I do not own the Powerpuff girls or any of the characters related to the cartoon. They all belong to Craig McCracken.
Chapter 4:Unexpected Encounters
The blazing sun shined brightly at noon and the intense heat made any living being seek shelter from the sweltering sun. A stray lizard was taking a break from the heat under an abandoned crate. Sudden movement made the reptile flee as someone approached it's hiding place:the intruder a sandy brown horse ridden by Buttercup.
The girl wiped some sweat from her forehead and took a gulp of water from her canteen feeling refreshed. It had been a day and a half since she left Townsville in search of those bandits. There weren't many people in this place, but she had bumped into an old man who oriented her towards a nearby town.
Biscuit neighed as in protest of being exposed to the blazing heat. The girl smiled then patted her faithful friend.
"It's okay Biscuit we will arrive to that town soon enough", Buttercup said stroking the horse's mane.
The horse neighed in response as if saying you said that already.
"Just bare with me a little more I promise I will fetch some fresh juicy apples when we get to that town" Buttercup promised. The horse walked with a new energy, and soon enough Buttercup could see a sign on the road
"Silvertown 1 and a half mile"
Buttercup then turned right towards that town. Soon enough she could see a wooden water tower and a few houses in the distance. Biscuit seemed to notice this too because he changed into a quicker pace. The horse and it's owner crossed the town's gate which said
"Welcome to Silvertown"
"Inhabitants 201".
There were a few bullet holes on that sign from which the sunlight filtered through. As Buttercup and Biscuit walked through the main road some people stared at them, and others just ignored them.
"Maybe they don't see many people from the outside just like in Townsville", Buttercup reassured a nervous Biscuit.
"Well I have to talk with someone and find a place to take shelter from the sun, and take a rest maybe even a short nap",Buttercup told Biscuit looking around the street.
"And yes find some apples for Biscuit", Buttercup said when the horse neighed as if saying don't forget.
Soon enough Buttercup saw a middle aged man fixing a wheel on the street, so she decided to ask him but hiding her real identity of course.
"Excuse me sir",Buttercup said with the best male voice she could muster
"Yes kiddo",the sweaty man said turning towards her.
"Do you know a nice place where me and my horse can take shelter from this heat and buy some food?",Buttercup asked trying to sound polite and manly at the same time.
The man scratched his balding head to ponder then answered
"Well there's the Town's saloon just behind the water tower, but if you want to get a warm meal and a resting place for a cheap price I recommend you go to Madam Adeline's Hostel. I just stayed there and it's nice. You just have to go all the way straight this road and you'll find it",the man said with a smile.
"Thank you, sir", Buttercup said.
"Don't mention it kid. I know how it is to find a nice place specially for us travelers", the man said picking up the wheel.
"So you're not from here?" Buttercup asked curious
"Oh no, I'm a farmer from Megaville. I just came to deliver some corn, but I will be going as soon as I fix this wheel",the man said.
"Do you need any help?", Buttercup offered
"Not it's okay I'm almost finished and to be honest I don't really want to spend too much time here", the man whispered.
This got Buttercup's attention so she asked the man why he thought that way.
"It's just this place gives me a bad feeling. There's something weird that I can't quite put my finger on",the man said with a voice that reminded her of Princess superstitious nature.
"My name is Elliot Sanders by the way...nice to meet you",the man said offering a hand.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Sanders my name is B...Alex?", Buttercup said shaking the man's hand.
"Okay then Alex", the man said getting up and climbing his coach.
"Maybe after you rest, and eat you can continue your journey, Good luck",the man said waving at Buttercup before leaving with his coach.
"Okay thanks I'll consider what you said", Buttercup yelled after the man.
Maybe the man was a little too paranoid, but Buttercup also felt weird when she entered this town. Her stomach growled in protest shaking her from her stupor. Right now she needed to find food, and shelter soon or she will get cranky and eat her hat.
Buttercup arrived at Madam Adeline's Hostel and the man was right: the place was nice. She got a delicious warm meal and even some apples and oatmeal for Biscuit. Everything was nice except when one of the guests, a very flamboyant girl, tried to flirt with her. Although Buttercup was used to this whenever she was undercover it didn't mean it made her feel comfortable. Fortunately, some guy came and got the girl's attention and Buttercup couldn't be more grateful. Once she was well fed,she decided to get a room just for a few hours so she could take a short nap.
When Buttercup woke up she felt like she had slept for hours. This nap had done miracles to her stamina and felt she could outrun Biscuit. She yawned and stretched. Then she looked at her reflection in the mirror and a sun kissed oval faced raven haired girl looked back.
What would that flirty lady have said if she knew I was a lady Buttercup thought laughing imagining the woman's shocked face.
Buttercup then decided to take a bath ridding in the desert for almost two days sure can make you sweat. Luckily she had asked for a tub of water before taking a nap, so the water should be cool by now.
After taking a refreshing bath and dressing up Buttercup opened the curtains and saw it was late afternoon. The streets where still busy with people and coaches. Buttercup then decided to leave her room and book out. She thanked Madam Adeline for her hospitality and headed towards the saloon to get some information.
When Buttercup arrived at the saloon it didn't look any different from the one in Townsville. She tied Biscuit to a pole and was about to walk inside when a man came flying out the door, and landed on some horse dung
"And stay out if you don't have money to pay", a bearded man who Buttercup guessed was the bartender yelled before disappearing inside the building.
The drunk man on the ground started to curse at no-one since the other guy already left.
"What are you looking at?", the drunk man yelled at Buttercup before collapsing into the floor snoring loudly.
Buttercup could smell the man from that distance and he reeked of alcohol for sure. She took a deep breath and decided to enter the place waiting for anything to happen.
