As Time Goes By

by Carriedreamer

Act 6 "Beast- Part 3: Townsville has always been a city with secrets, secrets that need to be revealed. Whether it be the culprits of a vicious high school prank, the longings of a teenage girl's heart or the heartbreak of betrayal within a family Townsville is a city of secrets... at least.. that's what Bubbles and Boomer see when they discover that blank face in the museum...

26. Act 5: 104-5 Part 7

A/N: Hello everyone! Right… okay- I know y'all are probably twitching because of that cliffhanger from before- whoo boy- but before y'all start throwing the tomatoes- go on, put them down for a bit. Let's get to the end: we're civilized humans aren't we?

*tomato in face*

Right…. Okay- Okay I deserved that but since I'm already covered in tomato guts- mmm- citrusy I may as well make a very brief announcement about one of my other projects.

"Caged"… my first foray into the world of "M" is… on hold. It is on hiatus. For a variety of reasons – the narrative has honestly become painful to write at times. I was in… a very dark place when I started "Caged" and right now… it's just too painful to get in such a dark… honestly scary universe for me- it's just too…"real" in some points: Caged dwells into some very dark… places and it's not all supernatural either. It was an exercise and experiment of looking into the darkest sides of human nature- "Fold" on steroids if you will even though it preempts "Fold" by quite a bit.

Do I plan on finishing it someday? Of course I do. But right now- it's unfortunately on hold.

With THAT said however I will be taking this time to announce something to make up for that "gap" in my writing portfolio: And that is the PPG tale I have called

"Invincible"

Similar to Caged in "grit" but just not as… bleak – "Invincible" is nonetheless my newest "serious" multi chapter story to take both Caged's spot in the update roster for a time but also to fill in the gap left by "Soul Ink"s conclusion last year. As "Demon Nip" is no question a comedy- " Invincible" will be filling the "drama" portion of my portfolio. While not as long as ATGB or even Paths of Light- I am expecting "Invincible" to be slightly longer than "Soul Ink" and am personally looking forward to introducing y'all to its interesting cast of characters.

Including a very… different sort of Blossom. ;D

But of course my lovelies- that's all for later- the time is now to put this dramatic Act to a close! Finally… I don't think I've ever been so happy to finish an ATGB act so far.

Happy reading my Lovelies. Enjoy.

DISCLAIMER: Powerpuff Girls does not belong to me. All rights belong to Craig McCracken and Cartoon Network.

WARNING: The following chapter contains disturbing and or frightening images. Proceed with Caution:"

---

-o-

"Everything that is, casts a shadow"

Neil Gaiman

-V-

"It will awaken again someday. Right now however… it waits."

"Waits? Waits for what?"

She was quiet even as she pulled her hands from his.

"... You know what it waits for…..what my ultimate fate truly is… you know this… yet you feign ignorance… it is not becoming my Lord."

His fist clenched. "Except it will not be! It will not happen! I… no!" He shook his head," No! Never! Do you hear?" She sighed and turned further from him even as he stood up.

"You cannot defy Fate my Lord." Her voice trembled before she was whipped back around.

"Yes I can."

"... you're… you're mad. You can't…. you cannot defy him! Defy them all! One man cannot best an-!"

His grip only tightened, "Watch me."

Such drama. Such sadness. Fate can be so cruel can it not?

"What...what are you?"

How very tragic… but I can help you Boy… I can help you save her… if you're up to the challenge…

"...What must I do?"

Take it Boy. Take it and save her. Fulfill your destiny.

Or fail… and lose everything you hold dear.

The choice… of course is yours.

However….

The water rippled around them both- her skin… silken and soft- pressed against him- flesh against bare flesh.

Should you fail...

"Wait for me my love. Wait for me…"

"I will not fail."

You will belong to me.

Wait for me… my love.

Wait for me…

Do we have a deal?

Wait for me…

Darkness. Nothing but darkness. The whispers ceased around him.

He was alone.

That lilting voice was gone. Vanished. Faded away.

He was alone.

His eyes squeezed shut and he clutched the cloth harder- it was far too quiet. The wretched must have gone to-...

Wait for me…

Tighter. Tighter.

You have become one of them.

"No." He murmured to the silent air." No. I'm not one of them. I'm not one of them!"

"It is time she learns her place in this world."

"I am not one of them!"

I am not… one of them.

"So what… I go's and take care'a' BuddaBabe for you's all and then I gets the dough? That the deal?"

What a wretched excuse for humanity. Imagine him being forced to… associate with this filth let alone...work with them.

No. Such a thing could not be borne. The Master couldn't be serious!

He only folded his arms and nodded curtly, "Your reward for this service to my… Boss as you call it will be generous yes."

The cackling near made him ill. Truly he felt so. Or he would if he could still feel such things.

That sinking feeling still prevailed in his stomach- a sinking gloom of despair - and… revulsion. Yes that was the word. These men truly repulsed him.

No… not men anymore. Demons, gremlins…. Monsters.

Creatures that long ago… he likely would have slain on sight. His eyes closed.

"So tell me Elmo-."

"That is not my name and never will be."

" Jeeeez touchyyyy- listen kid, just the boys and me' we're just wonderin' somethin'- See we know what's in it for us- show me the mon-ay! You knows'?"

Oh they think so… go ahead keep believing that. Fool.

"But we's just wonderin' - what's in it for you? What you doin' here? Is it seriously just so you can nail the Pink' one?"

His fist clenched.

Soft touches. Airy whispers in his ear. A brilliant smile and lilting laughter. Together at last. At last…

Wait for me….

"That is none of your concern. Focus on your task Mr. Copular…. while I focus on mine."

"Wait for me." He murmured to the air. "Just… wait for me."

Please.

---

Act 5: 104.5

- Part 6-

---

-V-

Buttercup

She hated hospitals. She always had- always would. There was something… about them that just… she bit her lip.

She tended to avoid them by principle. Even her sisters knew that- if she was in here… it was because there was honestly no other choice.

104.5.

Anyone with non "X" in their veins would have gone into heart failure. Permanent brain damage. Probably even could have...died.

Butch Jojo had X in his blood. It had more than likely saved his life. According to Dad, they could handle internal temperatures up to 105 degrees- anything after that would have the same effect. Brick could handle one degree more from his internal "flame"- had it been Blossom the symptoms would have been more apparent because of "melting ice" and unlike the idiot Butchy Boy here they would have known something was wrong immediately and-.

…. She took a shuddering breath then felt a hand on one shoulder- then another. Both her sisters sat down on either side of her- Bubbles nuzzled her shoulder while Blossom just squeezed her hand. It had been chaos. They'd had to talk Brick out of flying his brother out himself and simply wait for the EMT's- Leader Girl had been afraid to move him and it had finally come down to Boomer of all people to literally shake his panicked older brother back to his senses and pull him back while Leader Girl had used all her red cross training she had to more or less stabilize Butch.

Buttercup had never seen the Rowdyruff Boys as a whole look so terrified. And they refused to leave his side. In some kind of sick case of deja vu once again two Rowdyruff Boys were plastered to another's hospital bed side and nothing was going to move them. It was pretty clear.

She took another deep breath,

"BC… it's honestly fine if you-." Bubbles murmured. She grit her teeth and shook her head. Toughest Fighter. She had to be tough here- and it was just… Butch.

Just the… fucking stubborn ass moron who had been rambling off almost to a point of no return and what had she been doing… but playing with his goddamn hair!?

She should have known! She should have known!

"Sis… it's okay. It's going to be okay." Bubbles continued to "soothe" her- tch. There should never have been a need for "soothing" in the first place! Buttercup should have known something was wrong!

Yelling out her name… like some kind of… She bit her lip again. Of course he'd been out of his mind- his insides were literally beginning to cook!

B.J.J.

No. No there was not going to be another… another-.

"Buttercup." She flinched but all Leader Girl did was squeeze her hand tighter. "There's not going to be a need for your pocket knife." She murmured. Bubbles frowned.

"Oh Buttercup… no. No honey- he's going to be fine. We all got over it- he just… had a bad reaction or something?"

"Brick said Butch is… notorious for getting sick- he hasn't had any of his… shots so to speak." Blossom sighed but Buttercup grit her teeth.

"Well after this I'll hold him down myself!" She hissed. "Rowdyruffs never get "sick" my ass!" Bubbles nodded.

"Totally-I'll help too!" She scowled. "Oh boys… how could they have been so… so-?"

"Phobias aren't exactly easy to get over Girls." They all tensed but the Professor sat in the vacant seat across from them. "From what I witnessed… Butch has a severe case of trypanphobia."

"In other words he's afraid of shots." Blossom translated quietly.

"And I'm sure the good ole' Father of the Year out on the volcano or whatever had something to do with it." Buttercup mumbled.

"Stupid monkey." Bubbles hissed.

Professor Utonium sighed, "... Jojo what happened to you." He murmured. "He was never… he loved his children- don't you girls remember how panicked he was when-?"

"The Boys disappeared we know." Blossom said… kind of sharply. "He came to us- begging for help and we did, and they were found and then what happens he does this! He traumatizes his children, and puts his own son in an impossibly unfair position, traumatizes another, and god knows what he's done to Boomer's psyche and all because-!" She slammed her fist down on the arm rest.., bending it from the impact. "Damn that wretch… damn him to Hell."

"...Whoa… Blossy calm down, I totes get it and we are so going to make him pay but getting mad at Mojo isn't going to help anything with Butch right now." Bubbles grabbed her sister's hand and started patting it. Magenta isn't either… just saying. Even Dad looked a little… wary.

"Girls… I understand you're upset- but let's focus on the present right now." Blossom growled but she nodded. "Butch is still unconscious which mean… the IV was able to be put in without incident." Buttercup flinched, she couldn't help it. "He's receiving antibiotics and it looks like this very well might be… an allergic reaction to the venom itself which-." He cleared his throat. "May in fact be the key here. All those who have suffered the worst symptoms share the same sort of timeline as Butch if Brick and Boomer's accounts are accurate."

"Butch started complaining about having an itch in his leg but ignored it shortly after the Jellyfish incident according to them." Blossom sighed and held her head.

"In other words he broke protocol." For the love of-. Buttercup growled. MORON! All three of them! "They all broke-."

"More or less." Her sister said dryly. "We'll have to go over proper medical protocol… again after this." She mumbled. "And oh does that Ruff have some explaining to do."

"Oh so much explaining. Boomie is so in trouble here!" Bubbles seethed.

…. Well… yes and no. Buttercup cleared her throat. "... He bitched about it in the alley." She finally muttered. Bubbles grimaced.

"... Boomie might have mentioned it when he had all the syrup." She twiddled her thumbs.

"... Brick brought it up briefly in the car when we… went out." Her hand trailed over her mouth. Their father averted his gaze with a pained groan.

… Okay in retrospect… they'd all sort of dropped the ball here. Bubs should have kept on top of Boomer- Leader Girl and Cap Boy should have been more communicative and fuck, Buttercup should have maybe paid more attention in general instead of being… however justifiably on a warpath.

… So.

"Well… regardless girls Butch's reaction to this has been different from others in similar states as him- with the X in his blood and perhaps a little luck… I might be able to synthesize a serum that we can get to the worst infected."

The girls gasped and then Leader Girl pressed her hands together.

"Oh thank God." She whispered.

"So like an antidote!" Bubbles gushed.

Buttercup only slumped in her chair in sheer relief. The Professor nodded.

"It's a high probability yes- and the brothers have also agreed to provide samples of their own blood to see if the different antibodies present in Butch are there as well. I should have thought of it before but-."

"You've got a lot on your plate father." Blossom said shakily. "Just… it's a possibility we didn't have a few hours ago and… that's wonderful." She took a deep breath. "That's… the best news we could hope for."

"And Butch?" Buttercup pressed on. "He's going to be you know…?"

"He's going to be fine Buttercup." Her dad smiled. "I know it was scary but… he's quite strong and the dose of all things- Epinephrine stabilized him almost instantly. It honestly seems like an allergic reaction. It's… unheard of."

"...So what- will Butch have to walk around with like an epi-pen or something for sushi from now on or is it just… jellyfish?" Bubbles gave both of them a strange look. Professor Utonium could only shrug.

"It… might not be a bad idea to have one in your med kits no." He leaned over and gave each of them a hug. "Girls… it's been a trying time I know but… you've done well and it's almost over. I promise girls- I won't stop until I've got this serum ready. I promise."

"We know Dad." Buttercup murmured- another round of hugs this time followed by kisses on the brow and their father went scooting off- the three of them looked at each other.

"So the Boys… are going to save the city… again." Bubbles whispered.

"...An allergic reaction. To Jellyfish venom…" Blossom shook her head. "My God… it was so...so .obvious but-." She frowned and then looked at the door to Butch's room. "...Excuse me girls." She stood right on up and knocked on the door. Buttercup frowned but she saw her crook a finger in Brick's direction and the Reds both went off on some kind of "leader" conference or whatever.

Sigh. Bubbles looked after them and she saw Boomer had done the same. Guess some things… still weren't going to change.

She was soon alone though- Bubbles went scampering in to go sit by her boo's side. Buttercup… ought to go in too or she ought to find a dark corner go spy on the Redheads but…

She was just too tired.

At least these places usually had outdoor areas. A place to escape from the constant pages and shit echoing through the halls. Again... There was a reason Buttercup hated hospitals.

And Leader Girl wants to work in one of these places someday...tch no thanks.

She'd take the cut throat business and finance world over... this any day.

She found an unoccupied bench and plopped down in it. The courtyard was more or less empty- guess this wing was uh… Jelly flu central or something. Fuck… she hoped to God her Dad's plan worked. The irony of that would be...hilarious wouldn't it?

This whole thing was caused by some weird allergic reaction or whatever… and the Rowdyruff Boys would be the key to it all. Tch...Irony.

Heh...Ha… yeah okay. God she was tired.

One crisis averted, another three to take their place most likely. One question answered… god knows how many would still need answers.

Casper was still out there too… wasn't he? She played with her phone in her hands listlessly- the new "tracker" or whatever on the back still looked ridiculously out of place.

...Well all bets were off now- maybe she ought to give Twiggy a call so he didn't panic himself into a-.

"Butterscotch?" She froze and whipped around. Oh...Oh God. He looked terrible. He was pale and his eyes were rimmed red and raw- looked like he had been crying or something! She shot up.

"Mitch!?" She hissed "Mitch the hell are you… oh- oh God are you-!?" He ran over.

He shook his head quickly, "Not me."

"Your mom!?" She yelped. He shook his head. "I didn't think your Grandma was-?"

"No. None of them…" He sniffed. "But um… Pablo-."

...Oh shit. He sniffed again and rubbed his eyes.

"Yeah, he um- no symptoms but he was sneezing a bit when I saw him and we got picked up…" He bit his lip. "You know… Robin's here too… and Mikey he just kind of lost it and we were going to meet up with him because he had something he wanted… he wanted to tell us but the cops saw us first and-." His lip quivered. "And this is all my fault." He choked.

Shit… no. "Twiggy- hardly." She murmured and opened her arms. "C'mere"

"I really l-like him Butterscotch- I don't… I don't want him to get h-hurt." He clung to her and she squeezed as gently as possible- he was a twig, he lived up to his name… so she didn't want to break him by accident.

"You didn't do anything Mitch. He's probably had it all along." She murmured. "My Dad says… people are reacting different when it comes to allergies… it's weird." He blinked and she wiped the tear that he'd never admit was there away.

"He probably hates me." He whimpered.

"I doubt it. If anything- you being dragged in by the cops- we're not done discussing that by the way- probably saved him from a lot more grief. He was home with his sisters right- his Mum's here and she wouldn't have seen him? He probably didn't know he had it."

Twiggy gulped but nodded. "Y-Yeah. I know but-."

"But nothing- no blaming yourself. I'll tell you when it's time to blame yourself and it's actually your fault- you know that- this time no. Okay now that we've established that- no stop arguing you'll lose- now what exactly was Mr. Believe up to?"

He grimaced, "He's… on a warpath. He heard that… creep from City Hall on TV and-." Ah.

"...Well fuck." She muttered. "Lemme guess… Code RPW-." She groaned as he nodded miserably. Aw...hell. Rogue Psychic gone white. Lovely. Just what Buttercup needed now?

"On steroids." he muttered. "The guy went after Blossy Boo and Brick. He'll be lucky if his car doesn't end up in the harbor." He muttered. "... Wish I could have helped."

She snorted. "We all do. And once he's more coherent I have no doubt Cap Boy will see to the permanent destruction of that Sports Car himself but…" She grimaced. Rogue Psychic. Not good. "You know where he is?"

"I texted him. He answered back finally this morning… he had a bad nosebleed. His mom saw him so he's under house arrest more or less- I guess Maggie woke up and started barking or something-." He shrugged. Well… thank God for small miracles… however much they can suck.

"Ouch." She muttered. "So… no potentially homicidal psychics… okay that's good news."

"For now." He muttered back.

"Howard's on limited time." Buttercup drawled. "Bellum's going to rip him a new one - Mikey will just have to get in line- so... "She frowned. "... Why are you-?"

Mitch frowned again. "... I was under observation but-." He looked to the left and then to the right. "Butterscotch… I'm glad you're here… you don't look sick but-."

"Butch went down." She muttered. He flinched. "He's fine. Just… idiot didn't... "Now his hand drifted to her shoulder and she clenched her fists. "He's a fucking idiot who's lucky my sister was there so we knew what to do- fucking... idiot!"

Mitch was silent but then he nodded. Weird. "He'll be fine. Stop worrying."

"I ain't worrying! He's just a fucking idiot! I don't like idiots is all?" The nerve! Stop smiling! Even if it looked more like a grimace at the moment.

"Okay." He put his hands up. "Okay, duly noted you don't like idiots… I get it." He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "... Butterscotch. There's someone here who you might want to talk to… he might… know something about that… other problem you guys have." He folded his arms.

The hell…?

"...What do you mean?"

-o-o-o-

Mitch was disturbingly quiet. Which was wrong. Especially because of who the hell had just come from the other side of the hallway they'd been walking down but…

"Snake!?" She hissed, and Mitch grimaced but nodded. The lanky Gang member grimaced and put his hands up- she also noticed a nasty black eye. Twiggy didn't say anything- he didn't have to. The slight smirk was enough. "...Moron." She muttered. He at least had the decency to look sheepish for a brief moment but,... again they would just discuss that later and the rules of Norm hood and what constituted going "too far" - Buttercup was going to let the psychic lecture go to Leader Girl honestly though he'd probably have his ass handed to him by Robb first.

Anyways… back to being a Puff she guessed. She folded her arms. "The hell do you want Snake!" He flinched and then strangely enough looked at Twiggy.

"Go on man. Tell her what you told me." He said darkly. : And don't you dare leave anything out. Your friends are all in deep shit right now. Nothing is saving your Boss- but your friends maybe we can still help."

He looked… ill. Not in a Flu way… more in a… fearful way. That… didn't bode well. She got a bad feeling in her stomach.

"Snake… what's going on? Did you find… Billy?"

He flinched again but nodded.

I… I yeeeeeeeah." he gulped. " Yesssss I did."

Again… alarm bells. Mitch looked… damn grim. The smugness had all but vanished from his face.

"...What happened Snake?" She said softer, he looked scared probably not a good idea to make him more freaked.

"Bosssssss." He began. "Bosssss he… he-."

"Yeah…?"

"Ssssomething'sssss happened to them! To them allllll! I triedddd to ssstop it but- but they were- were-!"

"What do you mean happened to them? What has Ace finally lost his mind and holding them hostage or what?" She snapped. She didn't mean to but-.

Aww My lil' Bella, nothing personal Buddababe- Just business ya know?

"A few… weeksss ago. Bosss had a vissitor- sssome weirdo… in a cloak and he didn't have a-."

"... A face." She whispered. Ghosty. Casper. ….Shit.

"So what happened?" She got closer to him, "What happened- what the hell did Ace have to say to that guy is that why we saw you all with him in the alley!?" Her voice was getting higher pitched but…

Ace and Ghosty. That was a bad thing. That was a very bad thing.

Because who did Ghosty work for… but… but…

Snake looked ill. "I… I don't knowww- we told him to not trussst him but the guy wasss very persssistsstant and- the money."

"... Money." She hissed. "Yeah that's always been Ace's fucking language hasn't it?" Oh this wasn't good. Fuck. Mitch had paled himself.

"He says those other goons have… changed Butterscotch. They're not… themselves."

"They're MONSSSSTERSSS!" He cried. "Billy- he wasss eating a cat!" She froze. "A cat and Grub had thessse weird teeth and Ace-! Ace'sss eyessss… it jussst-."

