Chapter 16

…

King James Possible, his daughter Kim and his sons, Jim and Tim, and Kim's friend, Wade traveled through the ocean back to Middleton.

The group was grim and silent. Wade then looked at Kim. He knew his friend had gone through a hard time. But he wanted answers.

"Kim, are you going to tell me what happened?" He asked.

Kim looked at Wade. "Wade, please not now."

"Not now!" Wade demanded. "Kim, you disappeared for days. I was worried sick. I didn't know what to do."

Kim sighed. "Sorry Wade. I wasn't thinking, and..." She sighed. "I messed up."

"Wade." King Possible interjected sternly. "This is a family issue."

Wade became indignantly. "But your majesty, I need to know what happened. I was worried sick when Kim was missing."

"She can talk to you tomorrow." King Possible stated sternly. "Right now, I have to figure things out."

Wade glowered but then lowered his head in defeat. "Yes, your majesty." He said reluctantly.

Before long, they swam through the city. The mer-folk that were out stared at them in wonder, particularly the missing princess, Kim Possible- who was found by her father. But none dared to approach and ask questions, sensing they shouldn't approach the Sea King.

"So I guess I'll go home?" Wade guessed uneasily.

"I think that would be best." King Possible answered grimly.

"Okay." Wade then glared at Kim. "You still owe me an explanation, Kim."

"Of course, Wade." Kim conceded.

Wade turned and headed home while the royal family kept swimming and soon reached the palace entrance. The two guards stared in surprise at the return of the missing princess to their kingdom but then recovered from their surprise and bowed in respect.

Making a few turns through corridors, when suddenly Queen Anne came into the corridor.

"Kim!" Queen Anne exclaimed, swimming up to her daughter and gave her a hug. "I heard you were found. Are you alright?"

"No big, mom." Kim answered weakly, returning the embrace.

Jim, Tim and James stared silently. Anne then withdrew herself and gave Kim an angry look. "Kim, where were you? How could you make me worry?"

"Anne, I can explain." James cut in.

Anne gave James a glare. "I want to hear it from her."

Kim grimaced. "I messed up badly."

"Okay, but where were you all this time?" Anne demanded.

Kim sighed. "I was on the dry land, alright?"

Anne froze in horror. "But... how could you be on the dry land? That's impossible."

Kim suddenly sobbed uncontrollably.

"Anne," James cut in grimly. "I think it's best if she get some rest. I'll explain."

Anne sighed. "Fine. Kim, go to your room."

"Yes Mom." Kim sniffed, repressing a sob as she complied.

Anne then looked at Jim and Tim. "Is there anything about you I need to know about?"

"No." Both twins chorused.

"Boys, go." James ordered the young princes.

Jim and Tim turned to leave while James and Anne looked at each other.

"OK, so can you explain to me what is going on and how our daughter could be on dry land?" Anne asked her husband.

James sighed, knowing it would be a long and difficult explanation.

….…

Kim swam through a corridor. She was almost at her room when suddenly… "Kim!" A familiar voice behind her shouted.

Kim turned and saw her sister Yori swimming towards her.

"Kim, you're really home." Yori smiled

"Yeah." Kim shrugged.

Yori suddenly stopped smiling and frowned "Kim, what happened? Where have you been all this time?"

Kim sniffed sadly. "I messed up, okay?"

Yori sensed this was a complicated situation and that she shouldn't push it.

"Kim!" Another voice shouted.

Yori and Kim turned and saw Zita and Tara swim up to them. Both girls hammered Kim with questions while Kim grew obviously uncomfortable.

"Girls, stop!" Yori shouted sternly.

Zita and Tara stopped and looked at Yori.

"We just want to know what's going." Zita countered.

"We'll know what's going on in time." Yori stated. "This isn't helping."

Zita and Tara threw glances at each other.

"Fine." Zita relented, a scowl on her face.

"Okay." Tara said meekly, but then glared at Kim. "But you still owe us an explanation on where you've been."

"She's right, Kim," Yori agreed. "You had us all worried."

"Sure." Kim conceded, turning to head to her room.

"Let's go." Yori told Zita and Tara.

"Sure." Zita shrugged.

