Powerpuff Girls Doujinshi: Boomer's Story

Chapter Seventeen: "You Shall Find Me a Grave Man"

Ugh…where am I? thought Boomer.

There was total darkness. The world felt hazy and unreal, like he was dreaming. His head was throbbing like someone had stuck a drill in his brain, and for some reason, he seemed unable to speak, but that was not the thing most distressing him at the moment.

Damn, what's wrong with my arm?

Boomer tried to look at his arm, but since it seemed extremely dark at the moment. He could feel his left shoulder, but about halfway down to his elbow, it felt like as if on pins and needles; Pins and needles that just happened to be dipped in gasoline and lit on fire. He tried to move it, but, for some reason, he found himself unable to. Boomer tried to move his other limbs, but although he felt them, he could not. He gave up and tried to figure out where he was.

What happened?

For a few moments, Boomer found himself unable recall what had happened.

Ok…I remember Blaine, he thought. We were fighting…then he threw that big blue ball at me.

However, after a second, Boomer corrected himself.

No wait…he didn't throw it at me, did he?

Then, in a flash, it all came back. Blaine throwing the blue nova at Bubbles. The overwhelming fear of not being able to stop it. He remembered standing in front of the blue nova, to deflect it, but he wasn't fast enough. Boomer's last memory was of a short, yet immense pain in his arm.

So…where am I now?

Suddenly, a terrifying thought crept into his mind.

Am I…dead?

Without warning, a voice appeared and spoke, as if to answer Boomer's thought. The voice was not intimidating, but still sent a chill down Boomer's spine for some reason.

"Not quite yet, mon."

Boomer, who had not been able to see anything since he awoke, finally saw something come into view. It didn't take long for Boomer to still wish he couldn't see anything.

There was a flash of white light that swept over Boomer. When it subsided, a tall figure appeared, wearing a long, black cloak. Inside the hood, to Boomer's shock, was a bare skull. The figure's skeletal hand held a huge scythe, so sharp it could separate the fabric of existence at the whim of the user.

Before Boomer's eyes stood Death.

As if this wasn't bone-chilling enough, at that moment, Boomer heard another sound. It sounded very distance, but Boomer still recognized it.

It was first a bloodcurdling scream, that Boomer easily recognized as coming from Bubbles. Another sound followed this that, in a way, made Boomer feel even more afraid. It was his own voice, laughing. Boomer knew there was only one other person who could laugh in his voice like that.

And that couldn't possibly mean good news.

Blaine stood floating in the air above the gargantuan crater, laughing like a madman as Bubble's screamed. As he laughed, he began to descend down near Bubbles.

Brick, who for a moment had not understood why Bubble's was screaming, opened his mouth to say something. However, before he could, Blossom nudged him. He turned and saw her looking at him sadly. After a moment, she solemnly pointed towards the arm.

Brick saw it and his face grew pale and tears began to form in his eyes. He turned away, not wanting anyone to see him. He couldn't speak. There comes a point when all men, even the toughest, break.

Everyone looked sad, and nobody spoke. The only sounds were Blaine's laughing and Bubble's screaming.

Finally, Blaine landed next to the severed arm. He picked it up from the puddle of blood, and spoke.

"Well," he said, still laughing, "I think Boomer's been…disarmed, wouldn't you say!" He burst out laughing uncontrollably again.

When Bubble's heard this, she stopped screaming. Suddenly all her sadness turned to anger. Her eyes glowed blue, sparks forming in them.

"You…you…I'LL KILL YOU!" she said, charging forward into the wall of the static dome, trying desperately to push through, so she could take Blaine and destroy him, but to no avail. The dome shocked her and she was forced to recoil.

Blaine saw this attempt and it only intensified his laughter.

"Sorry." he said, trying to suppress his laughter. "But there's no way you're getting through that. The only way out is if I let you out with this." He pointed to his belt. "Or if you're blown out…of course, all your pieces wouldn't be together once you're out…" He giggled.

Bubbles tried once again to charge though the dome, thrashing wildly, but was once again successful.

"You're a monster," said Buttercup, from her dome nearby. She had a look on her face that clearly conveyed that the thing she wanted to do most in the world at this moment was to smash Blaine's face in.

Blaine shrugged.

