BUTTERCUP'S BLUNDER- A PPG Fanfic Part 3

[Sharklady]

---- continued from Part 2 ---


(FADE TO: The PPG’s bedroom, now bathed in early morning sunlight. All three girls stir, sit up, and look at each other. They smile.)

(Montage of usual morning preparations: the girls brushing teeth, getting dressed, hurrying downstairs to the table where PROF is setting out waffles & chopped fruit. Everybody eats with gusto.)

(Lengthy Montage of the excursion. Everyone gets into the car, the girls sing cheerful songs as PROF drives them to the zoo. After they park, JUDY lets them in through the ‘Special Visitors’ entrance and guides them behind the scenes. At the African Savannah, BLOSSOM and BUTTERCUP float up to feed handfuls of hay to the two adult giraffes, while BUBBLES lovingly hugs their baby. At the Chimpanzee Habitat, the girls laugh at the lively play of the younger chimps, and nudge each other over a grumpy-looking adult male who resembles someone they know. In the Reptile House, they’re allowed a close look at a huge Galapagos tortoise. The keeper there offers to let them touch a tame boa constrictor- BUBBLES and BUTTERCUP do so without hesitation, but a nervous BLOSSOM reaches to it with a shaky ‘hand’, until she feels it and her expression changes to happy surprise. In Insect World, a lady keeper holds a red-kneed tarantula for them to view- BLOSSOM and BUTTERCUP have a close look, BUBBLES hangs back, and an embarrassed PROF only dares to watch from around the doorway. [BTW: this scene would be a cameo for me and my own pet tarantula, Charlotte.] The Butterfly Enclosure is better appreciated; everyone frolics delightedly among the fluttering creatures. They have hotdogs and ice cream at the outdoor cafe. They take rides on the elephant and camel. They toss fish chunks to the seals. In the Aquarium, BUBBLES gazes raptly at a gentle-looking blue octopus. In the Aviary, BLOSSOM gazes raptly at a crested red eagle. In the Big Cat Exhibit, BUTTERCUP gazes raptly at a muscular black panther with green eyes. At the gift shop, they pick out souvenirs: BUTTERCUP gets a tee-shirt, BLOSSOM a zoo book [‘Snakes of the World’], and BUBBLES a stuffed toy chimpanzee. They happily wave good-bye to JUDY as they exit through the special entrance, BUBBLES draped over PROF’s shoulder and BLOSSOM & BUTTERCUP floating. Just as they approach the car, BUTTERCUP spots a silver-metal pushcart selling snow cones, and indicates it to the PROF. PROF nods permission for her to go buy one. BUTTERCUP lands beside the cart and places her order. As the cart man gets it ready, BUTTERCUP hearkens to voices coming from behind her.)

MAN’S VOICE: Say, isn’t that one of the Powerpuff Girls over there?

WOMAN’S VOICE: Yes! It’s Buttercup!

(BUTTERCUP is gratified, but, not wanting the speakers to know she’s listening, checks the mirrored side of the pushcart to get a look at them. It’s a young couple with a baby in a stroller.)

MAN: Isn’t she the one who almost... (He mimes pushing down a TNT plunger, then spreads his arms wide to indicate an explosion.)

(CUT TO: BUTTERCUP’s suddenly stricken expression. CUT BACK TO: Pushcart reflection.)

WOMAN: Yes! Is it really safe to let her out by herself that way? (The couple starts to move uneasily away.)

MAN: I can’t believe it is, with Mojo Jojo out of town, an’ all...

(The reflected couple pass out of sight and hearing. BUTTERCUP’s reflected face is deeply hurt. The cart man hands BUTTERCUP her rainbow-striped snow cone; she takes it and walks back to the car, but on the way, tosses the treat into a garbage can.)

(CUT TO: The Utonium car, traveling down the roadway towards home. CUT TO: Through-the-windshield view of the interior. The girls are all belted into the back seat, their souvenirs piled between them. BUTTERCUP is hanging her head and looking shamed. Everybody else is staring straight ahead, their expressions irate.)

BLOSSOM: Boy, some people are such jerks!

