Okay, sorry for the long delay again. Today's excuss is coursework. Enjoy the Chapter.

8. Bubbles' Boost.

Bubbles stared out of the window disconsolately, looking disbelievingly in the direction of where Cityville had once stood. Secretly, she'd always hoped that Blossom would return to them and even though they'd never spoken about it she suspected that Buttercup and the Professor had desperately wished for it too. Of course it was natural for her to be… different, but how could it end like this? How could Buttercup, her mighty green eyed sister be dead?

She always seemed to survive anything, be it a direct hit from Mojo's latest laser or getting swallowed by one of the many marauding monsters that attacked the city. Whatever it was, Buttercup had bounced back with her usual vigour and determination. To be honest, Bubbles had believed her sister to be invincible.

She smacked her hand hard against the window sill. She couldn't be dead! Maybe it was a trick; perhaps Boomer had lied about what he'd sensed, so that he and Butch could catch her sister alone and off guard. That was the sort of things those Ruff's might try.

But she remembered the look of fear in Boomer's eyes, fear for his brother's safety. Bubbles didn't think that he was that good an actor. Still, he may have been mistaken. The only way she'd ever know is if she went to see for her self.

"You two done yet!" she hollowed into the lab. It was slightly insensitive of her, she knew, since the Professor was surely grieving too, but she couldn't stand the waiting anymore.

To her surprise the Professor and Mojo emerged. "Yes," the Professor said, "just about." He gestured to his monkey companion, who was holding what appeared to be a seemingly unnecessarily bulky belt.

"Errr, is that it?" Bubbles was more then a little disappointed.

The Professor understood her doubt. "I know it doesn't look much, but inside the belt is some chemical X. The buckle has a flow-rate control device, and by using that carefully you should be able to pump small enough amounts into your body to boost your power without causing you to… err… explode."

Bubbles ignored the bit on the end. "So you mean I might be able to beat Blossom?" she asked.

The Professor winced at the mention of her third daughter, but nodded slowly. "I think so, but we won't know for sure until we try it."

"Now," interrupted Mojo. "Buckle has three flow rate setting, that are equivalent to three different rates of flow. For simplicity, we have labelled the first rate one, as in the lowest rate of flow, and then the middle rate is labelled two, because it is the second highest and the second lowest flow rate, and then the highest rate is labelled three."

"Bubbles, beware," the Professor added. "Putting any amount of Chemical X in your body like this is highly dangerous, and there isn't very much in the belt anyway. So you must try and keep it on as low a setting as possible. Only use level two in an emergency, and three in a utter crisis."

"And don't try and turn it beyond a three," Mojo said, before adding, "not that there is a higher flow rate," rather too quickly.

"That's great!" Bubbles replied delightedly. She was bubbling under with excitement. Normally Bubbles wasn't a great one for fighting, she saw it as a means to an ends – a method of stopping evil – rather then an actual form of entertainment, like Buttercup had. Today was different though. If Blossom had killed her sister, then she wanted revenge.

Suddenly a thought occurred to her. "Hang on," she queried, "how does the Chemical X get into my body?"

The Professor winced again. "There is a needle…" he began. Mojo made sure he had no need to say any more, by pressing a button on the side of the belt, to eject a half inch thick needle from the buckle. Bubbles gulped.

"Isn't that going to hurt a bit," she asked meekly.

"Oh yes…" Mojo handed her the belt, grinning from ear to ear. "I expect it shall be excruciating."

Above the three Rowdyruffs the battle continued with Princess and Blossom cannoning across the sky so fast that the boys could hardly watch. Eventually Boomer gave up, and turned to Brick.

"So what's the plan kid," he asked. "It better be a good one, because it may be our last chance."

"Oh it is!" Brick replied with slightly childish excitement. "We know we're powerful enough to hurt Blossom, but the problem is that she's fast enough to doge our attacks, right?"

"So it seems," Butch replied with interest.

"So, we need to stop her moving…"

"Hang on," Boomer interrupted, didn't you (pointing to Butch) and Buttercup already try that?"

