Pumpkinpuff Ghoul II
written by "Lord" Andy
Part Two
Blossom woke up the next morning with a minor headache. She sat up in bed, dressed in her pink nighty, her hair falling into her eyes. The doctor had given her a list of symptions she would be receaving after her whole odeal, as well as symptoms to look out for in the future. Headaches in the morning were one common thing she was told to have to deal with, at least until her body was used to moving around and stuff. In fact, the doctor told her that the only reason she was able to be walking around and moving normally was because she was a Powerpuff Girl with something that was more then super human streanth.
Climbing out of bed and floating up to her dresser, Blossom looked for something nice to wear. Of course, all she had were a few pink dresses. She sighed, seeing the larger sized cloths. Why couldn't this have waited till she was older? Then she wouldn't be almost a pre-teen in body, but a kindergartner in mind.
Oh well, there was nothing she could do about the past now. Now she had to worry about the future. Grabbing some undergarments and a towel, she started making her way towards the bathroom. As she floated down the hall, she looked at some of the pictures on the walls. Two of them she recognized right away. One was the first family photo taken of her, the Professor, and her sisters. The other was a picture taken at one of their family picnics, which Blossom chuckled to herself over the memories. Yet all the rest of the images were new to her. They were all with the Professor and the Rowdyruffs. Some were pictures of their own family outings, each one a split second of the moment caught to film. Some others were nice formal images, ones with the Professor and the Rowdyruffs dressed nicely for a family photo.
That's what really got to her thought Blossom, as she sat there thinking some more next to the bathroom door. Blossom had been up half the night thinking about everything. They had been a family for probably close to four years. She and her sisters were only with him for about a year and a half. It was no wonder the Professor and the Rowdyruffs were getting together so well. The Rowdyruffs were even calling him "Dad". Blossom never thought of ever calling the Professor Dad. Sure, he was their father figure, and she loved him as a daughter would love a father. Yet the time they spent together to build closeness wasn't nearly as much as the boys had. This feeling sort of left her feeling alone, and unloved. But deep down inside, she was also mad. If you got right down to it, the Professor loved her once deadliest enemies more then he loved her.
Realizing that thoughts like that could lead her into trouble, Blossom opened the door to the bathroom to take a shower. However, she got quite the surprise when she opened the door.
"What the – close the door girl!" Butch shouted from inside.
Letting out a tiny squeek, Blossom slammed the door shut as fast as she could. Just what she needed, her brother getting more reasons to hate her. She sat there next to the door; red with embarrassment by the time Butch finally came out.
"Next time, why don't cha knock?" Butch yelled to Blossom, giving her an evil galre.
"I'm sorry." Blossom defensivly said. "I'm just not used to –"
"Yeah, well there's a lot of changes here that you better start getting used to!" Butch snorted. Even though he was a bit taller the Blossom and thus was towering over her, she didn't show a hint of fear. This only made Butch scowle at her more.
"Just stay out of my way girl." He said, as he slowly floated to the stairway, not taking is glaring eyes off of Blossom. "You don't like me, and I don't like you. But trust me, the situation could get much worse."
Then Butch gradually glided down the stairs, not taking his eyes off of Blossom. She, in turn, kept her own glare straight into his optic orbs. Once he was out of her sight, Blossom grumbled angerly to herself and went inside the bathroom. She shut the door and started getting undressed. Pausing for a moment, Blossom flew over and locked the door. Then she went back to taking her shower.
This was not a good way to start another chance at life.
A short while later Blossom was flying downstairs. The smell of morning pancakes and sausages filled her nose. Blossom paused for a moment to sniff the air. It smelled good, that's the thought that was registered in her brain. In fact, she even licked her lips, imagining the taste of foods that seemed like only a memory to her. She however had no urge to eat, and so it looked like it was to remain a memory.
"Good morning Blossom." The Professor said of the sizziling of breakfast. "Did you sleep well?"
"Not really." She said, floating up to him. "I spent half the night thinking about stuff, part of it tossing and turning in discomfort, and the little bit left asleep.
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that." Spoke the Professor, sadness in the tone of his voice. "I'm sure a good sleep habit will come back to you. You have a lot to get used to you know."
"Yeah, I know. The doctor and I had a long discussion about stuff." Blossom recalled. "At first I feel really bad about everything, but then I remember that it could be much, much worse."
"That's the spirit!" Said the Professor as he rubbed Blossom on her head. "Attidute is a great help in hard times such as this. It's what helps us make the right choices."
"Yeah " Blossom looked around the kitchen. It all looked just like it did, save a few new appliances. Then she noticed three empty places at the table with breakfast leftover surrounding them. "Where are the Rowdyruff Boys?"
"Oh, they went to investigate something that happened last night. The police chief thought that they might have to take a look at it."
"Really? Well, I think I'm going to go take a look myself." Blossom declaired, hovering higher in the air ready to zip off.
"Blossom, I really don't think you should be out fighting crime just yet." Warned the Professor, placing his hand on her sholder. "You're in no condition to –"
"Oh, I'm not going to be fighting crime." Assured Blossom. "I'm just going to take a look at what's happening. Becides, I need to give my crime fighting mind a look at crime again. It's been a while you know."
"I suppose so " The Professor said after some thought. "But you must promise me that you won't be doing any strenuous actives of any kind. You don't want to agrivate your injury."
