Author Notes: I hope everyone likes chapter 6…I might not have Chapter 7 out for two weeks depends on how my week goes and felt this chapter came out a little rushed review and tell me how you like it. Thanks to Ron-Sama for pointing out that the scene breaks I put in to the story weren't showing (I really don't get how it converts stories over) I added in something that should show up now. As always please review.
Open the Door Chapter 6: Power Calls to Power
By
Darkcloud
Elder calmly watched the two exhausted teenagers as they ate their dinner. They had been here for almost a week and despite any ulterior motive he might have for bringing them here he had lived up to his word of pushing them to their limits. Immediately following school they had come to the estate and been forced to thoroughly clean some of the worse parts of his house. Their days had been filled with washing, organizing and heavy labor. While they had no way of actually cleaning the entire estate they had made good progress in the rooms that Elder actually tended to live in and use. Elder felt a small twinge of guilt at putting them through this considering his plans for the two but the feeling passed with a slight smile on his face.
Free hard working labor is just too good to pass up in this day and age the old man thought to himself keeping the laughter in his thoughts from ever reaching the serene expression on his face. Of course they might not be working so hard if they weren't using their chores as an excuse to continue looking for Monkey Fist. Not that they had actually told him about the "super villain" running around in his house, he was a little annoyed at that. Here he was an old man and they were leaving him unknowingly in danger, what kind of generation was this? Elder supposed that part of blame lied with himself since he failed to convince Young Possible that he was not a threat or at least not a threat to them.
That girl has good instincts he thought as he once again was reminded of his own love. But in this case they were proving to be a hindrance. Besides trying to find the location of Monkey Fist she had also spent much of her time researching into his own true identity. Her hacker friend was especially tenacious and had started doing research into the law firm that managed his estate hoping to find more information about him through their records. They had contacted him with their…concerns about the young boy finding information about himself or other clients. Elder had informed them that if they could not stop a 12 year boy from breaking through the defenses they had set up he could take his business elsewhere. They had offered to just remove the problem. Elder told them that should anything…untoward should happen to the boy he would take a personal interest in their firm and their other clients after which he pointed out there would be no reason to worry, their firm….or their clients, would no longer exist.
They had promised to handle the issue as best he saw fit.
It some ways it would be so much simpler just to deal with Young Stoppable but fate had intertwined the destines of Team Possible and it would do more harm than good to try and undo that. But that meant that to gain at least some small measure of the young hero's trust he had left small clues of his origin and identity for her to follow, certainly it was not enough for her to learn the truth of who he was but perhaps it would be just enough for her to listen to him when the time came. In the end the one real thing that might impede that trust was the fact that she felt deep down he might mean some harm to Ron.
Unfortunately that is not so far from the truth Elder thought to himself with a note of sadness. But what many refused to believe in this day and age was that the only way you could really grow stronger was to be hurt. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger was an ancient saying but still so very true. Most now try so hard to make things easier for themselves but in the end they merely weaken and corrupt their own spirit. Our challenges in life that define who we are and Young Stoppable could become very strong but the price of that strength would be a long hard road. And that was only if he made the right choices, if he made the wrong ones…..things could get bad.
But at least progress was being made with Young Stoppable. The boy was being forced to try and handle things on his own due to the secrets he was obliged to keep and Elder could see the stress of it getting to him. He wanted to ask for help, he wanted to go to Kim so she could fix it like she had always done. But being a man of his word meant the only way he could go to Kim or even Wade would mean breaking those vows and Ron would not do that. Ron was trying to be strong for Kim worried that his power would somehow endanger her but Elder could see the fear in his eyes and knew that eventually he would have to go to someone for help, someone who could maybe give him advice without forcing him to reveal secrets.
Once again Elder had to marvel at the boy's cooking ability as he finished up tonight's culinary treat, when he had set up dinner Elder had insisted that the three of them eat together. Elder thought it would have been just a good time for the three of them to be together without anyone being reminded of the burdens they were carrying while being a good situation for Elder to build trust with the two teens. For the most part it had been a success but the reason wasn't Elder cleverness, it was this food! It was so good that you couldn't help but to find yourself relaxing. Elder was almost afraid to admit but he actually found himself having ….fun.
