The Battle Continues

Chapter 1-the wolf in the forest

I lay half asleep, half dreaming of the old days where I shared a bed with my sisters. To this day I have no idea why, our family was well off. and we didn't have that a problem with space, yet my two sisters along with myself slept together for years. I guess we were really close then...we went to school together, we eat together, and oh yhea...we fought various super villains and monsters together.

we didn't really think much of it other than it being our duty- we were born, together, with awesome super powers and so it was a given for the good guys to kick some bad guy butt. But some way along the line between then and now, now I'm seventeen then I was five, the villains and monsters just sort of vanished. So there was no need for super heroes. No need for us to keep so close as a team, we became a family. The Utonium family was simply that- a normal family...well a single farther and three sisters who look nothing alike. But none of us had to work together anymore, we were lucky to be in the same class and we defiantly didn't eat together. Life had changed dramatically. All I know now is that this second I was lying in my own room wishing that my alarm clock hadn't have woken me up. I just had to smile though; I must be the only person awake to feel this lazy morning haze. It was sheer bliss.

I still had the old room we all used to share; the bed was the same, the same sheet and the same colours. Well there wasn't pink everywhere anymore. I had re decorated to some degree. The floor had been strips to the wooden floor boards and I just used a simple rug to keep it from getting to cold. Instead of toys everywhere there were books and a desk and there wasn't a phone anymore. No that was put away long ago. I hadn't even thought about it till now. Why? Well it was all because of my dream.

I had the best dream in the world. I was flying through the air racing my sisters, no criminals or threats. We were just having fun with our powers- something that rarely happened. It was strange how little we used our powers for fun considering how we always end up using them without even thinking. It is no secret to this city who the powerpuff girls are...well, who the powerpuff girls were. Anyway, we were racing through the forest just on the outskirts of the city. Flying high and fast. I always loved that feeling, the wind brushing though my hair and whipping it away from my face. I go flying from time to time now when I get stressed...but without my sisters it's lonely. It's not the same. but flying will always hold a special place in my heart, now that I'm a normal high school student something feels missing. Only flying can fill that for me at the minute. No wonder I enjoyed my dream so much.

Slowly, I pulled myself upright. The sky was still dark but I always get up early for school. Actually I get up early period just because I don't ever want to be late. But if you think about it the morning is the best time. It's peaceful and quiet; nothing about the morning is violent or malevolent. It's simply calming and lazy. When you wake up nothing feel better then to just lie there and seep in the essence of the morning. But having all that would be far too perfect. The wind was cold, bitterly cold- winter had defiantly set in. it was that horrible time when it wasn't snowing yet it was too cold and windy to do anything. I kept the window open even with this wind; I had fallen asleep with it open. Crazy, sure, but I never minded the cold. I never got colds like everyone else. I think it's because I could, you know...breath ice. Not really a real excuse but it made sense. I bet I could be a really cool ice queen, I have the breath and I'm pale. What else do you need in the job description?

I walked to the window still in thought staring out at the black sky change to a deep misty blue. It was going to be dark for some hours before the sun finally raised its head. I stretched heading back in my room I needed to get dressed. I headed to the bathroom grabbing clothes on my way. I was always the first to use the bathroom. Always- what was the pint waiting to the traffic of everyone else? If you're up why not wash? Ditched my night shirt leaving it on the floor as I lazily stepped into the shower. Turning on the water felt like heaven. I sighed running my fingers through my hair; this is what every morning should feel like. Relaxed and gentle and I had it all to myself. Nothing felt better.

After the best wash of my life so far I hopped out wrapping a towel round my hair and washing my face, you know normal morning routine. I dried myself and pulled on my jeans.

