Mange
(Chapter 7)
By
Mastermind (mind@eot.com)
Disclaimer:
Spawn and Related Indicia are copyright by Todd McFarlene and his army of Lawyers, I'm simply paying homage to him.
Batman Beyond and all related indicia are copyright of Time Warner and the WB, I simply like the way they got Kenny Wayne Shepherd to play the intro to their only feature film (so far) and that's why I refer to it in the intro.
Christoph © 1997-2002 Mastermind.
Powerpuff Girls and Related Indicia are copyright of Cartoon Network and Craig McCraken I simply think they have more potential then they are using now.
Buttercup soared through the skies of Townsville, unable to see many things in her way as she dodged fire from down below, far down on the streets where crazed packs of HIM's demons fired at her and her sister. Dodging a near fatal blast, she and her sister, Blossom, laid down suppressing cover fire as Bubbles took out what seemed to be the main reactor of the shield that was protecting HIM's domain he had claimed when the invasion began. It was now or never, HIM was the last, Mojo was gone, the others either dead or in custody, and this would be the decisive blow for good and justice.
HIM growled loud, rising up from his throne in the city and growing in mass equal to many of the buildings around him. "You girls WON'T STOP ME NOW!" HIM blasted at them with energy beams, rapidly firing from his mouth.
"Oh yes we will! Girls, circle and cover for threat, I'm going in!" Blossom motioned to them, Buttercup and Bubbles looking at each other and opening laser eye fire on the HIM's location, causing him to have to track multiple targets.
Bubbles suddenly stopped, turning towards a pile of rubble, her hearing possibly picking up something.
Buttercup remained on course, taking out various demons and minions in her flight path. She soon noticed her sister's lack of cover fire with her, and turned around, heading back at her. "Bubbles!?"
"You're reign of terror ends now, Tyrant!" Blossom circled under HIM's torso and rammed into her chest, pushing him backwards and into various buildings, letting out a howl for victory. Her cries were cut short as a set of lasers hit her and she went down a bit, hovering before regaining flight status and circling HIM again. "You're gunna have to be better them that, HIM!" Blossom opened fire, tearing open lesions on HIM's chest, green fluid spilling out onto the grounds below. She flew through and lost sight of her sisters, as she turned for yet another significant attack pattern, her many years of crayons and scribbles finally coming into play, just as she had hoped.
Buttercup flew by Bubbles, noting her absent stare, her eyes transfixed on something below, in the distance, from lower downtown where they had just come. "What's wrong?' she asked, hovering next to her.
Bubbles remained silent, her pupils becoming small and absent, her very mental state seemed to be slipping from her, and that scared Buttercup.
"What's wrong, are you hit? Tell me! ", Buttercup asked frantically, concerned like she never thought she could be until that moment.
Bubbles turned to her sister finally, and nodded, not to her, but to something else, something Buttercup couldn't identify. A second later, Bubbles landed a hard blow to her face a few times, dazing Buttercup to the point of her equilibrium began to flux, and she wobbled in mid-air. Bubbles then grunted and put all her power into a single chop that hit the back of Buttercup's neck, sending her hurdling to the ground, into the fires below. Something in her subconscious made her think, "Dammit, now both of them have done it..."
Mange sat straight up, gasping and crying out a moment, before looking around, making sure of her surroundings. It was still night time, and she was on top of a building several blocks away, but how?
"The explosion!" she gasped, looking towards the buildings in front of her, several on fire and the main on in pieces. "I wonder if she made it out."
"You don't have to worry about that, "A voice said from behind her, " In fact in a few minutes, you won't have to worry about anything at all!"
Mange moved on pure instinct, dodging a blade coming at her neck, rolling to face her opponent. A tall girl, the same she had seen at the library, was standing before her, rather tight looking silver plating all over her, and in her hands, a sword, double edged.
"You're growing more powerful by the day; you should be dead from my quick swing..." she said, walking towards her slowly. " You saw it before it happened…didn't you?"
"Who are you!?" Mange asked chains flaring about in a defensive stance
"Me? I thought we met before..." Spice slashed at her again. "I'm Heaven's personal bounty hunter, if you will, Spice is the name, and killing Mange's like you is my greatest thrill..."
Mange hissed, backing up from the attacks. "I remember you now, you tried to kill me!" Mange dodged another stab, rolling and leaping at her.
"That's more like it!" Spice smiled, using Mange's body weight to hurl her into a brick wall, or rather, through one!
"ARGH!" Mange grunted, pulling her self up on what bricks were left, scanning the area for her target.
"Gotta be faster then that!" Spice grinned, thrashing from above her, and jumping down, blade aimed at her head. "You're mine!"
The blade, along with Spice, was suddenly cast aside from her vision, a blur moving around Mange and pushing her near the edge of the roof.
"Get going, girl." Christoph said, coming to a halt before a mangled Mange. "I'll deal with this, you go and heal, and we'll play later!" Christoph grinned and turned to Spice, who was recovering.
