Authors/Notes: You need to read this chapter very carefully for the nuances and the hidden clues (well, you should read every chapter more carefully, anyways) and no, that's not a typo in the chapter title…
(2020): There is currently a Reader Challenge on the board: visit my Profile Page for details…
Required Disclaimer: This is a work of "fan" fiction, not a legal or valid representation of the Kim Possible universe. No rights are implied nor any profit derived from this work. It is for fan purposes and enjoyment only…why are you laughing? No, I really am a fan. Really! Stop laughing!
Chapter Thirty – The Returns of Kim Possible
He sat on the floor of the shower with three closed doors between him and his guests, weeping softly so that no one would hear.
He grieved for his parents—though, truth be told, they hadn't been a regular presence in his life for several years.
He felt badly for the Possible family—though Mrs. Possible's daughter had kind of creeped him out today. What was it with the "stink-eye," anyways?
He was deeply moved by Bonnie's gesture in preparing a seudat havra'a for him…and then the others showing up. He hadn't realized that he was important to anybody.
Except maybe Hana.
He was worried for her. If anything happened to him, who would take care of her? How could he take care of her?
Thankfully, money would not be a problem: the insurance money, his parents' estate and trust, and his continuing Naco royalties guaranteed that neither of them would ever have to work another day in their lives.
But that was no way to raise a child and teach them values. He'd seen how money and social standing had ruined the Rockwaller girls and Señor Senior, Junior. While he would need the help of nannies and bodyguards—or bodyguard nannies—Ron vowed that he would be a parent as well as a big brother for his little sister. And that meant setting examples.
So, as he sat and quietly wept behind the glass shower door, behind the master bathroom door, all behind his closed and locked bedroom door, he also prayed.
He prayed for the souls of his parents and the departed Possible family members. He prayed for his dear, lost Yori. He prayed for the little girl who was now so utterly dependent on him.
And he prayed for guidance, that he might know what to do. With his life, with his wealth, with his current and future obligations. "Show me the way," he whispered. "Help me become the man I need to be. Help me become the man Hana needs me to be. And help me become the man that she deserves—"
He hesitated.
What was he asking?
Who was…she?
He had already asked for help in raising his sister…
It came to him slowly but he began to realize that all of what he was mourning was masking a deeper grief down deep inside of him. A great emptiness that felt as if something had been wrenched up out of his very being, leaving an open wound.
At first, he thought it must be his poor dead wife. But when he meditated upon this, he realized that it was the memory of Yori and her sweet and tender love that had made this wound, this emptiness bearable.
So, if not Yori…
…then who?
RSVP
Kyoko Yoshiko sat in her bedroom and watched Ron on her laptop screen as he mourned privately.
Or not so privately as Global Justice had installed spy cams throughout the penthouse to assist her in watching Hana and monitoring overall security.
She felt badly about snooping on her charge's guardian but he had been absent from his guests long enough to cause her concern.
To think, just three years before, she had thought him to be a callow youth and an uncouth barbarian. Now she was fighting the fantasies engendered by those Au Pair movies on the WRRC (Women's Romantic Romance Channel).
Perhaps if she knocked on the bedroom door…
No, she decided as she watched him fold his legs into the lotus position and begin to meditate, this was probably not the best moment to intrude. Especially since his eyes were starting to glow an unearthly blue color and he was beginning to levitate a full eight inches above the floor.
RSVP
Dr. Director slipped her cell phone back into her clutch purse and sighed.
"Yeah, me too," Shego replied as she looked around the penthouse suite. "Looks like the competition increased ten-fold."
"What? No! I can't get a hold of Agent Du."
"You mean the guy they call Agent Du-du? Really Betts, I think the princess can take care of herself and her mom. And if you can't trust your agents enough to go ten hours without your own personal surveillance, you need to do a little agency housecleaning."
Betty frowned; an expression reflected on more than one face around the room as Ron's absence began to be noticed. "I'm not worried about Agent Du. And he's learned to be a little more of a team player these past couple of years. Kim even requested him for her detail, if you'll remember. No, it's Kim that I'm worried about. She doesn't seem herself—did you notice?"
