Allies and Rivals
Chapter 29
The Great Townsville Riot
The City of Townsville…
It was the morning of December 13, and Brick and Bubbles had just recuperated from their injuries. It was a bit of luck and skill that Brick and Butch were able to spirit away Bubbles and Buttercup from their noble, good intentioned, but tactically misguided attempt to save the people of Citiesville.
More ominously was that Ckracknow's strategy seemed to have partially worked. He was able to scare the people, at least the refugees from Citiesville and the more intelligent people of Townsville, into trying to kill Dr. Edwards and Professor Utonium. Fortunately, Blossom was able to put on some sense into the Townsville mob, and as a result, the Citiesville mob was discouraged and was persuaded to disband.
The six boys and girls were just outside the training room, and everybody expected to train immediately. Blossom and Brick had just joined their siblings.
Except that everybody was wrong.
"Well, better get training!" Butch said. "If the fight yesterday is an indication, then we're in mighty big trouble if we don't get tough enough."
"Well, I think we better quicken the pace!" Brick suggested. "I suggest we train at level 30."
The other five quickly looked at Brick in utter amazement.
"Very funny Brick!" Boomer said. 'Of course! He wouldn't be serious, would he?'
"Yeah! We barely managed 19, we'll get killed if we suddenly skip ten levels!" Blossom reasoned.
"I'm not saying we're all going to train now at 30, did I? Only two of us will! Guess? Yup, that's right! Bubbles and Buttercup!"
"What? What gives?" protested Buttercup.
"Simple! That is your punishment for disobeying orders!" Brick said, looking her in the eye. "You should've known better than to disobey orders, make a foolish risk, and endanger not only your lives, but also the mission! You know that if you two were killed, Blossom, myself and my brothers can't defeat those five! And if you were captured, it would be next to impossible to rescue you without further depleting our strength! Imagine, all that risk on the assumption that you won't be caught! Such a foolish assumption indeed! What kind of idiots are you that you think you could just sneak under the noses of those five? Those five who are expecting us to blindly come to the people's rescue? Granted, Blossom might think that your intentions are noble, but there is a fine line between nobility and absurdity, idealism and fanaticism, courage and recklessness, and you two had crossed that line by blundering."
"Don't you know that you fell for Ckracknow's trap? That's what he wants—for you to stupidly go and let your concerns blind you! And despite our warnings, you still persisted, and you almost paid the ultimate price. Good thing Butch and I saved your butts!"
"What would be gained—a few hundred lives—against what could be lost—either the death or capture of you two—and the ultimate death of even those that you rescued? You would gain nothing and lose everything!"
During the entire time, Brick shouted at the top of his voice, his eyes looking frightening in its rage, and his brothers were reminded of the time their father was angry. His voice was so loud that even the Professor and the Doctor, rooms away working at the lab, could hear him.
"But I'm sorry!" Buttercup said, frightened by Brick's shouting, though not showing it. "Look, I know it was stupid, and I know it was a colossal blunder, but you couldn't blame us for what we did. We fight for truth, honor and justice, and we had good intentions!"
"You still disobeyed me, despite the fact that you and Bubbles promised not to. And you will pay!"
"Isn't saying sorry enough?" asked Bubbles. "Because we are."
"No. You need to learn a lesson. Besides, you didn't fuss too much when Blossom punished you and Boomer, did you?"
"Well, you can't punish me!" Buttercup asserted.
"Really? Butch, Boomer, seize her!" Brick ordered. At once, both boys pounced on the green puff. She was totally caught off guard, and was immediately pinned to the ground by the two. "Bubbles, will you accept it, or do you want to do it the hard way?"
"I'll go," she said, watching everything in silence. By this time, she knew Brick was right, but she can't stop feeling sorry for the people. She went to the training room.
Butch and Boomer threw Buttercup inside the training room, with Blossom only watching, shaking her head. She felt very sorry for them, yet couldn't do anything, because she had done the same thing, to Buttercup of all people, when she disobeyed orders when Blossom was leader. Granted the punishment was different, but the principle was the same.
Brick closed the door shut, and went to the control panel. He adjusted the level to 30.
"Well Buttercup, since you always say you're the toughest, let's see how you fare. Bubbles, I'm sorry, but I had to do this!" he said.
