Kiteria: Yo folks. No, this isn't a new story. I'm just revising this one to see if by the end of the fourteenth chapter I can finish it. I'm trying to wrap up old stories before starting any new ones. Read and review okay?

-Buttercup-

'Who would have expected it? Sure the best way to get to us was through our family, but for them to go and do this?'

I looked around and saw my sisters standing together, Blossom's arms around Bubbles, trying to comfort the crying blonde. That itself was a sight I wasn't used to seeing from the usually always happy, bubbly blonde. A small group of close friends had shown up to the service. The mayor, Miss. Bellum, some old colleagues, and even Ms. Keen from Poaky Oaks though it'd been years since our last day there. As I looked at his cold, unmoving face inside the silk-lined casket, I still couldn't believe it.

"May the angels watch over the soul of our beloved Professor Utonium as they lead him to his eternal resting place."

The reverend spoke, his voice full of sorrow for the loss of such a man, and everyone but me bowed their heads to pray. I couldn't. I just couldn't look away from him. The face of the man who had not only created my sister and I, but had treated us like his daughters. He had been there for every bad dream, hard math problem, after every hard battle, or any other reason they needed him. He had always, always been there.

'He was always there when we needed him most. So then why couldn't we be?'

Everyone lined up to place their things in the coffin before it was to be closed for the last time then lowered in the pre-dug hole for burial. Following silently behind my sisters, I floated up to the casket to place the things we'd brought with them to place inside the casket with our father. Blossom put her favorite book, the bindings holding on by just a few threads showing how much she'd read it over the years, under the Professor's arm before leaning down and kissing his forehead. Bubbles went up next, sniffling as she tried to hold back her tears. In her arms she held the stuffed purple octopus with it's ridiculous black hat that was covered in patches in random places from the Professor's hackjob sewing. She placed it next to his head before leaning down and doing the same thing Blossom had done before floating off so the next person could see the Professor one last time. I flew up to the coffin next, feeling my eyes well up with tears, but I refused to let them fall. An image of the Professor before I'd left popped up in my mind and nearly did me in. Placing a small green notebook under my father's other arm, I closed my eyes as I leaned down to kiss my father goodbye as my sisters had done.

Watching as the two graveyard workers poured shovelfuls of dirt into the hole as I floated back down to the ground and out of the way, I realized it was real. The Professor was never coming back. Closing my eyes again I fought back the tears that nearly overwhelmed me, I refused to cry in front of my sisters.

"Come on girls."

Blossom said, her voice still holding the tone of a leader, but it broke with the emotions she was trying to keep hidden. None of us said anything after that as we kicked off from the ground and flew back home.

The windows that had once always seemed so warm and welcoming were now dark and foreboding. Slowly walking inside, we went up to our room. As I closed the door behind me silence started building within their room, Bubbles was the one who broke it.

"I miss him."

She said as she wiped at her eyes trying to wipe away the tears that were streaming down her face. Hearing my sister say what they all felt and seeing her unable to contain the tears that trailed down her face, I finally snapped.

"Why? Why couldn't we have gotten there in time! We always, always get there in time! Why couldn't we have been in time to save him?"

I snapped angrily at no one in particular. I could hear my voice echoing throughout the eerily silent house that now seemed void of all life.

"Buttercup we can't do anything about it now."

Blossom said, her voice almost emotionless, like she didn't really feel like answering my question.

"Yes we can! We know who did it, let's go avenge the Professor."

"No! You know the Professor wouldn't have wanted us to do that."

Blossom said and my anger faded when I realized my sister was right.

"I know, but I can't just sit here and do nothing while that killer walks around scot free."

I said, anger slowly building inside my chest as I thought of the one who took our father from us walking around as a free man, thinking he'd gotten away with it. I knew my sister was right, the Professor wouldn't want any of them looking for revenge no matter how justified it was, but that didn't take away the emotions that were boiling up inside me.

"Just let the police handle it for once."

Blossom whispered defeatedly as she sank down on the bed.

"I'm going out for a bit."

I said as I walked over towards the window, but stopped when Blossom suddenly grabbed my arm and wouldn't let me go.

"Don't go looking for trouble Buttercup."

She said sternly, her pink eyes looking up into my own green ones.

"You know I'm really getting tired of you always trying to control me. When we were kids it was fine, but now it's just annoying."