"Don't worry, I'm just going to look around."
"And make sure you don't stay out to long. You need to get your own breakfast."
"It'll be just a little look, nothing more then that."
"Well, okay. But only under one conditions."
Blossom stopped in mid flight. She feared as to what he was going to say. "What is it?
"You have to stay with your brothers."
Blossom groaned loudly. "Do I have to?"
"Yes. You need to spend time with them and get to know them. They are your brothers and part of our family. They love Townsville just as much as you and your sisters did."
"Well that's reassuring." Blossom mumbled to herself. She had recalled a few more details from her memory of that fateful night between her and her sisters.
"The point is, you just can't rush to conclusions on some things or go with your first and strongest instinct on some things. Sometimes the right answer isn't the first one. You know what I mean?"
"I think so." Blossom sighed. "I guess I'll try and give the Rowdyruffs another chance. But only because you say so!"
"Fair enough." Smiled the Professor. "You should make the best of your time with the boys. They have school to get to once the police no longer needs their assistance."
"I guess so." Blossom mumbled not only over the situation with the boys, but remembering that she would have to be receiving her own education somehow.
Just as Blossom was about to exit, the Professor called out, "Oh Blossom, one last thing! Try calling them your older brothers, and not just the Rowdyruffs all the time."
Blossom hesitated. "That one's going to take some time." She confessed.
"Well, that's why you should go and meet up with them."
"I will Professor." Blossom said.
She flew out of the door and then soared several hundred feet above the ground. She had tried to call him Dad back there, but she just couldn't get it out. She was about to elaborate on what that meant to her, but flying seemed to help take away her cares and troubles. The feel of air rushing over her helped relax her tired and broken body.
"Now, let's see what vile crime is going on today!" She boldly declared, and shot off into the morning, leaving her pink trail of light behind her.
The word vomit is not a pleasant sound to most everyone, mainly because of what that word was associated with. Yet many folks of Townsville who were up very early morning had the feeling of or even doing that very thing. In fact, the Rowdyruff Boys and police officers were trying very hard to not do that exact same thing.
"I've been a cop for thirty seven years, and I ain't never seen a mess like this!" One officer loudly stated to a rookie who was just as disgusted at what he was seeing.
Brick shook his head sadly. "Ladies and gentlemen," he declared in his voice that was less raspy as it was when he was younger, "we are dealing with a very sick and twisted individual here."
"You said it." Boomer replied.
"Word." Added Butch.
The entire block surrounding the incident was completely blocked off by the yellow police tape. Some spectators would try and catch a glimps at what would happen. Yet they all were chased off by police officers, or just ran away after actually seeing what happened.
As the Rowdyruffs tried to figure out what had happened and some officers placed bags over certain areas of the road, all eyes turned to the sound of someone else swishing down from the sky.
"What do you think you are going here girl?" Butch barked at Blossom who landed in front of the boys with her back to the crime scene.
"Dude, just chill for a sec and give out sis some peace for a second, all right?" Scolded Brick.
"I really don't think the Puff should be here right now." Boomer cautiously said.
Blossom angerly crossed her arms and frowned. "I came here to see a crime scene if you don't mind. And might I add that my name is not girl, sis, or Puff. It's –"
"Blossom! Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes! I knew ye be awake, but this be the first time me eyes have see you up and about! How are ya?"
It was the police chief, and he and several other officers were running up to the red/orange haired Powerpuff Girl. He was a rather large man with a large white mustache and an accent that was sometimes hard to understand. But he was still fit enough to hold a lean mean crime fighting machine – the police force of Townsville. Sure, they only handled the little crimes, seeing how the Boys took care of the major ones. But somebody had to do it.
"Oh, well I'm feeling much better. Thank you." Blossom politely added.
"I see that ya wantin' to be fighting crime again, right along side yer brothers, aren'thca?" He said with a wink. Butch gave Blossom a dirty look and Boomer raised his eyebrow to that response. Brick, however, simply listened with interest.
"Well As mush as I'd like to fight crime," began Blossom while squinting distrustworthily at the Rowdyruffs, "I'm afraid that I'm stuck with just observing everything for now."
At this, the police chief sighed unhappily. "Well, ya pick a bad day to come observing Blossom."
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Take a look behind you and find out!" Chuckled Butch.
Brick was about to say something, but Blossom had already turned around. She didn't see anything unusual. Just a bunch of body bags. She had seen a few of these before. The strange part about these dozen or so was that there didn't seem to be much underneath them. It didn't click right away, but it soon did. After all, red buildings were common. But next to a red sidewalk, red road, red lamppost, and a big red mailbox that was supposed to be blue, it didn't seem right
Suddenly, a crisp autumn gust of wind blew though the streets and one of the bags came loose. It went up a few feet into the air before landing again, but not covering up as well as it did before. Blossom's eyes shot wide, as well did a few people who were also witnessing it for the first time. Seeing wasn't believing right away in this case. This was something that had to click in your mind first before it was comprehendible. And once it was, you wished it wasn't.
Underneath each body bag was a small pile of human entrails.
