This story came to me as a simple little plot bunny a couple years ago. It was inspired the artwork of Richard Sirios-a.k.a. Lionheartcartoon-and the fanfics of Cowboy, who is a superhero geek-like me-and who has written a Captain America-Kim Possible fusion and a Spiderman-Kim Possible fusion.

But as the snowball rolls downhill, it keeps gathering more stuff. Is this good or bad? It's all up to what the reader thinks.

I will confess. This story has gone in strange directions. The thing with Richard Harte as a knight-I dunno. It's getting away from me. And for someone who writes glacially slow, that's trouble.

But, on with the show.

Kim, Ron, Mr. & .P., Wade Load, Erik, Middleton, Upperton, Dr. Drakken, the Tweabs, Bonnie Rockwaller, the Diablos, Bueno Nacho, Yamanuchi, the Lotus Blade, etc. are all from the Disney show created by Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle, and produced by Chris Bailey (season 1) and Steve Loter (seasons 2-4).

Mary Jane Watson is from Spiderman (Marvel) Comics and was created by Stan Lee and Steve Dikto.

Richard Leo Harte and Daphne Mei Harte are my creation, inspired by Richard and Helen Lionheart, the creations of Richard Sirois, inspired by himself and his real life sister, Helene.

Cynthia Larsen is also my creation.

Solarstone, I can entirely appreciate where you're coming from. My man .P. (the fanwriter, not the char) took strong issue with the inclusion of the OC, the non-canon char. And the critique of minimizing Ron is well-put. As I have said elsewhere, I have hardly seen the series-& I don't have cable or satellite TV, so I must rely on the kindness of friends who tape the shows for me, and what I can glean from the fanart, screencaps, and show dialogue found at various sites, like tv-dot-com. I estimate I have seen maybe 20 eps by now-which is still like the tip if the iceberg. I must confess, there is a lot of commendable arising out of Ron-and you must confess in all fairness a lot of dumber-than-a-sack-of-crap behavior. But I always appreciate even the adverse conversant opinion-which yours is.

Harsh-fugetabout.

Actually, I thought the "knight in armor" vision was inspired. But then, I am just another Mercutio, who, as Shakespeare says in Romeo and Juliet, loves to hear the sound of his own voice. Alas, I must warn you-and .P.-the involvement of my OC will only get worse. Sorry. Truth in advertising. Always hate to lose a reader, esp. one who likes my style. (I am such a slut for literary praise.)

whitem, yes, growth is painful. And that's why in part this story is taking so long. Little bits are dribbling into my head all the time. (Same with Say Something, Ron, and the Narnia story.) loves drama-and he also wants to be realistic emotionally.

Cajunbear 73. YES. You have hit upon it. The Guenevere-Arthur-Lancelot dynamic is exactly what I am aiming for in the whole Richard Harte story cycle. (See Kim and The Lionheart)

CHPT. 5

Mrs. and .P. sat in their living room. She was reading her medical journal and he was reading the newspaper.

"Annette?" .P. asked, "Where's Kimmie tonight?"

"With friends," said .P. absently.

"Friends? Not just Ron?"

"No. She's gone to Bueno Nacho with Ron and the two new members of her team."

"Aren't you two going to New York?"

"Yes...in the morning..."

"In the morning?" .P. was somewhat taken aback. "I'm surprised Kimmie isn't home packing-as particular as she is about clothes."

.P. nodded.

"Annette-you seem so distant-so sad."

.P. sighed. "I had hoped that our Kimmie would jump at this opportunity-to do what she likes to do. Participate in athletic competition. Wear stunning fashion. Meet Mary Jane Watson."

"And?"

"I forgot to tell her. She was met today in school by Mary Jane. Blindsided, by the sound of her voice when she called me."

"Well, I could see how our daughter might be momentarily 'tweaked', as she would say. But Kimmie can be so starstruck. Didn't the prospect of being on TV with a famous actress excite her?

