I do not own the Power Puff Girls or the Rowdy Ruff Boys.

Chapter Twenty: Hell Itself

"He's not wearing that." Brick said as he saw the costume in question. It was a pair of overalls with a bandana, helmet, and goggles.

"Why not? He'll look cute." Blossom said as she held up the coal miner's costume up to her chest. "And it'll be his first Halloween."

"You couldn't have gotten something cool, rather than this."

"It's clever. Blazing Coal, a coal miner. It'll be funny." Blossom said as she tucked the costume away back in her shopping bag. "Cute trick or treaters get more candy that way."

"Trick or treating?" Brick asked from the couch. "Who exactly is going to be eating that candy?"

Blossom winked at him as she disappeared down the hall to put away the costume. Brick shook his head as he thought about how he should tell her about the plans to go to H.I.M's dimension. He was more than sure that Blossom would freeze him in a block of ice to keep him under wraps. Still, she'd probably do much worst if he didn't tell her. Ugh, I have to tell her now. Standing up, he followed her down to the nursey, where she was cleaning up his toys and play space. Coal himself was napping peacefully in his crib, butt in the air with his legs tucked underneath him.

"What? Wondering where I'm—"

"My brothers and I are going to H.I.M's dimension, or at least we're going to try to. If we can, then it means some part of him is still alive. If we can't access it at all it means he's gone for good." He said in a rush.

Blossom's smile slowly disappeared from her face as she processed Brick's words. When he just stood in the doorway with his arm propped over his head without saying anything, she exhaled and ran her hand over her hair. She looked up at her sleeping baby and closed her eyes. "What happened to just talking to Mojo?"

"I'm still going to do it, but trying this is just a precaution." Brick explained.

Blossom stood up and pushed Brick out of the nursery, closing the door behind her. "When were you going to go?"

"Tomorrow."

"T-tomorrow? It's Halloween tomorrow. What about Coal and taking him trick or treating?"

Brick placed his hands onto Blossom's shoulders and looked her in the eyes. "It wouldn't be until after the sun went down. That'll leave us plenty of time to show him and his lame costume off to everyone. When I get back, I'll help you eat Coal's Halloween candy."

Blossom leaned her head against Brick's chest and blew out an icy breath. "I want you to call me the minute you get back and tell me everything that happens. Before you go, you will take Coal trick or treating and pose for as many pictures as I want."

"Okay. I'll even come back with cheeseburgers and strawberry milkshakes." Brick promised as he moved his hands to wrap around Blossom's shoulders.

"Why cheeseburgers and milkshakes?" She asked looking up at him with shining pink diamond eyes.

"That's how we celebrated my freedom last year." Brick leaned down to kiss her. "And how we'll celebrate this year. It shouldn't take long."

"When is anything ever that easy for us?" Blossom asked as she pulled away from Brick and made her way to the kitchen. She opened the fridge as if looking for something to eat, only to slam it closed and then brace her back against it. Brick watched her silently as she moved around the kitchen trying to keep her hands busy. "Are your brothers going to tell Bubbles and Buttercup."

Brick nodded as he remained out of the way of her nervous pacing and fidgeting. "It's H.I.M's dimension. I can't ask them to not say anything to the girls. Boomer and Bubbles are already in an awkward spot without the added stress of this. Keeping Buttercup informed will keep her the hell off my back."

"Don't be a smart ass with me." She pled while looking at him with a creased brow. "You crashed into the city the last time you went there."

"With any luck, we won't have anywhere to go." Brick reminded her, upset with himself for making her worry. "If H.I.M is really dead, then there's nothing to worry about."

Blossom exhaled another breath, this one much icier as evident by the flecks of ice that filled the air. "There's your blood to consider."

Bringing his hand to his stomach, Brick clutched at the scar left by H.I.M. That demon in his last moments had stabbed him in the gut with his tongue. Brick at the time thought it was a last-ditch effort at causing Brick harm. Now, it wouldn't be insane to think that H.I.M transferred some kind of virus or venom into him with that attack. "I'll keep visiting the professor for blood testing to be sure nothing comes of it. I'm sure he'll even create a cure to whatever the hell it is."

"Right, because supernatural and science go so well together." She snapped sarcastically.

"Cherry." Brick said as he came to the kitchen to stop her fretting.

"The entire time you were gone, I was worried. I didn't have a way of knowing if you were okay or not, which you weren't! You fell to earth and crashed in the center of town! In the hospital for almost a week, recovering!"

Hands took hold of Blossom's waist and hoisted her onto the counter. She sat back, knocking into their dish rack full of dishes and bottle nipples. The father of her child stepped between her legs and pressed a fiery kiss to her lips that seared her from the inside out. The pink Puff couldn't help bringing her hands up to tangle into Brick's hair and melted into his kiss. Her ankles locked together around his back and held him as tight to her as possible. Brick's hardness pressed against Blossom's core eagerly wanting to be joined but knowing that he couldn't for three and a half more weeks. With great reluctance, Brick broke their kiss and breathed a steamy breath over Blossom's face. The warmth caressed her skin, leaving a scent of cinnamon and warm spices around her. A smell that she grew to love and could faintly smell on her baby after he was held by his daddy.