BUBBLES: Yeah! You shouldn’t care what they say, Buttercup; they’re just a couple of stupid doo-doo heads!

BUTTERCUP: (subdued tone) It wasn’t who said it, as much as the reminder. I *did* almost destroy Townsville...

BLOSSOM: Just once, by accident! Think of how many times you’ve *saved* Townsville, sometimes all by yourself!

BUBBLES: (to PROF) It’s not fair, Professor! Why do people care more about the one bad thing Buttercup did, than all the good things?

PROF: (explaining tone) It’s called the ‘What have you done for me lately?’ attitude. People who don’t use their brains very much tend to judge you only for what you’ve done most recently, not for what you’ve done most often. (to BUTTERCUP) But it’s just temporary, pumpkin. By this time next week, Townsville will be completely over it.

BUTTERCUP: (looking up a bit) Do you really think so?

PROF: I’m certain. Everybody will have confidence in you again. Even the jerks. (growling to himself) It’s lucky *I* wasn’t the one who overheard those cracks. I might’ve set a *terrible* example for the kids.

BUBBLES: And it may not even take a whole week! This is Townsville- you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow. (She pats BUTTERCUP on the shoulder, BUTTERCUP looks to her gratefully.)

NARRATOR: Oh, you are so right about that, Bubbles! So why don’t we do some more skipping ahead. (CUT TO: Exterior of Utonium Home, early morning.) Next Morning, at the Utonium Household:

(A newspaper carrier cycles up the sidewalk and throws a folded paper onto the Utonium stoop. A sleepy-eyed PROF, unshaven and wearing robe and slippers, steps out to pick up the paper. As he unfolds it and peruses the front page, his face lights up.)

(CUT TO: Interior of Utonium Home, as the girls descend the stairs for breakfast. BUBBLES is carrying her new toy chimpanzee, which now wears her medal around it’s neck. BLOSSOM has her ‘nose’ buried in the zoo book. BUTTERCUP, still not her usual boisterous self, at least looks less melancholy than when we last saw her. They float to the table, where pancakes and syrup are set out, and where PROF, now dressed, sits reading his paper.)

PPGs: (as they take their seats) Good morning, Professor.

PROF: Hello, girls! And there *is* good news this morning; they’ve caught the creeps who planted that Chernobyl bomb.

(PROF holds the paper so they can read the headline, ‘Bomb Builders Captured’, and see the photo: four geeky-looking middle-aged guys in handcuffs. The first one on the right, a skinny balding guy, has recognizable mean eyes.)

BLOSSOM: (reading the caption) “The so-called ‘People’s World Liberation Front’ has turned out to be four disgruntled engineering professors, recently downsized from their positions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.”

BUTTERCUP: (pouring syrup) They’re from MIT?! Just what’d *they* have against Townsville?

PROF: They wanted to show the world they were still a force to be reckoned with, taking out the ‘famously resilient metropolis of Townsville.’ But wait’ll you hear how the investigators tracked them down! Apparently, inside the bomb’s casing was...

BUBBLES: (excitedly cutting in) ... a credit-card purchase slip for the bomb parts!

(Everybody stares at BUBBLES.)

PROF: How did you know?!

BUBBLES: I’m the one who found it! When we were helping those government people take the bomb apart.

BLOSSOM: (just a bit irked) You didn’t mention that to me!

BUBBLES: I gave it to that nice FBI lady, an’ she said it was real important for me to not tell *anybody* about it, until after the crooks were caught. (She nibbles a pancake.)

BUTTERCUP: (frowning as she chews) Boy, talk about stupid! I’ll bet even Fuzzy Lumpkins would’ve known better than to leave a credit-card slip behind.

PROF: It may have been dropped in there by accident. Or, the terrorists may have considered it a certain way to destroy the slip- that bomb blast would’ve blown it to atoms.

BLOSSOM: But they should have anticipated such a record would point the finger straight at them, if, for whatever reason, the bomb didn’t deploy. (shaking her head as she eats another forkful) I *really* don’t understand that mentality- how could anyone with enough brains to be an MIT professor be so short of common sense?

