Episode 3: A Powerpuff Shocker
Ever since this mystery began, many understandable clues have emerged about the sudden disappearance of Gon:
Clue 1: He used a VT watch to transport himself to many places
Clue 2: He has "extremely personal reasons" for leaving
Clue 3: He gives substantial relationship advice every now and then
Clue 4: The advice has given him a 100 percent success rate
Clue 5: It's a possibility that he could be a relationship as well
So far, those clues still leave so many questions to be answered for Detective Pikachu, Jin, and Nina as they had just arrived at Townsville's Volcano Park, which was far away from unsuspecting citizens. As the three of them ventured towards the entrance to the park, they noticed something odd about the city:
"Why does it feel like crime hasn't been happening in YEARS?!" Pikachu dared to ask as he was perched on Jin's left shoulder. "It looks so peaceful here, which is rare, even for a pokémon like me to see."
"Indeed, I'll have to agree." Jin added as he too noticed the tranquility of the city. "It's probably because of the Powerpuff Girls themselves maintaining the city somehow. We'll have to ask around for some information before we can eventually find the girls."
And they didn't waste a single millisecond after that statement as a random citizen walked by them. After three people, the three decided to split up and continue asking questions. Five minutes of this routine went by until Pikachu came across a construction site of a new office building and he headed straight for the office just before the actual construction. There he saw a Caucasian man in his mid-40s doing his usual paperwork and supervision at the same time and he didn't even notice the electric sleuth climb up onto his desk until he sat down in an adorable position and cleared his throat.
"Whoa… what the-" The construction boss started before Pikachu spoke:
"Sorry to startle ya, but we've got a crucial mystery on our hands and I just need to ask you a few questions."
"We?"
"Yep! Me, Jin Kazama, and Nina Williams. We're trying to figure out where this yellow dinosaur named Gon rushed off to and why." Pikachu pulled out a picture of the said mini carnosaur and handed it over to the boss. "Have you seen him around these parts before, sir?"
"Huh! I recognize him anywhere. That's Gon alright. He hasn't been here in Townsville since about 12 years ago. Don't remember why he was here, though."
"Ah, excellent. At least, we know he's been here. So, I'm guessing he's not here anymore, am I right?"
"Yeah, you got it, but if you really wanna know why he was here, one of my fellow construction workers can tell ya all about it. His name is Brick Utonium. He's married to Blossom."
"Wha-"
"Pikachu!" Jin called out as he just entered the office with Nina by his side. "There you are. I guess you've gotten some information."
"Whoa, there they are." The construction boss exclaimed. "Oh, where are my manners? The name's Daniel. I run this construction company. Pikachu here was just getting to the nitty-gritty on the whereabouts of your old frenemy, Gon. I told him that the little dinosaur was here 12 years ago, but he hasn't come back since. One of my fellow workers, Brick Utonium, knows why he was here. Pikachu was just shocked. Hhhheh-heh… no pun intended there."
"You were? About what?"
"About the fact that a Rowdyruff Boy, an enemy of the girls, is married to one of the girls." Pikachu replied. "What? They kissed and made up?"
"Literally, yes." Daniel replied with honesty. "All six of them with Boomer married to Bubbles and Butch married to Buttercup."
"Wow…"
"Well, that's good to hear. I guess that explains why crime is down at a severely low rate, according to an anonymous tip." Nina replied.
"Well, that's one reason." Daniel agreed. "The primary reason is because not only are the girls working in their own desired fields, they also double as our city's mayors. They deserve that role since they are our heroines and all."
"Whoa, that's incredible! So, you say Brick can give us some insight on why Gon was here 12 years ago, right?"
"Yep. In fact, hold on a sec." The humble boss paused as he stepped out of the door on the other side of his desk and called out at the very top of his lungs: "BRICK! YOU HAVE GUESTS! THEY NEED YA FOR SOME IMPORTANT INFO!" Within a minute after that last word was called out, a shirtless man Caucasian man flew down from an extremely high ledge and made a perfect ten point landing before his boss. He was at a height of six feet and nine inches with long fiery orange hair that stopped at mid-thigh, shirtless with a pair of black baggy jeans, and red high-top sneakers. His muscle capacity matched King's, has red eyes, and he had a bad-ass red flame tattoo that took up the right side, his arm and all, but it stopped at just before his waist. "Brick, this is Jin, Nina, and Detective Pikachu. They're here because they're trying to figure out where Gon is. You're the only one who knows why the little dino was here 12 years ago."
"Damn, you're worried about him, aren't ya?" Brick quipped in a deep, handsome voice that said he was in his thirties. Jin scratched the back of his head with embarrassment.
"A little bit, yes. We can't lie." He admitted. "Deep down, we kind of want him back. He was a formidable opponent to us and even some new contenders would be honored to just have an exhibition match against him just to see what he's got within that two-foot tall body."
"I can't disagree with that, but if ya wanna know why he was here 12 years ago, the answer is simple, but pretty heartbreakin': The girls' Professor Utonium passed away and he wanted to pay his respects with us. That lil' dinosaur's got a heart that's as golden as his scales, man."
