Chapter Thirty-Eight: Welcome To Duolc
The scene was in a very strange, unique world where clouds were abundant. It had an almost ancient Roman feel to it, and it had an undeniably beautiful, paradisaical look to it. Statues, fountains, and white and yellow rays of light adorned the place, which was seen deserted until a huge portal from above opened up. And out of that portal came the enigmatic male and female individuals with the bodies of Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup, and Underdog in tow.
They walked over to four large pedestals, the male placing Underdog's body on the lone blue pedestal while the female placed, from left to right, Bubbles, Blossom, and Buttercup's bodies on the pink pedestals. The two hooded individuals rearranged their bodies as if they were bodies in a coffin before saying some indiscernible words as if they were casting a spell.
"All right. Let us revive them." The male said.
The female sent rays of energy from her hands onto the pink pedestals while the male did the same onto the blue pedestal. The pedestals all glowed and enveloped the bodies of Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup, and Underdog with vivid, colorful energy. After only three minutes, there were some slight movements in the heroes' bodies. Their breathing started back, and their hearts resumed beating. The male and the female continued sending the rays of energy onto the pedestals, the heroes' eyes opening and them beginning to move. The Powerpuff Girls and Underdog, after another four or so minutes, sat up, looking around at their surroundings.
"Wha….wha...where are we?" Blossom asked dumbfoundedly.
"Did….did we….lose?" Buttercup also asked dumbfoundedly.
"Oh no….the pearly gates, the clouds, we….we are…." Bubbles got out.
"Girls, the place we're in, there is no question. We have ascended into the realm of Heaven." Underdog got out.
The Powerpuff Girls immediately began to sob, Underdog even shedding a few tears as he hugged the girls.
"We….failed….to save the world…." Blossom got out in tears.
"We're sorry, world!" Buttercup got out in tears as well.
"We're too young to die!" Bubbles added in tears as well.
"Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup, you are not deceased." The female said, startling the girls and Underdog as they all looked over at both the male and female.
"Underdog, neither are you." The male added. "We would like to take this opportunity to welcome the four of you, Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup, and Underdog, to the realm of Duolc."
"In case you are wondering, the name is simply the word "cloud" spelled in reverse." The female then added.
"Huh?" The four heroes all said in unison as they were all confused.
"We shall explain everything, but firstly, a proper introduction is in order." The male said.
The male and the female both shed their hoodies, revealing themselves. The male had long gray hair, a very thick and long gray beard, and wore a thick gray shirt, matching jeans, and gladiator sandals. The female had long glowing blue hair with some subtle makeup on her face, wearing a long and glowing blue dress and gladiator sandals as well. The male and the female stood tall over the Powerpuff Girls and Underdog, the four heroes looking at them with great interest.
"Celestial is my identity." The female introduced.
"And Hernando is the identity allotted to me." The male introduced.
"Wait a minute, I could have sworn I heard your names somewhere before. I can't quite put my, um, hand on it." Blossom said as she tapped her chin in thought.
"Yes, Blossom. I was the guardian of the Bracelets of Despair, as the four of you have heard of." Celestial revealed.
"And I was the guardian of the Forbidden Necklace." Hernando also revealed.
"No way!" Buttercup exclaimed.
"Yes way." Celestial replied in return.
"Come and take a seat with us over yonder. Everything spoken will soon make sense." Hernando offered.
The four heroes walked with Celestial and Hernando over to an area with a round table, the heroes taking the time to look around Duolc, admiring the beauty. They saw a few other apparitions of people dressed similarly to Celestial and Hernando, the people all waving at the heroes with the heroes waving back with warm smiles.
"This place is so pretty!" Bubbles complimented.
"Why, thank you, Bubbles." Celestial said.
The heroes and the guardians arrived at the round table, the Powerpuff Girls and Underdog taking seats at the table with Celestial and Hernando seating across from them. Hernando cleared his throat and looked at the four heroes across from him and Celestial.
"This will be a very lengthy story, but it is imperative that the four of you give us your undivided attention. It will mean the difference between your world remaining as it is at this current juncture or having a millennia-long dystopian future." Hernando said.
