Disclaimer: Thank CraigMccraken. I don't - nor will I ever - own the Powerpuff Girls.


A/N: JESus Christ I've messed up. I...uh...I'm sorry guys. Beta still hasn't replied yet, but here's chapter 18 anyway. I'll try to update more often, but I dunno. Hope you enjoy!


~ CHAPTER 18 ~

Friends


Boomer was feeling good today. Real good. He had four successful runs this week, and collected over ten thousand coins worth. He glanced over at Bubbles, who was lying beside him, eyes closed and a small smile on her face.

Having her here was a plus, too.

After the whole fiasco with the knife and threatening and all, they'd cleared things up and started to work again. In fact, they helped more people than he had in a month. With her distracting charm and light feet she could easily slip out of any situation, and because of that, she gained a lot more respect from him.

"Mm. Nice weather, huh?" She murmured, inhaling deeply. "This is probably the last day of autumn we'll get until it starts to snow."

"Yeah, I'll miss the cool breeze and orange leaves," he replied wistfully, turning his body to face her.

She adjusted her long dress, revealing two brown boots. "But hey, winter means warm nights by the fire and hot mugs of cocoa, yeah?"

"I guess you're right."

There was a comfortable silence between them as the wind rustled the grass. He'd admit it, the hill was nice. She had told him it was her special spot were she usually drew, and right now, with the autumn leaves fluttering off—a bright red—it felt especially peaceful.

"Hey, you ever…you ever wonder what's out there?" She murmured.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you know, out there." Bubbles motioned at the expansive sky. " The rest of the world. It can't just be our four kingdoms; I've seen hundreds of merchants and nobles from different lands fill into the castle, waiting to see my father. Do you ever wonder what their lives are like? The stories they have to tell?"

Boomer had never gone very far from Gadrea. Butch definitely had his fair share of strange, exotic adventures, and Brick had probably gone off on diplomatic matter many times as well. He—well, he never really wanted to leave.

"No, I can't say I really have." He sat up, his eyes focused on the mountains in the distance.

"Mm," she nodded. "The farthest I've ever been was to the North Mountain. It was really pretty there, you know?"

He squinted, and through the thick clouds that always surrounded the towering peaks, barely catching a glimpse of a the summit before it was covered up again.

Bubbles went on, "Blossom was there on royal business, and Buttercup was learning the ways of the mountain folk, their unique fighting style, the incredible camouflage skills, all that. I'd just gone to have fun. It was like—no, it was—a winter wonderland up there. The trees were thick and pure white snow covered their branches like a blanket. Oh, and the frozen lake was just so incredible! It was so smooth and glimmered in the sun just like diamonds, I wish I had brought my ice skates with me!"

"That sounds nice. But I for one like my life just the way it is. I love my kingdom, and I love the rolling hills and forests. As for snow, it's just water and tiny ice fractals. Never paid much attention to it," He replied, tearing his gaze away from the mesmerizing sight, and sighed in content, eyes closed.

He felt something wet on his nose, and briefly wondered whether or not it was going to rain. There was another droplet on the back of his hand this time, and he scrunched up his face, deciding it was time to go back home.

A small gasp escaped Bubbles' mouth, and he heard her stand up. "Boomer, it's snowing." She said, her voice full of wonder. "It's snowing Boomer! Winter has finally arrived! This is incredible; we were just talking about it and now it's here!"

His eyes snapped open, jumped to his feet, and quickly registered the flakes of white drifting down from the sky. Boomer couldn't believe it. It felt so unreal, how snow just magically started falling.

While he stood with his mouth slightly agape, wondering how in Hell something like this just happened, Bubbles giggled with joy, twirling around and sticking her tongue out to catch snowflakes.

"What're you doing, just standing there? C'mon Boomer, dance with me!" She beamed, stretching a hand out to him, her golden pigtails flowing in the wind.

He stared at it for a short while, his mind rushing to process what was happening. Was she asking him to dance? A nice, pretty girl like her? He was horrible at swishing and side stepping and all things considered graceful. Everyone in his entire kingdom knew that.

"I, uh, can't dance…sorry?" He stammered as the smile on her face only spread further.

"That doesn't matter, stupid! This isn't some fancy party, it's just you and me out here. All that I care about is having fun! Now c'mon, dance with me already you silly boy!" She grabbed his wrist and spun him around her in a wide arc.

A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth, and within moments they were floating across the grass, now covered in a thin layer of snow, laughing.

He swung her around and around, feeling the wind blow through his hair with each turn, and his heart soared. Something faint flickered deep inside of him, something he hadn't felt since a long, long time ago. For a moment he wondered if he was having a heart attack, the tiny little pang he felt in his heart when she smiled at him, when he looked into her eyes and saw a reflection of himself.

