Chapter 1: Setting the Stage

The teenager spent the long flight in deep thought, which was an activity that did not come naturally to him. Sure he was looking at the movie screen and wearing both the earphones and a silly grin, but Ron Stoppable's brain was churning out some disquieting conclusions.

All the more disquieting because they didn't deal with his failures.

I actually succeeded, he told himself. I didn't have to sit back and watch other people do it all for me!

I held my own against Monkey Fist! I held my own against his pack of monkey ninjas! I BEAT Fukushima all by myself! I actually mastered some skills at the Yamanouchi School!

Most people would find pleasant memories by reviewing successes but not Ron Stoppable. For Ron Stoppable, the self-proclaimed loser and (when he got around to it), procrastinator this brought up some very troubling follow-up thoughts.

Maybe I CAN succeed back at Middleton. Maybe if I pay attention (ick!) prepare (yuck!) and put in my best effort (eewww!) I can actually make something of myself. Maybe I can even help KP on the missions, rather than just get in the way and lose my pants all the time!

He frowned.

But I promised Sensei to never reveal Yamanouchi or what I learned there. Sure, I can work up my grades at school, but what about the rest? If I start to actually accomplish things on the missions, people are gonna know something happened. If I (shudder) knuckle down and bring my grades up, I'll be able to explain away being better with the gear Wade gives us, but what about the tangling with the bad guys? I'm nowhere near KP or Shego in a rumble, but I bet I can handle the typical sidekick or hired hand now. How do I do this without letting on that I actually learned something in Japan?"

Ron stared, unseeing, at the movie screen. He didn't even hear the soundtrack. He wanted to DO something even while covering up the source of his motivation.

I'll just have to keep being the buffoon, he thought. I can be better without looking like I'm doing a better job. It will be my secret." He frowned. "But that isn't good enough. If I manage to do something right someone might not buy the buffoon act.

Maybe sports, he thought. If I join a sports team, that might cover for me if I let something slip." He liked the thought. "But what sport? It's too late for football, lacrosse or cross-country. I can't skate so hockey is out. Maybe I can (groan) ask Mr. B for advice when I get back.

I also have a lot of growing up to do. I've acted like a jealous puppy towards Kim since she's been dating Josh. Since I'm not in the running to date her it's time for me to just accept the fact that she's going to have boyfriends.

His mind made up, Ron settled back and worked on the story he would tell his friends, family and teachers when he got back.

Kim and Monique had of course deluged him with questions when he got off the plane. But for once in his life, prior preparation had made Ron ready for the situation. He produced some souvenirs, including shirts with a Japanese high school's logo for the two girls, without telling them that he hadn't actually been inside the school. He told them that the food was good, and let them spend the bus ride into town wringing the full story, slightly altered, about all of the damage he had managed to cause. He had worked the whole thing out on the plane, so he was able to force them to 'force' the confessions out of him. As usual, they reacted with horror, ill-concealed humor, and condescending affection.

Ron put on his usual, silly, dufus grin. The 'I don't care what happened because I don't care what happens next' grin.

The 'I didn't try any harder because I'm incapable of doing anything right anyway' grin.

The 'please be nice to me because I'm so incredibly pathetic' grin.

God, but how he hated that grin.

Finally, the girls suggested a stop at BN for some recharging. Ron declined. Both were shocked, but he assured them that he had a major case of jetlag. This was true enough and everyone knew that Ron Stoppable's second favorite activity was sleeping.

Monique hopped off the bus at the Mall stop for her upcoming shift. Kim and Ron got off at their neighborhood stop. Kim, of course, was overjoyed to have her best friend back. As they walked, she talked about the goings on around Middleton while he was gone. Fortunately, no missions had come up during this time. It had been a quiet week.

KP next started to talk about the goings on at the school. Who was seeing whom and who had done what.

KP, Ron thought to himself. You are my oldest, best and truest friend. You're a best buddy and a twin sister all rolled into one. But I don't think that you've ever realized how little the school 'food chain' means to me. You're not a bad person by any means, but you're high up on the chain and like the rest of you up there you assume that all of us bottom feeders are in perpetual awe of the actions at the top. Truth be told, most of us couldn't care less.

