Ch 1: Two Months On...

The City of Megaville!

From a distance, it looked like a colony of lights, all different colours, merging into a collage of glistening balls of glow, some white, some yellow, some red and some other colours, all blanketing the land surrounded by the Basin Mountains. Some of the lights flickered. Others pulsed. And others burned brightly, drowning out the glow from smaller buildings around them. Even the bridges were lit up this evening, as well as the aircraft flying in and out. Megaville was huge, described by its Mayor and a Ultracity. It was ever-growing, expanding at a rate of 21 acres a year. Situated on the Western Seaboard, Megaville was an advanced place, pure and simple. But such a state of development made it a target. Criminals were plentiful, as well as corruption and trafficking of illegal technology and contraband. Many organisations saw that expanding into Megaville was gaining a foothold where others had none. So the city needed something to protect itself from all forms of trouble. Be it violence, corruption, thievery or total destruction, the city needed something to defend from it all.

The small inner suburb of Knoxley Parks was quiet this certain evening. It was around 7pm, the sky, full of dark clouds that wouldn't quite be enough to bring rain, was darkening. Surrounding streetlights blocked out the glow from the many stars above, and not even the sound of a car driving past or a cat purring could be heard. Megaville was incredibly active, day and night. But in the residential areas, life slowed right down during the evenings. In one particular house, along Bartlett Street, two blocks away from the post-office, the one with the three round windows, life was also fairly quiet.

In the lounge room of this very house, the television was on. Upon it were advertisements, screening in between the early evening family movie. Today's movie happened to be The Lion King. It was a feel-good movie, mainly, designed to take the stress off a viewer's mind. But many knew that life was not always hakuna matata, especially the two girls who sat in front of the television, watching as an advertisement for Stormraider Enterprises finished, showing its CEO and its vice president, who appeared to be a young girl with short brown hair and glasses.

The picture changed again, showing a man being bonked in the head by a boomerang. He turned, as though addressing the viewers, and said in a horribly overblown Australian accent, "Let's go to Outback Steakhouse!"

"Pfft...." scoffed a third girl, lying on her stomach on the floor, playing a small handheld game. "Stupid commercial..."

One of the girls on the couch, with light blue eyes and blonde hair tied into two pigtails, turned to her sister, "I wanna use that after you, Buttercup. I gotta catch Latias..."

Buttercup chewed her tongue in concentration, "Not... until I beat up... these monsters..."

The blonde girl rolled her eyes and went back to watching the television. She rested her head in her hand. She was bored. It was a long weekend, and there was nothing to do. She found it odd that she enjoyed school more than being at home. Maybe it was because all the interesting and critical situations they ended up in (and sometimes got themselves into) took place at or around the school. Bubbles missed Otto, and Mandy, and Shad and Courage. She missed all of them. She wanted to go back.

Then she whacked herself in the side of the head. Consciously WANTING to go to school? Ouch...

The girl next to her, on the couch, glanced at her when she had hit herself. Her long orange-brown hair fell around her shoulders. She usually wore a large red bow in her hair, but she had taken it off tonight, allowing her hair to flow freely for a change. The bow was fairly large, adding to her height. But without it, she was the same height as her sisters. Her eyes were a light pink, the colour of cotton candy. Her dress was a similar pink, with a shiny black stripe across its stomach. She looked gloomy, but not the same way as Bubbles was. She glanced around every so often, but the only thing she noticed was the Professor in the next room, sitting at the dinner table, writing in his journal.


Blossom had always been curious about what the Professor, her father, wrote in that book. Probably findings and equations and lessons for the students he taught at Megaville University. She rested her chin in her hand, ignoring the television and the movie, which had just returned to the movie (she used to sing along to 'Lovely Bunch of Coconuts' but didn't bother anymore). She sighed and regarded her father dully, wondering if he was any more fun than she was. But the real thought in her mind was not about the Professor, or her two sisters in the room. It wasn't about the movie, or the fact she hadn't started her Social Studies work yet.

