Author's… whatever: Those of you science-minded types are reminded that this is a work of fantasy. I aint no scientician. I've done my best to stay confined to the boundaries of the reality I've written about in this story, as well as some of the realities created by the Kim Possible TV show, even if it's not necessarily within the boundaries of actual physics and science-ness…ness. I'm just sayin'. Oh, and you know what's weird? Yesterday I popped "A Knight's Tale" into the DVD player and practically fell off the couch when Alan Tudyk's character appeared on the screen. That's precisely what I've been picturing when I think of TJ! Red hair and all! Some of you may recall Tudyk as "Wash", the pilot of "Serenity".
I haven't highlighted a story in awhile: AVAST! Check out Scoutcraft-Piratess' original take on "So The Drama" called "You Kissed A Synthodrone?" It be a grand tale says I, Yarrrrgh!
Shout out to faithful reader Porphyria-Kris who clocked in with the 500'th review for this story. Thanks, luv.
And gracias especial to all the reviewers who helped put this story past the half-a-thousand review count: Zaratan, MrDrP, Muttly, JPMod, Invader Thing, kemiztri, Pseudo Juliet, cwizard, jasminevr, qtpie235, who cares, Pwn Master Paladin, Texas Dad, The Incredible Werekitty, Widow Shark, LKillingsworth, Ace Ian Combat, Theta-Alpha-One, Sestren NK, Mattb3671, aimtbj, Scoutcraft Piratess, WesUAH, Visigoth29527, chao-hellsing, Porphyria-Kris, and a pair of Levis to reviewer number 501 Recon 228.
Warning (seriously) the early part of this chapter is a bit dark and disturbing. If you don't like that kind of thing, just skip down to the first line break and know that Yori may have lost her sanity altogether.
XXIII
She curled up in a fetal position and lay motionless on the ground. She had begun to hear voices.
Yori wasn't exactly sure when they had started. Several mornings after the battle of Mutsu Castle, she had woken up hearing them. At first, she simply assumed they were echoes of a dream she had been having.
But then she began to hear them while she was awake.
Yori, what have you done?
Ron's accusation the night she had stolen the Black Orchid Blade echoed through her head so many times she began to hear it in her ears.
What have you done?
She couldn't even answer that for herself.
In the technical sense, she supposed she could give an accounting of what she'd done. Betrayed her friends, betrayed the man she loved, betrayed herself. But her actions in the last week had consisted of activities she wanted to forget.
Yori closed her eyes tight, clenched her teeth and hummed softly to herself. Images of Monkey Fist above her… his breath on her neck… his hands everywhere… the cold, sinister look in his eyes, the monkey grin on his face…
Yori squeezed her eyes tighter, hummed louder, tried to make the images and memories go away.
She had saved herself for Ron, convinced that destiny would bring them together, despite what Sensei had told her when he sent her away from Yamanuchi that horrible day.
Stoppable-san's destiny lies with Kim Possible. I have seen this with my own eyes.
At the time, she didn't know what he meant. She had asked him if he possessed the gift of prophecy and he simply answered 'no'. Now she understood. Sensei had seen it here in ancient Japan; seen the fact that not only were they married, but they had children together.
It wasn't fair.
Yori had seen the value and desirability in Ron Stoppable long before Kim had. Kim was still treating him as just a sidekick when Yori began to fall in love with him.
'I saw him first'? Is that really the argument you want to go with?
It wasn't enough that Yori heard voices. They were arguing with her, contradicting her, even accusing her.
"I was devoted to him before she was." Yori said aloud.
Certain of that are you?
"I respected him. She did not."
What makes you think 'sidekick' equals 'lack of respect'?
"I loved him."
'Loved', past tense.
"I still love him."
Really? I wonder if you understand just what love is?
"I do."
And yet, you tried to take him for yourself, instead of waiting to find out how he felt about you. That's not love, Love is patient. You were cruel to him and his family. That's not love, Love is kind. You were jealous of him and his wife. That's not love, Love does not envy.
"But I am what's best for him."
Love is not proud, nor does it boast.
"And what about me? What about my wants? Do they not count?"
Love is not self-seeking.
"I am the one who has suffered in this!"
Love keeps no record of wrongs.
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" Yori shouted, then screamed wordlessly as loud as she could to drown out the Voice. After a time her own voice became hoarse and she ceased her cries.
Silence for a short while.
Love is not easily angered.
Tears poured forth. Yori wanted to scream again but had no capacity for it. She wept bitter tears at what she had done; at what she had become. Her head lolled forward. No longer did she have the strength to combat the Voice.
You saved yourself for Ron; an act of love. And then you turned and gave yourself to that which he has been fighting against his whole life. You've become a demon's concubine.
"Monkey Fist is not a demon," Yori sobbed weakly, "He is a genetic mutation."
Do you really think demons are just pitchforks and horns? It's not about what they look like, it's about who they are.
"All I wanted was-"
Something you were never meant to have.
Yori sobbed quietly for a few moments. Apparently the Voice was content to let her weep for a time.
Why did you do it?
"Huh?"
Don't play stupid with me! Why did you give yourself to Monkey Fist? And if you say 'I don't know' I will begin screaming. I will scream day and night until you take your own life just to shut me up. Why did you sleep with Monkey Fist?
"I…" Yori thought for some time, then resigned herself to the truth, "I wanted the mystical monkey power. I wanted to be like them."
That's pretty close.
"I wanted to be one of them."
You wanted to become like them, and then punish them with their own powers.
"Yes."
You tried to steal Ron from Kim by telling him an enormous lie.
"Yes."
And when you were thwarted…
Yori was stung. This was the word used when villain's schemes were foiled.
…when you were thwarted you went a little crazy. You wanted to punish them. To hurt them.
"Yes."
You wanted revenge.
"Yes." The tears poured forth with renewed earnest.
You wanted it so much you were willing to do, what?
"Anything."
Good answer. You were willing to do anything. ANYTHING! So you told Monkey Fist that you had a pretty good idea where the sword would be; who was carrying it, and the general area of the castle he'd be in .
"Yes."
Then you told Monkey Fist that to get the Blade, you'd need the mystical monkey power. And he was surprised to learn it could be passed along to others. So you removed your clothes, lay on his bed, and gave him what no one else has had. Not very special for a first time, was it? The rotting smell of his fur, the stink of his breath, the soulless grin, his empty black eyes.
Yori whimpered helplessly.
But the best part was about halfway through. You suddenly realized just exactly what it was you were doing.
"Please stop." Yori whispered.
No, that's not what you said. You said 'get off', and he giggled and said 'that's what I'm trying to do!'
To her horror, Yori found herself giggling, though the tears still came.
Then you began to struggle, so he had his stone gorillas come in and hold you down while he finished. You couldn't stop screaming. That wasn't much fun, was it?
Yori buried her hands in her face.
No, indeed. Not a precious moment at all. HA! Did you hear that? I used the word 'precious'! That's very funny when you think about it.
Yori began to laugh.
