Authors note- I realise many people aren't happy about my treatment of Rufus, but in the end it was something I had to do. If I didn't well he probably won't have done anything, and been religaded to being a background chacter, which I think would be worse treatment.
I'd also like to add, to exery show I have paridied in this chapeter, if you own it, don't sue me, imitation is the highest form of flatery
-----------------------------
'a few tales say one ax could make the other'
Ever since Ron sat down in the plane Professor Douglas words kept running through his head. If the illustrations she had given him were correct, the two ax's were nearly identical, the only real difference was the hilt was longer and it had a gold guard over the hand grip.
"What the hell," shrugging a bit, he had some time before they landed, and he was alone in the cabin. He took out the newly restored ax and looked it over trying to figure out where to begin. He ran a few ideas over in his mind before finally settling on all the above, gripping the ax in his hand as if readying for an attack, "Two," and nothing happened.
"Make two," again nothing, "Ax transform, ax super mode, forest ax, go go forest ax, I have the power!, power ax charge up, form blazing ax," he couldn't suppress the grin at the last few attempts, he didn't expect any of them to work but they were worth a shot. Sighing again he looked the ax over, hoping to see something in the design that might somehow reveal the answers he sought. Then he felt it, the same feeling he had in the barn when he started working on the blade. He brought his free hand to the one that now held the ax, for all intents it seemed like he was holding a second invisible ax next to the first, given largely inpart to how his hand was formed. "Twin Timber Ax's," he felt the surge of energy fire through him as one ax became two. The new ax was identical to the image on the page, save it also had the dragon perched on it.
"Wow", it was all he could say as he pulled the weapons apart and examined them, somehow instinctively knowing how handle the two ax's. Given how cramped the small plane was he knew he couldn't do much with them, but this was enough. Instinct told him to bring the two ax's back together in the same fashion as the second had been summoned and he obeyed, watching the two become one. After a few attempts at summoning the second ax he was satisfied he knew how to call it if it was needed.
-------------------------------
True to Wade's word the plane touched down before school had started, and a ride was waiting for him at the airport, and even with a bit of early morning traffic he still made it to school before first class ended. He wasn't surprised when he got to his locker and found his books and backpack there, every time he and Kim had gone on a job and getting back to school on time was close, his stuff always ended up there. He assumed it was Wade's doing but for some reason had never asked. He stuffed his bag still containing his ax into his locker, still amazed he had gotten it in the school, not to mention the plane.
He somewhat dreaded his first class that morning, it was one of the classes her shared with Kim, a fear that only intensified after the bell went off telling him to get to class. Between the travel time and reforging the ax, he'd had a lot of time to thing about what had happened, and wasn't really sure what to do.
'Kim had a point, they want her not me, and there were times I held her back. But I've saved her life more than a few times, and so has Rufus.' That last thought sent a jolt of pain and depression through him, he'd managed to not think about his pet and partner most of the trip, and he knew he had to do something to remember his partner, to honor his sacrifice, but he wasn't sure what. By shear force of will he pushed the image aside as he entered the class room and took his usual seat, and waited for the moment of truth, for Kim to enter. 'As long as she doesn't punch me in the face I'm in the clear.'
When she entered he held his breath, he knew the next few moments would decide if a few words and secrets could shatter a long friendship. Kim looked at him and faltered, her eyes going from the seat next to Ron to the other empty chairs in the room. A long, deep breath from both later and she sat down next to Ron, hesitation in her movements, a light sheen of sweat on her brow.
"Kim I.."
"I'm sorry Ron," both looking at each other., some how shocked with each other and not surprised in the least. "Seeing you like that, it was hard, "she stray hair behind her ear, "I just..."
"Class come to attention," Mister Barkin's voice, as always, cut through the room, dragging all eye to him, and silencing everyone. By mutual consent they both agreed to continue the conversation later.