...Oh God.

"Snake. Snake listen to me. Calm down and listen!" He quieted from his caterwauling. "Where are they?" She hissed. "Where. Are. They?"

He sniffed himself. "I… I don't knowww. It'ssss - they ssshow up anywhere- almost like-."

… Like Ghosty did. Like Ghosty could.

"But- they're sssscared- I saw Billy'ssss face! He's ssscared! Accce hasss-."

"He would sell out his own fucking friends for a chance at money or grandeur wouldn't he? Bastard." Mitch muttered. "It sounds like they've been-."

"... Transformed somehow." She sucked in a breath.

Only one entity in their long… time as a Powerpuffs had possessed the capability to transform a grown man from man to… monster. Had the know how to get to the guy and had a lackey willing to do all it's dirty work all in exchange for… for…

SHE. IS. MINE.

Her chest lurched. Her stomach heaved.

The claw flashed red… blood red.

"Buttercup…?"

"Bella…?"

"Nothing Personal… little Blossom."

"...Him." She whispered. Mitch froze this time. "It's Him."

"Him? Whossse H-HRRGH!"

"Where is it? Where are they Snake!? Where'd you last see them!?" She yelped.

"I- I-!"

"Damn it Snake don't fucking play dumb with me! Don't play dumb with me now- you want to save the morons or not! "She hoisted him up.

"I- Belllla I don't knowwwww-! The alley!? Maybe? I don't know if they'll sssstil be there buuuuut-!"

"... Butterscotch." Mitch snapped. "Buttercup don't. I know what you're going to do and don't you dare!" She whipped around. "You're not going by yourself-! You hear me! Go get your sisters- or hell I'll go get your sisters! Or get Boom Boom or Brick! But do not-!"

Her grip on the lanky man's shirt tightened.

SHE. IS. MINE.

"Like hell she is." She whispered. Like hell was this guy going to get away with! Not anymore! They'd been… They'd been caught off guard both times now but see this time… this time… "Not on the toughest fighter's watch!"

"BUTTERCUP NO!" Mitch bellowed but it soon became lost in the wind while Buttercup soared high into the sky and zipped out towards downtown.

"BUUUUUUUUUUTTTERCUUUUUUUUUUUUP!"

-V-

Butch

Oh… fucking hell yes okay now he knew he was dreaming but… fuck… just. She was sprawled on a beach chair- dressed in the God given bikini of his dreams and…

… Fuck his life.

Okay… He had always… always wanted to have this in front of him. Especially nowadays because hot damn that ass and those tits in that tiny emerald bikini just… FUCK!

But…. That wasn't the Powerpuff Hottie. Nope. It looked like Butters. Acted like Butters… sounded like Butters but… nope.

And how did he know this?

Cause that mystery tattoo or whatever- the purple rabbit's foot or whatever that he'd gotten that one scintillating glance of on her hip that one time was missing.

Damn it.

He scowled but… fuck. Ugh. "… So you're Casperella." He muttered and "Buttercup" folded her arms and rolled those stolen lime green eyes.

"Another odd name." She looked… a little amused by it actually and Butch… was kind of getting the creeps.

"… There a reason you're walking around lookin' like Butters and interruptin' my beach time?" He muttered. "What- lemme guess- Boss got a sword from ya so what am I getting one too?"

She snorted. "No. There is only one blade. One Warrior and your brother chose that fate for himself. I had nothing to do with it. I merely gave him the choice. He took it."

"C-CHOICE?!" He snapped. "I didn't see no fucking choice anywhere Lady! It was take the damn thing or get his fucking head cut off by your goddamn boyfriend! WHO- by the way- is kinda stalkin' my Big Bro's girl- so you might want to reel im' in!"

She frowned more and plopped on a beach chair that had mysteriously popped back up next to her.

"I have no control over what he does- he is being used, he is confused-!"

"Oh don't that sound familiar…" he muttered She narrowed her eyes. Stop that… that was creepy!

"I did not come to you to argue- my ability to do this is limited… your foe…is doing everything to keep me at bay… it fears my power- it always has. It will do everything to keep mine and My Lord away from each other."

"… Your… Lord?" He blinked. "Whoa, Whoa back up- Lord? As in- ya know… Lord? Ghosty's some kinda rich boy!?"

She blinked and then… giggled. Again- Buttercup Utonium didn't giggle! Shit was creepy! Stop. That!

"…One could say that… yes."

He scowled, "Okay… seriously- enough with the creepy Buttercup disguise- bikini or not this is fucking creepy! So do the… thing and-."

"Buttercup" cocked her head… again looking way too… innocent for his liking and then she nodded.

"…very well… I was only trying not to… alarm you."

"Sweetie you're gonna "alarm me" no matter what- this whole shit show is fucked up and FUCK!"

He didn't mean to. Really he didn't but… he gulped. She folded her hands.

She was young. She was barely older than him! Eighteen at most! And she was tiny- did anyone feed this chick!? She was skin and bones! And- What the hell was up with her eyes man!? Who even DID that!?

Casperella only continued looking at the ground. He thought she was at least. It was kind of hard to tell if she was looking at him or not what with that thing SEWN onto her fucking face like some kinda-!

"What the… fuck- sweetie C'mere let me get that-!" He reached out because… that shit wasn't cool- that shit wasn't right! Casperella or not- No one deserved that! It was sewn to her fucking skin! Like… Like- the fuck man! Was he seeing this!? Was he actually seeing this!?

Whatever! He was getting that off- because the Butch was the strongest fucking Rowdy and-!

She backed away from him with a shake of her head.

"You cannot remove it. Only my beloved can. It is a curse. A punishment for defying my fate. What mortal punishment I suffered in life… is only increased tenfold in death. I never saw him then… and now I shall never glimpse his face… if that Demon gets its way that is."

"…. You mean… the Lobster?" He grunted.

"…Yes. It is a Demon of most intense power. It tricked my Beloved and now he is forced to serve it… with no memory of his own…"

"He remembers you." He muttered. "That's a bit of a problem- though no offense… I don't see where the resemblance is… you don't look nothin' like Red."

She had a little smile- with her bright red lips. "It is not our looks… that the Demon has tricked him into believing… it is the Essence… that lies within us both."

"…. Essence?"

-V-

Sugar… spice… everything nice…

Sugar… check…

Spice…. check…

Everything… nice…?

Mother's hairbrush, traces of her perfume, drawings from childhood, candied fruits- Mother did always love her strawberry slices…

What could be… nicer than all of that?

It had to work. It had to. So many broken promises. And the one he had broken finally had likely broken her heart completely. Eugene would not speak to him- gone off on his own pilgrimage of grief. Even the animals had noticed. Jojo already high spirited and rambunctious on a good day had gone mad and without that kind old woman's gentle presence… calming the hysterical simian was near impossible.

All Margaret Utonium had ever wanted… was a true grandchild. Not one who lived in a cage or spoke in a barrage of shrieks and monkey calls.

No. A tiny hand cupped in her own. Hearing the beginnings of speech formed with clumsy tongues.

A grandchild.

A granddaughter.

And John had failed her. Eugene already had declared himself a bachelor. Preferring his treks through the wilderness to human companionship.

… And then John had gotten the news which had changed everything… and broken Margaret's heart.

Sugar… spice…. everything nice.

It had to work.

It had to.

He had measured precisely on this fool's errand- this desperate madness of a failure son's last attempt to grant his mother's final wish.

Three cups sugar, three cups spice and the barrage of "nice" he had managed to scrounge up.

Crash

… No. Oh no. Jojo… Jojo had broken out- no- no!

CRAAAAAAAAAASH

It seeped into the pot. Covering everything in a thick gooey mess. His entire dream… his world was represented in that gunk… in that-.

X.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

Darkness. But then…

Giggles….little high pitched giggles.

But… h-how? How?

"Hi!"

"John? John?"

His eyes sprang open from someone abruptly shaking his shoulder. He blinked but then frowned, "… Sandi? What are you-?"

The little woman frowned and shook her head, "I'm obviously where I'm supposed to be. Why on earth didn't you call me sooner- Oh John you look exhausted." Sandi's little hand cupped his cheek. "Have you slept?"

Sleep… the idea. John hadn't truly slept since….

His hand grazed his pocket but at least the cool metal soothed him. The ridges of the key caressed his fingers- of course Sandra Keane was unaware of this. Of all this. No one knew. Even Jojo as he once was had never seen what John kept hidden from the world.

Her soft blue gaze cut into him. Without comment he accepted the cup she extended to him and she looked at the mess of papers on his desk.

"... This is it then? The entire code?"

He nodded, "The entire genetic code of this creature… Butch's blood sample had the last component still in his system…" his frown deepened. "I have it completely… and yet it still remains a mystery. I've never seen this before- it's entirely new… and so once again I'm useless to my Girls."

"Never." She shook her head. "No John. Never. Your daughters know you're trying. They all do. If anyone can figure out what's going on here." She motioned towards the papers. "It's you." He blinked and then took the hand extended to him with a grateful squeeze. Ah leave it to Sandra to bring him back to reality- from the brink. As she always had.

"... I take it one of my girls called you?" He murmured. She chuckled and then nodded.

"Bubbles knows you all too well John… I was planning on heading to the hospital to check on Butch but…."

John grimaced. That poor boy…. god from what he had seen… the trauma… the terror that young man had so clearly felt…

What had happened to him… happened to them all?

"... His reaction is clearly the worst." Professor Utonium finally spoke, "I've never seen anything like it… it's an allergic reaction yes… but he's taking it terribly- Sandi it almost doesn't seem like a regular reaction so much as-."

Wait.

"John?"

Butch's reaction to the venom… was different than the other cases. Most of the other patients showed signs of anaphylactic shock- mild cases as well as… more severe but… no.

No Butch's showed signs of it yes but the symptoms he showed that normally would associated with the condition were mild at best it was…. strange. Of course anaphylactic shock was by no means a mild condition! The discovery of Mr. Believe's allergy to peanuts for example…

…. Although as far as John knew- admittedly it was little to begin with - but… anaphylactic shock didn't normally… cause fever. And such a severe fever at that.

They weren't… usually one in the same. The shock was just that… shock. Sudden. The sheer speed of it was what caused it to be so dangerous! It wanted the foreign substance out and acted accordingly.

Usually to a foreign agent.

A fever was the body's defense against… a long term intruder.

Something… that was present already. That antibodies… knew how to fight.

Again John found himself looking at Butch's results. The same as his brothers. But not present in his Girls.

They were alike…. but they were also very different. It had brought his daughters save one to their breaking points. The jelly flu was based on contact and an allergic reaction to the venom. Mr. Peron has been overwhelmed and the symptoms unrecognized as an allergic reaction due to it being treated as a severe sting only. It had been a perfect storm so to speak.

Not that that would be any comfort to the kids. Buttercup… his firecracker would especially not handle that well. She never did.

But she had also been the only one not to grow as severely ill as her companions and sisters had.

It was all well and good to blame it on saliva exchange… as much as he didn't want to think of either of his babies partaking in such activities but John had been scolded by Sandi here enough to know it was an inevitable possibility.

He didn't have to like it but he did have to accept it.

Which he did! He absolutely did!

Though that doesn't mean the Jojo brothers are off the hook yet… "X CPR" indeed….

But that was later. And there had likely already been a Flu strain present in the boys' systems. None of them had gotten their flu shot this year. Blossom and Bubbles included!

But neither had Buttercup and not for nothing… but he knew his daughters- they shared everything. Was it truly possible none of them had shared something as simple as a water bottle? That Blossom and Bubbles has contracted the flu from… that and so Buttercup was spared because she wasn't doing...that?

…. as a father it was a delightful sensible idea. As a scientist… it was absurd borderline bull.

Buttercup was always the last to get sick. No matter what it was. The only exception being AB Flu but even then…

Why is Buttercup not sick… but her sisters are…?

It was a dilemma. He was grateful the flu was finally abating in them- part of him even was thankful that… Brick…. a young male of age with his baby girl had managed to keep his eldest from suffering hypothermia and taken care of her so well. He was a good kid. For being a male. Of age with his lovely daughter.

Almost good enough for his baby even.

Almost. Dangerously close. John didn't want to think about that. She was sixteen yes but he was allowed to keep her as his little girl for two more years! The Red one could have her then! Right now… she was still one of John's babies…

Growing up too fast. The three of them were. And now they had gone and discovered boys and just… he missed the days the worst crisis would be if he had accidentally put the octopus doll in the wash with the evening load or discovering who had stolen a favorite hairbrush or just….

Not boys. No John was not ready for boys… didn't matter who they were.

But now… he had more pressing matters to worry over didn't he?

Butch's symptoms… clearly the worst. This unknown… element now discovered. It was distinct- but it was by no means natural.

If he didn't know any better… he could almost compare it to… X.

Once again he touched the metal ridges in his pocket.

"John?"

Butch's "X" was clear as day in his blood. Just like his girls but there was something else there too. Something John didn't recognize but he got a bad feeling from it. He couldn't explain why but…

"... Sandi… hand me that folder will you?" He murmured and the woman blinked but nonetheless handed him the medical file dated from October of the previous year.

Subject: Brick Jojo

Age: 16

Contents: Voluntary blood sample provided by BRICK JOJO: 21:00:00 PM - October 21, 2008.

He skimmed through the analysis- blood temperature was higher than normal, low platelets from blood loss, nothing too out of the ordinary for any X individual...

His eyes widened.

It couldn't be.

But it was. Right there in black and white. This entire time. Hidden in a folder- he had wandered over Brick's strange… insistence for his blood to be taken that night… but in the chaos- calming his daughters down- coordinating with City Hall and later social services regarding the young men's fates after the inevitable arrest of their….father.

No. There was no excuse here. It was in front of his eyes the entire time.

He just hadn't thought… the scientist in him no… the father in him… just…

"Why… Why…"

Why….? Why...what?

-V-

Buttercup

She touched down and Snake fell with a plop- he scrambled back up- white as a sheet for all his green skin. She snorted.

"I really wissssssh you wouldn't do thaaaat!" he whined. She rolled her eyes.

"Fastest way to get here- you're the one who was in a hurry." She shrugged and he blanched again only to stagger to trash can-… um ew. Oh well. Not everyone was made for X travel clearly.

The place was deserted. Good. The last thing she wanted or needed was a peanut gallery showing up- X fights weren't free entertainment. She pounded her fist in her palm - though… this would be a good one. She could feel it.

Snake kept looking around- he looked absolutely freaked out. She almost felt bad… almost. Left. Right. Her eyes darted back and forth.

"So this is where you last saw them…?" She murmured- the lanky man only gulped and nodded.

" Thisss is part of our tuuuurf." She frowned.

"Your turf? Oh give me a break Snake- the lot of you don't have any so called territory." Her eyes rolled upwards. Snake genuinely looked insulted.

"We do toooo!" He hissed.

"Uh huh sure. Whatever Snake." She scowled and looked around, it didn't seem…. Any different- any more sinister than normal but… if what he had described had really happened here…

She scanned the area again- the man behind her was cowering. Literally cowering- and this guy had seen a lot of crazy shit over the years living in Townsville like he had- then again…

The Lobster… would scare anybody.

What H.I.M. wanted with a no good vagrant like Ace Copular she had had no idea- part of her didn't want to know what the wretch was up to- but if it involved Ghosty… she needed to nip this- whatever this was- in the bud...now.

Was she breaking protocol… arguably? Yes. Okay yeah. But… well maybe Cap Boy had had a point… an albeit small one. What wouldn't someone do to help the ones they care most about… and God knows the boys weren't going anywhere as long as Butch was in the hospital and Bubs and Leader Girl had no business getting involved here- especially Blossom! And...And…

Or maybe you're just a hypocrite Utonium.

She shook that little voice away in the back of her head before she trailed her hand over her pocket where her phone lay. One button and they'd all… or at least some of her team would be here… but…

She shook her head. Tch. She could handle Ace. Ace didn't scare her- none of these morons did- look at the shaking wreck behind her! This would be a quick fix- a stern warning and lesson to stop playing around and go home! And or they'd all give up and go to jail- no one messed with the toughest fighter!

No one…

"Alright you bastard…" she hissed. "Where are you- I know you're here somewhere. I got your last lackey." Snake tensed. "You want him… come and get him."

"Hey wait- that wasssn't the deal! AGH!" Hmm!? She whipped around and…

Empty.

… The hell? Where the-!?

Heh. Heh.

Buttercup stiffened. The chorus of cackles continued on.

Heh. Heh.

Hee Heh.

Hehehehe

She scoffed, "Uh huh… sure Ace- yeah real scary- Oooh scawy- Come out and face me ya bastard!"

"That's not a very nice way for a lil' lady to talk Bella Bella- didn't your Daddy teach you manners?"

Her fist clenched but when she whirled around- fist flying she hit… air.

...H-Huh?

Heh. Heh.

Hee Heh.

Hehehehehe

"What's wrong doll face … not a fan of the dark?"

She grit her teeth- "I ain't afraid of nothin'- the hell are you up to Ace!" She hissed. "Where the hell are the other nimrods! You can't keep people against their will- that's called-!"

The hit was instant and it felt like a Billy smack- but she still couldn't-! Another round of spindly arms - Grubber- she kicked back the little hands that were pawing at her ankles and going higher- Arturo.

That was three so where was-.

"B-Bella… H-Help!" Snake. Shit. She hadn't meant for him to actually be-!

Her eyes widened.

Billy had the guy in a death grip… or at least… who she thought was Billy… she sucked in a breath. What… what the fuck had-!?

The dopish man grinned down at her- glistening fangs red...tipped like-.

"Duhhh Hi Bella!"

"B-Bella… Bella get out of here! Get out NOW- MMPH!?" The big hand plopped over the other guy's mouth before… they sunk into the wall!? She blanched- the fuck was… the fuck was going on here!? Again she felt the creepy hands and the spindly fingers behind her but… wait…

The shadows…

...They were moving.

...fuck this! They wanted to play shadow puppets - well then- Mange would show em' how it's done! She kicked back again and backed into the wall- she felt weight peel off her - her skin tingled and then she felt nothing- sinking but not moving- it was an odd… feeling Mangehood.

But sure enough- "GOT YA!" She hissed- Arturo and Grub both seemed to panic at once and the gremlins- because with the new ears and pointy teeth and was that… a tail? Ew. Grub and tails did not suit each other. Arturo… disturbingly however suited his own quite well. Creepy. Kind of gross- that was a claw!

She ducked and then sunk lower and lower- right- shadow puppets. Wasn't that… fucking beautiful.

"This what you do to your own friends Ace?" She hissed. "Or you know-." The tallest shadow only exhaled a cloud of smoke. "They're not really your friends are they… they're just tools to you. Means to an end?"

Heh Heh.

Hee Heh.

Heheheheeee

All sides- shadowy figures on both sides and her head was starting to feel heavy… shit. She exhaled and fell back on the solid ground. Shit… the hell was!

"Heh… Well looks like it worked BuddaBabe."

"Don't… don't you fucking dare call me that!" She spat and scrambled back up- "Why don't you come face me like a real man huh! Instead of-!" Again her hand trailed her pocket. Except… no. NO! She could handle this damn it! It was just Ace and his gang of losers!

The smoke was suddenly in her face and she was whirled around.

"Bella Bella-." He sneered. "Been a long time eh?" She pulled but the grip was like steel. H-Huh? "I mean last time I saw your lil' face was when you and that traita roughed up my boys in that alley eh?"

"Butch is no traitor!" She spat. "Leggo!"

"Course he is- made to be evil and some shit and then he goes and gives that up for what? You offer him some nice Puffy pussy in exchange for im' goin' good like your slut sisters did for his lame ass brothers?"

"BASTARD!" again that grip was like unnatural steel. She grit her teeth. "You've got a lot of fucking nerve to call my sisters that!" She hissed. "For that- I'm gonna castrate you then kill you!"

"Tch… yeah okay doll. Let's see ya try."

She was released and he sunk down into the ground like some kind of-!? What the-!? Son of a bitch stole her moves! She dove after him- the shadows dancing across the walls and ground- emerging only for mere seconds before they dove back in- every kick and punch made no sound- the battle was nothing but silence. Fought in the very recesses of the darkness of the alley.

The Powerpuff Girls' own secret weapon. So secret only three (well now four) knew about it in the entire city. Buttercup. Mitch and Professor Utonium. Even Blossom… while having likely suspicions had never been adequately briefed on the sheer extent to what the middle Utonium sister's powers truly were. Professor U… Dad had agreed with Buttercup that the sheer element of surprise could very well save them all someday…

And well look at that. That day had clearly come.