I said as I yanked my arm free.

"Buttercup don't."

"Save it Blossom. This is what I need, can't you understand that!"

I screamed at her.

"You don't need to go looking for revenge, it's not what the Professor would have wa-"

"What he wanted? How do you know what he wanted? He probably wanted us to stay inside the city. He probably never wanted us to grow up. And he probably wanted us to save him but we didn't get there in time!"

I said, my voice rising in volume as I continued to list things, tears threatening to fall once again.

"I know what he wanted because of how he raised us!"

Blossom shouted, finally losing it, but I wasn't in the mood to get lectured by my sister.

"I'll come back…eventually."

I said as I opened the window and flew out. I could hear Blossom yelling after me, but ignored her. Tearing off the black dress I'd worn to the funeral and letting it fall to the ground below, I tried not to think about why I had to wear it. I hated dresses and had worn clothes underneath to still feel like me. My mind was racing and had so many different emotions going wild inside me. I needed somewhere to be able to vent and I had a place in mind. Somewhere I knew that if I broke things, no one would care. I just hoped I didn't run into them.

-Bubbles-

'Why do they have to fight?'

I wondered to myself, but I could also understand why my sisters couldn't get along any more.

After Buttercup left, I got up and headed for the Professor's room. Crawling onto his bed and curling up into a ball, I cried for hours before the world and the pain I felt started to fade with sleep. But before I was fully lost to the dark, blissful world of sleep, I could make out the sounds of Blossom crying in our old room. We had grown apart from each other after dealing with HIM and finally defeating him, so much so that we couldn't take living in the same house any longer. Had any of us known what would have happened while we were away, none of us would have left that day. The Professor was gone now, none of them were ever going to be the same.

-Buttercup-

The sun was just sinking down over the horizon when I reached my destination. The Townsville City Dump. Not the best place in the world, but it was full of things and junk I could break and not feel bad or get in trouble for breaking.

Landing in the far eastern part of the dump, as far away from the Gangreen Gang's hideout as possible, I looked around for something somewhat sturdy to direct my anger and other feelings towards so I wouldn't have to deal with them. Seeing a pretty decent sized pile of garbage I flew up to it. Closing my eyes and gathering my powers into the palms of my hands, I let loose balls of green energy that I threw at the pile of trash. While it helped, it wasn't enough to just attack it from a distance. I had too much pent up anger. Too many emotions raging through me that I couldn't take it or deal with it in any other way. I flew up to a 2004 Chevy with black tinted windows and a decent paint job and punched through the rear window. The glass shattered and I felt pieces cut into my arm, but I didn't care. I screamed, giving voice to the emotions that broiled inside me and delivered punch after punch and kick after kick to the old car. I kicked in the sides, punched through all the windows, getting more glass lodged in my arm, but I no longer felt the pain as the shards dug in my skin. I just let the emotions take over and continuing destroying the car in any way I could, screaming as I did so until the car flew from the pile and crashed into another towering a few feet away, knocking it over. I smiled at the sound of crashing metal until a couple of cars came crashing down towards I. I could have easily moved out of the way, but I didn't. I just stood there and let the cars fall. Most of them landed around me, but some hit me. Feeling pain shoot up my right arm, I just watched as the rusted hood from one of the falling cars cut into my skin. Finally being pulled from the slight numb state I'd been in, I screamed in pain and pushed the car away. It flew through the air and landed halfway across the dump.

Looking down at my arm, I glared at the red liquid running down my arm, to my wrist and wrapping around my fingers like crimson ribbons. Tears fell down my face as I thought of how the Professor always used to bandage mine and my sisters' wounds after a fight. Knowing he'd never be able to do that again crushed whatever restraints I had been holding back my tears and just let them fall.

'I took so much for granted, and now it's too late to be thankful for it.'

I thought to myself, screaming to try and deal with the pain I felt. I gathered another ball of green energy in the palm of my left hand and threw it in a random direction, not caring where it went so long as it did some kind of damage. I wanted to damage things and make them feel as I did. Broken, destroyed, damaged.

-Ace-

'The boys have been gone for a while now. Snake said they'd just go out for some beers. I just hope they're smart enough not to do anything stupid.'

No one was stupid enough to try anything on a day like this. They wouldn't even risk trying to rob a little old lady or even taking candy from a baby. No one was that stupid. Why? Because today if the Powerpuff Girls caught you they'd beat you to a pulp with no mercy.

