Allies and Rivals
Since my review thanks is pretty long, I placed it at the bottom of the chapter instead..
Chapter 12
Untruth and Consequences
The City of Townsville, and in the suburbs of Townsville, a teen-age girl of about 15 was walking towards the home of her client, Dr. Edwards. She knocked at the door.
"Come in," Brick's voice said.
Soon, Jennifer Gates entered.
"You must be our baby sitter, Miss Jennifer Gates," Butch said as he saw the 5'3" high girl with long brown hair.
'Ah, what cute little boys,' she thought. "Yes I am. Now, tell me your names? No wait, let me guess. The one with the green shirt is Brick, the blond one is Butch, and the redhead is Boomer?"
The brothers looked at each other with a mischievous grin.
"No, you got it quite wrong," Butch said. "I'm Boomer"
"I'm Brick," Boomer declared.
"And I'm Butch," Brick declared.
"Nice try," she said. "You're really Brick," she pointed at the redhead, "and Butch," she pointed at the black haired ruff, "and you're Boomer," she pointed at the blond one. She was smirking.
"Hey how'd you know?" asked Boomer.
"Because, stupid," Brick explained, "Dad called her and gave a description of each of us, and she asked this of us to test us or something, to get a better hold of our personalities. Also, our names and pictures are all over the media because of what we did this past week."
"Hey, Brick, you're really smart," Jennifer exclaimed. "How'd you figure it out?"
"If you really must know, Miss Gates," Brick began, "it's really very simple. Dad called us before about you coming, and gave us the description of yours truly. Now, logic dictates that he would give you the description of your charges so that you would know how we look. And someone who's name and face were plastered all over the media this past week won't be unknown very long. You'd had to be a hermit living in the middle of nowhere not to know us. You then pretended to not know our names, even if you already knew for the reasons I already gave, and we purposely threw you off. You then told us we were wrong."
"You're really good for a six year old, Brick," Jennifer Gates said, really impressed.
"So what else is new?" Brick replied.
"Wow, Brick's ego really inflated this time," Butch remarked.
"At least I've got something to boast about," Brick retorted, "unlike a certain brother who's got a brain and personality of a raging bull!"
"Hey! Take that back!" Butch shouted.
"Make me!" Brick challenged.
"I sure will!" Butch replied. He then attempted to hit Brick with a laser. Brick was able to dodge the laser but Jennifer was behind him so it hit her instead. Luckily, the blast was just a mild one that it only covered her with soot and did gave her only minor pain, but it was mighty annoying.
"You scum, you jerk," Brick replied with mock horror. "Hitting the babysitter with laser-eyes. How low could you go! You must pay for this," he said as he got some water balloons from Boomer as if on cue. Soon, they looked at each other and walked, ever keeping their distance but revolving around an imaginary center. They slowly floated above the ground, and Butch's back was soon at their babysitter's face with Brick right across him.
"For your insolence, take this!" Brick shouted, as he threw the water balloon at Butch. Butch dodged but it hit Jennifer instead. To her horror, she found out that it was not water that was inside the balloon, but green goo.
"What a low it is for you two," Boomer suddenly said, joining in the fight. "Take this, you two!" he then threw a pie at Brick, who somehow got in front of Jennifer. It hit her square in the face when Brick dodged it.
"Boys! Stop fighting before somebody gets hurt!" Jennifer screamed. "Namely me!"
"It's their fault!" each of them shouted pointing fingers at each of their brothers.
"I don't care whose fault it is!" she shouted. "I'm going to go to the bathroom and get cleaned up. Now, watch TV and wait for me."
"Yes Miss Gates," all three said.
She went to the bathroom, and as soon as the three were out of hearing range, they burst into laughter.
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Meanwhile…
Dr. William Edwards entered the Mayor's office. He first put his hat and coat at the hat and coat rack. There was still nobody there. 'Either I'm too early or they're too late.' He looked at the office, and some forgotten memories came back to him.
'There was where John and I hid the pickle jar,' he thought, looking at the left drawer of the mayor's desk. 'We had loads of laughs when the Mayor didn't know why his pickle jar is not on the right drawer. And there is another group picture of us. That's me, John Utonium, Sandy Keane, Sarah Bellum, and Spencer Morebucks. Those were the days. Too bad John had to steal my work when I was in college, and Spencer had to take him being me and my Dad's competitor too much that it destroyed our friendship while we were still at college. I remember being dragged here too many times with John since I was four for so many pranks and gags on almost everybody. We were the dastardly duo, at least the papers called us before, and no one was safe from us. Good thing the Mayor's so stupid that we were able to get away with almost everything by just sweet talking the Mayor. Damn it John, why did you have to ruin everything for me?'