"You can't kill a good thing, babe." The leader of the Rowdy Ruff Boy told his girlfriend with confidence. "I will come back to you and our son. If we find anything, we'll destroy it. You and Coal are not going to be without me. I'll be here to catch him when he starts to fly and learns to ride a bike. I'll be here to listen to every bedtime story you read him, waiting patiently for you finish so I can hold you in my arms as we lie in bed. I'll be here to make love you to as often as I am able."

Blossom tightened her limbs around Brick. "You promise?"

"I promise." He said as he leaned in to kiss her again. He pressed his forehead against Blossom's and sighed. "I'd really like to fuck you right now. Hard."

Biting her lip, Blossom untangled her legs and arms from Brick and pushed him back from her. Sliding off the counter, she maneuvered him to take her place and dropped to her knees in front of him. Brick's hands clenched on the counter before he stopped Blossom from unbuckling his pants. He pulled her up and moved them to their living room couch. He pulled Blossom toward him as he sat down. He placed a kiss to her stomach holding tight when she tried to squirm away. Using one hand, he unbuttoned her pants and worked them and her underwear down. When her bottom half was left bare, she pulled her shirt down as far as it would go to cover her faint stretch marks. "Brick, I can't."

"It'll be fine." He said as he undid his own pants and pushed them down to bare his hard cock. He then reclined sideways on the couch and gestured for Blossom to straddle him. When she began to do so facing him, he shook his head and made her turn around.

A different heat filled her face as she hesitated. "Brick!"

"I got you, Cherry." He told her as he gently tugged on her hand. He watched as she took a deep breath and threw one leg over his torso. Brick pulled her hips back until her pelvis hovered in front of his face. He then gently urged her to lean forward. She did until he could feel her chilly breath on the tip of his cock.

"Oh my god." Blossom breathed, raising the fine peach fuzz hairs on Brick's legs to attention among other things. She jumped a bit when she felt Brick's lips kiss her inner thigh. She felt his thumb on her nub and groaned at the pleasure it drew. Looking over her shoulder, only to catch the draping of his hair over the arm of the couch, she blushed deeper. "No penetration."

"Relax, Cherry." Brick silenced whatever other protests she might've had with a slow drag of his tongue across her private area. Her moan filled the space of their living room and Brick took that as a sign to continue. He focused on her clitoris by flicking his tongue against it softly and slowly, not wanting to bring her to climax too quickly.

All the while Blossom was barely holding herself above him, moaning and taking pleasure in the teasing sensations. In the back of her mind, she knew she shouldn't. Her body hadn't fully recovered from birth yet. She was also a bit self-conscious about how that part of her body was now after giving birth. Fortunately, it was a short-lived concern as Brick's enthusiasm and care in his act of cunnilingus was easily felt. When she dropped her head, it bumped against the damp tip of Brick's penis. Bringing her head up, she looked at the slightly reddish head and the small bead of precum with a bit of wonder. Blossom had never been this close to Brick's manhood before and found herself fascinated by the sight. She wasn't so unfamiliar that she wouldn't recognize it but being this close to it made it seem more…fascinating.

With curiosity in mind, Blossom leaned forward and wrapped her lips around Brick's member. She took as much as she could into her mouth before slowly drawing back up. Brick's appreciative groan vibrated against her core and she returned the favor causing him to jerk against her lips. It was only with her free hand holding the base that she managed to keep him in place.

"That's it, Blossom." He murmured as he let himself get lost in the warm sensation of Blossom's mouth. He returned his own attentions back to her core and lapped at every drop of wetness he managed to coax from her. Feeling her warm mouth, wet, and suctioning around his hardness was a pleasure he'll never forget. It was just a shame that he couldn't see his cock disappear between her lips. He'd just had to hold out for next time. Brick also couldn't get enough of her taste. It reminded him of the smell of frosted strawberries and ice cream. He wanted to delve deeper with his tongue into her but knew she'd try to run if he did. The doctor told them six weeks before penetrative sex, and Blossom was adamant about listening to those orders. In the meantime, he'd relish any concession that allowed him the chance to bring pleasure to Blossom's body.

Blossom wasn't sure how where to focus during their act of pleasure. Brick was working her body with his mouth in a most delicious way, while she needed to return the favor. As her pleasure racketed up, she worried that she'd bite and pulled off him, but made sure to place butterfly kisses along his hard flesh. She paid special attention to the head that leaked droplets of precum. The taste of it was simply Brick. Spicy with hints of natural musk from sweat. Strangely enough, it wasn't unpleasant. If anything, the thought of liking the purest taste of Brick made a blush warm her cheeks. When she was able to take him into her mouth and do a few sucking motions, she noticed that Brick would slow his ministrations on her body and breathe warm air onto her or groan sending tingling vibrations through her body.