"Christoph!" Spice growled, pulling herself and her blade upright. "I should have known!"
"Spice, nice meeting you too." Christoph pulled out a sword as well, or rather a hilt, and pressed a button on the side of it, a blade of energy rising out and glowing, lighting up Christoph's face.
"Always a flair for the dramatics, eh, hon?" Spice spat at the ground as she said the last part, obviously symbolizing something only they knew about. "Stay out of my way, she's mine."
"Ah, but she's my responsibility, until she matures, ergo, we..." Christoph spun the blade a few times, a 'vnnnnn' cut through the air as the red blade of energy shone bright "are at an Impasse..."
Christoph slashed at her, as she did him, their blades connecting, her's slicing off, the top part hitting the ground.
"Damn you!"
"Been there done that."
Spice backed up, closing her eyes, raising her hand upward, seemingly praying, and suddenly lightening struck her hand, leaving a hilt like his in it. Pressing the button a similar blade shot out, its white glow filling the rooftop as well.
"Well, if this isn't a Lucas moment..." Christoph grinned and slashed her again, the blades connecting and holding ground on each other, neither overpowering the other. "Hmm… "
Spice grinned and spun, slashing at him only to be blocked from the side, and sliced on her other arm by the red blade.
Spice yelled, tumbling backwards to safety, "You know this is really stupid.." Spice said finally.
"What can I say, Hell Forge weaponry meets ILM." Chris grinned, making a reference many would understand. "Besides, it's fitting for us, after all, light against dark?"
Spice lunged forward, slicing him in the leg, and landing behind him as he grabbed his leg. She stood up, smiling at him as he turned around, eyes glowing red.
"Ok, now I'm getting mad..." Chris growled, running at her.
Mange watched from her sitting position, awestruck and confused at the same time, her cape covering the area around her in a black mass of nothingness. A blaze of red and white filled the rooftop, the weapons they wielded obviously an unearthly power, amazed her. Her body still worn from the explosion and semi fight she had with Spice beginning to heal, she sat there, unsure of what to do. Christoph had saved her, but he seemed hardly the type to back, however, the other, who called herself Spice, wasn't exactly there to help her either. Confusion ran through her head as the two fought, each countering and attacking the other with precision
Christoph began to be pushed back by her blows, the blades of power beginning to get too fast for him, unsure of how much more he could take, he flipped to another ledge, hoping to lose her.
Spice smiled, she was winning, and as soon as this creature before her was gone, the Mange would be ripe for the pickings. Her swings held their strength, unlike her opponents, and began to push him back, his feeble attempts at fleeing were for not as she leaped to the next building as well, attacking furiously, but with the power of the heaven's rushing through her, the powers bestowed on her to destroy the evils of the other side.
Christoph fell backwards from one of the blows he blocked, rolling to a side as the blade of heaven sliced down on him, grazing his back slightly. He growled and flipped to his feet, landing a blow of his own, one Spice blocked, but was pushed back as well.
"Your skills are weak, compared to mine, Spice." Christoph began to trash talk, attempting to distract her. "Soon you will fall before my superior powers, the power of.."
Spice threw a flurry of swings at him, driving him back "If you even say 'The Power of the Dark Side', I will kill you even slower!"
Christoph held his ground, glancing around for help of some sort from the terrain. He saw Mange watching, cursing himself for not pushing her to safety. His attention diverted, he was knocked to the ground by Spice, and watched as she swirled in place, a blade of light coming at him, he raised his, stopping it inches from his neck.
"Our game is at an end, soon…" Spice grinned, " And my job will be half complete, once I destroy your new pet…"
" Never!" Christoph kicked her in the jaw hard, sending her into a stairway door.
Christoph rushed her, only to be knocked back by an object being hurled at him by her, the looks of which seemed to be a fire extinguisher.
Spice rose and they resumed, each bearing the signs of fatigue, as their blades lit the area around them.
Blossom held her head, looking around she saw the familiar flash of police and paramedic lights around her, a state of confusion filled the air as she attempted to get up.
"Look, there she is over there!" a voice cried out near her, footfalls getting closer.
Several paramedics and firefighters ran to her and helped her up, others attempted to contain the fire around them, the building beginning to creak and rumble as the entire complex began to shake.
"its gunna go, everyone get out NOW!" a firefighter yelled, cutting the hoses and running out.
Blossom stumbled with their help, making it out in time as the entire lobby fell behind them, pushing dust and debris into the air and subsequently into their lungs.
Sparky ran over to her, helping them get her to a stretcher. " Blossom, you ok?"
"I've been better..." Blossom groaned as she lay back on the bedding, vitals being taken.
"I've got this under control, why don't you get to the hospital, I'll see you soon." Sparky smiled.
"I'll be back faster then you think..." she smiled back, being raised into the back.
Sparky watched as they took off with her, lights and sirens blazing, and then turned back to the site commander of the Search and Rescue." Well?"