'Shit.' I hissed doing the button up looking at the gap between the fabric and my stomach. I had lost weight again. 'Dad's going to kill me.' I growled looking in the bathroom mirror to see how baggy they had become. I turned looking round at my legs, it didn't look too bad. They looked like they were meant to be baggy. I groaned looking at the shirt I had brought in with me. It was no doubt baggy too. There was no way I'd be able to hide it well enough. I ran back to my room digging into the wardrobe to find a fitted shirt. I found one- a very tight red plain t-shirt. I looked at it a little disappointed in my find. Out off all the things I had to fine some skimpy little thing. I pulled it on anyway feeling the strain across my chest; I must have had this top for years. I sighed taking a seat at my dresser looking in my mirror. I'd have to go shopping after school.

I sat down brushing my hair; it had grown so long since my old fighting days. So long that I grew my bangs out. Now it was so long it passed my waist and even my bottom which it always impressive to me. I loved my hair, the length which is always fun to play with and the colour. It was red, something most think as a curse now for some reason but I love it as red is my favourite colour. And when the sun hit it, it was just a curtain or fiery orange. I looked so different to how I did back when I was five. I had a picture on my dresser of my sisters and me with the mayor of Townsville after one particularly nasty fight. I stud there grinning. There in my pink powerpuff girl uniform with the black belt across the middle. My hair pinned back my pink heart clip and a large red bow placed firmly on my head. That thing really was ridicules, far too big, it looked like rabbit ears. Yet for me the biggest change was my fringe, it no longer was cut straight above my eyes. I had it cut like that so none of it got in the way when fighting but when I stopped the need to have it cut was gone so it all grew, I grew it all our and never needed a hair cut again. My fringe...well I didn't have one anymore. I just had a centre parting and it all pulled back away from my face if needed but I only need that when I'm studying now. I brushed my hair getting a red ribbon from my dresser draw. I lost the bow years ago when Buttercup told me how I really looked but I still had to have something. So I just have a simple bow to keep my hair back.

I got up again once my hair was pulled back neatly in the ribbon. I walked over to the window gazing out to the sky, my sky...for this morning anyway.

My ears pricked up. Maybe I wasn't the only one awake in the city after all. I leaned forward pushing the window open staring out at the outskirts of the city- the forest. The forest was full of bad things, yes a little like red riding hood. When I was younger there were so many monsters and villains that took refuge in there. I shouldn't be surprised if there was still some still in there fighting for survival and what not. Still...I carried on gazing onto the tall trees swaying in the distance. Even though they were so far away I could see each leaf struggle against the bracing wind. I could see the various animals searching for cover in their last efforts to gather food for hibernation. I could even see the intricate crevices in the bark on the trees. Yay super powers, I guess. No one else could see that far- it's all because of the heightened senses. now that I don't use my powers regularly my sense just grew even stronger- it's like my body is rebelling and telling me to just get up there and fly or shoot lazars...but there's no need for it. It's makes one wonder how the rest of my powers have grown now that I'm older, Bubbles and Buttercup too of course.

I stared out at the forest waiting for another disturbance but nothing else happened. I slowly moved back into the warmth of my room a little dejected. I smiled a little, how I could be so silly. What was I expecting? For there to be some kind of trouble so I could go in and save the day? There was no way I'd be that selfish, and I wasn't missing my powers that much.

'No. nothing's going on.' I muttered still smiling to myself. 'I never have to use my powers ever again. I accepted that long ago.' I told myself despite the throbbing inside me, a painful jab into my head.

I winced holding my head; it was just a head ache.

'It has to be.' I hissed before a large rumbled erupted from the forest. I stared at the leafs. Now that was an excuse to go. I ran to the window jumping to kick off from the frame. I leaped into the air and in no time I was flying again. The pain in my head numbed as I flew higher, faster. The wind whipped my hair back and round my face but it felt good; this was where I belonged, here up in the sky with my powers. I wanted to go crazy and let the wind carry me elsewhere but I needed to see what made the noise, the disturbance in my world. The very welcome disturbance but, still, a disturbance none the less. I kept my eyes on the point in the forest where the rumbled came from, where the trees swayed more violently, more importantly where the animals were running from still. There was something there.

