The Lotus Bloom - Chapter 8 – Stone Lotus
Kim and Ron stared at the figure in the door as he stepped back and bowed motioning them into the hall. Kim held on to Ron's hand as they entered the door. They stared upward to the large vaulted ceiling of the foyer. The floors were tiled, the walls were fitted stone. Flags hung at intervals from the walls, torches flamed from walls mounts but were accented by recessed electrical lighting. The teens turned to face their host. He appeared to be the same age as Drakken and Kim's father. His black hair was well groomed and pulled back straight. A widow's peak formed the front hair line. His nose was long and thin. His goatee beard was totally black and pointed. He wore an elegantly tailored black coat and vest. His grey pants broke slightly over well-shined shoes.
"Greetings Miss Possible, enchante', you indeed have your mother's beauty." The Count took Kim's hand as he bowed and lightly kissed her hand. Kim blushed slightly as she nodded unsure as to how to react.
The Count turned to Ron. "Mr. Stoppable, welcome sir, you are an extraordinary man to keep pace with Miss Possible." The Count snapped his heels together and bowed. Ron bowed slightly as he too clicked his heels.
"Count Olafinski, you honor us with your hospitality and your assistance and we thank you for allowing us into your home." Ron spoke without his normal accent and with a clear distinct voice.
The Count smiled. "Well, I must say Mr. Stoppable, I am pleased to find a young person such as yourself having such proper manners. I am not used to being greeted in such a gentlemanly way."
Ron smiled. "I thank you Count Olafinski, my family is originally from Europe. My grandfather made sure that I knew proper manners."
Kim was surprised. Ron was normally had the worst manners in the world. Now he was acting with perfect manners as if he lived that way all the time. She smiled at her boyfriend who seemed to find new ways to surprise and delight her each day. She felt a pride to see him standing there facing the Count seemly as an equal.
Ron bowed again with a flourish and extended an envelope in his hand.
"Dr. Drew Lipski and Dr. James Possible send their compliments in this letter explaining the progress they have made and the contents of the cases that we have brought with us."
The Count took the letter with a bow of his head.
"Thank you Mr. Stoppable. I will have Vincent gather your belongings and the materials and my housekeeper Frau Bluker will take you to your rooms."
Kim took Ron's arm.
"Count Olafinski, Ron and I have been through a great deal in the past number of days. I say I can do anything, but I would feel better if we were allowed to stay in the same room."
"Huppphhhhh" a voice said and a tall silver haired woman stepped from the darkness of a corner. Her Victorian highnecked dress was black and the disdain was plain on her face.
"Miss Possible, Mr. Stoppable, may I present Frau Bluker my housekeeper." The Count introduced the woman.
Frau Bluker stiffened her back and looked down her nose at Kim and Ron.
"A young lady should never share a room with a young man if they are not married." She said with barely covered distain.
The Count had been reading the letter given to him by Ron when he spoke.
"Frau Bluker, you WILL escort them to the Oak Suite. Their parents have requested in writing that the two of them be roomed together. YOU WILL respect those wishes. Need I remind you that these two young people have shared closer quarters than a guestroom and by all accounts they both have shown themselves to be responsible young adults."
Frau Bluker just snorted and turned away.
"Please follow me."
Ron turned to Count Olafiniski. "Count Olafiniski, we are tired that is true but we need to find the answer to this antidote as quickly as possible, when can we start with the work?"
The Count bowed toward the two teens. "But of course, all business. Very well, let us retire to my study so that you may tell me of the effects that you have witnessed. As we speak Vincent will take the materials to the lab."
Kim nodded. "If you don't mind Ron and I would like to handle the materials until they are in your lab."
The Count's eyes sparkled.
"I understand Miss Possible, Mr. Stoppable, from what communication I have had with Dr. Possible and Drew, the two of you have been dealing with this matter the most. If you will retrieve the materials I will escort you to the labs."
Kim turned to Ron who nodded. Ron took a couple of steps toward the door.
"Aiiighhh" he screamed when a tall dark visaged man stepped from the shadows. He was well over 6 feet tall. His grey black beard hid most of his face. Two grey eyes gazed back at Ron and Kim from beneath a prominent brow. A low growl came from gnarled teeth behind the beard.
