Endless Possibilities

Endless Possibilities

Author's Note: Man made god...and sought to bind her.

Chapter 18

XxXxX

The darkness faded away, and Blossom's eyes opened again. She gasped softly and looked around in wide-eyed awe. The world seemed to have taken a new timber, seemed to have opened in a way she'd never before experienced. Every sight and sound, every smell and feel...it was like being born again. She couldn't fight back the smile tugging at her lips, nor could she denying the swelling hopefulness in her chest.

The pain was gone.

As her rosy-eyed gaze drifted across the Pit of Hate, her demonic savior hovered over her, his flaming eyes tracing her new body. It wasn't so different from her old body...really it was little more than a minor tune up. But, he thought deviously, now she looked even more beautiful. Now she looked the part she was to play...his perfect minion, his ultimate ally. He frowned and gently stroked the little girl's cheek. She looked up at him, pink eyes wide with wonder. The smile on her face was like an irresistible disease. He, too, smiled.

"Why did you help me?" Her question sharpened his smile. Why, indeed, had he chosen to help her? He knew better than to believe for a second she was really asking. The Red Child was anything but stupid; she knew the answer. Malicious fingers gently trailed over her cheek, gently tipping her chin up to meet his eyes. She wanted him to say it. He wasn't about to be played by a child.

"Why did you choose to come to Aku, child?" Her face grew darker, her blood rushed. The Red Child giggled and looked down at her new hands.

"I felt...there was this...it was like...something was...calling me..." She shook her head and sighed, looking at him once more. Somehow, through her confusion, the smile never left her face. If anything, she seemed to be smiling more. Aku narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms.

"Aku was not calling you child..." He felt his chest tighten, and could feel the blazing cracks in his skin coming to life. Perhaps...he had been calling her.

"But I felt...something telling me to find you. I was...I wasn't going..." The child stopped and covered her mouth. That invincible smile had finally faded, suddenly her new power seemed to vanish. She looked away and the demon could see tears welling up in her eyes. He felt the stinging pain in his chest again and reached out to her. Gently wiping a tear away, he turned her back to him. Blossom smiled and wiped her eyes, floating up to his eye level.

"I knew you could save me...because you're...you're special..." Aku chuckled and leaned closer to her. She shivered, her face grew hot and her breaths grew quick. His dark tendrils gently stroked her reborn form-Aku couldn't resist the urge-his lips pulled back in a teasing grin.

"Perhaps...but Aku is far more interested in you, child. What is this...Powerpuff girl?" She narrowed her eyes and brought her mitt to her chin. Always so eager to put her unparalleled mind to use. The master of masters drifted around her like a snake. His once teasing smile revealed more dangerous intention.

"What...what do you mean?" She asked, turning to look at him. She gasped when she found herself nose to nose with the demon. He narrowed his eyes and titled his head. The situation felt so deliciously familiar. She struggled to remain still, despite the comforting efforts his tendrils made to relieve her tension. Blossom's eyes widened; try as she might, she couldn't turn away when he finally replied.

"Why do they fear you, child?"

XxXxX

'The girls...are you safe? Please be alright...what about Blossom? I feel so helpless...I'm a terrible moth...a terrible guardian,' Ms. Keane thought, sitting in the cold corner of the Danger Grid. The room, designed to withstand the fullest extent of the girls' power, acted as the perfect bomb shelter. Unfortunately, the barren cube lacked any manner of telling time. The girls had been gone for so long...minutes? Hours? Perhaps even days had passed and she'd never know. Ms. Keane lowered her head and shuddered, closing her eyes for a brief moment.

"Please do not worry...Cassandra," Ms. Keane gasped and looked up in shock. The man standing across from her was dressed in the strangest attire. A white robe and sandals, his raven hair tied in a top knot. Her initial reaction was fear. Who was this man? How had he come into the Danger Grid? But...something in his smile soothed her nerves. Somehow, she knew this man. Somehow she knew he would make everything alright.

"Who are you?" The man walked closer and knelt down next to her, resting a tender hand on her shoulder. Ms. Keane blushed and placed her hand on his. He was so strikingly familiar...

