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Part Two

UNDER THE SUN

Chapter 12

Dear Daughter

A group of kids was playing in the central park of Townsville. They ran behind a ball, laughing and crying out for their peers to pass it, careless of the looming volcano that was nearby and the observatory that was built over it.

After all, everyone knew that Mojo Jojo had been put back in prison again, after some kind of plan he tried and failed to pull off somewhere in Europe…

Except that Mojo Jojo was also known to get creative and resourceful when he was behind the bars. So, the kids stopped running when they heard the ground trembling, and when a drilling machine suddenly appeared out of nowhere, digging out of the ground and throwing terrain clumps everywhere, they immediately started screaming and running away towards their equally scared parents.

Mojo walked out of the machine, leaving it behind himself as a regular 'beep' kept coming out of the makeshift vehicle. He took a few steps away and watched as the thing exploded.

That would give him a few days at most, offering the Townspeople the perfect incident to believe him gone or incapacitated. The park was already empty, so he was very free to take his time as he started to walk back to his observatory. He really wanted to get changed back into his usual uniform…

And just forget what happened in Ultrapolis.

Against his better judgement, Mojo's thoughts were unable to run back to his latest mistake: trusting strangers. "Insufferable geezer…" he grumbled under his breath.

There was much to think about. His original problem, the Powerpuff Girls, were still alive. The additional problem, the boy from Ultrapolis, was also still alive. He needed to dispose of them all! There had to be a way…

But how? If Dr Porter's Rowdyruff-esque girl had failed, even if she was clearly designed to be like the original Rowdyruff Boys, who had managed despite their instability to beat the Powerpuffs once? There was the incident concerning her creation and the origin of the Unidentified Y used to create her, that was true… but was it all because of that? Was he destined to either take part in plans or conceive schemes of his own that were destined for failure?

No, that wasn't possible… Mojo knew he had to leave this last accident behind him and start anew. Striking at the Powerpuff Girls and their friend when they were separated was still the best idea, but he needed something fast, able to do the job before they could go get each other's help.

By the time he reached the door at the top of the stairs, he was already brainstorming, but his thoughts were abruptly stopped when the door opened up to let him, the proper owner and inhabitant of the observatory, in.

As there were three unauthorised occupants in, all of them holding weapons of his own craft and aiming them at each other. At the centre of a complete mess of a chamber, that used to be his observatory.

"YOU!" Mojo Jojo's voice boomed, immediately gaining the attention of the Rowdyruff Boys. "You are the very last people I wished to meet at this very right moment!"

"Geez, Mojo, nice to see you again too," Butch said offhandedly. "Now if you excuse us, we would like to go back trying to shoot each other to little bits!"

Mojo shook his head. "You aren't going to do anything else within the premises of this observatory, young man!" he bellowed, walking up to the three regrouping boys. "You will leave anything you've picked here, and then get out of my lair right here and now without further delay!"

Brick raised an eyebrow. "Usually you're far more on a good mood when you've just made it out of prison, Mojo."

Mojo scoffed. "The fact you don't even recognise why I am very much displeased with your presence here, is displeasing on its own. Do you three idiots not remember about the recent failures of ours in Europe? You were a part of it, and you also failed at your job!"

"Job? Mojo, we never joined you at anything," Brick specified. He hovered up to face Mojo. "Our only mistake was trusting the madman you had allied with, who didn't care when his monsters went berserk and started attacking us."

Mojo was livid. "Your only mistake?! You neuron-lacking buffoons! You had the chance to destroy the Powerpuff Girls after you were done with the monsters! They were very much vulnerable after their clash with Porter, and all you did was turn your back and let them live!"

Brick frowned, but he also didn't reply. Because technically, Mojo was speaking the truth… and he didn't dare actually say aloud what he and his brothers had concluded, when discussing about the experience in past weeks.

Unfortunately, he had a brother who was way less apt at keeping his mouth shut when needed.

"We just didn't want to!" Boomer replied. "It's not like you can make us, is it?! We really had a bad day, and we didn't have any reason to help the guy who betrayed us, so what? We can kick the Powerpuffs' butt any time!"

Brick raised a hand to smack Boomer, but he halted when Mojo shouted, "WHAT!?"

"Uuh… do I have to repeat what I said?"