A few seconds later, Ms. Bellum entered.
"William, is that you?"
"Yes Sarah, it's me," Dr. Edwards replied.
"Oh my gosh, it's really you! How long have you been in Townsville! Why didn't you call on us? Ms. Keane told us that you were here but we didn't really know until now!" she then tightly hugged her friend.
"Well, it's me alright. I've been here since July 6. Sorry, I was so busy I haven't had time to call," he replied, now turning blue due to the tightness of the hug.
Ms. Bellum released him from the hug but still held him in his shoulders.
"Look at you, so rich and famous, well not that famous, but still, you've come a long way since we last saw you. You must tell me everything that happened. Did you get married? How's life?"
"Well, you're right, I'm kinda rich but not at all famous, and yeah, I suppose I've come a long way," he said, scratching his head as he said so, embarrassed. "Well, you won't know much else that you haven't already read in the papers, and I'm single, and life's been good to me lately. Anyway, where are Sandy, the Mayor, and John? I've got something very important to tell them."
"Well, the Mayor's will be here in a minute…oh I guess I was a minute too late. Hi Mayor!"
"Hello Ms. Bellum, who's the young man?" asked the Mayor who had just entered.
"This, Mayor, is Dr. William Edwards."
"Who? I don't seem to remember him. Are you one of my nephews?"
"No Mayor, I'm not!"
"Then perhaps you're one of my long lost sons?"
"Mayor, you don't have any lost sons! They are all accounted for as of this minute," Ms. Bellum replied, plainly embarrassed by her bosses stupidity.
"Oh yeah," the Mayor said. "Then who are you?"
"Oh Mayor, don't you remember John Utonium and I always being dragged here into your office, but because you're such a kind Mayor, you let us off the hook everytime we committed a prank?"
"Oh yes, you and the Professor were the one that defamed my statue once, it was so funny that I had to let you go. Care for a game of Fairies?"
"No thanks Mayor. I have something very serious to talk about. Now, all we have to do is to wait for John and Sandy, oh there they are. Hi Sandy!" he warmly said.
"Nice to see you again, William," Ms. Keane greeted as she shook the doctor's hand.
"Hello John," he said in the coldest, and most unemotional tone he could muster.
Professor Utonium, of course, returned the compliment. "Hi William," he simply said, without any tone at all. "So tell us, what is so important that you have to inconvenience me in such a manner as to hurry me out of my work?"
"Believe me, John, your convenience never ever entered my mind when I called for you. Your comfort is too trite a matter to be considered given the situation that I wish to address. And don't flatter yourself that I even bothered calling you. Your presence here, by itself, was not wished. Rather, your connection with the Powerpuff Girls required me to include you here. Meeting our three other friends, however, is of the greatest pleasure all these years. I did not wish for your company, John. In fact, I even consider the Mayor better company than you."
"And I too. I never went here with the intention with seeing you. It would be too painful for my eyes. The only reason I went here is because you have something of importance to tell me about my girls, and about those wretched boys. So go and tell it, so I may go back to my lab and out of your presence. It so grieves me that I had to get important news from someone like you. And for your information, I'd prefer that crazy monkey's company than yours."
Ms. Keane and Ms. Bellum observed the conversation with shock. Both of them were wondering how such good friends could say such words to each other.
"The feeling's mutual then. Anyway, I'll waste no more time than necessary. Sandy, Sarah, Mayor, John, you know of the events of the past few weeks concerning the appearance of the Rowdyruff Boys, and I have the greatest pleasure in announcing that I am their father because I accidentally recreated them."
There was a minute of silence as each of the four (well three actually, if you exclude the Mayor) processed the information in their brains.
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Meanwhile…
Jennifer had washed herself up. Lucky for her, she had some spare clothes that she brought in her backpack—she was going for a sleep-over after the job—and changed into fresh clean clothes. 'Though I doubt it'll remain clean for long.'
As soon as she stepped out of the bathroom, she immediately stepped on some cooking oil and slipped. Her bottom fell hard on the ground.
"Ouch," she said. "Now where are those boys?"
They seem to have disappeared.
"I'll bet they're upstairs," she said and she began ascending the stairs.
However, she didn't notice that the stairs had superglue on it.