"You must listen to and absorb every word we speak. Do you understand?" Celestial asked.
"You got it. Shoot." Buttercup assured.
"As we have stated, your present location is Duolc. "Cloud" spelled in reverse." Hernando said. "Duolc has been in existence since the 2nd century of your world, Earth. My grandfather, Titus, was the one responsible for its creation. He designed it to be a perfect, one-of-a-kind utopia. And for centuries, it was as such. The inhabitants of Duolc lived carefree and worry free. An extremely peaceful, caring, problem-free world. That was, until one day, four individuals with the most evil intentions used the magic they were generously taught to mold Duolc into their twisted, demonic dystopian image."
"Their names were Paul, Alexis, Ashley, and Mercedes." Celestial said. "They used the magic they were generously taught to create the Forbidden Necklace and the Bracelets of Despair. Paul adorned the Forbidden Necklace while Alexis, Ashley, and Mercedes adorned the three Bracelets of Despair. The four of them were granted virtually infinite powers to overthrow the queen and king of Duolc at the time, my mother and father."
"Oh no!" Bubbles exclaimed.
"Yes, and only seven short days later, their takeover of Duolc materialized. They turned it into the horrible, despicable dystopia where all of their commands must be obeyed." Hernando added. "The beauty of this place you see before you now was non-existent in their dystopian Duolc. Famine was rampant. People were made into slaves, including women and children. Getting cure for sickness and illness, which was never an issue before, was at a premium. Many, many distasteful things were allowed in dystopian Duolc."
"This dystopia went on for centuries. Paul, Alexis, Ashley, and Mercedes ruled Duolc with an iron fist." Celestial added. "Many rebel groups attempted to take back control of Duolc, but they were all met with an unfortunate fate. However, Hernando and I painstakingly, for many centuries, designed our counter to the necklace and bracelets Paul, Alexis, Ashley, and Mercedes wielded for centuries. And one day, we took back control of Duolc, seized the necklace and bracelets, and sent Paul, Alexis, Ashley, and Mercedes to their timely demise. Or so we thought."
"It took a few years, but we successfully restored Duolc to its utopian state, and the inhabitants, for centuries, were once again living their best lives, and Celestial and I ascended to the throne of queen and king of Duolc." Hernando then added. "But unfortunately, on one fateful day, Paul, Alexis, Ashley, and Mercedes made their return to Duolc with a secret weapon that would have resulted in them reclaiming the Forbidden Necklace and the Bracelets of Despair."
"Yes, and I had to make the single hardest decision of my life." Celestial revealed as she started to shed a few tears. "I did send Paul, Alexis, Ashley, and Mercedes back to the depths from which they came, but I also had to end my life and Hernando's life all while banishing the Forbidden Necklace and the Bracelets of Despair down to an island on your world, Earth. We believe it to be where Temple Island sits in the present day in your world."
"That is very, very sad indeed. But they just could not be allowed to succeed." Underdog said.
"Correct, Underdog. Our many ancestors were sent to your world with the necklace and bracelets on Temple Island, and for centuries, they constructed the elusive Temple of Reckoning." Hernando said. "They housed the jewelry inside and constructed it in such a way that no one in your world would be able to access it. Which leads us to the present moment, which the four of you undoubtedly have knowledge of."
"Yeah, but I have a question." Blossom inquired. "If you two were killed, then how are you with us now? Are you ghosts?"
"That is a query that we foresaw, Blossom. And it is an excellent one at that." Celestial replied. "Upon banishing the necklace and bracelets to your world, I sent a special force inside of them that if they ever were to be activated again, Hernando and I would be notified and revived. If I did not do so, I could not have killed Paul, Alexis, Ashley, and Mercedes, and Duolc would return to their dystopian rule."
"Yes, and we could not intervene in any way, shape, or form in your world during your battle for reasons to be explained shortly." Hernando added.
"So how did you know about us, and how did you get us here?" Buttercup asked.