Because here you are, having a conversation with yourself. Wondering whether or not you should give in to evil, or if there might be any hope for good in you left. You've betrayed all those who ever treated you with any kindness, all because of your obsession over a ring.
Yori began to laugh hysterically.
A ring you wanted, but Kim was freely given. A ring you thought would give you power. You stopped loving him a long time ago. Your love withered into an obsession, and all you wanted was to take possession of your 'Precious'. You hate yourself, hate what you've done… and after what you went through to obtain the mystical monkey power, you went ahead and gave Monkey Fist what he wanted! You got the Orchid Blade for him, without really knowing why you were doing it! Now look at you, having an argument with yourself. 'My Precious!' That's what you've become! Isn't that funny? Isn't it just HYSTERICAL?
Screams of insanity crept into Yori's laughter. Tears poured from her eyes as she shrieked uncontrollable madness. And though it was her laughter that poured forth, she didn't hear it. She heard the laughter of Monkey Fist as he completed the act of giving her the mystical monkey power.
Then she heard the laughter of another. His was warm and enthusiastic; the laughter of youth. Youth that is in love…
"And his clothes came flying off?" Kintaro could barely get the question out, he was laughing so hard.
"Yes!" Yori said, sharing in his laughter, "He stood on the bridge at Yamanuchi, called the Lotus Blade back to him, closed his eyes, and held out his hand. The Blade sailed through the air, and tore his clothes from him. He was left standing only in his underclothes."
Kintaro threw his head back and brayed into the night sky. He had never heard anything so hilarious. Yori could not help but laugh with him. His laugh was goofy, but infectious. She looked at him again, this time wistfully. She imagined she could love this one, if only he didn't belong in this world, and Ron Stoppable did not occupy such a place in her heart.
It was the night before Ishigawa had taken Mutsu Castle, the night before the Lotus Blade was captured by Monkey Fist. Yori and Kintaro had been sent out to flank Ishigawa's forces and work their way in behind Monkey Fist in order to steal and destroy the Tempus Simia. Kintaro and Yori had never seen the idol itself. They had to rely on Kim's description of it as she was the only one who had actually seen it.
Kintaro had led Yori a little to the west, then north a ways. They didn't have a great deal of daylight left when they set out, and soon it grew too dark to continue onward.
"I thought to reach Itsu village", Kintaro told her in a slightly worried voice, "Then perhaps set out from there just before dawn. But I do not see the village anywhere."
"That is because you are still some miles away from it," Said a thin voice in the darkness.
"Who is there?" Yori demanded, getting into a fighting stance. She had her fan blades at the ready.
"Not an enemy, if that is your concern," The voice answered enigmatically. "Away put your weapons. I mean you no harm."
They heard what sounded like rocks striking each other, and soon Kintaro realized it was flint striking stone. A fire blazed up before them. An old man, older than Yori had ever seen, stood near the flames. He was ancient, with a bald, wrinkled head and a white beard that flowed almost to his waist.
He had a spit mounted above the fire with a rabbit skewered upon it.
"Mukashi-san!" Kintaro said in surprise, then straightened up and walked over to the fire.
"Greetings, Kintaro-chan," Mukashi said without looking at him, The old man's gaze went past him to rest upon Yori. After a few seconds of silence, he gestured to her, "Come. Evening meal will soon be ready."
"Mukashi-san has fought for my father and my grandfather. He is a great friend of Mutsu Province," Kintaro turned and spoke to Yori.
"And a friend of yours, young one. At least I hope." Mukashi said with an almost toothless smile. "Or do you not remember when I brought you your first wooden practice katana when you were a boy?"
"Of course," Kintaro said with a low bow, "It is my great honor that you would call me 'friend'."
"It would be my great honor if your companion would grace my campfire with her beauty," Mukashi gestured toward Yori.
Yori hesitated, then walked to the fire, bowing respectfully to the old man.
"I am Yori," She said simply.
"Of course you are," Mukashi murmured, gazing at her with what appeared to be longing, "Of course you are. Please make yourselves comfortable. I have more food in the wagon."
Mukashi took a long look at Yori, then disappeared into the darkness. They heard him puttering about in what must have been his wagon. Then they heard a donkey braying. Mukashi muttered something to the animal and it quieted down. At least, what Kintaro heard was muttering.
Yori wasn't sure, but she thought she heard the old man say "Calm yourself, Ronaldus." in English. But then dismissed the notion as her mind playing tricks.
Mukashi appeared in the firelight again with bowls of food and blankets, noting aloud that they had not come on this journey too well prepared.
Mukashi bade them eat while he busied himself turning the rabbit and sprinkling it with what Kintaro guessed were spices and seasonings.
As soon as they were done, Mukashi snatched up their bowls and portioned out some soup that was steaming in a metal pot at the edge of the fire. The soup took any remnants of chill they might have had, and warmed them to their very toes. Soon the rabbit was ready and Mukashi divided it into three parts, finally allowing himself to partake in the meal.
They ate in silence. Yori was keenly aware of Mukashi's gaze upon her. Often he looked as though he were about to say something, and then stopped himself.
At last he did speak up, addressing Yori, "I am sorry if my gaze makes you uncomfortable."
"I am unaccustomed to such attention," Yori offered by way of explanation.
"Oh, I highly doubt that," Mukashi said with a smile, "You remind me of my wife, which is why I gaze at you so often. You are the only woman I have ever beheld whose beauty equaled hers."
Yori blushed and cast her eyes downward.
"Ah!" Mukashi exclaimed, "Perhaps that is the kind of attention you are unaccustomed to, yes? You attract the gaze of many a man but never stopped long enough to hear them praise your beauty I think."
"There are none who would praise such a thing as my so-called 'beauty'." Yori said quietly, thinking of one in particular.
"Ah…well," Kintaro stammered, "I must disagree. You see, I would… that is to say."
"Spit it out!" Mukashi barked.
"What I mean is…" Kintaro turned very red and stared very hard at the fire, "I would follow you back to your own world, or any other for that matter, just to be near you and gaze upon your beauty."
Yori allowed herself a shy half-smile but kept her eyes downward.
"Well said!" Mukashi beamed with a twinkle in his old eyes, "I very much doubt I could have put it better myself."
There was silence for a time as they ate. The fire crackled, while the night animals made their customary noises; crickets, birds, wolves in the distance.
"Will likely rain tomorrow," Mukashi said, gazing up into the night sky, then abruptly he got up, "Well, I must be going. No meal is so crowded as when there are three sharing it, eh?"
"You are leaving?" Kintaro got up as well, "Tonight? How will you find your way home?"
"Oh, I won't make it to my home tonight. I will stay the night in Itsu village. I at least remember where it is." The old man gently teased the young warrior, "And I will be needed at my home two nights hence. But I thought at least you could do with a good meal and a warm fire."
"You have our gratitude for that," Yori said, finally looking up at the old man.
Mukashi returned her gaze, and did not look away until she lowered her eyes once more.
"I must be going," The old man finally said. His voice trembled with emotion.
Kintaro helped him gather up his things and carried them to the wagon. Mukashi said a few words to Kintaro which Yori could not hear. Then she heard the donkey bray once, and the wagon rolled off into the night.
