Ever since Mr Mayor had been stripped from his position, and evicted from the city in short order, their younger sister hadn't been the same.
The monsters must have been taking a break of some sort, since there had not been one single monster attack on the city for at least a month by now.
What should have been a good few weeks for the three siblings to simply be happy together enjoying the brief peace, had been nothing of the sort. Instead, Bubbles only seemed to grow more distant from the two older Powerpuffs, saying little when she took her place at the dining table, and keeping mostly to herself as she refused mostly to spend much time playing with her sisters, electing instead to pass the hours in their room alone.
Blossom and Buttercup must have been blind not to notice however, the fatigued and weary eyes their sister had began to develop over the past weeks.
Most likely a side effect of late nights spent sneaking the posters she had printed around the city, and from making page after page on that dangerous place Professor told the three girls to stay well away from called "the internet.".
They had clearly not thought there was anything wrong when their sister stormed out of the house clearly angry, after a heated discussion where she unsuccessfully tried to share her opinions of why Mr Mayor was very obviously not a temporary problem for the city, and why he needed to leave.
No wonder poor Bubbles had gone to such drastic lengths they never thought possible from the smiley and cheerful little sister who always tried to be optimistic about everything. She must have felt so ignored and alone after that argument, and felt that this was the only way to get anyone to listen to her. She must have waited so long hoping things would one day change by themselves, but become increasingly frustrated when Mr Mayor never once took the hint that he was doing the city no favors.
That time where he forced the dangerous monsters to move to the city for instance, simply because he sold an island of theirs off after finding a deed to the island and selling it off knowing full well that if the monsters moved with the people, that already uneasy relationships between two parties who simply could not get along would only worsen.
Not surprises then when even after the girls had managed to appease the monsters somewhat by giving them back their island, that the number of attacks on the city more than tripled for a while and the girls were forced several times to stay awake all night keeping watch and fighting, so that they came to school the next day with a drooping head and eyes that wouldn't stay opened however hard they tried.
They should have realized right then and there that Mr Mayor's city was the result of carelessness and selfish decisions made without thought. And it should have ended there.
"I forgive you." Bubbles at least had the good grace to say, when her sisters apologized to her a week after the revolution. Her tone was friendly and sympathetic, but even Buttercup who was not normally the best at noticing when people meant differently from what they said, could easily tell that her sister was still very angry with them over this. A simply apology would not cut it this time, even for the altruistic and easy going altruist that Bubbles was.
2 weeks had passed since then by now, and at least the streets looked much less bloody and lined with bodies than it had been a week ago. Work had been slow, since for some days after the revolution, many survivors had grown lazy and refused to go to work, some turning to alcohol while others pranced about the ruined streets cheering for Mr Mayor's defeat. Others just passed the days at home alone, while the rest sat in the chat rooms that their own sister had created, messaging their newfound friends who had been brought to them by their common hatred for their former governor about how everything had been a bit success.
Work had begun only several days after the excitement and adrenaline rush from the violence and deaths finally began to cool, and Bubbles of all people had been able to rally a few equally determined and righteous workers to begin work reconstructing the damage done to some of the buildings around the now even more rundown city, and to begin the grim task of burying the dead bodies which were bound to begin spreading horrible plagues were they left to rot much longer on the streets and alleys.
A few answered her call, though progress was slow since the city had a shortage of cranes and other such devices which might have made the rebuilding process so much more efficient. Another reminder that Mr Mayor should not have stayed in power anymore. Shovels and hammers were for most, the best tools at their disposal.
Bubbles had already gained a surge in popularity as she heroically threw herself into the fray during that ferocious battle, to help give the revolting citizens the final push needed for them to finally bring down Mayor's remaining loyalists, outing herself in the process as the one who had united them all together against who they only now realized had been their common foe all along.
The Gangrene Gang had been part of that fray, and even they felt a surge of joy at seeing Mr Mayor reduced to a prisoner in the same cell they had been kept in during their times in prison. A small part of their hatred for the three girls died that day, when they saw the blonde kindergartner firing beam after beam at security guards who threatened to ruin the uprising they had waited so long for now.
Princess took less interest in the recent goings on, though she did get a small tinge of satisfaction at seeing how pathetic that dwarfish little man looked when they hauled him into the back of that pickup truck and had him evicted from the city a few days later, booing at him as he went and cheering audaciously when they saw he was gone.
She would have preferred it if they had offered her the job of running this cruddy city, since she believed herself a much better leader than any of the loser Powerpuffs who refused to let her join their group of superheroes when they saw she was just too good for them.
