You're lucky I've written everything except the last chapter. :P
The other being occupying the air turned towards them, head tilting to one side. Bubbles flinched, positioning her hands in front of her. Brunnera gritted her teeth and tightened her grip around Bubbles's neck, resting her chin on her sister's shoulder. She felt Bubbles's body become rigid and growled. Brunnera recognised the sky dweller vaguely, having seen her face around the city every once in a while. But she had never seen her fly, let alone give the impression that she was someone her sister should become worked up about. Bubbles could defeat anyone with her hands tied behind her back... well, maybe except Buttercup. Buttercup could take down anyone.
Bubbles eyed the woman cautiously. Clearly, this was something she didn't see on a regular basis either. The wind climbed in intensity and Bubbles shivered. She had a bad feeling about this... a very bad one.
"Princess?" the blue eyed blond asked, the name sounding even stranger out loud. "How...? You can't fly."
Princess didn't answer, gazing at her with a pout on her lips. Bubbles drew closer, worried. Usually, no one could shut the woman up. She could go on for ages about herself, how pretty she was and how everyone didn't point this out enough. The pitch of her voice was enough to give anyone a headache, regardless of whether they were hard of hearing or not.
Her not talking at a thousand miles a minute was... wrong. Princess wasn't even begging for forgiveness in regards to the incident that occurred with Blossom earlier that day. Not a single plea for Bubbles to persuade Buttercup to spare her and not kill her the next time they met greeted the air. No: other than the whistling of the wind and the dull flapping of the women's clothing, it was eerily quiet.
Bubbles repeated her question in case Princess hadn't heard her the first time. She still didn't get an answer: just the same stare as before. Bubbles bit her lip, wondering whether it would be best if they just left and let Princess get on with whatever she was doing. She wasn't ignorant enough to believe that all was well, but Bubbles didn't want to get Brunnera involved in anything dangerous. Bubbles had superpowers to protect herself with. Brunnera didn't.
"You think she's up to something?" asked Brunnera.
"I... I don't know," said Bubbles. "She doesn't seem to be doing anything, especially something wrong. Maybe we should help her."
"Ignore her," demanded Brunnera. The temperature was dropping as time went by, and she was wearing a baggy green t-shirt with khaki shorts. Her legs dug into Bubbles's side as she tried to transfer some of her sister's heat into her. "I-It's freezing. Anyway, if she wanted us, she'd have done something about it."
Bubbles nodded slowly and shot ten feet north-east.
Coward.
Bubbles froze and Brunnera's face rammed into the back of her head. Brunnera cried out, removing one arm so she could hold her aching face. She wrinkled her forehead, refusing to let any tears escape. Bubbles felt nothing.
"What's your problem?" Brunnera asked, her voice muffled.
"Who said that?" asked Bubbles.
"I said, 'what's your problem?'" Brunnera answered grumpily.
"No. The other thing."
"What other thing? No one said anything 'cept me."
Bubbles blinked. Brunnera wasn't serious, was she? How could she have not heard that voice? It had been so loud and dark like a mysterious voice from her bedroom closet. Only Bubbles had found out that the voice hadn't belonged to a monster but her imagination years ago.
That must have been the cause. Her imagination. Princess was creeping her out and her mind was playing on this, trying to freak her out.
"Never mind," said Bubbles. "Come on."
She turned around and shrieked, jumping back. Princess was right in front of her. Bubbles yelped, looking over her shoulder and back at her again. She and Brunnera did this a few times, ending the movement by gawping at her.
"How did you move so quickly?"
Princess didn't say anything. Bubbles narrowed her eyes and studied her. There was something different about Princess, even when one didn't take into account her new-found ability to fly. For one thing, her skin was as white as the chalk Bubbles used to draw with as a child, making her hair appear a lot brighter than it actually was. Her face was expressionless: no trace of a smile or a frown could be found. The most startling difference though was her eyes. They were black but... empty. There was no light being reflected off it, no twinkle... just emptiness.
She wasn't wearing a rocket nor was she standing on a floating platform. Princess was flying and there was no doubt about it. Bubbles circled her a few times, trying to discover the logical cause for this happening. Nothing. She backed away.
Bubbles felt Brunnera's grip of her stiffen. She was scared. Bubbles was as well, but she kept a brave face. If Princess meant to impose any threat, she would have done something by now. It wasn't like her to be patient and not rush into things. Princess wasn't going to try and harm her.