"Doesn't look good, no survivors form inside aside from her and a few of the guards that were in the other buildings and the press already took a damn statement from one of them!" he said, shaking his head. "No sign of that Mojo character either.."
"Well keep searching, dammit." Sparky cursed, lighting a cigarette. "The only way she survived was that residual syndrome, or whatever that Professor called it.."
"You mean the PowerPuff Residual syndrome?"
"Yeah, that..." Sparky said, walking off to another sector.
"Well, then that Mojo character shouldn't even have stood a chance either then, shouldn't be anything to worry about …"
Bubbles held her head, looking around, she sat straight up, panting and looking around even more, until finally realizing she was in her apartment still, nothing was real.."The dreams are getting worse..." she mumbled, looking for some aspirin, she turned on the TV. " Mojo, it's always about Mojo..never Fuzzy or HIM, just Mojo.." she shivered.
"..have reported they have no signs of survivors so far, aside from Officer Blossom Utonium, who was rushed off from the scene. Some others, who were witness to the attack, had the following to say.." the TV blared as Bubbled swallowed two pills, she turned to it, a look of shock came over her. "It was Mojo!" one of the women said, her head bandaged up.
Bubbles walked slowly to the TV, listening in disbelief.
"As you have already heard, Mojo Jojo, was believed behind this attack, although how he would be able to, no one is talking so far, the iconic Villain of the one time team of super heroines, 'The Powerpuff Girls', was seen however, by all those interviewed so far, more on this later.."
Bubbles sat on the couch, holding her head, staring at the floor. " I think I'm going crazy.." she said softly, weeping.
A cluttering from the one closet she had startled her, causing her to jump up and turn towards it instinctively, something carried over form her childhood days.
Walking over she hesitated to open it, but knew she had to. Besides, it was probably nothing, just some old knickknacks falling from a box.
Reaching for the handle, she turned it and opened the closet, shedding light on the contents inside.
She gasped at what she saw.
Cybermorph watched the report, sighing inside his mask, and pulling out a syringe, he stared at it.
"I'm beginning to hate myself. but, you gotta go where the money is.." he growled from inside his mask, turning from the broadcast in the window of the TV store he stood in front of, he walked into the warehouse and into the middle of the meeting of his employers, The Him Worshippers.
"Blessed be his name..HIM!" the crowd chanted, their leader in the middle, leading the crowd on.
Standing and watching he walked into the central area, standing and waiting for them to finish.
"Ah, our great Warrior has returned, and have you, Cybermorph, achieved your mission?" the leader stepped down, walking to him.
"I did, whoever that was, has been injected..thou I don't know why you need bother with such a person, her apartment was—"
"Your's isn't to reason, isn't it? You said so yourself.." the leader smiled, hoping to deter him from further questions.
"Right, then where's my money?"
"Ever the Mercenary, very well, if money is all you desire, then money is what you shall have..." the leader pulled out a thicker envelope then before, and handed it to him.
"Great..now, unless there's something else?" Cybermorph counted it with his visual receptors, speed counting out the thousands he'd demanded. "I'll be going."
"Nothing for now, of course, we can count on you if we need you again?"
"If the money is there, then yes."he said, walking out.
"Then you shall hear from us again..soon.." he said as Cybermorph walked out.
Christoph fended off her attacks again and again, flipping and turning to run from her, he felt a blade slice his leg, causing him to swear and tumble, rolling out of range.
"Damn!" Christoph said, holding his leg, "You never give up, do you, Spice?!"
Spice moved in, but was caught in the chin with a kick from his boot, sending her stumbling.
"You NEVER give up!" Christoph smiled, standing, his leg still bleeding.
Mange stepped up, finally getting her bearings, and began to decide what to do. She was unsure of whose side, if any, she was on. Christoph had saved her, but didn't feel in her heart as if he were the right one to save.
"I'll never give up, Not after what you did!" Spice slashed at him, sending a piercing sound of her saber through the air, missing her mark.
"You know that holding grudges, causes unneeded stress!" Christoph kicked her legs from under her, sending her to the ground and her weapon reeling to the edge, just teetering on the ledge." And leads to sloppy swordsmanship..." he grinned.
"Dammit!" Spice cursed, rushing to the edge.
Christoph smiled and rushed her, kicking her in the gut with enough force to lift her off the ground, landing her hopelessly far form her Heaven's Blade. "It seems as though the other side's about to lose one of it's finest..pity for you..but a wonderful mark on the résumé! " Christoph sliced through the air, marching ever closer to her.
Mange watched with uneasiness as Christoph hacked at Spice, slicing one of her legs to a bloody stump. Cringing her eyes, she felt a impulse run through her, but was unable to react.
"There's still a chance, Spice.." Christoph said, kicking her in the ribs again, her power seemingly gone and exhausted from the fight she and Christoph had just had." You know you can always join us.."
"Never.." Spice said, coughing up a bit of blood and looking up.
"Together, we can take countless souls..." Christoph clinched his fist at her, almost begging her.
