Chapter Four: Anti-X Discovered
The next morning, Blossom woke up feeling rather strange. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something didn't feel right. She felt tired. Of course she was up late, crying herself to sleep, only to be jolted awake by Buttercup coming home. The sound of the door slamming was startled her enough to cost her another hour's sleep. But that wasn't why she felt tired. It was a different kind of tired that felt unlike sleep deprivation, or the kind that came from being emotionally drained. Although she certainly was that. Who wouldn't be with the verbal battles she was fighting?
No, this feeling was strange. Very strange.
Blossom sighed, figuring it was because so much was going on: fighting with her sisters, breaking up with her boyfriend, duties as class president, grad committee, work, fighting monsters and maintaining high honours among other things. There was one thing Buttercup was right about her- she was an over achiever. At least she wasn't lazy.
Blossom showered and dressed. She threw on jeans and a t-shirt, something she normally didn't wear. She usually dressed for success. She didn't feel like looking pretty.
She also decided not to wear any makeup, not that it was really necessary to begin with. Because of their powers, the super sisters had flawless complexions. Their skin was impenetrable. For as long as they could remember, they never had one cut, scratch, bruise, burn, not even a pimple. One of the many perks of being a child of Chemical X. All Blossom ever wore anyway was a little bit of shadow and lip gloss, but she didn't bother. Why try looking pretty when you feel miserable?
Blossom went downstairs and made herself some coffee and toast. The Professor was already up and ready for work. "Hello Blossom, feel any better this morning?"
"I guess," Blossom sighed, "A little strange, but I've cooled off if that's what you mean. I plan to stay out of Buttercup's hair today, so long as she stays out of mine."
"Good. How about you and Bubbles? How's your relationship? You two don't talk much," the Professor said.
"We get along fine," Blossom replied, "when we're not fighting. We usually stay out of each other's way. Different interests, you know? But really, it's Buttercup I can't stand anymore."
"I see," the Professor nodded, disheartened by her words, but thankful that Blossom at least was honest with him.
"We just can never see eye to eye," Blossom added, "ever."
"You never really have, you both have always had a strong will, and conflicting personalities, but you both used to look past that, and accept your differences," the Professor commented.
Blossom didn't reply. He was right, but they couldn't look past their differences anymore.
Bubbles joined them, yawning. She looked like the typical all-American girl, with long golden hair, blue eyes and tanned skin, and trendy clothes. Even when sleepy she always seemed to have a bounce in her step- but that morning it was missing.
"Morning Bubbles," the Professor greeted.
"Hey," she replied, hardly paying attention. She poured herself some coffee and sat down at the table, not completely awake yet, and still upset about the night before.
Blossom sat down next to Bubbles and skimmed through the headlines in the paper. Nothing exciting. "Monster attack", "Accident on 42nd delayed traffic", "Evian water delivery truck stolen", "New mall to open Saturday". Blossom put the paper aside and sighed, "How's it going Bubbles?"
"Fine," she shrugged, "Feel a little strange this morning, you?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, feeling a little better," Blossom nodded, "I feel kinda strange too, but I think all this arguing is finally getting to us. I feel drained."
"Me too," Bubbles sighed.
Blossom asked thoughtfully, "You and I, we get along OK, right?"
Bubbles shrugged, "For the most part, I guess."
"You don't think I'm a bad leader do you? A dictator? A control freak?" Blossom asked. Being kept up late had her thinking.
"No," Bubbles replied.
"You're not just saying that?"
"You're fine," Bubbles shrugged. "You're a natural at taking charge, nothing wrong with that."
"You don't resent me as leader of the Powerpuff Girls?" Blossom asked, "You don't ever wish it were different?"
"No," Bubbles replied, "You're a good leader, really."
Blossom felt that Bubbles wasn't entirely truthful. Maybe she was just being paranoid but she needed to know, "Really?"
"Yes!" Bubbles sounded irritated this time, no longer indifferent, "Can you just get off it?"
"You're sure? Because lately you seem so… distant."
Bubbles sighed, she paused, "OK, you want to know the truth?" Blossom nodded. "It has nothing to do with you personally, or your leadership, but the truth is…"
Buttercup came into the kitchen, her entrance cutting off the conversation. She looked so miserable that if it were possible, she'd have a black cloud raining over her head. She wore dark jeans, a black "Bif Naked" shirt and a red bandana covering her unkempt raven black hair. She looked like she hardly slept a wink. She poured herself a big glass of orange juice and took a drink, "It's warm," she complained.
"I just made it this morning," the Professor replied, "It would've been made last night if someone didn't put the empty pitcher back in the fridge again."
"Whatever," Buttercup frowned, knowing she was the guilty party.
The Professor sighed, "Put some ice in it and quit complaining."
"Yeah, yeah," Buttercup downed her OJ and grabbed her bag, "Well I'm off."
"Where does your glass go?" the Professor asked.
Buttercup rolled her eyes and put it in the sink before flying off.
The sound of honking outside perked Bubbles up, "It's Mike! See ya!" Bubbles said, gathering her things and throwing her mug in the sink, leaving Blossom and the Professor alone.
