Kim Possible: The Sociopath Episode

Disclaimer: The KP gang is Bob and Mark's. Valia and Nev are mine.

Chapter 16: Know Thyself
Ron's hit a new low after losing to a mind-controlled Kim. However, he decides to take new measures in order to never fail Kim again.

Rufus couldn't remember a time when he had to hide from Ron.

"Why couldn't I save her?" he screamed at himself, leaving a huge hole in the wall from his fist.

Ron had snapped, almost destroying his entire room.

Valia had gotten away with Kim, and there was no word on where they went. Wade and Nev tried everything in their power to hunt them down, but with no luck. They tried to scan for Kim's suit, Valia's particle signatures in his, contacting other techno fiends worldwide to get a trace, but they came up with nothing. It may not have been so bad if Kim had just been gone for a few hours.

But Kim had been missing for a week straight.

It ate at Ron's head every minute of every hour of every day. He couldn't help but feel that he failed Kim when she needed him the most. There was also no telling if Valia had done anything to her. He could have done something bad to her, tortured her, or worse, killed her. There was no telling of her fate. If Valia had challenged Ron the next night, it may have been enough to give him a lead, but Valia kept himself hidden in the dark very well.

The whole thing didn't just stay in Ron's head. It quickly spread throughout Middleton. Her family was devastated, trying to do whatever they could to locate their loved one. The tweebs even gave it a shot, trying to assist Wade and Nev in their search, but came up with nothing. If they could trace just one jamming signal, that would be their area, but the entire state was in a jam. Cell phones ceased to work properly, wireless internet connections didn't work, various cable and satellites got jammed, among several other things, putting the state in a real bind. This was bad, but Ron was more concerned with Kim.

Then there were Kim's friends. It probably spread through school the quickest. In front of the school, the sign said, "For any info on Kim, call Ron."

It wasn't like Kim to miss school. Not a whole day, but an entire week had gone by and no one had heard from her. Ron couldn't find it in him to speak to anybody, even though Felix, Monique, and even Barkin made attempts to cheer him up. Tara also tried, but as she predicted, it wouldn't work. Because she was a cheerleader, Ron was reminded only of Kim, not making his mind work any easier.

In fact, Ron had gotten suspended for two days the next school day after his loss to Kim. A couple noticed he was alone and started making out in front of him, and he just grabbed one of their heads and pushed it down, knocking the couple's heads into one another. It wasn't that. Bonnie actually ran into Ron, asking where his loser girlfriend was. While no one but Ron had known that Kim had gone missing, it was a move Bonnie would soon regret. Ron just slowly cracked his neck as he turned towards her, then in a heartbeat, slammed her as hard as he could into a locker, leaving a pretty deep imprint of Bonnie's curves and skull on the lockers. The look in his eyes and the way his arm trembled was enough to scare the hell out of her, making her unable to speak for the rest of that day. She never imagined that the one person that would make her realize what fear truly was would be in the form of Ron Stoppable. Unable to form words from his rage, Ron quickly loosened his grip and just stormed off. A teacher had seen the entire thing.

It was Thursday when Ron got suspended, and that weekend people came to realize what was going on, even though there had been a lot of commotion involving the short fight between Ron and Bonnie. A lot of people had known about Bonnie's rivalry towards Kim and her attitude towards Ron, and they all thought she had it coming. On the other hand, Ron Stoppable quickly became the most feared kid in Middleton High, and with good reason, too. Even most of the teachers, excluding Barkin, were terrified of him.

He hadn't been this infuriated in ages. While he may have shown signs of anger on some of his missions with Kim and some crazy policies and rules regarding Bueno Nacho, this was pushing it. No one recognized him anymore. Ron Stoppable was no longer the teen who wasn't afraid to not be normal, and not afraid to be himself, whether it be goofy, crazy, funny, or just plain childish.

Even his appearance completely changed. The circles around his eyes began to get darker by each day, showing that he hadn't been sleeping and was suffering in his own hell. His hair started to turn pale and extremely messy. He kept his hygiene in a good state, but he hadn't paid much attention when doing his hair. The only way to recognize him was his unwashed red jersey with his long-sleeved black shirt underneath, as well as his baggy cargo pants.

Every second that he had no idea of Kim's whereabouts or condition drove him more insane, and a week had passed by. Wade and Nev were forced to place his number on block because he would call every fifteen seconds. Other than those two, he refused to accept any outside kind of help until he could find Kim.

Behind Ron's back, just about everybody at Middleton, from various grades and cliques, formed up some kind of campaign to find Kim. While they offered to help Ron, he refused. He chose to work alone on this.

