Disclaimer: Kim and the gang have come out to play with me again, but they're trademarks of the Walt Disney Company and can't stay long. They're just about done filming the fourth season and need to get back to work. I have fun but don't get anything else from our playtime.

A/N: Kim and the gang are at Yamanouchi. Rufus just passed away and Monkey Fist will attack soon. So the drama.

Chapter 16 Memories

The rest of the night was filled with pleasant reminiscing about Rufus, a little tea and the bottle of sake. When the Sun rose in the east the three couples and one ninja walked the hour long trail back to Yamanouchi in silence. Kim, Ron and Yori went to find Sensei to make their reports on the newlyweds newly discovered Powers. The adult Possibles and Stoppables adjourned to their respective rooms.

As Kim emerged from Sensei's room, Monique ambushed her with a big hug. "Kim girl, we are so sorry about Rufus!" she cried.

Bonny jumped into Ron's arms and simply wept. He tried to extricate himself but Bonny held on like her life depended on it. Felix rolled over. "Ron, Dude, what can I say? One minute he was flying like an ace," he paused, "the next..." his voice faded and head sank to his chest. Ron reached out and patted his friend on the shoulder.

"Bonny," Ron said softly, "it's alright. You're not to blame."

"It's my fault," Bonny mewed weakly from his tear soaked shoulder. "I told them it was O.K. to bring out that damned thing."

Kim came over to them but Ron shook his head. "I'll handle this, O.K.?" he thought to her.

"Alright, but if you need help..." Kim telepathically thought back

"Bonny, let's go to the garden to talk," Ron said as he finally got her in a one arm embrace, her head nestled into his chest. They walked to the garden and sat down on the bench.

"Ron, it was my fault and..." she started in again but Ron muted her with a single finger to her lips.

"Shush, I'll have none of that," he said firmly. "For an animal who's natural habitat is underground, Rufus dearly loved to be up in the sky. He loved to fly. I know he was excited when he heard the families were coming and Jim and Tim were bringing the jet."

"But I was in charge, I was responsible."

"You might have thought you were, but Rufus was totally in charge. I'm not sure if you're aware of it, but he has the same MMP as Kim and I. He knew what he was doing and he knew about the fuel line."

"The fuel line?" Bonny sniffled and wondered aloud.

"Yeah, there was a very tiny hole in the fuel line that became a fracture when Rufus pushed the engines. The fracture leaked fuel on the hot jet motors and..." Ron held his fists up and suddenly spread his fingers.

"Wait a sec. You said Rufus has the same powers? Present tense?"

Ron grinned. "Yep, he's still around, just not like we would regularly think."

Bonny shuddered a little. "You mean his g-g-ghost?"

Ron shrugged. "Ghost, spirit, soul. There are many words to describe what he is now. None are truly accurate. But, he's here and he's been talking to me and Kim."

"Really," Bonny marveled. "What do you and Rufus talk about?"

"Well," Ron scratched the back of his head. A strange habit, but he does it all the time when thinking, "we've been talking about the upcoming battle with Monkey Fist, but mostly he's been advising me on how to comfort the people who he left behind, like you."

"Wait, you two talk about me?"

"Yeah," Ron smiled and nodded vigorously. "You used to be one of his favorite topics of conversation. He liked you, even before your change last year. He recognized the good in you and prodded me into helping with your change. He also loved the custom furniture you had made up for him. He thought the couch and TV in the cabana were nice, but he loved the TV recliner in the den."

Bonny waved off the thanks. "Hey, no big. You guys were coming over more and more and he needed some place to sit. I mean you and Kim would almost crush him whenever you locked lips."

"Anyway, he apologizes for not thanking you properly and said to give you this." Ron leaned in and gave Bonny a brief, gentle kiss on the lips. He quickly spoke again before Bonny could react. "He was getting up in years, mole rat years that is, and he told me he wanted to go out in a blaze of glory." Ron heavily sighed. "He got his wish."

Bonny smiled. "It was a spectacular explosion."

"And he knew he would perish in it."

"He knew?" Bonny said in amazement. "Why would he go up if he knew?"

"Call it fate or kismet or the cosmic time line." Ron shrugged. "We know the events of the future."

"We? You mean you and Rufus, right?"

"Kim too, to a certain extent," Ron confided. "She has a bit of the MMP herself. Do you remember the eyebrow incident during picture day our sophomore year?"

"Yeah, Kim came to Regionals dressed as a monkey."

"No," Ron shook his head. "She almost became a real monkey. Long story short, there was an amulet that nearly changed her, but it also gave her some monkey powers. She has a lot of the same abilities as I do, but hers aren't as powerful as mine."

A white crane landed at their feet. Ron looked at it, nodded and pointed to the east. The bird took flight in the direction Ron had indicated.

Bonny looked puzzled. "What was that all about?'

"Oh, he got separated from his flock and stopped to ask directions."

Bonny's jaw dropped into her lap.

"What? So Kim and I can talk with the animals." Ron grinned wickedly. "Would you believe Kim was propositioned by some deer up on the mountain?" Bonny smiled broadly and slapped a hand over her mouth to suppress a laugh.

Kim walked in to the garden and chimed. "Well, Bonny looks like she's O.K. now."

"Yeah, I was just telling her about the buck," Ron said happily.