But she would been much sadder without a doubt to see such a prestigious position which none of her hated enemies deserved,, to see that oh so comfy looking chair in that beautiful office be handed down to either the loudmouthed Blossom or Buttercup.
Both of them had enjoyed tormenting her from the moment their paths were unlucky enough to cross, and neither had shown her even the slightest degree of pity when they saw terrible fates befall her again and again. Buttercup in particular had laughed at her from behind her cell window, when she had seen Princess locked in prison.
That awful bully who called herself the oh so noble protector of the city, had spent an entire hour standing outside Princess's cell mocking her with a stuck out tongue, knowing Princess was watching, the first time Princess had been sent to jail.
But at least the stupid people in this stupid city hadn't been that brainless. Princess did reluctantly admit she found Bubbles slightly more tolerable than her two bully sisters, if only by a hair or so and even if she did hate the blonde with as much passion as she did the redhead and raven hair. There was that awkward conversation she had been forced to endure that night with her hated enemy, where the blonde had even had the gall to suggest that she was sorry for what she did.
The nerve of some emotionless psychopaths really did wow Princess.
Though there was something in the way her enemy spoke, almost as if trying desperately to illicit sympathy that the Powerpuff girls simply did not deserve anymore, that Princess didn't understand.
The awarding ceremony would take place withing 2 weeks from now.
It wouldn't be a big event, just a formal little meeting where everyone would set aside their differences for a little while to see their youngest and first female Mayor be awarded her place. There would be a polite round of applause at the end of course, and everyone would be told that if they could to bring a present of some sort, small as it might be. No doubt little Bubbles would have more coloring books, crayons, sweets and possibly even toys at the end of the brief carousal than she would know what to do with. Though with a heart as pure and dedicated as only Bubbles alone could ever possess, they knew that she'd at least appreciate the kind gesture.
The first of many kind gestures that the city people planned to make, to show their new and improved mayor that they really had changed their tune on everything.
To reveal the true extent which they had admired and appreciated all the work her and her sisters had done for them all over the years. Appreciation they decided was better late than never to express.
There'd be a small pile of presents for Blossom and Buttercup too of course, Bubbles with her concern and affection for her family would definitely make sure of that.
But those would still pale in comparison to the gigantic treasure trove that Bubbles would have trouble storing for some time, even with the vast amount of space that her new office building would offer her.
That day came upon the three sisters more quickly than they could ever have anticipated, and somehow passed uneventfully enough.
No criminals were present to sabotage anything, and even some of their rivals who the three girls made out in the crowd like Fuzzy Lumpkins seemed to be behaving themselves if only reluctantly.
No sign of Mojo Jojo, or their supposed brothers the Rowdyruff boys, but then again the three girls supposed that was for the best.
The redhead and raven hair gave their sister a much need reassuring pat on the back followed by a supportive smile she had not seen on their faces, since their first successful battle together defending their home city and realizing their lifelong callings which had never changed even unto this day.
They had clapped the loudest and hardest as Bubbles stood on the makeshift wooden stage overlooking the crowds that had come to witness her ascension,
An FBI officer who the girls recognized as being the same one who had tasked them with interrogating the talking dog, and who had brought the Gangrene gang to their school claiming that even crooks deserved at least a basic education, acted as the replacement for the minister who would have read Bubbles the venerated scriptures that all Mayor's were read on their first day on the job.
"I'll do my best." Bubbles had responded when he asked whether she would take good care of the lives counting on her decisions. "I might not be able to live up to everything I'm expected to, but I will try to make you all happy.".
The crowd cheered in approval. No massive round of applause and nothing over the top but it wasn't necessary to show just how much they already liked the attitude of their new leader.
"Speech. Speech!" someone in the crowd yelled as the cheers died down again.
Bubbles looked down at the ground in deep reflection of this suggestion for several long seconds. She knew this would be only the first of many times she would have to do this, and she needed those seconds to reflect on just what that meant.
Then she looked up again and gently nodded.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"The main problem for Townsville is how we can protect everyone at the same time." she began, choosing her words cautiously.
"My sisters and I can only do so much. We can protect you and watch over you, but we're still only three little girls who can only be in three places at once."
She paused for a moment, to catch her breath. The fact that not one person in the crowd was booing yet, did nothing to ease the nervousness coming her.
"We'll protect you." she continued, battling to keep her voice from breaking "But who'll protect us when we need help. Who'll protect the protectors when they can't protect themselves because they're busy protecting you?"
"That's actually a good point." a few listeners in the crowd whispered quietly.
