She spent the day being pushed away by the other children. Not that she deserved any better, she briefly thought to herself.
But she quickly pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind. She was princess, the most eligible kid for miles, and her daddy gave her everything she wanted. Of course the other kids should like her instantly and treat better. They were simply ungrateful and backwards, simple as.
"No, they're the spoiled brats, they're wrong to treat me so badly" she muttered to herself, as the other children in the classroom tried their best not even to glance in her direction. Their eyes slid by her without pause and when she waved in front of one boy to ask him for a pencil she could borrow, his mood was bland and unchanging as he turned away.
He did not look at her again.
The day came and went as usual.
Little did she know what waited for her around the corner.
As Princess walked sadly back home, once again lamenting her never ending sorrow with silent sobs, so engrossed in self pity was she that she did not notice the banana peel some careless litter bug had dropped onto the ground.
Time seemed to accelerate several times as she skidded forward, unable to stop. She screamed as she collided with the last person she wanted to lay eyes on after another long, hellish day. Buttercup the brute.
The bag of food Buttercup was carrying dropped onto the ground, as Princess slowly stood up.
Chips, the remains of a burger that had fallen apart littered the ground, and a large wet stain of some beverage covered Buttercup's shirt.
Buttercup only glared at Princess wordlessly as she too stood up and slowly tried to wipe the stain away with no success.
Princess knew without needing to be told that Buttercup wasn't the calmest woman. She also knew that Buttercup tended very much to punch first and ask questions later. The sound of wailing sirens and the image of a red flaring light roared in her mind. But oh well, sometimes one had to look at the positives and not the negatives.
At least there was a positive side. She would enjoy a calm, relaxing rest after another long hectic day, and pass the evening on a soft comfy bed sleeping. A soft comfy bed in the emergency room.
Princess turned to run, to flee but Buttercup's baleful stare rooted her to the spot and she found herself unable to move a muscle.
She tried belatedly to apologise, to plead for mercy from her sworn enemy, but she found herself unable to form the words. Was it because the cat had got her tongue, or was it because the seething hatred she had built up for Buttercup over the years had grown too strong. Either way the apology came out as a ragged gasp.
"Now you're just asking for it" sighed Buttercup, her voice pure venom.
Princess shook her head, unable to find words to say.
"I'm glad you've read my name in the ads." Buttercup said, grinning. "Because butt kickings are free, this week only."
"I'm. I'm sorry" Princess managed to stutter."
"You're never going to be a Powerpuff girl, so stop trying to play nice to me. What you've already done is unforgivable and I don't forgive you. Not to mention Santa put you on the permanent naughty list, so you'll never get another present for as long as you live. Serves you right."
Not from you anyway, thought Princess to herself. How wrong she would soon be proven.
"But perhaps this is your lucky day" remarked Buttercup, rubbing her finger-less hands together.
Princess only closed her eyes, still unable to move or reply.
"I've prepared a great present for you." explained Buttercup.
"What?" Princess coughed out, a single tear streaking down her cheek.
"A nice and tasty knuckle sandwich". And before Princess could react, a giant fist covered her entire vision as it got larger and larger.
And then it hit her, and the world around her blurred.
She didn't even see the next blow as it crashed into her.
Then the world went black.