Endless Possibilities

Endless Possibilities

Author's Note: And here it is, the second half of the final showdown.

Chapter 24 Part 1

XxXxX

The Danger Grid glowed with a strange energy, the likes of which it had never before contained. Pearly white light flooded the room and poured over its occupants, drenching them with a hopeful sensation. An ethereal warmth trickled down every surface. Professor Utonium laid back on his hands, mouth agape. Cassandra Keane had fallen to her knees, tears in her eyes. Not a sound broke the pulsating serenity.

At the heart of it all, stood a tiny figure-the very source of the holy light. Were it not for an intimate sense of recognition, neither adult would have known just who the child was. her once raven hair was now snowy white, the flipped tips seemed longer too. her skin had lost any fleshy sense, instead shining solid white, like an opaque ghost. She seemed to be naked, save for a pulsing green band wrapped around her waist where her black belt was before, but her features were indiscernible.

Slowly, she opened her eyes, causing her guardians to gasp in shock. her eyes were solid, shining lime green, devoid of features such as pupils or corneas. And yet, her vision seemed unhindered as she turned calmly to the Professor. She had no visible mouth, but her voice, alone, identified her as Buttercup.

"So how do I look?" Buttercup turned away from him, looking down at her hands. The Professor struggled to speak. His tongue suddenly felt too large for his mouth. Ms. Keane leaned closer to Buttercup, staring into her glowing eyes.

"You...You're beautiful..." She whispered. Buttercup smiled, her eyes the only gateway to divine her emotions. She nodded and closed her eyes-and a faint green light outlined her new form. The adults felt a rush of wind and heard a low pulse. Buttercup opened her eyes, and narrowed them in determination.

"What happened? I felt everything shaking...I heard noises...what's happening in Townsville?" The Professor sighed and scratched his head. Feeling useless, he shrugged.

"I'm sorry...I don't know," They both looked at Ms. Keane, who just shook her head sadly. Buttercup sighed and looked down at her hands. The three exited the Danger Grid and went into the Professor's lab. Professor Utonium stepped up to his computer console and tried to turn it on. No matter how many times he pressed the power button, the machine stayed silent. He sighed and shook his head.

"The power is out, I guess we didn't notice..." He looked down at Buttercup, who was lighting up the entire room, "...you'll just have to chance it," He chuckled and knelt beside her, patting Buttercup's head, "With this new power...I think you'll be just fine," Buttercup frowned, and looked down at herself again.

"So this is it?" The trio fell silent. In the distance they could hear explosions, they could feel the ground shaking. Upstairs something fell over and shattered. Pots and pans banged loudly in the kitchen. Another deafening explosion passed, an shock wave shaking the suburbs in its wake.

"Yes...that's it Buttercup. You've found the Spirit, and now you can face Aku!" The Professor said finally. Buttercup nodded and walked toward the stairs; she had a nagging suspicion that time was running out. She paused at the threshold, feeling a sick sense of trepidation.

"...Are you sure?" She asked, her tiny voice defying her ominous appearance. The Professor nodded and got to his feet.

"Yes, I know it," She still seemed unsure, glancing back to face him. He gave her the most confident smile he could, "Now hurry...you have a world to save," Buttercup smiled.

"Thanks Professor...I'll bring them home safe," The Professor and Ms. Keane shared a proud smile. He waved helplessly as she left at last. Ms. Keane caught his arm and smiled at him, giving him a soft kiss on the cheek.

"She can do this...I know it," The Professor nodded. The fate of the world, of his other two little girls depended on their sister. Now was the time for the toughest fighter to prove just how tough she was.

Upstairs, Buttercup walked briskly through the living room, throwing open the front door and staring in horror at what lay on the outside. The world was cast in a blood red light, the sky was an endless veil of inky blackness. And at the height of it all, was her target, the monstrous Aku. Judging by his expression, someone was already fighting him. She narrowed her eyes and started to float into the air. An explosion rocked the city and drew her attention to Townsville.

"What the...no way..." Townsville was a war zone, but how? Aku was nowhere near Townsville...unless. She narrowed her eyes and took off for Townsville. The coward had sent someone or something else to fight for him. She growled and tore forward, leaving a whipping, billowing jet stream behind.