Zita and Yori turned to leave, but Tara looked at her bedroom door for a moment and then turned to join her sister.

Meanwhile Kim sat down on her bed, very depressed. Sitting on her bed, all she could think about was Ron, being human, the Sea Witch and her father.

"Kim." Said a voice.

Kim looked up in surprise. "Monique."

"Oh, Kim." Monique responded as she swam towards her younger sister. "Look, I don't know what's going on, but you've had us all worried. Where have you been? Where did you disappear to?"

Kim looked away, her distress increasing.

Monique became impatient. "Look Kim, I don't know what happened to you, but you had us all worried. Don't you think you should tell us where you've been?"

Kim sighed. "Okay. I was on the dry land."

"What?" Monique exclaimed in shock. "That's impossible. And don't say anything is possible for a Possible."

Kim sighed. "I made a deal with DNAmy."

"DNAmy?" Monique's eyes were wide with horror and disbelief. "As in the Sea Witch, DNAmy? Kim, are you out of your mind? What were you thinking?"

"I messed up, okay?" Kim shouted, her eyes became tearful.

Monique wanted more answers but sensed she shouldn't pressure Kim for more answers. "Okay, fine." Then she frowned. "But I do want to know more and soon."

"Fine." Kim answered stiffly, wanting to be left alone.

Monique departed while Kim sighed in aggravation.

…..

"And that's what happened." James finished.

Queen Anne shook her head grimly. "This is too much. Oh James, what should we do about this?"

James sighed. "I'm going to speak to the human again in three days. For now, we need to take this slowly. We have lot of issues with our daughter to resolve."

Anne eyed James, perplexed. "Do you think Kim will swim away again?"

"I doubt it," James whispered. "But I'm going to hear her out. I'm not going to drive her away again."

Anne sighed, troubled with the way things were.

SURFACE

Ron was in his room, sitting on his bed sullenly. He eyed the orb the Sea King had given him, and wondered when it would glow. Rufus eyed his owner curiously. He then chattered a question.

"I hope soon, Rufus." Ron told his rodent friend. "I'll keep it with me 'till I hear from Kim's father."

Just then, the door opened and Regent Barkin entered. "Your highness, are you alright?"

"I'm good." Ron answered awkwardly. "Just waiting for a special meeting."

Barkin frowned. "What do you mean?" He pointed to the orb. "What is that? And where's your friend, Kim?"

"She had to leave." Ron told the large man. "Long story short, her father took her home. But I hope to see her soon."

"Okay, what is going on?" Barkin asked, not understanding any of this.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Ron retorted simply.

"Try me, your highness." Barkin told the young prince, wondering what really happened.

Ron grunted. "Fine. Kim is a mermaid who became a human. I fought some freaky octopus lady and met her father, King Possible. He wants to talk to me soon."

Barkin threw up his hands in defeat. "Fine, don't tell me."

"Thank you." Ron snapped irritably.

Barkin was silent for several moments. "Uh, you hadn't had lunch yet, have you?"

"I'm not hungry." Ron answered.

"You don't skip meals, even when you've had snacks." Barkin declared, growing less tense. "You miss your friend, don't you?"

"Yeah." Ron nodded.

Barkin sighed. "Understandable." He sighed again. "Well, I'll leave you alone for a while. Goodbye."

The royal Regent turned to leave while Ron sighed.

UNDER THE SEA

It was early evening. Yori swam to the dinner table. She then saw the twins arrive. Before long, the other princesses showed up except for Kim. Yori suspected they wouldn't have to wait long.

"So girls, do you know anything about where Kim's been?" Monique asked.

"I heard she went to the surface." Tara told her sister.

"How?" Zita asked, not believing her ears.

Not sure." Tara admitted, looking at Tim and Jim. "But I think they know."

"Yeah."Bonnie agreed, glaring at the boys. "I spoke to the tweebs and they acted like they were hiding something."

Tim and Jim glowered. "We're not saying anything."

"Guys, enough." Yori interjected sternly. "I don't like this but…" Her words trailed off as she saw Kim arrive.

"You alright, little sis?" Monique asked casually.

Kim glowered. "No I'm not. And I don't think I'll ever be."

Tim and Tim grew tense, aware of why Kim was upset but not wanting to make things worse.