"Vincent" The Count said sharply. "These are the guests I spoke to you about. They are to be treated with the upmost respect. You are to follow them to the craft in the courtyard. They will then give you their luggage. You will then take it to the Oak Suite. They will also retrieve a number of other items and follow me to my study and lab. You will meet us there when you are finished."
Vincent turned to the Count and bowed. He turned back to Kim and Ron and bowed gesturing out the door. Kim and Ron went back out into the courtyard to the hovercraft. Ron climbed back up into the hovercraft and passed Kim the bags that contained their clothes for the next few days. Vincent took the bags and stood to the side. Ron ducked back in and retrieved the data case and the case with the samples. These he passed to Kim and he slid down the handrails to the ground. He then turned and his hand on a pad on the side of the craft as he entered a number on a recessed keypad. The door folded back up into the craft and sealed.
"I sealed the craft with a level one security KP." Ron whispered to Kim. Kim nodded knowing that only the two of them knew the entry code. They would place their hands on the palm reader and then enter the code. Both had to be done at the same time to open the craft. Any forcing of the door would disable all the electronics. If someone tried to restart the craft at that point it would self-destruct.
Ron took the case containing the samples of the goo and motioned for her to head back to the main door. Vincent led off and turned to the right and up the stairs with their bags. Count Olafiniski met them at the door. The Count bowed as he closed the door.
"Please follow me." The Count headed straight across the large foyer. His metal tipped cane clicking on the stones as he walked with a pronounced limp.
"I am afraid I am not as mobile as the famous Team Possible. The lab accident that took my wife from me also nearly took my ability to walk."
The Count stopped at an ornate door; he pulled a key from his vest pocket, unlocking, and opening the door. It creaked and groaned as he pushed it open. Kim glanced over at Ron and rolled her eyes. Count Olafiniski motioned for Kim and Ron to precede him into his study. As Kim and Ron entered the room, they noticed many photographs and stuffed animals about the room. Lab equipment lay on some counters and bookcases covered the walls. A large desk filled a part of the room. Two large leather chairs faced the desk. The Count motioned for them to have a seat as he moved behind the desk. He pressed a button on his desk as he sat down.
"My lead research assistants will join us in a moment. Could you please place the cases on the desk?"
Kim and Ron placed both cases on the Count's desk as another door opened and two men in lab coats entered the room. They crossed the room and picked up the cases. The Count stood and motioned for the two teens to follow the assistants. Kim and Ron followed the men through the door into what appeared to be a very modern research lab. The assistants opened the cases and each pulled the contents out. A number of the staff came over and started to sort the data case. The vials containing the goo were taken by a number of other researchers to a set of lab tables. The Count turned to a rack of labcoats and put one on.
"If you will excuse me, I will assist my staff in this work. You are welcome to stay and watch."
Kim glanced at Ron. Everything seemed to be in place and going well. The training in the past couple of days had been very tough and she was very tired. Ron appeared to feel the same way. She crossed over to Ron and placed her arm in his.
"Thank you, Count Olafiniski. We would like to get some rest."
The Count nodded as Vincent entered the room from the study.
"Vincent will show you your room. Ring for service at anytime. You can then explore the castle at your leisure. Later I would be honored if you would join me for dinner. Please contact me at anytime for an update on our progress."
Ron took Kim's hand as he bowed to the Count.
"We would be honored sir."
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Kim and Ron were waiting for the Count in his study. They had slept well the evening before, with breakfast served in their room as they rose to the morning light. They dressed in their mission clothes and started to explore the castle. They marveled at the sheer size of the structure. They had climbed a number of the towers and seen mountain vistas that astounded them. Soon they found their way to the lower section of the castle. They were walking down one of the hallways when Ron stopped to fix his shoe. He grabbed the arm of a nearby suit of armor as he lost his balance. The arm moved down as he hit the floor with a thud.
A section of the wall behind the suit of armor slid to the side.
"Ron, you goof, are you okay?" Kim giggled. Her emerald eyes grew wide as she saw the secret opening. Ron stood rubbing his head and turned to see the opening.
"Wow! A secret passage, let's take a look." Kim said.
"Ahhh… Kim it's dark, there might be spiders and bugs and more spiders." Ron whined.
