met last time we met you said we had memories together."
She smiled as his world began to dissolve, "I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet."
He wracked his brain, fighting through the pain of memories for answers before it finally hit him, "Hello Muse."
Her features morphed until she took on the form of one of the Greek Muses, "You keep writing and I'll guide you."
Thoughts and memories poured back into him, "But Wolf knocked me out and that's how I ended up here," he looked at her chestnut hair that sashayed in the non existent wind, "How do you suggest I get back to writing?"
Muse placed a hand on his shoulder and pulled him in close, "You're a nerd-"
"I prefer the term geek," he interrupted and she laughed.
"Geek then," she pinched him on the shoulder and he felt himself waking up, "Use a geek trick to get out of this."
She kissed him lightly on the cheek before she whispered in his ear, "Do me one last thing."
He looked at her with eyes wide in expectancy, "Yes?"
"Wake Up."
July 9th, 2012
Los Angeles, California
7:47 P.M.
Beige Ceiling.
His beige ceiling was the first sight he experienced upon waking up.
Tap Clack Tappity Tap
The sound of typing was the first sound he experienced upon waking up.
It took a moment to realize where he was and he turned towards the sound of typing and saw to his horror SilverWolf05 hunched over his computer.
"And so ends the life of Kimberly Ann Possible," he heard her announce gleefully and his lips curled into a snarl.
"I don't think so," The Real Sidekick said quietly as he rose from his bed and pulled two large metal rings from his night stand, "I'm taking back this story."
Disclaimer: I own Nothing, Disney owns the rest.
Author's Notes: So a bit of a tonal shift in this chapter. I wanted to include this chapter just so you all could see my code for writing a story and also call myself out for violating the very rules I say I follow. In addition, this chapter was also used to tie up the rules that preceded every chapter before this one.
And finally, this chapter was written because someone asked me to define how Felix and Kim could become a couple with Ron still alive. This is my interpretation reviewer. See kids? If you have a question, feel free to write me and I'll get back to you on it. Heck, I might even include your answer in a full chapter. Drop me a review if you want to sing my praises or fill my mailbox with hate mail.
As a segue...
Special thanks this week goes to Darev (Dead is dead), Twuscany (It is my story after all), Sentinel103 (Who said she was ever going to keep the promise?), Taechunsa (Whatevah, I do what I want!), Eddy13 (Your wish might be fulfilled soon), CajunBear73 (That depends on what she's getting me for Christmas), and Temporaryinsanity91 (You had one job to do Betty!).
And thank you to the silent reader. And especially you. You rock for tuning in every week to read this.
Until next time,
TRS