She landed gracefully on the sidewalk, dusting herself off when she made the landing. Her phone served as a mirror while she adjusted her hair, using a hand as a brush. Even though it was unkempt in the back, it added some style. The only thing that needed a proper makeover was her bangs, which were parted in the front. Her hair was growing out, she thought, being naturally wavy and bouncy with each step. Occasionally there was a loose curl which would be corrected, but otherwise, it would have to do for now.
Buttercup strolled on a weathered stone path toward a pair of zesty Victorian iron gate doors. The perimeter of the approaching home was large, the most obvious thing being a towering home nestled in the center. Behind it, peeking out of its slim sides, the outline of a hedge maze. This grand home was adorned with intricate details that aged it. The walls were freshly painted in a pale crimson, a creamy white trip that highlighted the ornate woodwork around the windows and the doors. The windows themselves were tall and arched, the sight of peculiar rooms could be seen if you looked at it hard enough. However, as of late, they weren't cleaned. Ivy stretched on the sides of the house, adding a touch of nature.
The front yard was the only thing that remained well-kept, a row of flowers complimenting neatly trimmed bushes. The cobblestone path, past the front gate, had every stone polished and cleaned of any dirt or moss. Next came the creaky porch, a couple of rocking chairs unbothered. The porch itself was fairly wide and open, allowing a cool breeze to pass by if it wanted to. Puffing out from behind was a string of misty white smoke; this wasn't from the chimney, but nowhere near the house itself. Something was steaming, more off in the distance.
A single navy blue hover car rested gently on the house's right-hand side while a group of three conversed with one another. Each one had the standard Plumber uniform, only one of them completely hiding himself underneath a mask while all carrying tablets. They all seemed to be alarmingly conversing with one another, pointing at each other's devices and searching for some kind of answer.
Buttercup anxiously adjusted her fern green tee, trying not to hug so closely to her chest and biceps. Her beige baggy pants shuffled with each step as she frantically stuffed a pair of earbuds away, aiming to look professional despite the casual outerwear she had. It had been a while since her last visit to Foster's Home, and at the time it was to help with taking out some fusions in the backyard. It got out of hand, though she handled herself fairly well.
Seeing no one else in the front, she pushed the gate wide open. It let out a long, irritating screech until it was wide enough for her to come in. She slipped by, closing it shut, and decided to approach the Plumbers first.
The one in the full suit smacked his pointer finger firmly on the screen stating, "The evidence doesn't lie, Jerry. How would a fusion be able to even get inside the house if it landed back there?"
"I know the house is littered with imaginary energy, but that doesn't mean it's a barrier," retorted the other one. He brushed a hand through his greasy, stiff pompadour jet hair and lowered his tablet. "Don't you think it's a little weird how a meteor just so happens to land a little ways out from only Foster's? It's not just me, is it?"
"No, it's not," the third replied, quickly scrolling through. He looked nearly identical to the other unmasked Plumber, though wasn't quite as serious or adamant with his voice. "We can't make assumptions, though. This is Foster's home we're talking about. The house is wilder than Townsville Zoo."
The masked one shook his head, "Look, I won't forget about your theory. It's just not my problem. Talk to Tony and that ranger girl, uhh... Regine."
"Can do."
"Hey boys!"
All three of them looked back, widening their eyes at the sight.
Buttercup confidently strolled up to the three of them with a smirk, crossing her arms and raising a curious eyebrow. "Whatcha talkin' about?"
"Good to see you, Buttercup," Jerry nervously smiled, fidgeting with his fingers. "Just uh.. bit of a problem is all."
The other spoke, "Hey! I'm Plumber Steve, nice to finally meet you! That's Plumber Jerry and Plumber Jeff. We've got a bit of a situation."
"If you don't mind me asking," Jeff crossed his arms. "What are you doing here?"
The girl pointed a thumb at her chest and replied, "I heard there was an issue, so I got sent to help out. I'm the backup!"
"Y-You can back me up anytime, Buttercup!" Jerry's smile grew, his face turning red.
Bap!
Steve hit him upside the head, "Get a grip! We've got a situation here and I don't need you googly-eyed for the Powerpuff girl!"
Jeff sighed and leaned in, "Sorry about that. He's like this all the time with girls.."
"I already know I'm just that captivating. It's no sweat," she replied, turning to look at Jeff. She continued with a mischievous smile even further. "You keep acting like that and they might kick you outta the Plumbers, buddy. Better quit while you're ahead."
"Y-Yes ma'am," he replied bluntly, still rubbing his head and shooting a glare at his friend.
Steve crossed his arms, "There's been an issue with fusions running around lately, as well as nano research. Foster's home is a mess, things are going missing, the imaginary friends are getting mad and Frankie seems like she's losing her mind."
"The girl needs a break, ya know? She's been babysitting for years!" the Powerpuff girl replied, switching her hands to her hips.
Jeff nodded, "That's what I said, but that's not my point. Maybe a fresh pair of eyes might help, yeah?"
"How much do you know about imaginary energy?" Steve questioned.
Buttercup swallowed, clearing her throat. "I.. don't know much. I've got a rough idea if that'll help you nerds."
"Hey, we're not nerds," Jerry corrected and held up a finger. "Those are the Dexlabs guys. We do the more important work, you know-"
Jeff placed a hand on the man's shoulder and followed up with, "The point is that there's some weird stuff going on with the house. We sent two other friends outside of the perimeter, as well as a couple of other Plumbers, to go check out another fusion meteor that crash-landed back behind the house. Something's afoot, and my friend here thinks a fusion got into the house."
"It's possible!" Jerry defended.
Steve held both of his hands up, "Okay, guys, let's calm down. The truth is we don't know what's going on. Nano research has been stunted until we can figure out what's been hindering our progress. The imaginary friends in there have gone nuts."
The girl scratched the side of her head, narrowing her eyes.
Why did Blossom always have to send her on the brainiac missions?
"Ugh, okay," she groaned. "I'm not good at these kinds of things but I'll help. Where is the best place to start?"
Jerry gestured with a finger, "I'd say talk to Frankie. She knows."
"It's about time we go check up on the other two, anyways. Get a reading on that meteor, you know?" Jeff affirmed.
Steve nodded, "Yeah, I think that'll be good. We can give you any updates if anything happens."
"Thanks, boys," Buttercup sighed. "I'll take it from here."
Jeff nodded, "No problem, Buttercup. Happy to help a Powerpuff Girl!"
"Yeah, thanks for the help!" Steve nodded his head rapidly.
Jerry put his hands behind his back, "Maybe you could stop by more often?"
"Mmm," Buttercup hummed, placing a finger on her bottom lip. She looked over at him, then shook her head. "Nope."
Jeff placed a hand on his mask where his mouth would be, looking over at Jerry with a quiet snicker.
Steve let out a chuckle and placed a hand on Jerry's shoulder, looking like he was on the verge of bursting out laughing.
"Darn, alright," Jerry chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.
Steve began to tug him away, wheezing, "C-Come on, you dummy. You gonna keep embarrassing us in front of the Powerpuff Girls again?"
"Ahahaha!" Jeff burst out laughing, hunching over as he began to walk.
Jerry's face flushed a bright red as he stuttered, "G-Guys! It's not that funny!"
Buttercup just shook her head, watching the three stooges walk away, and sighed. These kinds of things always happened at the worst times, she thought. The idea of that date came into mind, distracting her for a moment while idly dazing out toward the sky. That warm feeling came back, but then it disappeared again. She had to focus, just for now.
As she stepped up onto the front door, she tucked in her pants and took a deep breath. With a single hand, three booming and sharp knocks echoed both outside and inside. Despite her just using a fraction of her strength, it nearly caused the whole thing to tremble slightly.
"Smooth move, Buttercup.." she facepalmed, trying to get a grip on herself and took a deep breath.
Pulling open one of the front doors, a familiar person peered out from behind. The first noticeable thing was bright red hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. The woman was a bit older, perhaps around twenty-five, though still had a pair of young green eyes. There were significant bags under them, indicating a lack of proper sleep. She wore something mutually casual–a green T-shirt with a quirky cartoon character on it and a pair of jeans–plain as day. She didn't have any shoes on, just socks that smacked across the floor.
