StD - Diablo
Chapter 6 : Circle's Edge
For many the weekend passed without event. The Possible's had been a bit upset as Ron had simply vanished without a trace. No one, not his parents, friends or Kim knew where he was.
Feeling that there was nothing she could do, Kim spent the weekend in the company of her boyfriend Eric and tried not to worry about Ron to much. Wade and Felix had held a meeting with Monique, Bonnie, Tara, Josh and Brick to tell them of the current situation that Ron was dealing with.
During that meeting Monique and Bonnie shared the information that was revealed to them from the ancient book that Monique found. It was painfully clear that the prophecy was coming to pass and Ron was facing his trials. Each of them wanted nothing more than to help their friend but when he couldn't be found there was nothing they could do.
Another surprise factor came when Wade discovered the Betty Director had re-opened the Ron-Factor project indefinitely as a government funded project. This at least gave Ron a certain amount of immunity so that the research parasites of the government's genetic research teams couldn't touch Ron or perform tests on him.
Still this did little to tell them where Ron had vanished to. They had noticed that Kim seemed to be avoiding Ron and she wouldn't talk about him when asked. Several did notice the pain in her eyes when Ron was brought up, it was no secret that most of the students and now Kim knew of his secrets but only a few knew what was expected of him.
No one knew just what to do. The prophecy was happening and it was happening fast. Ron had already lost family and a close friend, next was a friends betrayal and a deception. It was as if Ron was teetering on the circles edge, waiting to try and guard against the final blow that would either make him….or break him, along with the entire world.
The following Monday everyone noticed that Ron was still absent. His friends and Kim were starting to get worried. Kim had a bad feeling clear down into her gut that something very wrong had happened.
"Any luck finding Ron?" Monique asked as everyone gathered in a group.
"Sorry no dice." Brick said worriedly.
"We checked all around the school….he's no where to be found." Josh added.
"I even called his house….no one answered." Tara stated.
"And I tried his cell phone…..nothing…." Bonnie said.
"I called Ned at Bueno Nacho…..he hasn't seen Ron there in the last four days." Felix said.
Hope and Marcella came running up. "Hey Kim….we checked everywhere…..Ron's not here." Hope said while her friend caught her breath.
"I don't know where he could be….I checked his old tree house before coming to school….and no one was home…..I don't like this." Kim said.
The Kimmunicator gave off its usual four toned chirp. Kim picked it up and answered only to see a very upset Wade Load.
"What's the sitch Wade?" Kim asked worriedly.
"Kim….I found Ron…..he's at Middleton memorial hospital." Wade said.
"What happened…is he alright?" Kim asked franticly.
"No….it's his dad….he had a stoke last night." Wade said sadly.
Kim felt tears stinging in her eyes, hadn't Ron suffered enough? He just lost Rufus only a few days ago and now his father was in critical condition….why was this happening so fast?
"Oh….no……oh….god….." Wade trailed off and paled.
"Wha….what happened..?" Kim asked but was sure she knew the answer.
Wade looked down at his keyboard, refusing to meet her eyes. "Mr. Stoppable….he flat lined…..the doctor just called it a few minutes ago…..he's dead…….Ron's father just died a few minutes ago…." Wade said softly.
Kim and the rest of them gasped. The boys bowed their heads in respect while the girls silently shed tears. This was horrible….Ron was losing everyone he loves and it was happening all to fast. None of them knew what to do for Ron….he'd always been there for them….but what could they do for him to ease the pain?
"Oh god…." Wade shuddered.
Kim was about to ask what was wrong when everyone suddenly felt a distant spike of energy…..and a what sounded to be a explosion. The sound was so far off though that they weren't sure what it was….only that for some reason there was a lot of pain within it.
"This isn't good….Ron's powers….I can't read them….they are to high." Wade said typing furiously. "He's letting this get to him…..and he's venting it through his powers…..he just laid waste to a large chunk of the Middleton salvage yard and in now tearing through the forest near his house….shit….he just vanished off my scanners…."
"Wade! Where is he…can't you use the chip to track him?" Kim asked worriedly.