"Come on Ron. Look this tunnel is clean so it's been used recently." Kim said grabbing his hand and dragging him into the opening.
Electrical lights at intervals lit the tunnel. At the end of the tunnel was a normal door. Kim and Ron approached the door quietly, Kim placed her ear against the door.
"I don't hear anything." She whispered.
Kim tried the doorknob and it opened easily. Florescent lights revealed boxes stacked on pallets. Kim approached one of the boxes and read the side.
"Those sunglasses. This guy is the Count on those commercials? Bonnie thinks this guy is delicious looking?" Kim asked no one.
"Reality check Kim. This guy looks like he has money. Remember how Bonnie treated me when I had all that money."
"Yeah, you're right there! Give a guy enough money and Bonnie would go for the biggest dork around." Kim laughed.
Ron stared at Kim.
"Oops…" Kim giggled. "I didn't mean for it to sound like that." She leaned over staring him in the face smiling. "She could also go for the greatest guy in the world when he had a lot of money."
Ron broke into a grin. "Nice save there KP. I got one question. What is this Count dude doing with these?"
Kim frowned. "I don't know Ron, but I'm getting bad vibes about this guy. Like twenty miles of bad road."
"Ahh… come on Kim. This guy has a neat castle and all the awesome stuff to go with it. Maybe these are freebees for being in the commercial. I really don't think we should ask him seeing as we had to sneak down here."
"Yeah, but let's keep a close watch on him." Kim suggested.
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Kim walked at Ron's side as they entered the foyer of the castle. The count was just coming out of his study.
"Ah… Team Possible. I trust you had a restful night and enjoyed exploring the castle." The Count said with a smile.
Kim smiled. "Why yes we did Count Olafinski. Breakfast was wonderful and the views from the towers were amazing. How are the studies on the goo coming?"
Count Olafinski smiled and turned to Ron. "Mr. Stoppable, if Miss Possible always this single minded about the business at hand?"
"Like you wouldn't believe." Ron chided.
"Ron, how would you like to participate in a kung fu demonstation?" Kim asked with a smile.
The Count leaned back with laughter.
"Please Miss Possible, I am afraid I had a little fun at your expense. I can tell why the two of you are so successful at what you do. We have made some progress with the analysis of the substance. Here, come into my study, Frau Bluker just brought some milk and cookies for the two of you. Please join me in a snack."
Count Olafinski turned and returned to the door of his study.
Kim whispered under her breath. "You eat a cookie and I'll drink some milk. That way is either one has something in it the other will be okay."
Ron was about to question Kim when the look on her face silenced him.
They entered the study to find a service cart with the milk and cookies on it along with a coffee service.
The two teen each picked up a plate and put several cookies on them. They each took a glass of milk. The Count also took some cookies and a glass of milk as he fixed a cup of coffee. Kim took a bite of a cookie while Ron sipped his milk. The Count ate a cookie in one bite while pouring some milk into his coffee and proceeded to drink it.
"Please forgive me. Frau Bluker tells me I like my milk with my coffee. She is of the opinion that coffee is to be partaken black."
Kim smiled as she nodded to Ron. "No big Count Olafinski. My parents both drink a lot of coffee. I am used to it."
Kim and Ron ate a number of the cookies and finished off with the glasses of milk.
"Thank you for trusting me Miss Possible." The Count said.
"What do you mean?" Kim asked.
"Miss Possible, both of you arrived here not knowing me at all. You both have been through a great deal and betrayed by many around you. I noticed that you nibbled at your cookie while Mr. Stoppable only sipped his milk. It was only after I ate that both of you had your snack."
Kim bowed her head. "I apologize it we have offended you Count Olafinski. It's just that…."
The Count help up his hand. "As you would say Miss Possible. No big. If I were in your place I am sure I would be doing the same."
Kim smiled. "Thank…." Kim stopped talking as the room started to swirl. She turned to Ron. He was trying to stand, but fell to the floor. His milk glass shattering on the stone floor. She turned to the Count who was smiling at her. "You…" Kim slid out of the chair and collapsed next to Ron.
The Count stood and walked around to stare at the two teens. "QED" He snarled. "Your little self tour of the castle took you places that you didn't need to go. Well, we shall now place you where there will be no more tours."