As soon as she took two steps, she found out she couldn't move her feet. She then removed her shoes and continued the ascent. Soon, her feet were again stuck, and she was forced to remove her socks. Barefoot, she continued her ascent, and she found out that there isn't anymore glue in the stairs. 'Ha, they forgot to put glue on the rest of the stairs,' she thought as she climbed faster. She didn't notice little jacks on the near the top of the floor.
"Ouch!" she shouted as she stepped on it. Even with the pain, however, she continued. On the top of the stairs, however, there were some marbles. She stepped on it, lose her balance, and fell downstairs back to the first floor.
As soon as she was on her feet again, with her body aching, the lights suddenly went out.
Soon, soft, low, ghostly moans could be heard, and she began to be deathly terrified. Soon, recognizable words could be heard.
"Miss Gates, Miss Gates…" the voice said, ringing throughout the house.
The babysitter just kept shivering. Soon, a floating figure, covered with a great coat, with a mask, came floating towards her.
"Aha, you're no ghost. You're a rowdyruff, and I know you can fly," she said when she realized what was going on.
The 'ghost' continued on towards her.
Gathering her courage, she picked an empty vase and threw it at the ghost. To her horror, it went right through it, and she noticed that what she thought was one of the boys in disguise, was transparent.
"W-w-w-what do you w-w-w-want?" she frighteningly asked.
"You have been bad to the boys!" the 'ghost' boomed.
"No I wasn't! In fact, I've been very good to them!"
"I'll have to do something drastic about it!"
"Please don't! I'll do whatever you want!"
"Whatever I want?"
"Yes!"
"Then I want you to do everything those boys tell you."
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Upstairs…
Brick was speaking into a voice changer device that his father made. "And should not do anything which might make them mad!"
"Yes, yes, anything, just leave me alone," the heard their babysitter say over the security cameras.
"Okay, I'll leave now. But be warned, you must be their babysitter forever and ever, or I'll haunt you in your house and in your dreams."
Butch then turned off the hologram maker, and the ghost disappeared.
Soon they burst out laughing.
"That was a great idea, Brick, with the hologram and voice changer and all!" Boomer congratulated.
"Did you see her freak out? It was so funny," Butch added.
Soon, for the next ten minutes, they just laughed upstairs, telling each other how their babysitter was just funny. In fact, they laughed so hard that they didn't see the babysitter approach them.
"Aha, so it was all a trick," she said, hanging them by the collar by one hand and clutching the voice changer by the other. "And it would have worked too if you didn't laugh so loud."
"Busted!" Boomer said dejectedly.
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Meanwhile…
After a minute, what Dr. Edwards told registered on Professor Utonium's brain, and he soon got over his shock. He then balled his fists and punched Dr. Edwards in the face. He punched him at the cheek to avoid breaking his glasses. Lucky for Dr. Edwards, he was a large man more than six feet tall, or he would have been knocked out cold. His constitution was such, however, that he only staggered back.
"Why you! The nerve! You wanted revenge on me, so you created those boys to torture me by sending them to beat my girls and to steal their positions in Townsville."
William Edwards then punched the Professor in his face, and he staggered on the floor.
"First of all John, I did not. As I said, you do not deserve my contempt, and certainly not my revenge. No John, my life is not worth ruining over you. Why would I recreate my boys just to send them to kill the girls? Believe me, if I wanted revenge, then I would have done worse things!"
"Liar! Why else would you recreate those evil monsters who we all know is bent upon the girls' destruction?"
"Because, John, I wanted to prove that you're a fraud when you said those girls were made by sugar, spice and everything nice. You may have thought everybody believed you when you said these are the ingredients for those little girls, but I didn't believe a single word of it. So I decided to conduct a little experiment to prove you wrong. I repeated the experiment using snips, snails and a puppy dog's tail plus Chemical Xymperchite. And of course, I expected it to be a failure, but it wasn't. Those boys were recreated as a result of that. I was wrong. You weren't lying about those ingredients, I'll give you that."
"And when you recreated those boys, you decided to use them to get back at me by beating up my poor girls!" Professor Utonium charged.
"First of all, if I used them to gain revenge on you, then I wouldn't have told them not to kill your girls, for what better revenge than taking away those close to you? No, John, I'm not that low. Those boys wanted revenge on those girls even without me encouraging them, and at first, they wanted to kill them. If I let them have their way, then you're girls would be nothing more than a mere memory because this time, kissing won't work."
"Then why, William, did your boys beat up my girls? Twice?"
