Endless Possibilities

Endless Possibilities

Author's Note: But where does an end become a beginning?

Chapter 17 Part 2

XxXxX

Buttercup tore through the city, desperately searching for her sister. She knew now what she had to do. As the robot closed in, she was shocked to hear a voice cry out.

"Hey Pops! Back off!" Both participants in the fight turned in shock to see the Rowdyruff Boys arrive on the scene. Mojo, especially was taken aback. He froze staring at the boys floating across from him. Buttercup was shocked, but took that moment to flee, spotting her sister in the distance. Mojo lowered the bull's head to the boys and glared at them through the cockpit. The boys were disgusted at the greasy, horrific state their father was in.

"What are you doing...what is the meaning of this intrusion...what is your reasoning for interrupting YOUR OWN FATHER'S TRIUMPH!?" The boys floated back. Brick saw Buttercup hurrying to Bubbles and nodded. He thrust his mitt in the robot's face and glared.

"Well...it's our job to defeat the Powerpuff Girls! So...we won't let you do it!" The robot threw its head back as Mojo began to scream with insane laughter. The boys floated back nervously. Butch swallowed and clenched his fists. Mojo lowered the bull's head to face them again, wearing a crazed grin.

"Is that so? Well...it would seem that Mojo has run out of use for...for such failures...yes failures...there is no need for a failed experiment...all obsolete, useless works are to be destroyed!" Boomer rubbed his head and looked at his brothers in confusion.

"What does that mean?" The boys dove out of the way when the robot lunged at them. All three were horrified to find just how powerful it was...and just how hard avoiding its strikes really was. In an instant, Butch was sent flying through the air in a shower of explosive blasts. Boomer went after him, but was taken out by a vicious slap from one of the six flailing arms. And Brick...Brick had become Mojo's new target.

"YES! RUN! RUN! THERE IS NOWHERE TO HIDE!" Mojo screamed, laughing with frenzied tears rolling down his face. He couldn't have his Blossom, so her pathetic counterpart would have to suffice. The robot took off after Brick, with the other Rowdyruff Boys in hot pursuit. Buttercup landed near Bubbles, quickly gathering her hysterically sobbing sister into her arms.

"Bubbles...you're alright...you're alright..." She gasped out, over and over. Bubbles wailed and buried her face in Buttercup's shoulder.

"We need Blossom! We can't win! I'm so scared!" Buttercup grit her teeth and pulled back, panting. Bubbles gasped when she saw the look in Buttercup's eyes. It was a look she had only seen twice before...a look that somehow made her feel courageous.

"Stop talking like that! I...I'd rather Blossom be here...because I'm really scared and she's a lot smarter than me, but we can do this Bubbles! Blossom wouldn't give up! And neither will we!" Buttercup grabbed her sister's shoulders and narrowed her eyes. Bubbles tried to find her voice, but the look in Buttercup's eyes rendered her speechless. Buttercup licked her lips and gave her sister a comforting squeeze.

"Don't you remember? Do you? The Powerpuff Girls never lose! And...and Blossom isn't the Powerpuff Girls! We are! We're just as valuable as her!" Buttercup pulled her hands back and clenched her fists, watching the Rowdyruff Boys...their worst enemies valiantly keeping the robot occupied. Buttercup turned back to Bubbles, who had new tears rolling down her cheeks. Buttercup gently wiped the tears away and took her sister's hands.

"We're the Powerpuff Girls! We don't lose! And...Blossom would want us to win! This is our chance to prove we're just as brave as her! Just as strong!" Bubbles started to respond, but Buttercup shook her head and tightened her hold on her hands.

"No! No! This is our chance, Bubbles! Our time! We...we're going to break the rule! We're going to be powerful! We're going to be invincible! We...we're going to save the world!" Bubbles' lips quivered, and a watery smile crossed her lips. She could feel it in her grip...in her stance...in the glow of her skin. Buttercup was...using more.

I can help Bubbles...you can trust me...I would neeever lie to youuuu

She'd broken the rules. Bubbles nodded and wiped her eyes.

"Alright...I'll try..." Buttercup smiled and pulled her into a tight hug. Bubbles hugged her back, with all her strength. She closed her eyes and held her breath. She could feel Buttercup's heart still beating. She could almost feel the courage and strength rushing through her green-eyed sister. And despite the cuts and bruises...she knew they could win.

I always said Buttercup should be the leader

"Let's do this..." Buttercup whispered, pulling back. Bubbles nodded, and in her eyes Buttercup could see the look. She was glowing, she was ready too. Buttercup nodded and the two took off back into the fray.