PROF: (wry) It’s not like we’ve never seen that combination before. (turns a page in his newspaper.) Speaking of which; here’s something about what Mojo’s been up to in Texas.

BUTTERCUP: (so intrigued she sets her plate aside) What’d he do? Rob the Houston Bank? Set the oil fields on fire?

PROF: (pulling a sheet out of the paper- it’s the Society Page) According to this, he’s been living it up at Senator Roundhouse’s ranch.

(The Society Page headline is “Mojo’s ‘Big As Texas’ Weekend.” Below are several photos. MOJO in a swimsuit and sunglasses, sipping a banana daiquiri beside a huge pool. MOJO, in tennis whites, playing alongside a pretty lady who resembles Jennifer Capriatti. MOJO and ROUNDHOUSE, mounted on horseback and wearing Stetsons, sharing a good laugh. MOJO, in his chef’s hat, preparing ribs on a big barbecue, apparently to the great acclaim of the assembled dinner guests.)

BUBBLES: (fork held beside her cheek as she regards the pictures) Gee, those people seem to like Mojo’s cooking.

BLOSSOM: A lot of grownups actually prefer hot sauce, Bubbles.

BUTTERCUP: (standing on her chair) He’s gotta be up to something- he always is! I’ll bet he’s sneaking into the Senator’s files at night an’ stealing government secrets.

BLOSSOM: Or, perhaps he’s taking advantage of the opportunity to make connections in high places.

BUBBLES: Or maybe he’s just having a really fun time!

PROF: (settling back) Well, whatever kind of game Mojo has going, it’s Texas’ problem for now.

BUBBLES: (gazing wistfully at the horse photo) I sure wish *I* had a pony.

PROF: (with a slight lowering of his eyebrows) Now, Bubbles, we’ve been over this several times be...

(PROF is interrupted by a familiar buzz. CUT TO: the Hotline phone, it’s red nose blinking. BLOSSOM darts from the table to pick up the receiver.)

BLOSSOM: Yes, Mayor? What?! We’ll be right there! (hanging up and turning urgently to her sisters) A giant stag beetle is attacking Townsville!

BUBBLES: (scared) Did you say... a BEETLE??!!

BUTTERCUP: A *giant* beetle, silly!

BUBBLES: (instantly losing her fear) Oh! Then let’s go get it! (The Girls zoom off. PROF shakes his head and starts gathering up the breakfast dishes.)

(CUT TO: Yet another Standard Shot of the PPGs in fast flight.)

(CUT TO: Downtown Townsville. The citizens are doing their usual screaming-and-fleeing thing, from a monster doing it’s usual roaring-and-destroying-buildings thing. Except for it’s size and alert, angry eyes, it looks like a normal stag beetle; heavily built, purplish-brown all over, powerful but not terribly fast, and equipped with oversized forked pinchers. With these, it’s chomping through every structure within reach. Every eight seconds or so, it emits a two-tone blasting noise, such as a dual-note foghorn might make. The Girls fly into view above it.)

BUTTERCUP: (delightedly smacking one ‘fist’ into the other) Whoa, that’s one tough-looking bruiser! Can’t we cut straight to the fight?

BLOSSOM: Buttercup, you know we’re obligated to try to persuade it to leave first- it’s a basic Superhero protocol. (She dives, coming to a halt in front of the beetle’s head and addresses it sternly) Halt right there, monster! I’m giving you one chance to cease this attack on Townsville, before we...

(The beetle lunges to catch her between it’s pinchers- she ducks, but loses the points off her hair bow. Frowning, she zooms back to her waiting sisters.)

BLOSSOM: All right; we may consider our obligation adequately fulfilled.

BUTTERCUP: About time!

BLOSSOM: Attack Pattern, Delta-Omega!

(The Girls group close together to form a wedge, launch themselves straight upwards, then turn and plunge straight down towards the beetle’s back. They hit with tremendous force, making a dent in the rounded exoskeleton. Which promptly springs back to it’s original shape, sending the girls spinning off in different directions. Recovering, they repeat the maneuver, this time aiming at the head- the results are identical. A third attempt, aimed at a spiny leg, has worse results- with unexpected speed, the leg lashes out. It strikes them with a sound like a soccer-kick, projecting them through the wall of a nearby skyscraper. Dazed, they pick themselves up, looking back out through the gaping hole made by their passage.)