Kim shuddered. "Don't remind me."

"What?" Bonny squealed. "What happened?"

Ron motioned toward Kim, his goofy grin beaming. "Go ahead. You tell her."

"You and your..." Kim sighed and shook her head. "We went for a walk. When we got to a clearing, three deer came out and walked up to us."

Ron cut in, "A buck and two doe."

"Who's telling this story," Kim glared at him.

"Sorry, go on."

"Anyway, the buck approached Ron and bowed," Kim said, imitating the stag.

"Wow!" Bonny wowed.

"The doe came to me, bowed and let me pet them." Kim looked thoughtful. "I could almost hear what they were thinking." She paused.

"And...?" Bonny begged.

"And then they took off. That's when Ron told me what the doe said. They offered me first dibs on their mate." Kim shuddered again. Bonny laughed.

Ron leaned in and confided, "Of course I told them Kim was my mate. They understood and left."

Kim wrapped an arm around Ron's shoulder and nestled into his lap. "Later, I was able to hear and talk to a rabbit, a squirrel and other animals."

"Wow!" Bonny monosyllabled again. "Ron just gave a crane directions."

"No prob," Ron chimed.

Bonny leaned in to the couple. "So tell me, what other abilities do you guys have?"

"You know about the hyper-speed," Kim started. "He's about twice as fast as I am."

"There's the telepathy and remote viewing," Ron added.

"And you know about my telekinesis with clothes," Kim continued. "Now I can do it with other things." She raised her free hand. A small stone rose from the ground a few feet away and drifted to her hand.

"Nice finish," Ron complimented his new wife.

Kim let the stone float back to it's previous place and land gently. "Small object are easy. As they get bigger I have trouble controlling them after a few seconds. She stood up and said to Ron, "Catch her if I start to falter." Kim looked intently at Bonny. Slowly Bonny rose off the bench. After ten seconds she wavered a bit but regained stability quickly.

"You're getting better KP," Ron chimed as Bonny set back onto the stone seat.

Bonny grabbed it with both hands. "Whoa, that was freaky!" Kim and Ron winced slightly at her last word.

"Let's see," Kim pondered. "I can listen to CDs."

"No duh," Bonny said. "So can I."

"No," Kim said slyly. "I can listen to the disc without a player."

"Whoa," Bonny exclaimed.

"Yeah, it's neat," Kim said, "but Ron can project the music to people. I mean each person gets their own song from the CD."

"Don't forget the radio," Ron reminded her.

"Oh, I can tune in radio stations and hear them in my mind."

Bonny shrank back a bit. "You guys are starting to weird me out."

"Why," Kim asked. "So we have a few more talents. We're still the same Kim and Ron you know and love."

"Or hate, depending on the time frame of said emotion," Ron added.

Bonny giggled. "That sounds like Ron to me. But your abilities are awesome!"

"And your talent in ballet is awesome to us. I can't do that." Ron countered.

Kim sat back down in Ron's lap. "Well, you could if you wanted to." She gave him a small kiss.

"What now," Bonny queried. "Ron can learn ballet super fast?"

Ron looked at Bonny. "May I demonstrate?" Bonny nodded reluctantly.

Kim allowed Ron to stand. He put his blue glowing hand on Bonny's shoulder for a couple of seconds and smiled. He immediately went into a pirouette/jete combo ending in a split.

Bonny applauded. Kim yawned. "Yeah, great isn't he. He did it to me and now he's as good as I am at fighting and cheer leading." They all laughed.

Yori settled into the lotus position on the mat bed in her room. "Trying to keep up with Ron-sama and Kim-sama, and the lack of sleep for two days now, has me flustered." She paused a second. "And I am talking out loud to myself. I definitely need some serenity time."

She closed her eyes and cleared her mind. "I have been, and always will be, your friend." she clearly heard in her mind.

"Who is this?" she thought back. "And why are you quoting a Star Trek movie?"

"Star Trek is a great franchise with loads of drama and it covered relevant issues of the day. As to who I am, I am now everything and nothing."

Yori smiled. "Rufus-sama. It is good to hear from you. How are you doing?"

"Since I have no body, that is not relevant. I just... am."

"That is very profound," Yori thought to the former pink rodent. "Why have you contacted me?"

"Well, I have to do something and my friends are busy in the garden right now. I also wanted to check up with you. I want to make sure you are copasetic with my ascension."

"I am O.K. with it, but a little envious. The Power within you, Kim and Ron is great and I would be amiss if I did not admit to desiring it for myself."

Her former little buddy laughed. "I remember envy. A silly emotion that stems from greed and/or want of power to rule. You know better than to let those kinds of emotions seep into your being."

"You are correct Rufus-sama. I will not let the negative emotions control me. Do you wish to impart any information of the battle to come?"

"Yes. Tell my bestest friend that this is a Saturday morning Disney cartoon. He will understand."

Yori smiled and nodded. "I will give him the message. Will we talk again?"

"If you wish. But only for the next nine months, if you understand my meaning."

"I do not understand, but I will ponder your message and visit with you soon. Thank you for the conversation. It was most pleasant to hear from you and you are welcome to contact me any time you wish."

"Live long and prosper!" Rufus giggled.

Yori tittered briefly then went back to her meditation.