Blossom eminently spun around, her mouth covered. She quickly flew behind a police car and gagged for a second. But she surprisingly stopped doing it relatively quickly. Before she could catch her breath, a sharp pain started stinging her in the abdomen. She grabbed onto her midsection as if she could hold in and make it stop hurting. Although her stomach stopped itself after only a few dry heaves, it was enough to cause some discomfort that lingered for a bit.
"Blossom, you all right?" A nearby cop asked.
"I'm fine." Blossom replied in a small voice. The pain was finally dyeing away, and she was able to stand up straight again. Breathing slowly, she turned around to find everybody surrounding her, wondering if she was okay. Well, almost everybody that is.
"I knew you couldn't take it." Butch mocked until Brick gave his cowlick a hard tug.
Blossom took a few more breaths, then asked, "Who could have done this?"
"I'm afraid we have no idea." The police chief said. "All we know is that it happened late last night, and that the five individuals whom were murdered here was the Gangreen Gang."
"What ?" Blossom said in misbelieve. She would have never exspected one of her opponents to be finished off, especially not in this horrifying way. Nobody even deserves to be treated like this.
"Now could you tell they were the Gangreen Gang?" Blossom asked, all her courage back to her.
"We uh you see " stuttered the police chief, not sure how to put it. "The killer or killers sort of left the heads behind for us to identify."
"That's horrible!" Blossom said, feeling sorry for the gang. "But what do you mean sort of?"
"Trust me, you don't want to know." Brick said in a flat tone. Blossom nodded her head in agreement. Butch looked like he was about to tell her, but Brick slapped his hand over his brother's mouth.
Everyone stood around in silence for a while. This was hard to take to anybody. One mutilation is horrifying and despicable. But five? This was something not to be taken lightly.
Eventually, Boomer broke the long silence. "Say you don't think that after all these years –"
Brick instantly slap his hand over his other brother's mouth. He then whispered something angrily to him, making motions towards Blossom. Boomer looked at Blossom then frowned unhappily at himself. Looking up at Blossom he smiled embarrassingly which only made her roll her eyes.
"Now is not the time to be making any wild assumptions, no matter what they think." Brick ordered. "We have to find out who did this quickly and correctly, correctly being the key. I know some of us would just love to jump to some conclusions."
Butch suddenly looked over to find his brother glaring at him sternly. Butch groaned angrily then turned his back to everyone.
"I think the first thing we need to do is to look for some witnesses or something." Blossom declared, confidence of being the Powerpuff leader returning to her again. "People walking by, video surveillance, a driver passing –"
"Hey hey hey!" Butch shouted out, turning around to face Blossom, his face scrunched up in disgust. "Who told you that you could come here a play leader again? Why don't you go back home and let your bigger brothers handle the jobs from now on?"
Blossom fumed at the arrogant Rowdyruff. "Well, I don't see how anyone can be as rude and mean as you are! Why are you being so mean to be anyway?"
Brick tried to step between the two but Butch pushed him away. "Because I know the truth Blossom! I think we all know what really happened four years ago on that Halloween night!"
"What are you talking about?" Blossom shouted. "From what I've heard nobody knows, and I don't think you need to know either."
"HA!" Butch pointed at her with glee. "You don't really remember yourself, do you?"
Blossom shied away a bit after that. It was and wasn't true. She knew it was Bubbles and Buttercup, but she didn't remember why, let alone how to prove it. This was something she needed to sort out herself first before letting others know. Becides, who would ever believe her two sisters being killers like that? Blossom still didn't fully believe it herself.
"I knew it, after all these years you've lost it." Mocked Butch. "I bet you lost all your other super powers as well, haven't you?"
"Now Butch " Brick started to scold his brother.
"No, I really think we need to know this!" Shouted Butch, back off from his brother. "What do you say Blossom? Or are you week and helpless?"
Blossom clenched her teeth at the green Rowdyruff. "Bring it on!" She challenged.
Before anyone could intervene, Butch shot straight up into the air with Blossom right behind him. The two of them started weaving in and out of buildings at their top speeds. Although Butch was indeed faster, Blossom was constantly finding ways to catch up to him in short cuts. Angry that she was keeping up, Butch started swinging around difficult corners and wove around telephone poles going at speed almost to fast to comprehend. But Blossom kept up every step of the way not missing a beat, although trailing behind a bit. She wasn't seeing any hits at all that her skills were any less.
Boomer and Brick had almost caught up when Butch turned to face Blossom. Squinting his eyes, he shot a laser beam blast from them. Reacting quickly, Blossom shot off two blasts of her own heat ray vision. The first one hit Butch's blast, which cancelled each other out. The second beam almost hit Butch, but he ducked just in time. He turned around and decelerated a bit to watch Blossom's second blast crash into a billboard, causing it to explode. When he turned back to face Blossom again, he was surprised to see that she was directly upon him taking a deep breath. Before he could react Blossom exhaled. A giant wave of ice spread over Butch's body, freezing him solid. Blossom continued to blow ice on Butch, causing it to freeze upon itself, incasing Butch in an arctic shell.
Unable to move, Butch fell to the streets below. When he landed most of the ice broke off around him. Shivering from the coldness, Butch looked up to see Blossom gracefully floating down to him. He growled at her, but it soon turned into a fake smile.
"Very good girl, you still have some of your skills." He sarcastically sneered. He looked down the street to see a large cement truck just down a block. Gathering up his strength he made a quick dash to the truck. Curious to what he was up to now, Blossom quickly flew up to the same spot.
