Dragon's Fury

Chapter 2: Early Retirement

Mandy didn't know if it was because of her mood or the weather that it felt so unpleasant as she walked towards the Utonium home.

Although her first motive for going there was to escape the situation at home she was also intensely curious about Buttercup.

The last time she saw her she was in a giant cocoon Mandy wondered what sort of 'butterfly' emerged. From what she'd been told it was one of the most frightning things you can think of.

As her destination came into view she wondered what would happen to her friend. Would she be and outcast? Would she be able to hide what she had become? She pondered these questions all the way to the door.

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Bunny sat on a chair across from her raven haired sister who was sleeping on the couch, a blanket draped over her still form as she smiled in her dreams.

Rayza was in the kitchen making Buttercup's next snack and cleaning up from making the last one.

Bunny heard Buttercup make a small noise and stretch her arms out before slowly opening her eyes.

"How long was I asleep for?", she asked.

"About an hour", Bunny told her.

Buttercup sighed then slowly sat up and rested her back on the couch. "You're not going to believe this."

Bunny smirked. "Hungry?"

Her sister groaned. "If I'm not sleepy I'm hungry, if I'm not sleeping I'm eating."

Bunny chuckled. "Don't worry, you'll calm down in a week or so. Then you'll have a little more freedom."

The doorbell interrupted their conversation however, prompting Bunny to ger up and answer the door.

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Mandy rang the doorbell only once and waited anxiously to see if anyone would answer. Her stomach tightned when she heard the doorknob turn.

The door opened to reveal Bunny standing in the doorway surprised. "Oh, Mandy! Nice to see you."

"Mandy?"

The blonde girl recognized the voice from inside as belonging to Buttercup.

Bunny gestured Mandy to enter and the blonde obliged and saw the black haired puff sitting on the couch and looked like she had just woken up.

Cautiously Mandy walked to the couch and sat beside her friend. "How are you feeling?"

Buttercup frowned. "Hungry."

Mandy grimaced. "I'm not surprised considering you hadn't eaten for three days."

Buttercup crossed her arms and huffed. "I made up for that yesterday."

Mandy nodded and looked down at her feet giving no response. Her eyes only moving as Bunny sat back in her chair.

Now it was Buttercup's turn to ask. "How are you feeling? You seem angry about something."

Mandy's brows furrowed and she looked away. She felt a hand gently touch her shoulder and she turned to look into Buttercup's deep emeral eyes. They seemed different somehow.

"What's wrong?"

Mandy sighed and opened the gates of her emotional fortress and let it out. "That guy from the A.P.P.A is at my house trying to sell their 'services' to my parents."

Buttercup's caring eyes suddenly transformed into orbs of glowing green fury. "What!"

Mandy reeled back form Buttercup's sudden outburst of anger, instinctively trying to put herself out of danger.

Buttercup moved to push herself off the couch but only got halfway before Bunny placed her hands firmly on her sisters shoulders. "You're not going anywhere."

Buttercup growled. "I'm going to go over there and find out what his game is or kill him trying!"

Bunny forced her back onto the couch. "That might be what he wants. Do you honestly want to go near him, even if it puts your baby in danger? You don't want him to get your baby do you?"

Buttercup's eyes dimmed and her body relaxed as she settled down. "I guess your right", she grumbled.

Bunny released her sister and tapped her chin thoughtfully as gears began to turn in her head. "That might be what this is all about."

Mandy and Buttercup looked up at the brunette with curiosity. Bunny took the hint and eloborated.

"What if you getting pregnant wasn't about you at all? What if it's the baby they're after."

Both pregnant girls looked horrified. "Why?", they both asked.

Bunny turned to her sister. "You it's most obvious. It's likely your powers are hereditary to an extent and the ones that don't inherit your abilities will inherit Dray's."

Mandy's eyes narrowed. "A selective breeding program?"

Bunny nodded. "Exactly for what purpose I can't be sure, but it can't be good."

"And you're just gonna let him go about his ugly buisness scot free?", Buttercup shouted angrily.

Bunny glared at her sternly. "If we scare him off we might lose our chance at finding out what's going on and that is the only way we can put a stop to it."

Mandy saw Buttercup glare back up into her sister's violet orbs before uncharacteristically submitting to her logic.