She flew back and lunged forward- every kick made their mark and every punch hit their target- she was in her element- her true path- she was no "Mother Buttercup" or "Nurse Utonium" oh no- this- this is what she was made for!

And oh was this especially going to be satisfying!

Usually a fight with the turd was boring and well- save personal pleasure- ultimately unsatisfying - at least here the jackass- somehow- was managing to give Buttercup a somewhat… "Entertaining" fight. She needed to alleviate some stress and since her usual… stress ball was currently… currently-.

The toughest fighter… best one…of em' all.

She grit her teeth more and then saw that leering… self-satisfied smirk on that loathsome face in front of her and-!

"Tch… some toughest fighta' - all she is deep down is a little girl who just wanted to play wit' the big boys-."

"Shut… Shut up!" She roared and her fists flew out lightning fast- she spun in kick after kick- she was going to beat him. In fact she was going to continue until he begged- no until he crawled.

Her stupid audience because that's what the shitheads had turned into cried out in useless alarm and she heard Billy especially cry out and saw that Snake lived up to his name at least in some aspects - he was nursing his hand while Snake wiped his mouth and then kicked away Arturo like a damn soccer ball- Grub just backed away hands up - it didn't last long- Billy in a rare showing of anger grabbed the guy back.

Clearly he hadn't been expecting such a mutiny because Ace suddenly stopped and gaped like a moron.

"Snake! Wha'chu think you's doin'!? AGH!"

She smirked at the final kick- he cried out and went tumbling into the ground- wheezily holding the sorry remains of what little manhood he had left - the rest of them all cried out and backed away quickly. Billy kept his pissy strangle hold on Snake and she narrowed her eyes.

"Drop im' Billy." She said sternly and pointed down. "Now."

There was a bit of an awkward silence but at least the idiot had some sense left. "Duuuuh- okay Bella!"

Snake scrambled up. "The FUCK Bella!?" he demanded.

"Buttercup. And there ya go. One two three four-." All accounted for." She shrugged.

"You set me up!"

" Hardly." She picked her nails, "Okay you idiots!" They all grimaced. She rolled her eyes, "One of you going to explain to me what's going on here or am I just gonna have to force it out of ya one by one?" She pounded her fist in her open palm and like clockwork…

"IT WAS HIS IDEA! I DIDN'T DO NOTHIN'!"

"GRRRRSZZZZZTBT!"

"Duuuuuh I'm hungry."

"Shut up Billy!"

"Grrrrrrrzbt!"

...Idiots. She squeezed her nose. " Okay… seriously- you lot… are in such deep shit right now- okay calmly- single file now- head over to open sidewalk and I'll call the-." They'd be safer in jail let's face it- as for their goddamn leader-!

Ice. It was cold like ice and then her entire side… burned. Her mouth opened but no sound came out- they all yelled.

"Game over Buddababe." Ace hissed and then… she saw the glint of the knife in her side.

"You...son of a-!" She hit the ground.

"B-BOSS! That's Bella why would you-!?" Arturo gasped.

"BELLA!" She ended up in a hold and Billy's big hand cupped her head.

"Oh you ssson of a bitch!" Snake lunged forward but Ace only kept...laughing. And laughing… held out his hand and she ended up back on the ground as slowly they all stood up. Silent. Emotionless.

"You know Boys… I dun like disloyalty ya knows- but you ain't gonna pull shit like that again now ain't ya?"

"No Sir." They all droned.

She could feel it in her pocket. Her body was freezing… but… just… just a little farther and… YES!

"...Alright Cap Boy…" she hissed. "Let's see how much of a super genius you really are!"

Click.

"Aw no... what you think you's doin' BuddaBabe- uh uh- Dun think so- you ain't callin' those bitches this time!"

She saw the foot go crashing on top of the phone.

Then darkness.

-V-

Mitch

Shoot… shoot what do I do… what do I do!?

It'd been almost half an hour. And no word. None. This… This wasn't good.

His mother- in a flurry of enraged snarls and self-righteous flames of fury had come spiraling in- and the combination of a waving of an angry fat checkbook with lawyers on speed dial and spouting out curses likely to make even the hardiest sailor blush- Mama Michelson had saved the day.

Well… at least he was free to go home that is.

Dr. Mendes had come seeking him out and thankfully - shockingly- instead of the dressing down and enraged yelling from the worried momma he had been bracing for he'd been met with a firm embrace and practically been pushed into his sweetie's room. He was better- fully conscious at least unlike err… one of the other admitted individuals.

Butch Jojo looked utterly terrible. He was unconscious and on an IV and well that wasn't gonna go over well apparently according to Boom Boom. Who looked utterly and completely terrified. He and the eldest Jojo had apparently been taking shifts in watching over their fallen Green Rowdy.

The Utonium sisters… were at their beau's sides giving much needed support of course but… err… right. This was going to be somewhat awkward.

Hey girls guess what! Butterscotch has just gone running off to go confront Mr. Copular! Great right! How's Butchy Boy doing?

… That would go over as could be expected. In other words not at all. But…

He just had to get Bubsy alone for a moment. Not the pink one. Oh no. Mitch liked living. Bubbles was… the better of two terrible choices right now. Bubbles would at least give Mitch the chance to say goodbye to his loved ones you know? Ha! Haha! Haaaa….. Oh this was going to suck.

So the Puffs would go racing off to find their sister- beat the living shit out of Ace again and voila- no worries!

Though how was he supposed to avoid that hawk eyed stare centered on them all then… One could not avoid the giraffe's gaze for long. Mr. Jojo (Blue) after all did in fact "see all" and now he was no longer high off cough syrup. His hand was centered on the Puff in question's back and the pink one was still in murmured discussion with Mr. Jojo ( Red) in the corner- hand in hand- and well that one looked utterly distraught.

"Fuck….Fuck how could I have not… fuck… cripes… cripes what the fuck…"

Blossy Boo just kept patting his hand and clearly she was in supportive non-official girlfriend mode- brows touching- whispered voice-. Bubsy was solely focused on Boom Boom. To be honest both brothers looked horrible- the sisters didn't look much better in fact…

"Good God Blossy Boo when was the last time you brushed your hair." He mumbled. And that red head popped right up and- oh...right X Hearing. That wasn't a good look… from any of them.

"Mitch!" Bubbles gasped and jumped up before running over and - kidneys… kidneys Bubbles! "Oh thank goodness! We heard you were here! Robbi is here too and Mikey had a nosebleed!? Is Pablo okay?" She was talking a mile a minute but a bigger hand was on her shoulder and she was gently moved aside…. Crimson eyes boring into him… could be somewhat intimidating by the way.

"Mike have a reason for a nose bleed Michelson?" He murmured and good god yelling? Who needed yelling- that quiet voice was more frightening than any fucking bellowing he had ever heard in his life! He gulped but the red Rowdy was pushed aside himself.

"Any news? What's going on out there? We haven't really been able to hear-!" Boomer was short of breath. "Does the media know Butch is-...?" He trailed and gulped. "He's fine! He's just… you know…"

"Butch had a severe allergic reaction. Everyone did. That's what merited this entire thing in the first place." Blossom finally spoke. "The Professor is working on a serum alongside the federal authorities on site here. Thanks to the Boys we seem to have found an antidote. Now Mr. Michelson-."

And that was his ear. Uhhh.

"My sister. Where is she?"

…. Life was a lovely gift for all to enjoy. He truly did relish in it. Loved it. Enjoyed every moment of it- what a wonderful summary of his life he just witnessed… did it have to bring up the Hamster incident? God damn it how many times would Mitch have to be reminded of that horrible breach of judgment - he had been five! His life had been shit! He was very sorry!

Twiggy had forgiven him even! … Eventually. Ha...Ha? Oh that look did not bode well.

"Mitchell. Where is Buttercup?"

… Scratch that. Never mind. Brick Jojo was nothing to an enraged Blossom Utonium. Nope. Oh God Magenta… oh God.

"I uh-."

"One of the nurses saw you two talking in the courtyard and she flew off. Like super-fast." Bubbles folded her arms and gave Mitch the look. Frigggggg. Avoid the blue eyes of death! Avoid Avoid- the only one who could stand up to their power was Robin! And even then-!

"Butterscotch err… um... "Both the Jojo brothers seemed to politely back off - even Boomer you know- the "nice one" supposedly just stepped aside and let the two Puffs more or less drag Mitch- a poor innocent civilian out of the room and into the hall! The two just took their spots by Butch's side… again. A constant vigil according to nursey gossip Mitch probably hadn't supposed to hear but… hey wait a minute- which nurse ratted him out- why he oughta!

"Mitchell. Talk." Blossy Boo folded her arms and gave him a stern look and Bubsy's hands were on her hips and she was looking most irritated. Great… two pissy Puffs… and the third one wasn't around to save him. That's friendship for you- thanks Butterscotch- and that's Mitch's shirt again.

"Talk. Mitchy!" Bubbles Utonium was dangerously close to a hardcore moment wasn't she? … Yes she was- fuck- okay… uh...calm. Calmly explain the situation and-.

"I COULDN'T STOP HER!" He threw his hands up in the air.

"ShewentwenttWHOOSHandnowshe'sgonnagoafterAcecauseSnaketoldhesomethingrhappenedtoallofthemand-and-and-!"

"Snake?" Bubbles gasped. "As in Snake- Snake the GangGreen Gang Snake- B-BLOSSY!"

The redheaded leader was already on her phone. "Buttercup. Buttercup pick up." she hissed. "DAMN IT!" Bubsy flinched and grabbed the phone before it could get crushed by that iron grip. "Where did they go Mitch!" She snapped.

"Uh… Um… they flew off that way-?" He pointed. "I tried to stop her! I did- but she- you know her and-."

"We know Mitch." Bubbles murmured. "We're not mad just..."

"She's not picking up her phone and there's distinct reason to believe the Gang as they were has been paranormally compromised." Blossom was talking fast. "She knows not to investigate potentially supernatural threats on her own especially after Brick and Michael-!" Her voice trailed and she and Bubbles exchanged a quick look.

"Did Brick put that alert thing on her phone yet?"

"I-I'm not sure but… but why would she break protocol!?"

"Who broke protocol?"

"What's going on?"

They both stiffened at the return of the two Jojo brothers.

"Bubbles? What's-?" Boomer began and reached out to take hold of his tiny girlfriend but Bubsy only whirled around to face the equally confused Red Rowdy, "Brick! That super loud alert thing- Did you put one on BC's phone!?"

Alert? Phone? Brick frowned but nodded.

"Yeah I did last night. She asked me to… why? Wait-." he looked around. "She's still-?"

"Buttercup went off to investigate a lead." Blossom said quickly. "Can you trace her with that tracker manually Ruff?" He went stiff.

"Excuse me? What lead?" He demanded. "What kind of-?"

"What lead- the hell is going on?!" Boomer sputtered, Brick looked just as mystified but he was fiddling with his phone regardless.

"...Not easily it's not a tracker it's just an-."

"I know that Brick! Just… try… please." She grit her teeth and he frowned more but proceeded to-... okay who the fuck walks around with a mini screwdriver in their pocket... Who?

"Blossy she wouldn't- she wouldn't-!"

"Yes she would." Blossom hissed. "You know her Bubbles."

"...I knowwww…." She lamented. Oh God… of course they knew. Everyone knew their Butterscotch and her… protective tendencies and oh...fuck their lives!

"Shit." Brick suddenly swore and… fuck. That wasn't good. His fingers were flying on the keys at deafening speeds. "C'mon… c'mon." He hissed.

"What's shit Ruff?" Blossy Boo's voice had grown higher pitched and she bounded over to look over his shoulder. Again… the loss of color in her face… was not a good sign.

"She tried to set one off." Brick said quickly. "It didn't' go through- it wasn't complete. I'm working on mitigating that fucking delay but it's not cooperating-."

"Do you have a location?" Blossom demanded before she grabbed his shoulder. "Brick! Can you find her?"

"Hold on a sec Pinky!" He snapped but then frowned, reached back and squeezed her hand which had clawed into his shoulder. "The tech is still new and it's finicky as shit but I almost got it Babe- just breathe."

"Oh God what if Ace has her!" Bubbles clutched her hands together and backed into Boomer. "Oh...Oh no." Mitch felt his own blood chill and Boom sucked in a harsh breath

.

"What do you mean Ace?" He said quickly. "Honey why would Ace Copular care about-?!"

"He said he'd make us pay Blossy- remember… Blossy if he's joined up with-!"

"Got it! The beacon came from 84 Region Street- north end alley and- where are you-!?"

"Boys stay here and look after Butch!" A pink streak and-.

"The hell!? Pinky!? The fuck are you- what the hell! BLOSSOM!"

"This won't take long Boys." Bubbles narrowed her eyes and pounded her fist in her palm. "Time to give that doo doo brain a lesson in hardcore pain!" She hissed.

"Wait- Whoa whoa- back up the hell are you- Angel the fuck are you-BUBBLES!"

The rainbow sherbet streaks of light pierced through the hall and out an open window- the nurses were obviously in tune with Townsville traditions- one wished to keep their nice buildings hole free- one always had an open window on every floor during the daytime.

The Jojo brothers, Red and Blue just stood there gaping. Mitch gulped. Right… uh...ha… okay time to-.

And that was his neck again. Again, wasn't Boom Boom supposed to be the "nice one"!? And -again… with the red eyes. Good lord… okay… maybe there was just something about red eyes that was just… kind of maybe a little frightening?

"Talk. Michelson." Boomer hissed.

"Now." Brick growled and… oh right… two overprotective puppy dogs and oh fuck Mitch's life- sorry Butterscotch.

But… he gulped.

"Where… Where should I start?"

-V-

Buttercup

She was still alive. X was a wonderful thing wasn't it? She was still freezing though and… she was tied up. The fuck… not again…

The hell was even going on now- why the hell didn't they kill her!? Not that… she would particularly relish in the whole… dead thing but-.

"What's the plan Boss? Do we kill er'?"

"Grrrzbt!"

"Duh yeahhhh."

" . GO!"

She frowned and fuck… Snake was in bad shape too- he was all tied up and they had him pinned to a stupid wall- the hell were they doing? What were they going to do to him?

….What are they going to do to you Utonium?

She saw the asshole with the knife he must have stabbed her with. It looked old and… ornate. Too fancy to belong to Ace Copular. At least… on a normal day.

He put it up to Snake's face before-.

That scream was chilling- it was a good slice of his cheek that wretch took off before… he stabbed the stone wall with it… Snake's body went rigid- his eyes glazed over and…

It crumbled. She tried to swallow it but the choked scream came out anyway. Snake's body dissolved… almost like powder- screaming as it did so and only leaving…

A shadow behind.

A shadow which slowly began to move. Take form. Solidify and there he was again. He held his hands out- trembling in front of him- their eyes met- his lips moved again before…

Down he went. Billy just grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.

"Duhhh Boss what should we-?"

Ace snorted and lit another cigarette, "Leave im'- I'll deal with him's laters- right now- we got bigger fish to fry yous knows?" he picked up and swung the dagger listlessly. "Heh- impressed yet Bella'?" She grit her teeth- He smirked. "Course you's is. Pretty sweet am I right- the big ole' crab gave it to me- you knows' -that crab." he smirked wider and the chill in her grew stronger.

"...You have no idea what you're doing Ace! Listen to me! You don't want to-!" The chain tightened around her wrists and she grit her teeth.

"Yeah… he said you'd say that- sounds like you and those slutty sista's of yours already met eh?"

"Don't call my-!"

"Aw please Doll- listen- I'm a man- I get it." He took a long drag. "You's ladies saw your chance to get some help with you's "crime fightin'" or whatever." Another drag. "And all's you had to do was flash some pretty smiles, bat your eyelids, and show some skin and you's had three-." another drag. "Drooling puppy dogs ready to do anythin' for the pussy."

"Stop it!" She snarled. "It's not like that you sick pervert!"

"D'aww- what is it Buddababe- jealous you's sisters are gettin' some and you ain't?"

The chain held fast. He was lucky. She was going to pummel him with it!

"My sisters… are none of your business-!"

"As she doesn't deny it- eh boys?" The laughter was instant and she clenched her fist. "D'aww but Buddababe- I'm glad you's didn't throw youself away on any of those traita's. You's were always my favorite ya know."

"The only thing you care about is fucking money and your so called rep you piece of-!" She hissed.

"Yeah…" He tossed the cigarette. "Money's pretty sweet you knows' like I said Doll- if you's still mad about that whole… thing ya know I get it- but c'mon doll- ancient history. And when Big Bad Crab comes a knockin' with a deal- hey I'm no fool you knows?" Ace flashed the dagger, "I get this power- I get the rep- and all's I had to do was beat my lil' Buddababe-."

"I am not your anything!" Fuck this! Fuck all this- she was a Puff damn it and no bike chain was gonna hold her for long! Son of a-!

"Don't even try Bella Bella. I came prepared this time you knows." he shrugged. "Ole man' Crabby gave me some good Puff proof tools and ole' Senor Emo- tch. He provided the rest."

Casper. She bit her lip. So he was involved. Shit…

Ace was suddenly kneeling down and the tip of the fucking dagger was poking her nose. She backed from it as best she could.

"Yeah- the kid seems pretty bent on that stick in the mud sis of yours Buddababe- I don't see's much to go ga ga over in that flat ass but hey to each their own. I prefer a good decent ass myself- you's always had potential didn't ya?"

"Stay away from me!" She hissed. "I'm warning you -you piece of-! LEGGO!"

Her chest clenched. And she kicked and fuck it she yelled too! Hell no! No! She was the toughest fighter- she won this fight fair and square! Some fucking cheap shot wasn't gonna-!

She was pinned to the wall.

"That's right Billy- old' her. This won't take long. She's halfway gone anyways- it'll be nice to have a girl on the team again won't it boys?"

POW

That was a trash can lid. And there went the can. And Billy.

"Trash like you belongs there creep! Let her go!"

Bubs…

The blonde floated ominously in the air- blue eyes blazing. The rest of Gang all tensed and looked nervous but Ace…

Ace just smiled.

The air got colder then - before a blast of icy wind shot through them all- followed by a small click of heels setting down on the pavement. She bit her lip.

Click. Clack. Click.

"I warned you… Mr. Copular what would happen if we caught you near our sister again."

Step. Step. Step.

"And you didn't listen. So we don't have a choice. Sorry not sorry."

Click. Clack.

"Release her and come quietly."

Step. Step.

"And we might just send you to jail and not beat you up to an INCH OF YOUR SORRY LIFE!"

"B-Boss… Boss they mean business man."

"Grrrrrzbt!"

"Duhhh hi girls! Are you coming to play too?"

Ace finally somehow managed to struggle back up- the remains of his manhood likely damaged beyond repair. Good. Buttercup also couldn't help but notice the shithead's gaze trailed to the stilettos her big sister was still wearing.

A precaution she had always noted, a sort of subtle warning to herself when dealing with human enemies and or common thugs. One wrong kick could prove fatal.

But here the heels were.

Shame she was in excruciating pain- Buttercup could have used the laugh.

Ace apparently was a" nervous laughter" so to speak- he tried to disguise his gulp as a snort.

" Aww look Boys - look who's joined the party… heh...heh."

The others were only silently backing away.

"Where's your uh… puppy dog Pink? And I don't see the Blue one neithers- where's your pack'a traits's heh...hehhhh."

Her sisters both smirked and Bubbles flicked her pigtail back. "Um who says we need the boys- we can handle you clowns easy." She raised her fists.

Blossom folded her arms with a pert sniff, "The Rowdyruff Boys have far more important things to worry over versus belligerent annoyances who simply don't know when to quit." She said calmly. "Therefore the Powerpuff Girls will be handling this trifle matter." Her smirk widened as Ace got angry again.

"Little bitch…." he hissed. " No one especially some meddling bitch talks to Ace Copular like that-!"

Bubbles giggled, "Um yeah I think Blossy just did."

He growled again, even the idiots behind him snickered a bit and Ace just kept chewing on his cigarette harder and harder, "Little…bitch." He snarled. Leader Girl didn't look remotely affected by the tone. Bubbles only folded her arms and stuck her nose in the air a mirror to Blossom. "I think it's time… Little girls learned their fucking place once and for all!" He snapped his fingers, "Boys! Time to rough some bitches up!"

-V-

Butch

He stared at the… ghost in front of him. She looked…

"...No offense chick but is there a reason you look errr… crispy?"

He twitched somewhat but oh right… this was a dream. None of it was real so no err… Butters here to - you know… smack him for an idiot comment. Ugh he really was sick if he was honestly missing that.