"Apparently I underestimated her passion for Ron. It's outgrown her passion for fame and fashion

And Ron can't go-or won't go. Tomorrow is his first day as manager of the newly refurbished Bueno Nacho. It seems that both our daughter and her young man have attained a profound emotional maturity in the past few weeks. Ron is committed to his new job-and for it's Kimmie's sake, mind you. He sees this as a valuable vocational formation-preparing to be a future provider.

.P lifted an eyebrow. "This is Ron Stoppable-our Ron-who freeloads quite shamelessly and cribs off our daughter."

.P. nodded. "And Kimmie is as committed to remaining in her boyfriend's immediate vicinity-at the expense of foregoing the chance to excel in a competitive event, procure more expensive attire that she could ever afford, and in all likelihood even hobnobbing with young male celebrities."

.P lifted two eyebrows. "Our Kimmie. Who has the eye of the tiger every time she squares off against a rival cheer squad. Who scrimped and saved and wrangled me for more money every time an item with a designer label appeared in the store window-even though she had an identical item at home in he closet. Who practically went catatonic at the thought of meeting the O-Boyz."

.P. nodded vigorously as her husband rattled off their daughter's obsessions-make that former obsessions. "And the most astounding thing is, I can't for the life of me decide which to attribute these world-class changes to-their involvement with each other, or their involvement with their new teammates."

"Tell me about these new teammates," asked an inquisitive .P. "I must confess I'm quite in the dark. I thought all the drama was done once Kimmie resolved her romantic crisis with that android of Drakken's, and she and Ron became a firmly entrenched couple. Although, I will confess, as a father, I was less than conscientious when I consider how highly I regarded the young-er-'man', Erik."

"We both needed to wake up and smell the coffee, dear. Kim has undergone profound changes in her life-more than are apparent." .P took a long breath. "Do you remember Mamie Harte?"

"Mariah Bess Harte. Your patient-the terminal illness. You went to Japan for her funeral." .P. frowned in concentration. "You know-I'm recalling-how much-how shall I put it? How much coincidence-or fate-played a part in your relationship with her. Children the same age-twins, if I remember. You showed me some of her letters to you. I was impressed with how composed she was. It was like reading something philosophical. Like my old friend Nicolas Fashir."

"Then prepare yourself for more coincedence, dear," said .P. flatly. "Those two children are Kim and Ron's new teammates."

.P. was astounded. "Mariah Bess's children? Attending Middleton? Has Kimmie known them all along? Are they capable of-doing missions? Or are they-I'm trying to say it kindly-more like Ron?"

"Oh, they're quiet capable. They've been doing missions for as long as Kimmie and Ron have. But it's been quite surreptitious. These two apparently behave like high school students did in the 1950's. They hardly drew a second look from Kim. The most remarkable thing about them, outside of their scholastic excellence and scrupulous behavior, is how well they seemed to hide in plain sight. They were virtually friendless. And they were the target of a one-girl campaign of innuendo and harassment by Bonnie Rockwaller. She made fun of them for their faith-and especially the sister's absolutely chaste lifestyle."

.P. grinned slightly. "Sounds like someone who might have a good effect on Kimmie."

"James Timothy! You sound so-prudish!"

.P. hemmed and hawed. "Well-I'm just saying-Kimmie's affinity for crop tops-and her obvious public displays of affection with Ron-I wouldn't mind if she were a little more-conservative."

"Shame on you! Our daughter is a model of chastity compared to a good many of her classmates!"

"I know. I'm sorry, dear. I'm just being-you know-a father." He sighed. "So tell me-was this a match made in heaven, this merger of two disparate groups of do-gooders?"

"I'm afraid not. Kimmie took the blame for the gossip that Bonnie was generating. It's been a state of repressed hostility between her and the other girl-Daphne-since sophomore year. And the boy-Richard-took the trouble to introduce himself to Kimmie on the day of the Prom."

"How did that go?"

"More of the same. He tried to voice his suspicions about Erik to her. She ignored him. And he got her attention in the least advisable way."

"Which is-?"

"By 'tweaking' her, as she would say. He called her 'K.P.'-in public."

.P. tried to stifle his chuckle. "Sounds like a kid with backbone."

"Kimmie threw a fit. It sent the other students running for cover. Erik nearly started a fight with Richard later."