That Friday night, a week and two days after his loss to Kim, something finally crossed into his mind. For once, he stopped thinking about her whereabouts and location. He came to a realization that if he were able to find Kim, he wouldn't be in any kind of condition to beat her or Valia. What was the point of looking for her if you couldn't help her?

Instead of just sitting there and thinking, he decided to do something he hadn't done in ages; draw. Of course, he started drawing Kim.

It really came to him how much he loved the girl. He couldn't live without her. One of the biggest fears when he got together with her was the thought of breaking up with her. In a sense, that's exactly what happened; broken apart.

Kim had long red hair that looked good whether she let it out, wrapped it into a ponytail, or even when she just woke from bed.

He reminded himself of the stories that Nev told him, not helping his depression any. Girls that Nev and Valia cared for betrayed them. If Kim couldn't find a way to escape Val's mind control, she could do the same thing to him. Since Valia had a rather distorted view of their relationship, Ron saw this as a clear possibility.

She had beautiful green eyes. Kim didn't have to try to look beautiful. She could put on makeup or eyeliner, have her eyes open or closed, and they shined like emeralds. How was it that they sparkled on prom night?

He went through hell when he had to fight Kim. Why couldn't Valia just tell Kim to capture Ron like the last time Kim was under mind control? Or why couldn't he just try to put Ron under the mind control instead? He only wondered what went through Kim's mind when he was under the mind control. It was clearly too much for her as well.

Her cute little nose. She taught him how to Eskimo kiss when they were eight, and at the time it was like a friendship handshake. While other kids had their own way of shaking hands, this was Kim and Ron's way. But as time went on and they grew into teenagers, it was a tradition that broke. Now that they were dating, Ron wondered if he should try to convince Kim to do the whole Eskimo kiss thing again. After all, it was the first thing she did after she kissed him with the moodulator.

Sadly, the battle suit upgrade wasn't enough. Nev had spent little more than an hour putting his heart and soul into that suit. It wasn't time wasted, since Ron could have been hospitalized after his encounter with Kim without it, but it wasn't enough to defeat her.

Her tender lips and how she used them. The puppy dog pout was a powerful weapon that she used against everyone, but she looked a thousand times cuter when she did it to him. But her smile, no one's smile could ever compare to Kim's. Ron considered his work complete when he placed a smile on her, especially after a bad day. After all, that's what he was there for; she could always count on him to cheer her up.

Ron needed something more if he wanted to take on both Kim and Valia. But what was there? It then came to him that they both had something that he didn't:

Martial arts training.

Ron put his drawing down and picked up the phone.

He spoke with a cold voice. "Wade..."

Wade didn't recognize who he was speaking to.

"I'm going to Japan."

Ron hung up and started packing. It wasn't much; just some clothes, a water bottle, and a picture of Kim.

"Rufus, take care of the family."

Before Rufus could stop Ron, the door shut.

On Ron's bed lay a perfect drawing of Kim, along with what appeared to be a message on it. He had gotten every single detail perfect.

Ron arrived alone at the Yamanouchi School the next morning thanks to a favor, carrying little more than his backpack, beginning the long walk towards the school.

He had left everything from his world behind; the battle suit, his beloved pet, all signs of communication and entertainment. The only memory he brought with him was one of the pictures that Kim's mom took on prom night, the one when they broke the kiss off, shocked that they weren't alone. This was a reminder as to why he came and to drive his motivation. This was his second visit to the school.

This time, Ron decided that he needed to train as hard as he could in a short time. He needed to be the strongest that he could ever become. He wouldn't allow himself to fail Kim ever again. It would take time and it would be difficult, but he would do it for her. He gave himself a restriction, however, that he would train two weeks at the most. Ron knew it wouldn't turn him into the ultimate warrior, but hopefully it would be enough to do what had to be done.

Sensei greeted him at the entrance of the school after a long twenty-minute walk, "Ah, Ron Stoppable. I have been awaiting your return. Welcome back."

Ron put a hand over his fist, bowing in respect, "Sensei, I have come to train. The love of my life is in danger."

Sensei twirled his beard as he turned around. "Come. I will do what I can to assist you."

Ron and Sensei walked through the school, Ron expecting Yori to embrace him, and having to break it to her that Kim was the one he loves. However, to his surprise, none of the students looked familiar. Even Yori was gone. Sensei noticed Ron's surprise without having to even look at him.

"The reason you do not recognize these students is because they have graduated. However, Yori has gone to China to assist some of the other students in an errand."

Ron stood in place. "Before I begin, Sensei, I must know, is Kim still alive?"

Leaves blew as Ron and Sensei stood in silence.

