Part 2: Hanuman
Kim had called in a favor to take her and Ron to India. Once they arrived, they met up with Prof. Simian.
"I am glad you came!" Prof Simian said as she welcomed the two teens. They entered his lab. Kim stared at all the artifacts and was amazed, as were Ron and Rufus.
"So, what's the sitch?" Kim asked.
"Someone stole an ancient tablet I was studying," Prof. Simian explained.
"What kind of tablet are we talking about?" Ron asked.
Prof Edmund took out some notes and showed them to Team Possible. "I have been studying the tablet. It is said to hold the map to an ancient city and great power."
"So someone's looking for a lost civilization or something?" Kim said as she looked over the notes.
"Not just any civilization. The Lost City of Hanuman."
"Hanuman? As in Indian Monkey God Hanuman?" Ron asked.
Kim raised an eyebrow to her boyfriend. "How do you know that?"
"Just because I've been freaked out by monkeys, doesn't mean I don't know a thing or two," Ron replied proudly.
"So, who stole it?" Kim asked.
"A strange man with monkey-like appendages and had monkeys garbed in black with him," Prof. Simian answered.
"Monkey Fist," both teens said.
"You know him?"
"Let's just say we run into him once in a while," Kim said.
"Saw that one coming," Ron groaned. "If it has monkey and power in the same sentence, he wants it."
"Do you have another map?" Kim asked. Prof Simian handed it to Kim looked at it and so did Ron.
"KP, are you sure about this? Might be a trap," Ron asked worriedly.
"It's no big, Ron." She kissed him. Both teens were in a jungle. She called Wade on her Kimmunicator, "Wade, did you get a lock on Monkey Fist?"
"I'm trying," struggled the young genius, "But something's jamming the signal."
"Must be Mystical Monkey Power," Ron's eyes narrowed. "The city might be shielded by magic."
Kim took Ron's hand and gave it firm squeeze. "Let's follow the map."
"Lead the way KP."
They both arrived in front of a large waterfall.
"This can't be right," Kim looked the map over.
"Sure you don't have it upside down, KP?" Ron asked.
Kim glared, "Yes, I'm sure."
Ron opened up his pocket and picked up Rufus. "Check it out, Rufus," Ron said. The little mole rat saluted and chittered before leaping off Ron's hand, making his way to the waterfall. Rufus scurried into the waterfall.
"Found anything Rufus?" Ron called.
Rufus' head peaked out and he nodded. He chittered, "City! Big!"
Kim and Ron looked each other with a look of determination on their faces. "Let's go!"
Both teen walked into the waterfall and walked out the other side.
"Woah. Kim's eyes widened
"Double woah." Ron added as his jaw dropped.
The were on a ledge and looking over a beautiful city, untouched by time. Everything was made of gold or silver. Kim climbed down the ledge, followed by Ron and made it to ground level.
"The Prof was right," Ron whistled.
"I'll say," Kim said, "Let's go find Monkey Fist."
The two teens walked straight following the map. They soon found themselves standing in front of large golden temple. The temple was guarded by two stone monkey sentinels. Ron eyed the sentinels warily.
"Ron," Kim reassured him, "They are just statues."
"Sorry, Kim. But Monkeys still freak me out," Ron told her.
"What about Frederick and Chippy?" Kim reminded. "You like them."
"Both of them are exceptions to the rule."
Kim took hold of Ron's hand. "Let's go in."
"Got it KP," Ron nodded.
They both entered the temple and their jaws dropped. The room was literally covered in gold and lined with silver monkey statues. There were also steps that led to a golden statue of Hanuman, the Indian Monkey God. Sitting on his thrown.
"Woah," Ron said, breathing in, "Big monkey."
"Keep your head in the game, Ron," Kim told him. "Let's find Monkey Fist."
"I don't think you need to trouble yourselves, Team Possible!" Monkey Fist said as he walked out from behind the Hanuman statue. In his hand was an ornamental gold scepter. "And you are both too late for I now hold the Scepter of Hanuman!" he laughed.
"Drop the scepter and nobody gets hurt!" Kim told him.
"You tell 'em, KP!" Ron agreed.
Monkey Fist scoffed. "You think you two will stop me, don't make me laugh!"
Rufus blew Monkey Fist a raspberry, earning a glare from the Monkey Master.
"Monkey Ninjas, Attack!" Monkey Fist ordered. As soon as he had said that, a dozen of his black clad monkey warriors fell from the ceiling and surrounded the teens. The teens went into battle stances.