When the heroine entered Townsville, she found herself under danger of stray energy blasts and heat rays. They seemed to be coming from deeper in the city. There was an explosion nearby, that was echoed by a pitiful scream. Buttercup rushed forward and scanned the ground. As she reached the source of the explosion, she noticed Brick lying in a crater in the street. She gasped and quickly flew down to him.

Brick's hat was gone, his hair was burnt and torn-barely recognizable, but it seemed he had lost several inches of it-and his clothes were ragged and torn. Worst of all, there were bloody cuts covering his body. His left arm was lying limp on the ground, a massive gash running the whole length. She narrowed her eyes, maybe it had been duranium? That would mean Mojo...but they defeated Mojo, didn't they?

"Brick...Brick can you hear me? Brick open your eyes!" Buttercup shook him gently, kneeling next to him. Brick's eyes struggled open, only just able to crack open half way. He drew a weak, tired gasp as he looked up at her.

"...Buttercup?" His voice was strained, weak...it didn't sound a thing like him. Buttercup pushed him back to the ground, shaking her head.

"No...stay here, I'll take care of this. Who did this to you?" Brick growled and laid back, clenching his eyes shut and hissing. Another explosion shook the city and Buttercup swore she could hear a laugh somewhere in the distance. A laugh and sharp, frantic whistling sounds. Buttercup shook Brick, snapping him back to consciousness.

"Brick who did this?" Brick started to talk, but was cut off by another explosion. Buttercup looked up and saw, briefly, a dark green streak careening through the sky. Buttercup glanced at Brick, then quickly flew toward his brother.

She found the green ruff in no better condition than Brick; in fact he seemed to be in even worse shape. Butch lay against a pile of rubble, unmoving except for a pained shudder, or a sudden twitch. The left half of his face was completely covered in blood, his shirt was missing, but there were so many bloody gashes on him that he seemed to be wearing a very wet red shirt. Buttercup leaned closer to him, gasping when she got a closer look at the left half of his face. There was a giant gash running the length of Butch's face, from his eyebrow to his chin. His left eye was clenched tightly shut, the eyelid split.

"Butch...Butch," The green ruff opened his right eye. His left eye didn't even move, even when a twitch knocked his head to the side. He stared at her with a similar expression to the one Brick had worn. Then his lips pulled back into a forced scowl.

"Where...were you..." Buttercup frowned and shook her head. Butch growled weakly and turned away from her.

"I'm here now!" She finally said, touching his shoulder. Butch flinched and turned back to her. His scowl lasted mere seconds before becoming a grimace of pain. Buttercup looked around, trying to spot Boomer. There were still explosions in the distance, still more laughter and screams. Was Boomer fighting the villain alone? her breath caught in her throat; she felt a newfound respect for the blonde boy growing in her chest.

"Save...Bubbles..." Buttercup spun back around, staring into Butch's good eye. She couldn't believe her eyes...Butch grimaced and twitched, reaching up and grabbing her wrist with a bloody mitt.

"Save...Bubbles..." He repeated, dropping his head. Buttercup frowned and nodded. her heart clenched tightly. her sister was in danger, her sister needed her. She stood up and turned in the direction of the explosions. She clenched her fists and glanced back at Butch. The lone tear trickled down his cheek. Buttercup turned and flew off as fast as she dared to travel.

her full power, the ultimate forbidden treasure. It felt undeniably great as it coursed through her. How could she have forgotten how it felt so be so powerful? To be untouchable, to be unstoppable and to be invincible? She clenched her eyes shut and shook her head. With a growl, Buttercup flew faster still. Whoever did this was going to pay, they were going to see what Chemical X could really do.

Buttercup came to an abrupt halt, tearing up the gravelly street and crawling over the wreckage. Bubbles was hunched over a few feet away. Buttercup shuddered; her sister was naked...she was bleeding and crying. Bubbles looked up in shock when the rubble shuffled. She gasped and stared at Buttercup, who stopped and stared back. The blue puff broke the silence, realizing who the newcomer was.

"Buttercup...Buttercup is that you?" Buttercup nodded, and flew to her side, catching her sister in her arms and hugging her tightly. Bubbles fell against her, sobbing and shaking.

"It's okay Bubbles, everything is going to be okay," She whispered in her ear, looking around with a vengeful glare for the attacker. Bubbles clutched Buttercup tightly and whispered in her ear.