Then, without informing the two girls, he changed the level to 25.
"25? But I thought…" Blossom gasped in pleasant surprise when she saw Brick change the level to a much lower one.
"It was just to scare them!" Brick said. "To make them think twice about defying me again. Level 30 would kill them at our present strength, while level 25 would only severely injure them and would hospitalize them for only a few hours, kinda like what happened to Bubbles and me during the last fight."
"So what is the difference between level 25, level 30 and the lower levels?" asked Blossom.
"Well, at level 25, they would only last three minutes tops before getting knocked out," Boomer explained. "At 24, about six, at 23, nine minutes, 22, thirteen, 21, seventeen, 20 they might win. Basically, at those levels, they can't win, but only a question of how long they would last."
Brick and Butch just looked at Boomer.
"Will wonders never cease?" Brick said. "Boomer and Blossom talking to each other in a civilized manner! What a surprise! Anyway, Boomer's right. Level 27 and higher would be fatal at their current strength. Level 24 and lower would only prolong their agony because they'd only get beaten longer."
"I knew it! You're not that bad a punisher yourself," Blossom said. "I knew you wouldn't be too hard on them, though you're still harder on the punishments than I ever was!"
"Well, I always thought tickle torture while tied up is harder than fighting and getting knocked out," Brick joked. "So technically, you're harder in punishments. Though we all know that such punishment can only be inflicted as part of playing or games."
"Yup, like the one we did time and time again since we defeated Ckracknow the first time," Blossom chuckled.
In the training room, the scene changed from the metal walls of the room to a scene which was devastated by monsters. Buttercup, though putting a brave face, was actually terrified at fighting at level 30, while Bubbles was shaking. Nevertheless, they fought at their best.
In two minutes, it was all over, one minute sooner than was predicted, as the simulated monsters and their counterparts easily pulverized the two puffs. Both were unconscious, though their condition was not at all that serious since they were knocked out so quickly.
Brick and Blossom took the two puffs and gave them to the Professor and the Doctor, who were working in the lab. The leaders explained that they were knocked out while in the training room. The Professor then bandaged and fixed the two and put them in the medical room. The Professor then left the remaining four to look after the two. He and his friend went back to the lab.
"Boomer, Butch, look at those two," Brick ordered as soon as the adults left.
"Why? Where are you going?"
"None of your business!" Brick snapped. "Come on Blossom!"
"Well, I think you're going into a date!" teased Butch.
"Think what you want, but you'll soon find out soon enough!" Brick said. "Come on, leader girl!"
Blossom was puzzled by Brick. "Where are we going?" she asked when they were out of the house.
"To the police station!" said Brick.
"The police station? So why didn't you just tell your brothers? Now they're thinking something else!"
"Now can't a guy piss his brother off?"
"Whatever, Brick! But why are we going to the police station?"
"I've been thinking about what you've said. You're right. The threat of a riot by fifty thousand Citiesvillans is very serious. I want to know the capability of the police force to deal with it!"
"Well, we can always deal with it? I mean we are very very powerful!" Blossom boasted.
"True, but unlike you, I don't want to do things these people can do for themselves, like saving a cat from a tree, or the like, like you always seem to like doing! When the riot breaks out, I want the police, not us, to handle it! Besides, we have far better things about to worry about than a bunch of idiots with torches and pitchforks smashing and burning everything they see."
A few minutes later, they arrived at the police station.
"Could I speak to Police Chief Alexander Grulp?" asked Brick.
"Brick! Blossom!" one of the police officers said. "Of course!"
By this time, the Rowdyruff Boys, like the Powerpuff Girls, were deeply respected and admired by most of the police force.
"Blossom, Brick, what can I do for you?" asked the Chief of police.
"Well, first, did you know that the Mayor and Blossom gave me authority to command the police and the military of this city as long as the threat of Ckracknow persists, so that means, at this moment, I outrank you. If you don't believe me, here are the papers to prove it."
Brick then gave him the documents giving him such power to Chief Grulp.
Grulp carefully read every word of the document.
"If you want, call Ms. Bellum and she'll confirm it," Brick said.
"I think I'll do that," Chief Grulp said before going to his office.
"Brick, that was rude! You shouldn't have acted like you're the boss or something!"
