I know I said that I'd post five of these at a time, but #11 got so stupidly long that I decided to post it alone. And by stupidly long I mean 26,000 words, so I even had to cut it into two parts. I will post the second part within a few days once I'm done proofreading it.
Warning: This one has dark themes in it and contains several character deaths. I usually like to explore villains' personalities and show different sides of them, but this time I wrote Monty as pure evil with no redeeming qualities. I know some of his fans don't like that, so don't read this if you can't stomach it.
The story doesn't really fit the prompt because my original idea kept growing and developing as I wrote it. I admit I was too lazy to rewrite it or to start a new story.
ME MONTY, YOU AMY
011a
011: Thought I needed this
DNAmy watched with anticipation as yellow glow surrounded the stone statue until it became so bright that she had to close her eyes from the light. Her heart was beating so fast that she thought it might stop from exhaustion, and she could barely remain still. Her Monty was coming back! She just couldn't believe it!
She wanted to squeal and jump up and down in her excitement, but Sensei's words were all too clearly burnt in her mind. If she did something and interrupted the spell, the consequences could be dire. So though she wanted to run over to where Ron and Hana were performing the spell, the two of them being the only people who had the power to do so, she stayed put.
It had taken her some time to convince Kim, Ron and Sensei that they should try to bring Monkey Fist back. They had all refused at first and told her that it was too dangerous and even that he deserved his fate for playing with forces he didn't understand. She just couldn't believe that. Surely this was all just a tragic mistake. Her Monty would never really want to hurt anyone that bad.
Amy had refused to take no for an answer, so she had hired a shady expert on Japanese magic and legends to do some research for her. The old man had told her that it was possible to release someone who had chosen to follow the Path of the Yono but that it would be very difficult and dangerous to everyone involved. She hadn't cared. She had told the man to start making the preparations.
They hadn't made it very far. Black-clad ninjas had surrounded them from all directions, and Sensei had stepped forward, saying that he could not allow them to continue. Amy couldn't remember what she had exactly said, but she had declared that she would never give up and she would have her cuddle monkey no matter what she had to do.
Sensei had stood in silence for a long time. Then he had nodded.
"Sensei?" one of the ninjas, clearly female, had asked in confusion.
"If he is to come back, it is better if it's on our terms," Sensei had said. He had gestured at the altar Amy and her advisor had been building. "Magic like this brings forth only destruction."
Sensei had therefore agreed to help Amy if both Kim and Ron were willing to join them and if they were allowed several conditions. Amy didn't know what they were nor did she really care. As long as Monty came back, nothing mattered. She had quickly agreed to everything that Sensei had suggested to her. Something about taking some power from Monty.
Now it was almost time. Her breath got caught in her throat as she saw how the yellow glow slowly started to fade, revealing the form of a man. He was still reaching out before him as he had been as a statue, but the terrified expression on his face had been replaced by bewilderment. He was blinking. Amy could see his chest move in rhythm to his breathing.
She wanted to run right to him and squeal her joy to the world, but she didn't. She was so happy she couldn't move.
Monkey Fist fell on his knees with a groan and held his upper body up with his arms, but then they gave in as well and he collapsed as a pathetic heap on the ground. He tried to move, but he was still too weak and surprised by his sudden freedom.
Ron held Hana tighter in his arms and retreated to where Kim, Yori and Sensei were standing. Amy barely remembered that they were even there.
"Monty?" she asked softly as she walked over to him and knelt by his side. She put her hands on his shoulders and felt him shiver.
"What… what happened?" he asked in a hoarse voice. His voice was so quiet she almost couldn't hear him.
"We saved you. You're back," Amy said.
"Back?"
"Yes! The horrible spell that turned into stone is gone! Now you will never have to worry about anything again. I'm here, and I will love you forever and ever and we'll be so happy together! We can forget all about this ugly Yono business," Amy said, finally letting her excitement pour from inside her. She wrapped her arms around Monkey Fist and pulled him close against her chest. He didn't resist.
"Yono?" he asked. He sounded curious.
"Yeah, but don't worry about that, cuddle monkey. It's all over now," Amy said.
Monkey Fist didn't say anything, but Amy could feel him shiver against her. Oh, the poor thing! It must have been so horrible to become a statue. She shook her head at how irresponsible he had been and swore that she would make it up to him. From now on, he would lead a lovely and peaceful life with her and they'd be together forever.
"Monty?" she asked when his shaking became more violent. There was a pitiful sound. Was he crying? She was just about to whisper something soothing into his ear when she realised he wasn't crying after all. He was laughing.
She instinctively let go of him when his laughter grew louder and louder until he was guffawing uncontrollably, struggling to breathe at the same time. He fell on the ground and lay there on his back, staring at the dark sky above him and laughing like he had heard the best joke of his life.
"He needs help," Ron muttered from the sidelines.
"Monty, what's wrong?" Amy asked.
Monkey Fist struggled to sit up as he finally quieted down. He wiped tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes and kept smiling, but it was far from a happy smile. Just looking at how his lips were twisted in a grin sent shivers down Amy's spine.
"Nothing is wrong. In fact, everything is just perfect!" Monkey Fist declared. He pulled himself up from the ground and swaggered a little, like he had trouble using his feet.
"Were you the one who brought me back?" he asked her.
"It was my idea, but they did it," Amy said and pointed to the others who were watching their spectacle with wary expressions. Kim and Yori looked like they were ready to leap into action at any moment and Ron was holding Hana like she was the most precious thing in his life. Sensei was entirely calm, but somehow Amy got the impression that he was the one who was the most prepared.
Monkey Fist put his hand on his chest as if he were deeply touched. "Well, I must thank you for taking the time to bring my destiny back on track. Unfortunately it doesn't mean that I will spare your lives," he said.
"Nice boasting, but you don't have any powers anymore. Our spell took care of that," Kim said.
"Oh, really?" Monkey Fist asked and lifted a questioning brow at them. He moved the hand from his chest and clenched it into a fist. A faint yellow glow surrounded it and he lifted it high like a torch so that everyone could see it. "Then what is this?"
"Sensei! I thought you said he wouldn't have any powers left!" Ron blurted out.
"Something went wrong. Stay back," Sensei said. He took one step forward and regarded Monkey Fist with a grim look in his eyes.
"Oh, don't tell me you're trying to oppose me. You can't have forgotten what the power of the Yono can do," Monkey Fist said casually.
"Our spell should have drained that power from you," Sensei explained.
"Really? So you were trying to bring me back as a useless shell who can't do anything with his life just to mock me? And I thought you were the righteous heroes," Monkey Fist replied.
"We brought you back because of her love for you." Sensei nodded at DNAmy. "There was no other reason."
Monkey Fist snorted and rolled his eyes. "What do I care about your reasons? All that matters is that I have the Yono's powers and none of you can stop me! The world will bow to me like it should have done years ago!"
"Do not be foolish. Even with those powers, you are not powerful enough to take over the world," Sensei said.
"We shall see about that. However, these powers should be more than enough to get my revenge on you," Monkey Fist said, and his wicked grin grew wider as he turned his eyes to Ron and Hana.
"If you try to do anything --" Kim started, but Monkey Fist's chuckle cut her off.
"Oh, please. The previous Yono defeated you with ease. Why do you think you stand a chance against me?" he asked.
"Maybe because we've defeated you every single time before," Kim challenged him.