He shook his head. No, he was just overthinking it. Probably just the cold or something. But as much as he tried, he couldn't stop grinning when she did and feeling like he was so whole that he'd been nothing but a missing half until now and that she was just so…

Extraordinary.

"So, tell me prince, what have you learned so far? What does 'Araceli' do for a living? Her friends? Family?" Travis tossed his knife into the air, and caught it again.

"She has two sisters; one bossy snob and a dimwitted bimbo. Doesn't talk much about friends." Butch yawned, leaning against the trunk of the tree.

"That's all? What have you been doing for the past month, idiot! I didn't let you just take my identity just so you could listen to her vent about family issues! Give me actual info; Hood is getting impatient!" Travis snapped, sliding the deadly blade back in his belt.

"Not my problem. Tell him there's more to this dumb girl, and that you need more time."

Travis narrowed his eyes, and kicked the bag of jewels back at him. "Fine. I don't want your money. No more deals. I'm cutting you off from any sort of…whatever sick things you do with the people we capture. It's time for you to go back the castle prince, and stop trying to fit in."

"Don't kid around, Storme. You want that money. All I'm asking for is just a way to blow off steam."

"I'm serious! Get out of my face, you sick monster. You've done nothing but cause trouble for me! Go back to your fancy schmancy life of royalty, and leave me alone."

Butch snorted. "Really, stop. You're making me laugh. Just leave the girl to me, alright? I'll find something out eventually."

"No. No way in Hell. I'm not—you know what? I'm going to go visit her now in Selodia."

"Wait, don't! You'll mess things up between us. You don't know what she's like, Storme!" Butch protested, his dark green eyes wide.

"Forget it, prince. I'm going."

Travis spun around, and sprinted off in the direction of Selodia, not once looking back. Butch tried to chase after him, but in the heat of the moment tripped over a root, and his chin grazed the sharp rocks that littered the forest ground.

"No! You don't know what you're doing! Please, please…"

Travis stopped at the edge of the forest, panting for breath. His shot a look over his shoulder, and relaxed when he saw the prince hadn't followed. He dusted off his clothes, and straightened his back.

"What do you mean 'you're busy'? It's been almost a month since I last saw you, and you come here, in the middle of the night, and expect me to take that as an excuse?" A girl hissed, and his head snapped up.

"I'm sorry, alright? I can't tell you everything, you know. It's classified information. And why didn't you tell me you found that map? Now everyone thinks I'm just some lazy loser." A boy said.

Despite it being the middle of the night, Travis could still make out two silhouettes, one with her arms folded, and another standing a few feet away, hands facing up in protest.

"Because you weren't there, Mitch. You never are there for me. You didn't deserve it." Her voice was laced with bitterness, and Travis suddenly realized something.

The girl was Araceli. And the boy…the boy must have been Mitch Mitchelson. The assassin for Selodia's secret scout group. He had killed one of the Night Owls' best men! What was Araceli doing with someone like him? Unless…she was one of the scouts too! That must be it. Hood would be so proud of him when he delivered the information back to the Night Owls.

"What are you talking about? We've been friends since…well, forever! I've always been there for you!"

Travis took a couple steps forward, so he could see them more clearly. This was getting interesting.

"Really?" Araceli snarled back. "What about those days when you promised to go out with me, and left me waiting for hours by myself, only to say you had an important mission the next day? You know how much those off days mean to me! You were the only one keeping me sane, Mitch. Seeing you every week was the only thing that kept me from snapping under all this 'princess' pressure! And you left me there! Alone and feeling betrayed, like no one ever cared for me. You don't know how hard it is for me!"

Travis narrowed his eyes, 'Princess'? What is she talking about?

Mitch blinked, and opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off.

"All my life, my family has always told me that I was doing it wrong, that I wasn't pretty enough, or graceful enough, or know enough about my people to be a fit princess! Do you know how Blossom looks at me sometimes? Like I'm just another citizen. Just another person she has to help. Just another uneducated hooligan that she can fix. And Bubbles? Bubbles? She thinks I'm a big 'meanie'! She thinks I'm a terrifying person! I can even see the fright in her eyes when she talks to me! Do you know how it feels? For your family to regard you of nothing but a horrid, unruly monster? My own father…he…he…I know he doesn't play favorites, but sometimes I'm afraid. I'm afraid, alright? That he likes Blossom and Bubbles more than me…" She drifted off, and under the moonlight, Travis could see that her eyes were getting watery.

"I'm sorry…Really, I am. But I have to go on these missions, Buttercup! I have to. For Selodia." Mitch whispered, and Travis took another daring step.

