Buttercup found herself in some strange foreign land. Very foreign. It was unlike any place she had seen. The sky was a pink colour, and the trees grew purple leaves. The grass was orange and the people were blue. Only they weren't people who were giving her strange looks. They were strangest looking creatures she had never seen. They vaguely resembled people, but they had four eyes. Two on their head and two on red antennae sticking out of their heads. They had ten fingers… on each hand, and every finger had long sharp claws and their mouths were odd, similar to that of an anteater and they had sharp black teeth.
"Where am I?" she wondered, looking around at the three strange beings that were starting to crowd around her curiously.
"It speaks!" one of the strange beings exclaimed, "Fascinating!"
"You are on the planet Argullelinaguk," the second one replied.
"Ahh! You're aliens!" Buttercup exclaimed, "How did I end up here?"
"Such a strange creature," the third one exclaimed. "What are you?"
"Uh…" Buttercup backed up, not knowing what to make of it all, "I'm a human being, a…uh, girl from Earth."
"We do not know of this Earth that you speak of," the second alien said crossly.
"My fellow Guklukians, I do believe we've discovered a knew species of animal!" the third one exclaimed, holding up three fingers.
"Such a fascinating discovery! We must study this creature!" the first one exclaimed, "Let's cut it open and see what's inside!"
"No!" Buttercup gasped, suddenly noticing that somehow she had lost the ability to fly.
"No Arjuk!" the third one said, "We must put it in a zoo and observe it!"
"What is it with you and zoos Nuliguk?" Arjuk demanded.
The second one licked it's lips, "Why don't we just have it for supper?"
Buttercup fell to her knees, "No, please, I taste icky! Please don't eat me or cut me up!"
Arjuk approached her and put a claw to her neck, "We aren't going to eat you Earth-thing. Gililuk is just hungry and has no appreciation for science."
Nuliguk grabbed her arm, "The best way to study science is to observe it, let's take it to the zoo!"
"Eat it!" Gililuk exclaimed.
"Cut it open and study its innards!" Arjuk voted, grabbing her other arm.
"No! Please! I'm just a little girl from Earth who is lost and alone! Please, let me go!" Buttercup begged as they started to play tug of war with her as Gililuk began to drool greedily.
"I have an idea!" Gililuk exclaimed, "Why don't we cut it open, study its innards and then have them for supper!"
"Fair enough," Arjuk nodded, "Well Nuliguk, two to one, sorry buddy."
"All right," Nuliguk let go of her. Buttercup rubbed her arm for a second, all the pulling made her ache. "To the laboratory!" it exclaimed, putting up four fingers.
"NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!" Buttercup cried as they dragged her kicking and screaming and strapped her to a cold metal table. As they slowly lowered a buzz saw Buttercup lamented dramatically, "Oh why did Bubbles have to wish me away? Oh Bubbles how could you do this to me? I was only teasing you! Why? Why? Why? Was I so bad that I deserved this cruel fate? Why Bubbles? Why?"
*****
"Ahh!" Bubbles screamed, waking up in a cold sweat. She sighed, taking a few deep breaths, it was just a dream.
"What's the matter?" Blossom asked.
"Nothing," Bubbles replied, "I uh, just had a bad dream." She looked passed Blossom to find that Buttercup was still not there.
"Want to talk about it?" Blossom yawned.
"No… well… OK, I dreamt that Buttercup was lost on some planet called Argullelinaguk, and there were these Guklukians who wanted to cut Buttercup up and study her and then eat her!" Bubbles exclaimed with a shiver.
Blossom snickered, "Bubbles, you have one wild imagination. Go back to sleep." Blossom hardly finished her sentence before she fell back to sleep herself.
Bubbles meanwhile was getting even more worried. Perhaps it was just a dream, but it helped her realize that Buttercup could be literally anywhere in the Universe. She did wish she'd get lost, and Bubbles didn't specify where which would defeat the purpose of getting lost. Bubbles gasped as another thought occurred to her, what if Buttercup was not only lost somewhere in the Universe, what if she was also lost in time? Then finding her would be impossible!
Unable to sleep, Bubbles quietly got out of bed, changed clothes and flew out the door, facing the scary dark to find her missing sister.
She searched high and low, near and far, covering most of the state searching for Buttercup but with no avail. "Buttercup where are you?" Bubbles cried. She flew to the moon and looked around, and flew back. Bubbles thanked her superhuman speed and her other powers for helping her cover that much in just a short time, although it wasn't as thorough as she'd liked. She searched until noon when feeling defeated, she returned home.
