A/N:

Thanks for the reviews, I really appreciate it.

Chapter 2. Brontophobia; Fear of Thunder and Lightning storm clouds are blowing in

The vixen's cerulean eyes glowered over her handiwork and she gave a toothy smile to the exhausted boys.

"Brat! We are not going to wait for you!" Brute yelled.

Brat languidly turned on her heels, walking a few steps backwards, still admiring the brutality she had unleashed on the battered Rowdyruffs. She pursed her lips in mock innocence, then blew a kiss, winking as she gloated, "Remember, beautiful flowers have thorns."

She skipped away, her high heels clicking across cracked pavement, and then she jumped through the mirror.

OOo

Ken flipped through the pages of his science book and yawned. He had read this book countless times, and only pulled it out to keep himself occupied when he was bored, though he was beginning to realize that it only intensified boredom. Peach stirred in his lap, sleeping-- or more accurately-- recharging. Ken patted the pooch's smooth steel frame and turned another page in the book.

"Wan..." Peach muttered and squirmed, his ears twitching restlessly.

"Are robotic dogs capable of dreams?" Ken wondered aloud, suspecting a nightmare was the cause of Peach's restlessness. He scratched the dog's chin to calm him but that only seemed to help awaken him.

"Wan!" Peach cried, jolting up, his nose sniffing the air. "Monster, da wan!"

Ken's eyes widened and he hopped from his seat, rushing to the main lab. Peach trailed around his legs, sniffing and repeating, "Monster! Monster!"

"Professor!" Ken bolted through the doors.

The Professor blinked, looking away from his work. Before he could ask what was wrong, he heard Peach barking in alarm. Ken was at the computer monitor, rapidly tapping away at the computer keys. He searched through all the surveillance cameras around the city to no avail. It looked like a peaceful day.

...for now, Ken thought to himself. Peach never lied.

"The calm before the storm," he concluded and turned to his father.

The Professor shared his son's thoughts and nodded to him, then to Peach. Peach snapped out of his panic.

"Powerpuff Girls Z, da wan!"

OoO

Momoko growled and glared at her belt, then looked longingly at her noodles. She and Miyako sighed as they quickly repacked their lunches, while Kaoru stuffed her face with the rest of her food. She looked up, game face on, her cheeks bulging from the excess food. Momoko had to resist giggling at the sight, forcing herself out of the classroom before a laugh slipped out. Oblivious to the humor, Kaoru and Miyako followed.

OoO

Blossom flipped open the compact. "What do you have for us today?"

Ken's face flickered on screen. "Peach sensed a monster but we don't know where it is... exactly."

Buttercup raised a brow, arms crossed. "Then we're investigating?" She was throughly disappointed.

"Exactly. Peach sensed a monster in the outskirts of Tokyo City, but lost the signal soon afterwards."

Blossom nodded. "We'll check it out."

OoO

Marbled shadows glowered outside of the brilliant city. If the girls didn't know any better they would have sworn it was dusk. Glass crackled and chimed under their footsteps and Bubbles made a soft gasp that echoed throughout the hollow streets.

"What is it?" Buttercup spun around, hoping that the investigation was closed. Every pore of her was aching to fight. It had been a slow week and even Mojo was long due for an appearance.

"It's nothing." Bubbles shook her head. "I never thought there was a ghost town near the city. It looks like something straight out of a cowboy movie."

"It's probably an older part of--" Bloosom suddenly stopped, then raised a finger to her lips, asking her questioning comrades to hush.

She cupped her ears, blinking, then turned to the two girls. "Do you hear that?"

Bubbles and Buttercup leaned forward, ears cupped. "Sort of..."

"Let's follow that first." Blossom went in the right direction. As they neared the antique shop they turned to each other.

"It sounds like some kind of static." Blossom poked her head inside the bare window, it's broken glass under her feet. She slipped inside the old building, eyes searching, her insides trembling the more they delved deeper into this ghost town, this abandoned shop. Blossom looked ahead of her, stomach cartwheeling, and her heart grew heavy, pummeling against her ribcage.

Curiously, Blossom walked forward, then bolted back a step as the image of a similar redhead rippled into view.

"Just like my dream..." She held her hands to her chest and swallowed, praying the girl with the deranged grin wouldn't jump at her.

"Did you find something?" Buttercup tapped her shoulder.

Blossom shrieked, her hair standing on end. Though she realized it was Buttercup who startled her, she was still shocked.

"Relax, it's just us." Bubbles humbly smiled.

"What is this? Some kind of mirror trick?" Buttercup peered at her warped reflection, hands on her hips and curled tongue sticking out, skeptical.

She began to tap the glass, confused by the abnormal ringing sound that echoed, accustomed to the brisk sound mirrors gave, similar to that of when one knocked on doors. On the third impact, her fist was consumed and the sound of shrieking particles enveloped them, ringing in their ears, shaking the ground below them.

"Buttercup!" Bubbles gasped, her hands covering her mouth.

Buttercup's widened eyes softened as she became more curious of this object, moving her hand in and out.

"The monster is probably on the other side."

"That would explain why Peach lost the signal," Blossom added.

Bubbles and Buttercup turned to the leader; even Buttercup, who often took the rein, waited for approval.

Blossom bit her lip, lowering her eyes towards her counterpart in the mirror. "Let's go."