But KP was his friend, and she had supported him in plenty of his interests, even when he knew she pretty much didn't care. So he paid attention, commented and enjoyed her company all the way to where they had to split up to go their separate ways home.

She gave Ron a big hug.

"It's good to have you back RS."

"Good to be back, KP."

The rest of the day was as routine as returning from overseas could be. Japan had been such a peaceful, well-run country that KP and him had never done a mission there. As a result his parents had as many questions as his two friends did. Ron stuck to his story, holding back on some of the details that he had given KP and Monique. After all he was a teenager and hiding the worst of the story was to be expected.

Then he claimed jet lag and of course his parents insisted that he get some sleep. With that, it was off to his room. He unpacked his bags but didn't go to sleep. Instead he quietly (he was good at that now) slipped out of his window and into the woods outside his home.

He walked around the small woodland, mapping out secluded spots in his mind. He picked out various areas that couldn't be seen from the surrounding homes.

I can do my katas here, he thought. And my other exercises. I can run in the mornings (ick) before dawn. The tree house will be great for meditating. I can do this! I can practice Tai Sheng Pek Kwar in secret. I can make myself better and keep my promise to Sensei!

And I can become a secret weapon for KP.

With that a satisfied Ron Stoppable sneaked back into his room, hit the sack and dropped into a deep sleep. The next morning he woke up before dawn and sneaked back outside. In the darkness he stretched out then ran for several miles. False dawn found him performing Bo Katas under Rufus's watchful eye. As the sun was peaking above the horizon he sneaked back into his room.

At 7:00 AM Mrs. Stoppable pounded on her son's door to wake him up. Sure, he must be tired from all the traveling, but why didn't he ever get up when his alarm clock went off? She always had to wake him up!

That day, after classes, Ron approached his Homeroom where Mr. Barkin ran detention.

"Stoppable," Barkin said upon seeing him, "what are you doing here on a Friday when you don't have detention? Are you so conditioned to be here that you just can't help yourself?"

"N-n-no sir," Ron replied, over the giggles of the students in detention. "I was wondering if I could ask you some advice."

"Okay people," Mr. Barkin growled at the class. "I'm going to be just outside the door. Any funny business and you'll be spending even more time here. Stoppable, after you."

"What's on your mind?" Barkin asked as soon as they were out of the room.

"Sir, I hate to bother you with this, but I really want to join a sports team."

"You want to be an athlete?" Barkin seemed dumfounded.

"Not so much an athlete sir, but I want to get involved. Do you have any suggestions?"

Ron was pleasantly surprised when Barkin did not belittle him. In fact the big man looked up with a thoughtful expression, scratching his chin.

"As you know, Stoppable, it's too late for any of the fall sports." He paused. "You've got a reputation as a screw-up. Aren't you a little concerned that you'll take more grief while you're on a team?"

"Excuse me, Mr. Barkin." It was a new voice. Both Ron and the teacher looked over the newcomer.

Ron recognized the boy as Oscar Williamsen, a junior who was new to the school this year.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop," he continued, "I was passing by and I overheard Ron's question."

"I take it you think you have an answer?" Asked Barkin.

"Yes sir. Ron, have you thought about joining the wrestling squad?"

"I hadn't thought about it," Ron admitted. "To be honest I didn't even remember that we had a wrestling team."

"I hate to confess that I forgot as well," said Mr. Barkin. "You'd think that I would remember. During wrestling season, every lunch break means about twenty boys wandering the halls, holding their stomachs, and reading cookbooks as if they were erotic novels."

"I see that this school is the same as my last one," Oscar grinned. "But if it's fine with the two of you, why don't I take Ron down to the Pit?"

"The Pit?" Ron didn't like the sound of that.

"That's what the wrestling gym is called. I checked with Coach Winters when school started."

"Stoppable, are you interested?" Asked Barkin.

"Sure, why not?"

"Good," said Oscar, "this gives me a captive audience for my spiel on the way down."