The Unbecoming Homecoming

Her shouts could be heard to vibrate throughout the house, and it wasn't hard to imagine that the neighbors were getting tired of hearing Priscilla Moore as well. "My life sucks! This could not be any worse than it is right now!"

"Would you shut up!" Buttercup insisted from the kitchen. "Believe it or not Priscilla, no one actually cares about your problems! I have my own problems to deal with and I don't need you adding to it with your insignificant issues!"

"Insignificant?" she asked as she came into the kitchen. "Have you seen this?" Priscilla pointed at her head, but Buttercup failed to see what the problem was. Priscilla groaned and explained. "My hair! I can't straighten it because I can't hold the damn straightener!"

Buttercup rolled her eyes and began to walk away, but turned back around almost immediately. "I will straighten your hair for you if you promise to listen to me while I complain about my life."

"That is so unfair!"

"Take it or leave it."

"Ugh! Fine!" The two marched upstairs and into the bathroom. Priscilla sat down on the toilet and allowed Buttercup to begin straightening her hair.

"It's Bubbles," Buttercup began. "No, it's actually both of them. It's Bubbles and Blossom. I don't even know where one of them is, and the other is off sulking because she can't get it through her thick head that Jeremy might be gone and the safety of Townsville-no, the entire world-very well may rely on her getting over her feelings and doing what is right. Is that so much to ask, Priscilla? Seriously, is that so much to ask?"

"You're asking a villain," Priscilla pointed out. "I don't really care what this demon is doing, so you're going to have to look elsewhere for a favorable opinion."

"Maybe it's me. Maybe I just care too much about the safety of the world. Do I care too much?"

"Yes," she grumbled. "In fact, you all do. I'm trapped in this stupid house because of you, so don't give me your crap that your sisters aren't doing enough. The villains of Townsville, and I can attest to this from experience, would absolutely love it if you three could tone down the crime fighting just a little bit. Are you done yet, by the way? It doesn't take this long to-ow! You burnt me on purpose!"

"Sorry," she said insincerely. "Your hair is fine. I'm out of here."

"So what's your plan this time?" Sarah asked Utonium as they prepared to leave their hotel room. "Are you going to ask nicely? Are you going to be mean? Maybe you should sneak in this time and steal it yourself."
"You've made your point, Sarah," he replied. "I admit it. I underestimated their resolve on this issue, but this has gone on long enough. I am going to go in there and confiscate that locket, and I will use force to take it if necessary. I can't allow this back and forth to persist any longer. Who know what could happen if the wrong person caught a glimpse of it on TV."

The very worst person suddenly slammed through the door of their room, causing Sarah to jump and fall over on the other side of the bed. Utonium stood his ground stoically, though with a sour look on his face. "Blossom, what the hell do you think you're doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" she asked. It was clear that she was infuriated at a level she had never been before. "I can't believe you have the audacity to ask that question! What are you doing here? Wait. Never mind. I already know! I saw the clip last night. I know about the girl, Flower Kubelik. I might not understand how she and I are related, but I know you two are trying to keep it from me!"

"You saw it last night, but it took you nine hours to get here?" Sarah asked as she stood up from the ground. "Isn't Townsville four hours by plane?"

"I got lost and stopped for breakfast," Blossom replied. "Stop changing the subject. I want to know the whole truth right now!"

"Too bad!" Utonium shouted back. "I am not telling you anything. Go home! I'm the father and you're the daughter. You have to do what I say. That's how it works!"

"Oh yeah?" Blossom shot back, "because I happen to think you're not my father at all, and if my instincts are correct, my father is waiting for me in Sherwood."

"Blossom. Wait," Sarah insisted. "Don't go. This is a very sensitive situation and you'll only make it worse by going there."

"Worse for who?" she asked. "For you? It'll make it a hundred times better for me, but it's not like the adults in the Powerpuff Support Team ever gave a damn about the Powerpuff Girls."

"Blossom," she continued to insist to no avail.

Blossom stopped listening. Sarah was still pleading and Utonium was still shouting, but she had blocked it all off. She had only one more intention and nothing was going to stop her. "Goodbye. I'm going home. My real home." With that, Blossom sped off into the distance, running North directly to the Kubelik house.

She didn't stop for anything. Her breathing became labored and and she even felt slightly fatigued as she came to a stop in front of the house just a few minutes were a million things flooding her mind at that very moment, but she didn't have the opportunity to consider any of them. As she stood just feet away from the front door, River stepped out as she spoke on her cell phone with a friend.