"I can assure you that it won't be that easy this time. Don't you realise how powerful I am?" Monkey Fist clapped his palms together and a yellow aura surrounded him as he rose into the air. "I am the new Yono!"
Kim and Yori took instinctive steps forward with their hands raised in fighting poses, but Sensei stopped them with one movement of his hand. The young women turned to look at him in bewilderment.
"He is right. You cannot defeat him like this. You need to retreat and come back when you're better prepared," the old man said.
"But what can we do? I don't want to put Hana into danger again," Ron said.
"If you're done with your chat, I'd very much like to see you die now," Monkey Fist said from above them. He seemed to have mastered his new powers in no time at all and was sneering down at them with more malice than the previous Yono ever had. He brought his hands before him and released a wave of yellow energy at the heroes.
Kim leapt aside just before it would have hit her and rolled away. She jumped back on her feet and turned to glare at the hovering monkey man with brows furrowed in determination. She looked like she was ready to try and jump at him, but she had to dodge again when Monkey Fist attacked her the second time.
"Kim! Look out!" Ron warned her. He looked like he was going through the worst kind of torture. On one hand, he wanted to go and help his girlfriend, but at the same time he didn't know if he could let go of Hana. He made his decision in a split second and pushed Hana into Yori's arms.
"Hold her for a while, okay?" he said before the ninja had the time to object. He ran over to the middle of the make-shift battle field, waving his arms to get Monkey Fist's attention.
"Hey, you! Keep your hands off Kim! It's me you want, right?" he asked.
"Ron, stay out of this!" Kim yelled, worried that he'd do something stupid. She trusted her abilities to fair against Monkey Fist, but she wasn't sure how long Ron could keep dodging the man's attacks.
Monkey Fist paused to look at Ron. "Oh, don't worry. Your turn will come in due time. I just want to kill your girlfriend first so that I can see the devastation on your face," he said.
"But that's not fair!" Ron snapped.
"How so? You stole my Mystical Monkey Power and prolonged my victory all this time. This won't do anything to compensate for that!" Monkey Fist shot back.
Ron shook his head. "No, not that. I mean this," he said and pointed both of his hands at Monkey Fist like he was trying to underline something obvious. "It's not fair to fly there where we can't reach you and use those powers! Where's your sense of sportsmanship?"
"I'd say it probably died when you merely watched me become a stone statue and let me be buried underground," Monkey Fist said.
"Dude, that was so not our fault. You were asking for it with that whole Yono deal. Don't you ever watch movies? Making pacts with dark forces always comes back to bite you in the butt," Ron said.
"Could be, but that won't change the fact that I will kill all of you right here, right now."
"Can't you at least do it here on the ground? You know, using kung fu and no magic? For old times' sake," Ron suggested, but Monkey Fist only shook his head and chuckled.
"Don't even try that trick with me," he said.
"Huh, I guess you watch movies after all," Ron said.
While this exchange was going on, Kim crept closer to Monkey Fist. He was so high in the air that she couldn't use any effective attacks against him, but she could just about grab his foot if she jumped right. Again grateful for her cheerleading experience, she made a mad jump and caught a hold of Monkey Fist's left foot and pulled him down.
"I read bo –hey!" Monkey Fist was too startled to do anything as Kim's weight pulled him down and the two of them landed on the ground with a thud. Kim quickly made it back to her feet and prepared herself for the battle that was sure to come, bringing her hands in front of her in a defensive pose.
Monkey Fist stood up with no hurry and brushed dust off his ninja garb. "On the other hand, what does it matter? It'll be more fun to kill you with my bare hands," he said.
Kim wasted no time for a comeback but aimed a swift kick at Monkey Fist's side. He dodged her with ease, but didn't try to counter her attack at all. Kim growled under her breath, knowing that he was toying with her. It made her all the more determined to defeat him. She had always faired well against him in honest battles, so as long as he didn't resort to magic, she might be able to take him down.
Ron backed away from the fight and returned to Sensei and Yori. Both were observing the fight with worried frowns on his face. It occurred to him that all of them had forgotten about DNAmy, but he couldn't really bring himself to care about her at the moment.
"What are we going to do?" Ron asked.
Sensei turned to look at Yori. "Do you remember the cave where we found Hana?" he asked. When she nodded, he continued, "The powers of darkness can't harm you there. You must hide and prepare yourselves for another confrontation. You can't defeat him now."
Yori frowned at his choice of words. "But Sensei, what about you?" she asked.
"I will stay here to hold him back while you escape," Sensei said.
"You can't do that! He'll fry you!" Ron said.
"We can all escape together," Yori added in a hurried tone. She brought her hands on Sensei's arms to try to convince him, but he pushed her away.
"I want you to take everyone away from here and make sure they remain safe," he said.
"But --"
"Yori, this is an order. Do not shame yourself by questioning me." Sensei's hard tone caught Yori off guard and for a brief moment she could only stare at him with startled eyes. Then her demeanour turned equally determined and she nodded.
"Very well. We will do our best," she said.
Sensei closed his eyes and a blue glow appeared around him, looking almost soft compared to the bright yellow of Monkey Fist's attacks. This action caught the attention of the monkey man, and he stopped attacking Kim for a moment.
"Well," he said, "It looks like you're stupid enough to try it after all."
"Kim, over here!" Ron yelled at his girlfriend who had been trying to deliver a blow at Monkey Fist all this time. She wasn't hurt, but she was sweating and panting from having had to keep moving all the time. She glanced from Monkey Fist to Ron and since the villain's attention was elsewhere at the moment, she quickly ran over to the others.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Sensei is going to distract him so that we can escape," Ron explained.
Kim turned her head sharply to look at Sensei. "What? But that means he'll --"
"Yeah, we know."
"We can't let him do that! There has to be another way! I won't run!" Kim snapped, fury and determination masking her face. She clenched her fists and was about to run over to Sensei, but Yori caught her shoulder.
"This is what he wants. The least we can do is honour his decision," she said.
"We can't leave him to die!" Kim argued with an angry gleam in her eyes. She looked over to Ron for support, but her boyfriend's expression mirrored that of Yori.
"Kim, please," he said. "I don't like it either, but if you go there, you'll just die too."
"Nobody has ever died before. I can't let that happen," Kim insisted. She shoved Yori's hand off her shoulder with an angry wave of her hand, but she was stopped again. This time it was Ron. His lips were a tight line and his eyes so uncharacteristically serious that she froze in the middle of her movement. The last time she could remember him looking like that was when they had faced Drakken and Shego during the Diablo incident.
"Ron, we have to do something," she said, but now there was a pleading tone in her voice that sounded off even in her own ears.
"I know, and I wish we could, but we have to let Sensei do this. If we don't, someone is going to get hurt and… and I don't want to see you or Hana or Yori die," Ron said. He took a hold of Kim's hand and pulled her away from the battle. She followed him reluctantly, wishing that she could go back and help Sensei. It fought against everything that she considered right that she was just walking away and leaving someone in trouble.
"This is wrong. We should --" she started again.
"We should do what Sensei wants! This is about what he thinks is right, not about you!" Yori cut her off with an angry snap that startled Kim so much that she didn't know what to say at first. She had never seen Yori angry before, and from the look on Ron's face, this reaction was a surprise to him as well.
Kim felt a wave of shame wash over her as she realised that no matter how bad she was feeling, it had to be many times worse for Yori. She was going to lose her mentor, one of the most important people in her life. Kim didn't know what kind of relationship Sensei and Yori had, but it was clear that they cared about each other. If Yori was able to handle the situation, so should she.