Running a hand through my hair, I frowned at how dirty it felt. I got up from my spot in front of the TV and headed for the bathroom. I sat on the edge of the tub and turned on the faucet, smiling as water gushed out and steam started to fill the room.

'Snake you are a genius. If it wasn't for you we wouldn't have clean water.'

I thought to myself as I knelt on the floor and put my head under the torrent of water. Aturo had lifted a water heater from a nearby appliance store a few weeks back so the gang would have hot water to use whenever they pleased. I washed my hair as thoroughly as I could before letting the water rinse the bits of soap out of it. Once I was satisfied that it was clean, I towel-dried my hair and ran my comb through the wet tresses. As I walked back into the main room of our hideout I heard something. It sounded like a huge crash. At first I thought it nothing and ignored it, but then it got louder when it sounded again and I decided it best to go see what all the commotion was about. The dump was my terf, if someone was trashing it, they'd have to deal with me.

The sounds got louder as I got towards the eastern part of the dump. Climbing over a mountain of trash, what I saw when I got to the top surprised me and made me blink my eyes a couple of times behind my shades to make sure I wasn't just seeing things. When I was certain I wasn't tripping from the joint the boys and I had smoked a few hours ago, I climbed back down and hid in the trenches the boys and I had dug for playing trashball.

Peeking over the edge, I saw Buttercup shooting off balls of green energy and letting them fly at a pile of trash some distance away.

'Well that's new.'

I thought with a smirk. I looked over the green puff as she shot off another blast of green energy. I noticed she had grown a lot in the last ten years. She looked to be about eighteen now, two years younger than I was. Ducking as a car was kicked over my way, I heard the puff scream before everything went quiet. Risking a peek over the edge of the trench I was hiding in I saw the green puff had curled into a ball on the ground. I saw tears rolling down her face and shook my head in sympathy. I knew all too well what it was like to lose a parental figure. I'd lost too many to count by the time I was fourteen, what with being a foster child. I had run away before I was even fifteen.

I was about to turn around and head back to the gang's hideout when I saw her arm. It had a nasty cut going from the inside of her elbow down to her wrist and blood was starting to pool on the ground from it.

'That's a nasty wound. If she stays out here it'll get infected.'

I argued with myself before cursing under my breath as I climbed out of the ditch, picked up the green Powerpuff girl and carrying her bridal style back to the hideout. I was actually relieved the boys were still out now. I didn't need them asking me questions about why I brought a Powerpuff girl back to the hideout after the history between the two groups.

Gently laying her down on his bed, I sat at the end and looked down at her. She'd grown into a pretty well developed woman. To think it had been almost eight years since her and her sisters beat us up. The green puff whimpered in her sleep and I noticed her arm was still bleeding. Getting a roll of bandages and a rag, I started cleaning her arm, taking out the shards of broken glass before bandaging it. Once I was sure she'd be out for a while, I left and went into town to get some food. When I got back I saw she was waking up. She slowly sat up and looked around, her green eyes widened when she saw me.

"A-Ace?"

She asked in a small whisper, confusion clear in her voice and on her face.

"Hey kiddo."

I said as I walked over to the bed. I held the bag of food out in front of her and smiled when she grabbed it without a word and tore into one of the burgers. I grabbed one for myself before walking over and grabbing my drink from the dresser by the door. I held it out to her when she'd finished the burger I'd gotten. When she took the cup from me, I turned and set the bag full of burgers on the makeshift counter Snake had made. It wasn't anything too fancy, just a barrel with a piece of plywood tied in place over it.

"Where are the others?"

The green puff asked, gaining my attention and making me turn to look at her. I saw she'd drawn her knees up to her chest.

"Out and about."

I told her with a shrug, taking a bite out of the burger in my hand.

"Thank you."

"For?"

I asked confused after swallowing the bit of food in my mouth.

"You bandaged my arm right? Thanks."

She said with a slightly stronger voice.

"Don't mention it."

I told her, sitting down in the chair facing the bed.

After a period of silence, in which I managed to finish two burgers and my drink, I chose to try and talk to the girl currently sitting curled up in my bed.

"So how come you're not with your sisters?"

I asked and saw her bury her head in her arms.

"I had a might with Blossom."

She mumbled, but I could still make out what she said enough to understand her.

