Cast the Darkest Shadow
Deus Ex Procella
Momoko lay in bed, restlessly tossing and turning while the nigh moved on around her with no concern for her discomfort. A thin sheen of sweat streaked across her forehead, her cheeks bright red as it felt as though her body was on fire. She gripped the bed sheets, her knuckles turning white. Her breaths came in short, raspy gasps, growing shallower with every sharp intake. The paint on the walls began to peel and the sheets draped over Momoko's tensed form began to drip hot water. The humidity in the air rose to dangerous levels, the room becoming a sauna. A dark presence entered and the frame of Momoko's bed burst into flames. Momoko cringed in pain clenching her eyes shut and letting out a soft whimper. The devil, Kare, hovered over Momoko and giggled wicked when her aura began to shine; Momoko's aura now shown mostly black, with white only outlining and streaking through it.
Why hello there my little Momoko aren't you lovely? Look at how that beautiful black light has almost completely choked away that puny little white light! It's almost all gone now then I'll only have two heroes to deal with.
Momoko shivered, feeling cold deep in her stomach even though the temperature in the room couldn't be warmer. Kare snickered and leaned close to Momoko's face, his big nose touching hers and causing her to gasp coldly.
Your partners want to take your little sister away from you, don't they? Ever since you became Blossom, both your identities have played second fiddle to Bubbles and Buttercup. You have to prove to everyone that you're the best. Without you, there is no Powerpuff Girls Z. Without you Bubbles and Buttercup are powerless. Without you Kuriko has no one to look up to because you are the best role model for Kuriko! Blossom is the best hero for Kuriko! Blossom is the greatest super hero in the world! Show everyone just how powerful Blossom is! Don't let them ever say that Blossom is second-rate to Buttercup! Don't let them ever say that Blossom isn't as cute as Bubbles! Show them that you are Powerpuff Girls Z!
Kare laughed and dissolved into his demon seeds, leaving the room and returning to the darkness. Momoko gasped and sat up, her chest heaving as she suddenly caught the breath she'd been holding. Momoko looked around nervously, but finding nothing out of place shrugged and wiped the light sheen of sweat from her brow. Unable to return to sleep, she opted to instead prepare for the day. It was going to be a big day; all she needed was the proper outlet. The minute Kaoru stepped out of line; she was going to prove to the world that Burning Blossom was Powerpuff Girls Z!
Momoko lay on the roof of the Jr. High, staring up at the clouds and willing her belt to blink so that she could beat the hell out of something. The day had been horribly dull, with absolutely nothing to interrupt the monotony. Momoko cringed when something blocked out the sun and opening her eyes she growled seeing a little face looking back at her.
"You're in my sun you little prick," Butch grinned and plopped down next to Momoko, lying back and staring at the older girl.
"Sorry Ms. Momoko but I wanted to talk to you. It gets boring just staring at you in class all day," Momoko rolled her eyes and growled, her hand swinging out and swatting Butch upside his head, making him sit up and rub the injured area. "Yeow! That almost stung Ms. Momoko! You sure know how to throw a punch!" Momoko sneered and put her hands behind her head, closing her eyes again and lavishing in the sunlight. There was an unbearable cold sitting in her stomach since she woke up that morning, which had made it horrible trying to sit through her already useless classes. She jerked and sat up straight, glaring at the little bastard to her left as he giggled and pulled his hand back, his fingers still poised and ready to pinch her again.
"What was that for you snot-nosed little son of a…AGH, why won't you get away from me? Get lost! Quit following me you little prick!" Butch only giggled and dodged another swat from Momoko, jumping to his feet and putting his hands behind his back, leaning down and grinning with his nose inches from hers.
"Well you know how to throw a punch, but I thought since you wanted to get in a fight with Buttercup, I'd teach you how to throw a good punch." Momoko rolled her eyes, but caught herself before she could make a scathing remark. She raised an eyebrow and climbed to her feet, putting her hands on her hips and glaring harshly at Butch.
"…Really? You know how to fight?" Butch nodded enthusiastically, a broad and prideful grin plastered across his face. He was blushing slightly, which Momoko couldn't help admitting was cute but still annoying.