'Fine. Fine Mitch. I have someone else to hang around with. I don't need you anymore! Just, don't ever ask me to help you or anything ever again!"

"But, BC, you're my best friend…"

"And you were my crush! All these years, even since I was twelve, I've had this crush on you, and you've never noticed! I came up with so many excuses for you—that you were too occupied with other matters; that you weren't good at picking up subtle hints—but then…then you started dating Robin! What is your problem, Mitch? Can't you see how much I care about you? How that stupid, stupid, smirk of yours always makes me…makes me feel all warm inside? I can't believe you! I…I-I hate you!" She spat, shimmering droplets now practically pouring out of her eyes.

Travis stiffened. He'd heard enough.

"We broke up a—" Mitch mumbled, his head low, but stopped when the boy with jet black hair and bright green eyes stepped into his line of sight.

"Hello, Mitchelson."

"Storme! Wh-what are you—" Mitch stumbled over his own words, taken aback.

"Travis! Why are you here? It's the middle of the night!" Araceli—or Buttercup—snapped to, rubbing furiously at her eyes.

"Shut it, princess. I know what's going on, now. You might've fooled me before, but now I know. That stupid prince had no idea what he was doing…" Travis smirked.

"Buttercup, what is he talking about? Have you been hanging out with…" Mitch gestured at the boy. "him? Do you even know who he is? He…he's hurt and killed so many people!"

"No, I don't Mitch! You never told me! I thought he was just a nice guy that actually treated me like a regular, non-princess person, that was my friend! I didn't know, alright!"

"Well, no matter. It's too late now—" Travis shrugged, reaching for one of his knives, but was cut off when Mitch suddenly punched him across the face.

With a feral snarl, he retaliated, abandoning his weapon and opting for a good old skin fight. Travis knocked Mitch off his feet and they both fell to the ground, filled with contempt for each other.

"What the HellI? Get off of him!" The princess growled, the tears gone and replaced by a blazing anger. She dove between the two, nails raking across Travis' face, four angry red lines, the blood already starting to bead.

"Bitch!" He kicked her off, and she skidded in the cold dirt, but quickly recovered, brushing off her clothes.

"Buttercup! Help me get this psycho off of me!" Mitch gasped as Travis ground his heel into his jaw.

"Shut up! I'm not helping either of you!"

Buttercup threw a mean left hook at the green eyed boy, before stomping on the other's gut. Mitch grit his teeth, and grabbed her foot, causing her to fall down next to him. He started to get up, but Travis socked him in the nose.

"Then what are you doing, getting in between a fight, princess? Go back to your little tea party!" He scoffed, one hand clamped on his opponent's neck, effectively cutting off his air.

She made a low rumbling sound in her throat, before knocking him off of Mitch, punching his stomach so hard that he coughed up blood. "I said, shut up! I hate both of you equally right now!"

Suddenly they were bathed in a warm yellow glow as the back door of the castle flew open, three guards barging out, swords at hand.

"What on earth is going on here? Mitch? Are you assaulting the princess?" One of them bellowed, rushing to their side.

The two boys immediately stopped, and Travis tried to scurry away, but was quickly surrounded by the remaining two guards. He gulped.

The night had not went as he had planned. Not at all.

"Princess, are you alright?" Patty, one of the servants cried, sticking her head out the door, afraid to venture any further with the two boys still there.

Buttercup slowly got to her feet, clutching her ribs. She shot a scathing glare at Travis, then kicked him one last time for good measure.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Travis watched her as she made her way through the door, insisting that she was fine and that the maids didn't need to worry. She was short tempered, stupid, and absolutely insufferable, but she was definitely an interesting girl, that was for sure.

Next to him, Mitch stared at the open door, his eyes wide in what he couldn't tell was fear, shock, or despondency. His mouth was slightly agape, and couldn't seem to register what was happening, but then suddenly snapped out of it when one of the guards grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet.

"You two! You're coming with us to the dungeons." The man barked.

Travis narrowed his eyes at him, but stood up anyway. He willingly let them take him to the underground prison, carefully taking note of everything that they passed.

"This is all your fault, Storme." Mitch hissed as he was pushed into one of the cells, almost tripping over his own feet. "Why'd you always have to ruin everything?"

Travis chose not to reply, and simply sat down in the corner, a plan to escape already starting to form in his mind. He felt the corners of his mouth tug up in a smirk, and chuckled softly to himself.

The princess would never be able to go outside ever again once the Night Owls found out about her little secret. They'd monitor the entire vicinity, and if she ever dared step out of her stupid kingdom again, she'd find a knife at her throat.

She'd never be able to ride in the forest or climb a mountain or even run through an open meadow.

She'd never be free again.

~ end of chapter 18 ~