So at last it's here, sorry for the wait. To those of you who were asking for more Billy and Mandy I respecively ask you to please be patient it's coming. Also please keep in mind that this fic isn't centric around them. I'll try to upload the next chapter as soon as possible so please be patient and I hope you enjoy this latest chapter.

Dragon's Fury

Chapter 10: The Closing Darkness

The familiar drone of an alarm clock woke Bubble from her slumber. She groaned and reached over to silence the device but accidently knocked it to the floor.

She groaned louder and dragged herself out of bed. She successfully silenced the alarm and placed the clock back on her night table.

She yawned and stretched as she stood to her feet.

She walked over to her mirror and realized that she had fallen asleep in her day clothes. The realization also brought back the unpleasant memories of the previous day.

Buttercup had been forced to leave her own home on top of all the other things that had happened to her. Changing species, getting pregnant and the overall prospect of being a teenage mother just to name a few. She didn't need any more hardships.

Bubbles' eyes started to well up but she shook her head in defiance. She couldn't cry now, she was sick of being the baby. All being the baby had gotten her was coddling, condescending attitudes and ridicule, she was grown up now and it was time she acted like it.

With renewed purpose she removed her clothes and put on her housecoat to have a shower.

Upon reaching the lavatory she discovered that is was already occupied. However as soon as she turned to go back to her room the door opened.

Turning back around she discovered it was Blossom coming out after just finishing her own shower.

Although the two were mere centimeters from each other they acted as though they were unaware of each other's presence, neither speaking or glancing at the other.

The hot water felt good on Bubbles' naked skin, washing away the grit and tear stains from the previous day.

As she lathered herself she couldn't help but think of her poor sister.

True Buttercup hadn't been the nicest sister in the past but in recent years the two had gotten much closer.

She wondered what had been going through Buttercup's head as she was evicted. Regret? Remorse? Bitterness? Anger? Resentment? Maybe even betrayal. She shuddered at the thought.

She shut off the water and started to dry herself.

What was Buttercup doing now? Was she lonely? Was she sad?

She left the bathroom and changed into her school clothes before heading downstairs for breakfast.

The scent of fresh eggs reached her before she entered the kitchen eliciting an eager rumble from her stomach.

"Morning Bubbles", Margaret greeted cheerfully. "I just finished your omelet." Margaret slid the omelet onto Bubbles plate and then returned to the stove to make her own.

The Professor sat at the head of the table reading the paper and drinking his coffee. Blossom was halfway finished her omelet.

Bubbles sat down and started eating.

Normally the breakfast table would be more lively with their parents asking about what they had planned for the day and the children asking the same from their parents. Today though only the sound of chewing and frying eggs were heard.

Bubbles looked up from her plate at the empty chair across the table: Buttercup's empty chair. Bubbles felt her heart sink into her stomach, it all felt wrong.

She looked back down at her plate and pushed it away.

"I'm not hungry", she said softly.

She got up and left the table to go get her school bag.

The rest of the Utoniums watched her go. They didn't need to ask what was on her mind. It was the same as everyone else.

Ten minutes later Blossom had her school bag on and was ready to go.

"I'm going now", she announced.

Margaret peeked her head out from the kitchen.

"You're not waiting for Bubbles?"

Blossom turned away.

"She's big, she can go by herself."

Having spoken all she intended Blossom went out the door and flew off to school.

Almost immediately afterwards Bubbles came down the stairs also wearing her school bag.

"Blossom went on ahead", Margaret told her.

"I know", Bubbles responded.

The truth was she had been waiting for Blossom to leave before she herself set out. She wanted to be alone for now.

"Did you two have some kind of argument?", her mother asked.

Bubbles frowned.

"Yes". Then like her sister before she said nothing else and left the house on her way to school.

Margaret sighed sadly. Their family was fracturing, if it wasn't mended soon it would crumble. She only hoped that they had acted soon enough.

Bubbles flew along slowly in a long curve that would eventually take her to school.

Was she being too hard on Blossom? Was it possible that she hadn't quite come to terms with all that happened?

She shook her head.

No, Blossom was still acting as though it was the same old Buttercup. She had yet to fully acknowledge that Buttercup was not the same person she had been. Nobody could be after what she had gone through.

"Buttercup", she said sadly.

She missed her, missed having her around, her boastful proclamations, her mischief, even the teasing which had become far more good natured in recent years. She missed talking to her too. Ironic as it seemed Buttercup had always been more willing to listen to her than Blossom or sometimes even their parents.

