Back in the den, Ron & Rufus were enjoying TV when Kim & Tara finally arrived.

"Hey Ron, anything interesting on TV?" Kim asked him.

"Just this show about a crime solving duck," Ron told her "didn't really think much of ducks before this, but now, I have a whole new respect for them. Wanna watch?"

"Not really my thing, but it's not like I have much else to do," Kim replied.

"There you are!" Mabel said, coming into the room "how would you two like a nice relaxing trip to our spa?"

"Yeah, no thanks," Kim told her "after seeing the rest of this place, I don't even want to imagine what the so-called 'spa' is like."

"I dunno, maybe it could be kind of fun," Tara suggested.

"I promise, you will not regret it," Mabel said.

Kim sighed "Okay, what the heck. How bad could it possibly be?"


A few minutes later, both girls eventually made their way to the parlor and found the "spa."

"And the fun just keeps on coming," Kim replied sarcastically.

"Welcome to the Mystery Hotel spa, where we help with all your beauty needs," Mabel said "this is my staff Grenda & Candy."

"Hi, I do massages," Grenda said in her masculine voice.

"I make hair and nails pretty for you?" Candy asked.

"I'd like a massage, I guess," Tara said, rather reluctantly.

"Just lie down the table and let my magic fingers do their work," Grenda said, stretching out her fingers as Tara did as she was told.

"Has anyone ever told you that your voice is rather, um, deep?"

"Yeah, I get that a lot."

"How about you Kim? Which of our amenities would you like to take advantage of?" Mabel asked.

"What the heck, since I'm here, just give me your best beauty treatment."

"Excellent choice," Mabel said "and don't worry, when Candy and I get through with you, you'll be gorgeous, well more so than you are now, and boys will totally throw themselves at you; if not, we'll gladly refund your money."

"I didn't pay you anything," Kim reminded her.

"Then never mind."


About an hour later, both girls emerged from the makeshift spa, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

"Wow, that girl may have a manly voice, but her hands were so comfortable," Tara said.

"Yeah, and look how well the other two did on me," Kim said, waving her freshly manicured hands "they washed and styled my hair, and gave me a spankin' mani-pedi to boot. I'm not exactly the biggest fan of this place, but that was actually enjoyable."

"Now what?"

"Whoa, check out the time. We'd better get to bed, then I need to look for Monkey Fist in the morning," Kim told her.

Both girls made their way through the front of the Shack, when suddenly, something caught Tara's eye. It was a necklace comprised of a metallic circle studded with various red jewels suspended from a brown strap.

"Ooh, that's a pretty necklace," she mused.

"You like that, huh?" Stan said, approaching her "yeah, that''s part of a collection of stuff I just acquired from around town. I couldn't let it go for less than, say, twenty bucks."

"I'm sorry, and you are?" Kim asked.

"Stanford Pines, the owner of this fine establishment," Stan said, tipping his fez "are you ladies by any chance guests here?"

"Yeah we are, but only because we couldn't find anywhere else," Kim told him "otherwise, there's no way we'd stay here. The rooms are ferociously small, and I don't know what the sitch with the bathroom is, but I'm sure it's not good."

"Are you with the Better Business Bureau or something?"

"No, and you should be lucky, or I would so report you."

"Yeah, well…" Stan began, until he noticed Tara still looking at the necklace "hey blondie, you want that thing or don't you?"

"It is nice, but I can't afford it," Tara replied.

"Here, consider it a gift, from me" Kim said, handing her the money.

"Oh Kim, you didn't need to do that,"

"No big."

"A pleasure doing business with you,' Stan said, as he took the money "and you ladies enjoy the rest of your stay. I hope to see you tomorrow at breakfast."

"Sir, let me just say, that, as someone who routinely fights super villains, you are one of the worst people I have ever met."

"You'd think I'd be insulted, but you'd be very wrong," Stan replied.


Back in their room, Kim readied herself for sleep, while Tara rolled her sleeping bag out on the floor.

"Hey, where's Ron?" she asked.

"Probably still watching TV," Kim replied "he can be quite a night owl something. I'm sure he'll come up here when he's ready."

"I know this is going to sound weird, but I get this feeling Ron isn't really into the idea of me coming with you guys."

"Oh that," Kim replied "well, this is going to sound stupid, but, he thinks if you spend too much time with us, you'll redevelop feelings for him or something."

Tara laughed "that is silly," she replied. "I mean yeah, I crushed on him back when we were sophomores, sure, but I'm over that now."

There was a pause, then Kim spoke up "I know it's none of my business, but, why did you and Ron never date?"

"Well, I think peer pressure was some of it, but mostly it was because, I knew we wouldn't last."

"How could you have known that?"

"If I had dated Ron, it would've caused a strain on your friendship," Tara explained "he'd spend most of his time with me, and wouldn't be around to help you as much. Or, he'd spend a lot of time with you and I'd get jealous. Either way, it wouldn't end well."

"We don't know that would've happened," Kim said "I would've been cool with it."

"Oh come on Kim, we both know I would've been a third wheel for you two," Tara continued "eventually, he would have to choose between us, and I know he'd pick you in a heartbeat; then we might have had a messy breakup and I might not be friends with either one of you, and I would hate that. Besides, I see how he is around you; I can tell he really loves you, and I don't think he ever could have loved me that way."

"He is pretty special," Kim replied, smiling happily.

"You're so lucky, no guy I've ever dated has ever loved me like that."

"You're a nice girl, I'm sure you'll meet someone who understands that someday," Kim assured her.

"Thanks Kim," Tara said "I'm glad I came on this trip."

"I'm glad you came too, if only to make these accommodations a little more tolerable," Kim replied "but tomorrow, stay out of the villain fighting, got it?"

"No problem," Tara said.


In the next chapter, Wendy meets the gang and invites them to hang with her, Soos takes Ron to his favorite arcade, and Drakken begins recruiting locals to help him.