Chapter 9: Beetle Fight

After school on a sunny day, Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup, and Bridget are able to head back to the laboratory, when they hear a loud commotion. They turn to see a lot of kids gathering in a circle, cheering and screaming something.

Bridget becomes curious, and asks, "I wonder what's going on?"

"Let's go see,"Blossom replies.

The four girls look to see what the kids are looking at. They see two scarab beetle using their horns to push and fight with each other on a stump.

Blossom creams in terror, "Eww, icky!"

Blossom and Bubbles hug each other and start crying.

"They're just a couple of scarab beetle, babies," Buttercup complains.

Bridget continues to watch to see the beetle fight. Two young boys are shouting and changing to their beetles. Bridget is very interested, she has never seen a beetle fight before.

A boy with curly red hair shouts, "Yeah! Get'em Goliath! Knock' em out! That's it!"

The beetle the boy is changing slides his horn under the other one and throws it off the stump. Now this has earned Bridget's curiosity.

"Wow! That' looks so cool," Bridget complements.

The boys look to see Bridget looking at them, probably the fight.

The boy with the winning beetle says, "Thanks."

Then he asks, "You must be the new girl? I bet you never saw a beetle battle before."

"Nope," Bridget answers.

"You should come to the tournament, it's coming very soon. By the way, my name is Kevin" The boy says.

Bridget smiles, "It's very nice to meet you Kevin, and… maybe I will."

Just then she hears Blossom calling out, "Come on Bridget, we need to get going."

"Okay," Bridget replies.

Then she says to the boys, "Bye."

Bridge then runs off to catch up with the girls so they can head to the lab. When they reach the lab, they look to see Ken is doing something that involves science. But when they look, they can see a beetle as well. It's light and has big white eyes with black in the middle.

Blossom screams as Bubbles hugs her in head. Blossom shouts, "It's another one! Why does everyone have buuuuuuuuu…"

"Quiet! I'm running a test," Ken shouts, cutting the two off.

The two stop being scared and become confused on what Ken is up to.

"According to the beetle battle analysis, Rocky here has a pretty good overall rating," Ken says, studying his computer.

"His name is Rocky? I think he's cute," Bridget happily complements.

"Thanks," Ken replies.

He looks at the computer as he says, "Attakc power, ten out of ten. Defence power twenty five out of thirty. Speeding power, forty seven out of fifty. Those are very impressive numbers, I think we're ready for the tournament."

"Interesting. What about his health?" Bridget asks.

"He's has one hundred percent of good health," Ken answer.

Buttercup comes over, and asks, "Hey Ken, what's going on?"

"This year Townsville is holding the Beetle Battle Competition. Rocky and I are going to compete for the cup. And according to the computer calculations, he's probably going to win," Ken explains.

As Ken explains to Buttercup and Bridget, Blossom is eating a snack while Bubbles is reading. They want to be far away from the bug as possible.

Buttercup sternly look at the screen, and says, "No, I don't think so."

"Hey, my computer is never wrong before!" Ken sternly protests.

"Well it is this time!," Buttercup confronts Ken.

Then she explains, "You can have the strongest beetle, but it won't matter if you don't have heart. Listen kid, nobody wins by numbers alone."

"What do you mean? What am I missing?" Ken asks.

Buttercup calmly answers, "Your spirit, it's weak."

"My spirit?" Ken says, thinking this is a kind of joke.

Bridget comes in, and clarifies, "I think what Buttercup means that it's not just Rocky competing is you as well. You need to battle alongside with him. If you just rely on the data and not within yourself and Rocky, you both will lose for sure."

"That's right! You need to train hard if you and Rocky want to win that competition! You and Rocky must fight as one!" Buttercup declares in a loud voice.

As the little beetle lands on Ken's head, Ken says, "Okay, I think I understand. I got to go beyond the numbers."

"That's right, it's going to take strength and courage. So tomorrow, let's the training begin!" Buttercup announces.

Ken gets up and salute, "You got it coach! I won't let you down!"

At the couch, blossom and Bubbles are feeling unsure about it.

"Wow! I hate to be Ken tomorrow," Blossom remarks.

"Yep," Bubbles agrees.

"Says you," Bridget remarks.

Later in the night, Bridget is in her room reading a book. She is interested in helping Ken with the Beetle Battle, but she wonders what Buttercup's training methods are. As Bridget reads, she begin to feel sharp pains on her head. It feels like there are bees buzzing around her head. The next few minutes, the pain has disappeared all of the sudden. Bridget is rather confused about it, but decides to go to sleep for the night.

The next day, Buttercup and Bridget are helping Ken and his beetle, Rocky training for the Beetle Tournament which is coming very soon. They start with some morning jogs. Bridget doesn't mind because she does jogging with her old friend back in the U.S.

Buttercup says, "Keep it moving, Ken. No slacking."