"KP, you go take care of Monkey Fist!" Ron said to her. "I'll take care of the Monkey Ninjas!"
"Okay Ron!" Kim nodded.
"And KP?"
"Yes?" Ron kissed her.
"Careful."
"Okay," Kim smiled, blushing. She then leapt over the Monkey Ninjas and ran up the steps.
"Bring it on, tree swingers!" Ron challenged. Rufus leapt off Ron's shoulder and went into a battle ready stance as well.
"Bring it!" he added.
"BOOYAH!"
The Monkey Ninjas attacked. Ron and Rufus held their own very well, kicking, and punching the Monkey Ninjas to unconsciousness. The Monkey Ninjas were fast, but not as fast as Ron and Rufus. They remembered the training they had received in Yamanouchi and showing the Monkey Ninjas exactly what they had learnt.
"Show's over, Monkey Fist," Kim said as she walked up the steps.
"On contrary, Miss Possible," Monkey Fist smirked, "The show has just begun." He raised the scepter and a bolt of lightning struck down on Kim. Kim did a backflip before the lightning made contact.
"Woah," Kim said. "Shocking."
"It is, isn't it?" Monkey Fist leapt down on Kim and swung the scepter down. Kim quickly sidestepped the strike. Monkey Fist then continued with a reverse roundhouse kick but Kim bent back to avoid. She recovered quickly and swung her fist out, but Monkey Fist grabbed her wrist.
"Ugh!" Kim grunted, attempting to break Monkey Fist's grip.
"Farewell Miss Possible," Monkey Fist sneered and swung the weapon down.
"That's take care of them," Ron dusted off his gloves. All around him were the knocked out Monkey Ninjas. He then turned to see Monkey Fist swing his weapon down on Kim. "KIM!" Ron shouted, dashing towards them.
The scepter met Kim's head violently and she was sent flying. Ron caught her in his arms and kneeled down, gently bringing her down to the ground.
"KP!" Ron shouted. "Are you okay?" he panicked.
"Ron…" Kim groaned. A trickled of blood slid down from her hairline.
"KP, you're hurt!" Ron shouted.
"Ron…" she soon slipped into unconsciousness.
"KP!" he checked for a pulse and breathed out a sigh of relief. His relief turned to anger as he glared at the Monkey Master. "You hurt Kim…" he growled.
"Worried about the girl, Stoppable?" Monkey Fist sneered, "How pathetic."
"Rufus, take care of Kim, okay?" Ron asked his pet mole rat, Rufus. Rufus saluted. Ron then lay Kim down on the ground gently. He then stood up and glared at Monkey Fist sharply with angry eyes.
"Now, Stoppable. Let us finish our rivalry once and for all," Monkey Fist said arrogantly, "And when you are gone, I shall take away the Mystical Monkey Power you have and make it my own."
"In your dreams buddy. You hurt KP and now you're gonna pay," Ron threatened, digging into his pocket.
"You cannot be serious."
"Note serious face!" Ron said as he threw out his hand, revealing a red rectangular case clutched in his fingers. The case had a golden symbol that looked like a monkey.
"What, are you going to throw that at me? Pathetic!" Monkey Fist scoffed.
Ron ignored Monkey Fist's last comment and recited the three words that will soon lead to Monkey Fist's own downfall.
"ZODIAC FORCE! MONKEY!"
"ZODIAC FORCE!" A belt formed around Ron's waist. In the center was a rectangular buckle with a glowing red crystal orb. "MONKEY!" he attached the case onto the left side of his belt. The crystal orb released a rectangular energy grid in front of Ron with the image of the monkey visible. Ron shouted out, "HENSHIN!" and ran into the grid, crashing through, allowing his armor to encase him.
"What kind of trickery is this?" Money Fist exclaimed.
"Your worst nightmare," Ron replied. He stood tall in red armor with a yellow chestplate and shoulder pads. Under the armor was a red bodysuit. His gauntlets and boots were black. On his chest were diagonal straps that crossed from his shoulders to his waist, forming a black X. Around his neck was a red scarf. His face was concealed under a red helmet with a crystal orb in the centre of the forehead. A yellow faceplate covered his face and blue eyepieces concealed his brown eyes.
"I do not care what you've become, Stoppable!" Monkey Fist shouted, "Defeating you now will be all the sweeter. When I finally destroy you, I shall take that armor together with the Mystical Monkey Power!"
"Bring it, Monty!" Ron shouted, forming a battle staff.
