Chapter 18

THIRD DAY

Ron headed towards the dining hall for breakfast. His mother and father and Regent Barkin were already at the table.

"Hey mom, hi dad." Ron called out.

"Good morning, Ron." Queen Stoppable said softly.

Ron took his seat. He was giddy.

"You seem excited, son." King Stoppable commented.

"Today is the day." Ron replied excitedly.

"The day you're supposed to meet your friend and her father." King Stoppable asked softly.

"Yep." Ron stated.

"What time?" Queen Stoppable asked.

"Noon." Ron answered.

"You've got to get your studies done first." Regent Barkin told the teenage prince.

"But I have to go meet Kim's father." Ron argued.

"Nevertheless, I expect you to do your studies as Regent Barkin says." King Stoppable told his son. "You will get to your see your friend regardless, but you're a prince, and have responsibilities."

"Yes, dad." Ron conceded.

Just then the orb Ron kept on him glowed, startling everyone.

"Sweet cheese cake." Barkin exclaimed.

"Ron, what is that?" Queen Stoppable asked/demanded.

"Oh, it's Kim's father." Ron said, removing the orb from his pouch. "I gotta take this." He looked at the orb.

Moments later, the image of King Possible's face appeared. "Prince Stoppable?"

"Hey, your highness. What's up?" Ron said awkwardly, throwing glances at his parents.

"Are you still available at noon today?" King Possible asked.

"Yes I am." Ron assured the Sea King. "Will Kim be there?"

"Yes. You will arrive in the water near the shore where we met." King Possible instructed.

"Consider it done," Ron assured the Sea King. "Thanks."

"Until then, farewell." The King declared.

"Bye." Ron replied, just before the orb went dim.

"Ron, what was that?" King Stoppable asked sternly.

"Well it's well…" Ron stammered. "Well I don't really know what it's called. King Possible gave it to me."

"King Possible?" Queen Stoppable asked. "Isn't he just a myth?"

"Apparently not." Barkin grumbled.

"You knew?" King Stoppable asked in surprise.

"About as much as you do." Barkin replied, rubbing his forehead. "I'm still not sure if this whole thing is real."

"Look, come with me." Ron told his parents. "Kim's great and…well I'm sure her dad is alright too."

"Okay." King Stoppable said while adjusting his glasses.

"Son, why didn't you tell us?" Queen Stoppable demanded.

"'Cause the last time I told you I met a mermaid, you thought I was crazy." Ron pointed out.

Both parents grew tense, troubled by the fact that their son had reason to not reveal Kim to them.

"At noon, you can meet the girl that saved my life, and her father." Ron assured them.

King and Queen Possible threw glanced at each other, perplexed by this whole thing.

UNDER THE SEA

At the castle, Wade was in a room, looking grim. Just then, Kim swam into the room.

"Wade." Kim said happily.

"I thought I might check on you." Wade said. "You're going to see that human today, right?"

Kim frowned a bit. "That human has a name."

"Right." Wade grumbled. "So, you're going to see Ron today."

"Yes. Would you like to come, Wade?" Kim asked.

Wade sighed. "I guess. At least we don't have to worry about a crazy witch trying to take over the ocean."

"So not the drama." Kim agreed.

"When do we go?" Wade asked.

"Around noon."

Wade grimaced and rubbed his stomach. "I better eat something before we go."

Kim smiled.

SURFACE

The sun was high in the sky. Out in the ocean was a rowboat. Inside were Prince Ron Stoppable along with his parents and Regent Steve Barkin.

"You sure she'll meet you here?" Barkin asked.

"Sure, Regent B." Ron said confidently. "She might be late."

Barkin scowled at the ocean, seeing no sign of a boat or ship on any of the horizons. "Very late."

Queen and King Stoppable glanced at each other and then looked out into the ocean. Suddenly the water rippled and several faces emerged. It was King and Queen Possible, Princess Kim, and Wade.

