"Golly, those girls can sure put on a show better than those ol' wrestling events on TV" proclaimed the Mayor, watching out his office window in awe.
The common placement of towering beasts that rampaged the city so frequently had done its job in killing the complexity of the once intelligent man's mind, who now sought after such atrocities as entertainment and distraction from his important duties. Like a child brainwashed by a television, he sat on the floor, clapping his hands and munching on a newly opened jar of pickles.
Although Ms. Bellum had indeed become worn with this man's infantile personalty that had developed, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him and even envy him. The world was so stressful and catering after Townsville's most important gent was not a lenient task. Folks in the staff room would often chatter and chortle over the sheer 'joke' of the scenario and that, by all rights, Bellum should be the one in change. She should be the one in command, who had an idea of leadership. However, it was not her place, not her desire, in life. Also, with the results of such a demanding job almost ridding the poor man of his sanity, it was a position she saw to be less desiring in every passing day. It was no wonder he would act as a child. Exhausted by the onslaught of responsibilities, he probably, purposefully, try to distance himself from the real world.
A whistle punctured the air and a crack of the sky, followed by the anticipated roar of thunder, caused the clouds to weep. With all the rapid firing of light from the Powerpuff Girls zipping around, it was almost an artistic display, close to a New Years Day firework event. But, the light of a certain puff flashed out and there was a scream.
Before Sarah could comprehend the utter shock that fired deep into her after what she had witnessed, she had already taken her leave and had bolted right out of the door of the Mayor's office.
The rain felt like light fists hitting upon her back. The electricity struggled to maintain steady in the street's lights, blinking out and on again after every enormous thump of a footstep from the colossal creature that gave out a triumphant roar. She couldn't figure exactly where she saw the girl fall, but her feet kept carrying her, on auto-pilot, determined to find her.
Coming into a circular opening, a closed street where there were only cafe's, butchers and bakery's, she laid her terrified eyes on a small, limp body, one which she internally pleaded was not lifeless. Her bushy red locks slowly were becoming frizzled and drooping with the rainfall and she dashed over to the girl, laying in a pool of blood, constantly rippling. Scooping her up, Bellum darted back from where she came.
"Everything will be okay" she told herself, panicking.
In the distance, a car alarm went off and a rush of wind, like a gust fueled by a tornado, sent the mass of metal colliding into a building. She was legging it from the eye of the storm and adrenaline coursed through her. Amidst the sheer fright, looking down at what she hoped was the unconscious, and not deceased, babe, her vision warmly blurred and she bore her teeth, panting, fighting back the tears that easily broke through and fell on the girl's cheek regardless.
"Please... please, baby girl. It'll be alright" she told Buttercup, she told herself.
The child's limp, soaked body bled out across the woman's arms, cradling her. Her raven hair ruffled and crazed from the relentless beatings, scratches and a large gaping wound in her chest, dangerously close to her heart. Astonished, the woman watched the infant's eyes slowly but surely bat open to look up at her. Bellum's hair acted like a curtain, as a serendipitous act, to shield her from the cold water droplets.
"M-ms. Bellum..." the kindergartner croaked. "W-W-Where...?"
"Safety" the woman assured. "I'm taking you somewhere safe"
The clicking of the woman's heels sped increasingly, hearing the resuming fights just blocks away. An explosion, an intense ripple of the air, sent shivers down the secretary's spine and she gasped with terror, finally finding the stairs to the building and making it inside. All the while, Buttercup never tore her heartbreaking expression from the brave lady.
"Goodness me" muttered the nearly senile gent. "Those puff's can take a wallop"
Bellum had laid the green hued babe on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, near a fireplace. She'd taken the courtesy to dress the wounds and do what she could with the gravely deep and most concerning damage of all, being near the girl's heart. Shivering uncontrollably, no doubt from shock as well as the cold, the lady let out a slight sigh of relief after having attended to the hurt child. She was alive. It was a rare, though existent, reminder of the girl's mortality that shook one deep to the core. They'd show themselves to be indestructible, only they almost were... almost.
The man stumbled on his own words, having not seen any of the Powerpuff's as battered as this "Err... hmmm... maybe I could get some juice or something?"
"Water will be fine" clarified the woman softly, not drawing her eyes from the Powerpuff.
So, the man made his way out for a drink silently, the serious situation bringing his frequently vacant mind home a tad. A chesty cough from Buttercup caused the attentive woman to seat herself also on the couch, stroking the babe's hair soothingly. Another cough followed by wincing, as the wound in the chest throbbed painfully.
"Nnngh... ow"
"Sssh" hushed Sarah lightly, her eyes out the window, to check on the other girls, who were still in fierce battle with the monster who was starting to show signs of surrender.
"Blossom... Bubbles..." she whispered, beginning to awake.
"They're alright, Buttercup. You just need to rest"
Again, the lady found the adorable, wide emerald orbs of the puff on her again, gazing up like an abandoned kitten, seeking love and comfort. "W-where am I?"
"You're safe"
"What...? But I...?" she grumbled, rubbing her sore head. Both their attentions drew to outside the window, at the resuming fight.
ROAR!
"The monster!" she exclaimed, remembering, before she zipped into the air, only to pause momentarily, clutching her chest, elevating down slowly to the floor again "AAGH!"
Bellum reached out to her in alarm. "Buttercup, don't move!" she cautioned, only for the tomboy to rebel and dart around the office in frustration, occasionally stopping to whine and cry out at the paralyzing agony.
"Buttercup, you'll make the bleeding worse!" she explained, grabbing her from the air, trying to restrain her. It was like fighting an agitated bull. The child could certainly be stubborn.
"GRAH! I have to beat that stupid monster! I have to help Blossom and Bubbles!"
"Baby, they're fine. Look!" she said, cradling her, after she'd finally calmed and showing her the window. The monster was beginning to fall to the might of the superheroes and a howl of defeat echoed through the city. Figuring this would ease the puff's nerves, she looked down with a warm smile, only to find that Buttercup's expression had worsened, not with anger, but misery. The girl nuzzled into the crook of the woman's arm and began to sob.
As the silence in the city was reclaimed, the sun shone through the clouds, like an oculus: illuminating Townsville in it's sound glory once again.
End of Part One