Allies and Rivals III

This fic happens after Allies and Rivals II: Commander and the Leader. But reading that fic and my other fics is not necessary for understanding or enjoying this fic. There are references to my other fics, notably Allies and Rivals and Allies and Rivals II. However, the only thing that needs to be understood in this was that a certain Dr William Edwards was the one who recreated the Rowdyruff Boys, not Him, after they were first destroyed by the girls by being kissed, and under his guidance, they were not evil anymore. And they were in alliance with the girls, called the Ruff Puff Alliance, with Blossom and Brick alternating as leader.


Summary: The Powerpuff Girls and Rowdyruff Boys race against time to prevent an evil from escaping to this world. Who are your true friends, allies, and enemies?


Disclaimer: I don't own the Powerpuff Girls or their characters. The Powerpuff Girls are owned by Craig McCracken and Cartoon Network. I only own my own characters, the most prominent of which is Dr Edwards.


Chapter III

The Desire for Power


A. Rule the World, O Great Leader

The City of Townsville…

Brick was standing proudly on a pedestal. He was looking at his brothers and the girls, and looked towards the hordes of monsters that were rampaging through the ruins of Townsville.

"Okay, Butch, you go to the extreme left wing and hit them there. Use everything that you got! Bubbles, go and try to divert the path of attack from these people over there. Buttercup, go and attack them in the extreme right flank. Boomer, attack them from above, Blossom, attack from below, while I'll attack them head on. Butch and Buttercup will attack first, then Boomer and Blossom. Once they got distracted by the attacks on their flanks, I'll wait for the center to weaken, and me and Bubbles, after she takes care of things, will strike at the center."

"Oh no you don't," replied Buttercup. "You're a lousy leader, and I won't be following you no more!"

"Yeah! Your plan will most likely fail!" said Blossom.

"Well, those are my orders, and you shall do as I say!" Brick asserted.

"And I'm sick and tired of listening to you bark off orders," replied an angry Boomer.

"Boomer, Et tu? Boomer?" replied Brick, shocked that his own brother will desert him.

"Fck you, Brick," said Butch. "Screw your plans."

"Why the hell aren't you following me? Didn't I prove to you that, boasting aside, I'm competent and good enough for the job? Sure I can make mistakes, but more often than not, when it's my turn, I can deliver victory," Brick argued. "Where's your loyalty?"

"Why should we show any loyalty to someone like you?" Bubbles said. "I hate you!"

"Yeah, and you're nothing but a big loser," said Boomer.

"Oh yeah! Well, I like you to try and find a better way of crushing those aliens! And don't use my plan," a peeved Brick shot back.

"Sure! Attack!" said Blossom.

The five attacked, while Brick remained behind. However, after hesitating for a full minute, he decided that even if he won't lead it, he wouldn't be missing out on the glory and have his bragging rights taken away from him.

However, after he decided on that course, there a loud explosion, and all the monsters were dead, and the five stood triumphantly above it all.

Brick couldn't be but impressed. "Wow! Guess I was wrong," said he. "Your plan is better than mine."

"Of course. Any plan is better than what comes out of your spewing mouth!" said Butch.

"And since you're useless, you should be eliminated," said Boomer.

"Huh? Stop joking, kid," said Brick, laughing.

Suddenly, Bubbles went and hit him on his neck. "He's not joking. You're a disgrace to the Ruff-Puff Alliance!"

Brick was thrown to the ground. He got up, but before he could do anything, Butch attacked him. Brick dodged his attack, but he was unexpectedly headbutted in the back by Blossom. Boomer then laser-eyed him. Soon, he was weak and unable to fight.

Then it was black, yet he was conscious.

His strength returned to him and he stood up, but he could see nothing but the pitch black of darkness.

"Where am I?" he asked himself.

'You're in my domain, young William Edwards, or William Bricker Edwards, or simply, Brick!' said a voice. It was a deep male voice, of a man about forty, with a superficial warmness, though one could detect a hint of malevolence in his voice.

"Yes, I am Brick! The first born of Dr. William Edwards, and the heir to all his properties!"

'I think your brothers will object to you claiming to be the firstborn and heir, after all, you were all born, or rather created, at the same moment," said the Voice.

"Well, that's beside the point! I'm also the group leader for fourth graders and below in the White Star fraternity, in fact, I'm the fifth highest officer in it! I'm the leader of the Ruff-Puff Alliance!" said Brick, pride beaming from his voice.

'You're not the leader, remember? Look at what they just did to you! They rejected you! Threw you out! Attacked you! How can you claim to being leader over them?' said the voice. 'Why do you think so?'

