A/N This story only exists because right now I have a wee case of writer's block on my other stories (don't worry, this'll be two chapters tops). The Powerpuff Girls aren't mine, neither is 'Samurai Jack', 'Care Bears', 'Strawberry Shortcake', 'Rainbow Bright' or 'Harry Potter', although I wished that they were, then I'd be getting paid to do this.
Enjoy!!
_____________________________________________
Wishful Thinking
"The city of Townsville," Bubbles said, "looks perfect! All I need now is some blue for the sky!" she was lying on her stomach working on her latest piece of art. She reached into her crayon box and came to a horrible realization, "Hey! Where's the blue? I need the blue!" She began frantically searching around for her missing crayon when Buttercup floated in.
"Hey Bubblebrain," she said, "We're going to the store, aren't you coming?"
Bubbles looked up, "Huh? What? Oh! Yeah sure I'm coming!" she stuffed her crayons back into their box and added, "Oh and Buttercup, please don't call me that."
Buttercup folded her arms and grinned, "What? Bubblebrain?"
"Yes! Stop it!"
"Bubblebrain! Bubblebrain!" Buttercup taunted.
"Shut up!"
"Bubblebrain! Bubblebrain!"
"Stop it I'm telling!"
"Bubblebrain!"
"PROFESSOR!!!"
Buttercup motioned her to be quiet, "All right! All right! I won't call you that ever again!"
Bubbles sniffed, on the verge of crying from her sister's teasing, "Promise?"
"I promise on my honour as a Powerpuff Girl I will never call you 'Bubblebrain' again." Buttercup said with one hand on her heart and the other one raised solemnly. Bubbles was satisfied with that and sighed with relief. Suddenly Buttercup's eyes widened with mischief as a wicked smile crossed her face, "BubbleHEAD!!!"
Frowning and red in the face Bubbles shrieked, "PROFESSOR!" and as she darted out the door and down the stairs she said, "Buttercup's calling me names!"
Buttercup called after her, "What? I didn't call you Bubblebrain did I?" She frowned in a huff, "Tattletale."
While they piled into the car the Professor said, "Buttercup stop teasing your sister."
"Yes sir," Buttercup nodded, shooting an evil glare at Bubbles..
After they got their groceries, the Professor decided that the girls were a great help, and for the most part well behaved except for a couple of instances where Bubbles was the subject of Buttercup's teasing. But whenever he interfered Buttercup would shrug with a smile and stop. Bubbles on the other hand couldn't give up feeling irritated as easily as Buttercup could quit teasing her. The Professor couldn't help but smile inwardly at Buttercup's antics. Bubbles may be angry and annoyed as Buttercup flicked at one of her ponytails. "Quit it!" she whined as she flicked Buttercup's hand away, but he knew one day she'd look back at that with a smile.
"PROFESSOR!" Bubbles cried, "Buttercup keeps bugging me!"
"Buttercup, stop teasing your sister," the Professor told her, as he pulled into Toys 'R' Us. He shook his head, and smiled.
"I tried to tell her to stop," Blossom said in her 'good girl' tone of voice.
"I know Blossom," he smiled, "Come on, you three have been such good girls lately, saving the day and helping me with the grocery shopping, you deserve a reward. You can pick out one toy each… within reason though."
"Yay!" they exclaimed, "Thanks professor!"
"Outta the way Bubblehead!" Buttercup flew passed Bubbles.
"Hey!" Bubbles hissed, chasing her into the store.
"Shall I break them up?" Blossom asked.
"They'll be fine," The Professor rustled her hair, which made her frown and adjust her bow, "Go on, pick out something fun." Blossom nodded and her expression quickly changed from that of a goody-two-shoe to a five year old just told she could get a toy of her choice, which of course she was. Childish selfishness flickered in her eyes as she flew inside. The Professor chuckled and leisurely followed them inside.
Bubbles immediately flew to the stuffed toy section, "Oooh! Care Bears!" she exclaimed, "They're so cute!"
"Meh, they're just another 80's comeback rip, like Strawberry Shortcake and Rainbow Bright," Buttercup muttered, coming up from behind her.