"Buttercup...Buttercup I'm so scared...I can't beat her...even though Octi says I can, I can't! She's too strong!" Buttercup held Bubbles tighter as the hateful laugh she had heard before rang out. Buttercup snarled and looked up to face the monster. her arms dropped to her sides, her eyes widened in horror. Blossom floated to the ground, a few yards from the two of them. Bubbles looked up and her hackles rose, staring at the cocky smirk on Blossom's lips.

"What...no...no, no...no way," Buttercup whispered. Blossom laughed and Buttercup noticed a sudden movement from the corner of her eye. Blossom's hand was twitching. She stared in horror at her sister, still trying to understand what was happening.

"Blossom...it's you...where...but...what's..." Blossom waved her hand, narrowing her eyes in mild annoyance, though her amused smirk belied her irritation. Buttercup fell silent, feeling as though she couldn't breathe.

"Well to make a long story very, very short. I am now the herald of Aku. Townsville refused to serve their new master...so I'm here to destroy it," Blossom pouted and glared at Bubbles, "Unfortunately, our dear sister decided to play the hero...so I've had to rough her up a little," Blossom giggled and shrugged, putting her hands on her hips. Buttercup looked at Bubbles, who rubbed her eyes and glared at Blossom, though her lips quivered.

"He's controlling her! Aku is doing this! I know it!" Blossom sneered and shook her head. Buttercup stayed frozen, but Bubbles took several frightened steps backward. Blossom pointed her mitt at the blue puff.

"I told you! I am not being controlled!" Bubbles' face got red as she started to retort. Buttercup moaned and grabbed her head. her brain was throbbing, she felt a blinding pain behind her eyes. She could barely stand...she could barely see.

"No...no you can't..." Blossom looked at her, grinning brightly. Bubbles frowned and looked at Buttercup, touching her back.

"Buttercup?"

"This isn't happening...you can't be...you can't do this..." Buttercup shook her head and looked up. No matter how many times she blinked, how hard she clenched her eyes, or how much she told herself it was impossible, it never changed. Blossom still stood there, like a miniature version of Aku. Blossom smirked and crossed her arms.

"Well it is and I am...so sorry to disappoint you," The sarcasm, the venom dripping from every word, said otherwise. Bubbles flared up and took a step forward.

"I know you're being controlled! Blossom would never hurt innocent people! She'd...she'd never...never kill innocent people! Blossom is a hero! You're not Blossom!" Blossom rolled her eyes and sighed. She fixed Bubbles with a stern glare and spoke in her most lecturing voice.

"Bubbles, I have explained this to you again and again. I am Blossom, and yes I did those things of my own volition," She smirked and wagged her finger when Bubbles started to interrupt her, "Ah, ah! Don't interrupt, Bubbles. It's not polite, and I'm afraid you just might be too stupid to figure this out on your own,"

"I am not being controlled by anyone anymore! I chose to join Aku! I chose to accept my true destiny! I have come to deliver this planet to Aku, and I will kill anyone who tries to stop me," Bubbles jumped up beside Buttercup, screaming at Blossom now.

"What about the Professor?! What would he say if he saw you?! We're supposed to be heroes! We're supposed to help people!" Blossom's smile finally faded, becoming a furious sneer.

"Why do I care what some ignorant mortal says I should be? I won't let the Professor control me again, and I'll kill him if he tries!" Bubbles gasped and started forward angrily, but Buttercup stopped her, holding out an arm. Buttercup glared at Blossom, her eyes burning bright. Blossom's own eyes glowed as she glowered back. her arrogant...condescending smirk plastered on her sick green lips.

"So...you did that to Brick and Butch?" Buttercup asked warily. Blossom nodded, looking disturbingly proud of herself.

"You saw those two? Is Brick still breathing? I could have sworn he was finally finished," Buttercup clenched her fists and narrowed her eyes.

"And...you're the one who hurt Bubbles?" Blossom snorted and sent a venomous glare at Bubbles. The blue puff backpedaled, a soft whimper escaping her lips.

"Yes, I've been working with her. She looked a lot better before, but when she started taking me seriously she managed to heal the really...gorgeous scars I left on her," Blossom sighed and shook her head, still leering at Bubbles, "I have to say, I was really disappointed...all that excitement and she was still too weak," Blossom turned back to her brunette sister with a bright smile. She traced every inch of Buttercup's new form hungrily.