Mojo simply glared at Boomer with hatred. "You knew you could do it, and yet you didn't because you didn't feel like it?! You… you complete imbeciles! Nincompoops! You had them served on a silver plate and you let it go out of laziness, you were this close to greatness and decided it wasn't worth it because you were tired!?"

Brick was starting to be fed up with Mojo's continuous insults. "Listen, father number one," he hissed, "you don't have any right to tell us off. We do things as we please, and if we don't want to fight the girls when you want, then so be it. We're quite sick of your schemes anyway."

"Which never ever worked to begin with," Butch added.

"So, you better start considering that we're not always on your side," Brick concluded. He crossed his hands. "Face it, Mojo. We're not like some robots at your service."

Mojo stepped back, hit by the boys' words. He looked at them, his eyes wide and almost reddening with blood. Then, it came to him.

"Now… I understand what exactly happened there," Mojo Jojo said. He glared at the boys, now much calmer, but also colder than before. "You betrayed me."

The boys looked at each other. "…what?"

"YOU BETRAYED ME! You betrayed the very motive, the only reason you were originally created for, and you betrayed even the one purpose that you should've longed for since Him brought you back!" Mojo ranted. "No, this, I won't tolerate this behaviour."

"So, what, are you going to just kick us out now and be done with it? Big deal," Brick let out a dry chuckle.

"Yes, I am going to kick you out. I won't just stop there, though. After that, I am going to make sure every single criminal and villain in Townsville and beyond knows that you have been repudiated for your betrayal, Him included. Do not dare ever cross my path again, Rowdyruff Boys, or I will destroy you!"

Boomer and Butch looked sincerely surprised by the outburst of Mojo, since they didn't remember him ever threatening them, but Brick kept his usual demeanour. "What, with a plan similar to the ones you use to destroy the Powerpuffs? The ones that don't work?"

That ended up being too much, as Mojo suddenly exploded into a fit, letting out beastly noises. "Get out! Get out! GET OUT!" he yelled and shouted between growls and cries, agitating his hands towards the boys.

Brick let out a "oh all right, all right!" but Mojo didn't stop vomiting insults and exclamations of hatred until there were outside and the door closed between them. After that, the boys were alone.

"…do you think that he will still let us play with his stuff once he's steamed off…?" Boomer asked timidly.

*smack*

"OUCH!"

Brick didn't hesitate hitting him. After that, he sighed.

"I doubt he'll ever let us in again. I've never seen him this mad…" Butch said. He gave a glance to Brick. "Ya' sure you needed to tick him off like that? It's not like I enjoyed his plans, but he made it sound like we somehow switched sides."

"We did not switch sides," Brick glared at Butch. "We are on our own side, Butch, simple as that. And we can live and make do even without Mojo's observatory to crash in, or Him's powerups."

"Well… I guess we'll have more guys to fight with, if Mojo is going to keep his word," Butch guessed. "I can look forward to that."

"And you," Brick turned towards Boomer, "I hope you understood that you should watch what you're saying, Boomer."

"Wait, did I say something wrong?"

*sock*

"OUCH!"

Princess didn't have much of a plan on what to do at first, when she arrived in the park of the volcano. She would've just flown up to the entrance to meet Mojo inside, since she knew he'd just made it out of prison, but before she could she heard cries and shouts, and then she saw the Rowdyruff Boys coming out of the observatory.

She mumbled to herself as she waited for the boys to disappear from her view, a dire reminder of their not so pleasant encounters in the past. She had yet to stop holding a grudge against them… the boys were already second on the list of people she wanted to destroy—after the girls themselves, of course. Nobody ever deferred her without consequences!

Once the boys' streaks dissolved, Princess activated her jetpack's thrusters and flew up the observatory. Without so much of an announcement, she knocked hard on the door.

"WHO?! Who in their right mind would bother me again right now! If it's you Rowdyruffs again, I, Mojo Jojo, will make sure to honour my vow right here and now!"

The door slid up, revealing an angry Mojo Jojo—still in his prison uniform—who pointed a laser gun at Princess. "YOU WILL PERISH AND—"

"Mojo!" Princess cried out in her usual, shrill tone. Mojo made a step back, then lowered his rifle.

"Oh… it's you. I may not want to destroy you… but your visit is still not welcome, Morbucks! Leave this place!"

"What, you won't even listen to what I have to say?" Princess crossed her arms, affronted. "I have very big news, Mojo! This is our chance to get back at the stupid Powerpuff Girls!"

