A/N—For those of you who don't know, a gi is a type of clothing that martial artists wear; at least that is what I believed they are called. Anyway, that's what Ron wears when his sensei trains him.
On a heavier note, I've tried reading The Day It Changed, and I must say that it is an awful story presentation-wise. Thus, before I even release new chapters I am going to go back and correct my old ones by converting them to third person POV. At least that's the plan.
I'm not sure how often I will be updating now and then, but know that I'll be around on AIM at least. Remember, PLEASE review!
Chapter 4
"Passengers boarding flight 354, please report to aisle C1. This is the last call, passengers boarding flight 354 please report to aisle C1."
Ron Stoppable took his belongings to the designated area and waited in line behind the other boarding customers. Taking one last look at his Ronunicator, he broke it in half and threw it away along with the tracking device on his body. I'm sorry KP, but I don't want any visitors.
"Stoppable-san!" chirped a voice from behind him.
"Yori, you're on the same flight as me?" She chuckled lightly.
"Of course. Sensei told me you'd be here."
"But, but how did he know?"
"I do not understand it myself, Stoppable-san, but let us not worry ourselves over this. It is your turn to board the plane," Yori said, causing Ron to turn around sheepishly. He handed over his ticket and boarded the plane with Yori by his side. They took their seats which were, predictably, side by side. Ron looked out the window in sadness, seeing the country, no, the world he would be leaving behind. He would, after all, be leaving behind Kim Possible.
"Is everything okay?" Ron gave Yori a sad look before returning his gaze to the outside world.
"I've lived here my whole life; I know every detail of Middleton, and I just feel so regretful."
"Regretful? Stoppable-san, it's not too late to get off this plane."
"No, my mind is set. There isn't much left here for me anyway," Ron said despondently. The ever empathetic Yori kept quiet after that, realizing that Ron needed time to mull over his thoughts.
Flashback
They said the Amazon was one of the most perilous places on earth for a reason; the sand traps, rapids, and unique species of organisms with unknown poisons didn't scare Ron however, not when his best friend was in trouble. Have to make it back…pant…before Kim disappears. The singular species of plant in his hand was the only one that could cure Kim from Drakken's newest contraption. He dodged another snake trying to bite him and jumped over another sand trap before making it back to his vehicle.
"KP, I'm back!" he yelled in a huff, seeing his best friend almost entirely blushed away. Quickly, he whipped out the plant and exposed it to Kim, breathing a sigh of relief as she started to come back into existence.
End Flashback
She almost made all my sacrifices worthless when she decided to go out with Mankey Ron thought bitterly. She could have at least thought about me and what I was risking for her.
Flashback
"R, R, Ron, it's Josh," Kim stammered, running behind Ron to keep out of view.
"Oh come on KP, he's not that scary. I mean, I get bad vibes from Monkey too and—"
"Ron, shut up, he's coming!" she squeaked as her knees started wobbling. Josh Mankey, oblivious to all this teen drama, walked by without saying a word. "He's so cute…" Kim said dreamily as she started at him walk by. "I wonder if he has anyone to go to the dance with…"
"Why don't you just ask? It's not like it's an extremely formal dance; I mean, we went together last year," Ron said, with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Yea, but it's Josh…" Sighing, Ron eventually convinced Kim to ask Josh despite his own problems with finding a date. As expected, Josh accepted, and the two went as a happy couple.
"KP, you're shaking," Ron said, trying to calm down his friend before the dance despite not having a date at all.
"I am…calm. I—JOSH!!" Kim yelled, knocking Ron into a closet as she ran past him to Josh. Yelling and kicking and screaming to no avail, Ron Stoppable missed the entire dance and spent the whole weekend inside a janitor's closet.
End Flashback
Was I really that tolerant? That I allowed her to step all over me and ruin my dance just so hers could be better? How could she not even think of me? Was I really that expendable? Maybe leaving was the only way…
Ron visibly shuddered as a wave of emotions swept through him. Even despite all this, I loved her. I-I love, loved her. Would anyone else have sacrificed the things I did just to see her smile? Would Monkey do what was best for her or for himself? Did she care?
"Ladies and gentlemen, you may now use cell phones, and we will soon be showing you the first of the three movies that will be shown on this flight momentarily. Thank you for your patience." The flight attendant finished her announcement and went through the seats with refreshments. Naturally, Ron's face brightened visibly as he asked for as many bags of peanuts as he could get. Pushing his thoughts aside, Ron leaned back against his soft chair and waited for the movie to come on.
Night had fallen on the suburban town of Middleton as Mr. and Mrs. Stoppable were going over old photos and remnants of the items Ron left behind.
"He, he's really gone," Mrs. Stoppable said, looking at a now tear stained photo of a dirty blond-haired, brown-eyed eight-year old with his arm around his auburn-haired best friend.
"Honey, Ron's old enough to decide for himself; he's a responsible adult now, and we have to let him make his own decisions. The only thing we can do now is try to guide him." Tears did not spare Mr. Stoppable's eyes either, as they started flowing freely when he picked up Ron's old baseball mitt. "It seemed like yesterday when we played catch in the backyard," he said in a reminiscent voice.
"Kim must have really done something, to drive him to Japan, to drive him away from us," sobbed Mrs. Stoppable, intent on bringing out his reasons for leaving into the open.
"You know, I always thought those two would get married someday," Mr. Stoppable said sadly.
"He, he always thought the world of her," came the sobbing reply. "How could we have missed the signs? He was always so loyal and loving, especially to Kim."