"Cheese and crackers!" Barkin exclaimed in horror while King and Queen Stoppable stared in shock.

"Barkin, show respect." Ron warned the Regent before he turned to face the mer-folk and bowed his head. "I thank you for coming, King Possible. I…" The teenager began to get tense. "I understand you wish to discuss something with me."

"Yes." James replied solemnly. "I may have misjudged humans. And… my daughter cares for you and wishes to be part of your world, human."

Barkin eyed King Possible, and could tell that he and those with him had the tails of fish. "This isn't possible."

King Possible frowned at the large man next to Prince Ron. "Who is this?"

"Oh, this is Regent Barkin." Ron explained. "He wasn't aware that mer-folk were real before, so cut him some slack."

King Possible eyed the large man. Then he eyed the other two adults with Ron. "You are?"

"I'm King Stoppable and this is my wife." Ron's father answered carefully, doubting his eyes. "And you're mermaids?"

"I'm a merman." King Possible declared coldly. "My wife and daughter are mermaids."

"My apologies, your highness." King Stoppable apologized sincerely. "So, what business do you have with my son?"

King Possible stared at the king of the surface before looking at Ron. "Your father is right; we must get down to business."

"Of course, your highness." Ron said, trying to be respectful.

"I have decided that my daughter Kim will be an ambassador between our two worlds." King Possible announced

Ron couldn't contain his excitement. "Booyah!"

Barkin slapped his forehead. Ann, James and Wade frowned at Ron, while Kim smiled sheepishly. Ron's parents cringed, embarrassed by Ron's outburst.

"Ahem." Ron cleared his throat and became formal. "I am grateful, your highness."

James looked at Kim. "Kim, I would be unrealistic if I assumed you will be professional. You can have fun with your friend, but don't have too much fun, understand?"

"Yes, dad." Kim replied formally, trying to be professional.

King Possible looked at Ron. "Will you treat her well?"

"Oh yes, your highness." Ron assured the monarch of the sea. "Kim is a great girl and a great friend. I will never hurt her."

James nodded. "Good. Because if you did anything to my little guppy, you would be in deep trouble."

Ron cringed. "How deep?"

"Abyss deep." James glared.

Ron chuckled nervously. "No problem, your highness."

King Stoppable and his wife and Regent Barkin glanced at each other, contemplating what had just transpired.

King James looked at Kim. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go have fun."

"You mean it?" Kim asked, not believing her eyes.

"You mean it?" Ron asked, equally surprised.

"Yes." James assured the two teenagers.

"Booyah!" Ron exclaimed, getting to his feet.

"Your highness, what are you doing?" Regent Barkin asked, getting worried.

"I'm going to go swim with my friend." Ron answered and before anyone could protest, he jumped off the boat into the water with a splash.

The adults and Wade stared in surprise while Kim smiled. Ron's head popped back up on the surface. He grinned at Kim as she swam closer to him.

Ron then looked at the boat with Barkin and his parents. "You can go back to the castle, Barkin. I'll be back soon."

"Ron, we're many kilometers from the mainland." King Stoppable reminded his son.

"Do you think I'm going to leave you out in the middle of the ocean?" Barkin demanded.

"We can't just leave you out here." Queen Stoppable added.

"Hey I have the best lift in the world, my friend Kim." Ron assured his parents and Barkin, keeping afloat. Nearby, Kim smiled, amused by Ron's words.

"King Stoppable, I must protest." Barkin argued with the king.

King and Queen Stoppable looked at their son, and then at the redheaded mermaid.

"You'll keep our son safe?" Queen Stoppable asked Kim, looking uneasy.

"Of course, your highness." Kim assured the human Queen. "I won't let anything happen to Ron."

Queen Stoppable eyed the redhead mermaid, contemplating Kim's words, before looking at her husband. "I trust her."

"Very well." King Stoppable conceded. "Ron, don't stay out too long."