Looking at the truck and realizing it was full of a ton of cement, Butch turned to Blossom and said, "Now, let's see if you can even come close to matching my potency!"
Grabbing hold of the front left wheel of the truck, Butch gave it a little pull and hoisted that corner off the ground. Butch grunting, the truck creaking, and the construction workers nearby yelling, a better hold was taken from underneath the vehicle. A second later, the whole truck was hoisted above Butch's shoulders and into the air. After doing a little dance with the truck in the air and even balenceing it on one hand for a second, Butch let the cement truck drop back to the ground, more the likely ruining the shocks.
"All right, your turn girl!" Challenged Butch the same time Brick and Boomer finally caught up to them.
Adrenaline burning inside of her, Blossom flew past Butch and elbowed him as she passed. Gritting her teeth, she threw her arms underneath the left side of the truck and began to lift. All her muscles strained to lift the vehicle, and she was succeeding. Sweat dripped down her brow as she started straightening up to hoist the heavy load above her own head.
Blossom's eyes shot open wider then ever before. It felt like a spiked ball had just opened up inside of her stomach and was piercing each side. Everything she knew was completely forgotten. The Rowdyruffs, Townsville, the Professor, herself, it all instantly disappeared from her point of view and mind. That also included the truck, and since it was already being lifted on one side it landed on the right wheels first. It's center of gravity off, the cement truck fell on its right side, cracking the road open with a ear shattering explosion, and spilling wet cement over what was left of the road.
Butch started laughing loudly at the sight of the truck being too heavy for Blossom. He failed to see, however, Blossom turning around and clutching her gut. Brick sighed unhappily, his face downcast. Boomer looked disappointed, shaking his head. As the Rowdyruff's thought about what happened, Blossom could only think of what was happening now.
Flying around to the other side of the truck, Blossom continued to almost squeeze her sides. The pain was unbearable; tears were simply pouring out of her eyes. As had as she tried not to cry, she couldn't help it. It felt like that horrible javelin weapon was slicing through her stomach and out her back all over again. Suddenly, she realized something else – she couldn't breath. The pain was so much, she couldn't bring herself to pull more air into her lungs! Fear quickly replaced her pain, realizing her body wasn't reacting to the simplest commands sent by her brain for her body to inhale.
By now Boomer was suspicious of where Blossom went, and he peeked around the truck to see what she was doing. He was surprised to see her lying on the ground curled up in the fetal position. And it looked like she was crying really hard from his viewpoint.
"Say guys, I think something's wrong with Bloss over there." Boomer eventualy said.
"Huh?" Brick quickly pushed his way past Butch and around the truck to see Blossom. He was shocked to see her withering there, not even having the power to even gasp for air. Blossom looked up with eyes full of tears and a small trickle of blood coming from her mouth. He could see her arching her back, struggling to pull air into her lungs that were screaming for oxygen.
"Blossom, no!" Brick said as he spread her out on the street. Blossom looked up at Brick with pleading eyes until they rolled back into her head. "She passed out, she can't breath! I have to give her CPR!"
"Well don't push on her stomach!" Boomer warned, Butch looking over his shoulder. "I think she might have hurt something!"
"Go to the hospital now, tell them we're coming ASAP!" Brick shouted to his brothers. Boomer instantly shot off. Butch lingered for a second, then shot off as well. Brick turned to Blossom who was now limp from lack of oxygen and turning blue in the face.
"I'm not going to let you die now Blossom!" Brick pleaded between tries to get her lungs working again. "Not after all you were though!"
Slowly opening her eyes a few hours later, Blossom looked around to see where she was. She wasn't surprised to find out that she was right back in the hospital. She was relieved that she was there, instead of being in a morgue. Of course, the first thing she did was take a few deep breaths. She could still feel the horrible sensation of not being able to breathe. Then she saw she was still in her cloths and an IV attached in her arm.
Just as she was calming down her doctor walked into her room. He looked up in surprise to see Blossom awake, but then became rather relieved about it. Blossom smiled reassuring to him. Yet in a few moments the doctor's smile reversed itself into a frown.
"Now Blossom, what did I tell you about strenuous activities?" He asked her as he approached the bed.
Blossom's face was downcast. "I know. I got caught up in the moment. Guess I learned the hard way, huh?"
"I guess you could say that." Chuckled the doctor. Someone walking in the door caused them to look and find the Professor making his way in.
"Blossom I got here as soon as I could. Are you okay?" He asked, dropping down on the bed next to her.
"I'm fine now." She said. "But what happened? All of a sudden I just couldn't breathe, no matter how hard I tried."
"Well Blossom," explained the doctor, "when you tried to lift that cement truck, you put a lot of pressure on your muscles and abdomen. Part of the wound in your stomach torn open again, although not as much as we thought it was. The pain must have sent your body into shock and it wasn't able to follow commands by your brain. The bleeding has stopped, so it should be okay now."
Blossom sighed. "You'd think that after for years I would be completely healed."
"Blossom, medically speaking it was a miracle that you survived in the first place!" Pointed out the doctor. "You should have died from blood loss before you received any medical attention at all. You should be thankful that you ended up with only a four year coma."