"I know, but Buttercup grabbed her in the wrong place," Brick smirked. His smile faded briefly at the thought of his departed sister, but he gathered it up quickly. "Butch, can you do that Beam Cannon thing again?" he asked.

Butch shook his head. "Sorry, I'm really low on energy, besides, with one arm my attack options are quite limited."

Brick took a deep breath. "Okay," he eventually declared, "it's not ideal, but this is what we'll do."

As they were talking, there was an almighty crash from above, and one of the figures came shooting out of the melee, shooting towards the earth at high speed. To there amassment, it was Blossom that had been smashed, but being a professional, she was able to roll on contact with the ground, thus minimising her pain and allowing her to regain her feet in an instant. Princess landed shakily, panting heavily.

"Nice hit," Blossom laughed, seemingly unbothered. "If you built that suit your self, then you must be a bit of a genius."

"Ha…" Princess panted. "Do I look like a labourer? I don't build things, I buy them!"

Blossom nodded thoughtfully. "In that case, you've out lived you usefulness."

"Really?" Princess sniffed, "how are you going to enforce that wish!" Blossom didn't answer, she simply rushed forward, and leaping into the air kicked Princess hard under the chin. The boys winced as an awful cracking noise splintered across the battlefield. Princess landed on her back, twitching slightly.

"Easily," Blossom replied. "I figured that you had used the last of that suit's power in that last attack from how you were struggling to move. And beneath that impressive amour, you are just a normal, pathetic human, that needs to be exterminated." She raised a hand, and powered up a small energy ball, as Princess twitched again. "Goodbye…" she began.

"Now!" roared Butch, and Blossom looked round to see the Green ruff charging towards her, his one hand raised aggressively into the air.

Blossom turned her body to face Butch too. "Tad late for a suicide attack," she sneered. Butch had no intention of attacking though. When he was about four feet away, he swung his arm over, put his feet in the air and fired a blast into the ground, propelling himself upwards feet first. As Brick had planned Blossom, confused, watched Butch fly into the air, giving Boomer the time he needed to act. Racing round like a bullet, he used every bit of power he had left to propel himself behind Blossom before she could respond. Once there, he pulled hard on her long hair.

Blossom screamed in pain as her head was yanked back. Brick yelped with delight. He knew that Bubbles and Buttercup had always hated it when he'd pulled there hair, something the Professor had put a stop to. Now it was a trick that could save the world.

He powered up two energy balls. "Take this you bully!" he bellowed, but before he fired Blossom gritted her teeth and swung her head forward hard, yanking Boomer in a wide arc over her head. The blue ruff smashed the ground, and Blossom was quick to stamp hard on his back. Now it was Boomer's turn to scream, his wails joined by spots of blood as they flew out of his mouth together.

Brick's energy vanished along with his confidence, as Butch cursed high above. Blossom turned all her attention to her male version.

"Nice try kid," she smiled. "Lets see exactly how quickly you can solve a problem!" She swung her arm up palm first and blasted a wave of energy towards him. Brick yelped and side stepped it, watching in horror as it cannoned past him. Blossom calmly flicked her wrist, and the blast performed a tight hairpin turn before cannoning back towards the ruff.

"Move you idiot!" Butch bellowed, but Brick had frozen with fear. The size and power of the blast, combined with the shock of it coming back for seconds, had completely overloaded his senses. All he could do was cover his head and brace for impact.

There was a colossal explosion. Once it had cleared Brick opened his eyes. He was amazed to see that he still existed, but soon found out why. Butch, shaking in pain, had positioned himself in between Brick and the blast, thus taking the whole force of the impact. His skin was burnt and his clothes ripped, but legs and arms (well, arm) out stretched, he stood firm.

"Gee Butch," Brick murmured in surprise. "Thanks."

Butch forced a grin. "No problem kid," he croaked. Then the pain became too much, and after one staggering step backwards, he fell. Brick caught him and lowered him to the ground.

"No Butch," he sniffed, looking at his dazed eyes. "Please don't die!"