She bowed her head in defeat and swore that somehow they'd avenge Sensei.
Monkey Fist smirked when he saw that Kim and the others had suddenly disappeared. It didn't matter. There was nowhere they could run from him.
"It looks like your friends have abandoned you," he said to Sensei.
"They're following my instructions," the old man said.
Monkey Fist chuckled. "Do you think you can ensure their safety by winning them some time? I'm sorry to disappoint you, but your sacrifice will be in vain. I will find them," he said.
"But by then they will know how to defeat you."
Sensei made no move to attack him, only stood there surrounded by his blue glow. It protected him from most physical attacks, but Monkey Fist was certain that he could easily destroy the man with the powers of the Yono. He only had to lift his finger.
"There is nothing that is stronger than me!" he snapped.
"What about the Han?" Sensei asked, and Monkey Fist grimaced at the memory of the baby defeating him and sealing him in stone. It had been an embarrassing defeat and the gravest mistake of his life. Or maybe not. If he hadn't been cursed, he would have never got these powers.
"I will deal with her when the time comes. I am prepared now; she cannot defeat me a second time," he swore.
Sensei shook his head. "You cannot destroy her. Even if you kill her, she will be reincarnated. There will always be a Han, just like there will always be a Yono, as you found out," he said.
"Oh, spare me from your nonsense," Monkey Fist said with a roll of his eyes. How come the old fool was still trying to cling on to his idiotic teachings and ideas? It was clear to everyone that he was going to die soon. The fact that he could remain so calm before his own death aggravated the simian man. Sensei should have been quivering with terror and begging for mercy.
Well, maybe Stoppable, then, he thought.
"I'm only saying the truth. Though you may not want to accept it, the powers of the Yono come with great drawbacks. You didn't get them without sacrifices," Sensei said.
"Oh?" Monkey Fist asked snidely. "And what are these significant sacrifices?" he asked. Really, what nonsense! He was the most powerful being in the world, which was what he had always wanted. He had worked so hard to get to this point that he was not going to let a senile old fool to ruin it.
"You can be sealed back into stone. You can die a mortal death and the powers will be given to someone else. You will always live your life in fear, glancing behind your shoulder and lying awake at night, wondering when someone is going to attack you," Sensei said.
"That only means that I will have to kill everyone who stands in my way!" Monkey Fist snapped. Having had enough of Sensei's babbling, he raised his hands before him and concentrated to call the power that was now sealed deep inside him. He felt a sense of warmth spread from his heart to all of his other body parts, growing more and more intense until it was so hot that it hurt. He didn't mind the pain; it was a suitable price for being able to use the most amazing power in the world.
The first flame of yellow fire was reflected off Sensei's protective bubble, but it knocked the old man back and almost made him lose his balance. He had been keeping his hands hidden in his sleeves through their conversation, but now he suddenly brought them up in a pose that Monkey Fist didn't recognise – and the next thing he knew was that this time it was him being hit. He stumbled and fell on one knee, gasping at the sudden pain that was so different and cold compared to the agony inflicted by his powers.
"You aren't invincible," Sensei pointed out.
"Maybe not," Monkey Fist said as he picked himself up, "but neither are you!" His anger at how easily Sensei had hit him seemed to fuel his powers for it was far easier to summon them a second time. It was also more painful, but he bore it with gritted teeth.
His next attack hit Sensei with full force and tore through his bubble. The old man let out a pained yell and fell on his back, the blue glow around him disappearing together with his concentration. As he struggled to get up, Monkey Fist let his hands fall to his sides and walked over to the man.
"I have no patience to play with you. If I can defeat you this easily, what do you think the pretender can do?" he asked.
"He is far more powerful than you," Sensei said as he gasped for breath. "And unlike you… he is following his destiny."
"A destiny that was rightfully mine! I will make him suffer in ways that you can't even imagine, old man," Monkey Fist growled. Sensei tried to get up, but Monkey Fist gave him a sharp kick to his stomach. The old man groaned but continued his struggle like an insect that just didn't know when to give up. Kicking him felt good after all the injustice he had suffered so Monkey Fist relished in the feeling of his foot connecting with the man's side. The sound of a rib breaking made his grin widen.
Sensei coughed and rolled over to his back, struggling to breathe. His face was twisted in pain, but he looked up at Monkey Fist with strikingly clear eyes.
"The harder you try, the more triumphant Stoppable-san will be," he said.
"Silence! I will have no more of your pathetic babbling!" Monkey Fist snapped. He dropped down on one knee and wrapped his hands around Sensei's neck, concentrating to draw the power from within him. He could have done this without magic, but he wanted Sensei to feel the true might of the Yono in his final moments.
Sensei conjured his own magic and for a while yellow and blue glow battled for dominance. Monkey Fist grit his teeth to stop himself from groaning at the pain the struggle caused him; he knew he'd win if he could just endure it for a little while longer. He felt Sensei's strength run out little by little until the old man was no longer moving or surrounded by his power.
"The pretender won't get an easy end like this," Monkey Fist said. He tightened his grip just a little more and chuckled when he felt Sensei grow limp. The struggle to get air into his lungs ceased and there was no more coldness around him, only the burning power of the Yono.
Monkey Fist wished that Sensei had heard and understood his final words to him. It suited the fool right to die in despair.
He tried to stand back up, but as soon as he did, a horrible wave of dizziness hit him and he was forced to fall back down. His head was spinning, and he found it difficult to focus on anything. The dull thumping inside his head was a reminder of the powers he had just used, maybe too much and too fast. He had to practice more if he really wanted to control the powers that had been granted to him.
"Monty?"
He blinked in surprise when he heard DNAmy's voice behind him. He had entirely forgotten that she was still there.
"Go away," he grumbled. Dealing with her was the last thing he wanted to do now.
He heard how she approached him, growing more and more hesitant the closer she got.
"Did you… did you really kill him?" she asked weakly.
"Of course I did! He deserved it after what he was done to me!" Monkey Fist snapped.
"But he helped me get you back. He helped you," Amy argued. Her voice was thick with regret and sorrow. Monkey Fist would have rolled his eyes at that if his headache hadn't been getting worse every second. It was just like her to be so stupidly sentimental and pathetic.
"And that was his greatest mistake. He should have known what would happen," he said. "Now leave me. I want to be alone."
Of course Amy didn't go. She had never listened to anything he had told her.
"But what are you going to do now?" she asked.
"I will go after the pretender and his friends and destroy them!" he replied. Wasn't that obvious? What else could possibly be in his mind but revenge? Ron Stoppable had humiliated him countless times and ruined his life. The boy deserved nothing but a most painful death.
Since Amy apparently wasn't about to leave him, he decided that he would leave her. He forced himself back on his feet and took a few defiant steps away from her, but he didn't make it very far before he almost lost his balance. She was immediately by his side, letting him lean against her shoulder and helping him walk.
"Didn't I tell you to leave me alone?" he asked.
"I can't do that, honey bunny. You're not fit to take care of yourself right now," she replied.
It struck Monkey Fist as almost surreal that she was still referring to him by those silly pet names even after he had killed a man before her eyes. It was annoying, but it meant that she wasn't as easily shaken as he had thought. And she did have a point. If someone decided to attack him right now, he probably wouldn't be able to put up much of a fight. He would have to be better prepared when he went after Stoppable.
