¡Viva La Gloria!
A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry for this story's hiatus, but I plan to resume regular updates… although I'm not too certain how many readers I will have of this story. I doubt it will have the following that Villain and VillainE had. I DUNNO. *shrugs*
Also note that I've randomly decided to start giving my chapters titles, haha. Green Day fans should recognize the titles from their lyrics, lol.
I dedicate this chapter to my girlfriend, Kim… because she's actually reading this story which is a nice surprise since she hates pretty much anything geeky/fandom related that I do. Or at least she used to hate it, lol. Thanks Poe Poe, for always supporting a dorky girlfriend like me. :B
Anywho. Enjoy the chapter. Reviews are always appreciated, especially with any thoughts, critique and feedback. *thumbs up* Thanks for reading!
Chapter 4
Forget-Me-Nots and Second Thoughts
Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup waited in silence with Mayor Bellum for Professor Utonium to return home. The three teenagers sat on the living room sofa and watched the news headlines roll across the screen, as Blossom periodically switched between different news stations, in hopes of finding something not about Townsville villains.
But the news was all the same. The only thing that seemed to change was the number of villains revealed to be missing from their prison cells. At first, it seemed as if just a few minor villains and crooks had escaped. Hour, by hour the number went from three, to seven, to sixteen. Then the biggest news story of the night broke:
"We are now getting word that… Yes, it's confirmed! Mojo Jojo is one of the villains who has escaped prison! We join Stacey Harrison on the scene with more."
Bellum, Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup immediately leaned forward from where they sat and listened intently as the news reporter continued: "Perhaps the most troublesome of criminals- Mojo Jojo was the very last villain to be defeated by the Powerpuff Girls nearly ten years ago. However, county officials are at long last revealing that it's been two years now, since the crooked chimp's cell first turned up empty."
"Two years?" Blossom exclaimed immediately. "You got to be kidding me!" Bubbles and Buttercup immediately hushed her with a loud "Shh!" Bubbles took the remote and raised the volume of the television set.
"The official statement as to why the public was not alerted to the villain's escape was that the government wished to not cause a 'panic' amongst citizens and remained confident that they would be able to locate Mojo before any damage was done."
"Girls!" The Professor immediately called out as he entered the home. He rushed into the living room and found his three daughters glued to the TV. "Girls! Girls, are you OK?" he asked eagerly as he entered the living room, out of breath from running straight from his car in the driveway and into the home.
"Yes, Professor, we're fine," Bubbles frowned at him.
"For now," Buttercup added with a grumble.
Blossom remained silent and proceeded to turn off the TV set with the remote.
The Professor's eyes fell on Mayor Bellum as the mayor stood from where she sat with the girls. She extended her hand and offered a greeting to the Professor. Professor Utonium shook her hand, but frowned at her. "Mayor Bellum, how could this be happening right now? How are we just learning about this now and all at once?" From the tone in his voice, Bellum could figure that the man was less than pleased.
Before the mayor could respond, Blossom stood and crossed her arms. "Because politicians are corrupt," she interjected. "I should have foreseen this conspiracy."
"I assure you all, I'm just as shocked as you," Bellum explained quickly. "I'm learning all this for the first time just as you are. As soon as I was alerted to these escapes, I rushed over here immediately." Bellum turned her attention to Blossom and frowned. "Please, believe me."
Blossom only raised an eyebrow and kept her arms firmly crossed.
"We're in danger, aren't we?" Bubbles squeaked from where she still sat on the sofa. Her blue eyes began to fill with tears, although she tried to quickly hide them by letting her long blonde bangs fall in front of her face.
Buttercup rolled her eyes from where she sat beside Bubbles. "Of course we are. Who do you think they'll come after first? They got big plans for us! That's for sure!"
"There's no proof of that," Blossom argued.
Buttercup sat up straight and glared at Blossom. She nearly responded with: "Oh yeah there is!" but stopped herself, knowing that if she said anything of the sort… she would have to reveal her source as Princess. Buttercup bit her lip and kept quiet, and only continued to glare at her sister with annoyance.
"Please, can we all sit down and talk about this?" Ms. Bellum asked of everyone.
The three teenagers exchanged glances and then looked to the Professor. He nodded slowly, "Right, of course."
"Woah," the three boys breathed in unison as they entered a place they had never visited before.
Brick, Boomer and Butch found themselves in a large warehouse of sorts, located on the very outskirts of Townsville. The building had to been as wide as two football fields, side by side, and just as long. The massive place's ceiling hung hundreds of feet above their heads. Every inch of the warehouse was filled with large crates of guns, grenades, bombs, explosives, and any sort of weapon imaginable.