She didn't comment of course. Just like she'd ignored his question about the almighty "essence" or whatever- and no… apparently that didn't mean the shampoo…

She was super thin… even thinner than Snyder and that girl was skin and bones practically for all her karate - kung fu fighting bad assery- seriously… that video had been kick ass. Butch could respect anyone- girl or guy who could throw a kick that high, that fast and that bad ass.

But this chick… ghost… woman… thing- she didn't look… like nothing. She looked more like some little delicate dolly and her being all dressed and glammed up for all her being err… crispy only supported that disturbing image still further.

He wasn't kidding either. Her clothes were definitely… fried. She looked like she'd walked out of a bonfire or something… and her eyes…

Fuck. He averted his gaze- he'd seen… a lot of fucked up… awful shit in his life… but this… this?

Who… who even did that?

"You are uncomfortable I see." She murmured all quiet like while he flinched. "It is… not painful as you would think it is." Her little hand drifted to her chest. "But at the time… the brief pain I felt was nothing to the eternal punishment I now face." Her lips trembled. He frowned.

"Punishment… why would-?"

She sighed and walked away from him, "... I defied the Gods… and was punished. I dared challenge the Order of the land… and I brought him…" She clutched her hands, "I brought my Love with me… and I would never have-." And then her voice broke. He felt a slice in his gut. Damn it man…

"...Listen… Cas-... Err I mean-." He cleared his throat, "...La'el?" She looked up. "La'el right? That's your uh...name-?"

She seemed surprised. Again with the whole… eyes sewn shut thing going on it was kind of hard to read her...like at all. Her face was a grim… solemn mask. Locked in the same expression forever- fuck… what a horrible… messed up-.

"You know my name then...?" She whispered. "...You have spoken to my Lord?" She clasped her hands together and God… if it wasn't so creepy it'd just be fucking sad man- this was messed up! The guy was clearly looking for this chick and had decided Boss Woman was her - … still didn't get why- and they couldn't be together because of… what exactly?

"Okay...one sweetie- Lords don't apply here- this is the twenty-first century not the stone ages- call your man what you'd call him normally."

"My Lord?"

"...no what you'd call him. You know his name?"

She frowned, "When I called him by…" She wrung her hands, "... We only did so when we were alone… it was far too...dangerous-."

"Yeah well one- this ain't real, you're invading the Butch's dreams. Spouting off about whispery warnings and rifts and beware- owoooooooo scaaaaaary- and number two, your man is also running around causing hell of a problem like I said soooooo-."

She frowned. "He is confused."

"He's off his damn rocker!" Butch snapped, she flinched and….ugh. Damn it. She looked… so damn tiny. Fuck she made even Bubs look… well big.

It almost broke his damn heart. That robe or whatever was too freaking big for her too. Just hung on her like she was some kinda lil' twig.

"...You are right." He flinched again and hated it. This chick was dangerous- there was no damn doubt in his mind! But… that little… she was so damn little… "... What he has done… is unforgivable but it is not his own will!" She hugged her arms. "It is not. That is not my… my…"

Her lip quivered and the air got heavy then- her hands were shaking and WHOA! For a little thing she had hell of a right hook! She was breathing hard and shakily… her hand peeled from the wall- a little crevice was in there now. He frowned.

"That ain't the way to punch. You could have broken your hand."

"And that matters now?" She hissed. "That wretch… that wretched creature!" Another almost punch and well… the Butch was a lot of things but he wasn't bout' to watch some little twig break her own hand!

"Okay- listen chick! I dunno what's goin' on here! Two calm the hell down!"

"Unhand ME!"

And the Butch suddenly remembered that ghost brides weren't like normal tiny lil' twig girls and this chick was apparently strong as fuck- supernatural ghosty steroids to be exact. He groaned and well… dream or not being shoved flat on his ass by angry ghost girls still hurt like a bitch.

She was probably glaring at him. Hard to say with the cloth sewn to her goddamn face... Fuck that was creepy.

"Who the fuck…" He shook his head. "Chick… who the fuck did that?"

She stiffened and her little temper tantrum went away it seems but she shook her head, "I cannot say."

"... Because you don't remember or…"

"No… because I physically cannot speak his name. I cannot speak of any of those events just as I cannot speak my beloved's name- it has been stolen from us!" She grit her teeth. "That wretched creature is responsible for this. All of this! This is all the doing of that… DEMON!" She snarled.

"Demon… as in… the lobster?"

She frowned but nodded nonetheless. "Call it what you wish… it is nothing but a monster."

"...well yeah. That's a no duh." He muttered.

God damn it though! The fuck- the Turd had said this chick had a damn veil on her face not… this! What a fucking idiot! God damn it man… Boss should have called him not some stupid-!

"... You truly resent your elder brother's actions… do you not?"

He frowned, "It's hard not to when the guy lets some idiot who can't even fucking tell the difference between a chick in a veil and being fucking mutilated like some kinda-!"

The ghost girl frowned but then shook her head, her little hand trailed her face and… oh.

"He was not wrong." She brushed the veil back, "In their conditions- I did not think it wise to further alarm them, and they were both in dire straits."

He grimaced and a small smile went on her face, "You care greatly for him. Your brother." And now Casperella's voice got quiet. "Brotherhood… is a powerful thing it seems."

Weird… thing to say. Just sayin…

She went quiet, "I suppose you are wondering why I am here?"

He rolled his eyes and leaned on the beach chair, "It crossed my mind yeah." he drawled. "My last encounter with a ghosty no offense almost got my head cut off soooo-."

She frowned again. "... I am sorry for that… he was always… rather temperamental."

Butch snorted. That's putting it lightly. "Yeah. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the undead bed."

She frowned more, "You joke at such a time?" She snapped- ooh. Looks like the Butch hit a nerve. Well good! Much as all of what was her lot must have sucked she was still fucking Casperella! This chick was up to something and God knows the Butch wasn't gonna fall for it!

Nope!

But then… he heard it.

He heard a scream.

-V-

Buttercup

"Dah… Boss- Elmo guy won't like that…."

" Yeah Boss…. remember last time you… ya know… with Miss Pink?"

" Grzzzzzbt…."

"... yeah what he said. He almost killed ya Boss-."

Blossom stiffened and Bubs sucked in a quiet breath. Buttercup saw her big sister's fists clench but otherwise she kept the stoic face. Bubs though- she met Buttercup's eye and she knew the same thing was reflected in both their expressions.

The Faceless Man.

"You thinks I'm afraid of some punk ass kid!" Ace snarled. "I said "rough em up- show em' who's boss! If Junior knows what's good for im' he'll have to do that anyway if he wants to score with the pink cu-!"

"HEY!" Bubbles shrieked. "Don't you dare call my sister that you- you-!" She snarled and rushed the group of em'- they all scattered from the little blue locomotive but the ground abruptly froze - leaving them scattered and sliding everywhere. Blossom leapt into the air and landed right in front of Ace.

"I believe we have unfinished business Mr. Copular." She snarled. "I made it quite clear what would happen if I was forced to speak to you a second time."

"Tch- bring it on bitch."

"Oh with great pleasure!" Her leg swung up and those stilettos were deadly weapons on a good day. Ace's screech sounded more like a little school girl's than a grown ass man but Blossom didn't even hesitate. She just kept on going. Her sense of securing justice for her wronged little sister and overall hatred for this wretched excuse of a… no he wasn't even that anymore was he? No… this man was a monster…. An evil being.

Which meant in Liberty Belle's Eyes…. all bets were off.

Bubbles meanwhile kept the rest of the gang on a merry little chase- no one could keep up with her. Like a bouncing little rabbit she was up in the air- flipping, jumping and dashing- all the while beating the ever…. living shit out of them.

Make a sister proud why don't she… her little… Harmony Bunny.

" Duhhhhh hold still! Quit movin'!"

"Ha! Can't catch me!"

Bubbles performed another somersault and flipped through the air- the makeshift ice rink was making the idiots' jobs of catching her even harder- Bubs lives up to her former alias quite well.

Harmony Bunny. Well she was making like a bunny and jumping and flipping around- all with a shit eating grin on her face that in normal circumstances would have made Buttercup so proud!

Her kick ass little sister was being well… the kick ass little sister but Buttercup also at the moment was still barely standing up straight.

Ace cried out- well actually he growled like a wounded animal but Blossom didn't even seem fazed- she only circled Ace like another… bigger animal would be wont to- sniffing out her prey: after all…

Those eyes were glowing a pretty dark Magenta.

"Fucking…. fucking Cu-AGH!"

Crack.

There was a reason stilettos usually stayed home in most fights. His arm hung limply at his side - The Pink Puff sneered.

"Do you yield?" She hissed. "I won't hesitate to continue at this time if you don't accede to the inevitable."

Ace only snarled and held his snapped arm with a sneer, but nonetheless- he backed away.

Buttercup stiffened and Bubbles paused from her relentless onslaught on the others- kicking Arturo in the head as she jumped down.

"A wise decision." Blossom murmured quietly.

…. it was too easy.

"Hand over the weapon Mr. Copular."

Too easy. No. See Buttercup didn't like this! She could tell Bubbles didn't either. But Blossom only held her hand out- expecting the guy to surrender like….

…. Ace didn't surrender. Ace never surrendered. Ace got pummeled in unconsciousness and then his gang surrendered dragging him away- not!

"Leader Girl don't-!" She snapped but-.

AGHHHHHHHH

The glint of the knife was instant and she collapsed to her knees clutching her badly bleeding hand before the bastard back handed and she fell back. Bubbles suddenly shrieked and right before their horrified eyes she got pulled down and Grubber had her in a choke hold and her legs sunken halfway into the ground!

"Bub-ACK!"- Ace only grabbed the disoriented redhead by the ponytail and slammed his foot down on her stomach- keeping her down before he wrenched off the heels and then hoisted her back up by the hair.

"HEY ELMO! HOW'S ABOUT YOU'S COME OUT AND HELP A PAL OUT EH!" She kicked out but he only kicked Leader Girl in the side. "I got you a nice Pink flat ass with yer name on it ere'!"

Buttercup felt herself freeze. The whole world almost spun- Bubbles tried to pull herself free from the shadow prison that monster had trapped her in.

"Unhand me! Unhand me at once you… you SLIMY PIECE OF SHIT! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO YOURSELF YOU FUCKING FOOL!" Now Leader Girl was struggling. "RELEASE ME! NOW!"

"Yeah, no's. See-." He snapped his fingers and Bubbles yelled out again but landed face first into the concrete before Billy with a dumb ass blank look on his face grabbed the blonde in another strangle hold- Buttercup felt herself hoisted up- Snake looked blankly ahead. But he grip was tight in her wrists- and growing tighter as she was pulled back.

"I'm so… sorry Bella."

Just get up. Use the legs and get up- the slice in her side wasn't going to keep her down!

Not this time!

Not this Puff!

She grit her teeth and managed to stand- woozy but… upright. She was up.

She was ready.

Mange was ready.

She could feel the blood seeping down her side- it'd been a deep cut and it wasn't going to heal easily… or quickly and if he had fucking nicked her with that cursed…. dagger versus the lame ass switchblade he was holding to her sister's throat!

The Green Puff grit her teeth.

Move. Move through the pain. You've done worse!

She'd run through a haunted factory with a busted ankle. She'd fought sushi day in day out with so many cuts, bruises, sprains and fuck if a broken bone or two wasn't gonna get in her way then- then a paper cut wasn't gonna bring her down now!

No! No damn it- Move…

MOVE!

That sneer. That oily grin. Bubbles continued to struggle- flaring her arms- trying to get free of that cheap shadow sinkhole the bastards had put her in and Ace just dug that knife deeper against Blossom's skin.

"... Duhh… Boss?"

"Yeah you's thinks a little bitch like you two's can get away wit' talkin' to Ace Copular like that-? Tch- yeah no- I think I'll let Elmo teach you a good lesson sure- but I think Ace deserves a taste of revenge too ya little-!"

"Uh… Boss?"

"Duh Boss- Bella Bella looks kinda mad again- like last time-."

MOVE!

Her legs flew up and she broke into a sprint - she was numb- the only thing she could feel was the wind rushing through her- she couldn't hear anything- feel anything but that wind. Bubbles and Blossom both cried out- she assumed with how wide their mouths got but she didn't care.

First she reached Billy. The dim witless fool didn't even hesitate he dropped the blonde to the ground and raised his hands right up- Arturo and Grub made a move to lunge but they were instantly thrown aside.

Then she turned.

He hoisted Leader Girl up by the hair again- another hand kept that dagger pressed to her side.

"I'll do it." He hissed. "I-I'll do it you little bitch! You's think some freaky…. Freaky fucked up eye shit's gonna scare me's!"

Fucking… bastard. She was going to break… every bone in that fucking body. Break them. Grind them. Bubbles could make fucking bread with them for all she cared! Fee Fi Fo Fum: you pissed off the Green Puff- so you're fucking done.

"The Crab… The crab man! He… He and I are buds you's knows!"Ace hissed. "Yeah. He sees Ace Copular's worth! See! He knows I'm the real deal!" he kept backing away and dragging Blossom with him. "He gave me the strength see-! See! I can take you's… you's bitches with my eyes closed! I ain't afraid of you's!" Another snarl. "No matter your funky… funky magic eye tricks or whatever!"

Eye… tricks? She raised an eyebrow but Bubbles was still gaping. The hell was she doing just standing there!

"Buttercup…" She whispered. "Buttercup- What? What?"

And they just kept staring at her too?! The hell?!

"... What?" She couldn't answer however- and Blossom cried out again- the way the bastard had her by the fucking hair she couldn't even move!

"Let my sister go Ace!" She snapped.

"Tch…. naw. Hell no. Not til' I teach you little bitches your fucking place starting with this one!" Blossom got hoisted higher. "Now let's see- right ear or left doll- I ain't sposed' to kill ya- but that don't mean I can't cut ya-!"

The scream was shrill, sudden and didn't even sound human when right before their eyes Ace was jerked back- forced to let go of Leader Girl who went tumbling to the ground - while Ace was flung down and dragged backwards...

Right through the wall.

They all stared open mouthed but Bubbles took her chance. One blue streak and Buttercup was helped back to her feet but -oh god that hurt! When did she end up on the ground anyway? Whoa… kinda dizzy.

"BC?! Buttercup? BC can you hear me-!? Say something!"

"Must you...yell?" She wheezed. Her side still felt like it was on fire and freezing at the same fucking time! There was another pink streak and then the puff leader was by her side.

"Easy. Easy Buttercup." The grip was firm. "Scale of one to ten- rate it." she said quickly.

SLICE. FIRE. ICE. PAAAAAAAAAIN!

"... F-Five." She choked out but squeezed her eyes shut, "SIX! OKAY SIX… Seven- What the fuck did that bastard do to me!" She wailed. Her knees buckled- fuck…. Fuck!

"We need to get you to an ER. We need to leave-."

"Like hell am I running from a fight with them!" She snarled.

"Buttercup will you do as you're told for once in your goddamn-!"

"Oh God… Oh God BC… B-BC… You're b-bleeding! Blossy she's bleeding what do we-!?" Bubbles' hand was abruptly pressed on- God damn it WHY! WHY!

"Get off...get off me!"

"Bubbles keep the pressure on that!" Riiiiip. "Buttercup- stay focused- how many fingers am I holding up!"

"What… What happened how did he get through her-!?"

Another ripped piece of Leader Girl's shirt was applied to the- HEY WHAT THE?! SINCE WHEN IS SHE BLEEDING?! HUH! WHAT-?!

"We'll get a full briefing later- Bubbles help me get her up- Easy- Easy: and call the boys to alert the ER we're coming back with-!"

Another cry bellowed out and she whirled around… Ace was back. He hit the pavement - face first.

"... B-Boss-! What?!" Arturo yelped but then the rest of them- Snake included - got thrown back into the wall.

No fanfare. No warning. Ace was slammed up and then back down headfirst:.. A second… third…

…. part of her honestly flinched. The other part-. Well… karma's a bitch.

Finally the relentless onslaught ended- Ace dropped down with a moan.

"What… what the?" She hissed. Bubbles looked around quickly.

"Mikey?" She whispered. Well it seemed his style just to jump on in sure but-.

Blossom's face was grim and Buttercup followed her gaze and…

The black… tentacle or whatever it was slithered back into the shadows around Ace's ankle dragging him backwards- his idiotic cohorts all scrambled after him- Snake froze. Looked back at them… and then met Buttercup's eyes.

...No.

He turned away and then followed after them. She felt her chest clench and she squeezed her eyes shut. Fucking… Fucking fool!

"... Buttercup." Blossom murmured and squeezed her shoulder.

"I'm fine Blossom." She grunted. "Fine. Just- help me up- let's go. No point in cryin' over lost-!"

Step. Step.

They froze.

Step. Step.

"You truly do not think before your actions… do you?" The voice was quiet but… it sent chills down her spine anyway. Leader Girl's grip tightened on her side- Bubbles' sucked in a harsh breath but nonetheless in a blue streak the blonde was in front of them.

Oh… oh fuck no. She grit her teeth - hell no. Not today! Not-!

Sliiiiiice

"Buttercup. Do not move!" Blossom hissed as her grip intensified.

"But it's-!"

"I… I know who it is."

Ghosty didn't seem to acknowledge them but Buttercup could nevertheless feel that creeping sense of being stared at- despite the black abyss that was that…. Lack of a face. But she knew what lay beneath it. Beneath that… inky darkness.

"Stay back!" Bubbles snapped and held her arms out. "Not another step you...you creep! I'm warning you!"

Step. Step.

"Are you listening to me!" Her eyes began to glow. "I said- not another-!"

WHAM

"BUBBLES!"

-V-

Mitch

Note to self: Never… Ever… in the remainder of your glorious life… get Boomer Kenneth Jojo… angry at you… again.

His ears still rung. It wasn't the Red Rowdy who had given Mitch the dressing down of a lifetime… oh no. God forbid. No he had just stood there. Unmoving. Silent like a statue while Boomer- the nice one of the Rowdys and hell of a tenor just as an FYI- railed and yelled- stamping his foot- electrical devices threatened to go haywire and just…

Fuck that was scariest ten minutes of his life in the history of ever.

And people say that Brick was the scariest… good lord compared to that!?

Why was anyone "evil" in Townsville again? Was the money really worth the risk of coming face to face with that in theory?!

… Good God no wonder David had hidden in the Cost Smart bathroom for more than an hour.

Mitch would have too! If he was a sexist misogynistic idiot with a death wish. Which he wasn't but the principle remained the same.

"So...Mr. Jojo… are you also capable of making brainless jocks piss themselves with a single look?" He muttered but the guy… obviously didn't answer him.

Poor guy. He was hooked up to so many needles - oh he wasn't going to be a happy camper when he woke up- and well…

Rowdy-sitting. Never something Mitch imagined he'd be able to put on his extensive resume under "Norm duties" but… well life was funny like that.

Of course the Blue and Red Rowdy's had gone off immediately on a Puff hunt. Apparently in need of making a...pit stop back at their place for… one reason or another but well…, this is what being a Norm meant.

Being prepared for anything- being ready for anything- being prepped for-.

…. Was that beeping normal?

-V-

Butch

He looked around like crazy- no see. He'd heard it! He'd heard the girls screech! He knew that yell! It was all… clouded and kinda weird- but… he'd heard that yell man.

The last time he'd heard the girls shriek like that-.

His fist clenched.

"Ghosty." He snarled under his breath and the ghost woman seemed to stiffen. She whirled around and seemed to look behind her - staring at something no one else could see.

… Uhhhh?

"...He's here."

Uhhh…. What?

She bolted off and -HEY!

"Hey-! Wait a sec-!? Where ya goin' Get back here ya crazy ghost! Ya crazy… crazy Casperella!"

He ran after her.

But damn this chick was fast. The beach gave way to solid hard ground- and then… tile?

…. The fuck? Where the hell was-?

He blinked. Wait a minute…

Was he... was he in a… hospital?

-V-

Buttercup

Bubbles moaned and held her head. "Ow…" She groaned from the ground.

Ghosty only rolled his wrist and the creepy...gross… so not right tentacle… hand whatever the hell that had slithered around her ankle went right back into place and oh God as if the guy couldn't have gotten any worse!

"That hurt you creep!" She snapped. He didn't seem the least affected- Buttercup grit her teeth.

"Why you… you-!"

"Buttercup…. Don't."

Blossom's voice was tight and controlled with a grip on her like iron… even as Buttercup felt the slight tremble. She watched the war in her sister's eyes and then caught the brief flash in her eyes. Fear. The apple of her throat moved up… down- subtly before she waved Bubbles over.

"Bubbles… come here." She ordered quietly. The blonde stiffened.

