Chapter 7
[Prison Hut—About fifteen minutes earlier]

Yori and Miranda walked across the green anxiously. For the former, she wanted to check on her husband. Despite the alter ego's attitude, she was about to do anything she could to fight for her man even if it killed her.

The latter was going to do anything to support her sister-in-arms.

"What if he's dead to us? If he's…" Yori worried.

"Don't believe that. Ron's a fighter. Especially if you're there," Miranda affirmed for her. They reached the hut to find the two priestesses standing there.

Cybelle motioned to the two ninjas. "You're clear to enter. Don't touch his bonds please."

"We understand, Auntie," Miranda agreed as she opened the door. "After you, Miri Chan."

"Domo," Yori accepted as they entered the small hut and the door shut behind them. Around them, she saw the charms and goddess' effects blocking Dahak's power. On the bed in front of them, she saw the man she loved sleeping. "Ron San?"

"Nice try, Sweets," Zorpox sassed. The blue hue, yellow glint in his eyes and the snide grin revealed his true identity to them.

"I don't care about you, Baka! Hold him down, Miri Chan." Yori instructed.

"Anything to shut him up," Miranda agreed while pressing down on his shoulders with her hands. "Lay it on him."

"DO YOUR WORST!" He spat in the Asian's face.

Yori wiped her face off effortlessly. "You are finished, Creature. Either surrender now or we will make you in the morning." She grabbed the sides of his head and locked eyes with him. "Ron San, I know you're in there! COME OUT! I can feel you! I LOVE YOU!"

He squeezed his eyes shut.

"No!" She wrenched his eyelids up and held them there. "You will hear me!" She locked lips with him, sending her love into him…

…and literally about to rock his whole world….

[Mindscape]

Ron lay exhausted under the continued assault of the storm and Dahak's buzzing about himself. Granted, for some reason, he hadn't felt the demon as strongly as in hours past. He wrenched his wrists forward struggling against the bonds that Zorpox had bound him with.

The bonds splintered but still held.

"Stop…can…do…this!" Ron groused at himself. He ground his teeth and thought to all of the people who had faith in him. His family, friends, Kim….Yori….

As he thought of his wife, the storm subsided and ceased. Brief glimmers of light shot through the clouds.

"NOOOO!" Zorpox's voice screamed.

"HAI!" a familiar voice challenged about the din. Yori appeared in front of him. She huffed from the effort of penetrating the defenses. "I…made it." She grimaced at the barren yellowed grass and the chill about herself. But when she saw him hanging on the tree like that. "Ron San!" She rushed over to him.

"Y…yori? YORI!" he realized.

"It is me," she affirmed. "I am here for you!" She grabbed onto him. "Fight with me! Free yourself!"

Hear her, Stoppable San! Sensei's image appeared as well. Your family is here with you. Dahak cannot hurt you here. Let our love and purpose fill you. Let our faith reaffirm your own. Stand on your own!

Ron strained and burned from the effort. He ground his teeth.

"You can do this, Ron San! As Master Sensei says, stand up! Believe! Believe in us! Believe in you!" Yori asserted. She felt the breeze growing warmer. "You're doing this yourself! You can do this!"

"I…CAN!" He yelled as he willed the numbness and burning away.

The bonds holding him fell away.

The grass started to turn green and bud flowers.

The clouds scattered allowing the sun to warm them both.

Ron slumped to his knees. "So much…so tired….Some man…I am….."

"Stop that!" she chided. "You are all man I need!" She kissed him. "Please believe! Do not doubt!"

He nodded. "I'll do that." He saw Sensei watching them. "Domo, Sensei Sama."

"We shall speak on this upon our return to Yamanuchi. I am glad you are back, Stoppable San. We should remember our friends as well," Sensei advised sagely. He disappeared from view.

"Follow me home," she bade while taking his hands in hers.

He nodded and a blinding light swept them away.

Cybelle and Miranda held Ron down and made sure Yori wasn't in arm's length as Zorpox fought the latter's effort to bring him back.

The priestess placed her finger tip on his forehead. "Goddess, boost Ronald's resolve! BRING HIM BACK!"

Zorpox hissed angrily and screamed loudly. Then he went limp.

"Ron? RON!" Miranda looked to her semi-conscious classmate and then to him again.

"Have faith, Dear," Cybelle advised while looking him over. "It's over. Dahak's been driven out and the Other has been subsumed once more."

"Wha…the sitch?" he groaned and tried to yank his hands. "What?"

"One minute," Miranda assured him. Getting a nod from her aunt, she undid the leather straps holding his bonds in place. Then he seized him in a hug. "You scared us! Don't let him take control like that AGAIN!"

He quailed. "Crap. He really?"

"Oh yeah. He most certainly did," Miranda pointed out. "He and Dahak destroyed the school. Then he took two shots at the Talon, threw me through the front window, fought the Protector four times, faced the Child, Clark and Lana once. He beat on us all pretty good."

"All? Kim? Yori?" His eyes watered as he saw his wife. "YORI!" He stretched and shook her awake. "Hey! You have to be all right! Don't sleep on me! GOT IT!"

"I…do…not sleep. I…" Yori's eyes brightened. "RON SAN!" She grabbed onto him desperately and kissed him for all she was worth. "Do not SCARE me like that again!"

"I'm…sorry…Last thing I remember was the pollen in the village….Then…." His head bowed. "I…I…"

"Important thing is that you're back. Now we need to deal with the problem," Miranda asserted. "I'm going to track Clark and Lana down and…." A knock came from the door. "Now what?"

Kim stuck her head in. "How's he? Sorry, Yori, I…." Seeing his normal skin hue and gentler expression back, she exclaimed, "RON!"

"KP, you're okay! Listen, I'm so sorry….I…." he started to apologize.

"Ron, CUT THE DRAMA NOW!" Kim nearly tackled him in a hug. "I'm so glad you're here! Don't EVER scare us like that AGAIN! Give us the 411 when you need HELP! GOT IT!"

"Listen, Ron San. Listen!" Yori affirmed as she joined the embrace.

"Got room for two more?" Rick inquired while joining them. "Go to it, Rufus!" He let the mole rat scamper across the floor.

Rufus barreled across the dirt and up the bed post to his humans' side. He grabbed onto Ron and squeaked, "MWISS YOU!"

Ron blushed. He knew he had a lot of making up to do but at least, his teammates and family had forgiven him. He knew his friends would accept him…albeit not as easily.

It would be a long road but they were all back on it…..