"But...I knew you wouldn't disappoint me..." Blossom whispered, "How does it feel? All of this power, unbridled and free? It feels amazing doesn't it? To be so powerful...to be able to do whatever we want...to be a goddess!" Buttercup shook her head and stood up straight, locking eyes with Blossom.

"You're a monster..." Blossom grinned and beamed at her sister, cocking her head with a mocking, cutesy wink.

"Why thank you!" Buttercup shuddered and growled; Blossom giggled and blew her a kiss. That was the last straw, Buttercup snarled and lunged at Blossom. Bubbles jumped, her heart skipping a beat when a thunderous crack shook the ruinous city. It took several moments for her to realize that her sisters were nowhere to be seen. She squealed when another thunder rolled over the city and turned in the direction from whence it came. her mouth fell open in awe at the fight taking place.

Buttercup, her glowing green eyes blazing like miniature suns, slammed her fists down on Blossom, sending her spiraling through the air. Before the air recognized the force of the blow, she was on the dark puff once more. Blossom was tossed around like a doll, bouncing helplessly with every shining white strike. Buttercup snatched her by the sides of her head and kicked her to the ground with meteoric force.

"Oof!" Blossom caught herself as she hit the ground, whipping around to face her sister. The street crumbled and collapsed beneath her, just as Buttercup arrived to continue her assault. Blossom gasped, unable to react before angry fists drove her into the ground. Buttercup beat her mercilessly, throwing every punch with more and more force. Tears streamed down her ghost white face and every breath came out as a brutal howl.

"WHY?! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?! TO TOWNSVILLE!? TO BUBBLES?! TO ME?!" Blossom fought wildly, but no amount of thrashing could dislodge the enraged Powerpuff girl. Buttercup clenched her eyes shut and punched harder and harder. Finally, a scream ended her assault. Both sisters looked up to find the third staring in horror.

"Buttercup! No! Don't! She's...she's still our sister!" Buttercup stared stupidly at Bubbles. Bubbles stared back and sobbed quietly. A sharp flash of light threw the green puff into the air; Blossom flew back to the surface, dropping to her knees and gasping to catch her breath. She turned just in time to see a bright green light. Buttercup rammed her fist into her stomach, grabbed her hair and threw her across the street. Ignoring Bubbles' pleas, she flew after Blossom with a homicidal cry.

Blossom spun in the air and threw a punch at the oncoming juggernaut, but Buttercup beat it aside effortlessly, and retaliated with a blow that knocked her into a dizzy spin. In moments, she was pinned against a collapsing building, suffering the green-eyed heroine's fury. Buttercup rammed her against the ground and held her neck, arms trembling. Blossom clenched her teeth and pulled on her wrists. Buttercup's grip was unbreakable.

"How could you do this?! How?! How can you just...just smile...how...how could you?! Do you have any idea what I've been going through?! Do you have any idea how hard it was without you?!" Buttercup hiccuped and clenched her eyes shut. Searing hot tears poured down her cheeks as she choked Blossom harder.

"How? This isn't right...you can't do this...you can't do this to me!" Blossom started to sit up, but was quickly rammed back into the ground, "You're supposed to be the goody two-shoes! You're supposed to be Little Ms. Perfect! I...I always...I always liked that the best about you...you always tried to do the right thing!" Blossom made a wheezing sound and Buttercup strengthened her hold, leaning closer to her.

"You left me...you...you left me alone...so you could run off with him?! You...you've always...always been the person I thought I could count on! The person I thought would always be there to make everything right again!" She lowered her head, uttering a stifled scream as she stared into her sister's trembling pink eyes.

"I thought you were my best friend! I thought you were someone I could count on! How could you?! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?! I...I love you...I loved you so much...I always got so angry...I got so mad because I was...I was so frustrated because I couldn't be the best at everything like you!" Buttercup shuddered and drove Blossom further into the ground. her sister's green face was starting to lose some color, her eyes looked glossy and unfocused.

"Don't you remember? When...when we played the Powerpuff Girls...I wanted to be you...I always wanted to be you! You were stronger! You were smarter! You got the best power! You got to be the leader! You were always the bravest! Always the one with the answers! Now...now you're..." Buttercup trembled and her grip slackened, just slightly.