Kintaro stepped back into the firelight and at down, gazing at Yori.
"Mukashi-san told me to ask you about the first time the yellow-haired warrior came to Yamanuchi," He said, "Something about the Lotus Blade tearing his clothes off?"
Yori opened her mouth to ask him how Mukashi knew about that when they heard his voice cry from out of the darkness. He was quite some distance away already, and Kintaro could not quite make out what he had said. He asked Yori, who merely shrugged her shoulders.
But Yori thought she had heard something.
Something Mukashi had cried out in English.
"You have the heart of a hero! Listen to it!"
Two of Ishigawa's soldiers stood staring down at Yori. She continued to giggle at odd intervals while tears streamed down her cheeks. If she was aware of their presence, she gave no indication of it.
The first soldier shook his head, "It is not worth it."
"Why not?" the other one demanded.
"Because she may do something erratic. Something that might hurt us. There are rumors going around that she is a trained ninja."
"But if she gave herself to the monkey demon, she might bestow some of her favors on us" The second soldier whispered insistently.
"No," The first replied firmly, "It could be the monkey demon sees her as his. And if she reported to him that we took advantage of her-"
Suddenly Yori began to cackle loudly, maniacally.
"You would not live long past the removal of the first article of clothing!" she practically screamed, then resumed giggling while the tears poured.
"Do you see?" The first soldier whispered savagely, "Not worth it! The monkey demon has impregnated her with madness! I will have none of it."
The second merely nodded. They both turned, looked about them warily, then began walking away together.
"Ron…" Yori groaned behind them, then ceased her giggling and melted into desperate sobs, "Kintaro…"
"So have you heard?" The first soldier asked his companion when they had walked some distance from Yori, "The monkey demon has all of the Ohana Blades, but does not know the secret to calling forth the Wraith."
"I have heard," The second soldier confirmed, "He has been trying for the last two days to discover the answer. So far no success. As I understand it, there is only one person who knows the secret."
"The master of Yamanuchi," The first soldier said, nodding, "But Ishigawa misplaced him when we first took the castle. Now it is not known where he is."
"Ah, but in point of fact, he is at the castle even now," his companion countered, "And I have heard rumors that he is to be… shall we say… 'retrieved'."
"How is this to be accomplished?"
Kimono saw them first.
It was night. They were all in Hidesato's private courtyard which he had consented to their use as the castle was so crowded, and their grief for Raitaro would not be seen as a public spectacle.
It had been twelve days since they took the castle, four days since Yori had made off with the last remaining Ohana Blade. No attack had come from Ishigawa's forces. They remained in a massive perimeter around the castle, occasionally shooting arrows over the walls just to harass the castle's occupants.
Both supplies and morale were running low.
The Stoppables (and the Drakkens to a lesser extent) were particularly demoralized. To some degree, Veronica's increasingly adventurous attitude had rubbed off on all of them. Ron, Kim, TJ and Kimono had been conducting themselves as though this was some great adventure; perhaps one of their greatest missions, where they always emerged triumphant and relatively unscathed. But reality hade come to exact its price on them, and they had paid very dearly with the life of one of their own. They didn't talk much to each other. They didn't talk much at all. At one point, TJ even mused that he wished he, his wife and sister had never been brought on this particular mission.
On the evening of the twelfth day, Shego finally had enough.
"All right," she barked as they were all about to bed down for the night, "I'm getting a little tired of all the doom and gloom around here. It's time you guys spiffed up your sorry attitudes."
"I'm not sure if you noticed, Shego, but my daughter was killed last week." Kim said coldly, narrowing her eyes at her arch foe.
"I understand that," Shego's voice softened somewhat, "And you and the rest of this castle mourned for a few days. But while the rest of the castle seems to be busy making plans, you guys have done nothing but mope around for a week. Monkey Fist has the Tempus Simia and the Ohana Blades. If we don't do something about that, then we're all finished."
Nobody said anything.
Shego moved over to the mats where Kim and Ron were sitting and crouched down, "Thousands of families have lost loved ones in this war, and they don't even really know exactly why Monkey Fist needs to be stopped. They've been told that if Monkey Fist and Ishigawa triumph, then we're all doomed. To them, that's enough. I know these aren't exactly volunteer armies that are fighting in this conflict. But in a way they are. Kim, you told me that Kintaro informed you that many soldiers from armies Ishigawa and Monkey Fist had already conquered made their way up here to join Hidesato's forces."
"Yes," Kim acknowledged.
"Why?" Shego asked quietly. "Undoubtedly many of them have died. Did they have to come up to this province and lay down their lives? I'm guessing that in their minds they had no other choice, because they certainly weren't going to live under the rule of Ishigawa or Monkey Fist. I'm sure it's the same with you guys. You foiled Drew's schemes many time. Many, many, many times."
"Hey!" Drakken protested. "Your words hurt."
"Oh, come on," Shego said grinning at her husband, "You're turned on by what I just said."
"Yes," Drakken admitted, "But only a lot."
"Anyway," Shego rolled her eyes and turned back to Kim and Ron, "You guys do the hero thing because you have this sense of obligation."
"I guess," Kim agreed, "I mean, it's what we do."
"Right," Shego continued, "Despite the fact that you're a Nobel prize winning neurosurgeon who developed artificial brain technology. I mean, those are laurels you could rest on for the remainder of your life. And yet, here you are, fighting it out with Monkey Fist in a desperate attempt to save all of humanity."
"She's got a point," Ron agreed glumly.
"Now imagine the kind of death Veronica would have had if you hadn't been there." Shego said simply, then was quiet for a few minutes to let it sink in.
"Certainly not a hero's death," TJ observed.
Shego nodded at her son-in-law, "She saved us all. Look, we should have been defeated long before now. Veronica bought us some time at the pass, then she bought us this castle with her life. Are we seriously going to mope and do nothing?"
"Quite right, Shego," Drakken said enthusiastically.
"Glad you feel that way," Shego pointed at Drakken, "It's time you got your butt in gear. Go finish that machine you've been working on with your Drakkenites. Go now."
Drakken got up to exit. Shego grabbed his arm on his way out.
"Build something good," she whispered seductively, "And I'll reward you with something good."
"Is it the kind of reward you enjoy as well?" Drakken asked with a sly smile.
"Only a lot," she answered, then smacked him on the butt as he left the room. In a louder voice, she addressed the rest of them, "You guys need to come up with a plan. Even if it's not a very good one, we have to at least try something."
Slowly, the others nodded,
Shego rolled her eyes and groaned as Ron decided he would go after the Lotus Blade and the Tempus Simia; alone, of course. Kim, TJ and Kimono didn't try to talk him out of it, they simply refused to let him go. Either they would all go, or they would tie Ron to a chair.
After some heated discussion on this particular matter, Ron finally consented that they would all go. They decided to go and inform Hidesato.
"No." Hidesato said firmly to Kim after she explained their plan, "No one leaves the castle. We wait."
Sensei sat next to Masaharu but said nothing. He and Masaharu shared a room next to Hidesato's.