"As I remember, your girls attacked my boys first, twice. And don't tell me it wasn't so. I've got video evidence that proves that the Powerpuff Girls made the first shot during their first fight."
"That doesn't prove anything. If you know my girls the way you claim you do, then you would know that they would do no such thing."
"You're right. They would do no such thing—intentionally. But when those girls saw my boys with those fallen pieces of building hovering over me, they naturally thought that they were attacking me. Combine that with their previous memory of those boys in which they were pure evil, and under Mojo, then you could imagine that they immediately concluded that those boys were making another evil attack upon Townsville. So they attacked them first."
"Then if you say so, why did those boys beat up my girls to a bloody pulp."
"I'm not finished. Those boys during that first fight weren't the good boys they are now. You see, during that time, they have still a lingering hate for your girls that I wasn't able to dispel. That hate was the result of the very first fight when Mojo still controlled them. Now, you must understand, when your girls attacked my boys, my boys thought that they were attacking first, and they reacted the only way they could have—by fighting back. Since my boys at that point were much stronger than your girls, plus the fact that they still hated your girls, they were beaten up horribly. Keep in mind of course, that my boys thought that your girls attacked first."
"But then, if they hated my girls, then they must be evil."
"Not really. If they are still really evil as they used to be at that point, then they wouldn't hesitate to kill your girls. Yes, they still hated the girls when they first fought, but I managed to take away most of the evil in them by that time. And if they were evil, would they hesitate to wreak havoc on Townsville the minute they won?"
"No."
"If they are evil, would they stop a bank robbery soon after?"
"No."
"If they are evil, would they accept my guidance, and act and live like normal boys in my home?"
"No."
"If they are evil, would their hate for the Powerpuff Girls disappear, as they did?"
"No."
"If they are evil, wouldn't they ally with Mojo Jojo, their former creator, and scheme towards taking over Townsville?"
"Yes."
"And did they?"
"No."
"Then are my boys still evil?"
"No, William, no. I must apologize William, for prejudging those boys. I never would have thought they would change for the better. But you seemed to have done the impossible. I'm very sorry. I guess I was so angry at what happened to my girls that I didn't even consider their side. I just made a presumption based on their past, and I was wrong. But that doesn't mean I still don't hate you. My opinion of you didn't change, only of the boys. You're still one of the worst homo sapiens sapiens that ever traversed this earth, though I must congratulate you for managing to change those boys for the better."
"Thanks for believing me. My opinion of you increased considerably because you admitted you were wrong on this matter, though I still think you're still the vilest scum I ever laid my eyes on."
"And William, I'd like to continue the narrative. In the second fight, I'll admit, it was the girls' who attacked the boys first. After the first fight, their self-esteem was dealt a major blow, and they were determined to beat your boys, thinking that they were still evil. They sincerely thought that the town was in danger. So knowing that they were no match at that point, they begged me to train them, which I did after they were fully recovered. When they did, they attacked your boys. I should've let them fight the boys until trained still harder. They were still no match for the boys."
"Wrong, John, wrong. They did catch up with my boys, and during that second fight, they were a match. They lost because my sons used superior tactics and strategy, not because they were stronger or faster. And might I add, during the second fight, they thought that your daughters attacked them for no good reason at all, and they were fighting for their lives."
"Yeah, William, I remember the girls training for increased strength and speed, and rarely for team strategies. I guess your boys really didn't expect them, huh?"
"Not really, they kind of expected them to want a rematch, but only because they want revenge on beating them up the last time. But to my boys, that is still no good reason, because they thought that your girls started the first fight in the first place."
"And after that, I guess the girls, at least Buttercup and especially Blossom, lost much of their self-esteem. But they were still determined that they would defeat your boys after that, especially since they still think that your boys are evil!"
"Well, now at least a big misunderstanding was cleared up," William Edwards said, obviously pleased.
"Yup. Won't be the girls, especially Blossom, be surprised that they've all been barking up the wrong tree all this time?" Professor Utonium remarked.
"And Sandy and Sarah, I'm very sorry if I kept it to all of you in the dark about this matter for so long. I guess I really didn't trust you to believe me when I said that the Rowdyruff Boys would change unless I present proof," Dr. Edwards sincerely said. "I'm sorry if I caused you much stress when I gave you those injured Powerpuffs at your doorstep without giving much explanation.
The two women just listened to the conversation between the two scientists. They really just listened, because they really don't have anything to add, and they were all stunned by all the information that they gathered that night. The Mayor, as usual, didn't care nor understand, and was snoozing in his chair.
