(WARNING: Controversial, religious themed subject matter ahead which some may find offensive)
It already began to feel like a hell on Earth. The fires soared high into the air, licking and tickling the dark swarm of clouds that occasionally flashed a blinding stroke of light. After the visual assault on the senses a long and loud grumble would conquer briefly, rendering one deaf, as they flew over the open fire of Townsville. There wasn't much hope that anything could be saved. Troops invaded like ants in attempts escort residents and priceless objects safely from the raging inferno.
HIM cackled madly, his insidious vocals like nails on a chalk board, as he flew Berserk's body deeper and deeper into the dismal, blackened wreckage. Brick and Blossom felt themselves cooking on all sides, like a spitroast. Projecting lazers in attempts to shock and bring the possessed girl down, Blossom felt a sting of hurt deep inside. More ugly memories proceeded invade the poor girl's mind, all from the time HIM turned the love of Townsville citizens into hate or from when they traveled in time and the same, chaos thriving demon took over.
Halting in the air, Berserk clapped her hands out in front, stimulating ripples of airwaves that sent the impending Puff and Ruff back into the fire and disintegrating architecture.
"Ooooh Blossom" cooed the imp sickeningly. "You know deep inside you want this just as much I do. A clean slate. Start a fresh"
"Shut up and get out of my friend's body!" the girl shrieked, her gorgeous hair spread out as the tail of a phoenix on the brick and rubble pile on which she sat.
"The city has already been thoroughly baked enough" the freak went on, lying on her back in the air, twisting her head unnaturally. "Just let it go already"
The leader inhaled deeply and withdrew a long freezing blast, isolating the body of Berserk in a block of ice that sent her plummeting down to the ground. Blossom sped towards her, disturbed by the crooked, creepy smile that stained her features, like a china doll.
"Please, Berserk. I know you can hear me!"
She could. Very well so and she continued to writhe and struggle in the putrid bed of worms that restrained her. They wriggled about her form, bound her wrists and ankles to the living, breathing fleshly mattress like-wall. Beyond herself, was infinite darkness and a large pair of bright red eyes that danced in it, as the laughter spread like a parasite, echoing within the walls of her mind. HIM had taken over.
"Blossom!" she shouted desperately.
"HAHAHA! So much for a toughened, coal-black heart. You're just as susceptible as they are to the notions and loyalty of love"
"Bite me, you tool!" she growled.
The eyes flared and for a brief moment, she saw the hellish face of the devil "TOOL? ME?!"
"Yes, you! You're just as much as a tool as the behemoth claims the townspeople are. You're a product of humanity, the personification for mankind's most irrational thoughts, dreams and actions. You are just a SHADOW of the human race"
A nerve had been hit, one HIM thought one, especially some mortal, would ever tread on "HOW DARE YOU UNDERESTIMATE MY ESSENTIAL PURPOSE!"
"YOU HAVE NO PURPOSE, LUCIFER! You're just a scapegoat symbol. I'll bet my own life if you present yourself before that monster, he'll be more inclined to take you out than the people of Townsville" snarled Berserk. She wasn't sure where any of this determination was coming from. She was willing to give herself up so that Blossom and everyone else could live a happy life afterwards. Maybe the devil was right. Maybe Berserk DID love her.
"I'LL HOLD YOU TO THAT BET, YOU LITTLE VIPER!" hissed HIM and everything went black.
Screaming, alarming her surrounding counterparts, Berserk threw back her head, as a black smoke rose from her throat and into the air, solidifying and forming the shape of HIM. "Well, well. You're friend sure does know how to make a bargain" sung the demon, grinning at the children.
"What did she-" started Brick, before seeing the creature warp out of their sight, blinking into sight with every second, as he made his way towards the beast out at sea.
"Hurry!" cried Blossom and pink and red streaks of light zig-zagged through the city, out into the open of the shores and sea.
HIM had already presented himself before the creature and the Behemoth turned his attention from the girls and boys to the floating entity with fascination. The kids had been pummeled, having done their all, just to keep the monster there for a matter of minutes. Buttercup spluttered and coughed blood, gazing at the spectacle and not knowing if there was some conclusion or certain defeat right before them.
