"The Confrontation Part 1 of 2"
Ron and Tara were enjoying a pleasant stroll toward Middleton Park. The sky was clear and the stars shined magnificently above them. They stopped to get ice cream from a mom and pop shop and walked onto the grass where Tara spread out a blanket she had brought. They got on their backs looking at the stars talking, eating their ice cream cones and enjoying each others company. Suddenly Ron heard a familiar beep. It was his kimmunicator. He reached into his pocket to retrieve it and sat up. Hey pressed the button, "Hey Wade."
"Ron, we have a major problem. I've been trying to get a hold of you since 6:30. Somebody I believe it was Dr. Drakken was interfering with your kimmunicator. I got a report about 6:30 about Drakken's henchmen being spotted in Upperton with no sign of Shego or Drakken. Since we couldn't get a hold of you and Shego and Drakken hadn't been spotted Kim decided to go ahead and go alone. It was a decoy. As she traveled to Upperton they kidnapped Eric. Drakken left this video." Wade played the video for Ron. Wade appeared back on the screen. "I wanted Kim to wait till we got a hold of you but she insisted for Eric's safety that she go alone. I was tracking Kim the whole way but something happened to her Kimmunicator. I think Kim's in trouble."
Back in Drakken's lair Kim was trapped inside the cage with Eric. She went back over to Eric and removed the gag over his mouth. Eric was bound by a series of thick plastic ties which Kim couldn't break with just her bare hands. She needed a knife but of course Shego made her give up her backpack. Kim hugged Eric as she said, "Eric, I am so sorry I got you involved. They used you to lure me here."
Eric looked frightened. He was shaking when Kim hugged him. Eric lost it. Eric started thrashing around again as if he wanted Kim to let go of him. He yelled, "Kim, stay away from me you're dangerous. At first I thought it was cool that you fought villains around the world but I never knew my own life could be in danger. I didn't sign up for this. Somebody help me please. I don't want to die."
Kim let go of Eric as she stood back up. She was horrified by what Eric had just said. She thought she may have found a guy that she could have a serious relationship with, more than just a mere crush but he was showing his true colors when things got heated up. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She turned and ran to the farthest corner of the cage and with her back to the bars, slid down until she was sitting on her bottom and she put her tear stained face to her knees. Eric was still ranting on from where he was sitting. She wondered how she could have been so stupid. She let herself be played by Drakken of all people. She remembered that Wade wanted her to wait for Ron but she insisted she on coming alone. Now she was all alone since Eric wanted nothing to do with her. No kimmunicator to call for help. She wished Ron where there with her. Even if they were trapped, no matter how bad the situation Ron would be by her side trying to cheer her up and keeping her positive.
All Kim wanted was to find some happiness. All the other cheerleaders had boyfriends for the Prom even Ron had a girlfriend. Since they got back from winter break Bonnie had been constantly on her case about being the only cheerleader without a BF and teased she and Ron would end up going stag together as friends to the most important social event in their high school career, the Senior Prom. Then Ron and Tara started going out. Kim remembered feeling jealous of Tara. Then out of the blue Eric came into her life and swept her off her feet. It had been months since she and Josh broke up. Things were beginning to look up and then this had to happen. Drakken actually finally won Kim thought. She had this super cool new battle suit but it wouldn't help her out of this situation. Drakken's lured her into this trap using Eric bait and now Monkey Fist was using her as bait to get the Lotus Blade from Ron. Kim had learned from her trip to Yamanouchi the power of the Lotus Blade and knew if it fell into the hands of Monkey Fist, Drakken and Shego, the world would be in for some serious trouble. Kim just sat there and wept feeling helpless. This feeling was a sensation that Kim rarely felt.
Back in Middleton Park Ron looked in the eyes of a saddened Tara. She had hoped to spend a quiet evening with Ron. She had sat up and witnessed the entire conversation between Ron and Wade. She already knew what was coming next. Ron opened his mouth to say something when Tara put a finger to his lips, "Go save Kim, I understand."