Like kids in a candy store, Boomer and Butch immediately squealed and scattered, running from crate to crate and admiring their new finds. Brick remained where he was, standing next to Sedusa who rolled her eyes at his brothers' childish behavior. "Be careful!" she yelled as they ran about the room.
Sedusa continued to walk down the large warehouse and Brick followed her quietly. His eyes fell on everything that they passed them. Brick had never seen so much military hardware in one place. It made him itch with temptation to pick up and play with everything like his brothers, but it also made him uncomfortable. For years, Brick had tried to avoid things like this so that he could attempt to have a normal life. And now? He was submerged in it.
"Oh my God!" Butch exclaimed with wide eyes. He picked up something that lay at his feet, and struggled a little under the weight of the machinery. "They have flamethrowers, Brick! Flamethrowers!"
"No way! No way! No way!" Boomer ran over and joined him. The two proceeded to strap on the armor and pretended to shoot at each other with the bulky devices.
Brick smiled at his brothers and laughed a little. Even though being in a warehouse of weapons made him feel vastly uncomfortable, Brick had to admit that flamethrowers were pretty cool.
"It's about time you made it," Ace greeted as he came around the corner of a large military tank.
Brick looked up and observed that the most of the Gangreen Gang relaxed inside the front compartment of the large vehicle. Big Billy looked to be asleep, while Grubber and Lil' Arturo played a card game beside him. He also noticed that around the vehicle were normal household furniture- a couch, TV set, dining room table, chairs, refrigerator and stove. Snake sat reclined on the beat down sofa.
"Dude, do you guys live here?" Brick raised an eyebrow at Snake.
The slender, green-skinned criminal simply nodded as he stood from where he sat to join Ace at his side.
"Is everything ready for tomorrow?" Sedusa inquired.
"Better believe it," Ace grinned.
"Good," Sedusa smiled.
"What's happening tomorrow?" Brick asked.
Sedusa glanced over her shoulder and looked at the other two boys who still played pretend with their newfound toys. "Get over here, you two!"
"Ah, let 'em have their fun," Ace smiled. "Fuck knows that these kids haven't had much of it for last ten years."
Sedusa narrowed her eyes at Ace and said nothing more.
Ace only rolled his eyes. He whispered to Brick as Sedusa shouted for Boomer and Butch again. "Has she been a bitch like this this whole time?"
"Pretty much," Brick responded under his breath.
"Geesh," Ace muttered.
Boomer and Butch reluctantly set down their weapons and made their way over to Sedusa. "Tomorrow, you boys have your very first mission to complete," Sedusa announced to Boomer and Butch. "You'll have plenty of time for flamethrowers then."
Boomer and Butch grinned big and exchanged high-fives. "Awesome!"
"You twos are coming with us tomorrow," Ace added. "Tomorrow we're paying a visit to good ol' Monster Island, and busting those suckers out of there!"
"Hell yeah!" Butch cheered.
"What about Brick?" Boomer asked.
Brick raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, what about me?"
Sedusa smiled. "You get to spend the day with me, of course."
Brick frowned. "Great," he muttered.
"Well," Mayor Bellum began, "I suppose I should start off with a very important question to you, Professor."
Professor Utonium frowned from where he sat at the family's dining room table with his three girls and the mayor. "And what would that be?"
"How would Chemical X work on humans?"
Professor Utonium sighed heavily. "Why do you ask?"
"I don't expect you three girls to become superheroes again." Bellum frowned at each one of them. "Do you think, Professor, that there is any way we could inject Chemical X into a volunteer superhero of sorts?"
Professor Utonium scratched his chin in thought. "Well, I believe we discussed this theory before, Mayor."
"And is the answer the same?" Bellum frowned.
"I've completed much research since then, but, yes, the answer is the same: A normal, adult human being could not survive the effects of Chemical X." He paused before continuing: "You see, once Chemical X enters the body, it acts very similar to a virus. Only instead of it attacking only particular cells within the body, it attaches itself to virtually everything- rapidly changing the very way the human body works, and thus creating super powers. It's quite amazing. However, because the average human body would recognize Chemical X as a sort of virus, it would do everything in its power to try and destroy it… But the Powerpuff Girls were born with Chemical X already genetically a part of them. It is not a foreigner to their bodies. This is why they would be the only choice to take Chemical X."
"I see," Mayor Bellum frowned.
"So only we could handle it then?" Buttercup asked.
