In these silences, something may rise

Part 7

Endgame

The city of Townsville, at the home of the Power Puff Girls the Professor has revealed the hardest obstacle in the way of beating the evil Rowdy Ruff Boys. They are twined with their copies, and if either one dies so does the other half.

'Don't worry Professor; I am sure Brimstone won't be able to figure out what we know.' Blossom said. 'The evil Ruff's seem like idiots compared to our good versions, and they can't perform the same tests you did.'

'I don't know Blossom, Blaze and Blaster have both shown to be a lot dumber then my brothers but Brimstone is at least as smart as I am.' Brick said, and as he did Boomer suddenly shot out of his seat. The Blue Ruff grabbed onto his arm and held it while his face showed the pain that now burned in him.

'Boomer what's going on?' The Professor asked as he went to Boomer's side trying to see the arm Boomer clutched so tightly. When he did get close the Professor could see smoke rising from between Boomer's fingers. The smell of burning flesh filled the room and Boomer could not help but scream out in pain. The cry of agony was so loud it made the whole house shake and could be heard for miles around even by those without super hearing. It was only a few seconds and then after he had screamed the constant pain stopped and became a dull throb in his arm.

'Boomer let me see.' Professor Utonium said as he held out his arms to examine Boomer's injury. Boomer was reluctant at first but eventually, and painfully, let go of his arm and let the Professor see the wound. 'It looks like a laser beam burn in your arm Boomer, the same type as your eye beams I am afraid.'

'That means Brimstone knows what we know now.' Blossom said. 'He must know that we can't hurt him without hurting the good Rowdy Ruff Boys.'

'Yes and that makes him more dangerous then ever.' Brick said while the Professor started to see to Boomer's burn.

'Then we have to act quickly, find a way to stop them.' Buttercup said.

'And how do we do that then?' Brick asked. 'If we can not fight them, can not kill them or anything else then what do we do?'

'Lock them up.' Buttercup answered. 'A few force fields and a wall of Adamantium metal should keep them out of our way.'

'You mean like the great prison?' Brick asked. 'The one they destroyed in less time then it takes to deliver a pizza?'

'Containment does sound like the only answer to me but it will have to be something superior to the great prison.' Professor Uotnium said as he finished putting a bandage round Boomer's arm. 'I don't think I could build it alone, but with the help of the same minds who made the great prison I am sure we could so something.'

'But Professor it took over a year to design the great prison and almost a year to build it!' Blossom said. 'We don't have enough time to go through that again. The evil Rowdy Ruff Boys will attack any time, and won't be stopped. We need a fast solution to at least hold them long enough to design something long term.'

'I will arrange a meeting as soon as I can Blossom, I am sure that together the world best scientists can come up with an answer.' Professor Utonium said but in his heart he did not have much hope, and Brick could see this in his eyes.

'Where are you going Brick?' Blossom asked when she saw Brick going out the front door. 'I was hoping we could work on some new tactics for facing the evil ruffs.'

'I was just going to go and have a swim Blossom, wake me up a little and take my mind off the problem at hand.' Brick said without looking back at Blossom. 'When I get back we can work on strategies.'

'Ok Brick, have fun.' Blossom said and with out another word Brick closed the door and was gone.

Now Blossom had some time to kill while she waited for Brick, she thought of starting work with out him but decided Brick was right about getting their minds off the present situation. So instead of going to her room Blossom went to the living room where Bubbles and Boomer were watching TV together.

'Hi guys, what's on?' Blossom asked as she sat down next to her sister.

'Blarney!' Bubbles said ecstatically.

'You like Blarney to Boomer?' Blossom asked Boomer who shrugged.

'There are worse things on TV.' He said and nothing else, it was then Blossom noticed that Boomer was hardly watching the show and spent most of his time looking at Bubbles. Blossom now felt like a third wheel and was about to go off and start work on the strategies any way but then Butch limped into the room.

'Has anyone seen Brick, Boomer you must know where he is' Butch still had a few bandages around him and his leg would limp for a few more hours at least.

'Yeah I can sense him out at the beach.' Boomer said taking his attention away from Bubbles for a moment. 'Why do you want to know?'

'Well I wanted to talk to him about the whole evil versions of us thing but I can wait till he gets back.' Butch was about to go when an odd thought crossed his mind. 'Wait what in the heck is Brick doing at the beach, he hates it there.'

'He told me he was going for a swim.' Blossom said from the foot of the stairs.

'Brick going for a swim, that's a good one.' Butch said. 'That is one dude who lives up to his name when I comes to water; he sinks just like a Brick.'

'Oh no.' The colour drained out of Blossom's face as she realised what was going on, why Brick had really gone to the beach. She did not waste any time, she disappeared in a beam of pink heading for the beach as fast as she could go.

'What's with her?' Butch asked Bubbles.

'I don't know, but it must be really important.' Bubbles said not knowing how important it really was.

