V. Mister Mysterious Mission (Last Update/Correction: Sep 26th 2018)

"I really wonder what she wants," Ron said while he walked on through a forest path, following Kim. "Whatever it is, it must be something pretty important," he got back a response from his girlfriend. Soon they should enter the secret dojo of Yamanouchi where Yori was waiting for them.

"We have not seen her since the last time when -" Kim said. "Yeah ... since that hairy freak almost kicked our butts …," Ron said. That made Kim wonder about something: "Speaking of - we never found out what happened to Yono," she pondered.

"Actually I was talking about Monkey Fist. Guy can't give me a break," Ron then told her.

Kim could not resist to smile. It was true, so she remembered, that Monkey Fist always was after Ron or even if he was not their fates were intervowen tightly so they would meet again. Yono the Destroyer was not the only one who meant trouble, Monkey Fist meant no less.

"I am not so sure if we have seen the last of Fist …," the teenage heroine said. "From what Dr. Director told me he was brought from here to their headquarters.»

"Amy told me," Kim's boyfriend replied. "I guess she still has a thing for him. Did not even bother talking about it too much though. The first time she met me to tell me about Reece Aicule she was telling me all she just has been through, mentioning the excavation of Monkey Fist in a side comment!"

"Well, let's hope she and GJ do nothing stupid then," Kim said. They got through the waterfall to the secret area of Yamanouchi.

Yori was already waiting at the entrance of a building that was in the middle of being reconstructed, the mere sight of it all was triggering the memory of the fight against the Destroyer and Lord Fiske. Kim and Ron felt sorry for those who lived or trained here.

"Kim Possible! Ron-san!" Yori said and greeted them with hand folded and a slight bow. "It is my pleasure to meet you again!"

"How's it going, Yori!" Ron responded. Her "How is Hana-chan?" was answered with a giggling, "You know, she's fine. For a ninja baby that can make the entire world her play ground, at least."

"I am glad she is healthy. She has her caring parents and of course her brother, after all, "the ninja girl said.

"Is there anything you guys need help with, Yori?" the teenage heroine wanted to know. Whether it was a foe or the area which she knew would still need some work before it was back to old glory.

Yori shook her head. "It is not really help that is necessary, though I am grateful for your thoughtfulness," she then said. "I merely wanted you to invite you to this day. I am sorry for being so selfish."

"Selfish?" the couple said, looking at each other.

"Sensei wants me to also give lessons to the new students in the future. Today is the first real time I shall teach them. I would be honored to have you join me."

"Yori, that's great! It's not selfish at all, don't worry!" Ron said. It was a simple urge, a feeling they would never consider it self-focused enough to be called "selfish". "You have my thanks," she said and bowed once again. "Please follow me then.

When they entered the yard they straight went for the big building that was still re-constructed. "Sensei wishes to meet you again, too," the ninja girl said. Before they could even enter though, the all stopped short. Peripherically they spotted someone. He stood before the statue of the great war hero Toshimiru.

The man had white-hair that went down to his shoulders.

Clyde turned around.

"Clyde?" Kim questioned who she saw. That he was right here in Japan, crossing paths with her again so soon, not even a week after her birthday seemed to be no coincidence.

"Clyde-san! It has been a while!" Yori greeted him and did her traditional greeting pose when she approached him, just like she did with the couple.

"You know each other?" Kim asked. "Yes, Clyde-san has back in the past often visited sensei. His presence honors us everytime," Yori answered.

"It is good to meet all of you again," the white-haired enigma said. Ron stood there, not knowing what to do. It was the first time he had seen Clyde in person, though he looked him up shortly after Kim mentioned him. So this is the guy?, he asked himself.

"It is unfortunate what happened to this place," Clyde said. "If you need any help do not be hestitant in asking me."

"This is very generous of you!" Yori said. Ron had a weird feeling in his stomach. This guy intrigued him but that every girl, also Kim and from what he saw also Yori, at least in one or another way fell for Clyde, was the last thing he wanted to see. Not that he considered Yori an option anymore – he loved Kim more with every day – but he did not want to get everyone that he had positive feelings for be so easily stolen away from him. He knew about how Hirotaka back then hypnotized all of them with his coolness and style but from what he heard and seen about Clyde this was even worse.