"I won't" Ken replies.

The three continue to run back and forth. Blossom and Bubbles are a bit confused by Buttercups training. They then do push ups, air punches, karate chops, kindo, and trying to eat as much ramun as possible. During the time, Buttercup reminds Ken that Rocky can sense how he feels, so they need to be on the same team in order to win. Their spirits need to be high.

Days later, the Beetle Battle competition is being hold. Many young kids are cheering while the competitors are battle out. However, Blossom and Bubbles are still scared of battle and they continue to scream every time they see one. For some strange reason, they both seem to know the kind of beetles that are there.

Buttercup mutters, "For someone who hates beetles, you sure do know a lot about them."

"I agree," Bridget replies.

During the turonoment, Ken along with his Beetle, Rocky are doing great so far. They been winning matches like their no tomorrow. Ken returns to Bridget and Buttercup who are sitting on one of the tables.

"Looks like you are on a winning streak," Buttercup complement.

"She's right, you and Rocky are doing great," Bridget adds.

Ken salutes with a smile, and says, "Couldn't have don't it without you."

Ken becomes a bit concern, and the two start to take notice.

"What's wrong Ken?" Bridget asks.

"Well, um, there's this beetle called Goliath, and… he might be too strong for Rocky," Ken answers in concern.

Ken turns to look at one who is sitting with his beetle on his shoulder. Bridget looks to where Ken is and can see that it's the boy who she has seen a few days ago.

Just then, Buttercup glares at Ken, and shouts, "Hold it!"

"I told you, Rocky senses your doubt. You can never stop believing in him. You're a team, you have to compete with one mind," Buttercup explains.

Bridget comes over, and says, "She's right, you and Rocky have been working so hard together. You can't back out now. You can do it!"

Ken shows a determine look, and says, "I won't let you both down coach."

Bridget looks around as she asks, "I wonder where Blossom and Bubbles have gone?"

What Bridget doesn't know that Blossom has been dragged away by security. Bubbles walks alongside them. In short amount of time, the finals of the Beetle Battle is about to begin. Buttercup, and the others are on the bleachers seeing Ken and Rocky competing against Kevin and Goliath.

The announcer on the speaker says, "And now for the final match up, we have Rocky and Goliath!"

Everyone cheer for excitement of the finals, the girls are cheering for Ken and Rocky. Ken and Kevin have their beetles on the battlefield and are ready to fight.

Kevin laughs, and mocks, "That doesn't look like a beetle. Looks more like a tiny ant to me."

Ken becomes angry to hear him insulting Rocky. Rocky is determine to fight and win. The other beetle is ready to fight as well.

The announcer declares, "Children, make the best beetle win! Fight!"

At the signal, Rocky and Goliath come at each other horn to horn. Ken cheer for Rocky, but can see Goliath is pushes Rocky off of the field.

Ken calls out, "Come on Rocky, you can do it."

Rocky tries his best, but is about ready to fall off the table.

With confidence, Kevin says, "It's all over."

"Goliath is too strong," Ken says in his thoughts, seeing that Rocky is going to lose.

On stand, Buttercup shouts, "Don't give up!"

"You can do it Ken! You too Rocky!" Bridget cries.

Hearing the chant, Ken says in his thoughts, "I won't give up. I know you can win. I know it."

Then Ken calls out to Rocky, "You hear my Rocky, I believe in you."

"Do you really think that beetle understand you," Kevin remarks.

Ken says, "I know he understands me. We fight as a team!"

"As a… team? You mean like friends?" Kevin questions looking a bit surprised to hear Ken saying it.

He then remember how much he loves his beetle before he started competing in the tournament. He then start to remember how much he loved them, and wonder about what he's doing now. He looks down to see Rocky is pushing Goliath.

He then brushes it off, and says, "Who cares about all this? Finish it off!"

"Come on Ken, use the power move!" Buttercup cries out, while Blossom and Bubbles trying to hold her back.

Hearing Buttercup, Ken nods his head in reply. Then turn back to finish the tournament.

Ken calls out, "Alright, let's finish this!"

Rocky then paces his horn under Goliath.

"This is it! Beetle Battle Super Flip: Rocky Road!" Ken cries in determination.

Rocky then lifts Goliath up in the air and begin to spin it around faster and faster. Then gives Goliath a strong toss.

Kevin exclaims, "Goliath!"

He turns to see hsi beetle has land on the floor at the back in defeat.

Seeing the results, Ken happily shouts, "We won!"

"And the winner is… Rocky!" the announcer loudly announces.

Everyone, especially the girls cheer to see Ken and Rocky are the winners of the Beetle Battle.

Shocked and dismay, Kevin says, "You lost, but I thought you were unbeatable!"

Just then, Goliath's eyes glow read, moves around as he says, "I am unbeatable!"

"Woah! You really can talk!" Kevin exclaims in shock.