"Let us meditate," Sensei answered, continuing to walk.

Ron and Sensei were in a huge dark building, and Ron couldn't see anything. Sensei then lit a candle, and with a swift movement of his hand, one flame moved onto another candle, then onto another, quickly lighting the room. It was a huge shrine that had all kinds of ancient statues and pottery on the sides. In the middle of the shrine was a huge pot releasing a strange essence.

At first, Ron thought Sensei was cooking something.

Both sat in the center with their legs crossed.

"Ron, you must focus your heart and mind on her. Let your mind not be focused on anything but the memories that you have long cherished with Kim. Relax. Focus. Release your mind..."

Despite that Ron had been in a horrible funk for the last week and a half, he was quick to remember all the good memories that he shared with Kim. It was like she hadn't been kidnapped. Everything flashed in his mind like a slideshow.

The first day of preschool. Their first Halloween together, the cowboy and ballerina, Ron being the one in the pink tutu. Their times on the playground. The grand opening of Bueno Nacho. Their very first mission. The missions after. Their victories. Ron saving Kim's life. Kim saving his. The Christmas Photo Album. The Christmas kiss. The new school year as juniors. Seniors. The moodulator incident. Kim in that hauntingly hot dress. Kim tugging Ron's hand when Yori departed. Ron confessing his feelings to Kim at Bueno Nacho HQ. Drakken remembering Ron's name. Kim taking Ron to Prom. Kim breaking it to Ron that they were dating. The slow dance. The kiss. Ron kissing Kim on her doorstep.

Suddenly, it was like Ron was no longer of this world. There was no planet. No life. Nothing. Darkness. He couldn't see anything, nor could he feel. Normally he would have freaked out, but as he saw in many martial arts movies, this kind of thing was to be expected. Then, in the midst of it all, something formed before him.

He saw Kim, still in her battle suit, in a bright white room. However, it appeared she was still fighting with Valia, but neither of them had a deadly look on their faces. It almost looked like they were sparring, Valia speaking to her during their fight.

"Follow quicker. Keep your guard up on your sides. You leave your gut open when you punch. Follow with a low move immediately after a spinning kick. Faster. Try evading to the sides more. Maintain your center of balance. Try keeping your movement to a minimum when evading. Good, just like that." he instructed.

Kim stood there as he approached her, taking out his tongfer and striking her with it, paralyzing her from the neck down, then removing the purple sticker from her neck.

"Your skills are improving, but you still require more training," he grinned.

Kim tried to move, but she was hard as rock. "Why are you doing this?" she demanded.

"You're going to need all the skills you can if you're going to entertain." he answered.

"What are you talking about? You know that Ron's going to get here soon an-"

"Soon? Kimberly Anne, it's been almost two weeks and he's been unable to locate you. I don't think 'soon' is a proper term for it. If I were you, I would take this training for granted. You will need it for what I have in store for you."

Before Kim could snap back, however, he struck her with the tongfer beam again, this time knocking her unconscious. Val then placed the shiny purple sticker back onto her neck and whispered his instruction to her, "Sleep."

After that, Kim 'levitated' to an area high on the wall, which seemed to be shaped like a dome, becoming chained from all fours onto the wall. A machine connected to each chain gathered all the information on her. Vital signs. Pulse. Heartbeat. Blood Pressure. Breathing speed. DNA and Genetic codes. Blood type. Mental status. Nervous system. X-Ray.

She was still alive, but sleeping with no emotion on her face.

"You've been here for almost two weeks, sleeping beauty. Do not worry, you won't have to wait long for the show to begin. Rest. You will need it."

Everything went white as Ron found himself in front of Sensei again. Kim was still alive. She was still alive. Valia had put her under some kind of sleep for some reason, training her for some odd reason, but she was alive and unharmed. She hadn't been tortured, she hadn't been hurt, and she hadn't been taken advantage of.

That second, he came to figure out why. He knew exactly why Valia had kept her alive, why he was training her, and what he was waiting for. But none of those things mattered. Kim was alive, and he wanted to cry in happiness.

Instead, he quietly whispered, "She's alive..."

Sensei nodded, noticing the determination in Ron's eyes. "Your heart and soul have allowed you to see her. I see that you are ready to begin your training."

Sensei approached the doors of the shrine, swiftly moving his hand, the wind blowing out all the candles in the room. The sunlight entered as he opened the doors.

Ron stepped outside, witnessing the sunrise as leaves blew past him. He took this time to gather some of his thoughts.

'Hang on, Kim. I won't let you down ever again. I promise.'

Sensei handed Ron a ninja uniform, which he proudly accepted.

It was time.