"Yeeaahh," Shego drawled, "now that you mention it, Kimmie has been rather distant, rude, and almost hostile toward me. Oh wait, that's how she's always treated me."
"Not since the Lowardian invasion and you came over to work with us," Betty argued. "And I haven't seen her say two words to Ron."
"Now that's what I was picking up on," Shego said. "Ron hasn't exactly reached out to Kimmie, either. I mean, it's not like he's hostile or something. It's more like he doesn't quite know who she is. It's like he has selective amnesia or something. Do you think it might be a by-product of the coma?"
Betty pursed her lips. "Maybe. Or maybe it's trauma from whatever that synthodrone originally said or did to drive him into exile halfway around the world." She absently scratched at her eye patch which had been itching of late. "In fact, Kim may still be the victim of PTSD from the same incident…"
"Just a different set of responses or coping mechanisms," Shego hypothesized.
"At least we can pretty much figure that whoever sent the syntho-Ron, won't be trying that trick again."
"Excuse me, what?"
"Based on the amount of green stuff leading away from the Possible cabin, our forensics team is pretty sure that it goo-ed out."
Shego shook her head. "Doesn't mean whoever's behind this couldn't make another."
"As I understand it, the process isn't cheap to begin with. So why would they try it again?"
Shego shook her head. "Are you kidding me? Why wouldn't they? Because the bad guys never use the same M.O. twice? Yeah, you're right. That's why Ron wasn't turned into Zorpox twice by an Attitudinator. That's why Monkeyfist only used his monkey-ninjas that one time. That's why Duff Killigan stopped using exploding golf balls—"
"All right! You've made your point," Betty hissed. "Let's not be talking about exploding golf balls the day of the Stoppable-Possible funerals, okay?"
"Yeah, you're right. But listen, even if they don't put the time and resources into creating another syntho-Ron, there's presumably another syntho-Kim still running around out there."
"It seems silly that they'd try something like that again."
"Sure. Because we'd expect it and be ready for it," Shego snarked. "Oh wait; we don't expect it so we haven't included it in the security protocols."
"Oh, all right, I'll brief Yoshi on your concerns." The head of Global Justice glanced around the room. "I don't see Dr. Drakken here. Do you?"
Shego shook her head. "He's been acting a bit…off, the last couple of days. And his color…"
"He looks less blue," Betty interrupted.
"Yes! I thought it was just my imagination." Shego paused. "Maybe he stopped taking his anti-plasma-radiation pills. Since we're really not working together any more…" Her voice trailed off thoughtfully.
Betty pulled her cell phone back out. "Well, before I talk to Yoshi and update the security protocols, let me try getting a hold of Agent Du one more time."
Shego turned at a blur of motion out of the corner of her eye. "Did someone just go into Ron's bedroom?"
RSVP
As he delved deeper into his meditative trance, he expected it to grow darker. Instead, there was light. And the light grew in scope and brightness as he approached it.
And there was a presence in the light. An intelligence…that was not quite human.
Are you…God?
No, Ronald. Do you not know me?
Y-you seem familiar…
When you were a child, we spent a lot of time in each other's company. As you grew and your focus changed, I merged with your conscience. For some years I accompanied you externally in a meld with your animal pet.
Rufus? I—remember now. You are my spirit guide!
Of sorts, yes. What do you seek, Ronald?
Purpose, I guess. I'm all alone, now—except for Hana—and it feels strange.
You've lost your parents: you feel grief.
Well, yeah. But no. I mean, I miss them. And now I have to be a grown up with no parents to fall back on if I screw up. And that's a worry, especially since I'm all that Hana's got. I sure don't want to screw that up!
I can't imagine that you will. You have always tried to do the right thing.
Yeah, well, tell that to Mr. Barkin. And then there were those two times I turned evil...
But not because you wanted to, the light reminded him. You can't worry about the things that are outside of your powers to avoid or change.
