Maia brought Princess to the day of the competition, where Princess was quiet. It was very unlike the little girl to carry herself in this manner.
Princess was so anxious and wound up, that she couldn't find the words to express herself. She desperately wanted to step into the ring right away, but held herself in check.
She was like a storm, inside a maelstrom of emotion. Her impatience was difficult to manage, so she did the only thing that would provide relief.
Bawling her hands into fists, then relaxing the fists...bawling them again...relaxing. I haven't fought anyone in over a year... wonder where those power puff freaks are at?
Bubbles giggled a little on the way inside. The professor took a seat in the bleachers, accompanied by his other 2 daughters.
"I heard Kimmy is going to participate this time" Blossom noted.
"Kim? She's such a wimp!" Buttercups said, smiling.
"She is not Buttercup!" Bubbles replied, defending her friend.
"Look Bubbles...I've seen the way she fights...If I say she's a wimp...she's a wimp".
Blossom interjected.
"Oh don't mind her Bubbles...she's just mad about that giant monster from earlier today".
"Oh don't you dare...I would've landed the final blow if someone hadn't been experimenting with her new powers" Buttercup shot daggers at Bubbles.
Bubbles giggles. "She's got me there. Well you snooze, you lose Buttercup". Bubbles stuck her tongue out at Buttercup
"I'll show you a snooze !" Then Buttercup and Bubbles were fighting somewhat playfully until Blossom forced them back into their seats.
The bleachers were packed and Blossom shut it all down.
"Guys come on...it's time to pipe down. The competition's about to begin".
A young woman in a suit walked to the center with a microphone.
"Testing...testing. Can everyone hear me?"
Some in the crowd gave a thumbs up, others vocally said yes, and then a few near the front nodded their heads.
"Excellent. Now that I have your undivided attention. may I welcome you to Townsville's martial arts competition. Today, we are hosting the matches for the girls today. These competitions are not based on the point system, as we are welcoming any martial arts here today. A victory will be determined by knockout, surrender, or by the referees. By referees, we mean that if there is risk of serious injury or death, our staff will intervene and stop things right there.
"There's just one thing left to say...Let's ROCK AND ROLL EVERYONE!" Pumping her first into the air, the entire crowd cheered.
The first 2 competitors and their respective instructors walked out onto the mat. The instructors stood on the side, showing moral support for their pupils.
The first fight lasted about 3 minutes, then ended with a strong kick to the knee.
Then...a face that the Powerpuff Girls hadn't seen in over a year emerged and entered into the ring with a mysteriously tall, red-headed woman.
The crowd had varied reactions. Some were gasping at who was standing on the mat, whereas others were shocked into silence. One of the terrors of Townsville who'd been absent for a while made her appearance at a martial arts competition!
"OMG! BLOSSOM! Buttercup! OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG"
"Shut up Bubbles, I have eyes." Buttercup said, keeping hers firmly focused on Princess.
"She's been gone for a full year...why show up here of all places?" Buttercup asked.
"Idk...but we need to stay on our guard. You think she knew that we were going to be here tonight? Why would Princess be here to cause anything but trouble?"
Blossom said it as if it were almost rehearsed, but then she'd thought about what it is she was saying. Princess hadn't caused trouble all year long...a world record among their cast of villains. I want to believe that she can change but...she's just an evil, selfish, spoiled brat. Maybe she's just on hiatus from all the trouble making...maybe even villains need a break every now and then.
Professor Utonium chimed in on their conversation.
"I don't see her suit. Do you think the lady escorting her on the mat is holding it for her?"
Blossom used her x-ray vision to see through their bodies. She shook her head.
"Well...who knows...maybe one of her servants is holding it for her in the back. Stay on your guard girls."
All 3 nodded in unison and reluctantly remained in their seats, waiting to see what would happen.
Maia laid her hand on Princess's back. "I'll be watching from the side."
Princess wanted more than anything to unleash.
"Will Katie Porter and... Princess Morbucks step onto the Mat please?"
Katie Porter gave Princess a condescending look. "Well look who we have here...looking to start up some trouble again?"
Princess recalled a lesson that Maia had taught to her. There is a fine line between talking and going on a rant. Talking can be used as a form of psychological manipulation in a fight.
"Hey Ref...are we sure that she doesn't have that suit tucked somewhere under that gi of hers?"
"We've checked...and no she doesn't have her suit on her".
"Just what I wanted to hear." Katie lunged forward at Princess, throwing punches left and right.
It's time to find out what the new me is capable of.
Princess decided to break her guard. With one punch, she sent Katie Porter flying 5 feet behind her.
Katie managed to protect herself by crossing her arms right when she sensed that Morbucks was about to strike. Her arms were in serious pain.
Really? No suit huh? They expect me to believe this little brat got this strong in a year?
"Ref...are you sure you checked for a suit?"