Whatever was there had knocked down a few trees. I landed in the small clearing it had made, and looked round. It was a mess of broken trees and large creators in the earth. But it wasn't just that, I smelt blood. How could nothing be here? I stared at the trees, and there, there dripping from the leaves was the blood of the victim (or maybe the culprit). I floated forward looking round, there was more blood below. I steadily lifted the tree moving it to the side. All was made from that, a hand, motionless and pale lay limp under the pile of trees. A jolt of fear set in as my eyes rested purely on the hand, it was human and it was defiantly trapped. I rushed forward trying to look under the tree; it was still connected to something.

'One moment. Hang in there.' I called hastily. I began pushing the trees to the side fast before I could float down to the boy. He didn't look like any of the boys in school. He had long dark hair, it would be red but I wasn't sure because it was still far too dark. I stud over him looking down at his still face. He looked like he was in pain but even so the pain features were remarkably handsome. The strong jaw and nose set on an evenly tanned completion. He was the most perfect person I had ever seen...other than that fact he had been crushed by a stack of trees. It was like he made his own creator into the forest floor and someone tried to bury him by simply dumping a ton of trees over him. He had cuts all over him, the blood running freely from his wounds. I knelt over him looking over his wounds before the terrifying though came over me.

He wasn't moving. There wasn't even a groan or signs of struggled breath. I grabbed his hand putting my fingers over the pulse on his wrist; it was faint, too faint. I dropped it staring down at the cold body on the ground.

'Oh god.' I muttered moving my hair away from my face, I had to do something. I counted his pulse for a moment before putting a hand on his nose, this had to work. I couldn't explain to anyone how I found a dead body in the woods to my family or the police. I calmed myself before moving over the boy's mouth pushing air into his lungs. I pulled back up moving my hands on his heart pushing down and again before moving over him again. He still didn't move.

'Damn it.' I felt myself shaking. He just wasn't moving. I moved to straddle him as to get a better angle. I pushed down on his chest again, it still wasn't working. I lowered myself over his mouth again begging silently for him to move, to twitch. Something. Anything. I couldn't hear or feel a pulse from him. I tried to pump his chest again but he stayed the same. I put my hand back on his nice leaning over him again.

'Breath.' I ordered placing my mouth over his again.

His eyes snapped open. Deep red eyes, staring up at me. I jumped moving my hand away from his face fast pulling myself away from him but a hand slipped round my waist keeping my position firmly over his. His lips moved over mine. I froze completely taken aback by his sudden movement pinning my body to his. His hands exploring my body, they slipped around my back before pulling my hips down forcefully over his. I felt tears stinging my eyes as I tried to hold them back. His eye met mine again. Those deep red eyes full of hate and lust.

'no.' I growled pushing myself up out of his grip I turned fast and running for the cover of the woods. Tears were now spilling freely down my face. I closed my eyes in frustration. Why was I crying? A hand gripped round mine stopping me from pulling away.

'Calm down.' the boys voice was soft, quiet. He pulled me into his arms; now that he was standing I only reached up to the top of his chest. I struggled against him trying to break away so I could fly away, fly far far away from him. 'I didn't mean to hurt you. Just calm down.' his voice was a little more aggressive now.

'Get off me.' I cried as his hand caught my head angling it up to his. He pressed his lips over mine again. He was still cold, still beaten and covered in cuts yet he held so much power over me. There was so much strength and domination. I hated it, I wanted to break free yet I couldn't. Something about all this stirred my blood making it bound against my ears threatening to erupt. It was exciting. His fingers ran through my hair and his grip relaxed. I shook myself of the feeling before ripping myself from his arms. I ran. Ran fast. He was alive, defiantly alive. I had done my part.

This time he didn't catch me. He didn't even follow me. I just ran as fast as I could (that's pretty damn fast by the way) home and flew straight into my open window. The sun was beginning to rise over the tree tops of the forest. That dreaded forest full of monsters.