"Well, yes," The Professor frowned. "Still, there would still be risks for you girls to retake Chemical X. After all, you have taken Antidote X… again, very similarly, it overwrites a person's genetic makeup and thus eliminates the super powers that Chemical X originally created. You girls are considered just humans now. Although in theory and research, I believe your bodies should recognize Chemical X if it were to be reintroduced to you… there still lies the risk that you have become too human at this point. If your bodies were to see Chemical X as a virus to be destroyed… the consequences could very well be fatal."
"Fatal?" Bubbles squeaked. "As in… we could die?"
"I'm not certain, Sweetie," Professor frowned. "There's no way to test it, really. Again, I've completed much research on the subject and I truly believe that it would be OK… but the risk remains."
"So you're saying," Blossom began. "Either we take the risk and take Chemical X, or Townsville has no superheroes at all."
"No one expects that from you girls," Ms. Bellum quickly added. "I just needed to know our options."
"It sounds like we don't have very many," Blossom crossed her arms.
Mayor Bellum frowned. "Apparently so."
"Mayor," Professor Utonium began. "There has to be another option. Who is going to protect my daughters? Those crooks are on the loose and what happens if they decide to come after them?"
"We don't know that they will," Blossom immediately added. "We don't know what they'll do. If I escaped from prison, I probably would want to keep my freedom and stay out of trouble! Wouldn't you?"
"Ugh," Buttercup groaned. "Don't be stupid, Blossom. You know that's not what they're going to do. Villains are stupid. They thirst and live for revenge. You know as well as I do that they're coming. It's only a matter of time."
"Maybe we should wait and see what happens first?" Bubbles added quietly. "I mean… Blossom could be right. Maybe they'll just go away?"
"Oh yeah," Buttercup rolled her eyes. "Let's just wait and see. Let's just wait for them to come in here and try and kill us. Then we'll see."
"Don't be dramatic, Buttercup," Blossom rolled her eyes, too.
"I could relocate you girls," Ms. Bellum offered. "Professor, I could move you and your family out of Townsville and to somewhere safer and away from all this mess."
The Professor slowly nodded. "Yes, I suppose that could work."
"No way!" Buttercup interrupted, slamming her fist hard onto the table. "We can't move!"
"I don't want to move," Bubbles frowned. "All my friends are here. What if the bad guys do attack? I don't want my friends to be hurt," Bubbles' eyes immediately began to fill with tears again. Again, she lowered her head to shield her face with her bangs.
Blossom frowned. "We're assuming too much!" she tried again. "There is no proof that the villains will attack! No proof at all!"
"Ugh! Will you shut up already?" Buttercup yelled at her sister.
"You shut up!" Blossom yelled in return.
"You shut up!"
"You shut up!"
"You-"
"Girls!" The Professor interrupted the screaming match. "Now, let's all calm down! Please!" He frowned at them, and then glanced to Mayor Bellum. "Mayor, can we have some time to discuss this as a family, please?"
Bellum nodded. "I understand. In the mean time, I will have the police stationed outside your home on the look out for anything. That's the best I can offer as of now."
The Utonium family watched as the Mayor exited their home. As soon as she was gone, Professor turned to his three girls. "I think we should move," he said with a frown.
"No!" Bubbles and Buttercup shouted in unison.
Blossom rubbed her forehead, as her mind struggled to balance all the information that had been thrown at them. She searched for a solution to this mess. If they moved, they were admitting defeat and abandoning everyone if any attack were to happen. If they stayed, they remained a target for the villains and the only hope to the citizens of Townsville.
"Blossom?" The Professor inquired.
"I don't know," Blossom sighed. "I just think… we shouldn't jump to conclusions."
"We ain't," Buttercup shook her head. "You know they're coming, Red. Just face it."
"We don't know anything, Buttercup."
"Maybe you don't. But I do. They're coming for us," Buttercup said, determined.
"And how are you so sure of this?" Blossom raised an eyebrow.
Buttercup's cheeks flushed red for a moment, but she quickly shook it off. "I just know, alright? It's a gut feeling I got!"
Blossom rolled her eyes. "Gut feeling? So you're going to take Chemical X, risking your very life, because of a gut feeling?"
Buttercup's cheeks blushed again. She swallowed hard and tried her best to disguise her emotion. No, she would risk everything to protect the girl she loved that was already attacked. Wouldn't you? "Yeah, that's right."
"You're ridiculous!" Blossom threw up her hands. "Professor! Please tell me that you disagree with this!"
