6 years ago...

Buttercup closed her eyes, burning with shame. Taking long, deep breaths, hoping it would stop the unbearable pain she had in her mouth, stomach, everywhere, but it seemed in the moment as if even breathing hurt. She took quite a thumping, her hair was in complete disarray. She just knew she had bruises all over her body. Even though see had her eyes closed, she also knew her sisters, Blossom and Bubbles, were smugly smiling at her.

It had been quite a day, too. One moment she was 'fighting crime', the next beaten up by her enemies, desperately yelling at her sisters for help above the shock, blood, and pain...

She shivered at the memory.

She then managed to open her eyes and glance towards the Professor, burried in a magazine, but Buttercup knew better: He was pretending to read it. Once he finally cocked an eyebrow at her, she decided to smile, only to show a mouthful of smashed and missing teeth. When he didn't smile back, she returned to look down.

Despite the painful-looking sight, the Professor spoke in a dry voice. "Well, Buttercup, I can't say i'm proud of you, but I do know this lesson will surely teach you one thing:" He reached under the couch, "The value of..." he revealed her stack of cash. "... a dollar."

Buttercup gasped. So he did know about it. Could it be that he was also involved on their plan to teach her 'A Lesson'? As if she possibly couldn't feel worse, the thought made her sick.

At least after this, she could buy that expensive punching bag she saw on the Rare Store the other day, it would sure be gone by tonight.

The Professor wasn't finished. "Yes, I think this will just about cover your dental bills."

Buttercup deflated. Hearing Bubbles giving her the big raspberry which the Professor didn't make a comment of.

Yes, yes, she learned her lesson, but allowing their enemies to hurt her without a protest, not making a comment on how she was, not getting the punching bag... Was it just her, or was that... a bit rough?

Blossom laughed and whispered behind her. "Looks like it's time to say bye-bye to that punching bag."

That did it.

Buttercup could feel the tears coming...

I'm not gonna cry.

I'm not gonna cry.

I'm not gonna cry...

"Dr. Payne will see you now."

Despite secretly being scared of a lot of things, those including Dentists, Buttercup quickly turned away from her family to Payne's room, closing the door behind her, hearing the sound of the drill start up...

Later...

"Alright, a sticker for each of you." Dr. Payne said, giving Bubbles a Cotton-Candy-scented sticker, and Blossom a Watermelon-scented one, even though neither had the ordeal Buttercup had just went through.

"And a lollipop for you!" The doctor said, offering her a Green Apple flavored one. Despite wanting to get a sticker, Buttercup politely accepted it, her jaw aching. Behind her, Blossom and Bubbles laughed. "Looks like we can't get enough suckers today."

More laughing.

Now at night...

Buttercup wasn't herself.

For the rest of the day, she kept the same blank expression. During lunch (or was it breakfast?), she didn't even remember what she ate. She couldn't even hear her sisters' making fun of her anymore.

After she blinked, she saw herself sitting on the table, a half-eaten vegetable soup in front of her. She guessed they were having dinner since it was already night and were sitting on the dinning table.

Finally, her sisters now grew worried and even a bit guilty as they ate their freshly baked pizza while Buttercup ate her vegetable soup, one of the many foods she disliked. Her dentist insisted on her only eating soft foods for a whole month.

"Hey, Buttercup?" Bubbles whispered. Although Buttercup didn't seem to hear as she still blankly continued to eat her soup.

Blossom couldn't take it anymore. She floated to Buttercup's chair and softly patted her back. "Everything's going to be alright," she was surprised by the shakiness of her own voice. "don't worry sis."

Buttercup still didn't seem to notice.

Bedtime...

One of the most hated moments in Buttercup's days. But now, she didn't even seem to notice herself closing her eyes, ready to sleep.

Blossom then remembered Buttercup's blanket. Which she and Bubbles forced her to give it up. She could still remember the moment of hesitation Buttercup have had before she gave it to the Professor. God knew where it was now.

She suddenly did something she never thought of herself doing. Ever.

She hugged Buttercup.

"I'm so sorry about today. Please forgive me."

However, her wounded sister was already asleep.