Before I continue, there are three quick notes. Firstly, sorry for the delay, a little thing called exams got in the way. Secondly, thanks to those who have reviewed thus far, I'm very grateful for your support/input. And thirdly, apologies for the slightly strange piece of casting in the up coming chapter. Those who know DBZ might see what I'm doing, but the rest of you shall have to bear with me for a bit. Sorry.
3. The Happy Reunion
As we know, there were times at which three Powerpuff Girls struggled with the duty of protecting Townsville. So with this set up, it sometimes seemed almost impossible for just two Puffs, especially since they were missing the natural leader. Hence they had had to develop some different techniques.
For a start, Buttercup had assumed the position of leader which due to her rather "basic" tactics meant that Bubbles had assumed the position of having to ignore her when circumstances dictated it. Other then that, the two of them had worked hard to maximise the areas in which they were already very strong.
Buttercup had focused on her fighting skill to add to her considerable natural talent. A black belt in every martial art she could think of (plus a few she'd made up to impress Bubbles,) Buttercup was also the reigning World Martial Arts champion having defeated an infuriated Butch in the final.
Bubbles on the other hand had targeted her considerable internal power, hidden behind her innocent, friendly natural shell. Unable to cope with the head-on bludgeoning style of combat that Buttercup favoured, she had instead worked on delivering high speed finishing blows without having to engage in a battle of attrition. Now the self-proclaimed fastest being on the planet, she was also in Blossom's absence the Powerpuff's negotiator.
This was now quite a heavy duty, since it wasn't always possible for the Girls to beat everyone head on. Sure, in a fight they were almost unbeatable, but if their enemy chose to try an out wit them rather then out fight them, Buttercup and Bubbles could quickly find themselves in a mess. A solution came from one of two sources. One commonly used option was to play multiple villains off against each other. They'd got quite good at this, but it did entail certain sacrifices (such as allowing Mojo to live unmolested in a massive volcano in the centre of town.)
Of course the preferred option was to turn to the Professor for advice or a scientific solution. There virtual father was always delighted to be able to help, especially since it allowed them to spend time together.
Neither of them ever mentioned Blossom, it was easier that way. But thoughts… thoughts are different. With time however, even these had faded.
Half a year ago they did receive an uncomfortable reminder. Due to a different balance in the chemical X energy pattern on in the area due to Blossom's absence (i.e. a massive plot hole,) Mojo Jojo's attempt to create the Rowdyruff Boys had only made two, initially anyway. It fact there had just been a delayed reaction, but when Brick was eventually created, Mojo decided that he was quite happy with just two Ruffs that depended on him to an extent. Give them a leader of there own and the three of them might get ideas...
Hence Brick had been placed secretly in suspended animation, until six months ago, when Mojo decided to dump him on Bubbles and Buttercup to allow him to escape from a particularly unsuccessful attempt to destroy them. The red ruff had not aged and had no memory so the Professor had taken him in. With a firm hand and a bar of soap, he had managed to mould Brick into an obedient, sensible little boy. Well, almost managed.
"I don't want to go back to school!" Brick whined at his older sisters. "Why can't I fight crime with you?"
Buttercup rolled her eyes. "For the last time, because we don't need your help," she replied tiredly. "Besides, it's too dangerous for someone as young as you."
"But you were fighting at my age," Brick protested.
"That was completely different," Buttercup snapped. She was getting fed up of this. The two puffs were quite fond of their adopted younger brother, but like all siblings he could be very irritating at times
"How?"
"Because when we started there wasn't anyone else to do it." Bubbles jumped in to rescue her increasingly angry sister. "Now we are here which means you don't have to put your self in danger."
"And you would be putting your self in danger," Buttercup added quickly before Brick could protest, "because nowadays the villains have lots of cunning tactics to use against us. You don't have our level of experience, so there is no way you could handle it."
"Yes, but I can't again experience if you never let me experience the experience!" Brick moaned. It took Bubbles and Buttercup a few moments to work out what he was on about.
"Maybe, but in the end it's the Professor's decision," Buttercup declared firmly.
"When he says you can help us, we'll be happy to have you along," Bubbles finished cheerfully.
"Like heck with will," muttered Buttercup, but she kept that thought to herself.
Brick looked rather deflated, as he always did. Bubbles felt slightly sorry for him.
"Perhaps we could let him watch," she suggested to her sister. Bricks eyes lit up.
"Really? Oh please!" he begged.
Buttercup relented. "Fine, but as soon as we've finished I'm escorting you straight back to School, okay!"
Brick nodded enthusiastically, before pausing. "What am I watching?" he asked.
"We got a tip off of an illegal gun shipment that is being brought into town to day," Bubbles replied. She pointed down the street past the Town Hall. "The police are going to try and stop them at the dock, but in the likely event that the fools try to run for it they're going to direct them down here, straight to us."
"Why don't the police deal with it them selves?" Brick asked.