"I guess I never thought of it that way." Blossom said after a moment of silence. "I'm just surprised that it hurt more this time then the actual injury itself."
"Yes I have yet to figure that one out to be honest with you." Mumbled the doctor, looking at his clipboard he was carrying with him about Blossom's conditions. " well, there's nothing we can do about that. You can go home now if you wish, but ONLY if you don't do anything like that again!"
Blossom quickly nodded in agreement as she hopped out of bed and took hold of the Professor's hand. "Don't worry, I never want to go thought anything like that again."
"Excellent!" The doctor said as the two walked out. Yet even after they left, he continued looking over his clipboard and mumbling over how some of it didn't add up.
"Blossom," began the Professor as they slowly made their way out to the car, Blossom holding one hand, cane in the other, "I know what happened back there. The boys explained everything that happened already."
Scrunching her face up in disgust, Blossom asked, "So I guess you know how big of a jerk Butch was! I told you those Rowdyruffs were no good!"
"Ah, but that's what you do know." Said the Professor knowingly. "What you don't know is that Brick saved your life back there."
Blossom floated there in the air in silence for a minute as the Professor got into the car. Eventually she sat down in the passenger seat, put on her seatbelt, and remained quiet for a few moments. "He did?" She finally asked.
"That's right. He gave you CPR, carried to the hospital, even stayed there until I arrived."
"Oh " Suddenly, Blossom felt really bad. Here she was, hating the Rowdyruffs with all her life, when one of them saved hers. For the first time, she was feeling sorry for them. "But, if Brick waited for you to come, where is he?"
"He left as soon as I got there."
"What? Why didn't he wait and get a ride home?"
"Well, that's another question you can ask him when you actually get to know him better, like you should have done in the first place."
Blossom sat there in some more silence. "I guess I forgot to not judge books by their cover, huh?"
"That, and you went with what was wrong, but you didn't think it was."
"What?"
"You'll learn someday sweaty." Said the Professor as he brushed the hair back from her face. "You should be getting some rest, you look tired."
After thinking about this, Blossom let out a yawn. "I guess so I don't even know why."
"Well think about all you did today." Explained the Professor. "Your body's not used to such strenuous activities, not just yet at least."
"But I felt great when it was all happening!" Blossom proclaimed. "It was like something is holding me back here and there."
"That's because you have that super hero body." The Professor clarified. "Most of your body is strong and healthy, but your center is not. You have to rest to make sure you can get better. Training will also help ensure a healthy recovery faster."
Leaning over closer to Blossom he added, "And fixing up family disputes should also be needed."
Blossom sighed unhappily, but couldn't help but smirk at the goofy smile the Professor was giving her. "Okay Professor. I try harder. But I'm not guaranteeing anything."
"I guess it's a start." Shrugged the Professor. "The boys are at their school and I'd like you to talk to them when they get back, but you need to get your rest."
"My stomach does still hurt a little." Blossom meekly admitted.
"All the more reason for you to get some rest." The Professor stated as they pulled into their driveway. "You can watch some television or go on the computer or something while I set up a new IV for you."
Blossom grumbled to herself, but remembered her doctor's words. Her life was in pretty bad shape. But it could be much worse. In fact, it could be much, much more worse.
That afternoon, a certain individual was gleefully making her way home from school. Anxious to get home as soon as possible, she ordered her limousine drive to speed up and get to her house faster. The man complied, but not without grumbling to himself about how underpaid he sometimes felt. Soon, the limo was pulling up into the Morebucks' mansion driveway.
"Nobody bother me!" Princess shrieked to the servants walking around. "I have some more big important things to work with, and I don't want to be disturbed!"
Everyone obeyed her wishes, and left the spoiled brat to be alone in her gigantic room. It was full of everything she had always wanted. Toys, dolls, games, riches galore, all had been asked for and all have been given. In fact, Princess Morebucks had everything she had always wanted. Everything, that is, except for on thing.
"I want to be a Powerpuff Girl!" Princess protested, stomping though her room proving that although she was older, she still was completely immature. "They always said no. They always refused my requests. They never let me, ME be a Powerpuff Girl!"
Opening and walking into a closet larger then your average American house, Princess changed from her October 29th school day cloths and into her October 29th after school before dinner cloths, complaining the whole way. "I mean, why shouldn't I be a Powerpuff? I have beauty, style, and the largest checkbook of any girl in the whole stinking city! It's just the way things are supposed to be!"
After making sure nobody was mistakenly in the room against her strict orders, Princess proceeded to enter a hidden and well-secured vault entrance. Inside were more wardrobes, of course. But they were not your every day rich girl cloths. These cloths were specially built for ominous and maleficent means. And they also were not Halloween costumes.
"They'll all see." She said, giggling to herself with glee as she looked at the newest and deadliest suit before her. "As I continue my plans, I'll make sure that nobody can doubt my powers!"
It was evening in Townsville, as well as the nearby home of the Utonium family. And also like Townsville, the household was asleep in their own dreamy wonderland. Like the night before, as well as all previous nights, rest came to the whole city at once. Everything shut down, as the chaos of the day became the peace of the night.
Blossom had fallen asleep not to long after she had gotten home. So Professor carried her upstairs changed her into her nighty, slowly emptied a new IV into her, and placed her to bed. He didn't want to wake her when the Rowdyruffs came home, so he made plans to do a family outing that would include all four kids and himself tomorrow.