Anyone could hurt you.
Bubbles cringed. Princess's lips hadn't parted and it didn't sound anything like her. It didn't sound like Brunnera either. It was the voice from a minute ago: the one that made her feel like cold, thin fingers were running down her thigh. Brunnera was saying something but Bubbles was paying her no attention.
"Come on!" Brunnera said urgently, tugging at Bubbles's sleeve. Her sister didn't respond, watching Princess in a trance-like state. "Let's beat it. How far is the junkyard from here? If I scream, will Buttercup hear me? I can scream really loudly. Come on, Bubbles!"
She shoved her feet into Bubbles's ribs.
"Move!"
Listen to your little friend. Run away.
"From what?" asked Bubbles.
"From here!" Brunnera snapped. She had no idea what was going on, but she disliked it.
"Someone's talking to me..." murmured Bubbles, looking around.
"Yes, me!"
"No... not you."
Brunnera was positively alarmed now. "Bubbles; it's really cold, there's a freaky lady floating in front of us and you're hearing voices that don't exist. We have to go!"
I do exist. Go on, Bubbles. You're no match for Princess. Run away.
"No match for-?"
Princess's fist shot out and slammed into Bubbles's face. Bubbles was thrown backwards, Brunnera holding on for dear life. She screamed as the force of it all threatened to unravel her arms, but she managed to keep hold of her sister. Bubbles regained her balance and became upright, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
She glanced at Brunnera anxiously. Bubbles had to make sure she was okay and stayed that way. Seeing that Brunnera was, apart from being slightly shaken, Bubbles descended towards Earth head first. She ignored the urge to return and confront Princess, who must have been the one making that voice exist. Who else could it have been?
Bubbles shook her head. It didn't matter. Just because Princess wanted a fight, it didn't mean that Bubbles should oblige.
She stopped abruptly, nearly crashing into Princess again. How had Princess managed to block her path without her noticing?
Bubbles stood to attention as Princess drifted upwards and in front of her. Princess locked eyes with the blue Powerpuff. As soon as she did so, her black eyes became red. Bubbles shrieked, recoiling. Brunnera shifted slightly so she could see. She couldn't hear the voice, if there even was one, but she could see Princess's change of eye colour.
"Bubbles, we really should go." Brunnera nudged Bubbles's sides with her feet. She was all for a fight, but she wanted to spectate from a place where she could feel the ground beneath her feet. Brunnera wouldn't even have minded fighting with her sister if it meant that there wasn't a chance she would fall to her doom.
Bubbles averted her gaze. Brunnera was right. Princess wasn't being herself. It wouldn't be right to attack Princess if she was in the wrong state of mind.
Or is it because you're the sweet, ickle, weak sister who wouldn't stand a chance like her big tough sisters would?
Princess smiled. It was such a large one that Bubbles didn't think it was natural.
"Brunnera..." Bubbles turned to her. "Am I... am I weak?"
So unsure of yourself? Or is it because you want to hear someone lie to you? Does it make you feel better, believing lies?
"No," Brunnera assured her. "You're one of the toughest people I know. You have superpowers, for crying out loud. But you gotta run sometimes!"
Bubbles ignored her, searching frantically for the person who was talking to her. But there was nobody else there. Just wispy clouds as far as the eye could see.
"Come out!" Bubbles shouted, spinning in a circle. "You call me a coward, yet you're too scared to face me!"
I am here, Bubbles. I'm inside of you.
"Inside of me?" Bubbles automatically looked at her tummy. "How can you be inside of me?"
You can't deny it, dear. I know every single thing about you.
"Really?" Bubbles scratched her chin. "All right, wise guy. How old was I when I started going out with-?"
Boomer? You were thirteen. You dumped him when you were fourteen- the same time your sisters dumped their counterparts. You didn't want to though, did you? You wanted to give them a chance... but you thought your sisters wouldn't like you if you didn't, so you followed them like a sheep.
Bubbles gulped. As crazy as it sounded, maybe it was her. The voice. It would explain why Brunnera couldn't hear it. Yet... it sounded nothing like her. It was too dark and evil to be her.