"I had a meeting with my old friend, your master," Clyde told Yori. "Really? You were talking to sensei? I have no even seen you come in, you are as good as ever!" she complimented him.

"We had yet to meet," Clyde said and looked at Ron. "What? Yeah ... It's nice to …," Ron began to greet him but was distracted when Clyde offered a handshake. "Oh, nice to meet you," Ron said. He could see the man's mysterious eyes but this scenario alone already seemed to have gotten a bit more comfortable for him. Kim had a satisfied smile on her face. She knew that feeling when Clyde's look for some reason, as much as it was not fully readable, made them trust him nonetheless. His whole appearance would not make you lose all certainty if he wanted to. And little things such as the handshake contributed to that.

Guess he's an okay guy, Ron thought, not even noticing that he shook his hand wildly for half a minute already. "Woah! Sorry!" he said and let go of him, making Kim and Yori giggle. A few days ago he was very unsure about all of that when he entered Kim's room and she told him the shard was a gift of Clyde but from what it looked like, he had no reason to worry.

"It is fine. If that is what it took," Clyde said with his mystery look. There it was again. That was unbelievale for Kim's boyfriend. The man just knew even about the reason for Ron's behaviour. Even with that risen trust he was no less intimidating in some sense. He had this skill.

"If you excuse us, sensei awaits," Yori then said. "I would be pleased to see you later again."

"I will be staying for a while, take your time," the enigmatic man said. Then the others left. Before Kim really went with them, she turned to her right to exchange looks with Clyde one more time. "If you want to, we can have a chat later!" she offered – not just because he wanted back then but because by now she also really wanted to get to know him.

"With pleasure," he responded. When she smiled and wanted to go, she was held back by his voice one more time. "You are a lot more in balance than the last time we met. I am glad the return of your boyfriend helped you for it, he said.

"Huh?" she gave of confused. "How do you -"

She did not finish her question. Clyde only smiled. She just knew: He was too good.

He just knew things. A lot.

"Thank you," she instead said glad. "Later then!"

Then she followed the others who were already inside, waiting for her.

Inside of the building they went for sensei's room. It still was very silent but the few who met Yori bowed in respect. So did she. When they visited her master then they saw him sitting in his chair. Behind the old man Ron could recognize a sword that he had not seen in a while – the Lotus Blade. "It is good to meet you," he told them.

"It is good to see you, too, sensei!" Kim said with Ron also paying his respect. "Thanks for helping me the last time, sensei," he said to the old man.

"Stoppable-san, how have you been since then? You look more confident, yet I can see turblence within you."

"Well, maybe that's just my typical Ronness," he said but he knew that this was not what the sensei was talking about. Really everything that he had been through with Kim, the newly met Clyde and everything was a lot to deal with. It was change. Maturing. And it needed time. Just like Kim also needed her time to mature.

"I suppose Yori has already told you," her master said,. "Today she will have her first teachings for the new students. In a few hours we will begin."

"Yeah, we can't wait for it!", Kim said.

Yori smiled, glad that she heard that.

"But first let's eat. It shall give us the strength that we need for the time that awaits us", Yori said and led them out of the room. "Stoppable-san", the sensei said.

"Yeah?"

"You will find your way. But if you need me, I will listen."

"Thanks, sensei!", Ron said and left. Yori's master was always such a fatherly figure to him. Ron could depend on him and trust him as much as Yori could. That was sure for him.

In the late afternoon Yori went out with a bunch of students. "Take them under your wing now, Yori," her sensei said who had some lectures for them and also did their early ones in the morning.

"I will, sensei. Thank you."

Her master then left.

Kim and Ron nodded at Yori, Ron gave her a thumbs up to show how he would be supporting her.

As excited as Yori was, she now nervousity slowly approached. She looked at the students eyes. Most of them were only a bit younger than her. They already liked her for the few days they knew her. But she also knew, now that she was responsible for them and because she wanted to pass on her knowledge to them in a worthy way, that she should do everything to not give off a false impression. There was a lot that could go bad. And they were still looking at her.

