Dragon's Fury
Chapter 4: Dinner
"John hurry and get changed our guests will be here soon."
Professor Utonium turned to his wife.
"Tut tut Margaret. All scientists in our association meet in our labcoats. It's tradition and a sign of respect, and besides I am wearing a tie."
Blossom came into the room at that moment.
"But Dad you always wear that tie."
The Professor shrugged. "If it isn't dirty don't change it."
Margaret's eyes widened in horror.
"John, please don't tell me that's the same tie you've been wearing all week!"
The Professor looked at his wife blissfully unawhare of any wrongdoings on his part.
"Why yes dear but...
"Go change it now!", his wife demanded.
"But honey.."
Margaret pointed towards their bedroom. "Now!"
Sighing in defeat the professor walked out of the room with his head hung low.
Margaret sighed heavily. "I hope Buttercup is having an easier time than me."
Blossom smirked. " I wouldn't count on it."
"Buttercup I can hardly breathe", Will complianed.
"Well if you'd quit moving long enough I'd be able to tighten it properly."
"Why do I even need a bow tie anyway when this is a Semi-formal occasion?"
Buttercup pulled him closer to better manipulate the stubborn black bow tie.
"Because this is the only way The Professor and Mom would let Bunny attend. Apparently my approval wasn't a good enough reason."
Her face had a frown but her eyes's held sadness within them.
A pair of arms wrapped Buttercup from behind.
"I'm happy you wan't me around so badly Buttercup", Bunny told her. "But, be honest he looks rediculous in your dad's old outfit."
That was true. Her father had obviously been of a smaller build. They couldn't even get it to fit on him. Frankly he did look rediculous.
Buttercup sighed. "Yeah, if he went out like that then it would be a lot worse. Mom would never allow it."
"You're right Buttercup, I wouldn't."
Buttercup whiled around to see her mother standing in the doorway looking slightly amused.
"At least you tried to put it on", she said. "But I'd rather you wore something of your own that fits. I just avoided a disaster with my husband I don't need another one."
Will sighed in relief. "Thank you."
He then burst into flames and flew out of the holes in the shirt, much to the surprise to the two Utoniums but a common sight for Bunny.
When Will's body reformed in front of them he was wearing black dress shoes, black trousers, and a white collared shirt under a red blazer.
Margaret nodded her approval then looked at Buttercup and her jaw nearly dropped when she took notice of her appearence.
"Buttercup you look gorgeous!", she yelled.
Buttercup shifted awkwardly at the rather loud comment. It wasn't often such a compliment was used on her without being accompanied by a sarcastic tone.
Starting at the top: her raven black hair was cleaned and groomed to perfection not a single hair out of place with her hair held behind her ears by a green hairband with the exception of her bangs which hung naturally, parted to expose her face which despite not having a hint of makeup had perfect complexion.
Her breasts were neatly tucked into the dress and her waist was trim and...
"Buttercup! What happened to all your extra fat?"
Buttercup's face flustered in irritation.
"I'm not that fat mom. I just, sort of, tucked it all in."
Looking at her daughters midsection more closely this time she saw the barely noticable bulge pushing against the fabric but the dress still held it's shape remarkably well.
The only other thing she wore on the outside were her black dress shoes and nylon stockings.
Margaret sighed. "Alright as long as it's not harming the baby."
Buttercup nodded. "Don't worry mom I'm sure."
Nodding Mrs. Utonium turned to leave the room.
"Very well but hurry up our guests will be here any moment. Make sure you behave yourselves."
When her mother turned away Buttercup scowled. She knew that statement was more for the three of them then anyone else.
Bubbles checked herself in the mirror.
She wore a long blue skirt with a white belt and a matching blouse. She wore her sapphire earrings that she got for her last birthday and a gold chain around her neck.
Her trademark pigtails were now styled in elegant curls.
"Perfect" she said in satisfaction.
"You look great Bubbles."
Smiling she looked at her pink eyed sister. "Thanks. you too."
Blossom wore a pink mini dress that had a slight v-neck showing just a hint of cleavage. Her only jewlery was a pair of gold earrings.
At that moment the doorbell rang snapping everyon in the house to attention.
"Show time", Blossom said with a nervous smile.
Margaret checked herself in the enterance way mirror quickly then promptly answered the door.
A man in a high collar white lab coat and goggles stood outside.
"Professor Membrane", Margaret greeted. "Nice to see you again."
Professor Membrane bowed. "The pleasure is all mine Margaret."
Behind him were his two children.
The first his son who shared the large Scythe hairdoo on the top of his head and wore large glasses. His clothes consisted of Black dress pants and a shirt under a black trench coat.
The second was his daughter and was far more striking.
Her Violet hair was tied up in a loose bun with her bangs hanging down but styled so that it was kept away from her face by a slight up turn before it dropped.
She wore a beautiful backless mini dress and shoes that matched her hair. Her face looked devoid of any sort of makeup or other cosmetics.