Dark and evil... Don't make such a common mistake like the rest of the planet. It is the truth. You are puny, Bubbles. You held back the rest of your sisters. Your incompetence made your sisters argue and split. You broke your family!
"No!"
Yes, don't deny it. It's not helping anyone. You know it's true. You couldn't put up a fight against last night's attacker... You made your sisters argue earlier... You ruined last Christmas... You resent yourself for this.
"It's not true!"
"Bubbles, ignore it!" begged Brunnera.
Bubbles bowed her head and clutched it, shaking her head. "No, no. I didn't do it... I didn't mean to... I wanted us to stay as a team..."
Brunnera glared at Princess. "Hey, what's the big deal? What did you do to her?"
Princess went on grinning.
Brunnera climbed onto Bubbles's shoulders, wobbling. She pointed at Princess and shouted, "Get lost or you'll wish you had never been born. Bubbles didn't do anything to you!"
Having a normal human child protect you now, are we? Oh, Bubbles, sweetie. Do you really have to go that low?
"I don't need her to!" Bubbles turned around, making Brunnera lose her balance. "Brunnera, stop it."
Brunnera flipped over and would have fallen off completely if she hadn't grabbed onto Bubbles's forearm. Brunnera yelled as her arms unbent, legs squabbling uselessly for something solid. Bubbles gazed down at her.
Drop her.
Bubbles widened her eyes.
You know you want to. Get rid of her. Prove you can do it.
"A little help here?" Brunnera squeaked, bringing her legs to her chest. She closed her eyes and tried to kid herself that this wasn't happening.
What's the matter, Bubbles? Too weak? She isn't family. She's just a mortal that has stolen your family's love and attention. They love a human more than you. Or do you need her to defeat weak old Princess?
"A human..." muttered Bubbles, her eyes glowing red.
Yes, Bubbles. Give into your deepest desires. Eradicate her.
Bubbles revealed her pearly white teeth, her eyes brightening.
Give in and the world will be yours...
Bubbles's pupils flicked upwards and the redness went out like a light bulb.
"What's my middle name?"
What?
"I said 'what's my middle name?'"
It's... oh, shut up.
"You don't know, do you?" Bubbles laughed. "Ha! I knew you weren't me!"
You don't have a middle name!
"Yes, I do," sang Bubbles, preening. Brunnera was probably as confused as anything, but Bubbles could feel herself getting warmer. She was becoming less frightened. Brunnera crawled across Bubbles's arm and reached over to Bubbles's far shoulder. Accomplishing that, she released Bubbles's arm with her other hand and clutched Bubbles's second shoulder with it. Hugging Bubbles with her legs, Brunnera buried her nose into her sister's back.
Bubbles smelled of sweat and Brunnera grimaced. What had she been doing all day? Running a marathon?
I am your mind. You do not have a middle name. I would know.
"If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen," Bubbles said, rolling in the air. Brunnera shrieked.
Bubbles wouldn't budge before and now she chose to dance around when Brunnera just wanted the world to stop spinning? She confused her sometimes.
You can lie all you want, but it won't... shut up!
Bubbles ignored it. She gazed at Princess, who was clutching her head. The insane smile on her face was gone. Now she looked like she was in pain. Bubbles pretended not to notice. The coldness had intensified when she had looked at her. Bubbles would help her when this evil voice was gone. Besides, if it disappeared, then there was a good chance Princess would get better.
The voice spoke again, but it was a lot quieter and weaker than before.
Princess...
Bubbles barely had time to defend herself as Princess began throwing punch after punch at her. An inhuman snarl escaped the redhead's mouth as she sweep kicked her opponent, knocking her off balance. Brunnera's hands were ripped off Bubbles's body and her legs nearly became untangled. Bubbles gasped, leaning forward so Brunnera could hold onto her again.
Princess clapped her hands, making a fist, and slammed them into the top of Bubbles's head. The blond spiralled downwards, the wind in her ears not quite concealing Brunnera's screams.
Bubbles jerked backwards, avoiding Princess's next attack. Brunnera had gone past the stage of screaming and was eerily silent. Bubble got a glimpse of her face as they dodged another attack- petrified. Her usually pale face had had all of its colour drained out of it, and her mouth was clamped shut. It broke Bubbles's heart, but Princess didn't seem willing to let her escape.
There is no hope for you, Bubbles... You were always the least superior of your sisters...