As the hours of the night ticked on, one individual awoke from her long slumber. Blossom sat up in bed, rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, and looked at the clock. It was about eleven at night. The Professor was probably in bed already. He was more of a morning person. Licking her lips, Blossom realized her mouth was very dry. Slipping out of the bed, she silently hovered out of her room and into the hall.
The hall was pitch black, the only light was a pale glimpse of the moon breaking though a window on one side of the hall. It was still hampered by the rocking of the trees in front of the window, making visibility increase and decrease. Blossom looked up and down the walls, faint shadows dancing on them in some kind of an evil ritual. Blossom shook her head in an attempt to erase any silly fears in her head. Yet even though it was her own home, it seemed unknown to her. Darkness limited ones view of what they normally saw, thus now obscuring your very own sense of perception, and sometimes sanity.
Suddenly, when she turned around and faced the stairs, something jumped out at her. At least that's what it felt like. She knew nothing was there, she really did. Yet every creak of the house felt like someone stepping up behind her. Every moonbeam that flashed into her eyes looked like someone outside shining a flashlight into her eyes. Every tiny gust of wind sounded like someone whispering her voice in a raspy tone over, and over, and over again.
Blossom closed her eyes and breathed deeply. There was nobody there, there was nobody whispering her name to her out loud. But as hard as she tried, she couldn't be convinced that a voice wasn't coming after her, poking at the back of her neck sending goosebumps up and down her spine and making her hair stand on end. She turned towards the kitchen, chanting to herself that there was nobody behind her. There was nobody staring at her back and just following her without her knowing.
"Blossom ."
Blossom threw her hands over her mouth and let out a muffled scream. There was no denying it, someone whispered her name. Eyes almost bulging out of her skull and sweat pouring down her face, Blossom tried to see what was behind her. But her trembling body wouldn't allow her to move a single inch. She could feel it, the presents of someone else right behind her. Who was it? What did it want? Was it real? Why was it after her, making her imagine all the horrifying things it could do to her?
"Blossom?"
Letting out a loud gasp, Blossom turned around as fast as she could. Her fears became reality when she saw a dark figure right before her. Obscured in the light behind it, the figure cocked its large and round head like a curious little puppy. It said nothing, but stared at her for what felt like the longest time. Before Blossom could react, it's hand shot out and grabbed her by the shoulder.
"Blossom!" Said the voice that was the killer's.
Blossom gasped again in response. "Brick!" She gawked in amazement, which quickly turned into embarrassment. It wasn't a killer or anything like that at all. It was just the Rowdyruff Boy's leader whom was obscured by the computer light on behind him.
"Blossom, are you all right? You look terrified!" Brick asked, but not loud enough to disturb everyone else sleeping upstairs.
After taking a few deep breaths, the Powerpuff burning with red embarrassment was eventually able to speak. "I I'm okay. I just wasn't expecting anyone up this late and and I guess you just scared me."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Brick said, backing away a bit. Blossom could see him more clearly now. He was wearing a white T-shirt and red boxer shorts. His hat was also off, so that probably contributed to her not recognizing him.
"No, it's not you fault." Blossom said, pleading with him to not shy away as he always did. "I'm just really jumpy tonight. It's okay."
Brick calmed down, face still downcast. He would peek up at Blossom every once in a while, but would immediately downcast his face once more. Realizing that she could probably sense this, Brick sat back down in the chair by the computer. Realizing an awkward moment of silence was approaching; Blossom felt that a conversation had to be stated.
"So I heard you saved my life today." She timidly asked.
"Oh yeah." Brick nodded, taking it as an acknowledgment of something he had just put aside. "Yeah I'm sure you would have done the same thing, if it had been me or one of your other brothers."
Now it was Blossom's turn to shy away, her bare foot scratching on the floor. "I I guess I owe you an apology then. I didn't trust you or your brothers at all after what you did the first time. I guess I couldn't see past that at all."
"Yeah, Dad told me you were feeling that way." Agreed Brick, not noticing Blossom feel uneasy about him calling the Professor Dad'. "And did he tell you that we're different Rowdyruffs this time?"
"Something about that, yeah."
"Well, it seems that we're kinda the same three, but not." Brick exclaimed. "We may look the same and almost acted the same when we were first reanimated. But Dad got us to calm down after a while. He realized that we were just brats with super powers, and used that knowledge to his advantage. I bet you never saw our Dad as the disciplinary type, did you?"
"Kind of " She replied.
"Anyway, to make a long story short, it seems that although personalities and the state of ones mind aren't effected by creation from chemical-X, our genetics and heritage are. That's why we're your older brothers and such."
"I still prefer YOUNGER brothers." Blossom puffed. "I was made first after all."
"Yeah yeah, I fear we're never going to hear the end of that one." Chucked Brick.
They stood there for a moment, looking at each other. After a while, Blossom finally saw a smile break out of Brick's face.
"Could I ask you something?" Blossom eventually asked. "If it's too personal, you don't have to answer."
"No, that's fine. Ask away."
"Why do you seem so so " Blossom tried to think up the right words. "I don't know, so embarrassed about me? I mean, is it because of what you did way back when we first met?"