Blossom put her dishes away and slung her bag over her shoulder, "I guess I should go too. See you later Professor."
***
Buttercup went to her locker and put her books away in a fury. It was only lunchtime and she already managed to fail a math test, lose her English essay which was due, and get another detention for being late. On top of that, Bubbles' bitchy best friends purposely sprayed her with water at the drinking fountain, in front of everyone. Even a couple of hours later, people were still snickering at her.
Buttercup rolled her eyes. They were so juvenile. Every single one of them. She was practically counting the days until school was over and she could leave. She went to the cafeteria bought her food and sat down at an empty table in the far corner of the room. She picked at her food miserably; she didn't know why she bothered getting it. She didn't have much of an appetite anymore.
"Yo! BC, why so glum chum?" a voice behind her interrupted her misery.
Only one person in the world ever called her 'BC' so she knew exactly who it was without looking up, "Hey Kevin! Have a seat," she said to her best and only good friend, Kevin Daily.
"So, what's up, why the long face? The usual?" Kevin asked.
Buttercup nodded, "Yeah, yesterday we had a doozy of an argument. But really, today I'm just having a bad day. You know? One of those days where nothing goes right."
"Care to rant?"
"Nah," Buttercup shook her head, "I'm all ranted out I think. You should've seen me yesterday."
"Well BC, you know I'm here for you, right?"
Buttercup nodded, looking up at him. Her face darkened, "What happened to your eye?"
Kevin put his hand to his black eye, "My old man. You know the usual. Came home drunk again last night."
"That's it," Buttercup shook her head, enraged, "I'm going to beat the snot out of him. He has no right to do that to you!"
"Let me fight my own battles, OK?" Kevin asked, "I broke his nose fighting back. I can handle him."
"Good. He deserves a broken nose," Buttercup frowned, "But just say the word buddy, and I'm there. The bastard has no right…"
"I know," Kevin put his hand on her shoulder; his mere touch calmed her down, "Thanks. Did you and your sisters manage to resolve anything?"
Buttercup shook her head, "No. Blossom blames me for her boyfriend breaking up with her and…"
"Wait, Blossom and Greg broke up?"
Buttercup nodded, "Man I was so mean to her about it too. I feel terrible."
"But they didn't break up," Kevin said.
"Yes they did, Blossom said…"
"No they didn't," Kevin corrected her, "Greg was talking about it in the change room after gym this morning. He said they're taking a break, a time-out."
"What?" Buttercup gasped, "But Blossom…"
"Might have misunderstood him. I don't blame her. According to locker room guy talk, when most guys want to take a break, they're in reality breaking up. But that's not the case with Greg. He loves her," Kevin said, "He regrets doing it."
Buttercup sighed with relief, "That's good. I can't imagine them apart. Now I can cross that off the list of reasons Blossom hates me."
"Blossom doesn't hate you," Kevin said.
"She always looks at me with contempt," Buttercup sighed, "so does Bubbles. When we're not arguing, she ignored me completely. Oh and this morning, Bubbles' bitchy friends doused me with water when I was waiting to use the fountain. Everyone laughed."
"That sucks."
"Sometimes I wonder if we'll ever make up,' Buttercup said quietly. "I know it's partially my fault, with my stupid temper." She paused, and then sighed miserably, "Whatever. It doesn't matter anymore."
"BC, don't you dare say that, ever!" Kevin said forcefully, but gently, "You three need to make up, and soon. Taken from someone with a broken family, like me. I haven't spoken to my brother since he left. That was three years ago. Everyday I long to talk to him and see if he's all right. I know the situation's different for you, but it kills me to think that your family life is heading in the direction mine went."
Buttercup said nothing. She pushed her tray away and rested her head on the table and looked away, heaving a big sigh.
"You know what? I think you're depressed," Kevin stated.
"What? Me? Depressed? Nah!" Buttercup sat up and faced him, "I'm fine."
"C'mon, look at yourself girl. You hardly eat; from the looks of things you don't get much sleep either. You obviously feel down and it seems to me you've given up," Kevin pointed out, "That's not the BC I know. The BC I know is a fighter who doesn't let anything get her down and rises up to face challenges big or small."
"I'm just tired," There was more truth to that statement than Buttercup realized. She forced a smile, "And really, other than my family life, social life and school, I'm happy."
Kevin thought a moment, "Buttercup! Friday, you and me… we're gonna catch a movie, OK?"
"I can't," Buttercup shook her head.
"Why not? It'll cheer you up, and we hardly do anything together anymore. And I happen to know you don't get out much anymore either. You need to get out and have some fun! You remember fun don't you?" Kevin grinned, poking her side teasingly.
"Of course I do!" Buttercup rolled her eyes, grinning. It was more genuine this time. For a moment, she looked like her old self.
"There's the look I've been missin'! Then let's go and do something Friday and have some fun! OK?" Kevin nudged her.
"Fine," Buttercup replied. "Y'know? You sure do have a knack for cheering a girl up."
