Chapter 111: The Devil's Distraction
The City of Townsville...
Long-laid plans are coming to fruition as Him prepare itself for the days to come, shepherding the unfortunates to their fates. The strands of fate and destiny that had gathered, representing a dark hope, or what passed for it in this dark within an unknown twisted and strangely incongruous structure against the glimmering starfield, sheathed in coral blue armour plates and wreath in a whirlwind of ever-changing greens, blues, pinks, purples and searing yellows a being walked down its dark hallowed steps...
Him had walked the halls and chambers of this isolated structure for months now, or what appeared to be months. Magic is as magic does, just funny that way. Him had spend so much time here that it could have navigated its winding stairways and arched passages with its eyes closed. Still, Him opened its senses to every detail.
Him soaked in the crumbling texture of the stonework and the smooth cold of the white marble columns. He listened for patterns in the echoes of its footfalls as they receded into the realm's depths. There were secrets in all things, and wisdom to be gleaned from every waking moment. One simply had to open one's eyes and see. Yet ignorance is so deeply ingrained that it has become as natural as breathing and the world cannot escape the clutches of ignorance and superstition. The sound of a deep and thoughtful breath echoed in the darkly hallowed sanctum, for Him knew that ignorance is key to its plans.
Him found itself standing before a large black door and with a gentle push, the door opened with a hiss and a wash of cold air. Greeting Him's emerald eyes is a long spit of stone that jutted out from the structure to form a natural altar. It was open to the scattered stars and the striated, many hued nebulae wheeling all about it. The shadow of the complaint was thrown along the spit in hard relief by the light of a star burning bright at its back.
Him's mind whispered to it, tempting it to understand the cosmos around it. If Him allowed itself to, it might lose itself in the study of the surrounding cosmos for days at a time. Him had done so more than once, feeling the weight of the looming choice like a stone in its did not relish this.
What would it be, Him wondered. Time for the fates to answer.
Him felt strands of destiny spiralling out from this defining moment, Him's mind stalled by an ominous weight upon its psyche. Him's senses began to desert it; the stimuli was there, yet its mind could not process it. Every movement was an exertion, every breath a labour of effort. Him was aware, yet felt powerless to compel its body to react.
Him found itself on one of the skyscrapers of Townsville and it looked down upon the sprawling gray concrete jungle. The red demon allowed itself to feel and sense the city in its bodily fibre.
All the sights.
All the sounds.
All the smells.
All the emotions.
Oh, all the emotions.
When manifested in the material universe, demons have particular invulnerabilities and weaknesses, as well as many strange powers derived from their 'peculiar' nature. As creatures of pure emotion and psychic energy that are native to a 'peculiar' twisted mirror dimension, demons cannot survive for long in the cold reality of the material universe. They need some manner of focal point, some channel through which they can transfer their uncanny power and make themselves manifest in the worlds of flesh and blood. Each demon does it in their own manner, and each manifested themselves in a manner befitting its nature.
For Him, it is the concept of hoping to escape.
Every being seek to escape their present moment, whether they seek to escape from their grief or to anger escaping their rational stoicism. The more powerful the sense of escape, the more likely it will act as a beacon for Him to exert its influence. This is perhaps why Him is particularly attracted to the Powerpuff Girls and the Rowdyruff Boys.
The Powerpuff Girls, born from Professor Utonium's desire to allow Townsville to escape its grim and dark fate.
The Rowdyruff Boys, born from Mojo Jojo's desire to escape from Townsville Prison and exact its vengeance on the Powerpuff Girls.
They are something created out of the desire to escape, and now they are the keys that will set Him free.
Yet, Him's more frequent visits into what it calls the 'Constellation Sanctum' had grown more frequent as Him's plans started to bear fruit. Phase Hades is now reaching its conclusion, and the eldritch machinations had stained its mark upon Townsville. Him knew that its plans is now in a phase where one can see what Him had done to the city if one knew where to look. To be plain honest, Him is surprised that Brick and Blossom had yet to figure out its plans yet.