'It's a far, far better thing I do now then I have ever done before.' Brick said as he looked across the sea and out to the horizon beyond it. He stood looking for a moment longer; taking in the last of the sight he would have, enjoying the calm of it all and the peace. When he knew that waiting any longer would steal his resolve Brick started to walk towards the water where he planed to end both his life and the life of Brimstone.

'Brick stop!' Blossom shouted from above his head and when he heard it Brick cursed silently. He had hoped to do this with out been interrupted, with Blossom here things would become much more difficult.

'Go away Blossom.' Brick said as he kept walking into the water, now the waves sloshed around at his shins and he could feel the old fear of water coming back to him.

'Brick stop it right now.' Blossom said as she landed beside him, the hem of her dress just touching the water.

'You can't stop me Blossom.' Brick said and when he did he felt her arms going around his waist and pulling him back to land.

'I can try and stop you.' Blossom said.

'Blossom cant you see that I have to do this, to stop Brimstone.' Brick said as he pulled against Blossom, causing them to be stuck knee high in water. 'Brimstone is the leader, with out him Blaster and Blaze are nothing, and they can be contained. There is no other way this can end but with Brimstones death.'

'There is always another way Brick.' Blossom said tightening her grip around Brick's midsection.

'Just go home, look after your sisters and keep an eye on my brothers. By tonight Brimstone and I will be but memories, and then some peace can come out of it all.'

'Brick I am not going to let go of you, so if you drown I am going to do the same.' Blossom said. 'I will not let you kill your self like this, taking the easy route out of it all like a coward.' The word coward hit Brick like a slap to his face and for a moment Blossom felt his relax. She could have pulled then and gotten him all the way back to the beach but she knew that it was the wrong move; she would have to pull back his mind before his body could be moved.

'So what if this is the easy way out, at least this way its over.' Brick said.

'No it won't be over Brick, you will just leave Butch and Boomer alone, they will have to face Blaster and Blaze alone while you are free of it all.' Blossom said. 'What will you have them do? With out a leader what do you think they will do? I know, they will do the same as you and end their own lives. Is that what you want Brick, for them to jump after you?'

'No of course not but…' Brick could not think of anyway to finish that sentence off; there was just nothing there to say.

'But nothing Brick, if you die here then you die a meaningless death as a coward.' Blossom now could feel Brick had totally relaxed, she was winning him over. 'Brick if you want to then walk ahead and I won't stop you, we both can drown here and both be remembered as cowards or you can walk back to the beach, it's your choice.' Blossom waited to see which way Brick would go and for one horrible second she thought he would keep walking into the sea. But Brick turned around and spoke in a muted voice.

'Let's get out of this water.' Blossom let go of him and Brick slowly walked out of the sea and back on to dry land. 'You are one heck of a negotiator Blossom; you made me feel like a jackass standing out there.'

'Its just one of my many talents Brick.' Blossom said as she wrung out the bottom of her dress as best she could. 'Now I want you to promise me you won't ever do anything so stupid again.' Blossom said in a voice so like an old mother Brick could not help but smile.

'Sure, I promise never to do anything like that again… mom.' Brick said.

'What did you just call me?' Blossom said, she stopped wringing out her dress and gave Brick a look just like a scorned mother that Brick burst out laughing.

'Not… a thing… Blossom.' Brick managed to say between fits of laughter, rolling around in the sand holding on to his belly.

'You called me mom, I heard you say it!' Blossom said feeling her near growing. 'I should kick your butt for that.'

'Now you sound like Buttercup.' Brick said laughing even harder. 'Try doing an impression of the Professor next.'

'Why you little…' Blossom ran at Brick who managed to get up into the air and start flying for home, still laughing like a loon as he did. 'When I get my hands on you Brick!' Blossom shouted after him before she gave chase, the whole event in the ocean now completely forgotten.

Professor Utonium sat in front of a at least a dozen monitors waiting for the meeting to start. It had been difficult to arrange a meeting with such little notice, and a few of the scientist he had hoped to talk with would only watch a recording of it later on. But Professor Utonium had managed to get more then a few of the best scientists in the world, minds which had surpassed their time period by decades and in some cases centuries. The same group had come together two years ago to start work on the great prison, and in doing so had pushed science forward by at least thirty years. The Professor hoped with that starting point they could come up with a solution to the evil Rowdy Ruff Boys in only a matter of days.

'Computer display the time.' Professor Utonium said into the small microphone around his head, and with this command all the monitors showed the exact time down to the nano second. 'One minute 'till show time.' The Professor said as he made some final checks on all the links, he did not want to lose any of the scientists who had volunteered to help because of a bad connection. With the check finished the meeting could begin, the monitors all came to life showing the worlds top minds.

'Ladies and Gentlemen thank you for giving your time to me today, I hope everyone has read the brief I sent.' There was a series of yes's and affirmatives, not a single person had not read the notes Professor Utonium had sent when arranging the meeting. 'Then you all know the situation and why it must be resolved quickly, does anyone have anything to start us off with?'