But what about the things that are within my power? It's a big bad world out there. I've got the mad fu skilz and enough money to play poker with Bill Gates and J.K. Rowling. Should I start a charity, fight crime, create a fortress of solitude, or what? What about Hana? How do I protect her? How do I raise her? Should I find a nice foster family? Get married? What if I turn evil again?
Relax, Ronald. A peaceful feeling washed over him as Rufus continued to speak. The life you have lived to this moment has prepared you for all that is to follow. Trust in your heart—
But my heart isn't—isn't—
Isn't what, Ronald?
That's just it: I don't know! I feel like something is—missing.
Grief often leaves a hole in one's heart.
Yeah. No. I mean, it's more than my parents dying. And I miss Yori every day. But this is something else.
Perhaps you are feeling the emptiness that can only be filled by the one, true love, that we each yearn for.
No.
No?
I've known true love, Rufus. Lightning doesn't strike twice. Yori was the dearest, sweetest woman in the world. Kind, generous, beautiful—and a badass ninja, to boot! It was my honor to know her and love her and it will be my honor to cherish those memories for the rest of my life.
A few moments ago, you asked if you should marry again to help raise Hana.
Rufus, I'm not so naïve as to think I could never find companionship again. Or even love. Sort of. But true love? No woman will ever come close to the ideal that was my Yori. It's unthinkable.
And yet you meditate to seek the answer to the emptiness within yourself. An emptiness that you do not understand because you have yet to remember or think that which you cannot think, now.
Huh?
Ronald, the answer you seek, you already know.
I do?
But you have forgotten it.
I have?
So, you cannot think the thought that you have chosen to forget.
I can't?
The light seemed to smile. Apparently not.
But you know what I've forgotten?
Yes.
So, tell me.
No.
No?
Yes.
Yes?
Yes, the answer is no.
So, you won't tell me?
That's right.
Why?
Because you don't want me to.
I don't?
That's right.
But I do. I do want you to.
No, you don't.
I order you to tell me.
You've already ordered me to not tell you.
I have?
Yes.
When?
A while ago. When you were going through a time of great pain.
Well…that doesn't narrow it down much.
It is good to see that your sense of humor is still intact. It may be the greatest of all of your talents and powers. May it continue to serve you well in the days ahead.
Wait. I've got more questions.
In life there are always more questions. But you have company coming and must return to the world to fulfill your obligations. I will leave you, however, with three thoughts. First, do you remember the old saying, "Think globally, and act locally?"
Yeah.
Start with baby steps. To save the world, one must first save that which is around him.
The Talmud says, "And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world."
Begin with that.
Is that it?
It's a better start than most are able to make in an entire lifetime. Second, open your heart. Love will come to you again and, when it does, your heart must be open to receive it.
How will I know when it comes?
How will you know if you're closed? That's just it, Ronald; mastery in love is like mastery in anything else. You must practice it at every opportunity.
You, ah, mean—
No. Think deeper. You know what I mean, Ronald.
Heh, yeah. I do…
If you keep your heart open and ready, you will know the answer when you are ready to remember it. But your path will not be easy nor will it be quick. A storm is coming. You must protect those around you but remember that they will protect you, in turn.
Anything else?
You have been given great powers and abilities. With great power comes great responsibility…
I've read that somewhere…
It is time to step up. You spent the greater part of your life living in the shadow of another and, because of that, you have been slow to come into your own potential, Now, to be worthy of the answer that you seek, you must stand in the light and cast your own shadow. And then you will be worthy…
Of what? Worthy of what?
Come see me again. You should meditate often and, in time, you may actually remember some of our conversations.
Aw, man! You mean I'm not going to remember everything we've talked about here?
Consciously? No. But what we retain unconsciously is often more important than what we remember. The light began to fade. Oh, and one more thing. You need to work on your unconscious control of your mystical monkey power. You are not aware but it has been affecting the libidos of the women within your sphere of influence.
Libidos?
Your MMP is leaving a trail of weaponized pheromones in your wake.
Pheromones?
Amp it down, Chief; you're making your lady friends horny.
