A Brooding Hatred
Deep within the bowels of the giant tower now occupying the center of the city of Townsville Him was busy admiring his new abode. It was certainly better than that hunk of floating rock he called home in the limbo he had been banished to. He toured his new domain, making changes here and there as he saw fit with his demon powers. He did not notice Brick emerge from the shadows. He approached the demon from behind, interrupting his redecorating with a loud cough. Him spun around and frowned at his servant.
"What is the meaning of disturbing me Lucifage. I do not remember summoning you."
"My apologies Urobach, but we must discuss the matter of completing our task of securing this city in the name of Hell. You must raise the beryth nexus to establish a link between your world and this one. Only you know the spell and we must not allow time to waste."
"You impudent fool," Him bellowed. "How dare you tell me what I must do. I will raise the nexus when I'm good and ready. Now get out of my sight and don't show your face again unless I summon you."
Brick said nothing but turned and disappeared back into the shadows. He emerged in his own dwelling, a large, lavishly decorated room filled with luxuries fit for a king. He sat upon a large round sofa and let out an exasperated sigh. Him's attitude really frustrated him. For such a pathetic demon, he had a very large ego.
I must learn that spell, Brick thought to himself. Even if it means tolerating that idiot a little while longer. Brick was growing very impatient with Him, despite his outwardly calm composure. The thought of following the demon's orders for any greater length of time made him sick, but he couldn't risk disposing of him too soon, not without first obtaining the summoning spell. The Beryth Nexus was a highly advanced spell known by all demon conquers. It created a rift between the demon world and the mortal world in which the energy from Hell could pass freely into the mortal world. This was necessary for demons to live safely amongst the mortal world because a demon lost a considerable amount of power when it was separated from the energies of its own domain.
The years spent in Hell were not wasted as Brick had spent much time researching demon spells. He knew that complex spells were derived from more basic components and that if he could translate the beryth nexus spell he could derive a spell that could create a direct link between his body and the unlimited energies of Hell. In doing so he would become an all powerful demon, one that would rival even the great demon king himself.
Brick relished in the thought. If there was one thing he learned in Hell, it was that you could never be too powerful. Fifteen years ago he had thought that being made from Chemical X made him the strongest being in the world. Little did he know that there was a whole world of beings that made him look like an insect by comparison. Upon his arrival in Hell he had known one thing— he had to have their power, and he intended to do anything it took to get it.
Knowing the ways of Him, Brick knew it would be a good while before the demon would decide to open the nexus. He loved theatrics and would drag out the suspense amongst the terrified townsfolk as to what their ultimate fate would be. So having nothing better to do, Brick decided it would be best to pass the time in silent meditation until the time finally arrived. Lucky for him, self control was one of the many skills he had mastered in his time in Hell
It had been two long hours and Blossom was growing weary of traversing the endless network of passageways that seemed to lead her nowhere in particular. She had already made a sizable map in her head, but could find no pattern to labyrinth. She never even managed to encounter the same room more than once. Every turn only led her led her into a new unexplored room, even if she kept turning round in a tight circle. She decided it would be best to take a quick break and she stopped where she was and rested against a wall. The air around her felt heavy in her lungs and it made her feel abnormally weary. She decided to close her eyes, telling herself that she was just resting them for the moment. Several minutes passed and Blossom drifted into a deep sleep.
The sound of footsteps roused Blossom from her slumber. "Oh no, I've fallen asleep," she exclaimed. She tried to stand up, but was startled to find that not only could she not move, but she was suspended several feet off the ground, her body partly submerged in the stone of the wall, only her head and torso exposed. In the distance she heard a low chuckle and Blossom blinked a few times and looked in the direction of the sound. Before her was a huge man, at least seven feet tall, with a crown of jet black hair that stuck up in a pillar of spikes. His face bore many scars. His body was thick with bulky muscle, built like a juggernaut. He looked back at Blossom with an expression of pure amusement. Though he his appearance had changed drastically over the years Blossom immediately recognized the man from the sharp emerald green hue of his eyes and wild hair. It was Butch, the green clad Rowdyruff from her childhood.
"Well if it isn't Blossom Utonium. I haven't seen your pretty face in over fifteen years." Butch cooed.
"Why am I bound to this wall," Blossom shouted, showing no outward signs of fear though her heart was pounding in her chest.
Butch's smile only broadened. "What's the matter Blossom? You don't look too happy to see me." He took several slow steps forward to close the gap between them. He seemed to relish the ever growing fear that was present in Blossom. "It seems Blossom that you are in a predicament. Your bound to a wall hand and foot, unable to run, unable to fight. You're all alone with no one around to aide you, and you are about to die. What do you do Blossom? What do you do?"