Her lethargic and curious expression turned into slight shock upon recognizing the girl. The woman gasped, "Buttercup?"
Buttercup's embarrassment melted away in an instant, replaced with a dumb wide grin. She stepped forward, throwing her arms out, "Yo! Frankie-stein!"
Frankie burst out laughing, pulling her in for a tight hug and squeezing her. "Hey, girlfriend! I haven't seen you in some time! It's so good to see you-"
The Powerpuff girl was instinctively gentle, tightening her arms around her and squeezing back. "It's so good to see you too, Frankie! It's been a while, huh?"
The woman let go, leaning against the doorway, and let out a yawn. "Yeah, it certainly has. I'm not gonna lie, I'm so glad to see you right about now. What brings you here?"
"Same," the girl replied, pointing a thumb behind her. "Blossom told me to haul myself over here, so here I am. Those Plumber boys gave me the scoop on what's going on."
Frankie made a face, "They didn't give you much trouble, did they? The Plumbers can be a real handful around her sometimes with their experiments and questions.."
"Nah," Buttercup shrugged, shoving her hands in her pockets. "Boys will be boys."
The older woman spoke up, "By the way, you look so good in that outfit! I've taught you well."
"What are you, my fashion designer?" the girl snickered, her smile only widening. She struck a little pose just for her.
Frankie nodded her head, "Oh, killer. I bet you've gotten a ton of boys while I've been away."
"Not a lot of good ones," she snorted, speaking without thinking. "Though there is this one guy I met recently."
"You met another boy?" Frankie's smile grew even more.
Buttercup widened her eyes, realizing what she said, and sighed. "Look, don't shout it out loud, alright? I already had that one Plumber guy hit on me on the way up here-"
"WHAT!" Frankie's eyes widened, grabbing onto her stomach, and burst out laughing.
The green Powerpuff crossed her arms, huffing. "Ay now, it's not that funny. That guy was a bumbling idiot."
"That's why it's funny," she snickered. "Not like he's getting anywhere anyways."
Distantly from within the household, an older and humble man's voice spoke out. "Miss Foster! Who is it at the front entrance?"
She turned her head back, cupping a hand over her mouth, "It's Buttercup Utonium! Her sister sent her!"
"I will prepare some fine tea for the occasion!" the voice replied.
"Alright, Mr. Herriman!" Frankie shouted back, then swung her head forward. "Come on inside and wipe your shoes by the front door. I'll show you around."
Buttercup nodded, digging her sneakers into the rug to get the dirt off, and followed behind her.
Frankie closed the door tightly, tugging at it to make sure it wouldn't budge, and began her journey through the house.
A fuzzy and nostalgic feeling enveloped her as she made her way inside. Naturally, her eyes gazed up at the tall ceilings, getting a feel for the grand atmosphere this place had. The grand foyer was just how she remembered, a beautiful crystal chandelier headfirst as an opening piece. It glowed on the wooden floorboards as the daylight peered through the windows, letting it shine. The walls were adorned with portraits of past imaginary friends, colorful and whimsical. It was just an endless sea of creativity, each creature more obscure and specially made than the last.
They first passed the sitting room, the walls lined with shelves packed full of both books and trinkets. Beside the chairs in the center of the room, a handful of imaginary friends gathered around a crackling fireplace. They appear to be in the midst of a hot board game match, shouting and throwing dice to move pieces across a squiggly and rambling board.
As they continued down the hallway, they passed by a room full of appliances and shelves. Standing up straight over the counter appeared to be a tall gentleman dressed up in a fine getup with a top hat, monocle, and bowtie. Though he wasn't a gentleman, a rabbit. One of the various imaginary friends, Mr. Herriman, was already busy brewing a cup of tea for the girls. When they made their appearance, he turned his head back and adjusted his monocle, "Ah, miss Foster! Miss Utonium! I was about to finish a fresh batch! Where would you like it, perchance?"
"Oh, I'm just showing her the living room," Frankie casually pointed.
Buttercup quickly jogged over to the rabbit and wrapped her arms around him tightly, shutting her eyes and squealing. "Mr. Herriman! You're just as soft as I remembered: a big, stuffed bunny!"
"Ohoho! Miss Utonium, forward and sincere as always! I missed you as well," He scrambled to adjust his mustard-colored vest and hugged the girl back. With a single nod, he waved the two of them away. "We shall get to the proper cadences and small chatter soon; the tea is almost finished."
Frankie nodded, tugging at the girl beside her, and continued onwards.
Finally, the next room was empty. Spacious and inviting, plush sofas were lined up beside one another, and a large bay window offered a gorgeous view of the hedge maze out back. Something about this room in particular was solace, a bliss compared to the usual chaos of the many patrons within this home. It wasn't dirty but swept and cleaned to perfection. That was Frankie's work, a constant struggle to keep this enormous house free from any junk or litter.
"Get cozy, girlfriend. I think I'm gonna sit down myself; it's been a rough day."
Buttercup nodded, hovering over, and casually dropped herself onto the sofa. She bounced, outstretched, and let out a long sigh. "Ah, this is nice! Yeah, get yourself comfy, Frankie. I'll be honest, you don't look too good."
"Yeah, there's… been a lot of work," Frankie sunk into the other sofa, spreading her arms and legs out nonchalantly. She stared up at the ceiling, rubbing her eyes. "Some of the imaginary friends are fighting. They're also scared because of that meteor out back too; the.. Plumbers aren't helping them calm down.. either."
Yaaaawn!
Buttercup replied, "Girl, take a nap. You'll feel better."
"I can't right now," she replied. "First I've got to do the dishes, then sweep the bedroom because there was a mess. Then I have to prepare dinner too, and they want chicken alfredo tonight; I should set the chicken out to unthaw right now actually.."
She sat up, waving a hand. "Woah! Take a step back; you've got way too much going on right now."
"I don't want to, but I really should," Frankie replied, holding a hand up. She turned to look at Buttercup, showing her tired eyes again. "They need someone here to keep things in order."
The Powerpuff Girl thought about it for a moment. Finally, she spoke, "What are the imaginary friends fighting about? I could herd 'em."
"Buttercup, you need to be careful," Frankie curled up on the sofa, blinking. "I know how you can be at times. A few things have gone missing, probably somewhere here in the house. I don't remember if I'm being honest. It's a little hard to think right now."
The girl held up both of her hands waving them, "No no, it's okay! You can count on me like always."
"I trust you," the older woman yawned back. "Just try not to tear the place down, will ya? Ask Mr. Herriman. He's willing to help."
Buttercup quickly hovered up from the sofa, gliding over, and patted Frankie on her shoulder. "Don't you worry, Frankie. I'll take care of the tough work for ya, alright?"
"Sounds good," Frankie replied sleepily, letting out a small yawn and shutting her eyes. She quickly got cozy on the sofa, basking in the sunlight. "Enjoy your stay… okay? We'll catch up later."
The girl nodded her head rapidly before rising to her feet. "Alright!"
Frankie was left behind to get some rest as Buttercup proudly marched to go find that rabbit. She had her hands balled into fists, her eyes opened and her head held high. She was ready to get to work, feeling the uneasiness of the house as a whole. It was odd, given the fact that it was always warm when she was here. She couldn't help but shake the feeling that she was being watched, causing her to turn around a corner and look down another hall. Her eyes narrowed, then continued moving on.
Hopping along forward, Mr. Harriman was carefully balancing the tray of tea he had just whipped up. It was on a silver platter, with two silver cups and a pitcher steaming. The aroma of a particular flower caught the girl's scent, leading her in his direction almost immediately.
The head of the house stopped himself as he almost hopped right into her, adjusting his monocle and gripping the tray tightly. "Oh! I didn't see you approaching, Miss Utonium. Pardon me."
She stopped herself, grabbed onto his shoulder to balance him, and smiled. "It's no biggie, Harriman! What kinda tea did you make?"
He lowered the plate, displaying the magnificent array in front of her. "I whipped up an old recipe, found out of the book! It's a snapdragon sweet tea, great for feeling just downright awful."
