Allies and Rivals
Since my review thanks is pretty long, I placed it at the bottom of the chapter instead.
Chapter 10
Allies, Rivals or Enemies?
The City of Townsville, a bustling metropolis filled with content people. And one of the major places that people always go to was the First National Bank, a fine institution where the people of Townsville deposited their hard-earned money.
It was August 20, three days after the second fight between the Powerpuff Girls and the Rowdyruff Boys. The people generally were not aware that a second fight ever took place, and they continued on with their busy lives.
Suddenly, three bank robbers wearing ski masks and armed with machine guns and .38 pistols burst through.
"This is a stick-up. Hands up and no funny business," the middle robber ordered.
A bystander who usually hangs around just outside the First National Bank saw it and quickly spoke to his watch. He quickly pushed a few buttons and soon, the watch was transformed into a communicator. He soon sent a message as soft and as inconspicuous as possible.
"Dr. Edwards, this is Red Rover. The First National Bank is being robbed," he quietly but quickly and clearly said.
"Thanks Hal," Dr. Edwards, who was working in his underground laboratory when Hal called, said. He then pushed a few buttons on his own watch.
"Boys, this is Dad," Dr. Edwards said. "There is a bank robbery in progress on the first National Bank. Proceed to stop the robbery at once!"
Brick was reading a book on Machiavelli on his room when he heard the call from his watch.
"Got it Dad!" he quickly said.
"We're on it!" Boomer, who was watching TV on the living room, said as soon as he heard the message from his own communicator.
"Yeah!" Butch, who was pulling some weights in the weight room, shouted.
Soon, the three boys were heading for the bank. All that, from Hal calling to the boys heading towards the bank, took just over forty seconds.
Back in the bank, one of the employees immediately pressed a red button under his desk.
Meanwhile in the police station…
"It's your turn, Mack," a fat, lazy, donut eating police officer named Henry Kaczinsci said.
"No, it's your turn," Mack replied.
"Nu-uh, I was the one who checked what the emergency was last time. Now you do it," Kaczinsci replied.
"Oh I'll do it," another officer, John Partelli, said as he went to find out what the buzzing was all about.
"Holy smoke!" shouted Partelli. "The First National Bank is being robbed!" He then ran towards the office of the police commissioner.
Five minutes later, all the available police cars were racing from the police station to the scene of the crime. The Police Commissioner, Alexander Grulp, made one last phone call before getting in a car to join the rest of the police.
"Hello, Mayor," the Commissioner began.
"Oh hi Alex," began the Mayor. "Hey, do you know any cheats on the fairy video game! Darn, it seems I keep killing my own fairy!" he ranted.
"Not now, Mayor," the Commissioner said, rolling his eyes. "The First National Bank is being robbed. I suggest you call the back-up."
"Oh yeah," the Mayor said before he hung-up and continued his video game. "Darn fairy!"
"What is the call about sir," Ms. Bellum, who just arrived, asked.
"About a buck being cubbed," the Mayor replied as he again killed his own fairy in the game.
"I think what he means is that the First National Bank is being robbed," Ms. Bellum suggested.
"Oh yeah, the bank is being robbed," the Mayor finally said, "I'll tell you this game is a rip-off," he shouted as he slammed the PS into the floor, instantly destroying it! "Oh and he said call for back-ups, oh well, I guess he means call the National Guard! Ms. Bellum, get me the governor!"
"Don't you think he meant the Powerpuff Girls?" Ms. Bellum asked with incredulity at the Mayor's idiocy.
"Oh yeah," and he picked up the hotline.
Meanwhile…
The boys were flying rapidly towards the bank. "Now listen up," Brick said as he began barking orders to his brothers. "I'll go to the front door to block any escape attempts from there. Boomer, you secure the back door, if there are any. Butch will deal with them inside the bank. Now, if any of them try to get away from Butch, me and Boomer will take care of him. Got it?"
"Got it!" Butch enthusiastically replied.
"Got it!" Boomer curtly replied.
They arrived exactly two minutes after leaving their suburban house.
Brick went and waited at the front door. Boomer did as instructed and waited at the back of the building. Butch went through the front door and entered the bank itself.
"Hey, who are you," one of the robbers exclaimed, pointing a Tommy gun at Butch.