"'And rule the universe as father and son'; I've seen the movie…' Spice spat on him, blood spattering on his boots.
Christoph seemed a bit taken back by it, looking down at the blood and to his weapon, then back to her. He was nearly on top of her as he knelt near her, looking into her tired eyes with his fiery ones. Looking hard into her eyes, a sense of almost remorse and sorrow flared for a moment in them, or so she thought. "Don't Make Me Destroy You…"
"Bugger off!" Spice smashed her knee into his groin, sending him reeling backwards, holding himself, and cursing loudly. Spice seemed to laugh a bit.
"So be it…" Christoph finally spouted out, pulling his blade high, preparing for the kill. "Hunter!" Christoph looked over, smiling as mange watched on, hoping this would be a good lesson for her to observe if she was to fulfill her destiny as The Mange.
Mange felt another impulse run through her, and didn't have time to think, her pure instincts taking over. Her chains snapping to life, she sent them flying forward, smashing them hard into Christoph with enough force to knock him over. "No!" she screamed, leaping upward and coming down at him, spears at the ends of her chains.
Christoph rolled in time, the spears scraping his jacket and sliding through the roof of the building they were on.
"It seems you need another lesson in obedience, Mange!" Christoph growled, smashing his fist into her face.
Mange stumbled, holding her head with her hands, growling in pain. Raising her head, the light from the sky shone on her face, a half decaying half normal teenage girl's face, her eye's green glow lighting up the path in front of her.
"My Name.." she said, looking at him and throwing her fist up into the bottom of his chin, along with two of her chains impaling through his torso, blood spattering out the other end of his back. "Is Buttercup." She finished, pulling her chains out, watching his body stagger backwards, his eyes glazing over.
Christoph coughed up blood, holding his wounds, staring at her in utter awe.
"I may not remember who I am, but I know one thing. " Buttercup said, her cape fluttering in the wind. "I'm nothing like YOU!" she held out her hand, and watched as it morphed into a blade, which she quickly plunged it through his heart area.
Spice watched, confused, as Mange, or Buttercup, as she called herself, killed her 'trainer' that Hell had assigned to her." Intriguing." she finally said.
Pulling the blade out, Christoph fell to the rooftop floor, his body limp and lifeless. Concentrating, her hand morphed back into its normal shape, and her chains returned to their standard claw tipped talons she had first been 'born' with.
Turning towards Spice's fallen shape, she began to walk over towards her "Now, who ARE you?".
Spice began to speak, but went wide eyed as Christoph got to his feet and charged Buttercup, who began to turn around in surprise.
"How dare you..after all I did for YOU!" Christoph charged at her, his blade lit and ready to strike.
Looking over towards to where her blade had fallen, Spice reached towards it, and in a split second, the handle flew at her hand, landing in it in time for her to draw her blade as well, blocking Christoph's slash at Mange.
Mange gasps and turned around, stumbling backwards from Christoph's position.
"Leave, Demon." Spice finally said, her wounds starting to heal. " You've lost this battle.."
Christoph tried to push forward a bit more, only to be pushed back by Spice's newfound strength.
"You dare challenge me, a warrior of Hell's Ar—:" Christoph screamed as his left hand was cut off, falling to the ground and bursting into flames.
"You are Beaten." Spice said walking up to him,her blade level with his neck " Now to finish the job!"
Before Spice could even pull back for a swing, Christoph's eyes turned red and he thrust his remaining hand forward in a claw like way, pushing Spice backwards quite considerably from her position, accompanied by a low toned whooshing sound.
"Don't Think this is over!" Christoph growled, his body beginning to vanish into nothingness, leaving only his red eyes behind, and soon even they faded from sight
Buttercup backed up a few paces from Spice, her arms and chains ready for another possibly fight, perhaps with this "hunter" as she called herself..
"There's no need to fear me, fallen one." Spice deactivated the blade, putting it on a clip on her side. "Your soul is not mine for the taking…yet."
"What?" Buttercup asked, puzzled.
"You've taken the first step in the right direction. Whether or not you decide to go the rest of the way is something only you can do." Spice smiled, her wounds continuing to heal.
"Why can't I get a straight answer around here?!" Buttercup growled, kicking a foot full of rocks that covered the roof.
"Remain on the path of light, and we will meet again. Return to the dark side that so easily tempted you, and we will meet again sooner then you think." Spice's very essence began to fade.
"Wait..don't go. I need to know who and what I am! Why am I here?!" Buttercup grabbed at her, only to have her claws pass through.
"Those are questions that can only be answered with the passage of time…farewell for now, "Spice's voice was all that remained.
Buttercup grunted in frustration, looking around, she noticed the sun was beginning to rise in the east. Feeling the need to find shelter from the sun immediately, and ran over towards the edge of the building, peering down below. There she saw a darkened alleyway, which was better then nothing at this point.
Glancing around one final time, she jumped from the side and down into the blackness below, disappearing into its endless blanket of nothingness.
End Of Act I - To Be Continued After Feedback
.
