Hello again everyone! I've spent forever on this chapter, since I'm still new at fight scenes :P ...So sorry for the wait.. but here it is!

Chapter 16: Deadlock

Brio knelt down to one knee, eyes closed in meditation with one hand still over his heart and another less than and inch above the ground.

The girls were just coming out of their daze after being smashed into a building nearby when a soft rumble could be felt from where Brio was standing. The girls silently rose to their feet and crept closer to where the fight was taking place, watching curiously to see what Brio was doing.

Without a word, Brio barely touched the street, causing even more powerful pulsating shockwaves to echo throughout the city. This powerful pulsing energy was flowing from the core of Brio's heart, through his arm and deep into the road, causing an artificial earthquake to erupt, and making Quasi stumble around in surprise.

He then lifted his hand from the ground, and raised his gaze to the astonished Quasi. He stood straight-faced, his hand still placed firmly on his chest, before suddenly smirking and running with lightening speed at Quasi.

Brio appeared right in front of Quasi's face, immediately placing his other hand only inches from Quasi's chest.

"Cardio Pulse Wave!" Brio shouted as he suddenly pushed an incredible invisible force from his very heart, down his arm, and out his hand.

Quasi screamed and hollered as he was suddenly riddled with uncontrollable shaking and shivering. He felt his inner core being torn apart as the throbbing flow of energy coursed through his vibrating limbs. The scene went on for only a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity to Quasi's tortured body.

Brio finally pulled his hand back, glaring coldly at Quasi while he fell to his knees, still shaking from the after effects of the wave. High above them gray clouds were gathering in the late afternoon sky, creating an artificial night with its overcast shadows.

After a few moments Quasi suddenly rose to his feet again, growling and looking down at Brio with fierce eyes. He still twitched and quivered slightly, but that didn't hinder the evil grin that soon spread across his face.

Brio gasped and his eyes widened, but his expression quickly returned to that of steadfast determination and rage. He then grinned as a plan came to mind. He looked towards the girls and caught their gaze, and they nodded back to him as they took their positions.

"Not b-bad, boy," Quasi said with a smirk, his voice still shivering, "n-not bad at all."

"What, you think I'm done?" Brio said with a laugh, causing Quasi to stare at Brio in bewilderment.

Suddenly Quasi was hit at close range in the back by Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup's Starburst ray, knocking him forward towards Brio's waiting fist. Brio grabbed the dazed and confused Quasi around the neck with one hand, and landed several hard punches into his stomach with the other. Brio then swung his foot around and into Quasi's side, knocking him across the street to where Blossom was waiting, ready to attack.

Blossom landed a powerful punch to Quasi's jaw before roughly grabbing his neck and beginning to swing him around in circles like a rag doll. She swung him around a few times before letting him back across the street and towards Bubbles' awaiting assault.

Bubbles sat poised on the wall of a nearby building, and when she saw Quasi flying in her direction, she pushed off with great force directly at her helpless foe. Once she gained enough momentum, she slammed into Quasi's stomach with both feet causing him to cry out in pain. She then grabbed his arm over her shoulder and threw him violently to the ground on his back, where Buttercup would deliver the finishing blow of this four-sided barrage.

Buttercup had taken her position thousands of feet above the Townsville skyline, and readied herself for the final attack. When she heard Quasi cry out in pain from Bubbles' kick, she knew that was her cue to begin her lightning-fast descent towards earth, and more specifically, Quasi. As her velocity increased she could feel the world blurring around her and hear an unmistakable sonic boom. She squinted her eyes in determination, and let out a powerful war-cry as she rapidly approached Quasi's fallen form.

A deafening explosion sounded as Buttercup slammed full-force into Quasi, creating a huge crater in the street with the impact. As the smoke cleared, Blossom, Bubbles, and Brio watched in suspense for any sign of movement within the newly formed crater.

Suddenly the unmistakable sound of Buttercup's voice as she screamed in surprise was heard, and her teammates cringed as her screams turned into cries of pain that echoed throughout the depths of the crater. Buttercup's hollering was soon followed by an enormous ray of red energy that blasted out of the crater only seconds later, narrowly missing Buttercup as she shot up out of the crater and collapsed nearby.

All four heros looked on in horror as Quasi's seemingly unharmed form came into view. As he approached the young fighters, his eyes glowed a bright red, glaring furiously as he slowly formed another ball of red energy in his hand.

"Foolish children," he said simply, "you can't even begin to comprehend my power."

