Note: I don't own any Powerpuff Girls characters or themes. I just write about them.
01: New Beginning
It was dark. That is all that Brick could remember. A cold, black darkness that threatened to overwhelm him. Only two other shapes could be made out, those of his brothers, Boomer and Butch.
Wait. Brick could remember something. The battle. One of the fights of his short life. A fight that the Rowdyruff Boys should have easily won. But those cheating sissies, the Powerpuff Girls, had cheated. Brick grimaced as he remembered Blossom floating over and kissing him on the cheek.
"Ow man, when I see those sissies again, I'm gonna pound 'em!" Brick said, raising his fist.
"Not likely."
"Huh? Hey! Who said that!" Brick yelled.
"I did," a voice said. The voice came from all around the void. "I am many things to many people, but to you, I am meant to be a teacher."
"Ha! Sure pal, what are you gonna teach me? Show yourself, and I'll beat the stuffing outta ya!"
"I have seen how brash you are, and I suppose it was meant to come to this. Very well, if it is battle you crave, prepare yourself."
As the voice silenced, the void began to brighten. Suddenly, a huge flash of light blinded Brick. When he opened his eyes, the landscape had changed radically. Where there was once nothing, now there was a sprawling landscape. It appeared to be spring, as flowers bloomed and trees gave shade from their great height. However, there was still an eerie silence.
The silence was broken, however when Brick heard some groaning. The noise came from his brother, Butch.
"Ow. Man, those chickens fight dirty! I wish I coulda whacked 'em 'fore they got all kissy faced!" Butch ranted, while rubbing his head.
"Yeah. Just wait, some other sissy wants to fight!" Brick said, looking for their opponent.
"Great, I need something ta whack!" Butch said, standing up. "Hey! Boomer! Get up!" Butch said, giving his sibling a soft, yet noticeable, kick.
Boomer grunted. "But ma, I wanna ride the pony."
"PONY! Get up 'fore I slap ya stupider than ya already are!" Butch kicked Boomer a bit harder this time.
"Ow! Fine, I'm up!" Boomer rubbed his stomach, which was now slightly bruised. He then looked around. "So, where are we?"
"I can answer that," a voice behind the boys said.
The figure was not by any means imposing. He was of average height and didn't look extremely muscular. His pale skin was a contrast to his clothing, loose, black pants and a black tank top. His blond hair was pulled into a ponytail, but his eyes were quite unique. They started out red, but soon melted into a deep blue, then dark green, light green, sky blue, and finally pink.
"Ha! This is the wuss who wants to fight? We'll cream the sissy!" Butch said, getting quite excited at the prospect of battle.
"Yeah, this joker obviously doesn't know who we are!" Boomer said, getting ready to fight.
"Guess not! Okay pal, get ready to fight! Cuz we're. . ." Brick began.
"I know. You are the Rowdyruff Boys. Brick, Boomer, and Butch. You were created in a prison by a supervillian named Mojo Jojo. He combined snips of armpit hair, snails, and a guard dogs tail with toilet water to create you. Very humble compared to the birth of the Powerpuff Girls."
"So what! We can still pound you good!" Butch said.
The man smiled. "It is you're nature to fight. You will learn nothing until this folly has been corrected, so attack me. Unless you are sissies," the man said smiling.
"NOBODY CALLS US SISSIES!" all three ruffs yelled, taking flight at the man.
The ruffs began punching and kicking with all their might. But casually, almost completely without effort, the man blocked every single attack, never being struck once. The ruffs fell back slightly.
"Man, this guy's pretty good." Boomer said.
"I'm just gettin' warmed up!" Butch said.
"Change of plan guys. Laser Eyes!"
All three ruffs fired their laser eyes at the man. He stood there, never moving, with his arms across his chest. The beams stuck him head on, and kicked up a huge cloud of dust and rocks.
"Ha! That was easy!" Butch said, quite proud of the fight.
"It doesn't feel right, he never fought back," Boomer said.
"Ya wussing out on us, Boomer?" Butch asked.
"Me! A wuss? Never!" Boomer retorted, getting into Butch's face.
"A fight's a fight. We won, now we celebrate!" Butch said.
"Uh, bros?" Brick began.
"How? We pick flowers and make tie-dye shirts?" Boomer asked.
"Bros?"
"We party! Let's find some sissies to beat up!" Butch said.
"Bros!"
"Why? So they can just stand there and get blown up? It serves no purpose!" Boomer retorted.
"BROS!" Brick yelled.
"WHAT?" Boomer and Butch said, annoyed by their brother's interruption.
"Look." Brick said, pointing to the dust cloud, which was now clearing up.
The man stood, arms still crossed, with no scratches, and not a speck of dust on him. Not even a hair was out of place.