Sooner than Brick wanted, he felt his orgasm creeping upon him. It wasn't unexpected, but he could tell that Blossom wasn't nearly as close as he was to coital bliss. Not wanting to leave her unsatisfied, he doubled his efforts to bring her to completion by drawing her clit into his mouth and alternated between sucking and swirling his tongue around the bundle of nerves. Her increased wetness and louder moans clued him into her nearing climax. He stuttered a bit in his rhythm for when Blossom would moan, the vibrations from her mouth shot from his cock up his spine and back again. It was taking everything in him to not finish before her, but damn did she make it difficult.

If anyone were to ask, Brick would say that he brought Blossom to climax first. While savoring the taste of her body, he hummed a sound of appreciation that caused her body to tense in an all too familiar way as an orgasm racked through her. As it happened, she half screamed half moaned around his member that made his balls tighten right before he released into her mouth. The sensation of doing such an action left Brick speechless as he reveled in the moment.

The moment was short-lived as Blossom unsteadily pulled herself from atop him, and walked down the hall as quickly as she could muster to their room. It was through his super hearing that he picked up on the sound of the water running in the master bath. Then there was the distinct scratching sound that was made when one was brushing their teeth. Brick couldn't help the laughter that rumbled out of him as he guessed what Blossom was doing. Tucking himself back into his pants, but without bothering to close the zipper, Brick stood up and laughed against at finding himself equally unsteady on his feet. Gathering her bottoms, he walked down the hall, but not without slowing by the nursery to ensure that the baby was still asleep.

All he did was crack the door open and saw his son in the same position as before. Not wanting to jinx it, he closed the door and made his way to his room. Sure enough, Blossom was in the bathroom, vigorously brushing her teeth. The pink tint on her cheeks bled to red as she noticed Brick standing behind her. Her brushing slowed as he came to stand behind her, and he rested his chin on her shoulder. "I wish you'd have waited to brush your teeth. I wanted to see what we both tasted like."

His breath wafted across her face, bringing with it the faint scent of her body. Blossom spat foamy toothpaste into the sink. Standing up she looked at Brick in the mirror and sighed. "Maybe you'll get a chance when you come back in one piece."

That statement sobered the two of them while Blossom rinsed her mouth. "I'll come back."

It was nearing the end of the workday and Boomer was finding himself at the mercy of Alice's prodding. She noticed his slower movements and how he favored his left side. His lead also kept asking about how things were with his girlfriend, which served to irritate him. His problems with Bubbles were just that. HIS! What also was bothering him about Alice was her touching him. Brushing against him when they were walking by each other in the back of the truck. Running her hand over his arm and back. He wished he had a bit of Brick's firepower, to make his skin unbearable to touch. On top of that, he had to speak with Bubbles today.

They'd kept their distance from each other since he spoke with Jamie—but he wasn't sure about whether it was because she was mad at him now or if someone convinced her to back off for the time being. While he was grateful for space, he missed her. More so now that he was about to do something he really didn't want to. It was Halloween and while he'd have preferred to spend the night reconciling with Bubbles, he was about to go with his brother back to their own personal hell. Add in that Alice was trying to flaunt her costume—some prisoner of love getup. A red fitted jumpsuit with a Styrofoam mug shot sign with a fake phone number and "Throw away the key, I'm yours," written on the front.

Once they were back at the lot, Boomer was rushing though his wrap up, so he could talk with Bubbles before going to meet his brothers at the volcano tower. He was just finishing up the paperwork at Kevin's station when Alice stepped up and placed her hand on his shoulder, causing him to stiffen. Kevin watched the interaction in case he needed to intervene.

"Hey Boomer, what are your plans tonight?" She asked him, liking the flexing of his muscles.

Shrugging her shoulder off as gently as possible, Boomer scratched his name on the bottom line of his paperwork before shoving it toward Kevin. "I have a thing with my brothers tonight." He then used his super-speed left the area, heading for his car. He stopped when he saw Bubbles leaning against his car with her arms folded across her chest. She heard his speedy approach and looked up at him with a face creased with a frown. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. What are you doing here?" Boomer asked as he came to stand beside her.

"You texted me saying you wanted to meet you after work." Bubbles shrugged with her backpack slung over her shoulder. "I'm here."

"I didn't mean here." Boomer sighed.

"Why not here?" Bubbles asked. "This is as good a place as any if you're going to break up with me."

Boomer's eyes widened before he stepped forward, shaking his head. "What, no! I'm not breaking up with you."

Bubbles' body released some of its pent-up tension. She took a deep breath and brushed some of her bangs out of her eyes. "Okay, then what did you want to talk about?"

Before Boomer could say anything, another voice filled the parking lot space. "Hey Boomer, thanks for a great night the other day! We should do it again sometime!"

Boomer spun to glare at Alice, wondering what the hell she could be thinking. He watched her wave as she sauntered off to her own car a few spots down from his own and shook his head. When he turned back to Bubbles, he noticed her eyes were dangerously focused on Alice. "What?"

"What did she mean 'great night'?" Bubbles whispered lowly.