"Consider your doom, brought!" Monkey Fist let out a feral battle cry and leapt towards Ron. He swung the Scepter of Hanuman out, only to be blocked by the battle staff. Ron retaliated with a knee in Monkey Fist's gut before slamming the staff into Fist's chin. Monkey Fist rubbed his chin and glared. He focused his power and the scepter glowed blue. "Prepare to feel the might of the ancient Scepter of Hanuman!" he shouted, sending out blue lightning bolts at the Knight. Ron didn't block nor dodge the blasts. Instead, he ran through the fray. He deflected the bolts with his staff and came face to face with Monkey Fist, who was surprised to say the least. Ron swung down his staff and Monkey Fist could only block it with his scepter. Both weapons met in a deadlock, neither moving nor budging. Ron continued to press down on the scepter while Monkey Fist continued to push up. Suddenly, Monkey Fist grinned and did a back flip, impacting his primate feet into Ron's chin. Ron was sent staggering back.
"Damn!" Ron swore, "That hurt!"
"Do you think that fancy armor can protect you?" Monkey Fist laughed, "The scepter grants me unlimited power, just like the ancient god himself!"
"So," Ron retorted, "It's a big fancy ball on a stick. What can it do besides shoot lightning?"
"Much more, watch!" Monkey Fist slammed his weapon onto the temple floor and sent out a shockwave throughout the temple. Ron had to use his staff to maintain his balance and keep himself from falling. Soon, the tremors stopped. "You made the ground shake. Scary!" Ron said sarcastically.
"Not yet, Stoppable!" sneered Monkey Fist, "Notice the statues?"
Ron's head whipped around and saw that the silver monkey statues had took on a life of their own, jumping off their pedestals. They surrounded the befuddled Knight.
"Okay," Ron gulped, "This might be considered bad."
Suddenly, the two giant monkey sentinels also crashed into the room, smashing the doorway to bits to fit their large bodies.
"Giant monkeys," Ron remarked, "Why did it have to be giant monkeys?" he groaned.
"Attack my minions!" Monkey Fist ordered, "Destroy the infidel that dares to oppose your master!"
The silver monkeys attacked first, forcing Ron to swipe them away with his staff. He leapt over them, but they followed after him. Ron could try to take out Monkey Fist, but the man had shielded himself with the Monkey sentinels. Was there a way out of this?
"Got it!" Ron drew a card from his belt and slid it into his belt buckle. "Trick Vent-Monkey's Army!" suddenly, out of thin air, multiple Rons appeared, all wearing the exact same armor Ron had been wearing the whole time. Monkey Fist looked on with shock as the Monkey Knights fought the silver monkey savagely, smashing them away with their staffs. This left only the Monkey sentinels to protest Fist.
But not for long.
The original Ron and one of his clones leapt over the Monkey sentinels. Ron drew a card from his belt and slid it into his buckle like before. "POWER VENT-CHARGE UP!" Ron and his clone then shape shifted into large gorillas, both glowing blue with crackling power. They slammed their fists down onto the sentinels. The sentinels were too slow and couldn't get out of the way in time and were smashed to bits. Ron, in gorilla form, landed in front of Fist and shifted back into his armored human form.
"You are not Stoppable!" Monkey Fist shouted and took a swing at Ron with his scepter. Ron only grabbed the scepter in his hand and pulled it out of Monkey Fist's grasp. Monkey Fist, enraged, punched Ron repeatedly in the chest, but was only successful in hurting his hands as the armor was strong. Fist looked at his injured bleeding knuckles before looking up at Ron. "Who…are you…?" he asked.
"Zodiac Knight Animorph," Ron answered calmly as he jabbed his staff into Monkey Fist's gut, knocking the monkey man out, Animorph looked at the scepter in his hand and knew where it truly belonged.
He went up the flight of steps and placed the scepter into the statue's hand. The statue that represented Hanuman looked almost lifelike. Animorph smiled before turning away.
"You are a great warrior," said a voice. Animorph turned in surprise to see the statue smiling at him. "Hello," it said.
"God damn!" Animorph swore, his eyes growing wide, "You talk!"
"I do," answered the statue, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Hanuman."
"But you're a statue," Animorph pointed out.
The statue of Hanuman let out a slight chuckle. "As so it seems young warrior. This is a temporary vessel that I am using in order to communicate with you. Didn't Libra explain to you that we gods can be omni-present?"
"Omni-present?" Animorh questioned, scratching his faceplate. "That's a school word, right?"
Hanuman shook his head and explained, "Gods can be anywhere and everywhere, my boy."