Bubbles' hands balled into tight fists.

She couldn't forsake all that, she couldn't abandon her sister.

Taking a deep breath she made her decision. She was going to do something that she never thought she would do let alone in good conscience.

She banked to the left away from school and went to find her sister.

The sun cast it's warm glow on the bed stimulating Will's body awake. He opened his eyes and beheld a beautiful sight.

Beside him lay Buttercup on her side with a single layer of sheet draped over her body up to her shoulders. With the sun behind her it outlined her already beautiful body in a stunning radiance that brought out the slight red tone in her black hair. She looked like a goddess to him.

He reached out with his hand and gently caressed her cheek feeling it's unearthly softness on his fingers.

His touch woke the sleeping beauty who opened her eyelids revealing her shimmering Emerald eyes.

Will tucked a few stray hair strands from her face not wanting anything obstructing his view of her heavenly face.

"Good morning Mrs. Yorknder."

Buttercup smiled and her eyes sparkled, her radiance must surely have made even the sun itself envious as they out shone the very light around her.

She propped herself up and then moved to suspend herself over him.

"Good morning", she responded before leaning in and giving him a gentle but loving kiss. She withdrew and straddles his torso causing the sheet to slip off her body and fully expose her naked form.

"So you want to meet our new arrival?", she asked him with a playful gleam in her eye.

Will smiled and reached to gently place his hand on her belly.

"So it's confirmed? Danté is no longer alone?"

She nodded.

"That's right. It's going to be a lot more wild in there now."

"What makes you say that?"

Buttercup grinned.

"Because Danté now has a sister to fight with."

"Sister? It's a girl?"

Will relaxed under her and began gently rubbing his wife's slightly distended abdomen.

"I bet she'll look just like her mother."

Buttercup laughed.

"Well aren't you lucky."

"The luckiest man in the world."

Buttercup bent over and placed her hands on his shoulders.

"So it makes sense that you would marry the luckiest girl alive."

She then slipped off of him and sat on the side of the bed.

"What would my lucky man like for breakfast?"

"You gonna' make breakfast naked?", he asked slyly.

"I have to", she pointed at the floor where her clothes lay torn and ruined. "Because you got impatient."

"I wasn't impatient", he insisted. "And besides you liked it."

Buttercup's face flushed red.

"I was just caught up in the moment."

Will rolled his eyes.

"Whatever. There's something under the night table for you."

Curious Buttercup reached under the table and pulled out a gold cardboard box. She opened it and was pleasantly surprised by what was inside.

It was a long house coat of dark green silk and matching sash.

She put it on and inhaled deeply as the soft material soothed her skin.

"I love it", she said.

"I'm glad."

"Well I'll go make some eggs and bacon while you get dressed."

In the kitchen Buttercup quickly found all the things she needed and started cooking.

It struck her how easily she had adapted to this especially since she had never been a girl to dream about the married life.

She shrugged, maybe since she was also becoming a mother it came more naturally.

Bringing her attention back to her task she decided to make some sunny side up eggs and started up the grill for the bacon. She inhaled long and deep: she loved the smell of bacon.

"Smells good", Will said as he came into the room now fully dressed.

"You're just in time", she told him.

As they sat down to eat she couldn't help but think how right this all felt. The two of them together like this, it was like a fairy tale.

Tentatively she rested a hand on her belly. A fairly tale that would only get better.

"Don't we need to sign something to make our marriage official?"

Will took a sip of orange juice than stood up and opened a cupboard where he took out a slip of paper and fine tip pen. He walked back over and place both in front of her pushing her plate aside.

"All you have to do is sign."

Buttercup looked over the sheet and then looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"You filled everything out already? You were awfully sure of my answer."

"Filling that thing out is what got me the nerve to ask you. After all we haven't known each other very long."

Buttercup couldn't argue with that.

"It does seem a little too good to be true doesn't it. I don't think there are any marriages that have been successful after only two weeks knowing each other."

Will smiled.

"Ever heard of arranged marriages? They happen all the time and statistically are much more successful than free marriages."

Buttercup thought for a moment.

That did make sense and in their case it was sort of an arranged union. The marriage was her choice but their circumstances were arguably similar.

Buttercup took the pen and drew in a full lung of air. She reminded herself that she had already made this decision she was just putting it in writing now.