Ohhhh! Uh. I suppose I won't remember that, either, huh? Rufus? Buddy? Aw, man…
RSVP
He emerged from the shower feeling slightly confused but better. He could remember no specific insight, no answer—indeed, he wasn't even sure he could remember specific questions.
But there was a sense of quiet assurance where previously he had felt uncertainty. A sense of purpose, even if there was no concrete plan in place, as of yet.
He stopped at the bathroom sink and splashed a little water onto his face. For a moment, the reflection in the mirror looked back at him with turquoise eyes. Then all appeared normal. Better than normal, in fact.
He turned to the door and opened it as he switched off the bathroom light. For the first time in quite a while, Ron Stoppable felt as if he were ready for anything.
That feeling lasted all of three seconds.
RSVP
She stood in the darkened bedroom, her heart pounding in her chest.
Almost quivering with anticipation, she waited.
She was used to getting what she wanted.
Until now.
Perhaps it was the recent complications of this past year.
Perhaps it was the realization that everything else, up until now, had been shallow wants and desires.
The real prize had been within reach but had been invisible until now…
The question was how would he feel about her, given the circumstances between them?
All of her talents, all of her abilities, might not serve her in this. Might make things worse, given their history.
And speaking of history, she reminded herself of all of the times that her pride and arrogance had proved to be her greatest weakness. If there was to be any chance of tearing down the barriers between them, she would have to be humble. Apologize for the past. Promise a new beginning if there was to be any chance that he would look at her again…
But would she have the chance to say everything that she needed to say with all of the others just outside the bedroom door?
And then there was this whole Mastermind sitch, complicating everything!
One misstep…she could lose him…and…everything…
This wasn't the time or the place that she would have chosen to come to him, to expose herself…
Her heart, her desires.
Her hopes for a future together…
But with every day that was passing, every hour, she could feel her chances slipping away and the gulf between them widening until she was lost in the crowd…
And lost to the fate that, even now, made this visit so dangerous.
Perhaps this was utter foolishness. The odds were better than even that he hated her, would push her away. Would…
She shook her head. A kiss, at least. She would have that before he sent her away. She thought that she could manage that, at least.
Finally: the sound of water in the sink and, moments later, he came through the door.
He was older, now. Taller. His chest and shoulders broader, the muscles in his forearms suggesting a man's body beneath his shirt and tie. She hadn't fully appreciated her opportunities the last time they had kissed. She shivered in anticipation as to what differences the time between them would make.
"Ron," she said, pushing her thick red hair away from her face, "its…Kim."
Coming from the brightly lit lavatory, it took him a moment to make out her features in the darkened room. The lights of downtown Upperton glimmered in a fairy landscape beyond the bedroom windows and sliding glass doors to the balcony. His eyes flashed blue as they adjusted to give him greater visual clarity.
"You're Dr. Possible's daughter."
She blinked in surprise. "Why, yes. Yes, I am." He made no immediate response. "And your girlfriend," she finally prompted.
He smiled. "What is this? A joke?"
The response was not what she expected and time was of the essence. Eventually, someone would come looking for their host and these precious moments alone would be lost. She needed to move things along.
"Ron, baby," she said, "I know that you've been through a lot. We have both been through a lot. I just can't believe that it's taking us so long to get back together."
He put up a hand. "Wait. Back together? Are you saying that we have some kind of history?"
She gaped at him. Didn't he know her? Nothing had prepared her for this! She reached across her front and made a tugging gesture: her clothing fell away and she was suddenly nude in the silvery glow of the rising moon. "Do you remember this?" She ran her hand back across her torso, cupping a breast and then stepping forward.
The old Ron might have stepped back. Possibly run screaming from the room.
The new Ron was past his childish fears and more experienced, now, in the grown-up world of carnality.
More importantly, he was strangely drawn to this beautiful young woman with the tousled mane of fiery red hair. She seemed oddly familiar yet all the more mysterious for his inability to place her in the context of his known world.
She took another step and he, unwilling to retreat and curious to meet this new challenge, stepped toward her.
