'Blossom, wake up! Wake up!'

She opened her eyes and looked around, confused. It was still dark and at the foot of her bed was Bubbles.

'He's asking for you again.' Bubbles muttered. 'It's really bad this time.'

'Wha-what happened? Blossom mumbled, still trying to gain her composture.

'Not sure yet, but the police said we should come as fast as possible.'

'Is Buttercup up? The Professor?' Blossom asked, climbing out of the bed and putting on the closest clothes she could find.

'Ye, they are, but we all waited for you.' Bubbles said nervously tugging a strand behind her ear. 'Has he said anything? Do you know what he might want?'

'No. No, he hasn't.' 'Am I lying?'

Downstairs Buttercup was pacing back and forth, and the professor brooded in a corner, with one eye watching the television. It seemed to be a live brodcast judging by the unpolished visuals and the anchor's distraught voice.

'There you are, about fucking time. We've been waiting forever.' Buttercup yelled, her. eyes throwing daggers at her. Her wounds were healing rapidly, but the deeper ones still showed, especially a deep gash in her stomach area.

'What's happening? Where is this filmed?'

'Downtown. In front of the Empire hotel.' the professor promptly answered.

'The red asshole is asking for you personally again. what's his deal? is this some sick joke?' Buttercup snapped.

Blossom said rubbed her eyes in frustration. The Professor furrowed his brow.

'Blossom, if you know anything we don't, please say so now.'

'How can I even phrase this without sounding ridiculous? Is this even remotely true? 'He wants sex'. It sounds crazy. He's most likely fucking with me to hide his true intentions''

We need to go. Girls, you're probably going to have to deal with the other two, they're likely waiting around. We'll see. I'll take him on alone.'

'Isn't that exactly what he wants, though?' the professor inquired.

'It's either that or civilian casualties. I've made my choice.'

Before he knew it, he could only see three colored streaks that signalled their departure.

As they arrived to the Empire, Blossom could see hoards of people watching from afar, the police barely containing them. near the top of the Empire she make out Brick's figure, holding in each hand a different person. He was joined by his brothers, they were all hovering menacingly above the crowd.

'Let's get closer. No sudden moves.' Blossom said.

Before she got to say anything more she could see her green sister slamming into her counterpart, both propelling into a nearby building.

'I don't think she heard you.' Bubbles added.

'You don't say... Ok, let's try to minimize the destruction here. If we can draw them out of downtown it's for the best.'

They slowly flew to their level, at which point Blossom could see a smile creeping on Brick's face.

'You're just in time for the show. Actually, you get to star in it. ' his face lit up with a sadistic grin.

Blossom's blood chilled. She could feel something was different this time.

'Boomer, keep her sister busy for me, will you? I've got some lessons to teach today.'

Before Bubbles could react, the blonde's arms coiled around her and she was whisked away into space.

'Now that it's just the two of us again, I'll start showing you what they're really like.'

Suddenly, his voice boomed across downtown, every person on a 1 mile radius could hear what he said.

'People of Townsville, we are gathered here in this, might I add, glorious day to witness the power of choice.' he raised his right arm, it clutched a man's throat. 'In my right hand here I've got a hardworking father of three. He's got two toddlers at home, very pleaseant kids I might add.' In my left hand I've got his eldest son. He's 11, I asked him earlier.' he said, choking the boy in his left hand. His hand was wet, the boy had been crying.

'Blossom here decides who's going to live today. What do you think, who should get to live?'

There was momentary silence in the crowd, followed by crazed yells and protests.

Blossom could feel a chill down her spine, her whole world collapsing.

'You don't have to do this.'

His voice lowered as he gave her a smile.

'No, I don't. But I want to. I'm teaching you a lesson. You'll see why in the aftermath.'

'Tell me now! Nobody needs to get hurt for it.' Blossom pleaded.

'To get the best results possible you need to go to extremes. And you are going to hate me, at least for a while, but I'm willing to go through with it so you can understand what you are. '

'What am I?' Blossom yelled in exasperation. 'Is this the sociopathic crap again? I understand it, but you don't have to kill anoyone to prove it. '

Bricked smirked and shook his head.

'Partially. I want you to see them for the malicious little ants they are. Enough talking, let's do this.' he raised higher in the air.

'Please, don't.' the choked man groaned.

Bricked ignored his pleas, flying higher into the air, Blossom following him.

'Miss, save my son. Please save my son'

The redhead could feel her heart sinking. Has it come down to this? Before she could think anything more, she saw Brick throwing away them forcefully into opposite directions.

'Make your choice.'

After a moment of hesitation she went after the child as fast as she could and grabbed him by the torso. Blossom made a 180 to go after the dad, could see him freefalling into the distance but before she reached him his body had smashed into a nearby building.

'..what..?'

Blossom got to the body, onlookers were already gathered around him. The boy jumped from her arms and she heard the his gut-wrenching scream 'Papa!' The father was covered in blood, his body was crushed at the impact, his limbs positioned into unnatural angles

'what..what have I done..?'