"But I am his boss! If you've read the paper, you'd know. I was just asserting my authority. Besides, if you saw the look on his face, Ms. Bellum obviously didn't inform him of my new authority."
"Yeah, but you could have been more humble and polite. That in-your-face attitude won't win you many friends!" Blossom scolded.
"True, being polite sometimes accomplish ones goals," Brick said. "But heck, I'm not looking for friends! I'm asserting my authority!"
Grulp then came back.
"It's true. You're practically the third most powerful person in Townsville, after the Mayor and Ms. Bellum," Grulp said.
"Music to my ears! It's a good thing you finally recognized my superior rank. Rest assured that, whatever slight or resentment which you may harbor because of some six-year-old boy giving you orders, it would only be temporary. Probably before Christmas, I'll be back to being plain Brick Edwards. But as for now, I demand that you address me either as sir, or Mr. Edwards, as my rank demands!"
"Brick, I mean sir, Mr. Edwards, the police force, certainly I, doesn't hold any resentment at it. In fact, you're our heroes. We are proud to serve under you!" Chief Grulp said, and the look of his eyes showed that he was sincere.
"All I can say, is, thanks. Now Chief, we should go to your office, since it would be more comfortable and we need privacy for our discussion."
"Yes sir, Mr. Edwards," the Chief said, before leading the two leaders to the office of the chief of police.
The police chief went to his office chair, while the two sat on two chairs besides the table facing the Chief.
"Well, sir, what is it you wish to discuss?"
"Miss Utonium, my second-in-command, might express it more clearly. Okay Blossom, tell him your concerns about the refugees of Townsville."
"Okay Chief. As you know, Ckracknow attacked Citiesville…"
"Yeah! Who in Townsville doesn't know that? But doesn't it seem strange that all the broadcasts from that city vanished after that last speech of Ckracknow?" Grulp interrupted.
"That's because I banned broadcasts from that city because it would be bad for morale," Brick said.
"You did?" a surprised police chief asked.
"Yes."
"Anyway, as a result of the attacks, many people from the suburbs of Citiesville fled," Blossom continued. "Since ours is the nearest city, they descended on us like a plague. Since the attack, about 50,000 people have arrived in this city. Now, here are some facts—the thing is, we were too late in our action of banning TV broadcasts from Citiesville, since Ckracknow was able to scare not only the Citiesvillans but the Townies too. You know that speech about threatening to attack and destroy this city like he did Citiesville if they did not turn us over, raze our house, and kill our Dads?"
"The situation is worsened by the fact that the people of Citiesville hates us because of what we did to their bridge a few months ago. Now, if you combine that hate with the fact that they are deathly afraid of Ckracknow, it would be very unpleasant."
"The potential for trouble was clearly illustrated last night. Although most Townies were convinced by the Mayor's excuse, the Citiesvillans did not, and were able to convince the more intelligent people of this town. And so, a small portion of them formed a mob, and that mob tried to raze our house. Fortunately, I was able to convince the Townies portion of that mob to stand fast with us, but not the Citiesville portion of the mob. They were too bitter for that."
"Fortunately, after the departure of the Townies, the mob was halved, and the Citiesvillans went home, discouraged. However, I don't believe that's the end of it. I fear that the rest of the refugees would riot and try to get to us."
Brick took over. "Anyway Chief, if—let's say—all fifty thousand Citiesvillan refugees rioted, would you be able to control them?"
"I don't know. I don't think we have enough police officers," said Grulp. "Unless we arm them all with M-16 and AK-47 and order them to shoot at the rioters."
"How many officers can we mobilize?" asked Brick.
"About 5,000 max," said Grulp.
"That's bad. Anyway, is there space enough in our jails for the potential rioters?"
"In our regular jails, no. But there is a camp just outside here that was originally built in the Second World War to house German POWs. It can be reactivated, and we could hold at least ten thousand there. And there is—of course—the two newly completed maximum security prisons that opened just this week, which can house ten thousand."
"So at maximum we can hold in jails only twenty thousand? Oh well, we'll just have to find another way to hold the rest," said Brick.
"Sir, I think it's not our policy to imprison rioters. We just disperse them and tell them to go home!" Grulp said.
"Well, I'm changing the policy! If the refugees riots, we'll toss every single one of them in jail!" Brick asserted. "Okay. Have you any gas—like tear gas, sleeping gas, or at least, laughing gas?"
