The villain was standing in the center of the gym, his face showing a bit of apprehension. Kim and Ron instinctively jumped away from each other and dropped into fighting stances.

"Fighting will not be necessary," the nobleman informed them. "Nor in my case, advisable. I still have not fully recovered from the injuries Mr. Stoppable and his Asian companion inflicted upon me. At this moment, I am afraid I would be unable to overcome either of you, much less the two of you combined."

"Where are your monkeys, Fiske?" Kim demanded, not relaxing her stance.

"I only brought three with me to Middleton," Fiske informed her. "They are currently at an indoor driving range."

"I can confirm this," Wade's voice sounded over Kim's Kimmunicator. "The only heat signatures in the building are the three of you and Yori."

"So your ninja companion is with you and staying out of sight in case I prove to be somewhat less than trustworthy?" Fiske noted. "A wise precaution."

"So your monkeys never got over their obsession?" Ron asked him.

"No," Fiske admitted. "Being confined to a castle, occupied by monkeys who are moping because they cannot indulge in their pastime to the extent they wish is not pleasant. However, like you told me some weeks ago, it is a situation that I created for myself...Shall we get on with the exchange?"

"Exchange?" Kim asked. "I thought we were giving you this." She held up the Transportulator.

"That was the original plan," Fiske admitted. "But Mr. Lode informed me that I may be able to perform a service to repay your efforts. For that reason, I chose to come in person."

"What service?" Kim asked.

"To speak to Mr. Stoppable about the cost of pursuing power to the detriment of all else," Fiske told her. "Could we be seated? My injuries are rather painful when I stand for a prolonged time. If I can sit and recline on the bleachers, I will be much more comfortable."

Kim couldn't see any reason to argue this, so she gestured towards the home side stands, where Yori could see them from the lobby. Fiske glanced between the doorway and the indicated seating area. Instead of smirking or complaining, he actually nodded his approval. Soon, he and both of the teens were all seated, with Kim and Ron on either side of him but out of arm's reach.

"I would like to begin by asking Mr. Stoppable to remove his footwear." Fiske requested.

"Why do I need to take off my boots?" Ron demanded.

"I believe that your feet may emphasize such points I am prepared to make," the Englishman told his audience. "Or do you have secrets to keep?"

Ron was reluctant, but pulled off his boots and socks. Kim gasped at his feet while Fiske nodded, grimly.

Ron's large toes had begun to shift away from his foot, almost like a thumb to a palm. They weren't even close to being opposable toes, but his feet were a shade closer to being a monkey's feet than a normal human's.

"Your exposure to increased Mystical Monkey Power has started to affect your body," Fiske informed the boy. "Also, you failed to shave this morning, and thus have a unibrow. Because I did not pursue such power until after I had attained adulthood, I had to hire Dr. Hall to modify my body. As you are an adolescent, and your body is still forming, it is reacting to the Mystical Monkey Power."

"Ron, how could you do this to yourself?" Kim demanded.

"It seemed to be worth it," Ron shrugged. "What's a little body modification?"

"Indeed," Fiske agreed. "What is a slight alteration to your form, compared to power? Of course, that's not how you looked at it, is it? What is a slight alteration to your form, compared to the ability to stand between those you love and the world's villains, despots and other evildoers? Your alteration wasn't a sacrifice so much as a mark of devotion to your cause, was it?"

Ron could only stare at the man, he had no answer.

"But it didn't end there, did it?" Fiske continued. "It wasn't just the ability to help those you care about. Soon it became pride. Now, you can actually stand against those villains. Your not just the buffoon and distraction, you're actually a valuable team member, able to fight either Monkeyfist or Shego and allow a ninja to deliver a debilitating strike! So what if you cannot sleep without the rush you get from increasing your power? You're doing good deeds! The world is a better place because of you!"

"This reading my mind isn't helping my temper," Ron managed to mutter.