"No….we removed the chip a while back because his powers shorted it out….dammit, I can't pin him down. Wait! He's in Japan…..but…..I can't tell where…I think he's at Yamanochi…but the area is so large I can't pin point his location." Wade said.
"Maybe I should go look for him…." Kim started.
"No Kim." Wade said softly. "Ron needs some time to himself, I'm sure if he is at Yamanochi he is seeking guidance from his Sensei…..he'll come back when he's ready to. Wade out."
Kim sighed sadly and put her Kimmunicator back in her pocket. She wished that Ron would come to her for comfort or support but he just seemed to be growing more distant. In some ways though Kim couldn't really blame Ron for becoming so distant. He had been suffering one tragic loss after another and she knew it was eating him alive.
Ron slowly walked up the long mountain trail to the secret martial arts school called Yamanochi. He had just lost his father and Rufus and his grandmother before that. The pain in his heart was so heavy that it threatened to consume him.
He knew he needed guidance and the best person he had left for such help was Master Sensei. The elderly man was much like a grandfather to him and always had good advice to help him in his times of need.
"Stoppable-san…..I have been expecting you." Sensei said solemnly as Ron walked through the main gates of the secret school.
"Master Sensei…..I….I need guidance." Ron said as a few tears trickled down his cheeks. "I know I have a duty to fulfill….but this pain….it hurts so much."
Master Sensei sighed sadly, his heart went out for the young warrior before him. "I know this my boy, the prophecy is coming to pass and you are suffering great losses. But I sense that guidance isn't the only reason you have come." Sensei said.
"Like you said Sensei…..the prophecy is coming to pass." Ron replied sadly. "The time has come for me to accept the other sword this school guards, I have come to claim the Dragon Blade so that I can protect the world and take my full place as the Warrior of Light."
Sensei bowed. "You do us and your ancestors great honor this day Stoppable-san. Even in your time of great sadness you stand up and ready to face what lies before you. Believe in yourself and your power and you will be unstoppable."
Ron sighed and nodded. "I know Sensei…..I just wish I could have done something to save my family and Rufus….I really miss them." Ron stated quietly. "This power….it's my gift….my curse….but if it will allow me to keep innocent people safe from harm then I gladly accept both my fate and destiny."
"I am very proud of you this day Stoppable-san, few could go through losses such as you have and still have the strength or desire to help others." Sensei said proudly.
Ron gave his mentor a sad smile. "Thank you Sensei…..but it is those that I have lost, their memories give me strength and it's those who I love and wish to protect that give me reason."
"You have much wisdom….are you sure you truly needed guidance?" Sensei asked.
"I guess what I really needed was someone to talk to that would understand my problem. Thank you for listening." Ron said feeling a bit better.
"Anytime you wish to speak to me you are more then welcome to Stoppable-san. Now it is time for you to claim your birthright." Sensei said.
Ron nodded and held out his left hand, in a flash of blue light the Lotus blade appeared in its masters waiting hand. Ron looked at the temple that housed the remaining blade. "I Ronald Dean Stoppable here by claim the Dragon Blade, sister sword to the Lotus Blade. Come to me now!" Ron barked.
A bright flash of green light appeared before him and there hovering in the air was the Dragon Blade. Its blade was a rich emerald green color and gave off a soft green glow. Ron grasped the sword in his right hand and it flared brightly before shifting into a armlet along with it's blue colored twin.
Sensei nodded approvingly at Ron. "It is done….you know hold both of the mystical swords of Yamanochi. Now you can face what lies before you and may the blades serve you well." Sensei stated with a bow.
"One more thing before you go Stoppable-san." Sensei said. "Are you aware that your powers are no longer a secret to those around you?"
Ron nodded. "Yes Sensei…..I am partially to blame for that and it seems my friend Monique found the book Monkey Fist dropped a couple of years ago. The secret is out but for once I really don't care anymore…..it's better this way." Ron answered.