Buttercup took a cup and nodded, "Thank you, Mr. Herriman! By the way, Frankie's taking a nap so I think it's you and me for now, man."
"Ah, I see. The misses surely could use some rest after today," The rabbit rested the tray on his shoulder, holding a hand behind his back. "Is there something I could help you with?"
She nodded, "Yeah, there is. What's this whole thing with missing stuff going on?"
"Hmm," Harriman furrowed his brows like a disgruntled Churchill. "Some of the patrons of this fair home are at an end with one another. It has been a struggle to decipher where exactly these lost items have wound up and they all have no clear indication of who snatched what."
Taking a delicate sip of her tea, Buttercup listened intently. She raised an eyebrow trying to understand what he meant, "Uh huh.. so no one knows where they went and they're all blaming each other?"
"Precisely!"
"Hmm.." She lowered her head, placing a hand on her forehead. "C'mon, Buttercup. Think! What would Blossom do here?"
Mr. Herriman gave her the space and silence to think, a grin forming as she focused heavily on the next big thought.
Eventually, she sprouted up, "Okay, I think I got something! Let's gather up everybody and figure out what's missing. A good rule of thumb my sis told me is to get info if you're in the dark."
"Splendid idea, Miss Utonium. Shall I assemble them in the living room?" Mr. Herriman politely asked.
She nodded, "Yep! We're gonna get to the bottom of this thing. I'd like to proudly announce that.."
"Detective Buttercup is on the case!"
Her smile grew wider as she jammed her thumb in her chest.
Mr. Harriman bowed, "Very well, I will get to it. Allow me to put this tea aside for now and I will join you with the lot."
Several minutes later, the caretaker of the house had gotten to diligent work. Within a short span of only ten minutes, the main group had been lined up right in front of the fireplace in the living room. Frankie, who was still asleep, was blissfully unaware of the commotion around her. She softly snoozed, her chest rising and falling despite the coherent arguing going on with each other.
"I just wanna play some ball, dude! It wasn't personal that I didn't wanna play with you!"
"For the last time, Wilt, I didn't take your stupid basketball!"
"I checked our room and it isn't there! It's not Bloo!"
A young preteen boy stood in the front of the line, his short chestnut hair and round blue eyes giving him a baby face. He wore his usual bright red shirt and blue jeans, a look of heartbreak on his face while he had a hand on one of the imaginary friends sitting beside him. The small and round blue blob bouncing with rage was none other than Bloo, vibrating with impatience like he was about to lunge out at him.
"Tell him, Mac! This guy ruined my mood for even playing with him anymore anyway!"
The towering red figure standing right beside them let out a sigh, holding up a big hand. His gentle demeanor and poker face contrasted the situation, seeming so calm "Hey dudes, I just wanna know where you put it is all. I'm not mad."
Behind Wilt was Eduardo, the hulking purple and gray imaginary friend nervously twirling his fingers. His large blue eyes were filled with anxiety, darting between the three of them. "I don't like being in trouble," he mumbled, clutching a stuffed animal for comfort.
The bizarre bird-looking friend with a palm tree for a head was beside him. Despite her clucks and shrieks, the way she hopped up and down while wobbling on her feet, was nothing to stop the arguments going on. There was a worried expression in her googly eyes, watching all of her friends bicker with one another.
Lastly was Cheese, the nonsensical little gremlin. He stood as the smallest in line, his big bulging eyes making him look startled. Despite this, he had a wide smile on his face and occasionally hopped on one foot. He was off in his little world, completely disregarding everything around him.
"Now now! We must maintain decorum! Miss Frances is resting, and we mustn't disturb her," Mr. Herriman clapped his paws together, silencing everyone. "If you all would, I must introduce an old friend of the manor. She will be aiding us in this predicament."
Mac sighed, relieved that Harriman helped out. He glanced over at Frankie, still sound asleep, her chest rising and falling. Despite the tensity, something was comforting with her being there. "Right, sorry Mr. Herriman."
Taking a few proud steps forward, Buttercup placed her hands on her hips and surveyed the bunch from left to right. She gave a two-finger salute and smirked, "Sup guys? Good to see some things still don't change around this place."
"Buttercup!" Wilt smiled. "How's it going?"
She shrugged, "Ups and downs, you know the usual. Mr. Herriman and Frankie tell me you guys have got some missing stuff?"
"Yes! Bloo stole my basketball because I wouldn't play with him!" Wilt replied, pointing a finger at him.
Mac sighed, "I don't think he did… and I'm missing a pair of socks."
"Coco!" the bird squawked, hopping up and down in the air.
Buttercup looked over at the rabbit and asked, "Are you getting all this, dude?"
"Yes, I am following," Mr. Harriman had a notebook and a pencil, quickly writing these things down. "Is that what we are all missing here?
Wilt's basketball,
Mac's pair of stockings and
one of Coco's eggs?"
"Yeah! And I didn't steal anything! Wilt is just finding any reason he can to blame me!" Bloo snapped back, pointing a stub back to him.
The Powerpuff Girl's eyes flared green as she held both of her hands up, glaring firmly. "That's enough! You keep shoutin' at each other and I'm gonna knock some sense into ya, you hear me?!"
Bloo's eyes widened, rubbing the back of his head nervously. "Ahh.. haha, yes Buttercup! I would never do such a thing when you're around~"
"Yep!" Mac nodded his head rapidly.
Wilt gulped, shaking his head in confirmation.
Eduardo shook like a tree branch, feeling the sweat run through his fur.
Coco sat there, unable to say anything while nervously staring at her.
"I like cereal!" Cheese muttered.
Buttercup's aggression eased up, now staring at all of them like an annoyed cat with crossed arms. "Alright, cool. Here's how this whole thing's gonna go."
She pointed to Mr. Harriman first, "Mr. Harriman and I are gonna take you all one by one and talk. You're gonna tell us what you saw, where your missing items were last, the time they went missing, and all that stuff."
He had briefly stopped his writing, looking up from his notepad, and nodded. "Do not be alarmed! Miss Utoinum will be a kind assistant for the process since Miss Frances is quite tired."
"We're gonna figure out what the issue is, get your stuff back and drop this thing, alright? I don't want to see any of you guys beat each other up over a couple of missing things; that's kinda stupid, man."
Mac sheepishly raised a hand, brushing some hair away from his face.
"What's up, kid?" she said with a grin.
He went on, "So, uhm, do we have to all be separate? Could I go with Bloo when it's our turn?"
The girl turned her head back to Mr. Herriman, who swiftly shook his head no. She then looked back at him, "Nope, sorry bud. Gotta do this the old-fashioned way since you guys can't get along."
"Awww man.." Bloo crossed his little arms, huffing.
Eduardo looked at Buttercup shyly, "Buttercup.. am I going to be in trouble?"
"That depends," she replied. "Did you steal anything?"
"N-No! I didn't!"
The girl just shrugged. Surprisingly she spoke to him in a softer voice, "Then you shouldn't have to worry, buddy. We'll get to you. Just wait, m'kay?"
"Okay," he replied with a little grin, sitting up straight. "Eduardo will wait."
Mr. Herriman hopped forward and stood beside the Powerpuff Girl, making a gesture with his hand. "Miss Utonium, I believe we should start from left to right. The young man must be up first."
"Alright," Buttercup made a gesture with her hand. "Come on little man, into the closet."
Mac turned his head back to Bloo and the rest of the other imaginary friends, before strolling confidently behind her.
"If I find out that any of you guys left the room, you're gonna be in big trouble. Do I make myself clear?" She held a hand up to the rest of the group.
Wilt nodded, "Yes, ma'am."
"Uh-huh."
"Coco! Coco!"
Cheese replied again, "I like cereal!"
Bloo just sighed, giving an annoyed look, and sat down on the ground. This was going to take forever, and he wasn't feeling it at all.
"Alright boys, let's go!" Buttercup ordered and strongly marched out of the living room.
Mac
A walk-in closet (out of probably dozens of closets) had been transformed into an impromptu interview room. The clothes that were hung up on the rack had been taken out, and placed on the side somewhere else. In the middle, a single wooden table and three mismatched chairs were the only things lit up by an exposed lightbulb hanging from the ceiling. The dim flickering of the light, along with their shadows on the walls, added an uneasy feeling in this makeshift room.