"About?"

"Look Ace, I'm thankful and everything, but I should be going."

The puff said as she lifted her head. I watched as she got up, went to the door, and opened it before walking out of my room. Hearing her groan I got to see why. Walking up behind her, I couldn't help but laugh at the look on her face.

"Why does it have to rain now?"

She asked with a sigh.

"I take it you hate the rain kid?"

I asked with an amused smirk.

"Right now I do."

She said and went to go outside, but I reached out and grabbed her good arm. She turned around and looked up at me confused as to why I'd stopped her. Truthfully, I was too.

"What?"

She asked with an angry frown. I didn't know why I stopped her, but for some reason I didn't want her to go out in the rain.

"You should wait it out."

I told her, it being the only excuse I could come up with.

"And what if it doesn't stop?"

She asked.

"If it hasn't stopped within an hour I'll lend you an umbrella."

I reasoned.

"Why can't I just use it now?"

She asked and I smirked.

"'Cause I said so."

She blushed before walking past me and going back over to my bed. She pulled her knees up to her chest and laid her head down so it wasn't possible to see her face. Smiling to myself, I closed the door before going back into the main room of the hideout and sitting back down in my chair.

I hadn't realized when I had fallen asleep until I was being shaken awake by Snake. Sitting up and looking around, I noticed the door to my room was open, when I was sure I'd closed it, meaning there was no longer a puff in the hideout. I also saw one of the few umbrellas we owned was missing.

"Ace, you eaten?"

Snake asked and I nodded. Walking over to the bag of burgers, I started passing them out to the others. After everyone had eaten, Aturo passed around some beers. As the rest of the gang was getting drunk, I headed outside for a bit. Leaning against the hideout's walls, I couldn't help think about a certain green Powerpuff girl before I turned and decided to go to bed.

-Buttercup-

I couldn't understand why Ace had been so nice to me, but I did know I needed to stay away from them. I flew back to the house with one of the Gangreen's umbrellas in my hand. I briefly thought about going inside, but chose to go to my tree house instead. I hadn't been there in years. As I pushed open the hatch and lifted myself up I remembered when the Professor had given it to me. It was for my ninth birthday. Sighing as I shut the hatch behind me, I walked over to the small chest full of my old things and pulled out the green blanket I used to be so attached to and wrapped it around myself. Closing my eyes, I hoped to get some sleep, but it wasn't long before I felt the familiar tingle of Bubble's powers. I sighed and opened the hatch for my sister.

"It's good to have you back Buttercup."

She said in her soft, bubbly voice, but it was tinged with sadness. A sadness I knew all too well.

"I won't be staying long."

I said as I pulled my knees to my chest. I winced when the movement aggravated my arm. I saw Bubble shiver and opened my blanket in a silent invitation. She gladly took it, curling up against my side and I wrapped my blanket around the both of us.

"Blossom doesn't know you're back. I don't think she's as close to you as I am."

Bubbles said and it was true, I had always preferred Bubble's company to Blossom's. Even when we were younger and I'd always pick on her. We had grown close over the years even though we had lived far apart, and Bubbles seems to understand me more than anyone, even more than the Professor.

"She doesn't know I'm here or she won't acknowledge I'm here?"

I asked. No matter where we were we had always been able to sense where each other was. Unless we didn't want to be found and hid our powers. Though even when I did hide my powers to get away from my sisters Bubbles always seemed to find me.

"You pick."

She said and I smiled. She'd matured over the years. She still has her childish moments, but that's what made her Bubbles.

"When are you leaving?"

She asked getting right to the point.

"Probably as soon as I get feeling back in my legs. It's still so cold when it rains here."

I said and she laughed.

"Stay as long as you need, and you know you can always come back home if you need to."

Bubbles said and I nodded. She hugged me and started to go down the ladder.

"Tell Blossom I'm sorry."

I said and she just smiled before disappearing, shutting the hatch behind her. I sighed and wrapped myself up in the blanket, falling asleep with my back resting against the wall by the window.

I didn't stay asleep all that long. I looked out the window and saw the moon hadn't even gotten that high in the sky yet. Sighing, I grabbed the umbrella, and floated down to the ground. I looked back at the house I had been raised in, before flying off towards the dump. I stopped at the gate and hung the umbrella on the chain length fence, sticking a note on it. After that, I left and flew towards the west. I didn't have anywhere specific to go, but at the moment I didn't care. Soon it was too dark for me to see. I flew up into a tree and curled up into a ball. I closed my eyes and fell asleep. I should have known I wouldn't be alone for long though.

