Dragon's Fury
Chapter 14: Recollections and Revelations
Lightning crackled and thunder boomed in the night as the storm that had been building for the past several hours finally unleashed it's fury upon Endsville.
Indoors Mandy and Billy stayed huddled together under a blanket on the couch in her living room as the wind beat the pouring raindrops against the house letting them know each time the a gust of wind tore through the neighborhood.
They kept the window shades down to prevent the lightning from being too disturbing in the dim light cast only by the single table lamp. The rest of the house was dark, not a single other source of light illuminated it's walls other than the flashes of nature outside.
It felt so empty now. Reduced to a single official occupant (unless Grim also counted)the house felt hollow and almost abandoned. It wasn't that Mandy missed her 'parents'; but she did notice their absence.
It was because of this that she had asked Billy to spend the night with her. After everything that had happened lately she felt insecure without him there. Perhaps due to her pregnancy since she had never felt bothered with such concerns before, nevertheless it felt good to have him here and it allowed them to catch up on some much needed together time.
Of course they were not alone at the moment. Grim was in the basement watching his programs but most notable was the single other occupant in the room sitting on the armchair adjacent to the couch.
Bubbles had asked Mandy if she could spend the night due to some family issues at the moment. Perhaps it was because she felt guilty about her behavior, but more likely it was because she couldn't even stand to look at her parents at the moment.
The other blonde sat in the chair staring blankly at the carpet with an expression between sour and worried. The dim glow of the lamp cast soft shadows over her soft facial features. This sobering appearance looked so alien on her. It was as if she was another person.
Mandy could relate to that since her own personality had done a one-eighty since she discovered her pregnancy. She still didn't understand how or why though. Of all the things involved in this whole mess that was the one thing she didn't comprehend at all.
"You okay?"
Mandy snapped out of her thoughts and realized her concerned thoughtful expressions had worried him.
"I'm okay Billy. I'm just thinking about stuff."
She sat up and put a hand on his bandaged forehead.
"Are you okay?"
He smiled reassuringly.
"I'm fine, it stopped bleeding a long time ago."
"Maybe we should go see a doctor tomorrow." She said concerned.
Billy gently pushed her hand away.
"I'm fine Mandy. You know I've had worse before."
"You're not the same idiot you were before", she replied sternly.
"I'll be fine", he insisted.
"Mandy scowled but she dropped the issue, at least for now."
She caught Bubbles looking at them just before she turned away and resumed her staring contest with the floor.
Mandy sighed inwardly.
When Billy came over she had tried to go into the basement with Grim to give them some alone time. While Mandy appreciated the gesture she could be alone with Billy any time in the near future. Right now it was more important that they all stuck together.
Now however Mandy was starting to regret that decision because she recognized the look on Bubble's face. It was the look of a girl who was lonely. Mandy knew that look well, she had seen it many times in the mirror.
The current state of her relationship with her parents was very much unstable and she still wasn't seeing eye to eye with her red headed sister, so who did she have to turn to?
Buttercup seemed the natural choice but after such an ordeal and having if anything a much worse parental situation. If Bubble's was fractured Buttercup's was hanging on by a thread.
Mandy remembered standing there watching as Buttercup argued with her parents. The altercation was brief but spirited. Both sides had good arguments though Buttercup's was undoubtedly the stronger one in her mind. Still she could see the parents side of things. What sane parent would want their daughter to be with someone who enjoyed killing his enemies? And how would someone like that treat her and her children a few years from now?
Still from the way his family was Mandy sincerely doubted that kind of thing would occur. Especially since her aunt-her mother was on good terms with them.
Still Buttercup appeared willing to reconcile with her parents and forgive them in return for their blessing. Mandy wasn't sure if they would but from the gazes and reactions of the other onlookers it seemed like it was for their own best interests.
Bubbles however was another story. She didn't appear to be in the mood for forgiveness. Now doubt in her mind her parents had crossed a line they shouldn't have and in truth they did. Desperation on their part led to foolishness, and it nearly cost them everything. But Mandy wondered what happened that transformed Bubbles so much. To have gone from a happy perhaps slightly airheaded young girl into a cold hard defensive teenager. Mandy was sure of one thing though. The relationship between the Utoniums and their children would never be the same if it remained at all
'Or if they remain at all', Mandy thought darkly.