As neatly as she could she wrote her first and middle name but paused as she came to her surname. It suddenly dawned on her that this would be the last time she would sign her name as Utonium. It all seemed so final.

"Buttercup?"

Instead of looking up at him she looked at the stunning ring still on her finger. The symbol of their love and devotion to each other, but mostly Will's commitment to her and their children.

She smiled and finally finished signing the registry.

"Now it's official", she said happily.

Will looked at her concerned.

"Are you okay?"

"Sure I am, why wouldn't I be?"

"You're crying", he told her.

Surprised Buttercup touched her cheek with her hand and felt the warm fluid of her tears flowing from her eyes.

"Am I happy? Am I sad? I-I don't know, I don't know what I'm feeling."

Will went over and gently embraced her.

"It's okay", he said softly to her. "You're just emotional that's all."

He started gently rubbing her back in an attempt to calm her.

After a few minutes Buttercup had calmed down and wiped the tears from her face.

"So what now?"

Will shrugged.

"Well I have to hand in the registration and pick up Ferratus, I've been neglecting him lately after all."

Buttercup nodded.

"Yeah I've been missing him too."

The doorbell interrupted their conversation and put them both on edge.

Will went down the stairs to the door with Buttercup looking down from the top where she watch Will look through the peek hole in the door.

Bubbles rang the doorbell only once and then waited for it to be answered.

She didn't remember exactly how she knew where Will lived. did Bunny tell her or was it Will himself?

The opening of the door snapped her from her thoughts.

"Bubbles? What are you doing here?"

His question wasn't referring to the reason she was here, rather he was referring to why she was here instead of at school.

"Is Buttercup here?", she asked nervously.

Will stepped to the side and made room for Buttercup beside him in the entryway.

Bubbles was taken aback by the sight of her sister in a stunning green house robe.

"What are you doing here?", she asked.

"I-I-I wanted to see you", the blonde responded trying not to sound desperate.

Buttercup looked at her sympathetically.

"You girls have a lot to talk about I'm sure.", Will said as he put on his hat and shoes. "I'll go turn in the registry and pick up Ferratus."

As Will walked out Bubbles grabbed his arm.

"You trust me with her?"

Will met Bubbles sad eyes and said.

"Don't disappoint me."

Bubbles swallowed.

"I'll protect her."

Will simply nodded and walked to his car.

The two girls waited until he drove away and then looked at each other.

Bubbles knew that she would have to be the one to start the conversation.

"Look I-I know what happened and I know why you did it. but I-I guess I was just worried about you. I don't know I-I-I just-I needed to see you."

Her eyes were brimming with tears now as the pot of emotions that had been brewing for a long time even before yesterday finally breached.

Her tears flowed like rivers, faster than she could wiped them away.

Buttercup tenderly pulled Bubbles against her and wrapped her arms around her in a comforting hug.

"Sshhhh, it's alright. Bubbles it's alright. Come on inside and we'll have some tea."

Buttercup lead her tearful sister up the stairs to the kitchen and sat her down at the table.

"How about lemon tea?", she offered.

Sniffling Bubbles nodded.

She had managed to slow but not stop the flow of tears from her eyes.

It all seemed so strange. Buttercup looked so at peace as she prepared the tea, as if what happened yesterday had never happened at all. In fact she seemed happy.

"So um, where did you get that robe?"

Buttercup smiled.

"William got it for me. It's made of silk. How does it look on me?"

"It looks wonderful", Bubbles said cheerfully. The lighter conversation had finally stopped her tears.

"I'm amazed you're in such a good mood. Is it just a mood swing or did something happen besides the robe."

Buttercup stopped what she was doing and smiled at her sister.

"Well yes something did happen but I don't know if I should tell you.", she teased.

"Aw please", Bubbles pleaded putting on most irresistible face. It was rather undone by the redness in her eyes.

Buttercup sighed in resignation and walked up to her.

"You sure you want to know?"

"Yes!", she replied anxiously.

Slowly and with a hint of nervousness Buttercup raised her left hand and displayed it for her sister.

For several seconds Bubbles stared at Buttercup's hand trying to discern the significance of the gesture until her eyes locked onto the ring on her finger and they went as wide as saucers.

Bubbles screamed excitedly and grabbed Buttercup's hand.

"He proposed! You're engaged!"

Buttercup smiled and shook her head.

"They don't have weddings in their family remember? No engagement either.