"It's a real shame she chose Joshua."
"God, how blind was she? Could she not see that Ronald loved her more than life itself? Or maybe she did see and tried to ignore it, to—" Mrs. Stoppable would have continued her now angry rant had her loving husband not cut in.
"We can't just pin the blame on Kimberly, honey, without knowing the whole story."
"Whole story?! Whole story?! Didn't you see Ronald's eyes when Kim and Josh held hands? Didn't you see the pain when she lied to him on Halloween to go to some party? Didn't you see how down he was when Kim decided to go with Josh to the Spirit Dance? Like Hell we can't blame her! RON'S GONE, AND—" Mrs. Stoppable broke off in tears as her husband put a caring arm around her.
"Shhh, honey, I miss him too." Husband and wife mourned the untimely departure of their beloved son in a tight embrace, silent sobs echoing all over the Stoppable household.
"Our flight will be landing momentarily. Please fasten your seatbelts and turn off all electronic devices." The plane landed smoothly, and the all passengers got off accordingly.
"Stoppable-san, I hope you're ready to climb," said Yori giggling, as Ron groaned.
Hours later, an out-of-breath Ron and a perky Yori ascended to the top of the mountain, signifying their return to the martial arts school.
"Greetings, Stoppable-san," a wise voice greeted him. Standing at the entrance of the school was none other than Sensei.
"Master Sensei," said Ron in a reverent tone, bowing.
"Come, we must start your training immediately," said the sensei, heading off towards the school with Ron trailing behind.
"So, this must be some bon-diggity impressive art, right?"
"This art, it's very unique. It is a very grueling procedure, and I hope you can take it Stoppable-san. If you manage to master this, you will be among the greatest fighters in the world."
"How strong are the…greatest…exactly?" Ron asked, still tagging behind his sensei.
"It is not something that I can explain to you; it is something you must witness for yourself."
"Well, I've seen some pretty strong villains fighting alongside my…" Ron drifted off, wondering what he should call Kim now. Definitely not lover, or even friend. Acquaintance? No, that doesn't work; I've known her too long. "My partner Kim Possible." Sensei chucked, still keeping his pace.
"I could sense much turmoil when you said that name; it is not good to fight with a heavy heart. This Kim Possible, yes, Hirotaka has told me about her. He says she has remarkable fighting skills for a girl not heavily trained in the arts, though her fighting is very flawed and sluggish."
"Flawed? But we've taken out world-class villains, there is no way she's—"
"Stoppable-san, I've seen you fight and I've heard Hirotaka's accounts of his adventures in America. I should tell you now that any villain you have defeated is clearly not world-class, as is witnessed by you standing here before me today. I do not mean to degrade your accomplishments, but I want you to shed all the egotism you may have built up from taking down these alleged world-class villains. The evil that I have witnessed would have consumed the both of you without much, if any resistance." Ron walked alongside his Sensei shocked and in disbelief.
"But, but—"
"We shall resume this conversation later. Here is your room. Put on the white gi located inside, and we will begin our training now in my private quarters." Ron did as he was told, walking into his room and finding a gi on the mat. He surveyed the room and realized that there was no bed, and the only piece of furniture inside besides the mat was a small wooden table. Well, goodbye technology. Is sensei right? Have Kim and I only been fighting some second-rate, egotistical villains this whole time? He finished putting on his gi and walked towards the sensei's personal training area. What if she faces some really nasty villains? Ron couldn't help but feel a bit queasy. You remember what she said. She doesn't want your help, so stop thinking about her and just move on. Whatever she gets herself into is her own damn fault for being so naïve and self-righteous. Sighing, he opened the door and entered. He saw his master silently meditating in the middle of the room. Staying quiet, Ron just sat back and patiently watched as the minutes went by. Before he knew it, a full hour had passed and the sensei had still not budged. Losing his patience, Ron spoke up.
"Sensei, I—" He was cut off as his sensei raised a finger to silence him.
"Patience is a virtue Stoppable-san. The mantis must wait silently and without motion if he wants to ensnare his prey." Ron sat back silently, sitting still as the time passed. Four hours later, Sensei finally stopped his meditation and stood up. "Now for your next test: walk around this room three times in a clockwise direction at a constant pace," he said unexpectedly.
Standing back up, Ron started walking, tagging along the walls. This is really silly.
"Clockwise, Stoppable-san," said Sensei, chuckling internally at his student's embarrassment. Setting off in the right direction this time, Ron paced around the room quietly, trying his best to keep a constant pace. After his third time around the room, he stopped. "Clear your mind young one. The harder you concentrate on the task the more erratic your movements will become." Ron tried again, this time trying his best to not think of the task before him. "You are still thinking too much. Clear your mind." He tried again, and again, and again, and again. Eleven hours later, Ron was starting to succumb to the desire for sleep, having gone nearly a full twenty-four hours without a real nap.
"Stoppable-san, imagine there are two people in a forest. One claims that they are in a desert, while the other one says they are in a mountain. Where are they really?" With his already tired brain, Ron was having extreme trouble figuring out the question as he walked on. They're in a forest. Why do their opinions hold relevance? Maybe they aren't in a forest, but then, a desert and a mountain are so different, and…
"Congratulations, young one. You have completed the task, and we can begin training as soon as you wake up," said the Sensei with a chuckle as Ron collapsed on the ground already fast asleep. "The answer to the riddle is quite easy. They are where they believe they are. The mind is the deepest reality, Stoppable-san. Remember that," said Sensei, allowing Ron to sleep in his quarters for the day.