She ignored the voice, breathing heavily. Slowly, Bubbles raised her fists. Her hair had escaped her plaits and was blowing sideways in the wind. She growled, spreading out her legs and lowering her head slightly. Brunnera was gasping for breath, her grip on the Powerpuff near unbreakable.
"I am not," Bubbles whispered. "If you were me, you would know that what you say is a lie."
Bubbles lunged forward, punching Princess in the face furiously. Princess managed to block her onslaught of fists after a couple of punches and flew underneath her. Bubbles twisted her head around instantly, her eye lasers lighting up the sky and consuming her enemy. Princess didn't make a single sound as the energy blast enveloped her body.
Panting, Bubbles relented. Smoke was tainting the air surrounding Princess, but it cleared up after several seconds. Princess raised her hand and put it in front of her, her scarlet eyes luminous. Other than a darkened appearance, she was otherwise uninjured.
"You never let me be a Powerpuff Girl," Princess said angrily. It sounded like her voice, but it also sounded like someone else was speaking simultaneously. Someone who had a girlish but sinister voice. "You ruined my future, so I will return the favour."
Bubbles, still gasping for breath, watched her guardedly. She managed to say, "You won't win, Princess."
"Oh, sweet, dumb Bubbles, I will win." Princess breathed. She teleported in front of her but didn't attack. Instead, she went to Bubbles's side and put an arm around her back. Bubbles was too shocked to move. Princess's icy body pressed against her, squeezing her tightly. "You don't even know who you're up against."
"I do," Bubbles told her, unsuccessfully trying to break free of her grasp. "It's you..." She widened her eyes. "You killed Ace! You attacked me... and you framed Blossom!"
Princess giggled. "Oh, you! That was a pitiful guess. No... that wasn't me."
"What do you want?" asked Bubbles. "Princess, this isn't like you at all! Someone's controlling you!"
"I know! Great, isn't it?"
The next bit happened so swiftly, Bubbles wasn't sure what had happened at first. What she did know was that Brunnera was screaming and falling towards Earth.
"No!" Bubbles zoomed downwards, her arms reaching out in front of her. Princess was laughing, chasing after her and zapping her with a orange energy beam.
Bubbles gritted her teeth, ignoring the pain that stung the entirety of her body. All that mattered to her was that her dear little sister was plummeting to her death, her frail hands trying to grab onto something. Princess intensified her attack, the ends of her smile drooping.
"Why aren't you giving up?" Princess shrieked. Her energy beam became larger, yet Bubbles still didn't react to it. She began firing dozens of balls of energy, snarling.
"Because..." Bubbles grabbed hold of Brunnera. She moved downwards for a bit before coming to a stop. Her eyes were firmly on Brunnera, who was hugging her. Bubbles cradled her, rocking her from side to side gently.
"Because...?" Princess spat.
"I'm not weak," she said. "I really don't know where you got that strange notion from. Is it because I'm not tough like Buttercup? Not smart like Blossom? Does it make you wonder what's so special about me?"
"Yes!" Princess told her, throwing up her arms. "You were always so weak! You cried all the time and... and..."
Bubbles looked up at her, the tiniest of smiles on her lips. "That's not being weak. That's called being brave enough to show how I feel."
"Oh yeah!" Princess shouted, pointing at her. "Well... What... what about giving into what everyone said? You were too weak to stand up for yourself."
Bubbles shook her head. "No. That's called trusting other people's decisions and being brave enough to go along with it. You're the weak one."
"Me?" Princess scoffed, putting her hands onto her hips and guffawing. "I'm not weak. Did you see my attacks? I could kill you if I wanted to! You're too weak to kill me."
"Nope. It doesn't require power to kill. Preserving life... that needs true strength."
Princess clenched her fists and an orange gas began forming on them. "You don't know anything! You're the stupid Powerpuff Girl. You never got to be a vet. When you were younger, you were jealous of your sister's good grades."
"I do wish I could be as smart as Blossom," admitted Bubbles, "and sometimes I wish I was as tough as Buttercup. But, see, I'm not jealous. I'm pleased for them. Princess, how long is this going to take?"
"I'm not done with you!" Princess bellowed. "I'm going to kill you!"
"Well, I'm not. I'm done."
Princess widened her eyes, a mad expression on her face. "I don't understand. Why aren't you cracking? Why can't I kill you? I thought I would be stronger... but I'm not. He lied to me!"
