Thanks for the reviews! After reading yours, Hairy Gregory, I wonder if I
should make an alternate story using some of your ideas! Mojo did have his
reasons for stealing the stone, but they will probably not be that
essential to the story as I have it worked out now. You are right that
Blossom should have been wary of a trap, but in some cases I feel the girls
tend to be overconfident of their abilities (not surprisingly, since many
villains they face are not much of a challenge for them), and this was one
of those times.
Chapter 2
"Professor!"
As Utonium turned from his work to greet his daughters, his expression changed from contentment to astonishment.
Instead of the usual excited smiles and stories about their latest adventure, he was shocked to see the girls sobbing uncontrollably, tears streaming from their eyes. He held out his arms to them, but they stopped inches away, and sank slowly to the ground.
"Oh Professor, it's awful!"
"We're horrible people"
"We didn't know!"
"Oh, my poor babies!" the Professor leaned forward and caught all of his girls up in his embrace, which they returned, clinging to him with much of their considerable strength. "Who told you these awful things?" he asked, frowning.
Blossom finally managed to break off her sobs, and turned her tear-streaked face up to the Professor's. "No-one told us, Professor, we saw it for ourselves!"
"We touched the Dreamstone, just for a second, even though you said we weren't s'posed to," Bubbles added in a chocked voice. "We're sorry!"
The Professor looked somewhat relieved. "Girls, remember what I told you about the stone! The things you see in it aren't real! They're just figments of."
"But Professor!" interrupted Blossom. "This was real! We felt - no, lived - other people's memories. It was like we were inside all of the robbers and bad guys we've ever caught. We felt how scared they were when we came after them, and the pain - we've never felt so much! It must be awful not to be a superhero, to be able to be hurt so easily. How do you stand it, Professor?"
"And they hate us so much!" sobbed Bubbles. "They think we're bad!"
"Girls, listen to yourselves! Think who you're talking about! Did those crooks ever care about how you felt?"
"No," Blossom replied, "but Professor-"
"Did they hesitate to hurt other innocent citizens, or to shoot at you?" the Professor continued. "Those people are just plain bad! They deserve what they get!"
"But some of them weren't bad, Professor! Some of them just needed money," Blossom said, wiping her eyes. "And some people weren't even trying to do anything bad, like Rainbow or Big Billy, but we were too muh-mad at them to care."
"Well, there are other ways of making money than terrorizing innocent citizens! You girls would never do such things if you needed-" he trailed off, thinking of a couple of times when his daughters had been less than scrupulously honest in acquiring what they wanted. He tried a different tact.
"Listen, think about what Townsville would be like if you weren't here? Sure, you've made a few mistakes, and you're a little - overenthusiastic in your duties occasionally, but think of all of the people you've saved from being robbed, or hurt, or worse!"
"That's true, Professor," Blossom said, eyes downcast.
"But it still feels bad," Bubbles added dejectedly.
Buttercup had remained silent during the entire conversation. She turned and looked at the Professor. The sadness in her eyes was more than he could bear.
He knelt down and placed the girls gently on the floor. "You girls have obviously been under a lot of stress lately. I think you need to take a break from crimefighting."
Blossom spoke slowly. "Professor - I'm not sure if we can do it anymore. Ever. I mean, when I think of stopping criminals, all I can see is the times when we hurt people when we didn't have to, sometimes innocent people. Other superheroes never do that. Maybe - maybe we should stop. Let some other superhero come to Townsville."
"Oh, Blossom, please don't say that! You three are the best heroes I know. Why, the people here love you! See?" The Professor gestured to a framed newspaper clipping on the wall with the headline 'Townsville Loves the Powerpuff Girls!'. "Just rest for a few days. I'll call the Mayor - and Miss Bellum of course! - And tell them to hold off calling you unless there's a real emergency. I think the police can handle any purse- snatchers or robberies for a little while."
Blossom smiled weakly at him. "Thanks Professor, I guess we could use some time to think over things."
The Professor placed his hand on her shoulder. "I don't want you to think too much, though! Try to relax and enjoy yourselves. Actually, I've got something for you that might help!" He went to the closet and pulled out a colourful videocassette that had been concealed under some bedding (He had been saving it for their birthday, but decided that the events of the day warranted giving it to them early).
"Yay, the TV Puppet Pals Movie!" Bubbles cheered, sounding almost like her old self. Even Buttercup perked up a bit at the sight of the video.
"I know you girls were disappointed that we never managed to see the whole movie at the theatre. Now you can watch it as many times as you want at home!"
"Will you watch it with us, Professor?" all three chorused.
"Maybe later, girls." Noticing the look of disappointment on their faces, he hastened to add, "I've got to see go and see someone about the - uh - about my work. I'll buy some popcorn and drinks on my way back, though, and it'll be almost like we're in the theatre!"
"OK, Professor! Come back soon!" Bubbles sniffled, smiling through her tears. They waved as he headed to the front door.
Utonium sighed with worry as he pulled out of the driveway. He thought about his little girls; so young, yet with so great a responsibility. It was a wonder they didn't display signs of stress more often. Their natural cheerfulness and enthusiasm seemed to let them come through harrowing battles without ill effect. Perhaps, though, they suffered from more anxiety than they normally let on.
"Well, I know what set off today's incident," the Professor thought angrily, remembering his daughter's recapitulation of their encounter with the Dreamstone, "It was brought on by more than a little stress. I don't believe those horrible things the girls saw today had anything to do with that piece of rock! Even if it can somehow convey memories, why would they see other people's before their own? And why only criminals? It's not logical! Someone or something is deliberately trying to hurt my little angels. And I bet I know who!"