"Nothing, Alice was just messing with me. She does that." The annoyance wasn't hard to miss, but he noticed that Bubbles still wasn't pacified. "What?"

Bubbles shook her head. "It's nothing."

"It's not nothing. What is it?"

Raising clouded sky-blue eyes to equally clouded cobalt, the blue Puff blew out a heavy breath. "It's stupid. I was about to be angry thinking that something might've happened between the two of you and I had to hear about it from someone else. After you had to hear about Jamie kissing me from Buttercup, I really have no right to be angry."

"No, you don't. Anyway, that's not what I wanted to talk about. My brothers and I are going to H.I.M's realm tonight."

"NO!" She then stepped forward and reached for him, only to have him pull back from her touch. The gesture hurt, but she pressed on with her words. "What do you need to go back there for? H.I.M is dead."

When Boomer neither confirmed nor denied the statement, Bubbles' felt the blood drain from her face. She fell back against Boomer's car and put her hands over her mouth.

"No, he has to be dead. There's no reason for you to go back there!" Bubbles practically yelled. "If this is about what I did, then I'm sorry! I'm sorry Boomer! I didn't mean to not tell you. I didn't think having sex with you before I told you would be so bad. I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

As she was apologizing, Boomer stepped toward her and held her by the tops of her shoulders. He hated seeing her this way, but he had to make clear that this and that were two different things. "Bubbles, we're going because we think some part of him is still alive. If there is, we need to destroy it."

She was shaking her head in the negative. "It could be a trap. Boomer, I know just how manipulative he was. If you go there tonight, you could trigger something. Don't give H.I.M that chance!" She was clinging to the front of his shirt desperate not to see him go.

"I don't want to go—"

"Then don't."

"But Brick isn't going to let me bow out. I also need to see for myself that he's gone. Brick said he landed the finishing blow, but we all need to be sure." Boomer insisted as he gently pried Bubbles hands off his shirt, but held them close to his chest. "We're going to be fine."

Righteous anger spread across Bubbles' face as she tried to pull away from Boomer, only to have him lock onto her with a fierce grip. "You three weren't fine last time! You crashed and were unconscious for hours! Stuck in the hospital for a week!" An anxiety-induced shrillness came to her voice, making Boomer wince with his canine-like hearing. Her eyes then hardened before his eyes and she squared her shoulders. "I'm coming with you."

"No." Boomer was adamant not allowing her to come. "We know what to expect while in his realm; you don't."

Boomer unlocked his car and was about to get in when Bubbles slammed it shut, the faint sound of metal denting accompanied the action. "I don't care! You're not going without me!"

"You are not!" Boomer snapped at her, his own temper flaring. He closed his eyes and forced himself to calm down. "Go to Blossom's. Brick told me your friends were going over there to keep her company."

"You mean to keep her distracted." Bubbles grumbled looking away from Boomer. "I know H.I.M's manipulation abilities just the same as you. You could be walking into a trap with no one to know. H.I.M doesn't have a hold on me as he does you three. I could help."

"And have you face off against my brothers and me by yourself? I don't think so." Boomer shook his head.

Bubbles let out an impressive growl before she grabbed him and did an impressive flip and slammed him in the roof of his car. The resounding crash and screaming of the alarm drew the attention of everyone who was in the parking lot. Some of them were worried for Boomer—like Kevin—while others were mourning the blue sports car—Jeff. Boomer was unhurt as he stared upside down at Bubbles and watched her cross her arms and scowl at him. "Forget who I was?"

"Never, but you're still not coming." Boomer told her as he floated up and righted himself. He stopped floating and let gravity take over so he could land in front of Bubbles. Coaxing her to look up, Boomer leaned over to place a soft kiss to her lips. She resisted at first but then melted into his touch. When he pulled back much too soon Bubbles scowled at him, but it was softer and the glare came from under a worried crease of her brow. "We can handle this and be back before you know it."

"You better, Boomer. I want things to be right with us again. Nothing can happen to you before we're good again."

Boomer nodded as turned to look toward his trashed car and sighed. A wry smile coming over his face. "Smash Brick's car and you'll be three for three."

"Don't tempt me." She whispered her voice tight with stress. "The minute you are home, you come find me."

Boomer nodded his head and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Sure. I have to meet Brick at the tower before the sun sets."

Bubbles nodded her head and took to the air and headed off in the direction of Blossom's apartment. Once she was gone, Boomer turned to his car and sighed heavily. It wasn't as bad as what she did to Butch, but still, the damage hurt his male pride.

Brick was sitting on the lip of the volcano waiting for his brothers. As soon as he finished classes, he allowed Blossom to take pictures with Coal in his coal miner costume. Blossom had Brick dressed as a tavern owner, while she was dressed as a cowgirl. As it was too early for real trick or treating, they settled for cutting out sugar cookies and decorating them. He stalled for as long as he could, wanting to be with his son and girlfriend for as long as he could. It was only when Tabitha, Sam, and Robin came that he made himself scarce. Coal squealed giddily when Brick blew a raspberry into his belly before he left. He then kissed his chubby cheek, before kissing Blossom heavily and pinching her butt discreetly. She jumped and slapped his shoulder before he took off the props from his costume. He'd have changed, but he was pressed for time.