"Agreed." Sensei said. "Our scrolls foretold of a time when your power would become generally known. Never hide who you really are Stoppable-san, be proud of what you are and protect those you care for. Remember….Yamanochi will always welcome you." Sensei said and walked off.
Ron watched his teacher walk away, the pain in his heart was still there but it would eventually heal. For whatever reason that things had happened so fast it was now moot. Ron knew he had a duty to fulfill and nothing was going to stand in his way. Ron the turned around and in a flash of blue light vanished.
"Do you think Stoppable-san is ready for the next trial Master Sensei?" Yori asked coming out of the shadows.
"Stoppable-san is the strongest warrior ever recorded in history in both heart and body. His pain will eventually pass and he will continue to honor us. This next trial will be what decides the fate of this world…..weather or not Stoppable-san will become the true Warrior or….The Destroyer." Sensei sighed, he had faith in his student but in the end it was up to Ron weather he fought against the darkness or joined it. "Have faith in him Yori….that is all that we can do now is have faith in him."
Dr. Betty Director sat in her office at Global Justice Headquarters going over various files and past mission logs. She along with Wade Load and Felix Renton had been one of the first to find out about Ron's awesome powers.
It was because of the Ron-Factor project that she found out. But seeing as the data could cause allot of misery to Ron, she substituted the original data for some fake date she and Wade Load had made up so the government wouldn't cause Ron problems.
Normally she wouldn't concern herself with such things but she knew a hero when she saw one….she knew Ron would always be needed and she was more than happy to help see to it that he would remain safe from the pencil pushers of the Pentagon or their scalpel happy researchers. Besides Ron was her friend and she never turned her back on a friend.
It was at that moment that Ron appeared in her office from a flash of blue light. Betty jumped only a bit as she had gotten used to him teleporting in and out of GJ HQ. "Good afternoon Ron…I heard about your father….you have my condolences." Betty said.
"Thanks Betty." Ron sighed. "So is the Ron-Factor project back up and running like we talked about?" He asked.
Dr. Director nodded and placed a metal box in front of Ron. "As of 7 am this morning the project was officially re-started and you were approved as a full free agent in Global Justice. In that box is your license, badge, side arms and various GJ standard issue tools. The side arms are Desert Eagle .357 semi-automatics like you requested….I pray that you never have to use them." Betty said.
"Same here." Ron stated. "At any rate Wade and I are working on non-lethal ammo that can be used in them….but if it ever comes to it…..I will use them if needed."
"Also due to your status you have been given partial immunity, the government cannot touch you unless you perform a crime. Your concealed weapons permits are also in there as well as top level military clearances and privileges." Betty added.
Ron nodded. "What about KP? I know she was accepted as a junior agent a few months ago."
"Ms Possible won't have your clearance because she doesn't have your abilities. Your status is from direct request from the president and the United nations. If you prove yourself worthy of it you will eventually be given full immunity…..there is however a small price." Dr. Director stated.
"I figured as much." Ron sighed.
Betty nodded. "Besides your usual missions with Kimberly you might be called upon to handle high danger missions or seek and destroy missions. Those missions must be done solo and without help from outside sources."
"I can agree to that so long as I'm not asked to assassinate anyone unless the reason is a global threat….you know how much I hate to kill. I only do it if there is no other choice." Ron stated as a haunted look crossed his eyes for but a second.
"I know….I'll try to send any missions like that to one of our trained specialists. Are you absolutely sure this is what you wish to do Ron?" Betty asked.
"I'm sure…..this way I can do my duty better and as a free agent I can live a mostly normal life….so long as I am kept top secret among the lower levels of the government." Ron said.
"That has already been taken care of Ron, you will not be called upon unless there is a global or national high level threat." Betty said with a sigh.
"Then it's settled then, you know how to get me if I'm needed….until then." Ron said, grabbed his box of equipment and vanished in a flash of blue light.
Betty sat back in her chair and let out a breath that she hadn't realized she was holding. She had been worried that Ron wouldn't have accepted the terms given to him. It had helped that the president was her uncle and that she could reason with him on a personal level.
