Blossom darted over her city and towards the lair of her and her sisters most frequent nemesis, Mojo Jojo, atop the volcano fortress. After all these years she still found it strange how there even was a volcano right next to Townsville. But the reason she was heading there, was to get some information that would confirm her suspicions.
Even after all this time, she was still convinced there was no way the boys could've deceived everyone on a massive scale like this without some sort of genius behind it. In fact It would've taken a genius to deceive someone as smart as Mrs Innlost. And who else would it be other than Mojo, since he did after all create them, and probably reconciled with the boys after they were released from prison.
It was a long shot but it was her best theory.
Although they were adopted by HIM at one point, and deception was a part of HIM's M.O.
But if it was the red devil himself, he wouldn't have dragged it out for this long. He wouldn't be able to resist revealing himself to the girls by now. Plus he would've hated all those supposed 'heroic acts' that the Rowdyruffs were doing in Founders, even if it was a part of his plan.
Yes even at this point, the pink Powerpuff couldn't deny that the boys were fighting and putting down crime over in that city, but it couldn't be because they wanted to. What possible reason would they have for turning against crime? It had to be a Mojo plot.
Arriving at his laboratory, after smashing a hole into his wall, she called out his name. "Mojo!"
The startled primate, who at this moment was just sitting down at a table to have lunch, fell off his chair with the food on his plate flying everywhere.
"What in blue blazes? Who dares, 'cough, cough', disturb Mojo Jojo, when he's just about to enjoy some freshly cooked Salmon?"
The Powerpuff landed not too far away from him revealing herself.
"Oh, Blossom, it's only you" the monkey said calmly, standing up and dusting himself off. He then exclaimed "How dare you enter my-!"
"Cut it Mojo!" Blossom interrupted, clearly not in a mood to mess around. "I came here for information. Tell me, what do you know about the Rowdyruff boys?" She decided to probe him for information first, not giving away that she suspected him of being behind them.
"The Rowdyruffs boys? I don't know anything beyond after that of when they left me. Myself and that crossdressing devil, what they're doing now is none of my business. And I certainly couldn't be less proud of it."
"Oh don't act all innocent Mojo, there has to be some sort of brain behind what they're planning!" Blossom insisted.
"They're planning something? Judging by what they have done over there in the city of Founders, all they seem to be doing is, as despicable as I find it, locking up criminals and saving lives. Similar to what you girls do here. I can't believe, that my own creations, would do something as revolting as…"
Blossom rolled her large eyes. She knew he was ranting just to make it seem like he had no involvement. Ranting longer than he usually would anyway.
"There's no point denying it Mojo" she interrupted again. "You reconciled with the boys after they were released. You ordered them to trick Mrs Innlost into adopting them. You instructed them to fight crime temporarily in Founders city, in order to deceive everyone into thinking they're heroes, like that Major Man did. And just when everyone thinks it's safe, they help you take over both Founders and Townsville!"
There was a pause. "Mrs Innlost?" was all Mojo said back. "As in, Mrs Mark Innlost?"
"Um, yeah?"
"The widow of the creator of chemical X" Mojo stated.
"Did you, know him personally?" questioned the Powerpuff.
"No, I did not know him personally. But I knew who he was. Every aspiring genius in the area knows who he is. If not for him neither you or I would be here now. "
Despite Mojo seeming genuinely surprised, Blossom still couldn't get the nagging feeling of him still being behind it all out of her head. "Is, that why you chose her to adopt them, because of her husband creating chemical X?" Even saying this she sounded more doubtful.
"Even for a genius like myself, I wouldn't know where to start looking for Mr Innlost's widow. Blossom, you've known me for a long time now, you would know, even if it was for a long complicated plot to deceive everyone, I couldn't stand it for my boys to do all these heroic acts for this long. I would eventually snap and order them to do something wretched, to counteract it all" Mojo reasoned.
"I, I guess" Blossom was now starting to fully realise, despite the two being on opposite sides, that what Mojo was saying would've been true. He wouldn't be able to handle his 'sons' doing all these good deeds for this long. "So, you've really had no contact with them in years?"
"No. Not since I fought for custody over them with HIM. I might as well have let that devil have them now." The primate then turned to the Powerpuff. "Y'know, you seem awfully convinced that the boys haven't changed at all, even with all the crime fighting they're doing now. Apparently Founders city's crime rate is at a record low because of them."
"That's just a ploy, it must be. I mean why would they even want to change? They never did anything good in Townsville" the pink puff argued.
"Perhaps being sent to that prison put them off crime forever" Mojo shrugged.
"But why fight crime?" Blossom persisted.
"Revenge perhaps? I hope so, that would mean there still is a shred of evil in them after all. Or there's the less, hopeful, reason. They've started to care about the lives of citizens?" the monkey theorised.