BUTTERCUP: (holding her head) Ooo-oooh! What is that thing covered with? Titanium armor?

BUBBLES: I don’t get it- when we fought the giant ant, it at least *noticed* when we punched it.

BLOSSOM: This is a beetle- they have much thicker exoskeletons. But let’s see how it holds up to lasers!

(They return to the beetle, which is felling another building. They fire their eye-beams together, aiming for the monster’s head. A red splotch appears where the beams strike, spreading out to cover the forehead. Eventually the girls have to cease firing to let their eyes recharge. To their dismay, the red area rapidly shrinks to a splotch, then a dot, and vanishes altogether. The beetle, emitting another of those two-tone roars, shakes it’s head in minor annoyance, and chomps into another skyscraper.)

BUBBLES: Blossom! Use your Ice Breath!

(BLOSSOM darts above the monster, inhales deeply, and launches everything she’s got. An enormous ice-block encases the beetle’s head. For just a second it appears surprised. Then, frowning, it gives it’s head a quick flip to break up the ice & send it tumbling like a shower if ice cubes.)

BLOSSOM: (getting desperate) Bubbles! Try your sonic scream!

(BUBBLES positions herself in front of the monster, and lets loose. The beetle’s only response is irritation, but the sonic waves bounce off it’s exterior, shattering every window in the apartment house behind BUBBLES.)

BUBBLES: (embarrassed) Opps! Sorry! (But it’s immediately rendered a moot point; the monster lunges for the apartment house, taking it down with one chomp.)

BUTTERCUP: (exasperated) At this rate, Townsville will look like a clear-cut forest before we stop this thing!

BLOSSOM: It’s gotta have a weak spot somewhere. Everybody start searching!

(FAST MONTAGE of the three girls launching their lasers and themselves against every part of the beetle’s body; the neck, the underside, the leg joints, the tip of the abdomen, under the chin, the antenni. Nothing seems to have any effect, beyond annoying the monster. BUTTERCUP flings herself against one eye, which, rebounding like a giant beachball, hurls BUTTERCUP straight into a nearby dumpster. Boiling mad, she emerges poised to attack again... Then, a la STAR WARS, she hears the PROFESSOR’s resonant voice inside her own head.)

PROF’s VOICE: Promise me...

BUTTERCUP: (startled) Wha...?

PROF’S VOICE: ... that you’ll make a greater effort to look situations over before you act on them.

BUTTERCUP: (bewildered but obedient) Look the situation over? Ah, all right, Professor...

(She stays in place and studies the monster through narrowed eyes. It’s now swatting ineffectively at her still-attacking sisters. From her low angle, BUTTERCUP notices something she didn’t before: a row of three porthole-sized openings along one side of the beetle’s abdomen. The foghorn blasts sound again; the portholes vibrate in synch. BUTTERCUP’s eyes suddenly go round, and she leaps triumphantly into the sky.)

BUTTERCUP: THAT’S IT!! (Hearing her shout, BUBBLES and BLOSSOM look towards her.) Girls, just try to keep that thing from doing more damage- I’ll be back soon! (She jets away.)

(CUT TO: Shot of BUTTERCUP flying at top speed to Townsville’s factory district. She spots a large building labeled TOWNSVILLE TAFFY MANUFACTURERS, and arcs downward to zip in through the ‘Outlet Shop’ door. CUT TO: Interior of the factory’s Outlet Shop, where BUTTERCUP skids to a halt before the sales counter, manned by an elderly clerk.)

CLERK: (completely unruffled) May I help you?

BUTTERCUP: I need six twenty-pound balls of taffy right away!

CLERK: Which flavor do you...?

BUTTERCUP: Whatever is stickiest!

CLERK: That would be honey-flavored. Cash or charge?

BUTTERCUP: I’ll have to owe you!

