Disclaimer: I do not own the Powerpuff Girls in any way, shape or manner as the rights belong to Craig McCracken.

Chapter 16

A Change in Perspective

Despite the three boys sitting at their usual spot, they seemed albeit more tense than what appeared on the outside of their supposedly carefree demeanor.

Brick, accustomed to pacing left and right, now resides with his brothers in a resigned state, still working out the details for a pained truce with his past enemies.

-Boomer-

Brick said he'd have to let them know, because he's afraid we'll screw it up for him. I looked over my shoulder at him, pacing left and right to try and figure things out while I shrank deeper in my jacket. Brick's never asked me for my opinions, much less my help in anything. He'd rather go to Butch for that, which is just as unlikely. Makes you feel pretty useless when everything's stacked on your brother.

Maybe Butch might be in a better mood. "At least the house is in one piece right?" I joked in a shaky voice. But he shot me two icy green daggers before looking back at his tray. I flinched back on instinct. What's gotten into him lately?

Looking around the table for a silver lining, I noticed Mitch smirking to himself like a ray of hope.

"Damn, looks like someone's in a rush." Mitch snickered under his breath. When I looked at his line of direction I saw Blossom and Buttercup running –no, sprinting– towards Building 3. I turned back to our table to see Brick and Butch looking in the same direction, it was like we were all asking the same questions, but never got around to actually saying them aloud.

Even though they both looked pretty serious, I couldn't see the big deal out of it. Glancing back at the building I figured it couldn't be that important. I mean it's not like they're flying towards the place. If anything they just had to meet up with Becky or something, right?

"Brandon." When I looked back at Brick his eyes were still glued to the building. "Didn't you have to talk to Mr. Harvey over an extra credit assignment?" he asked.

I almost scoffed at what he said. Mr. Harvey doesn't give out extra credit, Butch's asked enough to know. Looking around the table it seemed like everyone's focus left the girls. Better go now before they notice me gone.

"Yeah. Be right back." I muttered and headed towards Building 3 to follow the two. But no matter how discreet I tried to be, I couldn't hide how anxious I was to find out what was behind those doors.

Is it about Bubbles?

-Buttercup-

Running across a courtyard, hurling over tables, and flying through three flights of stairs is damn near impossible without powers. How do humans do it everyday?

"What do you mean she's not breathing?" I cried. But with the bits and pieces I know –or the bits and pieces Pinky bothers to tell me– there's gotta be something more important to deal with. Like the chance that my baby sister won't make it through the next hour if we don't get there fast.

"Just run!" Blossom yelled back, never turning from the tiles ahead of her.

"How are we supposed to make it there when we can't fly?" Does she even realize how hard it is to keep up with her when she's like this?

She suddenly stopped to whip an irritated look in my direction, before turning back to look at our sister. "We made it in time, okay? There she is."

I felt the blood drain from my face when I saw her. She was like a pale doll on the floor. The books she had were still sprawled around her from where she fell, along with Becky's when she reacted to Bubbles.

But what I couldn't get over were her eyes. The faint eerie glow of faded blue that mirrored her white skin, it was as if the light was gradually leaving her cold body.

"Christ." Blossom let out in a soft whisper. I was already rushing towards her to see if she still had a pulse.

"Oh God Bubb–"

"–Becky what happened before she fainted?" Blossom interrupted sharply. I gazed back at her in awe. Even when her sister stops breathing she still didn't forget the covers.

Becky didn't look like she was gonna be of much help. She was almost as pale as Bubbles, except rather than being lifeless she was in a panic. Her arms flew in every direction to explain what happened, something that she may not be too sure of herself.

"I-I-I don't know! I mean she said sh-she kept having this weird h-headache and when I suggested taking her to class she ran off when s-she saw Mitch coming towards me!" She turned to Blossom with clear blue eyes pleading forgiveness "I…I'm sorry I didn't want her to–"

"–It's okay." Blossom reassured calmly, knowing very well it was everything but. "Her heartbeat's still there. Brook? Can you hear me? Brook!"

I resisted the urge to snap at her with Becky nearby. She's not gonna bother if you keep calling her that!

"Becky go get some help." Blossom ordered in a firm tone. Becky bite her fingernails in a nervous panic wondering where she was going to find anyone in this empty building.

"Just go!" Blossom snapped, finally losing her patience. Becky practically leaped out of her daze and rushed down the stairs just as someone else got up.