Another flash of lightning and boom of thunder rolled through at that moment as if to emphasize the point. Not the best reassurance that things would turn out well.
"Billy can you get me something to eat?"
A little surprised by her suddenly request he paused for a moment before he got up and walked towards the kitchen.
"Anything in particular?", he asked.
"Nothing cold", she said simply.
As Billy disappeared into the dark unlit kitchen Mandy turned to Bubbles.
"Are you okay?"
A little startled Bubbles took a moment to answer.
"Yeah, I'm fine just... a lot to think about."
"That's an understatement." Mandy said with a smile. Bubbles managed a weak smile in return.
"I know we don't know each other all that well Bubbles but we are friends. You don't have to feel like you're alone right now."
Bubbles looked back down at the carpet.
"I know it's just. I feel like I'm intruding. I thought you and Billy would want to be alone together. After all that's happened anyone would want that."
"Bubbles right now what I really want is to lower my stress levels. To have to worry about as few things as possible so that in spite of all that's happened over the past day I can sit back and relax, and I'm not going to be able to do that if I let you be alone in the state you're in."
Despite the blondes averted gaze she could see Bubble's pupils shrink letting Mandy know she had surprised the Puff with her insight.
"I'm fine", Bubbles insisted. "You and Billy deserve to spend some time together. You shouldn't worry about me and my problems."
Mandy frowned.
"That's what friends do Bubbles and as your friend I have to tell you that right now your condition is dangerous. Because right now no one-not even you know what you're capable of. You're not in a state where you can think rationally, you're stuck between who you were and who you're going to be. As long as you're stuck between the two you can't decide what you want or what you're going to do. Not rationally."
Mandy's rapid fire berating seemed to strike a chord in Bubbles if not several. Was this specifically the main thing bothering her. What she had done? Who she was turning into?
"I-I don't know what came over me", she began. "They locked me in the lab. They kidnapped Buttercup! They-they were going to kill her babies!"
Tears were now flowing out of her eyes now as the poor girl relived the emotions and feeling she felt at the moment her entire perspective on life changed.
"I, couldn't let that happen! I-I promised I'd protect her. I didn't want my nephew to die! I didn't want Buttercup to be hurt!"
Mandy watched Bubble's entire expression changed and her eyes darken as she transitioned to her other self.
"How could they?", she said in a low threatening voice. "How could they just send her to the wolves like that? Didn't they care about her feelings? About what she wanted? Buttercup wasn't being selfish, she was trying to be happy! How dare they try to put her on a leash like that!"
Bubbles then looked directly at Mandy in a way that made her blood freeze.
Bubble's eyes were cold and hard, and they held so much anger and malice, perhaps even hate. Her face was like stone and held all the warmth of a meat freezer. It was a look that someone might give when confronting the person they loathed the most in all the world. Fortunately it wasn't directed at her.
"Buttercup had found someone to love, and he loved her back. They even got married under everyone's noses!
"But all they could think about was the fact that she was how she was getting out from under their thumb, squirming her way out of their leash, living her own life! So they tried to reel her back in and they were willing to do whatever it took to maintain their control, to keep her from getting away from them. They would even kill their own grandchildren to get what they wanted; not giving a damn what she wanted or what would make her happy!"
Bubbles was on her feet now.
"They had no right! They have no right to decide what would make her happy. Only she can decide that! They were so afraid of her growing up that they would go so far as to kill her babies and rob her of the happiness she felt at becoming a mother!"
She was now leaning over Mandy with her hands against the couch with her head in between.
"Why can't they see it? Even after all they saw; after all that happened they're still just as blind and stupid as they were before!"
Bubbles leaned closer until their faces were mere centimeters apart.
"They love each other and want to be together but all they care about is having their daughter safely tucked away where they can watch her every move! They should let her be free, to live her life. They don't deserve to Buttercup's forgiveness, not after what they did!"
A hand fell on her shoulder and she paused and saw Billy standing behind her.
Bubbles pulled away from Mandy and looked down at her feet.
"Can I use your bathroom?"
"Upstairs and to the left", Mandy replied.
Wordlessly Bubbles left the living room and walked up the stairs, calmly and slowly.
Once Bubbles was gone Mandy let out a breath she had been unconsciously holding.
