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0010010110101000111010Two Sides, Two Paths1010001010100101010010

"KP?" Ron called as he picked himself up off the cold floor of one of the many villain lairs that populated Middleton.

"Kim? You here?" he asked, walking around in the darkness. Most villains liked the darkness, but even Gill wouldn't work in a place as dark as this. Ron's eyes finally adjusted to the low light condition, and he discovered that he was standing at a fork at two paths: the left was wide and appeared easy to travel, and the right was narrow and rough, looking almost impossible to pass over.  

"Mr. Stoppable, I see you're finally ready to finish my work," a man said, walking out of the shadows. He was wearing a black three-piece suit and a pair of dark rectangular sunglasses.

"Who are you?" Ron asked, backing away from the man.

"Do not play games with me, Mr. Stoppable, you know exactly who I am," the man smiled demonically, "I am who you were in one life, and I am who you are meant to become in this one. I am the face of inevitability. Mr. Anderson could not stop me, and you, Mr. Stoppable, are the proof of that fact."

"No, I don't know what you're talking about …" Ron said, his voice filling with panic.

"Oh you do, Mr. Stoppable, let me … refresh your memory," the man said, walking toward him. Ron cried out in horror and cried out when the man stabbed his fingers into his chest. Ron felt a sudden coldness starting to bubble from his chest and looked down to see black liquid began to spread over his torso.

"Back off," another voice spoke up, jerking Ron's attention away from the attack. He looked back to see a man in tattered gray clothing, with purple burns on his face and a bandana covering his eyes. "It's not your choice," He said pulling Ron away from the man and toward the narrow pathway.

"It's not yours either, Mr. Anderson!" the man growled, grabbing Ron's arms and pulling for all his worth toward the wide path.

Ron felt like a rope in a tug-a-war, "No, stop it, leave me alone," Ron said, shaking his head rapidly, "Leave me alone! LEAVE ME ALONE!"

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"LEAVE ME ALONE!!" Ron cried out, sitting up in his cot, breathing raggedly. He wiped the cold sweat from his brow and looked around his surroundings. His eyes finally fell on Kim in the cot on the opposite wall of the small room, sleeping soundly. He let out a sigh of relief when he realized his nightmare hadn't woken her up.

He kicked his feet over the edge of the cot and stood on the cold metal floor. He silently padded over to Kim, and saw she was trembling slightly from the chilly temperature of the airship's interior. He stroked her cheek lightly with the back of his fingers before turning and pulled the outer comforter of his makeshift bed. He then placed it on Kim's before pulling all three layers up over her shoulders and tucked her in snuggly, before climbing back into his own bed.

He laid there staring at the wall, thinking back on his dream, or nightmare for a better term. Something about it would let go of his mind. Like even though he had woken up, the two men at that fork were still pulling him in two directions.

"Maybe this friend of Morpheus' will be able to help me," Ron whispered to himself, curling into a ball, and holding his one last blanket tightly for warmth. He then closed his eyes hoping the dream would not return.

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"Good morning, Ronald," Morpheus' booming voice caused Ron to jump and tumble out of his cot and to the floor with a 'thud'. 

"Morpheus!" Ron gasped, "Haven't you heard of knocking? What if KP had been changing clothes or something?"

"It is fifteen after eleven," Morpheus stated, smirking, "And you hadn't been in such a deep slumber you would of known she had changed her clothes -quite possible in your presence- and left thirty minutes ago. Not that you would have peeked as you did in the training simulation yesterday…" Morpheus said, standing and stepping toward the door, smiling at the blush covering Ron's face.

He then opened the door, "Get dressed, we jack into the Matrix in thirty minutes. Niobi and Kim are already in the Construct."

Ron nodded and pulled some clean clothing out of the dresser.

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In an old warehouse in New York City, a single black phone began to ring. Then Morpheus' hand came from nowhere, and picked up the receiver, "We're in, where's Niobi and Kimberly?" he said, standing beside Ghost and a confused Ron. 

"They're in the next room," Ron said, pointing toward the doorway. A moment later it opened and Niobi walked in, smiling at the three.

"And they say girls take forever to get ready," Niobi smiled, "Kimmie needed a new look so we've been playing around with a few ideas in the Construct."

"Oh?" Morpheus asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"See for yourself," Niobi said, looking back toward the doorway, "Kim?"

Kim walked in and Ron mouthed a 'wow'. She was wearing a pair of oval sunglasses, the trench coat Ron had given her, a skin tight leather tank top that stopped just below her bottom rib, matching tight leather pants that hung low on her hips and a pair of combat boots.