Butch didn't even have the energy to cough, but he just about managed to speak. "I'm a goner kid," she said. "Go kill that bitch for us!"

A short distance away, Boomer raised his head slowly. "No… Butch!" he murmured. Then, he felt Blossom gently wedge her foot underneath him.

"Why don't you go say good bye to your brother," she said in a tone of voice that was almost kind. "Not that it will be long before you join him." With a deft flick, Boomer was sent tumbling towards Butch. He stopped just beside him.

"Butch…" Boomer whimpered. "Why?"

Butch sneered. "Don't look so glum," he whispered. "Survive this, get Him to bring me back, and then the two of us can finally rule the world."

"Survive! How?"

"Just watch…"

Brick had stood up and looked away. Tears were streaming down his face, and his shoulders where hunched. All the events of today where too much for a kid who'd been closeted away from the world by Professor Utonium. Blossom could see this.

"Face it kid," she said calmly, looking at her finger nails. "There is no way that you can win. Sure you can cause me some problems, sort of like Marcus Gronholm taking an occasional rally win over Sebastian Loeb. But in the long run, you will always loose. Unless you retire now, and join me!" She stretched out her arms emphatically. "This is the last time that offer is open."

There was a momentary pause. Then Brick suddenly looked straight up at her, his eyes filled with rage. "NO! Those are the last words you'll ever say!" In a flash, he unleashed a massive blast that ripped up the ground as it surged towards Blossom.

Even without her scouter, Blossom could tell this attack was a potential problem. Rapidly clenching her fist, she built up some energy of her own and used it to punch the blast as hard as she could. This stopped it but it still burnt against her hand. Blossom brought her other hand down to try and stop it. Brick growled, and charged some more of his power into the attack. Blossom winced as the red glow bulged to a larger size, its' power threatening to overwhelm her.

"See," Butch whispered, his breath running short.

"My God," Boomer gasped in amazement. "He might just beat her!"

This was only a brief threat though. With a might heave, Blossom swung the blast around herself, and sent it spiralling away, straight into the body of the still immobile Princess. Brick watched in horror as his own attack vaporised their temporary ally.

"Dam it!" Butch croaked, as he seemingly breathed his last breath. Boomer thumped the ground with frustration and Brick feel to his knees. Blossom was of course delighted.

"See, I knew you were capable of killing kid!" she declared triumphantly. "Shame you can't follow orders. In Freeza's army, those who can't obey, die."

Brick looked at the ground. "I give up. Do it, if you can."

Blossom smiled, and was about to oblige, when a cold wind suddenly seemed to blow across the battlefield. Blossom turned slowly, and Brick and Boomer looked up to see Bubbles.

Or at least Boomer thought is was Bubbles. It ort to be; it was defiantly her body. But something was different… For a start, even in their life and death battles, she'd never had quite that look in her eyes.

Blossom clearly had noticed it too, as she turned to look at her sister. "Aww, Bubbles," she said, almost mockingly, "what's wrong. I seem to remember that you where always the happy one…"

Bubbles said nothing. She just stared at Blossom. Or through Blossom, as if examining her soul. The pink Puff had enough decency to squirm ever so slightly, before Bubbles turned, and walked over to where Buttercup's body lay.

Her body still had the large hole in her chest, but as Bubbles suppressed a gasp, she noticed that with her eyes closed, she looked so peaceful. Bubbles closed her eyes too and sagged for a moment. Then she focused; there would be time to mourn later.

So with only one backward glance, she walked purposely across the battlefield towards where Brick was knelt down. The young red ruff looked at her happily as she helped him to his feet. "You're here!" he exclaimed gleefully. "Has the Professor come up with a plan to save us then?"

Bubbles merely smiled weakly. "Come on, let's go over here for a moment." Ignoring Blossom (who was studying her sister studiously but patiently) they walked over to where Boomer and Butch's body lay. Bubbles could tell by Boomer's expression that both Green's had met a similar fate. For the first time ever, she felt sorry for him.

"You alright Boomer?" she asked carefully.