She then let a small smile grace her lips and a slight blush cover her cheeks. Ron was one hell of a man and if he'd been a few years older……she'd let him see more than just what was under her eye patch. Kim Possible was indeed a very lucky young woman.
After depositing his box of GJ equipment at his home Ron then spoke to his mother in the living room. She was tearfully making the arrangements for Edward's funeral. After a few moments Ron assured her that everything would turn out alright in the end. Taking some comfort in her sons words Ellen watched as he grabbed his biker jacket and walked out the door to catch the rest of his school day.
She could tell that her sons pain was still very fresh but being the strong young man that he was he wasn't letting it stop his life. She was very proud of her son and she knew that her husband had been as well. Both had known about Ron's powers and gifts but only Ron and a few others knew of the Prophecy. But being a mother she knew that her son had many trials in life ahead of him and she hoped with all her heart that he was strong enough to make it through them.
Kim was beyond stressed at this point, her confusion wasn't helping and it was leading to small temper outbursts. Ron had shown up a little bit ago to finish off the school day and pick up his homework for his missed lessons.
It was clear that he was still in pain over Rufus's death a few days ago and now his fathers this morning. But other than a small hello and slight pleasantries Ron seemed to be avoiding her and his other friends.
She knew he needed time to recover but she wanted to talk to him….to help him ease the pain. But how could she do that when he was so damn emotionless all the time. It seemed like the only time he ever showed emotion anymore was when he was angry.
Ron lazily walked through the halls as his mind flooded with thoughts of all his problems as of late. He was stressed to the max….there was no doubt about that but with everything happening so fast he had little time to deal with the stress.
The other problem that was big on his list was that damn Eric Mitchell. So far Monique, Brick and Tara had been keeping an eye on him and Ron had done some of his own snooping. However they had pulled up very little proof that he was what they thought he was.
Wade had finally managed to pin him down for a second to run a scan only to find that his body had some type of anti-scan shielding on it. To make matters even worse Kim was clearly very smitten with the jerk….so without proof she would never believe him or anyone else that Eric was not human.
Ron let out a sad sigh, was Kim the next one he was going lose? Would it be his mother or one of his friends. With the pain still fresh from his losses he wasn't sure if he could hold his emotions under control if he were to lose someone else. Seeing Kim with Eric was bad enough as it was…..it was slowly tearing him apart and added with the loss of Rufus, his dad and his grandmother he was about to snap.
As Ron walked through the long empty halls lost deep in thought he never saw the shadowy figure that appeared behind him. The figure had a Louisville slugger in hand and a evil grin as he raised the bat up.
"WWHHAAAMMM! CRRRAAACCCKKKK!"
Kim, Monique and Bonnie had gathered together to find Ron and talk to him. They were very worried about him and hoped to offer some kind of help to him. They had checked everywhere. He wasn't found at any of his usual haunts, the gym, weight room, pool, and cafeteria were all void of Ron.
As they walked through the halls leading to the shop and garage area of the school the lights began to flicker madly. It was as if there was a massive surge of power going through them. The girls then looked at each other, their eyes wide with realization and fear. It was Ron…he was close and very, very angry.
All three took off in a dead run hoping they were close. After a few halls they rounded a corner and came upon a sight that made all three of them freeze in their steps. Kim gasped as Bonnie and Monique gawked from a short distance.
"RON!" Kim screamed. "What are doing to my boyfriend! Put him down!"
She stared in horror as Ron Stoppable, her best friend, held Eric Mitchell her boyfriend up by his neck strangling him. Bonnie and Monique were soon at her side and gasped at the scene before them.
Ron's features were twisted in a scowl that looked to be a mixture of Rage and pain. The look on his face was enough to send the demon prince himself running in fear for his pathetic existence. None of them had ever seem a look of such pure hatred on Ron's usually gentle features.
Ron let out a low primal growl and dropped Eric harshly to the ground. He turned around to look at the three frightened and upset women, his eyes cold and hard. Unconsciously the three girls took a step back from Ron as fear began to wash over them but concern kept them rooted to their spots.