Professor Utonium stared at his green-eyed daughter with a curious expression. He seemed to be the only one that noticed how flustered Buttercup seemed to get momentarily. He looked to Blossom who still waited for an answer from him. He frowned. "Blossom, clearly there is no easy answer to any of this. Maybe you girls should get to bed and get some rest. We're all shocked here. We shouldn't make any quick decisions. Not tonight."
Bubbles nodded. "Yeah. You're right, Professor."
Buttercup slowly nodded, too. "I guess so."
Blossom frowned. "I suppose."
The three sisters ascended the stairway together. None of them said anything to each other as they walked down the hallway to their respective rooms. Bubbles noticed that Blossom looked extremely tired and Buttercup looked extremely saddened. Bubbles stood at her door and watched her sisters disappear into their own rooms down the hall. "Goodnight, Girls," she called out to them as they disappeared. Neither of her sisters responded; each of them were too preoccupied by their own racing thoughts to notice her.
Bubbles sighed and entered her own bedroom. She closed the door behind her and leaned up against it, tired and beyond exhausted. "Hey, Sumo," she greeted with a frown as she walked across her bedroom, heading straight to her nightstand.
On top of her nightstand, she reached into the tank and lifted her reptile friend from his habitat. Sumo was her pet giant, leopard gecko. She adopted the little guy when she was about ten years old. It was the only pet the Professor every allowed her to have. He had been her best friend ever since.
Bubbles sat her yellow-skinned buddy on the nightstand. Sumo licked his lips as he watched Bubbles reach into the drawer below and pull out a small container of mealworms. She held out one of the fat worms in her palm and Sumo took it eagerly.
Bubbles smiled. "Sorry I'm home so late, Buddy."
Sumo swallowed the last bit of his treat and blinked at Bubbles. "Yeah, what took you so long?" he cocked his head to one side and blinked his little beady eyes.
"Oh, Sumo," Bubbles frowned, "I don't know what we're going to do!" Bubbles couldn't help but finally break down into tears. She had done a good job of holding it in all night, but she couldn't do it any longer. "All the bad guys have escaped from jail and now we're all in danger! And we might have to become superheroes again! And fight again! Either that or we'll have to move! And- and- and I don't know what to do!" she cried.
The gecko frowned as Bubbles continued to cry. He slowly crawled towards her. Bubbles looked up and saw him. She held out her palm and he crawled onto it. She carried him over to her bed, where she lay down and set him beside her on her pillow.
"Blossom doesn't seem to want to be a superhero again. But if the bad guys come… what else can we do? I can tell Buttercup wants to fight. Of course she does. She loved it! She was so sad when we had to give up our powers…."
"Almost as sad as you were," Sumo frowned at Bubbles.
Bubbles turned over and rested her head on her hand and stared at Sumo. "Yeah, almost as sad as me," she frowned. "But… I only missed being able to talk to you! You're my best friend, Sumo! I just couldn't stand not being able to talk to my best friend anymore! I just couldn't! And when I had to give up my powers, I couldn't talk to animals no more, and I couldn't talk to you no more, and… and… I just couldn't stand it!"
Sumo sighed. "I still don't think you should have done what you did, though. Bubbles, if all the villains are returning… don't you think that means that he'll return, too? And if he does… don't you think it will be time for you to-"
Bubbles interrupted her friend by erupting into loud cries again as the tears poured from her in an endless stream. "Sumo! I'm going to be in so much trouble!"
Sumo frowned and shook his head. "You're probably right, Bubbles," he sighed. You're probably right."
Princess sat up in bed, staring at her phone in her hands. It was already well past 3:00 AM, and she had yet to hear from Buttercup. With every hour that passed, she grew increasingly impatient as she waited for word from her girlfriend. Suddenly she could hear something at her window. She watched a shadowy figure crawl into her bedroom through the window.
Princess immediately climbed out of bed. She picked up the lamp that sat on her nightstand and threw it at the unknown intruder and screamed. "Help! Security!"
Buttercup ducked just in time and missed the girl's attack. "Shh! Relax! It's me!"
Princess breathed with relief to learn that it wasn't some villain, but her. She quickly grabbed Buttercup by the wrist and shoved her into her closet, hiding her from the two security guards that quickly entered her room.
"Everything alright, Princess?" they shouted in unison as they entered the room, guns ready.
"Never mind! False alarm!" Princess smiled weakly.
"Are you sure?" the first guard questioned.
"Yes. I'm fine. Just a nightmare," she answered. She watched the two leave and waited before opening her closet door again.
"Holy shit, this closet is huge!" Buttercup gaped at the walk-in closet she sat in which had to be just as big her own bedroom at home. "Do you really need all this crap?"