'Professor Utonium I have looked over the notes and I must say I am very worried. These boys managed to destroy our prison in less then a single hour.' A woman in a white coat said as she held up the document Professor Utonium had sent. 'If they have this much power then I fail to see how we could possibly stop them.'

'Doctor Kia I understand your worries but I am sure we can come up with some solution.' Professor Utonium said.

'Could some sort of drug be formulated, to keep them passive for long enough for us to come up with a more long term solution?' This was from an old man sitting in a wheel chair smoking a large cigar.

'Sir Hammersmith I have been looking over these boys DNA and I can tell you no drug we make will work.' This was from the youngest member of the team. 'They have an immune system like nothing I have seen before, it would combat any antigen we put in their bodies with in six hours.'

'Dexter is right, Charles Xavier sent me his ideas before he was called away and he thinks any chemical based plan will fail within three days.' This was from the second youngest scientist, Robin of the Teen Titans. 'I was thinking a force field might be the answer…'

'No these boys destroyed the one in the great prison in seconds, and that was using its own nuclear power station. We can not possibly build a force field strong enough to hold them indefinitely; it would require way too much power.' Professor Utonium said holding onto the microphone and looking at the screen showing Robin.

'Well it can't be a metal based containment, Adamantium is the strongest material on earth and they managed to get through it.' This was Sir Hammersmith one again, still smoking his large Cuban cigar.

'Well they only managed to force the door to open due to its structural weakness. They would not be able to escape a solid box of Adamantium.' Dexter the boy genius suggested and received half a dozen complaints.

'And how would we get them in there?' Doctor Kai asked. 'And even if we did get them in how could we give them air and food?'

'Doctor Kai has a very good point.' Robin said. 'We could get them in there is suppose, Cyborg and I have been working on teleportation technology but after we did that we could not keep giving them air.'

'Why not just teleport air and food in?' Professor Utonium asked.

'The teleporter needs a tremendous amount of power to work, even for only a brief time. To keep one going would take the equivalent of hundred nuclear stations running at full capacity.' Robin said. 'And if the transporter is constantly on it works as a two way road, the boys would be able to travel back out using it.'

'Not to mention the effect such a device might have long term, it could change the very atomic structure of anything in its path if left going to long.' Dexter pointed out.

'Mr Wayne you have been very quiet, have you any suggestions?' Professor Utonium asked Bruce Wayne who has sat silent through out the whole conversation.

'Unfortunately I have only one possible answer and that is not a pretty one.' Bruce Wayne said. 'I think these boys could only possibly be stopped by killing them.' This was met by shock and outrage from all the scientists.

'Bruce I am a doctor and I can not condone any idea that would take human life.' Doctor Kai said. 'And might I remind you killing these three boys would also kill three innocent children as well.'

'I don't like it any more then you do doctor but it is the only real answer we have right now.' Bruce managed to cut through the arguing scientists to be heard again. 'These Rowdy Ruff Boys can not be contained by anything we could come up with in a matter of days, and now that they know they have no limiting factors they will begin attacking again. These three have the devastating power of an army and I doubt they will stop after Townsville, they will move on to the next place and destroy that. I know if they were to reach Gotham city Batman would do all he could to stop them, even if that meant killing them. So you see they will be killed eventually, if we leave them alive they will just kill more innocent lives. I am afraid this is a case of the needs of the many over the needs of the few. But if there are any better ideas I will be more the glad to work on them.' Bruce sat back and waited for anyone to speak; no one had an answer they could give.

'I tell you now I will not let anyone kill those boys, we are not murders we are scientists!' Professor Utonium was the only one to speak up and even this took some time. 'Now I suggest we all get to work on a workable solution. If anyone comes up with anything I will be wearing a communicator watch on the frequency of ninety-three point seven oh that is nine three point seven zero. Any time, night or day if you have even a possible answer call me and we can start work on it. Now I bid you all good day.' One by one the screens went blank as the men and women on them said their good byes, only Bruce Wayne remained at the end.

'Professor I hope you understand my position, I have to think of the greater good.' Bruce said. 'I am not asking those boys to commit suicide, but I also can not let their counterparts run loose.'

'I understand Mr Wayne, but I hope you understand my position.' The Professor responded. 'Those boys have as much right to live as you or I. I will not let their lives be wasted so needlessly.' Bruce said nothing but gave a small nod before his screen went blank leaving the Professor alone.

'Well?' Blossom asked when Professor Utonium came out of his laboratory.

'Well what?' Professor Utonium asked Blossom.

'What did you all come up with?' Blossom asked impatiently. 'You were in there for hours; you must have some ideas on what we can do to stop the evil Rowdy Ruff Boys.'

'Oh well yes we have all been working very hard on the Rowdy Ruff problem and there are a few ideas been tossed back and forth.' The Professor said. 'We have nothing to solid yet but everyone is working as hard as they can to come up with something we can use. I am sure with all the people I have working on this that we will have at least a stop gap measure before you know it. I am even wearing my communicator watch in case anyone comes up with something, so we can get strait to work on it.' The Professor lifted up his wrist to show the watch like device strapped there.

