The Rival

A/N: Been a while...eh? Oh well here's the next chapter. I'll try to update sooner.

******


Blossom had always wondered what she'd say if she ever came face to face with Buttercup again. They hadn't exactly parted on good terms. Those memories that had often plagued her dreams had suddenly vanished. Blossom surprisingly found herself not caring about what had happen those many years ago. She was just happy to her sister again.

"Helloooooo? Earth to Blossom!" Buttercup waved a hand in the girl's face.

Blossom snapped out of her reverie. "B-Buttercup....your here..."

Buttercup huffed, hands on her hips. "Gee...so much for 'Thanks for saving my ass, Sis!"

"Now wait a minute!" Blossom interrupted. "You didn't SAVE my ass! I had things under control!"

"Mhmm sure you did."

"I did!"

"Of course you did!" Buttercup placed a hand on her sister's shoulder, grinning. "Your a big strong girl! Your capable of handling some S&M freak on your own!"

The Rowdyruffs burst out into laughter until they found themselves under the glare of Blossom.

"So, what brings your here?" Blossom had been convinced that Buttercup would never return to Townsville.

Buttercup fell into her 'tough girl' pose although Blossom could clearly see that her cheeks were flushed. "I-I just thought I'd pay a visit. See how things were going in this dump!"

Blossom smiled, knowing better. Buttercup had missed them all. "Things are going great. So have you visited the professor?"

Now Buttercup looked sheepish. "Uh....no not yet."

Brick snickered, leaning in to whisper to his brothers. "I heard that she got into a fight with the Professor before she ran off! That's what I heard from Bubbles!"

"You say something over there, shrimp!" Buttercup snapped, smirking when Brick sought cover behind his brothers.

Blossom giggled. "You know you really should see Dad. It would make him happy."

Buttercup grumbled, kicking a can.

Blossom sighed. "Look, we were all angry. We said things we didn't mean. Let's just get over it."

"Do we have to do it now?" Buttercup looked genuinely nervous about it.

Blossom relented. "No, we don't. It is late." She gave the Rowdyruffs a stern look. "And the three of you should be in bed...hell...we all should."

"Okay, we got ya!" Butch replied. "We're going already. Smell you losers later!"

"It was nice seeing you again Buttercup!" Boomer shouted as the boys took to the sky.

"So....got a place to stay?" Blossom turned in the direction of the sirens she heard.

"Well...you see...I just got here and..."

"No prob. You can stay in the dorm with me...though you'll be rooming with both me AND Princess."

Buttercup balked. "PRINCESS MOREBUCKS!?! I gotta room with two annoying spoiled brats!? What did I do to deserve this!?"

"I'm not spoiled!" The police had finally arrived. "Come on. Let's get this over with so we can turn in."

Buttercup nodded, casting one last glance at Ace's dismembered corpse. "Damn....too bad about the Gangreen Gang. Who was that woman?"

"All I know is her name's I'man. Though "I get the feeling we'll probably cross paths again."

******
Outside Townsville, near the Coast, a black man sat deeply in meditation. His nose twitched as the scent of ozone as well as a familiar stench invaded his nostrils. "So...you still live," he replied calmly, standing to his full height of seven foot two inches. A black leather coat that's hem touched the earth hid most his body though it was fairly obvious he was very well muscled. His face was set in a menacing scowl and his left eye glowed red. "Him Who's Name Dare Not Be Spoken."

"I see you haven't forgotten me, Fear," Him's voice slipped from Lenny's lips. "I've come to ask you to join me."

Fear tilted his bald head back and laughed. "Me....help you!? That's funny." Fear's fists clenched. "How about I relieve you of your head!" A beam of crimson energy emitted from his left eye, obliterating the spot Lenny/Him had been standing.

Him sighed, having easily avoiding the blast. "I was hoping you'd see the light. Still the stubborn old fool I see." He jumped out of the path of a second energy beam, firing his own from the palm of his hand.

Fear raised a hand and the blast dissipated before it could touch him. "I do not seek the entire annihilation of all life on this planet! That's just you and your minions!"

Him laughed. "Whatever. You will be lending your aid to me in the upcoming battle. Whether you want to or not!" Him charged Fear and the two traded blows. "A demon that pities humans! How ridiculous!" Him's blast past through Fear's barrier and sent the man crashing into the sand.

Fear rose, growling. "You don't seriously think you can defeat me in that body!"

Him sneered. "No just distracted you as the spell takes effect."

"What!?" Fear's eyes went wide as pain chorused through his entire being. Fear dropped to his knees, refusing to cry out in pain. He'd be damned if gave Him the pleasure. "What spell have you placed on me!?"

"Just a subduing spell that will keep you in my control until I've carried out my plans."

"Damn you!" Fear muttered, knowing he'd been beaten for the time being. "Your a disgrace to our kind!"

Him shrugged. "That may be but there isn't much you can do about it." With a wave of his hand Fear's pain ceased. "Now get up. We have much to do."

As they were enveloped by smoke Fear was already contemplating the many ways to escape Him's control.