"Not so fast, Mojo Jojo!" They cried, coming to a halt across from the robot. Mojo spun, a hysterical, wild look in his eyes. The metal nightmare writhed and lashed wildly, as if it had a mind of its own. His eyes trembled as he stared at the Powerpuff Girls. They seemed different somehow. They made him think of her, and his rage bubbled over.

"You've returned for more...if it is more you want than you shall receive more! I shall DESTROY YOU!" The Rowdyruff Boys started to fly back into the fight but Buttercup shook her head. Something about the green puff...was so compelling they had to obey. In silence, the ruffs slipped away from the fight.

"Scatter," Buttercup whispered. When the robot lunged, the two fell into the scatter formation. To their shock, the dragon heads immediately went for them, following them perfectly. Buttercup zipped around the blue laser fired her way, while Bubbles flew over the green laser launched at her. They whizzed around the robot and through the coils of spider legs. With their newly enhanced strength, the girls put their mitts together and launched another Starburst Ray at the robot's back. It glanced off, causing the black liquid inside to pulse rapidly.

"What is that stuff?" Bubbles asked. Buttercup had no time to respond, the robot came at them full force. This time the two stuck together, fleeing with a purpose. Buttercup had a plan...but they weren't ready to use it yet. If it missed, they wouldn't get a second chance.

Mojo followed them, eyes frantically scanning the city for any sign of Blossom. His entire plan, his entire life, hinged on her appearance. His destiny was to destroy her on that day, and without her, his destiny could not be completed. Where was she? Why was she avoiding him? These lesser creatures...they were no match, none was a match for Mojo Jojo. None save for the Perfect Little Girl.

"You will come to me...I will crush them, and you will show yourself. And we shall have our battle, our confrontation, our final showdown. And it shall be this showdown in which you lose your life to me, Mojo Jojo!" The Chemical X pumping through the robot gave it unlimited power, unlimited energy. The AI running the dragon heads prevented them from out planning him. They were programmed from Blossom's very brainwaves. There was no trick the two puffs could devise that they would not know to counter.

"You...will...lose...Powerpuff Girls..." He whispered, clutching his controls tighter. Octi sat on the dashboard, watching the fight with a blissfully unaware smile.

xXxXx

The Professor panted, climbing onto the ledge with his newfound reserves of strength. As he rose to his feet, he noticed the dark figure stalking through the blizzard. He heard a goat's cry and steeled his nerve. Walking with a purpose, the Professor marched through the wind, facing down the monster.

"You...let me pass," The goat cried and snorted, glaring at him with evil eyes. The Professor swallowed and took a step back, his foot sliding over the edge. He quickly hurried forward again. Now he was painfully aware of just how close to the edge he was. The goat cried and charged at him. The Professor stepped to the side, yelping when the goat spun on a dime and knocked him through the air. The scientist's bare back hit the mountain side and another deep gash tore his flesh. The Professor rolled away from the following charge and stumbled back. The goat roared and charged him again.

"The sword!" He said with a gasp. With all his strength, he tugged the broadsword free and stepped away from the goat's charge. As it whipped around to attack him, he raised the sword and blocked the attack. Still, it hit with enough force to send him stumbling backward. The Professor gasped and dodged yet another charge, once again parrying a following attack. As he stumbled back, the Professor stabbed the sword into the ground.

"Oh no," The goat took off running for him, but the Professor rolled to the side, ducking under the swat. He jerked the sword free and swung it, cleaving the goat's side. The monster gave a hideous scream and stumbled back snarling. Within him the Professor could feel an uncanny...sense of self taking over. He narrowed his eyes and dodged the next attack and subsequent swat, once again he brought the sword down, slicing the goat's arm. The monster jerked back and held its bleeding appendage tightly.

The two stared each other down, buffeted by the freezing wind. The Professor's hair was a wild mess, blowing every which way. Somehow, the goat seemed unaffected by the wind, its beard not even fluttering. Though it was a powerful weapon, the sword was ridiculously heavy. As the scientist's weak arms began to give out, the goat gave a cry and charged again. A moment of brilliant hit and the Professor dropped to the ground. Just as the goat ran over him he leapt to his feet and hefted up the sword. With a running start he jumped and swung it with uncharacteristic grace.