Boomer looked at her briefly, before staring at the ground. "I've been better," he muttered.

"I mean can you stand?" Bubbles offered a hand to him. Boomer took a deep breath to try and build up his strength, and then took it. She pulled him gently on to his feet again.

"Ow!" Boomer groaned as he let his battered back take his weight again. "I'm afraid I don't think I'm going to be much more use Bubbles," he sighed, "even accounting for our quick healing."

Bubbles nodded. "Don't worry, you've done you bit. Thanks for keeping Brick safe." She gently patted her younger brother on the head, he having retreated to his standard safety zone at one of his sister's legs.

"Ha," Boomer laughed hollowly. "Butch did most of the protecting. He was defending Brick from a blast when..." he swallowed a lump. Bubbles blinked in surprise, and looked down at her late enemy.

"I see," she whispered slowly.

"Yeah," Brick added quietly. "He was really cool! He told me that I could fight Blossom, and maybe even beat her… but now he's gone, like Buttercup." A few tears ran down his face. "We tried everything Bubbles, and she's still standing."

"Bricks right Bubbles," Boomer added. "The kid fought like a demon, but I don't even think that your "wonderful" sister was trying. She was just toying with us, and the only time she tried was when she pounded Princess and… Butch."

Bubbles nodded slowly. "Can you two go get Buttercups body for a moment? I'm going to think about the plan."

"Err…" Boomer looked nervously over at Blossom. The Pink Puff smiled patiently.

"Don't mind me," she chuckled. "Gather your dead; it will give you a chance to see close up what your bodies will be like soon."

Boomer shuddered, but he and Brick walked slowly off to where Buttercup was resting. Bubbles, now alone, looked down on Butch again.

"Thanks for saving Brick Butch," she whispered. "I guess you had some morals after all. Maybe they will help you where ever you are now."

She had turned away to see how Boomer and Brick were getting on when she heard a faint voice. "Bubbles…" it hissed.

Bubbles blinked. "Butch?"

"Bubbles…" the voice wheezed desperately. "Listen to me…"

Bubbles looked around quickly. "Where are you?" she asked.

"Behind you of course!" Butch forced himself to shout. Bubbles swung round. He was still alive…

"Please Butch," she said pityingly. "Save your strength, there might still be time."

Butch managed to cough out some Blood. His breathing had all but stopped. "Listen… forget you morals Bubbles. You must kill her."

"Kill? Blossom?"

"Yes." Butch let out a short cry of pain. "She is a monster, she can show no mercy. You mustn't either Bubbles, or everyone will die."

"But…"

"No buts!" Butch wailed. "Even Buttercup knew Blossom had to die. If there is any good left in her heart, she will ignore it. I promise you that. Don't… let me… let us … die in vain."

Bubbles shock her head. "I don't know if I can kill her Butch," she whispered.

Butch let out one last wheezing laugh. "You Powerpuffs are capable of anything," he chuckled. "That's was makes you so annoying…" With that, he was gone.

Bubbles closed her eyes for a moment, as she tried to suppress her emotions. One tear escaped, but that was all.

Boomer and Brick returned, the former with Buttercup's body tucked under his arm. "I hope you don't mind," he said to Bubbles, "but Brick doesn't want to carry her really."

Bubbles nodded. "No, I understand. So long as you don't do anything inappropriate."

"Please, I'm evil, not sick."

Bubbles managed a small smile at that, before turning back to Brick. "You think that you can carry Butch for me." Brick had gone quite again, so he nodded. "Great," Bubbles continued. "If you two could take them back to the Professor and Mojo that would be great."

The two boys' jaws dropped. "Wait!" Boomer spluttered. "You want to fight Blossom alone?" Bubbles merely nodded.

"Why?" Brick spluttered. "Didn't you say that the Professor had come up with a plan?"

"I did," Bubbles replied. She discreetly reached down to the belt, and twisted the dial up to level one. "I am the plan." Gritting her teeth, she turned to face Blossom.

Brick took a step towards her. "You can't, she'll kill you! I don't want to lose both my sisters!" Boomer however pulled him back.