Bunny sighed and sat down beside Buttercup, pulling her into a gentle hug."I know it goes against your instinct but trust me, it's for the best."

Buttercup managed a nod and held up her left hand. "Would you mind getting Rayza in here so she can help me put these things away?"

Mandy looked shocked as she stared at the hooked black claws justting out from the end of her friends fingers that had apparently come out when she got angry.

Bunny smiled, nodded then left to the kitchen, leaving the two pregnant girls alone.

Buttercup shifted awkwardly under Mandy's gaze. "I guess I've changed a bit since we last saw each other."

Mandy raised an eyebrow. 'That's an understatement.' "The claws did catch my eye."

Now Buttercup raised an eyebrow, amusement in her eyes. "Funny, I expected the wings to catch your eyes first."

Surprise flashed in Mandy's eyes and turned her head slightly to see a pair of large green wings coming out of Buttercup's back. 'How did I miss those?', she wondered.

"You don't seem very surprised",Buttercup said.

Mandy shrugged. "Well I was told what you were turning into, and you were in a cocoon so the wings aren't much of a surprise."

"Ah."

The two girls turned as a new presence entered the room. Mandy eyed the strange orange haired girl as she approached the couch.

"You'd probably learn faster if you experimented in the meantime."

Buttercup frowned. "I was busy having a conversation with Mandy", she said turning back towards her blonde friend. She tilted her head towards the orange haired girl. "Mandy, Rayza. She's William's cousin."

Rayza nodded at her. "Nice to meet you."

Mandy returned the nod. "Same."

As Rayza began to instruct Buttercup on the mechanics of her claws Mandy looked on with intrigue.

Both girls seemed to be having difficulty. Buttercup with Rayza's instructions and Rayza having to relearn motions that she was used to doint without conscious thought.

Mandy suddenly realized that Bunny was nowhere to be seen. Was she still in the kitchen?"

Buttercup sighed in relief as all of her claws were at last hidden in her fingers. It made Mandy wonder where the claws disappeared to.

"When I get used to this it won't be soon enough", Buttercup said as she slumped in her seat.

Rayza laughed. "Don't worry, it won't take too long."

Buttercup crossed her arms. "It better not."

Mandy raised her hand. "Um, so where's Will then?"

"Oh, he went to school today", Buttercup answered.

Mandy looked thoughtful. "I see." She glanced up at the clock. "Speaking of which, school's over now, so I better get home, otherwise Billy might worry."

"Why not leave a message for him at his house that you're here?", Rayza suggested.

The blonde haired girl sighed. "I doubt that he'd ever get it. His dad's a complete idiot and his mom isn't really happy that I'm the one carrying their families future, litteraly."

Rayza sighed. "Squabbling parents always make even simple relationships difficult."

"Add to that the complicated reltionship you have."

Everyone looked at Bunny coming from the kitchen with a tray of strange looking buns.

"What are those?", Buttercup asked.

Bunny smiled and placed the tray on the coffee table. "They're buns made of meat, wheat, and lard."

Mandy stared at the tray in disbelief. "There's now way she can eat all that!"

Buttercup looked at her with an almost pained expression. "Trust me, I'll have no problem."

Mandy looked at Bunny who simply shrugged. "Can I get you anything?", she asked. "Buttercup's not the only one eating for two."

Mandy looked at Buttercup who was systematically devouring the buns on the tray. 'Looks more like she's eating for ten', she thought.

"Here". Bunny held out a small sandwich in front of Mandy and the blonde lookd at the brunette in surprise.

Bunny shrugged. "I thought of it when I was taking the buns out of the oven."

Mandy shrugged her surprise aside and took the sandwich. "Thank you." She bit into the rather plain looking sandwich and was instantly in heaven.

The bread was sweet and moist without being soggy and the filling was tender and juicy. "This is delicious!", she exclaimed. "What is it?"

Bunny sat down on a chir across from her. "Just a little sweet honey bread and Cod mixed with Salmon and Sea star."

Mandy halted with her teeth in the bread at the mentioning at the last ingrediant. "See star?", she asked nervously.

She felt a hand on her shoulder once again and turned to look at Buttercup's food stained face. "It's best just to forget about what's in the food. In fact it's better not to ask in the first place."

Mandy managed to smile. "Yeah, I guess so."

Suddenly Buttercup's face was assaulted by a piece of cloth.