Her mind was on someone else. Someone who had been in her mind for nearly two months. Ever since that day, at the school, where everything was changed. The day when they all lost a valuable friend. The day when... she...

Blossom sighed, and turned to face the TV again. "Put your past behind you, Timon says..." she muttered, "I doubt she has..."

Bubbles looked up, "What?"

Blossom shook her head, snapping her out of her private thoughts, "Huh, what?"

"You said something just now." Buttercup muttered, still focusing on her game.

"Oh... don't worry... nothing important." Blossom replied. She got up from the couch and yawned. Bedtime soon. She decided it was best to see how she was. It had been nearly two months since it all happened. Blossom had not lost as much as the girl she now sought. She was a completely different girl now, Breannin. The littlest child in the family and also the newest, Breannin had done her best to move past what had happened.



She had made new friends and would be joining the Megaville Elementary first grade class at the beginning of the next term. But every night, just before she went to bed with the rest of the girls, little Breannin thought of nothing but that day all those weeks ago, where she had lost everything. Blossom had lost a friend in that fight. Well... she didn't like to be called a friend, but that's how it was, regardless. But Breannin had lost her sister. And her father had died, too.

Neither ever got the chance to say goodbye.

Blossom slowly opened the front door and was confronted with the glow of the streetlights. She squinted, one of the lights directly in front of her house. She turned away and blinked, her vision clearing quickly. The little Powerpuff, a superheroine created by complete accident, slowly lifted into the air, rising upwards under her own will. She passed the three circular windows of their bedroom, which faced the street. The inner walls were a startling pink and she liked it that way, despite Buttercup's constant protests. She felt herself getting tired but continued floating up until she reached the roof of her two-storey home. Her bare feet touched the cold, tiled roof, making her shiver slightly. The night air was chilled and as it blew past her exposed legs and up into her dress Blossom's teeth involuntarily chattered together. The mountains in the distance were snow-capped, although she could not see them right at the moment.

But she did find who she was looking for. She was sitting at the edge of the roof, overlooking the backyard, staring up at the dark sky. The streetlights were behind her, so the light did not affect her view of the stars. They shone down to them, a million points of light amongst that endless blackness. And out there... somewhere...

"Breannin... are you ok?" Blossom asked, sitting down beside the girl, who wore a dress so blue it was nearly black. Her hair, usually tied up by a pair of scarves with red line grid patterns on them, instead flowed down her back like a clear waterfall. The light of the lamps behind them reflected off each gossamer strand, giving her hair the illusion of being made of a precious metal. Breannin didn't seem to notice the girl. She was shorter, but not by too much. Her body was more of a five-year-old's than a seven-year-old's like Blossom, but her mind gave her intelligence far superior to most adults. But she harboured her child-like innocence.

Her dark blue eyes stared up, and once again Blossom muttered, "You ok?"

Breannin's mouth opened very slightly, as though about to say something. But it was still a few more seconds before she spoke, "They all seem so little, don't they..."

Blossom followed the little girl's gaze, "Yeah... they kinda do."

"Do you think we seem little to them?" Breannin whispered in simple fascination of the stars above.

"I dunno... maybe..."

"Imagine being able to reach out and grab a handful." she giggled, but her laughter held a saddened tone, "That would be so cool..."

"Yeah... it would." Blossom replied. She brought her gaze back to the little girl, "How are you doing, Breannin?"

"Fine." the girl muttered. Blossom knew immediately that it was a lie.

"Breannin," she said, slightly more firmly, as she placed a hand on the little girl's shoulder. So warm... so convincing... "How are you?" her voice spoke in such a way that told Breannin that she wanted nothing short of the truth.

Breannin met Blossom's strawberry eyes for a moment, before her gaze fell to around her hip, "Terrible..." she whispered.

Blossom felt a tingle of pained sadness swirl in her stomach as she heard the little girl's reply. She felt so upset... so useless. She could do nothing for her. It felt so wrong and unfair. But that was how it was. Every day. Every night. Ever since that terrible day, six weeks ago. "Can I... do anything for you?" asked Blossom, knowing very well that the answer would be 'no'.