"When I finally had the chance to be the leader...it was the hardest thing I've ever done...I was...so scared without you...but I had to be strong for Bubbles, I had to try my hardest because I know you would have! You never gave up, so I didn't! Until...but now...why? Why would you do this? To me?" Buttercup sniffed and sobbed, her grip weakening a bit more. Blossom's grip on her wrists tightened.

"I always thought...you would always be there...that you would always be the hero..." Buttercup's blood ran cold as a tiny laugh flitted through the air.

"hero is just another word for slave...I'll never be a slave again, not now that I know the truth," Blossom's eyes gleamed dangerously, Buttercup realized she was glowing. The pink light grew brighter and brighter, until it sent Buttercup careening through the air. She landed with a painful gasp, but quickly jumped to her feet. Blossom floated into the sky, encased in a crackling ball of rose-colored fire. Buttercup's gaze hardened as the truth finally set in.

"I'm no slave for the people of Townsville! I am a goddess!" her sister, her best friend...her hero was dead and gone.

"You're a monster..." Blossom grinned and narrowed her eyes dangerously.

"Why thank you..." Buttercup clenched her fists and became encased in a bright green fireball.

"I'm going to stop you," Blossom's grin got wider, even as her expression darkened.

"Don't disappoint me now," The sky rumbled as their respective fires grew brighter and brighter. The ground shook and broke apart, electricity snapped in the air between them.

"I won't...I'm going to give this everything I've got!" In a flash, Buttercup was in Blossom's face, fist flying with devastating force. To her surprise, Blossom caught the attack with only the slightest effort. Their arms trembled, their faces inches apart.

"I wouldn't ask for anything less!" Blossom punched Buttercup, knocking her back to the ground. Buttercup managed to right herself and fly back at Blossom, her flight creating a tremendous scar through the streets of Townsville. They met with such force that the air rent in an explosion of planet-crushing intensity.

The two hovered, fist to fist, for a moment that seemed to last an eternity, gazing deeply into each others eyes. Sparks shot through the air, their intense energy auras mixed and mingled with dangerous results. A harsh whistle filled the air, growing louder and louder with every passing second. Flashes of light erupted around the two combatants, eruptions of force that threatened the safety of the Earth itself. The images left behind of Blossom and Buttercup slowly faded, as the streaks of color surrounding them grew brighter.

Blossom fired her heat rays, missing Buttercup by mere inches. A dome of deathly red light rose from the collision point, but Buttercup was already on the offensive. She charged forward and threw a fast barrage of punches, which Blossom dodged with noticed strain. Buttercup dropped down and threw a kick at Blossom's legs. The fallen hero jumped over the strike and took a swing at her sister's face. Again, the blow missed its mark.

A series of shock waves rolled through the air, puncturing the weak concrete below. Suddenly, the ground exploded and sent a shower of debris and rubble flying. Pillars of energy erupted from nowhere, vaporing anything they came in contact with. Lightning crashed and thunder roared as the planet seemed to descend deeper into apocalypse.

Buttercup's fist smashed through yet another pile of rubble. She whipped around and fired a beam of green energy, carelessly batted aside by the oncoming dark Powerpuff. Blossom jabbed Buttercup in the stomach, knocking her off her feet. Pushing her advantage, she landed a few more blows on her airborne sister. Before the attack could continue, Buttercup rolled and kicked her in the head. Blossom growled and ducked under a punch aimed at her face, only to end up on the bad side of a nasty uppercut.

The air tore with a nasty snap and a hurricane force washed over Townsville. Sonic booms soared through the sky, some colliding while others continued, unchecked, and further ruined the once brilliant landscape. A wave of light shot from the sky blew away Mojo Jojo's laboratory, along with half of the volcano it sat upon. The ground near the Powerpuff Girls monument suddenly exploded into a massive crater. Even the red light above couldn't reach its bottom.