"Have you ever seen pain?" asked Butch in an amused tone, giving a sadistic smile as he eyed his prey.
"No!" the robber replied, puzzled by the impudent boy's question.
Butch was small, and on every account looked like a six-year-old kid. He had every reason to dismiss the kid.
"Well, I am pain, and I am here to give myself to you in such a large dose that you wouldn't even feel it because you'll be too numb!"
The three robbers just laughed. "Hey kid, just go home to your Mommy or something," they then laughed some more. At that point, Butch struck the biggest robber, and he was out cold.
The two other robbers just stared at Butch in disbelief. "You're a…" the leaders began, unable to mouth the proper words.
"Yes, I'm a Rowdyruff," he said with pride as he took a dangerous step forward.
Soon, the big robber began emptying the bullets of his machine gun into Butch. Butch just stood there, the bullets having the same effect on him as a strong wind blowing against his face. A minute later, hot disfigured bullets piled high up around Butch's feet.
Seeing this, the leader just ran towards the entrance, in total terror of Butch.
Butch looked at the robber run. 'Looks like Brick will have his fun after all,' he thought, as he looked at the other robber. The man then dropped his gun and run and began climbing out of one of the windows on the back wall. Butch then punched him in the butt, sending him out the wall.
The terrified would-be bank robber soon stormed out of the door, terrified and deathly afraid, glad to be out of sight of Butch. But he was mistaken if he thought he was to be given a respite. As soon as he went out, he was tripped by none other than Brick, and he rolled on the bank pavement. Brick picked him up by the shirt before he could regain his balance.
"Well, well, what do we have here?"
"Please, don't hurt me, I promise not to do it again, plea—" But he was cut off as Brick used his free hand to punch him in the stomach. He soon followed up with a punch in the face, in the chest, then with a slap, and with a flurry of punches.
By this time, the robber was reeling in pain, with most of his tooth knocked out, and his face unrecognizable, but Brick simply smiled and tossed him in the air. He then put up his fists in the air, and the robbers back landed on it, breaking his spine. He was soon quivering on the ground, totally incapacitated. He was still alive, but he was better off dead. Brick then spit on the body to show his contempt. 'He isn't even worth my damned spit.'
Moments later, Butch carrying the unconscious robber, went outside and flung his prey beside the other robber.
A few seconds later, the police arrived. Soon, dozens of police cars can be seen in front of the bank. The police just stared at the two boys with the two fallen robbers at their feet.
Meanwhile…
"You get it!" Buttercup ordered as she continued punching her meat.
"No, you do it!" Bubbles replied as she continued drawing.
"Oh I'll get it. For all we know, this is the Rowdyruff Boys attacking the city," Blossom replied as he picked up the phone.
"Hello Mayor," Blossom began. "The first National Bank is being robbed! We're on it, Mayor. Come on girls, the bank is being robbed."
"Some action at last," Buttercup said with relief as she was bored stiff because of the lack of action in the past three days after their second loss.
Soon, the girls were zooming towards the city.
Meanwhile…
"Where are you going?" asked Boomer as the bank robber hit the ground after being pushed out by Butch.
"Outta my way, kid," he said as he began to run. But Boomer quickly intercepted him. He grabbed his arms and slammed him repeatedly on the pavement. He then threw him in the air at an angle, and Boomer then quickly went to the front of the bank. A few seconds later, the third robber landed with a loud thud beside his fellow robbers.
The police just stared at them, jaw wide open. The boys just looked at each other. "Who are you?" asked one of the police officers.
The boys, who had only contempt towards the police, decided to introduce themselves.
"I'm Brick!"
"I'm Butch!"
"And I'm Boomer!"
"And we're the Rowdyruff Boys," they said in unison, and they quickly flew home, proud of their accomplishment.
"How long did it take?" asked Butch.
Brick looked at his watch. "Five minutes," he said as he arrived home.
Three minutes later, the Powerpuff Girls arrived, simultaneously with the Police Commissioner. They were greeted with the sight of the robbers being carried into stretchers in ambulances.
"What happened?" asked the Commissioner.
"It looks like you didn't need our help after all!" Blossom asserted.
"It wasn't us," one of the police officers replied. "It was the Rowdyruff Boys. They took care of the robbers for us, and all we had to do was watch."