"Where are we?" he asked. The surroundings reminded him of Japan, but he didn't think he had ever been here before.
"This is a safe mountain valley near the Yamanouchi school. I have a hover car hidden close by. Don't worry, the ninjas will never find out what happened before we're gone," Amy said.
Monkey Fist shook his head, a plan already forming in his mind. With Sensei dead, Yamanouchi was defenceless and easy to take over. Once he had rested, it should be no trouble to blast through the gates and declare himself the new master of the school. He'd kill everyone who didn't submit to him and start his world domination from the shadows with his own trained ninja army.
"No," he said. "I want to stay here. I only need a little time to rest."
"Are you sure? You look pretty bad," Amy said.
"I know what I'm doing!"
Thankfully Amy got the hint and remained silent for the rest of their journey. She led him to a small cave where she had a hover craft stashed and helped him find a comfortable position on the floor. He was too occupied by his thoughts of invading Yamanouchi to care about what she was doing, so he let her fuss and babble to herself about how he should be more responsible and not strain himself too much. She was almost too bright and happy considering the circumstances, but Monkey Fist didn't notice any of that.
None of them had said a word throughout their journey. Even Hana kept silent, sitting quietly in Ron's arms and merely looking at the rest of them with big, worried eyes. She didn't understand what had happened, but she could sense that something was very wrong.
Ron wished he could have been that blissfully ignorant as well. He didn't want to think about what had happened to Sensei and how he had just fled with the others and left the old man to his doom. Some Monkey Master he was! His actions had been those of a coward. The fact that the logical part of him knew he had had no other option only made it worse.
"It's here," Yori said as she led them through a small opening that grew into a large cave. It was lit by some sort of strange blue crystals that gave the place an eerie glow. When he stopped to lean against the wall, Ron noted how oddly smooth it was. The cave was probably made by humans. Several wooden boxes lined the walls.
"What is this place?" Kim asked.
"This is where we found Hana," Yori explained.
"What? In here? What was she doing here?" Ron asked. This what where his sister had come from? Somehow he had assumed that she had a more normal background… parents who had died or been unable to take care of her. It was odd to think that she had just been abandoned and that they'd probably never find out her true origin.
"We don't know. Sensei had a vision that we would find something important here," Yori said.
"Okay, now you're kind of giving me the creeps," Ron said.
"It was destiny that she was sent our way. There is no other explanation."
Ron decided to ignore that for the time being. His head was already spinning from what had happened with Monkey Fist and Sensei. The last thing he needed to think about was whether his little sister had something to do with legends or not.
He swallowed a lump in his throat when his thoughts were turned to Sensei. If he had known that it would come to this, he would have never agreed to help DNAmy. Monkey Fist should have remained sealed away for all eternity. Ron didn't know if he wanted to cry for Sensei or smash his fist into the wall in anger, but he did neither. Neither Kim nor Yori needed him to be strong for them, but he knew that if he didn't pretend that they did, he'd probably break down.
"Why did Sensei tell us to come here?" he asked.
"This cave is protected by strange powers. Monkey Fist won't be able to find it and he can't hurt us here," Yori said.
"Strange powers, huh? I'm not going to put my faith in that. There has to something else we can do about this," Kim said. She pulled out her Kimmunicator and tried to contact Wade, but all she got was static.
"I guess your mystical powers are blocking the signal. I'll be back in a minute," she said and headed for the entrance.
"KP, wait!" Ron called out. She stopped to frown at him, so he quickly continued, "I think we should wait. If Monkey Fist is out there, you shouldn't go there alone."
"I can take care of myself. I'll just call Wade and tell him what's going on. We have to do something," Kim said.
"I agree with Stoppable-san. We should wait here and come up with a plan," Yori said.
"Wait until Monkey Fist kills someone else? We have no time! We can't just do nothing!" Kim snapped. She turned to stare at Ron, her eyes blazing with determination and begging for him to understand. Ron would have liked nothing more than if it had been that simple, but he knew they couldn't just run into battle with guns blazing.
He turned his eyes to the floor. "I have to think about Hana, KP. Monkey Fist will get her if something happens to us. And we don't even know how to fight him yet," he said.
"But—it's not supposed to be like this!" Kim said. Ron couldn't have agreed more. They weren't supposed to lose and nobody was supposed to get hurt. Things were meant to be straightforward; they'd fight the bad guys and they – or usually Kim – would defeat them and haul them off to jail. Last time with Monkey Fist and the Yono had been bad enough, but this was… He just didn't get it.
"We should have never agreed to help DNAmy," he said. He felt a stab of guilt at that. He had been the first one to agree with Sensei and try to bring Monkey Fist back. He had thought they were doing the right thing and that maybe the simian man would even be grateful to be released from his stone prison. He had dared to hope that maybe they could finally put an end to his stupid rivalry that he hadn't even wanted to be part of.
"Nobody could have known that this would happen," Kim pointed out.
"Or maybe Sensei did," Yori said.
Kim and Ron turned to their friend. She had gone to investigate the boxes that Ron had noted earlier and was now holding an ancient scroll before her. She put it down and took another item from the box. It was some sort of urn with ancient writing on it.
"What's that?" Ron asked.
Yori shook her head. "I don't know, but Sensei must have put it here for a reason. None of this was here when we found Hana," she said.
Kim went to take a look as well. She turned the urn up and down in her hands and frowned at the writing that she couldn't read.
"This could be important. I bet Wade would be able to translate this," she said.
"It's a good start," Yori agreed.
"I could ask him to do it right now if I went out," Kim added.
"Let's wait until we have made full inventory and know what to ask of him," Yori suggested.
They worked their way through the boxes, but most of the contents didn't tell them anything. Even Yori who had some training in reading ancient Japanese couldn't say what the scrolls and items they found meant, only that they clearly had something to do with the Yono and the Han. They agreed that Sensei had probably predicted that something could go wrong and had wanted to provide them with the means to fix things if he wasn't there to help.
"You know, he could have given us a mystical language to English translation to go with these," Ron said as he glared at a pendant in the shape of a monkey's head before putting it back into the box.
"Maybe he didn't have the time," Kim said. She was about to get up, but then she noticed a long, thin box behind the others. She pulled it out and held it in her hands with a frown. "I wonder what this is."
Somehow Ron knew right away what was in the box. He actually thought it was surprising that he hadn't felt it when he had first entered the cave because the feeling of security and familiarity was suddenly so strong. It was like Sensei was there with them.
Kim opened the box and revealed a long blade resting inside it. She was about to reach inside the box and pull the blade out, but she stopped when she noticed the expressions on Ron and Yori's faces.
"What?" she asked.
"The Lotus Blade," Yori said.
Kim turned her eyes back on the sword. "This is the Lotus Blade?"
"I haven't seen that in a while," Ron said. In a way this was like meeting an old friend. When he had handled the mystical sword, it had been the first time in his life when he had really felt like he was a hero who could stand on his own and not be dependant on anybody else. He reached out and took the blade into his hands, enjoying the comfortable weight.
"Sensei must have brought it here so that you can use it to defeat Monkey Fist," Yori said.
"With an old sword?" Kim asked, sounding a little sceptical.
"It's his destiny," Yori stated.
"Wait, I'm not sure if I really like the sound of that. It was bad enough having that implied when he was a normal psycho, but now that he's got an upgrade, I don't think I have what it takes," Ron said.