"River?" Blossom said hopefully.

She looked up and froze immediately. Her eyes grew wide. "Sasha," she said into the phone, "I'll call you back." She returned to her blank stare and silence.

"River," Blossom said again, this time a little cautiously. "Please say something."

"You're back!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. River let her cell phone dropped and embraced her long lost sister. "Flower! It's really you! You're back! Mom! Dad! It's Flower! She's back! She's back!"

Her parents incredulously rushed to the front door. Sunset took one look at her and was immediately taken back. She held a gasp and began to cry. Howard initially didn't know how to react. "I'll be damned," he finally said to himself. "My family is complete again."

Bubbles had been sitting at the edge of the skyscraper, alone with her thoughts, ever since the sun had risen. She thought everything was going to go back to normal after the Gangreen Gang was defeated. It was clear now that the real drama was just beginning. "Why can't it all be simpler," she groaned. "It was nice when we were secluded in the basement. If Blossom hadn't suggested we sneak out, we wouldn't be in this mess. I just want life to be simple."

A familiar near-falsetto voice suddenly sounded from behind her. "Don't sell yourself so short, Bubbles," he said. "You've done a lot of good since that day. You've saved a lot of lives. You've put a lot of criminal behind bars."

Bubbles hopped up to face him. Jeremy, or rather demon inhabiting his body, stood there in the clothes he had taken from the mall before having demolished it. He had a smile and his arms were crossed. "You are free because I failed," Bubbles lamented. "Jeremy is a prisoner in his own mind because I didn't protect him."

"I wouldn't look at it that way," he insisted. "In fact, this could be the escape you've been looking for. I did say there is something between us. I meant that. After all, once all of your friends desert you, where will you go?"

"My friends will not desert me!" she exploded.

"My," he said calmly. "I didn't realize you were so unruly. How can you be so sure that you're right? After all, you have no idea where Blossom is, do you?"

"She'll come back."

"No she won't," he assured Bubbles. "And when you finally realize that she's not coming back, you'll remember that Jeremy is looking out for you."

"You're not Jeremy. Don't use his name."

"I'm not? He may not be able to say it himself, but he agrees with everything I'm saying. Jeremy and I are essentially the same person, since we are of one mind."

"I don't believe you."

"You don't have to. It'll all become clear soon enough."

"Buttercup says you're manipulating me."

"Manipulating you?" He seemed shocked. "You said it yourself at the mall. I'm only saying the truth. You'll come to me of your own free will, Bubbles."

She opened her mouth to respond, but stopped as her phone rang. She looked down to read Zane Gedge's name on the screen. When she looked back up, he was gone. She answered the phone. "Lieutenant?"

"Bubbles, I have a job for you. Meet me at the mayor's office tonight."

Working on two things at once was taking it's toll on Kathleen Keane, It didn't help that in the case of one, the demon, all the heavy work was being put on her because she was the only one with any kind of knowledge regarding the druid sect that created the summoning in the first place, and in the case of the latter, Sudhir Bachchan, Kathleen had all the work because Mojo's representative was a secretive man and largely unhelpful.

Then there was a knock at the door. The last thing Kathleen Keane needed was a knock at the door, and yet there it was. Lethargically, Kathleen stood up and approached the door. She looked through the peephole and sighed heavily. Unlocking the door, Kathleen kept a sour look on her face. On the other side stood Tyler Osborn, dressed in his police uniform and holding a form on a clipboard that he was extending toward Kathleen.

"What is this, Osborn?" she asked. "Please don't tell me this is still about Reese Baum. I am sick and tired of your following me on that."

"We have more important things to deal with," Osborn assured while motioning for Kathleen to look over the form now in her hand.

Kathleen skimmed the form, quickly realizing what it was while simultaneously becoming more confused as to why Osborn was having her sign this form. "I, Kathleen Keane, agree to take custody of 'insert name here'? What is this, Osborn?"

Osborn looked at the form and said, "Ah. I forgot to fill it out." He took the form back, wrote something on it, and handed it back to Kathleen.

"Lucas Neuwirth?" Kathleen asked incredulously. "The Gangreen Gang member? Seriously, what is this?"

"We need help in catching this demon," he explained. "Lucas is our best chance. His parents won't take him back and I've already raised a teenager, so I don't need another one. Since he'll be helping you decipher the Anacoluthon Codex, I figured it would be most expedient if he stayed here."

"You realize he's a murderer, right?"