"What!" the Powerpuff Girls screamed.
"That can't be! Those boys are evil! They couldn't have done this, because it wouldn't be evil to help stop crime!" Blossom protested.
"Say what you want girls," said another police officer. "But I saw with my own eyes three boys in red, blue and green beat up the most dangerous trio of gangsters and bank robbers in Townsville, and they called themselves the Rowdyruff Boys, and their names are Brick, Butch and Boomer!"
"And correction," added the Commissioner. "I remember those boys before. The were evil, but are not anymore. It seems to me that after they beat you in the last fight, they changed, and they decided to put on a new leaf. Ha, I'll bet that they changed because they already got their revenge on you. Oh well, they're making amends for what they have done, and by the looks of it, Townsville is going to have a new set of superheroes!"
"But Commissioner, they're evil," Buttercup said. "We know that they're planning something sinister and this is just a ploy to fool us all!"
"Oh come now," the Commissioner replied. "You're just jealous. Don't fret about having competition. It'll only make you better. And you girls would always be number one in our hearts. Anyway, if they continue this, I'll withdraw all criminal charges against them and they will be Townsville's official second set of superheroes. Besides, it would be of Townsville's benefit." He then went to his car and left the stupefied Powerpuff Girls in the dust.
"Oooooh!" Blossom shouted. "Those dam—I mean those darned Boys!" She was frustrated. Things were not going on as she had planned—again. She wanted to pull out her hair.
Buttercup gritted her teeth and stumped her foot on the road. Unfortunately, she only succeeded in creating a hole in the asphalt.
"Buttercup, you should be more careful!" Blossom scolded.
"I can't help it Blossom!" Buttercup replied. "Those boys make me so mad! They're so sneaky!"
"I know what you mean!" Blossom answered back. "I mean, what are they up to?"
"Girls," Bubbles, who had been quiet all this time, said.
Buttercup and Blossom looked to her to listen to what their cutest sister has to say.
"Maybe the commissioner is right. Maybe those boys did change," Bubbles began but was cut off by her unbelieving sisters.
"What are you talking about?" Buttercup shouted at his sister. "Is your head so thick that after telling you a million times that there's no chance they're good you still believe they are capable of change?"
"Well," Bubbles retorted, "then why didn't they kill us when they had the chance, or why won't they attack Townsville, or why would they stop those bank robbers if they didn't change?"
"Look Bubbles," Blossom said, intervening before the fight of Bubbles and Buttercup went out of hand. "I understand how you feel, but the facts don't support your hypothesis!"
Bubbles looked at her with a blank stare.
"I mean what you think about those Boys are wrong. First, they didn't kill us because for some reason, they don't want us dead for their own selfish motives. Second, they are just waiting for the right opportunity to attack. It'll come sooner or later, that's why we have to remain prepared. Third, they just did it to fool everybody, just like that phony Major Man did."
"But—"
"Bubbles, aren't you the one who heard them say they would take over Townsville with Mojo and destroy us?"
"Yes."
"And didn't you hear them admit it to our faces that that is their plan?" Blossom asked liked a prosecuting attorney.
"Yes. I guess you're right girls," said Bubbles sadly, disappointed. "I just thought that we could be friends with them and they could join, you know, us in saving the day and stuff?"
Buttercup just rolled her eyes at the perceived naivety of Bubbles.
"Believe me Bubbles," Blossom replied, "if I there is ever a chance that they could be pulled from the side of evil, and become good superheroes like us, I'd promise that I would do everything that I can to make them our friends and allies."
"Really? You promise?"
"Yes Bubbles. I promise. But those three are irredeemably evil. You cannot change them. They are bad to the bone. Nothing that we can do will ever change them, and that is why we need to defeat them."
"I guess you're right," Bubbles replied.
Soon, the three puffs went home.
It was August 21.
It was a peaceful day at Townsville beach, or so it began. Happy families were swimming, or building sand castles, or just laying out enjoying the sun. There was nothing that could ruin the day of these beachgoers.
Except, of course, the Giant Monster that had just appeared.