The Count tapped his cane on the floor and the door to the foyer opened. Vincent came in the door and waited.
"You know what to do and where to take them." The Count ordered.
Vincent smiled as he bent down to pick up the two teens.
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Kim smelled moisture, dampness, mildew. She opened her eyes to see damp stones covered in moss. Her head pounded as she shut her eyes in pain. She raised her hands to her head. The rattling of chains caused her to open her eyes. Her wrists connected by manacles. She rolled over to hear the rattling of more chains. Her eyes followed the walls to glance at her legs. Her ankles were covered by leg irons and connected by a short chain.
"Ohhhh, my head." She moaned.
"KP!" Ron's voice called.
Her emerald eyes flew around the room. "RON!"
"KP, you okay?" his voice called. "Ow! KP, word of caution. Don't talk too loud, not good for the head."
Kim got up and shuffled over to the door. The chain between her leg irons and her wrists was connected by a short chain. When she stood she had to bend over slightly to be able to walk. A heavy iron door covered the entrance to the room. There was a small drop down window apparently so food and water could be passed to the occupant of the room. There was a hole in the wall with bars in it. Ron's face appeared at the hole.
"KP, you okay in there?" He asked. Kim could hear the rattling of chains on his side and assumed he was chained as well.
"Yeah, other than being trussed up like a turkey and having a headache that would stop Godzilla, I am okay." She answered.
Ron saw Kim's face appear in the hole. Her hair was disheveled and there was a smudge of dirt on her face but she looked wonderful to him.
"What'cha say there KP? Got bed head there?" He asked smiling.
Kim smiled. "Seen yourself in a mirror there lately Ron?"
"Nope." Ron answered. "Apparently our accommodations lack some amenities. I believe we need to complain to the management and get a refund."
Both doors to the cells opened and a number of synthodrones entered.
"Agggh" Ron screamed as the drones grabbed him. Kim tried to fight but the chains held fast as the drones grabbed her and picked her up. The drones carried the two to a central room where two large wooden X's stood on one side of the room. The drones carried the two teens to the X's and released the chains only to refasten the teens to the manacles set into the wooden beams. When they stepped back Kim and Ron were spread eagled on the wooden beams. The drones stepped back revealing the Count standing there with Vincent.
"Well, well, well, just where the two of you need to be: On display."
"Okay, how'd you do it? We are sure you are going to tell us." Kim growled.
"Ah but of course, my friend Senor Senor Senior mentioned that I should tell you exactly how I did it." The Count said as he approached Kim.
"QED, quite easily done. I suspected that you two would be suspicious so I added a binary drug to our snack. You had to eat both the cookies and drink the milk for the drug to take effect. The heat of the coffee neutralized the drug in the milk so I could eat and drink right with you with no effect."
"You won't get away with thi…." Kim started to say.
"SLAPPP"
Kim's teeth rattled from the slap she received from the Count. A small dribble of blood dripped from her mouth as she turned her face back to the Count.
The Count stood before her, glaring while putting his glove back on. "You will speak when asked a question and given permission to speak you little wench. Look around you. I have plenty of toys here that I am sure would make you voice some opinions.
Kim glanced around the room for the first time. It was a room out of a medival movie. Old torture devices abounded. There were two racks, an iron maiden, hanging cages, upright whipping posts, an iron chair, a brazier of hot coals, and other implements straight out of some old horror movie.
"Leave KP alone." Ron shouted.
"AHHH, Mr. Stoppable with the fine manners." The Count's fist connected with Ron's stomach, then his face.
"The same goes for you. Speak when spoken to."
Ron's head bobbed back and forth. Then he raised his head glaring at the Count.
The Count turned and indicated a camera on the wall.
"I plan to make a broadcast soon. But first I have a friend to help prepare you for the show." The Count tapped his cane on the floor and a figure stepped out of the darkness. Kim took a breath in.
"Well, Kimmie, it does my heart good to see you where you belong." Bonnie said as she stepped from the darkness.
Bonnie stood in front of Kim. She then threw a punch that snapped Kim's head back. Bonnie winced.
"Ohhhh. You are right Kim. It's does hurt to punch someone without gloves, but it makes me feel soooo gooooddd."
Bonnie stepped over to Ron.