"What's wrong with her?" Ron asked his girlfriend. She could only figure. "I don't know, buck fever?"

"You think Yori would get that?" he asked her with a pretty low tone. "I wonder …," Kim said.

They did not know that Yori just wanted to do her best but realized that she could make many mistakes. She also knew though that she should do something so she could at least give it a chance and not stretch this out any further.

"Okay, let's start then …," Yori said and began with her lecture. The first one was merely historically themed anyways so she only had to focus on telling them what she knew and answer their questions. "She's doing pretty well, right?" Ron eventually said. Kim did not answer. While Yori got a bit calmer it was still obvious that she had to struggle. Seeing this girl that they knew from a completely different angle suffer like this made them feel sorry for her. The next course was of physical nature. Yori should teach them a few techniques. Ron knew she could do them perfectly but the entire situation here also blocked her from properly explaining them. She showed that she was able to do these things but at times she could not properly teach them how. "Poor Yori ... who knew she would have that much trouble," Ron said. Seeing her he also realized that this reminded him of Kim who even being so great at so many things often got embarassed because of things she could not do. He also had such times but more often than not these things could not faze him, because, like so often whenever something or someone should make a fool out of him, he just brushed it off. At least that is what he told himself. He very well knew sometimes it still bugged him.

Little did he know with his momentary confidence even he had already certain parts of his personality that could lead a lot easier to embarassment that he could not cope with that easily.

The next course should begin with a demonstration of Yori showing how the deceived perception could be an integral problem in battle..

"If you would honor us with a brief demonstration of your capabilities, Ron-san," Yori said and bowed. It was not that he feared he would do something goofy in front of them instead of showing his skills - he would not have minded anyway - he just did not understand what this was about. "Why me?" he wanted to know. "I believe it is you who can show the students appropriately how to unify the apparent innocence with the greatest inner-lying potential," she told him. Ron looked at Kim who smiled and gave him a motivating nod.

"Oh, alright," he agreed. Yori went in her battle stance, pulling out a fan that would serve as her weapon. I can't fight her seriously, right? But then she cannot show them what she wanted ...?, he thought. This bothered him. After all he tried to be helpful.

"Stand aside, Yori-san," Clyde's voice echoed to them. The young man exited the building, drawing all attention to himself.

"Your idea is well thought out. The execution though is not. You cannot fight him, rendering the lecture futile."

"But, Clyde-san, I don't under-" Yori said. He held back her words by herself. His words were immediately understood by her. "He is right, Yori," she was told by her sensei who also now went outside. "Stoppable-san is a wise choice for them to learn from. This needs to be done differently , however."

Yori was unsure what to do. Ron, who was already in his own battle position by now returned back to a neutral stance. "What shall we do then?" Kim's boyfriend asked the sensei and let his gaze wander around between Yori and her master.

"I will fight you," Clyde said. "You do not need to hold back against me."

Ron and Kim were in shock. So was Yori. "Clyde-san, do you really want to battle Ron-san?", the ninja girl wanted to know. Only her sensei was not worried about this. Even though Yori knew Clyde for a while she had no idea of what would happen during the next minutes. While she was aware that Clyde was strong and a skilled fighter, she did not know what he was truly able to do. Unlike Kim he barely used his combat skills publicly so only Yori's sensei had a bit of an understanding why Clyde could do this, even if it meant going against the Monkey Powers.

"Yori-san, here in this place I am the only one your friend can fight the way he is supposed to do," the white-haired man said calm. "Also ... it will serve as twice an effective lecture."

"What do you mean?" Kim asked him. Clyde had his eyes closed. He knew the sensei of the Yamanouchi dojo would answer for him: "With Stoppable-san being a skilled young man who is supposed to show that looks can deceive, his opponent will just be as much of a surprise now."

Kim, Ron and Yori began to understand. The students were supposed to see how strong Ron is. But the others already knew and thus had no picture of how anyone could actually confront him. Clyde was just as fitting as Ron in this case. Naturally Kim could very well imagine after short consideration that Clyde really had remarkable talents. After all she knew some things about him by now. Still, matching Ron whom she, without any second thoughts would have called the greatest fighter on the planet when in control of his powers - this surprised her nonetheless.