"We don't have them," said the police Chief. "Since the Powerpuff Girls and Rowdyruff Boys do much of the heavy stuff, the city cut our budget drastically."
"Well, have you got those shields and clubs you use to beat people up? And do you have enough to arm every single officer?"
"Well, yeah. We have those in abundance."
"That will have to do. I don't know much about police work like you do, so I'm leaving you the details of working out an anti-riot plan. And if another riot did break out and you fail to stop it, I'm going to fire you and replace you with someone who can," Brick said.
"But sir, I though the Ruff-Puff Alliance should do it, I mean if we can't handle it," Grulp protested.
"Look, the Ruff-Puff Alliance job is to protect the city from things that humans couldn't protect themselves from, like Monsters and villains. Crime and riots—you police can handle—so I'm leaving it to you. You shouldn't expect us to tie your shoes or fix your plumbing for you!"
"Anyway, I want you to put the entire police on high alert! We don't want to be caught with our pants down, do we? If there is a riot, we'll probably help, but only if you prove yourselves absolutely incapable of handling it!" Brick said before leaving.
After that, both Blossom and Brick left the Police station and went back to their home.
"Brick, I think you should improve your attitude! You acted way too arrogant towards the Police Chief," said Blossom.
"Did I?"
"Well, you threatened to fire him! That isn't any way to make a good first impression! I know that you can fire people now that you were given the authority, but don't you think you're going too far?"
"If anything, he should have been fired! If anything, the entire police force should have been fired for their stupidity and incompetence! In fact, I was showing much mercy when I let him stay! In fact, I don't know why Ms. Bellum didn't fire the entire police force yet!"
"Well she didn't need to," Blossom said. "Besides, even if they are sometimes incompetent, most of them are hardworking, loyal and good hearted."
"And they are incompetent still!" Brick said. "Problem is, the city relied too much on you girls for way too long that it could afford to have an incompetent police force. You shouldn't have done things that the police could have done."
"Yeah, we shouldn't have, but that still doesn't give you the right to threaten to fire the Chief of Police!"
"On the contrary! If you read the paper, not only could I threaten to fire him, I could actually do it! Not only do I have physical power, I also have political power! I am powerful, hahahahahah!"
"Yeah, but what you did is completely unnecessary!"
"That's debatable. Anyway, let's go home. We still have to train."
Two hours later, Buttercup and Bubbles had just woken up. She was fine, as Brick predicted. The fight was so short that it didn't do much damage other than to knock her out.
"Oh, that Brick is worse than Blossom!" Buttercup said. "Blossom wouldn't have done this to us!"
"Well, we're alright now, and we are at fault, so I don't think he did anything bad. Though I would prefer to be tickled than to be knocked out in a fight for punishment! I was scared, very scared of what actually might happen at level 30. I though I was going to be beaten up for an hour or so before being knocked out. Turns out it wasn't that bad."
"Well, I'd rather get knocked out a fight than get tickled while tied up," Buttercup said.
"So you two are awake?" Blossom asked. "Are you felling okay?"
Both of them looked at the bottom of the bed, where they saw Blossom, Brick, Boomer and Butch floating just above, looking at them.
"I'm okay! The punishment was actually like harder training—only it was too short to actually hurt!" Bubbles said while stretching and yawning.
"Not bad at all, no thanks to you Brick!" Buttercup bitterly said.
"Well, you deserved it! At least you learned your lesson," Brick retorted back. "Well, time to train! We still have to become stronger than Ckracknow's teens."
"Yeah right," Buttercup said. "And that wasn't a punishment at all! I could easily beat level 30! I just was tired and fell asleep before I could properly fight. If I fought refreshed, I could have easily beaten it!"
"Yeah right, especially since you actually fought at level 25, not 30," Butch sneered.
"Level 25? But you told us it was level 30!"
"Nah, it was just to scare you two! And by the looks of your faces when we threw you in, you were!" Boomer said.
"Ha! I was just pretending to be scared to fool you!" Buttercup said.
"Whatever! Come on, we have training to do!" Brick sighed, ignoring Buttercup's boast.
The six kids trained the entire afternoon, surpassing level 19, then beating level 20, and with great difficulty, level 21.