It was a miracle that he managed to avoid Buttercup and Bubbles. Buttercup, he honestly believed he would throttle her as he did back in the day when they were kids. Brother's wife or not, she was working his last nerve like a boxer to a punching bag. Reformed Rowdy Ruff Boy or not, if Buttercup continued to push him, he'd push back. HARD.

The popping of the lava drew his attention back to the now. The heat didn't bother him in the least, but the brightness of the molten rock did make him wince a bit. Behind him, the sun was nearing its lowest and his brothers had yet to arrive. He was just about to pull his phone out when he heard a rushing of the wind behind him. Turning he saw Butch making his way, dressed in a plain green shirt and black cargos and his combat boots. He landed in a crouch beside Brick and sighed. "Hey."

"Hey. What took you?" Brick asked turning back the lava swirling in front of him.

"Buttercup." Her name was said with such exasperation at that moment. "She's beyond pissed right now."

"She'll get over it." Brick dismissed easily.

Butch glanced at his brother and scowled at him as a thought occurred to him. "I just remembered she told me you blew fire in her face. What the hell?"

Brick couldn't be bothered to resist rolling his eyes. Still, he kept quiet about his thoughts regarding his sister in law. "Do you know when Boomer should be getting here?"

"He should be here soon. I think he went up to change his clothes." Butch told him, a bit irritated that his brother dismissed his wife so easily. "Don't worry about Mojo. He was taking a nap when I checked on him last."

"Good, he doesn't need to know what we're up to before we do it. He'll worry himself into a heart attack."

They were silent as they waited for their third, and got lost in their memories of the last time they sat on the lip of this volcano. Their night of celebration had turned solemn with the threat that was H.I.M. When Boomer dropped down beside them, they spared him only a quick glance before facing the fiery depths of the volcano.

"You tell Bubbles?" Butch asked his younger brother from the other side of Brick. He got a nod in response, but he also noticed Boomer rubbing the back of his neck and twisting his head around as if working out a crick. "You okay?"

"I got body-slammed onto the roof of my car."

The memory of flying through the air and being cushioned by the metal frame and engine flash through Butch's mind. "Your car's next Brick."

"Focus. No separating. It'd be all too easy for something to happen to one of us and two of us not know. If either of you finds the dagger, grab it." Brick ordered as he took a deep breath to settle his own nerves. "Got it?"

Butch and Boomer nodded before uttering the oath that would open the portal to H.I.M's world with Brick. If there was one thing the boys could agree on, it was that they never wanted to venture into that hell again. When they finished uttering the spell that would open the portal, they waited with bated breath for what could happen next. When nothing but the bubbling of the lava stared back at them, they almost for a second believed that their troubles were over.

That is until Brick cried out and doubled over, clutching his stomach. Butch and Boomer reached out to their elder brother before a black chasm appeared over the lava, swirling and writhing as if struggling to survive.

Butch was frozen in shock, while Boomer let out what could only be described as a moan of despair. Brick looked up and tried to shake his head in denial before a tugging at his very being started. It pulled him toward the darkness and try as he may, he couldn't resist its hold on him. The same could be said for Butch and Boomer as they tried to hold their ground. Too soon, the pull tugged just that much harder on them and the boys were sucked into the darkness with it closing like a wicked maw behind them.

Darkness. That was the first thing they were able to register. Never-ending darkness. It clung and held onto their bodies obscuring each other from the other's sight. Suffocating them enough to make them believe they were alone. With no sense of time or space, it was all to easy to fall into a panic, but they knew that they could not.

Boomer tried to call out to his brothers but found he hadn't a voice. He could feel his mouth moving, but nothing was coming from his mouth. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't make a sound and come out. He felt his body screaming, hoping that something would come out. His voice had to reach his brothers. If he could find them, eh they'd be able to escape the darkness. Boomer couldn't be lost to the darkness. Not when he hadn't resolved things completely with Bubbles. Just like before when he was trapped in the void, all he could think about was getting back to Bubbles.

Butch's heart was in his throat as fear took hold. He was unsure of where he was and how much time had passed. His body's natural reaction to when he was stressed or afraid was to shut down. It wasn't as if he were locking himself into a safe place—his body would just go into shock. He'd thought after fighting H.I.M that he'd be past this, but he'd had something he could do—which was fighting H.I.M. Around him was nothing but utter darkness. There was nothing for him to engage, so his mind raised with what could come for him from the shadows. Would it be H.I.M? A manifestation of his greatest fears? One of his brothers? Both of them? Buttercup? Butch was more than sure that he could bring himself to fight his mother, brothers, or even himself. He'd go all out because he would have to. His brothers wouldn't want him to hold back. That being said, neither would Buttercup; but he couldn't see himself fighting for his life with her the same way he would with Brick or Boomer. While he hadn't demonstrated it, he was much stronger than she was.