"He won't touch you," Osborn assured. "He wants the Anacoluthon Codex in order to find a way to remove his tattoo. Assure him of it, and he will be loyal to our cause. Also, if you do this, I lay off the whole Reese Baum thing. Sound like a good deal?"

"No," she said with the sour look back on her face, "But do I really have a choice?"

Three hours had passed by the time Utonium and Sarah managed to make it back to Sherwood. Every second seemed like a lifetime of agony for Sarah. As they approached, a million things rushed through her mind, none of which were helping her in any way. She had no idea how the Kubelik's would react. River would be mad, obviously, but what about Howard and Sunset? They seemed so sweet and helpful before. There was no telling how they would act now.

Utonium, on the other hand, didn't bother with any of those thoughts. The situation had gone far longer than he had anticipated, and he wasn't planning on letting it go on any longer. Blossom was coming home with him now or not at all.

Utonium parked poorly along the curb near the Kubelik house and walked-rather, marched-toward the front door. He knocked loudly, and Sarah slowly caught up just seconds before Howard Kubelik answered the door. "Good morning, agents," he said calmly. Sarah's heart stopped. Did he really not know? Had Blossom really gone back to Townsville?

"Cut the crap, Howard," Utonium demanded. "I'm not interested in playing games. You know why I'm here."

Sarah's heart sank. Her hopes had been dashed. Howard nodded silently and stepped aside for them to enter. "Please," he said. "Come in and have a seat. You owe us an explanation, and I assume it will be a long one, so it's only logical that you come in and have a seat."

Utonium entered stoically and Sarah followed close behind. He and Sarah stood at one end of the living room. Howard sat down next to his wife on the couch. Across the living room, Blossom stood with River unblinkingly. In the armchair to the left sat a young man with brown hair. "Who are you?" Utonium asked briskly.

"Sam," he said as he stood up. He extended his hand, which Utonium did not acknowledge. "Sam Woods," he clarified. "I'm a friend of the family."

"I'm sure," Utonium murmured. Sam sat back down and the room fell silent. Howard motioned for Utonium to speak. No one else was going to talk, so Utonium started it off. "Blossom is going home with me right now."

"Like Hell!" River barked.

"Honey," Sunset urged. "Now is not the time."

"Professor Utonium," Sam began, "If you need help beginning, I'll explain how much we know, and you'll fill in the blanks. How does that sound?" Silence. Sam began; "One year ago, Flower Kubelik dies in a car accident. About a week later, her body goes missing from the morgue. The town is thrown into turmoil and the family is unable to put their grief to rest. Now, a year later, Flower returns, but she doesn't remember being Flower. Instead, she can only remember life beginning last December. She thinks her name is Blossom and that you are her father. Your turn."

Utonium scowled. "She thinks her name is Blossom because her name is Blossom. She thinks I'm her father because I am her father." No one seemed to believe him.

"He's telling the truth," Sarah spoke up. "Blossom and Flower aren't the same person. Flower died, and the Professor used her body to create new life: Blossom."

"You expect me to believe that?" Sam asked.

"How else do you explain her abilities?"

"Abilities?" Sunset asked.

Utonium sighed and directed himself toward Sarah. "Blossom hasn't demonstrated her abilities yet."

"Really? Why not?"

"So that when we mention them, we sound like crazy people."

"We're not crazy people," Sarah insisted. "Blossom is a Powerpuff Girl. She's a superhero. She's been fighting crime for months back in Townsville and right now, Townsville needs her more than ever, so you have to let her come back with us. Please."

"You don't understand, Mrs. Bellum," Howard said. "Flower doesn't want to go back."

Utonium sighed again. "So much for not seeming crazy. Sarah, is Meyer in his office?" She nodded. He continued. "When we get to the station, see if they'll let you use a phone so you can ask him to post bail."

"Bail?"

"You didn't actually think Sam was just a family friend, did you?"

Utonium cooperatively placed his hands in front of him as Sam stood up and pulled out a pair of handcuffs from his pocket. "Very observant, professor," he said as he placed him in cuffs. "I can tell that you are one to keep an eye on. You too, Mrs. Bellum. Hands out in front." Sarah, shocked, remained silent as Sam continued to give them instructions. "You'll be placed in separate cells when we get to the station. You can make your phone call and post bond when I say so. You'll have a trial date, so don't plan on going anywhere any time soon. Am I clear?"

"Crystal," Utonium replied.

"Buttercup!" Priscilla shrieked. "I need your help again!"