"No matter." Him mused, knowing well that when the time come the superpowered teenagers will be there to put a wrench into the cogwork plan. On a whim, Him decided at the moment to spy upon the Powerpuff Girls and Rowdyruff Boys to see what they are up to.
Him found itself in a shopping mall, and it wondered if it will be seeing Bubbles or Blossom first. Instead, to its pleasant surprise it found itself looking down on the least likely Powerpuff Girl and Rowdyruff Boys to be spotted in a mall. The two dark-haired superhumans with green eyes appear to be in their traditional and expected interaction as they bickered with each other, while Boomer is staring blankly towards whatever it is that caught its cobalt-blue eyes. A little girl appear to be with them as well, and to see what Him considered to be the three least responsible people taking care of a little child is an impressive sight.
"I take that back." Him corrected itself as it saw the little girl walking towards one of the tables. Him recognized that the little girl had decided to walk to the table where Fennec is sitting.
Him is amused that Fennec is doing her best to hide from the superhumans, and Him must admit that if it were not for the soulbond that Him had with Fennec, Him would be fooled as well. Him watched as the Frenchwoman and the little girl made contact, and both individuals are soon joined by Boomer and Buttercup. Him watched with wild amusement as it wondered how Boomer's hypersenses had not picked up on Fennec's scent or anything that would identify her. Yet, Fennec is Him's most capable lieutenant for a reason, and perhaps her abilities are at work. Only by Butch's intervention did Boomer, Buttercup and the little girl left Fennec alone.
Him sensed Fennec's emotions welling out from her as she make her exit, and Him recognized the bittersweetness of mixed emotion stemming from her hope and sadness. Him turned towards Butch to see that the dark-haired boy's having a similar emotion in him, though much more diluted. Him recognized the core emotion that sparked their melancholy; Hope.
Seeing that there is nothing too interesting happening with the trio, Him decided to allow the fates to lead it to the next superpowered teenager.
Him wondered where it is before realizing that it is now in the Townsville General Hospita and found itself witnessing a scene.
A young platinum blonde teenager girl with light blue eyes is yelling, with both her arms trapped in a sea of pure black hands grabbing and pulling her intothr face of an entity made out from the darkest black.
"LET GO OF MEEEEEEE! !" The blonde teenager struggled to break free, but no amount of force will allow her to escape the adhesive hold on her. The horror grew on her face as the dark being's face started to form more hands and grabbed on Bubbles' wrists and fists. With each hand several more hands grew and grabbed on to her forearms. The force of her shriek caused the floor and the surrounding walls to crack and cave in. However the figure appear to not be affected in any way by the shriek.
"Let her go." Him growled deeply without the sweetness of its secondary, surprising both the blonde girl and the dark entity
"Him?" The young girl called out Him's name.
Him placed its red pincer on her shoulders, its attention focused solely on the entity holding the youbg girl hostage.
"Him." The dark being spoke with a condescending tone.
"Him indeed." Him answered, fully prepared to enact any threat it wanted to inflict on the dark entity.
The other entity knew that Him meant what it said and the darkness enveloping the platinum blonde teenager's released her arms. The darkness formed itself once more into a single eyed skull-like visage. The being adjusted its wide-brimmed hat on its head before responding with a shrug.
"Well, It sees no point to antagonize Him. It will make its leave." The black demon responded jovially as it tilted its hat.
"Get out." Him snarled.
"Have fun you two." The other entity waved to the platinum blonde teenager before turning around and walking away, submerging itself into its own shadow As soon as the entity disappeared, the young girl turned her attention towards Him.
"Are you here to mock me too?" The young girl said with venom in her voice, yet at the same time it is trembling with a great sadness.
"No. I am here to stop him from breaking your mind." Him's voice slowly regained its feminine contralto, resonating alongside its deep baritone voice.
Bubbles. The Powerpuff Girl that always seem to attract Him to her most vulnerable moments. Always has been and always will be. Him's eyes met the sky-blue eyes of the Powerpuff Girl and wondered why it felt particularly odd.