It was at first, not noticeable. Only a few bubbles would indicate that a monster was emerging. But after a few seconds, a large hairy head, about the size of a battle tank, was above the water, peering maliciously at the beachgoers. It had three eyes, with a red cornea, a gold iris and a black pupil. Its golden fur was long, and dripping wet. It had a mouth like a Tyrannosaurus, with teeth as sharp as a dagger's blade. A few seconds later, he emerged full body. It was about the same size of a twenty story building, and had his entire body covered with golden fur. Its body looks like the body of a grizzly bear standing, except the feet, which instead of claws, had hooves. And it had a small tail, like a tail of a dog.
The beachgoers screamed when they saw the hideous monster. But they panicked in an orderly manner, their skills at evacuating from monsters honed from the almost incessant monster attacks, so much so that it would indeed be an unusual week when no monster attacked. Soon, on an almost instinctual habit, they were able to completely evacuate the beach in three minutes.
Except one. A young man of about twenty-six, saw the monster and immediately contacted Dr. Edwards. Now Dr. Edwards was in his home office talking on the phone with one of his business associates.
"I don't care, Richard. I want to get that company. And if Globetech opposes it, ruin it as well. I'll corner the tech market in this part of the country yet!" Dr. Edwards shouted on the phone when he heard his watch ring. "Excuse me, Richard, please hold."
He then pressed a button on his watch-communicator.
"Yes?"
"Sir, there is a monster attack on Townsville beach. This is Agent Charlie."
"Thanks, Charles," Dr. Edwards said as he pressed another button on his watch.
Brick, Butch, and Boomer were in the forest at the backyard of their home, exploring it. They were at this point sitting under a tree telling stories to each other when their watches all rang.
"Boys, there is a monster attack on Townsville Beach," Dr. Edwards voice said in the communicator. "Take care of it immediately!"
"Yes Dad," Brick said as they flew at top speed towards the beach.
In forty seconds, they reached it.
The monster ignored the beach and headed straight for Townsville, but before it could get out of the beach, a terrible punch sent it backwards.
Butch was grinning at his first monster fight. 'Now all the Monster Training in Dad's lab is gonna pay off,' he thought as he took hold of its left arm, and with laser eyes, was able to tear it off the rest of the monster.
Brick quickly saw it and headed for the head. The monster opened its big mouth to roar Brick to submission, but before any sound could escape, Brick filled its mouth with ice. Boomer then punched it in the jaw breaking the ice but inflicting intense pain on the jaw. In addition, the ice in the monster's head produced a stinging headache. This, plus fact that its arm was torn off produced more excruciating pain, caused the monster to lose any semblance of control over its own body, and he began to act wildly.
Meanwhile…
One of the citizens from the beach saw a police officer with his partner at their car.
"Officer, call the Powerpuff Girls, call the Rowdyruff Boys, call anybody! A monster is attacking Townsville at the beach!" she shouted, and continued running.
"A monster! I gotta warn the chief!" the officer exclaimed, and picked up his radio to contact headquarters.
In the Police headquarters…
"It's your turn Mack," Henry Kaczinsci said, lazily eating his donut and watching TV.
"No, it's your turn, Kaczinsci," Mack replied, sipping his coffee, not making a move towards the phone.
"Oh for crying out loud!" John Partelli, who just entered carrying a bunch of paperwork. "Honestly, you wouldn't even answer the call if the Russians suddenly invaded us!" He then answered the phone. "Oh shit!" he gasped as he run towards the commissioner's office.
"What's it now, Partelli?" Kaczinsci said. "Some pickpocket?"
"No, a monster attack!" Partelli replied as he burst into the Commissioner's office.
"Sir, there's another monster attack at Townsville. It's still at the beach."
"Good Heavens. Good thing we have the Powerpuff Girls at our side. I'll call the mayor so he can call them," Commissioner Alexander Grulp said as he dialled the phone number of the Mayor's office.
Meanwhile…
The monster was now stomping blindly and angrily towards Townsville. Boomer was going to stop it but its free arm was able to hit Boomer and the blue ruff was plowed into the sand. Brick, in desperation, lunged towards its back but its tail caught him and wrapped it around his neck.
"Butch, is it ready yet?" he asked in a choking voice.
Butch, who all this time was heating the broken arm of the monster, said, "Not yet!"