That afternoon…
It was peaceful that Friday afternoon, unless of course one ignores the riots.
Actually, it didn't begin as a riot. A group, maybe a hundred or so Citiesville refugees, demonstrated on the streets of Townsville against the Powerpuff Girls, demanding that they immediately attack Citiesville, and calling for the giving in to Ckracknow's demands if the kids didn't attack. They carried signs mocking the Townsville Mayor, its inhabitants, the city itself, but especially the six heroes and their fathers.
Townsville bystanders got angry at the disrespect that the demonstrators were showing to their heroes and to their city, and so began booing and insulting them.
It came to a head when some Townies began pelting them with eggs and tomatoes and pieces of paper. The Citiesvillans got irked, and some of the more violent ones began beating up those who pelted the crowd. Then, they began throwing stones at the Townies.
Soon, a large fight occurred, when more Citiesvillans and Townies joined in.
However, the situation turned up-side-down, when people from the refugee camps began joining their fellow Citiesvillans. The trickle became a flood, and soon, the streets of Townsville was swamped by the refugees, beating up any Townies they could find.
After ten minutes, the streets of the eastern part of Townsville were deserted by Townies as they were outnumbered. In fact, there were about twenty thousand hostile Citiesvillans, about two-fifths of all the refugees from the Suburbs of Citiesville, in the streets, most of them men and women over the age of 16.
Pretty soon, they found that there were no more Townies to beat up so they began smashing windows, and systematically destroying the property in the area. Soon, that part of Townsville was in flames as the rioters systematically looted the buildings before setting fire to it.
The police, which in that area was quite few, about three hundred, were overwhelmed by the sheer number of rioters, and were helpless in the face of overwhelming numbers.
Meanwhile…
The boys and girls were having a break from training. They had just beaten level 22, though it wasn't easy. Most of them were covered with sweat, though all of them showered and changed clothes.
They were relaxing at the living room, watching TV, when suddenly, there was a news flash.
"Breaking news! It seems as if thousands of Citiesville refugees lost their heads and began rioting! Police seem to be helpless as they are outnumbered! East Townsville is in flames!"
"Boys, you know what to do!" the doctor said, his eyes glued to the TV.
"And girls, you know their duty as well," the Professor said.
They just nodded and flew off.
"Blossom, take your sisters and put out the fires on the buildings," Brick ordered. "Boomer, go to the police station and ask Chief Grulp the present situation. Butch, come with me. We're going to City Hall!"
Meanwhile, the angry mob—all twenty thousand of them—suddenly marched out into the city, and walked towards the suburbs—towards the home of Dr. Edwards and Professor Utonium. The girls were too busy putting out fires to notice the shift. In fact, the Powerpuffs were relieved because the girls thought the rioters left the city. Unfortunately, they didn't notice that the Citiesvillans were marching to their homes.
All in all, it was less like a mob, and more like an army. All of them were baying for blood—the Professor and Doctor's blood to be precise.
Meanwhile…
"See how my plan turned out?" Ckracknow boasted to Alpha, Epsilon, and Shippe who accompanied him in his private room on top of a skyscraper. The other three, Beta, Cychaela, and Delta, as usual, were having "fun" on the island city, and picking up the next victims of the hourly killings.
They were looking at a giant screen TV, watching the news. They saw three streaks of light putting out the fires on the buildings.
"How convenient. Those girls probably think that the people melted back and stopped, when actually they are marching to their house. Ah look, a large crowd gathered in front of City Hall to defend the Mayor and Ms. Bellum. Problem is, the mob isn't going to attack them, but the suburbs. I wonder how they would feel when the heroes return home and find their homes burned to the ground, and their Dads dead?" Ckracknow said, then laughed. "Pity that it would distract them from watching the hourly killings!"
Meanwhile…
Brick and Butch arrived at the front of City Hall, where Ms. Bellum and the Mayor were standing besides a podium reassuring the people.
The crowd, mostly Townies, cheered as they saw Brick and Butch descend and land besides the Mayor.
"Okay, what's the situation?" asked Brick.
"Well, the entire East Side is burning. Not much else, since the crowd seemed to have disappeared," Ms. Bellum said.
"And the police? Where are the 5,000 police that Chief Grulp promised?"