"I'm not reading your mind," Fiske protested. "I'm recalling my own justifications. While your life is not the same as mine, you are dangerously close to becoming me, Mr. Stoppable. After our last encounter, I had sufficient time to examine my life and discover that I wasn't impressed with the decisions I have made. While I can make some changes in my own life, I can perhaps point out where I went wrong, so that you can face the choices I made with more foresight than I enjoyed."

"Okay, what was my next screw-up?" Ron asked.

"Deciding that nobody would ever understand and appreciate the sacrifices you are making on their behalf," Fiske informed him. "Otherwise, why keep it a secret? Why perform the ceremonies on your own? Why hide the effects from your parents, your lifelong friend, or even an alluring, blonde girl who has a certain romantic interest in you?"

"Leave T..." Ron stopped before actually saying her name. "Leave her out of this."

"I have no intention of drawing her into this," Fiske assured him. "But since she is standing in the lobby, it would be impolite to not invite her in to hear the story."

Ron maintained his discipline, keeping his eyes on Fiske while Kim looked at the lobby. The redhead nodded to her partner and Ron looked himself, his heart dropping when he saw Tara, a shocked expression on her face, staring at them.

"Young lady, you may as well come in," Fiske called out a greeting. "Yes, I am an evil and dangerous man, but your two companions can easily overwhelm me. In addition, a ninja is undoubtedly confirming that I am alone at this time."

"Have you seen or heard her?" Kim asked.

"No," he admitted. "But it is the prudent thing to do and if there is one thing I've learned of the Yamanouchi, prudence is a virtue with them. Anyway, where were we?"

"You were just asking Ron why he was hiding the side-effects of his power grab from everyone," Kim reminded him, as Tara entered the gym and took a nervous seat next to Ron, but keeping the blonde boy between her and the villain.

"Indeed," Fiske nodded to her. "Ronald, do you have any other secrets you would share, or would your companions be unable to understand you?"

"I have one of your monkeys training me in Tai Shen Pek Kwar," Ron admitted. "Chippy is her name."

"Ah, that is what became of her," Monty nodded his understanding. "If I could be so bold, please give her the option of remaining in your service or returning to me. I believe we both owe her that choice."

"Agreed," Ron assured him.

"Very well, let me continue," Fiske resumed his lecture. "Of course you want to keep it a secret, because how can anyone else understand? They don't feel the thrill that courses through your veins as the Mystical Monkey Power makes you stronger, more agile and more attuned to Tai Shen Pek Kwar, do they?"

"Wait a minute," Ron interrupted. "I thought you didn't have access to those ceremonial katas."

"I don't," Fiske admitted. "I had mastered Tai Shen Pek Kwar before acquiring the Mystical Monkey Power. As such, I experience a rush as I continue to train in Monkey Kung-Fu. I am certain that the euphoria I experience is not as intense as yours, but I can at least understand the thrill. We are on different paths, Mr. Stoppable, but the destination could very well be the same."

"And this is supposed to make me stop?" Ron asked him. "You're wealthy, well-connected and respected. I'm supposed to think those are bad things?"

"My wealth and connections have nothing to do with the Mystical Monkey Power," Monty pointed out. "I inherited the wealth and connections from my ancestors. I am not respected so much as I am feared. What you may not realize is how alone I am."

Fiske took a deep breath before continuing, "Ronald, you came here with your lifelong friend, who is a master of hand-to-hand combat. You were also accompanied, willingly, by a ninja student of an ancient and capable ninja school. A young super-genius, of his own volition, is probably monitoring us as we speak. A young woman, with no combat training, accompanied you to the Motor Lodge and assisted in your rescue of Miss Possible, probably because she refused to let you face danger alone."

Tara tensed slightly when the villain referred to her.

"Do not be embarrassed," he told her. "Courage and loyalty are nothing to be ashamed of."

"So, there's always someone around to save me," Ron challenged the man.

"No! There's always someone around because they have affection for you," Fiske corrected. "That is why I have never had a clear-cut victory over you, Mr. Stoppable. You are a likable and kindly person. What little you may sacrifice in power due to this kindness and consideration, you more than make up for in the willing assistance those around you will provide."