"You okay?", Billy asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine, she just got a little excited is all. She wasn't going to hurt me."
"Was that her parents she was talking about?"
"Yep."
Billy handed her some reheated lasagna.
"Thanks", she said. She had forgotten about the food.
As Billy sat beside her and she ran Bubbles words through her head she knew that she had made the right choice in keeping an eye on Bubbles. She could only hope that this matter would be resolved and they would have a happy ending, because the alternative was terrible indeed.
"But who am I to criticize against killing one's own parents." She mumbled.
"What?"
She shook her head.
"Nothing."
Mandy was not the only person for whom Bubbles was on their mind. Just a few blocks away in a small second story apartment another mother to be was dealing with the same issues.
Buttercup sat at the kitchen table rapidly devouring slice after slice of Pizza. So focused was she on her thoughts that she was completely unaware of the raging storm outside.
"Well at least I learned something about you from all this."
Buttercup paused for a moment to look up at her husband who for the most part had been silent up till now. His expression was neither amusement or irritation.
"What?", she asked bitterly.
"Pizza is clearly your comfort food."
She rolled her eyes.
"Brilliant observation."
She stuffed the rest of her current slice into her mouth and then grabbed another.
"I know you're upset about all that's happened but you don't have to act bitter to me about it."
Buttercup quickly swallowed her food and responded with a growl.
"What reason do I have not to be bitter! I'm not mad at you but you could be a little more understanding about what I'm going through!"
"You're not the only one with family issues right now!", he shouted back. "And what you went through might not have happened if you just listened to me and stayed here!"
"Oh so now it's my fault!"
"Didn't you find your father asking you to meet him in the middle of the park a little suspicious."
"I didn't think he would do something like that!"
Buttercup's lower lip quivered and tears started to well up in her eyes.
"I just thought I could resolve things", she said in a quiet meek voice. "I just wanted to find some peace so we could be happy together. I thought I could convince him to be happy for us too."
Will walked over from the other side of the table and gently put a hand on her shoulder as he knelt down to be at eye level with her.
"I know that Buttercup. But when I tell you things like that it's because I'm trying to keep you safe. Cause there's more than just you to worry about."
The young mother sniffled.
"I know that, and I'm sorry it's just... I wanted..."
He gently put his hand on her head.
"Don't worry about tomorrow. I'll be right there with you."
Buttercup shook her head.
"After all that's happened there's no way I'm letting you go anywhere near them!"
"If you're there nothing will get resolved you'll just end up arguing with the professor."
"I guarantee you any argument would be brief", he said darkly.
"Which is exactly what I'm trying to avoid", Buttercup said looking at him sternly. "No matter how much you're family manages to smooth things over you two still aren't going to get along."
"Gee can't imagine why. He only kidnapped my pregnant wife with the intention of having our children aborted."
There was a crack as Buttercup's fingers broke through the crust of the pizza slice she held in her hands. Her stern expression had turned dark, a menacing scowl on her face.
"How dare he even conceive something like that", she growled. "After everything he taught us, after the way he raised us he has the nerve to even think of harming my babies."
There was a pause as Buttercup sat and silently fumed over the intended harm to her precious pups.
She then stared hard at Will, ready to deliver her final word on the matter.
"I'm going tomorrow, and I'm going to try and convince them one last time to accept it all. To join in our happiness and stay in our family."
Will waited a few seconds before asking the obvious question.
"And if they don't?"
Buttercup looked back at her Pizza slice and then answered in a calm but dark tone:
"Then I'll deal with them the same way I dealt with the last person who threatened my babies."
Will smiled and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek.
"That's my Buttercup."
Buttercup raised an eyebrow at him.
"Are you a sadist?"
Will laughed.
"No, but it's nice to see you acting like your old self again."
Buttercup couldn't help but smile herself.
"It's been too long."
Then a musical ringing sound was heard over the sounds of the pounding rain and wind outside.
Will reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone and was surprised to see the name displayed on his caller ID.
"Mandy?"
He answered the phone and listened briefly before handing it to Buttercup.
"It's for you."
Puzzled Buttercup accepted the phone and answered.
"Hello? Mandy?"
"Buttercup it's Bubbles. She ran off and I don't know where she's going, but she wasn't in a good mood."