"They're spread out across the city," Chief Grulp, who suddenly arrived with Boomer carrying him. "If we use all of them to fight the mob, then criminals would roam free in those areas where we withdraw the police. We can't have all five thousand police to fight the rioters, or there'd be no police to be guard the city."
"Good point. Anyway, the riots ended. Glad nobody died," Brick sighed.
Suddenly, there was a call on Grulp's cellular phone.
"Yes? What? In the suburbs! Shit! Okay!" Grulp said on the phone. "Sir, I think the crowd didn't melt. They are marching towards your home!"
The eyes of Brick widened.
"Chief Grulp, I want you to stop the crowd. And I want not only to disperse those twenty thousand, but to beat them up until they cry uncle, and to throw each and every one of them in jail! But don't kill them. Death is too merciful a punishment to inflict on such ingrates! Leave five hundred to police the city, but the rest, send them to the suburbs!"
Chief Grulp nodded and left to direct the police forces trying to stop the mob.
Ms. Bellum, who had been listening to the conversation, had a suggestion. "Brick, how about using the people? There are more Townies than there are refugees, so I think if they backed up the police, they would be of much help."
"Well, might as well," Brick said. "Okay, Ms. Bellum, ask them."
"No Brick. You should ask them. They are looking up to you, not me, to provide leadership."
"So I'll do a Blossom and speak to them. Okay, but only on the condition that you'll approve my decrees for this city."
"What decrees?"
"I'll put it in the speech. Agree?"
"Okay," Ms. Bellum said.
Brick stepped into the podium and began his speech to the expectant crowd.
"People of Townsville, I am William Bricker Edwards Jr. and I am the leader of the Ruff-Puff Alliance. Furthermore, I have been given authority to govern this city until the present crises has passed."
"You know the events of the past few days since Ckracknow's attack on Citiesville, so I won't repeat it to you. I am not a great public speaker like Blossom, so excuse me if I fall short of expectations."
"This city has been very generous to the refugees of Citiesville. In spite of the overcrowding of this city, we still gave them homes and a hope of a new life. We gave all to help this people, and as a result, they lived very comfortable lives as refugees. And the heroes of this city, us, have made it our cause to free Citiesville."
"But what have they done? They have stabbed the back of their provider, falling into Ckracknow's trap. Despite our efforts, despite Blossom's pleas, despite our generosity, they still wrought great destruction upon this city by their rioting! They seek that we, the Ruff-Puff Alliance, would foolishly fight the five when we are not ready, and they would actually try to burn our house and kill our Dads because they're scared to do the right thing! Is that the way to show gratitude to those who had given much to them, and to those who is their only hope of reclaiming their city? "
"And so, on the basis of the authority given to me by the Mayor of Townsville, I hereby declare Martial Law on Townsville, placing the city under military rule."
"I also hereby suspend the writ of habeas corpus, meaning that anybody who is perceived a security threat might be imprisoned without charges filed against him."
"I hereby prohibit the assemblage of more than three hundred people in one place, and if anybody would violate it, it would be dispersed and the violators would be imprisoned."
"And anybody who would take part in the riots would be thrown in jail."
"I hereby prohibit more refugees from entering the city."
"But this would only be in effect until Ckracknow is defeated. I'm sorry for the inconvenience but it is needed for our security."
"And all who participated in today's riot will be imprisoned until the crisis is over."
"Anyway, I'd like to ask you for your help. The police are only about 5,000 strong, while the rioters are about 20,000. I'd like you to be the heroes! Take some sticks and other tools, and beat the hell out of those rioters! Crush them! Kick them where it hurts!"
"People of Townsville, defend your homes! For this hoard aims the destruction of our city, and must be stopped and punished! Take up arms, help the police, and crush those rioters! Crush them with all the righteousness that you can muster! Crush them and show what you wouldn't always depend on us superheroes! Crush and punish them, since they have brought upon themselves the punishment that they deserved! Pour our wrath upon them, for if not, every house and every building will be in flames, as if Ckracknow himself had sent his five teens here! People of Townville, the path to glory awaits you as you defend your homes, and teach those ingrates a lesson!"
"CRUSH THEM!" the crowd chanted as the Ruff-Puff leaded egged them on.
"For Townsville!" Brick shouted.
