DYING TO LIVE



A PpG 'alternate reality' fan fiction

By I am a good fighter


DISCLAIMER: Powerpuff Girls created by Craig McCracken and all characters associated with the show are owned by Cartoon Network


Story idea adapted from the novel 'Replay' (c) 1986 by Ken Grimwood


This story is rated PG-13




EIGHT

My sisters and Professor had tried to find me and I took no pleasure from the fact that they didn't. They never asked questions, I guess they just took my return to mean that I'd found what I was looking for. I hadn't, really, but I had made peace with myself, sort of; and I was glad to not have to talk about it. They forgave me, I guess they were just happy to have me back; but I refused to take things for granted. There was a role reversal of sorts. I told Buttercup I would never again lead them, that I had proved I didn't deserve it. I spent countless hours in the Danger Room, toughening up. I cut my hair short and never wore a hair bow again.

This didn't mean my sister was any less tough. Oh, no, not at all. But, just like the last time, she proved herself to be every bit the leader that I'd ever been. With my absence, Bubbles had also grown and as a result, the Powerpuff Girls were not to be messed with. Not that we'd ever taken kindly to being messed with. Just like before, crime dried up and life in Townsville got much better. My problem was I couldn't seem to enjoy it this time. I think it was my sense of what I knew was coming. I dreaded the arrival of August but at the same time I couldn't wait for it to be over. In spite of my vow to be the best I could be, I was failing. I began to experience wild mood swings and Professor feared I was headed toward another breakdown. Maybe I was, but I felt that if I was around to see the sun come up on the 20th, everything would be fine.

I tried to get my inner tensions back under control as the first week of August approached. School was still over a month away, but Bubbles was so excited about starting second grade that all she could talk about was, would we get Ms. Keane again. I winced, remembering the mother they had never known. My baby brother. If life had really gone on without me in that other world, he'd be a year old already. What was his name? What did he look like? It hurt so much that I wished I still had my own separate room so I could go cry in private.

I finally won my internal struggle. My nervousness disappeared and I felt I had my life back under control. I knew nothing was going to happen to me because I had it all figured out. I would get up that morning, the 19th, and fake an injury so if the hotline rang, I'd have an excuse to not go. And that's just what I did.

"No sweat, Blossom, we can handle it." Buttercup said.

"Thanks, guys. I think I'll just take it easy today. I should be fine tomorrow." I knew now there would be one.

Professor told me to stay home and rest my 'bad ankle' while they went to Malph's, like every Saturday morning. While they were gone, I daydreamed of how I was going to live the rest of my life. I could finally make some REAL plans for my future. I stared at the hotline, daring it to ring; knowing it wouldn't. I couldn't remember exactly when we'd gotten the call for that porcupine monster, that had been two lives and a total of over three years ago in time since I had been killed by it. And then, it had been that stupid cable. But when one o'clock came and went without a call, I knew I was right. It felt so good knowing I was about to beat this curse!

I kept my eyes on the clock. It was 1:15, I was nearly home free. I heard Professor coming in. He had a sack of groceries in his arms.

"Professor! Where're the Girls?"

He set the bag down. 1:16

"Oh, Blossom! We saw Mayor at the store and he got a call about some porcupine thing. They went to fight it."

So, it had happened after all! With a huge sense of relief, I jumped into his arms. He put me down, with a smile.

"Oh, ho! I see your ankle made a miraculous recovery! What was that all about? Blossom? BLOSSOM!"

Something slammed into my chest and I couldn't breathe. I was on the floor on my side, looking at Professor's legs but not seeing them, my eyes already losing focus. What the hell, six year-olds don't have heart attacks?! It was happening again!

I screamed "Damn you! What ARE you and why are you DOING this to me?!!!"

I'm sure Professor didn't hear a word of it as he frantically gave me CPR, looking down into my dead eyes.