"Well, well, well, Stoppable the loser, had me going there for awhile. You know, I got in big trouble because of you. My punishment well, I owe you more that this!"
Bonnie kicked Ron's midsection with a blow that drove the air from his lungs. He hung gasping for a few moments.
The Count tapped his cane again and Bonnie smiled as she stepped back.
"The Count has shown me how to use all these wonderful little toys. Hey Kimmie, I am looking forward to making you a couple of inches taller."
Bonnie cackled her laugh and sauntered out of the room.
The Count turned to Vincent who was standing to the side.
"Prepare the broadcast."
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Wannaweep Base
Dr. Possible and Mr. Stoppable were finishing off their chocolate cake while Mrs. Stoppable cleared the table. Tim and Jim were washing the dishes as they loaded the dishwasher. Mrs. Possible was checking out Shego.
"I wish I understood your healing powers or had a way to harness them. It is truly incredible. You have healed in three days from injuries that would have kept a normal person in bed for several weeks."
"Tsst," Shego shrugged. "Just part of being me."
The TV showing the news flared with static and then cleared on a grim shadow..
"Greetings my friends. This message is to the world and to the families of Team Possible."
Everyone in the room gathered in front of the TV.
"I would like to show you all the hopelessness of hindering my plans."
The camera revealed a sight that caused the mothers to scream. Shego closed her eyes and shuddered. Drakken stared at the screen. "Oh no." He whispered.
The scene on the screen revealed Kim and Ron hanging by their wrists from two wooden X's. Both of them had apparently been beaten, though both were conscious. Kim's clothing was stained with mud and grime. A bruise was growing on the left side of her face. A dribble of dried blood ran down her chin staining her top. Her bare midriff was scraped and reddened. Ron's face was also bruised and his clothing soiled with mud and grime.
The voice continued.
"As you can see I have two guests. I defeated them quite easily. When I finish "entertaining them" I am sure they will make wonderful additions to my personal slave staff. Soon my final plans will start and there is nothing you can do to stop me."
The broadcast ended. Mrs. Possible slid to the floor weeping, Mr. Possible holding on to her.
"My baby, my poor baby." She wept.
Mrs. Stoppable had fainted into her husbands arms. Dr. Drakken stood to assist Mr. Stoppable as he lay his wife down.
No one noticed Shego stand and stride from the room.
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Kim and Ron lay on the floor of their cell. The drones had been quite deliberate in "preparing them" to be moved to their cell. The preparation had been not quite a full beating but not far from it. They both were back in chains and could barely move. Bonnie had been there, coaching the drones.
"Oh Kimmie, if everyone could see you now. My, my, just where you and the loser deserve to be, in the mud and grime on the floor. Oh, by the way the Count has two nice injections ready for you when he returns. You will both serve his every wish. I am to be his personal assistant. That means I will be your boss. Oh we are going to have so much fun."
Bonnie turned and slammed the door to the cell. The drone locked the door as Bonnie strode away laughing. They both lay on the damp muddy floor of the cell. They moved slow as to not overtax their bruised bodies.
Ron stood and extended his chained hands to Kim. Kim smiled as she took his hands and pulled herself to a standing position. She shuffled over to the door and glanced out the small window of the door. There were a number of drone guards as well as a number of zombied human guards. Bonnie had disappeared.
Ron shuffled over to the single bed hung from the walls and sat down. He glanced around their dark, dank room.
"Yep, definitely going to complain to the auto club. We requested a double and they gave us a single and housekeeping has really been falling down on the job."
Kim giggled. She could count on her daily dose of Ronshine. Leave it to Ron to find some way to make a funny comment even in a bad sitch.
"Kim have you seen Rufus or the Kimmunicator?" Ron asked.
Kim shook her head.
"I haven't seen Rufus since we left the room after breakfast this morning. They took the Kimmunicator."
Keys jangled as the lock to the door clacked open. The door groaned as it opened. Kim and Ron stood as a number of synthodrones entered the room. They approached the two teens and grabbed them. Kim and Ron tried to fight them but the chains gave them little chance. The teens were carried into the main room. Kim gasped as she realized where they were being taken. The two racks had been readied. Soon both teens were stretched out full length on the racks. Vincent smiled as he glanced down at them. He pressed a button and the ropes tightened slightly.