"What's wrong?" Kim asked sincerely, pulling off her sunglasses to look at Ron, "Don't like it?"

"No!" Ron squeaked, before shaking his head, "No you look great … err good umm nice … yea nice!"

"Good," Kim smiled, fixing the collar of Ron's trench coat, then his sunglasses. "You don't look that bad either."

"If you two are finished, let us go," Morpheus spoke up, "Niobi, Ghost, you wait here. Kimberly, Ronald, come with me."

Morpheus led the two teenagers out of the warehouse to his black Charger. Morpheus climbed into the driver's seat, Kim took shotgun and Ron grabbed the backseat.

"I still don't believe it …" Kim said softly, as she watched the buildings fly by as they drove down the busy street, "All of this isn't real at all …"

"It is as real as you make it, Kimberly," Morpheus said, not taking his eyes off the road, "It may be digital, but if you are hurt inside the Matrix, you are hurt outside as well. If you are killed inside the Matrix, you die for real."

"The body can't survive without the mind …" Ron said, almost on impulse. 

"Oh really?" Kim asked, a playful smile growing on her lips, "How does that explain you? Or do you not go by the same rules as everyone else?"

"If I am correct," Morpheus added, a restrained smirk growing on his face, "That could very well be the case." He then pulled the car into a parking spot in front of an old apartment building. "Ok, were here." Morpheus said climbing out of the car.

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Morpheus lead the two teens down a long hallway covered in graffiti, before coming to a stop at the only door in the hallway. "I can open the door for you, but you must walk through it." Morpheus said to the two as he turned the doorknob and opened the doorway.

Morpheus then followed the two into the apartment and sat down on the couch. "Morpheus!" An older African American woman said, walking in with a tray of cookies and a paper cup of soda, "Ah, Ron and Kim, I've been expecting you! I'll be with you in one second," she said, kicking on a side door in the apartment, "Son, I've got your snack ready!"

"Cool, be there in a second, Mom!" a muffled yet familiar voice came from the other side.

"I know that voice …" Ron and Kim said in unison, looking at each other in awe.

A moment later the door swung open and Wade walked out, "Oh sugar cookies! My favorite!" He said, taking the tray from the woman, he then noticed Kim and Ron staring in awe.

"Wade?" The both squeaked, not sure what to say.

"Oh hey guys!" Wade said happily, "I wondered where you disappeared to. How's the outside?"

"Um …" Ron forced out while Kim just stared, "Are you the Oracle?"

Wade then laughed loudly, "Me, the Oracle? No way! That's my mom. I'm just a Search Engine." 

"Freaky …" Kim blinked.

"Super Freaky," Rufus squeaked in, popping out of Ron's coat pocket.

"Well, I guess mom will want to talk to you guys, so I'll get back to work. Nice seeing you!" Wade said taking the cookies and drink into his room.

"Don't just stand there staring at the wall," the woman said smiling, "Take a seat and rest a while, Kim. Ron, come with me."

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The Oracle led Ron into the kitchen and began to wash her hands. "Surprised Morpheus would bring you to a crazy old lady, Ron?" she smiled up at him, "Don't worry about the vase."

"What vase?" Ron asked, looking around, only to knock a vase by the door to the floor, shattering it. "I'm sorry!"   

"You should be getting some deja'vu right now," Oracle said sitting down at a table, and lighting a cigarette.

"How … did you know that?" Ron asked, eyeing the woman suspiciously.

"Wouldn't be much of an Oracle if I didn't, now would I?" She replied, nodding toward the empty seat across from her.

Ron sat down and started to speak, but Oracle beat him to it, "You've been having weird dreams lately, haven't you? We'll get to that. But first lets get to your newfound abilities."

Ron nodded dumbly.

"The fact is, kiddo -and I'm sorry to say this- but you are not who you're supposed to be," She sighed, "But then again, this is all happening as it was supposed to."

"What?" Ron asked in confusion.

"Your natural personality was overridden and copied over. Day you were born actually," Oracle stated, "But none the less, you were born to be someone who will never see the light of day."

"So who am I?" Ron asked, staring at the table.

"You are who you are, and that's the important thing," Oracle smiled, holding out a plate of cookies. "Cookie?"

A second later the plate was empty. "Well, your appetite has grown," Oracle mused, "Last time I had to talk you into just one."

"Huh?" Ron asked, looking up in puzzlement.

