Endless Possibilities

Endless Possibilities

Author's Note: It's finally time to find out just what Him has been up to. This chapter is very short, it's more a foreshadowing to what's about to happen.

Chapter 22

XxXxX

Drifting alone in a sea of shimmering red mist, blue eyes wide and sparkling with curiosity, Bubbles took a deep breath and shuddered; a single blink felt like an eternity. Her breath glittered in the fog; her heartbeat reverberated for miles. Something was breathing very nearby.

"Where am I?"

You are with me now

Bubbles looked up as a great shape began to form in the heart of the fog. A massive ruby red lion with a long, glistening black tail. Its shimmering green eyes gleamed, the sole sources of light in the entire void. She took another deep breath; the world around her trembled violently.

"What's going on?"

It's time I told you everything, don't you agree?

Bubbles nodded, staring up at the giant lion's face. It drew closer and closer, a black lipped smile hiding its massive teeth. Glittery pink splotches trailed its cheeks; a twisted black beard curled from its chin. It opened its mouth, but no words came out. Instead, his voice seemed to echo all around her.

The monster has taken your sister. She cannot be saved from him...

Bubbles gasped, but remained unmoving, floating lifelessly through the sea of fog. The lion turned its head, grinning. Pearly white fangs shined in the darkness. A sickly green light was glittering somewhere in the depths of the red fog, though far too far away to matter now.

"I have to...to help her,"

She cannot be helped. No, no, no...she has gone beyond help now. Now, dearest Bubbles, she can only be punished

Bubbles closed her eyes and slowly opened them again. The lion stalked toward her once more, leaning his face down to her ear. His breath was hot, even hotter than the fiery mist drifting around them.

"What...what do I do then?"

I have been watching...he wishes to take this all away, Bubbles...wishes to make this place...terrible

Bubbles could see the sick green light in the depths of the void growing larger still. It was still too far away to really matter. She turned to face the lion, eyes wide and cheeks flushed. Her heart beat faster still as he smiled at her.

"Take what away?"

To take the Earth away...Bubbles. Away from me

The lion opened its mouth and a bright and shining blue light filled the void, forcing Bubbles to look away. When she finally turned her eyes to him again, she gasped. There sat the entire Earth, inside his gaping mouth. Perfect and beautiful, giving off a magnificent light. Bubbles could hear every single person on Earth breathing, could feel every single person on Earth's heart beating, could see every single person on Earth.

"The Earth is...yours?"

Yes Bubbles...haven't you figured it out yet? I've been...trying to show you for sooo long

The lion closed its mouth and smiled at her. Looking into the depths of his emerald green eyes, realization slowly began to dawn on Bubbles. She shook her head, unable to believe just what he was saying. An image flashed in her mind: a bearded man in white. She shook her head and tried to breathe harder. She couldn't find the strength to get worked up.

"No...you can't be...you're evil..."

Am I evil? Everything I've ever done...I did for you Bubbles...don't you see? Look at me...

Bubbles met his eyes again and her heart suddenly raced; images flew through her mind at a trillion miles an hour. Every image a speck, but every memory lasting a lifetime.

Octi, engorged and red, on fire as he destroyed the city

Overcome your differences

The people of Townsville, red-eyed and snarling.

Do the right thing, even if it hurts

A room full of evil dolls, attacking her sister

Conquer your fears

Evil chalk drawings, rampaging on a playground

Learn to control your anger

Three evil little boys, grown to gigantic proportions

Search for solutions other than violence

The entire city, destroyed and burning under a red sky

Never...ever shirk your responsibilities

The images flew through her mind, over and over again, until it brought Bubbles to tears. She stared at the lion, as the truth finally sank in. Every plot, scheme, every disaster was a test. He was trying...trying to help them. The lion nodded and his smile grew. The lion seemed to be getting larger as it drew closer to her, their noses touching.

"You...you really...you really are?"

That's right...did you ever wonder why I never gave you a name? You see...I have so many...

Bubbles slowly nodded. She gave a tiny gasp as a string of names flashed through her mind, so fast she could barely understand any of them.

Rasetallahanasizeusapollojupiterodinthoryahwehshivabuddha
brahmaceresgaiagoddessjehovadagonhadesganeshahanumanjuno
athenabaphometsatankrishnalokilunaosirisquetzalcoatlthanatosvishnuymir

"Stop!"