﴾Scene Break﴿
Kim finished up her meal and after smiling at Ron and thanking him for dinner gathered her dishes and took them to the sink. Later before she left she would come back and do the dishes. Ron would of course show up and help her even though she had told him that she would do it herself. He made the meal after all and she thought it was unfair that he had to help clean it up. But he just gave her one of his goofy grins and insisted to helping, Ron didn't know this and Kim certainly wasn't going to tell him but lately those goofy grins had become almost as effective as her puppy dog pout. It was becoming really hard to tell him no when he did that.
Kim gave Ron one more quick smile as she left the kitchen, he smiled back and both knew they would like to do or say something more but for right now a simple smile would have to do. The redhead headed towards one of the many rooms they were cleaning intending to do some prep work while Ron finished his food and cleaned up some of the mess in the kitchen, Ron was a great cook but a lousy organizer. Her smile became a slight frown as she began to reflect on the past few days since they had admitted their feelings for each other; no one at school had any idea at all about the change in her and Ron's relationship and how could they? On the surface nothing had yet changed and both teens really didn't know how to handle the situation.
Kim flashed back to the kiss they had shared and took strength in the fact that she knew her and Ron being together was right but that one moment had happened in a near death situation and left a lot of unanswered questions. How do you move from being best friends to a couple? A few times since that first kiss she had tried to give Ron a real kiss but it had become really…awkweird. Kissing after almost being crushed to death…easy; kissing after finishing their homework…not so easy. They had several failed make out sessions and it was getting rather aggravating.
Kim sighed it didn't help that the both of them were keeping secrets from each other, despite some gentle prodding Ron still wouldn't tell her whatever secret it was that he was holding concerning himself and the Mystical Monkey Power. As a result she was holding back on her investigation into this Tiger Blade and the mysterious Elder….neither of which were going very well. Wade was still trying to translate the tome they had acquired from Elder's library. The weapon it spoke of seemed to be mystical in nature and was rumored to increase and magnify the power of any warrior with magical abilities who wielded it, especially those connected with the Mystical Monkey Power. Wade was pretty sure however that there was some sort of warning about the use of the blade but he had not been able to decipher what said warning was.
The investigation into Elder was not going much better. Wade had even less luck with his hacking that he had with the translation. He had been trying to find out more from the law firm that ran Elder's holdings but they seemed to have almost magical defenses. Wade had less trouble cracking into the pentagon than he did with these guys. Kim couldn't really complain as her own searched through Elder's house had proved almost as pointless. The book on the Tiger Blade was the biggest thing she had found and that was only due to Monkey Fist's ninjas. There had been small clues, plenty of small trinkets and scraps in books and papers that seemed to show Elder might be from the Far East, in fact Wade said that some of the tidbits she had sent him pointed to a small mountain school in Japan….but nothing really worthwhile. But all this just seemed to prove that there was some sort of connection between Ron, Elder and Monkey Fist if only she could find out what it was!
There had been one exception to all the stress and mystery of the past few days and amazingly she had Elder to thank for it. He had insisted that when Ron cooked dinner that he cook for the entire group and then that eat together. These meals had proven to be the most relaxing part of their day and Kim actually found herself having relatively pleasant conversations with Elder despite her feelings of mistrust. More importantly these few hours had been the sole time Kim found that she was able to act more like a girlfriend and less like a best friend around Ron. Strange as it sounded it was true and from the way Ron responded back to her she could tell the same went for him. While they were sitting talking with Elder they sat right next to each other, found their eyes lingering, once Ron's hand had crept into hers and they just sat there happily. Kim had been surprised at first that Elder had not complained like he seemed to do with everything else but had come to realize that it was due to the old man that they could be so comfortable in the first place. Unlike every other place they went, school, home or Bueno Nacho where they were instantly known and recognized as best friends….heck even missions weren't safe since most of Kim's villains seemed to know about her personal life as well….at Elder's home all the preconceived notions were thrown away, even the ones about each other. Also despite his verbal criticism Kim sensed that he may actually approve of their budding relationship.