Margaret fully opened the door and welcomed them inside.
Professor Utonium and Professor Membrane shook hands.
"Good of you to invite us John."
"It was my pleasure Vincent."
He gestured to his left. "My daughters, Blossom, Bubbles and..." He sighed when there was only empty air beside Bubbles.
"Where is Buttercup?", he asked his rather peeved wife.
"She'll be down any minute", she replied as cheerfully as she could muster.
"I'm already here."
Everyone turned to see Buttercup standing by the stairs with crossed arms. She knew the real reason for this little get together and she made no effort to hide her contempt.
Will stood beside her grinning.
"Nice to see you again Gaz."
The Violet haired girl looked surprised.
"Dray? So it is you after all."
He nodded. "Yep but I didn't expect us to meet again like this."
He looked over at her suddenly aggitated brother .
"And I see you brought Dib-worm with you."
Seething Dib stepped forward angry.
"And just what's a mysterious Alien collaborator doing here?
"Please son", his father said. "We are guests here."
But Dib was unwavered. "Then what is he doing here?", he demanded pointing at Will.
Having had enough Buttercup stepped in between them and glared at Dib.
"He's with me big head", she growled. "And I'm not one you should cross."
Buttercup kept her hands in tight fists to prevent her claws from coming out.
"So you betterscrew off or I'm going to rip your head from your puny neck, eat out your brains and use your skull as a flower pot."
She stepped closer. "You get me?"
Dib narrowed his eyes.
"After protecting the world from freaks and Aliens do you really think some girl could threaten me like..."
Dib was suddenly cut off when he was suddenly hoisted into the air by a rather miffed brunette.
"Growing up with Gaz I would have thought you had developed more sense then to make such comments Dib-worm", Bunny said with a sinister smile.
"You're here too? Why?" He asked.
"Buttercup's my sister", she replied. "You have a problem with her, you have a problem with me and we both know you don't want that."
She released him and he brushed himself off.
"Anyway", he said. "I came here just as I was asked but now I have to go home." He walked out the door then yelled back into the house. "And spy on a certain Alien trying to take over the world and enslave all of humanity."
With that said he slammed the door.
Prof. Membrane shook his head.
"My poor son."
Gaz put a hand on his arm.
"Come on Dad, let's just have dinner."
As everyone piled into the dinning room Margaret remained behind to observe briefly.
She watched as Will pulled out a chair for Buttercup who looked surprised by the gesture but took her seat. A little embarassed though.
Looking at the ebony haired girl she seemed almost alien. Whenever she had been forced to dress up before she put in the minimal effort possible and she had always kept a scowl on her face.
Now though she had pulled out all the stops in looking after herself and the scowl was replaced with a slightly embarassed face.
Will sat to her right with Gaz sitting on his right sat next to her father at the end of the table. Across from her was where Dib would have sat. To the right of that was Bubbles who sat next to Blossom then Margaret took her seat beside her with her husband at the head of the table. Bunny took the final seat across from her on Buttercup's left.
Adorning the table top were a large variety of foods from baked ham to creamed corn.
The first few minutes were spent with everyone getting food onto their plates and passing it around.
Blossom noticed the very average amount of food on Buttercup's plate. Actually today she had been eating fairly average amounts. Maybe she had finally finished creating that layer of fat she constantly mentioned.
She looked at her sister who stared at her plate with blank eyes. She was lost in her own world again.
"So how has the Utonium family been?", Prof. Membrane asked.
Blossom snapped out of her sibling analyzation and back to focus on the overall dinner.
"Very good sir", she replied cheerfully, hoping it didn't sound too hasty.
"Now now", he said. "We can talk freely now."
Gaz looked at Buttercup with her now more vibrant amber eyes.
"So how's life as a mother so far?"
Buttercup blinked. "Well, I haven't had much energy until today cause I was always eating and sleeping. But yesterday I finally hit the fifteen pound mark so now I can relax a little."
Gaz laughed. "Yeah, I can imagine the difficulty in that when you're used to the routine of being a teenager."
Will smiled. "To her credit she didn't cry when she found out she was pregnant."
Gaz smiled. "I'm sure your son will be happy to know that."
Buttercup smiled too. "Yeah I guess."
"Anyway", Professor Utonium interjected. "We are here to discuss the centre as a means to help Buttercup get on with her life."
"Prof. Membrane shrugged. "I really don't think the centre is necessary for her."
The Utonium parents were shocked. "What!"
Seeing their shock Vincent could tell he would have to put extra detain into his explanation.
"I came here because besides having a chance to have dinner with a professional colleague I wanted to help you daughter who I thought was an awakened sleeper."
Blossom raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"What?"
"During the past few decades or so", Prof. Membrane began. "'Element mediums' or 'Elementals' if you prefer, have an interesting trait in the strength of their genetics. Even if born in a human it get's stronger every generation.