"I am a friend...Cassandra, you must be strong. Soon...a dark cloud will fall on these children...they will seek a light to guide them...and you must be this light," His speech was so classical...so very proper and old-fashioned. She nodded and climbed to her knees. He smiled and took her other shoulder.

"The girls...what's going to happen?" His smile faltered, becoming a grim look of determination. Although she'd never seen his face before...her heart fluttered. She knew this man.

"They must face...the ultimate evil. Be strong, Cassandra Keane...your heart will be a light in the dark times to come. You must be their strength," Ms. Keane nodded and tried to lean closer. She wanted to see him more clearly. She wanted to hear his voice closer. She wanted to smell his breath, did it smell faintly of tobacco? She wanted to taste his lips...were they the same too?

"I will..." She whispered, leaning closer still. He smiled, pressing his forehead against hers.

"Then wake up, and greet them. For they are victorious," The distance between their faces closed.

Ms. Keane's eyes opened and she looked blearily around the Danger Grid. No sign of the mysterious stranger. Had that been a dream? She touched her lips and blushed. Her school girl's excitement dwindled when she remembered. The city had fallen silent, she realized in shock. As Ms. Keane climbed to her feet and exited the lab, she could only wonder just how the fight had gone...just what kind of damage had been caused.

She gasped when she stepped outside, seeing a five-colored rainbow coming across the horizon. People were pouring out into the streets, cheering and waving frantically. Tears welled in her eyes. These tears of joy and pride fell down her cheeks like rivers, as she too joined the crowd, cheering and screaming their names.

"Bubbles! Buttercup!" Those precious girls, who had been such a mystery when they first stepped into her classroom all that time ago. They had been a nightmare then...but now. Now she couldn't imagine her life without them in it. The Powerpuff Girls. The world's greatest heroes...she was blessed to be a part of their lives.

She remembered his parting words, and couldn't resist sobbing with unparalleled happiness.

For they are victorious

XxXxX

"Fear...fear me? What are you talking about?" She was tensed; she refused to look him in the eye. Aku had seen many a powerful man deny the truth. None had done so with as much believability as the little girl now hovering before him. Like all those before her; however, it was only believable, not true. Her mind...it was an open book to him now. Her history, everything about her...was his to know. After all, the Red Child belonged to him now.

"What of the filthy city? You were stripped of your powers, they feared you," He whispered. Bloss shuddered and finally turned away, arms stiffly at her sides. He gently grasped her arms. She stiffened and swallowed hard. Aku leaned in close and whispered, the grin present in his voice.

"What of your own father? Those...accursed little trinkets, designed to repress your ULTRA SUPER powers...to hold...you...back...child," Blossom screwed her eyes shut and lowered her head. His tentacles retained their vigilant massage, managing to relieve the unbreakable tension coursing through her.

"He's just...worried that..." Aku sneered and tightened his grip on her arms. She was rationalizing; she was refusing to answer him directly. The insolent child. The foolish little girl. She would dare to defy the great and omnipotent Aku? Blossom gasped, tears forming in her eyes when he whispered sharply in her ear.

"Do not speak the words they wish to hear...tell Aku what it is you, and you alone, feel," His tone left no room for extrapolation. Left no question as to just what he wanted to hear. Blossom clenched her fists and kept her eyes tightly shut. Every teasing stroke, gentle squeeze poked and prodded her wounded spirit. Every touch and whisper revitalized her, just like that life saving touch. Why should she lie for them? Was...he right?

"Maybe they are afraid..." She whispered. Both had expected some sense of defeat in her voice. Instead, it had seemed Blossom had spoken a fact. As though she had stated that the sun was hot. That chilling lack of despair moved her, gave her the courage to open her eyes.

"I've always been responsible with my power, I've always tried to do the right thing. Why are they afraid? Maybe...maybe it was wrong to lie, but I couldn't stand being..." She trailed off, sighing. Aku smiled and slithered around her. She looked up, into his eyes. He stared back into hers. Her eyes were his now. The gateway to her soul was his now. Her soul now belonged to him.