James Timothy Possible smiled broadly. "Annette! This is fascinating! Why haven't I heard this?"

She sighed. "For the same reason no one else did. We were preoccupied with Kimmie's attachment to this golden boy Erik, and Ron's emotional meltdown."

He frowned again. "Oh, my. And I thought that boy 'had it going on', as I said. Guess he was too good to be true. How could have I missed it?"

"Don't worry, dear. We all did. It wasn't until their trip to England that Kim found out everything. Richard had also approached Ron the day of the Prom-about joining Team Possible. And Ron said to forget it; the Team was history. Ron was going to hang up his mission suit. And Richard divulged that it was for the express purpose of joining Team Possible that he had enrolled in Middleton several years before. He had only been biding his time-waiting for the opportune moment."

.P. stared with keen interest. "This is getting interesting. Go on."

"The upshot is Kimmie became an international crusader in the eternal battle against evil because of her website and her babysitting. Richard and Daphne became crusaders for a more elemental reason: inspired by their mother's death as the result of a terrorist act, they have dedicated themselves to fight for decency, law, and order."

"Sounds very Lone Ranger-ish."

"Kimmie responded the way she responds to all rivalry-whether it's cheerleading supremacy against Bonnie Rockwaller, or performing missions."

"That's our daughter-my Kimmie-cub-my little overachiever. How was she prevailed upon?"

"That's the strangest part of the story. It seems that Daphne Harte and Wade Load have a common thread. Both lost a parent as a result of violence."

"Wade? I had no idea!"

"No one did. Wade's cheerfulness is a sign of how thorough his emotional recovery is. He's served Team Harte in much the same was he's served Team Possible-as computer and technical resource."

.P. drew a long breath. "Annette, you're quite right. It almost seems that Fate has played a guiding hand. And these are the two that Kimmie has deferred to in trying to make the decision of whether to go with you to New York. And all this is why you're so sad."

Annette Possible sighed. "I'm feeling sad-and a bit threatened. The children of my dearest friend appear suddenly and seem to exercise so much influence. It's almost like Erik all over again."

"Is that fair, dear?"

"I don't know-and I won't know until Kimmie comes home."

Kim had come home glum from Bueno Nacho. Sitting behind Ron on his scooter, she hugged him like she would never let him go. They hugged and kissed as a teenage couple would who were about to be separated.

"Oh, God, I'm so gonna miss you," she whispered to Ron as she hugged harder.

"It's not like I'm moving back to Norway," whispered Ron, "Or going to summer camp." They kissed, and he asked, "Hey. Do we even know how how long this will be?"

Kim puppy-pouted. "I have no idea. How long does it take to film a game-show series? A week? A month? The entire summer vacation?" She frowned. "Hell! This is stupid! I'm gonna tell Mom to cancel the trip. I'm gonna tell Mary Jane, thanks but no thanks. I'm gonna tell Rich to catch his 'tide in the affairs of men' and go back out to sea."

Ron grinned. "Hey, that's cute. 'Tide in the affairs of men.' Playing off his Shakespeare quote."

Kim pouted more. "Don't bring it up! Him and his quote for every occasion! Here's a quote: 'And we lived happily ever after!' You and me!"

K.P.-You sorta promised yourself and us you would go on this thing-for your mom's sake. Now listen: like I said, I'm not gonna punk out. Don't you punk out either! We're gonna have a lotta heavy decisions for the rest of our lives together, and some won't be so easy. Now we're gonna make it. We're gonna tough it out."

Fresh tears trickled down Kim's cheek. "God. I love it when you talk about our lives together. And I hate the idea of being apart!" She tugged on his collar and brushed away the stray hairs from his forehead. "Alright, Mr. Ron-dog with Rufus in his pocket and my heart in his hand. I'll step up. And you'd better love me like I was the Creator of all cheese tacos when I get back home!"

In answer, Ron lifted her off her feet and seemingly kissed the air out of her lungs.

"Ron Stoppable-you are the best damn kisser," she said breathlessly.

"I was gonna say the same thing about you," he said.

Kim's parents heard the front door open and close.