(Chapter 7)
By
Mastermind (mind@eot.com)
Disclaimer:
Spawn and Related Indicia are copyright by Todd McFarlene and his army of Lawyers, I'm simply paying homage to him.
Batman Beyond and all related indicia are copyright of Time Warner and the WB, I simply like the way they got Kenny Wayne Shepherd to play the intro to their only feature film (so far) and that's why I refer to it in the intro.
Christoph © 1997-2002 Mastermind.
Powerpuff Girls and Related Indicia are copyright of Cartoon Network and Craig McCraken I simply think they have more potential then they are using now.
Buttercup soared through the skies of Townsville, unable to see many things in her way as she dodged fire from down below, far down on the streets where crazed packs of HIM's demons fired at her and her sister. Dodging a near fatal blast, she and her sister, Blossom, laid down suppressing cover fire as Bubbles took out what seemed to be the main reactor of the shield that was protecting HIM's domain he had claimed when the invasion began. It was now or never, HIM was the last, Mojo was gone, the others either dead or in custody, and this would be the decisive blow for good and justice.
HIM growled loud, rising up from his throne in the city and growing in mass equal to many of the buildings around him. "You girls WON'T STOP ME NOW!" HIM blasted at them with energy beams, rapidly firing from his mouth.
"Oh yes we will! Girls, circle and cover for threat, I'm going in!" Blossom motioned to them, Buttercup and Bubbles looking at each other and opening laser eye fire on the HIM's location, causing him to have to track multiple targets.
Bubbles suddenly stopped, turning towards a pile of rubble, her hearing possibly picking up something.
Buttercup remained on course, taking out various demons and minions in her flight path. She soon noticed her sister's lack of cover fire with her, and turned around, heading back at her. "Bubbles!?"
"You're reign of terror ends now, Tyrant!" Blossom circled under HIM's torso and rammed into her chest, pushing him backwards and into various buildings, letting out a howl for victory. Her cries were cut short as a set of lasers hit her and she went down a bit, hovering before regaining flight status and circling HIM again. "You're gunna have to be better them that, HIM!" Blossom opened fire, tearing open lesions on HIM's chest, green fluid spilling out onto the grounds below. She flew through and lost sight of her sisters, as she turned for yet another significant attack pattern, her many years of crayons and scribbles finally coming into play, just as she had hoped.
Buttercup flew by Bubbles, noting her absent stare, her eyes transfixed on something below, in the distance, from lower downtown where they had just come. "What's wrong?' she asked, hovering next to her.
Bubbles remained silent, her pupils becoming small and absent, her very mental state seemed to be slipping from her, and that scared Buttercup.
"What's wrong, are you hit? Tell me! ", Buttercup asked frantically, concerned like she never thought she could be until that moment.
Bubbles turned to her sister finally, and nodded, not to her, but to something else, something Buttercup couldn't identify. A second later, Bubbles landed a hard blow to her face a few times, dazing Buttercup to the point of her equilibrium began to flux, and she wobbled in mid-air. Bubbles then grunted and put all her power into a single chop that hit the back of Buttercup's neck, sending her hurdling to the ground, into the fires below. Something in her subconscious made her think, "Dammit, now both of them have done it..."
Mange sat straight up, gasping and crying out a moment, before looking around, making sure of her surroundings. It was still night time, and she was on top of a building several blocks away, but how?
"The explosion!" she gasped, looking towards the buildings in front of her, several on fire and the main on in pieces. "I wonder if she made it out."
"You don't have to worry about that, "A voice said from behind her, " In fact in a few minutes, you won't have to worry about anything at all!"
Mange moved on pure instinct, dodging a blade coming at her neck, rolling to face her opponent. A tall girl, the same she had seen at the library, was standing before her, rather tight looking silver plating all over her, and in her hands, a sword, double edged.
"You're growing more powerful by the day; you should be dead from my quick swing..." she said, walking towards her slowly. " You saw it before it happened…didn't you?"
"Who are you!?" Mange asked chains flaring about in a defensive stance
"Me? I thought we met before..." Spice slashed at her again. "I'm Heaven's personal bounty hunter, if you will, Spice is the name, and killing Mange's like you is my greatest thrill..."
Mange hissed, backing up from the attacks. "I remember you now, you tried to kill me!" Mange dodged another stab, rolling and leaping at her.
"That's more like it!" Spice smiled, using Mange's body weight to hurl her into a brick wall, or rather, through one!
"ARGH!" Mange grunted, pulling her self up on what bricks were left, scanning the area for her target.
"Gotta be faster then that!" Spice grinned, thrashing from above her, and jumping down, blade aimed at her head. "You're mine!"
The blade, along with Spice, was suddenly cast aside from her vision, a blur moving around Mange and pushing her near the edge of the roof.
"Get going, girl." Christoph said, coming to a halt before a mangled Mange. "I'll deal with this, you go and heal, and we'll play later!" Christoph grinned and turned to Spice, who was recovering.