Kim felt her arms lift off the rack table slightly as she was stretched. She took in a slight breath. There was no pain yet, but she had no doubt that as the ropes tightened more that the pain would come. Then came the sounds of shouts and screams. Small explosions were heard and it sounded like they were getting closer. Then there was silence. Vincent glanced around the room then shrugged his shoulders to the drones in the room. His hand reached for the button to tighten the ropes some more.
The door to the room exploded across the room. Green flame incinerating the door before it reached the other wall. Three drones were cut to pieces by plasma blast before they could turn around. Shego strode into the room.
"Knock knock." She said gaily.
Vincent sneered at her and reached for the rack controls. Shego raised her hand and fired two blasts of plasma. The glow blasts cut the ropes binding Kim and Ron's arms, releasing them.
Shego glared at Vincent.
"I think the Possible and Stoppable are quite tall enough, besides if anyone has earned the right to put them in pain, it would be me."
Vincent glared back and smiled.
"Well green lady, I am sure that the specials drones will finish the job this time."
Ron sat up and released his feet. He slid off the rack and ran over to Kim. He released her feet and pulled her into a hug. She sighed as she returned the hug, she then swung her feet off of the rack and stood at Ron's side, smiling to him as he was smiling to her.
"Time to ROCK" They said together.
Shego faced the drones in the room as they approached. Her plasma blasts fried a number of them into steaming pools of liquid. Yet others continued to come forward. A number of zombied people joined the fray. Shego turned her plasma up to full power. Just as she fired Kim knocked her hands to the side. The misdirected blast struck the wall next to the citizens and sent them sprawling. Shego turned and threw a punch at Kim.
"Why'd you do that?" she screamed.
Kim ducked the punch and kicked Shego in the stomach.
"These people can't help themselves, don't hurt them." Kim hissed.
"DON'T HURT THEM? WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO DO TO US? You mean I have to handle them with care? I don't do that!" Shego hissed back.
"Well, you will have to." Kim shouted
"Ahh, Ladies?" Ron asked
"WHAT?" they both snarled staring at each other.
"We got problems." Ron pointed to the door where drone after drone was entering the room.
All three leaped to the attack. The Lotus Blade appeared in Ron's hand. Shego put her hand through two drones as Ron sliced two more in half. Kim did a cartwheel across the room where she kicked one drone one way and the second to opposite direction. A third drone attempted to grab her by her arm. She flipped over the drone and threw it at Shego, who sliced it with her hands. Ron jumped to her side and stabbed another as it reached for Kim.
Shego turned to face three more drones. Her smile spread across her face as she slashed the first one. But her claws bounced harmlessly off of the drone. She took a step back and fired a plasma blast at it. The drone swatted the plasma blast to the side effortlessly. Shego threw another punch this time with her glove energized. The drone caught her arm in it's hand and lifted her off of the floor. Shego found herself hanging face to face with the drone.
"Oh, no, not again." She thought.
Kim and Ron heard Shego scream and they turned to see Shego being hurled across the room toward them. Shego struck the wall above Kim and Ron and fell to the floor at their feet. She rolled over groaning.
"Owww my head. LOOK OUT!"
Ron ducked a blow from one of the approaching drones. He spun low and cut the legs off of the drone causing it to dissolve into a pile of mush. Kim hit one drone and grabbed it's arm. She spun in a circle and hurled the drone across the room. All of the drones in the room stopped for a moment then turned to grab the swords, battleaxes and spears hanging on the walls of the dungeon room.
"Uh, Ron we've got a problem" Kim mentioned. She started to back up and soon both of the teens were back to back standing over Shego. The drones encircled the three of them and prepared to close for the attack.
Kim felt Ron's back against hers. His warmth, his prescence reassured her.
"Ron" she said.
"Yeah KP?"
"You mean everything to me." She murmmered as the drones approached.
"Back at ch'a KP." Ron stated.
Kim felt at peace. If she were to die here and now, she would die at Ron's side. Ron could feel Kim at his back. His heart had flown at her statement, and he had meant his reply. He was at peace as he settled his mind and pulled the full force of the Lotus Blade forth. If he were going down, he would do it protecting Kim.