Fiske allowed himself a snort of humorless laughter. "I should have realized this from my communications with Mr. Lode. He told me that he had greater access to information than did I, because he was affiliated with Miss Possible, who is well known for helping others. On the other hand, I was well known for taking what I wanted, so people hide their valuables and knowledge from me. Being sometimes foolish, like yourself, I sometimes need such lessons repeated, sometimes painfully."

Ron looked thoughtful, but not convinced.

"Mr. Stoppable," Monty addressed him formally. "Do you know what the last words my father ever said to me were?"

"Please don't work on the release mechanism while I am directly under the portcullis...oh dear!" Ron answered.

"Technically, that is correct," Fiske admitted. "And in my defense, he had asked me to repair that mechanism earlier that day; and eleventh-century mechanisms can be decidedly touchy in the twentieth century. Anyway, the last piece of advice he gave me was from the walls of our castle. He told me that for ten centuries, our castle walls had done what they had been built to do; keep enemies at bay. However, the side effect was that they also kept kept friends out and us inside. I was what you would call a loner, Ronald, and he didn't want me to experience life without close friends. Unfortunately, I have managed to do just that."

"You are free to take my advice if you wish to do so," he concluded. "I'll admit to a certain self-interest, as I don't want another man obsessed with the Mystical Monkey Power. However, I have an honest wish to see a young man not make the same mistakes that I have. You are surrounded by people, as well as a rodent and a couple of monkeys, who wish to share your life. Cherish them and don't turn you back upon them. Power isn't worth it."

"I believe that I have fulfilled the terms of my agreement with Mr. Lode," Monty told the teens, painfully regaining his feet a placing a hand on his back. Kim handed him the Transportulator.

"Do you need any help getting to the airport?" Kim asked.

"No," he answered. "I need only concentrate on driving on the right hand side of the road. Besides, you don't want to share a vehicle with monkeys who are bragging to each other about their golf prowess."

The teens watched him leave.

"Kim?" Tara asked the redhead. "Do you mind if I speak to Ron for a little bit, in private?"

"Not at all," Kim told her. "By the way, where's Yori?"

"I felt that Fiske would be more trustworthy with a blade close to his undamaged kidney," Yori's voice, from under the bleachers, announced. "I shall go to the lobby so that these two may speak in private. However, Stoppable-san and King-san, I apologize for watching you last night."

"We'll talk later, Yori," Tara said. She then climbed to her feet. Ron did the same, wondering if he was simply preparing to meet bad news while standing.

Tara watched Kim leave, then saw Yori emerge from under the bleachers and join Kim in the lobby. She then turned to Ron.

"Maybe she did us a favor," Tara told him. "She forced us to talk about things that we might not have."

"Like how stupid I was to be thinking of conspiracies, when I was the one keeping secrets," Ron agreed. "About how I wasn't looking at things from your point of view."

"That's for damned sure," Tara grumbled.

"I'm so sorry," Ron struggled to keep from sobbing. "I was so stupid! I thought I was doing you, doing everyone a favor, instead, I was letting everyone down."

"That's the only reason I'm not screaming at you, right now," Tara admitted. "Your intentions were good...sort of."

Ron flinched.

"But where are we now?" Tara asked.

"I want to be your boyfriend," Ron answered, without hesitation. "I know you're mad at me, with good reason. But I'd like to at least try to work through this. Tara, since starting high school, the happiest I've been was when I've been dating you."

For what seemed a long time, Tara gave him a level look. Then, she reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out the jade hexagon.

"Wade called me and asked me to show up here," she told Ron. "He said that I would probably learn some more about you and why you acted the way you did. I brought this along to give back to you. It's to precious to keep, if I'm not your girlfriend anymore."

She handed the talisman to Ron. His heart plummeted when she turned away from him.

She held her mass of hair up, exposing her neck.

"Please put it back on me."

His hands trembling, Ron undid the clasp and returned the jewelry to where it belonged.

"We're going to have to have a long talk," Tara told him. "But the happiest I've been since starting high school has been when dating you, too."