"Got it, dad." Ron said, keeping his head above water.

"Good." King Stoppable said, looking at his top man. "Regent Barkin, take us home."

"Yes, your highness." Barkin said, obeying his master. He sat down and began to row his boat got the boat to return to land.

"I think we should go, too." Queen Possible told her husband.

"Indeed." King Possible said reluctantly. "Kim, I want you to return home before sunset. Understand?"

"Yes, father."

Wade then spoke. "If it's okay, your highness, I wish to know more about Kim's human friend."

"Very good." King Possible replied as he submerged, followed by his queen.

Ron looked at the pudgy mer-boy in wonder. "Hey. You a friend of Kim? Wade Load?"

"Yeah." Wade confirmed an edge in his voice. "How do you know me?"

"Kim mentioned you a few times." Ron smiled.

Wade frowned. "But I thought she lost her voice when she became human?"

"Actually, Ron's talking about before I became human." Kim interjected, clarifying the confusion.

"Oh, you mean when you had those secret visits and didn't tell me?" Wade asked coldness in his voice.

"Yes." Kim admitted guiltily.

"Okay, this is awkward." Ron countered. "Do you wanna... swim or something?"

Wade sighed. "Fine human."

….

Wade and Kim carried Ron across the ocean surface until they were close to the shore.

"Okay, this is where we stop." Wade told the human.

"Thanks." Ron said wearily as he got out of Kim and Wade's arms and climbed onto the sand. He began to pant, weary from the swim. "That was great," He rasped happily. "Thanks Kim, Wade."

"You're welcome Ron." Kim smiled, water dripping down her hair and face.

"Yeah, you're welcome." Wade said, looking uneasily at the shore.

"Relax, Wade," Kim assured her friend. "We're in no danger."

"Right." Wade said, though disbelief was in his voice and face.

"Oh, right." Ron exclaimed with realization, "I guess land is scary to a merma- I mean mer-boy."

Wade relaxed a bit. "Guess we'll see you another time, Ron."

"Yeah." Ron agreed. "See you later. Wade. KP."

"Bye, Ron." Kim said.

Kim dived back into the water, followed by Wade.

Ron stared at the water. "Goodbye, Kim."He said softly. "Goodbye, Wade."

Today had been a special day.

UNDER THE SEA

Kim and Wade swam through the ocean depths. Middleton was a tiny light on the horizon.

"He was fun." Wade commented reluctantly.

"Yes, Wade." Kim agreed.

"Well since you're an ambassador, what are you going to do when you next meet?" Wade asked.

Kim sighed. "You're right, Wade. This isn't just fun and games."

Up ahead was the city of Middleton. Kim's eyes then noticed something. "Is that Sensei?"

"Who?" Wade asked.

"He's an old friend of mine." Kim said. "He studies the human world."

"Oh yeah, now I remember. He's that Flipper who studies human things."

"Wade! Kim retorted.

"Okay, sorry." Wade said defensively.

"Kim Possible," Sensei said when the mermaid and his friend got near.

"Greetings Sensei," Kim said. "What are you doing here?"

"I know you were going to see your… human friend today." The old merman started to explain. "I was anxious to meet you when you got back."

"What do you want?" Kim asked, though she already knew.

"I want to hear of your trip to the surface, Kim." The old merman said. "What did you learn?"

Kim considered that. "Come with me to the palace. We'll talk there."

"I'd like that." Sensai said.

SURFACE

Ron sat on the beach, eying the ocean, his thoughts flying between the past, the future, and his friend Kim.

"Ron!"

Ron turned and saw the servant, Ned, coming towards him.

"Your parents are anxious about you."

"Oh." Ron exclaimed. "I got back a while ago. I was just enjoying the scenery."

Ned eyed the water before looking back at Ron. "So you really met a mermaid?"

"Yeah." Ron agreed. Her name's Kim."