"Okay…" Animorph tilted his head, trying to absorb the information, "So, why are ya talking to me your God-ship?"
"Because you are an honorable warrior. Even with my scepter in your hand, you still wish to return it. Others wouldn't have been able to resist the temptation."
Animorph waved his hands dismissively. "Kay, dude. I just don't think powers like that should go to an Average Joe. Sides," he tapped his armor, "I already got some power from the gods."
"Yes, the Zodiac Armor of the Monkey," Hanuman smiled, "It suits you."
"Thanks," Animorph smiled.
"No need to thank me, young warrior. Not just yet. Now, take off your helmet."
Animorph looked at the statue warily, "You're not gonna bonk me on the head, are ya?"
"Heaven no!" the Monkey God laughed. "I just want to give you my blessings."
"I'm Jewish, not Hindu. No offense," Animorph told him.
"None taken," the god said, "Now, will you please…"
Ron took of his helmet, revealing his messy blond hair, big ears and freckles.
"Kneel," Hanuman continued and Ron did. "Zodiac Knight of the Monkey, Animorph. In the name of the great Hindu gods, I bless you with this weapon. Now, take it." Hanuman presented Ron with his scepter, dropping it at Ron's feet.
"But, sir," Ron began, lifting up the scepter, "I can't."
"You can and you will!" Hanuman shouted. "The scepter was meant for you, it always has been. Monkey Fist was evil and was able to touch it only because of His Mystical Monkey Power. However, you are better than he is. I know, because you were chosen to wield the power of the Monkey."
"Okay," Ron nodded warily. "But how am I gonna keep this thing?" he asked. Suddenly, the scepter transmuted into a card. A card similar to the cards he had used before. "Woah, wicked!"
"Does that answer your question?" Hanuman said, smiling. "The scepter has chosen you."
"Geez, thanks Hanuman," Ron flashed him a peace and love salute as he stood back up. "I owe ya one."
"Just promise to use the power for good." Hanuman then became a statue once again.
"I will."
Monkey Fist had regained consciousness and so did his Monkey Ninjas. He watched as Ron had robbed him of his treasure. "Blast you, Stoppable!" he shouted. "You have robbed me of my glory! But no longer!" he pulled something out of his black Gi. It was a remote. "I suspect that this would happen, so I installed bombs in every inch of this temple. You will not find them in time! You shall die and be buried together with the blasted girl Kim Possible!"
"FIST!" Ron turned, eyes wide with horror.
"Sayonara, Stoppable!" Monkey Fist cackled as he ran out of the temple together with his Monkey Ninjas. The bombs detonated and the powerful explosions caused the temple to rumble. Soon, the ceiling began falling.
Ron immediately put on his helmet and leapt into action. He landed right before Kim's unconscious body and placed Rufus inside the holster on his left leg. The little mole rat tucked his tiny body into his master's holster. Animorph gently lifted up Kim and ran towards the exit, only for it to cave in. The temple continued to crumble.
They were trapped, or were they?
Animorph ordered, "Rufus! Take a card out of my deck!"
Rufus saluted, "Okay!" Rufus scurried out of the holster and towards the case on the right side of his master's belt. He drew it out and showed it to him.
"Okay, now or never," Animorph said slowly. "Slide it into my buckle little buddy!"
Rufus slid the card into his master and friend's belt buckle and activated it.
"Grow Vent," Animorph slowly whispered and a beam of energy shot out from his belt buckle and struck Rufus. Rufus began growing to gigantic proportions and his buck teeth and claws became sharper.
"Go dig us out, Rufus!" Animorph told him. Giant Rufus let out a large squeak and began clawing at the floor and with his new large and sharper claws began digging a hole in the floor. The temple continued to collapse on them, Animorph was barely able to dodge a collapsing piece of the ceiling. Kim began to stir and Animorph panicked. What if she saw him. Fortunately, she didn't wake up and Animorph sighed. He then thought, Kim sure looks pretty when she's asleep.
Rufus' head peaked out from the giant and he squeaked, "Hole, ready!" he then went back in. Animorph followed suit, jumping in. Rufus returned to normal size and leapt in Animorph's leg holster. With a burst of inhuman speed and agility, Animorph ran through the tunnel with the sounds of the collapsing temple echoing behind them. Animorph leapt out an exit hole just outside the temple and watched as the Temple of Hanuman crumbled to nothing.
"It might be better this way," Animorph said, changing back to Ron. He looked at Kim. The blood on her head had dried, but she still needed to be treated for a concussion.