"Kimmie-cub?"

"It's me, Daddy."

"Ten minutes before curfew. I'm impressed."

Kim saw her mother's eyes. "Sorry to blow you off earlier, Mom. Of course I'll go."

.P. jumped up and hugged her daughter. "Oh, Kimmie! Thank you! It'll be the trip of a lifetime! We'll have such fun!" Maybe that was a slight exaggeration, she told herself.

Kim returned the hug weakly. "I hear Panda-Roo calling. 'Night, Mom. 'Night, Daddy."

"Goodnight, Kimmie-cub."

It would be a short night and an early morning at the Possible household. She packed for the trip before she went to bed. Of course. Kim was organized with a capital "O".

Not that she would have to take much. She would bring more clothes than she went with-more clothes than she owned. She would double or triple her wardrobe. Bonnie would so jell. Designer labels and accessories

But that hardly mattered. She didn't want clothing now. She wanted to be in Ron's arm and at Ron's side. How strange. The difference a few weeks could make. Only a few months ago, she wanted a Prom Date, a hottie, a hunk.

But then she heard the words of Ron Stoppable that proved to be prophetic. "There's someone for you-out there-in here." And it uncovered a hunger in her that she didn't know she had. She hungered for the presence of a friend, a lover. Not someone hot. Not someone buff and sculpted and ripped. Not someone whose arms were bulging with biceps. But someone whose arms were comforting, whose heart was true. It was a physical yearning, almost an ache. She cuddled Panda-Roo and wished it were Ron.

Her mom was dragging her across the country. And Kim felt resentment for it.

Bonnie would laugh at her. "Kim the loser," she would say, "Stuck on the other loser and the stuffed animal."

Did Bonnie crave affection, too? She should, with what she had for a family. Two sisters, as slithery as serpents. And a mother as feather-headed as a pillow.

Or a series of surrogate fathers

Kim had to admit. The Tweebs had their faults. But she loved her brothers to death.

Suddenly her mother's desire to reconnect didn't seem so strange anymore.

This was hopeless. Kim was too wired to sleep. She went to her bookshelf and pulled off an old Upperton High Yearbook. She thought she remembered something. It was from her freshman year.

Kim had just joined the Cheer Squad-and was not yet Captain. The first game of the season was away, at Upperton. Kim had met the Captain of the Upperton Cheer Squad, Cynthia Larsen, a junior. They had hit it off. And when Upperton came for the home game at Middleton, the friendship was cemented. They traded yearbooks as a token of the friendship.

Kim looked up the freshman class and read the names. There it was. Daphne Harte. Daphne was smiling, which she rarely did in real life. Daphne had considerable good looks. With only a little time and trouble and a change in makeup and wardrobe she could be breathtaking beautiful-a real hottie. .

But Kim reflected. That wasn't what Daphne was interested in. She already dressed well. The last thing Daphne would ever consent to was a change in clothing that would make her a hottie.

Kim looked up Richard Harte's picture. It was a plain and simple face. A face that looked harmless. A friendly enough face.

Kim suddenly remembered the rumors. Cynthia Larsen dating a freshman. Cyndi was everything that Kim admired, everything that Kim would one day be herself. Cheer Squad Captain, Student Council President, Honors Society President, Yearbook Editor, Swim Team, Archery Team, Gymnastics Team, all-A student-Cyndi would have been class Valedictorian. Cyndi was the kind of person who could have gone into any profession. Politician, physician, scientist-Cyndi was another girl who could do anything.

When Kim and Cyndi had met, she found, that unlike Bonnie Rockwaller, Cyndi was warm and friendly. She gave Kim a few pointers, both about cheerleading and about school in general.

"Boys are drawn by looks," Kim had said, "And then are scared off by brains."

Cyndi had laughed. "Sure, I like boys as much as anyone. I like shopping. I like having money." Cyndi's family was wealthy. "I want to date, and marry someday. But friends-friends are what matter."