The last line in Butch's statement made Blossom's heart leap in her chest. Oh my god, she thought, he's going to kill me. Blossom struggled against her bonds, but to no avail. The stone was much to sturdy for her to break free, and despite her efforts she couldn't even so much as crack it.
"So what do you intent to do Blossom?" Butch continued in a mocking voice. "Do you have some ingenious plan to steal victory and save the day like you have so many times before. Are you going to pull yet another rabbit out of your hat, or perhaps you are all out of tricks?"
Blossom desperately wished she did have a plan. The Rowdyruff had a psychotic look in his eyes that made her stomach churn. The very look of him was that of a madman, and his sheer size of the man didn't help at all to ease her fears. Blossom raced through her mind for a plan of escape. She had to get away, or else she may not survive to see the sun again. Butch looked on with the same amused grin, watching Blossom struggle with her thoughts.
"Times running out Blossom," Butch singsonged, the eagerness in his eyes growing steadily. "Its either now or never. What are you going to do?"
Blossom stutter in her panic as she tried to find the right words stall her assailant. "y-you can't kill me... N-not like this… I mean, I can't even fight back. I-It wouldn't be a challenge. How can you say you beat me if I can't even fight back."
Butch burst out in a psychotic laughter that echoed harshly against the stone walls. "A challenge. I could kill you so easily. You would never even see it coming before I cast you into eternal darkness, but no, that would not be any fun now would it? Better to make your death slow and agonizing."
There was a long pause and then to Blossom's surprise Butch snapped his finger and the stone holding her arms and legs melted away like black slurry. She landed softly on the floor, crouching like a cat as she looked warily at Butch.
"If you are going to make a move, I suggest you do it now," Butch said, glaring at Blossom with a hungry gaze. Without thinking Blossom fled towards the nearest open corridor, not bothering to look back to see if she were being followed. It seemed she would make a clean getaway, but at the last minute Butch appeared in front of her as if out of thin air. Blossom dug her heels into the ground to keep from running into the man, and stopped mere inches from his body.
"I don't think so." Butch chimed. Blossom stagger backwards in shock and ran in the opposite direction, setting her sights on another passage way and moving even faster than before. Again Butch appeared between her and the doorway, giving her that same mocking smile. Blossom continued racing from passage to passage, every time being blocked by Butch. After several tries she became desperate and tried to slip past him. He quickly extended one hand and caught her by the waist before she could get past and he dragged her body close to his, holding her in a tight embrace. Blossom struggled to get free, but Butch only tightened his grasp.
"You didn't think I was going to let you leave so soon. We have so much to catch up on you and I." Butch released his hold on Blossom and shoved her violently to the ground. his crushing embrace had taken the wind out of her and she could only lay there gasping to reclaim her breath.
"I haven't forgotten all the times you've beaten me and my brothers in battle. All those times we came so close to defeating you only to be beaten by some unforeseen tactic you would manage to pull out of your hat. You humiliated us again and again with your underhanded schemes, too cowardly to face us head on, muscle to muscle. You toyed with us and played with out minds, stringing us along by the collar all the while. You were always so cocky, so arrogant and full of yourself. You always had to make it known that you were smarter than we were." Butch's voice grew lower as he spoke and his amused smirk had disappeared altogether. Blossom could see him growing steadily angrier as he spoke.
"It made me sick," Butch continued, "to watch you prancing about all high and mighty and I wanted nothing more than to smash you face in, but I was forced to deal with your sister while my brother took you on. Apparently he couldn't handle you properly, but now he is not here to get in my way, and I doubt you have any 'tactics' that can save you. I have spent fifteen years in Hell Blossom. Fifteen long years training and pushing myself, growing stronger and wiser by the day, waiting patiently for the time that I could pay you back for all the humiliation. If you think that you can get out of this one, you are more than welcome to try."
Blossom looked on with great fear. She had no idea Butch hated her so much. She had never given him much regard in their battles in the past. To her he was just one of the other Ruffs. It was Brick who had been her real focus, with a level of determination and ambition to match hers, as well as being a leader like herself, even if he did fall short in intelligence. Now here he was showing his true feelings towards her, and even worse he was going to act out on them.