"Yeah I do! I can teach you and in one lesson you'll be able to cream Buttercup!" Momoko stared at him harshly, then smiled and held her hand out. Butch looked at it confusedly before grinning and reaching out, shaking her hand quite fiercely. Momoko cringed but tried to not show that she was uncomfortable with how hard Butch was shaking her had.
"All right, teach me and I won't beat your ass, Butch," The Rowdyruff Boy sneered and his black aura began to shine around him. He put his hands up and nodded.
"Alright, here's your first lesson!"
Powerpuff Girls Z had been called shortly after school ended; setting out to stop what Professor Utonium had said appeared to be 'the ugliest thing they'd fought yet.' Blossom stood confidently, looking down at the crater the monster had created while Buttercup and Bubbles seemed unnerved by how powerful the monster appeared to be. Blossom glanced casually across the street and noticed a middle-aged woman being assaulted by a rival gang of the group Butch had thrashed the previous night. Blossom threw another glance at the monster, which had come out of hiding and grinned.
"Alright listen up! I'm going to go over there and stop those punks over there. You two nimrods wait right here until I get back. Don't fight the monster until I get done, got it?" Buttercup and Bubbles didn't have a chance to argue before Blossom took off, hands blazing, to cut off the street gang. Buttercup looked back at the monster and growled.
"Screw that! C'mon Bubbles!" Bubbles nodded and together the two flew off against Blossom's orders to wait for her. Blossom landed near the gang, who was without saying very shocked to see her present, particularly when they were aware of the monster attacking not two blocks away from where the were.
"Blossom? What in the world?" as the thug raised a gun to fire at her, Blossom crossed her arms and grinned at him.
"Really? A gun? That's it? C'mon I fight monsters four times your size daily jerk! You think that's really going to hurt me?" The other thugs raised similar weapons, making Blossom shake her head and continue grinning, completely unafraid in light of the weaponry set before her. Becoming irritated with Blossom's mannerism, one of the thugs pulled the trigger. Blossom's eyes narrowed and the smirk on her lips became deadly. As the bullet drew closer the lady and the gang were shocked to see Blossom's hand come up, and between two fingers she caught the bullet just centimeters from her nose.
"Too slow, dick!" Blossom's fingers burst into flames and with a sharp thrust her arm downward and sent the bullet flying back into the gun, where it promptly combusted and caused the gun to explode in the thug's hand. He grabbed his now bleeding hand, screaming in pain. There was a flash and the thug dropped to his knees, clutching his now burnt stomach as Blossom retracted her fist and kicked him over.
"Get her!" Blossom's hand came up, moving like a flash of light while the guns began firing all at once. After the thugs had run out of bullets they stood in horror seeing that Blossom unharmed and still wearing the same condescending, hateful grin she'd worn from the beginning. She slowly opened her hand, snickering as the useless bullets fell to the ground and clinked against the pavement. Blossom cracked her knuckles and grinned, approaching the gang like a vengeful angel, or a wicked devil.
"Here comes the hurting kids, don't worry I'll make it quick and extremely painful!"
"Swing Sonic II!" Buttercup swung her hammer fiercely and grinned victoriously, seeing the monster torn apart by her final, strongest attack. She landed near Bubbles and the two traded a celebratory high-five. A gasp nearby caught their attention and drew their gaze to where Blossom was quickly and angrily approaching, her fists on fire as she stopped with her face inches from Buttercup's.
"What did you do!? I told you to wait for me! I was supposed to kill that creep!" What little patience Buttercup had managed to scrounge for Blossom's new attitude was lost in an instant, her anger erupting like a solar flare. She shoved Blossom out of her face, growling and dismissing her hammer to keep from doing something she'd regret.
"Why? Is your head that far up your ass that you have to be the center of attention every single time now? What is wrong with you?" Blossom growled and shoved Buttercup, knocking her back a few steps.
"It has nothing to do with my ego! You've had your time in the spotlight, let people see me for once!" Buttercup shoved Blossom again, this time nearly knocking her over.
"It has everything to do with your ego! The hair cut, the clothes, the attitude; all of this is just a big fat ego trip for you! You need to seriously grow up, little miss super hero! It's not surprising your sister," Buttercup didn't have a chance in the world to finish speaking. Like a sea of hatred had been unleashed, Blossom's fist smashed into Buttercup's nose and sent her crashing to the ground. Buttercup looked up, her own anger taking over her while she stared at the look of pure enmity sketched into Blossom's features.