"Aren't you always doing that to me?" Bubbles snarked.
"I prey upon your flaws and weaknesses, not your misfortunes." Him answered Bubbles as materialized a black cigarette from thin air.
Him gently biting on the cigarette before it was ignited with a bright green flame. The demon took to leaning on the wall nearby and puffed up in the air. Him observed the Powerpuff Girl as she stared at it. Him decided to take the time to look around and try to figure out a particular oddity it sensed. It felt as if Him should not be here to begin with, and something felt particularly unusual. Him looked around only to see the intensive care machinery keeping Professor Utonium stable, and something in particular caught its eye.
The date...it is a few days ago, Him deduced. This slight time travel happened when Him allowed the fates to let it go where the fates pleases. Him will need to wait for a little while before the fates allowed it to leave.
"I didn't know that you smoked." Bubbles appeared surprised by Him's smoking.
"I just never smoked in front of you children before. By the way, aren't you forgetting something?" Him nonchalantly replied in a courteous manner.
"Forgetting what?" Bubbles raised an eyebrow.
"A thank you." Him replied.
"Are you even-" Bubbles appear to be welling up in her disbelief over what Him demanded, but Him apologized immediately.
"Of course not. After all, I did brought this upon you Bubbles." Him noticed Bubbles clenching her fists, and Hin can sense the hostility and the desire to resort to physical violence on it. Him noticed Bubbles' observation of itself, and closed its emerald eyes as if to shut away the intensity of Bubbles' eyes.
"Don't mind me. I am just going to ramble on by myself." The demon warned the Powerpuff Girl before taking a puff from its cigarette.
"For old time's sake, I will impart my two cents; justice without strength isn't justice at all." Him advised as it opened back its eyes, staring at the ceiling of the Townsville High hallway.
"There are countless examples of false heroes who don't think ahead and jump in to save thousands. They are just egotistical fools who happened to have luck on their side that fateful day. Troublesome to the extreme to others.What a true hero of justice need is intelligence, strength and spirit...the power to make their ideals a reality, the power to make the impossible possible. The resolution to put their sense of justice onto others." Him puffed its cigarette once more, noticing that it is not everyday that someone imparts advice to their adversary.
"If you want to walk down the path to justice, you will need to become stronger." Him stopped to disintegrate its used cigarette, before lighting up another got off the wall and started walking away from the Powerpuff Girl, only for it to notice that a reddish pink fog had started to form around its body.
Time to leave, Him reasoned for the fog that allowed it to move through time and space always chose when it wanted Him to leave, whether it like it or not. Him decided to use its reality-warping powers to repair the damages done in the room earlier by the struggles between It and Bubbles.
"Wait..." Bubbles reached out to the demon but to no avail.
"Either you rely on someone else...or you pay some kind of price." Him's words slowly faded away like its own body, leaving Bubbles alone in the hospital ward.
Now...where am I?
Him wondered as it found itself in a room, before coming to a realization that it is now inside Brick's room. Him sensed an indescribable sensation at the back of its head, beckoning it to hide. Him decided that it might as well hide under the bed as the wardrobe is a foolish location to hide in if Brick decided to take a change of clothing. Him duly lowered itself to the floor and rolled under Brick's bed, mere moments before it heard the sound of the windows opening up.
Brick's home.
Him is surprised to hear some dripping sounds accompanying the footsteps, and the footsteps stopped as it entered into another room. Him reasoned that it will be the bathroom, for it is the only other notable area within this room that would cause the dripping sound to echo. The demon wondered what Brick is trying to do in the bathroom before long it heard the sound of something lowered down in the bathtub. The sound of something being lowered into the bathtub is notable enough that Him knew that the object is rather large. A few moments passed the sound of running water is heard, and Him listened on as the bathtub is being filled.
