A/N: And I've made it to Chapter Ten! YAY!!!

By the way, my preference is that villains don't acknowledge that they're evil. Nuff said.

Disclaimer: Don't own it.

"Let go!" Buttercup kicked and punched, trying to escape Him's grasp. Finally, Him released her. She looked around to see that they were in a large red room. On the crimson floor, embedded in black tile, was a frightening . "Where are we?" Buttercup demanded.

"This is the only place in my world in which superheroes can use their powers," said Him. "Don't ask me why, because I honestly have no idea."

Buttercup laughed. "That kind of defeats the purpose of me being here, doesn't it?"

"Not really. I want this to be a fair fight." Him smirked. "If you win, I'll spare you. If I win, you must join me." The last part mainly seemed to be more to himself.

"What do you mean?" Buttercup was confused. Fight? A flashback of a dream she'd had (which had been embarrassing at the time) ran through her mind. Fighting Him and losing.

Him explained, "If I didn't fight you with your powers, it would be a disgrace to all that is good, wouldn't it?"

Buttercup guffawed. "And wearing that skirt ten years ago wasn't a disgrace?"

Him scowled. "Shut up!" He struck out at her with one of his crablike claws. Buttercup felt her entire oxygen supply knocked out of her. She doubled over in pain. "Let the fight begin!"

Buttercup let out a cry and rushed forward.

"BUTCH!" Brick's voice echoed off of the walls of the buildings downtown.

"BUTTERCUP!" Blossom called, desperation taking over her voice. So far, there had been no luck in finding them, or in discovering an opening to Him's lair.

"It's no use," Boomer sighed, obviously exhausted. Blossom knew he wanted to keep looking. But out of all his brothers, even though he had the most sensitive heart, he had the least amount of stamina.

"They're gone." Tears welled up in Bubbles's eyes. Boomer put an arm around her shoulders comfortingly.

Brick frowned. "Come on, guys! Don't give up!"

"We'll find them," Blossom promised, despite the fact that she wasn't sure herself.

Butch stared absently at where he was so sure that the dent he'd made in the metal wall was. He punched the spot again. Yep. It was there.

What if Him was having Buttercup fight him? Butch punched the wall again. What if Buttercup never came back to the cell? Another blow to the wall. What if Him did something worse to her? This thought deserved both a kick and a punch to the wall.

He heard a key click in the door. He stood up and took a fighting stance. When the door opened, he saw a familiar green chimp standing there. "Mojo?" he asked, his voice coated in disbelief.

"Yes," the monkey replied tiredly. "It is me."

Butch's mouth fell agape. "But....I mean....I haven't seen you in...."

"Ten years," Mojo Jojo finished. "I know. I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?" If Butch's mouth opened any wider, it would hit the floor. He shook his head, trying to make sense of this. "Um...okay. I forgive you, I guess. But why are you here?"

"I'm here to get you out so you can help Buttercup," Mojo said, grabbing Butch's wrist and attempting to lead him out.

"What?" Now Butch was really confused. "Why?"

"Because....I was the worst person--er, chimpanzee--that I think has ever existed in the human world." Mojo seemed to be having a hard time saying this. "I want to make it up to you and your brothers. I know you like the girls. I want to help you. I know I created you to destroy them, and I am sorry about that too." Mojo Jojo smiled up at him a little bit.

Stunned, the only thing that Butch could think of to do was pat the chimp on the head. "It's okay." He began to run in the direction he'd heard Him take Buttercup. He paused and turned back to Mojo. "Thanks."

Mojo Jojo walked up and, seeming a little uncertain, gave Butch an awkward one-armed hug. "Be careful, son." Then he let Butch run on.

Buttercup glared up at Him. "You are going down!" She flew up, a streak of green light following her. She launched several superpowered punches at Him's head, but he managed to dodge them all. Buttercup wasn't surprised. She was tired and needed something to fuel her. Something to make her angry.

Him grabbed her wrist and flung her down to the ground. Buttercup felt something wet on her head. She reached up to inspect of it. When she looked at her hand, it was covered with blood. She felt woozy.

There was no way she could go on like this. No way at all.

Him raised his arm to deliver the final blow. Buttercup squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the worst. Then she heard wind rush past. She opened her eyes to see a streak of emerald green light knock Him to the floor.

Buttercup stood and prepared to begin fighting again. But before she could do anything, something startling happened.

As Butch was throwing punches and kicks that would have made even Buttercup flinch, he left his torso open for attack. Buttercup wasn't the only one that noticed. Him opened his right claw so that it resembled a razor blade. Then he plunged it into Butch's stomach.

Short again, I know.

Mojo is Him's "helper-monkey," but he's really a spy. Haha. Helper-monkey. I made a joke.

Eek! What just happened? You'll have to review to find out!