I wasn't even sure why I was crying and shaking even now that I lay covered in the safely of my bed sheets. I was shaking before because I was just freaking out. I knew that. Even when I was fighting crime no one died- there was nothing that serious so I never needed to try and save someone's life like that. It was too real. I should be proud I was able to save him but what kind of person did I just save? His eyes, they were familiar- no doubt about that but I don't know who's they were. They were just evil, spiteful and then that kiss. It made me hate myself for letting it drag on so long. I growled ramming my head under my pillow and screaming in frustration.

A few hours later everyone else woke up and I walked down stairs popping bread in the toaster.

'Good morning Blossom.' Dad hummed giving me a quick peck on my cheek as he sat down. 'You look lovely this morning.' I smiled getting my toast and sitting at the table to butter them.

'Thanks Dad.' I muttered watching him sort out his own breakfast. He was already in his white lab coat- working early as usual. He never really left the house because of all that work...but he always seemed happy and smiled whatever was happening. I guess now we never have to fight crime he has less to worry about. It's not a bad thing.

'BUBBLES! GET YOUR ASS OUT THE BATHROOM!' and so Buttercup reared her ugly head. This too was normal. Bubbles get us after the Professor just to slip in the bathroom because no one wants to use it after Buttercup's had her way with everything. I don't know what she does in there but everything ends up looking like a hurricane tore up the place.

Bubbles trotted down stairs in a towel smiling to herself. I watched her move though to the laundry room giggling slightly.

'You know not to make her shout so early in the morning.' Dad hummed getting the morning paper pitting opposite to me at the table.

'I didn't make her do anything.' Bubbles called from the laundry room. 'I was just innocently washing and she shouted at me!' she burst out from the laundry room now fully clothed. 'How unfair is that?' she said angled up the stairs. Bubbles had really grown up compared to how she was in my dream. Her blond hair was still in short pig-tails but they had grown a little into loose golden curls that bounced as she moved. Today she wore a denim skirt with woolly black tights. She pulled on a light blue baggy hoodie that completely swamped her and no doubt hid some skimpy little top Dad wouldn't approve of. She looked around the kitchen for a while pouting.

'You're boots are near the door.' I said finishing my last mouthful of toast. She ran off the door.

'Cheers Blossom!' she sung dancing off to the front door. I nodded giving a week smiled butting the butter and my plate away.

Music started up stairs as Buttercup entered the shower. I sighed listening to the heavy metal blast down to the kitchen. I didn't mind her taste in music but the neighbours did...especially in the morning. I walked back up the stairs to my room gathering my school bag- a gray fabric satchel large enough for the kitchen sink on top of all my books. I sighed looking at all my book in there- it wasn't heavy, not by my standards but I really didn't feel like going to school. I felt like crying in bed with a tub of ice-cream. Every time I closed my eyes I saw that body in the forest come to life and attack me. I shivered grabbing my coat- just a long brown coat buttoned up with large toggles- nothing much but it was practical. I found my Doc. Martins and fastened them loosely half way up.

'Hu?' I looked to my Doorway seeing Buttercup looking confused. 'You going somewhere? The bus isn't coming for like half an hour.' she stuck her finger in her ear wiggling it round as she spoke.

'I'm thinking of walking to school.' I sighed pulling my hair out from under my coat. She pulled a face.

'It's cold out there...but for someone who can breathe ice I guess this is nothing.' she smirked. 'You need to send some of that over here.' she winced before marching off to her room. before walking back down stairs I looked into the bathroom- yep, Buttercup had brought chaos into the bathroom again.

I grabbed my scarf hoisting my bag into my shoulders before hopping back down the stairs.

'You're leaving early.' the professor frowned. 'You need to help out a teacher or something?' I stopped again.

'no.' I muttered holding my scarf in my hands anxiously. 'I just really want to go to school.' I moved forward giving him a quick peck on the cheek. 'See you later.' I was almost at the door when a shrill voice made me Holt in my tracks.