When she went inside the smell of alcohol, cologne and tobacco instantly hit her nostrils. There was an indistinguishable chatter and the sound of a piano. Some men were playing cards and smoking, others were talking, and a few were dancing in their drunk state. This brought Buttercup some memories of her past.
"So you're saying that a group of men, and a lady passed through here two days ago?", Buttercup asked Mr. Brown the bartender.
"Yes if I can recall, the lady was quite a sight but she was wearing a dirty wedding dress, so one of the man asked where he could get some clothes for the lady",Mr Brown said wiping a cup.
"Did they happen to mention where they were going?", Buttercup asked
"No sorry they got the lady new clothes and they must have left very early since nobody in town noticed them leaving", Mr Brown said thoughtful.
Oh man, well at least Bubbles is okay and alive Buttercup thought
"Hey... I saw where those men left",a drunk guy besides Buttercup chirped.
"Where Buttercup?", asked hopeful.
"Well... I saw them leave early at dawn, they took the main road the turned left...so that means they must have left towards Megaville...yeah towards Megaville", the drunk man slurred.
"Now that he mentions it I recall they bought some food from my brother's market that would last for a five day travel and Megaville is about a five day travel...", Mr Brown added.
"That's it, thanks", Buttercup said enthusiastically thanking the men who nodded back.
Now she only needed to ride nonstop and she might be able to catch with them. She only needed to get Biscuit and head after them. Buttercup got up from her seat leaving her pay and thanking both man again before dashing towards the door.
Unfortunately, when she was about to reach the door a man wearing a black hat and a dark-purple almost black frock coat burst through the door. She instantly recognized him as Mojo a trained assassin and old acquaintance.
The whole Saloon went into an eery silence at once and all stares focused on Mojo. The man gave one of his usual maniacal smirks. Buttercup hated that man he was cold blooded and a lunatic.
"Why do you stop... let the music play", Mojo said with a grin and everyone resumed what they were doing.
Mojo then started to walk towards the bar not paying attention to Buttercup. Maybe he didn't notice her so this was her opportunity to sneak away. It's not that she was afraid, but she had more important things to do than fighting Mojo. If by a miracle she had the opportunity to avoid a confrontation she will very much take it thanks. She took no more than two steps towards the door when a voice made her freeze.
"Well, well, well if it isn't for Robson", Mojo said and Buttercup had to turn around.
"I thought you were hanged two years ago thanks to that so called amigo of yours", Mojo said mockingly.
Buttercup cringed at that voice. Oh how she hated that guy, not only did he waste her time, but why did he have to reopen old wounds?. Buttercup turned around and showed the best smile she could muster trying not to scowl
"Oh hey, Mojo How are you?", Buttercup gritted her teeth.
"Hmm..let me think well I've been okay..."Mojo started calm but then... NOT COUNTING THAT YOU ALMOST KILLED ME" Mojo concluded taking off his hat and pointing at his head. There was a huge scar at the top of his head where no hair would grow anymore.
"It was an accident",Buttercup countered.
Buttercup remembered how he go that. Well she had a brawl with Mojo and then stupid Mojo knocked down an oil lamp and fire started to spread. Some debris fell on top of Mojo and his head caught on fire...
"Ha, ha yeah right now take out your gun and let's settle this" ,Mojo said enraged.
Buttercup now understood why some called him "Rabid monkey" he sure looked like one not only in appearance but by the way he showed rage.
"I don't have time for this", Buttercup answered. This angered Mojo even more and he shot towards her but luckily dodged away.
Some people were running around like chickens, others used it as an opportunity to punch someone or break stuff, others hid behind the bar or under the tables. Buttercup then decided to confront Mojo, but she couldn't find him until a strong hand landed on her shoulder and shoved her towards a table. She slid spilling the contents of that table interrupting some men playing poker.
Then she got up charged towards Mojo who was smirking and erased that smirk with a punch. Some blood trickled down the man's face which enraged him even more. Mojo tried to catch Buttercup's waist, but she jumped away into a table.
Buttercup jumped towards Mojo and landed a kick on his chest. Mojo got up and twisted Buttercup's arm but she did some movement that freed her of his grasp and made Mojo land with his face first into the floor.
Mojo sent a kick which made Buttercup fall on her butt clutching her stomach. Mojo then tried to hit her with a chair but she rolled away just in time. Buttercup decided she had enough she charged at Mojo with all her might pushing him towards the bar then she shoved him to the other side of the bar where Mr. Brown and the drunk guy were hiding. Mojo was about to get up but somebody bashed a bottle of wine on his head knocking him out
"Go away while you can friend", she heard the drunk guy say while he held the broken bottle at hand. Buttercup sent a thankful smile and left the town that night.
The next day Buttercup was ridding her horse during the scorching heat of noon again. Luckily she had packed all the necessary stuff after leaving the hostel. Buttercup looked at the horizon again to see the vast desert, and mountains in the distance.
This time however something else caught her attention. She saw a dark spot approaching not too far away. As the spot got closer she could distinguish a silhouette of a person. Buttercup blinked to confirm she wasn't imagining, but no the silhouette continued to approach.
Buttercup took out her gun just in case and urged Biscuit to trot. When she got close to the figure she saw it was a man in ripped clothes with some dirt patches.
"Help me please...water... ",the man pleaded before collapsing into the floor.
Buttercup got off her horse to look at the man's state. He was still breathing so he was alive. She turned the man around and was greeted with something she never would have expected.
"You!", Buttercup exclaimed bewildered.
To be continued...
End of the chapter with a little cliffhanger :)
Who could the man be?...Someone from the past?
Anyways, thanks for reading and until next chapter to see who that guy is
See you ;)