"You'll understand later," Oracle waved, "Right now I think you have other matters bothering you, am I right? Tell me, in your dreams, do you feel like you were being pulled in two directions?"

Ron stared wide-eyed at the woman, causing her to smile at the boy, "I thought so," She then let out a deep sigh, "I'm sorry to say this but I have bad news, Kiddo."

She then puffed on her cigarette, "You've got two sides to you, kid, and with those sides two paths. You have the potential to be a hero beyond any the world has ever known inside the Matrix or out, but you also have the potential to destroy everything and enjoy every second of it. But that isn't the bad news." 

"I'm not sure I want to know the bad news …" Ron gulped.

"You have two roads, but you have no say in the path you will take," Oracle stated seriously, walking around to look down on the teen, "Your guide will lead you down the path you are meant to take."

"Who is my guide?" Ron asked, looking up in confusion, "How will I find him? Or will he find me?"

"She has already found you, and you her." Oracle smiled.

"Huh, who?"

"You'll know who she is when the time is right, but not in there," Oracle said, pointing at his head. She then dropped her hand and poked his chest, "You'll know right there." 

"That's not very helpful …" Ron rubbed his temples, "In fact, I have a headache now."

"Well that's all I got right now for ya, kiddo," Oracle said apologetically, "I'm sorry I couldn't give you better news. Could you send Kim in for me?"

Ron sighed and stood to his feet, "Sorry again, Ron, but I can assure you, which ever path you take, KP is going to be right there by your side the whole way." Oracle said with a smile. Ron silently nodded in response before walking out of the kitchen.

A moment later, Kim eased into the kitchen, looking almost like a wild animal moving into new territory. "Such a lovely young lady," Oracle chimed, "I see why he likes you." 

"Oracle right?" Kim asked, narrowing her emerald eyes on the older woman, "What did you tell Ron? He seemed shook up."

"I'll leave that for him to tell you when he's good and ready to share. You've shared everything with each other since you were four after all, even the information you didn't want to know. I'm sure you haven't forgotten some of your early puberty conversations," Oracle said with a wink.

"Ok," Kim said, flushing brightly, "You are good, so what do you want to … err prophesize about me?"

"Oh, that can wait a few moments, right now I have to tell you the importance of your current mission," Oracle stated seriously, "You cannot let Drakken use that machine. At all costs, he cannot be allowed to learn to use it." 

"What is it anyway? Merovingian never told exactly what it was," Kim questioned, brushing some of her long hair from her face.

"All I can tell you is it can be used to revive something that shouldn't have been in the first place," Oracle stated, "You've done a lot of good, Kim, you and Ron both. I can't begin to tell you how many lives have been saved. I know you've doubted the good you've done since learning the truth. But I can tell you, Kim, it might be digital, but the lives you've saved and the good you've done has been as real as Morpheus' obsession with shaving his head. Don't stop now, with what Morpheus has and will teach you, the tools for helping others at your disposal will be limitless."

"I'll remember that," Kim nodded.

"And now, as you put it, prophesizing," Oracle smiled, lighting up yet another cigarette.  Kim then sat down, and tried to hide the sudden interest in what the older woman would say. "You've helped a lot of people in your life, Kimberly, but very soon someone very close, the one who you will love -really love- will need your help… desperately so and will ask for it. He'll need you not only for physical but emotional support." 

"Who is he?" Kim asked, trying to think who she could possibly end up falling for who would need her, 'Josh? Will? Tanaka? Brick? Even the off chance Junior?' she ran through her mind, none of whom she could ever imagine asking for her help.

"None of the above," Oracle stated, smirking at the gawking look the teenager gave. 

"Those are the only guys I know who are my type," Kim said, still digging in her mind, "Who else is there, have I met him yet?"

"Yup, you know him very well," Oracle, reached across the table and flicked the teen's nose, "He's right under there, child."

"How will I know?"

"I wish just once to not have a reading with bad news," She sighed, shaking her head slightly, "I'm afraid you'll know exactly who he is the minute your time among the living is up, and you'll hate yourself for not seeing it soon enough to really enjoy what many men and women never get the chance to experience: true love," She then got up and walked over the cabinets, "Maybe you'll get yet another chance in your next life," Oracle consoled, turning to the girl and holding a piece of candy in her hand, "Candy? I'd offer a cookie but your friend ate them all." 

"T-Thank you," Kim mumbled, curious and worried about what she had just been told.

