AN This story has grown far beyond it's original scope. I think there will be another two chapters to this part of the story, and then there will be at least another two parts of the original story. As always thank you to everyone who has reviewed my story both good and bad. I try to write back to every review I get, and if I missed you over the holidays I apologize. As usual I don't own KP and the gang, the giant mouse does.

Ron

Ron

Ron Stoppable woke up with a start. He had heard a voice calling his name, a voice that sounded like Kim…but wasn't exactly. He shook his head trying to clear it, and get his bearings. Memories began to flood his brain; prom, his fight with Kim this morning,…Kim! She was in trouble! He had to save her! Ron jumped to his feet, ready to race to Kim's side. But wait a minute…hadn't he already tried to rescue Kim? Ron grimaced in remembered pain as he recalled being hit with Shego's plasma bolt. He frowned, by standard villainy procedure he should be tied up right now, listening to a crazy rant. He most definitely should not be here….where was here?

Ron help me

Ron started. There was Kim's voice again, calling out to him. Only…there was something wrong with it, something he couldn't quite put his finger on. Now that he was thinking about it, Ron realized there was something strange about this whole situation. Why was he untied? Where were KP and Shego? And most importantly…where was he?

He shivered as he took in his surroundings. He was in some type of cave…maybe. The floors weren't really rocky…in fact they were strangely smooth. He couldn't see any walls, only the floors that went on and on into blackness. The only thing he could see was a huge stone slab, easily as 3 times as big as he was. Ron shivered looking at it. The slab reminded him of another giant stone, the one in that old movie about the crazy computer. He hated that movie, because there were monkey's in it that worshiped that giant stone…stone worshiping monkey's…sick and wrong. Ron shook his head. 'Get your mind back in the game Stoppable', he mentally chided himself. There appeared to be stairs cut into the rock. What little light there was in the cave appeared to be coming from the top of this giant rock.

Ron please, I need you

And Kim's voice was calling from it.

Ron sprinted towards the giant slab. He paused however, when he reached the stairs. He recalled his earlier thoughts about rock worshiping primates and shivered. Carved into the stairs, indeed, covering the entire slab, were images of monkeys. "This is sick and wrong", Ron whispered to himself, backing away. Then Kim's voice came again, calling to him. This time Ron realized what was strange about it…"I'm not hearing it…it's all in my head! That is badical!"…and Ron bounded the steps two at a time.

Ron was not prepared for what he saw at the top. He thought he might have found Kim chained to a wall, (oh how being chained without her gadgets annoyed her!), perhaps being guarded by a few of Drakkens lackeys. He was even prepared, (mentally at least), to see Shego, (although he still had no idea how to defeat her, now that his Zorpox ruse had failed). Neither Kim nor Shego greeted Ron at the top however. The stairs opened up to a flat surface. In fact, this new level he was on, (for it was indeed a level, it seemed to stretch outwards just as far as the ground below had), looked exactly like where he had just come from. There was nothing here. Well, almost nothing. Right in front of him was a small jut of rock. Walking over to it, Ron noticed a small slit in the top, as if something went there. Whatever it was, was no longer in the area though. There was nothing here. Ron was perplexed…he knew he had just heard KP's voice calling from up here.

Ron please hurry!

Kim's voice was behind him! Ron spun around, and stared. The stairs he had just come up from were gone. Directly behind him was a huge white wall. The wall seemed to stretch on and on, into the blackness. Nothing marred it's surface, except for one small door. The door was old and battered, and fitted with an old fashioned lock, the kind used in movies with dungeons that have to be opened with a key. The lock was broken, and now hung from the door, sad and forlorn. Ron shivered. This was definitely 800 miles of bad road! With a trembling hand Ron reached out and opened the door. Beyond all he could see was darkness. Still he had definitely heard Kim's voice come from here. Ron steeled himself, closed his eyes and walked through.

Ron could immediately tell, even through his closed eyes, that the light had grown brighter. That seemed hopeful. He began to smile. Maybe this little adventure into loony-land was beginning to look up. Ron opened his eyes and looked around. As his eyes took in his surroundings his smile vanished, replaced by a frown.

"Okay this is getting too weird. I know my motto is never be normal…but this is too not normal, even for me!" Ron cried out loud. He was standing in what appeared to be a summer-camp cabin. There was a bunk-bed, (currently empty, although Ron could see that whoever slept here was none too clean…the bed had not been made and the sheets were covered in crumbs), and two closed chests. Ron assumed they were for the camper's clothes. Other than the spare furniture the cabin was bare. Still it radiated menace to Ron. With a sinking heart, he realized that he recognized this cabin. He glanced out of the open window, and all his fears were confirmed. A look of horror came over his face. His eyes were locked on a sign that loomed right outside the window…"Welcome to Wannaweep!"