"But my lord-" Kim began.
"No." Hidesato said once more, looking about his private courtyard at all of them, "Please do not compel me to restrain you. We will wait."
"As you wish." Kim bowed and then quietly explained it to the others.
"We're going to have to sneak out of here on our own," Ron said quietly to all of them, "But not tonight. He'll no doubt have someone watching us the next few nights. This will give us time to better develop a plan."
They all nodded. For the first time in more than a week, they felt their sprits rise. They all missed Ronnie-Anne terribly, but they had a purpose once more, a plan which they could concentrate on.
As a conciliatory gesture, Hidesato invited them all to stay and enjoy his courtyard. And indeed it was a very pleasant place. The center was open and covered with white gravel; this was where the duel between Kim and Hidesato was fought what seemed like a hundred years ago now. But surrounding the open gravel-covered ground were immaculately kept gardens.
There were hundreds of varieties of plants and flowers. A small, elongated pond had fish in it, and two small arch bridges spanning it. Various tiny pathways ended in arbors where benches rested under cherry trees or were surrounded by tall plants. Lanterns were placed strategically to cast a warm light on various parts of the courtyard, while others were left intentionally dark so that one could sit and gaze at the beauty that surrounded them.
And so it was that after Hidesato had forbidden them to leave the castle, they broke into small groups and talked amongst themselves.
Kim, TJ and Ron were talking to Sensei under a torch near the main outer wall.
Shego and Kimono were sitting on a small bench and talking quietly to each other. The death of Veronica had confirmed all of Shego's feelings on why she decided to marry Drew almost on the spur of the moment. If they were all going to vanish from existence, then they would go out as a family.
In the meantime, Shego was becoming very close friends with her daughter, and was even beginning to accept the reality that TJ was her son-in-law. She felt as though she was a completely different person from the one who had crashed into the lake with Drew in his hovercar; the Shego who was determined to erase Kimono's existence and believed for a time she was actually a clone. She almost felt real guilt when she thought about her idea of erasing Kimono's existence. Now here they were, talking almost as though they had been lifelong girlfriends.
They were sitting very close to each other, talking quietly when Kimono caught the slightest movement out of the corner of her eye. It wasn't TJ or Ron, or the torch whose flame cast dancing shadows on the wall. It was something her brain did not know, but was instinctively aware that it should not be there.
Kimono stood abruptly and peered across the courtyard at her husband and in-laws.
Whatever it was moved again.
"TJ!" Kimono suddenly shouted, "Right fist back, ten o'clock!"
Without hesitation, TJ swept his clenched right fist back at an upward angle, turning his head to follow the arc of his swing as he did so. To his astonishment, his fist slammed into the torso of a hooded ninja who had slowly been making his way down the main wall, staying in the shadows just beyond the light cast by the torch. The ninja was knocked from his perch and sent tumbling.
As Kimono began sprinting toward them, fifteen more ninjas - human ninjas, some of whom trained under Sensei – dropped to the courtyard from the wall and darted toward master of Yamanuchi.
Kim and Ron assumed combat stances, putting themselves between the incoming ninjas and Sensei. TJ followed up his attack on the ninja he'd knocked from the wall.
"Remember to use the monkey power!" Ron called out, but was already set upon by a ninja before he finished his sentence.
Kim was already on it. She darted forward, toward her attacker, then suddenly dodged right toward the wall. As she did so, she threw out her left arm and wrapped it around the ninja's neck before he had time to duck. The ninja was knocked back a couple of steps but fought to maintain his footing.
Kim was counting on this.
She leapt to the wall and ran a few steps along it, her body vertical, the ninja bearing her weight as he fought to keep his feet. Kim then launched herself from the wall, swinging her legs around and catching a second ninja in the head with both feet. Her shifting weight caused the ninja she was holding to reel, and Kim let go at the perfect moment, sending him head first into the wall. He crumpled up in a heap and did not move.
Kim twisted in the air and landed in a crouch, her right leg extended out to her side. The second assassin, the one she'd belted in the head with her feet, took an instant to recover and then came at her. Kim lunged straight upward, as though she were about to leap into a spinning kick. The ninja ducked forward to avoid the expected kick, but was surprised to find himself being pulled forward. Kim, instead of leaping into the air, lunged forward to meet the ninja as his head came down. Her right hand shot out and snaked around the left side of the ninja's neck. She pulled herself toward him, brining his head downward at an angle. The ninja's head just barely missed Kim's right hip. The forward momentum of his head abruptly stopped as Kim brought her right leg up behind her, and drove her heel into her attacker's face.
Ron was in pitched battle with his assailant. They traded blows, blocks and dodges for a few seconds before Ron employed a maneuver that made it seem as though he were going in two directions at once. In a sudden burst of confusion, the ninja stood upright, unsure of what to do next, and Ron drove a fist into his attacker's face, sending him sprawling.
Sensei, of course, was the ninjas' intended target. Ron suddenly realized why Monkey Fist hadn't attacked the castle in the last week since obtaining the Black Orchid Blade. He didn't know how to call forth the Wraith. And now he was attempting to capture the one person who had that knowledge.
Two ninjas had fallen upon Sensei. As they closed in, one of them raised a short piece of bamboo to his lips and blew hard. A dart, the tip covered in a sleep-inducing poison, shot out the other end of the bamboo. Sensei moved his head slightly, his left hand flashed upward and snatched the dart out of the air. Before either ninja had time to react, Sensei dropped to a crouch, lunged at the ninja who still had the bamboo pressed to his lips and thrust the dart into his leg. The ninja uttered a surprised yelp, became instantly paralyzed, and eventually keeled over unconscious. In the meantime, Sensei stepped forward, still in his crouch and straightened up, catching his second attacker's wrist in his hand as it attempted to land a blow on his neck. The ninja's arm stiffened immediately. Sensei pivoted and brought his free arm down upon the ninja's stiffened arm causing the elbow to bend. Almost faster then the human eye could detect, Sensei brought his free hand back around behind the fist that still grasped the ninja's wrist and drove it forward with all his strength, slamming the ninja's own fist into his face. His head rocked back and smacked against the wall. Sensei stood over his attacker for an instant, then moved on to help TJ who was busy with two of his own assailants.
TJ took a few punches as he moved in on one of his attackers and grappled with him. Using his footing and weight against him, TJ half-swung the ninja around him and tossed him at Kimono.
"Right leg roundhouse!" he called out.
Kimono's right leg swung out and the ninja folded up around it with a grunt. She finished him off with a blast of energy, then turned her attention back to something that was going on above her.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ron noticed Shego and Kimono were shooting energy beams seemingly into the air. He followed the beams and saw four or five more ninjas at the top of the outer wall.
One of them might be Yori, Ron thought to himself. He quickly assessed the situation around him, than ran over to the bottom of the wall. Stretching his hands out on either side of him, Ron closed his eyes and imagined himself floating rapidly up the face of the wall to the walkway at the top. When he opened his eyes, he was sitting cross-legged, enveloped in a crimson sphere, hovering a few feet above the top of the wall.