"What's wrong?" Tara asked, curious and concerned.

Kim's temper suddenly flared. "None of your business!" She snapped.

"Now don't get self righteous with us, Kim," Monique retorted. "You made us worry for days."

"She's right, Kim." Yori concurred. "You caused a lot of trouble."

Zita, Tara and Bonnie expressed agreement, while the twins grew tense.

"Alright, fine," Kim snapped. "What else do you want from me?"

"We would like the whole story of where you have been." Bonnie almost demanded.

"Yeah," Tara concurred. "All we know is you made a deal with DNAmy and could somehow go on dry land. How is that even possible?"

"Is something going on?" A voice asked sternly.

The princesses and princes turned and saw their father and mother swim into the Dining Room. They both eyed their offspring.

Hey, dad." Monique said awkwardly.

"They want to know what happened when Kim was missing." Jim told his father.

"And what she'd been doing when she was missing." Tim added.

The princesses glared at their brothers.

"I suppose you all have reason to wonder." King Possible conceded grimly, looking intensely at Kim. "They have a right to know."

Kim groaned. "Fine! Tell them."

"We will." James said sternly. "But first, we eat."

The family relented. Moments later, some servants arrived with meals. King Possible began the meal prayer. Then the royals begin to eat, the mood being low and very quiet.

…

Wade was on his bed, viewing his projector shell, scowling.

Just then Miss Load swam into her room. "Wade?"

"Hey mom." Wade said grimly. "What's up?"

"Wade, something's troubling you. I was wondering if you want to talk about it now." Miss Load offered.

Wade sighed. "Not really."

Miss Load sighed. "Very well. But please, whatever's bothering you, work through it."

"I will, mom. Tomorrow."

"Good." Miss Load paused as she considered her next move. "I'm here for you if you need to talk."

"Yes, mom," Wade conceded. As soon as his mother left, he scowled. "Kim, why? Why didn't you tell me?"

…..

The royal family was halfway through their meal when James decided it was time. "I think it's time to tell them," He told Kim.

"Go ahead." Kim replied sullenly.

"Finally." Bonnie exclaimed impatiently.

Anne looked at her children grimly. "As you all know, Kim befriended a human from the surface. When your father and I found out we… didn't take it well."

Kim decided to take over. "I was then met by three uh… three of DNAmy's minions. They told me that she could make my dreams come true."

And you believed them?" Zita demanded.

"Seriously sis, why would you believe them?" Yori said in disbelief.

"I wasn't thinking then." Kim snapped. "I was angry, hurt, I…" She sighed.

"Girls, let your sister finish." James ordered his daughters and then looked at Kim. "Please continue."

Kim sighed. "So I went to DNAmy. She told me the only way I could be with Ron was to become a human myself."

The princesses gasp in shock.

"Become a human?" Yori exclaimed in shock and disgust.

"Seriously?" Zita asked, equally troubled.

"And you agreed?" Monique demanded.

"Girls, please," Anne interjected sternly. "Let your sister finish."

"She offered me a deal." Kim continued shamefully. "She said she could make me human if I gave up my voice."

"Your voice?" Bonnie exclaimed in shock.

Kim sighed. "Yes. She also said that if I was to stay human, Ron had to kiss me."

"Kiss you?" Zita asked frowning.

"I guess he didn't." Bonnie grumbled.

Kim glared at her sister before continuing. "Anyway, I agreed and I was transported to the surface. I was a human, but I couldn't speak. Ron nearby and he found me."

"Wait." Tara interjected softly. "Ron is the name of the human you befriended?"

"Of course he was, Tara!" Bonnie snapped.

"Bonnie, please!" James ordered coldly, looking at Kim to continue.

"Ron was a good friend." Kim explained, a bittersweet feeling filled her spirit. "He cared for me and showed me the wonders of his world. But then I became a mermaid again and… DNAmy revealed something I didn't know."

"What?" Monique asked.

"If Ron didn't kiss me, I would belong to her forever." Kim confessed.

Dread filled the whole room. The royal sisters, including Bonnie, looked troubled. Anne, James, Jim and Tim were already familiar with what had happened so they just looked grim.