"I must say" began the demon coyly "You certainly have a way of leaving an impression. Laying waste without a single thought otherwise and delighting as the people BLEED from the city bounds. But, I'm sure you know that what you have could be considered a wasted potential if I don't stand in. Let's turn this into an art, let us paint upon the planet with the blood of MILLIONS. Do away with the pestilence of the human race TOGETHER. After all, surely you'd like a trusting partner in all of this"
It was certainly clear that although he was a borderline manipulator, the father-of-lies, it was tough at points to distinguish whether or not his praises could be considered genuine flirting with the creature, or whether he really was just an expert at buttering one up. In any case, HIM stood ready for a sign of confirmation from the Cthulhu like deity of misery and chaos.
"I FIGURED EVENTUALLY I WOULD HAPPEN UPON YOU, SATAN. HOWEVER, I SEE THAT JUST LIKE THE HUMANS, YOU MISUNDERSTAND MY DELIVERANCE OF DESTRUCTION. IT IS FOR ALL ASPECTS OF THE HUMAN RACE, NOT JUST THEM ALONE. IT IS THEIR FUTURE AND THEIR HISTORY. THAT WHICH THEY HAVE MADE AND WOULD SURELY LEAVE BEHIND. AND THAT INCLUDES YOU"
Shots fired.
"W-Wh-what?" whimpered the devil, shaking.
"YOU HAVE BEEN WILLED INTO EXISTENCE IN THE SENSE THAT YOU ARE A FRAME OF MIND. YOU ARE JUST A REPRESENTATION OF THE DELUSIONS OF WHAT HUMANITY WOULD CALL GOOD AND EVIL, WHEN IN REALITY THESE THINGS ARE JUST CONCEPTS AND SOCIAL CONSTRUCTS AS WITH MANY OTHER MATTERS, THAT PERSUADE THE POPULATION TO THINK AND ACT IN WHAT WOULD BE DEEMED AN ACCEPTABLE MANNER IN YOUR CIVILIZATIONS AND DEMONIZE OTHERS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY EXIST OUTSIDE THESE PERPETUATED BOUNDARIES. YOU ARE JUST AS READILY DISPOSABLE AS THEY ARE, AS ALL YOU ARE IS A MEMORY OF THE MOST HEINOUS ATTRIBUTES THE HUMAN RACE HAS LATCHED ONTO AS A FORM OF EXCUSE FOR THEIR DEEDS. WITHOUT YOU, WITHOUT GOD, THEY HAVE ONLY THEMSELVES TO BLAME. WHICH THEY SHOULD"
The trunk of the elephant-headed being rose and the third eye that stared out intensely began harshly illuminated, drawing in particles from all around it, charging a ray of sorts. Everyone stared in horror.
"Have mercy!" pleaded HIM.
The RowdyRuff Boys darted into action and shot out lazers into the third eye, resulting in a terrifying scream. The devil was dumbfounded, still shock.
"Wh-what..."
"We saved you, dad" peeped Boomer, carrying their shaken father away from the unearthly being.
The Behemoth's trumpet blared and Berserk, Blossom and Brick finally linked hands a strange glow formulated between their triadic stance, accompanied by a whirring, similar to that of a revving engine, glow began to morph, stretch and warp in it's spot, building on up into the air. They were unsure what to expect, but it seemed whatever they were doing was working. The three closed their eyes. Memories of the past coursed through their brains and upon comprhension of what was and shall be, they spoke in unison.
"Nosce te ipsum!"
A whine dug in the fiery air and an eruption of light, as what had been formed between them stood, as a colossal combination of the three. A stark white Powerpuff/ruff/punk. It's form shimmered, like glass, reflecting the infernal blaze, the enraged waves of the sea, the swirling of the clouds. It threw a punch and the Behemoth flew back into the ocean. Everyone cheered at the progress, as the three remained in their meditative stance, their hands held. The creature then rose high and up, into the whirlpool of clouds, as thunder and lightening struck heavily across the scene. The ghostly formation of the three, resumed throwing heavy, full-hearted punches and kicks, ripping out the tongue of the beast that acted as a slug-like transport platform and proceeded to tie it around the misanthropic beast's throat, tying it in a bow of sorts. Ripping out it's third eye, shoving it down the Behemoth's throat, they then proceeded to take a hold of the trunk and built momentum, whirling it round, faster and faster. A final trumpet blared, as the beast was hurled off into the furthest reaches of space. The puppet rubbed it's hands of the remaining gore and vanished from existence.