The sphere vanished, and Ron landed light as a cat on the walkway. He instantly ducked into a crouch as a shuriken – a ninja throwing star – sailed through the air, narrowly missing him, but finding a target in the ninja on the other side of him. Ron rolled toward the assailant who had thrown the star. Already the ninja had another shuriken in his fist, but in his haste to re-arm, had lost sight of his target. He was surprised to find the yellow-haired warrior behind him, one arm around his neck as the other reach out and grabbed the wrist holding the metal star and pulled it until the star drove into his own eye.
Ron shoved the assassin off the wall and sent him hurtling into the courtyard below. Without waiting to watch the ninja fall, he squared off against another assailant. Just as they were making their way toward each other, an arrow buried itself in the ninja's side. Three more arrows eliminated the remaining ninjas at the top of the wall.
Hidesato had summoned some of the Zuijen when the attack began, but stayed out of the battle, knowing his injury would be a liability.
Ron stood in a ready stance, unsure if his immediate area had been cleared of all assailants.
It hadn't.
Silently from the shadows, one last ninja leaped through the air at Ron, and fell into a heap at his feet, bristling with arrows.
Ron quickly moved from one end of the walkway to the other, doing his best to make sure there were no more surprises. When he was reasonably sure the ninjas had been taken care of, he moved to the fallen assailants and began removing their hoods. He didn't recognize any of them.
"Is Yori among the ninjas down there?" Ron called to the courtyard below.
After a moment, Kimono hollered back up, "Nope!"
Ron turned and looked out into the darkness. He could see the campfires of the enemy in the distance all around them, but that had become a familiar sight in the last twelve days. Nothing else seemed to be amiss. If someone else was out there waiting for the ninjas to return with their prize, then he could not see them.
As Ron turned back toward Hidesato's courtyard below, he spied three of Hidesato's personal guards lying on the walkway, tucked into the shadow.
"Kim!" Ron called down, "Tell Hidesato some of his men are up here. Looks like the ninjas took care of them."
"All right!" Kim called back up, "Are you OK?"
"Just a little rattled. Did any of our people get hurt?"
"TJ says he took a couple of punches, but otherwise everyone seems to be cool."
"All right," Ron answered, "I'm coming back down."
Ron put his hand out on either side of him once more. This time he was able to keep his eyes open as the crimson sphere formed around him. He imagined himself floating down the side of the wall, and saw it all happening as he did so. He brought himself to a hover a few feet above the courtyard surface, and lowered his legs as the sphere around him disappeared.
Kimono walked up to him with a sly grin, "Are you a good witch? Or a bad witch?"
"Huh?" Ron was momentarily confused, then figured out her reference, "Ha ha, KD. You think you're fusion, but you're not."
"Oku no motto yoi," Sensei said to Kim.
"Sensei says that was much better," Kim said, bewildered, "Has he been teaching you his mystical floaty thing?"
"Yeah!" Ron said with a smile, the first that had been on his face in more than a week, "Apparently it's part of the whole mystical monkey power. I'll have to teach you guys some time."
"And the mystical e-mail thingy." Kimono chimed in, "You have to show us how to do that, too."
"Oh, right," Ron said remembering, "I forgot all about that! I guess it must have worked that night I first tried it."
"Yeah," Kim confirmed, "I'd actually kinda forgotten all about that, too. Maybe you can start teaching us tonight."
"Not tonight," Ron said, "We have to plan our mission to get to the Tempus Simia. Monkey Fist will not stop until he has Sensei. Once he learns the secret…"
Ron trailed off. He seemed to be thinking about something.
"What is it?" Kim asked.
"Ask Sensei if he will tell us everything he knows about the Ohana Wraith, including how to call it forth." Ron said to his wife. "I seem to be forgetting what little Japanese I used to know."
Kim relayed the question. Sensei thought for a short while, then agreed. He led them back to his and Masaharu's room and they all sat down. Masaharu was outside overseeing the replacement of the watch, and ordering extra guards to be placed on the walls.
Sensei told them everything he knew of the Ohana Wraith, including his history with it and the method for calling it into existence. It was well into the night before he finished telling them what he knew. By that time Kimono, TJ and Shego had gone to bed, and Drakken was still hard at work with his builders.
As soon as Sensei was finished relaying his information, Ron convinced Sensei and Kim to sneak out of the castle with him. When this was accomplished, he led them into Ishigawa's camp and turned them over to Monkey Fist.
Just about the time when Ron – with a very confused Kim and a bewildered Sensei – were being challenged and then taken into custody by guards on patrol around Ishigawa's camp, the guards on watch at the wall above Hidesato's private courtyard heard a very familiar sound; an inbound arrow.
Instinctively, they dove for cover as the arrow sailed up and over the wall, sticking almost dead center of the gravelly area of Hidesato's courtyard. The senior guard of that watch immediately went down into the courtyard, taking some time to get there as there was no direct route.
He cautiously approached the arrow, ordering complete silence from his guards in case any more arrows came their way. But none did. The guard took a good long look at the arrow and then went and woke up Masaharu.
Masaharu came out into the courtyard wondering where Sensei was. When he saw the arrow, he forgot everything else. There was a small scroll bound to the shaft of the arrow. Masaharu immediately unrolled the paper and read silently to himself.
"Shinjirarenai!" Masahru muttered to himself and immediately went in to wake up Hidesato.
Hidesato was not a man who awakened easily, or cheerfully.
"We had better be under attack," He growled at his old friend.
"Not quite, Hidesato-sama. I think you should read this. It was just delivered via arrow." Masaharu bowed low and handed over the note.
Hidesato's eyes widened as he read, then he looked up at Masaharu, "Incredible!"
"That is precisely what I said when I read it." His old friend responded.
"Do you think it to be true?" Hidesato asked, his voice laced with wonder.
"It is so extraordinary that I believe it must be true." Masaharu answered.
"Why am I still in bed?" Hidesato got up as quickly as he could, "Get our forces ready to the last man. Find the Blue One they call Ryu and ask him if he needs anything. Make sure all our warriors are thoroughly armed and ready to go. I want to be ready to attack at first light."
"Should we order the castle into a defensive posture after we depart?" Masaharu suggested.
"No," Hidesato shook his head, "Today is the final battle. Today we fight for all or nothing."
"Then I am hoping Destiny will favor us with 'all'", Masaharu declared.
"Agreed, my old friend." Hidesato smiled at his Daimyo, "Agreed."
They were bound and led through several layers of security, each time being questioned by a more superior officer than before. When Ron had proposed the three of them sneak out of the castle, Kim was convinced they would be going on some clandestine mission to retrieve the Tempus Simia. She was shocked when Ron simply took them to the nearest of Ishigawa's guards. Then she was dismayed when Ron told her to tell the first guard that he had brought prisoners, one of whom possessed the secret of the Ohana Wraith.
"Ron," Kim whispered to her husband as they were being led to yet another security post, "Please tell me you know what you're doing."
"I know what I'm doing," Ron said without hesitation.
"You mean you don't?" Kim asked frantically.