"Hey, Ron!" A familiar voice shouted, interrupting the thanks Ron wanted to give his girlfriend. The two blondes looked to see Monique rushing into the gym.

"Kim's dad said she'd be here, so I was pretty sure this is where you'd be!" The fashion maven rushed up to the two. "Excuse me, Tara. Ron! I'm so sorry with how much I was harshing on you! I thought you had swindled Cocoa Banana out of a couple of original designs and I was so busy with the holiday coming up, so I wasn't thinking clearly when Mrs. Thompson said those things about our science project. But it's really a good one and now that she's realized that she had that fever, we're back on with it and we're sure to get A's for the project..."

Monique put her hands on Ron's shoulders and looked him in the eye, "but I still shouldn't have been taking it out on you so I'm sorry and...Tara? Ron? Why are the two of you crying?"

"We just had a dramatic heart-to-heart," Tara told the other girl. "And we were about to share a heartwarming, dramatic kiss. But you're standing between me and my boyfriend, so if you don't move, I'm going to give him that heartwarming, dramatic kiss right through you!"

"Awp!" Monique squawked, scrambling away.

But not quite fast enough. One flailing arm was caught between the two blondes as they threw their arms around each other and kissed each other with all the passion that teenage love could generate.

"Hey you two!" Monique protested, unable to free her appendage. "Can you back off long enough to let me go? I'm losing feeling in that hand! For pity's sake, don't the two of you ever come up for air? Kim! A little help here?"

"I think that these two are taking care of what they need to," the aforementioned redhead told her friend, walking into the gym with a broad smile on her face. "You'll just have to suffer until they finish!"

"And when's that likely to be?" Monique demanded. "I kind of need both of my hands and I'm not really all that comfortable standing right next to this!"

Fortunately for the frazzled retail employee, the two blondes broke the lip contact to catch their breath, which provided just enough slack for her to pull her numbed limb from between them.

"Do me a favor?" Tara asked him.

"Anything," he promised.

"Your folks are going to get back home tonight," she reminded him. "Let's put together a nice meal for them, my folks and us. Then, we can all sit down and you can tell all of us what you can of this Monkey Power of yours." She looked at the Japanese girl. "If Yori can make it, she can make sure you're not giving out any secrets that you shouldn't."

"It will be my honor to attend this family meal," the ninja assured her friends.

"Eight O'clock?" Ron asked.

"That will work," Tara agreed.

"In the mean time, what say we all hit Bueno Nacho for some binge-eating to amp down the drama?" Ron suggested.

"That sounds great," Tara agreed, taking his hand. "While we're there, Yori can explain why she was watching us last night."

"You were watching them?" Monique asked, matching her pace with the blondes as they made their way to the exit. "What did you see?"

"After exchanging some words I could not hear," Yori stated. "King-san was upon Stoppable-san's lap and his hands were..."

"YORI" Ron yelled. "That's private!"

"I don't mind hearing about it," Monique admitted.

"I don't, either," Kim added, with a predatory grin.

"Well, Kim, you can just get with Felix and figure it out yourself," Tara informed her cheer captain. "Monique, you can just get your own boyfriend and make your own memories." She paused, "speaking of memories, Ron, maybe you can give me a little preview of what you'll tell our parents tonight."

"Well," Ron replied. "It started when Fiske asked KP to retrieve this jade statue. At the time, we didn't know about the Mystical Monkey Power, so we thought it would be going to a museum..."

Epilogue:

The alarm tone and lights sounded throughout Fiske Castle, sending Lord Montgomery Fiske scrambling out of his bathtub in a shower of soapy water and harsh language.

"The spirit it in the fence maze," Wade Lode's voice sounded through the structure. "It should reach the front gate in twenty-seven minutes. Lord Fiske, please go to your study. Monkey ninjas, to your stations."

Lord Montgomery Fiske felt a momentary surge of irritation that Lode, from his bedroom across the Atlantic, was giving orders in his castle but he quickly suppressed it. Fiske himself was scrambling to dry and dress himself at the moment. Time was vital and the young genius was saving it by making sure the plans were being executed.