"It's all right, William, I understand," Ms. Keane kindly said. "I know now that those kids will become just as good as the girls because you're raising them."
"Thanks."
"And I do too. Welcome to Townsville, William," Ms. Bellum said. "And welcome to the boys too."
"Not so fast, Dr. Edwards," Blossom said. The Powerpuff Girls just appeared at the window.
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Meanwhile…
"Now, you three are in so much trouble. Wait till I tell your Dad," Jennifer remarked. "And when he finds out that you've been bad boys when you promised you'd be good, I can't imagine how angry and disappointed he would be when I tell him just how bad and naughty you have been."
Terror gripped the boys as they imagined their father angry over their misbehavior. "You can't tell Dad!" Butch protested.
"And why not?"
"Because we're just having some fun," Brick said.
"Yeah, couldn't you tell a joke?" Boomer added.
"Well it that case, since it is only fun, then you wouldn't mind me telling your father how much fun you had?"
"No, no, no, please! We'll do anything," Butch pleaded.
"Okay. Now, clean up the mess in the living room and I'll consider keeping it a secret," she suggested.
"We're on it!" they said as they picked up brooms and mops to clean up the messes they made.
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Twenty minutes later…
The entire house was spic and span, with everything shiny and spotless, not just the living room. One couldn't find a cleaner house in Townsville. Of course, it was no big deal for the boys, as they used their superpowers to help them clean the house, like the Powerpuff Girls. Of course, they sometimes did not know what they were doing, but their babysitter provided direction. But being boys, it being easy did not mean they enjoyed it. No, they disliked every second of it. However, it was better than Miss Gates ratting on their Dad.
"Well, you did good. And because of that, we'll order pizza for dinner."
"Yeah!" all three boys exclaimed.
"Does that mean you won't tell Dad?" Boomer asked.
"No."
"All right! Now I'll order the pizza," Butch said as he picked up the phone and dialled the pizza place.
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Meanwhile…
"Girls!" Dr. Edwards exclaimed in surprise.
"Girls!" the others exclaimed in unison.
The Powerpuff Girls had suddenly arrived at the middle of the meeting in the Mayor's office.
"You're wrong, Dr. Edwards, horribly wrong!" Buttercup exclaimed.
"Those boys are evil," Blossom declared.
"Look girls," Dr. Edwards said. "I know it's hard for you to accept, you being beaten up by the boys and stuff, but it's the truth. Your Professor would confirm this."
"That's right girls," Professor Utonium said. "We had a long talk today, and William here just proved to me that those boys are not evil. They were, but not anymore."
"Not you too Professor!" Buttercup said.
"That's right, girls," Ms. Keane said. "Give them a chance!"
"Et tu, Ms. Keane," Blossom said. "Anyway, if what you say is true, I would like to hear your explanation of why it is so Dr. Edwards, and then I would give my evidence on why those kids were evil."
"Alright, but I must warn you that not all things you're gonna hear is pleasant," he said, and he began his explanation, virtually repeating verbatim his explanations to Professor Utonium to the girls, but he carefully cushioned his words to avoid hurting the girls' feelings more than it was necessary. Basically he said that they were evil and hated the girls when they were recreated, but he managed to change them for the better. As for the first fight, his boys thought that they were the one who attacked first. So they basically just fought back, though he also told them that he had no doubt of the sincerity of the girls in thinking the boys were attacking him, but they just interpreted the situation wrong. Also, he stated that in the second fight, his boys thought that the girls attacked for no reason at all, even though he believed the girls were sincere when they thought that they (the boys) were still evil. He concluded by asking the same questions he asked Professor Utonium which he expected to cinch the argument. And Dr. Edwards did a very good performance, raising and lowering his voice at the appropriate moment, presenting all the facts in logical order that would leave no doubt that the boys were no threat to Townsville and were basically good.
The Powerpuff Girls patiently listened to Dr. Edwards. Bubbles was nearly again persuaded but remembered what Blossom told her a while ago, so she decided to reserve judgment until Blossom gave her reply. Buttercup was confused. She was dazzled by Dr. Edwards' arguments, but like Bubbles, decided to wait for Blossom to back up her beliefs about the boys.
Blossom listened, impressed by him. 'He's a good, he'll make a very good lawyer. He really believes those boys are good, and his making a very good case of it. He'll be shocked at what I tell him, it'll break his heart, but he must learn the truth on his boys.'
"And that's why those boys aren't evil anymore!" Dr. Edwards concluded. "They've changed, and like I said before, just give them the chance."