"You told me to tell you I did, so I did." Ron stated simply.
"But this is… we didn't even bring any weapons." Kim realized.
"My bad." Ron said absently.
"Nan no dekigoto?" Sensei inquired.
"Sensei wants to know what is happening," Kim whispered, "So do I."
"I am turning you over to Monkey Fist in exchange for the Tempus Simia." Ron stated simply.
"What?" Kim's voice was laced with panic and dread. "Ron, please tell me you're kidding."
Ron looked at his wife and shook his head.
Kim knew he wasn't kidding. Numbly, she relayed the information to Sensei.
Sensei grunted, then seemed to nod his head as though he understood. He said something to Kim.
"Believe it or not, he actually finds logic in your plan. He says he is an old man, and is not likely to live much longer. To exchange him for the monkey idol would be a good trade. So why am I here?"
"You're here to translate," Ron said simply, "And since Monkey Fist probably has vengeance issues with you and/or me, you'll only sweeten the deal for him. I think he might be willing to turn over the Tempus Simia in exchange for you and the secret of the Ohana Wraith. Looks like it'll be morning soon."
Kim was speechless. She tried to process everything Ron had just said, but couldn't seem to grasp the logic in it. In addition, his almost casual tone seemed terribly out of place. Something was very wrong with her husband.
By the time they got through clearances and checkpoints, the faintest hint of light was visible in the sky to the east.
They were brought into an open space ringed with what looked like statues of gorillas. In actuality, of course, they were Monkey Fist's renewed army, including the great stone Guardian of Satsuma. There were more than twice as many Stone Gorilla warriors as before, all of them facing outward from Monkey Fist's pavilion.
Fist had already been alerted to their arrival, and was waiting outside the pavilion. He had the Magnolia Blades on his back, and the Lotus Blade clenched in his fist. Ishigawa stood near by holding the rest of the Blades. Ron looked everywhere but could not see Yori.
"You know," Monkey Fist said with a grin, "I did not believe the messenger when he awakened me with the news that you, Kim Possible and Sensei had actually surrendered yourselves."
Monkey Fist nodded his head in a particular direction. Ron followed his nod and saw the body of a young Japanese warrior.
"So unbelievable it was that I had him killed for making up such a ludicrous story. Looks like I was mistaken. What exactly possessed you to turn yourself over to a villain?"
"He seems to be making a habit of it," Kim muttered.
"I've come to make a deal with you, Monty." Ron said casually, ignoring his wife.
"Oh, this should be interesting." Monkey Fist declared, walking right up to Kim. "Do go on."
"I will give you Kim Possible, and Sensei, who holds the secret of the Ohana Wraith. In return, you give me the Tempus Simia." Ron explained, trying to keep his voice calm.
"Hmmm" Monkey Fist acted as though he was actually considering it, "Tempting, but I don't think so. How about this? You get the old man here to tell me the secret of the Ohana Wraith, or I kill Kim Possible."
Monkey Fist brought the Lotus Blade up to Kim's throat and held it there.
Ron's eyes widened in a look of shock, as though he hadn't expected events to take this particular turn.
"No," He pleaded, "Don't do it, Monkey Fist. Please, I know you are a man of honor."
"I am no such thing," Fist said with an evil grin.
"Don't tell him, Ron!" Kim said through gritted teeth. "Don't do it!"
"Please," Ron pleaded, "Don't! I'll tell you. I know the secret of the Ohana Wraith."
Yori appeared at the entrance to Monkey Fist's tent. She was carrying the Tempus Simia.
"No!" Kim said louder, "Don't do this, Ron!"
"Tell me or she dies in three seconds." Monkey Fist growled.
"OK… I'll tell you!"
"Two!"
"No…wait!"
"One!"
"IT'S THE SYMBOL FOR MONKEY!" Ron shouted as loud as he could, "You have to arrange the Blades in the symbol of the Monkey."
"We've already tried that!" Monkey Fist snarled, "It didn't work."
"I'm guessing you tried the Japanese symbol for monkey. We're talking about Monkey Kung Fu, you idiot! Kung Fu is Chinese!" Ron blurted in his most contempt-filled voice.
Money Fist's eyes widened. Then a slow, evil smile spread across his face, "I know that symbol."
The man/monkey quickly arranged the Ohana Blades in the pattern of the Chinese symbol for 'monkey'. To his surprise, there were notches in each weapon so they could be fitted together into place.
Suddenly there was a rumble in the earth. The Blades rose into the air and seemed to lose solid cohesion. They swirled in a misty vortex of increasing power. Monkey Fist backed away, entranced by what was happening. Ron himself was mesmerized by what was taking place.
"Ron, what have you done?" Kim yelled above the roar of the gathering Wraith.
Ron seemed not to hear her.
The vortex narrowed, and all that had appeared misty began to take shape. Several seconds later, a gigantic gorilla stood in the midst of camp.
Ron looked over at Sensei, whose eyes had widened in surprise.
But somewhere in the distance, the roar continued. What they had thought was part of the noise of the forming of the Wraith was actually something else entirely. There seemed to be shouting, and clashing of metal upon metal.
Suddenly, one of Ishigawa's soldiers burst into the central camp. He took a frightened look at the towering gorilla and then scurried over to Ishigawa, bowing low.
"My lord," He cried out frantically, "We are being attacked by an army from the south!"
"What?" Ishigawa peeled his eyes away from the awesome sight of the Wraith, "What is this?"
"An army from the south is attacking us, my lord! They are led by the son of the emperor you slew, and another who wears the ceremonial armor of the Shogun!" the messenger explained.
Then another messenger burst into the central camp. He seemed to be accompanied by yet another roar that came from the direction of the castle.
"My lord Ishigawa!" the messenger cried after beholding the terrible sight of the Ohana Wraith, "Hidesato's army is pouring out of the castle, they are even now attacking our forces closest to them!"
"My army is spread out in siege formation!" Ishigawa turned and bellowed at Monkey Fist, "We are caught in a trap!"
And so they were.
As it turned out, Kintaro had not been trapped outside of Mutsu Castle.
Hidesato had sent his son on an errand.
Kintaro was to make his way south to Osaka, find out what, if any, was the situation regarding the Emperor, and attempt to rally help to Hidesato's cause.
In the meantime, Hidesato's purpose in retaking Mutsu Castle was to keep Ishigawa occupied with the siege. With all his attentions directed at Mutsu Castle, it would be very unlikely that Ishigawa would expect any attack from the south. After all, he had already conquered the rest of Japan.
Or so he believed.
Kintaro had to use the best of his ninja skills to make his way through Ishigawa's forces. At one point, he killed a cavalry rider and donned his uniform, informing his superior officer that he knew of a supply cache at a nearby farm. Should he go and verify its existence?
Kintaro then rode hard for Osaka and made his way to the royal palace. As Hidesato had guessed, the son of the emperor - the rightful heir to the throne – who was a sixteen year old boy named Kotei, was being held in a sort of 'house arrest', by a garrison Ishigawa had left in Osaka.