Buttercup was in no rush to head downstairs into the basement to see what the princess needed, but she wouldn't stop unless she went down, so Buttercup obliged unwillingly. "What!" she growled. "What is so important you have to interrupt my afternoon with your voice?"

Priscilla pointed at the computer in the corner. "I can't touch it," she explained. "I have to write a paper and I can't even touch the computer."

"What paper?" Buttercup asked incredulously. "It's summer. Besides, I'm pretty sure holding the school hostage is grounds for expulsion."

"They're making me get my GED," she explained. "It's part of my rehabilitation. So are you going to help me or not?"

Buttercup sighed and took a seat in front of the computer. She looked through the notebook where Priscilla had written everything for the paper, but her handwriting was so poor, Buttercup couldn't make heads or tails or most of it. Buttercup strained her eyes to make sense of the title Priscilla had jotted on the top of the page. "Why I Should be Allowed to Have my Credit Card Back. You don't really expect me to type this crap up for you, do you?"

"I didn't ask you your opinion," she shot back. "Just type."

Buttercup groaned and sighed. "Fine, but I get to complain some more." Priscilla silently assented, so Buttercup began to type while simultaneously angsting, "Really, it's all the professor's fault. If he were a better parent, Bubbles and Blossom wouldn't be so maladjusted. He doesn't care about us, so why should we care about him? Miss Keane isn't free from this either. She's better, but it's clear we're not her priorities either. I'm only living here because I have to. As soon as I can, I am out of here."

"Sounds kind of selfish, don't you think?"

"Excuse me," Buttercup shot back. "Who are you to talk?"

"I'm allowed to be selfish because I'm the villain," Priscilla explained. "You can't. You're supposed to be the hero. You have to deal with this. It's in your job description."

"Who says?"

"Everyone! Geez, Buttercup, this is heroism 101. Even I could do it if I felt like it. So Bubbles and Blossom are 'maladjusted', whatever that means. Guess what? You deal with it and pick up the slack. Of course, you could always become a villain." This caused Buttercup to shoot a look at her. "Fine," Priscilla continued. "It was just a suggestion. If you don't want to be a villain, then you have to accept the consequences of working as a team. Trust me. I know. I was on the Homecoming Committee."

Buttercup didn't have an answer. She just turned around and began typing what she could make out of Priscilla's handwriting and making up whatever she couldn't. "I hate that you're right," Buttercup mumbled. Priscilla heard it.

Zane Gedge was sitting in the chair across from Meyer's desk with his legs up on the desk and his eyes glued to his cell phone as he suddenly heard the knock coming from his right. He jumped up to see Bubbles hovering there, waiting for someone to open it for her. Gedge took his cue and opened the window. Just as she landed, Meyer returned to the office.

"You're lucky it was me," Bubbled commented. "If it had been Buttercup, she wouldn't have waited for you to open the window. So, what's the assignment?"

"Right," Gedge replied. "Take a look at the screen." Meyer took great pleasure in being about to press the button on the remote control to turn on his big screen TV, which Gedge had managed to connect to his computer to allow it to display the screen. Meyer sat down at the computer and pulled up a map of the United States.

Two points were marked, and Gedge approached the screen to explain them. "I'm not sure how good you are with US geography," he began," but this point here is Chicago. After Norman Lumpkins skipped bail, this is where he went. He was seen leaving the scene of a tenement fire, and we have reason to believe he may have done this in order to recover a body."

"Why?"

"We're not sure," he replied.

"Use your imagination," Meyer suggested.

"Don't," Gedge counter-suggested. "As I was saying, Lumpkins left Chicago and was recently spotted at an airport in Las Vegas. That's this other point here. What I want from you is to follow him."

"Take him out and bring him back?" Bubbles inquired.

"Not immediately," Gedge urged. "Lumpkins is a sociopath, but this isn't his style. Someone hired him. He's a tough nut to crack. He won't break under interrogation. We need you to catch him in the act. It might give us an indication as to what he's doing and who hired him."

"Higher power?" Bubbles suggested.

"Everything seems to go back to him, doesn't it?" Gedge replied. "Still, we need to be sure. Can you handle it?"

"Of course," she replied, "but isn't this much of a team mission? Why am I going alone?"

"I have no idea how long you will have to follow him until he makes his move. I can't leave Townsville unguarded, not with that demon around. Since I don't know when Blossom is returning, Buttercup has to stay. Okay?"

"Blossom is coming back," she insisted. Her tone suddenly became graver, and both men noticed it.

"I didn't say she wasn't," Gedge defended.