"What is the situation, young man?" The archaeologist asked, as he reached his study.

"The spirit is halfway to the front gate," Wade reported. "Your monkeys have opened all of the affected doors and your car is started and ready to go, in case this doesn't work. You can transport yourself at your convenience...as long as the next twenty minutes is convenient."

Fiske had to chuckle at the boy's sense of humor. He dialed the number on Dementor's device and suddenly found himself standing in one of the levels of his dungeons, surrounded by new stonework.

"I'm tracking the spirit," Wade's voice assured him from the newly-installed telephone that had just delivered the nobleman to the underground chamber. "It has just changed its direction of travel, it is now heading towards the new construction surrounding you."

"And your status?" Fiske asked him, swallowing his anxiety.

"Two of my Wadebots are in position, pre-programmed to finish the wall once the spirit enters the new hallways. So far, so good."

The waiting was the hardest part. Fiske tried to meditate, tried to relax, tried anything to make the time go by. Finally...

"The spirit has entered new construction," Wade reported. "It is traveling at the speed predicted, slowed considerably by the fact that it has to travel along the cardinal directions and the hallways are set forty-five degrees off of them."

"Is it showing any sign of breaking through the walls?" Fiske asked.

He grimaced at his own question. If it was breaking the walls, he would hear it and Wade would undoubtedly report it. He had asked for the sake of saying something.

"Negative," Wade reported. "It would appear that I was correct. By performing all new construction with robots, no primates crossed the walls and therefore, the wall have no doorways by the creature's rules. Twelve minutes before we dial you out."

"Understood," Fiske replied, struggling to keep his voice steady. Again, time seemed to stand still.

"Time to dial out," Wade reported. "The spirit is four minutes, at current speed, away from you."

"Dialing," Fiske acknowledged, irritated when he heard a quaver in his voice.

It seemed to take forever, and Fiske was wondering why he didn't provide a telephone equipped with a speed dial, but it probably took less than a minute before Fiske found himself standing in his study once again.

"Status, Mr. Lode?" He asked.

"The spirit has turned and is retracing its route to the opening," Wade's voice answered him. "Twelve minutes before it reaches the new wall, over the opening it just passed through. Then we'll know."

"It may sound cowardly to ask," Fiske admitted. "But my escape is planned in case this doesn't work?"

"Your escape route and a backup vehicle are standing by," Wade assured him.

"Very well, I guess I wait," Fiske sighed. Again, time dragged slowly by until.

"It has reached the new wall," Wade crowed. "And it isn't breaking through. Lord Fiske, can I impose on you to walk around the prison and confirm that the plan worked?"

"Gladly!" Montgomery Fiske nearly crowed, himself. He jumped to his feet and rushed through his castle, almost skipping in his enthusiasm.

It took hours to confirm, but it appeared that Mr. Lode's careful research had paid off. By using Wadebots to construct a simple labyrinth under Fiske's castle, Wade had built walls that no primates had crossed, thus not giving the spirit a doorway to break through. By using the Transportulator to transport Fiske into the center of the maze, he drew the spirit within. Then, by using Wadebots to build a wall over the last opening and the Transportulator to extract Fiske from the labyrinth, he denied the creature a doorway to break out. Fiske walked around the new maze several times, with one of Wade's robots inside tracking the creature the entire time, to confirm that it couldn't escape.

"Very well, Mr. Lode," Montgomery Fiske, back in his study, spoke to the far-away genius. "What now?"

"I have one of my robots installing alarms around the maze," Wade reported. "If it manages to get out, you and I will know, very quickly."

"And how will you release it, should I turn upon you or your friends?" Fiske asked.

"Lord Fiske?" Wade asked.

"Mr. Lode, you are no fool," Monty told him. "And neither am I. You have done a brilliant job here, but you would be a fool to trust me. Being prudent and intelligent, you must have some way prepared to release it, should I fail to honor my word."

"I do," Wade admitted. "But I find it prudent to not tell you at this time."