"Aww, I'm so sorry to hear that. He died naturally, didn't he?"
"Yeah. It was hard for the girls to accept, especially my beautiful Blossom. She was hit the hardest and her emotional roller coaster took a pretty deadly turn and fell off the track for the next three weeks. I couldn't even get her to look at me in the eye during that time, either. However, it turns out that just before the professor died at the hospital, Gon didn't leave the deathbed with the girls right away. He went back in there for just three minutes, came back out, and Bubbles asked him why he went back. Gon didn't open his mouth at all about it. He just went with the flow and attended the funeral. After that was over, he just teleported to his next spot… or so I think that's what happened. I did hear from Blossom that he did actually use a teleportation device to leave Townsville, but she couldn't tell me what had happened before then. Something he said to her must've perked her up and she was back to her old smart-ass self again. I mean, I'm happy about that, but still…"
"Hmmm." All three detectives hummed in deep thought and then, was silent for the next two minutes before Nina alone spoke up: "I guess we get that information from Blossom herself, don't we?"
"I'm afraid so. That's all I can give ya. I really do hope you find the little fella. The girls would just love to see him again."
"I sure they would. Where can we find her?"
"I'll give ya the address to her office." Brick paused as he took out a sheet of paper and a pen as he started writing down the said address. "She's owner, founder, and CEO of the Townsville Science and Technology Institute downtown. That job was instantly granted to her after the professor's funeral and, of course, she ain't wanna turn it down. It's fulfilling both her and her dad's dream at the same time."
"Awww, that's sweet." Daniel commented. "You sure didn't tell me that."
"Eh, I wanted ya to figure it out for yourself, man."
"That career fits her perfectly." Pikachu added with excitement. "Well, Jin and Nina, what are we waiting for?! Let's hightail it to the institute!"
Fifteen minutes later, at the tall 30 story building…
At the very top of the building, Blossom Utonium was sitting at her desk working peacefully with various documents and files that were future experiments. She's a beautiful Caucasian woman that was approximately thirty-years-old with the same long orange hair as her Rowdyruff husband, except if she were to be standing, it would be past her knees. She even still rocked her signature red bow on top of her head that she's had since she was a child. She was dressed in a pure white lab coat with a pink dress underneath and matching high heel shoes. Her pink eyes never looked away from her handiwork and her regal smile showed that she was indeed at peace, even after the professor's tragic death 12 years ago. Three minutes of that joyful silence later, three knocks were heard at her opened door and she turned towards it slowly, seeing one of her co-workers who was an African American man in his mid-thirties.
"Yo, Bloss! You've got company." He started out in a deep voice of the south.
"Who are they?" Blossom asked in a deep feminine voice that said she was a genius.
"Jin, Nina, and Detective Pikachu. They here about Gon and why he was here 12 years ago."
"Huh! That's a shocker. Send them in. I'm provide chairs for Jin and Nina."
"Roger that!" After that last word, the man left to fetch the said guests while Blossom did as she promised and set up two folding chairs for the human guests right before her desk. Seconds later, the three detective came in and, with Pikachu within the son of Kazuya's arms, he and Nina didn't waste a moment taking those seats before the Powerpuff leader.
"Wow… can I start by saying that you look absolutely gorgeous?" Pikachu commented with all the honesty in the world. Blossom slightly blushed as she took her seat at her desk before her guests.
"Thank you so much, Pikachu." She replied sweetly, despite her deep voice. "I truly appreciate that, but let's get down to the important business. You're in search of Gon and you need valuable information as to why he was here. Am I correct?"
"Your genius status doesn't surprise me in the least." Jin replied with a nod of approval. "According to your husband, Brick, Gon was here 12 years ago to attend a funeral for your beloved professor and paid his respects by the million fold, especially since you were hit the hardest emotionally."
"Yes, that is true. Professor Utonium was more than just our creator. He was the perfect father figure to us. He never backed down from taking care of us as if we were his biological children and with me having the most attachment to him for years, I did indeed suffer an emotional downfall as I watched him die before my eyes. Every little thing that went wrong in life made me explode like it was a violent crime every day and I would destroy the very thing that caused the problem. With that streak happening within the three weeks after my father's death, it was costing us a lot of money and Brick's patience was wearing as thin as my sisters', but despite that, they hung in there for me and Gon had to stay to help out when they couldn't."
"That makes sense." Nina commented. "But, what we want to know the most is what happened just before the Professor died. Brick told us that Gon didn't leave right away with you girls. He went back to the dying man for three minutes before his final breath, Bubbles asks what happened, Gon never said a word, and attended the funeral as if nothing happened for real. You have the insight on that, don't you?"
"(sigh) And I've never told a living soul about this development. All I told Brick was that Gon confessed the truth to me before he teleported to his next destination, but I never told him what exactly that confession was. Can I trust you to keep this from Brick, his brothers, and my sisters after I tell you this?"
"Will you tell them about this when this conversation is over?" Jin asked. Blossom nodded twice. "Then, sure. We'll keep it a secret. Go ahead."