Brio was the first to raise up his fists in defense and glare back at this monstrosity.

"You're going to pay for everyone you've hurt! Everyone you've killed!" he shouted, "We're going to stop you, at all costs!"

Brio jumped at Quasi, fist back and yelling in fury. Before he had time to think, Quasi had promptly fired a blast of red energy into Brio's stomach, pushing him backwards suddenly. Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup gasped as Brio flew back in pain, but in no time he had regained his composure skidded to a stop.

He raised his gaze to Quasi again, his eyes glittering with a deep burning rage. Quasi sneered and laughed at Brio's glare.

"What are you going to do to me?" Quasi snickered, "you can't hurt me."

Brio stood up slowly, glaring intensely at Quasi. They remained motionless for a few moments, staring each other down with angry glares.

After a while Brio's furious demeanor melted away and he smirked and began to stretch out his arms and run in place. The girls watched in awe as Brio gathered his strength once again for another round, even when the situation seemed so futile. Even Quasi was made speechless as he watched in bewilderment as Brio prepared for the next attack without hesitation.

"Well I'm not trying to hurt you." Brio finally said in a voice full of excitement and enthusiasm, as though this was all a game. "I'm trying to kill you."

Before Quasi could speak again, Brio's form began to glow white and his eyes lost all their color. Blinding rays of white light leaked from the tips of his hair and through his very skin and his eyes had become nothing more than glowing sockets of white light.

Quasi's mouth dropped open as he gazed at the glowing boy before him, disbelieving of the great power he was feeling. Brio began to slowly advance on Quasi, smirking at the villain's dumbfounded reaction.

"My power, is the very power of life itself." Brio said in a powerful voice that made even Quasi step back in fear. "Brio,.. it means life.. Life will always conquer death."

Quasi shook himself out of his stupor and scowled at Brio.

"Heh.. Just try it, Brio." he grinned, emphasizing each letter in Brio's name in a mocking tone, " I have conquered death itself as well, the Evilest of Evil himself. The powers of Heck, the entire world, will tremble under my command."

"Not unless we stop you first."

Brio then puffed out his chest and held his head up high, extending his arms outward and bending his knees in preparation for an attack.

"Adrenaline Rush!" Brio shouted while simultaneously exploding in a burst of blinding white energy.

Quasi's eyes grew wide as he was suddenly slammed in the jaw by a superhuman force that knocked him backwards in a daze.

Brio rushed at him again and again with lightning fast speed and agility, inhuman strength and accuracy. In a powerful rush of adrenaline Brio made quick work of bringing Quasi to his knees, blow after blow, each with the intensity and force that could nearly match that of a god.

Brio then brought his fist back and punched Quasi hard across the face, hard enough to knock some of the chemical X loose from Quasi's body, causing Quasi to wail in pain. Brio again threw a powerful left hard into Quasi's injured face, causing him to screech in a ghostly voice.

Just as Brio was bringing his hand down again for another blow, Quasi reached up and grabbed it, holding it in place. Once Brio had been shaken out of his powerful barrage, the white glow that was surrounding him instantly faded, and he returned to normal again.

Using all of his strength, Quasi managed to push back Brio's fist, causing Brio's feet to begin to dig into the concrete ground. As Brio's strength was weakening, Quasi could feel himself gaining the upper hand.

In one swift motion Quasi hurled Brio across the street until Brio slowed to a stop. Brio fell to his knees, weakened by his Adrenaline Rush. Bubbles and Blossom rushed to his aid, with Buttercup not far behind in spite of her pain.

Quasi had fallen to his knees out of breath, for the previous attack had left him still dazed and breathless. He rose to his feet again on shaky legs, and stared at the girls as they helped Brio once again to his feet.

The dark clouds from before had become an ominous black, and freezing rain began to steadily pour on the battlefield. All was silent until a large clap of thunder and blinding flash of lightning echoed and illuminated the deserted streets, creating eerie shadows of the five fighters.

Quasi narrowed his eyes in pure rage and began to growl softly under his breath as the rain trickled down his face and body in liquid veins. He clenched his fists and grit his sharp teeth, feeling a deep rage burning up inside him despite the frigid rain around him.

Quasi's eyes suddenly opened wide and he beared his gleaming sharp teeth in rage. He threw his head back and let out an earth-shattering primal roar as he exploded yet again with more red energy. His muscles were throbbing and pulsing and he roared uncontrollably as such phenomenal power flowed through his limbs.