"Blossy-."

"Now. Bubbles- just…" Slowly Blossom got up. "Bubbles- I need you to keep the pressure on Buttercup's wound." Buttercup in part clenched her fist. The phantom- specter- Creep with no face (!) seemed to cock his head in interest with that. Bubbles mechanically walked back over.

"Blossy-?"

"I'll handle this Bubbles. Stay with Buttercup. Buttercup do not move." She hissed and oh god not again! Damn it!

"Leader Girl I'm fine! Don't go near that-!"

"Are you injured?" He murmured and then he took another step closer- "You are… I'm sorry I dallied for so long before…-." " She blinked at that. Whoa…

He'd been the one to-? Ghosty? She frowned but Leader Girl frowned more. Buttercup saw the shake in her clenched fist though.

"Than-..." And now she gulped. Visibly. He was till… looking at her - even with the black… void there… Buttercup could still feel the intensity of that stare. Bubbles tightened her grip on Buttercup's arm as Blossom tried again to… communicate with the ghost. "Thank you… for your… assistance?" Ace was still down for the count. "But now I need to get my sister medical attention so if you don't mind-."

"You are still injured." He said flatly and he stood up and… Jesus Christ this guy was at least as tall as Boomer. Even Blossom was dwarfed by him. The black cloak he wore around his shoulders flapped in the breeze - he was actually here. Solid.

Bubbles' grip only grew tighter. "BC… BC we have to do something!" She whispered harshly.

Of course they did! But… son of a bitch she still couldn't even arch to the side! Let alone-!

"... It's…. hardly anything worth worrying over." Every word was curt and correct but it was clearly taking everything that girl had in her to say it.

"It is to me. You need healing." Before any of them could say anything else- he went and grabbed her hand- "It is a flesh wound… but simple enough." He murmured and the nasty tentacle thing that was around his goddamn arm like some kind of squirming vine reared its ugly head again. There was no hiding Blossom's revulsion and she whipped her hand away taking three quick steps back.

"That." She shook her head. "Is not necessary!" Her voice was getting higher. Buttercup also didn't miss the subtle "pushing" motion with her thumb directed towards Bubbles- slowly her little sister's hand began creeping to her pocket. "I can a-assure you." She cleared her throat. C'mon X'! C'mon! Heal faster! Do your stuff faster!

"I can heal you. Do not be foolish."

"There's no need. If you have any sort of… healing-." She grimaced. "... My sister is in need of it- focus on her."

Um….. Yeah no. No. I'll… take my chances. Thanks.

Again that black… inky void that was apparently a face turned in her direction. She saw the sneer grow before he shook his head. "... It is unfortunate but that sort of injury is beyond my capabilities although…" he turned back to her big sister. "... you have tended to much worse… healed far graver wounds…mine as well as-." He trailed and then clutched his head.

Buttercup's eyebrow rose. Sure no face but that body language was told the story plenty well.

Ghosts… can be in pain?

Even Bubbles looked confused.

"... Should we get him an aspirin?" She muttered

"Only if he washes it down with acid." Buttercup muttered back.

Blossom- miss everything nice- made the mistake of openly grimacing because he took it as sympathy and gave her a… smile. That looked creepily human.

"... You always did feel others' pain as if it were your own." He murmured. "I am… fine My Lady."

"... I take it that is a result of...that." She pointed to his arm and he was the one to flinch this time.

"... You are correct."

"And that… is a result of some sort of agreement you made with… H.I.M?"

Both Buttercup and Bubbles flinched. It was ingrained in them… shameful as it was Buttercup clutched Bubbles' hand tighter.

"... Him?"

Flinch. Three ways.

"... Yes. That… creature." Her hand crept up towards her throat. "... What is your business… with that being?" She hissed.

He was silent.

"Who are you?" Bubbles yelled out. "What do you want? And don't you dare say "Blossy!" - Who are you, what are you!"

Again he was just silent until finally:

"... You know who I am." He whispered. "La'el… you know who I am. You're the only one who-!" His voice trembled. Wait… what? "La'el…- La'el... This… These-!" He grabbed her by the shoulders and just gave her a shake. "La'el. La'el- Listen to me. Listen!" Another shake. "You know who I am- who you are- all you have to do is remember! Just remember! Remember me!" A second shake. "You know me… You know me! Say it! Say my name! Just say it!"

""What on-!? Let me...Let me go! Unhand me!"

"Let her go you creep!" Bubbles shot up- eyes blazing. "I'm gonna give you the count of three before I get really mad!"

Oh "now" she gets mad.

"Just...Just look at me!"

ONE!

"I...I-I… I don't… I don't know you! You have the wrong girl! Now let me go before I-!"

TWO!

"La'el… you know that is not true. You called me as I called to you- our Souls are bound… just remember- just…"

THR-!

….Somehow… despite the fact she'd already seen it… Buttercup could almost swear this time was honest to God worse. Bubbles gasped and backed away in sheer horror- and Blossom… fuck that poor girl's hand flew to her mouth and not in the same way that Bubbles' did- oh no she just kept touching her…

...Oh God… Mouthwash… how about edible bleach!

Oh her poor sister…

"Oh...Oh my God… Oh my God." Bubbles covered her mouth with both hands.

The face was just as ghastly- just as… mangled and wretched as before. This time though… he'd clearly tried to undergo some sort of- she didn't know- some sort of Zombie Botox maybe!? Sure the horrific burns from before seemed to be… healing… or had been removed or something along those lines but…

Blossom made no sound. Except a strange choked up combination of a breathy scream and… what sounded like dry heaving. Again… who could blame her?

Casper… Ghosty- he just stared at her. Those… dead eyes focused solely on Blossom like no one else was around.

"...La'el." He murmured and held out a hand. "Please."

She stiffened and backed away but Buttercup suddenly saw… Blossom's eyes had also begun to flicker.

Pink. Magenta. Pink.

….uh oh.

"La'el…. Listen to me. Look at me. You are not safe here- This-!" He pointed to the empty alley. "Was only part of what that Demon has planned- It wished to oust the Green Witch- well it seems to have done so-!"

"HEY! That's our sister you're talking about you- you jerk!" Bubbles' eyes again began to glow. "Buttercup is not some kind of witch! How dare you! You...You-! That's it! Blossy! MOVE!"

The eye beam flashed straight through the both of them and Ghosty jumped back.

"Bubbles don't-!" Leader Girl yelled out but Ghosty just stood straighter- taller- his teeth bared in a… pointed snarl.

"... Wretched little-!" He roared and before their horrified eyes the tentacle arm was back in full swing- wrapped itself around Bubbles' ankle and squeezed.

She screeched and fell to her knees- breathing hard. Shakily her hands went up- and just like Buttercup had she started slapping the ground- faster and faster in more of a panic as the grim seconds passed.

"What...W-What?"

He sneered, "Without your stolen power… you stand no chance against me. Yield girl." He hissed. "I have no intentions not desire to harm you truly." Even Bubbles snorted at that. He frowned. "You may have stolen from my Beloved… but you are nonetheless precious to her…"

"Stolen?! Like WHAT?!" She demanded.

He frowned, "The Essence…. does not belong to you." He hissed. "Yet you use it as if it is your right-!"

Essence…. the fuck?

"... I don't use that shampoo." She said flatly. "I'm sorry but I have no idea what you're talking about."

Buttercup clenched her fist and struggled back up," Who the fuck cares what some psycho-!"

Blossom however put a hand up, stopping her in mid rant. "...stolen… power." She murmured. "... Are you talking… about…X?"

He was silent. "... X?" He murmured. "What are you talking about… is that you have started calling it?"

"... Chemical X… is the substance my father created… to create us. My sisters and I." She gestured towards them both. "... We were born with it. It's the source of our "power"-. There is no "theft" here sir."

Chemical X was Dad's second greatest creation… he'd always said Buttercup and her sisters had been first… so what the hell was this guy talking about?

-V-

Butch

Why… the hell was Butch in a hospital…?

The fuck…

" Yo… crazy ghost lady…. the fuck am I in the hospital for?" He called out. "See I know this is you cause- the Butch ain't gonna he dreamin' of no hospital…. he hates hospitals." He muttered. " Too many pointy shit."

It was… seriously way too quiet. Wherever the fuck Casperella had gone running off to… it wasn't here. And just as an FYI- messin' with people's dreams was mad rude. Just sayin'.

Every one of his steps for being in a dream and all seemed… loud. Real loud. Yeah he'd played enough horror games to know where this was goin', any sec now some horrible monstrosity would come popping out dressed like a zombie doctor or sexy undead nurse. He knew how this shit worked.

In a way the lobster had made a good call on its end trappin' Believe down there stead' of the Butch. Its plan never would have worked with Butch. It was too generic too predictable.

The guy had a problem with ghosts clearly- Tch: it really was a good thing Boss had been with the guy- the X Team would have been banned from Janey's and well- those baked goods were gifts from God. It would have been tragic beyond words.

Step. Step.

Ugh. Great. Wonderful. Here we go.

He folded his arms, "Listen Casperella- just as an FYI- this shit don't work on me- unlike the turd and Boom: I ain't afraid of shit- specially-!"

...that was strange. Nothin' there.

The whole place was empty. Deserted. But… the fuck man this was a hospital…. so undead filled or not you had to hear somethin' - it was just… horror atmosphere 101!

He brushed his hand along a cart standing alone at the side. The cloud of dust filled the air like a filmy smoke. He sucked in a breath but started coughing like crazy. The… the fuck!?

He wheezed and pounded his chest and it seriously felt like he was breathing in nothing but dust! And it was that nasty kind that stuck to your nose and back of your throat- a musty gross thickness to it that only came from years of damn build up and…. Time.

But… this was a hospital. Hospitals didn't have musty tomb-y hallways… they were unnaturally clean. Seriously…

The fuck was going on here?

He kept his breathing shallow. Okay…. so Casperella had put him in a dusty abandoned hospital for… what exactly? For kicks?

Well ha ha? Okay joke over?

Crunch

He frowned- well that was unsanitary. Broken glass. Lovely. He kicked it out of the way but then stopped.

He… recognized that crest emblazoned on one of the papers riddling the floor. Monogrammed…. on a badge all those volunteers had been wearing at the tent….

T.V.G.H.

Townsville…. General…. Hospital…

But….but it looked like… like this place hadn't been touched in…. Years. But why…. how?

…. He'd been here just a few weeks ago! How the fuck…. why the fuck then did it seem like the whole place was abandoned?! For what?! What the hell was-?

"The hell is going on?" He growled. "The fuck is going on Casperella?! What the hell is this about?! Why the fuck did you-!" Silence. He grit his teeth. Stupid… "Oye! I know you can hear me Ghost lady! Just cause you can't see nothin' don't mean you can't HEAR! The hell is going on! Hello!"

Must… you….shout…

He whipped around. The… hell?

-V-

Buttercup

Casper... faceless man… Resident undead creep just looked at them all blankly. Like a dumb ass. He kept looking from Leader Girl- to Bubs- then Buttercup- still on the ground and in pain by the way and then rinse and repeat.

He looked…. Like a fucking idiot.

"Born with it….all….all of you?" He continued looking. "... But that's… impossible you-!" He pointed to Leader Girl. "... No. No the Essence is only with one - that's the entire point of-!" He grit his teeth and shook his head. "You lie."

"Um yeah no. Listen buddy- pick up any computer, and type in Powerpuff Girls and the whole story is there - black and white. No issue." Buttercup snapped.

"Com… pu...ter?" Oh for the love of… if he wasn't such a creep Buttercup could honestly feel sorry for the guy because he clearly had no idea what century he was in!

"Not important- point is- We are made with Chemical X and a bunch of random shit our dad mixed together in a big cooking pot."

Again with a blank look. Bubbles even was starting to get frustrated, "Sugar, spice and everything nice? Hello- does that ring any bells- or did you hear a… I dunno a version of it wherever you came from- you were yelling in like three different languages."

She blinked, "Seriously?"

Bubbles nodded, "Yeah… or it was just super old... "

"Like a dead language?"

The blonde rolled her eyes upwards, "Languages change over time BC. Like English has changed so much over the centuries- you probably wouldn't be able to understand the very beginnings of it versus now you know?" She folded her arms and sighed, "Sir. Listen. I get you must be… I dunno upset… but um… see you're not right here. My Big sister is not this… girl you think she is. She's… Blossom."

"I know the Essence girl! I have seen it! Do not dare to talk down to me about its power!"

Again… with this guy and his weird obsession with… a pretty generic shampoo…? Bubbles frowned but the ghost seemed… to be getting angrier and angrier.

"And what…. Power is that Sir?" Blossom finally snapped back. "You're certainly saying much about it but you've yet to explain it. My sisters are correct in that our power stems from Chemical X- a chemical created by my father- we share that power!"

"...Of that… I highly doubt." He finally hissed. Leader Girl froze. Say...what?

He took a step forward- the pink Puff immediately stepped back.

"Well it's true! We're sisters! We share similar genetics and DNA! We are sisters!-!" Suddenly more of that goop came flying forward like some kind of striking snake and wrapped tight around Blossom's wrist, Bubbles lurched forward but again she got pushed back- OH… OH FUCK NO! UH UH!

"LET GO OF MY SISTER!" Buttercup jumped up- (...okay wobbled but still) - she got in a fighting position anyway. Casper wanted a fight- oh she'd give him a goddamn fight!

"It is clear you have been deceived." he said quietly ignoring the fact that the chick was pulling with all her might to get the hell away from him! "The Essence is not something that can simply… simply be shared! The mere idea is complete nonsense!"

Her side was going numb- so it hurt to move… but not as much as it had before. Her X' must have finally gotten the damn wakeup call- better late than never apparently!

"Let… Let her go jackass." She pointed. "I'm warning you now!"

"You cannot be serious." His other "real" hand rested on the hilt at his side. "In your current condition you would stand even less of a chance against me than you normally would- there is no honor in fighting a downed an opponent." His nose went up slightly, "I have grown tired of these annoyances… see reason and I will spare you any more unnecessary pain."

"You… You- let GO! Don't you dare touch my sisters you-! YOU!" Leader Girl kicked outwards the goop was only growing and seeping up and around her entire arm.

"Oh dear God what the heck is-!?" Bubbles yelped. "Let her go! Let her go right now you creep!"

He wasn't listening and the black vines - tendrils whatever the hell they were started pulling the Pink Puff towards the Ghost. Oh…. hell no!

SHRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING

The howl echoed and Ghosty fell back clutching the stump… that had once been a hand with a slew of curses in Ghosty'ese most likely

… And she had never been so damn happy to see the color Red in her life.

"HEY CASPER HOW'S ABOUT YOU PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE!"

Or Blue for that matter.

"FOR THE LAST TIME THAT IS NOT MY-!" He snarled before Casper went flying in a blur of navy and gold right into a nearby fire hydrant before Boomer's fist shot up in the air - sparks forming and cracking.

"Nighty night." He hissed and then slammed his fist straight in the puddle (!) WAIT WHAT WAS HE-?!

"BOOMIE ARE YOU CRAZY-?!"

SNAP. CRACKLE. BOOOOOOOOOM

The crash was loud and the screaming on both sides of the arena so to speak were worse and both beanpoles went flying in opposite directions.

Then it went quiet.

Bubs shrieked and ran over shrieking her boyfriend's name and pulling him up.

"Boomie! Boomie honey speak to meeeeeeee!"

At least he didn't wait long to audibly groan- and the cheeky bastard even had the nerve to just put a hand up- thumb in the air.

"Told you it would work Big Bro!" Brick only slapped his own forehead.

"Boomer Kenneth Jojo! Are you - Are you out of your mind!"

"Aw c'mon Angel-."

"Don't you "Angel" me Mister!"

And…. cue the scolding. Tch…. yeah Blossom was right they were sisters alright. Buttercup felt a grip on her shoulder though and shockingly she saw red.

"Easy BC… Easy." He murmured "Can you stand?"

"Her X has begun to work but Brick do you have any…?"

He blinked, "Oh… oh yeah - hold on." He dug in his pocket.

"... How the fuck did you…" Buttercup groaned.

"Michelson is easily made to crack." Brick deadpanned while he tapped a half empty bottle of X.

"Though he shouldn't have had to have been "cracked" in the first place! Buttercup what the hell were you thinking?!" Leader Girl snapped but grabbed the bottle from Cap Boy and began splashing it over the napkin he handed to her.

"It was just-!" She began but that stare looked awfully magenta and she quieted. They sat briefly in silence with only Bubbles hell hath no fury lecture going on to break it. "... It wasn't like I was expecting those ding dongs to-."

Blossom paused, "... it seems those…. Ding dongs have received an upgrade." She said simply. "Congratulations to Mr. Copular are in short order- he's officially graduated to a class 4. Congrat-a-fucking-Lations." She finished applying Buttercup's new and improved makeshift bandage.

Both Buttercup and Brick's eyebrow shot up at that.

"Clearly I'm a bad influence on you -Pinky?" She didn't say anything only seemed to tighten her grip on Cap Boy who just gave Buttercup a strange look.

"... There was no need for you to come but I am very…. thankful that you did." She whispered and Brick finally seemed to snap out of it and hugged her sister just as tightly.

"Yeah… I am too." Blossom squeezed his waist. "No more secrets… no more. I'll tell you all everything." He cupped Leader Girl's face. "Now. Tonight." Another wary eye towards Ghosty's sad heap on the ground. Blossom shuddered but nodded.

Buttercup hated to interrupt the sweet moment really she did but-. "That's nice Cap Boy- glad you've learned your lesson but Hi hello- I am in severe pain right now so if you don't mind!"

"Shit." Brick steadied her with Leader Girl on Buttercup's other side. "Right. Sorry. Team-... uh Blues!" He called out - the blondes looked up. "Boom can you stand?"

The beanpole hopped up- stumbled but then flashed two more thumbs up. Bubbles growled, tapped her foot and began fixing his hair - sticking straight up as it was.

Blossom frowned assessing the area in her usual Leader way. Brick noticed of course,

"... Babe?"

"... We should go." She murmured. "Brick- can you take my sister I don't think she should-."

"I'm fine damn it! Don't baby me-!"

Hissssssssssssssss

Crack. Snap. Crack.

"The hell is that?' Boomer demanded while Bubbles ceased in her irritated grooming and the Rowdy pushed her behind him- sparks crackling again. "Big Bro what's-."

The cry was loud and deep- a snarl more resembling some kind of animal versus a human being- dead or not! Those teeth were grit in a fanged snarl and he was looking right at Cap Boy with a face full of such hatred… it even made Buttercup flinch.

But nothing… could have prepared them for the ghastly sight of that stub, writhing and throbbing while those weird black tendrils wrapped around it and formed the shape of a hand- both the blues openly gagged.

But Cap Boy just looked evenly at it- not even flinching from the sight and so did Leader Girl though her grip on Brick's arm she saw had become almost like a vice.

The tendrils that didn't solidify into that new hand fell to the ground in a black squirming mass- she felt the bile form in her throat but Buttercup swallowed it down anyway. She was the toughest fighter. She'd seen worse! She had!

Brick didn't answer- he only pushed her sister behind him- and held his arm out in front of them both.

Casper…. The Specter… only reached to his side with his brand spanking new hand and unsheathed a sword- and pointed it straight at the Red Rowdyruff Boy.

"Pinky. Get your sisters and Boom out of here." He murmured.

"Absolutely not." She hissed back.

"That wasn't a request. Blossom. Listen to me- get them out of here!"

"Boomer can get my sisters to safety I am not leaving you here alone-BRICK!"

CRAAAAAAAAAAASH

The redhead whipped around and met the metal straight on and pushed the insane ghost man back.

Again... Since when was Cap Boy - "Samurai Brick" or whatever!? When had this happened!? Brick grit his teeth and swung the sword knocking Ghosty back another few steps before he shoved Leader Girl and Buttercup behind him - "You…. don't know when to quit do you!" He snapped.

The man hissed and just kept on coming in a relentless barrage of strikes that were barely missing their intended target.

OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD STOP! STOP! D-DUCK!" Bubbles shrieked.

Brick listened at least and kept his head. Literally.

"BIG BRO! LEFT! NO MY LEFT NOT YOURS! What is this….some kind of video game!?" Boom demanded but video game or not the guy meant business- he swung again and Cap Boy parried…. Clumsily.

...Uh oh.

Okay- she had to give the Cap Boy credit for a complete amateur the guy wasn't bad- better than what more or less any of them could do in these circumstances but there was also no way in hell he was going to win.

And fucking hell Ghosty knew it too… for all of Brick's makeshift counters Ghosty retaliated with seamless precision. This wasn't a fight - this was a chase and Ghosty was wearing him down.