"We witnessed your unfortunate defeat to your adversaries Simon Bar Sinister, Sedusa, Femme Fatale, and Mask Scara." Celestial answered. "Again, we could not intervene in your battle, but we made a rare appearance into your world and had to enter the mortuary where your bodies lay and convince the individuals there to allow us to possess your bodies just as they were set to embalm the four of you."
"Oh my God!" Bubbles exclaimed.
"That is….very disturbing." Blossom added.
"The four of you were never deceased to begin with. Celestial and I knew that immediately after the conclusion of your battle with Simon Bar Sinister, Sedusa, Femme Fatale, and Mask Scara." Hernando mentioned. "Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, the Chemical X ingredient present inside your vessels made it possible for Celestial to revive the three of you. And Underdog, the Underdog Super Energy Pill ingredients still present inside of your vessel made it possible for me to revive you. Simon and his Angels thought they delivered the fatal blow, but only we know what would have truly led to your demise. For obvious reasons, we will not reveal what that is."
"That is awesome!" Bubbles said excitedly.
"Hell yeah! Best not give them any fucking ideas!" Buttercup added.
"Now that the history lesson has concluded, it is now time to reveal how we successfully stopped Paul, Alexis, Ashley, and Mercedes, and how the four of you shall stop Simon Bar Sinister, Sedusa, Femme Fatale, and Mask Scara." Celestial mentioned.
Celestial and Hernando put their four hands in the air and sent a red ray of light towards the sky. The red light eventually turned green, and then four large green rings appeared in their hands.
"Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup, and Underdog, we bestow upon the four of you the EmerRings." Hernando said.
"Wow, so cool!" Underdog got out.
"Place these all the way up your right arms." Celestial instructed.
Celestial and Hernando handed the Powerpuff Girls and Underdog the EmerRings. The heroes, as instructed, placed the green pieces of jewelry all the way up on their right arms, and the EmerRings instantly closed on their arms, almost fusing with their bodies.
"The EmerRings you now have in your possession are the only way the four of you can match the powers that Simon and his Angels possess. And with the EmerRings, any attempt by them to supersede your powers will be negated." Hernando said.
"That is how we defeated Paul, Alexis, Ashley, and Mercedes. But unfortunately, we cannot do the same for Simon Bar Sinister, Sedusa, Femme Fatale, and Mask Scara. That task must be done by the four of you." Celestial revealed. "Since the jewelry was activated in your world, it can only be countered by someone in that very world. Because if someone outside of the world the jewelry was activated in does the duty, which Hernando and I are, not only will your world suffer its own catastrophic events, but Paul, Alexis, Ashley, and Mercedes will make their return to Duolc and potentially have the power to rule both Duolc and your world, Earth."
"We just cannot let that happen. As soon as possible we must take action." Underdog said, determined.
"Yes, but not at this very moment, Underdog." Hernando warned. "It is extremely tempting to immediately go rescue your loved ones and prevent your world from having a dystopian future, but the EmerRings the four of you adorn are not immediate. They do take time to grant you the necessary powers to stop Simon and his Angels. But they will come before the seven-day timeframe arrives when Simon and his Angels have the power to mold your world into their image."
"Until the EmerRings grant you such a power, the four of you must stay sequestered and remain unseen. You will know when the EmerRings have granted you their advanced powers." Celestial further warned. "And then, and only then can you make yourselves known. Of course, shall you fail to defeat Simon and his Angels, your world will become the dystopia that Duolc once was. The only limit to Simon Bar Sinister's rule is his own imagination. And unfortunately, the four of you are the only hope that your world has. We cannot and will not guarantee that you will prevail, but with the EmerRings, you have the power to challenge Simon and his Angels."
"Failure is not a mother fucking option!" Buttercup said, determined.
"Buttercup's right! We WILL prevail!" Bubbles added.
"Just leave it to us!" Blossom further added.
"Yes, of course, we have the utmost belief in the four of you. Your world is in excellent hands." Hernando assured. "Should the four of you emerge victorious, we will need you to return here to Duolc with the Forbidden Necklace and the Bracelets of Despair in tow. We shall keep the jewelry in our care here in Duolc until the end of time. There will be no chance of Paul, Alexis, Ashley, and Mercedes returning since the jewelry was activated in your world and someone from that very world stopped its wielders."