"FOR TOWNSVILLE!" the crowd responded.
The crowd was whipped up into a frenzy as Brick rallied them. Soon, there were eager and spoiling for a fight with the Citiesville mob.
Ms Bellum then directed that all Townies engaged in anti riot activities wear a white head band to reduce confusion and prevent mistakes.
Brick departed City Hall with his brothers, and they were joined by the Powerpuff Girls who had just put out the last of the fires in the East Side of the City.
They flew back home to defend the house in case the police fail to break the riot.
When they flew on the way home, they were astonished to see hundreds upon hundreds of police cars, and many many more prison wagons. What was more amazing was the line of police blocking the path of the rioters at an empty part of the suburbs.
The police line was divided into three parts, each 1,500 each. There is the center, the left flank, and the right flank. All of them had helmets, padded clothing, and other apparel a police might need in this situation. A thousand on each part was armed with a club with a large shield protecting them while the remaining five hundred were armed with fully loaded M-16s. They were standing shoulder to shoulder, with the men with M-16s at front, guns pointed at the crowd, while the other thousand were just at their back.
The mob saw the police line, and showing their contempt, charged the center, aiming to split the police formation into two. To their pleasant surprise, the center retreated, and they chased after it. But after running about a hundred yards, they turned around and stood their ground.
The mob, to their surprise, found themselves surrounded on three sides, as both the left flank and right flank of the police wheeled in as the crowd pushed the center back.
Soon, the sight of M-16 rifles pointed at them at three sides unnerved the rioters, and they stopped their charge. But they still outnumbered the police 4-1.
"Surrender, and no one will be hurt," Chief Grulp, standing on the top of his car with a bullhorn, shouted. He directed the formation of the police.
Brick, his brothers, and their female counterparts just watched in admiration, as they did not know the police was capable of doing something competent.
The crowd roared in defiance.
"If you do not surrender within five seconds, the police will have no choice but to shoot!"
The mob didn't surrender.
"Five, four, three, two, one!"
"Final chance! Surrender, or die!" the Chief shouted.
No one surrendered.
"You asked for it! Fire!"
Soon, one thousand five hundred police with M-16 rifles fired their guns at the crowd of twenty thousand on three sides.
Confusion and panic swept the crowd as they were soon covered with what seemed to be blood, and retreated.
The girls gasped at this violence. However, they all noticed that no one was killed.
"How the hell did that happen?" asked Boomer.
"They used blanks, and they used red paint to make the rioters believe they were wounded and shot. Of course, in their fear, they didn't realize it, so they panicked and began to run away," Blossom explained. "They think that the police actually fired on them."
"That's one smart son of a gun! I change my opinion of Grulp! He's one hell of a tactician!" Brick said. "Just like the battle of Cannae where Hannibal defeated a superior Roman force by double envelopment. Now all we lack is cavalry, but I think that that would be remedied soon! Look!"
There was another mob, about ten thousand strong, coming towards the scene. It was composed of Townies angry at the Citiesvillan rioters. They were carrying sticks, clubs, and such, and were only distinguishable from the Citiesville crowd by the white cloth tied around their heads, and by the fact that a great number of Citiesvillans were covered in red paint.
They clashed with the Citiesvillans at their rear, and an ugly brawl occurred. Soon, the two crowds were beating each other up. But despite their numerical superiority, the Citiesvillans found themselves completely surrounded. At their front, right and left were the small but disciplined and heavily armed police, at their rear was the undisciplined but numerous and enthusiastic Townies.
The police at the front and flanks began closing in, and fired another round of blanks at the people, shooting red paint instead of bullets at the crowd. It caused the Citiesvillans to further panic, with no way of knowing that it was blanks and soon, the people next to the police began surrendering en masse by walking towards the police with their hands in the air.
The police with the M-16 just stood their ground, while the guys with the shield and the clubs at their back took them, cuffed their hands behind their backs, and escorted them to the police cars and wagons.
About 5,000 at the flanks surrendered in twenty minutes, and by the time they realized that the police were using blanks and red paint and that nobody died, it was too late. Far too many have surrendered, captured, or were knocked out.
