Competition

"I think I'm going for Snow White." Buttercup finally decided.

"Why?" Blossom distractedly asked her sister while flipping through the magazine.

"Well she's only Princess with short black hair and I think I'm pretty pale anyway."

"Well Disney's not the only basis for Princesses you know."

"I know, but they're the most recognizable." Buttercup laid on their bed.

Bubbles suddenly flew in. "It's perfect!" She held up a picture."

"Cinderella?" Both her sisters sat up.

"She's blonde, has blue eyes and wears blue! She's totally me! I'm gonna tell Professor!" She squealed.

"You know, this is isn't too bad at all." Buttercup told Blossom.

"Yeah, there's no competition, no fighting. And whoever wins, we're happy!"

"Disney Princesses? Animals? These are their costume choices?!" Sofia slammed the papers on the Mayor's table.

"Everybody voted to keep it innocent." He munched on his pickles. "Plus, Ms. Bellum won't use her connections if I didn't agree and more importantly..."

"Here we go," Sofia muttered under her breathe.

"She the little Green notebook is in her HANDS!"

This is new, Sofia thought. "What's that?" She asked out loud.

"The pickle recipes! And the contact numbers of every pickle supplier in the country!"

Sophia kept herself from making a face.

"Boys, be on your best behavior today because people will be watching if you can be Townsville's star!" Ms. Keane said cheerfully. "And girls, please submit the names of your costumes later."

"Why didn't I think of it before!" Blossom quickly scribbled on her paper.

"Who is it?" Buttercup peeked over her shoulder.

"The Little Mermaid! She's a redhead,"

Princess stopped mid-walk. "Who did you say?"

"The Little Mermaid."

"Oh no, you cannot choose her! She's mine!" She flaunted her scented notepad with 'The Little Mermaid' written in gold ink.

"Seriously? For an entry?" Buttercup scoffed.

"Ssshhh!" Princess waved a hand. "You'd better change that right now!"

"Why Princess? Do you feel afraid that I might be better in costume?" Blossom raised an eyebrow.

"Ok, fine. Bet you won't have top-notch designers to help you out anyway!" Princess stalked off.

"Didn't know you could be bad if you wanted to," Buttercup congratulated Blossom.

"I feel horrible." Blossom groaned. "Though she deserved it but..."

"Daddy!" Princess screamed, storming into the mansion. "I want a famous costume designer!"

Her father grunted.

"No, Versace isn't costume! But I do want her for the evening gown... Daddy focus!"

He moved in his chair and grunted.

"The Hunger Games movie costume designer? Well that's an idea..."

"This is fun!" Bubbles flew among the fabric in the store. "Professor, could I have these really shiny stuff?"

"Let's see Bubbles," He went and checked with the stuff.

"Hi Powerpuff girls!" Robin's soft voice said.

"Hi Robin! What's up?" Buttercup and her sisters flew down.

"Just shopping for stuff, I'm gonna be Belle!"

"It's perfect!" Blossom exclaimed.

"Yes, it is. And I'm practicing for it too... I'm going to sing Be Our Guest! You wanna hear?"

"Sure!" The girls chorused.

"Now dear, don't reveal your talent to the competition!" Her mother picked her up before she could begin.

"B-b-but..." Robin looked sadly at the girls. "Bye..."

"Competition?" Bubbles mumbled sadly.

The Professor looked at them in surprise. "Why so glum? I've got your material!"

"We're competition... Robin can't show her talent to us..." Blossom said.

"It's because you have a chance girls!" Sophia brightly inserted.

"Really?" Buttercup squeaked.

"When others see you as a competition, they see you as a threat! You're the Powerpuffs! You can beat them anyway you want!"

"Well thanks, I guess, Sophia," Professor pushed the girls along to get out. "But nobody here is threatened."

Oh, they are now. She thought. She knew how young minds worked.

Voices kept butting into Blossoms thoughts that night. You're the Powerpuffs! You can beat them anyway you want! But if we're the Powerpuff Girls, which of the Powerpuff Girls is the Townsville star? Buttercup? Nahh... she's too violent. Oh no, it can't be Bubbles! She's sweet and pretty but does she have what it takes to personify the good values of Townsville? It has to be ME! I'm pretty enough, I'm tough but not too violent and I'm smart. Hah! I'll kill the interview portion.