"Hurry," Brick said as Boomer rammed himself at the base of the tail, immediately cutting it off. Brick then freed himself from the grip of the severed tail.
Meanwhile…
The Mayor of Townsville was in his office, watching Godzilla when the phone rang.
"Hello, this is the Police Commissioner."
"Hi Alex, What's up!" the Mayor asked.
"A monster is attacking the city," the Commissioner shouted.
"Yup. Godzilla is indeed tearing through the town. It's too bad that New York City has no Powerpuff Girls, too bad…hey how'd you know I was watching Godzilla? You've been spying one me…"
"Oh for God's sake will you please shut up Mayor and listen to me?"
The mayor was suddenly cowed by the Commissioner's shouting. "Yes Alex?"
"Thank you mayor. There is a monster attacking Townsville. I suggest you call the Powerpuff Girls now and tell them to go to the beach."
"Ah Alex?"
"Yes Mayor?"
"Are you sure there's a real monster out there and you're not talking about Godzilla?"
The Police Commissioner in frustration hung-up.
"Rude man. Oh, yes, the Powerpuff Girls," he said as he picked up the hotline.
Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup where all lounging in their room doing nothing, and were bored stiff. Suddenly the hotline rang.
"I'll get it!" Buttercup said, and was about to pick it up when Blossom tripped her.
"I'm the leader and I'm supposed to answer the hotline," she arrogantly said to Buttercup. "Hello Mayor, a monster at the beach? We're on it Mayor."
"Girls, there's—"
"I'm on it," Buttercup said as she flew towards the beach without waiting for her sister.
Bubbles and Blossom followed her, although Blossom was a bit peeved with her raven haired sister.
Meanwhile…
The beach was soon full reporters and television crews, who kept their distance to avoid being harmed.
The monster, tailless, one armed and out of control, made another unconscious attack on Townsville.
Boomer stepped before him and used his Sonic Boom to push him back towards the beach. Brick then used his ice breath and froze him. It was made worse by the fact that it was still dripping wet, and as a result, its entire body was frozen solid in a block of ice.
"I'm ready!" Butch replied, holding the end of a red- hot monster arm.
Brick and Boomer then threw the monster high in the air. When it was high enough, Butch hurled the arm to the monster, and seconds later, the red-hot arms made contact with the frozen monster. A few more seconds, and it was impaled by it. It was now dead. Another few seconds and it was lying on the beach, with many photographers taking pictures of it.
The boys were high in the air, proud, when they noticed the girls were approaching.
"Darn it!" Brick said. "Let's go down before those girls notice us."
Quick as a bee, they quickly went down the ground and melted into the crowd.
The crowd cheered, shouting, "Hurrah for the Rowdyruff Boys!" when the Powerpuff Girls arrived.
"Thank you, citizens…Rowdyruff Boys?" Blossom gasped. "We're not the Rowdyruff Boys, we're the Powerpuff Girls!"
"We're not talking about you girls," one of the people in the crowd said. "We're talking about the Rowdyruff Boys!"
"Yeah," another one shouted. "They saved Townsville by killing that monster." He then pointed to the frozen haired impaled monster.
"Where are they?" asked Buttercup in a dangerous tone.
"They're…hey, where are they?"
The Rowdyruff Boys had just disappeared.
The girls then peeled their eyes among the crowd to find the boys, but found nothing. Only a few bystanders, a taxi headed toward town, a couple of parked cars, and several reporters.
"Those boys are definitely going to get it when we get their hands on them," Buttercup said, low enough for the crowd not to hear but loud enough for her sisters to hear.
"I hear ya," Blossom said in an angry tone. "Those boys are definitely getting on my nerves. They're trying to gain the trust of the town and then wham! They'll attack the city when nobody expects it because the people thinks of them as heroes. Well, we're not buying it. At least we know what they are really like."
Bubbles just stood there and said nothing, and looked like she was in deep thought.
Meanwhile…
"Now, why did we run away from those sissies?" yelled Butch to Brick. They were in the back of a taxi, headed towards home, to conceal themselves from the girls. "I mean we haven't lost a fight to them yet, and here we are as if we are some ordinary weak criminal hiding from those girls! I mean, where is your pride?"