Coal. Coal. Coal. Coal. Coal. Coal. The name of his infant son was rushing through his head on repeat. If there was ever a reason for Brick to not give in to the madness, it was his son. He needed to be there for his son. He promised Blossom bedtime stories and tuck-ins. First flights and bike rides. Cuddling on the couch and making love in their bed, or wherever else it pleased them to do so. He wanted to raise his son with Blossom and their family. Have his brothers teach him how to fight while watching his aunts dress him up for whatever occasion. Praising him when he succeeded. Comforting him when he failed. Embarrassing him as all parents live to do. Then there was Blossom. He truly loved that girl, who pushed him to be more. Knew he could be more. The two people he loved most in the world were waiting for him to get back to them.

Almost as soon as the dark swallowed them, the silence and the dark was shattered by a loud scream and an echo of H.I.M's essence tearing through them. Their insides felt torn apart and thrown back together. Burning and freezing at the same time. Agony in its purest.

Before the boys could really register what had just occurred it was over and darkness took over again.

Their collective screams as they reentered the realm of Earth was cut shoot as they splashed into the lava below the tower. They flailed as if they would if suddenly thrown into water before getting their bearings and swimming to the top. Lava was splashed over the lip as the boys pulled themselves from the volcano. Their minds were reverberating from H.I.M's essence and their body weak. They managed to drag themselves into the tower, startling Mojo.

"What in the world?" He spun too quickly and felt his back protest the action. Groaning and complaining under his breath about being old, he noticed that there were three boys in his home. "Boys? What are you three up to now?"

The trio stopped in their tracks, bodies twitching involuntarily.

Mojo watched them with a critical eye, noticing that they were acting strangely. Well, stranger than usual. "What's the matter with you three? Brick and Butch wouldn't be here if there wasn't anything going on. Boomer, tell me what's going on."

Simultaneously, the boys turned their heads to Mojo, eyes unfocused and faintly glowing yellow. They snarled and charged at Mojo, throwing him from the couch. Yelping as he fell from the couch he watched each of his sons move to stand over him. They were dark shadows of red, green, and blue, menacing in their half-burned clothing and soot-stained faces.

"What in the hell are you three doing? What's gotten into you?"

"What's the matter, Dad?" Brick asked, his brother chuckling darkly beside him.

"Aren't you glad to see us?" Butch taunted him.

"We're together again." Boomer's smile was twisted with a menace that was foreign on his face.

Mojo stared up at his boys with wide eyes, breath coming in quick pants. His hand inched under the coffee table, hopefully, unseen by the boys. "I don't know what prank you boys are trying to pull, but it isn't funny."

The boys laughed in unison not taking their glowing yellow eyes off their father. "You here that boys. We're not being funny for the monkey. I guess we're going to have to serve it up."

Under the coffee table, Mojo reached what he was searching for and pressed hard. "I think not."

From the ceiling, sprinklers dropped down while Mojo scurried to protect himself from the coming spray. Confused the boys glanced at each other before being doused in concentrated Antidote X. They yelled out in pain as they were soaked and felt the effects of the only chemical capable of harming them. From his place under the coffee table, Mojo winced at having caused his boys pain in such a way, but they were not themselves. Even if they hadn't charged and snarled like beasts, their behavior was very reminiscent of their younger days when they were firstborn. When they were rotten to the absolute core. Also, the simian villain had a strong sense of self-preservation.

When the sprinklers stopped, the boys wheezed and groaned as their skin stung and burned red in from the raw spots on their skin. Peeking from his hiding spot, but wary of the Antidote X that could in such a strong douse harm him, Mojo looked to his boys. They turned his direction with eyes still glowing, the promise of pain if not death glaring back at him. Even in their weakened state, the made a move for him. Old as he was his movements were slow, but the boys were slower. Mojo thankful to have been wearing his banana slippers splashed through the Antidote X and to the kitchen. Fixed into the side of the island, was a keypad. Quickly typing in a passcode, a robotic voice rang through the tower.

"Containment protocol initiated. Say who needs to be contained." The computerized female voice spoke.

"Brick. Butch. Boomer." Mojo recited before pressing the green button starting the process.

Panels in the ceiling shifted, opening up to reveal a laser gun type machine. A humming sound filled the air as the machine powered up. Brick was alerted first to the sound and tried to move his brothers out the way before the gun fired. He shoved Boomer and kicked Butch out the way as he fell back out of the way of the first blast. That maneuver proved to be to their detriment. Weak as they were, they couldn't gather themselves or their balance quickly enough to avoid the second round of blasts. The second one caught Boomer in an energy bubble. It was similar to the one that the professor made years ago, but reinforced to counteract whatever the boys did by throwing their own force back at them.

