Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Dexter's Laboratory or Powerpuff Girls.
The stench of old pizza couldn't be escaped as Dexter, Buttercup and Bubbles stayed as still as possible so Blossom wouldn't hear them. Bubbles eyes were swollen from crying and Buttercup sat in the corner glaring at a rotten sardine pizza. It was obvious they couldn't stand the smell, but they couldn't leave either because of Blossom. Dexter had some how found a permanent marker and started sketching out what looked like an escape plan.
"We're going to need to find a new hiding place. This one is not going to work forever."
Dexter mumbled softly. "Eventually someone is going to take out the trash."
"Yeah? Well you're the human and we're just the chemicals fused together into something that resembles humans." Buttercup whispered bitterly.
"Now that was uncalled for." Dexter whispered back a little angrily.
"I...just wanna...go hoooome." Bubbles squeaked sobbing softly.
"We have to be patient. I'm working out a way to get us out of this mess." Dexter whispered softly hugging Bubbles close to him once again.
She looked as if she'd given up all hope.
"I'm not top of my class...or a great athlete...or even smart for that matter. How would someone like me be able to get through a problem like this?" Bubbles sobbed softly. "And on top of that how are we supposed to save Blossom if she's trying to kill us?"
"Now you listen here..." Dexter whispered to Bubbles cupping her cheek in his hand as she looked up at him. "We're going to escape this prison and save your sister and Belle. Now give me a smile."
Slowly she wiped away the tears and smiled softly up at Dexter. Dexter crept over to the opening of the dumpster lid to find that the night time stars were starting to appear.
"Good, I want you to stay positive. I think we're safe to leave, but I'll go ahead and check anyways." Dexter said to Bubbles and Buttercup. "We need to check more alley ways for a new hiding place. We're not staying in another dumpster if I can help it."
"Great, what will the next hiding place be? Perhaps a cardboard box or underneath a residents house?" Buttercup said sarcastically making Dexter turn around towards Buttercup. He focused his blue eyes to her green ones with intense annoyance.
"You know...you really shouldn't let what that guy told you get to you." Dexter said patiently, but firmly. "I know you're upset because he used my words to insult you, but if you let him get you upset like you are now you're letting him win."
Buttercup just sighed and smiled sheepishly.
"You know...I guess you're right." Buttercup said climbing out of the dumpster. Dexter and Bubbles soon followed after.
And so they began their long walk through neighborhood after neighborhood feeling any wall that could also be a secret house, but in the end they found nothing.
"Great, what are we going to do now?" Dexter sighed hate not knowing the answer to any problem.
"That's easy, we walk to the nearest wooded area and set up camp." Buttercup said as she let out a yawn.
"Yeah, but I don't know anything about camping." Dexter mumbled sadly. Guess he should have gone camping with his sister instead of hanging out at anime conventions.
"I don't know anything about camping either." Bubbles said nervously.
"Oh gosh you guys are pansies. Well don't worry since I know everything there is to know about surviving in the woods. Just follow me." Buttercup said as she lead the way. "We don't have any real camping gear, so we'll have to rely on nature to provide us the things we need."
At this Bubbles and Dexter's eyes grew wide with fear. Buttercup looked back at them and laughed.
"Oh come on you guys, you're not going to die from harvesting some sticks and berries and catching fish." Buttercup said as they neared a cluster of trees.
"Umm...maybe we will." Dexter said timidly. "The forest is filled with all types of germs and bacteria...you just never know."
Just then a purple rabbit came from out of hiding and stared at them, staying as still as a statue.
"See that? We're already coming across wild life we can hunt for dinner." Buttercup said cheerfully. "I just need to craft a bow and arrow."
"What if it's poisonous? Normal rabbits are not purple." Dexter said as he straightened his glasses getting a better look at it.
"Well this is a digital world right? What if the programmer just wanted the rabbits to be purple?" Buttercup said rolling her eyes a little.
"Ah...yes I suppose you do make a valid point." Dexter said as they walked deep into the woods. There were squirrels which looked normal all over the place and a few deer that could only be seen from far away.