'Wait a minute.' Bubbles raised her finger to point straight at me. I turned shuffling back towards her. She must have noticed I lost weight- she always notices these things and it'd be just like her to blurt it out right in front of the professor. 'There's something different about you.' she circled me suspiciously eyes winced to focus on each part of me. 'But I just can't put my finger on it.' I looked to the professor who was peering over his newspaper at us.

'It's nothing. I'm wearing a really old shirt.' I pulled on the red fabric showing under my unfastened coat. 'That's all.'

'GOT IT!' she sang spinning round me taking a strand of my hair twirling it through her fingers. I closed my eyes waiting for her to drop me in it. That was all I needed to make my life just bloody perfect. 'You're not wearing a ribbon.' I looked at her looking every pleaser, her eyes glittering with her deduction on what had changed. I frowned running my hand through my air. My ribbon was gone. I frowned thinking back to what I had done this morning I knew I had put it on.

'Oh.' I muttered putting my hand to my lips. Damn! When that boy, that stranger caught me, he must have pulled from my hair before I ran away. 'I must have totally forgotten about it.' I muttered heading to the door. 'But it doesn't matter. I'm off.' I waved heading back to the door. 'See you.' I opened the door.

'WAIT A MINUTE.' I stopped again looked round at bubbles, again.

'What?' I asked gritting my teeth together. If she opens her mouth one more time I would go mental, isn't obvious I just wanted out of the house? She hopped towards me pulling on her boots.

'I want to come with you.' she grinned. 'Bye professor.' she waved closed the door after herding me outside. I shrugged pulling my scarf on and began walking. 'BLOSSOM, I SAID WITH YOU.' I stopped looking back at her. I sighed waiting for her to pull her boot on properly. 'ok.' she said straightening up and joining me.

'Ok.' I smiled putting my hands in my pockets beginning out walk.

'HEY!' we both looked back up the house to see Buttercup hanging from her window. 'WAIT UP; YOU'RE NOT LEAVING ME ALONE ON THAT SMELLY BUS!' she scrambled form her window jumping down to join us. She was in black jeans (that fit her perfectly unlike mine by the way) and trainers mudded up from overuse. Her top was just an average scoop neck green top with long over hanging sleeves. The neck gapped over her shoulder to show her black training bra. She pulled on a light grey jacket on zipping it up as she ran to catch up.

'Buttercup, your hair's still wet.' Bubbles told her off playfully.

'You'll get a cold.' I warned but still walked on. She was tough, he'd be fine. Even if she wasn't she'd get over it quickly. It'll just teach her a lesson. She hadn't changed much, well she actually knew she was a girl now but even that didn't change much about her. She ran her fingers back through her hair, she still kept it short. She claimed it was easier to handle and constantly threatened my hair with scissors. But even if I would hate to have my hair short she really worked it, it flicked up randomly matching her unruly personality perfectly. I loved how she just didn't care- she could just walk out the house like this (or jump, whatever floats your boat).

'I don't care, if I get ill you could wait on my hand and foot and I'll make you give me a foot rub.' she stuck her hands in her pockets. Bubbles pulled a face moved to my other side away from her.

'As if. Anyway' Bubbles lowered her pitched linking arms with me. '...Blossom...you're hiding something.' I frowned looking back at her. Oh how she looked smug.

'I am not.' I said quickly. 'I have nothing to hide.' Buttercup look my other arm joining in with the smirking, the stupid know-it-all smirk.

'So this is the reason you're running out the house so early. You do look different you know.' Buttercup hummed. 'You've not done anything bad have you? Something the professor would like?'

'Heaven forbid.' Bubbles giggled tugging my hair. 'You know I know you know you've lost weight again.' I looked back at her.

'I knew you spotted that.' I burst out. 'I thought for sure you'd tell on me.' I relaxed a little. So that's what this was about. 'I really owe you for not selling me out.'