Princess rolled her eyes. "Of course, I do!"
Buttercup stood and approached Princess. She reached out to hug her, but Princess swatted her arms away. "What?" Buttercup blinked. "Aren't you happy to see me?"
"No!" Princess crossed her arms and pouted. "You never called!"
"Give me a break- we just finished talking at home! I came straight over!"
"I have been worried sick! And I'm sitting here- alone and completely helpless! I was attacked today! Doesn't that mean anything to you?"
Buttercup sighed. "Are you serious, right now? Of course it means something to me. You're alright, aren't you?"
"No thanks to you! You're lucky I have the finest security in the city!"
"Fine enough that I was able to climb through your window unnoticed," Buttercup muttered.
Princess gasped. "You're right! Those jerks! How could they let something like this happen? Those… those… slackers!"
Buttercup watched her redheaded girlfriend march angrily towards her bedroom door. She opened the door and shouted at the two security guards that stood there: "YOU AND YOU! YOU'RE FIRED!" Princess then slammed the door shut before the two men had a chance to respond.
Princess marched back over to Buttercup and crossed her arms and continued to glare at her, displeased.
Buttercup shook her head, "You're insane."
Princess said nothing.
Buttercup sighed. "Look, I really need to talk to you about something, alright?"
Princess raised an eyebrow. "And what's that?"
"I need to become a superhero again."
Princess gasped. "No!"
"Princess, I don't think I have much of a choice here. I mean… Sedusa attacked you, right? She said they're planning something, right?"
"Well, yeah, but-"
"I can't let anything happen to you. Or to my sisters! We know that they're coming, so who else is going to fight 'em?"
"But… but… I don't want you to!"
Buttercup frowned. "Please don't be mad at me for this."
"So that's it? I don't even get a say in any of this?"
Buttercup sighed again. "Ugh," she groaned. "Do you want to be attacked again?"
"No!"
"Well then, let me protect you, alright?"
Princess blinked at her. "Protect me?"
"Yes."
Princess clapped her hands together. "How romantic!"
Buttercup rolled her eyes. "Well, I'm glad you think so."
Princess fluttered her eyes playfully. "Oh, you know you like the idea, too," she smiled, taking Buttercup's hands in her own. "Another chance for you to prove yourself as a big and strong superhero?- You like it."
Buttercup blushed a little. "Princess, this is serious."
Princess turned around and leaned backwards in Buttercup's arms, pretending to collapse. "And I'm the pretty damsel in distress!" she overacted as she fell backwards.
Buttercup laughed a little as she held onto her. "Damsel in distress?"
"Yes!" Princess stood again and turned to face her. "A fair, fragile and beautiful princess!"
"Well, I don't know about that," Buttercup teased.
Princess punched her in the arm. "Jerk!" She turned and began to walk away towards her bed.
Buttercup rubbed the sore spot on her arm. "Remind me: Why am I even dating you to begin with?"
Princess turned around and faced her from where she stood at the foot of her bed. Buttercup's cheeks turned bright red as she watched her girlfriend slowly strip down to her lacey, black underwear. As she lifted her pink pajama top, she balanced the shirt on one finger before letting it fall to her feet, grinning deviously at Buttercup.
Buttercup smiled and shook her head. "Right."
Blossom leaned against the front counter on the bowling alley, watching the first customers of the day begin to trail inside. She sighed heavily and began to make her way to behind the counter, ready to face the work day.
"You OK, Blossom?" Elmer asked quietly from where he stood at the register.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Elmer," Blossom knelt down behind the counter and began to retrieve the correct bowling shoes for the first customers.
Mitch joined them behind the counter. "Hey, Blossom, you OK?" he asked as took off his jacket and hung it on the coat rack behind them.
Blossom groaned. "Ugh, you, too?" She stood and faced him. "Yes. I'm fine. I wish people would stop asking me that. The first words to me from our boss were: 'Blossom, are you OK? Do you need some time off? Do you need to quit?' Really?"
"Sorry," Elmer frowned.
"Yeah, sorry," Mitch added. "Just figured you must be pretty upset that you're going to have to fight crime again."
"Who said I was going to do that?" Blossom blinked.
"The news said so this morning," Elmer said.
"Yep, sure did."
Blossom gaped at them both. "How dare they! We haven't decided yet!"
Mitch and Elmer exchanged glances. "Oh," Elmer scratched his head.
Mitch clenched his fist. "Lying bastards! Don't worry, Bloss, Elmer and I got your back!"
Blossom smiled weakly. "Thanks, guys."