"Wait." Ned exclaimed. "That girl you brought to the palace was the mermaid?"

"Yeah," Ron said.

"Can mermaids turn into human?" Ned asked.

"Sort of. It's complicated."

"That's badical, Ron." Ned said. "You're friends with a mermaid."

Yeah, that's what I thought too." Ron agreed. "But Kim is a wonderful person, mermaid or not. She's a great friend."

"I guess." Ned shrugged. "Still, a mermaid is badical."

Ron smiled.

"Um..." Ned then remembered. "Your parents are worried about you. You should return to the palace."

"Sure." Ron said, getting to his feet. He looked off at the ocean. "Bye Kim. We'll meet again soon."

He then followed Ned back home.

Under the Sea

It was dinner at the Palace. Among the royal family were two guests, Kim's friend, Wade Load and Sensei.

"That's interesting, Kim." Sensei said before taking another bite of seaweed spaghetti.

"Yeah," Kim agreed.

James eyed the old merman. He had considered Sensei a flipper, a cracked shell, studying humans.

"So what did you do for a living, Sensei?" he asked.

"I ran a pawn shop, your majesty. My research was a personal hobby of mine." Sensei answered.

"Maybe you could be a celebrity." Tim commented.

"Yeah." Jim concurred. "I mean, humans are probably going to be a fad before long."

"You're just may be right, bros." Monique commented.

Zita, Tara and Yori also expressed optimistic opinions on that possibility.

"Yeah, probably." Bonnie commented, her tone more cynical.

Sensei glanced at the royal sons and daughters of the royal family and then looked back at Kim. "What are their books like?"

Kim smiled. "Well, they're just flat objects bound together with writing on them, though I still don't know the language humans use."

"Sounds primitive." Bonnie commented ironically.

"Sometimes the simplest things can be more unique than the most advanced magic." Sensei stated philosophically.

Bonnie scowled, while the others looked at the old merman skeptically.

"We're finished, Dad." Tim and Jim asked simultaneously. "Can we be excused?"

"Your excused, both of you." James told the young princes.

"The royal twins got up and left.

Sensei eyed the departing twins with intrigue. "You have fine sons, your highness." He told King Possible.

"Thanks." James replied. "They are the scientists of the family."

Sensei smiled under his beard. "Yes, I have seen their demonstrations at the Market Place. They will grow up to be great minds."

"They are wonderful." Anna agreed.

"Yeah, they're really smart." Monique commented while her sisters grimaced.

"Little angels." Bonnie remarked sarcastically.

Sensei smiled before looking at the Sea King and Sea Queen.. "You have a very special family."

The royal sisters paused, surprised by the comment, while the King and Queen smiled.

….

Queen Anne swam through a corridor and entered bedroom of her daughters.

The royal sisters stop chatting and looked at their mother in surprise.

"Mother?" Tara exclaimed in surprise.

"What are you doing here?" Zita asked.

"Just checking in on my little angelfish." The Queen told her offspring. "So, what are you up to?"

"Nothing!" Kim said.

"Nothing that you wouldn't approve of, mother." Yori clarified.

"It's the human boy, isn't it?" Anne asked.

Kim blushed while the other girls became tense.

"What makes you say that?" Kim asked.

"I'm your mother. I know this sort of thing." Anne eyed her daughters for a moment. "Don't stay up too late." She then looked at Kim. "And remember, Kim, you have a responsibility."

"Yes, mom." Kim and the others agreed.

"Well, good." Anne said. She gave each of her daughters a gentle kiss on the cheek. "Good night."

"Good night." They all said as their mother departed.

The royal sisters went to their beds and lay down, bidding each other good night.

SURFACE

Ron lay on his bed, tired. Today had been a special night. "Good night, Kim."

….

TO BE CONTINUED

Author note. Well we have come full circle. The reconciling is more or less completed and Kim and Ron can be part of each-other's worlds. I hope you enjoyed it.