"We will win, but what isn't clear is just how we would get back here." Underdog inquired.
"Underdog, you are a maestro at words that rhyme, and a little rhyme is what the four of you shall use to return here." Celestial responded. "The four of you in unison must emit the words "For queries and reasons that are many, to the realm of Duolc I request entry.""
"For queries and reasons that are many, to the realm of Duolc I request entry." Blossom repeated. "Got it."
"Yes, and once the four of you emit those very words, you shall witness a portal open up in your exact location. You shall enter it and you will promptly be transported here." Hernando stated. "I must also mention that it MUST be all four of you, no exceptions. All four of you must emit those words in unison, and all four of you must enter the portal in unison or the transport will fail. Do you understand?"
"Yep, got it!" Buttercup said.
"Hernando, Celestial, before we go, there's been one thing that has been eating at me." Blossom mentioned. "Of course Simon and his Angels are our immediate priority, but our own archenemy, Mojo Jojo, is still somewhere out and about. I have a funny feeling that he'll get involved in all of this somehow. Do you have any way of finding him?"
"Mojo Jojo." Celestial said as she tapped her chin in thought. "Are you speaking of the tall-brained chimpanzee who likes to speak in a circular, verbose pattern and has an intelligence quotient of over 9,000?" Celestial then asked.
"What?!" Blossom said in shock.
"9,000?!" Bubbles also said in shock.
"There's no way that can be right!" Buttercup then got out.
"But yeah, that's him." Blossom confirmed.
"Yes, I will search for Mojo Jojo's whereabouts immediately." Hernando said.
Hernando waved his fingers around and did a super fast search for Mojo Jojo all across Planet Earth. When he and Celestial saw something, they both gasped in horror, perking up the ears of the four heroes.
"Oh no." Celestial said in a sad voice.
"This is the one location I had hoped he would not be." Hernando said, also in a sad voice.
"Well, where is he?" Buttercup asked.
"Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup, and Underdog, it is with the deepest regret that we inform you that Mojo Jojo's present location is…." Celestial got out before she sighed and took a huge gulp. "….The Pit Where There Is No Such Thing As Hope, Faith Is A Delusion, Nothing Is Possible, Survival Chances Are Nil, And Where A Person's Final Place On Earth Shall Reside." Celestial then revealed.
"The….what?" Bubbles said, confused.
"Now that was a fucking mouthful." Buttercup said.
"Yes, the name of the location is needlessly lengthy, but a shorter, more common name for the location is the ImpossiPit." Hernando revealed.
"Yes, we shall give you a very brief rundown of the ImpossiPit now." Celestial said. "During the totalitarian rule over Duolc by Paul, Alexis, Ashley, and Mercedes, there have been several rebels that tried to stop their rule, as we have previously stated. But because Paul, Alexis, Ashley, and Mercedes possessed the Forbidden Necklace and the Bracelets of Despair, the rebels did not succeed, and they were all banished to the ImpossiPit, where there sadly is virtually no escape."
"The first rebel to be banished there…." Hernando said as he wiped away tears. "….was named Emery. He was like a son to Celestial and me. His favorite color was green, and the EmerRings the four of you now adorn are named in his honor."
"Six hundred and sixty-four rebels followed after Emery, and they too met their demise in the unforgiving, merciless atmosphere known as the ImpossiPit." Celestial added. "Our many ancestors built the Temple of Reckoning right on top of the ImpossiPit and supposedly sealed it up to where it could never be accessed again, but we can only surmise that when Simon Bar Sinister got a hold of the necklace and the bracelets, it may have opened up that seal."
"Oh my Lord…." Blossom said.
"Yes. And unfortunately, we can indeed say with absolute certainty that Mojo Jojo will become the six hundred and sixty-sixth casualty of the ImpossiPit." Hernando said with a somber tone. "He will undoubtedly cease to exist in his physical form in your world."
"I mean….that's so sad." Blossom said, also with a somber tone. "Mojo is a fucking asshole, but even I wouldn't wish such a cruel fate upon him."