"Hey", she sputtered as she tried in vain to push away her attacker. "What are you doing?"

"Cleaning your face", Rayza said in a motherly insistent type manner. "Honestly, even the pups don't get this messy when they have those buns."

Mandy and Bunny couldn't hold it in any longer and finally burst out laughing at the scene, much to Buttercup's dismay.

"Well you can't go walking around with a filthy face you know", Rayza told her.

"But I'm perfectly capable of washing my own face", Buttercup protested. "I'm having a baby, I'm not turning into one."

"I would argue that point."

Everyone turned to see Blossom and Bubbles entering the house.

"Always with the quick comebacks eh Blossom?", Buttercup said.

The red haired puff grinned, "You know me."

Buttercup frowned. 'Yes I know you sis, so I know somethings bothering you. I can see it in your eyes.' "What's wrong?"

Blossom swallowed. "Well um, Will sort of got into a fight."

Buttercup's eyes widened. "He did what!"

Blossom nodded solemnly. "Spurg chalenged him to a fight and they went into the ring in the gym and it turned into a huge brawl.

The door opened and Will stepped inside. "I'm back."

Buttercup turned to face him with her arms crossed. "Yes, and I heard you were very busy today."

Will shrugged. "I take great pleasure in putting scum back into the proper place on the food chain."

Buttercup tapped her foot. "You're selfish you know that."

Will raised an eyebrow. "Am I?"

Buttercup started walking towards him. "Didn't you think even for a minute that I might wanna watch?"

Blossom slapped her face in exhasperation whilst Bubbles couldn't help but crack a smile. The Buttercup she knew was starting to come back, even if she would never be the same as she had been.

"Don't worry", Will told the dark haired girl. "The Video Production Club taped the whole thing and after they finish editing they're gonna sell them. Free copies for club members and participants."

Buttercup's eyes brightned. "Awesome, then I'll get to see it."

"Buttercup."

She turned to Blossom who looekd at her with sober eyes. "We need to talk."

The dragoness looked at her sister suspiciously then glanced at Bubbles who had what could be sadness in her eyes.

Now Buttercup was growing concerned, and nevous. Swallowing her building anxiety she bravely stepped away from the security of her lover and followed her sisters upstairs to her bedroom.

When they were gone Rayza turned to her cousin wearing a look of disapproval. "I don't think you have to be that obvious", she told him.

He looked back at her, his smile showing his confidence. "Don't worry, I've got it worked out." His gaze fell on Mandy who was finishing off the last of her sandwich. "Just visiting?"

Mandy frowned. "I came here to escape the snake pit that is my house."

"I see." Will wasn't entirely sure why Mandy seemed upset but it was possible that it was due to growing friction between hers and Billy's families. "Billy was planning to see you later", he told her.

Mandy nodded and got off the couch. "I better go then."

As she walked by him he asked her. "Do you want a ride?"

She shook her head. "Thanks but I think I need the walk."

Will nodded. "All right."

As Mandy left, those in the room couldn't help but think that rough times lay ahead for the blonde and her red haired boyfriend.

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"All right what's the problem?" Buttercup had been dragged by her two sisters into her bedroom then they gently sat her on her bed. She wished they hadn't, the effort going in to digesting her recent meal was taking it's toll on her bodys energy and being on the restful bed made it harder to resist the fatigue wheighing down on her.

Blossom cleared her throat and explained. "Well before we left school the Professor phoned us to go meet him at work."

Bubbles took over the next part. "When we got there he told us a collegue of his has knowledge of occurences like what happened to you."

Buttercup narrowed her eyes, she didn't like where this was going. She felt something rub against her and saw Ferratus gently leaning against her. Smiling she began rubbing his claw. His presence was welcome at the moment.

Blossom took over now. "So Mom and Dad invited him and his family to dinner this week."

Buttercup frowned. Blossom had said professor earlier and now she used 'dad'. That meant her emotions were starting to rise to the surface. "Why?", she asked.

"To discuss your predicament."

Buttercup was instantly on her feet. "And what might that be?", she growled.

Blossom didn't back down. "Buttercup you've been turned into a creature infamous for it's proficiency in killing. Maybe they can find someway of hiding it better. Then you could still fit in."

"I don't care about fitting in", she growled angrily. "I like who and what I am. Or is it that my family has a problem with it."