Ishigawa could not kill the boy outright, nor could he throw the young man in jail and be rid of him. It was an odd sort of unwritten code of conduct in feudal Japan that if you wanted to conquer the country, then you battled the other provincial lords for the right to be Shogun. Though he had killed the emperor, slaying the emperor's son would not have been a wise course of action.
If Ishigawa had killed the son of the emperor, he would have found himself facing a revolt not only by the conquered provinces, but even pitchfork and rake wielding peasants who never would have accepted him as their ruler. The emperor – who was seen by the peasant class as a minor deity - was the ruler of Japan, even if sometimes he was just a figurehead and the Shogun had the true power.
Kintaro was allowed to visit Kotei and was very warmly received. News of Hidesato's resistance had reached all corners of Japan, and now the son of Hidesato brought with him a plea for support in his father's cause.
Though Kintaro was fast approaching the age of twenty-one, he liked the young emperor immediately. In his father's place, Kintaro swore allegiance to Kotei's throne, and vowed before him that Ishigawa would not become Shogun if it were within his power to prevent it.
Kotei then sent Kintaro out with secret messages to several Imperial daimyos who in turn secretly raised an army loyal to Kotei and his cause. Though to call it an army was perhaps using a generous description. It was barely a thousand men.
On the fifth night of the siege at Mutsu Castle, Kotei led the charge in a surprise skirmish that eliminated Ishigawa's garrison at Osaka.
Now they had to work quickly, because news would no doubt begin to make its way northward, and reach Ishigawa's ears.
Kotei was young, but he was not a fool. His father had taught him that to the be an effective emperor, Kotei would have to be equal parts warrior and politician. Kotei knew his royal daimyos would follow him, but remnants of the armies of loyal provinces might not be so eager to march into battle behind a wet-behind-the-ears, teenaged emperor. Kotei quickly proclaimed himself supreme ruler of Japan, then turned and pronounced Kintaro as Japan's Shogun. With the son of Hidesato as Japan's new military ruler, more warriors began to answer Kotei's call to arms.
On the morning of the day that Yori stole the Orchid Blade, Kintaro and Koeti rode out of Osaka at the head of an army of ten thousand men.
As it turned out, rumor did begin to spread northward, but it actually worked to their advantage. In several provinces between Mutsu and Osaka, the puppet lords Ishigawa had installed were assassinated. The provincial daimyos whose lords had been loyal to the emperor, mustered what remained of their armies and marched out to join the rightful Japanese emperor and his new Shogun; Kintaro, son of Hidesato, companion to the mighty Outworlders who were even now fighting against the forces of Ishigawa and the monkey demon.
When they crossed the border of Mutsu province, Kintaro and Kotei were leading an army of forty thousand warriors.
The note that arrived by arrow in the private courtyard of the lord Hidesato read as follows:
Father,
The emperor Kotei and I are camped with an army of forty thousand at the southern end of Idzumo valley. Thus far my advance scouts report no scouting activity being conducted by Ishigawa or the monkey demon. It looks as though you have succeeded in thoroughly occupying Ishigawa's attention. We shall do our best to make your efforts worthwhile.
One more thing, and I am sorry you have to find out this way, but I have been named Shogun by Emperor Kotei. I believe it is a move on his part to gain support for your cause and support for himself. I am not comfortable with this, as you truly deserve to hold this particular office.
As is, I will do my best to make you proud, and bring you honor.
We will be attacking Ishigawa's southern flank at first light.
What is thy bidding, my master?
"Calm yourself, fool!" Monkey Fist snarled at Ishigawa, "You sound like a frightened little girl. We have the Ohana Wraith. We are invincible."
The Wraith stood stock still, waiting for orders.
"Kill these three!" Monkey Fist shouted up at the Wraith, "Then destroy the armies that are attacking my forces!"
What is they bidding?
Confused, Monkey Fist switched to English, "Destroy the armies that are attacking my forces!"
Ron was looking at Sensei, who looked back at him with a look of pure astonishment. Ron had never seen such unabashed emotion on his old master's face. Ron turned and spoke to Monkey Fist in a tone so casual, he might have been talking to someone at the local coffee shop.
"You know, Monty, someone reminded me of something very important last week," and here he looked very hard at Yori, "Even though you have something – or someone – in your possession, doesn't mean it – or he - belongs to you. I was talking with Sensei last night and a thought occurred to me…"
What is thy bidding?
Monkey Fist had not heard the Wraith's request, he had simply assumed the giant gorilla was his to give orders to. The request was heard by Sensei, inside his head, the same way it happened so many years before.
"… It seems the Ohana Wraith may have only had one master in its entire existence. Hard to say for sure, but even if it has had other masters, those guys are dead and Sensei's still alive." Ron allowed his own evil grin to spread across his face. "And you know, that Wraith just might not recognize anyone but Sensei as his to command."
In utter shock, Monkey Fist stepped right up to Ron, realizing too late that any weapons he had been carrying were currently comprising the form of the giant gorilla that didn't seem to be listening to his orders.
"You knew this all along?" Monkey Fist snarled.
"You're not the only one who can put on an act!" Ron spat with contempt, then adopted a cheesy English accent, mocking Fist's own, "And dash it all if I'm not much better at it than you!"
Before he finished his sentence, Ron took a step back and leaped into the air, bringing his hands - which were bound behind him - down beneath his feet in a sort of reverse jump-rope action. Upon landing, he clenched his fists together and brought them hurtling upward, slamming into Montgomery Fiske's chin. Fist's head was rocked back so hard, the monkey demon instantly thought his neck had broken.
What is thy bidding?
'Destroy the monkey army. Then eradicate Ishigawa's forces. Do not kill Ishigawa or the demon known as Monkey Fist.'
The Wraith turned and picked up two Stone Gorillas, smashing them together while he stamped the ground and destroyed four more.
"Yori has the idol!" Ron shouted at Kim, then crouched and swept his leg through Monkey Fist's feet, sending Montgomery sprawling.
Sensei had already escaped from his bindings, and brought his hand down behind Kim in a blinding fast chopping motion, severing the ropes that bound her wrists. Kim took off at a sprint toward the entrance to the tent. Yori yelped and slipped inside.
Monkey Fist groggily recovered his feet and screamed, "Destroy the Ohana Wraith!"
Instantly, the Stone Guardian and the Ohana Wraith began to grapple, like two giant wrestlers in a match to decide the fate of humanity. The remaining Stone gorillas and the stone chimp archers all bounded in and piled on to the Wraith's legs, attempting to topple the behemoth.
Ron backhanded Monty with his left as a distraction to hide his incoming right fist which he drove into the monkey demon's nose. Ron noted with satisfaction the crunch that he both heard with his ears, and felt with his fist. Monkey Fist screamed and scrambled away. Ron went after him.
Sensei found himself facing an enraged Ishigawa.
"Again we meet," Ishigawa snarled, "Once was a time when I learned from you. Now, I am the master."
"Only a master of evil, Ishigawa," Sensei replied calmly.
Ishigawa lunged forward, slashing at the unarmed man with his katana. Sensei bent backward and allowed the blade to pass within inches of him. He straightened back up and took several steps backward, ducking and dodging Ishigawa's lightning-fast attacks.