"Your boyfriend." Ron growled in a icy tone. "That sawed off son of a bitch tried to cave the back of my skull in with a fucking baseball bat!" Ron roared and pointed to the splintered, bloody remains of a Louisville Slugger.
"I did do it!" Eric cried out in fear. "I…I swear it! Help me…..he's going to kill me!" Eric begged franticly.
Kim was confused. Clearly her boyfriend was terrified of Ron and no one else was in the hall. But Eric was such a sweet and gentle guy….there was no way that he would attack Ron. She just knew it….it had to be someone else.
Bonnie and Monique immediately went to Ron and checked for injuries. Sure enough there were several large splinters of wood poking out the back oh his head and a very large gash that was seeping blood.
"Ron is telling the truth K….he has a nasty wound here." She said while removing a large blood soaked splinter.
"I didn't do it!" Eric said shakily as he back peddled from Ron.
Ron let out another growl as the final splinter was removed. He began to get tipsy from the blow to his head and leaned up against a locker, resting his head on it.
"Let's get you to the nurse's office Ron." Monique said worriedly.
"NO!" Kim said in a demanding voice. "No one leaves here until this is settled." She turned to Eric. "Did you or did you not hit Ron over the head?" She asked sternly…she wasn't sure who to believe at the moment but she wanted this settled.
Eric's eyes welled with tears that began to fall down his cheeks. "I…I didn't….please you have to believe me….I swear it! I would never……I…..couldn't…..I'm scared!" Eric sobbed out.
"Boy there is no one else in this hall and you expect us to believe you!" Monique asked incredulously.
"I didn't DO IT!" Eric cried out.
"It's okay Eric." Kim soothed. "I believe you….someone else must of done this and we will find out who."
Bonnie and Monique gawked at how blind Kim was being. Monique's eyes widened. "Oh god….the prophecy…..it's coming true…..oh god." She shuddered as she whispered to herself. Bonnie heard her and shuddered as well.
Ron lifted his head from the locker, blood from his wound had pooled up on the back of his head and was now running down the carbon steel door.
"There is no one else in this hall Kim….that little bastard did it!" Ron said his voice raising slightly.
"Ron you're just over reacting….do you have absolute proof that Eric was the one that hit you?" Kim challenged.
"PROOF! How about the word of your best friend dammit?" Ron roared.
"And how am I supposed to believe you when you've been doing nothing but lying to me for years Ron! I'm telling you that Eric couldn't have done it!" Kim cried out, she was tired of all the lies and hiding Ron did…she wanted some truth for a change and she was going to get it.
Ron felt like he got slapped in the face, he had kept his secrets mainly to keep her safe. Not that those secrets mattered anymore as almost everyone knew. "What the hell is your damage! You know I had to keep those secrets or people might of gotten hurt! Why are you being so damned ungrateful, I did my best to spare you my problems?" Ron snarled.
Kim's temper flared, how dare he accuse her of being ungrateful when she was the one that had to put up with his lies for four years! "Ungrateful!" Kim growled. "How the hell do you think I felt watching you act like a damn loser for all those years, hell there were times I would have been better off without you fumbling around while trying to keep up your precious façade! If you weren't so damned pathetic then you would have faced life instead of hiding behind me and a damned lie!" Kim shouted and a part of herself deep down inside could hardly believe the horrible words she had just uttered. This wasn't what she wanted…she wanted to help Ron not hurt him…but it was to late.
Ron closed his eyes as his temper flared and his power roared within him. "So that is what she really thinks of me…..well then so fucking be it!" Ron thought savagely.
Every light in the schools halls shattered with loud pops. The entire school was thrown into pitch blackness save for one hall. That hall was lit by the eerie cold ice blue glow of Ron Stoppable's eyes.
Kim stepped back in pure fear. "What have I done…..I…..oh god….what have I done? I don't know who to believe….what do I do….can this be fixed…..what…HAVE I DONE!" Kim's mind screamed as she remained rooted to her spot in fear.
"Ron….I…." Kim started shakily as she stared into cold, lifeless and emotionless glowing eyes.