"Metamorphosis!" The beetle announces, as he transform to a giant sized, purple beetle.

Blossom screams in fear, "Aaaah! It's a giant bug monster!"

The bug monster flies around as he shouts, "Mucous laser beam!"

The beetle then begin to zap purple beams of light at the kids. When the kids get zapped they become trapped in slimy green goo.

Shocked, Kevin runs up, and shouts, "Goliath stop! What are you doing?"

Bridget looks up at the beetle monster and it's giving off a black aura.

"Girls, that beetle is hit with black z rays!" Bridget says.

"Black z rays!" Buttercup exclaims.

"And now it's attacking the children," Bubbles says.

"What a jerk!" Blossom shouts in anger.

Quickly, the girls begin to transform as they say their name. They transform with their Powerpuff outfits, shoes, and accessories.

They finish with the pose, and says, "Powerpuff Girls Z!"

The giant beetle monster is flying in the air, and is making a nose dive right at Ken. Ken screams to see the monster going to hit him, and is unable to move. Just then, Rocky comes flying at the monster and gives it a good tackle.

With its eyes glowing red in anger, the beetle monster angrily says, "So it's you again!"

"Rocky, you saved me," Ken says with a smile. His beetle continues to fly in front of him.

Shocked to see the event, Kevin says to himself, "But why? Why did his beetle save him. Maybe I…"

But before Kevin can say anything, he sees that the giant beetle is facing him now. He yelps and falls to the ground.

With a grin, the beetle says, "Your turn."

"Hey bug face, take this!" Blossom shouts,and throws her yo-yo.

The yo-yo hits the beetle monster, and now turn to see who hit him.

"That hurt," The monster angrily says.

The girls fly doing their pose as they say, "Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup, and Bridget! The PowerPuff Girls!"

Just then, the beetle monster begin to attack the girls. Buttercup tries to use her hammer to hit it, but the monster covers it in mucus. Bubbles tries to use her bubbles, but they have been zapped too. Bridget use her cord to hit it, but the shell is too strong. The girls get together, to find out another plan.

"That mucus is gross!" Buttercup says.

"It's no easy to hot that beetle with it zapping at us," Bridget adds.

Just then, Kevin says, "Hold on! I just remember, throw something sweet to distract it."

"That might actually work," Bridget questionably replies.

Buttercup turns to the girls, "You guys wouldn't happen to have candy on you?"

"Why would I be carrying candy around?" Bubbles questions.

With a smile, Blossom brings out a bunch of candy, "Here's some!"

The girls groan and stare at Blossom in reply.

Buttercup grumbles, "Should have known.

Quickly, Blossom throws her candy all over the floor. Looking down, the beetle monster can see the tasty treat that is on the floor. The beetle begin to sniff on the candy and is distracted.

Buttercup shout, "Alright, it's distracted!"

"Go for it Bridget!" Bridget adds.

Bubbles waves her rod and shout, "Sticky bubble catcher!"

The giant bubble hits the beetle monster and now is covered in it. The beetle tries to move, but is moving at a very slow pace. The girls see their chance to finish the beetle monster.

Buttercup spins around as she shouts, "Hurricane swing!"

The beetle begin to spin by the wind, and is being lifted into the air.

Bridget whips her cord as she shouts, "Electro cord whip!"

Then wacks the monster. The monster is now crashed to the wall and is waving a white flag in defeat.

Kevin is still shocked to see that his beetle has been defeated.

Ken walks up to Kevin, and asks, "Are you alright?"

Kevin doesn't say a word and begin to walk away from Ken.

Kevin stops and says, "Watching you and Rocky mande me remember, bugs should always be respected."

"You're right," Ken says with a smile.

"I think I forgot about it. I only think Goliath as a way to win the tournament. And in the end that's the real reason why I lost," Kevin says.

Ken smiles, and says, "You know Kevin, I think Goliath would be very happy to hear that."

He then turns to the girls, and says, "Hey girls, why don't you turn Kevin's beetle back to normals.

"Okay! The girls says together, doing a pose.

Kevin smiles to hear it, and this time, he decides to test his beetle with respect and friendship.

Blossom smiles, and says, "This is one adventure that really bugged me."

"And speaking of that, why don't you take a look at your feet," Buttercup says, with a smirk on her face.

Blossom looks down to see what Buttercup is talking about. Just then, a black beetle walking around her feet.

Blossom screams, "Aaah! It's another one, get it away from me!"

Then she takes off running for her life, and the beetle begin to follow her.

"That girl sure know how to react," Buttercup says.

Bridget calmly says, "I think Bubbles is a bit scared too."

The two turn to see Bubbles is looking pale like a ghost.

Blossom screams as she is being chased by the bug.

She shouts, "I'll get for you for this Buttercup!"

Seeing the bug Blossom screams and runs away from it.