'I got a question, why in the heck have the evil Ruff's not attacked yet if they know we cant fight back?' Butch asked as he limped into the room, his leg was getting better now and soon he would be able to walk normally.

'I think you maybe the reason for it.' Professor Utonium answered; glad to be away from the subject of actually stopping the evil Rowdy Ruff Boys. 'If you are still not healed up I assume their Blaze is also still suffering after the last fight he had with you and the girls. Brimstone no doubt wants his team at full strength before he makes his final move.'

'So we are in endgame then.' Blossom thought out loud.

'Well Brimstone may think we are but I think we have a few surprises left to keep the game going.' Professor Utonium said, unsure if he was lying or telling the truth to Blossom. 'Blossom why is the bottom of your dress damp?' He asked when he noticed that Blossom's dress was damp.

'Erm, it's nothing Professor… I will just go and change.' Blossom said as she ran up the stairs and went into her room to change.

It has been three days since the Professor had his meeting and not a single one has come back with anything useful. The whole city has been put on a high alert as they wait for the evil Rowdy Ruff Boys to make their move. Butch has healed completely and now no one knows why the Rowdy Ruff Boys have not attacked. Everyone waits, living in fear of the inevitable attack. But life has gone on; people go about their days as if there was no shadow of death hovering constantly above them. School opened as usual and classes were held, but during them most people could not help but stare at the Power Puff Girls hotline, expecting it to ring at any time.

The Power Puff Girls and Rowdy Ruff Boys were also starting to feel the strain of waiting for either the evil Rowdy's to attack or for the Professor and his team to come up with plan to stop them. Butch and Buttercup sparred almost constantly, keeping the training room levels at hardcore until they both collapsed from exhaustion. Brick and Blossom worked on strategies and tactics, trying to make them perfect and usually ending the day arguing over whom was right about what they should do. Bubbles and Boomer spent most of their time together, trying to keep their minds off what was going on around them. It could be said that during this time the two started to fall in love, but they were too young to see it.

The waiting ended on the third day, at four thirty Pm two miles south-west of the town centre. The clouds had become black as a storm started; the rain had just touched the earth when three boys walked out into the street.

'Hear me Townsville; hear the voice of your God!' Brimstone shouted out across the city. 'The time has come to end it, by tonight there will be only one team left alive. Either the Rowdy Ruff Boys or the Power Puff Girls! Blaze, Blaster get the girls attention.' At this command the two other Ruff's started to attack the city, using their hand blasts to destroy the buildings around them and kill anyone that caught their eye. The endgame had begun.

When the hotline rang the tension through the Utonium home became so thick that not even a knife could cut through it. The moment they had been waiting for was here, (do not ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee). No one moved for three rings, they all just looked at the phone, as if that might stop its ringing and save them from the fate that lay in wait. Eventually Blossom broke from her paralysis and answered the phone.

'Power Puff Girls.' Blossom said with hardly any conviction.

'Blossom they are attacking.' The mayor said as if this sentence was all that was needed, and it was.

'I understand mayor we are on it.' Blossom said hanging up the phone and looking at her sisters.

'They have finally made their move.' Buttercup said as she crossed her arms. 'About time, all this waiting was making me nervous.'

'Professor if you have any plans now is the time to share them with us; we have to fight them now.' Blossom said to Professor Utonium.

'We have nothing yet, but everyone is still working on the problem.' Professor Utonium said looking down at the communicator watch which was still as dead as when he first put it on.

'Then we have to go a buy some time.' Blossom said. 'Bubbles, Buttercup its time for us to go.' Blossom said to Buttercup and Bubbles.

'Hey what about us?' Brick said. 'We are coming to help you to.'

'No you are not Brick.' Blossom said firmly. 'You can't fight without hurting yourselves, you would only hinder us. You and your brothers are to stay here with the Professor and wait for a new plan.'

'You can't fight the evil Ruff's alone, they creamed you last time!' Butch shouted. 'We are not as strong as them but we can at least tip the balance to your favour.'

'No you can't, every time to make a hit you would only hurt yourselves.' Blossom said calmly. 'That's why we won't hurt them; we will only keep their attention to buy time for the Professor.'

'But if you don't fight back then you won't stand a chance against them.' Boomer said. 'They will kill you.' He had tears in his eyes as he thought of the girls been killed.

'We can't let them destroy the city; we can't fight them with out hurting you so our only option is to keep them busy.' Blossom said. 'I have confidence in the Professor and his team coming up with a solution before we get into too much trouble.'

'At least let us come as supports, if you need help we can act right away.' Brick said. 'And if we bring the Professor with us then any plan he comes up with we can enact right away.'

'I don't know, it could be dangerous having you there.' Blossoms said. 'Brimstone might use it to his advantage, using you as human shields.'

'You all ready said you won't attack them and we promise not to do anything unless you give the order to us.' Brick said.