"Oh what do you know Buttercup?" Bubbles frowned, "Besides, I don't care that they're part of the 80's comeback phenomenon, they're still cute! What did you get?"
Buttercup held up a toy, "I picked out this cool 'Samurai Jack' action figure. It has 'sword wielding action'! See?!" she showed her the box, "Press the button on his back and 'swish swish' he slices and dices the bad guys!"
"Mmm, that's nice," Bubbles said with disinterest, her eye caught the Care Bear she wanted. An aqua green one, "I want this!" she exclaimed, looking at the tag and seeing that she picked 'Wish Bear'. She cuddled the bear lovingly.
"Pbtbtbt!" Buttercup muttered, "Stupid!"
"Better than what you picked!" Bubbles retorted, "I'll bet his 'sword wielding action' thingamajig only makes his arm go up and down!"
"Whatever!" Buttercup replied. "Come on Bubblehead, let's go!" She flew to the front.
"Stop calling me that!" Bubbles called after her, red in the face.
As the cashier rang in the items the girls chosen, she motioned to the Care Bear, "Is this yours?" she asked Bubbles like anyone would talk to a little kid.
"Uh huh! She's so cute and cuddly!"
"I had a 'Wish Bear' when I was your age. She grants wishes you know," she winked at Bubbles as she swiped the Professor's credit card.
"Really?" Bubbles asked, looking at the bear which was sticking out of the bag slightly.
When they got to the car the girls greedily grabbed their toys. Blossom read the box that her 'Harry Potter Potions Master' set came in, excited about trying out some of the chemistry experiments it advertised while Buttercup savagely tore at her action figure's box and Bubbles cuddled her stuffed Care Bear, wondering if it really did grant wishes.
Bubbles began thinking about what she'd wish for and was deep in thought, hardly noticing that Buttercup was teasing her again. When she noticed that Buttercup's 'Samurai Jack' was using his 'sword wielding action' on her cheek she turned and growled, "Quit it!"
"You're right, this stupid thing only does just move the sword up and down! And the sword is just plastic!" Buttercup moaned, but she still seemed to get a kick out of using it on Bubbles.
"Buttercup, you don't honestly think they toy makers would use real metal do you? They'd get sued for sure!" Blossom rolled her eyes.
"I know that!" Buttercup stuck out her tongue at Blossom, still annoying Bubbles with it.
"Buttercup stop it!" Bubbles hissed, "Professor! Buttercup's bugging me!"
The Professor watched them from the rear view mirror, remembering how his older cousin used to tease him like that, and how he used to tease his younger cousin like that. Ah, the memories! He tried not to chuckle as he said, "Buttercup stop teasing your sister."
"Yes Professor," Buttercup smiled sweetly, giving Bubbles a little glare, "Tattletale."
"Well you keep bugging me!" Bubbles protested.
"Why don't you ever fight back and stick up for yourself instead of rat on me?" Buttercup folded her arms with a frown and looked past Bubbles and out the window. "He Bubblehead, let's switch seats, I want to look out the window!"
"No, switch with Blossom, I'm looking out the window!"
Buttercup looked to Blossom who shook her head warningly, "She doesn't want to, so move it!"
"Well I don't either!" Bubbles replied.
"But I hate the middle!" Buttercup whined, poking Bubbles' side.
"Quit it!" Bubbles hissed.
The Professor pulled into the driveway, "Buttercup, relax, we're home. You can sit by the window next time."
After everyone finished putting away the groceries, Bubbles cuddled her beloved new toy. "Hello Octi!" she said to her stuffed octopus, "This is Wish Bear! Don't worry, she won't replace you!" she cuddled them both lovingly. "Now to get back to my wonderful piece of artwork!" she pulled out her crayons and paper. "Where was I? Oh yes! I remember! I need blue for the sky!" she started to look for it with no avail. "Where's my blue!" she cried, "I need my blue crayon!" after a short while her search became frantic. After a few minutes of searching she began to cry, "I wish I had my blue crayon!" she sobbed. She glanced at Wish Bear and could've sworn she saw it move.