"Care about citizens? The Rowdyruffs? What are you going to guess next, that Bubbles is secretly meeting with them or something? Ha!" the puff dismissed in a sarcastic tone. Not believing a word of that theory.
She continued. "Have you seen those news reports coming from that city? Their actions and rhetoric will only cause more crime, and they've damaged quite a lot of property and endangered several citizens' lives in their fights!"
"Is that what the news said?" Mojo calmly questioned.
Blossom didn't answer, but instead looked away.
"If you just look at amateur captured footage on the internet, I think you'll find all that 'damaging of property and endangering citizens' has been exaggerated. It seems to me you're hearing what you want to hear. Now if you'll be so kind, I have a big hole in my wall to fix" the supervillain pointed to the part where the puff had entered.
Having nothing more to say, the superheroine simply just said "Stay out of trouble" then flew out of the lair.
So what now? If Mojo wasn't behind them, then how could they possibly-? They couldn't have been plotting by themselves, they couldn't. They were too dumb for that. Like she rightfully said to Brick just before he was taken to that offshore prison outside the courtroom, he'll never compare to her.
But they had to have been behind that bank robbery in Townsville the other night. Who else could it have been?
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Evening in the city of Founders, and in a more fancier, upper class area of the city, the wedding reception of the niece of the mob boss, Sofia Folla, was being held. The building it was being held in was almost like a country club, except it wasn't in the country.
In an outside area, standing close to a pillar and holding a glass of champagne in her hand, the secret mother of the Rowdyruffs observed the people around her.
She had accepted the invitation after all, going alone of course. She wore a purple dress this time, and occasionally mingled with the other guests. And it was depressing in a way, as just being here reminded her of how corrupt the city still was.
There were one or two judges, a couple of off duty police officers, a few politicians, even the mayor herself was here. Typical.
Other than that, the regular mob crowd was here as well, and the bride and groom of course. Folla's niece and her new husband. Although they were part of a crime family, Wendy couldn't help but gaze at them both, looking so happy together. She had a longing expression, and could not help but see herself and Mark where Folla's niece and her husband were now, those exact same expressions of happiness on their faces.
Just then, a quiet beeping came from her small makeup mirror and powder. She turned away to answer, as it would look strange if she was just talking to thin air.
"Mom? Is this radio working alright?" Brick's voice came over on the small compact mirror.
"It's fine Brick. I haven't seen Folla around or outside yet."
"Damn it. That means she's probably in her office."
"That's where she'd keep her ledgers right? Most likely anyway. Well I'll look around inside the building. Some of the guests are walking in and out of there. I'll casually walk in and see where her office is, and if it's occupied."
Wendy closed her makeup mirror and gradually made her way inside, nodding to the other guests, who were mostly corrupt city officials, as she walked past. It was an old fancy building with a courtyard, and the powerful mob boss had a separate office here.
After walking down some hallways, discreetly peeking through the cracks in doors to see which room it would be, she Finally found a room where the door was slightly ajar, and noticed a desk with some papers and pens, which on closer inspection, stepping into the empty room, Wendy saw Sofia Folla's signature on the papers, with some other documents and letters addressed to the mobster. This had to be it, and the scientist opened up her makeup mirror.
"Brick, I think I've found Folla's office, and there's a safe, just behind a plant by the wall" she whispered and knelt down next to the safe.
"Okay, I put the safe cracker device in your handbag" Brick responded, and Wendy pulled out a nail filer, which she slid down the side of the safe and opened it up. Peering inside, she laid eyes on some sort of book.
Picking it up she opened and flipped through the pages, smiling at what she saw. "Brick, this is it. This is a ledger of all the drug deals Folla's made over the past two years. A list of orders and payments for them. Profits and all sorts."
"I knew she'd keep it physically written in a book. That way it couldn't be hacked online."
"And she kept it in this building which was less likely to be searched." The Rowdyruff mother closed the safe and got up to leave the room. "I'll stay a bit longer just to avoid suspicion, then I'll-" she heard voices coming from around the corner, heading in her direction.
"Brick, there's people coming" she whispered, quickly hiding the ledger in her handbag, being just small enough to fit.
"Remember, if you get into any trouble, just give the signal" her son told her sounding worried.
Wendy pretended to be walking through the hallway casually, when from around the corner came none other than the mob boss Sofia Folla herself, two bodyguards behind her. The scientist woman fought not to let out a gasp.
"Oh, Mrs Innlost" the mobster in a surprised but also serious tone. Folla had jet black hair tied up in a pony tail, skin tone of someone from southern europe and was wearing a dress for the special occasion.
Wendy straightened herself. "Oh hello Miss Folla. I was just coming back from the ladies room and I think I got turned around."