"Poor Mojo…." Bubbles said sadly.
"Just what the fuck do you mean "Poor Mojo?"" Buttercup mentioned. "Just think, girls, we never, ever have to have that fucking headache in Townsville again! We'll never have to hear…." Buttercup got out before she switched to an imitation of Mojo. "….I, Mojo Jojo, with my big, dumb, smelly ass robot, will destroy you Powerpuff Girls and rule the world!" Buttercup then got out before she switched back to her normal voice. "As far as I'm concerned, Mojo Jojo can Rest! In! Piss!"
"My goodness, Buttercup, your complete lack of empathy is deeply concerning." Celestial mentioned. "Mojo Jojo may have had the cruelest of intentions, but even he does not deserve the cruel, atrocious fate that the ImpossiPit brings upon those who get banished there."
"Celestial is correct, Buttercup." Hernando said in agreement. "You have just wished death upon someone, even if that someone is your worst adversary. It goes against every moral code of heroism, and you will experience the harshest of bad karma if you do not repent immediately."
Blossom and Bubbles both looked at Buttercup with angry looks on their faces and their arms crossed, Buttercup having a frozen look on her face as she looked at her sisters.
"They're right, Buttercup!" Blossom said.
"Damnit, you better apologize!" Bubbles suggested.
Even Underdog gave Buttercup a bit of a mean glare, giving Buttercup the "don't look at me" look when Buttercup looked at him. Buttercup nodded and sighed sadly, shedding a few tears.
"Yeah, you guys are right. I am very sorry." Buttercup said in a sad voice.
"Buttercup, you are forgiven." Celestial said with a smile on her face.
"Mojo's fate is indeed atrocious, but Simon and his Angels must be our focus." Underdog got out.
"Yes, you are correct, Underdog." Hernando said. "Mojo Jojo is of no immediate concern. The four of you shall now return to your world and seek shelter and remain sequestered, as we have instructed. When the EmerRings grant you their enhanced powers, you will know, trust me. Then, and only then shall you challenge Simon Bar Sinister, Sedusa, Femme Fatale, and Mask Scara. Celestial and I will be rooting for the four of you to achieve victory."
"It is victory that we will achieve. The Powerpuff Girls and Underdog WILL succeed!" Underdog said.
"Mother fucking right!" Buttercup added.
"Yes. The time for talk has now come to an end. It was a true and distinct honor for Hernando and me to meet you, Earth's four heroes." Celestial mentioned as she opened up a portal. "The four of you shall now enter this portal back to your world. Just state your destination and it will immediately take you there. Literally anywhere in your world, preferably somewhere where you can remain unseen."
"Powerpuff Household in Townsville." Blossom requested.
"Your destination has now been set. Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup, and Underdog, may the light of heroism shine brightly upon the four of you. Good luck." Hernando mentioned.
The Powerpuff Girls and Underdog waved goodbye to Celestial and Hernando before they flew right into the portal. In just a few short seconds, the heroes reemerged into the living room of the Powerpuff Household, still in shambles after the forced entry by Simon and his Angels. They all looked at each other silently for a moment before they all hugged one another and shed tears, the heroes all showing a great moment of unity. They all stayed silent for another minute or two, just trying to process everything that they were told by Celestial and Hernando.
"So now what do we do?" Buttercup said to break the eerie silence.
"The only thing we can do from here is wait, but we can start by cleaning up your place." Underdog suggested.
"Good idea, Underdog. Should take no time. Come on!" Blossom said.
It only took a minute or two or three, but Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup, and Underdog went through the entire home and cleaned it all up, also restoring broken things around the home like the windows, doors, furniture, among other things. After the heroes finished cleaning up and straightened out many things, they all laid down, the girls using the sofa and Underdog using the loveseat. They all said a small prayer before they all then said a well-known prayer.
"Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake. I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen." All four heroes said in unison before they all took a nap, letting the EmerRings on their arms go to work.
END OF CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Music Credits
Song Artist/Source: Mortal Kombat 4
Song Title/Source: Meat Theme
Year Song Released: 1997
When Played: During the entire scene inside Duolc.