Buttercup, in her self-assigned role as the detective in this case, sat confidently behind the table. She had one leg crossed over the other, leaning slightly forward with her elbows on the table. The Powerpuff was practically an embodiment of a no-nonsense interrogator, with a firm stare on her face. With her wavy hair still slightly brushed, it added to her already tough persona. Not to mention, her muscles on display.
Mr. Herriman stood beside her, playing his role proudly too. His ears twitched nervously, straightening his clothing every few seconds, remaining stern and authoritative. Despite his usual composure, somehow he just felt like this was out of his element. How did he even get here?
Mac sat on the other side of the table, his hands cupped tightly in his lap. He fidgeted under Buttercup's intense stare, unsure what to feel. His eyes were wider than normal, glancing anxiously between both her and Mr. Herriman. He felt a little bit of comfort when looking at the rabbit, though otherwise couldn't sit still in his seat.
The room was silent, except for the faint hum of the bulb.
Buttercup leaned in, her voice low and serious. "Alright, little man. Tell us what you know."
Mr. Herriman gave a slight nod, his whiskers twitching. "Yes, we need answers, and we need them now."
Mac swallowed hard, his heart beginning to pound in his chest. "W-Well.. where do I start?"
"Let's start with Wilt's basketball," Buttercup replied. "What happened there?"
"Okay, so it all started a few days ago in the backyard. Wilt and Bloo were hanging out like they usually do. Wilt was just minding his own business, doing some stretches and getting ready for a basketball game with some of the other imaginary friends," Mac started.
He paused, glancing at Mr. Herriman, who gave him an encouraging nod. "Bloo came over and he started talking to Wilt, while I was just watching from the sidelines before he was about to leave. Wilt seemed a bit hesitant, but you know how Bloo can be–he was all hyped up and wanted to go. He kept asking Wilt over and over, even though he already told him no."
Buttercup nodded along, "And what did Wilt say?"
Mac fidgeted with his hands a little more, clearly uncomfortable. "Well, Wilt tried to be polite about it. He said he wasn't in the mood for basketball and that he just wanted to relax for a little bit but Bloo wouldn't let it go. I tried to tell him to give it a rest but he started taunting him, saying things like 'What's the matter? Afraid I'll beat you?' and 'Come on, Wilt, you're the best basketball player here! You aren't scared of a little competition, are you?'"
Mr. Herriman's ears twitched, "And how did Wilt react to such pestering? Bloo is quite the articulate nuisance at times…"
"Wilt tried to stay calm, but I could tell it was bothering him. He finally told him he refused because he complained he was beating him all the time last time. He said it wouldn't be fun if it was just a one-sided fight." Mac answered.
"Yeah, I have to focus when we play. Wilt's a superstar, man," Buttercup replied.
Mr. Herriman gripped his vest, "Continuing this matter, how did Bloo handle it?"
"Bloo got really mad. He said Wilt was just making excuses and that he didn't want to play with him at all because he didn't like him. It… got pretty heated. Wilt ended up walking away and I pulled Bloo aside before anything happened."
The rabbit quickly took notes while Buttercup twiddled her thumbs, clicking her tongue. "Do you think Bloo took his basketball? If he did, would he hide it?"
"Well, you know Bloo," Mac waved a hand. "He's always a prankster, but no. This is… actually kind of serious for once. And it's Wilt's favorite ball too. Bloo would never do that."
Mr. Herriman's fur ruffled at the thought, letting out a disgruntled sigh. He was such a problem at Foster's sometimes.
"Who do you think took the ball?" Buttercup asked. "You're a good kid, you wouldn't do that. As much as I advocate roughing guys up who give you a hard time, that would've gone sour fast."
A small grin formed on the nervous boy's face," T-Thank you, Buttercup. As for the ball, I'm not sure. Eduardo would, but he always asks before taking what isn't his. Coco doesn't play basketball and Cheese… well, he's an oddball. He could've easily misplaced it or mistook it for something else."
"Ugh, it's gonna be a pain dealing with that one.." The girl rubbed a hand over her forehead, letting out a sigh.
"Let us move on to the second missing article: your missing stalkings," Mr. Herriman finished sketching and turned a page. "What's wrong?"
Mac took a deep breath, "I'm missing a pair of socks. Uh, they're really old. A few days ago, Frankie was doing laundry and I knew I had an extra pair left. I was running late for school and checked my drawers for them, only to find them gone."
"What kind of socks are they?" The Powerpuff girl asked.
He huffed, "They're.. red, and fuzzy. Frankie made them for me after I… well.."
"Go on," Mr. Herriman nodded.
Mac looked up at the lightbulb and sighed. "I got dared to tell her about my feelings for her and she crocheted them, as a gift."
"Awe," Buttercup's smile reached the edges of her cheeks. "She didn't tell me that! That's sooo cute, Mac!"
His face turned red as he rubbed the side of his arm, "W-Well, yeah. They're missing, and I don't know where they are. I don't think anyone does."
Buttercup turned to look at Herriman, writing this all down. She folded her fingers and spoke up, "Alright, and Coco's egg. What's up with that?"
"To be honest, I don't know. Coco is very protective of her eggs, and she gets really scared when one goes missing. I didn't know she had one missing until a couple of days ago. It hasn't been helping with the whole issue about Wilt's basketball and my socks. This has all been building up and nothing has turned up, even on cleaning day," Mac deducted.
Mr. Herriman scratched the fur under his chin, "Hmmm, how intriguing. Thank you for your assistance, Mac, unless you have any more questions Miss Utonium."
Buttercup nodded her head, letting out a sigh, "Sorry you got caught up in this mess, dude. We'll figure this stuff out and get you your socks back, m'kay? You can go."
The young boy got up from his chair and pushed it in, hugging up against the closet wall, and tucked his pockets in. "Y-Yes, and thank you Buttercup! It's not that big of a deal to me; I just want Wilt and Bloo to make up."
"No promises, but I'll try," she gently punched at his arm with a grin. "Send Bloo over to us."
Mr. Herriman nodded his head, "In fact, why don't you assist Bloo in finding us? We wouldn't want him to get… lost, so to speak."
"Yeah yeah, I get what you mean," Mac sighed, hunching over as he opened the door. "One second."
Bloo
"Now, Master Blooregard," Mr. Herriman adjusted his monocle and cleared his throat. "We need to get to the bottom of this. Inquire us about the situation with Wilt and the basketball game from several days prior."
The blue blob, looking nonchalant, had plopped himself down in the chair. He crossed his little stubby arms, pouting, and looked off to the side as if to avoid their gaze. He seemed unamused, his expression a smoothie blend of boredom and annoyance. "I just don't get what the big deal is. I just wanted to play some basketball, you know? Wilt's the best player around, so why wouldn't I want to play with him? He can teach me all of the best moves so I can beat everyone else later, maybe make bets too once I'm really good at it by conning cheap suckers!"
"Mac said you were taunting him, calling him scared and stuff. I do the same thing, but you were laying it on thick," Buttercup had leaned back casually in her chair, munching on a handful of spicy chips.
Bloo rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, maybe I did. But come on! He was making all these lame excuses! He always plays nice and never wants to hurt anyone's feelings; I just thought he was avoiding playing with me because he didn't want to lose."
"So you stole his favorite basketball as revenge?" Buttercup asked nonchalantly, pressuring him. "That's a pretty cruel thing to do, man. Where is it?"
"I didn't take his stupid basketball!" Bloo shouted, smacking his stubs onto the table and shaking it. "He was the one who made up that whole thing and pinned it on me! The second something goes missing in this house, everyone thinks I took it or hid it somewhere."
Mr Herriman interjected, "Master Blooregard, you are known for such devilish tricks. Surely you can't be surprised about these accusations?"
"We don't really know who started the whole blaming thing, but it needs to stop. Even if you didn't take it, you have to realize that it's a mean thing to do," Buttercup mentioned. "Did you not get it in your head that maybe he didn't wanna play with you for a goodhearted reason? Wilt's such a chill guy."