They met and she reached for his face. Tilted it down to her mouth.
He met her lips with his and she sighed. Deeply. Against him.
This! This is what she had missed! All the more because she had never fully experienced anything like it, before.
She took his hand and drew it downward. She craved his touch, his embrace, and was half rewarded as his other arm encircled her narrow waist.
His eyes opened as the moon's pale light was partially eclipsed. Looked across her cheek to the windows on the other side of the bed.
Someone was on the balcony, some forty stories above the street.
The glass door slid open.
His eyes flashed a brighter blue as he considered the woman breaking the threshold of his quarters.
She, too, had a tousled mane of fiery red hair. She wore a black crop top that bared her torso from just below her breasts to the tan cargo pants that drooped from her hips. She held a hair dryer in one hand and a small, automatic pistol in the other. More surprising, she looked just like the naked girl who was still in his arms.
"Ron Stoppable," the new arrival hissed: "time to die!"
And then she opened fire.
ABOUT THE TITLE:For those who have been complaining that Kim's been gone too long, here's two Kims for the price of one! And, of course, why this chapter is entitled "The Returns of Kim Possible"!
Authors/Notes 2:
And for all of you who may think that I've wrenched Kim out of Ron's memory and thrown her away…this chapter should disabuse you of that theory. Ron has come to realize that there is a great emptiness inside of him. The fact that he does not know who is missing from his heart and mind does not mean that the matter is closed forever…
(2020): There is currently a Reader Challenge on the board: visit my Profile Page for details…
REVIEWS FOR CHAPTER 30
pbow chapter 30 . Aug 1, 2011
Great story so far. I knew you'd bring the syntho-Kim back sooner or later. ("Clean up in the penthouse suite! Bring a mop and bucket for syntho-goo!")
Don't worry about chapter length or number of chapters, only concern yourself about quality. You are a great, creative writer and you shouldn't put stock in what others say about your writing. (Other than mispelt wordz and runon sentences and all the other grammary type things we all worry about.) What I was told a long time ago by Ray Bradbury, (picture 12 wide-eyed students sitting in his movie lot office talking about writing! God, what I learned that day!) is to write to please yourself. If you like it, your fans will too.
At one point, even before you let on that tall dark and grusome was female, I thought you were going to have Kim be the bad guy, going insane from when she was first attacked by syntho-Ron. Now my money is on Bonnie. I know you won't tell me if I'm right or not so don't worry about it.
You're right! (I won't tell you. But…)
Keep up the good work and I look forward to each and every chapter you bang out.
Live Large,
Paul
So, pbow: you've actually sat in the presence of the great Ray Bradbury? That is so cool! I've met more than a few SF writers and count some as personal friends but Ray Freakin' Bradbury! He's the guy who had the biggest literary influence on the first half of my life and remains one of my favorites to this day! I am sooo jellin'!
R~13
Burner chapter 30 . Aug 1, 2011
Sorry for the bothering again.
Just to clarify I don't want (ehrm or care really) for Kim and Ron to be together hell I like more Yori, and I apologize about the critic about the lenght of the history (I didn't have reallized that it is above the 100k barrier) my complains it's in the content of the fic, while well writed it doesn't help in the history it's like reading lord of the rings again...
too much of the chapters it's used to tell us how wonderfull is Ron escept in here He's sort of a pussy don't get me wrong what you have put him trough its worst that what Rowling did to Harry and there are things done to Ron that would put men in theirs knees scept this is a history about a hero.
I don't intend to tell you what to write but I how reader have a opinion and I liked what you writed 'till 13th chapter after that IMHO the history just... keeps rounding and rounding if it's a novel lenght you should be around 1/3 of the history but I don't feel plot advancement thats all.
XD sorry for the inconvenience I like how you write and what you write but I read to entertainment myself not to cut me in angst, I'll keep aroun to check the fic so don't worry about what I say I'm just a random lurker with a big mouth that have expressed his opinion thats all
No need to apologize, Burner, everyone's opinion is welcome here. As long as we're all polite and respectful, no one should feel muzzled or unwelcome.