"I don't... think so..." Breannin muttered, still hushed, as a tear began to run down her little cheek. Breannin was not a real person. She was a robot, a machine made to look like a little girl. But she was so REAL looking... her eyes held the same sparkle that any outgoing, friendly, energetic little tyke would have. They glistened with tears now, as she sobbed silently, forever changed and affected by what had happened. She felt the pain more than anyone.

Blossom had lost her uncle, and a dear friend who she had barely begun to get to know. But Breannin had lost everything. Those two people were her only family. The only people who loved her as a daughter... as a sister. Blossom had tried to love Breannin the same way Bell did. But she knew it wouldn't work. The connection simply wasn't there. And Breannin knew that she was trying hard, but any attempt to love her the same way only made the little navy-blue eyed girl worse and worse. She had not witnessed most of the events that day, even though most of them had been undone by the actions of her father. When the changes were made they did not realise it at first. But Blossom could now recall the shot in the stomach, the strange sensation that followed, and her body and vision consumed by a blinding light.

Breannin felt guilty. She felt an inner rage directed solely at herself. She hadn't suffered, she hadn't been wounded too severely, let alone died that day. All she came out with was a damaged nose and a few scratches. She would have died. But that special girl, the only girl she could truly call her sister in the short time she had been alive, died in her place. The feeling burned within her, and she was forced to hide it. Blossom knew that was why she had retreated to the rooftop. It was a place of solitude. A place all to herself. Well, it wasn't tonight.

Blossom doubted that it helped. She could only stare at the girl as she leaned over and cried into Blossom's shoulder, mere thoughts reducing her to a distraught little girl, crying her eyes out. Blossom felt her own tears about to fall from her eyes, and she held the little girl tight. Breannin slowly looked into Blossom's eyes, "I don't know how much longer I can live with this..." she told her, so softly that nobody more than 2 feet away from them would've been able to hear.

Blossom sniffed, "Bree... there was nothing you could have done..." she told her, "You can't keep thinking that you are responsible."

Breannin sobbed, her gaze still locked with Blossom's. Her eyes were so drenched they were like pools, her dark-blue irises turning black in the darkness and shining like obsidian, "I hate you sometimes, Blossom..."

Blossom blinked, her eyes beginning to overflow finally, "What?" she muttered in surprise and sadness. She paused a moment, before adding, "Why?"

"You have a family... two sisters who would do anything to keep you safe... and a father that loves you more than anything else. They care for you... they are always there for you, to make you feel safe and warm when you feel all cold inside." she sniffed, "You have all that... you've kept it. I lost it all, Blossom... I lost it and I'm all that's left. The only thing left from the dream my father had. I'm a walking waste... something without a purpose. I just.... live."

"I remember Bell saying that..." Blossom told the little girl, "When you came over with your father," Breannin held onto Blossom's arms whenever she mentioned Bell or Cranston, "she told me that she didn't think she had a purpose. She was originally made to kill me, right?"

Breannin sighed, "I was, too..."

Blossom found it an almost ridiculous thought. First that bath with Bell... and now Breannin crying into her arms. Two girls, originally made to destroy her. There was a third girl with that purpose. She had succeeded once, but her victory was torn away from her. Blossom was still alive, and that girl would still do everything she could to kill her. Blossom almost felt flattered...

"Breannin... things will be ok. And..." she mustered the courage to say this, "I really wish I felt how you feel right now..."

"Hah...." Breannin huffed dryly, "You'd absolutely hate it."

"Maybe.. but I'd know how you feel." she admitted, "I hate seeing you like this, Breannin. I told this to Bell, and I think the same about you. I consider you a sister. You live here, now. You're like a member of my family, Breannin. When you are upset... I feel I deserve to be, too, just so I can help you and understand you. Kinda like a balance..."

"Blossom..." Breannin muttered.