"Christoph!" Spice growled, pulling herself and her blade upright. "I should have known!"
"Spice, nice meeting you too." Christoph pulled out a sword as well, or rather a hilt, and pressed a button on the side of it, a blade of energy rising out and glowing, lighting up Christoph's face.
"Always a flair for the dramatics, eh, hon?" Spice spat at the ground as she said the last part, obviously symbolizing something only they knew about. "Stay out of my way, she's mine."
"Ah, but she's my responsibility, until she matures, ergo, we..." Christoph spun the blade a few times, a 'vnnnnn' cut through the air as the red blade of energy shone bright "are at an Impasse..."
Christoph slashed at her, as she did him, their blades connecting, her's slicing off, the top part hitting the ground.
"Damn you!"
"Been there done that."
Spice backed up, closing her eyes, raising her hand upward, seemingly praying, and suddenly lightening struck her hand, leaving a hilt like his in it. Pressing the button a similar blade shot out, its white glow filling the rooftop as well.
"Well, if this isn't a Lucas moment..." Christoph grinned and slashed her again, the blades connecting and holding ground on each other, neither overpowering the other. "Hmm… "
Spice grinned and spun, slashing at him only to be blocked from the side, and sliced on her other arm by the red blade.
Spice yelled, tumbling backwards to safety, "You know this is really stupid.." Spice said finally.
"What can I say, Hell Forge weaponry meets ILM." Chris grinned, making a reference many would understand. "Besides, it's fitting for us, after all, light against dark?"
Spice lunged forward, slicing him in the leg, and landing behind him as he grabbed his leg. She stood up, smiling at him as he turned around, eyes glowing red.
"Ok, now I'm getting mad..." Chris growled, running at her.
Mange watched from her sitting position, awestruck and confused at the same time, her cape covering the area around her in a black mass of nothingness. A blaze of red and white filled the rooftop, the weapons they wielded obviously an unearthly power, amazed her. Her body still worn from the explosion and semi fight she had with Spice beginning to heal, she sat there, unsure of what to do. Christoph had saved her, but he seemed hardly the type to back, however, the other, who called herself Spice, wasn't exactly there to help her either. Confusion ran through her head as the two fought, each countering and attacking the other with precision
Christoph began to be pushed back by her blows, the blades of power beginning to get too fast for him, unsure of how much more he could take, he flipped to another ledge, hoping to lose her.
Spice smiled, she was winning, and as soon as this creature before her was gone, the Mange would be ripe for the pickings. Her swings held their strength, unlike her opponents, and began to push him back, his feeble attempts at fleeing were for not as she leaped to the next building as well, attacking furiously, but with the power of the heaven's rushing through her, the powers bestowed on her to destroy the evils of the other side.
Christoph fell backwards from one of the blows he blocked, rolling to a side as the blade of heaven sliced down on him, grazing his back slightly. He growled and flipped to his feet, landing a blow of his own, one Spice blocked, but was pushed back as well.
"Your skills are weak, compared to mine, Spice." Christoph began to trash talk, attempting to distract her. "Soon you will fall before my superior powers, the power of.."
Spice threw a flurry of swings at him, driving him back "If you even say 'The Power of the Dark Side', I will kill you even slower!"
Christoph held his ground, glancing around for help of some sort from the terrain. He saw Mange watching, cursing himself for not pushing her to safety. His attention diverted, he was knocked to the ground by Spice, and watched as she swirled in place, a blade of light coming at him, he raised his, stopping it inches from his neck.
"Our game is at an end, soon…" Spice grinned, " And my job will be half complete, once I destroy your new pet…"
" Never!" Christoph kicked her in the jaw hard, sending her into a stairway door.
Christoph rushed her, only to be knocked back by an object being hurled at him by her, the looks of which seemed to be a fire extinguisher.
Spice rose and they resumed, each bearing the signs of fatigue, as their blades lit the area around them.
Blossom held her head, looking around she saw the familiar flash of police and paramedic lights around her, a state of confusion filled the air as she attempted to get up.
"Look, there she is over there!" a voice cried out near her, footfalls getting closer.
Several paramedics and firefighters ran to her and helped her up, others attempted to contain the fire around them, the building beginning to creak and rumble as the entire complex began to shake.
"its gunna go, everyone get out NOW!" a firefighter yelled, cutting the hoses and running out.
Blossom stumbled with their help, making it out in time as the entire lobby fell behind them, pushing dust and debris into the air and subsequently into their lungs.
Sparky ran over to her, helping them get her to a stretcher. " Blossom, you ok?"
"I've been better..." Blossom groaned as she lay back on the bedding, vitals being taken.
"I've got this under control, why don't you get to the hospital, I'll see you soon." Sparky smiled.
"I'll be back faster then you think..." she smiled back, being raised into the back.
Sparky watched as they took off with her, lights and sirens blazing, and then turned back to the site commander of the Search and Rescue." Well?"