"They don't want to get into a gun fight, apparently," Buttercup replied grumpily. "Not since the Mayor decided he could reduce tax by half a percent if he restricted the police to one bullet each per year."
"Ah."
Presently, there was the distant roar of the diesel engine of a large truck having the life thrashed out of it by a rather desperate driver. Buttercup rubbed her hands. "Customers!" she declared gleefully as the vehicle lumbered into view (with several police cars in not-too-close pursuit.)
"Right Brick, you stay here," she declared authoritively, "and Bubbles, leave the best thugs to me alright!"
"Ha," Bubbles laughed. "I'll have knocked them all out before you even arrive."
"Yeah, well you've never managed yet…"
This gentle mocking ceased abruptly when the truck suddenly and dramatically exploded. The blast sent the police cars flying into the air and shattered most of the windows on either side of the street, as well as knocking the three spectating Puffs/Ruff off their feet. As the debris landed around them, Buttercup and Bubbles slowly picked them selves up, and looked in disbelief at the creator, and the burnt out shell of the Truck.
"How did that happen?" Buttercup asked, trying to piece together what had just happened in her mind.
"Maybe one of them dropped a cigarette on the ammo or something," Bubbles suggested.
Buttercup shook her head. "I saw a red flash just before it went off… Brick! You didn't have anything to do with this did you?" She whirled round, but too her surprise, Brick wasn't even looking at the explosion. He was staring at something in the sky above them.
Bubbles turned round too and let out a little shriek. "What! That can't…"
"I know…" whispered Buttercup, as a figure landed softly before them. It may have been many years, she may have been wearing strange clothes and her face may have been heavily scarred, but both Bubbles and Buttercup instantly recognised their long lost sister.
"Blossom?" Bubbles whispered. "Is it really you?"
Blossom managed a half smile. "Glad to see you remember my name Bubbles," she said tonelessly. Her lack of emotion didn't prevent Bubbles from showing hers.
"It really is you!" she cried, her eye's welling up with tear as she sped towards her sister.
"Careful Bubbles!" Buttercup ordered, but Bubbles continued towards her third sister until she was a few inches away, when Blossom seemed to disappear.
Bubbles stopped abruptly, rubbing her eyes. "Err, where did she go?" she asked, looking around confusedly.
Buttercup was also searching, but in a far less relaxed manor. Brick, whose boyish courage had rapidly vanished, was hanging off her trouser leg.
"Who is that sis?" he asked nervously.
Buttercup wasn't listening. "Dam it, where could she have gone?" she bellowed.
Bubbles looked at her feet. "Maybe we imagined her?" she suggested. "Or some villain is using an illusion to mess with our minds. I mean no one can move that fast."
"Oh ye of little faith," said Blossom smugly. The two Puffs whirled around to see Blossom standing behind them, looking extremely purposeful.
"Umm, Blossom?" asked Bubbles nervously. Brick was now effectively hiding behind Buttercup, who was gritting her teeth.
"Sorry Bubbles," Blossom spoke in a calm yet threatening tone. "I don't feel like a hug just yet. I would, however, like to know how come you are still alive?"
"Err, well when we returned to earth we sort of defeated the evil Monkey and then everyone liked us again," Bubbles explained embarrassedly. "The two of us are now the heroes of the city, the…"
"Powerpuff Girls," Blossom spat the word. "Yes, I heard." She glanced around at the surrounding city, a look of derision on a face. "What a shallow species occupies this planet," she continued. "One moment they "hate" something and the next they "love" it."
"Umm…" Bubbles started. She didn't really know what to make of this.
Blossom looked over to her other sister. "What's the matter Buttercup?" she asked. "You look like you are expecting trouble."
"Maybe," Buttercup replied tightly. "Why don't you tell us where you've been all these years Blossom."
"Oh not much to tell really," Blossom replied. "I drifted through space completely alone for a while before the comet crash landed on a planet. Unfortunately it's inhabitants weren't very welcoming, so I ended up living alone on the street in some alien city, kept alive only by my hatred. I remained there until Lord Freeza decided to conquer the planet.
"Lord Freeza?" asked Bubbles.
"The ruler of most of the universe," Blossom explained. "Well, the most powerful member of the ruling family anyway. He sent an army to seize the planet, made up of three Saiyans." She looked slightly wistful. "They had so much power, nothing could stop them. No one who resisted survived." She ran a finger down one of her facial scares. "I barely made it myself. Anyway, the government had no choice but to surrender, and as soon as Freeza had established an administrative structure there, I signed up."
"So you're a solider?" Bubbles asked.
"One of the best," Blossom replied.
"That's all rubbish!" Buttercup bellowed. "Three beings couldn't take over an entire planet, no matter how strong!" Then she thought for a moment. "Hang on," she stuttered, "are you here now for work or pleasure!"
Before Blossom could answer, the Mayor, with a suitably sized entourage emerged from the town hall. "What's all this racket about?" he blustered loudly. Blossom turned round, and eventually recognised him. Her face twisted.
"Ah, him." She said bluntly. The Mayor, although still a good distance away, looked at Blossom and stopped.