Especially not without Sensei, he added to himself. The security brought by the Lotus Blade suddenly felt like it was choking him. Sensei had been the one to show the sword to him. Sensei had told him how to use it and had filled him in on its history. Sensei had been the one who had given him the shove to go after Monkey Fist and save Yori. When he had been back in America, he had often thought about the old man and his teachings. He wouldn't have got this far without him; he was sure of it.
And how had he paid back for all that? He had ran away like a coward and left his mentor to die. He didn't deserve the Lotus Blade or anyone's trust. He was just a sidekick.
"Ron? Are you okay?" Kim asked him, having seen the anguish on his face.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he said and turned his eyes away. Kim and Yori didn't need to see how much it hurt.
"Don't forget that you defeated the Lowardians. You can defeat Monkey Fist as well," Yori said.
Ron stared at the Lotus Blade. He hoped he could. It was the least he could do after Sensei had given his life to ensure their safety.
"I'll go and talk to Wade," Kim said. She cast a brief look at Ron and Yori that told them that trying to stop her this time would be useless. She picked up some of the scrolls and urns so that she could show the writing to her friend. Yori came to help her.
"I'll come, too. Nobody should go outside alone," she said.
Kim frowned and looked like she was about to argue, but Yori simply turned away and started piling scrolls in her arms. Ron shrugged at Kim behind Yori's back, hoping that his girlfriend wouldn't try to challenge the ninja. Yori had the best idea about what was going on and she was probably hurting the most because of Sensei.
"Okay. Let's make it quick," Kim agreed.
Ron was left alone with Hana. Having the two young women go away seemed to ease his pain a little. He knew it was stupid, but Kim's strength and determination were making him feel like he wouldn't be able to live up to anybody's expectations. Yori only made it worse because she didn't demand anything of him; she behaved like it was a fact that he was a great hero and would defeat Monkey Fist.
He ran his fingers across the blade of the sword. It felt warm and comfortable. Just holding the blade made him feel like Sensei was watching over him.
"I didn't want this trip to Yamanouchi be like this," he said to Hana who was sitting quietly by the wall. Her eyes were half closed and she would probably fall asleep any second now. Ron went to take a blanket from one of the boxes and wrapped it around his little sister. He couldn't help but smile, glad for that she didn't know what was going on.
Yori watched how Kim pressed a button on her Kimmunicator and called Wade. The ninja remained a few steps away. She told herself that it was because she wanted to keep an eye on their surroundings in case Monkey Fist came looking for them, but she knew that wasn't all of it. Being close to Kim felt too exhausting. The crime fighter was so full of energy and determination to do the right thing that everything Yori did or felt seemed mediocre compared to it. She supposed she had never been good enough next to Kim, or otherwise Stoppable-san might have –
No. She frowned at her treacherous thoughts. She had said she accepted their relationship and she had to stand by her word. Besides, this was not the time or place to worry about her broken heart. There were far more important matters at hand.
When she thought about Sensei and how he was gone, it felt like she had suddenly been yanked from her comfortable life. Sensei had always provided her with direction and guidance. To think that he would never share his wisdom with her or talk with her when she felt uncertain about her path… He had been like a grandfather to her, andMonkey Fist had taken him from her. That horrible, selfish bastard who should have never been brought back to life. Yori swallowed and struggled to keep her breathing steady, feeling like she was choking with her anger and pain.
She would have her revenge. It probably wasn't what Sensei would have wanted, but she would make sure that when they defeated Monkey Fist, it would be slow and painful.
"Yori, can I see that vase?" Kim asked, pointing to the item in her hands. Yori handed it over and Kim pointed the Kimmunicator on it. A blue beam shot from the gadget and copied the ancient writing on the vase into the database.
"This looks very old. I don't think I have a code for this language," Wade said.
"Can you find one?" Kim asked.
"Probably, but it could take a while."
"How long?"
"Give me an hour."
"Okay, but make it faster if you can. This is serious," Kim said.
Brief silence. "Did Monkey Fist really --" Wade asked, but he didn't finish the question.
"Yeah," Kim said with a grim face. "But he's not going to get away with it."
"I'll get to work right away," Wade said. Kim pressed a button on the Kimmunicator and Wade's face disappeared.
"Now we can only wait," Yori said.
"I wish there was more to do. I feel so useless when I think about that he's out there. Who knows what he's doing even now?" Kim asked.
It was like a thousand ice needles had suddenly pierced Yori's heart. Yamanouchi! The school was defenceless without Sensei. They had no way of knowing what had happened or preparing for an attack. If Monkey Fist decided to advance on the school, everyone would be doomed.
"I must go and warn everyone in Yamanouchi," she said hurriedly.
Kim's eyes widened as she, too, realised the danger. "I'll come with you," she said at once, but Yori shook her head.
"No, it is better if I go alone. There is no need to put us both into danger," she said.
"But --"
"Your place is with Stoppable-san," Yori said.
There was no way Kim could argue with that. Her shoulders slumped, but the frustrated and determined frown didn't disappear from her face. She nodded stiffly.
"Be careful," she said as Yori disappeared into the shadows.
Amy sat with her back against the stone wall and watched how Monkey Fist slept. Using his powers had exhausted him more than he would have ever admitted to anyone. Amy liked it that he felt it was safe to let his guard down in her presence, but at the same time there was an uncomfortable hollow feeling at the bottom of her stomach.
She hadn't been able to think about anything but Sensei ever since Monkey Fist had fallen asleep. If she hadn't seen it herself, she would have never believed that her Monty was capable of killing someone in cold blood and with no remorse. Sure, he was a little rough around the edges, but she was certain that inside he was just a big, fluffy Cuddle Buddy waiting to be hugged. To see him gain such pleasure from killing someone made her feel like she had just seen him for the first time in her life.
Maybe he was still upset after having been turned to stone. Surely he wouldn't have done that if he had had more time to calm down and come to terms with what had happened. When he woke up, he would be back to normal. He'd probably be horrified by what he had done. She'd have to put her own shock aside and be there for him.
But… It wouldn't change what he had done. Amy hadn't known Sensei very well and hadn't liked him at first when he had told her that he wouldn't let her bring Monty back. However, when he had changed his mind and helped her, she had instantly decided that they would be great friends. She had been meaning to ask him for the recipe of the rice cakes they served in Yamanouchi. Monty might have liked those.
She couldn't wait until Monty woke up and they could leave this dreadful place and go home. Everything would be better in the morning.
Yori let out a sigh of relief when she first saw the dark silhouette of the Yamanouchi school appear from behind a hill. It was silent and there was nobody outside. Monkey Fist would have brought destruction and battles with him, so he hadn't yet made a move. There was still time to get everyone to safety.
She took the first step down a small path that would take her to the gates. Her ears caught a sudden snap, barely audible, and she whirled around and brought up her hands just in time to block an attack that was aimed at her chest. She retreated a few steps to gain better ground and only now looked up at her assailant.
"Hirotaka?" she asked. The other ninja was wearing a mask, but she thought she could recognise his physique.
The ninja removed his mask, confirming her guess. A crooked grin split Hirotaka's face as he crossed his hands on his chest and chuckled.
"Still can't surprise you," he said. "But I appreciate you dropping by to lighten up my dull guard duty."
"This is not the time for jokes! We have to go to the school and warn everyone!" Yori said.