"Because their ingrates. I know my skills, my intelligence, my abilities as a leader, and I'd never doubted that I'm a better leader than anyone of them. They're just blind! The girls and my brothers!" said Brick. "It's just shocking that they would be so disloyal. I mean, I never betrayed them, I'm always loyal to them, but they still turned on me. By the way, you still haven't properly introduced yourself! You have a calling card or something?"

'Cain killed Abel, his own brother. As for my name, you can call me "The Voice",' said the voice. 'I'm here to grant you your most fervent wish?'

"And what's the catch?" asked Brick.

'There is no catch,' said the Voice.

"Oh come on! You don't think I'm that dumb to believe that you'll give me a wish without anything in return?" said Brick.

'None,' said the Voice. 'However, there's one small thing—'

"Let me guess," said Brick. "You'll have to put some inverted V mark on my forehead? Oh yeah, Butch has been spouting off that nonsense in the past few days. And then there's the fact that someone would control that person's mind if you have that mark. Utterly bullshit!"

'Well, you're half right,' said the Voice. 'I need to make a mark on your forehead to indicate I've granted you the wish, so I wouldn't go back to the same person and grant two wishes. But believe me, I have no intention of taking over anyone's mind.'

"Well, if that is so, what wish can I make?" asked Brick.

"Any wish!"

"Well, I wish I was the most powerful man in the world, not in the physical sense of power, but in terms of political and military power!" said Brick.

'Your wish is my command,' said the Voice.

Soon, the blackness turned into white, and it whirled, making him dizzy. There was a blinding light, forcing the redheaded ruff to close his eyes. When he opened it, he saw that he was in a palace.

He was dressed in a black suit with vest and a red tie, polished leather shoes, a fedora hat and an ironed shirt. He looked around, and there was a large office table, with a large swivel chair behind a large table. He looked around and saw a large bookshelf loaded with books, and a blue carpet on the floor. Perhaps what was most surprising was when he looked in the mirror. Whence he was 4'7", he was now 6'5" tall. He was about 45 years old.

'Don't be surprised, Brick,' said the Voice. 'This is where you'll be in the future. You're now in your office.'

He then noticed an inverted V mark on his forehead. Unlike that of what he saw in Ms. Bellum, the Mayor, and the entire police force, it wasn't black, but the same as the color of his skin.

'Well, the V mark only becomes black if you accept this wish. Now, do you accept this wish, or not?' asked the Voice.

"Hm. First, I think I'll give this a look," said Brick.

Suddenly, there was a man, in his 20's, about 5'11", who entered the room. "Your excellency, the Prime Minister has news for you."

"And what's your name?" asked Brick.

"Well, your excellency, it's Peter Wilson," said the young man.

"And what am I?" asked Brick.

"You're the Emperor of the Western World, William the First of the Edwards dynasty," said Wilson.

Brick was too shocked, and just nodded. After regaining his composure and absorbing the new information, he fixed his hat and strode out of his room.

He soon walked in a long corridor on a red carpet, with people bowing every time they see him, or saying, 'Good afternoon, your excellency'. "Oh stop the bowing," said a flattered Brick. He looked around, and the decorations of the palace were sparse and plain, just like his tastes.

He finally entered the meeting room.

"And his Excellency, the greatest man on earth, the savior of the West, the great Emp—" said the person at the door, announcing his entrance.

"Oh shut up!" said Brick. "So Mr. what's your name again, Prime Minister?"

"Veck Paltry," said the Prime Minister.

"Okay, so what do you want to say to me?"

"Well, sir, a great victory! Prince Wilbur Edwards, or General Edwards, your brother, has defeated the Eastern Army at Kaltex Creek," he said.

"My brother? A general? Well, how many were killed?" asked Brick.

"Sixty seven thousand on our side," said the Prime Minister.

Brick suddenly paled.

"But we killed and captured about three million two hundred thousand Easterners," said Paltry. "And your brother was outnumbered three to one when the battle commenced. He's a true military genius!"

Brick's mood brightened.

"Butch, a military genius? Oh that's rich," Brick said in an amused tone. "Anyway, what's the implication of our victory?"

"Well sir, it will turn the tide against the East," said Paltry. "We're now on the verge of winning the ten-year war!"

"Good! Any other news?" asked Brick.

"Yes, your excellency!" said Paltry. "Your brother, the economic and finance minister, James, has submitted his latest report. We have a surplus of 47 trillion dollars, have a 22 GDP growth rate this quarter, a 0.25 unemployment, 0.75 inflation rate, 1 interest rates, and low poverty levels. All thanks to the policies of your brother, sir!"

"Ah, who would have thought that Boomer would be such a—" Brick began, but was interrupted.

"Well sir, according to the latest poll your approval rating is 66!" said Paltry.

"Excellent! How about my father?"