"Let us begin," Clyde said to Ron and opened his eyes. "Use your abilities to the fullest - as much and as efficient as you can."

"Okay - if you really want that, you asked for it!" Ron said and went back in is battle stance. Everyone was awestruck the moment his blue-shining aura appeared. Everyone except for his opponent. He did not even chance his stance and stood there like a statue.

"Here I come!" Ron announced and dashed forward, levitating to the side and readying a punch directed at Clyde's face. For a moment everything went silence. "Wha-" Ron stuttered not believing it. Kim and Yori were just as impressed, seeing that Clyde held back Ron's fist, not moving his body, not even his head for this - as if he could perfectly coordinate and prevent the need of an attempt of dodging.

"Uh ... well, okay! Then here!" Ron said and attempted the next move by jumping back, approaching Clyde from a different angle and unleashing a punch hail. This time the man chose not to block them. Instead he dodged all of it. Ron could not understand this. He knew Warhok and Warmonga were cybernetically enhanced to somewhat keep up with him. How Clyde was able to pull this off was not something to be grasped so easily. Like he did it with the Lorwardians, he tried to hit the man with a telekinetic shock of the Monkey Powers but when he reached out, Clyde directed Ron's hand to the above area so the wave would hit nothing but air. The boy stopped for a moment.

"I don't get this."

"And that is the point," Clyde said. "Look at them."

Ron and Yori took a look at the students. They were amazed by what Ron did. But that Clyde was so easily treating it like nothing was the same thing, just the other way around. It really did impress the students as well as Yori and the couple who never before saw Clyde in action.

"You are clearly adept of your abilities. To truly maximize your potential you still have a long way to go though."

The man's words were like a wake up-call. Of course Ron knew that but hearing it from someone who made him look like a joke was a tough lesson for himself.

"The match is still not over, right?" Kim's boyfriend asked.

"Indeed. Proceed as you will," his opponent said. Having that said, Ron wanted to mobilize all the power he could in the next strike. He jumped up the roof. Clyde did the same, with ease. Then the boy charged at him just to hit nothing but air again, stumbling away from an easily dodging Clyde and almost rolling off the roof. "Uah!" he shouted and held on the edge. Then he climbed back up.

"This is crazy, how are you doing this?" Ron asked. Instead of responding, Clyde rushed towards him. Immediately a hit from the left leg of the white-haired man connected, with the right leg kicking Ron upper high. "Woah! What's going on?" the blond boy wondered. Kim and Yori gasped. "Ron!" his girlfriend shouted.

Ron tried to bring out his powers but he was defenseless. Clyde was way too fast. The man had already jumped up and with a powerful punch and Ron was led straight to the ground.

"Ahh!" he screamed. Kim ran to him. When Clyde landed next to them, Ron stood up. It was not the immense power and speed that he had no words for. It was mainly something else. "That was …," he tried finding a proper response.

"It was Monkey Kung Fu, the Tai-Shing-Pek-Kwar!" Kim said.

"That is correct," Yori's master said. "Clyde-san is able to use every single martial arts style that was ever used. And because of his own chimera style he can combine them to the fullest."

"Chimera style? I believe I have heard about this once ... but I never thought it was a real thing …," Kim said. "Okay, so what – you can use Monkey Kung Fu just like me …," Ron lamented. "But I still don't see how that alone is enough to beat the Monkey Powers. Am I that much of a starter?"

"It is not just the lack of experience", Clyde said. "You have already noticed I am also a lot stronger and faster. And my senses are sharpened."

"But ... this is …," Ron lost his words. For him this was no possible outcome. He knew this power as something that was able to let him single-handedly defeat all of his foes. The Lorwardians, Joe-Jutsu ... and even though Kim did not say a thing, she just was as overwhelmed as he was.

"You still need to hone yourself," the enigmatic man said. "It being your mere strength, knowing how to use it ... and of course you still lack the proper understanding of the Monkey Powers."