Weird and kind of annoying really, she could not tell who's side Elder was really on and she needed to know if she was going to protect Ron. Kim sighed as she drug out some new cleaning supplies. Something was bound to happen sooner or later and then her answers would come, she just hoped it was in time to help Ron.
﴾Scene Break﴿
Pacing back and forth Monkey Fist struggled to keep his anger under control. Despite extensive searches they had been unable to find the location of the Tiger Blade. Why was the bloody thing so hard to find! He had been able to sense the location of the Lotus Blade when he was within a few miles of the school….if it hadn't been for the mystical barriers that had been placed there he would have been able to summon it without even entering the place. Both blades were supposed to have similar properties so he should be able to sense and call upon it once its location was known.
Fiske knew it had to be here and yet the blade's presence eluded him; it had been during his research into finding another way to claim the Lotus Blade that he had stumbled upon the existence of the second blade. Actually he had been hoping to find a way to create a new Lotus weapon when he stumbled upon a legend that discussed the first blade created by the forger of the Lotus Blade. Monty had been surprised since like most he had assumed that the Lotus Blade had been the first and only Blade forged for the Monkey Master but it seemed that when the Master had tried the Tiger Blade he had found it to aggressive and had commissioned a second more passive blade to be made in its place.
But while the Tiger Blade had been forsaken by the Monkey Master he could find no record of the magical weapon's destruction and began to look into where the blade had ended up. It had taken a small fortune but slowly he pieced together owners of the blade through the centuries. Only a few had actually been aware of the special properties inherent in the blade since only those who possessed some sort of innate mystical power were able awaken the abilities of the Blade.
Through literally generations of paper work he had managed to track the blade to this mansion and he was sure it never left. But still they had not been able to locate it. He didn't even know if the thing was still shaped like a sword after all the thing was supposed to be able to change shape!
Calm yourself Master the Blade is here he heard his ninjas say soothingly.
"And how do you know?" he asked angrily.
We can sense the presence of the weapon.
"Like you're able to sense me?"
No, this is not the same as when we feel the presence of yourself or the Chosen One. This is …..different. It is like a ghost of a feeling, it make our hair stand on their ends. While we regret we cannot tell you where the Blade is Master but we're certain that it is here.
"Then why can't we sense it?" asked again as the fury rose in his voice. To come so far and still be denied!
Perhaps it is warded as the Lotus Blade was?
"No I checked for all the usual wards that would have been used. I thought of that when I first found I couldn't not sense anything."
Could there not be unusual wards set in place?
Fiske sighed there were some ancient books he had not checked simply because the spells used seemed too needlessly difficult to achieve the desired result but if his ninjas were sure the blade was here…..wearily he retrieved some of his ancient works and began to research.
﴾Scene Break﴿
Ron smiled back at Kim as she left the kitchen, he really did love that smile, it was so full of warmth he hated the fact that he was holding back from her but in the end he had no choice he had given his word. He went back to his meal finishing his third helping; whenever he cooked for himself he always made sure he had enough for his appetite, unfortunately he loved his cooking almost as much as everyone else did. Elder for the moment was quiet as he sat sipping his tea, no matter what Ron cooked he insisted on having tea with the meal. Neither seemed to want to start up another conversation right now so Ron continued to let his thoughts drift. He wished he could tell Kim all he knew and not just because she was his…uh…girlfriend but she would be a big help. For the most part he relied on her to figure these situations out, she was the hero after all, but now he was on his own.
Ron had gotten the 411 from Wade on the name of the sword in the book being called the Tiger Blade but not much more than that. Did this mean there was another Blade out there like the Lotus Blade or was this just another name for the Lotus Blade? He knew the sword had been around a long time so it was possible. But if that was the case then why was Monkey Fist here? If it was the Lotus Blade it would still be safely locked away in Japan out of his reach, that meant that most likely Monkey Fist had somehow found a second Blade and from the sketches and descriptions found in the book it seemed to possess similar abilities. But if that was the case and somehow this Tiger Blade was here then how come he could not sense it? To be honest he had no idea, sometimes the whole Mystical Monkey Power just ended up giving him a headache.