The skies cleared and the sun shone brightly. Birds chirped. The inferno was put out, Blossom and Berserk shot over Townsville with their ice breath and Bubbles and Boomer washed away and cut out the final flames with a hiss with water from the sea. Buttercup and Butch scanned across the city, adjusting certain monuments and buildings that could be saved. Gradually, the fire department shooting in first to help, the residents let out a grand and thunderous cheer as they saw that, once again, the day was saved. Thanks to the Powerpuff Girls.
The Punk, Puffs and Ruffs flew down and were confronted by the cheers and praising of the citizens.
"Man, this is kinda weird" admitted Brick, unsure how to feel about being put in the spotlight.
"Yeah, I don't think this is something I can get used to" Butch agreed, looking around.
"Well, screw you guys" chuckled Boomer, seeing some of the girls faun over him and touching his hair.
However, Butch pushed them away from him "No fucking way. I ain't shouldering any responsibility after this mess. Let's go already" and the two boys sped off, leaving Brick.
The long haired chap turned to Blossom, who delivered a soft, affectionate smile "L-look, toots, don't get the wrong idea about any of this crap. This isn't gonna be a new thing for us. It's only 'cus you dragged our asses into it"
"Understood" she shrugged, still smiling.
The boy blushed lightly, frowning somewhat at the girl's soft voice and darted off to join his brothers, who had gone to console their father, who sat by on the pier, overlooking the now calm waters. He sighed.
"I've never felt so... insignificant in my life" he confessed, resting a hand on his claw, as he leaned forward on the rail.
"Get over yourself, pops" said Brick, not too harshly, but not too sympathetic either.
"That guy got his butt beat, you didn't" aided Boomer.
"Besides, he claims pretty much what everyone already knew, but that doesn't make you a phony or worthless or anything. You're the prince of darkness, The Lawless one, Governor of the unknown and you know that. Pride yourself in what you do and who you are"
Boomer spoke happily again "Besides, there are a lot of monsters out there swearing on destruction for the sake of destruction"
"There's only one HIM" finished Brick, kinda lamely, but it brought a soft smile on the devil's face.
Already, everyone was busy getting back to their construction and fixing up Townsville to be as good as new. As the girls went to shoot on home, Blossom looked behind her to see Berserk standing alone in the park.
"You guys go on ahead, I'll catch up" she said.
"Whatever, go see your gal pal" murmured Buttercup, rolling her eyes.
Bubbles chuckled "Don't go flying off on your own again"
With that, they flew on towards home, while Blossom landed in the park to see her doppelganger. They looked to each other, not quite knowing what to say.
"Don't bother asking me to stay with your sisters or anything" informed Berserk blandly. "I'll be fine on my own. Besides, I can just go pester the guys if I get lonely"
"O-oh" Blossom responded, disappointment hanging in her tone. "Will I get to see you again?"
The double seemed rather uncomfortable for a moment, brushing some dust and ash from her plaid skirt "I don't know if it's a good idea"
The leader swallowed a lump in her throat. She hated to think that after all this, the one that helped her out, even if it was just for the means of breaking free from the mirror, was all done just for her to end up as another villain. It hurt. It hurt to think that the time they spent together, when they danced, laughed, joked around, all meant nothing. She felt a sting in her chest and warm tears build in her large eyes.
Hiding her face looking at the floor to avoid eye contact, Berserk looked to her with just as much of a sting in her own chest. She wasn't shedding any tears of course, but she still hurt. Snatching her copy's hand, she drifted into a gathering of trees with her so no one would see.
Blossom blinked, wiping away tears, her voice rough, croaky "W-What are we...?"
She was surprised when the punk pushed her against a tree and pinned her arms hard against the bark. "Stop fucking crying"
Both their hearts performed a marathon, knocking about excitedly in their chests as Berserk reached to kiss the bookworm's cheek. Their pony tails almost meshed together in a red curtain, strands tickling each other's faces and the punk pulled away, her intense, blood-red eyes locking with Blossom's delicate rosy pink ones. Stunned by the action, Blossom's face flushed a deep red and saw the delinquent's match pretty much the same in colour.
"Don't read into it too much" the punk whispered and she flew off.
End of Part Fourteen
(Okay, guys. Final chapter coming up. I hope you've enjoyed the ride and I'm sorry some things, especially in this chapter seem kinda rushed. I just wanted to finish this up, 'cus it was playing on my mind for a while. See you folks soon)