Kim felt the surge of power from Ron and somehow knew that Ron had called on the power of the Lotus Blade. She collected her thoughts and thought of Ron, the drones, the kiss at the prom. She felt a rush of power similar to the one she felt the night in the garage, yet many times more powerful. She glanced down at herself and realized that she was covered in a pale blue light. The same light she had seen cover Ron. She thought of needing a sword as she noticed the armed drones getting closer.
Kim felt movement at her neck and she glanced down. Her eyes grew wide as she watched her necklace change into a metallic liquid and flow down her arm. The liquid reached her right hand and started to form a short sword. It was similar to the Lotus Blade only shorter. The room started to fill with a brilliant blue light. The drones stopped approaching and actually stepped back. Shego's eyes grew wide as she saw the sword form in Kim's hand. Both of the teens were enveloped with the blue light.
Kim was wondering what was going on when she heard Ron say "KP?" Then she realized he had not said a thing but she had heard him in her mind. She spun the sword in the hand realizing that somehow she now knew how to use it like Ron could use the Lotus Blade. She felt all his training, all the work, his true gift in the use of the blade.
Ron felt the rush of power from Kim. He felt all of her love, all of her experience and all of her abilities. He made several kung-fu moves. It seemed that he now knew 16 styles of kung-fu, and he could do them as naturally as Kim did.
"Hey, KP, this is badical, I've got your mad fu skills." His thoughts told her.
"Back at you ninja boy, I can deal some serious action with this sword." Her thoughts went out to him.
"Ready for some real teamwork there KP?" he asked.
"BOOYAH" She told him.
The two teens stood upright and faced the surrounding drones. They moved as one as the paired swords moved to ready positions and their other hands beckoned the drones to bring it on.
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Yori and Hirotaka had not left Sensei since the day he pronounced that Ron had drawn the blade. He had then turned and assumed a lotus position in front of the shrine to the blade and had meditated since then. He had not eaten or had anything to drink.
The two students felt a change in the atmosphere of the room. It was then that they saw what appeared to be a stone lotus flower rise from the glowing pool of water in the shrine altar. The flower rose until it cleared the shrine, then slowly opened and bloomed before their eyes. The room filled with light and the air felt charged with electricity.
Sensei's eyes opened as he stared at the stone bloom before him. His voice came forth clear yet charged with emotion.
"The Bloom is reborn, the bond has been made. The Blade and the Bloom are one again."
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The Castle Dungeon
The two teens stood as the light around them disappeared. Their eyes gleamed as they stood side by side, as they always had. The drones started forward raising their weapons to attack. Kim and Ron exploded into action. Shego watched as Ron somersaulted across the room, leaping and dodging as she had seen Kim do time and time again. Kim attacked with her sword using the blade as if she were born with it. Drone after drone fell to their attacks. A drone rose behind Kim and drew back to deliver a blow that would decapitate her. Ron glanced at Kim and she drove her blade backwards without looking to slice open the drone. She made the move with seamless grace and without a second thought. She noticed another drone throw it's battleaxe at Ron from behind him. He immediately performed a perfect split. The axe passed harmlessly over his head. He performed a snapkick and leaped to his feet, a move Kim had developed in private the week before. He grabbed the axe out of the air as it passed over him. He spun and hurled the axe back at the drone who had thrown it. It cleaved the head from the drone and buried itself in a wooden beam behind it. Soon no drone remained in the room.
Kim and Ron stood barely out of breath. They stopped as they stared about the room. They noticed no drones remained. Kim approached Ron as he moved her direction. They soon faced each other. They spoke together as they held each other's free hand. They remembered what Yori had said that day in the park.
"At the time foretold, the bond of the Lotus will come and the two will fight as one as they have never fought before."
Ron smiled as she released Kim's hand to cup her cheek.
"Kim, it was like I could see out of your eyes and I could do all your awesome moves."
Kim smiled as she stretched out her hand that held the sword. The sword morphed back into the metallic liquid as it returned to grace her neck and form the necklace. Ron did the same with the Lotus Blade.
"I know what you mean Ron." She said smiling.
Shego sat up from her position on the floor with Rufus on her shoulder. He had stayed with her during the fight. Now he jumped down and ran to jump up on his owner.
"This little guy found me when I got here. He led me straight to you. I don't know what just happened but I always wondered about the other sword that should have been paired with Ron's blade. Now I know."