Yesterday he had tried calling Sensei to find out what he might know but despite being given several points of contact he had not been able to through to him or anyone at his former temporary high school. Ron almost thought that Monkey Fist had somehow been blocking his attempts but somehow he didn't think Fiske could pull that trick off yet. Ron sighed and then quickly took a bite of his meal as Elder glanced in his direction, if he didn't come up with a plan soon he didn't think he would be able to take on Monkey Fist, especially if he possessed a Blade just as strong as Lotus.
Of course there is someone I could ask for help Ron thought as he eyed the old man still sipping his tea. Ron had not forgotten the speech that Elder had given him a few days ago. About how he had a lot of potential and soon he would need to face that potential, then almost seconds later he was up to his neck in Mystical Monkey Power problems. Kim didn't trust him and had basically ordered him not to tell Elder anything about Monkey Fist. Her reasons were sound as usual but for some reason Ron couldn't help but to feel like he could trust the old man despite all the evidence to the contrary.
Okay well if you are going to do it Ron now good as time as any he thought trying to get up the nerve to say something.
"Something on your mind Young Stoppable?" Elder said with an almost note of impatience in his voice as if he had been waiting for Ron to come to terms with his internal dilemma. Yup old guy definitely is a little creepy he thought oh well made my choice already.
"Uh, yeah, I have to ask you something?" Ron said. Ron paused for a moment as he collected his thoughts.
"Elder not getting any younger."
"Right, did you mean that thing you said earlier about me having a lot of potential?"
"You are not going to make Elder repeat himself are you?" Elder said as he glanced over at his Bo lying almost in arms reach.
"No! I mean I just think that moment you were talking about might be coming soon." Ron said as he looked for an avenue of escape. If the old man reached for that Bo he was outta here! Instead Elder seemed to calm and eyed Ron with curiosity.
"Why do you think moment is coming?"
"It's kinda of a long story."
"You brought it up Young Stoppable and Elder not going anywhere." Elder responded evenly trying to draw the boy out.
"Well it all started when we ran into this villain calling himself Monkey Fist….." Ron said and proceeded to give an abridged of the adventures he had over the years that had lead him to this moment. He of course left out any mention of the secrets he held but gave Elder a general rundown of the Mystical Monkey Power and the rivalry between himself and Monkey Fist.
"So you afraid that this Monkey Fist means more harm than your previous encounters?"
"Yeah I think he found something here (Ron also left out any mention of the Tiger or Lotus Blade) that he plans on using to increase his powers and then will probably take out me…and Kim." He said not wanting to think about her getting hurt.
"Now why you tell Elder all this?"
"Well two reasons first do you know of anything that he might be able to use?"
"Elder knows of nothing that would help you."
"Okay well I didn't think you would but that brings me to my real question." Ron paused gathering his strength.
"Elder waiting."
"Hey give me a second pausing for dramatic moment here!"
Elder seemed to lean toward the Bo.
"Okay! Dramatic moment over! I was hoping you could train me to fight!" Elder stopped leaning toward the Bo and gave Ron a look of surprise.
"Why not ask Young Possible?"
"Kim's my best friend, she would try to teach me as well as she could but she would hold back, if I am going to stand up Monkey Fist I need someone who will push me. Kim doesn't." he replied simply, while this wasn't the main reason for him asking it wasn't a lie either. He knew that Kim did tend cut him too much slack and he was the one who let her.
"Alright but how long before this Monkey Fist is supposed to strike?"
"I don't know for sure, it could be days or weeks he could even show up in ten minutes but I would be….honored for whatever you could teach me." Ron said partially falling into the mindset he had developed with Sensei.
"All right Young Stoppable you have been very upfront with Elder so Elder will try to be very clear with you. Elder would be willing to train you."
"Boo Yah!"
"No Boo Yah yet!" Elder growled back.
"Young Stoppable needs to understand what it is he is asking. Training with Elder is not easy like everything Elder does training is hard work. Probably hardest work bone headed American has ever done. Are you sure you can handle that?"