"You need to know how to protect yourselves." declared Bubbles, a burning passion in her quiet, gentle voice "You need to protect us. We need to protect each other, to watch each other's backs. The only way we can ever be safe, is if we watch each other's backs so that not one of us is left unsafe."
The crowd began to quietly speak again thinking that this awe inspiring speech from such a young child wonder had finished, but Bubbles regretfully held up a hand for silence. They obeyed almost at once.
"I want to read you all a quote from one of my favorite stories before I finish." asked Bubbles. "It goes like this. It's a classic."
"Don't keep us in suspense. Tell us." barked an eager voice from the back.
Bubbles looked once more at who were now her followers ready to answer to her every order and decision. They looked at her, eagerly anticipating whatever powerful words of encouragement their new leader would end her inspirational speech with. It had been short, but surprisingly powerful.
She bowed her head as she quietly spoke her next words.
"We don't live alone" she quoted, her tone surprisingly strong and confident despite obviously trying to read from a script she had prepared in her mind. "We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other's safety."
She worriedly raised her head up, expecting to see only disappointment and boredom from her listeners. She realized not many of them were fans of literacy and that many probably did not enjoy a good book nearly as much as her. She knew this was a lousy way to end any kind of speech, but she just had to say this out loud since she believed so strongly in that line.
Unable to find anymore courage to speak even another word, she simply nodded her head gently to show she had finished.
Another polite round of applause soon followed, followed by several enthusiastic "yays and yeahs which quickly became a combined "woohoos" from the smiling audience who had not at all been bored by this brief talk their new mayor had given.
They knew they had made a good decision, when this was the quality of Bubbles's speeches. Though it was brief, and therefore simple since it did wasted no time getting to the point, her words had been anything but empty.
The crowd continued to smile and cheer, even as Bubbles politely bowed and stepped from the stage.
She herself was the only one who did not smile even as she was escorted to what was once the old mayor's office, and which would soon become the venue she spent much of her time in.
She had not forgotten the promises she had made to herself, which she swore she would fulfill should her plan be successful.
And she thought that to a good place to start was by appointing none other than Princess Morbucks as her personal assistant now that the wise and shrewd Miss Bellum had been taken out of the picture sadly.
She knew that Blossom and Buttercup would rail at her stupidity and naivety almost as soon as she gave them the news.
She knew that many of the city folk would surely think she had gone mad, letting a remorseless criminal and spoiled little bossy boots take her place as right hand.
But she already knew what to tell them all, when they would no doubt eventually begin to pester her with question after question, demanding an answer as to why a much better and kinder mayor would already be making such a poor decision so early in their career.
"I feel that Princess is deep down, a good little girl with only a few bad thoughts." Bubbles would reply. "And I feel like she would make a good friend. And if she does turn out to be a good friend, I'm doing this to give her the second chance any good friend deserves. And if she instead turns out to be a bad friend who hasn't changed, I would be doing this instead to get on her good side so that hopefully she'll change her mind about me and my sisters. We've done a lot of bad things to her as well, I feel it's time we try to make it right."
Bubbles knew in that second, as she had a flash of all the conflicts that would be started because of her decision, that her relationship with her sisters could never be the same.
Nor could her sister's once good and intimate bond with each other, go without change.
She had realized long ago perhaps that though they were three sisters born on the same day side by side, deep down they were still three very different people with three very conflicting personalities.
They were never meant to stay together forever and ever. And to continue to try, would be hurtful and wrong for all three of them.
It was time that they went their three separate ways.
It was the only way they could ever learn from their mistakes, and continue to grow.
It was the only way, and it had to start now, thought Bubbles sadly as she sat in a comfortable armchair in her new office looking outside the window lost in thought.
Sorry Blossom. Sorry Buttercup. But you can't change my mind.
The satisfying conclusion. Mayor stepped down, Bubbles took his place and Blossom and Buttercup finally realize their sister's not just some crybaby who isn't worth a penny of their attention.
I'd like to thank everyone so much for reading and commenting, since this story really has been quite the journey for me.
I've had to work so long to get everything thought up and typed, and I really do appreciate the support.
But not all is well in Townsville as of yet, and there are bound to be problems that remain unsolved for yet a while.
So stay with me as I prepare the sequel to this tale of action and suspense, coming soon.
Note: The sequel will most likely be a crossover. Though what kind of crossover it will be, I won't reveal yet.
So please share your final thoughts about this story, and your thoughts about the possible sequel with me, and I would greatly appreciate all your support.
But for now thank you and buh bye.