-Ace-

For some reason I had a feeling like I needed to go to the gate that went around the dump. I got out of bed, pulled on my pants, and headed outside. The night air was cold, but it wasn't unbearable. I walked to the gate leading towards Townsville and saw one of our umbrellas hanging on the fence. As I picked it up I saw a note attached to it.

'Thanks for everything, and sorry I borrowed this without asking. See you around.

-Buttercup'

I smiled before turning and walking back to the hideout, but stopped when a blood chilling scream split the night air. I turned towards the woods and waited. Sure enough the scream came again, this time it was filled with agony.

I dropped the umbrella and ran towards the scream. I came to a clearing, and what I saw surprised me, something that seemed to be happening quite a lot lately. Buttercup was on the ground beneath a giant leopard. Not just any leopard, but the one me and the boys named Nix. It was the only one we didn't mess with, and it didn't mess with us. Nix went to tear out Buttercup's throat, but she threw up her arms to protect herself. Nix's jaws wrapped around Buttercup's injured arm and bit down hard. Buttercup screamed before kicking Nix off her. Buttercup quickly stood up, but it didn't take long for Nix to regain her bearings as well. Buttercup prepared for another attack and Nix pounced. Just as Nix was about to claw off her face Buttercup blasted Nix with a blast of green energy. Nix went flying through several trees. When she finally stood back up she limped away, disappearing into the forest that was nestled between this part of the dump and the outskirts of Townsville.

"I told you not to mess with me."

Buttercup said to no one in particular. She looked down at her arm and sighed. I looked at it as well. It was horrible. Her arm was covered in teeth marks and the pressure from Nix's bite had reopened her previous wound. She looked unsteady and I saw her eyes close and she fell to the ground. I ran and caught her before she hit the ground.

"Shit."

I said as I looked over the unconscious puff in my arms. I sighed as I stood up and headed back to the hideout.

'The boys will freak when I get back, but I can't just leave her out here.'

I tightened my grip on the girl in my arms and quickened my pace. Her wound needed to be looked at as soon as possible, and Billy would be the best one for the job.

I finally got to the hideout, but I paused outside the door. I took a deep breath before pushing the door open. As soon as the others saw the green puff in my arms they freaked out.

"What's she doing here?"

Aturo asked.

"Ace? Why is she-"

Snake started to ask but I cut him off.

"Billy!"

I yelled as I laid her on the couch.

"Yeah boss?"

He asked as he came over. His eyes widened behind his orange hair at the sight of her arm.

"What happened to her arm boss?"

He asked.

"The first time it got hurt I'm not sure, but this time she got in a fight with Nix. Think you can fix her up?"

I asked as I sat in the chair facing the couch.

"Sure thing boss."

Billy said before getting to work.

"She got in a fight with Nix?"

Aturo asked surprised.

"Yes."

"Is Nix okay?"

He asked and I sighed.

"Why are we helping a PowerPuff Girl? Ssshe'll jusst wind up-"

"Snake, shut up."

I said as I took off my sunglasses and pinched the bridge of my nose. Today was turning out to be quite interesting. Snake and Grubber left after that, saying something about lifting an air conditioner. So only me, Billy, and Arturo were left in the hideout.

"Done."

Billy finally said taking the soiled bandages to the sink and burning them.

"How is she?"

I asked without looking away from the puff sleeping on the couch.

"She's fine, just sleeping it off."

He said coming back to the living room area of the hideout.

"Good."

"Boss?"

I looked up to see both Aturo and Billy looking at me expectantly.

"Look alright, she's different from her sisters and I don't think she's into the whole 'save the world from danger' thing anymore. We'll just look after her until her arm heals. After that she can do whatever she wants."

I said moving over to sit on the love seat across the room. They both nodded and let it drop. Hell, the boys would listen to anything I say.

"Aturo, go get some clothes for her. She'll need something more...fitting for her."

I said and he nodded before leaving. I sighed and laid down. I closed my eyes for a bit. I heard Billy leave before I fell asleep.

'Definitely turning out to be an interesting day.'

I thought to myself before turning over onto my side and falling into a deeper sleep.