The ruffs jaws almost hit the ground. The man smiled.
"You boys were better than I expected. Your offense shows your desire to win. But now, I will evaluate your defense," the man said as he dropped his arms and got into a fighting stance. "Get ready!"
The man began glowing with white energy. The glow became more intense over a few seconds, and then a white blur charged the boys.
Brick had no reaction time, as the man punched him square in the stomach. Brick flew back and was stopped by a giant rock.
Boomer was still gawking as he was kicked into the same rock.
Butch fared a little better and able to block the man's punch. The force felt like it snapped both of Butch's arms. He was also flung into the rock.
The ruffs were groggy as the man approached, no longer encased in the white glow. Butch still had enough faculties to attempt a final, desperate attack. The ruff launched a second set of his laser eye beams, but the man backhanded them, and the beams continued until they died out. The man's hand began to glow with white fire.
"You're defense is also quite good. Now, the time of battle has ceased, and you will listen to me."
"Stuff you!" Butch yelled defiantly, rubbing his sore arms.
"Forget. . .it. . .Butch. . . . . .too. . .strong." Brick said, still gasping for breath.
"Well, it appears that Brick is learning. Tell me, why were you three created?"
"To fight! Duh!" Butch said.
"Whom?"
"Those sissy Powerpuff Girls!" Brick said, now able to breathe.
"Why?"
The two ruffs opened their mouths, but no noise came. But their minds raced as they looked for answers.
"I see. You were created to fight fighters created to give a man a family, but instead gave him a family of crime fighters."
"So what!" Butch said.
"Don't you wonder why the Powerpuff Girls fight crime?"
"Who cares?" Brick asked.
"Obviously not you two. You don't seem concerned about anything but yourselves. Have you even checked to see if Boomer is okay?" the man said.
The two ruffs looked at the ground to see Boomer moaning and clutching his stomach.
"Oh. . . .man." Boomer said weakly.
"Boomer! Get up!" Butch said.
"Hey, you okay?" Brick asked, showing more concern.
"Am. . . .I. . .bleedin'. . . .anywhere?" Boomer asked.
"No. It is impossible for any of us to bleed. This is the spirit realm. You three lost your physical forms."
"What!?"
"You're battle with the Powerpuff Girls has left you three with no bodies. You are stuck here."
"Well, how can we get our bodies back?" Brick asked.
"I can give you physical bodies, but first you must learn."
"Okay, what do we gotta learn?" Butch asked, getting irritated.
The man smile slightly. "Compassion. Tell me, are you sorry for anything you did while you were in Townsville?"
"No," Brick answered bluntly.
"Yeah, I'm sorry we didn't trash the place," Butch said.
"Totally," Boomer said, now able to stand on his own.
The man's smile faded. "I hope differently, but expected as much. Do you three remember when you threw some mass transit vehicles at the girls?" the three boys nodded. "You don't regret that people may have been injured, or more likely, killed?"
"Every war has casualties," Butch said, shrugging.
"True. But now, I will give you a unique insight. Hear the thoughts and words of those who almost died. And feel the anguish over the defeat and near death of the Powerpuff Girls."
For a second the ruffs just stood there. Then, the voice began. Softly at first, but soon they were screaming in the head of each of the boys. The worry, the horror, the pure feeling of loss, each hit the boys at once. It wasn't long before all of the ruffs were on the ground, holding their heads in pain.
"Make 'em stop!" Butch yelled.
"No," the man said simply.
"AAAHHH! I can't take anymore!" Brick screamed, writhing in agony.
"You must endure until I hear what I need to."
The voices were especially bad for Boomer. Unknown to both his brothers and himself, he was most compassionate. This made the voice louder and more nagging. Each syllable was pure anguish. Each word an unbearable stab of pain. Finally, Boomer's nerves snapped.
"I'M SORRY!" Boomer screamed at the top of his lungs, unable to take the pressure, tears now streaming down his face.
Suddenly, the voices in Boomer's head stopped. He continued to lay on the ground, sobbing and repeating his apology over and over again to himself.
Realizing what the man wanted, the other ruffs vocalized apologies as well. The voice died down, and all the boys were left with hollow feelings inside, now knowing the pain they had caused.
"Man, I never knew. If I would have, I would never have done it," Butch said, hugging his knees to his chest.
Brick was also shaking off the effects of the encounter when he saw Boomer, curled into a ball, crying and still repeating his apology.
"Boomer, you okay?"
After a few seconds, Boomer had calmed down enough to answer. "No. God, all those people just screaming. It hurt so bad."
"I am sorry that it hurt, but it was needed. Now, I am satisfied that you three are truly sorry, so you are closer to regaining you physical bodies. But other things must be learned. Over the hill to the north is a lake. Meet me there when you have composed yourselves, and we will continue. Rest assured, the worst is over."
