Author's Note: If you like this story, then this is definitely one chapter you'll HAVE to read to understand the rest of the story. Plus, this moves the plot along... :( I'm sorry to all of you who were dreading this chapter. (Warning: I may make some minor adjustments later on, so if this chapter is removed and reposted, you know why)

Again, I apologize. Read on to find out why... T-T

Chapter Ten

Awhile had passed since they had eaten the crab, and Butch and Buttercup were feeling better. Alas, though, nothing can truly be peaceful when you are trying to be killed. Again, they were thirsty beyond belief.

"I have to search for some fresh water," Buttercup said, looking at Butch. "We can only go so long without it, you know."

Butch nodded.

"Buttercup, you know I can't get up. Chances are that I can't fly, either. I can hardly even move! You and I both need water. Sure, it would be nice to stay together and all, but you're going to have to leave me here and bring something back. We don't have a choice in it if we want to stay alive."

"But I can't just leave you here, can I? I mean, what if something happened to you?"

"Then something happens to me, and we'll be one death closer to the finish line," he said solemnly. "But, hey, look at the bright side. You'll still be alive. And even if I die, I'll always be with you. You know that." A tear fell from his eye, but he wiped it away furiously. He was still Butch -- he didn't like showing sensitivity, and he loathed it when people saw him crying, especially Buttercup.

Silently, Buttercup nodded and stood up. Filled with the guilt of leaving a helpless Butch to fend for himself, she turned away from him and slowly began to walk. Don't look back, she thought to herself, knowing she'd fall apart. Don't say anything. You'll only want to stay. You'll cry...Don't do it. It's better not to...

But she did.

Boomer was once again laying on his back in excruciating pain. Bubbles had done all she could to help the poison, but it still wasn't good enough. He wouldn't die, she thought, because there wasn't much poison left -- but the venom still there was completely damaging, and would not go away easily.

Now, more than ever, they needed water. And desperately.

Boomer tried to sit up, but Bubbles pushed him down again. "Each time you try that, you just lower your energy. You need to conserve it," she begged, her eyes pleading. She knew that his getting up was a hopeless effort.

"D-Do you think they're alive?" he asked, his eyes watering as they blankly stared out into the nothingness. "Three of them are still alive, h-hopefully f-four. Do you think i-it'll be your sister, o-or my brother? Y-You think it'll b-be us?" He seemed to ask her things he knew perfectly well she couldn't answer in this awful state.

"That's it!" Bubbles screamed, beating her hands against the sand, sending waves across the barren landscape. "I'm going to get water and help you. This can't end like this, all right? Don't even try to stop me, 'cause you won't be able to. I'll be back soon, you just hold on, okay?"

Boomer nodded.

She flew across the sky, a new energy powering her. She flew faster than she could ever remember flying before, the sand and rocks blurred in their sameness. Her heart was pounding in her chest as if it were about to explode. She was going to find water and help save Boomer!

After a few hours, nothing seemed to make sense. Everything was blurry and breathing was hard to do. She had not slowed from her fiery pace, and it was killing her. She began to writhe uncontrollably as she fell from the air.

You know how when you're superhuman, it takes a lot more to hurt you? Well, the opposite goes that way as well. When something does hurt you when you're superhuman, the effect is a lot worse.

So being a superhuman having a heat stroke in the middle of a desert by herself really isn't good.

Blossom cherished the moment. She was ignoring her hunger, and enjoying just spending time with Brick. They were watching the sun set now, in another pool of warm water. No doubt they were still starved, but they had decided to rest for the night. Brick had his arm wrapped around her, and she had never had a feeling so nice. And under such odd circumstances...

As the sun was about to go down, Brick said, "You know, I'm feeling a little jumpy. I think I'm going to take a little walk." Blossom was puzzled.

"A... walk? Why?"

He nodded, got his clothes back on, and told her he'd be back soon and wouldn't go too far away.

Brick wanted to spend time with Blossom, yes; but he also wanted to see the full extent of Mojo's imagination. Mojo was a brilliant monkey, whether or not he wanted to admit it just yet. But he was, and he had designed some really amazing things. And this next place was one of them.

He reached a valley, almost, where on on wall the snow piled up to a mountain that was ten times Brick's size. On the other side of the ridge was an area of land that seemed to curve downwards. He stepped into the area with caution -- who knew what kinds of danger lay here? His mind irked him to turn back, but his curiosity got a hold of him.

His movements cracked the snow beneath his feet as they sank into it -- deep. Little did poor Brick know, but this peaceful five-minute walk was in itself one of Mojo's traps.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch-crunch. Crunch. Crack! Brick looked up towards the tall side of the ridge in utter shock, only to see the snow from the top of the peak hurdling towards him at light speed, almost like a white, cold wave. The shock of the avalanche kept him from using his common sense, and instead of flying upwards and out of the way, which would have saved his life, he screamed, "Blossom!"

In seconds, nothing. Absolutely nothing. Nothing but freezing cold ice piled on top of him -- and the inability to move, breathe, or think.

By the time Blossom got there and dug him out using her laser vision, screaming and crying, it was too late.

Brick was dead.

I'm very, very sorry. RIP. (don't stop reading, things will get better ;) )