Beside her, Buttercup's mind was also restless. See you as a competition, see you as a threat! Who is a threat among us? Bubbles? Hah, she's too sweet to be a threat... But then again Maybe they're looking for that stuff! I have to be sweeter and more talented than her! Blossom thinks she's a shoo-in with her long red hair, well I can beat her in the interview! I can be more Powerpuff-y if I want to!

Bubbles usually pleasant dreams were disturbed too. I'm not as smart as Blossom and I'm not as tough as Buttercup. But Buttercup's not pageant material anyway. She's too mean. Blossom's waay too bossy and waay too smart. I'm sure nobody will understand her anyway. She thinks she can do us over the interview when the truth is, everybody just nods stupidly back! Well, I'll just have to find that thing to make everyone nod back!

Oh no! What has that Sophia done to our innocent girls? What will this do to everyone?

Next day, at Pokey Oaks Kindergarten.

"Well, today is pretty silent!" Ms. Keane forced herself to be cheerful. What with every boy artificially nice. Even Mitch pulled out a chair for Robin! Then the girls are in a silent war. Things don't change.

"Nice pigtails, Bubbles." Buttercup said awkwardly.

"Thanks, uh... nice dress. Is it new?" Bubbles knew the stupid answer.

"No. Ah, hehe.. same old thing I wear everyday!"

"What the hell's wrong with you people?" Princess looked weirded out. "Oh I know... Sizing up the competition!"

"We are so not!" Buttercup said defensively. "We stick for each other!"

"No, you don't!" Princess sang.

Later at home, the girls were practicing their performances.

"I have an idea girls! Why don't each of you perform like it's already the talent show and we'll help each other out with the stuff to improve!" Professor said, entering the room.

"Uh well," Blossom was on the bed, asking herself pageant questions.

"Mmmm..." Buttercup was in one corner memorizing some lyrics.

"Sure, WHY NOT?" Bubbles flew out of the closet, clothes exploding from it.

A stage was set and the Professor sat down, popcorn in hand.

"Who's going first?"

"Rocks, papers, scissors anybody?"

"Are you kidding me?"

"Alphabetical order."

"Our names all start with B"

"Not all the letters."

"Fine."

"Fine"

"No wait! That means I'm first! B-L"

"Too late!"

"Show must go on!" The girls pushed Blossom on stage.

The Professor bumped into Ms. Bellum downtown. "Hi, Ms. Bellum."

"Hello Professor, how are the girls?"

"Great! Well, I don't know..."

"Tell me!"

"Well, we put on this mock talent show to practice their talents, next thing I knew, Bubbles was saying Blossom's monologue was boring, making fun of Buttercup's sing and dance act and the two ganged up on Bubbles, calling her names until she cried!"

"Oh dear,"

"I don't know what I've done! I mean I've tried everything to treat them fairly and suddenly they're asking me to choose who's the best! Luckily the phone rang and now they're off fighting Him."

"Don't worry, I'll try to talk with them. Maybe after they clean up Him, it will be smoother."

"I do NOT sound like an engine when I sing!" Buttercup express her anger through a powerful punch to Him's nose.

"YES you do!" Bubbles lasered at Him mercilessly. "Blossom said so too!"

"You did?!" Buttercup gave her dagger eyes.

"I did not!" She lied.

"You did!" Bubbles protested as Him fell over.

"Hey! Do I sound like an engine?" Buttercup slapped Him awake.

"No, your voice has that husky quality. It's good for a rock song." Him managed to breathe out.

"You're just jealous 'coz all you have is interview to rely on!" Buttercup screamed.

"You're jealous 'coz you have NOTHING to offer!" Blossom screamed back.

Bubbles uneasily watched her sisters fight again. The police took Him away. That fight was over but this one was just reaching its climax.

"Guys?"

"What, you have soooo much to offer?" Blossom glared at her. "'Coz I'm so boring? What makes you think your self-composed song about rabbits and elves more appealing!"

Bubbles screamed and leapt at them.

And they rumbled through town. And they're not the only ones.

Girls all around Townsville were CRAZED! I've said this before but oh no! What have they become?