The man disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving the boys to think.
Time crawled by. While Butch and Brick were ready to move on, Boomer was another case. It was quite a while before Boomer could even sit up, let alone keep going.
"What did we do?" Boomer asked. "We weren't even fightin', just trying to kill people. How could we?"
"Wish I knew." Brick said, still spooked by the entire experience.
"We did what we thought had to be done. Man, we were so stupid!" Butch said, pounding the ground with his fist.
"We didn't think, just acted. Acted really vicious and evil." Boomer said, bring his knees to his chest.
"All because we wanted to win. At any cost." Brick lamented.
"DAMN THAT MONKEY! Why did he create us? Just to kill?" Butch asked.
"Maybe he knew he couldn't do his own dirty work, so he made us to do it for him," Boomer responded. "We were just his weapons."
"But we got another chance! If this guy gives us our bodies back, we can go apologize to the puffs. And Townsville, and maybe beat up Mojo." Butch said, rubbing his hands together.
"No. I can't face the girls. I can't face Townsville, and I don't wanna fight. Not anymore. Not when it causes all the suffering." Boomer replied.
"Maybe he's right. If all we do is hurt people, why bother goin' back?" Brick asked.
"To make amends! C'mon, we gotta do this! We're not sissies, We're the Rowdyruff Boys! And we ain't scared of nuthin! Not even admittin' we're wrong and sorry! We gotta do it!" Butch proclaimed.
Brick let off a small chuckle at Butch's unusual outburst, but it died quickly. "Your right. Boomer, you in?"
Boomer stared at the ground for a few seconds. Then he nodded his head. "Yeah. No other way, I guess."
After composing themselves, the boys slowly trudged over the hill and towards the lake. None of them knew what else to say, and their trip was silent.
The man was standing on the near edge, looking over the lake. He was quite aware when the boys approached him.
"Again, I am sorry that had to be done, but it was the best way to teach you three the pain you caused," the man said, facing the boys.
"We're sorry. We never knew." Brick said, hanging his head.
"You needn't apologize to me. But you have shown me that you all have compassion. This is the step that was needed to satisfy me. I know I can send you back and you will be more responsible."
"Why? Why send us back?" Boomer asked.
"You three were not destined to be evil. In fact, an evil entity changed destiny, but I will tell you more later. First, I will return you to the place of you final battle. Three months have passed, and it will be evening. Seek the Powerpuff Girls and convince them you are sorry. When you return, you will find a small gold statue of me near you. Carry it with you."
"Why?" Butch asked.
"All will be revealed. Convince the girls, then you must place the statue in the light of a full moon, and you and the girls must join hands around it. This will transport you to this realm where I can explain."
"Sounds like a plan." Brick said, considering what to say to the girls.
"Okay then. Send us back." Butch said.
"Done." The man said.
Next thing they knew, the boys were laying in the middle of Townsville Park. It took a few seconds for it to kick in, but they realized they were alive. It was not a joyous time, however, because they knew they had a difficult mission. Looking around, they saw only a few people. They saw only two things of interest. The gold statue, and Mojo's observatory.
"Mojo is gonna get it good. Just wait." Butch said, clenching his fist.
"Not now, we got more important things to do. We gotta find the girls." Brick said.
"How?" Boomer asked.
"We go to their house, and go from apologize there," Butch said.
"Okay, but where do they live?"
"Damn. Good point." Brick said.
And suddenly, as if on cue, the statue began glowing. The something in the boys head's clicked. They knew where to find the girls.
Brick picked up the statue. "Thanks. Well, now or never bros."
"This ain't gonna be easy." Butch said.
Boomer could only nod.
The boys made sure to fly high enough so the townsfolk wouldn't notice them. It was not long before they were in front of the Utonium residence.
"Ready?" Brick asked, already knowing the answer.
"No," Boomer said.
"We got no choice. Brick, hide the statue in the bushes. If the girls attack us, we gotta make sure it stays safe," Butch said.
Brick nods. After hiding the statue for safe keeping, he takes a deep breath and knocks on the front door.
The Powerpuff Girls were enjoying a quiet evening at home. It was a Friday night, so the girls were allowed to stay up later than usual. Professor Utonium was busy working on some experiment, while the girls were left to their own devices in the living room. Blossom was reading a mystery novel, Buttercup was watching TV, and Bubbles was coloring. None of them were expecting visitors, so the knock on the door was quite surprising.
"Buttercup, get the door. I almost know who the thief is." Blossom said.
"Huh?" Buttercup said, looking up. Another knock prompted action. She chucked a nearby pillow at Bubbles. "Hey Bubbles, get the door."