"Sir, he died two years ago!" said Paltry.

"What!"

'Don't worry,' said the Voice. 'He died two years ago of a natural death, on his bed. He was 87.'

Brick noticeably calmed down when he was informed of it.

"Paltry, I want you to arrange a meeting between me and my brothers," said Brick, relishing his current situation.

"Yes, your excellency!" said Paltry, bowing out before leaving.

"So this how it feels to be absolutely powerful," said Brick. 'And it's absolutely wonderful! But I'd prefer if you'd make it more chaotic so I can demonstrate my excellent ability to solve problems!"

'But you already did!' said the Voice. 'You control every aspect of the life of the Western Empire, and you'll soon be marching on the capital of the Eastern Empire! Your name will be alongside that of Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Augustus, Charlemagne, Alfred the Great, and Napoleon as one of the greats of history!'

"Wow! Everything I've ever wanted! And it's all mine! Voice, is this the future if I ever accept the wish?" asked Brick.

'Yes! After you accept the wish, you'll be back as a scrawny ten-year-old, and you'll forget this ever happened, but I assure you, when you grow up, you will be the most powerful man in the world,' said the Voice. 'This will be your future. So do you accept this wish?'

"Well, I think I'll—"

"Your excellency, your brothers have arrived," said Wilson.

"Already?" asked Brick. "How fast can they be?"

"They can fly very fast, your excellency," said Wilson.

"Oh yes, I remember, we have superpowers," said Brick. "Let them in."

"General Edwards, Dr. Edwards, please come in," the Prime Minister intoned.

"Dr. Edwards? I thought he was dead," said Brick.

'Boomer got a doctorate from a university, so he also became known as Dr. Edwards,' explained the Voice.

Soon, both men arrived. Butch was in a green general's uniform. Medals and ribbons covered his front, while on his shoulders, there were five metal stars, indicating his rank. He was wearing a helmet with five stars on it. He was about 5'10", erect, with steely, if lifeless green eyes. His face was neutral, his mouth tight lipped, his face distant, without any of the aggressiveness Brick had known of Butch when they were kids.

He immediately saluted.

Brick nodded and Butch stood in attention.

Boomer was a little taller, about 6'2", his short blond hair carefully combed, and he was without any hat at all. He was wearing a blue suit and a black tie with no vest. He immediately bowed.

"Paltry, leave us," said Brick.

Immediately, the Prime Minister left.

"You can now relax, we're all alone now," said Brick, patting both men in the back.

Both were unmoved.

"Well, can't we just banter or talk about old times?"

"That would be a waste of time, your excellency," said a formal and serious Butch.

"Your excellency? We're brothers!" said Brick, amazed at the robotic lifelessness of his brothers. "Boomer, how's life?"

"Life is anything that can reproduce and can consume," Boomer replied mechanically.

"Butch, you're an idiot!"

"If that is what you say I am, then I am an idiot," said Butch.

"Oh never mind. Want some cigars?"

Both shook their heads.

"Okay! Now what! Butch, I order you to tell your entire army to commit suicide by charging machine gun positions with knives!"

"As you wish!" said Butch with all seriousness.

"You idiot, that's a joke! Boomer, divert all funds from the military to make me a billion dollar mansion."

"Yes sir," said Boomer seriously.

"You fool! You know I don't like to live in too much splendor!" Brick said, aghast at what he saw as his brothers became a shadow of their former selves. Successful, yes, but they were not the brothers he had known, grown up with, and loved. Instead, they have become drones who will do anything that Brick tells them. And Brick doesn't like this, even for a control freak like him. They have no life in their eyes or faces. They were just automatons!

"What happened? Where are they? Where are the Boomer and Butch I grew up with?"

'Oh, they're gone. In order to consolidate your control, I made them into your virtual slaves, to have no will but yours,' said the Voice. 'After all, they would be a threat to your power, as they are the only ones who can successfully challenge your authority!'

"Goddamnit! Voice! You hear me! Change them back! I don't care if they stab me in the back once they are back, I'd rather have them at my throat with their old personalities than them being like robots!"

'But you always wanted them to follow your orders, to always be loyal to you,' said the Voice.

"Yes, but not like this!" said Brick. "I want them to have their own minds! They're my brothers for crying out loud! I have fought with them and had fun with them! I cried and laughed with them! We helped each other through and through! I want them to be loyal and to follow me, but they should be their old selves again."

'Sorry Brick Edwards, or should I say, Emperor, but I can't undo this without undoing your entire wish. I suggest you accept your wish, since all this power is yours, just as you wished it. Your brothers' personality is a small thing to sacrifice for it!"