(She zooms past the counter, through a door marked ‘Manufacturing Facilities- Employees Only.’ Seconds later, she zooms back out, carrying six large yellow spheres, so she looks like a flying dodge-ball pile with legs.)

CLERK: (as BUTTERCUP streaks out the entrance) Thank you, and have a nice day.

(CUT TO: Downtown. BLOSSOM and BUBBLES are still pounding on the irate beetle, but are starting to lose steam. When BUBBLES is sent tumbling by a sideways blow from the pinchers, BLOSSOM zooms to catch her in mid-air.)

BLOSSOM: Are you all right?

BUBBLES: (dizzy) Yes, but, I don’t think this is working! Where did Buttercup go, anyway?

BLOSSOM: (noting the beetle starting towards another skyscraper) I don’t know; I just hope she makes it back before... (noticing a rapidly approaching stack of yellow spheres, trailing a green streak) Wait! I think that’s her!

(BUTTERCUP rejoins her sisters and extends the taffy balls.)

BUTTERCUP: Quick! Each of you take two!

BUBBLES: (accepting hers uncertainly) It’s nice of you to bring us a snack, but this really isn’t the best...

BUTTERCUP: We’re not gonna eat ‘em! We’re gonna throw ‘em to block those six holes along the beetle’s sides!

BLOSSOM: (catching on immediately) Of course!

(FAST MONTAGE of the PPGs darting about the monster and forcefully pitching taffy into each of the portholes. BUBBLES scoops a little sample off one sphere before tossing it.)

BUTTERCUP: (sending the last pitch home) Choke on that, ya overgrown cockroach!

(Their task completed, the girls regroup overhead. The beetle, no longer emitting the foghorn sounds, reaches it’s target building and opens it’s pinchers wide... but suddenly freezes in place, going bug-eyed [so to speak.])

BUBBLES: What did we just do, anyway?

BUTTERCUP: (grinning, and patting herself along her sides) I noticed those openings were producing the blasting noises, an’ remembered something that spider-lady at the zoo told us. Insects don’t breath through their mouths, they breath through holes in their sides!

BLOSSOM: Which means we’ve just cut off it’s oxygen supply! Now all we have to do is wait.

BUBBLES: (popping her taffy sample into her mouth) Mmmm! I’d call that a sweet victory! (noting her sisters’ displeased expressions) Well, *somebody* had to say it.

(CUT TO: the obviously distressed beetle, now rocking from side to side, randomly snapping and kicking out it’s legs. Finally it rears up, it’s pupils changing to cartoon Xs, and topples backwards with a noise like a falling tree. It crashes onto it’s back, legs still erect, just like those graphics on pesticide cans. BUTTERCUP lands on the thorax and poses like a fight referee doing a countdown.)

BUTTERCUP: Eight, nine, ten! Yer *Out*!

(All around the edge of the fight area, Townsville citizens break into loud cheers and applause. Still atop the monster, BUTTERCUP raises both her arms, her expression one of total triumph. FREEZE IMAGE, change to black and white, and PULL BACK to show it’s a photo on the front page of the TOWNSVILLE NEWS. The accompanying headline is ‘BUTTERCUP SAVES THE DAY!’)

(PULL BACK FURTHER to show the opened newspaper is being held by a smiling PROF. He’s at the breakfast table again, as are his Girls; BLOSSOM on his left, BUTTERCUP on his right and BUBBLES across from him. The Girls are eating cereal, and regarding the newspaper with pleasure.)

PROF: Well, Buttercup, I think we can safely assume; it’ll be a while before we hear anybody questioning your fitness to be a Superhero.

BUBBLES: And you’ll certainly have a good answer the next time someone asks; What have you done for me lately!?

BLOSSOM: I gotta hand it to you, Sis; when you use your head you really do a good job of it!

BUTTERCUP: (happier than she’s been in days) I do, don’t I? Maybe I *should* try it more often. (thoughtful) There was one weird thing about it, Professor. At that moment when I realized I needed to take a closer look at things, it was like you were right there saying it to me!