Mojo narrowed his eyes. "The last time we collaborated, Princess, it did not end well for either of us. I'd rather not see those events repeated in the near future."

"But hear me out! We won't even have to fight the Powerpuff Girls at first! We just have to cause chaos in the city—they won't interrupt us!"

"…how would that be possible?" Mojo scratched his chin, somewhat interested, but also doubtful.

"Well, well, well! Now you are all ears huh?" Princess grinned, but Mojo simply glared at her. "Oh, come on, you chimp. Be happy for once! The Powerpuff Girls are not in Townsville, and they are not going back anytime soon!"

She walked deeper into the observatory, aiming straight for Mojo's leisure corner, which was complete with a chair, table for breakfast, and TV set with remote.

Mojo followed her, not impressed at all by her remark. "First, you will have to give me more than mere words that to convince me, Morbucks. And second, and most importantly, how does that change anything, since the Powerpuffs can easily make it back here even if they're at the antipodes of this city?"

"Oh, shut up!" Princess picked up the remote that was on the armchair, then exposed her tongue at Mojo. "You're always making things more complicated. Ugh, hopefully the news are actually on the right subject right now."

She turned on the TV without asking for permission, then surfed through the various channels. "Not here, not here… Oh, come on!"

"You are wasting my time, Morbucks," Mojo growled. "I didn't just make it out of the accursed jail only to hear your squawking! Now, you will leave—"

"There!" Princess pointed at the screen, she had finally found the channel she was looking for.

"Hello Stanley, we're reporting you from the Town Hall of Yanjing right now, where the Mayor has just finished their press conference concerning the Powerpuff Girls' work in the city!"

Mojo silenced himself as he watched the screen. A woman was talking while looking at the camera, while in the background he could see an office building of considerable size. Dozens of journalists, almost all of which were from Chinese media outlets, were also visible behind the woman. Mojo didn't recognise any face, but just the name of his nemeses being mentioned caught his attention on the spot.

"There! Now listen and you'll see that I'm not lying to you!" Princess grinned.

"Hush, Morbucks."

Princess pouted but didn't speak further, letting the TV set do the needed explanations for her.

"The Mayor of Yanjing, as well as a representative of the government, spoke earlier to a few selected journalists from the west and a large crowd of Chinese newscasters. They spoke thoroughly about the private military company that was set up by Damian Gordon, a MIA US official that was revealed to have deserted the States years ago. We were not able to ask questions about the specifics of Gordon's role in China, but they communicated that Damian Gordon has been detained and his PMC has been dismantled. China remains hopeful to strike a satisfying collaboration with the US concerning Gordon's destiny and his upcoming trial, especially after the intervention of the Powerpuff Girls."

"So that is true, Juanita," the voice of the Townsville main newscast presenter, Stanley Whitfield, replied. "The Powerpuff Girls are indeed in China, as we heard previously."

"To be more precise, Stanley, they were here. The Powerpuff Girls have supposedly helped with the dismantlement of the PMC guided by Damian Gordon, but we weren't given many details concerning what exactly occurred in the facilities occupied by him. The officials here have provided us with a generic descriptions of the events and a series of images, which we can put in the feed right now."

The journalist continued her explanation as the screen feed switched to an image of a military facility. "Damian Gordon is also responsible for the series of desertion events that happened in the US military forces, as well as other military armies from other countries, according to the Mayor's account of the events. The Powerpuff Girls specifically helped in the battle against this army of deserters built by Gordon, and they also recognise the role of Donnie, the superhero boy from Ultrapolis that was involved in Townsville's events in the past."

"See, the girls and the dumdum boy who's their friend are both occupied! They fought that guy and apparently they got a good beat down—this is our chance to—"

"Silence, Morbucks!"

"But what—"

The image switched again, this time it was picturing the subjects of the journalist's description. The Powerpuff Girls were displayed in full screen, and Mojo could see that they seemed to be indeed battered down, with the blonde girl in particular having a cast on a leg. A similar description that could apply for Donnie as well, who was present. In fact, it was clear they were receiving medical attention.

But what shocked Mojo, to the very core, was the sight of Nuru, Huan, Ai, Li and Hui. The picture showed them all together inside a medical tent, all looking very much in an extremely weakened state, especially so for the Chinese puffs. The girls had just gotten their medical treatment apparently, as Nuru and Donnie were still being cared for, and the Chinese kids were all lying on small beds.