"It's a gift really,' Kevin shrugged, "Seriously though, I hope you will take what I said to heart and make amends with your sisters before it's too late."
"You mean before graduation and I leave?" Buttercup asked. Kevin was the only one who knew she was planning to leave Townsville.
"Yeah."
"I hope I can," she said thoughtfully, sometimes wondering if it was too already too late.
***
The next day went by without much incident. The girls weren't on speaking terms with each other, unless the conversation was limited to small talk. They weren't able to resolve anything and even though things were quiet and cooled off between them, tension was still strong. Ironically, all three were ready to talk and listen, but all were afraid that trying would bring forth another fight, worse than before.
Thursday morning, Buttercup woke up feeling stranger than before. The past few days she hadn't felt herself, emotionally and physically. Since Tuesday morning, she felt odd, lacking energy, feeling tired, but she didn't say anything, figuring it was because she was upset and angry. That morning however it seemed to catch up with her. This time it was accompanied with a headache. She stumbled out of bed, feeling slightly dizzy. The spell passed quickly, but it was definitely not normal. Not for her anyway. She looked at her hand at the barely there scratch. In the heat of the argument the other day she ignored it, but now that she thought of it, something wasn't right. Getting a scratch of any kind was in theory, impossible.
Odd.
Buttercup put on her jeans and a black tank top and a sheer pale yellow button up shirt which she wore undone and combed her hair. Everything felt surreal and strange, like she was still in a dream.
Very odd.
Joining her sisters she noticed that both Blossom and Bubbles seemed to be a little under the weather as well, but like Buttercup were trying to hide the fact.
Very odd indeed.
"Morning," Buttercup muttered. Blossom and the Professor said, "Good morning," without looking up.
"Hi," Bubbles sighed, looking over at Buttercup, "Hey! You're wearing my shirt!"
Buttercup looked at the pale yellow shirt, "This is yours?"
"Yes!"
"Oh! Can I borrow it?" Buttercup smirked.
"Fine, whatever Buttercup," Bubbles sighed, "I don't feel like dealing with this right now, I have a headache."
"You too?" Blossom and Buttercup asked in unison. All were surprised by that reaction.
"Wait a minute, you girls don't get headaches," the Professor exclaimed.
"I know," Blossom nodded, "But I have one this morning."
"Anything else out of the ordinary?" asked the Professor.
"No," Buttercup lied, although she didn't know why.
"When I got up this morning, I felt kind of woozy," Blossom confessed.
"Me too," said Bubbles, "but I feel better now, except for the headache. What's this supposed to mean?"
The Professor shook his head, "I don't know." He looked worried.
"It's not that bad," Buttercup said, "Just a headache. No biggie."
"When was the last time you had a headache?" he asked dryly. There was a long pause as the girls strained to remember, "Exactly. It's been years, and that was caused by a particularly difficult fight. Something's not right."
"You know," Bubbles frowned, "I've been feeling kind of strange all week. But that's just cuz of stress caused by all the arguments we've been having, right?"
"Except you haven't felt strange like this before, have you?" the Professor asked, they shook their heads, "So it's not stress." Ever since the girls were seven, they were in perfect health, having developed super immunity systems. Since then they had no headaches, or dizzy spells, or anything of the sort, and now that he was paying attention, he noticed they did look a little pale. "Something's definitely not right. I'm going to have to look into this."
"Aww, it's no big deal!" Buttercup frowned, trying not to sound worried. "Everyone gets headaches. Maybe it's not impossible for us, just rare."
"Maybe it is no big deal like you say," the Professor said, "but better safe than sorry. This is too strange to ignore. After school I want to do some tests OK?"
Buttercup shrugged, "Fine." Blossom and Bubbles seemed curious about why they felt odd, so they had no objections.
"Oh and girls, can you do me a favor? Please, no crimefighting today, not until I know what's wrong." The Professor sounded urgent.
While Blossom and especially Bubbles seemed perfectly fine with that, Buttercup wanted to protest. No way did she want to give up crimefighting, even if it was just for a day. Sure, it was rare that they were ever needed anymore, but she'd hate it f they got a call and couldn't answer. But she saw the worry in her over protective father's face and nodded.
As the girls left for school, the Professor shook his head with worry. There was only one substance in the world he could think of that could possibly make them feel under the weather, even in the slightest. Antidote-X. But as far as he knew, he had the only sample and it was locked away. Even if there was more, how on earth could they have acquired it?
A/N I hope you all found this chapter satisfactory. Please R&R!
Hairy Gregory: A fist fight between the Powerpuff Girls would definitely be catastrophic if it got out of hand. Good thing the girls are mature enough to avoid such a disaster. And yeah, Buttercup when mad doesn't make much sense. But she's mad and irrational, logic means little. I hope you're enjoying this!
Raskolin Phoenix: Your welcome! Yeah, subtleness is fun. That was on the borderline of non-existent I admit. I'm glad you like!
On a side note, I finally got to see "Woop@$$ Stew", weirdness. That's all I have to say. Don't know why.