Welcome back loser", came a voice directly behind Ron.

Ron spun around. He had thought the cabin was empty, apparently he had been wrong. However the occupant of the cabin shocked him. Still wearing his red jumpsuit that Ron had last seen at Bueno Nacho's corporate headquarters was….Erik. Ron groaned. This was like a bad nightmare. Still, as he contemplated the syntho-thingie standing across him, a grin spread across Ron's face. Here was something he could fight. Something he could take out all his angers, and frustrations, and insecurities about Kim on. Anger began to cloud Ron's mind. He forgot about Shego, or finding Kim. All he knew was that Erik was right here in front of him, and that he wanted to take out all the hurt he had been feeling the last few months and transplant it squarely on Erik's face. Balling his hands into fists Ron addressed the syntho-thingie. "Your going down pretty boy/"

Ron threw himself at Erik, swinging wildly. But Erik was stronger and faster/ Every punch that Ron threw, Erik blocked. After one particularly wild punch, Erik grabbed Ron's arm and spun him around, twisting his arm behind his back. "You really are pathetic", Erik whispered into Ron's ear, before throwing him into the ground.

From the ground Ron growled in anger. "Dude you are so going down. After what you put Kim through"…

His opponent cut him off. "Don't be a hypocrite Ronny. You're not thinking about Kim right now. You've even forgotten that she's missing, because all you really want to do is hurt me," Erik said, his tone reproachful. Then he paused, and assumed a thoughtful look. "Still, I suppose your right. After I'm done with you maybe I'll find Kim and", Erik's thoughtful look vanished, and he assumed a predatory grin, "Make it up to her."

At these words Ron's face turned red with anger. All thoughts left him. For the first time in his life, Ron contemplated murder. He wanted to kill this thing in front of him. If Kim could see Ron at this moment, she would not have recognized her normally cheerful boyfriend. His face was twisted, a mask of hate and pain. It was as if someone had tapped into all his negative feelings, mixed them and then poured them back into his brain, all his pains and fears and insecurities seemed to well up inside of him, and focus on the enemy before him. With a primal scream Ron rose up from the ground and resumed his attack on his foe.

As before, Ron attacked like a man possessed. And as before, Erik parried every blow. Then he began to speak, almost conversationally. "You know, you really are a buffoon. I mean, look around you! Aren't you the least bit curious as to what's going on?" When Ron did not answer Erik laughed. "Loser. But I'll let you in on a little secret Ronny. I'm not really Erik. I'm your insecurities Ronny, the personification of every negative feeling you've ever had, all your hate and your pain, wrapped up in a human form. Cool isn't it?" The Erik-thing laughed, and spread his arms out, ignoring the blows that Ron was landing, and indicated the cabin around him. "This is where I live Ronny. Fitting isn't it? Once upon a time I used a different form", and the Erik-thing shimmered, and seemed to shift, as if it were melting. It started changing into a myriad of forms, Ron's mother, a giant garden gnome, a monkey, his cousin Shawn, Zorpox, Walter Nelson…it lingered for a moment on Josh Mankey, before finally resuming it's Erik shape. "But I like this one the best." A manic gleam entered it's eyes and the thing began screaming at Ron, not even bothering to block the punches that Ron continued to throw. "I'm tired of being cooped up in here Ronny! You've always suppressed me, kept me down! I need to stretch my legs some. But every time I've tried to grow, or move, or get out of here", the Erik-things voice continued to rise…then he paused. "She stopped me. Always there to save you, isn't she Ronny? Even the one time I finally took over, " at this the creature shifted to look like Zorpox for a moment, before shifting back to it's Erik form, "even then she came to your rescue. " A smile crossed the creatures face. "But guess what Ronny? I've been growing stronger, especially these last few months. Aw, these last few weeks have been hard on you, haven't they loser? Even after you got the girl, your still tormented that she'll leave you. And she should. She's at the top of the food chain after all, she should be with a "hottie' not a loser. I guess it's just been too much, hasn't it Ronny?" A smile grew across the fiends face. "The room you were in before you got here….do you know what that was Ronny? Of course not, you're an idiot! It's were you keep your mystical monkey power. All locked up from me, wasn't it? Couldn't let your anger have it, you need to be pure, so you can wield the lotus blade right? Did that room look empty to you buffoon? Do you know why? Because I've finally gotten strong enough to take it that's why! Look!" Cackling the Erik-thing pointed at one of the chests across the room. It flew open. Lying inside was a plain unadorned sword. The Lotus blade. Abruptly the cackling stopped, as the Erik-thing looked down at Ron who was still furiously pummeling him. Lost in his monologue the creature had not even noticed. "Aw, what's the matter Ronny? Your usually so interested in the villains speeches. Remember giving the Seniors tips on security? Just another idiot moment, wasn't it loser? Aw come on, your not still upset about my little shot at Kim's purity are you? " Laughing the Erik-thing grabbed Ron and threw him into the chest containing the Lotus blade.