"Woman who had perfectly normal conceptions went through the transformation as a result of their concieved child."
Buttercup suddenly thought. "Just like me."
"But this isn't because either of their parents were Elementals. It's because the child needed it's mother to become one in order to survive becuase it was an Elemental itself. This is because the body of a normal human female can't support the child or create the stem cells necessary for it's development.
The Utoniums nodded in understanding.
"Then there are other cases in which girls have simply gone through the metamorphosis as a result of puberty causing a catalyst with the gene.
Blossom's eyes widened.
"You mean that someone could just spontaneously go through the transformation?"
Prof. Membrane nodded.
"Yes but only females are capable and this was the case for most of the girls at the centre. Males are either born an elemental or a human."
Buttercup leaned in.
"Would I be able to meet them?" she asked hopefully.
Vincent shrugged.
"I don't think it would be a problem. Do you Gaz?"
She shrugged. "Nah, I could arrange it easily."
"Good because I believe it would be beneficial psychologically as well."
The Utonium parents looked relieved that Buttercup was going for any reason.
'What else is going on here?' Prof. Membrane wondered.
The rest of dinner went on fairly normaly after that. Conversation lighted the atmosphere with busrts of liveliness whenever a story was told.
After dessert Bubbles looked around for Buttercup but she didn't seem to be anywhere.
"Looking for someone?"
Bubbles turned to see Gaz.
"Well I'm looking for Buttercup but since your here I wanted to ask you about... your brother.
Gaz sighed. "Oh yeah... sorry about him."
Bubbles shook her head.
"No, I just think that... it seems that everyone was a bit hard on him."
Gaz sighed more heavily.
"He's a decent guy and yeah he does always have the best interests of the world at heart but he is very prejudice too. If he knew about Buttercup and he had his way, your sister would be a guest in a disection room."
Bubbles looked horrified.
"You can't be serious."
Gaz looked at her sith a somber, even sad expression.
"I'm afraid I am."
Buttercup sat on the balcony on the roof. Looking at the moon and it's shining silver radiance upon the city.
Buttercup couldn't help but become mezmerized by the beauty despite the bland cityscape.
"Watcha doin way up here?"
Buttercup turned to see Gaz as she walked up beside her.
"Being up here by yourself I'm guessing you've got a lot on your mind."
Buttercup sighed. "I get the impression that my parents want to keep William and me seperated."
Gaz rested her chin on her hands. "Why do you think that?"
Buttercup looked down into the backyard.
"I don't know it's just a feeling I get. Ever since his family showed up Mom and Dad have been acting kinda defensive."
Gaz nodded. "I think they're just afraid of losing you."
Buttercup looked at her curiously. "Losing me?"
Gaz sighed. "Working with the centre I've seen it a lot. Their daughter goes through the transformation and their precious little girl is suddenly no longer human. They think that part of them is lost forever. As a result they desperatly hold on to whatever's left."
Taking this information in Buttercup looked thoughtful.
"And no girl that goes through that transformation is ever the same again. Mentally or physically."
Gaz nodded. "That's right and the family hardly recognizes them sometimes. That makes it even harder for them to let go cause they want their old daughter back."
Buttercup put her hands together. "Any advice?"
Gaz shook her head.
"You should ask the girls at the centre when you meet them."
Having nothing else to say Gaz left Buttercup alone with her thoughts once again.
'Do Mom and Dad think his family is trying to take me away from them?'
"Penny for your thoughts."
Buttercup turned her head to see William walking towards her.
"Just thinking about stuff that happened tonight."
Will came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
Buttercup sighed contently, feeling safe in his strong loving arms.
"William", she asked. "What would happen if we got married?"
There was a long pause before she recieved an answer.
"Well we'd probably live together and raise our son together. Have more kids probably."
Buttercup couldn't help but smile. It sounded so ideal.
'Shows how much I've changed', she thought. Two weeks ago she would have beat her own daylights out for such thoughts.
"We wouldn't live here though would we", she said knowingly.
She heard him sigh. "No. We'd probably go to my home town."
His words sounded almost shamful. Guilty even.
"Everyone at home knows who we are and accepts us. Our kids wouldn't have to hide what they are. They could have a reasonably normal life."
Buttercup had to admit it sounded wonderful, but it meant she would be sperated from her family.
Guessing what she was thinking Will pulled her closer.
"You could still visit your family pretty easily. You'd just have to take a trip in our family jet.
Buttercup laughed. "Sounds great."
Both teens looked up at the moon, both with the same thought.
'What if.'
"By the way", he told her.
"hmmm?"
"Don't threaten about eating out someone's brains. Cause human brains taste like water soaked bread."
Buttercup chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind."
I realize this might seem short for how long you guys had to wait but this was hard for me to right because I wasn't sure how I wanted this chapter to turn out.
It turned out pretty good so I'm happy. Hopefully I can update more frequently