PROF: (fondly) I assure you, I wasn’t. I’d guess that my words made such an impression, they came back to you just when you needed them most. (giving her a one-arm hug around the shoulders) I’m doubly proud of you, Buttercup. Not only for saving the day, but for the way you did it. (He kisses her on the forehead)

BUTTERCUP: (blushing a bit) Aw, shucks. Maybe we should talk about something else now, guys. (As she chews another mouthful of cereal, her eyes stray to the front page again. Suddenly, another item catches her attention.) Hey! What’s that say? (She points out a smaller headline near the bottom right of Page One: ‘Mojo Jojo Back In Town.’ BLOSSOM, who’s the closest, leans forward to read it.)

BLOSSOM: Nothing much- only that Mojo came home from Texas last night.

BUTTERCUP: What happened? Did Roundhouse kick him out when he discovered all the safes in his place had been robbed?

BLOSSOM: No, it looks like they parted on good terms. Just before Mojo boarded the plane, Roundhouse was overheard telling him, “I’d really like ta have y'all back here fer Labor Day, so try ta stay outta jail around then, Son.”

BUBBLES: Then he must not have done anything bad, all the time he was visiting the ranch.

BLOSSOM: (frowning thoughtfully) And he didn’t give us any trouble those last few days before he left, even when he had some clear opportunities. *Very* unusual.

BUTTERCUP: Yeah- I’d *really* like to know what was up with that!

PROF: (regarding BUTTERCUP meaningfully) Perhaps you could try to find out, while you’re taking care of one other important matter.

BUTTERCUP: (petulant-little-kid voice) Do I *haveta*?

PROF: (gentle-but-leaving-no-room-for-argument tone) Yes, Buttercup; you have to.

(BUTTERCUP sighs, looking pouty but resigned.)

(CUT TO: Exterior Shot of the observatory. BUTTERCUP is standing in front of MOJO’s door, which has boards nailed across it where BLOSSOM burst through.)

BUTTERCUP: (‘distant’ voice) Mojo? (knocking) Mojo, don’t be afraid to open up. I just want to talk.

MOJO’S VOICE: (from within) Coming....

(CUT TO: Closer shot of the landing, as MOJO opens the door and steps out. His manner is more subdued than usual, his movements a bit stiff, and he keeps one hand braced against the door jamb. As he faces BUTTERCUP, his expression, while not exactly welcoming, is short of hostile.)

MOJO: Well, what did you want to say?

BUTTERCUP: (with great effort) I’m, ah, I need to, ah, the Professor thinks I should tell you, I’m sssss.... ooorrrr...

MOJO: Are you attempting to make an apology?

BUTTERCUP: (talking very fast to get it over with) YES!! I’m sorry I socked you when I didn’t think enough an’ afterwards when you were behaving yourself I was accusing you an’ hoping you’d do something wrong so I could wale on you an’ it was because I was mad at you for handling the bomb situation better than me and that wasn’t fair and I apologize. (with special fervor) But I’m taking it back, if it turns out this was all a cover for some power-grabbing scheme of yours, an’ I still think that’s what’s really going on!

MOJO: (folding his arms and leaning against the door side) That is not an unreasonable interpretation, considering my history of similarly mendacious behavior, so your theory may be regarded as feasible. None the less, it is incorrect.

BUTTERCUP: Then *you* tell me; why *have* you been acting like a decent person lately?

MOJO: Do you expect me to make an honest answer?

BUTTERCUP: Not really!

MOJO: Then why are you bothering to ask?

BUTTERCUP: Because I... (realizing he’s got her there, her face twists into a sour scowl.) Boy, you really *are* having a great week, aren’t you, Mohj?

MOJO: A necessary week, certainly. I was definitely due to take my annual ‘breather.’

(BUTTERCUP’s jaw drops, as something clicks.)

BUTTERCUP: Wait a minute! Are you saying, you’ve spent the last several days being law-abiding, as a kind of *vacation*??

MOJO: Yes. That’s not so hard to believe, is it? Or do you imagine that, as a Supervillain, I have no need to occasionally get away from the ‘old grind’? Because you would be wrong. It is psychologically verifiable, that taking periodic breaks from routine is an effective way for anyone to refresh their mental energies and enthusiasm.