---------------------------
"So you want to or should I," it was after school in the park, they sat at the crest of hill over looking the wooded area of the park, the day had been rather hard for the two.
"I will," Kim finally said steeling herself for what she feared was going to be the hardest moment of her life. "Ron you're my best friend, "taking a deep breath, "and I don't want to lose you. Seeing you like that knowing I couldn't do anything to help you, it was, I don't know, I don't think they have words to describe it." Fighting back the tears that were forming, "I told myself I couldn't put you in that position again , I forgot it wasn't my call, I'm so sorry for what I said, just at the time..."
He took her hand quieting her, "It is your show Kim," he had intended it to be a comment instead it felt more like a solid fact. "For a time I forgot that, they don't want me, and I do make a lot of mistakes, but I need to be out there, but if you don't want me, I understand."
"I'm not sure, with everything that happened, I'm just not sure. We have to trust each other out there completely, if we don't, then that's it for both out us. I'm not sure we haven't lost that, you lied to me for a long time, I'm not sure that I can trust you the same way again. I hate saying that, but it's true Ron. But I also know I need you in my life, but.."
He squeezed her hand again, "I get it KP, this is going to take time, for both of us," his eyes down cast. "Kim, there's something I need to tell you, "reaching for his bag to pull out his ax.
"I do hope I'm not interrupting," the voice cut through the two like a knife, sending both on high alert.
"FISK!" Ron's voice somewhere between human and animal his bag still in his hand, turning to the mutant, a pitch black lotus blade at his side, a box in his hand, and monkey ninjas all around.
"Well, this is a surprise, I really thought you'd be dead, "A smile forming on his face, "not that I'm disappointed, it's a rare treat to kill the same man twice. The only question is who do I kill first."
"Remember what I just said Ron, I'm temporarily suspending it."
"Good"
"That the magic sword?"
"Yep, watch out for it, you've never seen like it before."
"You told her about the sword!? You truly weren't worthy of it, but you do deserve this, " tossing the box at their feet, its top sliding off revealing the split in two Rufus.
"My God," Kim involuntarily brought her hands to her mouth in horror
"Monster," as Ron leapt at him, an attack that was easily deflected by Monkey Fist, sending Ron flying, and leaving his back unguarded. A move Kim intended to make Monkey Fist regret, attacking him, knocking him to the ground. For a short time the two fought, Fisk now driven by the full force of the mystical monkey power easily, blocked each attack, making Kim look like an amateur. Growing tired he threw her to his monkey ninjas
"Hold her," laughing as hands, feet and tails descended on the young red head. "I've decided, you will be first," leaning down to hold her face, keeping it steady, "then your family, followed by Stoppable's family, then finally the whelp will join you, but only after years of pain."
"You're insane," struggling against her opponents, desperate to wipe the sick smile off his face.
Letting go of her face, "They can all great leaders insane before they understand, just how great they really are." He drew the lotus blade from his belt admiring it for a second, "you should feel honored, you will be the first human life this blade has in a very long time," it rippled and shifted taking on a jagged edge. "Good Bye Miss Possible"
Ron collided with Fisk as the blade descended, knocking both to the ground, forcing him into a clench and a roll down the hill. By an act of luck Fisk's back impacted the first of the tree line stopping both. Ron wanted to keep hitting the half man half ape, but knew it would yield nothing, so long as he carried the lotus blade, but he could still buy Kim time to deal with the monkeys, running in to the woods his bag still in his hand. After a few feet he pulled the ax out and dropped the bag.
'Time to see if you live up to the hype,' putting his hands together, "Twin Timber Ax's" the words barley a whisper, as before the second weapon appeared in his hand. Facing where had come from, "Come on Fisk, you afraid or something, show me what that big ugly sword can do, you murdering freak of nature." Turning and running further into the woods.
"Eager to die, I can oblige you," the mutant responded in a growl, following his prey, into the forest.
