A/N: Hey guys this is the third chapter on this series. I'm glad for receiving all the support and I actually enjoy hearing from all of you. Thanks again to Shockwave88, eckles, Sentinel103, and CajunBear73. Thanks to the rest that reviewed the last chapter, I actually read and reply to all reviews(if possible) and enjoy talking about the Kim Possible story/universe. Keep the reviews coming!!! Now this chapter is set around the first week of training for Ron. I thought about just skipping it but I feel people should read about what would eventually help him change to the person I have in mind. Hope you guys enjoy and good reading.
Disclaimer:I do not own any characters from Kim Possible as they are owned by Disney.
Chapter 3: The Path to Change
He matched his steps with those of his Sensei and followed as they walked outside the school gates. The training at Yamanouchi was surprising and yet expected to say the least. Ron expected the four o'clock wake up calls, the constant conditioning training, the various weapons and hand to hand combat training. What he did not expect was the individual spiritual and physical test he had to endure.
Today was such a test…
"Before one is able to change one's self, he must come to understand what makes himself. Understand that which motivates us," Sensei turned to face him as they came to a stop, "And that which hinders us, so that we may shed what is unnecessary and let ourselves grow into something beautiful. Just as a flower cannot grow in a garden of weeds, neither can a person change when he is full of fear and doubt."
"Okay… So what does that mean?" Ron asked with an actual look of confusion that was barely noticeable in the dark. "I get the whole trying to change, but a flower? What's with the flower?"
"Stoppable-san, you cannot change if you fear and doubt yourself and others. You must trust yourself and others if you truly want to change."
Ron repeated the words over and over again in his mind as he slowly grasped what the wise man was trying to say. "I don't fear myself sensei, I just fear… um well it's not really fear, I mean they are bad men."
Sensei lifted his hand, as if to ask Ron to stop and he complied, "You fear others because you fear that you are not capable yourself. You're heart is full of doubt creating panic and fear of others… but we can help you change that."
Ron noticed that as the sun rose and revealed the day that they were standing next to the ravine. Instead of having a bridge to crossover it had a series of standing logs, about a leg's stride apart and varied in different heights, and a handful of Yamanouchi students were waiting among them.
"You can… help…" Ron started to sputter while giving a nervous laugh and then turned into a scared look as he slowly backed away. "Thanks for the offer Sensei but I-I don't think I'm ready for this."
"So your words were hollow then?" Ron stopped and looked at Sensei, the old man's face was passive but his tone said differently. "Did you not ask to improve yourself, to truly change?"
"I did… but isn't this taking it too far too early?"
Sensei nodded as he understood and simply lowered his head and turned. "To change for another, will allow you to change for the moment… but to change for yourself; that is true and everlasting change. If you feel that you cannot, or will not, change for yourself… so be it, I will not stop you from leaving."
Ron could hear the disappointment in the old man's words and lowered his gaze, pondering about his true motivation to come to Yamanouchi. Did he come here to truly change himself? To learn more about his ability and perhaps learn about himself? Or did he come here just to run away from Kim, and all the emotions of inadequacy and sadness that he felt when he was around her and Eric?
"Perhaps you were right… maybe it was too soon for you Ron Stoppable." Sensei then started to walk away before he was stopped by Ron.
"I wan to change for me… what do I have to do?"
Sensei gave him a knowing smile and a nod as he directed his attention back to the ravine and the students. "You must fight and last as long as you possibly can, then and only then will you begin to move along the path to self improvement."
"How would this help me?"
"By allowing you to realize that you must not fear, you must not panic, but focus on the task and hand. By realizing these truths you will come to understand yourself and the potential you posses."
"Okay… so I guess… I'll just go now, right?" Ron gave him a smile but his mind was all jumbled from Sensei's speech. I guess I better get this started…
Ron walked towards the edge and placed a foot on the log, following with another and another until he found himself in the middle of the pathway. The students surrounded him and waited for the call to begin. "Well this isn't so bad…"
Ron's words suddenly died as he saw the students bring out bo staffs and slowly started to approach as they surrounded him. He looked down as he tried to measure the length of the fall but could not see the bottom and gave a slight shudder.