That is only a small fragment of the names I go by...dear Bubbles...

She couldn't move, couldn't wipe away the tears streaming down her face. Through her obscured vision she watched the lion trek deeper into the void. Was he getting larger? She shook her head and shuddered. Was he really? She looked at him and shivered. He really was...

"I can't fight Blossom..."

You can...don't you see Bubbles? I have chosen you...and only you. Don't you believe in me?

Bubbles swallowed and stared at him. He was beautiful beyond reason, more massive than anything she'd ever seen before. She hadn't noticed...but now he was so large she was just a speck in the pit of his eye. Still there was something terrible about him. His fangs were sharp, his claws were powerful. The world whistled and shook when he waved his black tail, the scorpion stinger dripping something unmentionable.

"I...I'm..."

You're a good girl...aren't you? You're not a bad girl like Blossom...are you?

Bubbles whimpered and shook her head. She was a good girl...she was a good girl. He smiled and breathed out, a wave of heat flushing over Bubbles. Her heart fluttered and warmed and it seemed that all bad feeling just flushed out of her.

"Yes...I believe you..."

Good...you need to go back Bubbles...Blossom has committed the greatest crime of them all...she has betrayed me. You must find her...defeat her...only you can save the world now, Bubbles...

Bubbles gasped as the red mist began to swish around her violently. The lion began to fade into the darkness. The sickly green light washed over her, and the world dropped out around her. Everything grew darker, darker still. Bubbles felt a sick sense of isolation, of abandonment. She wanted to be with him again. She could see glowing green eyes in the darkness. An image of a bearded man in white flashed in her mind and a great warmth spread through her body.

In my sign...you shall conquer

XxXxX

"Bubbles?" Buttercup opened the door to the bedroom and froze dead in her tracks. The room was completely empty. The windows were closed; there was no sign of a struggle. Buttercup's lips trembled as she floated into the room looking around, shaking her head in disbelief. Octi was missing.

"Bubbles..." She whispered, her voice cracking. Footsteps were getting closer. Buttercup touched down and stared at the empty bed. She looked around, scanning the closet, the bathroom, and even under the bed. The room was utterly empty.

"Buttercup what's...what's going...on..." The Professor's voice trailed off. Dread filled his heart as he realized exactly what was wrong. He swallowed and knelt down next to her, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Buttercup...where...where is Bubbles?" Buttercup screwed up her eyes and shook her head fiercely.

"I don't know...I don't know...she's gone...gone...gone!" She hissed through her teeth. A tear streaked down her face and Buttercup spun around, clutching the Professor's coat. She didn't cry though, no matter how hard she shook. She was, however, making a faint noise. The Professor swallowed and closed his eyes. Buttercup was growling.

"He took them both...he took my sisters..." She whispered, her teeth gnashing. The Professor took a deep breath and held her tighter. Buttercup was trembling, her skin was glowing. The power rising within her...the Professor nodded and squeezed her with all his strength.

"We'll save them...don't you worry...c'mon, let's get your training started," Buttercup nodded and the two hurried out of the room.

XxXxX

A swirling galaxy, several times the size of the Milky Way galaxy, home to the Sol System, suddenly erupted in a sea of red light. The light grew brighter and brighter until imploding on itself. In the pit of the blackness, a deeper darkness had appeared.

Blossom and Aku floated nearby, watching the steadily growing black hole. Aku smiled and looked down at the little girl sitting in his hand. Blossom looked up and blushed, grinning brightly.

"Well? How was that?" Aku chuckled and stroked his beard.

"You have done very well child...in fact..." Aku lifted his hand and tore a void in the folds of space. Blossom stared in shock at what lay beyond the veil.

"Are...are you sure?" Aku smirked and nodded, holding out his hand and grinning as the planet within glowed fiercely.

"Before...I doubted your faith. But now, child, you have proven yourself...let us return and take what is rightfully Aku's" Blossom nodded and narrowed her eyes. The hatred and bitterness inside her was burning. Her skin was giving off an amazing power. She looked up at Aku, the only one who had ever truly understood her. Now his power flooded through her body. Blossom smiled and together they flew through the void, toward the planet Earth. As the void closed, Aku's voice echoed in the darkness.

"In my sign...you shall conquer"