Ron continued moving deeper into the woods, he knew Fisk had followed him, he wasn't sure how, but he did. Then he heard it, a small breaking sound above him, forcing him to pause and jump back, missing the tip of the lotus blade from the descending Monkey Fist by a margin he didn't want to think about.
"Impressive, I see something from the school stayed with you, and you brought weapons how cute" eyeing his ax's in the darkness. "They won't save you," Lunging at him with the sword, now in a spear form.
Ron wasn't sure how, but he caught the blade at the shaft between the heel's of both ax's
"Cleaver, but not cleaver enough," laughing, trying to make the spear longer, enough to pierce his opponents skull, but nothing happened shocking him. For that matter could couldn't pull away from the weapons embrace. 'How is he doing this? No matter, there are other routs.' noticing the subtle signs that Stoppable had no more clue as to what was happening than he did.
"How does it feel knowing your going to die? More than that knowing because of you your little girl friend is going to die? It must be heart breaking knowing everyone you get near dies, the school, your pet all because of your complete ineptness in the face of odds you simply can't deal with." Laughing a harsh laugh, seeing the look of fear in the humans eye's. "A smart man would have admitted his limitations long ago and realized where to stop, but you had to keep going and look where it's gotten you lost, alone, friendless, oh yes I heard your little conversation. You really think she would take you back, she was letting you down easy, if you had lived past this day you'd never have seen her again, you sad, pathetic, ignorant, piece of shit."
All through out Monkey Fist's speech the forest had been quite, but when it ended, the forest erupted, wind blew through the trees and all the animals began screaming.
Monkey Fist's words hit home on Ron, in many ways they were all true, all save one, Kim was his friend, and if she wanted him in her life then he had something to live for. And then he felt it, then same feeling as the barn and plane but different, it seemed to radiate through him, and he wanted nothing more than to use it to knock Monkey Fist on his ass. And it happened, he felt the ax's change, not physically, but they were different.
Brown energy erupted from the blades of the ax's, cutting the through air between the two opponents, shocking both. Out of fear Monkey Fist pulled back, the spear this time coming with him, as it transformed back into a sword.
In that brief moment everything made sense to Ron, his life, everything he had endured, his crazy journey with the ax, his feud with Fisk, it all simply made sense, and he knew what he had to do. Raising the original ax above his head, blade straight up, as if presenting it to the forest itself for judgment.
"Forest Before Me," the words were simply there at his lips, but he knew they were right. He felt the same surge of energy as before, but again different. It spread through out his body, inside and out, changing him, and then it was over.
------
Fisk watch in amazement and horror as Stoppable uttered something about a forest and then changed. His entire body seemed to be made of layers of leaves, then they all fell away as quickly as they appeared. Gone were the garments he had been wearing, now clothed in a green-black shirt a gold dragon head on his chest, matching the one on his ax and gold vines wrapping around him here and there. His pants where the brown of tree bark and no longer lose, his shoes seemed some where between hiking boots and the split toe shoes of a martial artist. On his arms were Brown arm guards, each with the same gold dragon head. At his belt was a dagger, a crimson dragon head adorning it, different than the head on his ax and other clothing. Finally a pair of green-black sun glasses were on his face.
"Round two Monkey Fist," positioning himself in a fighting stance.
Rather than answering Monkey Fist ran the other direction, as fast as the ape man moved Ron stayed on his trail, as if he now knew every inch of the forest. Fisk soon saw the light of freedom and burst through the trees, but rather than finding Kim Possible still on the ground at the top of the hill, she now stood ready to dive into the forest. In his need for escape he didn't notice her leg till it had already connected with his stomach the moment he existed the forest knocking him in to a tree.
"I don't have time for this," reaching into his belt producing a ki mi ball the throwing it on the ground, the immediate area became encased in smoke. When it dissipated, he was gone as were his monkey minions.
Rather than going after them Kim turned to the forest, part of her terrified that she would find Ron dead with in. The second she set foot past the first tree she heard him.