"Yes...we searched her up and down with her consent."
Princess consented to a search...I don't believe it!
That punch almost looked like a blur.
The crowd was utterly beside itself.
Princess was looking at her hands, opening and closing them.
Katie Porter got back up, yelled, and then began throwing kicks. Princess again dodged all of them.
That punch I used was only 70 percent of my strength...yet I broke her guard. What would more do do?
Princess threw a punch at 100 percent, smashing right through her defense.
The referee began the count. "10...9...8...7".
So that's what I was able to do at full power.
"3...2...1".
The refs examined her more closely.
"Princess Morbucks has won by knockout!"
They lifted her hand into the air. Most of the audience didn't cheer, as they were very skeptical about the claims of the ref.
"Hey Professor...do you think that the refs have been bought off or something?"
"...I don't think so."
"Really professor?" The girls all asked in unison.
"Look at her physique girls. Does that look like the same girl you fought over a year ago?"
"Come to think of it...she does seem...different".
Professor Utonium was eyeing the instructor, the only person who applauded the knockout.
When Princess returned to Maia's side, Maia ruffled her hair and praised her for the fight.
Princess smiled and batted away the hand, walking back into the area where the remaining martial artists were staying.
The girls were back to talking with each other, while the professor kept a close eye on the red-headed woman.
What kind of instructor is she exactly? I know that she's wealthy and could probably afford anyone...but there's something about this that doesn't seems...off. Would an instructor ruffle their student's hair and why did the little girl smile that way? Why was this kid missing for so long?
"Girls...I have a question."
"Sure professor...what's up?"
"A question...sure why not?"
"What is is professor?"
"Have you ever seen that red-headed woman before?"
"The one who walked in with Princess? No, this would be the first time I've ever seen her".
"it's as I thought..."
"Thought what professor?"
"Princess had maids, butlers, and other servants, but... they never once helped her out in a fight".
"Well yea...it's cuz she's a selfish, spoiled, brat!"
"I don't think you understand...something about this is off."
"What do you mean?"
A girl missing for over a year...a girl that was raised by butlers, maids, and a negligent father...has a personal martial arts instructor? Why would Princess need a martial arts instructor? With all her money, she could just buy a more advanced suit or concoct another complex plot with the other villains.
"Does it seem like it's within Princess Morbucks character to just drop a grudge? To just let things go?"
"Come to think of it...no it doesn't make any sense."
"So then why did she stop fighting with you girls for over a year? Is it because she didn't want to...or couldn't?"
Blossom saw where this was going and her facial expression turned serious.
"Bubbles...Buttercup...I need you two to stay here. I'm heading somewhere. Blossom...come with me".
"Hey...why can't I come? These competitions are so BORING!"
"No Buttercup...stay with your sister. We'll be back as soon as we can".
When the two left, the competition continued.
Bubbles friend made her debut and won her match. Princess continued to advance as well. The quarterfinals were taking place. Meanwhile...
"Oh now I know it was around here somewhere...It's been such a long time since I've been there".
"You've been to her place in the past?!"
"Well yes...a long time ago I found a little red headed girl all alone in a park and drove her back home. I used to be friends with her father...once upon a time".
"There Blossom!" Blossom saw and descended from the sky, gently laying the professor onto his feet.
"It's been a while since I've been here..."
"You've been to her mansion in the past, Professor?"
"Yes...a long time ago".
Professor Utonium tried to open the doors, only to find that they were locked in place.
Going to have to do this the hard way...
"Blossom..I need you to break down the door".
"Professor! Is that really necessary? Aren't we breaking a law?"
Utonium turned to Blossom and laid his hands on her shoulders.
"Honey...I don't want to say everything just yet...but I need to know the truth..."
"...Alright, I'll do it".
Blossom knocked down the door with a single punch.
Utonium placed a hand in front of you. " I need you to stay outside...I have a very bad feeling.
"Oh come on professor...I fight monsters on a daily basis...I can handle whatever's in there!"
"Please..."
"Oh alright!"
Utonium carefully advanced into the darkness, his being obscured by the shadow.
Blossom folded her arms. I don't get it at all! Why is he keeping me out here? He didn't even give me an explanation.
The quarter finals had concluded, with Bubble's friend being defeated by a girl named Linda Bailey.
Bubbles shouted out to console her friend, who had lost the match. Linda had defeated her after 5 minutes. It was a very close, but well fought match.
"I gotta say...Linda's pretty good. Think she'll be able put the smack down on Princess?" Buttercup asked.
"...I don't know. Do you think she's waiting to try something during the Finals?"
"I wouldn't put anything past that brat".
"Just because they didn't find her suit doesn't mean she can't retrieve it at some point. With all those maids and servants of hers, she could have someone slip in at any time."
Back in the locker room, Princess was waiting anxiously for the next match...