"Save it Possible." Ron's deep icy cold voice said. The walls seemed to rumble and tremble with suppressed rage in spite of his tone being low.
"For most of my fucking miserable life I have lived in your damned shadow. I took lumps, injuries, insults and pain all to make sure your ass was fucking safe. Even at times when you treated me like I was shit beneath your shoe I remained just to make sure you were safe and happy. I never fucking wanted anything in return but friendship….someone I could count on when I needed them…..I see that my time was wasted." Ron snarled. "No more…..I'm done….never again."
"Wha…what do you mean….?" Kim asked as a lump settled into her now upset stomach.
"Just what I fucking said Possible….WE ARE FINISHED!" Ron growled. "Find someone else to walk all over, lick your damn boots and take your damn lumps. I will sit in your shadow no more….from this point on I work alone. Let's see how you like doing your missions solo. Goodbye Kim….I hope you are happy."
Kim felt a hole open in her heart as his words buried themselves within her. Ron then turned around and began walking away. Soon he vanished into the darkness and all that was left was a confused and upset Kim Possible. She had just watched her best friend walk out of her life and this time….it seemed that it was for good.
Off in the distance the sound of a motorcycle roaring to life and then tires squealing echoed through the deadly quiet walls of Middleton High. The final part of the prophecy had come to pass…..the betrayal of a friend.
Kim's sad desperate eyes looked at her friends only to see looks of shame and pity in their eyes before they walked away. She turned to look at her frightened boyfriend only to find that he had run off in fear when Ron's powers spiked. So Kim found herself standing alone in a dark lonely hallway that was black as pitch…..she dropped her head in utter defeat and walked off as he mind tried desperately to find the answers as to why she went off like that.
As school let out for the day no answers had come to Kim and despite all her efforts to call Ron to talk things out they had been fruitless. Eric took her to his motorcycle and gave her a ride home telling her how sorry he was for what happened.
Kim let out a sad sigh as she watched her boyfriend ride off into the distance….at least she hadn't lost him.
Ron stood by himself at the top of Mount. Middleton. The freezing winds would make most men wish for a tropical climate, but for Ron it almost felt welcome and it suited his mood. He looked out over the scenery, vast forests and Middleton could be seen in the distance as the sun slowly set on the horizon.
Ron slowly lifted up his arms to look at the green and blue armlets that rest on his wrists. A single tear fell from sad brown eyes as all the pain from the last four days finally washed over him.
Ron fell to his knees as tears began streaming from his eyes, he bent back his head and cried out into the heavens. His piercing howl was filled with pain, torment and greif as it echoed through the mountains valleys. Unable to hold it in any longer Ron released control of his powers as his body lifted from the snowy, rocky ground and was engulfed in a pillar of blue light that shot into the sky and parted the clouds.
His cries of pain and anguish continued as the winds around his swirled angrily, Lightning cut the sky as thunder cracked and rain suddenly fell with a mixture of ice in a storm of rage. The entire mountain seemed to tremble as four pillars of fire appeared around the blue pillar. The flames danced wildly in the winds and then just as soon as it started everything ceases and went silent save for the slight sobs of Ron Stoppable who now was on his hands and knees in the snow.
Feeling only a little better Ron stood back up and dried his tears as he regained his composure. "So….this is it huh?" He spoke out into the icy winds. "I've finally lost her…..I always knew this would happen someday….but I hoped it wouldn't. Now all I have left is mom….I guess it's all for the best anyways." Ron sighed sadly.
"Maybe it's time to really move on with my life…..I'm still going to nail that bastard Eric…but….now there is no place for me with Kim anymore. We had some good times while it lasted but it's time for me to move on……I have a mission….a duty to fulfill and a prophecy to see through. I know I have to do this alone….and now it truly seems that is so."
Ron shook his head sadly as he gazed back towards the direction of Kim's home. His anger spent for the moment but his pain still eating at him. "It's for the best………it's for the best….." He echoed and then vanished in a flash of blue light.
Disclaimer : We do not own Kim Possible
Authors : DragonMaster & Doug4422 aka Epic Quest INC