Just then the Professor came in, "Bubbles, is this your crayon?" he asked, holding up a blue crayon.
"Thanks Professor! I was looking for it!" Bubbles smiled. She returned to her colouring in bliss when something occurred to her. "That was pretty neat! No sooner do I wish I had my crayon when I…" she looked at Wish Bear curiously, "Wait a second! Does this mean my bear can really grant wishes? Too cool!" she exclaimed. "Hmm, only one way to know for sure! The Professor said we were having liver and onions for supper tonight, I hate liver and onions, I wish we'll have spaghetti instead!" She watched Wish Bear for a moment and was sure she saw it's beady eyes sparkle for a moment.
"Oh Bubbles," the Professor said poking his head in the door, "We're having spaghetti tonight, I forgot to get onions today, I hope you don't mind."
Bubbles giggled, "Of course not Professor!" as he left she gave an excited shriek. "This is so cool! I wonder how many wishes I get! I should think about what I want to wish for next, just in case there's a limit."
After a while Bubbles decided to have a tea party to honour the newest member of the family, Wish Bear. Octi, Bubbles' goat, Buttercup's alligator and Blossom's stuffed Rabbit were invited.
"Why yes Mr. Gator you may have some more tea," Bubbles said, pouring imaginary tea into the empty cup before Buttercup's alligator.
Buttercup burst into the room and was appalled to see her stuffed alligator in a pink bonnet, "Who said you can play with my gator!" she snatched her toy away, knocking over some empty cups and causing Octi and Wish Bear to fall to the floor.
"Buttercup!" Bubbles whined.
"What's the matter Bubblehead?" she taunted as she ripped off the tacky bonnet from her alligator. "You're such a baby! Your tea party is so stupid."
"Stop calling me names!"
"Bubblehead! Bubblehead! Bubblehead!" Buttercup laughed.
"Stop it!"
Buttercup tugged at her ponytail, "Heh heh, Bubblehead!" she picked up Wish Bear, "How could this stupid thing drink tea anyway? It's a stuffed toy for crying out loud!"
Bubbles snatched Wish Bear from her and held it lovingly in her arms before carefully putting it back in place, sitting it in it's chair, "Leave me alone Buttercup or I'll…"
"Or you'll what?"
"I don't know," Bubbles said, "Something!"
A sly grin crossed Buttercup's face, "Oh yeah? I'd like to see you try it!" she grabbed Octi and flew out the door.
Blue and green streaks randomly appeared throughout the house and Bubbles chased Buttercup, "Give Octi back!" She finally managed to corner Buttercup, "Buttercup you make me so mad!"
"What?"
"Give me back my Octi!" Bubbles warned.
"This stupid thing? Make me!" Buttercup dared her, waving it tauntingly in her face.
"I'm so mad right now! I wish… I wish… ooh I wish you'd just… just…get lost!" Bubbles snapped.
Buttercup frowned, "Whatever, this is getting boring anyway." she carelessly tossed Octi at Bubbles feet and left.
Bubbles grabbed Octi and kissed it a few times, "Stupid Buttercup!" she frowned floating upstairs back to their room. When she got there, Wish Bear had fallen off her chair again. She put it back in place but was too mad to continue with her game.
"Girls!" the Professor called after a while, "Suppertime!"
Bubbles flew downstairs and joined Blossom and the Professor at the dinner table. "Looks delicious Professor!" Bubbles exclaimed.
"Thank you Bubbles," he replied, giving her a generous serving of spaghetti.
"Professor, I made jello with my new 'Potion Masters' set," Blossom said proudly.
"Well, when it sets I guess we can have it for dessert," the Professor grinned.
"Where's Buttercup?" Blossom asked.
"I don't know," he replied, "Buttercup! Supper!"
Bubbles slurped up her spaghetti happy that her wish came true about supper. She was also happy about Buttercup's absence because she'd surely tease her about something, although her absence from supper was odd, since Buttercup loved spaghetti and they always ate dinner as a family.
"Buttercup!" the Professor called again, "Your food's getting cold!"