Ron knew Erik was talking but he was paying no attention. He just wanted to punch, and keep on punching. He wasn't even aware that he was punching Erik, not really. In his head, scenes kept playing from his memory, bad scenes, hurtful scenes. He saw his mother ignoring him. The counselors at camp laughing as they put a monkey as his room-mate. The evil lawn gnome, mocking him. Mostly though, he saw Kim. Kim lying to him about going to the fair, so she could go with Walter Nelson. Kim locking him in a locker so she could go to the Spirit Dance with Josh Mankey. Kim leaving him in his moment of need at the clubhouse, so she could be with Erik.

There were other scenes too, scenes that filled Ron with shame because he recognized that he could enjoy them. He saw all those bad memories…and then he saw himself getting even. He saw himself hack into his mothers bank account and stealing all her money. He saw himself smash the garden gnome. He led an army of monkey ninjas to attack his camp counselors. He had Cousin Shawn, and was threatening him with a laser. Erik, and Walter Nelson and Josh Mankey were all tied up in a pool with sharks. And Kim was wearing one of Dr. Bortel's mind control chips. She was his slave. And he enjoyed it all. Ron watched it all, and kept on attacking. He was no longer hitting Erik, he was trying to hurt himself, to drive the enjoyment out of his, (Zorpox's?) eyes.

The visions, (and attacks), ended abruptly when Ron's head connected with a chest on the other side of the room. He looked around blinking. He saw Erik approaching him. Ron stared. He could see Erik…but it was more like a projection of Erik, covering something. Ron couldn't quite explain it, but it was like he was seeing two things…he saw Erik…but he also saw himself. Or more accurately Zorpox. Ron, was panicking, and his head was throbbing. He couldn't clear his mind of all those awful images he had seen earlier. His anger had faded however, and he was able to think. He knew he couldn't beat Erik…or whatever it was, by himself. He'd need a weapon. Looking around, his eyes glanced into the open chest. Amazed, Ron stared…it was the Lotus Blade! Ron grinned. He didn't know how it had gotten here, (he still didn't know where here was for that matter), but no matter. He definitely knew how to use it. Ron could still remember the feeling of peace he had, whenever he held the weapon. The way his mind was reeling, he could definitely use that peace of mind now. Ron knew as soon as he held the weapon his mind would clear…and then he could use it to hand this Erik-Zorpox thing it's biscuit.

Ron grabbed the hilt of the sword. When he did, two things happened at once. A blinding flash of light erupted from the sword. At the same time he heard KP's voice. It sounded like she was crying. "I'm so sorry Ron…your not worthy."

Although the light faded as soon as it could come, it was several moments before Ron could see again. When he could, the cabin was empty, he was alone. There was a note taped to the door of the cabin. Ron was not surprised given the rest of the days events to see that it was in his handwriting.

LATER LOSER

BOOYAHAHAHAHAHA

Looking around the rest of the cabin Ron discovered the Lotus Blade. It had a large crack running down the blade, and it was blackened as though it had been in a fire. Gathering it into his arms Ron knelt by the bunk-bed and wept.

Ron didn't know how long he cried. He only stopped when he felt a hand touch his shoulders. Looking up he saw a tiny man, dressed in a flowing robe. "Sensei?" Ron asked, confused. Looking around Ron saw that he was no longer at Camp Wannaweep. He was back in Middleton Mall…except that the world, besides he and Sensei, had a dull almost sepia tone to it. Adding to the weird level he could see Kim and Shego, although neither one was moving. Upon closer inspection, he could even see himself. "Um, Sensei, could you please tell me what's going on?"

"Stoppable San", the old man bowed as he said the name, "it is my honor to speak to you again. We must talk it is very urgent." The old mans eyes glinted. "Our very reality is in peril. We have need of your help"