I hope no one is inhibited by the fact that the author will participate in the discussion from time to time, sharing my own opinions, as well. I hope we can see every conversation as a spirited discussion rather than an argument, so, feel free to say whatever you want. I'll feel free to take readers' advice (as I already have in some cases), take a pass on it (as I have in others), or take it under consideration (as I continue to do on some points—like the forward momentum of the story and Ron's angsty issues).
For example, I've said that this is planned as a long work and it should be judged in that context as opposed to holding it to short story standards. Understanding that it is a long-form work and still feeling that the plot is dragging is a different matter and that's what I hear you saying.
I tend to agree with you there. The plot is kind of dragging!
Some of that is setting aside some action in favor of character development. And I do favor the "slow burn" in literary terms. But I think you will see things start to pick up now that we've set the stage. Or, rather, we will see Ron start to step up.
We still have quite a ways to go in the RSVP Saga, this is just Part I. And I totally get it if this isn't everybody's cup of tea! So far, I'm frustrating the Kim/Ron shippers, the action buffs, the harem hopefuls, and the angst haters. In trying to fix some of the things that bother me and some things that other readers have questioned, I've only succeeded in making the story longer and that was not the plan.
So, again, everyone should feel free to raise issues, complain, talk about what bothers them…it shouldn't just be "great story, keep writing" all the time.
I was just clarifying for everyone's context that this is still a bit early in the story arc and that there are other characters waiting in the wings to make their first appearance.
(July 2020) Just by way of updating the "length" context, I've described RSVP I as "Season 5" of Kim Possible, RSVP II as "Season 5" of Kim Possible, and RSVP III as "Season 7."
R~13
critic chapter 30 . Aug 23, 2011
It's good, I am pleased, however I will be upset if anyone comes back from the dead
Hmmmm…I have to ask: What constitutes coming back from the dead?
The reanimation of a dead body?
Someone presumed dead who's actually not?
The number of missing corpses does tend to give one pause...however, if no one dies and no permanent damage is done, then the stakes are pretty low and who cares what happens, then!
But would it be too displeasing if I manage to work in a scene with a decomposing Will Du shambling through the doorway, moaning: "Brains! Must have brains...!"?
R~13
Sentinel103 chapter 30 . Feb 24, 2012
OK me me, either another syntho Kim, plus the 'real' Kim and of course we are not mentioning Camille...So Camille being Camille plays the immodest Kim. The 'real' Kim is bent on murder...Now where did we put that syntho Kim?...Oh well it escapes me...
Rufus the spirit guide isn't gonna let Ron have the easy answers is he. Good this story isn't long enough. And good ole Ronnie boy has got a lot to relearn, maybe now the girls around him will 'act more normal' rather than the sex crazed vixens that they appear to be. Now maybe we can get back to some good old fashioned destruction and mayhem. ;-)
Larry (Sentinel 103)
I'm always up for mayhem!
And, yes, the multiple Kims should keep things lively from time to time—realKim, synthoKim, robotKim, CamilleKim, alternateuniverseKim, cloneKim—not to mention & JossKim…
R~13
CajunBear73 chapter 30 . Feb 25, 2012
Well as to the word count to chapter ratio you compared to with BS176, lets just say that we got very wordy in our escapades there... Especially in the chapter with the psychedelic party in Wade's backyard...
But here, Ron's getting some surprises of 'what he forgot', and the shock and gunfire will just blow that inkling right out of his mind.
Now for more deception.
CB73
I'm always up for deception! Keeps the KP readers here from getting too jaded…
R~13
Some Dude chapter 30 . Aug 26, 2013
I'm confused now, so so confused.
Sorry, man: it's only going to get worse...and then better...and then worse...and then...
Sometimes backing up a chapter and re-reading it can help.
Sometimes…
R~13
sakura89luis chapter 30 . July 17, 2014
shes back! i love the scenes with ruffus and ron, there hilarious.
She's back?
Or They're back? (LOL)
R~13