At that moment, Ishigawa's forces on the north side of the castle beheld a sight that struck them with fear and awe.
As Hidesato's army poured out of the front gate, shouting and charging the closest of the enemy forces, something rose from within the castle walls and into the air above them.
Four wagon platforms, whose wheels and axles were removed, had been fastened together by wooden nails and rope and so forth. A fifth wagon platform was mounted outward on the center of one side of the large four-wagon platform. Mounted upon the whole thing was a complex network of gears which began with four, large turn-cranks, and ended at two large vertical posts mounted in the center of the platform equidistant from each other. Two Drakkenites were stationed at each of the large crank handles, while eight more Drakkenites crouched close by in reserve to relieve the others when they became fatigued.
The two center posts were hollowed out and contained two large, vertical bamboo poles that extended several feet beyond the top of each hollowed-out post. Securely mounted to the top end of each bamboo pole were sturdy wooden planks, sanded smooth on the edges to make them flatter and rounder. The planks were mounted at a slight angle. At the back end of the single wagon platform there was a smaller apparatus that looked like the larger vertical ones mounted on the posts, except this one was mounted horizontally with two vertical rudders extended beyond it. This apparatus was connected to the same network of gears that were operated by the large cranks.
In honor of his daughter, Drakken called his machine: 'The Kimono-copter'.
Drakken sat directly under the forward rotor operating an almost confusing network of levers and pedals which he used to control altitude and direction. Immediately in front of him, at the forward end of the platform, TJ sat nervously behind a smaller version of Drakken's tank contraptions. In essence, it was an arrow-firing Gatling gun made of bamboo. Down each side of the machine crouched five terrified Zuijen archers, while Shego and Kimono crouched at the rear.
Drakken managed to design the machine so that a minimal amount of effort at the cranks would produce fast enough rotations of the rotors to generate the needed lift.
So, to the astonishment of those still in the castle, the Drakkenites began to turn the cranks, the rotors spun faster and faster, and the Rube Goldberg-esque flying machine lifted itself up and sailed out over the wall toward the jaw-dropped warriors of Ishigawa's army.
TJ turned the small crank in front of him and arrows spewed forth in rapid-fire from the short bamboo barrel in front of him. His feet worked two pedals which swiveled the gun emplacement back and forth. Of the roughly fifty arrows that shot from the gun, one managed to hit an enemy soldier.
"I really suck at this!" TJ called back over his shoulder.
"Try to anticipate the targets! Remember, we're moving so don't shoot at what's in front of you, shoot at what's ahead of you!" Drakken coached him as he brought the Kimono-copter around for another pass, "And make your shots count! We've only got three boxes of ammo for that thing!"
Initially, the Zuijen's aim was greatly affected by their flying-induced terror, but as they became accustomed to the motion of the craft, their terror gradually reduced to just plain fear and they were better able to hit their targets.
Shego and Kimono crouched in the rear and rained green and turquoise fire down on the enemy.
And above all the noise, Drakken's voice drifted down upon Ishigawa's warriors from his monstrous flying machine as it swooped back and forth overhead, "MWAAA HA HA HA HA HA! HOW YOU LIKE ME NOW MESU INUS?"
Shego stopped firing for a second and turned to her daughter, "'Mesu inus?'"
"Japanese for the plural form of 'female dog'," Kimono replied dryly.
"Ah… lovely."
The Wraith shot light from its hand, but the Guardian was not blinded. Then shadow from its other hand, but again, the Guardian was unaffected. It stamped its feet and managed to destroy about half the stone Gorillas that were trying to take it down. The Wraith continued to grapple back and forth with the giant Stone Guardian of Satsuma.
In the tent, Yori whimpered and tried to retreat from Kim's attacks. She'd managed to dodge most of Kim's blows but several solid punches had found their way to her jaw and chin. Yori kept the idol behind her, while trying to defend herself with her free hand. She seemed confused, unsure of what to do. She kept the idol out of Kim's reach, pulling it behind her as Kim lunged for it, but the look on Yori's face was one of fear mixed with bewilderment.
Kim had already demanded Yori give her the idol twice, and Yori didn't respond; just gazed at Kim with hurt, confused eyes.
Kim felt she had no choice. Getting the idol was the highest priority, and she didn't have time to figure out Yori's odd behavior. Finally, Kim took a couple of steps back, sized Yori up and down, then took a run at her. Yori feigned a dodge to one side, then the other, but was unable to draw her assailant out. Kim homed in on the idol and lunged for it. As expected, Yori drew it behind her, but instead of continuing to reach for it, Kim drove the full force of her attack into Yori's ribs.
Yori fell sprawling, the idol tumbled away from her. Instead of going for the Tempus Simia, Kim wanted to make sure she would not be attacked from behind. As Yori scrambled for the Idol, Kim brought her full body weight down on top of the other woman, driving an elbow into the back of her skull. Yori's face went into the dirt with a muffled grunt, and though she writhed in pain, she seemed unable to get up or even raise her head.
Kim grabbed the idol and raced to the entrance of the tent.
"Ron!" she screamed, "I've got it!"
"Destroy it!" Ron bellowed.
Monkey Fist looked up and gibbered incoherently. He scrambled toward Kim but was grabbed from behind by Ron who leaped onto the monkey demon's shoulders and drove his head downward, slamming it into the earth.
Kim triumphantly raised the idol above her head, ready to smash it to the ground with all the strength she could muster.
Then she disappeared.
Ron was looking right at her and she simply vanished.
The idol fell to the ground but did not break.
Blind panic descended upon Ron Stoppable.
"NO!" He screamed as he fought to get to his feet, "SENSEI! HELP! THE IDOL! DESTROY THE IDOL!"
The tent disappeared, Yori was sitting up looking around in a daze at the sudden appearance of the sun and sky.
The Stone Guardian vanished.
Then Ishigawa disappeared.
Ron felt as though his feet were mired in tar. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion.
Monkey Fist winked out of existence.
Kintaro came riding up. The horse disappeared out from under him and he tumbled to the ground.
"KINTARO!" Ron screamed and pointed at the Tempus Simia.
A quiet began to descend upon the battlefield as warriors vanished by the thousands.
Trees disappeared.
Ron suddenly lost his footing and he found himself floating as the earth beneath him vanished.
The sun winked out.
Ron was briefly conscious of a vast field of stars, then they too disappeared.
Ron looked wildly about and was aware that he and many others were floating in a dim, gray void of nothingness. There seemed to be two distinct bands of energy that stretched away from him into eternity.
Ron became aware that he could not breathe.
He looked around and saw the Tempus Simia, floating lazily in the void. Then he was aware of several of the Ohana Blades drifting nearby.
He held out his hand and called for the Lotus. It sailed easily into his grasp.
One Shot! Ron thought dimly as he changed the Lotus Blade into a large hammer.
He took aim as best he could and threw the hammer forward, willing it to strike and destroy the Tempus Simia.
It missed.
Then Ron Stoppable vanished.