"Doesn't look good, no survivors form inside aside from her and a few of the guards that were in the other buildings and the press already took a damn statement from one of them!" he said, shaking his head. "No sign of that Mojo character either.."
"Well keep searching, dammit." Sparky cursed, lighting a cigarette. "The only way she survived was that residual syndrome, or whatever that Professor called it.."
"You mean the PowerPuff Residual syndrome?"
"Yeah, that..." Sparky said, walking off to another sector.
"Well, then that Mojo character shouldn't even have stood a chance either then, shouldn't be anything to worry about …"
Bubbles held her head, looking around, she sat straight up, panting and looking around even more, until finally realizing she was in her apartment still, nothing was real.."The dreams are getting worse..." she mumbled, looking for some aspirin, she turned on the TV. " Mojo, it's always about Mojo..never Fuzzy or HIM, just Mojo.." she shivered.
"..have reported they have no signs of survivors so far, aside from Officer Blossom Utonium, who was rushed off from the scene. Some others, who were witness to the attack, had the following to say.." the TV blared as Bubbled swallowed two pills, she turned to it, a look of shock came over her. "It was Mojo!" one of the women said, her head bandaged up.
Bubbles walked slowly to the TV, listening in disbelief.
"As you have already heard, Mojo Jojo, was believed behind this attack, although how he would be able to, no one is talking so far, the iconic Villain of the one time team of super heroines, 'The Powerpuff Girls', was seen however, by all those interviewed so far, more on this later.."
Bubbles sat on the couch, holding her head, staring at the floor. " I think I'm going crazy.." she said softly, weeping.
A cluttering from the one closet she had startled her, causing her to jump up and turn towards it instinctively, something carried over form her childhood days.
Walking over she hesitated to open it, but knew she had to. Besides, it was probably nothing, just some old knickknacks falling from a box.
Reaching for the handle, she turned it and opened the closet, shedding light on the contents inside.
She gasped at what she saw.
Cybermorph watched the report, sighing inside his mask, and pulling out a syringe, he stared at it.
"I'm beginning to hate myself. but, you gotta go where the money is.." he growled from inside his mask, turning from the broadcast in the window of the TV store he stood in front of, he walked into the warehouse and into the middle of the meeting of his employers, The Him Worshippers.
"Blessed be his name..HIM!" the crowd chanted, their leader in the middle, leading the crowd on.
Standing and watching he walked into the central area, standing and waiting for them to finish.
"Ah, our great Warrior has returned, and have you, Cybermorph, achieved your mission?" the leader stepped down, walking to him.
"I did, whoever that was, has been injected..thou I don't know why you need bother with such a person, her apartment was—"
"Your's isn't to reason, isn't it? You said so yourself.." the leader smiled, hoping to deter him from further questions.
"Right, then where's my money?"
"Ever the Mercenary, very well, if money is all you desire, then money is what you shall have..." the leader pulled out a thicker envelope then before, and handed it to him.
"Great..now, unless there's something else?" Cybermorph counted it with his visual receptors, speed counting out the thousands he'd demanded. "I'll be going."
"Nothing for now, of course, we can count on you if we need you again?"
"If the money is there, then yes."he said, walking out.
"Then you shall hear from us again..soon.." he said as Cybermorph walked out.
Christoph fended off her attacks again and again, flipping and turning to run from her, he felt a blade slice his leg, causing him to swear and tumble, rolling out of range.
"Damn!" Christoph said, holding his leg, "You never give up, do you, Spice?!"
Spice moved in, but was caught in the chin with a kick from his boot, sending her stumbling.
"You NEVER give up!" Christoph smiled, standing, his leg still bleeding.
Mange stepped up, finally getting her bearings, and began to decide what to do. She was unsure of whose side, if any, she was on. Christoph had saved her, but didn't feel in her heart as if he were the right one to save.
"I'll never give up, Not after what you did!" Spice slashed at him, sending a piercing sound of her saber through the air, missing her mark.
"You know that holding grudges, causes unneeded stress!" Christoph kicked her legs from under her, sending her to the ground and her weapon reeling to the edge, just teetering on the ledge." And leads to sloppy swordsmanship..." he grinned.
"Dammit!" Spice cursed, rushing to the edge.
Christoph smiled and rushed her, kicking her in the gut with enough force to lift her off the ground, landing her hopelessly far form her Heaven's Blade. "It seems as though the other side's about to lose one of it's finest..pity for you..but a wonderful mark on the résumé! " Christoph sliced through the air, marching ever closer to her.
Mange watched with uneasiness as Christoph hacked at Spice, slicing one of her legs to a bloody stump. Cringing her eyes, she felt a impulse run through her, but was unable to react.
"There's still a chance, Spice.." Christoph said, kicking her in the ribs again, her power seemingly gone and exhausted from the fight she and Christoph had just had." You know you can always join us.."
"Never.." Spice said, coughing up a bit of blood and looking up.
"Together, we can take countless souls..." Christoph clinched his fist at her, almost begging her.