"Yeah?" Blossom replied.

"What did Bell say... when you told her you thought of her as a sister...?"

"She didn't really say much... but... the look on her face... made me feel as though she kinda liked the idea."

Breannin gave a genuine giggle and hugged harder. But the pain and sadness was still there. It would always be. When she looked up, Blossom say whatever happiness inside the little girl barriered by an impenetrable wall of grief. A wall that might never come down. Blossom noticed that, when Breannin started to cry, her eyes lost the joyous sparkle of her youth.

The redhead wiped the smaller girl's tears, "Come on... I think it's time we got to bed."

Breannin sniffed slightly and nodded, a grin of confidence appearing on her face, although it was probably her only way of blocking all the dark thoughts she harboured. She still held on to Blossom when they stood up, and let go when Blossom balanced herself on the edge of the roof. Blossom jumped and landed on the grass of the backyard. Breannin jumped off after her, and Blossom caught her in her arms. The two girls smiled. Breannin just hoped she wouldn't lose the rest of her family.

"I'd love to be your sister..." Breannin whispered, wrapping her arms around Blossom and hugging very hard. Blossom returned the hug, nuzzling her cheek against the girl's neck. She would never get tired of that feeling. Breannin slid back onto her feet and the two girls walked through the rear door to the house, which was a sliding door leading to the kitchen.

The Professor looked up, "Ah, girls. You know what time it is now."

"Yes Professor." Blossom cheerily grinned and skipped off to the bathroom to brush her teeth and get dressed.

"You alright, Breannin?" asked Bubbles as she and Buttercup wandered into the kitchen.

"I'm fine. I just needed a little time alone..."

"Alone... with Blossom?" Bubbles thought it over, puzzled.

"Professor, if it's ok with you... I'd like to go out on my own for a while tomorrow night."

Buttercup gave a sly grin, "Jazzaaaaaaaaal." she said in a sing-song voice, her hand over her mouth to shield the word slightly.

Breannin blinked and went a bright, BRIGHT red, "Shut UP, Buttercup..." she hissed, her whole body having gone rigid.

The Professor smiled in his usual warm way, so similar to that of his late cousin's, "It's fine, Breannin. I know you can handle it out there. Just... stay safe."

"I will, Professor."

"Off to bed, girls." the young man told them softly as the three little ones scooted toward the staircase. From the top of the staircase, Blossom was watching. She had giggled at Breannin's reaction to the word Buttercup had uttered. Her response was gorgeous and it made Blossom feel a certain warmth inside. The last time she had felt that way, the last time she had giggled like that, she was with Bell. Now her little sister was doing the same to her. Maybe it ran in the family.

A thought always plagued her, however. She knew, when she stared up the stars, that there was somebody far out there who had caused all this. Someone who had once been called Breannin's sister. Someone who had slain Bell and was wanting to do it all over again due to some sort of twisted ideal she held. Although the past month and a half had been fairly quiet, Blossom was well aware that Barasia, Breannin's own older sister, would one day return to put their lives and Earth in peril once more.

He had to get to bed for an early start, and he headed into the loungeroom to turn off the TV. A news report was currently showing. A female reporter was standing in the Arizona desert somewhere, and in the background, what looked like an archeological team was at work, "In this breaking news story, a team of researchers have finally located the crash site of the large meteor caught on amateur home video several weeks ago," the screen showed the video footage of the phenomenon as the woman's voice continued, "the meteor known to many as the Heaven's Dazzler fell from the sky almost two months ago, crashing into the Arizona desert. Scientists are keeping the find under unusually high security, but we will fill you in as the information comes to ha-"

The Professor flicked the TV off and yawned. Many believe the greatest mysteries in life to come from outer space. Others, like Professor Adric Utonium himself, believed that it is what is on this planet, the incredible and miraculous blue and green orb known as Earth, that the biggest unsolved mysteries of all time must be unravelled. He smiled to himself and walked sleepily toward his room. Early to bed, early to rise, as they say....