The three of them looked across the counter as another group of customers entered the building. It was an elderly woman and a teenage boy- or at least, appeared to be to them. Brick entered the building with Sedusa disguised as his ex-guardian, old woman Debby Rivers. "You sure this is gonna work?" Brick muttered to her.
"This is my expertise. Of course, it will work," Sedusa responded, disguising her voice as an old woman's. As they approached the counter, Sedusa smiled kindly at Blossom. "Good morning, Dear," she greeted as the old woman. "One student and one senior citizen, please."
Blossom smiled at her. "Yes, Ma'am. Do you need shoes today?"
"Oh yes," Sedusa responded. "Size seven, please."
Blossom smiled and retrieved the correct size bowling shoes for her. She turned to Brick. "And what about you?" she smiled.
Brick forced a smile across his face. He felt a little guilty for purposely deceiving the girl. But a job was a job. "Eleven," he answered.
"Oh my," Sedusa stared at Blossom, lifting her thick glasses and fixing them around her eyes. "You're Blossom Utonium, aren't you, Dear?"
Blossom frowned. "Yes, that's me, Ma'am." She handed the shoes over to her and to Brick.
"So sorry for what's happening. You must be beyond frightened to learn about all those criminal escapees. Lord knows, I am. Especially frightened for my poor little boys, including my little Bricky boy, here." Sedusa wrapped her arms around the teenager and held him tightly as if he were her pride and joy.
Brick smiled weakly as Blossom blinked at him. "Brick?" she repeated.
"How sweet! She doesn't even recognize you!" the false old woman exclaimed. "Well you both are so much older now… I guess it's not very hard to believe." She patted Brick on the back. "But I'm so scared since yesterday's news. What if those bad guys come and try to take my boys away? It would break my heart! They're such good boys now. They're all I have, you know."
Blossom frowned. "I'm sure everything will be OK, Ma'am."
"Oh, I hope so. The government has already moved us into a better home, on the better side of town, you know? To try and keep us safer is what they said. On Monday the boys start school at the private school, too. It's much better than Townsville High. So many gangs and bad kids there."
"You're transferring to Saint James?" Blossom smiled at Brick.
"Yeah," he answered simply. "You go there?"
Blossom nodded. "Yeah, I do."
Brick nodded. He glanced at Sedusa who seemed to encourage him with her eyes. "That's cool," he continued. He tried to smile at her, but it only came off as awkward.
Blossom couldn't help but laugh a little. "So where are your brothers?"
"Boomer and Butch? Um, they're-"
"They're at home," Sedusa interrupted. "Too embarrassed I think to be seen with an old woman in public. Brick has always been the sweet one." She playfully pinched his cheek.
Brick grew annoyed with Sedusa's behavior, but tried his best to keep smiling. "Right…"
Sedusa began to walk away. "Go on and talk to your new friend, Dear. I'll go and get everything set up for us two."
Blossom smiled as the old woman walked away. "Aww, that's sweet."
Brick cleared his throat. "Yeah, I guess. So… you work here?"
Blossom nodded. "Yeah. It's not very exciting, but it's a job. When you need the money, you know?"
Brick couldn't help but laugh. "When you need the money?"
Blossom's smile disappeared. "Yes. Why is that funny?"
Brick still laughed. "Dunno. I mean… you and your sisters have it pretty easy don'tcha? What do you need money for?"
Blossom crossed her arms and glared at him. "College."
Brick noticed her glare and stopped himself. "Look, sorry, I didn't mean to offend ya."
Blossom raised an eyebrow. "My sisters and I hardly have it easy. Do you even know what we're going through right now?"
Brick blinked at her. "Well, I guess not, but-"
"But what?" she placed her hands on her hips.
"Dude, relax," Brick shook his head in disbelief. "Are you always like this?"
Blossom gaped at him. "Like what?"
"Nothing. Just… forget it, alright. Sorry."
"No, like what?" Blossom repeated.
"Well… you're kind of a bitch," Brick answered honestly.
Blossom's jaw dropped. Before she could think of a way to respond, the old woman reappeared at his side and quickly began to drag him away. "Come on, Bricky Boy, it's time to bowl!" As soon as they were far enough away from Blossom to see, Sedusa swatted Brick over the top of his head. "Are you an idiot? What was that?"
"Sorry! But she kinda is!"
"Idiot!"
Blossom watched as Brick escorted the older woman away. "Did he just call me a bitch?" Blossom blinked in his direction.
Elmer and Mitch stood at her side. "Yep," Mitch answered.
Blossom's jaw still hung open. "I'm not a bitch, am I?"