Maybe if I can surprise him I can buy myself an opening and escape, Blossom told herself in her head. Butch looked about ready to tear her apart, eyeing her like a hungry lion ready to pounce on its prey. His muscles were tense and his expression showed nothing short of seething hatred. Whatever she was going to do, she had better act quickly. She slowly got to her feet, keeping a close eye on Butch who never made a move. He was obviously waiting for her to try something, his eyes remaining glued upon her. Blossom kept the palm of her left hand facing away from Butch and began to produce tiny sharp ice crystals using her ice powers, filling her palm until she had accumulated enough to satisfy her. She fed her power into the crystals, strengthening them to diamond hardness, giving the points a razor sharpness that could cut even a Rowdyruff. She then clenched her fist tight and looked over her shoulder at one of the open passages, trying to look as if she were going to make a run for it. She glanced back at Butch, and then the passage, and then at Butch again, hoping to mislead Butch into thinking she would try to run. She took a slow misleading step back and then in a flash tossed the ice crystals into Butch's face, immediately afterwards lunging at him and throwing her knee full force into his crotch. Butch did not even flinch at the attack and simply looked down at Blossom with amusement. Blossom staggered backwards, her knee throbbing with pain. She was dumbfounded, having expected Butch to be keeling over in agony by now.
"Was that it?" Butch said in a sarcastic tone, one brow raised mockingly. "Your intention was to try and blind me with a bunch of ice so you could then subdue me with a kick in the groin. How unoriginal. I expected something far more clever from you Blossom. Maybe you're losing your touch."
Blossom grit her teeth. This can't be happening, she thought. He can't possibly be that strong? Desperation hit her full force and she rushed at him openly this time, unleashing a flurry of punches at Butch's midsection, summoning all her strength into each blow. She then reared back and threw a powerful punch at Butch's face. The force of the blow could have shatter a block of diamond meters thick, but Butch took it as if he were merely being slapped by a feather.
Butch tilted his head back slightly and then threw it forward in a blur of motion, smashing his forehead into Blossom's outstretched fist. The force sent Blossom's whole arm flying back and the sheer momentum carried the rest of her body along with it, sending her flying several meters back and skidding several more against the rough stone. The pain in Blossom's arm was unbearable. It felt like every pain nerve was firing at once, and she couldn't move it despite her efforts. She pushed herself to her feet with her good arm, looking over at her bad arm to see how bad the damage was. A wave of nausea overtook her at the sight and she had to steady herself from the accompanying dizzy spell. The bones was shattered all the way up to her shoulder and Blossom's arm dangled at her side like a limp noodle. She immediately turned her gaze away and her eyes fell again upon Butch who was looking more smug than ever.
"How does it feel Blossom? The pain must be unbearable, like your arm is burning from the inside out. Am I right?" Butch approached Blossom and glared at her with a menacing smile. "If you think that's real pain you're sadly mistaken. There is a whole world of pain you have yet to experience, a level of torment you couldn't possible comprehend. Imagine the anguish of a thousand tormented souls passing through your body at once. It is a feeling you never forget Blossom, a feeling I personally would like to share with you."
In a flash Butch seized Blossom by the throat, barely giving her space to breath as he hoisted her off her feet with one hand. With the other he proceeded to punch her in the stomach again and again with unbelievable force, relishing in the cries of anguish that escaped her lips with each strike. He then pitched her hard against the ground and began to grind her face into the floor with the heel of his shoe, twisting his foot with violent thrusts.
"Your not putting up much of a fight Blossom," Butch mocked. "I thought the leader of the Powerpuff Girls would have more spunk. I guess you have grown soft after all these years." Butch removed his foot from Blossom's face and gave her a swift kick in the midsection, causing her to soar into the nearby wall. Her body slammed into the hard stone, cracking it slightly. The wall wasn't the only thing that cracked as the collision had crushed both her pelvis and her spine as well. Butch hovered over to Blossom's seemingly lifeless form. Her breath came in labored rasps and a stream of watery blood flowed from her mouth. She opened her eyes and looked up helplessly at Butch, unable to move or even to speak.
"Pathetic. Just pathetic," Butch said with disgust. He grabbed Blossom by the hair and lifted her face to his. He looked on with complete apathy as he slammed the back of her head against the wall, pinning her there, and began to strike her again and again. Blossom could feel her bone shattering and her organs being crushed with each blow. Butch was merciless in his assault, pummeling her with an animalistic fury that only grew with each successive blow. A fine webbing a cracks advanced steadily across the face of the wall, the very stone itself unable to stand up to the ruthless assault. After several minutes Butch reared his fist for one last punch, and hurled it at Blossom's face such incredible power her body tore through the wall in an explosion of shrapnel and she lay in a lifeless heap amidst the rubble on the other side, barely recognizable from the brutal beating she had endured. Butch looked at her body with pure satisfaction, his lips curled into a sadistic smile. "Die in anguish Blossom," He spat callously, and he then turned away from Blossom's mangled body and casually walked off.