Perhaps Brick is bathing, Him reasoned. However, to Him's surprise once more, the sound of the running water being cut is soon followed by footsteps exiting the bathroom. The sound of the bathroom door closing further perplexed the demon, before Him saw a pair of feet drawing closer towards the bed. The sound of something placing itself on the bed informed Him that someone is now sitting on the bed.
"God damn it." The snarky voice of the red-haired Rowdyruff Boy is heard before Him smelled vaporizing water.
Wait...if Brick is here...then who's in the bathtub?, Him wondered.
"Fuck. Off. " Brick spoked out loud, and for a second there Him though that Brick was talking to him.
Perhaps Brick kidnapped someone?
"Seriously. Fuck. Off." Brick snarled loudly as if in response to Him's hypothesis, before taking in a deep breath.
"Eh-what the?!" A voice of surprise is heard from inside the bathroom and Him recognized that voice.
Blossom?, Him is surprised that the Powerpuff Girl is in Brick's bathroom.
"The water's alright with you?" Brick answered without any change in his voice.
"B-Brick?! What are you-where am-"
"You're in my bathroom." Him observed the interaction as Brick got up from his bed.
"Why am-why am I in your bathroom? And why am I in a bathtub filled with hot water?!"
"You panicked and fell off into the pier. So I took you back to stop you from going into hypothermic shock."
"That is no right to strip me naked-"
"You have your lingerie on Blossom. I did not strip you naked." The sound of the wardrobe opening greeted Him's ears just as Blossom said something incomprehensible that borders on fuming anger and overwhelming embarrassment.
"Huh... Perhaps I should have left you freezing in the icy waters of Townsville Harbor instead?" Brick's piercing answer silenced the Powerpuff Girl. Him watched as Brick walked closer to the bathroom, knocking the door of the bathroom.
"Anyway...Here are some clothes and a towel for you." The sound of the bathroom door closing and a sigh signalled to Him that the whole situation is just as absurd for Brick as it is for Him.
"Thanks...thanks for the clothes Brick." Blossom's gratitude is responded in kind by the Rowdyruff Boy.
"Least I could do."
This is adorable, Him thought to itself, not expecting the two red-headed superhumans to be so cordial to each other. As far as it is concerned, their rivalry are as intense as the fiery red and orange hues of their hair engulfing everything in an inferno.
Him laid low for an undetermined amount of time before it heard the creak of the bathroom door. The meek voice of the Powerpuff Girl is heard, and Blossom's discomfort is obvious in her tone.
"This is weird."
"Well, the clothing is a few sizes larger than your frame you know." Brick quipped.
"Perv... You really enjoy knowing that I am wearing your clothes without any lingerie, don't you?" Blossom's remark surprised Him for it did not expect Blossom to forward a risque idea so blatantly. It seems that Brick is also in agreement, for he did not respond with his usual quick-witted remark.
"Wait...you didn't plan for this." Him sensed Blossom's discomfort with her own words, and that entertained it so.
"No... No I didn't." The sound of footsteps marching away followed by the gentle sound of the door opening up and closing marked Brick's exit from the room.
"Way to be a bitch, Blossom." Blossom's reprimanded herself, and Him is particularly entertained by how Blossom is presenting herself.
Him watched as Blossom walked closer to the study chair before taking a sit. Blossom's rigid posture on the chair bores Him, but Blossom is not known to be an impulsive being. On second thought, if Blossom is the exploring type, she would have checked under the bed and found Him lying down in an awkward position. The chair moved closer towards the table, but any further action by Blossom is soon interrupted by Brick's return.
"You should have knocked first before you entered, Brick. "
"Blossom, who knock the door before entering into their own room?"
"Good point." The bed creaked once more, and Him recognized that Brick had just taken a seat on the bed.
"It is not nice to blame someone for something they don't know or didn't do... Even if I am a villain." Him can sense that Brick is not pleased by something Blossom had said. But what came next surprised Him.
"You're a villain, but a nice villain." Blossom answered.
"But a villain nonetheless." Brick's displeasure is still seething from his voice, and Brick continued on with the conversation.