"Hey Becks–Whoa. What happened to her?" Boomer, of all people, looked at us expecting an answer.

"Whatever you're here for can wait Boomer, so get out!" I snapped angrily as I tried clearing the hair from her face.

"Well, I can't leave now!" he protested trying to get/inching closer. "Is she gonna be alright?"

"Oh you'd like that wouldn't you?" I shoved him back and hardened my glare. "What's the matter Boomer? Sad you couldn't finish her off yourself?"

"Buttercup you're the only one out of us three with super strength, you have to break this thing."

"Only one, what do you mean?"

I don't have time for this! Becky's probably off to get some help right now, so we don't have that much time! I tried prying it open, but it wouldn't budge. Worse yet when I took a closer look I noticed that there wasn't a single opening between the metal and her skin either. It was like the thing was sewn in!

"Why are you here Boomer? Just get out of here." Blossom murmured. Is there a crack…

"No! Not until you tell me what's wrong with her!" …an open switch?

There was a sudden pause. "Why do you care?"

This is freaking useless! After trying every angle to the stupid thing, it wasn't long before I did more damage to Bubbles's wrists that the watch itself.

"Blossom," I groaned under a held breath "this…thing isn't coming off so easy… Aaagh!" A burning sensation burst through my arms in excruciating pain. I jumped back on instinct and looked back at the two in disbelief.

"That piece of shit shocked me." Blossom looked anything but surprised at the attack.

"The watch must have an automatic defense system installed already." She murmured to herself. "We can't touch her." Despite how calm she sounded, I could see her jaw clench and her hands curled into small white fists. No matter how much she hated it, Boomer's probably the best chance we have at helping her now.

"Here." I yanked his shirt over to my sister "You want her alive right? Use you heat ray and get rid of this thing!"

"No!" Blossom screeched. "If you zap the watch there's no telling what it'll do!"

"Then how do we fix this?"

"I don't know!"

She doesn't know? She doesn't KNOW? Since when did she ever say that? Blossom never says that stuff! She always has a plan, she always finds a way out of things in time. Why is this time different?

I could feel my fingers starting to quiver when I turned back to Bubbles. Is there anything we can do for her?

Blossom's face paled into a chilling white. "Her…Her pulse is going away–I can't hear it! Bubbles?" She started shaking her lifeless body in a panic. "Bubbles it's me–it's Blossom– talk to me!"

Is this it? Is this all I can do?

"I'll call Butch!" Boomer called out from afar. "He can break it from the inside."

"Bubbles? BUBBLES?"

"Butch. Yeah it's Boomer–look there's no time for that we need you up here!" There was a pause. "Now!"

Is this all I can do? The words echoed through me like a silent whisper. There has to be something. There's ALWAYS something!

When I snapped back into consciousness I heard Boomer going through a hushed argument on the phone. With what little hearing I had left, the least I can do is see if this isn't some trick.

"Why would I help?" Butch grumbled. "If anything, I'm glad they're getting what they dish out for once."

Did he really just say that? Had Bubbles not been this way I'd already be halfway downstairs beating the life out of Butch powers or not! Boomer came back with a look of resign as he fumbled his phone.

"What did he say?" Blossom asked

"He…" He couldn't bear to face her. "He didn't answer the phone."

Without wasting a minute Blossom whipped her hand in my direction. "Your hairpin. I need it." The very next second she's already jamming the pin through Bubbles's watch.

"Boomer make yourself useful!" she yelled "Give me an x-ray of the watch now!"

"I-I see a-a main circuit board, some other stuff–"

"WHAT STUFF?"

"Some gadgets, a-a gear, some black wire going around them."

"The circuit wire…" she murmured under her breath, leaving me and Boomer in the dark.

"Wait what are you doing?"

"I'm pushing the hairpin through the switches on the watch that we use to access the wire." She mumbled "Cut the current, suspend the electricity…"

And just like that the watch was off, leaving a fresh pink mark on her wrist.

"Bubbles wake up!" When Bubbles didn't wake up from her shakes, Blossom finally slapped her in frustration and her eyes popped alive.

"Oww" she moaned in a small voice. "What was that for?"

"Oh God!" I hurled myself over to my sister. "What the hell's wrong with you? Why didn't you tell us about the headaches?!"

Before she could even respond Becky was running over with the principal.

"Thank goodness you're alright!" she cried in relief, but Dr. Lee looked anything but. I don't think I've ever seen him so upset.