"'And rule the universe as father and son'; I've seen the movie…' Spice spat on him, blood spattering on his boots.
Christoph seemed a bit taken back by it, looking down at the blood and to his weapon, then back to her. He was nearly on top of her as he knelt near her, looking into her tired eyes with his fiery ones. Looking hard into her eyes, a sense of almost remorse and sorrow flared for a moment in them, or so she thought. "Don't Make Me Destroy You…"
"Bugger off!" Spice smashed her knee into his groin, sending him reeling backwards, holding himself, and cursing loudly. Spice seemed to laugh a bit.
"So be it…" Christoph finally spouted out, pulling his blade high, preparing for the kill. "Hunter!" Christoph looked over, smiling as mange watched on, hoping this would be a good lesson for her to observe if she was to fulfill her destiny as The Mange.
Mange felt another impulse run through her, and didn't have time to think, her pure instincts taking over. Her chains snapping to life, she sent them flying forward, smashing them hard into Christoph with enough force to knock him over. "No!" she screamed, leaping upward and coming down at him, spears at the ends of her chains.
Christoph rolled in time, the spears scraping his jacket and sliding through the roof of the building they were on.
"It seems you need another lesson in obedience, Mange!" Christoph growled, smashing his fist into her face.
Mange stumbled, holding her head with her hands, growling in pain. Raising her head, the light from the sky shone on her face, a half decaying half normal teenage girl's face, her eye's green glow lighting up the path in front of her.
"My Name.." she said, looking at him and throwing her fist up into the bottom of his chin, along with two of her chains impaling through his torso, blood spattering out the other end of his back. "Is Buttercup." She finished, pulling her chains out, watching his body stagger backwards, his eyes glazing over.
Christoph coughed up blood, holding his wounds, staring at her in utter awe.
"I may not remember who I am, but I know one thing. " Buttercup said, her cape fluttering in the wind. "I'm nothing like YOU!" she held out her hand, and watched as it morphed into a blade, which she quickly plunged it through his heart area.
Spice watched, confused, as Mange, or Buttercup, as she called herself, killed her 'trainer' that Hell had assigned to her." Intriguing." she finally said.
Pulling the blade out, Christoph fell to the rooftop floor, his body limp and lifeless. Concentrating, her hand morphed back into its normal shape, and her chains returned to their standard claw tipped talons she had first been 'born' with.
Turning towards Spice's fallen shape, she began to walk over towards her "Now, who ARE you?".
Spice began to speak, but went wide eyed as Christoph got to his feet and charged Buttercup, who began to turn around in surprise.
"How dare you..after all I did for YOU!" Christoph charged at her, his blade lit and ready to strike.
Looking over towards to where her blade had fallen, Spice reached towards it, and in a split second, the handle flew at her hand, landing in it in time for her to draw her blade as well, blocking Christoph's slash at Mange.
Mange gasps and turned around, stumbling backwards from Christoph's position.
"Leave, Demon." Spice finally said, her wounds starting to heal. " You've lost this battle.."
Christoph tried to push forward a bit more, only to be pushed back by Spice's newfound strength.
"You dare challenge me, a warrior of Hell's Ar—:" Christoph screamed as his left hand was cut off, falling to the ground and bursting into flames.
"You are Beaten." Spice said walking up to him,her blade level with his neck " Now to finish the job!"
Before Spice could even pull back for a swing, Christoph's eyes turned red and he thrust his remaining hand forward in a claw like way, pushing Spice backwards quite considerably from her position, accompanied by a low toned whooshing sound.
"Don't Think this is over!" Christoph growled, his body beginning to vanish into nothingness, leaving only his red eyes behind, and soon even they faded from sight
Buttercup backed up a few paces from Spice, her arms and chains ready for another possibly fight, perhaps with this "hunter" as she called herself..
"There's no need to fear me, fallen one." Spice deactivated the blade, putting it on a clip on her side. "Your soul is not mine for the taking…yet."
"What?" Buttercup asked, puzzled.
"You've taken the first step in the right direction. Whether or not you decide to go the rest of the way is something only you can do." Spice smiled, her wounds continuing to heal.
"Why can't I get a straight answer around here?!" Buttercup growled, kicking a foot full of rocks that covered the roof.
"Remain on the path of light, and we will meet again. Return to the dark side that so easily tempted you, and we will meet again sooner then you think." Spice's very essence began to fade.
"Wait..don't go. I need to know who and what I am! Why am I here?!" Buttercup grabbed at her, only to have her claws pass through.
"Those are questions that can only be answered with the passage of time…farewell for now, "Spice's voice was all that remained.
Buttercup grunted in frustration, looking around, she noticed the sun was beginning to rise in the east. Feeling the need to find shelter from the sun immediately, and ran over towards the edge of the building, peering down below. There she saw a darkened alleyway, which was better then nothing at this point.
Glancing around one final time, she jumped from the side and down into the blackness below, disappearing into its endless blanket of nothingness.
End Of Act I - To Be Continued After Feedback
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