Elmer and Mitch quickly shook their heads: "No," they answered in unison.
"You're the anti-bitch!" Mitch added.
Blossom frowned at them both. "Get back to work."
Monster Island was located just several hundred miles outside the shores of Townsville. It was once a free home for all monsters and beasts to live on, peacefully. But since the great War of Townsville ten years prior, it had since been taken over by the military. Yes, the monsters on the island still lived there, but as prisoners- no longer allowed to travel outside of the island and wreak havoc on the citizens of Townsville. Which, of course, is what monsters did best.
The mission for the day was to take out the three main towers which housed the guards which kept the monsters contained on the island. Once the mission was completed, the monsters were free, and Townsville would stand helpless to them.
"Alright, Boys, you ready for some action?" Ace shouted over the deafening sound of the helicopter wings as he, the Gangreen Gang, Boomer and Butch descended onto Monster Island.
"Hell yeah!" both Rowdyruffs shouted together, pulling on their bullet-proof helmets and readying their flamethrowers.
"You boys take down Tower One, Me and Snake have Tower Two, Big Billy and Arturo have Three, and Grubber be ready for take off as soon as we get back! Remember, Boys, Mojo said each Tower should have a main switch to turn off the electric wall that keeps our monster buddies locked in here! Be sure to hit that switch! Got it?"
"Got it!" Everyone shouted in return.
"This is going to be so awesome!" Boomer bounced in place with excitement as the helicopter touched down.
"You know it!" Butch grinned as he watched the gates to Monster Island open before them. The villains rode inside of an American military helicopter, and disguised themselves as army personnel. The guards of Monster Island only assumed that they were innocent military soldiers.
The villains exited the helicopter and entered the gates. Ace pointed to the first tower as they approached it. "Well, go get 'em, Boys!" he grinned at the young teenagers.
Butch and Boomer grinned big and exchanged high-fives, before eagerly rushing up the steps of the watchtower. The watchtower was a singular, small room which only housed five guards. As soon as the boys busted through the doors of the tower, it didn't take long for them to take out five guards with their new trusty weapons.
Butch took charge and entered the room first, immediately releasing a long, large blast of flames and roasting the first two guards. Boomer stood behind Butch and ignited his own gun as soon as the other three guards began to rush towards them, shooting their guns. Before they could successfully hit either of them, the fire engulfed them and they screamed in agony.
Both boys lowered their weapons and watched the five guards dance about the room, ignited with fire. Two of the guards rushed past them and hurled themselves off the railing of the tall tower. Butch and Boomer watched them fall to their deaths below as bright balls of fire.
"That… was awesome," Butch breathed in awe.
Boomer slowly nodded as he turned to see the remaining guards, collapsed and melting on the ground before them. "Totally awesome."
Butch stepped over the burnt victims and made his way to the opposite wall which displayed a large, metal switch. He flipped the switch and could hear a loud booming noise outside.
Boomer peered out the window of the watch tower and could see the first level of the electric wall which surrounded the island began to slowly fade and die out.
"Brick is going to be so jealous when he hears about this," he grinned.
The Professor, Buttercup and Bubbles sat together playing a board game in the living room, while they waited for Blossom to return home from work that Saturday. The TV in the living room was tuned into the news, which had been since the night before.
Bubbles rolled the dice. "Yay! Seven!" she squealed as she moved her plastic game piece across the board.
The Professor smiled as his blonde haired daughter continued to hum cheerfully as she tallied her points. He glanced over at Buttercup and noticed that she had her eyes still glued to the TV behind them. She seemed uninterested in the game and had been focused on the news the entire time.
"Your turn, Buttercup," Bubbles smiled.
"What?" Buttercup blinked at her.
Bubbles smiled and handed her the dice. "Your turn!" she repeated.
Buttercup took the dice and tossed them onto the table lightly.
"Yay five!" Bubbles cheered for her.
The Professor watched as Buttercup's eyes fell onto the TV again instead of moving her game piece. He sighed and picked up the television remote, shutting off the television.
"Hey!" Buttercup shouted, turning to face him.
"Come on, Honey," he smiled weakly. "We'll worry about that stuff in a little while when we meet with the mayor again. For now, let's finish this game, alright?"
Buttercup frowned, but didn't argue.
"Go on, Buttercup! You got five, remember?"
Buttercup picked up her plastic game piece and moved it across the board game.
"I'm home!" Blossom announced as she stepped inside.
"Yay!" Bubbles cheered and ran up to greet her sister.
"She's being particularly happy today," Buttercup muttered to the Professor as they watched the blue-eyed girl embrace her taller, pink-eyed sister in a tight hug.