"Err, girls, who is this?" he asked Bubbles and Buttercup.
Blossom replied for them. "The pickle destroyer!" She shouted, swinging her hand up in front of her, and firing a blast straight towards the Mayor. Bubbles and Buttercup gasped, but Blossom's attack only vaporised the Mayor's hat as it skimmed just above his head, before slamming into the town hall, which immediately burst into flames.
"Oh my…" burbled the Mayor.
"Woops, I missed," Blossom said, but she sounded very pleased with her self. Buttercup and Bubbles didn't even pause to give are a dirty look. The two heroes immediately charged into action, flying rapidly around the hall to try and blow out the fire.
Blossom watched them, slowly shaking her head. "Fools," she muttered. Behind her, now on his own, Brick watched furiously.
"Murderer," he hissed, and with a burst of red energy he leapt up and swung a kick at Blossom's head. Actually, he didn't get as far as the swinging, for Blossom rapidly stuck out an arm and grabbed the kid around the neck.
"Has no one ever told you that only dishonourable losers launch sneak attacks, little brother?" she asked, squeezing his neck. Brick could only gasp desperately for breath, his eyes filled with fear. Blossom smiled, an idea forming in her head. "Relax kid," she said, easing her grip slightly, "I want you alive, for now." Taking a deep breath, she blew hard over brick, encasing securely in a block of ice to avoid further struggling.
In the meantime, Bubbles and Buttercup had finished putting out the fire, as most of the workforce staggered out of the battered building. Bubbles' quickly picked out a coughing Ms Bellum, and swooped down towards her. "Has everyone got out?" she asked worriedly.
"I think so," Ms Bellum chocked. "Lucky escape I guess."
"HA!" Blossom bellowed. "Why did you bother saving those fools my sisters? Do you not remember how they used to loath you!"
Buttercup swung round shaking with rage. "What the hell has got into you!" she roared. "You can't just kill them all!" Then she noticed. "Ah shoot, she's got Brick!"
A large crowd had now formed, as they generally did in Townsville at times of crisis. Blossom, with the frozen Brick tucked under her arm, hovered ten metres above them. Buttercup and Bubbles raced up to her height, stopping a few feet short of their sister.
"Alright Blossom," Buttercup said furiously, "I want you to… give your self up. Now!"
"Yeah," Bubbles added. "Give us Brick back and then we can help you, get you back to normal."
Blossom looked deeply unimpressed. "I'm giving the orders here," Blossom replied, "and this time you will obey me, or I'll force you too." Bubbles and Buttercup gritted their teeth.
"Then why are you here?" asked Buttercup.
"I'm here on a mission from Lord Freeza," Blossom said bluntly. "This planet, which I believe you call earth, has been sold as the location for a new galactic holiday resort."
"Pardon!" gabbled the Puffs as the crowd below gasped.
"Yes," Blossom replied calmly, "you see the unusually varied climate here makes it ideal. Hot deserts, lush forests, snowy mountains, golden beeches, it's all here. Soon earth will be theholiday destinations for all of the loyal citizens of Freeza."
"But your Lord… whatever can't sell it," Bubbles protested, "its not his!"
"Now that is a temporary problem, I'll admit," Blossom replied, "which is why I am here. I have been set the task of removing all the unsightly and irritating intelligent life, so that the developers can move in. And on top of that I get my revenge."
"That's disgusting!" Bubbles shrieked.
"Not really," Blossom replied. "Freeza's armies do this sort of thing all the time. Normally however, the soldiers don't get quite this much enjoyment."
"NO!" wailed Buttercup. "I won't let you. We won't let you! Now give us back Brick!" She charged towards Blossom, roaring with rage. Blossom sighed.
"Oh honestly, I'm getting really tired of this," she said.
"You'll be even more tired when I break your skull!" Buttercup bellowed, as she swung a punch. To her horror, Blossom caught it effortlessly. The green puff was about to try another attack when Blossom kneed her hard in the gut, completely winding her. That down, Blossom still gripping her had, swung Buttercup over her shoulder like a rag doll straight into Bubbles, who was trying an attack from behind. The two battered Puffs fell to the floor in a heap, as the crowd gasped in horror (again.)
Blossom landed just in front of them. "Now, sisters, I was going to kill you and all the people of this stupid city, for my revenge. However, I don't seem to hate you two as much as I thought I did, so although it is against my better judgement, I'm going to give you a chance to live. So listen carefully." Buttercup and Bubbles, writhing on the floor in pain, but no choice but to. Blossom continued. "You have five days to kill the entire population of this city. Yes… I like that. Nice and ironic. If you do that little task for me, I will release your little brother and allow you to join me. If you fail, I will make sure that you and Brick die a very slow and painful death, before I kill everyone anyway." She drifted into the air again. "While you wrestle with the moral dilemma, I think I'll make a start on the surrounding area. I do hope you chose wisely." And with a brief manic cackle, she and the captured Brick were gone.