"Well, I may be a monster, but at least I'm alive. Ha! These jokes never get old!" Blaine looked around, swinging the arm over his shoulder, dripping blood over the back of his clothes. "I wish I could find the rest of him. I was hoping to take his skull as a trophy…but I suppose this arm will just have to do."

Brick broke from crying a minute to shout at him.

"GO TO HELL! YOU'RE GONNA DIE, YOU &#&$!" he yelled, furiously.

Blaine let out another "ha."

"And whose gonna kill me? You? Last time I checked, all of you were still trapped in these domes. And the only way out is if I let you out."

"Mark my words," said Brick, with tears still streaming down his face. "Soon…you will get yours. You have to let us out sometime."

Blaine shook his head.

"No no no, actually I don't," he said, laying down the arm back on the ground once he noticed he was getting himself bloody. "Actually, I had planned to just leave, and let you all die of starvation. Or of thirst. I forget which comes first. I suppose you could resort to cannibalism, and it would be a pity to miss that, but I'm afraid I have to take my leave."

"You won't get away with this!" yelled Bubbles.

"Oh, but I already have, dear."

For the first time in a while, Brisbaine spoke.

"Blaine! Good show! Now, could you let me out?"

Blaine looked at him for a moment.

"Okay," he said.

Brisbaine's face lit up.

"Really?"

"No," replied Blaine, making Brisbaine's smile fade. "You annoy me." He began to laugh. "You should have seen the look on your face. Ha! Today is a barrel of laughs."

And he continued to laugh like a madman. It was a laugh so frightening it could be heard even in the halls of the dieing.

Who…who is this guy? thought Boomer, knowing full well who he was. He wanted to ask him, but couldn't. However, Death seemed to be able to hear his thoughts and responded by raising his voice to a creepier level.

"I am…da Grim Reaper!" he said, raising his scythe in the air dramatically. After a moment, he lowered it and looked tired. "Now, let's just hurry this up. I gotta hit three old folks homes after dis."

Where am I? thought Boomer, as he looked at the Grim Reaper, who Boomer thought acted very odd for a figure feared by all mankind.

"It's a little complicated," said the Reaper, who many know simply by the name Grim.

Is this…like…Purgatory?

"No no," said Grim. "Like I say, ya not dead…well…at least not right now. Right now, we're kinda inside ya head, but, at dat same time, not completely in da Earthly Realm. It's quantum mechanics or somethin' like that. Don't ask me, even I don't get it."

Boomer was relieved of that, but he was still confused.

Well…if I'm not dead…what am I? Why can't I move?

"Dat's because ya technically unconscious and ya heart has been stopped for…" Grim reached in his cloak and pulled out a huge book that read Book of the Dead: Volume 665 on the coverHe flipped quickly to a marked page and continued to speak. "For about twelve seconds now, cause of shock or something like that. I dunno, I'm not a doctor, and if I was I'd be a pretty bad one. Anyway-"

Boomer stiffened up.

I thought you said I wasn't dead, thought Boomer.

Grim glared at him.

"Ya didn't let me finish. At da moment, ya just having a near death experience…which is why I'm standing so close to ya right now."

Grim chucked. Boomer didn't. The Reaper noticed this and stopped laughing.

"Just a joke, mon," he said. "Anyway, I won't bore ya any longer. Ya just supposed to have a revelation, and then you'll heart will start right back up again."

So…I'm not gonna die today? thought Boomer.

"Hey, I'm not allowed ta give ya dat kind of information. It'd mess up the balance. All I'm sayin' is ya not gonna die right now."

Boomer was discouraged upon hearing this.

So…what's this revelation I'm supposed to have?

Grim lead towards him close, which crept Boomer out, since he could see right through his eye-holes.

"In a very short time, you will be forced ta stand up ta someone who intimidates ya. Ya must speak ya mind."

Someone who intimidates me? wondered Boomer. Do you mean Blaine?

"Sorry, mon; dat's all I'm allowed ta say. Trust me, when da time comes, ya will know what ta do."

What happens if I don't? I mean, hypothetically, thought Boomer, curious.

Grim scratched his head.

"Well, it would change what was supposed ta happen, and it would'a send out a chain reaction through the Time Stream that changes da future in horrible ways ya cannot possibly imagine. I think they have a name for it. Da 'Horsefly effect' or somethin' like that."

Boomer suddenly became very nervous.

"But don' worry," said Grim, seeing his expression. "That almost never happens…no pressure…just…try not ta forget completely."