"She gave my father a terrible choice." Kim finished grimly. "She would release me if he took my place."

The royal sisters gasped in horror and shock. Jim, Tim, Anne and James who were already familiar with that part of the story just looked trouble.

"What happened?" Yori asked, looking tense..

"Yeah," Monique agreed grimly. "You have to tell us."

"Ron followed us to the sea and confronted the Sea Witch. He fought her and…" Kim paused.

"And what?" Bonnie asked.

"I don't know." Kim confessed. "I got knocked out."

"We helped him." Tim interjected.

"Oh, and Wade was there too." Jim added.

"The human defeated the Sea Witch." James explained reluctantly. "He saved my life and our kingdom."

There was a long silence. "Father," Yori whispered in disbelief. "A human saved us all?"

"Yes."

"I don't believe this." Bonnie scoffed.

"But aren't humans' bad news?" Monique asked, troubled by this information.

"Ron isn't bad!" Kim snapped. "He's a good friend and…" She looked down sadly. "…I can't ever see him again."

Tara looked at her parents. "Mom, dad, what's going to happen now?"

"We wait." James told his entire family. "I have much to think about. I'll have a decision in a few days from now."

The sisters threw glances at each other, perplexed by everything. Tim and Jim were also grim, still troubled by what they had witness.

"Kimmie guppy." James said grimly.

"Yes, dad?" Kim asked sadly.

"After dinner, I need to talk to you." James declared.

"Yes, dad." Kim replied, her spirit low.

….

Kim followed her parents into a room. James hesitated as he tried to find the words. "Kim, tell me about your human friend."

Kim stared at her father in disbelief. "Seriously?"

"Yes." James assured his daughter. "I need to know him."

Kim hesitated.

"Don't be afraid." Anne assured her daughter. "Tell us about him."

Kim took a deep breath. "OK, what do you wish to know?"

"For starters, how did you two meet exactly?" James said. "I mean ,how does a human and a mermaid meet? I can't picture it."

"Do you remember when I saved a human from drowning a few years ago?" Kim urged.

Anne's eyes widened. "They are one and the same?"

"Yes," Kim stated in a low voice. "Ron wanted to be my friend, but I said we couldn't. But he never gave up looking for me. He actually went off in the ocean on a boat, hoping to find me for years. When I found him, I…" She hesitated, afraid to say more.

"Go on." James coaxed gently.

"I decided to be his friend. We kept it a secret." Kin admitted.

"And when I found out…." James couldn't finish the sentence.

Kim nodded. "After you destroyed my collection, I got very upset. Then those three creatures that served DNAmy came, and they convinced me to see her. She offered to make me human and… well, I was angry. I wanted to get away from you and become part of Ron's world."

Anne was silent. "And he… Ron didn't harm you."

"No!" Kim snapped indignantly. "I already told you he's a good friend!"

"Kim, please." James pleaded. "This is very hard for me. I'm trying to understand. So you say he is a good friend?"

"Yes." Kim repeated. "He's… weird. But he treats me like I'm the best thing in the world. He showed me his world and was there for me." She made a face. "Or rather he tried to. I didn't have my voice and couldn't speak to him."

James frowned as he considered this. "Thank you, Kim."

"You may go, Kimmie guppy." Queen Anne told her youngest daughter.

Kim complied. James and Anne looked at each other.

"What do you think?" Anne asked.

James sighed. "This human isn't a barbarian, but… I just don't like the idea of Kim going to the surface. This human may be the exception, but what about the rest of his kind?"

Anne sighed. "I know. She's my angel fish and I hate to lose her."

James scowled. "I think we already did when she swam away. We got her back. And I don't want to lose her again."

Anne sighed again.

SURFACE

Clad in a nightshirt, Ron was on the balcony, looking at the sea and the moon. He thought of his mermaid friend. "Good night Kim. Sweet dreams."

He turned and headed to his bed and lay down. He glanced at Rufus who was sleeping in his little bed. He looked out the window, thinking about Kim. He was sure they would meet again soon and hoped it would be soon.

…..

To Be Continued

Author note. There isn't much to say. This chapter primarily just a continuation of Kim reconciling with her family and her father coming to terms with his prejudice towards humans. I hope you enjoyed it.