'Oh alright you guys can come but you have to stay with the professor and out of sight.' Blossom finally caved in to the boys, she knew it was an argument she would never win. The three boys all promised to do as she told them and keep back unless ordered to do otherwise. With this done the girls flew ahead to fight the evil Rowdy Ruff Boys while the Professor was carried by the good Ruff's to the battlefield.

Brimstone watched as his brothers destroyed the city around them, the rain running off his hat in a thick sheet. He hardly noticed the weather; all he was focused on was what was going on around him. Blaster was destroying any building that got into his range while Blaze chased after the people who fled for safety. Brimstone did not want to dirt his hands on such weaklings; all he cared for was the Power Puff Girls and his revenge on them. He also had a worry in his mind, one that hid at the very deepest part of his thoughts, which was if he failed this time he would answer to the laughing man and that was something he feared more then any other way of dieing.

'Come out Power Puff's, we all must die someday.' He muttered under his breath, he was growing impatient waiting for the girls. What if they saw fighting was futile and stayed in hiding until they could come up with some trick to defeat him? He need not have worried; the Power Puff Girls would never sacrifice so many lives even if it was the smartest thing to do.

'Brimstone stop this right now!' Blossom yelled out as three streaks of colour stopped over the heads of the evil Rowdy Ruff Boys.

'Well it's about time you three sissies showed up.' Brimstone made a wave with his hand to which Blaster and Blaze stopped their attack and joined their brother's side. 'I hope you like the back drop we created for out little fight, I was going for post-apocalyptic I even waited for it to rain just for the occasion.' Brimstone said not noticing Blaster and Blaze shiver, he sounded too much like the laughing man for their comfort.

'You waited three days just so it would rain when we fight?' Buttercup said looking dumbfounded.

'Well I always had a flare for the dramatic, and this storm does make the perfect back drop for your demise.' Brimstone said with a sly side smile across his face.

'Where are your boyfriends?' Blaze asked. 'Off picking flowers to put in your hair?' This caused Blaster to double over laughing while Buttercup started shouting abuse at Blaze.

'They are here, waiting for the right moment to help us beat you.' Blossom said.

'Oh I doubt that, they can't do anything to hurt us and neither can you.' Brimstone said. 'So I will make you a deal, give in to me and I promise that your deaths with be quick and painless.'

'We would never surrender to you!' Buttercup shouted at Brimstone.

'THEN…YOU…SHALL...SUFFER!' Brimstone yelled out before he attacked Blossom with a driving punch to the face. Blossom had no time to block the attack and so was hit by its full force, he head snapped back as she flew up into the air like a rocket with Brimstone chasing after her.

'You take green girl and I will teach blue a lesson or two.' Blaze said to Blaster as he attacked Bubbles with a static bolt from his hands. The bolt missed Bubbles as she strafed to the left but Blaze was after he in seconds.

'Ok Butterbutt lets fight.' Blaster had been ordered by Brimstone to fight Buttercup and not Bubbles because of the last fight they had. Buttercup knew that winding Blaze up made him act like an idiot in a fight and so Brimstone had decided to avoid that possibility this time.

'My name is Buttercup!' Buttercup rushed at Blaster and at the last second remembered that if she did hit him Boomer would also be hurt. She tried to pull away but her speed was too great and instead she ran strait into Blasters waiting fist. Pain exploded in her belly as Blaster twisted his fist round to cause as much damage as possible. All the air in Buttercup's lungs shot out in one loud 'ouf' sound, leaving her open for Blaster to continue attacking. The blue Rowdy let go of Buttercup and she feel to her knees gasping for air, she never saw Blaster's foot shoot up and kick her in the face. Buttercup fell backwards hitting her head on the hard ground before Blaster dropped down to his knees to drive his elbow into her all ready stinging gut.

'Girls are such sissies.' Blaster said as he stood up. 'Your not even trying to fight me, afraid of hurting little Boomer?' Blaster kicked Buttercup in the ribs spinning her over and onto her stomach. The Ruff was not done, he could have killed her there and then but was just enjoying this too much and Brimstone had ordered they would all die at the same time. So instead of making a finishing move Blaster picked up a large piece of the road and dropped it on top of Buttercup. The black tarmac shattered when it hit and covered Buttercup completely.

'You were more fun the first time round Buttercup.' Blaster said to the rubble. 'At least then you fought back, this is just too easy.' Blaster fired his eye beams to blow away the rubble and reveal Buttercup once more. The Green Power Puff was clawing her way back to standing up when the red beams struck her sending her flat once again.

'This fight was over before it even started… is that possible?' Blaster said to himself, now to confused to carry on fighting. Not that it mattered anymore; Buttercup could not fight back no matter how much she wanted to.

'Let go!' Bubbles said as Blaze grabbed onto her pigtails.