"Sure, okay maybe. But he's always up for a game! It's like his thing, and it just felt like he was dodging me, you know? I mean, we play all the time, and I just thought he was being a weirdo about it!" Bloo retorted, narrowing his eyes.
Mr. Herriman's ears drooped as he sighed, "It appears your eagerness to play may have overshadowed how he felt within the moment; perhaps a bit more consideration for what he wants next time is in order."
The blue blob adjusted himself in the chair, looking away. "Yeah, maybe."
"Who do you think took his basketball?" Buttercup asked.
"I don't know, maybe Cheese? That little guy is always causing trouble," Bloo answered, mustering up enough courage to look at the both of them.
"You think the little dude took it," Buttercup repeated plainly.
Bloo nodded empathetically. "Well, duh. He's always doing weird stuff, and he's sneaky sometimes! He probably thought it was some kind of big, bouncy cheese ball or something. Heh."
"Cheese does have a penchant for unusual behavior but we cannot jump to that conclusion without the proper evidence," Mr. Herriman corrected.
Buttercup pressed on, "What about Mac's red socks? The ones Frankie made for him? Those have gone missing too."
Bloo's face contorted in disgust. "Ew, I wouldn't take those! Red socks? Come on, that's not my style."
"Says the one who also has a crush on Frankie," she smirked, lifting her shoes onto the table and crossing her legs.
"W-What?! No! How do you?" Bloo's jaw dropped, and then he sized himself up. "I don't even know how you know that, but those are some of Mac's favorite socks! I wouldn't mess with those, no way."
The girl smiled, "Right, and you think Cheese took those too."
"Probably. Cheese has weird fixations with things at times, like chocolate milk. If he likes it in the moment, he's probably gonna get his hands on it or will want to."
Mr. Herriman raised an eyebrow. "It seems unlikely that Cheese would have retrieved both articles without someone noticing."
"Look, all I'm saying is Cheese is the prime suspect. He probably took Wilt's basketball at some point and then lost interest, same with the socks. It's gotta be him," Bloo waved his hands dismissively.
Buttercup narrowed her eyes, "Alright Bloo, we'll check it out. But if I find out you're lying to me…"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. You'll zap me into oblivion with your laser eyes. Can I go now?" Bloo hopped up, looking relieved.
"Not yet, just one last thing," Buttercup held a finger up, put the bag down, and wiped her fingers with a napkin. "Coco is missing one of her eggs, too."
The imaginary friend said, "Nope, nothing. You'd have to ask her. Coco is always doing weird stuff with her eggs. Plus, I don't want them anyway. I've been there, done that. She's literally 'coco' about them."
"Alright, well you're free to go. If something comes up, let us know," Buttercup snapped a finger gun at him. "Grab us Wilt, will ya?"
Bloo nodded quickly, darting off from his chair and out. The door was flung open and he zipped off elsewhere into the house shouting, "Wiiiilt! Wiiiiilt! They wanna have a chaaaat with yoouuuu!"
Wilt
Approaching from the bright hallway and into the darkened closet, Wilt ducked his head from the doorframe and politely shut it behind him. Brushing a hand on his chest, the imaginary friend gave a friendly wave. Politely and stiffly he took a seat on the chair next, adjusting his lanky and slender frame just to fit in the room. He was like an enormous spider, outstretching its limbs on one end of the web to get comfortable.
"Hey Wilt," Buttercup said warmly. "Thanks for coming in. We just need to ask you a few questions about this whole thing."
Wilt nodded, his ever-present smile never faltering. "Sure thing! I'll help however I can."
The girl leaned in, crossing her arms, and let out a slightly tired huff. "So, the whole thing with Bloo and your basketball. Let's start there. What happened?"
"It all started when Bloo asked me to play about a week ago. I told him I didn't want to but he still insisted on it for some reason; I got a little heated, one thing led to another and I just left. I didn't have the willpower to deal with it that day," he slouched back, crossing a leg over the other and kicking it. "As for my basketball, I took it home the day I finished over at the Cul-de-sac and put it in my room. It was there for a couple of days, then when I got a message from Edd wanting to play, I checked to see it and it's gone! I asked if Mac or Bloo had seen it anywhere and they both said no, so I turned the house upside down and it wasn't anywhere!"
Mr. Herriman asked, "Are you implying that you checked everywhere precisely?"
"Yeah, I totally did," Wilt rapidly nodded his head. "It's nowhere to be seen, dude. It's like a ghost picked it up and took it to his own court."
Buttercup nodded thoughtfully. "So, you think Bloo took it?"
Wilt shrugged, his long arms spreading over the table. "I can't say for sure. Something tells me he stole it because I wouldn't play ball with him, but another part of me reminds me he wouldn't do something like that."
The rabbit quickly scribbled some notes down, tapping his paw on the table in deep thought. "Is there anyone else who might have had a motive to take your basketball, Wilt?"
"Nah, not really. Eduardo likes to take it now and again, though he always brings it back. Everyone is usually pretty respectful of each other's things," Wilt deducted, shrugging. "Maybe he forgot?"
Buttercup made a face, nodding her head. "Yeah, so that whole thing with Bloo back there…"
"He started it," Wilt sighed. "I wasn't gonna take that kind of disrespect, you know? Bloo's my friend, but back there was just… uncalled for, man."
"Hey, it's no trouble. You guys will find a way to make it up, I know you will." The girl smiled sweetly.
"Now now," Mr. Herriman sniffled. "Let us discuss Mac's stockings. Do you know anything on that matter?"
The Powerpuff girl continued, "They're red, crocheted socks. Mac said they're pretty old, and that Frankie made them for him."
Wilt chuckled at the thought, leaning back, "Oh yeah, I actually do! A couple of days ago, I saw Eduardo running through the bedroom. He looked pretty nervous, mentioning something about needing some socks. Next thing I know, he grabbed Mac's pair and dashed off with them."
"So he borrowed Mac's socks," Buttercup replied, stumped. "Did he say anything?"
The imaginary friend shook his head, "No, just hi to me. He dug in the drawers, scooped them up with wide eyes, and ran off. That's how it seemed to me; he probably just needed some socks and Mac gave him the green flag."
Mr. Herriman bowed, "Thank you for the information, Wilt. Now, what about Coco's egg? Have you seen it anywhere or heard about it?"
Wilt shook his head, his brows furrowing slightly. "Coco lost an egg? Aw, man. I'm just now hearing about this. That's awful; she's always protective of her eggs."
Buttercup leaned back, thinking out loud. "So you don't know where your ball went, Eduardo took Mac's socks and no leads on Coco's eggs. Got it."
He nodded in response, placing his elbows back on his knees. "Yeah, pretty much. I'm sorry I couldn't be that helpful."
"You did just fine, Wilt," Mr. Herriman reassured, nodding his head. "We will continue our investigation. Your cooperation is much appreciated."
"Of course, glad I could help," Wilt smiled.
The Powerpuff girl held up a finger, her other hand resting over her stomach. "On your way out, take Eduardo here, will you? He's next."
"Can do!" he got up from the chair, still hunching over. He scratched the back of his head as he slipped out of the closet, unlocked the door, and started strolling down the hall.
Eduardo
The violet, gentle giant stepped into the room. Given his size, the chairs were adjusted. Both the detective and notetaker ended up being on the other side of the closet, being given a fresh perspective as he arrived. His massive frame made it necessary for the accommodations, to which neither of them minded it.
Flashing him a little 'ok' sign, Wilt departed from the interrogation room and began his stroll back to the living room.
"Hey Eduardo," the Powerpuff girl said softly. "Thanks for coming in. We have a few questions for you, okay?"
Eduardo fidgeted with his dark and meaty claws, his eyes wide with concern. "Sí, Buttercup. I will help."
"Did you see the argument between Bloo and Wilt about basketball, a few days ago?" she continued, her voice calm.
"No, I did not see it. I was in the hedges with the flowers," Eduardo shook his head slowly.
Mr. Herriman began writing it down, then looked up. "What of Wilt's basketball? Have you seen it or borrowed it recently? He claimed you have before."