(Flashback, 12 years ago at the girls' old house…)
I was in my old bedroom with our signature stripped bed just crying my pink eyes out in extreme grief because I didn't want to cause any more damage that I already did during those fateful three weeks. Of course, I officially owned that house after the professor's death. Gon slowly came in to the room by a soft couple of knocks at the door, but I never looked at him. I kept my drenched face facing the backboard as he spoke from the doorway that familiar semi-growling male voice I've grown so fond of.
"Blossom? I figured I would find ya in here." The small carnosaur started in a solemn tone. "Are ya okay?"
"…" 18-year-old Blossom still didn't give him eye contact as he slowly walked in and approached her on the left side.
"Don't act like it's the end of the world because of Utonium's death. It's not good for ya, even for a human with superpowers that were man-made."
"…I just can't help it, Gon. He was healthiest man I knew and I never thought a stroke would get to him after all these years on this Earth. How can nature and science be so cruel to us?"
"Hey, try living in the wild for a week. That'll send ya over the edge." He hoped to get a chuckle from her out of that, but to no avail. Gon frowned even more because of this before he climbed up and sat next to her in an adorable position. "Anyway, listen: I know I've been keeping quiet for these past three weeks, despite keeping your emotions in line, but I've gotta finally confess somethin'… somethin' your professor father said to me before he truly died." That's when the Powerpuff leader looked towards him with a regal look of sadness within her pink eyes. "Blossom, the Professor managed to fight Death's strong gravitational force on his heart with just enough energy and life left in him to verbally and officially claim that as of his death per his will and testament… that I should become your new 'father figure'."
"…wwwwwhat?" Blossom sat up with a flabbergasted look on her face, even after she wiped her tears.
"I know it's kinda hard to accept a dinosaur as your father, but believe me on this one. This came out of the professor's mouth before his final breath and I quote: 'Gon, since I won't be around anymore for the girls and since they look up to you for the life lessons of a sage just like they do to me, I want you to be their new father. You don't have to be there for them every day, but be there for them when they need you the most. That's all a father needs to do for his children. Do that for me and tell Blossom that my spirit will be within you because of this declaration. Tell… them… I love them for me.' His eyes were leaking tears that whole time and he was true to his word."
Blossom was completely speechless and blessed all at once as she allowed her tears of joy to take over her melancholy tears as she picked up her new father and gave him an embrace that was warmer than her body temperature. Gon tried his best to return it with his small, scrawny arms as he too released his happiest tears from his closed eyes. Even his long tail coiled around her right side for additional comfort. This hug lasted for the next five minutes before Blossom just held him up from underneath his short arms.
"And you couldn't tell us that on that day of his death." She started with partial humor. "Why?"
"I didn't want you and your sisters to suffer any more than you already were at the time." Gon admitted with no regrets. "Now that you do know about this, will ya stop bein' a bitch to everyone and get back to bein' 'commander and leader' of your team?"
"Heh, heh. Of course. I'll be a better Powerpuff woman than ever before. Before you go, though, can I ask you one more question?"
"Shoot."
"Can I tell my sisters and our husbands about this?"
"Well, as much as that will sweeten the pot, keep it a secret from them for as long as you humanly can. If more than ten years pass before you finally do decide to tell them, then go ahead, no matter how much it'll hurt. As your father, I give this command with authority."
"Yes, Father. I will as soon as I can. I promise." The leader then gave her new dinosaur dad a tender kiss on the nose as an additional sign. "You won't be disappointed in me when you return."
"Atta girl."
(End flashback)
It was deathly silent in the office after Blossom explained the whole story and she waited patiently for any reaction. After three minutes, Pikachu had to say it:
"You gave yourself two extra years!"
"And I mentally kick my own ass every single day because of that factor." Blossom confessed as she massaged her tearful pink eyes with aggravation. "I've held back for too long and, as long as he's still away, I still have the chance without disappointing him. To be honest, when he told me to tell my sisters and our husbands about this, it did feel like it was the Professor talking. I have to tell them today while I got the chance now."
"What a story." Jin commented after shaking off his shock. "Well, I'm glad that all's well that ends well for you, despite this."
"Thank you all so much. Seeing you pursuing Gon gave me the inspiration to keep moving forward. As a reward for your generosity, I'll be happy to tell you where Gon teleported next after that visit: Avalice."
"…huh?" Nina and Jin asked with confusion. Detective Pikachu busted out laughing right after that, making Blossom only release a small chuckle with just as small of a smile as she watched the three detectives.
"What?! You two have never heard of Freedom Planet?!" The electric mouse asked with humor as he looked up at his human partners, who shook their heads twice slowly. "Man, you guys have been living under a rock! Did he say why he made his way there?"
"He didn't give me full details, but he did leave me with a hint:" Blossom started. "He said that he wanted to 'welcome Avalice into the video game industry with open arms'. That's all he gave me."
"Huh! Sounds understandable enough. Thanks, Blossom and good luck in telling your family and husbands about this." Pikachu paused as he didn't waste a moment holding on to Jin and Nina's wrists, gave the verbal command to the teleportation device, and they were on their way to the beautiful planet of Avalice.
To be continued…