All mirth left Hirotaka's eyes as his smile disappeared. "Did something go wrong?" he asked. Everyone in Yamanouchi knew about their plan to bring back Monkey Fist. Sensei had felt that he couldn't attempt such a risky task if the people at the school weren't comfortable with it. Naturally, everyone had stood behind him. Now Yori wished that someone had had the courage to oppose the old master.
"Everything went wrong. Monkey Fist didn't lose his powers like we expected," Yori explained as they were running down the path to the school.
"What happened?" Hirotaka asked. "And where is Sensei?"
"Sensei is dead." Yori was surprised by how easily she could say those words and how her voice didn't quiver at all. She was almost disappointed by how coldly she could talk about the loss of one of the most important people in her life.
Hirotaka stopped on his tracks like he had hit a wall.
"Dead?" he asked with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"When he realised how powerful Monkey Fist was, he stayed behind to provide us with a chance to escape. I know I shouldn't have left him and that I have forever shamed myself, but it was his last order," Yori explained. Without her, Kim and Ron would have never made it to the safety of the cave. It didn't make her feel at all better, but it at least provided her with a logical excuse to cling to.
"I can't believe it. Sensei can't just --" Hirotaka started.
"There's no time for that! We have to warn the others!" Yori snapped. Hirotaka's stunned and hurt expression made her wince, but she knew they couldn't afford to let their feelings get the better of them now. Monkey Fist could attack at any moment.
Hirotaka nodded, though he still looked like he needed some time to put himself back together. "Right. Let's take this shortcut," he said.
Their arrival had already been noticed by the time they made it to the gates. A few of the teachers had come to greet them and Yori could see curious students, some still in their nightwear, staring at them behind corners and trees where they thought nobody could see them.
They stopped before a ninja who was the oldest teacher after Sensei. Yori gave him a hasty bow.
"Akino-sensei, the ritual went wrong. Monkey Fist was released, but his powers were stronger than ever before. He will come for the school," she explained, trying to gasp for breath between words. The pain in her chest made her feel like a charcoal was stuck in her lungs.
"Where is Sensei?" Akino asked.
"Monkey Fist killed him," Yori said.
This awoke startled gasps from the others and they started talking to each other in hurried tones. Students were blabbering to each other in disbelief while the teachers could only stare blankly at Yori. Though they were all ninjas, at that moment everyone lost their composure for a short while.
"Sensei can't be dead!" someone announced from the crowd.
"Someone like Monkey Fist could never defeat him!"
"What will we do now? If he killed Sensei --"
"He did not kill Sensei!"
There was a sharp clap of hands. "Silence, everyone!"
Everybody turned to look at Akino. The man's greying brows were furrowed in a grim frown and his lips formed a tight line. Yori held her breath as she waited for him to say something. She had always been a little wary of the tall man because of his grim nature, but now she wanted to feel like she could trust him.
"If Yori speaks the truth, Sensei has fallen while defending the school. What would he think of us if he saw us arguing like this at a time of danger?" Akino asked. He didn't give anyone the chance to reply but continued, "There is no time to lose. We must prepare for battle."
Yori opened her mouth to object, but she changed her mind before she could say a word. What she would propose would be scandalous.
However, Akino didn't miss her uncertainty. "Do you wish to say something, Yori?" he asked.
"Sensei said that Stoppable-san should defeat Monkey Fist. He left us the means to do it in the cave. I think he had some type of plan," she said. For a reason she couldn't name, she felt a little uncomfortable telling Akino about the cave.
"I don't think it's wise to leave the fate of the school on the shoulders of a teenager. Even if he could defeat Monkey Fist, it would do us dishonour to hide behind his back," Akino said.
"It's not hiding. It's knowing our place," Yori said with more ire than she meant. She didn't want to be disrespectful towards a man who would take Sensei's place now, but there was no time to waste on useless pride and foolish plans.
"We already left the school like cowards when the Yono was released for the first time," another ninja pointed out. He got angry glare from Akino for daring to partake in the argument, but the older teacher didn't try to correct the man.
"And that's why you don't know what we're up against. Monkey Fist is more dangerous than you can imagine. Sensei wouldn't --" Yori started.
"Sensei is dead. We cannot make our plans based on what he might have wanted," Akino said. He gave Yori a thoughtful look and pursed his lips. "Especially since it appears that you are the only one he told about his plans. None of us knows anything about this or the cave."
Yori frowned in confusion. Why wouldn't Sensei talk to his most trusted men? The items in the cave proved that he had thought something might go wrong, so why hadn't he prepared anyone at the school for it? None of this was making any sense to her anymore and she suddenly felt like there was nothing more she could say. She glanced at Hirotaka from the corner of her eye, wondering what he was thinking.
"Maybe Sensei had his reasons," she finally said.
"That's enough, Yori. We have no time to waste arguing here. Go with the others and help them prepare our defences," Akino said. His icy tone invited no objections and he turned around on his heels before Yori even had the chance to open her mouth. She swallowed her retort and turned to look around. All of her schoolmates were moving along to follow Akino's orders. She didn't know what to do.
Yamanouchi had been her home for years and she was ready to die defending the school, but at the same time she felt that her destiny was pulling her towards Kim and Stoppable-san. She'd have to choose and no matter what she did, she'd be abandoning someone.
"Aren't you coming?" she heard Hirotaka ask.
"I'm not sure this is right. Sensei wanted Stoppable-san to do this," Yori said.
Hirotaka couldn't keep the small grimace away from his face. "And you think he can do that?" he asked.
"Sensei had complete faith in him," Yori said. Hirotaka had never met Ron and hadn't seen how well he could do when he put his mind to it. It was no surprise that he was suspicious, but Yori was growing tired of people questioning Sensei's words.
"I know, but it's hard to trust Stoppable-san. I don't even know him," Hirotaka said.
"But you know me and you knew Sensei. None of us here in Yamanouchi can defeat Monkey Fist. He will crush us," Yori said.
"We haven't trained so long for nothing. We have to at least try," Hirotaka said stubbornly and started to turn away.
The memory of the Yono blasting through the gates to Yamanouchi and turning everyone around her to stone flashed through Yori's mind. She'd never forget the horror of seeing the petrified forms of Sensei, Kim and Rufus and the fear that she may have lost them forever.
She grabbed Hirotaka's arm and stopped him from leaving.
"You haven't seen what I have. Please, don't throw your life away foolishly like that," she pleaded. She and Hirotaka hadn't been close friends for most of their time in Yamanouchi, but she respected his skills and liked the American style jokes he had brought back from Middleton. She didn't want anyone in Yamanouchi to get hurt, and the thought of Hirotaka dying chilled her to the bone.
Hirotaka blinked as he looked at her worried face. He cracked a crooked smile at her. "Don't worry. I can handle this," he said. He pulled his arm away and went to join the others, but he looked at her over his shoulder once more. The smile that Yori had liked in the past angered her now. Was Hirotaka really that blind or was this some type of male pride matter for him?
She stood there for one more moment, wondering if she should run after the others and join them or try to change their mind. The longer she thought about it, the stronger the nagging feeling inside her became. This wasn't her place. She was meant to be with Kim and Stoppable-san.
Leaving her comrades to their fate pained her, but they weren't going to believe her. Her only chance of saving them was to go back to her friends in the cave and try to understand what Sensei had meant. Maybe they could come back and defeat Monkey Fist before he attacked the school.