"No Brick," he whispered, going slightly pail. "Look at her."

Brick looked. If he squinted he could just about see a light blue glow surrounding Bubbles and it was getting stronger with every passing second.

"Wow," he gasped. "You okay sis?"

"Go now," Bubbles said firmly, ignoring the question. "Please!"

"Come on Brick," Boomer added quietly. "Don't say it too loud but there's something different about her. Maybe Mojo and the Professor did come up with something, but she can't fight Blossom properly if she's worrying about our safety. Let's pick up Butch and go home."

Brick hesitated, but eventually he turned away, picking up Butch's now lifeless body. Boomer nodded, but then spotted something by his feet. It was Blossom's scouter.

"Hehe," he thought to himself. "She can't pick up power levels without this!" He picked it up. "If I take this away, it might give Bubbles the element of surprise." Taking one last look at Bubbles, the two boys and their precious cargo headed for Townsville once more.

Blossom watched them go with that ever present smirk still on her face. "I could blow them out of the sky you know," she said calmly.

"You dare!" Bubbles' voice was filled with danger.

Blossom turned to face her, mock horror written on her face. "Touchy!" she gasped, before returning to her more confident expression. "No, your right, it would be a bit churlish to kill them now." She cocked her head on one side. "You know Bubbles, we don't have to fight. I regret Buttercup's death as much as you do."

"I can't believe that!" Bubbles snapped.

"Why?" Blossom asked sweetly. "Do you perhaps believe then that I am justified in wanting revenge on you two?"

Bubbles opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Memories dribbled slowly into her mind, memories of their initial rejection by the people of Townsville, their (brief) rejection by the Professor and then of the argument over whether they should return. She wondered briefly how she would have responded to being abandoned on a comet floating off alone into the endless depth of space.

Lacking a reply, Blossom continued. "I know Buttercup rejected my kind offer, but since she's now gone maybe you might be more favourable towards it. Then we can end this foolishness."

Bubbles smiled. "I count an extra scar on your face," she said.

Blossom sneered, as she felt out the damage that Boomer's energy disc had done to her earlier. "Perhaps "foolishness" is not the right word. "Stubbornness" might be a more fitting description." She relaxed her expression for a moment. "So stop this stubbornness Bubbles, and join me. We sisters must stick together." She ground the last sentence out from between her teeth, as if releasing some long pent up anger.

Bubbles nodded slowly. "I think I've got you pegged," she said softy. "Beneath the mask of an experienced, confident and merciless warrior, our Blossom – my Blossom – still exists. She may have been twisted out of almost all recognisable shape by years of loneliness and hatred brought on by your abandonment, but she is still there." She looked straight into her sisters eyes, as her own welled with tears. "Blossom, I beg you. Please forgive me for what I did to you and take off the mask that shrouds your soul."

Blossom's face slowly crept in to a relaxed smile and she looked back at Bubbles with no hint of any emotional damage. "Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles," she mused. "I could forgive you no problem, but battles are more fun when there is hatred to feed off. And pray tell me; how can I remove a mask that doesn't exist."

Bubbles sighed, and then strengthened her pose. "It exists alright," she said calmly. "I'll show it to you when I rip it from your battered body!"

"Oh please," Blossom sniffed dismissively. "As my mentor and teacher always told me, real warriors don't cry before a battle. Real warriors do this!" Quick as a flash, she charged towards Bubbles, and swung a punch straight at her head. Bubbles ducked it in an instant and kneed Blossom hard under the ribs, winding her and sending her tumbling to the ground. "What the hell?" she coughed, as she found her feet once more. "When did you get so strong?"

Bubbles stared at her hard. The compassion that had filled the blue puff's eyes only moments ago had vanished, replaced by a stony look of determination. The blue glow that she was emitting was now obvious to the eye. "Don't underestimate me Blossom," she said. "I many not be as obviously tough as Buttercup, but underneath I'm still hard core!"

Blossom gasped for a moment, but then smiled. "Good," she replied. "I was beginning to get bored."