The Professor held position, sword just by the goat's ankles. The goat stared in breathless awe, taking a weak step back. The world split in two as its top of slid apart and the monster toppled backward, over the side of the mountain. The Professor moaned and fell to his knees. His strength...seemed to have been born again. As he peered up at the summit, still high above the clouds, he felt rejuvenated. Sheathing the ancient sword, he once more ascended the mountainside.

XxXxX

It seemed with the passing moments, that Mojo's madness grew. Where previously hundreds of missiles had filled the air, it now felt like thousands. The dragon head lasers were flying without rhyme or reason, and the spider legs were viciously striking at anything in their path. The two puffs weaved in and out of the remaining buildings, doing what little they could to slow their slithering assailant.

"Buttercup, what are we going to do? We can't hurt that robot!" Bubbles cried, weaving around another obstacle. Buttercup narrowed her eyes and glanced back. They just needed the perfect opportunity, then she could try her plan. Buttercup turned back and yelped, colliding with one of the remaining buildings. She smashed through the other side and rolled to a halt, groaning. The robot was quickly upon her all appendages aimed at the downed puff.

"I HAVE LOCATED YOU!" Mojo cackled. Buttercup watched in horror as a blue streak flew out of the background and slammed into the bull's head. Mojo screamed and Bubbles went toppling through the air. Buttercup narrowed her eyes and held out her hand.

"Bubbles! Throw your arm out! Trust me!" Bubbles opened her eyes and saw Buttercup. Her eyes widened and a knowing look spread across her face. She flung her legs back and held out her arm. Buttercup began to run backward and, just as Bubbles came into range, jumped up and linked arms with her sister. They briefly smiled at each other as Buttercup pulled Bubbles over her. Mojo righted himself just in time to watch the two make the first spiral.

"What is the meaning of this? What is this technique which I have not seen, which is to say it was in no database...a database created from Blossom herself!" He screamed and watched the two become a furiously spinning tornado of swirling green and blue light. The tornado shoot out and whipped back around, heading straight for Mojo. The robot tried to prepare itself, but it came far too fast for even the simian genius to react. He screamed when it collided with the robot's chest. Faintly, he heard two voices-strong and powerful-crying out.

"Sonic Screwdriver!" Mojo tugged at his fur and pounded his fists on the console.

"NO THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! CURSES! CURSES! CUUURSEEEES!" The tornado ripped through the robot, and Mojo's cries were drowned out in the brilliant explosion that followed. The tornado slowly fizzled out, becoming the twirling puffs once more. They fell apart, landing in a dizzy pile on the ground, several feet from one another.

"Oh wow...that never gets boring..." Buttercup moaned. She sat up and turned back, gasping with joy to see the robot coming down. Bubbles sat up and stuck her tongue out, rubbing her stomach.

"I still don't like that..." She shrieked and spun around, staring in wide-eyed awe at the robot collapsing in front of them. The two turned and looked at each other, bursting into wild laughter.

"We did it! We beat him! We beat him!" Buttercup shouted, pumping her fist in the air. Overwhelmed with giddiness, Bubbles flung herself into her sister's arms and showered her with kisses. Buttercup giggled and spun the blue puff around, still pumping her other arm in the air.

"We won! We won!" They shouted, bouncing up and down and laughing uproariously. They were quickly joined by their new found allies, who nearly tackled them with praise and congratulations.

"That was awesome!"

"You were so wicked!"

"That was the coolest thing ever!" Mojo landed in a heap on the ground, sobbing silently while the five kids behind him celebrated. He stared at his destroyed robot, tears rolling down his bruised green cheeks.

'Why did you not come?' He thought in despair. The fight was over...he had lost...and Blossom had never shown.

xXxXx

The storm broke as the Professor gripped the edge of the summit. Bloody and broken, he pulled himself up through the storm and fell, face first, into the freezing snow. Barely able to pull the heavy broadsword, he dragged it with him to the edge of the plateau, staring out over the horizon. Even as a man of science, he lost his breath in religious awe. Even a second time, the view was spectacular.

"So you've finally returned," The Professor glanced back over his shoulder, his jaw dropping. Using all of his strength, he climbed to his feet. Blood poured across his bare, beet-red chest. One arm hanged limply at his side. One eye-swollen shut, he couldn't believe the sight before him.

"You..." The apparition standing just scant feet away from him, looked exactly like him--reflected through an archaic mirror of history. The apparition smiled, and the Professor once again felt the swelling power he'd relied on earlier. He dropped the runic broadsword to the ground and took a few steps closer to the man.

"Who are you?" He asked, finally standing up straight. He felt so strong, so powerful, that not even the blistering, but gentle breeze could faze him. The ancient specter, his mirror image, spoke in a low voice. A voice that was his own.