"Held back, of course not, child. You are a POWERFUL being with...limitless potential. Why should you be restricted by such things as MORTAL concerns?" Blossom crossed her arms and shook her head. The image of Townsville, falling apart at the seams after a simple game of tag, flashed in her mind. She lowered her head, ashamed to argue, but it was true, wasn't it? Her power was dangerous, it was something that needed to be controlled.

"I...we've caused trouble with our power...we need to control it so it won't..."

"You are a brilliant child...surely you can control your own power," She looked up at him and sighed, dropping her arms to her sides. Hadn't she said the same thing? She was intelligent and very responsible. She was the mature one, wasn't she?

"I think so...but the Professor said that I've...I should wear the power-restricting bracelet again..." Aku crossed his arms and stared at her, his expression unreadable. Blossom looked up at him bashfully, hands clasped behind her back. He spoke in a low, but clear voice.

"It is just as Aku has said...they fear you, child," Blossom nodded. She remembered the look of horror on Ms. Keane's face. When she talked about fighting Princess, when she got mad at Brick, when she was mad at the Professor...Ms. Keane was afraid. The Professor was surely afraid too. He was only human...

"I know...but...why? Why don't they trust me? I've always been...at least, I've always tried to be a good girl," Aku chuckled and closed his eyes, walking away from her. She watched him go, her mouth falling open. Aku stopped and stared into the flames of the Pit of Hate. He knew the answer; he'd known the answer for a while now.

"Humans fear that which is greater than themselves...and will do anything to control it,"

XxXxX

"Girls! You're safe!" Ms. Keane cried, racing out to greet the quickly descending heroines. The leading two broke away from the group and flew to her excitedly.

"Ms. Keane!" Bubbles and Buttercup flew directly into their guardian's arms, hugging her as tight as they dared to. To her part, the teacher hugged them with just as much vigor. She looked up to greet the nervous little boys landing next to them. Ms. Keane wiped her watery eyes and knelt down beside the boys.

"The Rowdyruff Boys? What are you doing here?" Bubbles jumped out of her arms and grabbed Butch's arm, making the green ruff blush.

"The Rowdyruff Boys saved me! We woulda lost if they hadn't helped..." Ms. Keane turned to Buttercup, who nodded in agreement. Butch stared at his arm-rather the girl attached to it-with a blush plastered on his face. Brick crossed his arms and glared at the ground, shuffling his feet, while Boomer still seemed to be scanning the sky.

"I am very proud of you boys! You've grown so much since you first showed up in my classroom," Brick was the only one of the three to react. He narrowed one eye and stared at Ms. Keane incredulously.

"Your classroom? We ain't never been in some stupid classroom! That's for wussies and losers!" He declared, turning to Butch for encouragement. Brick's confidence faltered when his brother continued ignoring him, still staring at the Powerpuff girl. Brick looked back at Ms. Keane, and tried to hide his nervous blush by glaring at the dirt again. Ms. Keane looked at Buttercup and Bubbles.

"What do you mean, Brick? You've been in my class for two weeks now...you've been a very good student" When you aren't causing trouble, she added mentally. Brick narrowed his eyes and rubbed his head.

"Yeah! You guys have been really fun! Butch likes to color with me and push me on the swing!" Butch twitched and stared at Bubbles in horror. Brick snickered and crossed his arms.

"What a loser," Buttercup smirked and stepped up, jabbing Brick in the shoulder with her mitt.

"Yeah, well I kick your heiny at dodgeball every day at recess!" Brick gasped and took a step back, as if physically assaulted. He narrowed his eyes and unconsciously rubbed his cheek. The green puff had a nasty fastball.

"I...I don't know what you're talking about!" He declared, shoving her back. Buttercup narrowed her eyes in confusion. Bubbles looked at Butch, who seemed torn between letting her hold his arm and trying to run away and hide.

"You remember playing, don't you Butch? I played dodgeball with you guys yesterday...oh no!" Bubbles gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. Everyone turned to her expectantly.

"What's wrong Bubbles?" Ms. Keane asked. Bubbles swallowed and looked at her feet.