"You wretched little meddler!"

"Meddler-!? At least I don't go around trying to kidnap innocent teenage girls!"

CRASH

"She is my-!"

CRASH

"She's your nothing! Stay the fuck away from her-AGGGGGGH!"

CRASH-CRASH-CRASH

Of course the X Team wasn't about to just stand there and let Brick get shish kabobed by a homicidal spectral psychopath (!) - but even Buttercup was surprised at that shrill breathy scream that escaped Leader Girl after Cap Boy's arm got sliced and he went down- that…that shrill scream put chills down her spine.

And then the ensuing scream…. almost didn't sound human.

"You…. You BASTARD!"

The rabid kitty had finally flung herself into the fight scratching and hissing at her wannabe suitor like a wild animal and Boomer finally woke the fuck up it seemed and lunged right after her. It had turned into a three way brawl- sparks flying and magenta eyes blazing- it was going to be a goddamn bloodbath….

He was outnumbered and outmatched- sure be all fancy with the special sword- it didn't stand a chance against the X Team- Hell to the fuck no-!

"ENOUUUUUUUUUUUGH!"

The roar was loud and reverberated across the area - the tendrils flew: One wrapped around Boomer's waist and threw him aside head first into the wall- Another wrapped around Cap Boy's wrist and flung the sword out of his hand and- W-Wait….SHIT! NO! That wasn't good-!

Leader Girl just stood in front of him-alone and aw hell… bad! Bad idea! She backed away somewhat- but he easily caught the punch and kick aimed at his smug nasty void fac. They were almost nose to nose.

"...I am sorry for this My Lady- but you won't see reason. Forgive me."

Brick lurched forward but the tendril wrapped around her wrist only started to glow before suddenly… she screamed shrilly and fell backwards. She raised her hands and looked at them shakily. Like Bubbles she punched the ground.

Nothing but pain clearly.

No more X. Blossom was down.

Ghosty only shook his head and turned from her. The fuck was he doing? Wait… hey now! HEY! Hey wait a second! That wasn't cool man! Put the goddamn sword away! No! It wasn't a fair fight anymore- Cap Boy didn't have a goddamn-! Brick rolled out of the way but his back hit a wall.

"You lose." Ghosty said simply and raised that nasty ass sword up.

Shit… SHIT!

It was like slow motion. Mange was like that- everything would go faster- your heart would pound and you'd hear every beat like it was a pounding drum. Almost like music- when you got so engrossed in the beat or the rhythm nothing else would matter. It was like a constant buzz in your mind- drowning out everything else.

The screams around you. The pleas. The moment everything would go to hell. You couldn't distinguish between your sisters' shrieks- the crash of feet - everything… became subdued… muffled…

Silenced.

Because shadow had no voice. No sound. No nothing. Shadow you became as it was… "Nothing"

No one understood what it was like to very briefly… be nothing.

Mange was that.

Mange was… nothing.

And she kicked some royal ass while doing it.

Though Buttercup would admit… that bright lime green light…

… That was new.

-V-

Butch

This was messed up. He's heard it. He'd heard that voice! So where the heck had it come from!?

Because the way it looked it was like the damn wall or whatever had been the one to talk and that shit wasn't cool!

"Show yourself damn it!" He snapped. "The hell is this!?" He shook the paper in the air. "Where the hell am-!"

Again. Must. You. Shout!? This takes concentration you know! And you're giving me a headache!"

.. What?

OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD STOP! STOP! D-DUCK!

His eyes popped open. Huh? Wait… was that-!?

… That sounded like Bubbles.

BIG BRO! LEFT! NO MY LEFT NOT YOURS!

…. And Boomer… the hell was

SHRING. CLASH. SHRRIIIIING.

" BRICK!"

And that high pitched scream was no doubt Red!

Butch whipped around. The hell… what the hell!? It was echoing around him- in front of him- in back of him- to either side- it was everywhere! The hell… the hell was-!

His heart was pounding - and deluge of voices were all mixing together like some sick techno mix or whatever! Okay… Okay dream over! Wake up time! Wake up….

WAKE UP!

He started pinching his arm like crazy- and then started punching when that didn't work. It sounded like goddamn chaos around here! Yelling- screaming- all different decibels and damn tones! One second it was Boom the next it was Bubs shrieking followed by Red and-.

… Wait. Where was-?

Jesus… Christ what is that racket! Will you all just shut up!

He clenched his fist, "How's bout you shut up! Casper… Casper- CASPER SENIOR!" He snapped. What the guy sounded old!

…. You're joking… right- that's the best you can come up with? You serious? God help us you really are an idiot."

Butch bristled. "S-Scuse me!" He sputtered. "The Butch ain't stupid- you- you're stupid!"

That laughter was pissing him off.

"You-Y-You- Okay Casper 2.0-I ain't in the damn mood for this! Who the fuck are you!? I've had it with dealing with mother fuckin' laughin' ghosts and shit! First fuckin' Ghosty comes all big and bad cause he wants a piece of Red- then Casperella comes all weepy and crying with her fucking sewn up face and now I got some weird voice in some random hallway in a goddamn hospital- I HATE hospitals by the way and-!"

Tch. Calm down ya moron. Seriously- I meant it about the damn headache. You have any idea how much this shit takes it out of a guy- seriously!

He frowned. "...Like...what? What are you doing exactly…?"

Silence. Well that was interesting- okay back to waking himself up! Something clearly wasn't right! He'd had enough of weird voices and shit! Wake up!

WAKE. UP!

The ground started to shake. Uh… was that a good sign? That meant waking up right?

…. Shit. Kid hold onto something this is never-!

A lurch- another lurch and that… that was a wall! Shit were dreams supposed to hurt!? Uh… he didn't feel like finding out truth be told so-! His foot slipped. Ow.

...Pleasant.

Another jolt and a bright light soon filled the entire room. A bright...lime green…

Light. Wait… Wasn't that-?!

The shaking stopped and the light faded,

"...Butters…" He whispered. "That… That was-!"

… You need to leave.

He whipped around. "I know. How do I get out of here!"

Go. You need to go. Get out. Get out now! They need you moron!

"I know that weirdo- how the fuck do I-WHOA!"

….Another… Ghosty? The guy was huge first of all- but… that could also have been just a trick of the… light?

Or… shadow? Whatever this was. He looked like a blur of shadow… that was it. He didn't even look...solid. Was he even a guy? He sounded like a guy but who knows!

Get. Out.

"I am trying you-!"

But that hand… on his shoulder… sure felt solid to him.

Get out. Go to her. Help them.

...Her?

Time to wake up Butchy Boy.

"H-HEY! No one calls me that-! Only-!"

The figure snorted.

Tell me something I don't know kid… tell me. Now… WAKE. UP!

"W-Wait… who the fuck- Who the fuck are you! Where's Casperella! Are you… did she send you? The hell is-!

… Do yourself a favor kid.

"Yeah…?"

Trust your gut- trust what you know…. and not what you think you know….

"…. What?"

There was a big shove on his back and then the world went black.

Oh yeah- take this… It's better off with you now anyway…

The hell… what is-?

You'll see soon enough… take care of her man.

Her… Who?

-V-

Mitch

.Beep.

Okay… seriously… it was getting faster. There was no doubt…. That was getting faster.

….Was he waking up?

. Beep. Beep.

That wasn't his pulse. That was something with his...brain or something...right

.Beep.

He leaned down.

.Beepbeeepbeeeeeep.

Should he call a nurse… with a tranquilizer gun?

Beepbeepbeepbeep

He really didn't want to see a Rowdyruff tantrum twice in one day- once was enough…no really… once was enough for a single lifetime!

"Butch…" He mumbled. "Butch man… you okay-?"

Beepbeepbeepbeep

"Uh nurse- nurse we might have a prob-!"

Those dark green eyes suddenly popped open. Big and huge - wide awake. Mitch yelped ( you would too!) and dove to the other side of the room- Butch had at least three needles stuck in him and God knows what that reaction was going to be-!

Nothing. The hell? No freak out- no bellows- no angry Rowdyruff locomotive?

He just… sat there. Scanning the area- looking around. Uh…?

"Butch… you okay man?" He put a hand out cautiously. "You… know where you are?"

That gaze was stony… and something wasn't… right with it. The hell was…?

"... Butch?" He cleared his throat. "Butch how many fingers I holdin' up?" He held up four. "Can you… talk? Did your brain fry after all?"

He raised an inky eyebrow and well this was good- he acknowledged him! Good- excellent- okay so he wasn't a zombie and…. the hell was he doing?

"Butch man! I know it sucks but you can't-!" He pauses and his grip on those needles was ominous. "Butch… you can't just-."

"... They need me." He finally said dully and- screeeeeeeeeech- OH GOD EW! EWWWW! Mitch hated blood! HATED! And it was gushing down his arm in streams and the fuck was he doing now?!

The alarms were still blaring- where the fuck was the nurse?! What were they doing Rock Paper Scissors over who got to calm the potentially homicidal Rowdyruff!?

…. okay Mitch couldn't blame them for that but oh God- he was doing it again!

"Butch are you crazy?! You're gonna- OH GOD NOT AGAIN STOP! Doesn't that hurt?!"

More needles hung listlessly from the IV's- and now he was free. And he floated somewhat off the floor. Mitch gulped. "Where are they?" Again with that deep… dull sounding voice.

"... They… they went after Butterscotch and the girls- okay seriously man you can't go out there!"

"Step aside Michelson."

Okay… this was weird.

"No. see Boom Boom told me not to let you out of my sight one. Two: Brick more or less agreed in his scary silent way so no! Three: Butterscotch would kill me if- and that's my shirt!"

"Where. Are. They. Mitch?"

….. Note to self. Blue and Red were scary- Green was fucking terrifying.

"84 Region Street. North End. Please don't hurt me." He got dropped on the ground. Ow. He gulped. Normhood…. gotta…g-gotta love it?

The guy stormed over to the window… in a hospital gown and for the love of-!

"Butch!"

He stiffened and turned an irritated look at him. Oh god that was terrifying. But- Norm….Norm. He grabbed the blue plastic bag from the one empty chair and dig through it.

"You-..." he gulped again before he cleared his throat. " You might…. want to put these on."

Butch stared at the jeans still doing the deadpan way too serious dulled look thing but nonetheless reached over and grabbed them anyway.

"Thanks." He grunted and shoved them on.

"... No…. No problem? Ha … ha? Okay seriously though is it a good idea for you to-!"

CRASH

….More alarms.

"Okay… good talk….Good talk Butch." He muttered. One of the nurses finally came running in and at her horrified expression he only shrugged.

"... They needed him?" He said weakly and both of them looked towards the badly damaged window… he had just decided to crash through instead of… using a door.

"I'm sure…. That's covered by err… X insurance?" He laughed uneasily- the nurse just kept on gaping.

…. Ah… Normhood… gotta… gotta love…. Ha ha! Ha...Ha….Haaaaaa….

I need a vacation.

-V-

Buttercup

The light was definitely new. And they all were gaping at her including Cap Boy- who shouldn't have been because he knew about Mange being a spying puppy dog like he was with the damn nosy nose! Nosy! Just uh… why was he gaping at her now! He knew about this shit!

The look from Leader Girl though… that uh… well she didn't of course but uh… Surprise! Ha-? Oh that look didn't bode well next to the sheer terror in her eyes from the fact a sword had landed dangerous close to her non-Rowdy non-beau's head.

Casper had real shitty aim. Yes. Yes he did.

She looked down at Cap Boy. Still sitting on the floor- staring up at the nasty sword that was sort of "not" going through his nose with big dumb eyes - and Ghosty was looking with the same sort of clueless dumb ass expression and just- for the love of-!

"Cap Boy!" She hissed. He blinked and looked up. "I can't hold this forever dumb ass! Move!"

He blinked again but then the resident "genius" of the male variety rolled out of the way - "through" the nasty sword and Buttercup exhaled- swinging her arm up and over her head and sinking down into the ground- she decided it was probably best to ignore the ensuing shrieks and gasps around her before she resurfaced next to Cap Boy- still stuttering like a dumbass.

"You...You just... just?" Brick stammered.

"We're a team… dumb ass." She hissed. "Just cause I don't like you at the moment don't mean I don't like you kibble for brains!"

"...Part of me feels like I should resent that but you know… I'm gonna let it slide. Yeah… let it slide-." He jerked suddenly though and held his arm. "Cripes! Fuck… DAMN IT!"

"...Yeah I knew that shit wasn't nothin'. He prob went and reopened that wound." She threw a nasty look at the gaping ghost. "Cheap shot but effective. You're done Brick. Sit."

"Says the girl… bleeding everywhere." He grunted. "I ain't done. Babe lemme up." Blossom shook her head and held him down.

"No Ruff she's right. You're injured."

"I beat this fucker once- I'll beat him again."

"You barely did. I got X' in my system now- this is nothin." She patted her side. Ow. Ow. OWWWWW- but kept her smile. "I'll handle this."

"We need time to regroup." Blossom murmured. "Buttercup… we need to distract him long enough to at least get a distance away until we can….regroup." She repeated dully. "Is the X' in your system sufficiently healing your wound… can you do it?"

Ow. Ow. Ow.

"Is that actually a question?" She folded her arms. Ow. "Toughest Fighter." Ow. "This is nothin'- asshole did a cheap shot on me- won't happen again." Ow. Ow.

"...Buttercup." She bit her lip and she shifted her gaze to Bubbles and then Boomer. They both looked grim… but they nodded. Brick scowled but nonetheless… he finally nodded too.

That was all she needed. She stood up. Ignore the pain. Fight through the pain. She clenched both her fists.

Ghosty just growled more- the more time was passing the less he seemed to be human- just as an FYI- she was calling bull on this whole "woe is me- I miss my girlfriend" shit the guy was pulling. No… something else was going on here… something… sicker. Darker.

Evil.

He was still looking at Blossom every damn chance he got at and the sight of Cap Boy being more or less hauled up to his feet by Boomer and Blossom supporting his waist- Ghosty only sneered:

"I see- fleeing from battle are we?" He mocked- Brick stiffened. Buttercup did too. "It is no matter- no surprise- any coward understands when he's outmatched. There's no honor in fighting a battle one cannot win." He smirked then- okay new info on the threat.

Ghosty was apparently a blowhard.

"Yeah and you know what else is dishonorable- pulling a cheap shot and still fighting a guy when he's unarmed!" She snapped and now the Ghost turned his attention back to her. "You got a lot of nerve spouting about "honor" when you're just pulling dirty trick after dirty trick! Oh yeah real honorable there buddy boy!"

Oho that hit a nerve. She signaled the team- they kept moving.

"Enough." He hissed.

"D'awww I'm sorry did I hit a nerve? Too real for you Romeo?"

"That… is not my name." He hissed again. "How dare you talk to me as such witch!"

She smirked. "I believe the word you're looking for is actually bitch and I'll talk to you in any damn way I please because one: I am a bitch and two: You are a creep so I'm going to call you anything I want!"

She snuck a glance behind her- They were slowly creeping out of there. Good. He clenched his one non-undead hand.

"You… You- You have no idea what it is you are dealing with Girl!"

"Oh really?" She balled her hands and braced herself. "Do enlighten me. I do love a good laugh."

For an undead guy he was turning awfully purple and then he sheathed the blade. "I do not believe in striking women- such behavior is-."

"Aww how noble." She cooed. "Listen asshole- let's quit with the theatrics okay- brace yourself and throw a punch at me God knows you are dying too ain't ya Casper...or what did those morons call you…?"

He tensed. "Do… not-."

"Eric… no... "

"I am warning you-!"

"Elis? Nah… that's a nifty name… hmm- Oh I know-!"

"DO NOT-!"

She smirked. "Elmo. That was it right? Elmo?" She cooed.

"You… You…. THAT. IS. NOT. MY. NAAAAAAAAAAME!"

And whoo boy Buttercup struck a nerve! That was for sure- oh well. "Chivalry" de damned apparently because he was after her now! Oh yes he was- heh if her side wasn't burning like hell maybe this would be a bit more amusing but right now- okay Leader Girl and company needed to haul their ass a little bit faster! Just a little bit-!

She dodged skillfully- unlike Samurai Red over there Buttercup knew what she was doing in fighting this wannabe Romeo… Zombie… thing who apparently didn't like puppets. Couldn't really blame him for that but- WHOA!

See there was no need to rude. She pounded her fist in her open palm- her eyes began to heat up: Cap Boy of course had given him a taste of an X' beating and a trial by fire but it was time for Buttercup to now raise up the heat!

The fool was too busy trying to blindly pummel her in his puppet hating induced rage to see what she was about to do and she knew her target too. Must have been hell of an effort to make that "pretty" face look human again- oh so human again- just make pink eyed kittens swoon right!

Well then…

Ghosty yelped and dove to the ground- covering the left side of his face and dodging the scalding beams- she didn't like much using it most of the time- she sometimes had hell of a nipping headache for a few minutes after it- forget X-ray vision: Tch she'd be in bed for days with that migraine. But…

"STOP! I SAID STOP!"

She smirked. Occasionally headaches were worth it.

They were almost in the clear- Boomer had Brick mostly walking on his own- just a few more minutes- seconds even depending on the X' kicking back in-!

He snarled suddenly though and- uh oh. No no! Look at her- look at angry Green Puff! Not the-!

CRASH

… "Regrouping" X Team…

Including the injured Rowdyruff Boy who that tentacle was suddenly real sharp, pointy and-

"GUYS! GUYS LOOK OU-!" Her eyes popped open- It was like ice. Freezing cold ice so cold it was burning. Her side was on fire yet again but this time- she felt the breath fly out of her- her knees began to buckle- it wasn't that hard of a hit! It was...was…

The makeshift weapon drew back in place- and was it Mange time? Because… everything… felt "...Mangey" again… all echoey and… her knees shook- was she falling? Falling from what? Her team… she had to distract the-.

WHAM.

Green light. Dark Green light. Huh… it was like a haze- she heard pounding in her ears but it was muffled.

Warmth. Sudden warmth. On her skin. So warm she just wanted… just wanted to relax. Calm. Safe…. Like something… she hadn't-. Hadn't ever… but… no had she? Hadn't she? Course she hadn't- she'd remember this kind of… warmth.

"Easy there...I got you."

Husky. Raw. Deep. Familiar.

"..Who" She breathed- the grip on her waist tightened. Wait… grip- waist? Was he-!? The side where she had been in icy agony was suddenly in warm… numbness. She didn't feel it. The pain anymore? What the hell-?

She turned. Those dark green eyes centered only on-. Wait… green… green eyes...but who had green…?

The world suddenly came back into abrupt focus,

"BUTCH!?" Her voice cracked and she gaped at him. How couldn't she!? The hell… the hell was he doing here-!? How the hell- who had-!? "The hell… The hell you doing here!? How are you here-!?"

He didn't answer her and… that grip on her waist- okay. Um… Uh… right that was unnaturally warm- thanks for playing- okay- hands off! She pulled away and… wait what the hell- was this some kind of-!?

"Word on the street is you lot needed help- though I was expectin' more green versus… dead." He scowled.

You know what. Never mind. They'll uh… discuss that later! He had a point- Dead person now - strange… whatever that was later! Right now though…

"Yeah well- Shithead one was workin' with shithead two over here so-!"

He snorted and clenched pounded his fist in his palm. "Right. I get you- Watch and learn Baby!" He flew on off and before Ghosty even knew it- oooh… that had to hurt. And that… and...that.-!

Butch was pummeling the guy- for someone who had basically gee… almost died somehow he was looking pretty chipper and healthy now! And-... Whoa.

Since when did Butch know how to… fight like...that?

He wasn't mindlessly pummeling the guy with fists like a pissed off gorilla- no just like in October Buttercup saw the guy… was actually planning what he was doing. Not… elegantly- not like she'd begrudgingly admit Cap Boy- for all his failure at being "Samurai Brick" - had been able to do even from the training room but Butch…

He knew what he was doing. And he was silent. There was no jeering or tainting… no nothing. He was just…

Fighting.

She saw the Team were watching too. She should go see… if they were okay- the shield was gone and they were vulnerable… course they were but-.

Why couldn't she… look away?

He had been sick as a dog and suddenly he was good as new. Punching- kicking- countering and not even using his shield or his eye beams or nothin' just… fighting. Ghosty was finally starting to slow down- guess ghosts could indeed get… tired?

Or Butch was really that strong but… nah. He was a muscle head yeah but - Buttercup was still the stronger- cheap tricks need not apply! But for a moron… he wasn't… doing… ya know… bad. Like in the alley once upon a dream- back in October…

… Maybe the guy had some potential after all.

