The brunette dedicated herself to learning the martial arts just as much as she had to cheerleading. Her natural grace and athleticism helped her to learn the techniques quickly. Applying everything to cheering, she was able to make amazing progress with each day.
Whenever she could, Bonnie took walks through the forest to enjoy the peace away from all the pressures of life. Usually, she would talk with Ron during her walks unless he was on a mission. Shadow was a good substitute, sometimes better since he never laughed about how much she and Kim were alike. But these experiences were having the desired effect. She was becoming more comfortable with who she was. The beautiful brunette had ended friendships with the social climbers and became better friends with those that truly cared for her. Bonnie had even started working with Kim more to improve the squad.
It had taken a little while, but her attitude towards Ron had changed at school as well. They could be seen talking and laughing between classes and partnering up in classes they had together. They were known to hug on occasion, and the brunette would sometimes drag the blonde by an elbow if they were going to be late for class. The two would eat lunch separately to hang with their other friends, though.
The school had started to speculate on this new development, though the two teens were mostly oblivious to it. Rumors ranged from Ron using mind control to Bonnie using him to the blonde boy being very well endowed. The brunette was one of the social elite, but Ron wasn't as one bully intended to show him.
The blonde found himself thrown up against a set of lockers, his bag sitting nearby. "You think you're all that because you're making it with a cheerleader, huh, Stoppable," the larger boy menaced.
"Uh, Kim and I have been friends forever, dude," he replied in confusion.
Enraged, the bully punched at Ron's face only to hit the locker handle when the blonde moved out of the way.
The boy watched the bully shake his hand, grunting in pain. "Ooh, that looks like it might swell, man. You might want to see the nurse."
Pissed at the way he was being talked to and the small pockets of laughter he could hear, the large bully grabbed Ron by his shirtfront and yanked him to throw him to the side. Unfortunately, Ron's feet got tangled, and he grabbed the bully by an elbow and the opposite shoulder for support. The smaller boy landed with his legs across his assailant's feet, his weight and grip sending the bully into a flip leaving him sprawled on his back. Amid the laughter of those that had surrounded the commotion, the large boy pushed his way out to escape further embarrassment.
Standing, Ron brushed himself off as he chuckled self-consciously at everyone. Turning to get his backpack, he found the school's head quarterback Brikk Flag holding it. A moment of fear flashed through him until the quarterback handed him his bag. "Nice moves, Stoppable."
"Uh. Thanks. I was just lucky I tripped like that," he replied, cautiously.
"Nuh-uh. I've seen lots of tackles, clean and sloppy. You made it look like an accident, but someone would have gotten hurt if you hadn't been in control."
Ron looked at Brikk with surprise.
"Hey, I'm passing my classes. I just get distracted sometimes," the large teen laughed.
"You're not mad about what they're saying about me and Bonnie?"
"We're not dating, so it's none of my business. Besides, we were only really together because it's what's expected. And I know you're a good guy; you wouldn't hurt her on purpose."
"She's become a better person; she'll probably be a better girlfriend, too."
"I thought about it for a while. She needs you right now. If I got together with her, we'd end up back in the same habits. She deserves this chance."
They both turned as they heard Kim calling to Ron as she ran up to them. "Come on, Ron. Monkey Fist is in China stealing an old manuscript."
The blonde switched to his game face. "We got a ride?"
"It's meeting us in the parking lot. Your gear will be there waiting."
The teen heroes started to run to meet their ride. "I'll tell her you said hi, Brikk," Ron called back.
"Thanks, man."
A hunched figure stepped out of the shadows, seeming to talk to himself, as he approached a display case. He gazed almost lovingly at the lone, worn book held inside. "Ah, Journey to the West by Wu Ch'eng-en," his voice resonated with English aristocracy. "Now, the secret arts hidden within this original manuscript will be mine."
"Catching up on your summer reading, Monkey Fist," the redheaded hero said as the two teens stepped into the entryway.
"Did you have fun at the lemur colony, Monty?" the boy asked.
Monkey Fist growled angrily. "It was bad enough losing my chance to become monkey king, but the humiliation of being arrested for impersonating a mascot. That can't be a law. You will pay for the indignity."
"Gonna send your monkey ninjas again and stand around like an idiot?" Ron quipped.
"Monkey ninjas! Attack!" the Englishman yelled.
Small dark forms erupted from the shadows to attack the two teens. Separated by the minions, both were able to hold their own against the odds. More monkeys kept coming to overwhelm them. Kim was driven back through the doorway by the onslaught. Her last sight of her partner was a swarm of minions climbing all over him as he tried to throw them off.
Monkey Fist gloated just in front of the boy, but the blonde was too preoccupied to really pay attention. Desperate for a way out, Ron flashed through the training he had gone through. Attacks and defense weren't doing much good. Can't run and no obstacles. No staff to use. That left using his power in meditation. He mentally ran through the levels in the exercise to prepare himself. Blow out one candle by focusing monkey power alone. Next, four candles at the main compass positions. Follow by blowing out twelve candles set like a clock face. Finally, every other candle one at a time going clockwise. Never got that far, but it's worth a shot.
To Monkey Fist, it seemed like space itself was being pulled into the pile before him. In the blink of an eye, his minions were thrown in all directions just as the pulse of energy sent him flying across the room to land in an unconscious heap.
Kim, unable to see her friend anymore, feared the worst. With a burst of strength and agility that rivaled even her skills, the young girl beat her way back into the room. Some of the monkey ninjas retreated from injuries; some ran from the look in her almost glowing green eyes. Running to find her friend, she was a bit surprised to see him sitting on the ground, out of breath. Taking a quick glance, she saw Monkey Fist unconscious, but there were no monkeys anywhere.
Putting a hand on the blonde's shoulder, "You ok, Ron?"
"Yeah. Just a little tired," he answered, looking up at her.
"Good job beating Monkey Fist," she congratulated him, absently scratching the left side of her neck.
Standing, he grinned. "I got the mad fu skills." They walked out together after Kim called the authorities and got Wade to set up another ride. "What's with the scratching, KP?"
"I dunno. Must have gotten a monkey hair under my collar. Seems to be gone now, though."
The teen heroes waited outside, taking advantage of the short downtime to just rest and hang out.
A/NThanks for all the reviews. Very encouraging for me. I encourage any and all reviews. If it's something confusing that I can go back and correct, I'll probably do it. The next chapter will be up by the weekend. I have it written, but I want to do a little more editing. I've worked out the remaining storyline, and I think you all will like the twist I've come up with. This story should go to almost fifteen chapters depending on how I end up dividing everything, and you'll see more of the supernatural. I'm saving my good action scenes for the moments that use them to the best effect, so be patient.