"The picture you should be seeing right now depicts Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup and Donnie in a post-battle situation, while under the care of China's medical experts. The Mayor assured that the girls and Donnie received all the medical care they had the right for, and that they left on good terms. They did not share further information on the identity of the other four kids that likely were involved and that appear in this image.

The feed switched to another photo again, this time showing just the girls in an open space, looking with a brighter mood. "The girls have left Yanjing together with Donnie, though their current location wasn't shared with us. We were able to contact Professor Utonium, who explained that the girls are on a mission to help friends of them. He didn't share more to us other than the names of the unknown kids. The boys are named Nuru, Li and Hui, while the two girls—"

He had heard enough.

Mojo stomped away, hiding his face behind his hands. Princess followed him as he did so.

"So, Mojo, what do you say? Shall you make the honours? We are free to do what we please, and even if they think to make it back here to stop us—what can they do? You saw what state they're in! And it would be the perfect opportunity to finish them off as well! We should strike early!"

Mojo didn't reply.

"Are you even listening!?" Princess yelled. "I'm offering you a part in what is basically free bucks, Mojo! Free chaos! And if you aren't joining me, I will do it on my own and—"

"I don't care, Morbucks!" Mojo's voice boomed as he turned around. He revealed red eyes, filled with anger but also confusion. "You don't understand the stakes, what has changed! Townsville is no more the true target!"

"…what?" Princess tilted his head.

Mojo wearily pointed at the TV set. "There's more of them. I thought it was just a boy, an oddity, a mere deviation to account for that wouldn't see things change any further… but now there's another four of them. I cannot fathom… how much more of them are going to show up. There could be more being created right now, I can't control it! CURSES!"

"Wait… those children? What do they matter to us?"

"They matter, you neuron-lacking brat!" Mojo shouted. "Every one of them is an obstacle to world domination, to the actual destruction of Townsville and the Powerpuffs themselves, every one of them is potentially as hard to take down as one of the three accursed girls. And now there's nine of them! NINE!"

"…you really should take your priorities straight, Mojo. It's just the girls or the world," Princess said without enthusiasm to Mojo's observations. "Also, I was born rich, which automatically gives me many more neurons that whatever count you have inside your brain, monkey."

Mojo looked at her with a hard glare, then he suddenly let out a long sigh. "This requires… thought. It requires a thorough plan, something that will take months… years. But I will do it. I will destroy the Powerpuff Girls, their friends, and every one of their kind. I will eradicate their race. And you, Morbucks, will not have a part in it."

He took her by her shoulders. "Hey, take your hands off me!"

Instead of respecting her order, Mojo picked her up and literally flung her towards the exit of the observatory. For Princess it was easy to regain control in mid-air thanks to her jetpack, but that didn't mean she wasn't furious.

"Who do you think you are, are you finally braindead!?" Princess cried out, her pride hurt by being thrown like a sack of flour. "You dare disrespect me again and I'm gonna put you to display in a zoo, you freaking—"

"Leave me alone, Princess. Just… leave."

Princess ceased speaking when he heard the hard, almost resigned tone of Mojo's words. She had never ever heard him being so… dejected, completely defeated by the events.

She was still offended, but she understood there was no use yelling out at Mojo while he was in this state.

"Well, then I'll go. Too bad I'll get all the fun for myself. See you late, VERY late, Mojo Jojo!" Princess yelled, before flying out of the exit. The door slid down behind her, closing off the observatory one final time.

'That idiot… ugh!' Princess groaned as she realised that she had wasted her time, her perfectly good time, for this visit. Well, so be it! If Mojo wanted to wallow in misery for some stranger kids that she didn't care about, then she was willing to let him do that! She just needed a few more resources before she could lay chaos to the city, so that when the girls made it back, she would be ready to take them all down in one go… and after that, only she would be the only true Powerpuff Girl left in Townsville.

And she knew who to ask for help.

"DADDYYY!"

Princess had perfected the act over the years. So, it was as if a rerun was happening when she slammed the door to one of the various living rooms in the mansion open and ran towards her father, who was sitting in front of the fireplace. "DADDY, DADDY, DADDYYY!"