"Bubbles, where were you?" the Professor asked, "I was worried sick."
"Sorry Professor," Bubbles cried.
"What's the matter?" the Professor asked, noticing her tears.
"Nothing," Bubbles replied with a sniff, still trying to bring herself to break the horrible news to him. She just couldn't bring herself to do it; it would break his heart to know that Buttercup was missing because of her. She just couldn't believe the pains he and Blossom were going through to keep Bubbles from worrying about Buttercup. "Have you seen Buttercup?"
"No," he replied, "Haven't seen her since yesterday, why?"
"You don't know where she is?" Bubbles asked.
He shook his head, "I don't know, probably at what's her name's…Sue's."
Bubbles began to cry again and flew to Sue's hoping that maybe Buttercup was indeed at Sue's like the Professor and Blossom said, although neither of them seemed sure. Bubbles rang the doorbell and Sue's mother answered the door, "Is Buttercup there?"
"No she's not," Sue's mother said, Sue poked her head out from behind her mother's dress. Before she could say anything else Bubbles nodded and flew off.
"Buttercup! Where are you?" Bubbles called, "I'm sorry I wished you would get lost, please come back!"
"Bubbles!" Blossom called, flying up behind her, "What are you doing? You've been acting all weird!"
"Nothing!" Bubbles said, "I was just looking for Buttercup."
"Why? I thought you hated it when she was around because she always bugs you," Blossom replied, "You seem worried about her, is something the matter?"
"Not always! Aren't you worried?"
"Why should I be?" Blossom asked, "Wherever she is, I'm sure she's fine."
"She wasn't at Sue's house," Bubbles said, "And you said she'd be at Sue's house!"
Blossom cocked her head to the side, a curious expression was evident on her face, "Are you sure? Buttercup slept over at her house last night, remember?"
"Well she wasn't there. You probably made that up so I wouldn't worry, but I am!" Bubbles confessed, "I know that she's missing, you don't have to hide it from me. It's my own fault she's gone."
"Bubbles, what are you talking about?" Blossom asked, exasperated.
"Buttercup! It's my fault she's missing!"
"OK, for one, a person's whereabouts have to be unknown for twenty four hours before they can be declared missing, and secondly, how is it your fault? We saw her yesterday, she ate over at Sue's for supper and spent the night there," Blossom shook her head. If she was worried about anything it was that maybe Bubbles had lost her mind or something.
"Blossom! Stop trying to act like everything is OK and admit that you're worried to! Why else would you and the Professor keep Buttercup's disappearance a secret other than to keep me from worrying?! She wasn't at Sue's! She could be anywhere!"
"Bubbles, if Buttercup was really, as you say missing, don't you think we would've told you so we could both be out looking for her. And don't you think we would've filed a missing person's report? If she was really missing, we would be out looking for her right now, not having this conversation!"
"Then what was that all about when you said last night something to the Professor about not being able to find her anywhere?" Bubbles asked, with a 'told-you-so' look on her face.
Blossom thought a moment, "Wait a sec, you heard that?"
Bubbles nodded, "Yes. See? Your expression only proves that I'm right!"
"We were talking about Mrs. Norris' cat!" Blossom said, "She called while you were out yesterday and said she couldn't find Fluffy! We didn't want to tell you because you'd only do your little cat call thingie and last time you did that all the neighbourhood cats came to our yard and left a mess and six cats got pregnant! You know how the Professor feels about cats, he was afraid that you'd get worried and it would happen again."
"You're just saying that. I for one know for a fact that Buttercup's missing because I made it happen, during the last fight we had!" Bubbles frowned flying off calling Buttercup's name.
Blossom shook her head and muttered to herself, "Bubbles, has definitely lost it. I doubt Buttercup would run away over some silly little fight."
Bubbles briefly looked around the country before coming home with her head hung in defeat. She couldn't face Blossom or the Professor when she passed by them.
She went straight to their room and glared at Wish Bear, "This was all your fault! I didn't mean to wish that! That wish shouldn't have counted." she sniffed, "No, it was all my fault. I was just so mad. I'm so sorry Buttercup, if somehow you could hear me I just want you to know I didn't mean to wish for you to get lost for real. I was just really mad because you kept teasing me and really, at that moment, I hated you for it. But now I actually miss being called 'Bubblehead', I miss being teased by you Buttercup. Now that I think about it, it was kinda fun, but sometimes it did go a bit too far. That was probably why I wished you away. You pushed me over the edge. So in a way, it was your fault too."