"Here's a good spot to build a shelter." Buttercup said as they entered a clearing.
"What can we possibly build a shelter out of?" Dexter sighed.
"Easy, sticks and leaves. We're going to be building a debris shelter." Buttercup said as she started breaking limbs off of a nearby tree.
"Okay, I'll help too." Bubbles said as she walked over and started snapping off sticks as well.
"Oh alright...I guess I'll help too." Dexter said as he started picking up twigs off to build a fire.
Bringing back a pile of twigs Dexter set them up in preparation for a camp fire. Buttercup had already started building the frames for three shelters.
"Good, we'll have a way to cook our dinner tonight." Buttercup said as she started setting up a spit to roast meat on.
"Wait, I thought you couldn't cook." Dexter said raising an eyebrow as he pointed at the spit.
"I can prepare and roast dead animals over a fire. That's pretty much it." Buttercup said smiling sheepishly as she scratched the back of her head.
"I'm baack!" Bubbles said carrying some more sticks with her.
"Great, I can start making us bows and arrows to catch our pray." Buttercup said enthusiastically taking out a sharp rock she had found.
Just as she started carving one of the sticks into a spear Blossom flew down to them staring at them as if she were analyzing her targets. Quickly and effortlessly she flew for Buttercup punching her so hard she slammed through several branches. She only stopped when she hit a large tree and went unconscious. Blossom's expression was still as blank as an empty sheet of paper. Behind her walked Mandark who held in a remote in his hands. His facial expression went into a smirk as soon as he saw Dexter. Mandark played with the buttons a bit making Blossom turn to face Dexter who at this point looked horrified.
"Mandark! What the hell are you doing controlling other people like that?!" Dexter said so angrily his face began turning a bright red.
"It's an invention I created to help people focus on the tasks their assigned to. I did humanity a favor when I invented this because now they won't ever have to worry about being distracted from their work." Mandark said with an evil grin.
"That is utterly the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard you say. You're basically transforming them into slaves!" Dexter said in disgust.
"What's wrong with making stupid people into slaves? They won't be helpful to their species otherwise." Mandark said making Blossom slowly started to walk in his direction. Under her rose colored sunglasses he could see the dormant look in her eyes making his heart sink.
"You're wrong Mandark...you know why?" Dexter said as he started backing away slowly.
"Oh? Enlighten me on why I am wrong Dorkster boy without a lab." Mandark said cockily.
"The reason for living isn't progress. It's spending the time you have with the people you love and care about...but I guess you wouldn't know how to do that would you?" Dexter said making Mandark frown deeply.
"Who says? I did love your sister at one point didn't I?" Mandark spat back.
"Yes, but she could never love you back because deep down you're a power hungry criminal and the only thing you care about is controlling of everything around you. My sister is a creative free spirit. Something you could never be even with the parents you were born with." Dexter said this as he looked toward where Buttercup had flown to, but was shocked to find her missing. In her place was a purple rabbit.
Dexter looked back at Mandark to see a face of rage that surpassed any form of anger he'd seen before. He had crossed the line with the last thing he had said and he knew that he would soon be in a world of pain. Mandark mashed at the buttons of his remote control sending Blossom lunging into him giving him punch after punch to his stomach and face. Bubbles was now no where in sight either. Blossom caught his punch karate chopping his forearm breaking it. A cry of agony escaped his lips, hot tears steaming down his face. Suddenly Blossom gave him the same type of punch she gave Buttercup sending him into a tree. Shuddering in pain Dexter struggled to get to his feet making Mandark grin evilly once more.
"HA HA HA, HA HA HA HA HA!" Mandark laughed in his usual annoying way. He was laughing so hard at Dexter's broken arm, which was dangling awkwardly now, that he wasn't paying attention as a hole opened under Dexter's feet and he fell out of sight only to have the ground close back up above his head.
He landed on something soft and fluffy to his relief. He was in too much pain to move, but could see a lighted torch coming towards him. He was in too much pain to worry or care about that though as his mind shut down and his world turned black.
To be continued...