"I thought I was doing pretty good so far," Ron said. He knew he still had a lot to learn but that he could actually lose so obvious shattered every faith he had in his powers. "Wait, does that mean you know how the Monkey Powers work?"

"I do," Clyde responded.

"How can this be? Only Monkey Fist and Rufus are the ones who also got those powers! And none of us can really use them."

Ron did not understand that. There were no Monkey Powers from Clyde's side in sight. And yet this man should know its secret. "Clyde-san is a very informed person. He studied the history of Toshimiru a lot," Yori said, honoring him.

"This is not why I know it, though," Clyde said.

"Huh?" everyone said.

The wind got stronger. Clyde began to glow. A light-blue shimmer radiated from his body, mixed in with a white light. The sky got darker.

Yori's sensei opened his eyes in shock. "This cannot be ... can it?"

Clyde rose his arm. It took mere seconds, then they heard something cut through the air.

It was the Lotus Blade. He held it in his hand.

"Out of all people!", the sensei said.

"You ... you have the Mystical Monkey Powers?!" Ron asked not believing it.

"I am not actually used to use that name for them as I know them under a different term, but yes."

Everyone looked at Clyde. "How?" Kim asked. "They were sealed away for a long time! It was Monkey Fist who brought all those statues together!"

"Right! And I destroyed these statues! ... by accident," Ron followed up.

"Well, I did not get them like you. But there is a time for this story," the man explained, "Be aware though that I, knowing of all their secrets, I hardly needed to use them against you. You did not even notice them, right?"

Ron was ashamed. He thought having the Monkey Powers meant doing this fancy light show as well but Clyde only revealed his glow for mere demonstration purpose. He was absolutely unaware that the white-haired man bested him with the same kind of power.

"I am sorry, I should have told you sooner," Clyde looked at the sensei to apologize and handed him over the Blade.

"You should have," he got back an answer. "But we can talk about this later, my old friend."

"We should all go back," the sensei said and dismissed the class with only Kim, Ron, Yori and Clyde following him to his office.

As stunned and speechless as they were from Clyde's revelation, Yori still had her own problem. Clyde wanted to bring back attention to that.

"There is a solution to your dilemma,",Clyde told Yori. "If you are willing to test yourself you will have your answers by dawn." Yori swiftly turned to Clyde, the other's eyes followed as well.

"I don't know of such a test, Clyde-san," she said.

"Oh come on, its not that easy, is it?" Ron wanted to know. "How can she do this in just a few hours?"

Clyde's facial expression stayed unchanged. "You wander onthe Path of Bloom," he replied.

Yori went back a step, her face was frightened.

"The Path of Bloom, you say, Clyde-san?"

"What's this Path of Bloom?" Kim asked. Yori's sensei answered this question.

"It is a and old training ground only to be entered through permission of the two dojo leaders and owners of Yamanouchi and Shimitoru."

"I have seen the gate once during a training march. I have never seen heard about what lies beyond and who ever was permitted to enter," Yori said.

"You did not tell her?" Clyde asked and looked at Yori's master, then back at her. "The two of us also wandered on that path once."

"You did?" Yori asked. "I was waiting for the right day, until she should know. She is ready now," her master answered Clyde's former question.

"Well, so what's the problem then? If Sensei allows Yori then we only need to ask the other guy," Ron suggested. "Where can we find this dojo?"

"There is no necessity in travelling this far," Clyde said. "I am the leader of the dojo."

"What?". Kim's boyfriend gave of surprised.

"I inherited it."

"But you seem so close to sensei!" Ron said.

"That is true, Stoppable-san," the sensei said, "The dojos have lived through a long rivalry but also a long and strong friendship. I remember when I saw his grandfather for the last time ... it was a few years ago. He was a valued friend."

Yori was curious. "I really did not know that it was your dojo. This is wonderful - I am sure your students learn a lot from you," she said. Clyde had to break it for her, however.

"Unfortunately I am hardly present there. I have a representant who learned from me and my grandfather. He is a worthy teacher though."

More and more news for Kim that impressed her. So many blank pages of Clyde filled a bit but there was still so much left to uncover. So far knowing that he was so intelligent that he was even Wade's mentor, that he owned a dojo and that not even Ron had a chance against him was what intrigued her the most.