Ron smiled and said, "Thanks for understanding Tara." Ron rushed Tara home. There was an awkward silence. Ron felt really bad about having to leave. Tara deserved better but this was Kim and Ron couldn't just stand there not knowing if Kim was in trouble without going to help. When they got to Tara's house, Tara planted a passionate kiss on Ron before she walked in her house. Ron turned bright red and now felt worse about leaving Tara but he had to save Kim if she were in trouble. Ron would make things up to Tara, he'd figure something out. Wade gave Ron the coordinates to Drakken's new lair. He rushed home to get into mission gear.
Since Wade lost communication with Kim, hehad no intel on what was happening. Wade told Ron could be headed for a trap. Ron acknowledged it but told Wade he couldn't just stand by and wait. Ron knew with what he learned in Yamanouchi he could get himself out of some tight situations such as by using the disappearing trick. He had the ability to call the Lotus Blade as needed. Ron and Wade both had no idea Monkey Fist was in the picture. Wade was fairly confident Drakken and Shego didn't know about Ron's communicator. Ron would keep his on and hidden so Wade could at least monitor via audio and heat signatures what was going on. Ron hopped on his scooter and headed toward Drakken's lair.
Along the way he was deeply troubled inside. He remembered the pain he felt in the pit of his stomach the second he learned that Kim might be in trouble. He had this same sensation off and on after he had learned about Kim and Eric. He thought things had been going well with Tara and thought maybe he could get past this. Kim seemed happy to be with Eric and Ron reluctantly accepted that like it or not he would have to deal with it. But the pain was back. Ron was really worried about Kim, wondering if she was ok. Then there was Tara. Ron knew she felt helpless competing with Kim for Ron's affection. He worked to try and alleviate that feeling and felt he was making progress but he thought tonight he just took a big step backward. Tara was a great girl and deserved to be with a guy that treated her right. Ron began to wonder if he could offer her what she needed and deserved. But Ron could not shake the worry about Kim.
Ron knew in his heart he would always be worried about Kim. He began to realize the feeling about Kim that recently surfaced weren't new feelings. They have been there a long time. But it looked like Kim didn't feel the same way. Ron let out a deep sigh. He was going to have to deal with him and Kim just being friends. He would have a long road ahead keeping his feelings in check and trying to smooth things over with Tara. It wasn't fair to Tara for Ron to just string her along till suddenly one day Kim came to her senses and declared her undying love for Ron if that was going to happen ever at all. He would have to learn to get over Kim and move on whether it was Tara or some other girl. Ron was going to be in for a long night.
Ron stopped his scooter short of Drakken's lair. He made himself invisible and snuck inside. He saw the cage where Kim and Eric were being held. To his surprise he saw Kim and Eric on opposite ends of the cage. Kim had her head between her knees. She briefly looked up for a second and Ron could clearly tell she had been crying from her face. Ron surveyed the room. He saw Drakken, Shego and to his surprise Monkey Fist up in the control room. He saw the laser cannon and the electrical power source running to the cage. Ron knew Monkey Fist would be after the Lotus Blade. He remembered what Sensai had told him: "As long as your heart remains pure, the Lotus Blade will always know the way home." This gave Ron an idea. He rushed back outside and made himself visible again and rushed back in. "Kim," Ron yelled. Kim suddenly looked up and saw Ron. "Ron" Kim yelled back.
At that moment, Drakken, Shego and Monkey Fist stepped out of the control room on the catwalk. Drakken spoke up, "Looks like the buffoon decided to join the party."
Ron with a look of determination of his face that Drakken and Shego had never seen before put his hands together and closed his eyes. A mystical glow engulfed Ron's hands and the Lotus Blade appeared. Monkey Fist's eyes lit up. This was all going as planned.
Ron yelled, "Drakken, Shego and Monkey Fist, if you lay one finger on a single hair on Kim's head I promise you I will spend the rest of my life making you suffer!" Ron just realized what he just said. I can't deny it. I love Kim.
Drakken, Shego and Monkey Fist just laughed. Drakken responded, "I didn't know you cared so much about Kimmie, how touching. Don't worry, you'll spend the last few hours together and you can tell her how you really feel." They all laughed again.
Kim's eyes were wide open staring at Ron. She had just heard what Ron said. Could It Be?
To be continued...