"Stoppable-san, you must remember to stay calm and determined. Do not allow the situation to dictate you, you must dictate the situation." Ron gave him a bewildered look but quickly turned back when Sensei ordered the test to begin.
Ron dodged the first strike by moving to the side and fought for his balance for a split second before stepping back and ducking the next two swings. He crossed armed blocked the next attack, the force pushing him back, and fought hard to regain his balance.
Ron avoided the next downward swing and tried to run, stopping as he tried to keep his balance, and blocked the next attack aimed for head. The pain reverberated through his arm as he pulled it back and shook it while yelling a big, "OW!"
The next swing caught him in the ribs and followed with a blow to the thigh. Ron managed to block only the second blow before turning and falling. He managed to avoid falling to his death by grabbing a pole and holding on for dear life.
The nearest student thrust his staff and Ron rolled left to avoid it. Coming back he grabbed it and used it to pull himself upright once more. He fought to gain control of the staff but a blow to the kidney's prevented him from gaining the weapon. The pain shot through his spine and felt himself jerk from it.
He pushed off on of the students to regain his footing and stood ready.
Ron was liking this test less and less as it went on.
Kim frowned as she looked at her Kimmunicator and sighed.
"What's wrong GF?" The redhead quickly flashed a smile to her friend and shook her head.
"Nothing Mon, it's just… I haven't heard anything from Ron for a week now and it has me a bit worried."
Monique gave her a questioning look before she took a sip of her drink. They were spending their first get together of the summer at the mall while they waited for Monique's shift at Club Banana to start.
"You weren't worried the last time he went to Japan."
"That was a bit different. He was only gone for that one week so it wasn't a big, but he's going to be gone for the whole summer. The only other time he was away for that long was when we were twelve and he went to Camp Wannaweep."
"You told me you didn't really miss him that summer."
Kim smiled a bit as she reminisced, "Well that's because he was calling me like almost every five minutes, but now…"
"He hasn't even called you once." Monique could see the look of discomfort on Kim's face. "I understand how you feel but you have to realize that he's a grown man… okay a grown kid, but he knows how to take care of himself."
"I know, but I still can't help worrying about him."
"Are you worried about him, or about what might happen between him and that Yori girl?"
Kim gave her a surprise look and proceeded to give Monique a slight glare, "What!? No, why would I be worried about that?"
"Because last time you were jelling like there was no tomorrow."
"That was pre-boyfriend Kim, now I'm more comfortable with Ron, uh… you know seeing Yori." Kim gave her a weak smile but Monique wasn't convinced.
"I would have believed you, but your face is telling me there's more to this story than you're telling me."
Kim mentally winced and shifted her eyes away, "Of course not, why would there be more to it?"
"Kim, you're a terrible liar, you know that? Now spill, what aren't you saying?" Monique smiled as Kim agreed.
"Ron… sorta… confessed his feelings for me during the whole "Take over the world" plot of Drakken's." Kim wasn't surprised by the look Monique gave her, with her eyes the size of saucers and mouth open agape, "Although he did tell me that he just said it to get "my head into the game" so to speak."
"Okay GF, back up… start from the beginning."
Kim then went on to explain the events of the night and the following day, sparing little to no details, and waited for Monique's response as she finished. "So?"
"I wouldn't believe it if you didn't tell me yourself. So you think this trip to Japan was an excuse to get away from you and Eric?"
"Maybe, he has a tendency to blow things out of proportion. You know how he is Mon… he can't deal with change very well."
"That boy does tend to take things to the extreme."
"I'm just worried that he will do something he will regret over this whole sitch."