Bubbles and Buttercup didn't say anything, but waited for Blossom to respond.
"Doctor, you really believed that those boys are good", Blossom began. "And Professor, I can't blame you if you believed it, because I myself would have believed Dr. Edwards if I didn't know what we know about the boys. However, I would like to state that those boys are evil for two reasons."
"Okay Blossom," Dr. Edwards said. He was confident he could refute anything Blossom could say.
"First, those boys are engaged in a massive attempt at deception to fool all those around them. They fooled the town, but most especially, they fooled you, Dr. Edwards. All the while, they pretended to be good boys, saying things that would please you, and doing things that you would like them to do, all to gain your trust."
"But if what you say is true, why would they even bother deceiving me?" asked a perplexed Dr. Edwards.
"Isn't it obvious?" Buttercup suddenly butted in. "You're the richest man in both Townsville and Citisville, you're one of the top scientists of Townsville, and you'd had experience in the government. They want to get what you have, so they made you trust them!"
"Buttercup's right. And they also deceived the entire City of Townsville by pretending to be superheroes…" Blossom continued.
"That's impossible," Dr. Edwards replied. "They were not eager to be one, in fact, they were reluctant to do so. I only persuaded them to do so because it would be the right thing to do."
"Those boys sure made a convincing act," Blossom answered. "Yes, but it is not the circumstance upon which they became superheroes, but the fact itself that matters. It doesn't matter what means they used by which they became crime-fighters because either way, their purpose is served. Anyway, that would explain why they didn't kill us. How could you be superheroes if you murdered the first superheroes in the first place?"
"But why would they engage in such a mass deception?" asked Dr. Edwards. "What possibly could be their purpose?"
"Simple," Buttercup said. "They are engaged in a secret alliance with Mojo Jojo! That explains everything. Even why they delayed their attack. Mojo Jojo and those boys obviously want your technology Dr. Edwards, so they decide to associate with you for as long as possible."
"Okay then, if what you said was true," Dr. Edwards asked sceptically, not believing a word she said, "then could you then reconstruct what happened since they were recreated?"
"Of course!" the pink puff said. "Like you said, you accidentally recreated them. Now, you probably thought that you could make them good—fat chance at that! Anyway, rather than beat you up, they decided to take advantage of what you offered, and they put on a supreme act that fooled you well enough. Anyway, as soon as they got your trust, the first attack occurred. We attacked first, I'll admit, but we knew by instinct they were evil. Anyway they defeated us. Now, after they defeated us, they went to Mojo Jojo…"
"Okay, if what you say was right, why did they wait until after the first fight to go to Mojo?" Professor Utonium, who until now was quietly watching the debate between his daughters and his former best friend.
"It's very simple Professor," Blossom said. "They needed a victory over us to get over the shame of defeat. Now that they defeated us, they can now show their face to Mojo Jojo! Which they did after they've beaten us."
"Hold on a minute!" Dr. Edwards replied. "All what you said is logical and reasonable, but it doesn't hold water if the facts on which you based your premises doesn't exist! All you gave is conjecture and no facts. And you can't give me the behavior before when they were controlled by Mojo Jojo, because I pretty explained that using the facts that I know. Now, we want proof! Clear, positive proof that they are what you say they are, not something based on past suspicion, which is evidently the basis for your entire reasoning! And if you could not back it up, then you're just wasting our time!"
"He's right, Blossom," the Professor said. "You've got to give proof to what you're asserting."
"Of course we have proofs—two uncontestable, undeniable proofs. First of all, Doctor, do you know where your boys went on August 16?"
"Yes, they went to Mojo Jojo's lair. They went to warn him. They basically told him to cease and desist in committing crime."
"Well, tell all of us what exactly happened on that day, Bubbles," she said, turning to her blond sister.
"Well, we got a call from the hotline that Mojo Jojo is at it again, so we went to Town. Well when we arrived, we saw the empty hull of the Robo Jojo. We were puzzled as to what happened, so Blossom told me to go to the volcano top observatory to check on Mojo. Guess what I saw when I got there. I saw the Rowdyruff Boys talking with Mojo Jojo. Mojo said, 'Boys, now that we're together, we can take over Townsville together and destroy the Powerpuff Girls!' and then Brick replied 'Of course, we'll go back to you and together, we can rule all of Townsville and destroy the Powerpuff Girls,' and I said 'Oh no! Townsville is in big trouble,' and I hurried back to tell my sisters what I just saw."