"So what is this test?" Yori then informed herself. "You will go through a series of trials, everyone being of a different kind. By the end you shall have what you are looking for. The one who wanders on the Path of Bloom shall find out which flower shall bloom," her master said. Obviously to all of them it was one of the many metaphors he had in mind for the respective person. As cryptic as it was though, they knew it was just another way of telling her that it would lead to her growth. He did not actually have the telling of the tests in mind. Clyde also remained silent so the clueless ones kept it that way as they should find out on their own.

"Okay, Yori, we got this!" Kim said. "Where is this Path of Bloom?"

"I will guide you," Clyde told her. "But know this …"

Kim, Ron and Yori were waiting for the man to finish. For a moment he once again had his eyes closed. When he opened them again, he looked at each one of them after another.

"You are allowed to assist her. Only through limited ways, however."

"Wouw, hold it!" Ron replied. "You mean we cannot help her for real if she needs any?"

"In the first place this is Yori's trial," Clyde said, "She has to make it through with herself primarily doing the test. If you assist you need to follow certain rules."

"What rules are that?," Kim asked. She got her answer from the young man with the white hair immediately after.

"You are only allowed to use natural modalities and gadgets."

"Cool, no problem then, right?" Ron said. "Kim has her gadgets with her!"

"No, Ron-san," Yori said, "He speaks of no devices. It means we are only allowed to use our body and the strengths that we got through ordinary ways like maturing and training."

"Really? Aww, bummer …," Ron said. "But wait, then what about ..."

"You are also not allowed to use the Mystical Monkey Powers," Clyde said.

"What? But I got them by pure accident!" Ron told him.

Clyde looked at Ron, waiting for a moment.

"I am aware of that already," the man told Kim's boyfriend. "The powers though are sealed away, not to be achieved through normal circumstances. You are allowed to use the Tai-Shing-Pek-Kwar but not the Mystical Powers themselves."

This bothered them a bit. After all Clyde already said that he did not get them the same way. But as he did not want to tell them right now, they wanted to leave it at that.

"Wait, this is confusing ... so if Shego who got her powers from a meteor would be tested …," Kim pondered.

"If you refer to the assistant of Dr. Drew Theodore P. Lipsky, also known as Drakken who together with her five brothers was gifted with the Go Glow, then yes, she would be allowed to use them."

This answer alone rose so many questions for Kim.

"Okay, wait: How do you know Drakken and his name, what happened to Shego and why is her case different ...?" she asked. " ... and Shego has four brothers ... right?"

Clyde smiled. "Dr. Drakken, as you call him, is known for his formerly evil schemes pretty much worldwide by now. Especially since he tried to take over the world with the Little Diablo and of course took part in saving the world along with you," he answered her question. It was not really a question that the redheaded heroine needed an answer for though. Right after she asked she realized something like this would be an easy thing for Clyde to know.

"As far as Miss Go is concerned ... let's just say, it does not require an immense amount of research to find out about Team Go. Her brothers are not the most stern people when it comes to secrecy. The meteor however, other than with your boyfriend, caused a natural event and thus differs from the Mystical Powers which were reawoken through Lord Fiske."

Clyde then followed up, " ... and well, Miss Go indeed has five brothers. The oldest one is not an actual part of Team Go, even though he also possesses the Go Glow. This is the trickiest answer to all your questions as he ... who calls himself "Yougo" is the most responsible one and likes to stay away from public."

Kim was a bit ashamed. Impressed as usual, but ashamed. All of these things truly were no real problem for a person like Clyde to find out. The exceptional one about Shego's oldest brother was the most interesting tidbit of info for her though as she did not know it. Normally something like this should be easy to find out as well, but since no one of Team Go ever mentioned the other sibling and once when she asked Wade about more info concerning Team Go, even he had nothing to say. This must have really been a well hidden secret. If she who still on a daily basis made so many mistakes called herself the one who could do anything because she was extraordinarily talented in many ways, she thought this young man could definitely be rightfully called so as well. She was the girl who could do anything and he was the man who could do anything.