Kim sat with her back against the wall and kept an eye on Ron. Yori hadn't come back yet and Wade hadn't called them to inform them about the progress of his research, so there wasn't much the two of them could do. Hana was sound asleep by Ron's side. Looking at her made Kim bite her lip in frustration; someone so small shouldn't have to be part of all this.
She wanted to go to Ron and comfort him, but she didn't know what she could have done. It pained her to see him so hurt and confused, but she had never been very good at dealing with these situations. She usually solved her problems by charging at them full force, but this method wouldn't work this time. No matter how much she'd kick and punch, it wouldn't bring Sensei back.
"Hey, we'll make it through this," she finally said when she couldn't take the silence any longer.
Ron lifted his eyes from the floor. "How, KP? Sensei is gone. What can we do without him?" he asked.
"We've beaten Monkey Fist before. He's just an overgrown ape with delusions of grandeur," Kim said, trying to make her voice sound cheerful and encouraging. It sounded fake even to her. It was true that it would be hard to do anything about Monkey Fist when he had his new powers. She didn't know how to fight against magic.
"Back then he didn't have the powers of the Yono," Ron replied.
"Yeah, but… You have the Lotus Blade, right? And your monkey magic," Kim countered. She'd never forget the power that had radiated from Ron when he had defeated the Lowardians. It was then that she had realised that Ron was far stronger and more capable than she had ever given him credit for. Once the shock of the moment had faded away, she had felt almost ashamed by how she had been thinking about him in the past.
Ron sighed miserably. "I can't use them without Sensei. I wouldn't have defeated the Lowardians if he hadn't been there," he said.
"That's not true," Kim said, barely able to stop herself from snapping. "You did it because you're strong and a hero. It was all your doing." She walked over to him and sat down by his side, taking his hand into hers.
"Besides," she continued, "I trust you completely and I won't let anyone put you down. That includes you. You have what it takes to bring Monkey Fist down, and I'll be there to help you."
That got a small chuckle out of Ron. "That sounds like you're my sidekick," he said.
"Well, this time I could give it a try. Switching can be fun," Kim replied. She gave him a small peck on his cheek. "But don't get used to it."
She would have liked to sit there for longer, but they were expecting news from Wade any moment now. She told Ron that she'd go outside for a bit to see if he had anything to say.
There was a loud beep from the Kimmunicator almost as soon as she made it out of the cave. Kim pulled out the small device, and Wade's face appeared on the screen.
"Please tell me you have good news," she said.
"I managed to find a translation for the phrases you scanned me, but it's horribly vague. I think the only person with the skills to translate this properly would be Monkey Fist," Wade said.
"Yeah, good luck with asking him," Kim muttered.
"I'll be sending the translations over right away. If you need anything else done, just ask," Wade said.
"Will do. Right now we just have to figure out how we can defeat Monkey Fist," Kim said.
Wade typed something. "There. I'm not sure what all this stuff means, but I hope you can do something with it," he said.
"Thanks. We'll let you know how it's going," Kim said. She opened the file that Wade had sent to the Kimmunicator and quickly scanned through it. Most of it didn't make sense to her either, so she figured it would be the best to wait for Yori to get back and then hear what she and Ron had to say.
She pursed her lips in slight annoyance. She couldn't wait until they'd get this ancient legend phase past them and could move onto kicking Monkey Fist's butt.
"Kim, what are you doing out here?" she heard a voice say behind her.
The red-heard whirled around, surprised that she hadn't even heard Yori arrive. Had to be the ninja training.
"Wade just sent us the translations. How did it go in Yamanouchi?" she replied.
The look of defeat on Yori face's sent a cold shiver down Kim's spine. "Don't tell me that Monkey Fist --"
Yori shook her head. "No, everything was fine, but they wouldn't believe me when I said that we should let Stoppable-san handle this. They want to stay there and defend the school," she said.
Kim could understand that. It was what she would have done, too. Yet she knew that everyone in Yamanouchi was doomed if they wouldn't run before Monkey Fist's power. The simian man was unbelievably strong now.
"Then we have to defeat him before he makes it to the school. Ron isn't going to do this alone; I'll be there with him," she said.
"So will I," Yori said. Kim couldn't help but notice the hesitant frown on Yori face. She probably wanted to go back to the school and stand side by side with her fellow students and teachers. The fact that she had chosen to come back to them instead showed what a good friend she was. Kim couldn't believe it that she had once seen Yori as a threat.
"Let's go back to the cave and see what Wade has sent us," she suggested.
Ron looked up when the two of them entered. There was a spark of hope in his eyes, and Kim hoped that Wade's translations would help them somehow. Seeing her cheerful and easy-going Ron like that made it feel like her heart was clenched inside a fist.
"Anything?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, Wade sent over the translation for the writing on those vases. Let's see what it says," Kim said as she opened the file in the Kimmunicator. She felt a little disappointed by that they didn't have a coherent text but merely short fractions of what looked like a poem.
"The truth will remain hidden until death. The monkey cannot be killed by one of his kind, but petrified love will provide the resolve. Pain and sorrow of the chosen one are the best weapon," she read out loud.
"And?" Ron asked when she paused.
"That's it," Kim said.
"What? But that doesn't help us at all! It doesn't mean anything!" Ron languished. "Didn't Wade say anything else at all?"
Kim shook her head. She didn't want to join Ron in his despair, but if their victory depended on the writings they had found, their situation didn't look very good. She had no idea what she could do with the translations. Again she wished that she could simply punch Monkey Fist's lights out and drag him to a police van.
"That settles it. We're doomed," Ron said.
"Let's not be so hasty. The text is clearly a prediction of some sort. Even if it doesn't tell us much, we can try to guess something from it," Yori said.
"Like what?" Ron asked, a hint of desperate anger in his voice. Then he continued, "I guess the part about death could be about Sensei."
"But what's the truth that was hidden? We already knew Monkey Fist was evil even before he killed Sensei," Kim pointed out.
"Maybe it refers to how we thought we would be able to control him and only Sensei's death showed us that someone like Monkey Fist must not be allowed to roam free in the world?" Yori suggested.
"Yeah, that makes sense, but it still doesn't help us," Kim said.
"Okay, what about the next part? I guess asking the monkey ninjas for help won't work, but how is this relevant at all?" Ron asked.
"It could be about the Yono as well. Or Hana since her powers are connected to those of the Yono. Or it could simply mean that Monkey Fist's downfall will be at the hands of his enemies, not his allies," Yori said.
"If his allies tried to defeat him, wouldn't that automatically make them his enemies?" Ron asked. "I've seen better prophecies in bargain bin video games."
"Whatever. The next part could be about that stone power Monkey Fist now has. It sounds like someone will be turned into a statue, just like last time. If it's about love, it could be DNAmy," Kim said. Her words made everyone stare at each other in grim determination.
"I can't let that happen again, not to anyone. Last time I thought I had lost so many people," Ron said.
"How many times do I have to say that it wasn't your fault?" Kim asked. She couldn't understand why Ron wouldn't just let it go. He hadn't been there, so he could have done nothing to help. Nobody had been hurt in the end, and it wasn't like they weren't in dangerous situations on all of their missions.
"If I hadn't stolen the Mystical Monkey Power, none of this would have ever happened. You'd all be safe, but you're not because I got you into this. Monkey Fist wouldn't want to hurt you without me," Ron countered. He sounded so frustrated and pained that Kim couldn't decide if she wanted to pound some sense into him or hug him and never let go.
