Tara and Bonnie changed into their gis in the girl's locker room, and returned to the dojo. They found Kim waiting for them. She was still wearing her street clothes, but had taken off her shoes and socks.
The recruits stopped at the edge of the mats. Bonnie immediately went into a familiar pose; eyes narrowed, hip cocked, and arms crossed.
"I guess some things don't change," thought Kim. Out loud she said, "Who do you study under?"
"Sensei Michaels," answered Tara.
"I studied under him too," said Kim.
"We know," said Bonnie, "He's always talking about how good you were."
"I still sense some hostility on your part, Bonnie, so why don't we start with you?" grinned Kim.
Bonnie stepped onto the mat, and the two girls bowed to each other. Bonnie took a stance,
but Kim just stood looking at her. After some fifteen seconds, Bonnie stood up.
"Aren't you going to fight, K?" she asked.
"I want you to throw everything you've got at me," said Kim, "Don't hold back, and don't worry about hurting me."
Bonnie grinned. "You asked for it!"
She took her stance again, then threw a hard kick at Kim's midsection, only to find her ex-rival gone. "Where...?" she thought, then felt Kim's warm breath on her neck, and a finger poke her between the shoulder blades.
Immediately she slammed an elbow back, but met only air. "Huh?" thought Bonnie, "How did she..." A finger poked her in the ribs.
Instead of throwing another blow, Bonnie flipped away to the other side of the mat, and took her stance again.
"Very good," thought Kim, "She's learned to control her temper and think. She's also incorporated some cheerleading moves."
This time Kim took a stance, and the fight began in earnest.
After a flurry of kicks and blocks and fists that went on for ten minutes without a break,
they finally separated. Bonnie was breathing hard, while Kim was barely winded.
Bonnie's defense was good, but Kim found holes in it. When she hit Bonnie, she made sure it was barely a tap. Bonnie had failed to lay so much as a finger on Kim.
Kim could see the frustration on Bonnie's face, and her equal determination not to let it get to her. Kim decided to bait her a bit. "C'mon, Bonnie, is that all you've got? I thought kicking my butt was your dream."
"It used to be," admitted Bonnie, "But I told you, I've grown up. I'm not here for some petty revenge, I want to help people, and make the world safer, and this is a good way to do it."
This unexpected statement startled Kim, and she dropped her guard for just a moment. Bonnie saw it and threw a snap kick that Kim felt graze her cheek.
Bonnie smirked. "And I want to prove I'm good enough."
"Good enough? That sounds like you're still competing with me," said Kim.
"Not really, but old habits die hard," answered Bonnie.
Kim stood up and bowed. Bonnie did the same. The match was over. "That's what I wanted to hear," said Kim, "You have grown up. Tara?"
Bonnie stepped off the mat, and Tara stepped on. She bowed and took a stance, and Kim did the same.
Kim soon found out that, in keeping with her gentle nature, Tara would defend herself with strength, speed, grace, and poise, but was very reluctant to retaliate. Kim found no holes in her defense, but at Kim's level of skill her attacks were hesitant and easily blocked.
They separated for a moment, and Kim said, "Tara, you've got to get over this fear of hurting someone. The person you're fighting won't have that inhibition."
"I know," said Tara, unhappily.
"She's been working on doing better about that," said Bonnie, "It's always been a problem for her."
"Bonnie, come join us, I have an idea," said Kim.
Bonnie stepped onto the mat, and looked at Kim expectantly.
"Both of you attack me," said Kim, taking a stance.
Tara punched at Kim, who grabbed her arm and threw her over her shoulder.
Bonnie feinted with a jab, then tried an open-handed strike to Kim's midsection. Kim blocked it, and swept Bonnie's feet from under her. As Bonnie landed on the mat, Kim took one step back, and drove her foot hard at Bonnie's face.
If it had connected, Bonnie would have been out for the count with a broken nose. But suddenly Tara was between them. She held up her arms in front of her, and took the blow, the force pushing her back. She leaned forward and threw a very hard and very fast fist at Kim that penetrated her defenses and struck her in the sternum. The hit knocked her backwards, and Kim rolled away and back to her feet, holding a hand where she had been struck. That had hurt!
"Tara, you did it!" exclaimed Kim.
"Did I hurt you? I'm sorry. I was trying to protect Bonnie," said Tara, eyes downcast.
"It's okay, don't be sorry," said Kim. "You did protect her, and beat the attacker.
Most people would have trouble recovering from that hit."
Tara blushed. "Sorry," she murmured.
"I can see where your strength lies; defense," said Kim, offering Bonnie a hand up.
It was accepted, and as she rose to her feet, Bonnie said, "Yeah, we pair upin class, and I handle offense, and her defense. Only Sensei Michaels has beaten us."
"Bonnie, I see you are a Crane, and Tara, you're a Swan," said Kim.
Both girls nodded. "Exactly right, Kim," said Tara.
Kim grinned. "Go get cleaned up, and we'll eat lunch. Then I'll give you the rest of the tour."
Back in the dining room, they found that Ron had prepared an incredible dinner for everybody, beginning with a tossed salad and buttered Italian bread, and followed with a steak cooked to perfection with a huge baked potato. Tea was the drink of choice.
Afterwards Kim showed them the rest of Team Possible Headquarters. The training room, the offices, the armory, the bunk room, the situation room, everything. They were introduced to Francis and Adrena.
Finally they went back to the conference room, and sat down.
"Well, what do you think?" asked Kim.
"I'm impressed, K. You've done really well here," said Bonnie.
"I love this," said Tara, "It's incredible! And lunch! Wow! Do you eat like that every day?"
Kim laughed. "No, but this was a special occasion. Tara, I'm glad you like it here, because you're accepted! Welcome to Team Possible!"
Tara squealed and hugged Bonnie, then jumped up and hugged Kim. "Thank you! I will do my very best for you!"
"I know you will," answered Kim.
"What about Bonnie?" asked Tara, looking a little worried.
Kim just couldn't resist getting in a dig at Bonnie. She turned to her and rolled her eyes. "Fine. You make the squad. Barely."
Bonnie's face grew stony. "Don't do me any favors," she growled, then stood up and made ready to leave.
Kim stood and grabbed her by the arm. "Bonnie, I was teasing. That's exactly what you said to me when I tried out for the cheer squad in middle school."
Bonnie stopped and turned red, then gave a tentative smile. "I deserved that."
Kim turned her around. "I am very proud to have you on the team, Bonnie, and I mean that."
"Thanks, Kim," said Bonnie, and hugged the redhead. "I'm proud to be accepted."
And a new era in the relationship of Kim Possible and Bonnie Rockwaller had begun.