"Kim? Kimmie? KP?" a gentle male voice called. Kim began to stir and her eyes started to open.
"Ron?" she asked, groaning in slight pain. She held her hand and felt the bandages.
"Don't worry, KP, you're at the hospital," Ron told her.
"Monkey Fist?"
Ron shook her head "Got away, but he didn't get the Scepter of Hanuman. I stopped him."
"How?" she asked, groggily.
"A little Monkey power," Ron answered, smiling sweetly.
Kim began to sit up, "Gotta catch him."
"No way KP," Ron gently pushed her back down. "You need to rest. Monkey Fist hit you on the head with that scepter really hard. You needed three stitches and a lot of painkillers."
"But…" before she could finish, Ron kissed her on the lips. Her eyes began to close as she kissed her best friend/sidekick/partner/boyfriend back.
"Rest, just because you can do anything, KP, doesn't mean you have to do everything. You're hurt and you need to rest," a tear slid down Ron's cheek. He wiped it away.
"Ron?"
"I was afraid when Monkey Fist hit you with that thing. I thought that he'd kill you," Ron continued. Kim placed a hand to his cheek.
"Oh, Ronnie." She smiled at him sweetly.
"Now," Ron pulled the blanket over and tucked her in, "You rest. I'll call our 'rents telling them what's the sitch."
"You don't have to," she told him.
"I got to," he answered firmly, "Like you always say, 'no big'." Kim giggled at his response and closed her eyes. He was right, she needed to rest. The meds were making her sleepy and soon she drifted back to sleep.
Ron sat on the bed and stroked his girlfriend's red hair. He smiled at her simply and leaned over her ear, whispering, "Goodnight, KP."
Kim mumbled, "Goodnight Ronnie," a smile etched on her face. Ron smiled at this. Rufus' head peaked out of Ron's cargo pants pocket.
"KP okay?" Rufus asked.
"Yeah, she's okay buddy. She just needs to sleep," Ron answered, smiling at his pet.
"You did very well, Animorph," said a voice from behind Ron. He turned to see Libra sitting backwards on a chair. Libra was grinning. (Libra's faceplate/mask covers his whole face but you can still see his lips)
"Thanks Libra," Ron nodded, smiling sheepishly.
"Hanuman must trust you a lot to give you his weapon," Libra added.
"Well, he did give it to me," Ron responded.
"Just use it for good," Libra told him.
"Is this a social call again?" Ron asked.
"Yes, I wanted to see how you fared. That and I have to tell you something."
"What?"
Libra told him, "Lean closer." Ron did. "Closer." Again, Ron followed. "Good." Libra whacked him over the head with a fan.
"HEY!" Ron grabbed his head. "What was that for?"
"Monkey Fist now knows you are Zodiac Knight Animorph! What if he tells someone? How will you keep your secret now?"
"Uh…" Ron stuttered.
"Exactly."
"But, who's gonna believe him?" Ron asked. "It's not like he's the most liked person in the world."
"Another Zodiac Knight under Yoshido might catch word and when he or she finds out who you really are, they won't stop till you're out of the picture. They may even target the people closest to you," Libra explained.
"But they've got nothing to do with this!" Ron shot back, losing his composure.
"They don't really care."
"What do I do, then?" Ron asked.
"My advice," Libra paused. "Get a team."
"A team?" Ron scratched his head.
Libra explained, "Find the Horse and Pig. They will be good support and teammates. They are destined to meet you soon. You are all meant to be a team."
"Gotcha!" Ron gave him a thumb's up. "But…how do I find them?"
"That's your problem."
"Damn."
"I can't help you directly, Animorph, just give you advice and clues. It's your job to solve these puzzles on your own, Monkey Knight." Libra added, "Kim's waking up."
"What?" Ron turned to see Kim fast asleep. He then turned to see Libra gone. He scratched his head. "How the hell does he do that?"
Meanwhile, in the Mirror Dimension, a lone figure was walking through an alley. It was hard to see him, but he was clad in white armor over a red bodysuit. Small wings were attached to his shoulder blades. A helmet with a single horn in the center and wing like attachments on each side of his faceplate was worn over his head. His visor was blue.
In front of him was an armored zebra humanoid armed with a pair of swords. The monster whinnied and charged. The armor figured leapt over the charging beast and produced a polearm with a crescent blade attached on each on. He then slashed the monster repeatedly in the back. One final slash destroyed the monster in a burst of flames as it exploded.
TBC…