It was never needed before this moment and while it had been tested when it was first made, it's been some years and the boys have only proven to have grown stronger. When Boomer drew his fist back to strike the wall of the containment unit, the force that struck him was doubled. It knocked him against the other wall of the unit hard enough to render him unconscious. Brick tried to conjure his firepower, but being doused in Antidote X made it hard for him to light a spark. The distraction of not having his firepower was enough for the laser gun to catch him. Brick pushed against the wall and exhaled a dark cloud that remained trapped within. Butch always the stranger one of the three, was able to force himself to much just a bit faster than the laser gun. Mojo watched his son dodge and sighed in aggravation.

"Of course, that brute of a son of mine would be able to push himself hard enough to avoid my failsafe." He grumbled. He was about to press another button when Butch charged at him and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. He gasped and reacted without thinking. He swept his hand in an upward motion over the counter and managed to splash Antidote X into Butch's eyes.

With a yell, Butch dropped Mojo and brought his hands to his eyes. "AAUUGHH! You stupid chimp!" Before he could hope to recover his sight, the laser gun struck him. Once he was trapped, he slid down and cradled his face.

Mojo struggled to stand up and hissed at the stinging of the Antidote X on his hand. Looking around his home, he sighed at the wet furniture and puddles of Antidote X everywhere. Amongst it all were his three sons trapped in energy force fields and completely out of their minds. When he made to move, he moaned in pain at the bruise he no doubt had on his brain, despite the helmet he wore.

"What is it that the humans say? 'I'm getting too old for this shit?' Rightly so, as I am too old for this shit." He looked to his sons again and sighed. He'd deal with them later, for now, he had to get about cleaning his home. The force fields will hold indefinitely until he touched them with an energy disruptor.

Walking carefully to the wall, where a side panel opened up to reveal another keypad, Mojo typed in a code that released a swarm of mini-robots. Their sole purpose was to clean up laboratory mishaps and chemical spills. He idly remembered when the boys complained about having to do chores themselves when Mojo built robots to do the same thing. His answer then had been that to prevent them from becoming too lazy.

As the robots when about cleaning every surface, Mojo went to the freezer to pull out an ice pack for his brain. All the while, Brick watched him with hands pressed against the energy field. Mojo tried not to ignore it by not looking at him, but Brick could see the struggle and began his taunting. "Hey, Dad. Aren't you glad I'm home—away from Blossom and my son? You remember my son, don't you? I know you remember Blossom. You spend every ounce of energy blaming her for ruining my life, but that couldn't be further from the truth. The only person ruining my life is you."

It was a goad. That much was obvious, however, try as Mojo might, he couldn't ignore his eldest son. While he didn't say anything, he did send a glare his way. Ice pack pressed to his brain, he moved around the robots cleaning up toward his room. He needed to make a phone call. If there was anyone who might have an inkling of what was going on, then it'd be the professor. Mojo thoroughly resented the fact that the professor knew more of the goings-on in his sons' lives than he did.

"Don't go anywhere, Dad. I'm just getting started. Don't you want to hear how you ruined my life?"

Mojo slammed the door behind him, blocking out most of Brick's yelling. It was with sadistic hope that Brick would lose his voice if the idiot decided to yell all night. Hopefully, Boomer would stay out cold for the remainder of the night and Butch wouldn't join in.

The next morning, Mojo was awoken from restless slumber by an alert letting him know that someone was at the front door. Dragging himself from the bed, he hoped that it was the professor. After he told him what he experienced the previous night, he let Mojo know that he'd be there to examine the boys, answer some questions, and ask a few of his own.

Upon leaving his room, the Ruff Boys turned to stare at him, awake, but a tad worst for wear. Their skin was patchy all over with raw red spots from the Antidote X. When he passed the boys to get to the front door, he noticed their eyes didn't glow as bad as last night, but there were dark circles under their eyes. They twitched and scratched at the slower healing skin that was still red and raw at the center but flaking at the edges. Boomer rocked back and forth. Butch's leg bounced so rapidly it was a near blur. Brick's eyes were unfocused, and his lips twitched as if he were mumbling, but no words could be heard.

Mojo stared at his sons growing more worried about their wellbeing. Any hopes he had at the professor being at the door were dashed when he heard banging on the metal door and muffled yelling. He almost turned around when he heard the irate shriek that could only be Buttercup.

"MOJO JOJO IF YOU DON'T OPEN THIS FUCKING DOOR, I SWEAR I'LL RIP YOUR TOWER OFF THIS GODDAMN VOLCANO!"

Bubbles more subdued voice came from the other side, trying to calm her sister down. "Buttercup, stop it! Mojo just tell us that they're there and they're okay."

"Of course, they're not okay! They would've called or come to our house if they were okay! They didn't so that means they are not okay! SO OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!"

Mojo debated on ignoring her, but then he heard a yell of Buttercup's name. The next thing he knew there was the groaning of metal and his house began to tilt. Running for the door as quickly as he could he pressed a button to open it and poked his head out. Bubbles was standing on the small porch running her fingers through her hair; Buttercup out of sight but if he were to guess below his home acting as a jack. "Fine, fine. Come in and see them for yourselves. Just put my house down!" There was a lurch and he yelped in fright. "Gently! This volcano may not be active, but I will still burn of it fall in."