Boomer did not feel very encouraged.

"Well, I suppose dat's it," said Grim.

Grim put way his book, then took his hand back quickly and snapped his finger bones.

"Oh yea," he said. "Almost forgot. When ya wake up, ya gonna need to tie off your arm."

Boomer wanted to raise his eyebrow, but since he couldn't move, he gave up.

Why? thought Boomer.

"Because it's not 'dere anymore."

Boomer finally understood the pins and needles feeling on his arm…or lack thereof. The thought of his own arm being severed distressed him, but he still knew he had to get back quickly. Blaine's laughter couldn't possibly mean a good thing.

Oh, said Boomer, feeling himself go pale.

"Uh oh, look at me yammerin' like dat," said Grim, smacking himself in the forehead. "I have to be goin'. Alright, stand back."

Grim put down his scythe and backed a few steps, pulling his skeletal fist back. Boomer realized he must be about to send him back. He looked at his fist then back at Boomer carefully, as if he was calculating something.

Thank you for your help, Mr. Death, though Boomer, looking at Grim, who acted completely different from how he had assumed he would have acted. I don't think I'll forget you for a long, long time.

"Thanks, but you'll forget all about me when ya wake up," he said, without looking up.

Boomer suddenly became very afraid.

What? But what about all that important stuff? The revelation? And not screwing up existence?

"Don't worry, mon. All da stuff ya supposed to remember will be in ya subconscious."

But…

"Sorry, but I'm very busy, and I have ta hurry up. I'll see ya again…eventually."

Grim drew his hand back a little further, put his index and middle finger out, and drove them towards Boomer's chest. He yelled out in extreme pain. Pain shot in his chest, head, and arm. He shouted louder and louder…

"Hey, why did you do…" whimpered Boomer, opening his eyes, to see the night sky above, as he laid on his back in the dirt, feeling very weak. "That…?"

Who…who was I talking to? He thought, unable to remember much before he awoke from his slumber, aside from a white light. Must have been a dream or…OW!

Boomer turned his head on its side to look at his arm. Halfway down to the elbow, Boomer's arm ended. Blood pooled onto the dirt from the bloody nub surrounded by his tattered sleeve, making a large, maroon stain in the dirt. Looking closer he could see little bits of what looked like red nerves from the nub, no longer connected to anything, causing a pins and needles feeling accompanying the pain. The sight of it made Boomer's stomach cringe and he felt warm vomit come up his throat, but for some reason he was not surprised by this sight. And after averting his eyes, the vomit subsided back to his insides.

He moved his eyes back and forth to examine his surrounding. He was surrounded by walls of dirt, and the only sight of the sky was through a circular opening several feet above. Boomer concluded he must be inside some kind of hole or crater.

Must be from that big blast Blaine shot at me, thought Boomer, feeling very woozy, suddenly wanting to fall asleep. However, once he remembered Blaine, he fought the urge. I gotta get up there! He must be up there!

Boomer grudgingly looked back at his nub.

I have to tie that off before I bleed to death, thought Boomer.

Still fighting the urge not to pass out, Boomer used his right arm, which suddenly felt like it weighed a thousand pounds, to tear part of his heavily tattered and burnt clothes off. He quickly wrapped it around the bloody nub, pulling it into a knot with his hand and teeth to make it tight enough to hold. A read stain formed at the end of the makeshift cast.

Ok…that'll have to do for now. I gotta get up there, he thought.

Boomer, after much effort, got up from his back, onto his knees. Boomer tried to summon the strength to fly, but found himself exhausted. Getting up there would take even more out of him, but climbing was not an option for someone with one arm.

Boomer got up to his feet, concentrated very hard, and levitated, very slowly, upwards.

As he concentrated all his strength on getting upwards, he heard Blaine's voice.

"You should have seen the look on your face. Ha! Today is a barrel of laughs," he said, before beginning to laugh hysterically.

Boomer got just up to the rim of the crater, then stopped flying, latching himself on to a slope towards the surface, his head being the only part actually over the crater. He saw everyone still in the fields, everyone looking solemn. Brick looked like he was crying, which shocked Boomer, since Boomer had never seen Brick express such strong emotions like that before. He also saw Buttercup and Bubbles, staring at Blaine like they wanted to kill him. The latter of the two seemed exhausted, yet even more furious than Buttercup.