"Butch, Boomer, before I go on further, I want you to avoid all contact with those girls," Brick said in a serious tone. "Because one, those girls are looking for us. Remember, we're still equal in strength and speed, and they're still teed off at us for beating them to a bloody pulp—twice. They're looking for us because they want a rematch, because they want to have their revenge and beat us to a bloody pulp."
"And you think we'll lose?" Butch said with incredulity.
"Of course not," Boomer suddenly interjected. "We can't lose. We're the Rowdyruff Boys. We're too proud too!"
"You're the one to talk, Mr. I am the only Rowdyruff ever to fall on battle," Butch retorted. "And for your information, you have no pride as a Rowdyruff, because if you have it, you wouldn't let yourself be easily knocked out and then cry over it like a baby." Although Butch really knew that his blonde brother had nothing to be ashamed of, he was still teed off by Brick's decision that he took it out on poor Boomer.
Those words cut through the very soul of Boomer. He took much comfort in his father's lecture on pride that Butch's words threatened to bring him back to the state he felt after being knocked out cold. Instead, the got very angry at green clad brother, for by this time, even if among the three, he got the least amount of pride, he got enough of it to make him not anymore take Butch's words. He breathed heavily, with his eyes burning in anger as he looked at his black haired brother.
Butch flinched as he saw the transformation of his blond brother from the most mild-mannered looking among them to a very ferocious look, rivalling Bubbles' look when she took on for herself the challenge of hardcore.
"Take it back, Butch," he said slowly, deliberately and with the intent to back it up with force if necessary.
"Okay, okay, I take it back," Butch suddenly said, suddenly not wanting a confrontation with a mad Boomer. "You definitely have pride as a Rowdyruff."
Boomer suddenly returned to normal as he heard this words. "Really?"
"Yeah!"
"Thanks!"
"As I was saying," Brick suddenly said, "I don't think we'll lose, although there's always a chance. And if those girls want a rematch, why should we give it to them that easy? If they want to get it, then they must find us first!"
"Yeah!" Boomer said, agreeing with every word of his redheaded brother.
"And they still think we're in league with Mojo and trying to take over Townsville, and I for one don't want to spend most of my days fighting for my life, even if I enjoy it," Brick added.
"They do? Oh yes I remember, Butch for some reason admitted that!" Boomer said. "Oh well, why don't we go and tell them that we're not going to take over Townsville?"
"Are you serious Boomer?" Butch suddenly said. "Do you really want to grovel before them, to stand on your knees and beg? Because telling them that would amount to apologizing!"
"So?" Boomer replied. "Dad said that apologizing is okay as long as what you think you did was wrong. It'll only make a bad situation worst!"
"Boomer," Brick said, "we won't apologize and that's final. Besides, when they see what we're doing now, they'll realize we're not in league with that stupid monkey, not bent on taking over Townsville, and not bent on destroying them. Then they'll realize how silly they are for thinking such and they would see that we're just bluffing when we said that to them. So it won't get worse. It'll only get better. They would cease to see us as a threat, and we won't have to apologize or admit that we lied to them, and everybody would be happy!"
"Oh," Boomer said. "If you put it that way, then I guess we'll have no reason to apologize then."
It was August 22.
"DAD!" Brick shouted. "Dad!"
Brick was flying angrily in their house, clutching a newspaper in one hand. Besides him were Butch and Boomer. They found him in his office, reading some books.
"Yes son?" asked the Doctor.
"Dad, you should sue this paper for libel and defamation of character!" Brick said, waving the paper wildly at his Dad's face.
"Calm down. Now what's in the newspaper that made you so angry?"
"It called us s-s-s-s," Butch began but was unable to finish the word because of disgust.
"Superheroes!" Boomer spat, finishing the words. "Now what gave them the dumb and stupid idea that we're superheroes?"
"Now let me see that," Dr. Edwards said as he took the paper and read the headlines. "It says, THE ROWDYRUFF BOYS SAVE THE DAY. TOWSVILLE HAS NEW SET OF SUPERHEROES"Dr. Edwards then read aloud the rest of the article. "The city yesterday was saved for the second time by its old nemesis, the Rowdyruff Boys. These same boys who just a few weeks ago beat up the Powerpuff Girls have turned on a new leaf. They are now good, fighting for what is right, and not anymore evil. They are the new Superheroes, fighting crime just like the beloved Powerpuff Girls. The Citizens of Townsville are grateful for them, and for that, the Chief of Police Alexander Grulp announced that the city would formally withdraw all previous charges connected with their past.