"What are you doing KP?" As Ron emerged from the woods, exactly as he had entered, clothing and all.
In spite of her self she hugged him, before letting him go and pushing him in to the tree. "What the hell do you think you were doing you could have been killed?"
"I was doing what came naturally KP, "pushing himself off the tree, but letting his hand linger on the bark, "nothing more nothing less." A funny little smile on his face.
"Are you OK Ron?" laying a hand on his shoulder
"All things considered I've had better days KP, but I've had worse," turning his gaze towards the top of the hill.
----------------------------
They were all in Ron's backyard, his parents, the Possibles, Monique, Wade all be it via kimmunicator, even a few members of the cheerleading squad. Ron really had no idea what to say, it ment a lot to him that all these people had turned out just to see Rufus laid to rest. It wasn't fancy, the idea of putting Rufus in a pet cemetery just seemed to ridiculous, no their long time friend was simply laid to rest in a black shoe box in the far corner of Ron's back yard. To anyone else seeing them cry over an ordinary rodent would have seemed beyond reason, but Rufus hadn't been ordinary, he'd saved the lives of everyone here in one way or another, he'd been a friend, confidant, even a mechanic when need be.
"There's really not much to say, "As Ron looked at those gathered, "he was born a rodent, he lived as an adventurer, he died a hero. He saw things in his life, most humans never will, but despite all his actions, all his skills, this is what truly shows his greatness, having people here to remember him. Thank you all for coming." Tears were rolling down his face
Kim walked over and put her arm around him, comforting him, "I'll miss him too."
Everyone, stood and talked, trading stories of Rufus, laughing at antics of the rodent, and saying their good bye's. It took a long while but slowly people began to filter into the house, all save Kim and Ron.
"Ron, come on," lightly pulling him to the house.
"No," looking at her with sad eyes, "I'll be along in a minute, I need to do something first." At first she fought him, but in the end consented and left him. "Hey buddy, "laughing a bit, "I never thought I I'd be talking to you like this, I miss you man. I'm in something deep here, and I'm not sure I can talk to Kim about it, I want to, but I don't think I can, not yet, I wish you were here you'd know what to do." He touched the small mound, "I really need you Rufus, I'm sorry I failed you, I really am. It won't be in vain Rufus I promise you that, your death will have meaning, some how. I will track Monkey Fist down and I will get the sword back, it will be returned to the school." Taking a deep breath, "Watch over me buddy, I think I'm going to need it, now more than ever." Getting up was harder than he thought it would be, his whole body felt numb, but some how he managed to make it to the door, he wasn't surprised to find Kim waiting for him, a sad but comforting smile on her lips.
---------------------
The board splintered, then broke, Monkey Fist had lost count of what number board that was, and what's more he didn't care, he lost in rage and his own thoughts.
"How did this happen? I had everything so well planned out, every move, every piece, every contingency, so HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!?!" His foot shattered another of the boards his monkeys held before him, "Stoppable should not have that kind of power, I alone have the mystical monkey power, and it is unbeatable, yet what ever that was Stoppable had, it was the equal to my own power. If he thinks this is over he is sadly mistaken, I will show him the true power of the Monkey Ninja. When I know what he has tapped into, I'll return for him, I am after all a patient man. Round two indeed Mister Stoppable, round two indeed," as he launched him self in to his trade mark laugh.
-----------------------
Authors note 2- I hope your happy with how settled Rufus, yes it was planed since the beginging, and this is how I laid many of my pets to rest over the years, minus the crowd of people.
Authors note 3-either in chapter 4 or 5 (I'm not sure yet), everything about the weapons will end up being explained, be patient, I'm getting there, once thats done the real story can begin.
Authors note 4- Kim and Ron, who here hasn't said something in a momnet of passion, they later regreted? Thats right we all have, that doesn't mean you through in the towel, Team Possible may be on shakey ground, Kim and Ron's friendship is not