And he saw Blaine, laughing himself silly, with his hands on his knees. Right now, he was looking in the direction opposite of the crater, leaving him defenseless. No one else seemed to notice Boomer either.

Now's my chance, thought Boomer. If I can just get a shot in at him, with all my strength, while his back his turned, it might be enough for me to overpower him.

As he thought this, Boomer felt himself become very lightheaded.

I just hope I have enough strength for it to make a different. It's a long shot, but if his guard is down…it just might work.

Boomer braced himself, then began to charge all his remaining energy into his only remaining hand. Boomer literally felt the life drain from him, feeling himself go weaker, but he needed enough energy to use it. Sparks flared, forming a ball of light, growing slowly and becoming brighter and brighter.

Boomer looked over the rim back at Blaine. Then, feeling he had given all the energy he could, hurled his hand back and threw the blast at Blaine, hoping his aim was true.

The blast hurled through the air, leaving a streak of blue light as it charged forth.

Blaine continued laughing with his back turned.

Boomer looked onward, hoping it would hit.

He saw Bubbles look up, noticing the blast. Her eyes widened, with a mix of hope and confusion.

Blaine must have noticed this because his laughing slowed.

The blue blast flew closer and closer…

Blaine looked at Bubbles, curious. He slowly turned around, only to see the blue blast as it was about to connect with his face.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!" he yelled as the ball exploded in front of his face. A surge of blue power engulfed him. Boomer turned away from the blast, due to the brightness of it. When the blast subsided, Blaine was on his knees, on the ground, holding his head.

Damn, he's not knocked out! Thought Boomer, trying to think of a next move. That blast used up almost all of his energy. It took all he had not to pass out. On top of that, the fact that the cloth he had tied his arm nub with was dripping red now and could start to leak at any moment did not help the situation.

Blaine took his hand from his face, revealing the right side of his face badly burnt. His right eye was crimson red, with a tear of blood trickling down his burnt face.

"YOU…YOU BITCHED UP MY FACE!" he yelled, furious.

At the moment, everyone had finally turned and noticed Boomer, causing some relief. Bubbles was briefly ecstatic to see he was alive…until she realized that Boomer was heavily exhausted and Blaine still had some energy. She tried to think of something she could do to help, but she could not.

Blaine stood up, his rage mounting. He picked up Boomer's arm from the ground.

"Missing something?" he said, throwing the arm far backwards into the grass. "Well, get used to the feeling, because now I'm gonna rip off all your other limbs!"

Boomer climbed over the rim of the crater, standing up. Blaine saw his nub.

"I'm gonna enjoy this," he said. "You're helpless. You're pale as a ghost and you're a walking slot machine."

Boomer tried to look like he had some strength, but still felt as if he was gonna pass out. His vision started to blur.

"I don't…think so…" said Boomer, obviously exhausted.

"What are you gonna do? Bleed on me?" said Blaine. "Give up…the fight is over. Now…it's a massacre."

Boomer hated to admit it, but he was right. Blaine was weakened from the fight and the blast as well, but he still had energy to spare, not to mention all of his limbs intact. Boomer, however, was in no condition to fight. He needed to be at a hospital; even superhumans can't withstand loosing too much blood.

Blaine started to walk towards him, charging energy in his hands.

"Well, Brother, it's been a good fight, but all good things must come to an end."

Boomer looked around at his loved ones, and noticed something very odd. They all seemed to be looking upward.

Blaine got closer to Boomer. The energy grew brighter.

What are they all staring at? Thought Boomer. Even Bubbles' eyes seemed transfixed upward. Boomer turned his head and looked up. He saw an object moving towards them at a fantastic speed. It got closer and closer.

Blaine noticed Boomer looking and raised an eyebrow.

"What are you staring a-"

BAM!

Right behind Blaine, it had landed, sending up a huge cloud of dust and dirt, masking it completely.

"What the hell?" yelled Blaine, letting the energy subside.

Nobody seemed to know what is was, aside from one person.

"He's here," whispered Brick, from inside his dome.

The dust was still heavy, but now one could clearly see green sparks around the epicenter of landing. As the dust started to clear more, the figure's glowing green eyes were clearly visible. The dust cleared, revealing his black hair, black and green clothes, and his angry expression.

"Now..." said Butch, enraged upon what he saw. "Just what the hell is going on here?"