Yori still stood there. She could not really work with all this information but she liked listening to Clyde as much as the others. His seemingly never-ending stream of knowledge was fascinating to observe and listen to. At least the way he demonstrated it.

"Alright then, I believe we can go to the path?" she said.

"There are still a few rules. But I will tell you the rest, once we have arrived," the white-haired man told her. "Let's go."

"I will be staying here. But my thoughts will be with you, Yori. Stay strong and find what you are looking for," her sensei said.

"Thanks, sensei," she then said.

Following Clyde, they went a spiraling way down the mountain behind the school of Yamanouchi. "I have never seen this path before, how can we get to the gate?" Yori asked.

"It is just another secret pathway that is not allowed to be taken without permission," their enigmatic guide said. "From your dojo though it is the fastest way. You will see."

Once they passed a certain point, Yori recognized where they were. "Oh, this looks familiar! So we are there soon!" she foretold. "Hey, KP, what do you think? How he got them?" Ron asked his girlfriend leaning to her with the back of his hand covering the side of his mouth.

"I don't know, Ron. Maybe he'll tell us some day," was the only thing she had in response. Of course she was no less interested than Ron was. Pretty much everything this man was about was interesting. Still, being witnesses of how the powers were reawoken by Fiske- with Kim watching through her gadget - they did not understand how Clyde could have gotten them a different way. On the other hand, so Ron thought, the Lotus Blade also had to do with the powers and was located somewhere completely different. "I'm pretty sure there is still lots of freaky stuff we have not seen," Kim tried to explain to her boyfriend. It did not really give them an actual answer but since it was true, there was always the chance Clyde got the same powers as Ron from a different source.

"Do you think I should ask him to show me how to use them?" Ron asked Kim. "Perhaps," she said. "I mean, he might be the only one who knows about them that much." And with Clyde already being so knowledgable in general this was a very realistic thought for her. Ron had to think about this. Right now he was strapped off his confidence. And he knew this was one of the many moments where the Powers would not be easily accessed by him, if at all. That in and on itself was another problem.

"We are here," Clyde said when they went through a row of trees. A big stone gate kept hidden what should await Yori and the others.

"Are you ready? You can still return, afterwards there is no going back. You have to do this in one go," he said to Yori.

Yori inhaled and closed her eyes. A big exhale followed. She waited for a good minute. Her breathing was very calm. When she opened them again she had a serious, determined look on her face that Ron had rarely ever seen from her.

"I'm ready to find the answers that lies beyond," she responded to Clyde.

"Alright. Then let's proceed," he said and touched the gate. It opened by itself like it was alive.

"This is the entrance chamber," Clyde said to them while they were looking around a big cave room with torches on its side. Two ways, except for the gate itself were leading to another place.

"You have to make your decision which way to go. Consider it the second part of the trial."

"The second one already?" Kim asked. "How can this be! We just entered!"

Yori understood. "Accepting the trial was the first step of honing my determination," she then said. Clyde nodded. "Very good, you understand just as fast as I know you for," he said to her which made her blush in flattery. "Thank you, your words are much appreciated," she replied.

"So, your next step is another quick choice. After that the real part of the trials will begin."

"Does it matter which way I go?" Yori asked. "Only if it matters for you," he said. "But know this: Which way you go will lead to different tests. You have to consider what you want to find out."

"I see."

Yori looked at both openings. She did not know what lied beyond. How should I know which one might help me?, she thought. Asking Clyde once again might have been okay at this point but she did want to try this out by herself first. After all she wanted to grow and for that she did not want to rely on someone else completely as well. When she looked around, she spotted some paintings on the wall that told the entire story of what would await and should help her with her decision.

"Hey, Yori, what's with that stuff?" Ron wanted to know. She carefully looked around. A few differently coloured paintings together with Japanese inscription were illuminated by the torches.

Kim also looked at them. Now she wished she could read Japanese. "Hey Ron …," she whispered. "You know a bit Japanese by now, right? Have any idea?"

Ron looked at the painting. "Uh ... oh ... well, I ... guess this one means you beat the first trial if you eat ... a bunch of flowers?"