Eduardo's expression turned more distressed, and he shook his head vigorously. His stuffed animal was tightly squished in his grasp as he said, "No, I have not seen his basketball. I did not borrow it this week, either. I would never take it without asking, I promiseee!"
"It's okay, big guy," Buttercup approached easily. "We believe you. We're just trying to figure out what's going on. Have you noticed anything else missing in the house?"
The big minotaur huffed slightly, lowering his head. "Nooo, not really."
Mr. Herriman shot a look at Buttercup, and she looked at him. They both nodded to one another, turning back at him.
"Eduardo, Wilt said you had Mac's socks last. Where'd you put them?"
He furrowed his eyebrows, clearing his throat. "Ooooh Mac's medias? I thought he knew where they were; Bloo said he needed them for something."
Buttercup raised an eyebrow. "Bloo told you that? But he just said he didn't take them."
The imaginary friend nodded, his face perplexed. "Yes, that's what he said. Eduardo didn't want to start a fight so he gave them to Bloo. He really needed them."
"Did Master Blooregard share his reason for needing the pair?" With twitching whiskers, Herriman adjusted his monocle and gave him a serious glance.
Eduardo shook his head vigorously. "No, señor. I know nothing about Coco's egg; I only heard it was missing today."
"Alright pal, you can dip. Could you ask Coco to come here? We need to chat next?" Buttercup requested, exchanging a glance with Mr. Herriman.
Eduardo's face brightened with relief. "Sí, I will get her right away." He stood up, his large form nearly knocking over the chair, and hurried out of the room.
Once the door had been closed, the Powerpuff girl leaned back in her chair and kicked her feet up. She had her brow furrowed in though, scratching the back of her head. "Something doesn't add up, man. Eduardo is such a sweetheart; I know he wouldn't lie to me. Why would Bloo lie about a pair of socks? Not to mention, no one knows where Coco's egg went."
"Indeed, it's quite the conundrum. I take it Coco will shed some light on the situation." Herriman nodded.
Coco
The room was adjusted back to its original position, the chairs moved and the space accommodated for Coco's unique presence. As the colorful, eccentric creature waddled in, Buttercup straightened up. With a 'go ahead' nod from her good cop, the girl took a deep breath and folded her arms.
"Coco," she began seriously. "I know you're upset about missing one of your eggs, but we gotta start from square one. What happened with Witl's basketball? Do you know anything about it?"
At the mention of the basketball, Coco's eyes widened. "Coco? Coco! Cocococococo!"
She erupted into a sudden flurry of squawks and jumps, bouncing up and down with rapidly flapping wings. Her feathers ruffled as she stomped around, her beak opening and closing rapidly as she bombarded the two of them with whistles, shrieks, and squeaks.
Herriman's hand twitched as he rapidly struggled to take notes, Buttercup gesturing her along as if feeding into her bizarre reaction.
"Coco?! Coco! Coco!"
Both Buttercup and Mr. Herriman's jaws dropped in unison, watching her outburst. The walls echoed her agitated noises, filling the room with nearly muffled screams. Her animated cries were so intense that it almost seemed like she was cussing up a storm in her language. The Powerpuff girl truly had nothing to say, glancing at her partner with wide eyes. He also had nothing to say, fetching for his monocle which had nearly fallen off from her unexpected tirade.
"Okay, okay girl," Buttercup finally managed to interject, too stunned to raise her voice. She held a hand up in a calm motion, "Coco, we know you're upset. Take a deep breath, will ya? Jeez."
"Miss Coco, please continue," Mr. Herriman requested nervously, his voice wavering.
The imaginary friend slowed her frantic movements, her squeaks decreasing in intensity but still as slight agitated bursts. She flapped her wings one last time before settling down, though her feathers remained ruffled. She continued her explanation at a calmer pace, gesturing wildly and performing her own game of charades.
The two sleuths leaned in, doing their best to decipher her animated explanations, though their initial shock still lingered in the investigation.
By the time she was finished, Buttercup took a deep breath. "Well, that was… enlightening. Thank you for the, uhm, explanations."
"You may go, Coco. You have provided plenty of explanation to work with; we will be seeing you in the living room right shortly," Mr. Herriman nodded slowly, placing a hand over his rapidly beating heart.
The bird-like creature got up from her chair, bowing. "Coco!"
"Yes, we'll find your egg for you," Buttercup tucked a strand of hair behind her head. "Don't you worry."
The door was opened, then closed just like that. She was gone, leaving a couple of fallen-out feathers to litter the floor from underneath. Coco would frantically yet angrily stomp her way across Foster's Home, joining the rest of the imaginary friends in their discussion back in the other room.
"I don't think I've heard so many curse words used in a single sentence," she widened her eyes. "I tend to slip up now and again but… wow."
Mr. Herriman cleared his throat, "I did not think Miss Coco had such a colorful vocabulary…"
"What was that last bit she said about Cheese?" Buttercup rubbed her temples, trying to process the intense amount of information.
"Coco claimed he was playing a game with Master Blooregard. I can affirm such information, though to think Cheese would be a 'filthy egg hoarder' is…"
She finished, "Quite bold."
"Something to note, Miss Utonium," Mr. Herriman stood corrected, flipping through his notes. "She mentioned that she had witnessed Bloo holding something red approximately two days ago. That was the same day that Mac's stockings went missing, which are also red."
The girl blinked rapidly, "...You got that?"
"I am quite familiar with Coco's colloquialisms and mannerisms, precisely." he nodded.
Buttercup huffed, "Is there a need to interview…" she gulped. "Cheese?"
"We must, my dear," he bowed his head. "From there, should the young fellow have any information he can provide, we will be one step closer to solving this case."
The girl rested her face on her hands, "Everything is pointing towards Bloo, but he even said he had none of this stuff. What the hell, man? Is he, like, a liar or something?"
"Only when he enjoys his pranks," Herriman affirmed. "A serious matter such as this? I wouldn't think of it, especially with the patrons of this fine home so deeply disturbed."
Cheese
The most challenging final suspect was a hassle to wrangle up. They found him wandering around in the foyer rather than the living room, humming a nonsensical tune to himself. Together they both lunged, corraling Cheese toward the interrogation room. He had been tied down, several strands of ducktape wrapped around his body preventing him from going anywhere.
In spite of the serious situation, Cheese giggled and wriggled in his prison. He flopped into the chair willingly and playfully kicked his little feet while they taped him up, his eyes wide and unfocused with a goofy grin.
Mr. Herriman, in preparation for the final interview, fixed himself after their alternation and tried to muster as much authority as possible. As for Buttercup, she was losing her patience as the minutes went by. She sighed heavily, dreading this interaction. "Cheese, buddy, we need you to answer some questions. It's important."
"Hehehehe," he giggled in a high-pitch, following another nonsense humming.
Buttercup rubbed her temples in frustration, her partner clearing his throat to maintain his posture.
She pressed a hand down on the table, the other pulling the light down to shine in his voice. With a pair of piercing eyes, she firmly spoke, "Where did you see Wilt's basketball?"
"I like basketball," Cheese replied cheerfully.
The Powerpuff girl groaned, gesturing for the article Herriman was carrying. Approaching from behind, the rabbit produced a piece of paper and slid it across the table in front of him. Drawn cleanly and with an excellent style was a perfect imitation of Wilt's basketball, shiny and appealing like a fresh orange. He tapped on it twice with his paw, gesturing for Cheese to see. "This, Cheese, is good Wilt's basketball he is hunting. Did you see this basketball?"
His eyes lit up as his little hands reached out to grab it, though failed. "I like basketball!"
The two of them looked at each other, exchanging looks of frustration. This wasn't going to be easy, so Herriman tried a different tactic.
"If the good Cheese would be willing to tell us where Wilt's basketball might be, or Mac's stockings, or Coco's fine egg, perhaps he would be interested in a friendly game of Basketball?" Herriman leaned in with a smile, folding his arms over the table as he got close.
Cheese's response was the same. "I like basketball," he said, his tone as bright and clueless as ever.
Frustrated, Buttercup lifted the light from the table and slammed her fist onto the table. "Listen here you little stub of toe-cheese, I've spent all day wrangling you all asking questions, and using my brain to solve this weird and stupid mystery!"