Having beaten several opponents so far and not a scratch on her, she felt...a confidence in herself that even the suit hadn't given her...no that was a sense of safety. It was nothing more than a mere reassurance...being able to beat people myself...I can't describe...how good it feels. I'm strong...and. Princess looked at Maia in a way she herself did not yet comprehend...I'm so much stronger than I was a year ago...I wish...She shook her head. I won't...
I'll never...
I can't...
Don't go there...
That's there for me anyways?
What's there...where am I in that?
Blossom heard soft crying with her super hearing and rushed inside the mansion.
"Professor, what's wrong?!"
Then...Blossom drank in the whole scene...the scene of a tragedy.
"Oh...oh...no..." Blossom fell on her knees. The smell was awful, the skeletons were lying all over the master bedroom. The professor was sat beside the remains of his friend...trying to cry as softly as he could. Blossom had heard him regardless.
"Who...who could have done this?!" The skeletons of the maids and Mr. Morbucks had holes...bullet holes.
"It couldn't be...could Princess have done it...could she really have sunk this low?!"
Professor Utonium rose back up.
"No Blossom, this wasn't her doing. Princess is a very flawed girl...but she loved her father. I can't even imagine how she's still feeling..."
"Are you sure Professor?"
Utonium nodded his head confidently.
"I would like to know what happened to my friend though...I have a few ideas who might have been behind it."
Blossom was unsettled by the sight around her. "I didn't want you to see...a dead person yet. For all I know, you girls may live forever.
As you can see...we're mortal...and that is something we live with all the time. Someday...I'll be-Stop!"
Blossom began tearing up. "Just...I need time".
"I'm sorry..."
Blossom hugged her father, and then they called the police over.
Princess and Linda were even during the 1st minute of the fight, with most of the crowd cheering Linda on. Neither seemed to be able to land a blow, and then Princess implemented a technique that Maia had taught her.
"There are times when an opponent you're fighting will be completely in sync with your movements. Whether you throw a punch or a kick, they block it or deflect your attack. When that happens, you use something called a feint."
"A Feint?" Princess had never heard of it before.
"It'll be easier to show you".
Then...Maia launched her left hand forward to attack, only to pull it back at the last second. Then, she poked Princess on the forehead with her right hand.
"See what I did? This...is a feint. It's where I act like I'm going to attack you one way, but that's actually to divert your attention away so that I can strike a decisive blow".
Might as well give it a shot.
Princess jabbed a few times first, then pretended to throw a haymaker. Falling for the feint, Linda reached forward to grab her right arm.
Pulling it back in time, Princess kicked Linda with all her might in the stomach and knocked her down.
Her opponent was holding on for dear mercy, grabbing her belly and fighting back tears.
One of Maia's lessons came back to her during that moment.
"There are times when an opponent will deceive you or lead you to believe that they are weaker than they actually are. Even if you judge a situation to be correct, it is unwise to pursue a course of action when you are unsure what your opponent will do."
"Some opponents exaggerate their pain or injuries to lure you into their physical range...then they strike like lightning. They could grab you and turn it into a ground game or they might try to get you to lower your guard. Maintain your distance...even when you've inflicted actual damage on them. Even when a person is hurt, they can become a very dangerous person. Those who are injured can gain temporary strength through their rage...it's not to be taken lightly."
Princess carefully backed up 3 feet and maintained her stance, waiting to see if Linda would continue or not.
Linda kept bawling. Her instructor, and the referees took a good look at her condition.
Linda was trying to force herself onto her feet and showed a lot of heart, but that kick had disabled her entire body.
Princess didn't smile...but she was immensely happy with the results of training. This was beyond her expectations...it was...A Stunning Transformation.
The referees called the match.
"The winner...is...Princess".
A few people in the crowd actually cheered, but she was mostly met with boos, insults, and thumbs down.
"Wow...she actually won. Now when is the part where she puts on her suit and wreaks havoc like always?" Buttercup asked, her body tensing up.
The trophy was brought out to Princess, but before it was handed to her, she walked offstage and left to celebrate with Maia.
"Princess...your trophy...Princess!"
I've gotten everything I wanted today...and so much more.
"I did it!" Princess jumped up and down in front of her teacher.
"Congratulations Princess...you earned it." Maia was grinning, very proud of her student.
"Have you ever seen that red lady around Princess before?" Bubbles asked.
"No...but the Town is huge...Do you remember all the thousands of people living in Townsville?"
"I remember lots of faces...I've never seen hers before".
"Maybe she's not from around here".
Then both the girls saw something that took them both by complete surprise.
Maia lifted Princess onto her shoulders and walked back to the locker room. Princess was really chatty and seemed genuinely happy in that moment.
Both Buttercup and Bubbles stared at each other for the longest time, without uttering a single word.
"Did you just see that?"
Buttercups remained silent for a while, then answered.
"Yea...and I don't believe it."