Dr. Edwards was devastated when he heard that. He didn't know this, and because of that, he wasn't prepared to answer this evidence. The confidence in his face was gone, to be replaced by an expression of dread and horror that he could lose his case for his boys. But he rapidly regained his outside composure, though inside he isn't sure anymore.
"Bubbles," the doctor cross-examined. "Are you sure of what you heard?"
"Yes Doctor, it was as clear as day," Bubbles said.
'That clinched it!' Dr. Edwards thought. 'Everyone knows that Bubbles never lies.'
"Maybe they were just being sarcastic," Dr. Edwards suggested, frantically trying to find an excuse for the words of his son. 'It's lame, but what else could I say?'
"That could be true," Blossom said, aware that she was now in control of the conversation, "if it were not for evidence number two. The next day, August 17, we arrested Mojo Jojo. Then we searched for those boys, and when we did, we attacked them."
"Of course," Bubbles added, "your boys were honestly right in thinking that we thought they attacked them for no reason, because they didn't know that we knew that we heard them."
"Anyway, before I was so rudely interrupted," Blossom continued, glaring at Bubbles, "Dr. Edwards, what is the most damning evidence that could be given?"
"A confession," Dr. Edwards replied.
"Then by your own standards, the Rowdyruff Boys incriminated themselves."
"What do you mean?" asked Professor Utonium.
"Well, we attacked them and accused them of scheming with Mojo, and you know what, they freakin' admitted it to our faces!" Buttercup declared.
"What! Now why would they do such a thing like that?" Dr. Edwards demanded, his outburst concealing his dread.
"Yes, they admitted to us that they were scheming with Mojo Jojo, and Blossom and Bubbles could back me up on this. I can even quote them, if you want," Buttercup said.
"That's not necessary," Dr. Edwards replied with a weak voice. This latest revelation disconcerted him further, though by a supreme effort of self-control, was able to make an appearance of outward calm. "I believe you."
"Yes, doctor," Blossom continued. "If what you say is true, Doctor, that they were good, then why would they admit to us that they are scheming with Mojo, virtually admitting to us that they were still evil? The answer is that because they're not good at all, but they're evil. What good person would admit they're evil unless they are really evil? They really are evil, Dr. Edwards, and you were just being used by them, and you didn't know it. And all my conclusions that I said at the beginning all stems from these two facts, so they are based on evidence, not mere conjecture. And this effectively refutes your earlier arguments, Dr. Edwards."
Dr. Edwards was crushed. It isn't that he didn't think they weren't evil, rather that he could not say anything to defend the actions of his boys. 'Why the hell did you do this, Brick, Butch, Boomer, and keep it from me? I know you are still good, and you showed it to me more than once, but what I could say? Anything you said to me could be dismissed by Blossom as an act of deception, though I just know you are not lying, yet I could not prove it. Why the hell did you have to say those stupid things.'
As a last recourse, he asked his companions. "John?"
"Sorry William, but Blossom just convinced me that those boys are evil. They haven't changed William, they just made the appearance of it to fool us all. I might have believed you if Bubbles had not overheard that conversation they had with Mojo and those Boys admitting to the girls their plan. Sorry, but those boys has got to go."
"Sarah?"
"Sorry William, Blossom's right. Those girls never lie in such matters. Those boys are a danger to society. I'm very sorry, but I'm going to cancel the withdrawal of previous charges and issue an arrest order for them tomorrow."
"Sandra?"
"I'm sorry, but Blossom's right. I'm very sorry."
"Et tu Sandra?" Dr. Edwards, said. His entire plans for the future of his sons were now ruined, and their reputations forever destroyed.
"Don't take it too bad," Bubbles said, comforting him. "We're not blaming you. We don't hate you. We'll forgive you for whatever you did, for I'm sure you only did it because you thought it was right."
"Yeah, we only pity you because…" Blossom began.
"I don't need your pity and I certainly don't need your forgiveness nor your sympathy!" Dr. Edwards said, rather shouted, with rage. His face was twisted into a deep anger, and his eyes were on fire, the emotions that he so tried to conceal now out. Every indication showed that his pride reasserted itself, and threw any thought of begging for his boys further. "I know my boys better than any of you, and I certainly know that they are not any of that which you described them to be, and I'm sure they're not doing what you think they're doing. Yes, Blossom, I believe what you saw is true, because I know Bubbles was not lying, but there is a perfectly reasonable explanation to all of them! However, your prejudice against my boys was such that you couldn't fathom an explanation other than that which would make them even more evil, even against the obvious! Yes, your theory is reasonable and supported by evidence, but it doesn't make it true. And Sarah, don't bother with the warrant. I'm leaving Townsville forever at the first of September, and you'll never see us here again, since I see that my boys could not live in peace here, no matter what they do, and could only have a troubled future."