Bubbles buried her face in her pillow for a moment sobbing quietly and then rolled over and looked out the window. "I'm so sorry Buttercup! All I really wanted was for you to leave me alone. Not all the time, I have to admit, I like it once in a while- when it doesn't go too far. I just wanted some peace. I'm sorry I ever wished you away, I'm sorry I ever hated you, even if it was just for a moment. I miss you so much already, and I sincerely wish you were here, that you'd somehow find your way back! I hope that somehow you'd forgive me, like I forgive you!"
"There's nothing to forgive, you've done nothing wrong," Bubbles heard Buttercup's voice say.
Bubbles rolled over and saw Buttercup casually leaning in the door frame. "Buttercup!" Bubbles' face lit up and she practically tacked Buttercup to the floor overjoyed. "You're back! I knew you'd find your way back somehow!"
"Easy there Bubblehe-- Bubbles," Buttercup laughed, hugging her back, "Of course I would find my way back, I was only sleeping over at Sue's!"
Bubbles and Buttercup sat down on the bed next to each other. "But, I went there looking for you and you weren't there! And besides, I thought you didn't like Sue."
Buttercup grinned, "That's probably because I left earlier today, and the big reason I was there was because we're working together on that art project for class. After I left Sue's I went to Monster's Isle and wrestled with Fred the monster for a while at his flat."
"But I had wished that you'd get lost!" Bubbles whimpered, "And I didn't see you since! I was worried!"
"How would wishing me to get lost really make me disappear?" Buttercup asked.
"Wish Bear!" Bubbles said, "She grants wishes. First I wished that I had my blue crayon, then the Professor produces a blue crayon, then I wished we'd have spaghetti instead of liver and onions and we did! Then I was so mad at you I… wished you'd disappear. I'm so sorry!"
Buttercup watched as Bubbles began to cry again, giving Buttercup a huge hug. Uncomfortable, Buttercup put her hand on Bubbles back and held her gently, "Bubbles, did it ever occur to you that those were coincidences? I mean, you could've misplaced your blue crayon while colouring downstairs and the Professor probably found it, and when we were grocery shopping I put the onion back when the Professor's back was turned since I didn't want liver and onions, this was before I knew I was going to Sue's."
Bubbles pushed away, "Then this means… I can't believe I was so stupid to really think that…" Bubbles threw herself on her pillow and sobbed, "Go ahead, laugh at me. I was such a moron. You know you want to."
Buttercup opened her mouth to say a witty retort she had, really wanting to laugh at her naivety and wild imagination but unable to bring herself to do it, "You really thought I was lost forever, didn't you?"
Bubbles nodded.
"Bubbles, I heard what you said, about how you feel about me teasing you," Buttercup said, biting her lip and gently stroking Bubbles' hair. "I heard everything. I didn't think it bothered you that much and I'm… I'm sorry for teasing you all the time. I don't blame you if you hate me."
"I don't hate you for it," Bubbles sniffed, "I was just…"
"So mad, I know," Buttercup nodded, "Sometimes I guess I just don't know when to quit, do I?"
"No you don't," Bubbles replied, allowing herself to be honest and get a little angry.
"You want to know why I tease you so much?" Buttercup asked.
"Yes."
"Because you're… I don't know, you're so sweet and I guess I want to see what it takes to make you mad and show it. You can fight back you know. You're a lot more fun to fight with than Blossom. You're my sister, and that's what sisters do, tease one another," Buttercup replied, "I'm sorry for taking it too far. I only want to get a reaction I guess. I didn't want to be mean I guess, I only want to have fun with you. And I want to see you stick up for yourself once in a while. I'm really sorry if I hurt you, and made you worry so much. Forgive me?"
Bubbles looked up at her and smiled, "Yeah, I forgive you. I do admit sometimes it is fun, except when you go too far and won't quit."
"I promise I will try to quit whenever I start to go too far," Buttercup said, having seen the genuine hurt in Bubbles' eyes. "But no guarantees, I mean, I know I can get out of hand."
"OK," Bubbles nodded, "Oh, and Buttercup? Could you keep this conversation just between you and me? I'm embarrassed as it is. Blossom already thinks I'm crazy with the way I acted today, and she won't let me live it down if she knew I thought Wish Bear could really grant wishes."
"Sure," Buttercup nodded with a grin, "It's a deal. That is if you start sticking up for yourself before you say or do something you regret, whether it's a false alarm or not."