"I'm just saying," Bubbles replied, more calmly. "I'll head to Las Vegas as soon as possible. Good-bye, Lieutenant."

Sitting in a small cell all by himself, Utonium did nothing but pout and wait. Sarah was somewhere else, having been separated from him when they arrived at the police station. She had asked just before being separated whether she would be able to use her phone to call Meyer, and Sam Woods was less that her receptive to her inquiry, only indicating that it wasn't his priority to make sure she gets her phone call.

Utonium took that as an indication that he wasn't going to be leaving anytime soon. Instead, Utonium spent his time sitting quietly on the bench in meditation and recollection. He opened his eyes as footsteps approached. Expecting to see Detective Woods, Utonium remained seated and kept his best look of indifference on, which quickly faded away as the person approached the bars.

It wasn't Sam Woods. The man was dark blonde, wearing a brown jacket with a pale red shirt underneath. He smiled. Utonium didn't. The latter one stood up and approached the bars. "I knew I saw you at the TV station," Utonium accused. "Ryan Parker."

"And here I was worried you wouldn't remember me," Ryan joked. "I'm glad you haven't forgotten me, and the rest of the Devon Group, for that matter." Utonium let out a small groan. "Come on, Ken," he continued. "You should have realized we would come sooner or later. Reese Baum may have given you a few months worth of cover, but now she's gone, and the girls are in our sights."

"I want to speak to Mr. Devon," he demanded.

"I'm sure you do," Ryan replied. "You, however, are not in a position to make demands."

"You're not touching the girls," he demanded.

"And yet you persists with your demands. I didn't come here to make threats. I came here to ask a question."

This threw him off. Utonium remained quiet and allowed Ryan to ask his question. "Mojo. Where is he?" Utonium, for the first time, was stunned speechless. It dawned on him that he was one step ahead of Ryan Parker and there was no way he was going to lose that advantage. "Playing dumb?" Ryan noted. "That's fine. We managed to find where you dumped Reese's body. We'll find where she hid the monkey in due time."

"Mojo died ten years ago. Let's say, for the sake of the argument, Mojo is still alive," Utonium began, trying to maintain the upper hand, "Why do you care?"

"Because you do," he replied. "I have to go right now, but don't worry, you'll be seeing a lot more of me pretty soon." Ryan departed without another word, leaving Utonium to stare ruefully at him as he turned the corner and left the building. Utonium returned to sulking. He didn't even get five minutes worth of silence when he heard footsteps returning. Expecting to see Ryan return, Utonium held himself back upon seeing Sam Woods with keys in his hands. Utonium continued to hold still as Sam unlocked the gate and motioned for Utonium to step out.

"Come on," he insisted. "Your bail's been paid. Get out."

"You finally let Sarah call Meyer?"

"No," he said with a shrug. "I was going to let you guys stew overnight. That blond guy paid."

Utonium released a low growl. If Ryan was intent on reviving their rivalry, Utonium would give it to him.

A knock at the door sent Kathleen Keane's heart racing. This had become the norm ever since she began working with Mojo's representative, even though he never knocked politely. She knew exactly who it would be. Tyler Osborn had left her apartment just under than two hours ago, giving him exactly the perfect amount of time to pick up Lucas Neuwirth from whatever holding cell he was in and bring him right back to her apartment.

Her analysis was proven true as she opened the door to reveal Captain Osborn with a sullen, though happy to be free Lucas Neuwirth standing at his side. "If anyone on this team has the right to feel underappreciated," Kathleen began, "It's me."

"Now you know what it's like to be one of the good guys," Osborn retorted. "He's all yours." Osborn gave him a shove on the back, and Lucas reluctantly took a few steps forward into Kathleen's apartment.

They were all silent for a few seconds. Kathleen was looking at Lucas with apprehension. He realized this, but was having a tough time coming up with something reassuring to tell her. "Miss Keane," he finally said. "I don't want to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt anyone. All that stuff with the gang. I'm sorry about that. I'm sorry about Mr. Kelly. I'm sorry about Mills. I'm even sorry about Seaton. I understand if you don't believe me. I don't deserve trust. That being said, I don't want to die. I just want access to the Anacoluthon Codex. If you can promise me that, I will do anything for you."

Kathleen was incredulous. She looked at Osborn, who returned with a look of an indifferent disposition. "You guys look like you'll get along just fine. Bye for now." Osborn closed the door behind him as he left.

Kathleen stood in the middle of her room, looking occasionally at Lucas, who still hadn't moved. Finally, he acknowledged that she had to say something to him. "Just stay out my way for now."