"Ow! Meanie," Bubbles muttered before getting up and opening the door. She was not surprised when she saw the Rowdyruff Boys on the Utonium front porch.
"Um, hi. Could we talk to you girls for a few minutes?" Brick asked, wringing his hat in his hands.
"Sure, hold on," Bubbles turned around and called to her sisters as if this was a usual thing. "Blossom! Buttercup! The Rowdyruff Boys wanna talk to us!"
Blossom nodded behind her book. "I'll be there in a second, just let me finish this page!"
Buttercup mumbled to herself for a second. "Grr. Why don't we ever get guests during commercials. Darn Rowdyruff Boys."
Suddenly, the Powerpuff Girls all realized what they were saying.
"Rowdyruff Boys!" Blossom said, throwing down her book and looking at the door.
"Huh!" Buttercup said, peeking over the back of the couch.
Bubbles did a double take before hopping backwards.
"Hey! We blew you guys up months ago!" Buttercup said.
"Yeah. Listen, we gotta talk. We wanna say we're. . .oof!" was all Brick got out before he was tackled by Blossom.
"No surprise attack this time, jerks!" Blossom said, wailing on Brick, who was showing no offense.
The other two puffs followed suit. Soon, there were three battles going on in the suburbs. Blossom had Brick pinned down in the Utonium front yard, and continued to pound on him. Buttercup was currently throwing Butch around the suburbs, to a different yard each time. Bubbles was having an easy time pummeling Boomer in the back yard of the Utonium residence.
"You bully! You're not gonna get off easy this time! No kissing! Only kicks!" Bubbles said, punting Boomer in the face.
"I'm*oof*sorry."
"You're gonna be real sorry when we're done with you meanies!" Bubble said, but the words sank into her head before she got off another kick. "Huh? Sorry for what?"
"About last time. About trying to kill you and your sisters. About everything. About throwing that bus. I almost killed all those people. I don't deserve forgiveness, but I'm begging anyway." Boomer pulls himself onto his knees. "All those people, what I did, I was such a savage." Boomer suddenly puts his hands on his head. "Their voices are still in my head. Please make them stop!" Boomer said, bursting into a new round of sobs.
Bubbles was more than just a little surprised by this outburst. Still wary of a sneak attack, she moves closer to Boomer. As she gets with arm's reach, she catches a glimpse of his face. The emotion is genuine. "You're serious," Bubbles states, but Boomer is still too caught in his guilt to hear her.
Bubbles, always the compassionate puff, kneels down beside Boomer, positions his head on her shoulder, and puts her arms around the boy in an effort to calm him down.
"I forgive you." Bubbles says quietly.
Meanwhile, a not so heartfelt moment is happening above the neighborhood. Buttercup is busy assaulting Butch. Butch has yet to mount a single attack.
"C'mon! Fight back!"
"No. I won't fight you," Butch says, hanging his head.
"Why not!" Buttercup asks, not expecting an answer.
"I deserve whatever you do to me. I tried to destroy the town. Pay me back for all the people I hurt," Butch says, turning his back. "Hit me with your best shot."
Buttercup prepares to continue the attack, but can't bring herself to hit Butch. Finally, Buttercup throws her arms in the air, and hollers, "Well, why did you guys come back?!"
"To apologize,"
Buttercup's eyes widened at his response. "What?"
"I'm sorry about what we did. My brother's are too. Just hear us out 'fore a few minutes."
Buttercup was still wary, but her defenses were weakening. "Okay, but if you're lying, you're getting the biggest kiss ever!"
Blossom was usually the levelheaded puff, but not now. She was sitting on Brick's chest, and was aiming punch after punch at his head. Brick had yet to attack, but was using his arms to block Blossom's strikes.
"Whatever mission Mojo sent you on, it won't work we know you're weakness!"
"I surrender! You win!"
"Ha! A likely story!"
"Seriously I give up! I apologize for what I did to you and Townsville!"
Blossom gave up punching, but kept Brick pinned down.
"Why should I believe you?"
"It's the truth," Brick said.
"Why the change of heart?"
"Long story. Step off my chest, and I'll tell ya."
"How can I be sure you aren't lying?"
"They aren't," Blossom heard Bubbles say.
Blossom turned and saw Bubbles and Boomer walking towards her. It was pretty obvious that Boomer had been crying.
A few moments pass before Butch and Buttercup landed.
"Are you girls hearing the same stories I am?" Buttercup asked.
"Yeah," Blossom said, a little puzzled, and finally getting off of Brick.
The kids stood beside their respective siblings, and looked at the other group.
"Well, you have our attention," Blossom said.
"Tell 'em, Brick." Butch said, nudging his brother.
"Well, it all started like this."
To Be Continued