"No, it's not that." Brick quickly pointed out. "Like I said, we don't even remember any of it at all, so it's like it wasn't even us. I think that's another reason that held Dad back from trying to make you three Powerpuffs again. He wasn't sure if he would end up with new girls, which would cause much confusion from the old ones. Of course, he also feared that the original Buttercup and Bubbles would come back, but might have messed up minds. He didn't want to take even the slightest risk that they might come back as some psycho killers or something You know, that might make an interesting story "
"Unless they were already psycho killers for some reason." Muttered Blossom underneath her breath.
"Actually if you want to be honest, there is a real reason I seem so shy around you." Brick slowly started to confess, slightly spinning the chair back and forth gently. "It's just that at least twice a week for four years we went to the hospital with Dad. And every time we would go and visit out little sister. As you would sit there, staring at the little girl in the bed for an hour or more, you would wonder about some things. What is she like? What will she remember? What is her favorite color? Favorite food? Favorite kind of music? What will happen when she comes out of her coma and sees her three brothers?"
Bricked looked in Blossom's eyes. "It's just strange to see a member of the family whom you're seeing for the first time awake in four years. All my life I've only seen you in the hospital, silent and asleep. I guess it's just weird to see you up and about finally."
Embarrassed once again, Blossom cast down her own face. "I guess I owe you even more apologies then I thought. All I could think of was the evil Rowdyruffs made to destroy me. I never realized most of you actually loved me as a family."
"Apology accepted." Brick happily said, feeling more comfortable around Blossom. Suddenly, something occurred to him. "Wait, what do you mean most of us?"
Blossom made an angry face. "I thought it was obvious Butch hates me. I don't know why though."
"Oh that " Brick uneasily stuttered. "I think he just has a lot to get used to with you around. I guess he just has to get used to you."
"I guess " Blossom sadly mumbled, realizing she still had two brothers to make amends with.
"Anyway, you should be getting to bed!" Brick exclaimed, sliding out of the chair and landing next to Blossom. He was a head taller then her, even though Blossom had grown a bit herself. Brick put an arm on her shoulder. "You need to heal yourself so you can help us on crime fighting like we did today."
"Speaking of which, did you find anything else out about the Gangreen Gang thing?" Asked Blossom, curious about something as important as that.
"Not really." Grumbled Brick, frustrated of a case as gruesome as this. "Everybody has their suspicious of course, but –"
"Butch thinks the killer's back, doesn't he?" Blossom suddenly blurted out.
Brick did a double take, not thinking Blossom would catch on so fast. "Uhm . Yes, yes I guess he TECHNICALY does . But you shouldn't be worrying about stuff like that. Nobody's seen that killer for four years at all."
"That's good." Blossom muttered, still unsure how to tell everyone the killer is really truly dead, seeing as how it was her sisters.
"Now, off to bed with you." Brick said. Then he put his arm around her and gave her a quick little hug. Then he turned his back and went to working the computer some more.
Blossom stood there in surprise. Then she slowly turned around and started making her way up the stairs again to get more rest. Her heart sank as she did, however. All last night she was lying in bed thinking about how much she now hated her new life, and especially the Rowdyruffs. She hated them, they loved her. She wanted them dead, they saved her life.
Of course, that was only counting Brick. Boomer just seemed to be there, unsure of what to think. Butch on the other hand was arrogant and rude: arrogant for thinking the killer was still after four years, and rude for being, well, rude to her. Oh well. Time would heal those wounds, as they would her physical wounds. Physical wounds
Blossom floated back into her room. But instead of hopping right into bed and trying to sleep another great deal of hours, she sat down at the bench and turned on the lights around her vanity mirror. The bulbs around the actual mirror glowed in the darkness, lighting up no more then Blossom herself, the rest of the room obscured in the darkness.
And so Blossom stared at her reflection for a while, like she used to do so long ago. But she wasn't admiring her beauty, she was seeing what was left. Since she liked to gaze at her face in the past, she could remember ever little detail. Not that she was extremely vain or anything, just something she did more then others.
The first things she remembered were her eyes. Once upon a time they were bright and full of kindness, a shimmering and sparkling display. Now the pinkness looked rather dull, and almost looked bloodshot. Her bright rosy cheeks were now a little pale, as well as the rest of her face. Sighing at inspecting herself closely for the first time since the incident, she realized that there were more then internal and mental wounds to heal. And then Blossom came to greatest "nail in the coffin" for her once beauty as she rubbed her hand across her left cheek, feeling the deep groove in the flesh. It was that scar.
Blossom could see it clearly in her memory. Buttercup and she were the only ones left, and were having a showdown. She was horribly injured, but yet she kept defending herself against her psychotic sister. But then Buttercup surprised her with the ax, an ax that was specially made to cut through Powerpuff tough skin. The blade had slashed her face causing the damage that was still there.
From what she had heard from the doctor was that when she was found after defeating Buttercup she was practically dead already. They quickly went about with blood transfusions and trying to find medical tools that were strong enough to work on her Powerpuff body. In all the rush to fix the hole though her, everyone completely forgot about the deep wound on the face. By the time they had secured her midsection up enough to stop worrying, it was already too late to fix her face properly. It was even too late to have some simple stitches in. Now she was stuck with a massively long, deep, and ugly scar on the side of her face.