With a loud bellow…. Ghosty ended up on the ground and the idiot's foot slammed down on his chest pinning him down.

"Yield." He snarled and then looked around. "Six against one asshole- we don't need our X' to kick your sorry zombie ass- specially' Boss and Butters- Yield!"

Ghosty stiffened and seemed to look between him- the raging Green Rowdyruff, and then on the badly injured Red Rowdy on one side… and then the not as injured but catching her breath… Green Puff on the other.

He sneered but nonetheless let his hands rest at his side and lay still on the ground.

She released the breath she may or may not have been holding and she saw at the corner of her eye Cap Boy seemed to mirror the gesture. Leader Girl took a deep breath.

"Bring him here Butch- I think we're due for some answers." She said calmly- or a facade of calm. Butch wordlessly hauled the bastard up and linked his arms behind his back.

"Try anythin' with that tentacle of yours and I'll rip it off and shove it down your fuckin' throat." He hissed before he pushed him forward. "Now move."

Boomer met him halfway and secured the ghost's other side. The two Jojo brothers marched their spectral prisoner towards the two redheads. Not to be outmatched of course the Utonium sisters joined them- typical Puff formation- blue on right, green on left while the Pink stepped tentatively forward. Red wasn't happy about being kept behind her clearly but Blossom was in commander mode… no one argued with the commander and leader.

Ghosty got slammed to his knees.

"Who are you?" Blossom began. Clearly not wasting any time.

"You know who I am." He hissed.

"Where do you come from?" She ignored the first response.

"..."

And he was a stubborn mother fucker wasn't he…. Boomer smacked the side of his head.

"Hey! The lady's talkin' to you- answer her damn question!"

"You are wasting your time." He hissed again. "If you are looking for answers to questions you already know then I cannot help you in this- if you would just… give me back my name La'el-!"

What…?

"My name! Everything that is mine- my soul is yours! You know this! We vowed-!"

"Okay… Okay-." Bubbles shook her head. "Rewind and freeze- what do you mean- Give back your name?" She demanded. "You don't know your own name?"

He was silent… but… holy shit was he actually…. Serious?

Another lingering look at Blossom and his head went down, "... It was stolen from me long ago... along with everything else- the only thing I still have is… you La'el… and even now-." He paused and looked behind him… at nothing.

"...The Master is angry with me." He murmured. "No matter. I am no slave. I am not one of them."

Boomer and Butch were suddenly both knocked back and Buttercup shoved Blossom behind her. He glared at them all.

"I will keep my promise. Nothing is stopping me from fulfilling my vow- our vow!" He snapped and pointed. "... One way or another you will remember me… you'll see." Another nasty look this time in Brick's direction. "And none shall stop me. You've bested me for now boy- but only because you rely on your dogs." All three of the Rowdyruff Boys stiffened. The ghost smirked again. "You won't be so lucky next time."

He spat at the ground but then gave a small bow in Leader Girl's direction.

"My Lady." She backed further into Cap Boy who clutched her to him with a snarl and a glare. The ghost didn't seem to notice… he only turned on his heel… and walked off into the shadow.

And vanished.

-o-o-o-

Mitch had clearly cracked. The team had been bombarded and ambushed by cops and EMT's alike almost as soon as they'd exited the alley- Brick's arm needed stitches, Bubbles was nursing a pretty bad knock on the head and Butch for all his harsh complaints otherwise had been forced back into an ambulance- they couldn't take any chances.

Good job team- once again.

Of course the Gang Green Gang was on everyone's radar now. In a sick irony looks like Ace had finally gotten what he had wanted all along.

And look at the cost.

She buzzed her lips. Everyone else was helping pass out the serum Dad had finally managed to synthesize. The plague was over. The crisis averted- men in the white suits were packing up and going home.

All's well that...ends well?

"...Hey."

The moron looked at her oddly, and sat up in bed. "Any idea how long I'm stuck in here- these places give me the creeps." he muttered. She rolled her eyes.

"You trashed a hospital room and ripped a goddamn IV out of you…. The question you should be asking is "how am I not screaming in pain and crying like a little baby."" He bristled.

"I ain't a baby." He muttered. "And… can you uh… not talk about that… shit ain't right." He shuddered. She frowned but didn't push it. There was something… else on her mind.

"Hey asswipe- listen."

"...You okay Butters?" She blinked.

"Scuse me'?"

He looked… genuinely uncomfortable, he was avoiding her gaze. "Are you… okay Buttercup…? Michelson… he uh-."

...Oh that little WEASEL!

"He didn't say much… but it's kind of easy… to put it together Butterb-." He stopped and then shook his head. "Butters." He finished. "Ace… didn't ya know- back there. Before the gals... -."

Silence. She averted her eye and looked out the window. Great. This was going to be so much fun wasn't it- explaining to the resident pervert and giving him nasty fuel for his nasty ass fantasies and-!

"... You don't have to say nothin'- I just… figured as much." She tensed and folded her arms.

"... Get your mind out of the gutter… he didn't do anything… tch...like.." The pressure on her arm increased. "Like I'd let him." Her voice went low. "It's ancient history asshole. All of it. Just… drop it. It's over."

The moron was probably going to argue and then she'd have to pummel him which would get the team after her- and Leader Girl would get pissed and then Cap Boy would too- which would probably mean his stitches would fall out in the ensuing half assed fight on both their ends- which would result in magenta if not red eyes- which would get Bubbles after her which would mean Boomer would-!

"Okay."

…. That was it? She blinked but he cocked his head like a moron and shrugged.

"I know you got this Butters- just if ya need it we got your back you know. Least- the Butch got your back."

…. She was probably nursing an internal infection- despite the all clear from the doctors or whatever - because she still felt too warm. She'd… have to bring that up to Dad later. Yeah.

...But speaking of-.

His gaze seemed far away for a second, "... I don't… remember much." He murmured. "But… Boss and Boom… they told me...you were the one who…" He cleared his throat. She tensed more and averted her gaze. Looking at his dumb ass face and all… she's just get so much madder that her whole body would go up in flames ala Cap Boy!

God knows she was feeling warm enough!

"... You didn't take your medicine like an idiot. I made you take it. Yeah." She huffed. "Big deal."

He was still looking at her weird. Not like the nasty….gooey eyed weird like Cap Boy or Boom were capable of of course- thank god- but…

"Get that dumb ass look off your face!" She shook her head. "You looked so pathetic back there that-!"

"... Thanks Butters." he murmured.

Her chest clenched. Yeah. Definitely some weird internalized infection. She was going to need a second opinion clearly she wasn't fine so-!

"Don't thank me for shit that I don't need thankin' for just…" She scowled. "Don't be that much of a dumb ass ever again- you hear me!" Moron… stupid…

He was still looking at her strangely, "... Loud and clear Butters." He yawned even though like the fool he was he tried to hide it. She shook her head.

"Okay numbnuts- go back to sleep you're still sick. How you walked let alone… trashed a hospital room I do not know but-!"

"... Yeah... that makes two of us." He muttered. She raised an eyebrow but he settled into the pillow. "Guess weird shit happens when a Rowdyruff gets sick."

She frowned. That… was an understatement… clearly.

"Yeah… guess it does." She folded her arms and backed out of the room. "Get some sleep idiot. You'll be outta here soon enough… unless you decide not to take your meds like a good boy again." He had the gall to laugh.

"Nah… I know better- Nurse Butters will kick my sorry ass and then tie me to this here bed." He raised an eyebrow, "Althouuuuuuugh-."

"Tch. In your dreams letch." She rolled her eyes.

"Every night baby."

"Don't call me Baby."

"Sorry can't hear you- Jellyfish juice must have gotten in my ears."

"... Gross. Go the fuck to sleep you Neanderthal you're clearly still high off the drugs."

She closed the door before he could make a stupid retort. Not that it would be of any merit but…

Buttercup strolled into the nearby bathroom and clicked the lock before she shed her sweatshirt and peered at herself in the mirror. Thin white scars lined her arms and legs from years of battle and fighting- a few had been particularly nasty- and so they were likely permanent.

She removed the cloth bandage off her shoulder in silence- the nasty jagged line carved into the flesh… she squeezed her eyes shut.

"Boss… BOSS WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY! STOP!"

The tug of war over the switchblade began.

….He wasn't all bad. Snake she meant. She had wanted to help him… but she'd gone and failed again. Was it too soon to add two new names to her count versus… the one?

It was a scar she kept close. The one reminder of...honestly her humanity she'd never wanted but… she nonetheless had. She'd failed once… now twice…

Would there be a third time?

Her fist clenched.

No. No there would not. There'd be plenty of new scars to add to her collection of course… but that's all they'd be. Scars. Grim reminders of mistakes she could never make up for but…

The purple bunny rabbit peeked from her right hip - the secret match to her sisters'- another regret solidified. Another lesson never forgotten. For sure that would be an interesting surprise for Cap Boy and Boom Boom to discover…. Someday. Not now. Baby steps boys. Baby steps.

Every girl had her secrets….

Although.

Her left side- where she'd felt that steel bite and tear through her flesh- she brushed a hand down her hip. Down over where also a big hulking hand had scalded her flesh.

Down past the pristine untouched… flawless skin.

Without a mark to be seen.

She stared at in silence- right at that perfectly healed skin where it had been almost torn open just hours before...

Then pulled her shirt back down, put her sweatshirt back on and then walked out the door.

Another day done. World saved…

For now.

-V-

Butch

Who was that…?

It wasn't like Butch to… ya know obsess over shit. That was more Dumb Dumb territory you know but…

Something about that whole thing… from start to finish… it was like a dream. Well it had been a dream- a damn dream but at parts…

It'd felt real.

He'd seen those sad eyes… err okay he hadn't "seen" them so to speak but… that poor chick. Casperella… ghost Bride…

La'el?

And Casper was clearly a nut job that was no question but…

It's better off with you now anyway…

What… what was? He couldn't remember shit. He had bits and pieces in his brain sure- but that hallway… one second he was there and the next he was waking up and out of there. Michelson had said his vitals or whatever had started goin' all funky and it had lasted for at least fifteen minutes but…

He...felt different somehow. Something was… different. It was weird. Did people...change after they got sick or somethin'? Like did he go through another… puberty or whatever… ugh- he hoped not. His pituitary gland had already put him through the ringer thanks…

Stupid hormones. Stupid brain. Lame. It was all so lame. But…

Take care of her.

...Who? Who the hell hell had that been? That weird voice in the abandoned hallway… had it been another Casper? How many more "Caspers" were there!?

He hadn't even sounded… human. He'd sounded more like he was growling… or groaning.

A groaning hallway ghost… go figure. Maybe Butters had a point. Not taking the meds did shit to his brain… lesson learned. Speaking of-.

Butters went and pulled a shadow sinker move again. No seriously- she sunk into the floor and then emerged triumphant. They all yelled at once and she was clearly enjoying every second of this…

"B-Buttercup!" Bubbles yelped "You… You… Mange!? Huh- Wha- Blossy? Blossy!?"

"Butter Eva Utonium! What… WHAT IS THE MEANING OF-! SINCE WHEN-... Wait… THAT WAS YOU IN BRICK'S ROOM YOU LITTLE-!"

Oh...Well now! What did Butch miss in the time where he was...err out of it?

"I mean...you're not going to get out of having Dad getting Cap Boy alone in the lab for the talk." Buttercup snickered. "Especially now."

"Watch me- I mean I have no idea what you're talking about!" The Pink Puff exclaimed. Boss kept on avoiding everyone's gaze then. Weird…

"Oh Blossy just stop it. Honestly." Bubbles huffed. "Besides if my Boomie had to deal with it then Brick does too! It's only fair."

"It...It wasn't that bad!" Boomer laughed nervously. "Really… Really it wasn't."

"...Little Bro. You came home lookin' like you were gonna piss yourself." Butch drawled. Brick cleared his throat loudly.

"Not funny Butch."

"Wasn't tryin' to be he looked like some snivelin' kid bout' ready to piss imself' like Believe did-."

"Enough! Okay- that's enough. Mike couldn't help it- Wendi was a monstrosity. Drop it." Brick snapped. "Ancient history- bigger things to worry about-!"

… Always had to defend the stupid kid. Stupid…shit head clown- yeah clown- wanna fight about it!

He leaned back into the seat. "Whatever." He muttered. Boss only rolled his eyes. Tch. The girls all sighed in sync. Butters floated idly off the ground and – oye! Cut that out! It was weird! People weren't supposed to just be able to merge through tables!

That shit wasn't right.

"I just don't get it." Bubbles shook her head. "How could you have kept this from us?! How did you keep this from us!?" Pigtails tapped her foot impatiently.

"You never asked." Butters said simply while examining her nails… and moving her hand in and out of the solid lab table. That was seriously the freakiest… and fucking most epic thing he had ever seen - seriously she was making the Butch's epic shield and shit look… kind of routine there.

Kick ass Puff or not that just wasn't fair man! That shit like he said- wasn't right man!

"You still haven't answered me! What were you doing spying in Brick's room!" Red continued to rage. "That was an explicit breach of privacy-!"

"What- didn't want any witnesses to the fact you and Cap Boy were shackin' it up?" She said "innocently" and Red turned well...red. Her cheeks were blazing and she lunged at her sister - clapping her hand over her mouth and furiously "shushing" her.

Again… Brick was avoiding both Butch and Boomer's eyes now.

"Her… body temperature went down. It wasn't-."

"You totes slept together- got it."

"NO WE DID NOT!"

"Uh huh…sure."

"Buttercup-!"

"Yes?" That… was an evil smile. "What is it dear older sister?"

"You- Youuuuuu!"

"I am going to be swimming in chili corn- oh yes I am."

"STOP BLACKMAILING MY-!" She trailed and Brick stiffened before he jutted his head to the side. "Boy… I am casually… dating right now…" And… Boss deflated. Ouch man. She twiddled her thumbs and she was red as a dang tomato. "….Exclusively." She mumbled the last part. Well that was… progress…kinda? Right?

Boss only cleared his throat- "Right… we'll uh… all discuss that later. Point is…" Another throat clear but then his eyes narrowed. "We have something far more….serious to discuss right now Team. That being… the Sushi."

They all stiffened, "We barely averted disaster this time… it could very well be that the mutations are well… mutating further." Red held her arm and frowned, "And we still don't know the cause or even anything- Father of course is doing the research that he can but without a solid lead we can't-!"

"It's because of why." Brick muttered.

She stiffened, "Yes Brick… that is the question- Why are these mutations growing stronger-."

"Because of Why." He repeated.

Red blinked and then sighed, squeezin' the bridge of her nose. "Yes Brick- we have to find out why the-."

"Damn it Babe! No! It's Why!"

…The fuck was Boss was goin' on about? Boomer looked just as confused and the sisters were both staring at Boss like he had three heads or somethin'. Brick finally growled and stalked over to the nearby white board and grabbed a marker.

"It's why guys!" He uncapped the marker, "Somehow… it's fucking why!" He started writing.

"Why what- Cap Boy the fuck is your-!?" She trailed and her jaw dropped. Red looked like she'd suddenly swallowed a big nasty bug and-.

Wait…

Y.

….Y?

…..Y!?

He jerked and sprang up. "The fuck are you talkin' about Boss!?" Butch demanded. "The fuck are you-!?" Boomer just slowly rose from his own chair.

Brick was silent for a good long time… he just kept writin' down all those… numbers and letters on the whiteboard. The only sound in the room was the squeak, squeak, squeaking of the marker before finally… he put it back on the tray and turned back to them.

…. No. No it couldn't-!

"B-Big Bro." Boomer whispered. "It… But that's-!"

The Rowdy Boss wouldn't look at them. Either of them. But… no… no it couldn't be! It couldn't-!

"Two weeks ago Mike and I were on a stake out at the harbor." He finally said. Red began to stand but Boss only motioned her back down. "We witnessed what looked like the loading of cargo to an unknown, unmarked vessel docked in the East Sea Gate." Brick grabbed a binder at his side and began flipping through it before he pulled out a bundle of what looked like developed photos.

"We didn't have a good view… and we were at the mercy of our cell phones but we were able to get these shots."

They were passed around. It mostly looked like a bunch of boxes- unmarked and well… they didn't look that interesting.

"Ruff… I don't understand-?"

He took a deep breath, "… One of the containers leaked." He murmured. "A large container… but it didn't matter we couldn't see it… as much as we could smell it. Or… at least I could. It'd be hard for me to forget… this smell."

"Cap Boy… the hell are you talking about? What the fuck is…"Y" what's going-?"

"….Chemical Y… is more or less the codename for a synthetic Chemical X that was created to combat… and ultimately supersede regular "X" – And I smelled it that night."

"WHAT!?" Now Red jumped up again. "Brick- what do you mean you smelled- Brick what were you and Michael even doing there!?"

"I'm getting to that Pinky." He squeezed the bridge of his nose. "You all wanted… the missing forty two minutes from that report. Well… between Mike and me… you've heard the thirty five of them….but now… it's time for the last seven minutes." Boss looked genuinely… uncomfortable for a minute. He even looked behind his shoulder strange enough. Like he was afraid of being… watched?

"Brick… are you okay?" Boomer took a step towards him but he shook his head.

"I don't have solid proof of anything I'm telling you all- none of it would hold up in court. But I know what I know… and what I smelled. "He scowled. "Professor Utonium… called me today. Confirmed something I already knew. The sample of the Jellyfish mutant's DNA as well as Butch's, mine, Boomer's. You girls' and even the late Victor Peron all had one confirmed similarity. An unknown substance with a very… distinct chemical formula." He tapped the board. Butch felt his entire stomach sink. Boom looked ill.

'I don't get it…." Bubbles frowned. "Why is there…. "Y" in our-?"

Suddenly… it clicked.

No… No… Oh fuck no! God no! NO!

"You're not sayin' what I think you're saying….!" Boomer breathed. "N-No. NO! It's gone! We took care of it- it's-!"

"It's Y Boom. There's no question- the formulas match… Y was the previously unknown substance in the Professor's prior samples-!" Red sucked in a breath but Boom wasn't having it.

"He told us to destroy it Brick. We did. It's a coincidence. There was nothing left." He hissed.

"… If there are traces… of Y… if what you're saying is true Brick… then… these mutations… they're-." She trailed.

"Yes. The Sushi's no accident." He closed his eyes. "They were made intentionally."

"Then that fire on the oil rig…" Butters began to stand. "That fire… everything we've gone through… you're telling me that these things were made- as in none of this was an accident! As in someone intentionally-!"

"… Circumstantial evidence points to yes." He murmured.

"And all those… innocent creatures… they're all…. They're all suffering because… because-!"

"But we DESTROYED it!" Boomer roared. "We got rid of it! ALL OF IT!" HE TOLD US TO- Son of… SON OF-!" Now Boomer's fist hit the wall. "That… sniveling… fucking bastard." He hissed. "That… fucking!"

"What? Boomie who-?"

"Fucking MOJO! That's who!"

"MOJO!?"

Chaos ensued. The arguments all started at once. Red was talkin' real fast and Boss was answerin' as well as he could. The Blues were both havin' a competition to see who could yell the loudest and Butters… she just sat there… all quiet.

Something was bugging Butch though. Something in the back of his head. Something… faint.

The smell was nasty and gross and strong. Blech. He never understood how people could smoke those things.

Pops looked irritated too- he waved the nasty ass smoke away from Butch's couch. Colds sucked.

"Ah… my friend. How kind of a man of your genius to agree to my visit…."

"Speak your business and be done with it."

Butch's eyes began to water. Man… this smoke was nastyyyy- blech.

Trust your gut- trust what you know…. and not what you think you know….

The place was a pigsty. A damn mess. And it reeked to high heaven. Clearly this last meltdown had done a number on well… everythin'.

Brick was grim before he pointed.

"All of it. Get rid of all of it."

"…What about Dad?" Boomer whispered. Brick flinched but then shook his head.

"….All of it. Just… we gotta torch all of it."

"But-!"

"NOW BOOMER! That's an order!"

No choice. Boss had spoken. All the papers, glasses, written shit and Boss even took an old computer and smashed it. Nothing. It all had to go.

The lab was nasty.

And God did it smell.

He stiffened and his eyes widened. The argument was still happening. Butters caught his eye and raised an eyebrow.

"You got somethin' to add Butchy Boy?" She murmured. "You look like you've either seen another damn ghost or-." He shook his head.

"Big Bro... what if… someone knew about Y?"

"No one knew about Y but us… no one."

"But what if someone did – Boss… what if-!"

"Butch. It's impossible. We got it all. I made sure of it. We even wiped the computer-!"