'Not a chance!' Blaze said as he pulled on Bubbles hair as hard as he could, putting one knee into her spine as he pulled back. Bubbles screamed with pain as her back arched back as far as it could, digging deeper into Blaze's knee. The tears fell for her eyes as her hair started to come out of her skull while Blaze just smiled. Bubbles was about to go bald when she noticed Blaze's grip had loosened just enough for her to escape. She flipped over, slipping out of the grip on her feet held by Blaze's other leg, and thus she was able to relieve the pull on her hair. When Bubbles was just above Blaze's head she twisted round as quickly as she could, in return she got one last hard tug on her hair and then escaped. Blaze's arms twisted round each other and caused him to lose the grip he had on Bubbles hair. Bubbles was now free, minus a few hairs and still feeling the pain throb though her head.

'You wont get away from me that easy girly.' Blaze span round and kicked Bubbles in the head as she tried to clear the tears from her eyes. As soon as he hit Bubbles Blaze put out both hands and fired a hand beam of green energy which hit Bubbles in the side of her chest. Bubbles screamed again as the burning pain flared in both her head and her chest. Blaze just laughed as he watched Bubbles try to get away from him.

'I owe you for the fight we had a few days ago sissy so don't think I a letting you go.' Blaze flew in front on Bubbles and grabbed her by the shoulders, squeezing his fingers deeply in to the flesh and bone there. Bubbles did not scream this time but her face contorted into an expression of anguish. Blaze kneed her in the solar plexuses as hard as he could and this time Bubbles did scream out which only encouraged Blaze to keep attacking her. He shot up with the other knee and hit in the same place relishing the scream that resulted from the hit. He repeated this over and over again, hitting with one knee and then the other, laughing as Bubbles screamed.

'So here we stand and here we fall.' Brimstone said as he looked down on Blossom. 'And this time when the fight is over there will be no last minute saves, either you will die or I will. In the end there can be only one Blossom, and I doubt its going to be you.'

'You talk too much Brimstone.' Blossom said as she slowly stepped back, trying to keep a good distance away from him.

'Well then the time for talk has ended.' Brimstone flew head first at Blossom. 'Have at you Blossom!' He nearly made the hit when Blossom quickly sidestepped, she could have planted a heavy kick on his exposed back now if she wanted but of course she could not hurt him. Blossom instead of attacking, dashed backwards and up into the air where she would have more room to dodge Brimstones attacks.

'Running will do you no good Power Puff!' Brimstone landed on his feet and then jumped at Blossom with all his force, coming back to try and spear her again. Brimstone once more missed as Blossom flew higher and out of the way of his spearing attack. Brimstone shouted out a wordless scream of anger and frustration as he turned in mid air and fired a barrage of eye beams. The red laser flew out of his eyes aimed for Blossom, but the pink Puff simply weaved in and out of the beams not getting a single scratch on her.

'What's wrong Brimstone?' Blossom said as she dodged the final red beam of light. 'Didn't you see I would put up a good defence, or are you slipping that badly?' Blossom knew she had to keep him from thinking strait, if she could do that he would not use strategy. Brimstone was not as reckless as Blaze, but he did lose his cool and in doing so lost his best chance of taking the fight as easily as he had hoped. Brimstone attacked Blossom with a series of wild attacks, none of which he thought through and so Blossom was able to dodge each and everyone. He attacked with everything in his arsenal, flame breath to simple kicks and punches and they all failed to even touch Blossom.

'Why won't you die?' Brimstone asked as Blossom flipped over his head to avoid another hand blast.

'Need a hand bro?' Blaster said as he arrived next to Brimstone. 'I dealt with green girl just like you asked, and Blaze finished the blue sissy off in record time. They are both tied up just how you asked me to…' Blaster was surprised as Brimstone grabbed him round the neck and pulled him against his chest like a human shield. Brimstone put his free hand behind his jacket and pulled out a large hunting knife he had hidden there. He put the tip of the knife against Blasters neck and looked right at Blossom.

'Surrender to me now or I will run this knife through his neck.' Brimstone pushed the blade in a little to cause a small puncture in Blaster's neck, just to prove he knife could do it.

'You wouldn't kill your own brother!?' Blossom said in disbelief as she saw how scared Blaster looked.

'I would if it gained what I want.' Brimstone said with out a hint of a lie in his voice. 'And if he dies so does your precious Boomer, so do you give in?'

'Brimstone what are you doing?' Blaster asked as his brother pushed the knife deeper into his neck.

'Sorry Blaster but you will have to die for me, I will miss you.' Brimstone was about to push the knife all the way through his brothers neck when Blossom shouted out.

'Stop I give in!' Blossom could not believe even Brimstone could be so evil as to kill his own brother just to win, but she could not risk Boomer's life as well as Blaster's.

'Good girl, now turn around and put your hands over your head.' Brimstone said not taking the knife away from Blaster's throat. Blossom for a moment did nothing, but then did turn around as Brimstone had told her to do. As soon as her hands were on her head Brimstone move with such speed it was frightening. He let go of Blaster and flew strait into Blossom gabbing both her arms and putting her in an inescapable arm lock.

'Brimstone you were going to kill me…' Blaster said as he put one hand to his neck where blood slowly trickled out of the hole Brimstone had made.