Kim turned to Ron.
"We have to stop the Count. He was heading for Middleton when he left here. That was hours ago. He is probably there by now."
Ron knelt down and helped Shego to her feet.
"Can you walk?"
Shego nodded.
"Yeah, let's get out of here."
The two teens helped Shego up the winding staircase to the ground floor of the castle. Just as they entered the Grand Hall Ron felt danger and shoved Kim and Shego back into the hallway. He then flung himself forward in a roll. The broadsword blade clanged against the stone of the doorway. Vincent hefted the huge blade again and advanced toward Ron. The Lotus Blade ignited in Ron's hand. The huge man swung again as Ron parried the blow. The two blades clanged together in a shower of sparks. The sheer force of the blow knocked Ron to his knees. He pushed back forcing Vincent back a step. Ron slung his blade at his attacker who blocked the blow. Kim and Shego watched from the door of the hall as Vincent and Ron traded blows. For some reason Kim thought the scene looked straight out of some old movie. As Vincent heaved his blade into the air again, Ron raised his hand palm outward. A blast of blue light knocked Vincent across the hall to slam into a bookcase. The force of the blast shattered the wood and the case collapsed upon the unconscious man.
Kim ran to his side.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
"Yeah, let's ace this place, we got a score to settle." He said standing.
Kim, Ron and Shego exited the castle through the front door. Shego's one-man hovercraft was beside Kim and Ron's.
"You two go ahead. Twice is enough for me." She said at the two teens, sitting on the steps.
"AAAARRRRGGHHHH" a scream sounded across the courtyard as Bonnie leaped from a open door and jumped on Kim. Kim rolled with the blow and sent Bonnie sprawling across the stones of the courtyard. Kim jumped to her feet to face her.
"You two think you're gonna stop him. HAHA, no way losers. He will be the master of all, and when he is finished with you, ohh boy." Bonnie sneered as she advanced on Kim.
"EEEKKKK" Bonnie squeaked when a firm hand grabbed her by her collar of the cheer uniform. The hand lifted her off her feet where she hung kicking and screaming. She turned her head to see the smiling face of Ron Stoppable.
"Let me go you moron or I'll get the Count and Gill to do a special job on you." She screamed.
"Hey Bon Bon, I think you need to cool off." Ron said as he took a number of steps across the courtyard to the fountain that was on the edge of it. The fountain was not running and a thin sheet of ice had formed over the still water.
"Where are you taking me you lose……eiiiieeeeeee"
KERPLOSH
Bonnie screamed as she hit the water. She tried to stand but slipped on the slimy bottom of the fountain. She screeched as she fell back into the water.
Kim giggled at Ron as she turned to Shego.
"You coming with us?"
"No way, Kimmie. I'll be heading back to the base. This is your fight." Shego said as she stood limping toward the two teens.
"Thanks Shego." Kim said. "I knew there was some good in you."
"OH, GROSSS. Wash your mouth out." Shego sneered. "I am just helping take out the competition. I'll deal with you two at a later date."
Kim just nodded. "Uh huh. Well, see you later."
She turned to Ron. "Let's go Ron. We got a job to do."
Ron stepped up to the hovercraft and opened the door. Kim climbed the steps and disappeared into the hovercraft. Ron turned and gave Shego a thumbs up. Shego repeated the motioned then waved him away. Ron turned and climbed into the craft and the motors started. The hatchway closed and the craft sat humming. The sound of the engines increased and the craft rose into the air. It spun in mid-air and vanished into the horizon.
Shego limped by the fountain on the way to her own craft.
"Wh…wh..where are are tho….tho…se loo…loo..sersss" Bonnie stammered out. She was barely able to talk through her shivering. Shego kept walking by only to give Bonnie a shove back into the fountain. Bonnie was barely able to make a sound as she hit the water again.
"Cool off some more little girl, word of advice. I would not get on Kim and Ron's bad side." Shego growled.
Shego climbed into her craft and took off.
Bonnie slowly crawled from the fountain and slowly stumbled shivering to the front door of the castle. Ice hung from the trim of her uniform. "This is s..s…so wrong!"
Kim Possible and the gang are owned by the Disney Company. Rich and I own this story.