BUTTERCUP: This is something you do regularly? Once a year, you take some time off from evil-doing ?

MOJO: (holding up a warning finger) At a different time each year, which I *never* reveal beforehand, for reasons that I think should be obvious. So don’t waste your breath inquiring when the next one is scheduled.

BUTTERCUP: (feeling much better) So now you’re gonna go back to making dastardly plots to take over Townsville an’ destroy the Powerpuff Girls an’ the usual stuff?

MOJO: (nodding) That is what I do.

BUTTERCUP: (punching the air) All right! So I’ll be getting more chances to kick your butt! (pause) But I’ll wait until you give me a reason.

MOJO: (dryly) That is appreciated. (sags tiredly) However, don’t count on it happening for a few days yet. In all probability, I’m going to have to extend my hiatus.

BUTTERCUP: Huh? How come?

MOJO: Because a hope of yours was fulfilled. (He looks embarrassed, one hand moving to his hip) I did, indeed, acquire, ‘saddle sores.’

BUTTERCUP: (not sure how to respond to this) Oh.

MOJO: And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m in need of a hot bath. I’ll see you around. (He hobbles back inside.)

BUTTERCUP: (as the door shuts) Yeah. See ya, Mojo.

(Still a bit confused, BUTTERCUP remains on Mojo’s doorstep for several seconds, her face quirking. Finally, she shrugs, and zooms off into the sky.)

(CUT TO: Pulsating Hearts logo, with nobody in the center)

NARRATOR: (startled, as though somebody just jostled him awake) Wha-haa?? We’re at the end of this thing? Ah, then... (firmer) Once again, the day is saved, thanks to... Mojo, I guess, but that was back near the beginning of the story. wasn’t it? The day was saved by... well, Buttercup, but that was a while ago too. At the finish, the day was... (snaps) Oh, just cue the End logo!

FADE TO: THE END

NARRATOR: (low voice) How can they expect a professional performance when they spring stuff like this on me? Sheesh....!


---- FINIS ----

[Anthonynotes]

Heh....amusing story! And I didn't care that there wasn't an "action" emphasis (and managed not to get *too* lost via a few episode-specific references)...

Observations:
All those breakfast scenes, and not one pop tart? ;-)

Hmm, x-ray vision, super-speed, freeze breath....can I assume that the Girls generally have the standard set of Superman-type powers, then (as I presumed from the tape of their eps that I saw)?

-B.
Wonders how well Mojo stands up to Brain intelligence-wise...

[don Jaime]

Oooh. Ooh, I like this. I like it better than the first one. Oooooh.

FANTASTIC!

I hope this is going up at Pokey Oaks too. (I haven't been there in an age....) Professor got there from his conference kind of quick and you misspelled my name in the prologue but this is superb.

Brainatra - the Girls' powers vary, but Superman is the template. In one episode they have machine gun bullets bouncing off their chests, in another, they're dodging knives. They sometimes forget they can fly.

Each girl has her own unique abilities on top of the regular powers. Blossom's is ice breath. Bubbles can speak Spanish and is the only one I've seen do the sonic scream. Buttercup's have yet to be established.

[Anthonynotes]

>>>I hope this is going up at Pokey Oaks too. (I haven't been there in an age....) Professor got there from his conference kind of quick and you misspelled my name in the prologue but this is superb.
<<<

Yes, it was...

>>>Brainatra - the Girls' powers vary, but Superman is the template. In one episode they have machine gun bullets bouncing off their chests, in another, they're dodging knives. They sometimes forget they can fly.
<<<

Heh :-)

Yeah, Superman (or for a more age-appropriate analogy in the Girls' case, Superboy) seems to be the template for a lot of such heroes....

>>>Each girl has her own unique abilities on top of the regular powers. Blossom's is ice breath. Bubbles can speak Spanish and is the only one I've seen do the sonic scream. Buttercup's have yet to be established.
<<<

Freeze breath, woo-hoo! And some of the people on Usenet think it's too "silly" a power...ignoring the fact that it's no sillier than, well, Supes' *super-breath* is to begin with (and if ordinary people blow on hot foods to cool it off, then I don't see why Supes can't freeze stuff...). Then again, they're the same people who actually *like* Kyle Rayner...