"No! I won't accept it!" said Brick. "I can reach all of this without your help! And I'd have my brothers and my Dad by my side, not as mindless zombies and robots, but as they truly are! And I'd rather have all of this without any help from you, than take it effortlessly at the cost of my two brothers! So if you can't bring my brothers back as they really were, then I want nothing to do with this!"

The Voice, seeing that it made a blunder tried a different tack. 'Look Brick, if you want to be a great leader, then you must do this! It speaks volumes when you show others that you can rein in your headstrong brothers! If you insist in becoming a great leader, then you will do it! If not, then you are a terrible, horrible leader. You are worthless, you see, and it proves that you are no leader, and anyone who takes a look at you will recoil from you!'

Brick had a look of being puzzled on his face, then suddenly blurted out laughing.

'What's so funny?' asked the Voice.

"You! You think you can make me change my mind by such psychoanalytical drivel? Ha, Blossom can psychoanalyze me better than you, and that isn't saying too much! Listen, it might work on my brothers, but not me! You hear? Not me!" said Brick. "I know who I am, what I am, and what my limitations are." This time, his face went from amusing to angry. "And I don't need you to tell whether or not I am a good leader, because I know it myself, and I know my brothers know it too! And even the Powerpuff Girls! And certainly my Dad!"

'Then you are no leader!' said the Voice.

"Sez you, and who are you but just vibrations and sounds produced on larynx of an animal? Hey, Voice, or should I say, Vibrations, or Sounds, ya' hear! The only thing you can do is cause deafness, and you're not even good at it!"

The Voice became defensive. 'I am not a mere vibration caused by the human throat, I am—'

"Oh no, not just a human throat, Voice, but also a pig's throat, an ass's throat, a cockroach's throat, and also a slug's throat!" Brick replied with a mocking tone on his voice.

'Do not insult me, or you'll pay! The Voice is not to be insulted!'

"Pardon, me, your noisiness, I'm sorry for not being respectful to a mere vibration," said Brick with sarcasm dripping in his tone.

Soon, the entire scene changed into black, and Brick suddenly found himself flat on his bed, staring at the dark ceiling of his room.

'What a weird dream,' he thought. 'I think I've spent too much time listening to Butch shooting off his drivel about the V marks that I even dreamt about it. Oh well.'


B. Arguments About Brick's Dream

That morning, July 16, 6:30 a.m…

The Edwards family was having breakfast. The kids were eating voraciously, with the usual diet of hot milk, pancakes, cereals, ham, bacon, potatoes, eggs and soup. However, Brick was eating slower than usual.

"What's bothering you, Brick?" asked Ms. Lawrence. "You're eating slower than you used to. There's something on your mind, isn't it? Or it might be my cooking!"

Dr. Edwards peered out from his newspaper with a toast on his mouth. "Yeah! Did you stuff yourself before breakfast?"

"Well, Ms. Lawrence, Dad, I was just thinking about a dream I had last night," said Brick. "I dreamt I controlled half of the world! And it's great! When I grow up, I want to be Ruler of the World, or at least President of the United States!"

"And why the long face?" asked Ms. Lawrence. "You should be happy about it."

Brick then told the rest of his dream.

"Ha, I told you there's more to it than meets the eye! See, that dream is proof that I was right about Ms. Bellum and the Mayor and the entire police force!" Butch asserted.

"Really? Oh please, that's ridiculous! It's only a dream, and besides, it is not admissible evidence!" Boomer shot back.

"Boomer's right," said Brick. "You kept mentioning that inverted V mark on Ms. Bellum and the other's forehead too much that I eventually dreamt about it."

"Well, maybe the Voice in your dream is the one who caused the actions so peculiar in Ms. Bellum and the Mayor and the entire police force!" Butch asserted.

"Look," said Boomer, "those peculiar behavior is just a figment of Mr. Grulp's overactive imagination! We have seen with our own eyes, that except for that inverted V mark on their heads, that there's nothing different about them!"

"Besides," their father added, "it would only be correct, Butch, to use the dream as evidence, if he dreamt it before Mr. Grulp told us about his experiences, not after! Why Butch, did you have a dream similar to Brick before all this happened?"

"Well, um, ha, I don't think, you see—" stuttered Butch.

"Yes, or no!" demanded his father.

Butch looked on his brothers and his father, and Ms. Lawrence, all staring at him. He gulped.

"No," he quietly said.

"Good! That's the end of that!" said Brick. "Unless something turns up, then this matter is closed, dream or not!"

They suddenly heard the doorbell ring.

"I'll get it," said Dr. Edwards. He went and opened the front door. It was a tall policeman. "Yes?"

"Sir, Alexander Grulp, the former Police Chief, is dead. He was shot in the head."

Dr. Edwards was shocked when he heard the news.