"What was wrong with her?" he demanded.

"She, was out in the sun for too long." Blossom mumbled, groping for the nearest excuse "She's fine now though."

"Brook, are you alright? You gave us all quite a scare." Dr. Lee said in a softer tone

"I…I don't know." Bubble's murmured "Where am I?"

Crap, just how long was she out for? "Brook," I said with caution "you're at school, remember?"

"You know what I'm calling Gladys." Dr. Lee said "This girl needs to go home."

"Wait sir!" Blossom interrupted just in time before he could dial her "Couldn't we at least go with her? We're her sisters."

He looked at us in disbelief. "I would expect no less! Here." The principal scribbled out three strips of paper with rushed signatures "Three passes with my consent. I expect to see you all nice and healthy tomorrow!"

"Thank you Dr. Lee." Blossom responded in full gratitude. I guess we can consider ourselves lucky this time. Had they been here seconds earlier, this false alarm could've turned into something way worse.

-Boomer-

It didn't take long for the girls to take off with their sister. By now class is starting and the crowds were pouring in, but I still couldn't believe what happened to Bubbles. In two more seconds she would've had to go to the hospital under school consent, and when doctors figured out that she wasn't human…

"Ah, Brandon!" Jeez! I almost forgot about Dr. Lee. "Would you like a pass as well to check up on her? You seemed pretty concerned for her wellbeing as well."

"Actually sir I uh…" Looking back at the window I could see the three of them walking home, linked close to support their sister.

"I just came to see if Mr. Harvey was around for some extra credit." I said with a wide grin. "Trying to bump my grade before it's too late you know?"

"Well Mr. Harvey isn't known for his generosity, but he's never in his classroom during lunch. Have a good day young man."

"Yeah you too." I mumbled to myself. I felt a pang of jealousy rise up before I could stop it. Why couldn't my brothers ever do something like that for me? It wasn't how we were raised, and I know that. But I get the feeling things just aren't as clear as they were a few weeks ago.

Are they really being protected, or are they getting shut in?

-Buttercup-

"Here I can call Gladys to pick us up." Bubbles piped, already back to being her fluttery self.

"No." Blossom replied sternly "Our place is fifteen minutes away, we can walk. Bubbles what happened to you?"

"I don't really know, I mean these headaches started to really bug me back a couple days ago, but I thought I was just catching a cold."

"When was the last time you used your powers?" I asked

"I don't remember actually. Since the Professor said we shouldn't I just never tried using them since the last soccer game."

We walked the rest of the way without talking. I used my powers plenty, and I'm sure Blossom had to have used them at least once or twice, but Bubbles never even bothered with them once. How far did the watch go with her?

"Yay, we're home!" The questions didn't bother Bubbles a bit apparently. She was already running straight for the flat.

"Hey–slow down you just passed out! And use the elevator!" Blossom scolded, already back to her old self too.

She turned back to me with a firm gaze. "Buttercup give me your watch."

"Why?"

"I'm not taking any more chances." After fumbling with it for a moment the watch deactivated, setting loose a flow of power rising through my veins.

"Break it." Doing as I instructed, Blossom worked with hers. "If those MONSTERS think they can just kill us off without anybody noticing, then they're SICK, SICK BASTARDS who've never had children before!"

"Okay I know."

"I don't care what Gladys is working for I'm done. I'm DONE with it all!"

This one was taking longer than mine for some reason. When I looked up I could see Blossom's face starting to redden. "Blossom."

"Th…This freaking watch won't get off my wrist!"

"Blossom!" I snapped the watch in two and forced her to look at me. Her eyes were already starting to water and tremble. Jesus… In that whole situation I was looking to her for the support, when she needed it most.

"It's okay. Everything's gonna be fine." And there's Blossom's weakness. You could beat her up, torture her, or take away her closest possessions, but the second we're targeted she takes a turn for the worst. It's always been like that and for some stupid reason I'm still looking to her for support that I'm supposed to be providing.

She shouldn't have to be doing this all alone.

"Okay. You're right, you're right." Blossom said, already regaining her composure. "Let's go inside. Bubbles is probably holding the elevator for us."

"The principal called me and I got here as soon as I could." Gladys called from the living room. "What's going on with Bubbles?"

"Like you care." I scowled under my breath. It's hard having the person you loathe in the same room as you. Especially when they threaten your family, and especially when that same victim is in her room sleeping so you can't really express how you feel without being an inconsiderate douche.