'Relax I was just bluffing, I would never kill you bro.' Brimstone said, and with every word he lied. 'Now Blossom its time to show you both the mercy and wrath of your God.' Brimstone pulled Blossom down to the surface and dragged her to where her sisters were. Both Bubbles and Buttercup were fully awake if a bit battered and bruised, and both were tied to metal posts in the road.

'Brimstone, I tied them up real tight just like you said.' Blaze said. 'And those posts are pushed down so far they will never come out.' Blaze noticed Blaster holding his neck and decided to keep his mouth shut until Brimstone was out of hearing range.

'Perfect.' Brimstone said to Blaze, and then to Blossom he said. 'I am now going to show you my mercy; I am going to let you go. That's not a lie, or a joke I really am letting you go as free as a bird. I won't go looking for you; I will let you live the rest of your days as you see fit Blossom. However, your sisters must be punished or else people may think I am soft. I will kill both of them, but as I said I will spare your life. But there is always a choice is there not Blossom? They are tied tight, knots that would make the boy scouts proud, if you wanted you could try to untie them and save them both. But I tell you if you do you won't have enough time, you all will die when we attack. If how ever when I let you go you run, well only two Power Puff Girls need die today. You have three seconds after I release you to chose, save your life or die saving trying to save you sisters.' Brimstone then took his hands of Blossom and flew up into the sky with his two brothers. Blossom did not hesitate to run to her sisters to begin trying to untie them.

'No Blossom you escape!' Bubbles said when she saw Blossom run round to the knots and begin trying to undo them.

'There no point in us all dieing here.' Buttercup said.

'I am not leaving you here!' Blossom said as she struggled with the knots Blaze had put in the metal ropes.

'Such heroic nonsense.' Brimstone said as he saw Blossom do just as he thought she would do, attempt the impossible and go for her sisters.

'One.' Blaster said.

'Two.' Blaze said.

'Three' Brimstone said, and next came death.

The whole city watched the fight; they came out of their home and stood in the streets to see it just as they had done when the Rowdy Ruff Boys had first appeared two years ago. They did not hide this time, for even they knew if the girls failed then there would be no safe place for them. It was in this crowd that Professor Utonium and the good Rowdy Ruff Boys stood watching the fight. The Professor had his eyes dancing from his communicator to the fight, as he waited for someone to call and save them all. The three boys watched the fight with a mix of feelings. Brick watched Blossom dodging Brimstone's attacks and felt pride; she was beating him with a superior strategy they had both worked on. Butch watched with respect for Buttercup's abilities and a feeling of agitation as he desperately wished to prove himself against Blaze. Boomer watched with horror and a coldness in his heart, Boomer was about to fly and help Bubbles when he saw Blaze pull her hair but Brick held him back. Boomer gave him a pleading look but Brick would not let him go, they had promised.

'No now Buttercup is down!' Some one from the crowd shouted as they saw Blaster dragging Buttercup over to an empty street.

'And Blaze just defeated Bubbles.' Another faceless voice shouted out as Blaze flew over to the same place as Blaster carrying both Bubbles and two large metal poles as long as skyscrapers. They all watched as Blaster and Blaze proceeded to tie the girls to the poles driven deep into the earth. Now the only hope was with Blossom, who so far seemed to be doing well against Brimstone.

'Professor they are running out of time, we need a plan now.' Brick said as he watched Blossom fighting with Brimstone.

'I know.' The Professor pushed a button on his watch and spoke into it. 'This is Professor Utonium if anyone has any ideas, anything at all please respond, we have no more time left we need an answer now!' All he got in response was the same dark screen; even though all of the team were working on the problem none had an answer.

'Ouch!' Boomer said as he put a hand to his neck where a small puncture had appeared. The Professor looked up from his watch to see Brimstone was holding his own brother hostage against Blossom.

'My babies!' The professor shouted as he saw Blossom surrender to Brimstone, that meant all the girls had lost, time was up and the game was over.

'Brimstone is going to kill them all, and no one can stop him.' Brick said through clenched teeth. 'No one but us.' Brick looked at his brothers who were watching as Brimstone toyed with Blossom's heart before he planned to kill her.

'Brick?' Butch asked when he saw the look in Brick's eyes.

'We can't stand here and let them win, no matter the cost.' Brick said. 'I won't order either of you to help me, if you want to live I understand but I am going to stop Brimstone one way or the other.'

'So we finally get to see some action, well you can count me in Brick.' Butch said smiling. 'I was getting bored standing here watching anyhow.'

'Boomer, what is your choice?' Brick asked Boomer who was looking up at the sky. He could see nothing but the never ending black rain clouds in that sky.

'If we don't stop them there will be nothing worth living for Brick.' Boomer said. Brick nodded as he got the answer he had expected from Boomer.

'Professor tell the girls we are sorry but we could not keep our promise to stay back.' Brick said to Professor Utonium as he and his brother moved into a clear space. 'Thank you for your kindness.'