At the rear, it was pretty much a close fight, but with the advantage to the Townies, who were backed by the police and who were not surrounded. Their tactic was to whisk away beaten up Citiesvillans to the rear, where they were tied up. The Citiesvillans could not do that because they had no rear, i.e, they were surrounded. Of course, many Townies were also beaten up, but they too were whisked to their own rear and treated by ambulances and doctors from Townsville who came to assist their compatriots, while the Citiesvillans had no such luxury.
After half an hour, the Citiesvillans, their numerical superiority gone, were losing, but still fighting. Most of the fighting was with the Townies since the police guarding the three flanks were content to not let any escape through them. The Citiesvillans were too afraid of the M-16s to attack the police, thinking that they had live shots.
Soon, 1,000 police with shields, helmets and clubs advanced and joined the melee, beating the rioters with their clubs. Then, the 1,500 police with M-16 rifles with blanks advanced and joined the beating, using their rifle buts to beat up as many rioters as possible.
All of this was directed by Police Chief Alexander Grulp, who on that day, won the admiration of everyone, including the Rowdryruff Boys and Powerpuff Girls.
It marked the end of the great riot when another 1,500 heavily armored police joined in. The remaining 500 police officers remained in the flanks to prevent any rioter from escaping.
Half an hour later, only 4,000 rioters remained standing. The rest were either knocked out, injured, or captured. Against them were 9,000 Townsville civilians and 5,000 police, who completely surrounded them and confined them to a narrow space.
Finally, they dropped their weapons, and raised their hands in surrender. All in all, one thousand Townsville civilians were injured, with none killed or captured. None of the police were remotely injured. About seven thousand Citiesville rioters were injured, two thousand knocked out, and the rest captured.
All of them, all twenty thousand, were detained. Those injured were treated in hospitals before being sent to prisons. Those who surrendered with no injuries where immediately sent off to jail or to detention camps.
During the entire time, the six kids were floating above the battle watching it. They were itching to join the fight, but Brick gave strict orders not to interfere unless the Townsville forces lost.
The Townsville Citizens who participated roared in cheers, and shouted praises to the six superheroes, and to Chief Grulp. The police cheered too, shouting and jumping.
"TOWNSVILLE! TOWNSVILLE!" the Towny mob chanted as they savoured their victory.
The six kids then went to the police Chief to congratulate him.
"Congratulations, Chief!" Brick said. "I never thought you could pull it off, but I was wrong! I'm sorry for threatening to fire you. I underestimated you."
"I understand," said Grulp.
"Yeah, that was a brilliant battle plan!" Blossom complimented.
"You were great!" Buttercup said. "As for the police, I'm changing my mind. You're not that bad!"
"Yup, the police may be incompetent in crime—fighting and monster handling, but as for riot control, you're the man!" Butch said, less complimentary than the others.
"That was great. Although it's sad that so many would get hurt," Bubbles said.
"Who the hell cares if every bone of those Citiesville ingrates was ground to powder? They can rot to hell for all I care," Boomer said. "But that was awesome! I thought we would have to help you, but we were wrong."
"Thanks, but the real credit should be to the people. I mean we were outnumbered four to one, and we don't have live shots, so even if we wanted to kill the rioters, we wouldn't be able to," Grulp said.
And so ends the afternoon, in utter defeat for the Citiesville refugee rioters. It was a proud victory for the city of Townsville, over Citiesville, without any help from their superheroes, and to a larger extent, a symbolic defeat of Ckracknow. However, it forever poisoned the relations between Townsville and Citiesville, with residents of both cities hating each other with a passion.
The entire east side of Townsville was destroyed, millions of dollars of property were lost, and only the work of Blossom and her sisters kept the fires from spreading.
And so, the people—whether Towny or Citiesvillan—wouldn't be a bother to the kids ever again. The Townies, thanks to Blossom, were too fond of them, and too loyal to be a threat, while the Citiesville refugees were too afraid, if they were not already imprisoned, to launch another large scale riot.
In any case, Martial Law and other harsh measures Brick instituted would've prevented another riot even if they tried.
But it left a legacy of bitterness between the two cities.
But for all the hype of the victory, there were still the five super powerful teens that the Ruff-Puff Alliance had to defeat, and at this stage, the kids were still no match for the five. And what was worst, the riots had diverted precious hours from their training.
But there was a ray of hope for Townsville at least. And for all humanity as the day of reckoning approached closer and closer.