"A wise precaution," Fiske told him.

"Lord Fiske?" Wade asked. "What will you do now?"

"I have arranged a series of lectures as several universities," the nobleman told the boy. "I think it's time for me to instill a value for archaeology, honest archaeology, in the young. I have also contacted Mr. Killigan and arranged for golf lessons. I believe it is time for me to start socializing with my peers and I understand that golf provides an excellent icebreaker."

"Your plans sound sensible to me," Wade told him. "I hope you don't mind if I check up on you, now and again."

"I would think less of you if you didn't," the Englishman informed him. "Goodbye for now."

Satisfied, Lord Montgomery Fiske left his study and looked out of his window as a particular constellation in the night sky. The stars were close to the proper alignment. In six months; a year at the most, the Han would emerge. What would he do then? Right now, he was satisfied to curtail his quest for power, but would this new found contentment still be present at that time? Would he be satisfied to be a lecturer, an archaeologist, or would the fact that the spirit remained beneath his castle become intolerable, prompting him to quest for the Han and the means to eliminate it?

Fiske decided that such musings could wait until a later time. It was time for a trip to Scotland and his first golf lesson.

"So it appears that the spirit is trapped in a maze under Fiske's castle," Wade reported to his friends.

"Good job," Kim congratulated her young friend.

"Did I mention that I'm glad you're on our side?" Ron added.

The two teens were sitting at their booth in Bueno Nacho, enjoying a light snack after their workout as part of the track team.

"Well, I do what I can," Wade actually blushed over the Kimmunicator's screen. "I can say that we've removed one from the bad guy ranks...even though I'm going to keep an eye on him."

"We trust you, Wade," Ron assured him.

"Enjoy the weekend," Wade told them.

"I'm sure we will," Kim told him. "I have a date with Felix tonight and Ron has a date with Tara."

"A double date again?" Wade asked.

"To start," Kim told him. "We'll get together for a movie and a meal, then do our own things. Anyway, do you have anything else for us?"

"Not at this time," Wade told her. "Drakken might be doing something with a toy company in Japan, but I have to do some more research and confirm this before having you take action."

"We'll be ready to go when you find out," Kim assured him.

The two teens got up and went to their respective homes. Ron showered and dressed, looking forward to the date. He loved double-dating with Felix and KP. It was nice to have another guy to talk to at times and he knew that Tara appreciated being able to talk to another girl. He was very comfortable with his girlfriend and couldn't believe how close he had come to turning his back on romance, friendship and family, just for the sake of power. He was glad that Wade had succeeded in trapping the spirit and taking Fiske out of the ranks of the bad guys.

Of course, there was always the chance that Fiske wouldn't stay the way he was now. Power had a strong allure and Monty had enough of a taste of it to be severely tempted. Frowning for a moment, Ron considered the large envelope, hidden under a false bottom in one of his desk drawers. Kim wasn't the only one who could call in favors and not all information was stored and transmitted via electronic means. When Yori and he had thwarted Fiske's plans in Myanmar, Ron had had a discrete word with the monk. True to his word, the holy man had sent the teen illustrated translations of all of the ceremonies associated with the Mystical Monkey Power, to which he had access.

While Ron was uneasy having these translations, not to mention keeping them secret from everyone, he bowed to necessity. If Fiske ever obtained additional power and went bad again, or if some other overwhelming force were to show up, Ron would have to turn his back on friends, family and romance.

But that wasn't in the cards, at least for the moment. Everything seemed to be going great. Chippy was training him at Kung-Fu, his grades were great and he was becoming a star on the track team. His parents were home more often and he was opening up to them more, gaining their advice. As for Tara, the two of them were stronger than ever. Giving his desk drawer one last pat, he left; eager to spend time with his friends and the blue-eyed angel waiting for him.

A/N:

That's the end of the tale, folks. Thanks for staying with me through to the end. I hope you've enjoyed this little journey through my imagination. As always, my fond thanks to Joe Stoppinghem, for beta reading.

Until the next time we meet, best wishes to all.

daccu65