"Of course! The Ron-man is ready for anything you can dish out! "
Thwack!
Ron had no idea where the Bo had come from, he was pretty sure that the old man had not moved but nevertheless he was lying down on the ground grabbing his head.
"Elder being serious and would appreciate same courtesy from new student." Ron was not sure which one of three Elders spinning above him was actually saying that but he figured he should respond anyway.
"Sorry what I meant to say was I am very happy that you've agreed to teach me…uh Sir?"
Elder sighed, "Close enough."
﴾Scene Break﴿
Lord Monty Fiske was tired; he had been researching for hours and had found nothing that he could prove was being used to block the location of the Tiger Blade. The problem with these really ancient spells was that you could never tell the trigger so it was hard to find the spell in the first place. And while Monty was well versed in Magical theory he had no real magical powers of his own outside of the Mystical Monkey Power which was not the kind of power that could be used for true sorcery.
Maybe I should just break down and hire an actual sorcerer he thought to himself sighing but those guys were just so full of themselves because they happened to be born with natural magical talent. Plus they overcharged. He tossed the book to the side and reached for a new one to continue his research.
Master? A small minion interrupted and submissively came up to his side.
"Can't you see that I'm working!" he snarled.
The one voice was strengthened by the many and the reply while respectful was not quite so meek. We know Master but we may have found the solution to your dilemma.
"Oh really I wasn't aware that any of you could read. So please enlighten me what have you found."
We-I saw that earlier during our explorations. The small monkey pointed at the picture of a statue in the discarded book that Fiske had just thrown. He quickly reached down and picked it up. A small grin appeared on his face.
"So that's how they did it." He said a dark grin on his face as he gathered up his ninjas and began to plan.
﴾Scene Break﴿
Kim was starting to wonder where Ron was; even he couldn't still be eating. He had already been working on third helping after all. She pulled out her Kimmunicator and toyed with the idea of calling him. Since the surprise attack by Monkey' Fist ninja's Ron had insisted on carrying his Ronnunicator just in case she was attacked again. Normally they didn't need both communicators but he did have a point in this case, besides she thought warmly it was sweet of him to worry.
She heard a muffled noise, it sounded like something had been broken. Ron? She hit the Kimmunicator; there would be no doubts this time.
The familiar beep sounded and Ron's face appeared on the screen.
"What's up KP?" he asked.
"Are you still in the kitchen?"
"Uh…yeah sorry KP I felt like fourths today." Ron replied not making direct eye contact with the screen.
"We'll discuss your eating habits later, is Elder still there?"
"Yeah why?"
"I just heard a noise from another rooms and I'm going to check it out."
"Wait up KP I don't won't you going alone?"
"Sorry Ron we can't miss this chance."
"KP something about Monkey Fist's plan is bothering me, I don't want you going in alone, and I'm asking you to wait." Kim found her self stopping in front of the door where she could still hear the sounds of movement. She heard the pleading in Ron's voice but she couldn't wait, maybe she could stop everything right now before Monkey Fist even had a chance to get near Ron. She looked down at his worried face on the screen and tried to give a comforting smile.
"Don't worry I'll be fine, just get here soon or you'll miss the fight."
"KP—"his voice was cut off as she turned off the screen. He was going to be mad. She would have to make up to him later. A wicked grin appeared on her face at the mental image that passed through her mind. Now that is how a girlfriend is supposed to think! Kim thought to herself.
The redhead took a deep breath and with a strong kick knocked the door open. The room she saw was a bedroom with an enormous bed and assorted furniture. Kim was greeted by a scattered troop of ninja garbed monkeys who all stopped and stared at the young redhead. Mostly they were swarming around a large statue in the corner of the room. It appeared they were trying to move it but Monkey Fist was nowhere to be seen. She didn't get it, was the Tiger Blade hidden in the statue? Kim decided to worry about it later, it was time to kick some butt, she would figure out the rest after.
Another wicked grin appeared on her face and she got into a more defensive fighter's stance.
"All right boys time for some payback."
There was a shared glance and then moving as one the troop converged on the young hero.