"Where can that girl be?" Blossom rolled her eyes, swirling her spaghetti like a little lady.
Bubbles gasped as a realization hit. She threw her hands to her mouth, as though she said something incredibly taboo, which she did.
"What's the matter?" Blossom asked.
"Uh, nothing," Bubbles said, not knowing how she'd tell them that earlier that afternoon she had wished Buttercup to get lost, and hadn't seen her since. She began scolding herself, telling herself she should've been careful now that she had a toy that granted her wishes. "I'm sure she'll turn up eventually." She giggled nervously.
"She's probably off playing," the Professor shrugged, "I guess we can reheat it when she gets back. She should know by now that I expect everyone to be home for supper. I guess I'll talk to her later about paying more attention to time."
Bubbles ate her food beginning to worry a lot more than Blossom and the Professor. Didn't they realize how serious this was? Buttercup could be anywhere! All alone… she shook her head, of course they weren't worried… yet, they didn't know, they couldn't know it was Bubbles' fault that she disappeared. She had to fix it, "I wish Buttercup was here!" she said, trying to be casual.
"Why?" Blossom asked, "You know she'll only bug you."
"Yes, well, I… I know how much she likes the Professor's special spaghetti!" Bubbles gave a nervous grin, shifting her big blue eyes back and forth and returning to her meal. It's not working! Bubbles thought, Come on Wish Bear! You can do it! Bring her back! I wish Buttercup was here, I wish Buttercup was here! she gasped, ignoring the curious looks from Blossom and the Professor, What if I only had three wishes? Oh why did I have to waste them on crayons and food? Then I could wish her back! Well Bubbles, it's up to me, unless I want to fess up and tell them what I did, I'm going to have to look for her myself.
"Penny for your thoughts?" the Professor asked Bubbles.
"Huh? Oh nothing," Bubbles replied, slurping up more spaghetti, "Can I go out and play after I'm done?"
"Of course," he replied.
Bubbles quickly finished her meal and put her dishes in the sink and flew off. "Buttercup!" she called, "Where are you?!" She darted all around Townsville calling her name. As the sun began to disappear, Bubbles' search became desperate. She was sobbing, "Please Buttercup, if you're here come out! Follow the sound of my voice if you don't know where you are!" she cried.
As it got dark Bubbles headed home, worried and feeling very guilty for making that stupid wish. Maybe Buttercup, who was pretty savvy and strong found her way home by now Bubbles hoped. But when she arrived, Buttercup wasn't there. Bubbles hovered in the living room trying to put on her nonchalant face. They couldn't know what she did, the would never forgive her for wishing Buttercup away.
"I couldn't find her anywhere," Bubbles heard Blossom say to the Professor in the kitchen.
"Shh, we don't want Bubbles to worry," the Professor replied.
Bubbles forced herself to keep from crying, they were looking for Buttercup too, and didn't want her to worry. She couldn't let on that she knew Buttercup was missing and that it was her fault. "Hey Bubbles," the Professor said coming into the living room, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Bubbles replied.
"Well, it's past your bedtime so come on, let's go I'll tuck you two in," he said cheerfully. Only to keep me from worrying, Bubbles figured.
After he tucked her and Blossom in and kissed them goodnight Bubbles asked, "Hey, uh… where's Buttercup?"
"Didn't we tell you?" Blossom asked, "She's uh… she's um, at…Sue's for the night." The Professor nodded in agreement and left the room.
"Oh," Bubbles said, "OK." Funny, you don't sound too sure Blossom, and Buttercup doesn't even like Sue, and I even looked there. I'll bet you're just saying that to keep me from worrying. Bubbles decided to play along, lest she confess the horrible crime she committed. Bubbles rolled over and closed her eyes, but couldn't fall asleep. She would confess her crime tomorrow night if there was still no sign of Buttercup, but at least she wasn't the only one searching. I wish Buttercup was here, I wish Buttercup was here, I wish Buttercup was here, I wish… she thought over and over again, cuddling her Wish Bear, her eyes watering. She quietly cried herself to sleep.