"You got it," he said. "After all, there really isn't anything we can do right now. After all, you guys did already close the gate, right?"

"What gate?"

"The demon gate," Lucas replied, now a little agitated. "The one that we opened during the summoning. Since we only used half the necessary offerings, the gate failed to close. Brooklyn did tell you guys that, right?"

Kathleen was silent for a few seconds. "No," she finally said.

"Get the codex," Lucas demanded.

Townsville had grown dark. The city was asleep, and the girls were each in their own little worlds. Blossom was gone, pretending to be someone she truly believed she was. Bubbles was retreating into herself where only she existed, where only Jeremy could penetrate. Now she was preparing to leave Townsville just like Blossom, on some sort of mission of great import that she refused to go into detail when asked by Buttercup.

Utonium wasn't back yet, and neither was Sarah. They called, saying they would be back first thing the next day, and that they would explain where Blossom was, but they didn't stay on the phone long enough to explain any further. Keane was working on something secretive as well. She wasn't the girls' teacher anymore, and she didn't give them the attention reserved for her students anymore, either. Her nose was in a book, jotting notes that the girls were not allowed the see.

Buttercup sat up alone as the clock struck twelve, looking at the stars illuminate the sky only as far as the artificial light from the city wasn't blocking them out. Solitude certainly wasn't there worst thing for Buttercup. It was the first instance of solitude in a long time, and for the first hour or so, she was fully enjoying it. No sisters. No parental authority. No Powerpuff phone ringing. Cell phone off. No classes. No Miss Keane at all. No PST stuff. No higher power. Buttercup had longed for just this kind of freedom and solitude, but she had spent it identifying constellations she never bothered to learn in the first place.

Now Buttercup, sitting on the rooftop, found herself hoping something would slap her out of the monotony that brought her to counting the freckles on her left arm by the glow of the starlight.

"Hey loser!" Priscilla shouted as she made her way out of the window and pulled herself from the ledge and onto the roof with Buttercup. "I need your help again. You know how if you don't hold the fridge door open, it starts to close? Well, how am I supposed to pick something for dinner if the fridge door keeps closing? Let's go."

"You don't need me for that."

"Of course I do. You're a hero. You help people in need. I am in need. Let's go."

"Come on. Even you're not stupid enough not to figure out you can just prop the door open with a chair or something. You're just bored. You just want my attention."

"Can you blame me? My house was full of servants at my beck and call. I had a laundry list of friends willing to do anything for me just to get in my good graces."

"How nice for you."

"I was making a point here," she replied with snarl. Buttercup just shrugged and motioned for her to continue. "All I was saying is that I enjoyed the company. I could do most things myself, but I like the company, even if that company is a Powerpuff Girl, and don't tell me you're any different. You rag on your sisters, but you love them. You would never go solo."

"Oh suddenly Princess is a psychologist. Suddenly, Princess knows me better than I know myself."

"No, but I know people better than you do. I know teenage girls better than you do. I've been one for years. You've only been one for months."

Buttercup just scoffed and turned herself a few degrees to the left to get Priscilla out of eyesight, but she wouldn't take a slighting so easily. Priscilla came around the other side and took a seat next to Buttercup, looking at the same unidentified constellations. Priscilla didn't say anything, so Buttercup took the initiative. "How do you know I'll never go solo?"

"You're a team player. Heroes always are."

"Whatever."

"I'm serious."

"So am I. Blossom and Bubbles can't keep this up forever. It's getting to Bubbles. She's just not cut out for the hero business, even with powers. She's just a little girl. Blossom can't decide what she wants. She wants to be the leader, but she wants to be a regular kid, too. She just wants it all. Eventually, it'll dawn on her that she can't have it all and she'll pick boys over playing superhero any day."

"And what? You'll just keep on being a hero? Until the day you die?"

"That's the idea."

"By yourself?"

"Yes! That's the point I'm trying to get across. Is it so hard to believe I'll go solo one day?"

"Yes," Priscilla replied as she stood back up. She made her way back to the other end of the roof and began to climb back down and into the window. "You know," she added, "If, in the off chance you ever do decide to go solo, keep me in mind. You might still need a sidekick."

"Now you're just making fun."

"You're probably right. After all, I'm just a villain, and villains never reform, right?"

Priscilla slipped back through the window and Buttercup was again alone. "Buttercup. Solo hero," she whispered quietly. "It could happen. Princess. Trusty sidekick? Yeah right. The stupidest idea I've ever heard."