She then turned and started to leave, "For all it's worth, Kim," Oracle spoke up, "You and Ron, you both proved to me that Neo wasn't a one time fluke, that there are people that give the human race a reason for existing. You are both fine champions."

Kim ducked her head as a blush crossed her cheeks, "I just do what I can."

Oracle then walked up and placed her arm around the girl's shoulders. "Don't stop," She said simply as she led her out of the kitchen. The two walked out where Ron and Morpheus were sitting silently, "Morpheus, these two have an important mission: Drakken must be stopped, can I expect you to give them your full support?"

"Full support, and then some," Morpheus said, standing up and placing his glasses on his nose.

"Very good," Oracle smiled "It would be smart to find out more about what Dr. Drakken has taken before you really go after him. I'm sure you can help the kids here persuade Merovingian to be helpful. If not I'm sure what you've taught them will." 

A moment later Wade burst into the room. "Kim, I'm glad your still here," Wade gasped, holding out a printed page.

"What's the sitch?" Kim asked walking over.

"Monkey Fist," Wade stated, "He's has some diplomats hostage here in down town."

Morpheus glanced over the girl's shoulder, "The Council meeting?" Morpheus questioned, "Half of the diplomats are freed. If memory serves, Monkey Fist is a martial artist, but they should handle him."

Ron looked up, "Monkey Fist isn't really the problem," he stated, "It's his army of Monkey Ninjas, he has them in full force."

"Can you see them, Ronald?" Morpheus asked, eyeing the boy.

Ron nodded and Oracle smiled, placing the bud of her cigarette in an ashtray and lighting another one, "He is the One, Morpheus."

Kim, Ron, and Morpheus all snapped their heads to the woman in mild shock. The things Ron had done had made that a bit less surprising, but not much. "He is? Are you sure, Oracle?" Morpheus questioned worriedly.

"Yes, he has the gift and he has the purpose, though he doesn't see it yet," she continued, placing a hand on her son's shoulder, "But he is not like the others. His destiny is not like any before him. But he is definitely the One." She shook her head with a smile, "That said, you should hurry to the council hall. But you'll be lucky to get there by tomorrow in afternoon traffic," She then turned toward the other bedroom door.

"Sati?" she called and the door opened. A beautiful Indian woman walked out, around six years older then Kim and Ron, wearing a tight dress that showed her curves well.

"You called, Oracle," she said before she looked over the group and made eye contact Ron and smiling brightly. "You have returned!" She said happily as she moved forward and hugged the blushing boy tightly. "Oracle said I would see you again, but I had began to wonder if I would."

"Yeah, that's nice, but we're kind of in a hurry, so would you mind letting my friend here go?" Kim hissed, scowling at the girl.

"Sati, would you show them the shortcut to the council hall?" Oracle asked.

"Yes, of course, Oracle," Sati smiled before pulling a set of keys from her purse.

She then shut her door completely and placed a key in the lock, "Let us go."

The girl opened the door and the room became a long white hallway with many doors. Kim and Ron looked at each other in awe and confusion, when Morpheus stepped forward, "Lets move, our time is short."

The four walked down the long hallway. Sati glanced over at Kim, "Are you his girlfriend?"

Kim snorted lightly, "Yea right, me Ron's girlfriend? Best friend, definitely, but I could never see us as a couple," she shrugged.

"Ahuh," Sati said with a smile as she stopped at a door, and placed a key in it, "Then you won't mind me doing this," she said turning to Ron and giving him a quick peck kiss on the lips, causing him to almost faint, "I have wanted to do that since I was little." She then opened the door, "Here you are, good luck to you all."

Morpheus and Ron walked through first, Morpheus nodding a thanks, and Ron staring goofily. Kim never moved. She only stood there scowling at the girl, looking almost like she wanted to tear her throat out.

"Kimberly," Morpheus called, "Come along."

Kim glanced at Morpheus and Ron waiting on the other side of the door before glaring at the older girl one last time. "Thanks," Kim growled walking through the portal.

"Good luck again," Sati said before smiling sadly at Kim, "I pity you for not seeing what is before you." She said, before closing the door.

"Come along," Morpheus said turning away from the door, "Let me see what you have learned."

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"I should get a bundle for holding you hostage, and what an added treat," Monkey Fist said, looking over the crowd of hostages. He smiled evilly at a couple in the back of the group, "And Kim Possible Mum and Dad! What bargaining chips I have gained. The stars have shined down on me today!"