"I was playing dodgeball with the Rowdyruff Boys yesterday and...I forgot to tell Boomer that he was supposed to go meet Blossom!" Ms. Keane's eyes widened, and slowly she turned to face the absent-minded member of the entourage. He was still scanning the skies, as though he was waiting for someone.

"Boomer, is there something wrong?" Boomer put his mitt to his chin, closing his eyes in deep concentration. Ms. Keane could hear the phone ringing and, regrettably, had to go back inside. She motioned for the kids to follow. Brick and Boomer stayed rooted in place, while Butch finally fought back, resisting Bubbles' tug towards the house.

"What's your problem, Boomer?" Brick asked, hands on his hips. The irritation in his voice was palpable. The other super-powered kids watched as the blue-eyed ruff turned to the sky and let his arms fall to his sides.

"Where's Blossom?" He finally asked. Bubbles swallowed and looked at Buttercup, who stared at Boomer in horror. The way the blue ruff looked at her now...she really wished she had a better answer.

"I...I don't know," She whispered.

XxXxX

"To control it? What do you...what do you mean?" Blossom stared at his back, hands held tightly to her chest. Aku clenched his fist and grinned.

"You possess...UNPARALLELED power, child. That alone...frightens mere mortals. But, that is not all. You possess intelligence and reason...far beyond your years. Aku has kept close watch on you, child. He knows why they fear your endless potential," He gestured, barely a gesture at all, for her to come closer. Without a second thought, she flew to him, staring into the fire. She watched as the events of her own birth replayed before her eyes.

"Endless potential...but we're heroes...we'd never misuse our powers," She whispered.

"To the mortal mind, the mere possibility that he may lose sovereignty is all it takes...he wants to control you. They wish to keep you restrained and keep your eyes closed," Blossom swallowed and watched her greatest fights play through the fire.

"Keep my eyes closed from what?" She asked breathlessly.

"Truth," Aku murmured, just as entranced by the fire.

"What's the truth then?" She asked, turning away from the image to face him. Aku watched the image play out. He watched the girls fly back through space, working together to save their father. Watched as they defeated, for the very first time, their arch-nemesis.

"They fear your intellect, child. Fear that you will realize just how powerful you truly are, and that you will realize just how...inferior mere mortals are," Blossom lowered her head and stared at her hands. New hands, given to her by the demon standing beside her. She touched her new body, touched her new face. She shook her head and turned to him angrily.

"But...but why wouldn't they trust me?! On just the possibility that I-" She trailed off, her anger abating as Aku's chuckle caused the room to practically shake. He finally looked away from the fire, his red eyes burning into hers. Peering, perhaps, into her very soul.

"But you see child...for you, the possibilities are...never-ending. And now that you are with Aku, you shall be given the chance to know the truth," Blossom smiled and looked away. Aku smirked and rested his massive hand on her head. Blossom looked up at him, with the wide-eyed innocence of a child.

"Then, will you tell me? What am I that's so...so terrifying? I'm...supposed to be the Perfect Little Girl...I thought that was the title I was aspiring to fulfill..." She clasped her hands behind her back, giving him her full attention. The demon's chest twinged and he couldn't muster anything less than an absolutely genuine smile.

"On that day...through eight cups of sugar, a pinch of spice, and a tablespoon of tutto simpatico...a rare wine simply called everything nice...and an accidental addition of," Aku paused to chuckle at the title his remains had been given, "Chemical X...what was the result?" The demon leaned in closer to Blossom, her heated face close to his. His chest was fluttering in a way most...indescribable.

"The...the Powerpuff Girls..." Blossom whispered. Aku whispered his reply, his searing hot breath brushing against her skin.

"On that day...man made god," Blossom gasped, hands flying to her mouth. Aku smirked and turned away, walking to the other end of the throne room, "It is late child...go to sleep, and Aku shall speak with you when you awaken," Blossom looked up, ready to argue, but too awestruck to speak. She looked down at her hands, ignoring the fatigue falling over her. That one question rolled over in her mind. She remembered how it felt...her true power.

"A god...am I?"