(A/N: I've had a nasty case of writers block lately, so be painfully honest about how good this chapter is. Thanx--Secret7)

FlameX: Inferno

Secret7

Chapter 11

Bubbles stood there, proud of her work. Buttercup still lay limp on the floor. Bubbles was grinning maliciously.

The Professor could see something in her eyes. He kept looking.

"What're you looking at, Professor? You do realize that you're next?" said "Bubbles", but her voice was far away. The Professor was lost in her eyes. He continued to stare, getting deeper.

"What...what're you doing...? No...NO!" Bubbles shouted.

"What is going on here?" Death asked silently, curious, with a glint of anger on his face.

There was no answer from either of them. It was as if they were both far, far away...

The Professor looked at his surroundings. He was in some kind of room. It was brightly furnished, and toys were scattered across the floor. He picked up a beautiful looking toy. It was a doll of Ms. Keane, and it was beautiful. The moment he picked it up, an image of the teacher flashed in his mind:

"Bubbles, how do you spell CAT asked Keane.

It was like he was in Bubbles' mind.

"C...um...A...er..."

He let go of the doll, dropping it onto the floor. The realization came to him, and it was quite simple: He was in his daughter's mind.

He glanced around the room, and noticed a door to his right. He opened it and found himself in the old Utonium home before it had burned down. He heard weeping upstairs. The Professor climbed the stairs, and the weeping became clearer:

"Bubbles!" He began to run, but the stairs kept going on and on.

"You'll never get to her in time, Dad," a voice called from behind him.

He turned around only to see another Bubbles.

"You...I know you...you...you killed Buttercup!"

"I didn't. Your daughter did. You see, I am Bubbles. I've simply been shown the light. Or, as you would put it, the dark."

"There...I refuse to believe that!"

"You do? Well, there is sissy Bubbles crying upstairs. She's all upset over something she killed."

"It wasn't just anything! It was a girl! Her sister!"

"Correction: My sister. She was an idiot. A stupid showoff! I've always hated her!"

The Professor shook his head. "I refuse to believe that."

She tilted her head. "You do? Then I suppose you'll have to die."

The Professor closed his eyes.

"I suppose I will, then."

The Bubbles in front of him looked like she had just heard the most horrible insult ever concocted.

"SHUT UP, DAMNIT! I WILL KILL YOU!"

"What do I have to live for?" asked the Professor silently.

The crying upstairs grew louder.

"Everything! I'm about to kill you and you WANT to die?"

"I dare you to."

The Bubbles went silent.

She closed her eyes angrily.

"You...I've always hated you..."

"Kill me. Now. Or are you just going to talk?" the Professor asked seriously.

"Stop it!" she shouted with anger. "STOP IT!" she screamed. She couldn't do it. She couldn't hit the Professor. "Stop it...please..." she whispered, beginning to cry. She vanished, and Utonium found himself hovering up the stairs, towards the girls' old room. The door opened, and he floated in.

Bubbles was standing there.

"Bubbles?" asked the Professor, uncertain.

"Yes..."

The Professor dashed forward, and hugged Bubbles, and they both cried together.

"It's my fault..." Bubbles whispered.

"It's not." Professor Isaac Utonium said quietly. "We have to stop them. Blaze was right. These three..."

"They're really, really bad people."

"I know, honey. First priority is to get out of here. Then we escape these monsters' claws, then we find Blossom and Blaze. Let's just hope that they're having better luck than we are..."

---------------------------------------------------

Blossom and Brent walked up the pyramid-like altar, occasionally glancing around for enemies.

"Man...do you think this is it?" Brent asked.

"Hell, if it isn't..." she paused. "Hell if it isn't. That's about right." She laughed nervously.

Brent was concerned with the hieroglyphics all over the walls.

"She shall find the crystal, and the darkness within shall be unleashed..." he read quietly. "BLOSSOM!" he shouted. "WAIT!"

It was too late. Blossom had lifted up the gem, and they were both glowing a light blue.

"Blossom...! Oh man!..." Brent shouted frantically.

Blossom began to shake, and a feeling of absolute pain overcame her. Like she was being split in two. She held in a scream, and there was an explosion of energy.

Brent opened his eyes. Right next to him in a corner stood Blossom, barely awake, the crystal in hand. They both stared at the two shadowy figures in front of them. The dust cleared, and--

"Oh shit." Brent whispered.

In front of them stood Ice Blossom and Blaze.

"Long time no see." Blaze said, grinning darkly. "Don't say we didn't warn you..."

To be continued.