Kim remembered something. She went to her scrapbook and looked it up. Yes. There it was. The picture taken at the Middleton Home game. Her freshman year. The rumor had grown by that point. Cyndi had fallen in love. Not dating. Not crushing. But genuine love-with a freshman. A kid named Richard Harte. And she endured all the hassle and ridicule. "Robbing the Cradle", "Freudian Mother Complex".

Kim grew very attached to Cyndi. So full of genuine concern. Not like Bonnie, all surface. Cyndi was someone Kim would be proud to call a real friend.

She looked again at the picture of herself and Cyndi. And over next to it was the group picture. The Upperton and Middleton Cheer Squads. Some of the girls had pulled their boyfriends with them into the picture. Kim had tugged on Josh Mankey's arm. And at the end of the lineup, Cyndi had snagged Richard Harte's arm.

And there it was. At one end of the group, with Josh and his easy smile, was Kim. On the other side of the picture, smiling uncomfortable, with Cyndi, was Rich. All that long ago.

Cyndi did in the first semester of her junior year what it took Kim two semesters to do in her junior year. "Stand by Your Man", the country-western song said. Cyndi had stood by her Rich, but it took Kim a little longer to stand by her Ron.

Cyndi had decided to go into media as a career, she told Kim. A correspondent. Covering compelling stories. Making people care. Making a difference. Sort of the same reason Kim started her website. To help people.

And then with numbing suddenness, it had ended. Cyndi was seen in the halls of Upperton High looking shell-shocked. The rumors flew again. The boy had gotten her pregnant. She had to leave school. It was her father's work that had taken her away. He was going overseas.

From what Kim knew of Rich, it was unlikely Cyndi was pregnant.

Kim got a message on her website-from Cyndi. "Saw your website. Read your mission log. This rules. And you rule. You're going to make a difference, Kim Possible. And when you meet someone, who you couldn't save the world without, be sure to keep an open door on your heart."

It was prophetic. Looking back on it, gave Kim chills.

Did Cyndi see in Rich what Kim saw in Ron? Did Cyndi see in Rich what Kim saw in Rich, that which both comforted and terrified her?

Kim looked at Rich's picture once more. Names whispered in her head. Arthur. Camelot. Excalibur. One name shouted itself. Richard the Lionhearted

Kim snapped the yearbook shut and dropped it on the desk as though it were red-hot. She leapt into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. She already knew Ron's hidden side. Yamanuchi. The Lotus Blade. The Mystical Simian Power. She pictured Ron in a samurai's armor and Rich in knight's armor. What-and who-had she gotten herself involved with. Against her will, Kim felt herself being drawn into a higher destiny. She remembered for a moment the simpler days, when she was crushing on the O-Boyz.

This was silly. In a few moments the alarm would buzz. She would have to get out of bed and get ready for the departure flight. But for just these few moments, she need to feel warm and comforted. Kim needed to feel safe...

Kim dreamed-and saw Ron in the armor of a Japanese samurai and Rich in the armor of a European knight. They both knelt and drew the katana and the broadsword respectively.

"K.P.-a warrior with no Queen is like a taco with no cheese," said Ron the Samurai.

"He needs a lady-to inspire his deeds and rejoice his heart," said Rich the Knight.

"So we offer you our swords-" said Ron.

"-Our hearts-" said Rich.

"-Our entire lives," said Ron. Everything we have and everything we are."

"Kimmie," .P. called, "It's almost time for the cab to be here."

Kim awoke with a start. It took a moment to remember-school year was done. She was going to New York with her mother.

She had slept-and dreamed. Two men-two protectors-her two partners-her boyfriend and her team second-in-command-had pledged themselves to her, much like Rich had pledged himself to her in her vision-or hallucination-or whatever. Kim was just as puzzled as before. But her anxiety was relieved. She could do this-this trip-this time away from Ron.

And this whole mysterious thing with the chain of circumstances-Kim meeting Cyndi as she had joined Cheer Squad and begun her missions-Cyndi and Rich breaking up while Kim had begun her missions-Rich transferring to Middleton High as Kim was meeting Wade-the timing seemed to be just right. She could supposedly do anything-but figuring out this whole sitch that seemed to be under Someone's control-just not her own-that would take some time and effort.

To be continued