Blossom still followed Townsville's newsfeed. In a way, she felt it was her duty to do so. Not only for the sake of her family and friends back home, but also because of Townsville's singular situation.
The city had always been a cesspool of mutants and superhumans, nearly all of them villainous. With Blossom's genius-level intelligence, and her firsthand knowledge of such creatures (herself being one), she was well ahead of even the most diligent of her researcher colleagues: those who made up the thinktank behind the military's Superhuman Containment Organization.
Blossom had been halfheartedly studying cytoplasmic inheritance (which even the teachers knew she understood inside and out already) when she encountered the story. Mojo Jojo Returns, Madder than Ever (in More Ways than One)! read the headline, in that particular chintzy Townsville style. Blossom scattered her notes all over her desk and gasped when she saw it, but she knew what she had to do.
After asking for an extension (shocking her teacher), she called Professor Utonium. She told the Professor that she'd be visiting Townsville to interview him for a paper. When he asked her why she couldn't just do that over the phone, she made some lame excuse about how long it had been since she saw her sisters.
Blossom flew to her old house in Townsville using a government-commissioned wristwatch navigation system specifically for flying superhumans who needed to travel large distances. Although Blossom's family still was not aware of her assistance to the military, she assumed they'd be understanding. After all, it was only like crime-fighting on a large scale.
When she reached her house, she didn't even have to knock on the door. The Professor opened it as soon as she landed on the doorstep.
"Blossom! There's so much I want to talk to you about your studies." He led her inside. "Bubbles! Buttercup! Your sister's here!" he called.
Bubbles floated to the door, an unreadable expression on her face. "Hi, Blossom. How's it going?" She dragged her feet on the floor.
Blossom smiled uncomfortably. "Uh, great, Bubbles. My standard grades are high, and I'm contributing to government research."
Bubbles looked down. "Great."
Blossom was just about to ask where Buttercup was, when Blossom noticed her on the stairs, staring at down at her.
Buttercup was scowling. "Hey college girl. Having fun?" she asked coldly. "Of course you are. I just know you're leaving everyone else behind."
Bubbles looked up at Buttercup with a pleading expression, then sighed. Blossom wanted to disappear.
Fortunately, the Professor was too happy to pick up on the tense atmosphere. "Girls, let's eat! I prepared something extra special, Blossom— homemade cherry pie!" He grabbed her arm and led her to the dining table.
Bubbles and Buttercup moved their chairs away from Blossom, and sat opposite her. Professor Utonium suddenly realized he had left the pie in the oven too long and rushed into the kitchen, leaving Blossom with her sisters.
Bubbles stared down at her empty plate. Eventually, she spoke. "Um... so, what are you doing with the government, Blossom?"
"Oh, uh, since I'm a super-being, I'm supplementing their research with my own. Studying with the Professor gave me firsthand experience."
"You always were so close to him..." Bubbles muttered.
Buttercup scowled. "Handing over our best-kept secrets, are you?"
Blossom winced. She held the back of her head. "O-of course not. I'm afraid I can't tell you exactly what I've contributed, because— "
Buttercup slammed the table. "Because you think you're so much better than we are? That's it, isn't it? Let me tell you, we've been doing fine on our own!" she yelled.
Just then, the Professor came back. "Have you girls caught up yet? Here's your pie, if a little crispier than I would've hoped. I can't wait to hear about your research, Blossom!"
Buttercup looked away, and Bubbles frowned. Blossom groaned. It was going to be a long day.