'Darn tooting.' Bubbles nodded. She held her head high grin growing.

'Darn tooting?' Buttercup mimicked her. 'You're not some gap toothed old man from the wild west. Speak normally.'

'Stop. We're walk to school nicely.' I warned Buttercup stopped.

'But yhea. You've lost weight...you're not meant to be doing that anymore. The professor got worried last time that happened.' she nudged me changing topic back to that.

'It's not much and I didn't mean for it to happen. And I'm the only who didn't skip on breakfast this morning.' they groaned. 'See, it's not my fault. Maybe I'm heading for a growth spert again.'

'Doubt it.' Buttercup sported.

'Yhea, we all grow together. We've all got the same size clothes, shoes, everything! That's not going to change. We're freaky that way.' Bubbles narrowed her eyes. 'I bet you're ill or something. It'd explain-'

'WHERE'D YOUR RIBBON GO?' Buttercup blurted out. Bubble cough impatiently.

'That's what I was saying.' she hummed. 'I spotted it earlier and the only thing I can think of is that she's ill.' I groaned dropping my arms so we all walked solo.

'I'm not ill. It's just one of those things that happens. Last year it was you losing weight.' I nodded to Bubbles. 'And the time before that it was you.' I looked to Buttercup. 'It just happens. Now come on, we're almost at school.'

It sounded like I finished the topic but it carried on all the way to school. People were already flooding into school.

'There's so many people already.' I muttered to my sisters

'Maybe there's cake or something?' Bubbles perked up. Both Buttercup and I gave a long painful look at her. 'Or...maybe not. It was just a guess...a suggestion.' she sighed looking down. 'Maybe it's an announcement from the head master.'

'That sounds more likely.' I held her hand pulling her forward into the crowd. I didn't have to walk far before realising it was neither an announcement nor cake making everyone gather round. It looked like we had new students in school and they were camping out on the school front steps. They had a tent set up and everything. One boy was cooking on an open fire on the steps up to school; another was wrapped up in a sleeping bag snoozing beside the other. The final was sitting up right. His handsome face shone out brighter than the others, his dark red hair pulled back into a lose knot at the back of his head. His fringe pocking out through a hole in his cap which he wore backwards. He had a strong muscular frame under a large burgundy hoodie. But it was his eyes which made me instantly hate this boy and not his total disregard for the rule which he and his friends were flaunting so effortlessly. His eyes were red, not just red but bright, burning scarlet. I moved away from the front of the crowd letting Bubbles and Buttercup fight to get in front of me. He sat up glaring round him holding a guitar case.

'Oh look. I wonder if they'd have any breakfast going spare.' Bubbles groaned

'What are you? Some begger?' Buttercup told Bubbles snorting.

'No, and your stomach rumbling.' I muttered. Buttercup hugged her torso quickly. I stud still looking at all three boys. 'Do they look familiar?'

'Oh, I know them.' girls were beginning to perk up around us.

'Me too, they were the rowdyruff boys! Oh my god! In our school!'

'They look so hot now!' now this got me. I caught my sister's eyes; they too looked like they had just been slapped round the face. The only words I could get out were.

'What. The. Hell?' I looked back to the boy with the guitar. So he was Brick...the leader with the fiery red eyes. Then from just below my focus of vision flicked something red being whipped up by the wind. I looked back to his guitar case to see my ribbon tied to the handle. I balled my hands into fist glaring at him. What was this? Some kind of threat?

'Come on girls.' I grabbed my sister's hands marching up the stairs through their little camp sight. I felt the eyes but I didn't care. 'We'll be late for class.' I said coolly not glaring forward up at the school as we entered the building. So evil was back in Townsville and it was in the shape of some over grown ill mannered boys.

Hi! Ok I just want you all to know I don't hare Blossom's Bow from the cartoon it's just I can't really use it like I could with the ribbon. Please read and review. I've got plenty of chapters coming up so... I hope you enjoy! XX