Bubbles scowled and turned from Brio towards Quasi. She suddenly leapt forward in an attempt to attack him while he was distracted, only to be thrown to the ground by the sheer force of Quasi's energy that encircled him.

Brio closed his eyes as he tried to calm his nerves and think of a plan.

It all seems so hopeless... all of our attacks have barely put a dent in his power.. He's not even close to slowing down... Brio grasped his hands together as he thought furiously, grimacing in pain and the hopeless feeling building up inside his stomach.

There may be a way... but.. it's so risky.. the girls aren't even close to being ready... Brio's eyes opened wide in serious determination, and he stood up again, glaring fiercely at Quasi, but we have to try... this is the only hope we have left...

Without another thought he immediately grabbed the girls' hands and ran a few feet away from where Quasi was rapidly growing stronger.

Brio then gave them very specific instructions.

"Girls.. There may be a way to d-defeat Quasi... Please, listen carefully.." his voice was rushed and shaking, a mixture of the freezing cold rain around them and anxious fear, a startling change from his usual upbeat, confident attitude.

"..I want all of us to stand in a circle and hold each other's hands as tightly as we can," Brio explained quickly, as they formed a circle, "..w-we haven't much time.."

"Brio? ..What are we doing?" Blossom inquired.

Brio seemed to ignore Blossom's question as he continued breathlessly.

"Now, remember those hidden powers I told you about? I want each of you to meditate, relax your mind and reach deep inside yourself and seek out these powers... Awaken them if you can, if only for an instant. I'll help you, by lending you some of my power as well.. All of our powers are linked together.. so my power should help unlock your own.." Brio said as he began to glow white, "Hurry! Our time is running short!"

With that they stood in silence, searching deep within the depths of their souls to unearth the hidden powers that could defeat Quasi for good.

As Brio's silvery-white glow grew more intense, one could barely hear him chanting softly to himself, an incantation which would further help the girls unlock their concealed powers.

"...Dissonance of Darkness... Chorus of Fire... Harmony of Light..."Brio spoke in a whisper, his voice in rhythm with each of their steadily growing powers. As if on cue, with each whispered phrase, Buttercup, Blossom, and finally Bubbles, also began to glow with a faint aura corresponding to their own respective powers.

They stood solemnly in the shape of a simple circle, each of the four arcs glowing with its respective color: in the front the silvery-white gleam of Brio, in the back, a fiery red-orange glow of Blossom, on the left, the shining golden rays of Bubbles, and finally on the right, the dark black shadows of Buttercup.

As the colors grew more intense, so did Quasi's evil red glow. Quasi cried out in satisfaction once his power was maxed out. He smirked sinisterly and advanced on the four heros who were desperately gathering their secret energies together for an attack. None of the heros could see or sense Quasi coming, because they were concentrated so fully on powering up. Finding this to be the perfect opportunity for a surprise attack, Quasi brought his arm back behind him and began to silently morph it while gathering his energy to attack.

Quasi then leapt high up into the air, his eyes glowing red with vengeance and bloodlust as he set his sights on the heros, arm reared back and ready to attack.

Just as the four fighters had almost reached the climax of their inner power, a powerful force suddenly knocked them out of each other's grasp. Each fighter was violently thrown back a few feet away by a black figure which moved ever so silently and quickly.

Bubbles groaned as she sat up weakly and shook her head a few times to clear her mind. She gasped when she noticed a deep gash down her arm, which was beginning to slowly drip with dark red blood. Tears of pain filled her eyes, but nevertheless she still stood up slowly, gathering her strength and looking for her teammates.

She noticed Buttercup fallen on her knees a few feet away, grimacing and holding her shoulder in pain. Buttercup, too, rose to her feet again, despite her pain, and prepared to gather her energy again.

Brio stood up with nothing more than a small cut on his cheek, looking at both Bubbles and Buttercup as they continued gathering their inner power. However, in vain.

Unfortunately, the last piece of the crucial puzzle was not so lucky as the other three.

All eyes soon searched for Blossom, who had been the target of Quasi's surprise attack. A simultaneous gasp was uttered into the freezing, drizzling air as they each slowly turned to look in horror at their fallen sister.

Quasi was standing over Blossom several feet away, his arm having morphed into a long, sharp, metallic point, the tip of it now drenched in blood.

Thankies for readin'! (more cliffhangers mwahaha!)

(A/N: I'm gonna be gone on a mission trip for 10 days starting Friday, so it'll be a while til my next epdate, sorry..)