Turning sharply at the corner, Utonium sped away resolutely.
Chapter 2
"Professor!"
As Utonium turned from his work to greet his daughters, his expression changed from contentment to astonishment.
Instead of the usual excited smiles and stories about their latest adventure, he was shocked to see the girls sobbing uncontrollably, tears streaming from their eyes. He held out his arms to them, but they stopped inches away, and sank slowly to the ground.
"Oh Professor, it's awful!"
"We're horrible people"
"We didn't know!"
"Oh, my poor babies!" the Professor leaned forward and caught all of his girls up in his embrace, which they returned, clinging to him with much of their considerable strength. "Who told you these awful things?" he asked, frowning.
Blossom finally managed to break off her sobs, and turned her tear-streaked face up to the Professor's. "No-one told us, Professor, we saw it for ourselves!"
"We touched the Dreamstone, just for a second, even though you said we weren't s'posed to," Bubbles added in a chocked voice. "We're sorry!"
The Professor looked somewhat relieved. "Girls, remember what I told you about the stone! The things you see in it aren't real! They're just figments of."
"But Professor!" interrupted Blossom. "This was real! We felt - no, lived - other people's memories. It was like we were inside all of the robbers and bad guys we've ever caught. We felt how scared they were when we came after them, and the pain - we've never felt so much! It must be awful not to be a superhero, to be able to be hurt so easily. How do you stand it, Professor?"
"And they hate us so much!" sobbed Bubbles. "They think we're bad!"
"Girls, listen to yourselves! Think who you're talking about! Did those crooks ever care about how you felt?"
"No," Blossom replied, "but Professor-"
"Did they hesitate to hurt other innocent citizens, or to shoot at you?" the Professor continued. "Those people are just plain bad! They deserve what they get!"
"But some of them weren't bad, Professor! Some of them just needed money," Blossom said, wiping her eyes. "And some people weren't even trying to do anything bad, like Rainbow or Big Billy, but we were too muh-mad at them to care."
"Well, there are other ways of making money than terrorizing innocent citizens! You girls would never do such things if you needed-" he trailed off, thinking of a couple of times when his daughters had been less than scrupulously honest in acquiring what they wanted. He tried a different tact.
"Listen, think about what Townsville would be like if you weren't here? Sure, you've made a few mistakes, and you're a little - overenthusiastic in your duties occasionally, but think of all of the people you've saved from being robbed, or hurt, or worse!"
"That's true, Professor," Blossom said, eyes downcast.
"But it still feels bad," Bubbles added dejectedly.
Buttercup had remained silent during the entire conversation. She turned and looked at the Professor. The sadness in her eyes was more than he could bear.
He knelt down and placed the girls gently on the floor. "You girls have obviously been under a lot of stress lately. I think you need to take a break from crimefighting."
Blossom spoke slowly. "Professor - I'm not sure if we can do it anymore. Ever. I mean, when I think of stopping criminals, all I can see is the times when we hurt people when we didn't have to, sometimes innocent people. Other superheroes never do that. Maybe - maybe we should stop. Let some other superhero come to Townsville."
"Oh, Blossom, please don't say that! You three are the best heroes I know. Why, the people here love you! See?" The Professor gestured to a framed newspaper clipping on the wall with the headline 'Townsville Loves the Powerpuff Girls!'. "Just rest for a few days. I'll call the Mayor - and Miss Bellum of course! - And tell them to hold off calling you unless there's a real emergency. I think the police can handle any purse- snatchers or robberies for a little while."
Blossom smiled weakly at him. "Thanks Professor, I guess we could use some time to think over things."
The Professor placed his hand on her shoulder. "I don't want you to think too much, though! Try to relax and enjoy yourselves. Actually, I've got something for you that might help!" He went to the closet and pulled out a colourful videocassette that had been concealed under some bedding (He had been saving it for their birthday, but decided that the events of the day warranted giving it to them early).
"Yay, the TV Puppet Pals Movie!" Bubbles cheered, sounding almost like her old self. Even Buttercup perked up a bit at the sight of the video.
"I know you girls were disappointed that we never managed to see the whole movie at the theatre. Now you can watch it as many times as you want at home!"
"Will you watch it with us, Professor?" all three chorused.
"Maybe later, girls." Noticing the look of disappointment on their faces, he hastened to add, "I've got to see go and see someone about the - uh - about my work. I'll buy some popcorn and drinks on my way back, though, and it'll be almost like we're in the theatre!"
"OK, Professor! Come back soon!" Bubbles sniffled, smiling through her tears. They waved as he headed to the front door.
Utonium sighed with worry as he pulled out of the driveway. He thought about his little girls; so young, yet with so great a responsibility. It was a wonder they didn't display signs of stress more often. Their natural cheerfulness and enthusiasm seemed to let them come through harrowing battles without ill effect. Perhaps, though, they suffered from more anxiety than they normally let on.
"Well, I know what set off today's incident," the Professor thought angrily, remembering his daughter's recapitulation of their encounter with the Dreamstone, "It was brought on by more than a little stress. I don't believe those horrible things the girls saw today had anything to do with that piece of rock! Even if it can somehow convey memories, why would they see other people's before their own? And why only criminals? It's not logical! Someone or something is deliberately trying to hurt my little angels. And I bet I know who!"
Turning sharply at the corner, Utonium sped away resolutely.