Moving on past the most depressing part, Blossom came to something that actually brought a small smile across her face – her hair. Long, reddish orange and beautiful, it still hung long down her back as it always did. She was relieved that they kept her in check with keeping her healthy and sanitized all these years the thought as she brushed the strands with her hand. She still put the hair bow in, despite her physical age. She would try new styles soon though. Why not? She had the hair for it.
Her thoughts were lost when the mirror disappeared. Before she could think of where it went to, the back of her head hit something. Before she could think of what it was, she rolled out of the way to avoid the blade that busted the stool she was just sitting on.
Blossom whizzed around. Her chair had been pulled back as she – the lights went out, she heard wood being destroyed. A spray of glass hit her. She heard a swish, felt a breeze, the front of her dress tore. She could feel something cold across her belly. The organs in her body felt as if they had tried to jump out of her back to avoid whatever nearly went across her stomach.
She gasped as a black shadow leaped up into the air and fly at her. The sound of a blade cutting the air stung Blossom's ears as she felt it rush past her. Just the feeling of the air blown by the weapon hurt. Cold fear rushed through her body like a sickness as another swiping of the weapon was made.
Blossom twisted and wove across the floor. Another slice came to slice her stomach. Another came to sever her leg. Another came to open her chest. Another came to spill her – the attack kept coming and coming like an uncontrollable dream! And it wouldn't stop until she was dead! Unless Blossom started her offence herself that is.
After another attack was made, Blossom quickly made one herself. Jumping into the air, Blossom did a roundhouse kick to take a hit against the killer's head. But the killer anticipated this, and easily dodged out of the way. It quickly counteracted and swung the weapon it was holding at Blossom's extended leg.
Blossom screamed, grabbing her leg in horror. Unable to stand anymore, she fell onto her back withering in pain. She could feel the pain in her leg, even though the killer missed. Her mind was playing mad tricks on her in such great shock. And now her mind was trying to think of a next move as the shadowed, yet slightly short, killer raised the weapon for a murder.
Simultaneously, both Blossom and her unwelcomed visitor heard the sound of somebody approaching the room fast. Realizing someone was coming, the killer quickly jumped over Blossom and to the other side of the room. Just as Blossom's bedroom door swung open the killer was jumping out of the window, out of everybody's view. But just as the would-have-been killer exited, Blossom caught a quick glimpse of two things. One was the weapon she was attacked with, which she instantly recognized as a very familiar and very threatening to Powerpuff Girls ax. The other was a certain color from the killer slightly lighten up by the open door – orange.
"Blossom, you all right?" Brick shouted as he flew into the room after hearing Blossom scream. Hobbling up behind him was the Professor.
"What happened in her Blossom?" Asked the extremely concerned Professor.
Blossom took a few quick and short breaths before shouting out, "Oh Professor Brick I was just sitting there when someone tried to kill me he had some kind of a weapon it was scary I thought I was going to die!"
The Professor walked over and pulled Blossom into his arms. "There, there sweetie, it's okay now. There's nobody here. Everything's okay."
At first Blossom wanted to bury her head in the Professor's shoulder and cry like a frightened child. But she took control of her emotions and calmed down enough to speak clearly. "No it isn't! Somebody was just trying to kill me!"
"What?" Gasped Brick. "Where is this guy?"
"He jumped out of the window." Blossom said. "But look out! I think the person has the ax, THE ax! The ax that's powerful enough to harm our super strong bodies!"
Brick was hardly listening to Blossom as he jumped out the open window and into the night. She could hear him zipping around outside looking for anything. The Professor was listening to her on the other hand in concern.
"Ssshhh don't worry Blossom." Comforted the Professor. "I'm sure it was just a bad dream. It's all over now."
What? "No Professor, it was NOT a dream!" Blossom quickly said, completely in control of herself again. "This was real, I know for sure! How else would you explain the broken table and my torn dress? It was some new killer with that ax."
The Professor was about to speak when Butch slowly floated into the room rubbing his eyes and yawning. "What's going on in here? I thought I heard a scream."
"That was me." Blossom defensively said. "Someone burst into my room and tried to kill me with the ax strong enough to kill me."
Butch raised his eyebrow slightly. "Oh really ?" He slyly said.
Before Blossom could react, Brick flew back into the room. "I couldn't find anything. Where's a flashlight, Dad?"
"I have a heavy duty one down in my lab." He said, placing Blossom down on the ground. "Come on, let's go get it."
Brick instantly flew out of the room, the Professor following behind. Not really wanting to be left alone, Blossom started to pursue him. But just as she was exiting the door a hand reached over, grabbed her nighty, and pulled her aside.
"You might be able to fool everyone else." Brick threatened under his breath. "But you never going to fool me!"
"Wha what are you talking about?" Blossom asked, nervous about this sudden violent behavior against her.
"Cut the crap girl! I know YOU were the one to kill all those people back then." Butch grumbled. "And I'm not going to rest until I bring your rotting corpse to justice!"
After giving Blossom a fierce shake and an evil glare, Butch released the surprised Puff and left the room angrily. Blossom stood there against the wall she was shoved against in shock. So much happened so fast in so little time, it wasn't even all dawning on her.
Things were only getting worse, and chances are that they wouldn't be becoming any better at this rate..
End of Part Two