The dark haired girl's eyes widened in alarm. She had only seen Bubbles briefly when she had been rescued and something was certainly different about her. Something major. She wouldn't have been capable of killing someone otherwise.
"Any idea what made her upset?"
"Everything about what happened", was the best way Mandy could think of saying it succinctly. "Especially about your parents role in it all. I don't know if she's just gone off to blow some steam or what but I thought I should let you know."
Buttercup felt a lead weight drop in her stomach as horrific scenarios ran rampant through her mind. She couldn't let Bubbles do this to herself.
"How long ago did she leave?"
"About five minutes", Mandy answered.
"Okay, thanks."
Buttercup hung up and then looked at her husband urgently.
"We have to go find Bubbles fast!"
All huddled into a room in the hotel the Wilmington family sat on a large plush couch waiting anxiously for Laura and Naomi sitting across from them in a smaller but equally plush couch to begin their explanation.
Scott stood behind Laura and Adelaide stood to the left of her mother, both ready to act should anyone try anything.
Laura's own daughters Maria, Elise and Auriah sat on chairs away from the two parties but still well within earshot. They had waited a long time for this day and would not be left out. They would remain silent for now but if they thought it necessary they would instantly step in to defend their aunt and mother.
Also present were G and GG. The two older women hoped they would be able to add some insight from someone closer to the elder Wilmington's age.
"Are you going to listen?", Naomi asked again.
Their parents nodded but Peter said nothing. He looked bitter and cold despite being blissfully unaware that this night could be his last.
His sister ignored him and began.
"Back when we were thirteen we had been visiting the alter a lot because of bad dreams we'd been having."
Saying that it all happened when they were thirteen was a slip. They were so used to telling this story to other people, mostly their children that they forgot their parents already knew when they ran away.
"We were visiting the alter one day and Jonah came up to us and said that he'd had a vision showing him that the bad dreams were a sign that we had to expose the dark desires within us and expel them. He told us to come see him that night and he would help us do it?"
She paused for a moment to measure her parents reactions before she let Laura take over.
"We did as we were told. That night we went over to his quarters."
"Mansion would be more accurate", Naomi quipped.
"He brought us to his bedroom because he said it might make us more comfortable and then he started talking."
The two women swallowed as the haunting memories returned from the dark corners of their mind. No matter how many times they repeated the story it was never any easier.
"He started talking, saying a bunch of garbage about freeing ourselves from our sin and how we needed to continuously set ourselves free by opening ourselves and letting the evil out."
"I don't see a problem with that", Peter said.
"Let them finish" Adelaide hissed. "And if that kind of talk doesn't put you on guard then you are a sick and twisted person."
"Adelaide."
The blonde went silent at her mother's urging, allowing her to pick up the story.
"Then after a while he started touching us?"
Esther leaned forward.
"What do you mean?"
Naomi swallowed.
"He started stroking my hair and then feeling my legs. He started whispering in my ear."
Esther and Mark looked at Laura who nodded, indicating the same had been done to her.
"Then he started lifting up my dress. I asked him to stop but he said that it was his duty to free us from evil."
Esther looked, shocked, horrified even. As if everything she had come to know was different, as though black had become white.
"So what did you do?"
"I punched him", Laura replied matter-of-factly.
They reeled as if pushed back in their seats by a powerful blast of air, shocked that Laura had been so quick to strike someone whom they had revered and admired for years.
"How could you so much as think of hitting-"
"He was going to rape them!", Adelaide shouted. "Are you completely stupid?"
Peter stood to his feet.
"I've known Master Jonah personally for years and he would never even consider-".
"Are you calling my mother a liar?", Adelaide growled threateningly.
"I think they simply misunderstood?" Peter replied. If he was afraid of Adelaide he didn't show it.
"Even then they were more than intelligent enough to know the difference. They were under threat and they acted. Unlike a pious moron they have good instincts."
"That's enough", Naomi said sternly.
"Peter sit down. Adelaide curb you temper."
Reluctantly Peter obeyed but he remained a supporter of master Jonah, refusing to budge.
"Anyway", Laura said trying to get things back on track. "After that we ran back home and as you know we tried to tell you what happened. And when we tried you told us to go up to our room and stay there!"
"We thought there was a misunderstanding", Mark said calmly. "We wanted you to stay there until we got it sorted out."