Once his house was finally secured, he moved out the way as Buttercup and Bubbles strode in. They stopped when they saw the boys in their containment units and their less than stellar state. Bubbles didn't hesitate to go over to Boomer's cell, pressing her hands against it.

"Boomer? Boomer, look at me." When all he did was turn his close his eyes and cradle his head, she turned to look at Mojo. "What happened?"

"I'm not sure. They hardly tell me anything these days." He then looked accusingly at the girls. "They just go you three and spill their guts. Among other things."

Much like her husband did the previous night, Buttercup grabbed Mojo by the scruff under his chin and hefted him up off the ground. "Now is not the time to test me, chimp!"

"Buttercup!"

Everyone turned—Mojo awkwardly—to the professor who was standing in the still-open doorway. Buttercup let her arm go limp as she dropped Mojo to the ground before releasing him. She stepped back and folded her arms across her chest. Fully coming into the tower, he walked over to Mojo to ensure he was all right. "What's going on?"

Bubbles and Buttercup shared a look with Bubbles nodded her head. She then turned back to Boomer worry creasing her face. "The boys tried to go to H.I.M's realm last night."

"What?" Mojo and the professor exclaimed.

Mojo turned to the professor surprised to see the shock on his face. "You didn't know about this?"

"I knew they had concerns, but I told Brick to speak with you." The professor explained, before looking to the boys. "Do you know how long they were there?"

"Boomer said they had to meet before the sunset." Bubbles said, her eyes not leaving Boomer's form.

Mojo did the math in his head and calculated that the boys were gone for maybe ten minutes at most and said as much. When the professor looked over the boys he winced at their wounds. His mace was only strong enough to irritate and sting like any other pepper spray would. What he was seeing was almost like acid burns. He'd have to give them a dose of Chemical X to boost their healing and prevent scarring. Their eyes were dilated, and their breathing from what the professor could see was labored. When he called to them, it was if the professor were not even there. When he stood up, his brow was furrowed and he hummed lowly to himself.

"Are they going to be all right?" Bubbles asked before Mojo could, drawing an unseen scowl from him.

"At the moment, they're in shock. I can't say much more than that without proper testing." The professor informed the group. "That's going to require they be released from these energy bubbles, Mojo."

The chimp was already shaking his head. "No."

"No?" Buttercup turned a burning jade glare to Mojo.

The green-skinned chimp turned her way with a glare. "No. If what you're saying is true about them trying to go to H.I.M's dimension then when they rebounded. When it comes to traveling dimensions trying to go to a world that's collapsed puts you in between here and where it used to be. A wall essentially. The blowback from colliding with such a force created an echo of what was there to rocked through them."

"Don't talk to me as if anyone would've known that." Buttercup snapped.

"Your father is a scientist with an intelligence quota nearly on par with my own." He ignored the frown the professor turned his way. "I'm sure he would've taught you, were you capable of using your head rather than your fists."

Knuckles cracked as Buttercup balled her hands into said fists. "Need I remind you how much help your head was when compared to these fists?"

"Buttercup, that's enough!" The professor chastised. "Mojo, you as well. This fighting isn't going to help them. Where is Blossom right now?"

"At her apartment with Coal." Bubbles said breaking her gaze away from Boomer. "Why?"

"I'm going to need her to help to restrain the boys. I need to run tests and I can't do that if I'm unable to restrain them if needed." The professor explained.

"What about Coal?" Bubbles asked.

"Mojo." A chorus of Nos rang through the room; the loudest of them coming from Buttercup and Mojo. The professor sighed, not because he didn't see this reaction coming, but because he'd have to explain why. "Quiet! Mojo will watch the baby because we're going to be doing these examinations here. I doubt he'd allow anyone else in his home, so he'll have to bear with it and mind our grandson."

"Professor, that's a bad idea." Bubbles disagreed as she eyed Mojo who was staring wide at the professor.

"We can't move them to my home and even if we could, we'd still need Blossom to do so as neither Mojo nor I would be able to." When the girls looked to protest more, the professor held up a hand to quiet them. "It's not as if Mojo will be completely alone with Coal. We'll all be here to help keep an eye on him."

The girls had no further argument but weren't exactly happy about the arrangement. After more details were discussed Bubbles excused herself to head to campus, mentioning how she's already missed her morning class. She'd also said she'd stop by Blossom's to let her know what was going on. Buttercup left soon after saying she'd go to Boomer and Butch's places of work to call in sick for them; it wasn't a lie per se, but it wasn't the exact truth. That left Mojo, the professor, and the boys in the tower.

Mojo rubbed his hands over his face and went to sit on his couch, more exhausted than ever as his age caught up with him.

"Are you all right?"

Mojo looked across the room with his boys in their pitiful states and shook his head. "One moment I'm telling them to stop playing their video games and clean the dishes. The next…this."

The professor joined him on the couch and nodded his agreement with the sentiment. "Never a dull moment."

Mojo's going to spend time with Coal. How exciting! But even more exciting. Seeing what's happening inside the boys' heads.