"You'll definitely be seeing stars, Monkey Boy," Kim's voice came from Monkey Fist's left, and he turned to see Kim's boot coming straight toward his face. Next thing he knew he was flying across the room. 

"Nice to see you again, Ms. Possible," Monkey Fist groaned as he flipped himself up off the floor. He eyed the girl up and down, "I like the new look. Monkey Ninjas! ATTACK!!"

A mass of monkeys in black ninja suits leaped at Kim, then miraculously froze in mid air, "What the?" Monkey Fist gasped as he saw his monkeys attempt to move. Suddenly, They flew high in the air then back down to the ground with a sickening thud.

"Am I interrupting anything?" Ron said, walking out of the shadows.

"Not at all," Monkey Fist smiled before reaching in his belt and pulled out a handful of throwing stars, "I was expecting you as well, old friend. After all where Kim Possible goes her bumbling sidekick always follows, like a pathetic lapdog." He said before throwing the stars at the two teens. Ron sighed and held out his hand. The stars came to a halt just like his ninjas.

"That won't work anymore, Monkey Face," Ron said as the stars dropped to the ground.

Kim glanced over at the shocked crowd and could hear several muttering and gasping at Ron.

"Is that really him?"

 "Neo?"

"The One!"

"Has he really returned to us?"

"Praise Neo."

"The One! He has returned!"

"KP?" Ron said, grabbing her attention, "Mind if I take Monkey this time, and you handle the fur balls?"

"Fine with me?" Kim said, as Ron started walking toward his own personal arch foe. 

"Have you gained a new level of Monkey Magic?" Monkey Fist questioned, easing away from the boy.

"No, Monkey Magic is nothing compared to what I can do," Ron smirked, almost demonically.

Monkey Fist growled and dove at Ron, but hit nothing but air and then the ground. "How? Where?" he questioned Ron's knee went into his sternum, knocking his breath away in ragged wheezes. Ron hit the villain with the back of his fist, sending him a good fifty feet back through two walls.

"Still want more?" Ron asked, "I haven't even broken a sweat." He then stomped through the hole and picked the half conscious Monkey Fist up by the collar. He then reached up and pressing his fingers into his chest.

"W-What's happened to you?" Monkey Fist coughed, looking up fearfully.

"Me? It shouldn't be me you're worried about," Ron said in a voice that sounded nothing like his own.

 He then started to press his fingers in toward his heart, but before he could break the villain's skin, "RON!"

Ron blinked several times before dropping Monkey Fist to the ground. "KP?" he asked, turning to see her worried face, "I … I don't know what came over me …"

"It's ok," Kim smiled warmly, "We got um. That's what matters. Lets get out of here."

  Ron nodded, looking back at the KO'ed Monkey Fist and back down at his hand, 'What was I about to do?' he mentally asked.

"Excellent work, you two," Morpheus said walking over to the pair, "Time to go."

Kim and Ron nodded. They then followed Morpheus down the street toward the Charger Morpheus had Link load in the parking lot. Neither of the teens noticed Kim's parents watching them proudly.

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Kim gasped as she found herself back on the Neb II. After Niobi unplugged her, she glanced over at Ron, who was already headed out of the room, "Hey, Ron, wait up!" She said, hurrying to his side. "Want to get something to eat with me? I know the goop isn't that great but I could use some company."

"Thanks, but no thanks, KP," Ron said, smiling weakly at his best friend, "I'm not feeling so well, I think I'll get some rest." He then stepped out the door leaving Kim with the others.

Kim shook it off and turned toward Morpheus, "So what now, Sir?" she asked in her 'mission mode'.

"We're running low on energy, and it will take about a week to get to Neo Zion," Morpheus said, popping his neck, "We should get there in time for the Anniversary if we leave now, so we'll head for home. After the celebration, when the Neb is refueled, we'll come back and pay Merovingian a visit as the Oracle suggested. As for right now, I believe you mentioned getting something to eat?"

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Ron laid on his cot, trembling slightly, staring at his hand where he was about to literally stab Monkey Fist. "What was I going to do?" he asked, his voice trembling in fear, "Why was I even going to do it?"

Then the Oracle's words sprang back into his mind. 'You've got two sides to you, kid, and with those sides two paths. You have the potential to be a hero beyond any the world has ever known inside the Matrix or out, but you also have the potential to destroy everything and enjoy every second of it.'

Ron was freaked out to say the least. It looked like he was going to kill Monkey Fist, and he was enjoying it. "Whoever this guide of mine is …" Ron whimpered, "I hope she'll hurry up and help me…"

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