Her hand gripped around his neck as she lifted him, the table falling sideways and hitting the wall. "You're gonna tell me where that damn basketball is, or so help me! If you say 'I love basketball' one more time, I swear I'm gonna flatten you into the wall! Now where is it?!"
Cheese widened his eyes, yelping and squirming a little bit as he blinked. Even though he was still taped to the chair, his tiny little legs started kicking as he squeaked, "Let go! Let go! Let go! Let go!"
Mr. Herriman backed up in slight horror, though suddenly sprang into action and held his hands up. "Miss Utonium, please! Let us be practical about this! Let the lad down!"
The Deduction (Failed)
"I'm gonna lose my mind."
Buttercup lounged over the table, one leg draped across it in a display of sheer defeat. She stared blankly at the ceiling, the events of the day playing over and over like a broken record. The lightbulb light was burning through her indestructible eyesight with the same low buzz.
Mr. Herriman stood beside her, meticulously organizing his notes. The rabbit's ears twitched in slight agitation, deducting what new prospects he had gathered. He remained calm, though somewhat stimulated from today's intense investigation. The exhaustion was setting in, fast.
The girl's hair was slightly disturbed, and her usual fierce expression softened into sheer despair. "How do you deal with him, let alone everyone every day?"
"It requires a great deal of patience and, occasionally, a firm hand," Mr. Herriman sighed, twitching a whisker. "Cheese is… unique, to put it simply."
She lifted her head, turning to look at the rabbit. "Unique? That's one way to put it."
"I wish not to be rude," Herriman nodded, narrowing his eyes. "Despite the trifles these patrons give me."
Buttercup said, "I don't know how you haven't gone completely nuts."
"It's a skill one develops over time, Miss Utonium. Now, let's review what we have gathered, shall we?" The rabbit asked, straightening his notes.
She swung her muscular leg off the table, sitting up and leaning on an elbow. "Lay it on me, hare-ball."
Though his ears twitched at the nickname, he cleared his throat and began to summarize. "From Mac, we learned that Wilt and Master Blooregard argued about basketball. Bloo insists he didn't take his basketball and blames Cheese. Mac's stockings gifted to him from Frankie also went missing a few days after, and Bloo claimed Cheese took those too."
"Eduardo said Bloo took those socks, which he denied," Buttercup added, rubbing her temples and closing her eyes. "Coco… well she had a lot to say. I'm not sure how much of that was helpful."
Mr. Herriman gripped his monocle, fidgeting with it. "Cheese, of course, provided us with nothing aside from his declaration of fondness for basketball. How dreadful…"
"This is going nowhere," Buttercup slumped forward, placing her elbows now on her knees. "Someone's gotta be lying, or we're missing something."
Herriman nodded. "Indeed, we have hit a hard wall. Perhaps it's time to take a break and reconvene. I believe I must help Miss Frances in preparations for this evening's meal."
"Thanks for your help, Mr. Herriman. You have no idea how much this helped," she said, pushing herself off the table.
The butler-like friend bowed, "Anything to help solve this riveting case, my dear. If you require any assistance, please do not hesitate to call. Will we be seeing you for dinner?"
"No," she replied simply. "I'd like to eat alone."
Herriman replied, "As you wish."
The dinner alone went by quickly, leaving her with a full stomach and a lot on her mind. As for the rest of the imaginary friends and patrons of the manor, they all had eaten together in the dining room like normal. It was quiet on their end, the tension from today's interrogations causing everyone to be on edge. Mr. Herriman was left to handle the remainder of the case, at least for the rest of the night, allowing Buttercup to give herself a chance to unwind and mentally rest.
She had a tennis ball in hand, bouncing it off the wall. Each time it hit the wall, it would land on the carpet resting on the floor and land right back in her hand. The rhythm of this practice massaged her brain over and over again, a soothing and simple distraction from the stress of the mystery.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Buttercup tilted her head as she reflected on the interviews, thinking about the peculiar behavior and personality of every single imaginary friend she had spoken to. Was this how detectives handled day-to-day cases? Bringing someone in an isolated room, pressing them until they cracked, and jumping to conclusions? The manipulators must have had a great time with it, she thought, able to mess with people's heads all day and get paid to do it.
The physical activity helped release some built-up stress while her mind wandered, her arm and pattern solidifying into moving automatically like a machine. Whenever you completed the same task like clockwork, eventually it became second nature.
The manor was shyly quiet at this hour, the usual bustle and noise replaced by a hushed stillness. The dim lighting, accompanied by the old nature of the house, made it feel haunted. Buttercup found some solace in this, showing absolutely no fear. The quiet was nice, giving her some time to gather her thoughts. She couldn't remember the last time Foster's Home was so silent.
As she continued to play, she gradually became more absorbed in the game, her focus narrowing to just a simple game of wallball.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Shik!
She paused in between throws, tilting her head to the side and looking to the end of the hall. The ball landed right back in her hand, her eyes narrowing at the other end of the hall for noise.
The shuffling continued, a faint rustling returning a small sound of noise.
No other imaginary friend would be down here, right? It's nearly everyone's bedtime by now.
Buttercup didn't say a word, slowly walking down the empty hallway. There was no immediate change, other than the ruffling getting quieter.
The grip on her tennis ball tightened as she slowly approached the noise, curling a hand across the corner of the doorframe at the end. She could feel the shadows of the intimidating manor closing in on her as she took a deep breath, her fingers fidgeting with the ball in preparation for a throw.
She peeked around the corner, her eyes struggling to look through the darkness. They were nearly glowing in the dark, her two green orbs piercing the veil.
Click!
A blaring light flushed out everything in the room. Buttercup's eyes widened as she let out a gasp, her grip on the ball softening. There, slightly hunched over like a cryptid sighting, was a jiggly spud of living fusion. His green, distorted form cradled an unopened plastic citrus-colored egg. It was bright and jovial, a discovered secret in comparison to his grim appearance. The look of surprise on his face was almost comical, eyes wide and mouth agape at the notion that he had been caught.
"Get over here you little green freak!" Buttercup shouted, her voice echoing in the room. She lunged forward and dropped her ball, lifting off the ground and zooming straight toward him.
He gasped, tightening the grip on his egg, and booked it. His form slinked away, moving erratically to try and slip out of her grasp. "ACK!"
The rooms blurred as she accelerated, vicious gusts of wind whipping through the halls. Fusion Bloo frantically shifted through the different rooms, nearly sliding on the freshly scrubbed floors leaving an acidic green trail in his wake.
The Powerpuff girl was locked on her target, closing in on him even as he was cutting corners.
With surprising agility, the fusion kicked a miniature bookcase ajar and dipped in. A small, square hole dug in the wall was exposed like a hidden passageway, squeezing inside the narrow opening just to get away.
Buttercup slammed into the ground underneath and curled her fingers around his rear end, widening her eyes and gritting her teeth. "Hah! Gotcha!"
His body slinked in between her fingers and slipped out like a watery ooze, leaving a sharp pain in her palm. She reeled it back as he got away, fading into the depths of Foster's home walls. Her skin had nearly peeled off, causing her to wave it in the air and jump up. "Oh for the love of-!"
By the time she peered back down and looked into the hall, he was gone. The faint sounds of flowing liquid could be heard echoing in this vast chamber from within, indicating just how far down it could go.
Glaring at the narrow passageway, Buttercup huffed. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but for once I regret working out so much."|
Determined to not let him escape, she forced herself into the small hole. Her arms, chest, and legs strained against the wooden confines. The wooden walls scraped against her as she squeezed through inch by inch, letting out a grunt in stiff soreness.
The vast tunnel felt like it could stretch on, each shoulder scrape and knee smack annoying her as it went on. Each foot reached felt like another little piece of victory to this discomforting tunnel, forcing herself beyond her normal bounds to reach the other side.
Finally, with one last push, she tumbled out of the tunnel and collapsed onto the floor with a loud thud.
"Oof!"
The dust clung to her skin, ruining her clothes and her silky hair. The air struck a certain chill, tingling her spine and the back of her neck. Calmly she picked herself back up and brushed the dust off of her, giving a disgusted look to her coated apparel.