"Like I-Of course I care!" she protested.

"She's already sleeping again." Blossom said, completely ignoring Gladys. It took today to figure it out, but she did. Now she's closed her off, like a complete outsider. Took her long enough.

"Professor, what's happening to us?" Blossom asked

"I need to see these watches." I gave him the rest of my watch. He took a few seconds to analyze the thing while we waited anxiously for an answer.

"What is it?"

"These watches were designed with an adapted form of Antidote X. I recognize it just by the smell of it." He muttered, but you can tell from the stone cold look on his face that he was just as upset.

"Both Chemical and Antidote X should have been destroyed once we left Townsville, it's what we agreed on." Blossom hissed.

"In fact, you girls should know why it's so toxic to you in the first place, since there's evidence of there being more in quantity." He said sending a fleeting look in Gladys's direction. Gladys:1, Buttercup:2!

"It actually doesn't do a thing to hurt your organ systems. With the substance everything in your body would be the exact same as before. But Chemical X on the other hand…"

"Would be obliterated." Blossom finished

"Antidote X is antagonistic to the reactive Chemical X infused in your blood, forcing an attraction between the two that would fuse, therefore both substances would cancel each other out in your bodies." His voice turned grave "For a human this doesn't affect them, but you three are so dependent on this substance without it you wouldn't have any of your powers, worse yet be capable of surviving."

"What's gonna happen to Bubbles?" I asked quietly.

"What about Bubbles?" Gladys interrupted. "Is anyone going to tell me anything?"

"With the amount of Chemical X removed from her body," The Professor let out a deep sigh "there's no telling if whether or not she'll have her powers left."

"Did I miss something?" Gladys cried out, finally snapping my last nerve.

"Yeah, the part where you almost KILLED MY SISTER you bitch!" I shouted, my right hook ready to swing. Blossom yanked my arm back and shoved me away. I kept my stance, holding my restraint, but seeing her looking so clueless made me wanna kill her. Throw her into the same hospital Bubbles was just about to go to.

"So whose fault is it this time huh? The government? Your stupid protection programs? You?"

"Buttercup don't, it's not worth it!" Blossom called out.

"No I'm sick of this shit!" I yelled back. "So if you can't answer any of my questions then GET OUT!"

"Girls! Both of you, in Bubbles's room. Now." The Professor turned back to Gladys with new eyes. "I think you better leave."

Before I turned away I looked over at Gladys one last time. Her face looking downwards, confused but still ashamed over something that she claimed would help us.

"What can I do to make this right?"

"You can't." The Professor said in a gruff, threatening voice. "Not after jeopardizing my daughter's life."

-Blossom-

"How long do you think she's gonna sleep like that?" I asked. Bubbles said she was fine, but seeing her pale face against the sun, how still she was asleep, she just looked so weak, so defenseless.

"No clue." Buttercup replied. "Do you think he's right? About her powers?"

"I really hope not, but how do we argue with that? Is Chemical X even recoverable?"

"We've gotten into issues with Antidote X all the time before, what makes now any different?"

"Maybe it's the extent we've been receiving it. For almost two weeks we've been getting this poison nonstop. I'm surprised we even came out with better odds."

Yet somehow even as my sister laid limp in her bed, Brick's words kept echoing off the top of my head. It was as if he was taunting me without even knowing it.

How do you know you're safe? "What if she lied?"

Buttercup look up. "Gladys?"

"It's possible." I replied "Telling us all this stuff just to trick us and then finish us off."

Buttercup rolled her eyes. "Blossom c'mon. If she wanted to do it quietly we would've been dead back in Western Pines."

Taunting me, shouting at me. It was like he was trying to remind me of what happened and I never keyed onto it. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

"I don't trust her." I growled "Or any of them, they don't deserve it."

"Who's 'they'?" a small voice squeaked. Buttercup and I turned back to see Bubbles, regaining color and turning her sleeping gaze back at us in confusion.

"That's a good question Bubbles." It sure was. I took my bag and headed for the door. "What time is it?"

Buttercup checked her phone. "2:45, why?

"I'll be back. Feel better."

-Butch-

"Butch what the hell was that for?"

"Get off."

"You were gonna let her suffocate back there!?"

"I said GET OFF." Who the hell does this kid think he's talking to? If anything I was doing his ass a favor!

"What's going on?" Brick called out from the lockers.