Buttercup sat up in the dark depths of the crater. Vaguely, she considered lying back down, but seeing the streak of pink light fly overhead, she narrowed her eyes. Determination flooded her heart, there was no way she could let her sister win. Buttercup flew back to the surface, coming face to face with a smirking Blossom. Without a word, Blossom took a quick breath and exhaled. Buttercup screamed and threw up her arms, a wall of fire washed over her. All around her, the fire destroyed everything it touched, turned the once peaceful park into the biblical lake of fire. The fire subsided and Buttercup let her badly singed arms down. Breathing heavily, she noticed that Blossom still seemed wickedly amused.

"We're...we're matched! Why are you so happy?" Blossom giggled and held up her hand, observing it with a scientific eye. She grinned viciously and, to Buttercup's horror, her hand transformed into a long, jagged blade. Buttercup shivered, but stood her ground. Blossom swung the sword a few times, her grin widening with every whistling breeze it cast.

"Looks like I'm even more special than you...let's see how you do now!" Blossom rushed at Buttercup and slashed. Buttercup dodged the attack and tried to retaliate, but already Blossom was on her, swinging wildly. Every cut was wide and furious, but so fast that Buttercup found her only option was backing up, staying on the defensive. The blade tore through everything it touched with ease; Buttercup began to sweat. The fire raged around them. It seemed to be growing in the evil red light coming from the sky.

"Stop running! Come on! Aren't you the toughest fighter? You big coward! You chicken! Bock! Bock! Bock!" Buttercup flushed and took a step forward to swing at Blossom. The pink puff grinned and ducked the attack, slashing Buttercup's midsection. She screamed and stumbled back, holding the bloody cut. It felt like it was on fire. Buttercup looked up and yelled, tumbling away from the blade. Blossom cut through the ground and swung her other arm. It shifted into a hammer and knocked Buttercup into the fire.

"Oof! How can she do that?! Ugh...it hurts," Buttercup got to her feet and screamed when Blossom came flying through the flames, like a bat out of hell. One arm was a black blade, the other a double-bladed ax. Dodging one arm had been hard enough, Buttercup quickly realized just how Blossom had managed to overpower the other four so easily. The others...she still hadn't seen Boomer.

"Boomer! Where is he?!" Buttercup dodged a slash and punched Blossom in the face, throwing her back several steps. Blossom steadied herself and looked around, shrugging and smirking.

"I don't know, he should be around here somewhere...don't change the subject! Fight me! C'mon sister!" Buttercup jumped over a horizontal slash from the blade, but was rammed back into the ground by the hammer again. She groaned and rolled side to side, avoiding cleaving slashes. Blossom snickered and laughed maniacally, shifting her other arm to a blade. With a sinister gleam in her eyes, she brought both down on either side of Buttercup. Her sister laid perfectly still, skin just a hair's width away from the cutting edges.

"Ooh, that was close!" Buttercup lunged forward and punched Blossom in the chest. Knowing she wouldn't get another chance, she wasted no time in unloading on her sister. Blow after blow flew with vengeful force, sparing nothing from her belligerent onslaught. After a particularly nasty blow to the throat, Buttercup rammed her head into Blossom's face, dropping her to the ground. She was denied a chance to continue her attack, a beam of pink energy shooting her off her feet.

Blossom sat up and rubbed her nose, moaning and glaring at Buttercup. There were tears sparkling in her eyes, but she quickly forced them away behind a mask of fury. She slowly climbed to her feet, her body trembling. Hate filled every inch of her body, flowing through her like a drug. her senses heightened even further, her muscles tensed and grew even more powerful. It was as if the hate was choking every remainder of weakness from her body. Blossom snarled and thrust her arms to the side. They immediately shifted into sinister, whip-like tendrils.

Buttercup climbed to her feet, her head swimming. She had long since stopped breathing, the smoke was just too thick to make it worth the effort. Shaking her head, she peered through the flames and watched a dark form approach. Buttercup started forward, only to be knocked back by a sharp lash to her arm. She held the bleeding cut and looked up, receiving another lash across her cheek.

"What the..." Without a word, Blossom charged forward, whips swinging viciously. One caught Buttercup's leg, causing her to stumble. The next blow sliced her chest, and yet another hit with so much force it knocked her to the ground. Buttercup sat up and earned yet another blow to the face, driving her back to the scalding ground. With a primal growl, Blossom snatched Buttercup's ankle and swung her through the air, ramming her into the ground with increasing hysteria. Every swing was harder, harsher, her breaths came in quicker gasps, until she was nearly screaming. Blossom slammed her bloodied, moaning sister again and stalked toward her, arms shifting back to normal. She grabbed her by her throat and held her up, wearing a grin of utter enmity.