"I'm going to rip you apart!" Blossom dove at Buttercup, who brought her legs up and kicked outward, catching Blossom in the abdomen and sending her streaking through the air.
"Stop it you two!" This time, unfortunately, Bubbles' pleas fell on deaf ears. The gate was opened and nothing was going to stop the fight that had been brewing since the beginning. Blossom caught herself and threw her hands out, flames blazing around them.
"Firestorm!" Buttercup dodged left and right, charging through the shower of fireballs making her way towards Blossom. Finally getting near enough she grabbed the redheaded heroine's ankle and threw her to the ground. Blossom swung her leg out immediately and caught Buttercup in the side of the head. Buttercup stumbled and growled wheeling on Blossom and throwing a quick series of karate chops and kicks. Blossom dodged them with astounding precision, and finding her opening caught Buttercup's fist and snapped her head to the side with a punch that frankly Buttercup hadn't been expecting. Buttercup shoved Blossom back and clenched her fists.
"Okay, when did you learn how to fight you stuck up little bitch?" Blossom raised her fists, snarling and shifting into a stance.
"When I found out I was going to beat your ass!" Blossom dove at Buttercup and the two began trading punches at a lightning fast speed, pooling on every ounce of strength they had in their Chemical Z enhanced bodies to try to take the other out. Buttercup caught Blossom's wrists and twisted them bringing Blossom's assault to a halt. Blossom gasped out, losing her breath when Buttercup brought her foot up and kicked off at Blossom's chest, knocking her through the air and to the ground. Blossom struggled to her feet then screamed and dove out of the way, while Buttercup's fist drilled into the pavement and created a rather impressive hole in the street. She pushed up onto her hand and spun around, her spinning kick catching Blossom in the face and knocking her to the ground.
"Dammit, dammit, dammit! Napalm Blast!" Blossom held her fingers out and fired off the red blast of heat at Buttercup. Summoning her hammer Buttercup gave it her mightiest swing.
"Smash Block!" To Blossom's horror Buttercup was able to stop the blast while only taking minor burn damage. The revelation of just how much stronger Buttercup was left Blossom stunned and helpless to retaliate when the green puff charged through the smoke and punched her in the gut. Blossom doubled over painfully and lost her breath a second time.
"Megaton Dunk!" Blossom recovered and leapt over the swing, bringing her feet up to Buttercup's face.
"Burning Step!" A blast of fire shot from the soles of Blossom's shoes and exploded in Buttercup's face, knocking her across the street, leaving a ditch where her feet dragged through the pavement to remain standing. She crashed into a parked car and gasped, leaving a dent in the side. As Blossom charged her again, Buttercup dropped her hammer and caught her rival's burning fists.
"That's it! I'm done playing with you!" Buttercup threw Blossom's hands down and began mercilessly pounding Blossom again and again with increasingly powerful punches. Her cheeks badly bruised, Blossom spat up blood as Buttercup's fist yet again crashed into her face. She clenched her eyes shut, and brought her hands up, pathetically attempting to guard against Buttercup's goliath strength. Buttercup grabbed Blossom's arms and took a step forward, throwing Blossom bodily to the ground.
Blossom got to her knees then doubled over, spitting up blood. Buttercup stopped in front of her breathing heavily and glaring at Blossom. Blossom stumbled to her feet and with a fist encased in flame threw a punch at Buttercup. Buttercup caught it in one hand and despite the burn undoubtedly forming in her palm slammed her fist into Blossom's mouth and knocked her limply to the ground. Blossom lay on the ground, moaning painfully before managing to for herself up on her elbows. She cringed when she felt a thick slob of spit hit her badly bruised cheek and slide down it slowly. Looking up at Buttercup with all the hatred in the world, she saw a glare just as fiery as her own staring back at her.
"Is that it? Huh Wonder Girl? Is that all you've got because I'll keep going if you think you're big enough to take me!" Buttercup screamed at her, her fists clenched so tightly Blossom could hear her knuckles popping. Blossom growled and after a painful excursion managed to climb to her feet. She promptly doubled over, her hands on her knees as she gasped for air and coughed up more blood. Buttercup put her fists down and snorted.
"Yeah that's what I thought, you're just a big windbag, you're no better than Miracle Fighting S, you stuck up loser," Bubbles, not wanting to see the fight get any more violent, ran up to them.