Dr. Edwards was delighted at the news. He yearned the day when his sons would be socially respectable, and would be accepted by the people, and it seemed to him that this indeed was the day.
"That's disgusting," Brick said. "But look at the article besides it. It is even worst. It actually compares us to those girls."
"POWERPUFF GIRLS GAIN NEW ALLIES IN FIGHTING CRIME. ALTHOUGH SOME SAY ROWDYRUFF BOYS ARE NEW RIVALS INSTEAD," the title ran, and then he continued reading it. It basically compared the two and basically said that though they were allies in fighting crime, they were rivals for who were the better crime fighters. It concluded by saying that at this point, the girls were better because they had been fighting crime longer, but the boys had promise of beating them because they seem to be more efficient and were always in the scene of the crime first.
"We're not superheroes at all!" all three said.
"And why not?" Dr. Edwards said. "What is in it with the word that makes you cringe?"
"Because the Powerpuff Girls are superheroes, and as we said, we don't like to be anything like them!" Butch protested.
"Then why are you doing this stuff if you don't want to be called superheroes?"
"Because we enjoy it. We enjoy beating the stuffing out of those pathetic criminals and monsters," Butch retorted.
"And because it's our duty to you, Dad," Brick added. "It's our only way of showing how grateful we are that you revived us, that you let us have our revenge, but above all, on how you treated us with care and affection. We did it because we care for you Dad, because you love Townsville. We did it because we know that a large part of your businesses is in Townsville, and we have to protect it. We did it because we know you like the people of Townsville, so we had to protect them, even if they don't deserve it. Even though we ourselves are indifferent to Townsville, and have only contempt to its Citizens, we will protect it and watch over it better than those girls, because we want you to be proud of us. We want to be the best sons you ever had, because what you did for us is priceless. I'll admit, if Mojo had been the one who revived us, and he treated us the way you treated us, we'll probably be out there destroying Townsville. But now I'm grateful that you were the one who did, not Mojo. BUT WE ARE NOT SUPERHEROES."
"Why not?" asked Dr. Edwards, whose face showed that he was deeply touched by his sons' words. It showed the Mojo Theory right, as self-interest evolved into something much nobler in his children.
"Superheroes do those things because they did it out of their hearts, because they are genuinely concerned with the welfare of the people and the city for its own sake," Brick continued. "We're not. We only did it for the selfish reason of trying to please you, of trying to be grateful. Even if we do the same things as the girls, we still have different outlooks from them, and to say we are something like them is an insult."
"Boys," began Dr. Edwards. "Being called a superhero is not a reproach. Rather, it is an honor, a badge to be proudly shown. Superheroes are not called superheroes because of pure good motives in doing what they do. Believe me boys, nobody has purely good motives. Everything a person does has a tinge of self-interest in them. What matters is what he does. What matters is how he affects the lives of so many others in a positive way. Now you may think the Powerpuff Girls are not partially motivated by self-interest, but believe me, they are. As for you, I've seen more so-called heroes with even more selfish reasons for trying to be heroic. Yours, even if you think is selfish, is actually very noble. Never complain that you are called a superhero, rather, be proud that people choose to bestow that title on to you."
The boys didn't argue this further with their Dad.
Indeed, the boys' characters had truly changed by this point.
The entire week went pretty much like the past two days. Whenever there was a crime or monster attack, Dr. Edwards' agents would communicate its nature and location to him, and he would immediately relay it to his boys. The boys then flew in and dispatched the trouble with extreme efficiency. Especially the monsters, none of which got ever close to Townsville. During this time, the boys still can't admit they're superheroes, even if the rest of the city considers them as such.
The Powerpuff Girls always arrived at the scene of the crime or monster attack too late because of the incompetence of the police and the mayor. Usually, by the time the Mayor would tell the Girls of an emergency, it usually was already being taken care of by the Boys.
The boys and the girls had no contact during these times because Brick strictly enforced his policy of totally avoiding the Powerpuff Girls.
It was August 28.
