A/N Powerpuff Girls do not belong to me. 

I have a general idea of where this is heading, but this is mainly a way to cure my writer's block/boredom.  (I injured my back last week, so I have a lot more free time on my hands than I should have)

Please R&R and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter One: Strange Behaviour

Buttercup!

Buttercup rolled over shivering.  That voice.  So cold, so dark, so evil… still fast asleep she pulled the covers over her face, lost in restless slumber.

Buttercup, come to me.  You know you want to.

"No," she whispered in her sleep, "No.  Please!"

But you must.  You owe me.  Now it is time to pay me back.  Come to me.

Buttercup rolled over again, pressing her sweaty face into her pillow, "No, go away!" she cried.

Blossom opened her eyes, having been kicked by a restless Buttercup.  She sat up and looked over at her fearless sister, who was crying in her sleep terrified.  "Psst!" she nudged her, "Buttercup, wake up, you're having a nightmare."

Buttercup didn't respond, instead she just groaned, lost in her night terror.

Gently Blossom brushed her hand on Buttercup's forehead, and stroked her hair, "Wake up," she whispered.  "You're having a bad dream."  Blossom nudged her again, but getting no response- Buttercup was always a deep sleeper.  Blossom rubbed her sister's back, worried.  Buttercup was not the type who had nightmares, and yet it was the third time that week that Blossom had been waken up by her cries.  What night terror could possibly cause Buttercup so much fear?  That night Buttercup was more reluctant and rebellious about going to bed than usual.  Sure, she always resisted, but not as much as she did that night.  Blossom scolded her about it, but did Buttercup know she'd be having another nightmare? 

Blossom turned to hear another whimper.  Bubbles was having another nightmare herself.  Blossom rolled her eyes, it was typical for Bubbles to have the occasional nightmare so Blossom gave her blonde sister a nudge.  "Bubbles, it's OK, you're having a bad dream," Blossom said, trying to be the nurturing sister, but really longing to go back to sleep. 

Bubbles opened her eyes, scared for a moment then she relaxed at the sight of Blossom illuminated by the night light, "Oh, hey Blossom.  I was having such a bad dream and…" she looked over at Buttercup sound asleep, terrified.  Bubbles had never in her life seen Buttercup in that state.

"What's wrong with her?!" Bubbles gasped.

"She's just having a nightmare," Blossom yawned.

"I thought Buttercup didn't get nightmares," Bubbles sank in her covers and cuddled up with Blossom, grasping Octi in her other hand, something she always did when she had a bad dream.  Bubbles closed her eyes, unnerved by seeing Buttercup in distress.  Buttercup's unyielding fearlessness was what gave Bubbles the confidence she needed when she was afraid.

"So did I, but it's the third time this week," Blossom replied.

"Did you try and wake her up?" Bubbles asked.

Blossom nodded, "It didn't work, but you know how deep a sleeper she is. It's perfectly natural to have a nightmare so try not to worry about it, let's go back to sleep OK?"

Bubbles nodded, closing her eyes and snuggling under the covers.  Blossom glanced over at Buttercup and sighed, there wasn't much she could do.  She gave her raven-haired sister another pat and went back to sleep.

***

The next day all was back to normal… almost.  Buttercup, awake was her old feisty self, and despite the interruption of their sleep Blossom and Bubbles were well rested.  Blossom was tempted to ask Buttercup how she slept, but thought better of it.  She had a feeling Buttercup would be more than reluctant to talk about it, she'd probably get defensive and angry…

"So how did you sleep last night Buttercup?" Bubbles asked.

"Fine," Buttercup shrugged.

Blossom frowned at Buttercup's reaction which was obviously much different than expected.  Bubbles also frowned at Buttercup's reaction, hoping for an honest answer.  Buttercup merely went on with what she was doing which was eating her breakfast, reading the comics, oblivious to their reactions.  She continued eating, on the outside seeming perfectly normal for a young superhero, but inside she was feeling… nervous.

Professor Utonium who was completely oblivious to what happened the previous night, casually ate his breakfast checking his watch, "Well girls, you'd better get a move on.  School starts in two minutes."

Blossom sighed and quickly finished her breakfast and grabbed her bag, Bubbles did likewise.  Buttercup still casually ate her food.  "Buttercup are you coming?" Blossom asked.

"Huh?" Buttercup looked up suddenly, "Oh yeah." She gave the Professor a quick hug and grabbed her backpack.  It wasn't closed properly so some of the contents spilled out.  Buttercup grumbled to herself and gathered her books.  She picked up one book and looked at it briefly before tossing it aside, almost angrily.  "C'mon let's get a move on!" Buttercup flew out the door.  Blossom and Bubbles quickly said goodbye to the Professor and flew after her and the super sisters arrived at Pokey Oaks Elementary with a minute to spare.

It was a warm October day, the girls were in first grade and were having a great day.  They liked their new school, and liked their new teacher, Miss Hale.  All was quiet and normal until the hotline (which was installed in their new classroom) went off.  Normally Blossom answered the phone, but Buttercup jumped up, "Yeah?...Gotcha we're on it!" she hung up and flew off leaving Blossom and Bubbles in the dark, and having no choice but to follow.

"Where are we going?" Blossom demanded, as they soared through the air.  Buttercup didn't answer, instead she continued to fly with a determined look on her face.  "Buttercup?  Answer me!" there was no reply, "You can at least tell me who were up against?"  Blossom didn't get any answer, but by then there was no need.  They had arrived. 

Before them ravishing the city was a monster as tall as the buildings, wrecking havoc, causing the peaceful citizens of Townsville to flee, running for their lives.  It was red and black, with long pearly white fangs biting a piece of cement that was once the street.  Upon seeing the Powerpuff Girls, it spit out chunks of concrete at them like bullets.  As they dodged the attack Blossom said, "All right, for this we'll use plan Alpha Gam…" before she could finish Buttercup was already closing in. "Buttercup!" she hissed.

Buttercup was relentless.  She fought diligently and without mercy.  Irritated Blossom had no choice but to watch.  Her sister was moving so quickly, blindly and forcefully that joining in the fight would prove dangerous.  Blossom would have to have a talk with her; in the meantime, she and Bubbles did their part in making sure the citizens of Townsville in the vicinity were safe.

As the monster fell to the ground, defeated, Buttercup looked to the sky and hissed waving her arms, hardly regarding the monster as it fell, "You see that?!" Blossom and Bubbles watched her curiously, "You see what I did?!  On my own, with my own power, my own strength!  I didn't need no crummy special power to do that!  Leave me be?!"

With that Buttercup flew back to school, while an exasperated Blossom and Bubbles followed, they didn't dare ask her what that was about, although they had an idea.  As Buttercup returned to her desk as though nothing out of the ordinary happened, Blossom and Bubbles exchanged concerned glances, and agreed they'd confront her about her strange behaviour later.

A/N OK, I know this chapter sucked, but whatever. I hoped you enjoyed it anyway, or at least got you curious.  Please R&R.