"Buttercup!" she gasped in horror, seeing the damage Blossom had—however justly—received via Buttercup's anger. Buttercup didn't show a hint of remorse as Blossom continued to glare breathlessly up at her.
"Yeah you heard me, you're not a hero you're just a big baby who wants to get all the glory for the accomplishments of a team! You aren't Powerpuff Girls Z Blossom! None of us are! We, all three of us, we are Powerpuff Girls Z!" Buttercup put a hand on her hip, still panting and catching her breath from the fight, which had been a little rougher than she'd expected.
"You two…you wouldn't even be super heroes if it wasn't for me!" Blossom barked back, caching her second wind and standing up straight, the look of pure enmity on her face capable of sinking ships and swallowing mountains. Buttercup didn't look afraid in the least. "It was my idea! It was my dream, not yours! You didn't even want to do this! Why can't anyone see that?! Powerpuff Girls Z was my idea! It was mine! I deserve a little gratitude!" Buttercup snarled and stepped forward to throw a punch at Blossom to stop her rant, but Bubbles caught her wrist. Buttercup didn't look at Bubbles, but knew that Miyako was smart enough to know that she couldn't physically stop Buttercup if she tried, and thus backed down from attacking Blossom again.
"That's a load of crap! You don't want to be a hero anymore; you just want everyone to love you! You're not a hero, you're just a selfish bitch!" Blossom narrowed her eyes, her skin heating up and the coldness in the pit of her stomach becoming unbearable. It had been bad the entire time she and Buttercup had been fighting; now it was like a black hole trying to swallow her up!
"Fine then! I quit, I don't want to work with you little worms!" Buttercup crossed her arms and snorted, spitting at Blossom again. Blossom again was too weak to dodge it and only snarled as it slid down her other cheek.
"You don't quit, I'm kicking you out. You're more dangerous to the people of the city than the monsters we fight are! Next time we're called, I'd better not see you there Blossom. Because believe me, if I do I'll trust Bubbles to handle the monster while I rip your powers out of your chest!" Blossom was…shocked was too weak a word. She'd always believed that Bubbles and Buttercup needed her to be a team; she never thought they'd ever tell her to leave. She glanced at Bubbles, who looked back at her remorsefully.
"Blossom…I think it's better if you took a break. You need to get your head together before you try fighting monsters anymore," Blossom shook her head, a very hurt and angry frown etched onto her face. Blossom looked up at Buttercup and Bubbles, her eyes watering while the coldness in her stomach tore her apart from the inside out.
"F…Fine! Fine! I don't need either of you I don't need this! I hope you both burn in Hell!" Blossom stumbled back a step then with an angry scream flew into the air and away from the scene of the fight as fast as she could. Buttercup watched her go, but blinked in confusion. She could have sworn the light surrounding Blossom looked darker. After blinking, Blossom was gone and she couldn't get a second look. She glanced at Bubbles, who looked back at her sorrowfully. Buttercup sighed and put an arm around Bubbles' shoulders, giving her a comforting squeeze before walking away to go home. Bubbles looked at all the destruction around them and shook her head, flying into the air and also heading home.
The flames created by Blossom's fire burned brightly even when the city repair began to fix the destroyed section of town. The flames suddenly grew darker and a wicked little laugh echoed through the air while the moon rose over the city.
A shadow marched through the deserted streets of Tokyo City. In their wake lay the unmoving bodies of five teenagers, all of whom had once been monsters, but now were ordinary children left beaten and bruised and at the mercy of the night. The shadow marched passed the city zoo, where a monkey laid a beaten mess in the fountain that stood at the center of the facility. The shadow stepped in a puddle, uncaring about the microscopic life forms that lay there. They too had been stripped of everything that had made them special, reverting them to their normal forms.
The shadow stood in front of a small shop, and grinned wickedly behind their mask. Raising their arm, a massive weapon appeared in their hand. The shadow laughed wickedly and swung the weapon. The little shop was ruptured and began to collapse. A blond girl pulled herself from the rubble, staring up as the dark figure approached her. She began to scream as the figure raised their weapon and brought it down at her. The black light appeared and changed the girl's form, but her snake-haired counterpart echoed her scream when the shadow attacked again. In a matter of moments, the black light erupted and slowly faded, leaving the night more silent than death.