"You're not winning because I'm not weak," Bubbles said. She floated upwards so they were face-to-face. "Face it; you failed."
"I'll kill you!" Princess grabbed the front of Bubbles's t-shirt. She growled, her fiery fist just inches from Bubbles's face. The two locked eyes and Bubbles could see the pain and anger present in Princess's facial expression. Princess shook her roughly, her eyes bulging out of her head. "Did you hear me? I'm going to kill you!"
"No, you're not. You're better than that. Fight it."
"I will destroy you!" she insisted. She looked a lot older and weaker than ever. Her grip on Bubbles was slackening, and this time she shook because she was sobbing. Then, in a whisper that was barely audible, she said, "I can't."
Princess shook her head. Her eyes were back to normal, but she still looked like she was in immense pain. She trembled, unable to look the blue Powerpuff Girl in the eye. Bubbles remained silent, watching her with wide eyes. She longed to help her, but she couldn't. She didn't know what was wrong and it hurt her, seeing Princess suffer and not being able to do a single thing about it.
Then, all of a sudden, there was a flash of orange light. It blew Bubbles backwards, making her spiral through the air. Brunnera screamed, pressing her face into Bubbles back as hard as she could. Bubbles raised her arms in front of her, trying to defend herself.
After being thrown back a few dozen yards, Bubbles felt herself come to a stop. She blinked, trying to get rid of the orange blur that was obscuring her sight. When it faded, she rubbed her eyes and looked around.
Princess was gone.
"Princess?" called Bubbles uncertainly. She hoped this wasn't a surprise attack. "Where are you?"
She felt someone tugging at her arm. Bubbles twisted her head around and saw Brunnera.
Her hair was standing on end, and Brunnera's pale face was a sickly green. Her pupils were practically dots and she was breathing loudly.
"Can... can we go home now?"
"Oh... sure." Bubbles gave the area one last look before flying away.
PPGPP
Princess howled, wrapping her arms around her chest. She didn't know where she was but it was freezing. Everywhere was black except from the throne in front of her, as well as the person perched on it and the woman next to Him.
Him glared down at her. Princess was on her knees, unable to retain eye contact. The woman next to Him was also glaring down at her, sitting on the throne's armrest. She jerked back her head, fluttering her eyelids at her master as she waited for Him to speak.
You failed me. Not only that, you nearly destroyed my plan.
"I'm... I'm sorry!" Princess moaned, raw pain spreading to every part of her body. "Please forgive me."
The other woman laughed coldly. Him turned and smiled at her.
I wanted Bubbles weakened, not dead. But you could barely put a dent in her.
"She's strong!" Princess raised her head, her eyes full of tears. "I thought she was the weakest... but she wasn't. It was an easy mistake to make."
I can't afford mistakes. They must not realise who they are up against until the time is right.
"But she," Princess pointed at the woman, "was meant to get Bubbles before. That's what you told me earlier. Did you punish her, huh?"
The woman snarled, raising her fist to hit her. Him caught it as it came forward, encasing it with His claw.
Ah, that wasn't a mistake. She would have if that pesky Buttercup didn't come. That, dear, was an unforeseen-
Princess was on her feet now, spit flying from her mouth as she shouted, "Two Powerpuffs? She can't beat up two? I thought she was really powerful... two?"
The woman glanced at Him, but He shook His head at her. She sighed, disappointed.
My friend here escaped because I summoned her. She is far more powerful than you can imagine, but two Powerpuffs... she has not yet mastered her powers and I didn't want to risk-
"Risk?" Princess snorted. "You're both scared of them. I thought you were meant to be the most powerful being in the universe, but no... even you were useless. If you're so powerful, why didn't you break Bubbles when I was fighting her, huh?"
The woman hissed and Him's eyes glowed menacingly.
I have no use for you any more.
"Then... what are you going to do to me? asked Princess, dreading the answer.
Leave.
The darkness vanished and she was back in the sky. Princess felt the pain leave her body instantly. She sighed in relief, mopping her brow.
Then she realized she couldn't fly.
And poor Princess fell to her doom.
She hit the ground. Her body exploded into thirteen red bats, all bearing grinning, devilish faces. They flew off in different directions, leaving no trace of anyone ever being there.