The mobster paused and looked her up and down quickly. She then put on a smile. "Not to worry Mrs Innlost, I'm glad you're here actually, I've been wanting to speak to you." She put a hand on Wendy's shoulder and led her to the office door.
"Oh really? What about Miss Folla?" the ruff mother tried to sound as innocent as she could.
"I'll explain in here Mrs Innlost. Wait here for me boys" Folla instructed her bodyguards to wait outside the door.
Turning on the light to the room Wendy was just in, Folla offered her a seat opposite the desk to where she sat.
"First I want to thank you Mrs Innlost, for coming to my niece's wedding. It only felt right to invite the widow of this city's greatest scientist. Not to mention the daughter of the police chief." The mobster sounded very classy and charming. "My sincere condolences of what happened to your husband by the way."
"Thank you, Miss Folla."
"Truly an intelligent man. Both myself and my father, when he used to run the family business, always tried to talk to befriend him. We figured that his knowledge of chemistry would come in handy for our 'business'." The mob boss poured herself and Wendy a drink, offering it to her.
"Though he never accepted our job offer. Worked for the city's government instead, that I understand, you do too."
"Yes I do, and, with respect miss Folla, if you're going to offer me a chance to work for you-"
Folla interrupted the scientist. "Not necessarily 'work' for us Mrs Innlost, but, perhaps you give us advice on some of the products we import every now and then? We pay very handsomely."
Brick, back at the lab at home, could hear every word the two women were saying, tensed up slightly due to the situation his mother was in. But then Folla said something which caught his intrigue.
"Especially currently with a client of mine. You see, he placed an order for medical equipment, him and three 'super powered' children." She laughed. "First we have these Rowdyruff boys or whatever, ruining things in Founders, then these other super powered girls appear, ones that almost look like those Powerpuffs in Townsville. And you should see their boss."
"Their boss?" Wendy inquired.
"I only met him once. Guy looked like a corpse. But, I've probably said too much already. So, would you like to be an advisor to us Mrs Innlost?"
Raising her hand respectfully, and a little nervous, the widow to the great scientist answered "With respect Miss Folla, after Mark passed I only wanted to lead a quiet life, away from all the cri- I mean businesses, affairs and politics. I don't really want to be up on the big city stage with all the big players. I only want a peaceful life."
There was a pause after Wendy's answer, and she anxiously rubbed her wrist, hoping this would play out well. Even if it didn't, just one press of a button on her watch would send a signal to the boys, and they would come to her aid immediately. Even if it revealed that she was the Rowdyruff mother, Brick insisted anyway for her safety.
"Hm, that's disappointing Mrs Innlost. But I can respect your decision. However, the offer is still open if you should change your mind." Folla stood up and walked towards the door and opened it.
Wendy followed her. "Thank you Miss Folla. If I do I'll contact you somehow. But for now a quiet life is what's best for me."
"Do stay for a bit longer Mrs Innlost, try the cannoli, and don't be afraid to ask for another glass of champagne" the mob leader shook her hand before seeing her out, and as Folla's bodyguards followed their employer back inside the office, Wendy checked around to see if there was anybody around, then instantly pulled out her makeup mirror again.
"Brick? Brick I'm out of the office, I'm staying for another ten minutes, then I'm leaving."
"Is the ledger still with you?"
"Yes, right here in my bag."
"Okay. And are you alright mom?"
"Don't worry hun, I'm perfectly fine. I'll be home soon."
"Alright see you there." Brick turned away from the computer and saw Butch and Boomer flying down into the lab, as they had just been out themselves. "Did you get it?" the leader brother asked.
"It's all here" Butch held up a smartphone and swiped across pictures taken of the Founders city mayor at the wedding party, associating with the gangsters and crime lords. "If the mayor ever tells Folla about Wendy being our mom then these go straight up on the internet."
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"It's all here" the red ruff flicked through the pages of the ledger that contained proof for the illegal dealing and smuggling activities of the mob. He was with all the four of the family now down in the lab.
"Of course with this we can only get them on illegal dealing and smuggling charges" Wendy wearing her jacket over her dress reminded, having just gotten home from the party.
"Yeah but all the police gotta do is promise the mobster punks involved less jail time and they'll sing like canaries" proclaimed Butch.
"In other words they'll testify in court about the crimes such as murder and attempted murder. I'm going to give this to chief Mccoy, and the three of us are going to help him on Folla's and the mob's arrest" announced Brick.
"That's going to be very dangerous," their mother warned.
"Precisely. And besides" said the ruff leader. "I want to find out what Folla meant when she said 'superpowered kids and their boss'."
Hey guys! Don't really know what to say here, just that this was a chapter I enjoyed writing, and a build up on the mystery. Thanks to those four who reviewed. Next chapter coming asap.
Rowdyruff boys and Powerpuff girls belong to CN.