Spanish? Woo-hoo again! Though being fluent in another language isn't really a "superpower" (despite the difficulty of trying to learn another language as an adult) though children supposedly pick up other languages easier than adults do...


-B.
Still wondering why the girls weren't chowing down on sugar-rush-inducing pop tarts in all those breakfast bits :-)

[don Jaime]

Pop-Tarts - Sharklady's subreferencing galore, so she's probably having the girls eat their preferred Lucky Captain Rabbit King cereal. (Ridiculous, Lucky Captain Rabbit King! Lucky Captain Rabbit King nuggets are for the youth!)

Still, "vegetarian" Bubbles has eaten meat on a couple of occasions, so don't give up hope.

[Sharklady]

> Wonders how well Mojo stands up to Brain intelligence-wise... <

The mouse and the chimp appear to have comparable IQ levels, mechanical aptitude, determination and ambition. Ditto for the frequency of their lapses in judgement, and ability to recover from severe physical damage.

The big difference, of course, is that Mojo is far more evil; he's perfectly willing to commit acts of mayhem and destruction in pursuit of his goals. Brain, in contrast, seems to confine himself to non-destructive schemes, and has explictly stated (notably in 'Inherit the Wheeze') that there are some lines he will not cross. I suspect this difference might be due, largely or entirely, to the fact that, wherence Mojo is alone, Brain does have one real friend. Pinky may be a frequent irritant, but he's entirely loyal and decent, and capable of calling Brain onto the carpet if he thinks Brain is doing something truly wrong ('Inherit the Wheeze' again.) If Mojo had any such friend, it might have been the saving of him. (Of course, then the PPG show wouldn't be nearly so entertaining...)

> Pop-Tarts - Sharklady's subreferencing galore, so she's probably having the girls eat their preferred Lucky Captain Rabbit King cereal. <

That is indeed the cereal I had in mind, but I'd named it explicitly in the last fic, and didn't want to be repetitious. I leave that to Mojo.

> I hope this is going up at Pokey Oaks too. (I haven't been there in an age....) Professor got there from his conference kind of quick and you misspelled my name in the prologue... <

This story should be going up at Pokey Oaks in September- I'm afraid I got it to Kemper just a little too late for the August deadline.
Yes, Prof made the return trip from D.C. pretty fast, but PPG is one of those shows where you're allowed to take some liberties with natural laws, and even with the show's format, if it'll keep the plot moving. As was mentioned, the Girls have forgotton their flight capabilities a couple times, just 'cause it made more dramatic scenes.
Sorry about the name misspelling- I have corrected it.

And, I am glad you guys enjoyed it!

[don Jaime]

You're welcome! I just want to make sure you know how much I like these. This is on a par with the better episodes of the show, like "A Very Special Blossom." It's making me want to go back to the snippets of my attempts at PPG fan fiction and try again.

And for anyone else reading this, take the time to stop and give a quick accolade or bit of criticism. These little nuggets really do sustain an author, and I want Sharklady sustained to make more stories like this.

[DR. BELCH]

Naturally I kept expecting a twist that said Mojo arranged it all to reverse the tide of public opinion in his favor and against the Girls...and I thought the scientists and the credit card slip would be what exposed the truth. But he actually was on the level the whole time. Who knew?
Ironic that Mojo has tried to destroy the Girls with his toys innumerable times, but what really does Bubbles in is psychology and her own ill temper.
Yes, Brain is a megalomaniac, but he thinks of himself as a philanthropist. He was a bit more ruthless in the early A! shorts (e.g. scheming to throw the population off the planet by pinning it very fast with his Infindibulator) and doesn't get along with people, but he's nowhere near as vile as Snowball (who, in "Crash on the Levee", would have used disease or parasites on the beans rather than just a flood).
I actually think Mojo would have reformed for Moko in "Meet the Beat-Alls", if she'd asked him.
And yes, there is a sense of divine justice in that not-quite-an-angel Mojo ends up with a sore bum....