The room around her was dimly lit, hidden away from the rest of the home. Hidden underneath the floorboards and foundation was a cluttered hideaway, containing some of Foster's forgotten belongings. Torn furniture, ruined toys, and cobwebs clinging to corners littered the entire cove, giving it an archived vibe.
Her wide eyes adjusted to the dim light, her ears perking up at the faint sounds echoing throughout the space. Gnawing and clashing of steel caused her to shiver, cautiously levitating up into the air and gently hovering forward. Her senses were on high alert, the unsettling sounds coming from an adjacent room.
With one last cautious stretch forward, her hands curled around the edge of the door frame as she peeked her head in.
"Oh lord…"
Front and center, a main terminal dominated the next room. Blaring green light violated her eyes, streams of data and images that pulsed. Wires coiled around the back end of the computer and its brain, already creating a few tripping hazards in this cramped room. Sitting atop one of the large computer brains were several tanks filled with glowing fusion matter. The tanks bubbled and hissed like failed science experiments, glowing up the room like little lava lamps.
To her left and her right were dozens of rustic and worn-out cages, containing miniature creatures slowly growing in size. Their bodies were a blend of slime and cartoonish lines, created from a terrible amalgamation of imagination and fusion: Scribble Spawn.
They thrashed violently in their prisons, biting and smacking against the metal bars, doing everything in their power to break free. Small shrieks squealed in the room, their red eyes glowing in the near dark.
A stench of sulfur and other terrible odors invaded Buttercup's nose as she held a hand over her nostrils, making a face. A couple of these creatures peered their heads over to her, knawing and hissing at her in defiance.
Finally, at the center of this horror stood Fusion Bloo. His grubby stubs opened one of the fusion tanks, attempting to place Coco's egg inside it before turning his head back. His hands shook, fumbling the egg and dropping it onto the ground. His red eyes widened, not out of surprise, but out of fear. It was clear that his next step was vital, and her sheer presence paralyzed him.
"End of the line, buddy," Buttercup landed on the ground, blocking the only entrance and exit. She punched her fist into her hand, grinding it as she grit her teeth. "I spent all day dealing with the madness upstairs, and you… you're the one responsible for this?!"
Fusion Bloo inched himself away from the girl, hugging up against his terminal and panicked. His fear took in, giving her puppy eyes. "L-Let's talk about this! I-I wanna be an imaginary friend, just like everyone else! Please, I-"
"COME HERE!"
SPLAT!
That was all it took. The stress and weight of Buttercup's day had been planted into one flaming punch. Fusion Bloo erupted into a still pile of green goop, burning into the floor underneath. The girl's power subsided as the blast echoed throughout the home, though disrupting the Scribble Spawn. Some of them shrieked in fear, others nearly barking and jumping at her. A couple of them cackled at the display of gore, hopping up and down at their fallen brother with entertained glee.
Buttercup winced from the pain, waving her hand up and down, and yelped. Steam billowed from her knuckles as the acidic substance ate away at her flesh. "Ack! I gotta get me some knuckle wraps-"
Satisfied with her work, she took pride in knowing the fact that there was no fight. Deep down, it slightly upset her as she looked down at the remnants of the fusion. All it took was just one punch, indicating just how much she itched for a real fight.
Curious about the inputs on the computer, as well as the tanks, she stepped forward and eyed it. The first thing she spotted in all of the tanks was none other than a gently floating basketball; she peered in, "Well, there's his basketball.."
The next tube imprisoned two wet socks, slightly undone as the fabric itself was tearing apart.
Finally, the egg on the ground was a clear indication of who it belonged to. The girl bent over and picked it up, pinching her fingers and squinting at it.
A flicker on the screen pulled her in, reading up on fading lines of data and images. She approached cautiously, her fingers shaking with a mix of dread and curiosity.
The monitor displayed a series of mathematical graphs and equations, working hand-in-hand with a complex study on imaginary friends and fusion matter. The data was dense, information rapidly being transferred in a document in between two locations. As her interest piqued, she fetched further information.
Her heart pounded as she sponged in the details, seeing references to imaginary energy extraction, fusion matter enhancement, and experiments made from Scribble Spawn intended to weaponize the very essence that made imaginary friends loving. Her frustration for those she spoke to turned into instant worry, genuine horror on her toughened face upon realizing the scale of this operation.
The last few bits of information reeled her back, her heart sinking upon the realization. A place she and one of her sisters valued very dearly was the heart of this horrifying operation, but how? Her mind raced with questions and fears, struggling to comprehend the implications.
Fusion Bloo, for all this time, had not only corrupted a lot of imaginary energy but had infiltrated one of the most secure and trusted places in Tech Square for further research. The weight of this betrayal was almost too much to bear, and the thought of Blossom immediately popped into her head.
"Oh… oh no," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I-It's Dexlabs?!"
Her eyes looked down at the ground, the data now a blur as her thoughts gathered. This whole thing, the entire investigation, it didn't matter anymore. She had to get this information to Blossom, Dexter, and even Mandark. All of them were in danger, knowing the fact that another fusion was under the floors of the labs as well.
With a determined gaze, Buttercup spun around from the computer and quickly dashed off. Bursting out of the hidden lair, her breath came in quick and shallow gasps. Fidgeting for her phone, she retrieved it, dialing Blossom's number immediately, and pressed it up to her ear. "Bloss! Bloss! It's Buttercup!"
A worrying, laced voice picked up on the speaker. "Buttercup? What's going on? Are you okay?"
"Yeah sis, I'm fine. It's you who's in trouble! You won't believe what I found at Foster's!" she spoke, searching for deep breaths.
"Woah sis, slow down. You're going a light-year a minute!" she replied.
She stopped, beginning to shrink back down into the hidden passageway, and began climbing up. "There's a fusion in the Dexlabs. The whole thing here is not just missing items or pranks, it's a hidden operation involving imaginary energy. A fusion of Bloo has been collecting data and sending it to the labs!"
There was a silence on the other end until the tiredness vanished into a determined voice. "A fusion infiltrated Dexlabs? That's… huge. Are you sure?"
"I saw it myself. There are data transfer logs and experiments. Fuse is trying to understand and weaponize imaginary energy! I'll explain it once I get there, but I need to get a S.A.C.T. crew in the home. Lock down the labs!"
"Alright, I'll get things ready and tell Dexter. Call me when you get here, okay?" she spoke back softly.
Buttercup nodded her head, finally popping out of the passage. "See you there, sis! Time to play an old-fashioned game of manhunt!"
"I guess in this case it's… fusion-hunt?"
She groaned, "Leave me alone; I'm tired. Bye."
"You think you're tired? I've been up si-"
Click!
8/5/24
If this were an animated series, this is the mock murder mystery episode with a sherlock reference. Also speaking of, if you caught the movie reference, that's one of my favorite movies!
There was a lot more I wanted to incorporate in this chapter, as well as make it a big characterization chapter but then I realized: this isn't about solving a case, it's Buttercup's spotlight and there's just a fusion living in the walls. It was Buttercup's idea to play the social deduction game, thinking she'd be as smart as Blossom! I won't lie, Blossom probably would have figured this out faster than her. This whole chapter was the definition of working harder and not smarter.
If you count this as a murder mystery chapter, cool! If not, also cool! Either works, honestly. Format wise, I experimented with the text of this chapter. If you liked it, let me know. If not, also let me know!
Since this focused on Foster's Home, I wanted to incorporate all of the main characters and give them their moment but in a unique way. For reference, the Plumbers mentioned at the start are all NPCs of the game at the house. The group is Plumber Jeff, Jerry, Steve, Tony and Ranger Regine.
The characters are all from Foster's Home including Frankie, Mr. Herriman, Mac, Bloo, Wilt, Eduardo, Coco and Cheese.
This whole thing was about Buttercup moving outside of her comfort zone, and I'm not gonna lie when I say I was thrilled writing this. It took me a couple days longer than usual to write, coming down to about 5 to 6 days of writing 2-3k words a day, researching character personalities, and referring to other writing resources but it worked out fairly well I'd say.
See you next chapter!
P.S. Buttercup bouncing a tennis ball off the wall late at night was a reference to The Shining.