Bubbles delight turned into shock.

"So you're already married?"

Buttercup nodded.

"Sorry Bubbles, I know you wanted to be a bridesmaid."

Bubbles put on a smile trying not to show her disappointment.

"Oh it's okay, and I'm happy for you really. It's just... it seems a little sudden."

"So was getting kicked out of the house Buttercup said bitterly."

Bubbles cringed and felt regretful.

"Sorry."

Buttercup went back to the counter.

"You have nothing to apologize for, you've been very supportive of us."

Bubbles frowned.

"I'm sure Blossom would be too if she was a little more opened minded. She just always assumes that our parents are right and that's an end to it.

Buttercup set the teacups on the table.

"That makes sense", Buttercup said. "After all when you grow up believing that you're parents know best it can be hard to accept that they are wrong."

Bubbles raised an eyebrow.

"Who are you and what have you done to my sister?"

Buttercup playfully wacked her on the side of the head.

"Very funny. Being a mother gives me some perspective."

Bubbles nodded.

"Speaking of which how is my nephew?"

Buttercup smiled broadly as she poured the tea.

"He's fine. He'll just be a little more cramped from now on since he'll be sharing space with his sister."

Bubbles eyes widened again!

"Sister? You're having twins?"

Buttercup grinned.

"As of last night yes."

Bubbles looked confused and quickly began reviewing all she knew about reproduction and came up blank. She then went over all that she remembered from what Buttercup had told her about the reproductive nature of her new species. She quickly found her answer.

"You mean you... last night you..."

Buttercup laughed.

"Well isn't that what most couples do after they're married. They consummate it."

Bubbles cheeks turned re.

"Sorry I just..."

"Don't worry about it", her sister said as she sat down to drink her tea.

"By the way aren't you supposed to be at school?"

Bubbles uttered a small squeak as she realized she'd been caught.

Buttercup smirked.

"Who'd of thought of all of us you would be the first one to skip school. Even I never did."

Bubbles hung her head in shame.

"I'm sorry it's just- I wanted to see you. I was so worried and everyone's telling me different things. I-I don't regret it. I feel a lot more at east now. I believe you're doing the right thing."

Buttercup smiled warmly.

"Well I appreciate that Bubbles but I don't want you getting into trouble because of me."

"It's not because of you!", Bubbles insisted. "I made my own decision. I needed to know."

"So do you feel better knowing?"

Bubbles looked into the dark liquid in her teacup and smiled.

"Yes, much better."

Blossom sat anxiously at her desk working at today's math problems.

She and Bubbles shared most of their classed this semester including math class, and yet the blonde was nowhere to be found and the class was almost over.

Blossom was worried because Bubbles would never skip class she was a good girl, naive but good. It was most likely something had happened.

The ringing of the class bell interrupted her thoughts and she began to put her books away.

"Have your problems finished by tomorrow", their teacher told the class."

As Blossom went to leave the teacher stopped her.

"Mrs. Utonium there's a message for you at the office."

A knot began to tie itself in her gut as a feeling of dread pressed down on her, but she didn't show it.

"Thank you."

As she walked briskly to the office hundreds of terrible scenarios went through her mind. She hoped it was only minor.

She got to the office and asked the secretary for the message.

"The message was for you to call your father at work.", the secretary told her.

Blossom frowned. If the professor wanted her to call him at work than it was most likely not about Bubbles it was more likely to be Buttercup related.

Nervously she sat down on a chair and hit the speed dial for her father's work on her cell phone.

It rang several times before the Professor answered but it was still more prompt than usual which only fueled her worries.

"Blossom I'm glad you finally called.", he sounded relieved. "Listen we're finally going to take action. We're going to bring Buttercup back!"

Blossom felt the weight of dread press down harder.

"Bring her back? You mean back to normal?"

"Yes we have to do it now or we could lose her forever!"

Blossom frowned worriedly.

"What do you mean?"

"They're murderers Blossom", the disgust and desperation in the Professor's voice was obvious.

"They killed thousands of fleeing refugees from a volcanic island in the pacific."

Blossom remembered a news story from a few years ago where a huge field of floating debris had been found in the south pacific apparently caused by the massive storm that had moved through the region.

Could they really have killed so many? Not just the will but the means to carry it out.

"Blossom?"

The redhead snapped back to her phone conversation.

"Uh, yeah?"

"Listen, I know you're not going to like this but I want you to stay out of it."