Kim looked at him with her eyebrow risen. "Ron, you've just told me what the painting shows you! And I'm pretty sure that's not to be taken literally!"

"Ha, ha …," Ron laughed caught by his girlfriend. "Then I suppose Yori has to teach me more Japanese first."

Meanwhile Yori reached their side of the room as well. She had decoded everything now.

"So, have you made your decision, Yori?" Clyde wanted to know.

"Yes, Clyde-san! I know which way I want to go."

"Very well then. Let me tell you the last few things before you go about Kim and Ron helping you," he told her.

They all gathered in front of the man to listen to his words.

"Whatever you do," Clyde began to tell them with a strict gaze, "you need to let Yori finish every trial by herself. You are allowed to assist her as long as she is the one who handles the essential task."

"How will we find out what's too much?" Kim asked for everybody.

"Oh, trust me, the trial will let you know," he gave back his reply.

The three who were about to to the test looked at each other.

"How can the trial let us know?" Ron wondered.

"This cave has its ways to show you when you are about to cross the line, besides ..."

Clyde looked at Yori, then he continued, "... if Yori does not understand the test early enough to know where your limits are then she will not pass the test anyway."

Yori looked a bit intimitated for a moment but she could understand that. It made sense to her.

"I will not fail," she told him.

"You are also allowed to handle the situation in any unconventional way as long as you can finish the respective trial, Yori."

"So the rules are not all that strict, huh?" Ron asked.

"Oh, believe me, they are strict enough," Clyde said. "This wiggle room that you right now imagine is simply about the modalities of Yori finishing the trial. You still are not allowed to help her too much and she still has to understand and fulfill the relevant requirements."

Yori still followed. "Is it allowed to ask you if there is any uncertainty?" she wanted to know from the enigmatic man.

"You cannot ask me. I will not go with you."

They all looked bothered. "You won't go with us, not even to watch?" Kim asked.

"No, I will be waiting at the end of the trial. You two will be the only ones Yori can ask for help. Everything that I could tell her for the tests she can find out by herself. It will be okay if you find out earlier than her but, again, she needs to understand it truly so she with her own decision and action can pass the test."

"I-I see," the ninja girl said.

"So, how did you pass this trial? Who helped you and told you about it?" Ron wanted to know from Clyde.

"Nobody helped me and nobody told me about it," he cut it short. "I found out about how this test works all by myself."

"Oh come on! Not even sensei or your grandfather told you about how this stuff works?" Ron asked not really believing it.

"Yori's master passed the test after me," Clyde said.

They all were impressed. Judging by how young Clyde was, barely older than them, he had passed the trials very early. But also Yori's sensei had gotten amazing achievement then considering his own advanced age.

"Sensei, you rock!" Ron said. Kim was more impressed by the rest of what was said. Clyde was frighteningly good. She would have loved a sparring match with him. The thought alone made her fingers twitch. But she knew and had to admit to herself that she would not be able to do much against him. Despite all her pride though, she knew there was not much need to convince herself. She liked him and it was okay for her to say so. Her ego was not standing in her way this time.

"Okay, then if I may ask you, let's go, Kim-san and Ron-san," Yori directed her question at them. They nodded. "You can count on us!" they then said synchronous.

"I believe in you, Yori," Clyde said. "When we meet again you will have found what you were looking for."

"Thank you, Clyde-san," Yori said and bowed before him. Then she they went through the tunnel to their left.

"Oh, wait," Ron said and turned to Clyde. "What about Rufus? Can I even take him with me?"

Clyde's eyes followed the naked mole-rat that climbed up Ron's arm to sit on his shoulder. "Of course I know about the friend of Kim Possible's boyfriend," he then said with a very light smile. "Proceed with him. If he can help you, that is fine. But the same rules that I have mentioned, apply here as well."

They finally were on their way then.

Kim and Ron looked back for a moment. Clyde was no longer there. Like a spectre he had left out of their sight.

"Man, this dude is really good, did you see that, Yori?" Ron asked.

"No, Ron-san,", she said. "This is not the time for me to look behind. I have to look forward to were my future lies."

Determined she went farther on the path of bloom together with Kim and Ron.