"He would've come after us again! You think I could punch him and get away with it?"
"Well you would've been punished yes but-"
"But nothing!" Naomi interrupted. "You learned today what he was really like. I don't even want to think about what might have happened."
"Anyway", Laura said again trying to get the story moving once more. " After you left us we decided it wasn't safe for us there and so we packed our things and decided to leave the colony."
She paused ever so briefly expecting to be interrupted again but they said nothing. Perhaps because they had made it clear why they would leave, or perhaps they were waiting until later to voice their objections.
She pressed on.
"While we were running through the fields to get out we heard Jonah's men looking for us. We didn't want to get caught so we kept off the road and went straight to the border fence."
"When we got there we found two guys standing beside a car on the road. They had gotten lost and were trying to figure out where they were."
"We jumped over the fence and begged them to take us away, we didn't care where to."
"We're you really so desperate?", Esther whispered. More to herself than to Laura.
"Yes", she answered.
Naomi now took over the tale.
"They took us away from there and brought us to where they stayed."
Everyone could see the slight change in posture and expression in her parents. The implications of that statement were obvious.
Naomi held up her palm to alleviate their concerns and to prevent them from interrupting; then she continued.
"When we got there we were asked about our circumstances and we told them everything. They seemed to understand and said they would take us in until we decided what to do."
GG smiled at the memory.
"Ah yes, they seemed to small and helpless back then. I couldn't bring myself to leave them like that; not when they had so much of their lives ahead of them."
The Wilmington's stared at her.
"You took them in?"
She nodded.
"As I said, I couldn't just leave them, so I decided to look after them myself until they decided what to do."
"A very controversial decision", G added.
GG smirked.
"You only say that because he was your son."
The Wilmingtons looked confused.
"Her son was one of the ones who picked us up", Naomi clarified. "Tanner Yorknder. The other was Heinrich Richter."
"Anyway, after that we settled in and tried earning our keep by helping with house chores and the like. During that time we also got to know the family a bit better though Heinrich was a friend of the family."
"We honestly weren't sure what we were going to do or where we would go but for the time being it was nice and despite our circumstances we felt strangely free. We got to see and learn so many things about the outside world. Even things as simple as telephones were new and fascinating to us."
"But what eventually happened?" Mark asked.
Laura sighed and took it upon herself to retake the reigns of their tale. This was one of the most difficult parts.
"Well during that whole time we really got to know the guys who helped us a lot better and we became close."
GG snickered.
"That's putting it mildly. These two would do even the tiniest chore just to have an excuse to be near them. Washing the sink, sweeping already spotless floors, dusting in the most obscure corners even offering to wash their cars."
"Not that they ever let them", G replied. "Even if it was for practical reasons."
"Moving on", Laura said loudly trying to get things back on track and save herself and her sister more teasing.
"One day, about three months after we ran away we were out picking some flowers near the edge of their land when we were ambushed by some of Jonah's men. I'm not sure how they found us, maybe it was by chance but anyway I managed to scream but they gagged us, tied us up and threw us in the back of a van. Then drove off."
"We were so scared, we didn't know what was going to happen to us. Then the van stopped and the back door burst open. We heard gun shots and horrible screaming and we saw them, a terrifying yet noble creature."
"When it was over Tanner and Heinrich freed us and told us the truth, about what they were, and what they did. and that they would appreciate it if we kept it a secret. Then they took us back."
"But before we actually went into the house we told them sternly that it didn't matter what they were we only cared about who they were."
Laura paused for effect then resumed.
"And so after that we made it our mission to find out exactly that: who they were."
"But Heinrich had to go back home to Germany so I had to go with him if I wanted to find out. So I did."
"You went to another country just for that!", Peter scoffed.
"Not like I expect you to understand Peter."Naomi said with a dismissive wave of her hand."
"So what happened?", Esther asked.
"We married them", Laura answered simply. It seemed rather obvious to everyone else.
The Wilmington's were silent, perhaps they were expecting something else, or at least something before that.
"And how has your married life been affected by their... jobs?"
Laura sighed.
"Well he is away from home a lot and I do worry and miss him but I'm not lonely. I've got so much family to keep me company that I never had to worry about being alone."
"And of course there's always the children.", Naomi added. "They've always kept us too busy to even think about the worst case."