"Thanks Buttercup," Bubbles gave her a hug, "Thanks for not making fun of me right now, and being so understanding. You may be tough, and mischievous, but you sure can be sweet sometimes."
"Yeah about that," Buttercup blushed, "Don't tell Blossom. She wouldn't let me see the end of it if she even suspected I was going soft. I have my rep to maintain you know."
Bubbles grinned, "Don't worry, your secret's safe." Bubbles yawned, "I'm so tired, I was up half the night looking for you."
"Really?" Buttercup asked guiltily.
"Yeah," Bubbles closed her eyes, "I think I'm going to take a little nap."
OK," Buttercup nodded. She gave Bubbles a reassuring pat and threw her green blanket over Bubbles' shoulders, touched that Bubbles loved her so much she would worry like that, even if the reason was silly and a false alarm.
When Buttercup got downstairs Blossom asked, "Did you talk to her? She seemed really upset that you weren't here last night."
"Yeah I talked to her," Buttercup replied.
"What did she say?" asked the Professor.
"There was a slight misunderstanding as to my whereabouts last night and today and she overreacted, you know how her imagination can get sometimes," Buttercup said, "But everything's fine now." Buttercup smiled inwardly, everything was fine in more ways than one now. "She tired herself out so she's taking a nap right now. Poor Bubbles had a pretty long day."
*****
The next day at supper, the Utoniums were enjoying chicken nuggets and fries that the Professor baked in the oven. As they sat at the table eating their fries, Buttercup started to flick at one of Bubbles' ponytails, getting it in her face as she tried to take a bite.
"Buttercup quit it!" Bubbles whined, batting Buttercup's hand away like it was a fly.
"What's the matter Bubblehead?" Buttercup taunted, snatching her fry and eating it.
"Buttercup stop it!"
"Bubblehead!" Buttercup mocked, grabbing another one of her fries.
Bubbles opened her mouth as though she was about to complain to the Professor again when he said.
"Buttercup, quit teasing your sis…"
"Is that the best you can come up with? That's so lame… Butterfinger Breath!" Bubbles hissed, cutting off the Professor and grabbing one of Buttercup's chicken nuggets.
"Hey!"
Bubbles blew a raspberry, "Butterbutt!"
"Bubble Gump!"
"B-Cup!"
"Oh you are so going to pay for that one… Bubble… Bubble… oh forget it! Take this!" Buttercup frowned, grabbing a handful of Bubbles' fries and stuffing her face triumphantly.
"Oh yeah?" Bubbles grinned, "Try this on for size Butterball!" she reached over and started to tickle Buttercup.
"Ahh!" Buttercup half cried and half laughed, "Stop it!" she ticked Bubbles back in return, the next thing they knew they were on the floor in the midst of an all out tickle war.
"Do you want me to break those two up?" Blossom asked the Professor.
"Nah, they're fine," the Professor nodded, watching them in amusement, as they broke into a fit of giggles, "Yep, they'll be just fine."
-fini-
A/N Well thanks for the reviews everyone. This was pretty I guess you would say impromptu seeing as how I didn't put much thought into it, and I know that the premise has been done before with the main character making a wish they regret, but I hope no one minded my blatant use of a cliché, but really this was about Bubbles and Buttercup's relationship more than anything.
Chrissy Green: Thanks for the review! I agree Bubbles was too hard on herself, especially since it turned out to be all in her head. I have to say one thing, Buttercup is my favourite, so I don't appreciate the Buttercup bashing in a review, but you're allowed to dislike her. I just had to say something on my fave puff's behalf. LOL!
Cursor: Hey thanks! I really appreciated the comment, I do try to keep in the spirit of the show for my lighter fics, so I'm glad you thought so! You nailed the theme perfectly by the way, so thanks for… I don't know, appreciating it I suppose.
Hairy Gregory: See what I said to Cursor. (so much easier than writing it twice! LOL :P) I used to love those old cartoons from the 80's, like most of the ones you mentioned. That was merely a commentary on how they all seem to be making a comeback, popping back into the realm of mass merchandising. I think it's funny how trends seem to go around in circles. And you were (mostly) right again Hairy Gregory about the coincidence thing! Be proud!
Starship Gazer: I don't think that would solve anything. If it actually worked and Wish Bears could really grant wishes, then there would be Chaos and we'd have to evacuate the planet considering how many of those things are out there! Ahh! Run for your lives!! LOL!!