The two girls were shocked by Buttercup's accusing statment, and a little offended. "No", Bubbles insisted. "We love you regardless of who or what you are."

"Doesn't seem like it", She replied bitterly. "I know you two want me to go back to being a member of the team and fight crime again but I can't." Tears were starting to well up in the young womans eyes as built up emotions came tumbling down. "I know you want me to go back to being the tough one, the fighter, but I can't. I can't raise a child properly by being tough and I want my pup to grow up knowing something beyond fighting."

To the other girls it felt like they were getting hit with hammers in their stomach every time Buttercup made a point; and their sister specifically calling the baby her pup was a particularly large blow.

"My son will grow up knowing his mother, and always having her,-me always there for him, instead of having to cry himself to sleep at night because his mother's out waisting time with some loser trying to get an advance deposit on his welfare."

By now the other girls had tears welling up in their own eyes as Buttercup made clear her comitment to the life she carried inside her, and the sacrifices.

"I'm sorry", she said as tears flowed in streams down he reddened cheeks. "But as of right now I'm officially...", She looked away, not able to look her sisters in the eye with this final and powerful word. "...Retired."

For the two puffs, the only ones now, they felt their hearts shatter like a glass ornament falling from their perch onto the hard floor. But however hard it was for them to deal with, they knew it was much harder for Buttercup.

The young mother-to-be had grown up wanting and expecting to continue her crime fighing career for as long as possible, not thinking even once about marriage or children. To give up something that she loved to do, because of an occurance that had been beyond her control, and to do so willingly, they knew was tearing her apart.

They were right, Buttercup felt as though a hurricane of glass shards was rampaging through her innards, she had never made a more difficult decision in her entire life. She hoped that she wouldn't have to make one like it again.

"I'm sorry", she said at last. "But as a mother, my child takes priority over everything. I have to do this."

Not able to take it anymore the other two girl embraced their sister and the three began sobbing as they hugged each other tightly. They stayed like this for what seemed like forever before the tears finally subsided and they released each other.

Blossom wiped her eyes and smiled. "That was a very responsible thing to do Buttercup" she said proudly. "I'm proud of you."

Buttercup smiled. "I learned from the best."

Blossom was touched by this, she almost started crying again.

Bubbles rushed at her pregnant sister and hugged her again. "Oh, Buttercup it just won't be the same without you."

Buttercup smiled and returned the hug. "We had a good run together, it'll be okay since all the big time villians are gone now."

Blossom stood up. "Well we better let you rest up for supper."

Bubbles released her sister and Buttercup got off the floor. She climbed under the covers and Bubbles tucked her in. As they left to room and turned of the light, she was already entering dreamland.

They walked down the stairs and were intercepted at the bottom by their concerned violet eyed sister.

"Everything okay?"

Blossom nodded. "Yeah, just fine."

Bubbles looked over at the two dragons standing off to the side. "Would you two like to stay for dinner?"

Rayza smiled. "We'd love to but were going to be having a family dinner tonight. It's been a while and will probably be the only one before Thanksgiving."

Bubbles nodded. "I understand."

Bunny cleared her throat. "I'll be going too."

The two puffs looked at her surprised.

Bunny shrugged. "Well they consider me part of the family so I should go."

Blossom nodded. "That's fine."

The three turned and proceeded out the door. "I'll be back later", Bunny called.

"See you then", Bubbles responded cheerfully.

When the three left the house and the roar of Will's car could be heard speeding away the two girls collapsed on the couch, the recent emotional storm having worn them out.

"I think Buttercup will make a good mother", Bubbles said happily.

Blossom nodded in agreement. "So do I."

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Not far away Billy was going through his own emotional turmoil, though his was one of helplesness, and guilt. He watched sadly as Mandy's parents all but dragged her into their house, none to pleased that she had vacated the building earlier.

"What do I do?", he wondered out loud.

He felt a large hand on his shoulder and recognnized it as his grandfathers.

"Just be there when she needs you lad.", the old scottsman told him. "Right now that's all ye can do."

Billy nodded and looked back at the house across the street. 'I'll be there Mandy', he vowed. 'I'll be there.'

Finally Updated this story. I've been so busy with work lately with 12 hour shifts and other stuff but now it's up. I hope you enjoy it.