"It wasn't your fault," she repeated. "Monkey Fist is a psycho. And what about all the other bad guys? They wouldn't be after you without me."
"And you didn't steal the Mystical Monkey Power. You took what was rightfully yours," Yori added.
"But --" Ron tried to argue, but Kim interrupted him.
"Enough angsting for now, thanks. Let's figure out how to stop Monkey Fist for good," she said. Her expression softened as she continued, "I know that you're scared, Ron, but don't worry. We'll win this one, like we always do."
"I'm worried about Yamanouchi. They intend to fight, but they don't have a chance against Monkey Fist," Yori said.
Kim nodded. "I have a bad feeling about that."
"Maybe we should go and help them? We have the Lotus Blade and all the things Sensei left us. Some of it must be helpful," Ron said.
"But we don't know how to use them. It would be foolish for you to give your life for nothing," Yori said. In a quieter voice, she added, "Perhaps I should go. I won't be of use to you two, but I might be able to help my comrades."
"Then you'd just die, too. It's not worth it," Ron said.
Yori turned to glare at him with fury and frustration darkening her eyes. "I feel like a coward when I'm hiding here in safety while Hirotaka and the others prepare to give their lives for the school. I'm one of them. I should be there," she said.
At that moment Kim wanted nothing more than to smash something to bits. She could understand Yori's anxiety; she, too, felt like it was a waste of time to sit in the cave and talk when they could have been helping their friends. In the past she had always been able to defeat all of her enemies with force and talent. Now that she couldn't do it, she was at a loss at how to proceed. The thought that people could be dying while she was doing nothing made her feel like she was choking.
"Sensei's clues are meaningless to us, and we won't accomplish anything if we just sit here. We have to do something," she said.
"What?" Both Ron and Yori turned to look at her with hopeful expressions. Kim realised that they saw her as their leader and were putting all their trust in her. At any other moment, she would have been glad, but now it only made her guilty. She had no plan this time.
"We've got to face Monkey Fist. Together we might be able to defeat him. We just have to use his weaknesses to our advantage," she said.
Yori pondered it for a while. "He is very vain, short-tempered and he doesn't think very far when he gets excited. If we plan our moves carefully, we might be able to do something," she said. She didn't say it out loud, but Kim knew that if they hoped to survive the battle, they had no choice but to kill Monkey Fist. Taking another human being's life made her mouth taste like bile, but it had to be done. Monkey Fist had already murdered one dear friend and would do much more if he wasn't stopped for good.
"I have the Lotus Blade. I'll do it," Ron said, surprising both Kim and Yori. At their bewildered stares, he went on, "I don't think Monkey Fist will go down easily. I'm the only one who can use the sword's powers and I think this is why Sensei brought the blade here."
"Ron..." Kim started, but she didn't know how to continue. She wasn't sure what she thought about all this magic and talks of destiny, but she was sure of one thing. She didn't want Ron to do something that might scar him for life. She had seen what he was capable of when he had killed the Lowardians to save her life, but this was different. Monkey Fist was a human, mostly anyway, and he and Ron had a history. Kim didn't want to think about how it might effect Ron to push the long blade through someone and take his opponent's life.
Ron flashed her a sad smile. "Don't worry, KP. I'll do my best," he said.
Kim took his hands into hers and squeezed it. "And I'll be right there with you."
Monkey Fist didn't open his eyes right away when he woke up. He listened to the near silence in the cave; he could hear Amy's breathing, so she hadn't left. He felt a flare of annoyance at the woman's clinginess. She claimed she loved him more than anything, and yet she never listened to him or considered what was the best for him. It was always about her.
Killing her would be a simple matter with his new powers. Just a flip of his finger and she'd be turned to stone. He entertained himself with the thought for a while, but he decided that if he was going to do something about her, it wouldn't be that easy. When she died, he wanted to make sure it would be slow and that she'd know why she was suffering. He'd come up with something wonderfully ironic later, but now he had more pressing matters at hand.
He opened his eyes and got up on his feet. He had been exhausted when he fell asleep, but now he could barely stand still with his new-found energy. He couldn't stop a grin from splitting his face as he thought about Yamanouchi and how he would crush the school. It would be another delicious bite of revenge.
Monkey Fist walked over to the opening of the cave and watched how the sun slowly appeared from behind the mountains in the horizon. He found it fitting for the situation. It was the dawn of a new life for him and of suffering and death for his enemies. He'd savour every moment of it.
He returned to the cave after a few more minutes. Amy was sleeping on the floor, but he barely looked at her as he surveyed the rest of the cave. A hovercraft was parked to the back and there were some supplies that Amy had brought along. Monkey Fist realised that he wasn't feeling hungry at all. Maybe he didn't have to eat now that he had been blessed with the powers of the Yono. The thought of having shed the shackles of mortality made him chuckle.
He heard a shuffle from behind him. When he turned to look, he saw that Amy had woken up and was rubbing her face as she yawned.
"Morning, honey bunny," she said, but she didn't sound at all like her usual self. Monkey Fist supposed that she wasn't a morning person.
He only grunted as a response because he didn't want to encourage her further by being even remotely nice to her. He probably should have left before she woke up.
Amy didn't seem bothered by his lack of response. She walked over to the hovercraft and pulled out a pink bag that had an Otterfly pattern stitched to its side. Monkey Fist guessed Amy had made it herself.
"There's a little spring down the path. I'm going to go and get a little freshened up," Amy said. She flashed him a suggestive grin and lifted her brows. "Want to join me?"
"No!" Monkey Fist snapped and shuddered with disgust.
"Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me!" Amy said as she walked outside. Now that he knew that Amy was out there, wearing fewer clothes than he cared to see her in, Monkey Fist wouldn't have left the cave even if it had started to collapse on him.
He took another look at the hovercraft and went through Amy's supplies. He didn't know if he should have been happy or dismayed to see that she had included his favourite brand of tea into her breakfast basket. How had she found out what he liked? He wouldn't have been surprised if she had been spying on him.
With his recently acquired powers, he didn't need to eat or drink. It didn't mean that he couldn't if wanted to. Starting a day without tea was unheard of, so he took out the tea and started preparing it with a small gas cooker he found underneath all the food. By the time Amy came back, wrapped in pinks towels all over, he was half-way through his first cup.
"Oh, you've made tea. That was really nice of you," she said.
"I made it for myself," Monkey Fist said.
Amy didn't seem to hear. She went to take a cup for herself and sat down before him. For a while they sat in silence, which surprised Monkey Fist a little. Silence was not something he was used to in Amy's presence.
"So, are you ready to go home?" she asked after a while.
"I'm not going anywhere. I have unfinished business here," Monkey Fist said.
"Are you going to chase Kim and her friends? They're probably far away from here by now," she said.
Monkey Fist shook his head. "Wherever they're at the moment is irrelevant. I plan to take over the ninja school and place myself as the head of whatever will remain of it," he said. He wasn't sure if he'd actually have anyone left to rule once he was done. The Yamanouchi ninjas were fiercely loyal to their school and Sensei's death had probably only strengthened their determination. Too bad they weren't all like Fukushima, easy to manipulate and bend to his will.
"That doesn't sound very good," Amy said with a worried frown.
"Not for them, perhaps, but for me it is terrific," Monkey Fist said. He finished his tea and got up on his feet. There was no reason to wait any longer. Yamanouchi would be his before nightfall.