'No wait there has to be another way!' Professor Utonium said running towards the boys, but they all flew from the spot and into the sky before he could take more then two steps.

'Ok boys lets give it everything we have, our ultimate attack!' Brick said as they flew in formation towards their evil counter parts.

'Oh yeah I have been dieing to try this move out!' Butch said as he moved to the front of the formation. 'DARK!'

'DRAGON!' Boomer shouted as he moved behind Butch.

'DRIVE!' Brick shouted out as the three began to twist round in a spiral around each other, their energy trails mingling around in a long spike of energy. For a moment they stayed the same colours as usual, but then they merged into each other and became black. No longer was the energy trail a shapeless mass, but now looked just like a giant Chinese dragon. The dark dragon moved like a snake in the air as he flew strait for the three evil Rowdy Ruff Boys, its giant mouth opening up to devour them all before they could make their final strike on the Power Puff Girls.

'What the hell is that thing!?' Blaze shouted as he saw the Dark Dragon about to drive right it to them. Blaster looked at is in a wordless fear, and Brimstone managed to say his last words on earth.

'Oh shit.'

The city watched from bellow as what appeared to be a mythical creature soared through the air and opened its giant maw to swallow the evil Rowdy Ruff Boys. The three boys disappeared inside of the dragon's mouth and the beast closed it, sealing them inside its body. The dragon coiled itself into an enormous knot and gave one final roar that pierced through to the heavens. Then the black became white in a final explosion, a soundless orb of energy the filled the sky. It was when the dragon exploded that Blossom managed to free her sisters, just in time to see the end of the fight. The white orb of light was so vast it seemed to cover the size of the city, just missing its buildings by a few inches. Everyone watched in awe, it was truly a sight to be seen something so beautiful hovering above them, then it was gone.

Six limp bodies plummeted from the sky, three to the left and three to the right, soundless as the explosion that caused their fall. The Rowdy Ruff Boys hit the ground like stones; none moved or showed any other signs of life. The Power Puff Girls saw them and flew as fast as they could to the sides of the good Rowdy Ruff Boys. Professor Utonium pushed his way through the crowd and to the evil ruff's bodies, simply because they were closest to him. The Professor checked each boy in turn, pulse and eyes and came to the same conclusion for all of them. They were dieing, and there was nothing that he could do to stop it. He looked up at the girls and just shook his head, feeling his heart growing heavy while the citizens of Townsville made a circle around them all.

Butch was the first to recover his consciousness; he could no longer see anything and felt weaker then he had ever felt in his life. Yet some how he knew Buttercup was beside him, holding his head up while blood trickled out of his mouth and nose.

'How did we do?' He managed to ask in a voice so quiet and weak it brought tears to even Buttercup's eyes, the strong and proud Butch reduced to this.

'Not bad, for a boy.' Buttercup said trying not to sound as sad as she felt.

'Heh, you didn't do to bad yourself… for a girl.' These were his final words to Buttercup.

Boomer was been held tightly by Bubbles, he could not feel a thing wrong with him yet his body was ruined. He managed to force his eyes open and look at Bubbles who was weeping as she clutched his head. Looking up to the sky Boomer could see the rain clouds had been blasted away by the Dark Dragon Drive, and now the fluffy white clouds had come back.

'Hey look the clouds came back.' Boomer said using all the strength he had left to point at them. 'That one looks like a house, and that looks like a dog if you look hard enough… hey that one looks like me, can you see it Bubbles?' Boomer's eyes had failed him; there was no cloud that looked like him in the sky yet Bubbles answered him.

'Yes Boomer I can see it.' It was hard to speak through the tears, but if she did not speak now she never would get the chance again.

'Its…pretty.' Boomer said as he smiled looking up at the clouds that slowly darkened away to nothing.

Brick opened his eyes and could see Blossom kneeling beside him also crying.

'Sorry to break our promise Blossom, but it was the only way.' Brick said as he felt himself slipping away, more then anything right then he wanted to sleep but he knew if he did close his eyes they would never open.

'Brick you can't die, you promised me.' Blossom said. 'Who will argue tactics with me, steal my comic books and laugh at me when I act too bossy?' Brick made a chocked laugh at this which hurt his whole body, yet he was glad he could laugh right up until the end.

'Sorry Blossom, I got to go.' He said before closing his eyes and letting the darkness wash over him.

The three Rowdy Ruff Boys closed their eyes and became completely limp in the girls arms as they died. The Evil Ruff's were alone, never to have woken from the attack that ended their lives. When their hearts finally stopped beating the evil Rowdy Ruff Boys bodies just seemed to fade away into nothing leaving only their clothes behind. As soon as they had vanished the good Rowdy Ruff's did the same, their bodies going transparent and then disappearing into thin air. They left nothing behind but the clothes they had been wearing and three mourning Power Puff Girls.

So it was that the Rowdy Ruff Boys saved the day one last time, the price of balance paid in full, paid in blood.

End

(Authors note: I will be posting an authors note after this, about a week for now, to thank those who reviewed the story and to answer any questions.)