"I got this freaking text to come meet you guys and this idiot comes at me like I killed somebody!"

"Well you might as well have!" He snarled back. "Had Blossom not have thought of something–"

"–Hey look we'll talk about that later." Brick butted in. "Did you find out what happened in there?"

Boomer looked back at me as his face went dark. "Bubbles stopped breathing. It was about those watches or something. I call Butch and he tells me to fuck off! She could've died in there!"

Excuse me? "Oh I'm sorry, was I supposed to feel sorry for your little girlfriend? Not my sister, not my friend, and not my problem if she's gone. So yeah, I'm telling you to FUCK OFF!"

"Hey–Hey!" Brick drove himself between us and pushed me over to the side. "Butch we're not killers, you know that."

I shrugged it off naturally. Like I said, not my problem. "We all gotta die someday Rapunzel."

"But we're not killers Butch!" Brick barked at me. "We weren't then and we won't be now! What's been up with you lately?"

The hell am I supposed to know? "It's just…"

Just a change in perspective.

"Had a change of perspective." I said with a forced smile "Gotta go."

Never had I once been grateful to Him but now. God since when did we decide to forget about all the crap those brats put on us! They're the reason we're even in this crap!

They say blood's thicker than water.

I scoffed aloud. Whoever came up with that bullshit never met my brothers.

YOU are the exception. The Black Sheep. The DIFFERENT one.

What's it to you?

It's awful to see how they treat you, like some outcast! I like to think of us as being different. Unique, our own family.

Our own family... Sure could use a new one right about now.

We have a connection, you and I. That's why I NEED the Trans Ray! It's Us versus the World. A world where three brats get a chance and you're chased down like beasts? Is this what you want to be remembered as? A brutish beast?

I looked down at the students and teachers. Hard to believe they could flip a switch and come at us with pitchforks. Too bad it's already happened. Twice.

What makes us so different?

Is this justice?

For once in what felt like an eternity, I couldn't say a damn word to him.

I'll keep in touch. Don't be a stranger…

-Brick-

"Now remember your lab reports are due next week!"

Hoo-rah. With everything that's going on I barely have enough time to actually do any of my work. Not like it matters if my secret gets out. Or worse yet if Him gets out of that cage. Cause then we'd all be screwed.

"A change in perspective…" Since when did Butch ever say that? Is it Him?

I let out a frustrated sigh. Only Butch could do something that stupid. Making a seal with Him is like making a deal with the Devil. And if he really did seal himself, then we really are screwed.

A small force ricocheted off my chest and fell onto the floor with a pile of books in the wake. Crap. People can't know how strong I am, it's too dangerous for us right now.

"Shit. Look I'm sorry about this–"

"Why should you be? Everything's your fault anyway." Looking up I see none other than Pinky and all her glory staring right back down at me with a resigned look, as if already admitting defeat. Looks like things may work out for us after all.

"Didn't expect to see you here." I muttered as I returned her books.

"So I needed an invite to come back to school?" she retorted.

"An invite's recommended when you bump into strangers at their lockers."

"I'm not here for school, and I'm not here for you either!" she snapped, the pink flared just sparkling behind those dull brown contacts

"And I'm counting my blessings for that." I mused and shoved my way past. And now I wait in 3…2…

"I'm here for your proposition." Perfect. "What's in it for me?"

If there's one thing about Blossom she's just like clockwork. And reliable, if I just get her on my side for a few weeks I can get us out of this mess.

"You want answers right? Then I suggest you find them now, before you have another 'accident' again."

As the crowds started to recede I could see just how vulnerable she was from the window lights. Her fists almost looked like little stones, and she refused to look at me and instead focused all her anger intensely at the floor, as if the glare itself could burn through it. It was as if I was her executioner.

But still, I find myself amazed at the fact that it took the life threatening of her sister to get her to comply, otherwise she'd never be here.

Almost like me. It's almost…admirable.

She finally looked back to me, this time the pink flares burning through the brown with fierce intensity. When it comes to siblings, they could be your biggest weakness, and your strongest virtue I guess. There's no going back then.

"I'm in."

Yep. Short chapter, but I didn't feel the need to add much.

It's been a long whole I know with college and stuff. But something sparked back into me and I felt the need to at least add another chapter after that cliffhanger. Now when I work on Chapter 17 you won't have to worry about who may end up getting hurt.

I appreciate the long support and followers and I hope I haven't lost you all yet.

Fav, follow, review.