"… Then how the fuck… was "Y" in that jellyfish venom Cap Boy?" Butters finally spoke. "Because if someone else didn't introduce "Y" or something very similar to it… then there's only one individual who could… and in your logic did."

They all fell silent. Brick went three shades of white and slowly sat in the nearby chair.

"… I think Team… we don't have a choice… do we?" She continued.

"… What about the trial…" Boomer said quietly. "The emancipation trial! It's next month- how are we supposed to-to… t-to…" His lip quivered and oh for the love of! BABY! FUCKING… Baby…. B-blubberin… and shit… how was that gonna help!?

Brick was still silent. Butters looked at Red who stood.

"… Ruff…" He still looked at the floor. "Brick. I'm so sorry." She murmured. Still nothing.

"Don't be." They all winced. Even Butters at that. "There's nothing to be sorry for- there's nothing to be upset about. It's business as usual. We found our culprit and now he's gonna fucking fix it." He hissed.

"But we don't have evidence that will-."

He finally looked up and Butch felt a chill up his spine.

"We will." He snarled.

-V-

The night was quiet. Way too quiet. This whole thing was just bizarre. His eyes narrowed and he adjusted his mask with a scowl.

So… Jojo was right.

The harbor despite being a quarantine zone technically was still a silent hotbed of activity. The men in the white suits were swarming the place- even having one of those fancy pressurized hoses- scrubbing down the entire place.

Of course… it was possible this was government procedure – the CDC had been here after all-

… But something was wrong regardless. No… these people… they weren't… they were sloppy. He saw one of them get silently pointed to an area he had already scrubbed a good few times already.

"The hell are these idiots doing- there can't be a trace left! The fucking Feds are here now- no way they won't find it!" He stiffened. Oh… son of a-!

Daryl Howard came waddling on over- acting all big and bad- looking at the crew of workers like they were scum. What a lovely individual. But… well guess the phone would have to do.

"Got ya." He whispered.

He held out his phone. The silent image captured was terrible quality for their purposes but his Gazoi was still trashed and the other one made too much noise. God damn it. Hopefully he'd be able to blow some of these up later-Jojo would insist on it. Nevertheless it was without doubt the portly City Hall aide. Soon to be ex-aide as soon as Sarah Bellum got a load of this.

He smirked. Job well done Believe. Hopefully Bloss and Jojo could work with some of these pictures to make a-.

… Hello… who the fuck was that?

A short man came strolling over- almost comically short. He raised an eyebrow. He wasn't close enough unfortunately to hear their quick hushed conversation- god he missed his camera… but well least he could get a face if he played his cards right.

He pointed a finger and a nearby trash can toppled over. The asshole and his puny companion both turned to the sound.

The short man only shook his head and shrugged. The hell…? Talk about… confidence if not hinging on arrogance but Howard was sweating like a pig. Good. Squirm asshole. Just wait until the X Team gets a hold of your fat obese mug. Brick Jojo would hang you by your greasy dirty tighty whities all the way from City Hall's spire! And hell if the Trickster wouldn't help and-.

…the clatter was loud… too loud he knew that but…

It couldn't be. No. Oh God Mike wasn't a guy to pray to anyone but please not this… oh God the guy didn't deserve this! None of them did! Just…

"The hell!? They're onto us!" Howard yelped.

"Calm down fool. It was merely an alley cat. A cat that lives in an alley. An alley that is lived in by a cat an-.

Mike Believe felt like he was going to puke. He grabbed his phone and shoved his hood back on and… oh… Oh God.

Anything but this… please God… he didn't pray often but his friend… his friends didn't deserve this… this!

"You… You slimy b-bastard." He whispered. "… Jojo… forgive me man."

Mike then knelt down. Rested his head in his knees.

And then pressed record.

-V-

Mitch

"Yeah... Yeah no I get you. Yes I'll be sure to tell you. No not right now- because you're still coughing up a lung- serum or not it's still a damn flu Sweets... yeah I know but you liiiiiike me anyway. Heh damn straight you can't argue that- alright... goodnight Pablo... Yeah...I will. Promise. Right- night."

Oh his hockey hunk sweetie was too good for words. Yes... yes he was. Sure Mitch would go to bed at a reasonable time after the press conference and the aftermath. He wouldn't be on Faceplace all night on "damage patrol" - he'd leave that to Madam Snyder and Tricky Boy- yes.

Because Mitch was for the most part taking a well deserved night off.

Being a Norm was never easy. It wasn't always a cake walk and it wasn't always… safe but… it did come with… some cool perks.

...Well sort of.

"Good evening Townsville- Tonight on 18: The X Team speaks out about rumors and questions concerning the recent outbreak and the continued threat: Sushi… what are they? Coming to you live from Townsville City Hall- here's Trish.

He sat up. Pale but dignified as always Blossom sat in the middle of the table with Brick looking pale himself and still sporting the sling he had been put in upon getting his stitches.

Butterscotch was on her sister's other side. Squished between both her and Bubsy- clearly they were taking no chances of an outburst like… last time.

The room seemed much more subdued- again… it seemed like for even the reporters this brush with near disaster had muted their sensationalism and somehow made only the cold facts what was necessary. Maybe their families had been part of the sick… maybe they had themselves? Who knew but at least he could watch this without thinking he was watching a group of lambs being led to the slaughterhouse.

"Thank you Miss Bellum." Blossom began. "And thank you members of the Press for being kind enough to take the time to attend this meeting."

Polite to the last.

"As you all know an event occurred in our city just a scant two weeks ago that ultimately resulted in a dear pandemic of dire proportions. I apologize for using such dramatic language but I am afraid in this case I as well as my team have deemed it to be necessary. We are in fact calling upon what… in the past my sisters and I have called a… Citywide "Puffy Alert"… although perhaps now we will have to figure out a new alert system for… those among us not of the Puff name."

Good natured chuckles reverberated through the room. A good sign. Perhaps they'd be able to avoid another meltdown on two fronts after all. Brick gave her a wry sort of look and Mitch of course being trained as he was to see these things didn't cease to notice the slight squeeze of her hand Buttercup her gave seemingly as an afterthought.

So she was nervous.

"But regardless…in discussion with our team we have come to the conclusion that…" She hesitated. Another slight squeeze. Go on Blossy Boo.

It's time you the citizens… our beloved Townsville… knows the truth. Or… the truth as we ourselves are beginning to understand though in truth… we have long suspected it. The beings that have been attacking our city for the last year are not natural organisms of any sense. They are not denizens of Monster Isle gone rogue… they are not organic... "

She took a deep breath. She was losing her nerve.

"They… Th-e-ey…"

"They are manmade." Butterscotch declared into the mic. "And I assure you on the X Team name we're going to find the son of a bitch responsible for it!"

Of course… the room erupted. The media was on a frenzy. He sighed as he saw Brick finally vault up- pointing a finger with Blossy Boo jumping in and pulling him back. Boomer was holding Bubsy back from lunging at another reporter who'd made the mistake of recommending hunting down the more "dangerous" sea creatures in their waters.

He saw Buttercup's face straight in the camera for the newscast then- before her hand went out and the screen went black.

…Well that was a disaster.

His computer started pinging of course almost immediately and he sighed.

Yes… A norm's job was never done was it? The rumors were already spreading and it was time to get to work wasn't it?

One crisis over… another to take its place.

Such was the life of a Norm.

One crazy day… at a time.

-V-

Darkness. Light.

A combination of them both. Yes. That was it.

A lighter shade here, some shadow there. Let the paints do the work… they know what needs to be put there. Let them tell their story.

Dipped in some grey now. Perfect. Add some dimension. Some pizazz.

The brush told the story. Her hand was only the mover. A straight line here. A curved line there- just needed to put them where they belonged.

Of course everything needed to calm down. Emotions had run high and now everyone just needed to relax. To calm. It was why she was down here. In her little studio space just to the right of the Meeting room- and two doors down from the office.

Mix in the colors now- this piece was being stubborn. No color looked right. Nothing had wanted to go to where it needed to go. Except… yes!

Coloring, coloring, she loved coloring!

Well… she supposed this painting just wasn't ready to tell its story still. Disappointing. Maybe someday.

The cityscape looked awfully dull in its monochrome color scheme. Half of the buildings and such weren't even recognizable. Although…

She added a big glass pane and an outline of an arch to a large grey square in the east. Townsville General had had an… interesting architect. Personally she thought it was honestly one of the ugliest buildings in the city and she was so happy it was finally getting a much needed renovation but-.

"Bubbles! Time for dinner!"

She frowned and then began packing up her paints. Oh well… maybe someday her Muse would let her put some color into this piece and… hey.

The dark green would go swimmingly over there! Perfect! Why on earth hadn't she thought of that before! And now that dark green at least added some flavor to it.

The streak rose high over the eastern side of the city now. Huh. Interesting choice. Alright Muse. She would listen. But… that one streak of green going high in the air…straight up from the Hospital…

…. Again… kind of a weird… choice but it honestly worked. It seemed… right.

Strange…

"BUBBLES!"

"Coming Daddy!"

Oh well… tomorrow was another day.

-V-V-V-

…Next time on As Time Goes By;

"This isn't a courtroom… this is a three ring circus! But it doesn't matter Kids… As God is my witness… that beast will never be allowed to harm you three again or my name isn't Kimberly O'Donnell!"

Act VI: Beast

---

A/N: It's… over. Act 5 is FINALLY over. I. Am. FREEEEEEEEEE!

This Act… has been hell from start to finish. It didn't want to get written- the outline I had didn't want to cooperate- In the course of writing this Act I have gone through so much personal, professional, and overall everything DRAMA - and I hate that word in that context let me assure you all- but truly… I'm extremely happy this act is done. Finally. Gone. Burn it with fire. I am tempted to print it out and burn it at a friend's campfire over the summer. Okay I won't because it's still my work but you know what I mean XD

I like scenes. I like pieces of dialogue. But otherwise… as is true of every piece someone writes… there are just some "chapters" you just don't like. I'm only human- XD - I loved Buttercup, I loved Mitch- and Butch…. was special to me but I'm not going to lie- I'm looking forward to a "Blue" perspective next! Yes. Yes I am!

Am I pleased with how Act 5 went? Yes. You all will never see something I am not okay with to be released content wise. That is my personal promise to you all. All my writing is a labor of love. I "love" all my pieces or else they wouldn't be written. Therefore if I don't "love" it upon the final pre-release read through- you're not being subjected to it.

Do I however "like" this Act? As in was I looking forward to writing it each and every day! Oh Boy oh boy- time to work on Act 5! It was my personal favorite act of all time! Oh boy!

No. You can probably tell with how many short stories and longer pieces were started and completed within the course of one year- and friends on Discord and Tumblr alike… know this quite well of course XD - *side eyes those beautiful patient souls* - I love all of you so much-

To "Harmony Bunny"& "Mange"especially - "Liberty Belle" owes you a platter of her Andes Candies Brownies…. I'll air lift them. XD

As always my lovelies- I hope you enjoyed now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go get lost in Hyrule again- Ahh Breah of the Wild: The gift that keeps on giving.

Cheers my lovelies,

Carrie

-Reviewer Recognition-

Guest:

XD Well the Green's ship is beginning to maybe lift anchor- maybe someday it'll pull out of the harbor :D

Thanks again!

Asteriia:

Ahh- welcome back to the madness XDD oh my though… an "X Chronicles" Wiki? XDD That….would be interesting that's for sure but I dunno – I am playing around with creating a Tumblr for it though but meh that's the future.

Ah yes… yes what is Professor Utonium hiding indeed… that is the question isn't it? We'll have to wait and see won't we- hopefully this chapter maybe gave a bit more background about John… because no worries- we'll be visiting his mind numerous times in this long tale.

I certainly hope Buttercup's fight was intense enough for your liking- good lord this was a long one – it might… be the longest fiht scene yet- but compared to Act 0… who knows XDD

And YES! I wanted Brick to have a "best friend" from the first planning stages of As Time Goes By- it's not very often one sees Brick especially with them sans brothers and or the girls. As always one of the goals of As Time Goes By is to flesh out and develop the secondary cast as well as the main six ;) – Call it practice for future projects in the mind of Carriedreamer XD – As his story developed Mike Believe fit the bill for the "best friend" role quite swimmingly and so as the editor calls it- a "Bromance" between psychic and Rowdyruff was born XDD

Thank you very much for your lovely review and yes… two years… two years just seems…. Unbelievable still. Thanks again! :D

alexx47:

And here comes the blush-o-meter. Yep of course it has to come out. XD – My goodness you are far too kind… far too kind indeed!

I'm glad you're enjoying ATGB!

The Norms are to be honest some of my favorite characters to write as – even more so than a certain Green eyed Rowdyruff when he doesn't feel like cooperating with the muse- *side eyes* - you know who you are. – but yes- Mikey, Robin, and Mitch as well as Pablo heaven forbid we forget that glorious prince- are indeed huge characters in the cast: In Mike's case it's honestly arguable he may be more of a "main" cast member versus head secondary but I digress we'll see how the narrative evolves as a whole before those labels are suitably assigned XD

Again, I'm so happy you're enjoying this and thank you so much for your wonderful review!

ReadLoverNumber1:

I will confess to this. Pablo and Mitch is one of my favorite pairings in this entire PPG writing portfolio I seem to be amassing- they're just too darn cute! :D Pablo will be featured more heavily now that he's been accepted into the "Norms" of course and Mitchy will obviously be cheering him on every step of the way!

Snake is a vile character. He makes my skin crawl everytime I write as him and no it's not just the horrid grammar and my computer and or phone rebelling against the horrid way he talks. No he's just… vile.

I always hated him as a kid as well- the way he'd bully the kids, the way he manipulated Buttercup! Just… ugh! Gross! Seriously the guy was bad news in the original show (obviously) but even for a little kid I learned pretty quickly how to identify the "Ace's" of the world and avoid them like the plague. I'm open for most fan intepretations of any of the PPG cast – for heaven's sake Princess Morebucks of all people is a Protoganist in "Invincible" – I know shocking I know.

But Ace… Ace I never could and I never will make him "redeemed"- he put a bad taste in my mouth in the rewatches now older and wiser and he always likely will. A telling achievement as always for Mr. McMcraken- once again the man shows his excellent and unsurpassed skill in making unforgettable characters who hold up for the ages.

And yes- ;) – "Bad Buttercup Baaaaaaaaad" was a further parallel between Brick and Buttercup ( and Blossom…) – She's got more in common with the Leaders than one would think- including her XD

Thanks again!

Vipper73:

Oh yes the title is finally revealed XD- I struggled for a bit on what to name this Act: And that one finally won the day after Editor discussion.

And yeahhhhh I am sorry for that cliffhanger- but as you can see the fight spiraled out of hand and were it to have gone into one chapter- A) It would have been even longer of a wait. B) I'm pretty sure my Google Docs would have rebelled and thrown me out and C) It would have been 60K plus words…

And to be honest that was honestly the best place to put the Cliffhanger I did agonize over it but once again the Editor very nicely but firmly told me to split the chapter and so I did.

I'm curious what sort of theories you have now- especially after this chapter- ohoho XD – maybe we can talk em' over Discord someday – Thanks again for the review! :D

Ddisa:

WHOO BOY. Okay- I deserved that. I hate cliffhangers too- I am the girl who threw a popcorn bag on the ground (by accident and I cleaned it up before we left!) for the last Star Wars movie- (… Albeit the cliffhanger wasn't the "only" reason I was frustrated by the Last jedi but… that's another issue for another day…) *twitch twitch*

But it honestly was the best direction to go in- as I stated above the chapter would have been ludicrously long and on a personal note the chapter itself had been… tainted by outside events I no longer wanted or even could look at that file – I already had had to step away from ATGB production for close to two weeks because of it. It's ancient history but I am human- sometimes some of my coworkers might disagree but hey- you can't be Wonder Woman "all the time" XD

I kid. I kid. But I totally get your frustration. And I do honestly apologize. ^^;;

As to your question over my writing process well… it's hard to explain. To be honest I have always said an outline is your best friend and in this case especially with As Time Goes By- it is absolutely true. Without an outline of a BASIC timeline for the chapter- I wouldn't be able to follow it either.

I usually start by assessing the Act in the main Plot outline Doc and I reread the prior Act before hand as well as the last Act with that POV to keep the characterization consistent narration wise as well as so I have an idea of what:

A: the Character in question has already "gone through" with the reader

B: What the character was likely doing out of the reader's sight.

And of course-

C: A big scene for the Rowdyruff, Powerpuff and main Norm' narrator for that Act: As an Example: Act 4's production- the four main "scenes" that were going to sum up the Act's narration and direction they were going was decided as being

Blossom: The Riot/ Humiliation at the hands of Mr. Morebucks

Brick:"Meeting" the Trickster in the old Middle School and being shown the factory in the distance.

Mike: Brick's breakdown before going through the Vent and Mike's subsequent refusal to leave him behind.

Now these scenes while maybe not the most exciting did nonetheless set up some characterization for those three characters.

The second part to my writing process is quite honestly… the Music. Yes. Every single one of my writing projects has a "soundtrack" I rely on when I'm trying to get into that mind set. Sometimes the right song can set the muse to work straightaway- heck a lot of times a song has directly inspired a piece of writing- most if not all my oneshots apply here.

I've wondered if anyone would be interested in seeing As Time Goes By' playlist sometimes to be honest XD

But that's more or less it. I do all the writing myself- the editing from my best friend / almighty editor is more or less throwing around ideas, reading the chapters and snippets out loud and lamenting over why I do this to myself sometimes over a nice cup of tea XD – Nothing real special.

And thank you again for the inquiry about donating but fanfiction unfortunately can't really be " donated" to without causing excessive trouble legally- and with whom the Powerpuff Girls franchise is currently being held captive by: I honestly wouldn't risk it even if it were possible: From what I've heard… chick is possessive of "her" creation… and God knows "Jared Boy" would hate "As Time Goes By" on principle because Blossy Boo can usually be found making out with a Red haired Rowdyruff Boy versus obsessing over a bland Gary Stu like a brainless groupie… oops- that may have been too much shade on my part- whoooooops. I'll shut up now. XD

Thanks again!

Ti:

Oh Hi lovely! XD We've discussed a good majority of your review on Tumblr already now haven't we ahaha- but I'm glad (as you know) you're enjoying As Time Goes By so much! XD I hope this Act finale was "Green" enough for you ;D

Thanks so much lovely! :D

Guest :

Thanks so much! The Greens have begun to lift anchor- perhaps someday they'll be out in the harbor. ;D

SunnyShipping:

Thanks so much!

I'll admit like I said before- in my eagerness to get the "tainted" chapter off my desktop and into the abyss of my writing "finished" folder… I wasn't as thorough as I usually am. I just… really wanted that chapter gone ^^;;; - I'll try to do better though!

Thanks again!

Pontiac56:

Yay!

Sorry but that scene with Brick and Buttercup… dear God that scene was hard. It was difficult. It drove me crazy. There is a very delicate line I needed to stay above to keep it believable and not melodrama-OOC nonsense and I think… at least I HOPE I managed to stay there.

Brick and Buttercup's friendship is another big part of his character- as well as her's- arguably she is the girl he is closest to, save Blossom of course- the jury is out- some of my writing squad think it's Robin, others think it's her- others don't care and just want more Red Fluff – Three obviously understandable point of views :p

The Greens were also a challenge- sometimes just like the Reds- the rabid Greens shipper in me ( Thanks Mange and Harmony Bunny….) needs to be kept at bay with a leash. Albeit not as strong as the Reds but… Greens are pretty up there for my favorite PPG OTP's… if not on my General List- being Number 5 as a whole but… that very well could change… as time goes by ( HA-… I'm terrible I'll shut up XD)

Thanks so much for your lovely review!

Iloveyou568:

My point exactly about Ace- I simply will not, cannot and shall not accept an Ace/Buttercup pairing. Period. I personally thought the "Fusion Fall" argument I've seen people lose was nto only gross but it was DISGUSTINGLY IRRESPONSIBLE. I can't believe CN ever approved it in the first place! Unless they were trying to say she was "eighteen" – and with that art oh I highly doubt that. Thirteen, fourteen at most. So. EW. What the heck CN!?

(… But then again these are the same people who let "Jared" past their radar so… No. No no- Bad Carrie- Keep the shade to a minumum you're better than that)

Anyways- I loathe Ace. I legitimately loathe him as a character. Ace fans beware… this is not the story for you XD He's only going to get worse I'm afraid.

Thanks so much for the review! :D

- A.T.G.B-

And to all my followers, those who have added me to their favorites and just my readers in general again I simply must say:

Thank you.

See you all at the next update.

Cheers,

Carrie