Professor Utonium smiled weakly. "She sure is," he laughed a little. He glanced at Buttercup who wore a frown. "And you're being especially gloomy today," he frowned, too.
Buttercup sighed. "Can you blame me?" she grumbled.
The Professor sighed, too. "No, I certainly can't, Dear."
"I just wanna get this over with, Professor," Buttercup confessed.
Professor nodded. "I see," he gulped. So she meant to go through with taking the Chemical X? He should have guessed so by now. His heart felt heavy at this realization. But he would be lying if he said he did not expect this decision from her tomboy daughter.
Blossom laughed a little as her sister clung to her tightly. "You feeling alright, Bubbles?" she smiled.
"Yep!" Bubbles bounced in place. "We're playing a board game! You wanna play with us?"
Blossom smiled. "Sure."
"Yay!"
Blossom sat down her book bag and joined her family in the living room. She sat down between Buttercup and Bubbles on the carpet, where they sat around the coffee table and board game. Bubbles eagerly began to clear the board for a new game. "Blossom what color piece do you want?"
"I don't care, Bubbles. I guess the yellow one."
"Okie dokie! Professor you wanna be red again?"
"Sure, Sweetie."
At that moment, the door bell to the Utonium home rang. Bubbles immediately shot up from where she sat. "I'll get it!" she announced as she skipped over to the door way.
"What's with her?" Blossom laughed as she watched her sister run out of the living room.
Buttercup shrugged. "She's been singing and skipping like that all day."
"She's trying to remain positive," The Professor answered. "You two need to reassure her that everything will be OK. You know how she gets."
Buttercup and Blossom looked at each other. "Right, Professor," Blossom responded.
Bubbles opened the door and found Mayor Bellum waiting on the other side. "Ms. Bellum!" she exclaimed with wide eyes. "What are you doing here? You're not supposed to come over for another three hours…" Bubbles' smile faded.
"I'm sorry, Bubbles," the mayor frowned, too. "But I'm afraid I have some additional news to share with all of you. May I come inside?"
Bubbles nodded and showed Mayor Bellum inside. As soon as the mayor entered the living room with her, Blossom, Buttercup and the Professor rose to their feet.
"Mayor, what are you doing here so early?-" the Professor began.
Ms. Bellum's eyes fell on each one of them. She hesitated before she made her announcement, but she knew it had to be said: "Monster Island has been unlocked," she began. "Townsville is under attack."
Each of the Powerpuff Girls stared at Mayor Bellum for a long time, unsure of what to say. Finally, Buttercup glanced at Blossom. "Well," she muttered to the redhead, "Still need proof, Red?"
Blossom's eyes remained wide as she shook her head. "Are you sure?"
Mayor Bellum nodded. "Yes."
Buttercup ran over to the living room TV set and switched it back on. Sure enough, the news covered live footage of Downtown Townsville being rampaged by several, large beasts. The trio gaped at the coverage in shock. They hadn't seen anything like it in over a decade. A monster attack in Townsville? - It hadn't happened since the girls were at least six or seven years old.
Mayor Bellum hated herself for having to ask the question, but had no other choice: "Girls," she began quietly. "Will you protect the city for us?"
Buttercup's face turned determined as she stepped forward. "Yes," she declared without hesitation.
Bubbles and Blossom looked at each other. Bubbles' eyes began to water. She lowered her head and let her bangs fall forward as she muffled her small cries.
Blossom shook her head in disbelief. She couldn't bring herself to answer the question. She knew she should say "yes." She knew that it was the responsible thing to do. But she could not allow herself to do it. It went against everything she now believed in. She couldn't say "yes," even though she knew that she should. But she couldn't bring herself to say "no" either.
Blossom slowly shook her head, as a "no," but did not say it aloud.
Bellum frowned at Blossom, but was not surprised by her answer. "Bubbles?" Mayor Bellum asked.
Bubbles slowly lifted her head and looked from her sisters, to the Professor, to Ms. Bellum. "Umm," she began. "I… Well, I… I kinda need to tell you guys something first," she frowned at her sisters and the Professor.
Buttercup and Blossom stared at their sister. The Professor grew immediately concerned. "What is it, Sweetie?" he asked.
Bubbles bit her lip, and tightly shut her eyes. She took in a deep breath, and opened her eyes again. Slowly, she let herself levitate off the ground by several feet.
Buttercup and Blossom's jaw dropped as they watched their sister fly above them. Bubbles giggled nervously at both of them from where she hovered. "I kinda… still… have my powers," she confessed through a weak smile.