Blossom was dumbstruck, appalled. Stay out of it? When it involved her sister.

"Why?" She asked desperately.

"Because maybe-", the professor paused for a moment and when his voice came back it was much quieter. "Maybe she won't hate you when it's over."

Blossom felt her guts twist and she felt her chest tighten.

"Wh-what are you going to do?"

"You don't need to worry about that", the Professor replied. "Just leave everything to us."

"But-"

"I have to go now I'll see you later."

"Wait!"

It was too late, he had hung up.

Blossom shut her phone. She hadn't been able to find out about Bubbles.

Her eyes welled with tears and started to overflow. She was so confused; she didn't know what to do.

As Blossom sat and cried the secretary sent a not to her teacher that she would be late to class.

Bubbles and Buttercup stood in front of the sink cleaning dishes. Buttercup washed and Bubbles dried.

"I never thought I'd find you willingly doing house work", Bubbles giggled. "Didn't think you were the house wife type."

Buttercup blushed.

"I'm just bored that's all", and well It's something I'm going to have to get used to anyway."

"Whatever you say", Bubbles said grinning.

At that moment the telephone rang.

Buttercup dried off her hands and went to answer it.

"Hello?"

Bubbles saw her eyes widen slightly as she recognized who was on the phone.

"What do you want?", Buttercup growled into the receiver.

Now Bubbles knew. It was the professor on the other end.

For a while Buttercup just listened as the Professor talked and from her body language Bubbles could tell she was paying attention.

Buttercup sighed.

"Fine, I'll see you there."

She hung up and walked over to the living room.

Bubbles followed her to the suitcases that she had brought from home.

"What's going on?", Bubbles asked.

"The professor wants to meet me at the park to talk", Buttercup replied.

Bubbles frowned.

"That's kind of odd."

"I know but I don't want this hanging over me anymore. I want to come to an understanding so I can move on."

Bubbles could understand that. The argument had probably been eating away at her since it happened.

"I'm coming with you."

Buttercup stopped and looked up at her sister.

"Are you sure? You did skip school after all."

Bubbles blushed shamefully.

"Yeah but I need to be there with you. That's reminds me didn't Will tell you to stay here."

"I'm not going far and it's only for a bit so don't worry."

"I do worry, and I'm going with you."

Buttercup shrugged.

"All right if you insist."

She quickly changed into the clothes that Laura had bought her the other day and the two left.

The sun was shining brightly helping to comfort the two girls with it's warm rays as they walked the short distance to the meeting place at the park.

Nobody else was walking when they reached the park they found that it too was empty of people. Very strange for this time of day. Usually mothers would come with their babies and pets and the park would be fairly active but right now it was dead.

"Are you absolutely sure you want to go through with this?", Bubbles asked as they walked into the park.

"I have to do it sooner or later", Buttercup responded. "I just want this whole mess cleaned up."

They finally arrived at the meeting place by a large fountain in the park centre where they saw the Professor standing in wait for them.

He saw them coming and glared disapprovingly at Bubbles who looked away.

Buttercup crossed her arms.

"So? I'm here."

The Professor sighed.

"Buttercup are you sure you won't change your answer?"

"I'm sure", she replied instantly leaving no room for argument.

He nodded sadly.

"I suspected as much. I'm sorry."

Buttercup raised an eyebrow.

'Okay good start I guess-"

Suddenly something small smacked hard into her forehead and she started to wobble and fall back.

Bubbles managed to catch her until she too felt something hit her in the forehead. She became stunned and then slowly the world turned sideways then went black.

Mandy sat in her room sulking yet again yet fuming like never before.

Her mother was such a control freak! She was probably even more insane than Billy's mom.

"Mandy come downstairs for lunch!"

Mandy frowned suspiciously. Her mother's tone was unusually happy, as if what happened earlier or nothing had happened for the past few weeks for that matter. Something was up.

Although Mandy would rather PMS than see her mother's face at the moment she was hungry and she was filling more than just her stomach. Though she felt that her baby wasn't too eager to see her either.

"Sorry baby but we need to eat if you want to grow big and strong."

Slowly Mandy dragged herself out of her room and went downstairs.

She went to the kitchen where she found her mother smiling broadly.

Mandy was instantly on full alert but she was too late.

She felt a sting in the back of her neck and as the turned around to face her attacker her legs gave out and darkness claimed her the instant she hit the ground.