It is just another day. The Girls had just returned from a crime scene that had just been taken care of by the boys, and like before, they disappeared.
"Why do they insist on disappearing every time?" Buttercup complained. "It's bad enough that they have to deceive the entire city, now they want to take our jobs away from us!"
"Just like Major Man," Blossom said, frowning. "They pretend to be superheroes, but in reality, they are rotten. Like Major Man, those boys are not really superheroes that they pretend to be. But unlike him, they're doing this to surprise Townsville into complacency so they and Mojo can achieve total surprise when they make their move."
Bubbles was silent, still in deep though, though she's still listening closely to her sister's words.
"And just like Major Man," Blossom suddenly smirked, "those boys will fall. I have a plan. Tomorrow night, we'll give positive proof to the City of Townsville of their true nature, and their reputations, like a rock thrown high in the air will fall as quickly it rose."
"But we don't have proof," Bubbles suddenly said. "All we have is hunches that nobody would believe."
"Today, we haven't," Blossom began, "but tomorrow, everything will fall in its proper place and those boys will be destroyed once and for all. Tomorrow, the City of Townsville can breathe easy once again that one of the most powerful villains in its history will be gone and it would be safe and sound once again."
Author thanks.
To SupersayainkingTommy,well, I continued. I hope you like this chapter. Thanks for reviewing. To Hairy Gregory(you're the one who forgot to write the name in the review section. It's easy to find out because your style of review is well known and the fact that I addressed the next chapter answered questions thing), Bubbles always believes that good always wins over evil, and as this chapter says, she has no trouble getting over her defeat, and her self-esteem was largely intact after the fight, unlike her sisters. Yup, Blossom by this time is more confident of being eventually beating the boys. Ms. Keane is getting suspicious, and you'll discover in the next chapter how it will come full circle. As for the girls, they projected an image of confidence, of invincibility. Though inside, they (at least Blossom and Buttercup) had grave self doubts, it would not in any way affect their determination to defeat the boys. And they indeed have a very good chance of defeating them. They are still at equal strength, and as Brick said, they are just unlucky. Still, they would have to hone their battle instincts to adjust to the new reality that they are not anymore overwhelmingly superior in battles, as before the RRB were revived. Whether they would do so or not will be answered in the next chapters. To Caeruleus Flamma, thanks for reading my story. Anyway, the reason my chapters get so long is because I already have a habit predeterminining what should be included in this or that chapter, and usually, when I mentally list them, it seemed short enough, but when I actually write them, I have a habit of inserting so many details and dialogue to make the chapter interesting that it makes the chapter longer than I planned. Anyway, is usually split it up if it is too long, like what I did at the 'Second Clash' which I originally planned as one chapter. To Bubblebean 22, thanks. Yup, there's more coming. I've got several chapters more planned before this story is ended. To DL23400, thanks. I'll try to read you story when I have the time, thought I really don't know anything about the Skies of Arcadia. To Ud the Imp, thanks. And most probably not. My fic is too serious, and too long, to be considered an episode. As for your story, I really don't know much about Twisted Metal, but I'll read it soon enough. Just be patient. To Uncle Sam. Thanks. For a while, I thought you had forgotten to read and review this, but when I saw your name of the review list, I felt relieved that you only were late. Anyway, I promise the Powerpuff Girls will find out that Dr. Edwards is the father of the Rowdyruff Boys very very soon. You won't have to wait that long. To TJ Rose, Thanks. Like Uncle Sam, I thought you would never review, but I was wrong. Boomer reacted the way he did because he is the most innocent, most eager to succeed, and most insecure about his talents. Butch, like Buttercup, just wanted to tease his blond sibling. Yup, Blossom's self-esteem and ego was crushed by her nightmare, but it not her determination to win. AS for Bubbles, being beaten up to a bloody pulp was to her part and parcel of being a superhero, so it didn't affect her as much. And as I said, she was to innocent to be psychologically affected by it all. To nightglider_star, thanks for reading my story. You know, you have such a good start in your Rowdyruff Return story that you should continue it. And sorry for having to make you wait so long. I only hope this chapter makes up for it.
Anyway, keep reading and keep reviewing my stories. I promise I'll update again as soon as I can, and I'll try to answer every question you ask, and I'll try to address every point you make. Until next time!