"Wait, you can't just leave like that, you'll be breaking the law if you let them escape!" Professor Utonium said.
"Watch me!" Dr. Edwards contemptuously replied. "You've still got nothing on my boys, and you can't arrest me because you certainly got nothing against me. And if you arrest my boys, then I'll bring every high priced lawyer that money can buy to defend them and assure their release, and I won't hesitate to use my wealth and my influence to affect the outcome. And if worst comes to worst, I'll bust them out of jail myself!"
He said every word with venom and bitterness, and his face was full of rage. "Now, ladies and gentlemen, goodnight, and goodbye forever!" He then took his coat and hat, and walked out the door.
'Those boys has got some explaining to do,' he thought as he exited the building.
Ms. Keane, Professor Utonium and Ms. Bellum looked at the retreating figure of the Doctor. Where once they looked at him with admiration on having changed the boys, they now looked at him with pity at having been outwitted and fooled by the boys.
"Poor Dr. Edwards," Blossom said. "He's so attached to the boys that he's blind to what they really are inside." 'Well, phase I of my plan went well. Now time for phase 2.'
Author Thanks
To nightglider_star, well, how could not review a good story such as yours? Your stories are really great, and so original too. Well, you've just read a pretty long chapter, I hope it inspire you more. To Uncle Sam,well this chapter pretty much answers whether or not Dr. Edwards did well in the meeting. As for Blossom and Buttercup, I wouldn't call them selfish, rather sincerely wrong. Yup, Bubbles has right instincts, and as for the babysitter, you already read that above. To Ud the Imp,glad you think that. I really had a hard time thinking that title, and I chose it because I want to upload chapter 11 immediately, and don't want to spend the entire day thinking a chapter name. Well, I think it was appropriate. Yup, Blossom's single-mindedness about the matter just shows in this chapter in the following ones. As for Mojo, I definitely agree with you there. And the situation just got more f****d up in this chapter. ToTJ Rose,and it got even more complicated in this chapter too. Yup, there are no more secrets, but the girls still don't understand the doctor with regards to the boys. Yup, they knew the truth, but completely misinterpreted the entire situation. As for everything turning out all right, it's too early to say it yet. Poor Babysitter, though she handled it well enough in this chapter. To Hairy Gregory, yup, it didn't, and after you read this chapter, you'll know that it became worst. As to how they will feel, this chapter pretty much tells it all, though the next chapters would give deeper insight on how the others felt about this. As for the truth of the nonconnection of the RRB and Mojo Jojo, sad to say it got more complicated and is no nearer to being resolved at the time of the uploading of this chapter. To DL23400,Blossom's explanation above is what she used to persuade Bubbles they were evil. To Firestarter10388, wow, I never would have guessed you were Bubblebean22. Thanks for reading. And last but not least, to Dooly. Wow, I'm surprised you've read my story. I really liked Dreamstone. Anyway, thanks for reading a very long story. Thanks for liking it. I've read many RRB fics out there, and I try to make this fic different. I hope I've succeeded. And it's good to hear that this is fun to read. I've been fearing that the length of this one would make my fic tedious and not fun to read. Yup, and for the fight scenes, thanks too. As for morals on the family and not on society as a whole, the reason I used this because it would make much more sense than if they suddenly become goody-two shoes superheroes like the PPG suddenly concerned with the people and town after just coming over from the evil side. Yup, Dr. Edwards used the loyalty of his boys, as I explained in the Mojo Theory, to change them for the better, and it seemed to be working. As for the girls underestimating the boys, you got it right on every point. And whether or not Blossom will improve their team strategy will be seen in the next chapters. Of the truth coming out, it just got more complicated, as you just read if you read chapter 12. As for the Professor Utonium stealing Dr. Edwards' chemical X, I agree that that was the weakest part of the story, as it runs so counter to the image of the Professor in the show. But my premise, based on the chapter where the girls traveled back in time, Get Back Jojo where the Professor Utonium is not the nice kid we thought he once was, but rather a bad boy. My premise for this story is that both he and Dr. Edwards were friends during their youth, both wild and loose on morals, but changed at or after college. Anyway, I'll try to add more depth to his character in future chapters. Anyway, thanks for reading.