"You're bleeding sis...sorry about that..." Blossom howled, a shrill, cracking laugh and threw Buttercup down. Buttercup stumbled, but managed to stay on her feet. She backed away cautiously, moving with a limp. Blossom strode forward, as if she were walking through a field of flowers.

"How are you..." Blossom laughed again and shot forward, punching Buttercup with more strength than ever before. her sister's head snapped back so hard, she could hear an audible snap. Blossom caught her by her hair, before she could leave the ground, and tugged her back, punching her to the ground. Blossom giggled and kicked her in the face, laying her out flat yet again. Buttercup wearily started to get up, her body shaking. The gashes were burning worse than any fire, and didn't seem to be healing fast enough. Blossom's mad grin shone in the fire light.

"What's wrong, Buttercup? Am I too tough? Are you giving up? You know I would never give up! I would be able to find a weakness in any enemy! I would win no matter what! Don't you wish you were me now?" Buttercup growled and flushed. She'd poured out her heart...and this monster had the nerve to use it against her. Buttercup rushed her, throwing punch after punch with angry intensity, once again calling on her feelings of hurt and betrayal to push her to new heights. Blossom ducked and dodged around every blow, laughing and jeering in a higher tone than usual.

"That's it! Hit me! Hit me harder! Oops you missed! What's wrong, do I need to get your blanket for you? Is that what you need? You're not a good fighter! You're not a good fighter!"

"Shut up!" Buttercup threw a frantic punch. Blossom caught her fist and knocked her back with an even harder blow. The world spun around Buttercup, who struggled to stay on her feet. It took all of her willpower to ward off the black spots hovering around her. Blossom giggled and covered her mouth childishly. Buttercup glared back.

"I'm going to beat you...I AM A GOOD FIGHTER!" Blossom narrowed her eyes and leered. That wretched, cocky, green-lipped smirk had returned.

" Blossom always wins! Didn't you say that? I told you before! I actually am Blossom, so there's no way you can be Blossom! There's no way you can beat me!"Her sister flushed and lowered her head. Blossom watched with a devious glee the way her sister shook and snarled. She squealed excitedly and dodged the sudden rush, laughing and swinging back. She caught Buttercup in the abdomen and held on, swinging her around and heaving her through the fire. Blossom shot after her; she caught up with Buttercup just in time to meet a furious punch.

"I can't...can't win by myself..." Buttercup muttered, clutching her stomach. She looked around, trying to get her bearings. Just where was she? Consumed in a sea of fire and destruction...Townsville was completely unrecognizable. Buttercup swallowed and shot off into the night. Her only chance was Bubbles...together, maybe they could overcome Blossom. Buttercup narrowed her eyes and shot across the city in a matter of moments.

"Buttercup! Are you alright? Where's she at? Where's Blossom?" Bubbles rushed to her, grabbing her arm and staring at her; her baby blue eyes begged for good news, begged for some kind of reassurance. Buttercup shook her head and looked around. Surely, Blossom would be on them any second.

"Bubbles, you have to help me! I didn't know she was going to be this strong! And that...that changing power! I can't fight that by myself!" Bubbles tenderly touched the bloody lacerations covering her sister's pearly white form. She saw the gash on her stomach and gasped, eyes watering and hands flying to her mouth.

"Buttercup...oh Buttercup...I...I can't! I can't fight her! I tried but it won't work! This is...I'm too weak...and...I know she's still in there! I know it Buttercup!" Buttercup narrowed her eyes and turned. Bubbles looked up and gave a sharp scream, falling back several paces. Blossom sauntered through the street, stepping over cracks, debris and upturned chunks of concrete with enviable grace. More chilling than the wild light in her eyes, more sickening than the splatters of blood trickling down her black body was the way she giggled. A distant, childish sound that seemed to grow louder, quicker with every breath she took. She was singing softly under her breath, between peels of giggles, as she stalked ever closer to them, her eyes never blinking, never leaving her sisters.

"-and their leader. Bubbles, she is the joy and the laughter. Buttercup, she's the toughest fighter..." Blossom grinned at their matching looks of horror. Buttercup steeled herself, but her voice shook with every word.