Esther's expression was bleak.
"After the way we raised you; how could you accept something like that so easily?"
It was an apt question. How could two girls raised in a deeply religious environment be so accepting of seemingly dangerous and violent people who seemed to personify the very evils they were taught to reject.
"Because you taught us to look beyond the surface to what lies beneath", Naomi answered. "And we knew they were good people, they were like family."
"I see."
"Absurd!" Peter shouted. "We were taught to cherish and preserve life and condemn those who unrightfully took it away."
"Says the one that tried to kill my son!", Laura shouted back.
Furious Peter stood to his feet once again glaring his sister in the eye.
"He's a dragon, he needs to be killed, and if you support them than you must be too!"
No sooner had his sentence ended that he was on the floor with dark red mark on his face.
Laura stood over him glaring menacingly.
"All you've done is spout words of hatred. Don't you have any mind of your own?"
Peter shakily stood up, the right side of his face slowly swelling.
"I know what's right and what's wrong. I know my destiny! He saw it! I will fulfill my destiny, even if I have to kill all of you to do it."
Then Laura did something unexpected; she laughed at him.
"Please, do you really think you can kill us?"
"I know I can, I will. It's been foretold that I will rise to glory!"
Laura shook her head.
"You are so pathetic."
She sat back down again and looked at her parents with a sober look.
"Mother, Father, I know it's a lot to take in but you must believe me. They are good people and everything they do is for the greater good even if it might night seem like it. I know that seems exactly what you've been told for so long but the truth is I can't tell you everything. Even among family some secrets must remain. I do it to protect you."
"All I ask is that you keep what you know a secret and accept us and them for who we are."
"Never!", Peter declared.
"Peter! You need to let this go.", Mark chastised him. "You've become a slave to the hateful delusions of a madman! You must stop or it will destroy you!"
Mark fixed Peter with the stern but parental glare of a father trying to set his child on the right path. By this point however the others in the room who had seen too many of Peter's kind to count knew that it was in vain.
"No! I will live on to eternal glory and I will reap the divine rewards with Master Jonah until it is my time to leave this world and take my place among the kings of heaven."
"Peter please!", Esther pleaded with tears in her eyes. "Think about this clearly."
"Shut up! I won't listen to these heathens any longer!"
With that he headed for the door and left the room. No one tried to stop him.
Esther broke down into uncontrollable sobs. Laura and Naomi knelt next to her to try and wrapped their arms around her.
Mark stood silent and still for a moment before he also went for the exit.
"Where are you going?", Esther cried.
"I'm his father!", he replied sternly. "I'm responsible."
As he left some of them noticed him grab a pair of swords on his way out.
The rain poured down with raindrops the diameter of coins, the wind howled and thunder boomed overhead with every flash of lightning that illuminated the dark clouds above and the city below.
Bubbles trudged on through the puddles that had formed on the sidewalk from the heavy rain which had also soaked her clean through to her bones. The wind played havoc with her hair and provided a constant chill as she continued to her destination. She would have flown but she needed the time to think and mentally prepare herself for what she planned to do.
She felt bad about leaving Mandy's house without telling her but she couldn't let Mandy interfere. This was something she felt she had to do. For Buttercup's sake.
A gust of wind pushed her back a few steps before she regained her footing. Normally the Utonium house would be in view by now but the heavy rain and lack of street lights kept it hidden.
It didn't really matter, it wouldn't change the amount of time it would take her to get there and as much as she felt she needed to do what she intended she was in no hurry.
She didn't really want to do it, but she felt she had too. For Buttercup's sake and for that of her children.
The her own experience of being locked up and what happened to Buttercup showed just the kind of lengths her parents(or at least the Professor) were willing to go to get their way. They couldn't be allowed to do that again.
"I have to stop it from happening again.", she grunted as she fought against the wind resisting her advance to the house. "I failed to protect them once, I can't do it again."
She ignored the sound of a car approaching her until it's red taillights shone into her eyes as it stopped just ahead of her.
The doors opened and Bubbles instantly recognized the figure that emerged from the passenger side.
"Buttercup?"
"What the hell do you think you're doing Bubbles!"
Suddenly Bubbles felt her resolve wilt under Buttercup's intense gaze.
Will appeared behind her doing his best to shield her from the wind and the rain.