Monique nodded. She knew that Ron could sometimes overreact over the changes he did not really approve of, but the last remaining weeks in school had shown him under control, or as much control as the blonde usually held. He didn't show any paranoia or rambling about things changing, something didn't sit right with her.
"Did he say anything about you dating Eric?"
Kim lowered her gaze as she thought for a second and looked up with a weak look, "No, but Ron has a habit of not saying things that bother him sometimes."
"I don't know Kim, last time he wasn't happy with you and Josh, remember? He kept calling him "Monkey" but he was still okay with you too getting together. If he wasn't okay with Eric he would have said something."
"Yeah, I guess."
"Well I have to go to my shift, but I do hope Ron calls you soon so that you guys can clear the air about this whole mess."
"Yeah…" Kim muttered but her mind was somewhere else. What was really going on between her and Ron?
"Are you well Stoppable-san?"
Ron flinched a bit as Yori helped him removed the top part of his gi and start to apply a balm. "I'm sorry Sensei… I failed the exercise and I disappointed you." Ron had a sad look that was only marred with the occasional flinching.
"You have not disappointed young one. This test is not meant to be won, it is aimed to reinforce your mental barriers of focus and determination. You have proved that you have both, fighting for the amount of time that you did."
Ron had a look of disbelief and as the words sank in it slowly grew into a smile, "I guess all that time with Kim made me tougher than I thought."
"I do believe so, Stoppable-san. How else could you rescue me from Monkey Fist and defeat Fukushima?" Yori added with a smile. "You give yourself too little credit."
"Far too little, but you shall learn that you can succeed in anything as long ass you have an unshakeable focus and an unbending determination."
"I'll try to live up to your expectations Sensei." Ron bowed his head and was surprised at the determined look he received.
"Do not try young Stoppable, do." Sensei then smiled as he turned to leave, "Your training is to resume after you rest and are fed."
Yori giggled as Ron winced and groaned at the mention of more training.
Ron had spent the rest of the day training nearly non-stop. From the sparing, to performing his katas, to weapons training, the continued work had his body aching from head to toe. The only time he had to rest was during meditation and even that left him mentally exhausted. Now as the training for the day ended, he forced his aching body to the get ready for bed.
"Owe, owe… owe… Why does it all hurt?" Ron groaned within the shower as the warm water streamed down his aching body.
Ron leaned down slowly to place his head under the flowing water; the aching pain in his arms prevented him from raising them over his head, and hoped that a simple rinse would do. He began to relax as he pressed his head against the coolness of the wall. The exhaustion muddled his mind and clouded his thoughts as he tried to focus on taking a shower before he fell asleep.
So it was no surprise that he stumbled out of the shower and used the wall to help him get to his room. Groaning a bit as he took every step, he was surprised to find Yori waiting for him near his door.
"Yori? What are you doing here?" Ron asked weary and tired from the day's work.
Yori bowed as she saw him and gave him a gentle smile as she reached over to help him. "You are feeling much pain Stoppable-san, allow me to help."
"Thanks… I didn't think I would be hurting this bad." Ron managed to mutter as they entered his room and he sat on his futon.
"Yes, I am sorry for that, Stoppable-san, but it was for your own good. Sensei has high hopes for you."
"No, I understand…" Ron managed to say before he let out a huge yawn. "He wouldn't have me train so much if he didn't."
"There is much to come before your journey is complete."
Ron smiled, "I know… I feel like I grasped something today." Ron clenched his fist and held it there, "I don't know what but it's made me realize… it makes me want… I don't know how to describe it. But I think I understand what Sensei was trying to tell me."
"I am glad to see you understand."Yori replied as she smiled at Ron, then her smile faltered a bit before she continued, "How are you feeling, Stoppable-san?"
Ron was lying down, enjoying the feeling of not moving when he answered back, "Tired… and in pain but overall glad today is over."
Yori approached him and kneeled down next to him as she watched Ron begin to fall asleep. "Then I hope you rest well, Stoppable-san."
They were the last words he heard as he drifted off to sleep.