"Bubbles...please!" Bubbles shook her head; her voice had gone missing entirely. Blossom's hands shifted, becoming blades. She swung them at her sides as she began to skip toward them. Buttercup took a step back, holding her arms out to shield Bubbles, who stood frozen in place.

"You two look so scared to me..." Blossom stopped, and narrowed her eyes, her grin suddenly became demonic, "I have never been so flattered!" She moved to charge forward. Buttercup and Bubbles tensed, the former ready to fight and the latter ready to flee. They were spared either course of action by a chunk of stone, sent soaring through the air and straight at Blossom. The evil Powerpuff swung a blade, cutting it apart with dreadful ease. She glared at the newcomer, her glee gone in an instant.

"How...do you...keep...getting...up?!" The bloodied savior stumbled forward, panting but standing on his own two feet. With a pained shudder, he stood up straight and clenched his fists. A glowing field of energy began to glow around him, and though it paled in comparison to his counterpart's own glow, it was enough to further infuriate the wicked hero. His one good eye seemed filled with fire.

"Butch...Butch you shouldn't be here! She's going to kill you!" Buttercup shouted. The green puff's stomach churned observing his brutal injuries. Blossom glanced at her sisters, then turned to Butch with an unparalleled hatred and fury rising up in her heart.

"So you don't want to stay dead? You want to keep playing the hero? You miserable little one-eyed imbecile! Do you really think you stand a chance against me? Me?! I'm the perfect little girl! You're just a stupid weapon!" Butch turned to Buttercup, panting and grinding his teeth. He blushed when he caught Bubbles' eye, a tear trickling down her cheek. With a brief nod, he turned back to Blossom, his own fury steadily overtaking him.

"Oh yeah...well...I'm a weapon made to kill you!" With a scream, Blossom shot forward; Butch charged to meet her, ducking under the mighty swing thrown at his head and tackling her. Blossom rammed her knee into Butch's stomach and brought the blade down at his back. With a grunt, the ruff somehow managed to deflect the attack with his energy shield. He shot into the air, Blossom hot on his trail. Buttercup watched their streaks disappear into a furious storm of blows, idly wiping her eyes. She turned to face Bubbles and grabbed her sister's shoulders.

"Bubbles, you have to stop holding back! You have to help me! Bubbles, if I could do this alone, I would! I wouldn't...I'd never...I'm s....I don't want you to get hurt any more! But...but I need you!" Bubbles blinked and turned away, hugging herself tightly. She bit her lip and lowered her head.

"Buttercup...I can't! I can't fight her! I'm not strong-"

"Yes you are!" Buttercup grabbed her and swung her around harshly, refusing to let her pull away again.

"No I'm not! I couldn't keep up with her! She was just toying with me!"

"Bubbles without you, Butch is going to die! Brick and Boomer might already be dead!" Bubbles sobbed and tried feebly to pull away from Buttercup. The green puff held her arms with all her strength, refusing to let her go.

"Why? Why couldn't you beat her? You were...you were beating her before..."

"She's...I don't know how but...but Blossom's getting stronger. She was already stronger than me but...the more we fight, the stronger she gets. Bubbles, I can't keep fighting her alone. Eventually...she's going to be too strong for me to even hurt her," Bubbles whimpered and slowly looked up, deep into her sister's eyes.

"I don't know if I can...I've been trying...I really have..." Buttercup frowned and looked back. Butch was going to lose, there was no doubt about that. The only question was how long he could survive.

"Bubbles, you're stronger than me," Bubbles frowned and looked away in shame. She gasped; strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her close. Buttercup hugged her tight, desperate to hide the tremble in her touch. She struggled to keep a hold on the fear in her heart.

"Stay here...everything is gonna be alright..."

"What?" Bubbles gasped and tried to pull way, but Buttercup hugged her tighter. A loose tear trickled down Bubbles' bleeding back.

"Everything is gonna be alright...I promise," Bubbles swallowed and moved to return the embrace, but Buttercup was already pulling away. Buttercup spared a glance at her sister, then took to the sky. In the distance a scream of rage rang out. The sky lit up with a wall of pink light, ripping through the air with explosive force. Bubbles stared in horror and slowly turned away, sobbing.

To Be Continued