"I know what you're thinking Bubbles", Buttercup continued. "And this is not the way to make things right."
Those words hurt. Bubbles wanted to do it to make amends for her inability to protect her sister, she had promised to do so, and she had broken it.
"But Buttercup, don't you remember what they said just before you left?"
"Of course I remember, but everyone needs time to cool their heads before anything happens; especially you it seems."
Bubbles flinched. True as those words were they were hard to hear.
"But I failed you", she whimpered. "I wasn't able to protect you."
"And would your plan make everything better? Just what were you trying to accomplish!"
It was then that Bubbles suddenly realized her mistake. She hadn't been going for Buttercup, it had all been for her own sake. Her attempt to atone for her failure. For breaking her promise.
She collapsed to her knees and for the first time since leaving Mandy's house felt the wind and the rains full effects. She felt the cold in her bones, the pressure of the heavy winds and the slaps of water as they hit her bare skin.
Buttercup grabbed her arm and hauled her up.
"You're coming home with us where I can keep an eye on you."
Bubbles was unable to produce even an utterance as she was led into the back seat of the car. She dully strapped on her seatbelt and then they drove off.
As the storm raged outside she could only lament about what she had nearly done.
Mark went stepped outside into the rain and just caught a glimpse of Peter as he rounded the corner to the hotel parking lot. Purposely he followed him ignoring the pounding rain and the howling wind as it soaked his clothes.
The parking lot was only half full with this being the slow season for tourists most were here for business.
"Peter!" Mark yelled out.
Peter whirled around and glared at his father hatefully.
"No more! I want nothing to do with you or any of them. It's my mission to eliminate them all! I know all about them! What they've done!
"I will continue Master Jonah's legacy and free this world from their evil!"
That instant a powerful bolt of lightning struck him knocking Mark to the ground and rattling his ears.
Mark took a few moments to recover and shakily stood back up. He looked where Peter had stood but saw nothing except for a stream of black char flowing with the water into the sewer drain.
He walked over to the awning over the hotels parking lot entrance and sat down. He stared for a long moment at the place Peter had once stood and then broke down in tears, his cries muted by the raging storm around him.
Bubbles stepped out of the tub after having had a long bath to banish the cold from her bones.
The dried herself off and put on some spare clothes that Buttercup had given her. The shirt was a bit loose but otherwise they fit fine.
She felt ashamed of herself. She had said that she wanted to do everything to help Buttercup and yet here she was burdening her like this.
"Why do I always end up being the one looked after?" she muttered to herself. "Why can't I ever grow up."
It was difficult to be in a situation where you had no one else to blame. Especially when you knew the reason.
She hung the towel on the shower curtain rod to dry and exited the bathroom into the hallway that connected the bed and bathrooms to the kitchen and living room.
Buttercup was in the kitchen making some hot chocolate while Will sat on the couch with Ferratus watching TV.
This was supposed to be a night for them to rejoice in Buttercup's rescue, to have some time together after being forced apart. She had ruined that for them with her own foolishness.
"Feel better?", her sister asked as she poured the hot chocolate into a trio of mugs.
Bubbles could only nod. She was afraid to speak.
"Drink some of this, it'll warm you up."
Wordlessly Bubbles accepted the mug and carefully brought the steaming dark liquid to her lips.
Even though the shower had done wonders to refresh her the hot liquid flowing into her belly felt wonderful as it seemed to sooth her very soul with its warmth.
Now she dared to utter a word.
"Thank you."
Buttercup didn't reply, she simply told her to go sit in the living room.
Quietly Bubbles sat down on the chair adjacent to the couch Will was sitting on with Ferratus.
Buttercup soon followed handing her husband his mug before taking her seat beside him, and her wrapped his arm around her.
Bubbles looked away slightly embarrassed.
"So are you doing to behave yourself so we don't have to stay up all night watching you?"
Startled a moment as she realized Buttercup was speaking to her Bubbles responded.
"As long as I can come with you tomorrow. I still have a responsibility and a right."
"Fair enough. But you will do what I tell you. Got it?"
"Got it."
Bubbles knew that this wasn't about her, this was about Buttercup and her family. Nonetheless what happened tomorrow would affect all of them including Blossom. They could only hope that her parents had a change of heart. If not; then soon she would have none.