"Now, riddle me this Blossom: What is so special about Townsville? Everyone and their mothers wants a piece of Townsville, even when the presence of the Powerpuff Girls, the mightiest superheroines should act as a deterrent."
"I... I don't know. But..you had something in mind."
Him listened on as Brick and Blossom's combined intellectual might identified the players in this convoluted game in the shadows and connecting the dots. Him enjoyed how the beautiful minds of these individual works, though Him is surprised that it took them this long to figure out the outline of Phase Hades in Operation Pantheon. However, they are still missing out many more vital details and that is to be expected.
They knew nothing of the Red Candy's true purpose.
They knew nothing about the Trinisphere.
They knew nothing of Zeus' Thunderbolt.
They knew nothing of Hecate.
They knew nothing of Phantom's Blood.
They knew nothing about the role the boys will play in this whole plan. .
They knew nothing about the role the girls will play in this whole plan.
They knew nothing of the end goal.
They knew nothing.
Oh, how they knew nothing.
Him laid around awaiting for the two individuals to leave the room, but soon its eyelids feel heavy and it closed its eyes.
The demon opened it once more to be greeted by a field of golden wheat field as far as the eyes can see. Him stretched its arms forward, but instead of crimson and a claw, a bronze-colored skin and a hand with five finger touched the gently blowing wheat. Looking up, the bright and cloudless azure skies brought a melancholic smile on its face.
How long has it been since it has came here?
How long has it been since it has felt the gentle touch of something on its hands?
How long has it been since it has hands?
Him walked amidst the sea of wheat, and like a gentle wave the wheat brushes on its body. The gentle and warm winds caresses its skin, giving Him an unspecified sensation of ease. However, Him's blissfulness was stopped by something that he had picked up from its pointed ears. Him froze in the fields, stunned by the voice it heard. Him looked around, as if hearing a voice it had not heard in a long time. No, it is a voice Him had never thought it would hear once again.
Him spoke to ascertain the identity of the voice, but it was taken by surprise once more as it noticed its own youthful tenor voice. Its voice is not the cacophonous discordant it knew, but instead of a single voice that is neither a high-pitched woman's voice nor a dark-timbred man's voice . Him touched its own larynx before it looked around once more.
Him felt the voice once more in its head, but Him is perplexed by why it is unable to interpret the voice. It can not recognize the concept of the voice, just that it knew that it is a voice that it knew that it would never heard once again. Him moved around the wheat field as if it is a demon possessed, seeking the voice it had just heard. Him's breathing became heavier, and it can feel the sweat running down its forehead. Once more Him had forgotten when was the last time it sweated, for it happened several lifetimes ago.
Him is now running across the wheat field, confused by what it is looking for. Him's heart beat like a war drum, its mind at war with its own confusion. Each step brought it closer to nothing and further away from the truths that it seek. The confusion soon turned to anxiety, and from anxiety down into despair. Him is unable to accept this truth, and it seeks to escape from this situation. It closed its eyes once more, hoping that it will all go away.
Him opened its eyes with a heavy sigh, finding itself back in the mysterious alternate dimensional fortress surrounded by cosmic phenomenons. Him allowed the strands of dark eldritch energy that it had gathered to unravel, releasing them to flow back into the endless ocean of the cosmos. Its emerald green eyes strayed to the new flicker of green-blue flames that danced amidst the hurricane of the warding beacon above Him.
Him had lose itself once more in the study of the surrounding cosmos. Him had done so more than once, and lost itself for days gazing through the cosmos. However, choices are made that will affect the realities that Him face and will face in its goals. Indeed, some will be detrimental to Him's goals yet the fates had led Him to make such choices for itself.
'Every sacrifice count,' thought Him as it watched the flame flicker and dance, just one beacon in an ensorcelled boundary that stretched across the stars. It is by blood that the enlightenment will come. By the deaths of those sacrificed are the wards kept strong, and Him hoped that it will count when it matters.