"They call me...Jack," The Professor stared in shock, unsure of just how to react. The Samurai smiled back and waved his hand.

"There is no need to be frightened...I am not truly here," The Professor laughed and lowered his head.

"Of course...you died a long time ago," The Samurai smiled and walked closer to the Professor. He laid a hand on his new self's shoulder.

"And just as such...I was born a while ago," The Professor nodded. He'd already surmised as much. The answer was finally clear, he had found the truth. Professor James Utonium...was the Nameless Prince reborn. He was the reincarnation of the hero who had killed Aku.

"Then...you must know why I'm here?" The scientist asked. Jack nodded and walked to the edge of the mountain. The Professor followed him and the two stared out over the horizon.

"You wish to destroy the wicked Aku...but the sword of righteousness has been lost," The Professor nodded. That about summed up his situation perfectly. Not bad for a ghost. Jack clenched his fist and turned to the Professor. His gaze was serious and determined.

"The sword...is not the key to defeating Aku," The Professor raised an eyebrow, stroking his chin. All other media had pointed the other direction. The sword was the only thing that could harm Aku, let alone kill him. Jack shook his head and looked to the sky.

"My father first claimed the sword...when it was forged from his own righteousness. I wielded the sword in the fight against Aku...but in the end it took something more to defeat him," The samurai leveled his gaze with the Professor, and gently touched his chest, "The Spirit of Righteousness is what holds the power to defeat the demon. The sword was merely...a physical form of this spirit," Jack approached the Professor and gently touched his chest.

"That spirit also resides within you..." The Professor shook his head and smoothed out his ragged hair. He cringed as the combat high wore off, and his wounds began to scream.

"I can't fight that monster...I could barely fight that guardian," The Samurai nodded.

"You are correct...but your Spirit of Righteousness can reach out to those who can...a new sword is needed, one far more powerful than the sword forged by my father's spirit," The Professor narrowed his eyes. Had that been what the monks meant? The pieces...were beginning to fall into place.

"The girls..." He whispered. Jack smiled and nodded.

"Take your Spirit...and awaken theirs, and they shall become the new Sword of Righteousness, and shall slay all evil from this world," The Professor closed his eyes and smiled. This had been the answer he was seeking. The answer to defeating Aku.

"Thank you," The Professor opened his eyes, but found that his companion was gone. He smiled as he picked up the Scotsman's sword and began to head down the mountain. The Samurai wasn't gone...he lived inside him. And now...he was armed with something far more powerful than any mortal blade. Now, he was armed with the truth.

XxXxX

At the edge of the world, laid a barren wasteland. Littered with the oil-streaked carcasses and shattered insect robots, with a trail of blood and bile leading to the heart of the field. A pillar, growing up from the ground and stretching to the heavens. Within, a small child walked on barely capable legs. As she walked into the fiery throne, she felt her sense of longing come to an end. He sat across from her, watching with burning eyes. His powerful black body pulsed with faint red cracks. Still...he managed to speak with unshakable power when she stopped in front of him.

"What is it you want from Aku?" She had traveled the world, following...something neither of them could understand to find him. He could feel it, and she knew it was true. The Red Child didn't have much time left.

"I need you to save me...please...I'll do anything," She took a nervous step forward and fell to her knees. Aku's chest nearly collapsed when she held out her hands, desperately reaching for him. He watched the tears trickle down her cheeks and felt...for a moment, that were he able to cry, he would. He rose from his throne and floated to her, with the grace and poise of a serpent. His eyes gleamed, as he eyes her: the perfect forbidden fruit. She was ripe with bitterness...hatred growing inside her like a new born. All this time he had sought to take her, to make the powerful Red Child his. Instead...she chose to come to him.

"The price of salvation...is a steep price to pay, child. Will you give yourself to Aku?" Blossom trembled when he gently caressed her face. His chest burned like a raging inferno. She stared up at him weakly, and managed to smile, despite the pain tearing her body apart.

"...I don't have any other choice..." She said with a chuckle, "I can't fight you for it...after all...I can't hope to win..." She lowered her eyes and spoke just above a whisper.

"And...I'm tired of trying..." He tilted her head up and looked into her eyes. She had seen too much...so young, but somehow her eyes were still innocent. He grinned and his wickedness perverted his friendly chuckle. Aku gently opened her lips with his powerful fingers. She closed her eyes and accepted the tendril of darkness that stretched from his hand, sucking it down with a beautiful moan.