Crying with a stream of tears coming down her face, Princess rushed to Mr. Morebucks, holding on his knee as she lamented. "Daddy! I wanted to ask help from Mojo Jojo to help me deal with the Powerpuff Girls, but he wouldn't listen! He watched the news as well, but he was stupid and didn't want to join me, and he also said bad things to me and threw me out! Now I'm alone and I don't know what to do! I just…"

She looked up to him, exhibiting her most emotional expression. "I just need more ways to make sure the girls understand their place, daddy. With enough of those toys you always buy for me, I will be able to show them up, and this time they won't be able to respond to that! The news showed me that! So, daddy, please, please, please! Show me you love me and—"

Princess stopped speaking when Mr. Morbucks put a hand on her head.

She was shocked, taken aback, completely in the unknown about what to do, or even say. Daddy never… ever did anything like this. He just gave her money, or make purchases for her!

Showing any type of affection… even to just acknowledge her, was not something she expected him to do.

"Oh, Princess, my dear daughter."

He never spoke to her, either… she didn't even remember the last time he did.

"…d-daddy?" she managed to blurt out.

Mr. Morbucks let out a chuckle. "Oh, sorry… I realise this comes… unaccounted for. But we need to talk… and it is related to your conflict with the Powerpuff Girls, in a way."

Princess jerked away from her father, suddenly feeling furious as the first theory regarding what was happening came to her mind.

"I AM NOT GOING TO STOP, DADDY!" she yelled with an high-pitched voice. "I am going to destroy the Powerpuff Girls, and you are going to help me doing that, as you always do! You must do that! And I… I…"

The words died in Princess' throat as Mr. Morbucks' behaviour shifted. He gave her a hard, cold glare, yet again something she'd never seen him do.

Princess had seen Mojo being mad at her, or the girls being especially angry at her behaviour. She knew what it felt like to be on the receiving her of an annoyed person.

But it had never, ever happened from her father. And the way he looked at her now… he wasn't just annoyed.

She couldn't even tell how much angry he was.

"…daddy?"

"Princess," Mr. Morbucks drawled. "I do not have any intention to put an end to your quarrel with the Powerpuff Girls. But if you want this conversation to end in a satisfying end for the both of us… you will pay respect to who I am and listen to what I am going to say. Now… you don't want your dad to get mad, do you? It never happened in the past, didn't it?"

Princess shook her head. Her mind was telling her to start screaming, to completely obliterate her father in a storm of words and insults. How dare he even try to rein her in?! What did he think she was, his pet? She was Princess Morbucks, and when she asked daddy something, she always got what she wanted! He should not be acting like this!

But he was. And as he stood up and walked up to Princess, she suddenly felt something she had hardly felt in all her life. An emotion she thought she was impervious to, as her father kept glaring at her with his calculating, sour gaze.

"All I am asking is for you to… help your daddy in a little project of his. I think that your problem with… them, has helped you obtain some precious, well, skills. Skills that may be very much useful in a problematic situation that has arisen in the latest project of our Industries. I am very proud of you Princess… and I think it's time for us to see if you're up to the task."

"B-but… but the girls…" Princess weakly protested. Morbucks kneeled down and put both of his hands on Princess's shoulders. By now, she was trembling, but the man didn't seem to be concerned with her reaction, or even noticing it at all.

"I trust you will do a good work, Princess… and as such, I think that you should deserve a good pay after all is done. We could say… that your reward will most likely be the final solution to your problem, with those girls that keep being an annoyance. After that, the Powerpuff Girls will not be a bother to my daughter anymore."

"They w-won't?"

Morbucks nodded. "We will leave in a couple of days, Princess. I'll explain you the details in time, but for now I need you to stay put and… show me you're willing to come with me to the very end. Will you, my dear daughter? Will you help your daddy with this small issue of his?"

His eyes felt penetrating, as if they were looking at her very own soul, checking if there was any kind of second thoughts in her mind. Princess, shuddering, was unable to look at him straight, and her face turned to the floor of the chamber.

This wasn't like her daddy, not at all… what was happening? She didn't know what to do, how to react. She wanted to scream, but she could not, not after how he'd looked at her. She didn't know how she was supposed to act! It was like… everything was changing all of a sudden, and she couldn't do much about it.

But daddy had said that she would receive a reward for her efforts, one that would help her get rid of the Powerpuffs for good. That was good… that had to be good.

He was still her daddy, the one who always fulfilled all of her wishes. It was just… a bit different, this time.

"O-okay."

Tycoon Morbucks smiled.