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Chapter 14:Bell's Dark Heart
"I knew you'd remember this face" said Bell in a sweet sing-song voice. She engulfed her body in her spectral aura, transforming back to her ghost form. "You may call me Bell Phantasm."
"Using part of the spectral spore's inherent energy and parasitic nature, we were able to imbue this child with the powers of specters", boasted Skulker.
"You three deal with Bell. Me and Dani will take the hunter", ordered Danny.
Bell removed her cloak revealing her long flowing black dress. Her ghastly pale-green skin showing in great contrast with her dark appearance. "I have waited for this moment for a long time", she said as her body crackled with energy.
Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup didnt even have time to dodge as three streaks of white light erupted from Bell's fingers, striking each of them square in the chest. The fiery pain shot through their bodies as they were blasted straight through the backside of the Clockworks' Tower. Bell raced after them, through the new window she helped add to to tower, only to be met with blinding flash of Blue, Red, and Green light. The girl quickly regained composure and had managed to prepare a powerful counter strike in only a matter of seconds. Blossom looked on in anticipation as the smoke began to clean from their last attack.
The smoke cleared revealing Bell, hovering there with naught but a small singe mark on her cheek. With the same childish demeanor, she coaxed "That it? Now Im sad."
"What is she?" questioned Blossom. "She took three direct blows and is still smiling? How are we..." But her thought were interrupted as Bell, with a quick flick of the wrist, sent a blade of pale green energy screaming through the air. Blossom was quick to dodge over the blade and using her momentum blasted off at near super sonic speed towards Bell; connecting a swift right hook directly to Bell's face. The force of the blow sent Bell careening into a nearby floating landmass, which crumbled around Bell's point of impact.
Blossom turned to look at her sister who were looking on in awe. They had never seen their sister act so aggressive during a fight. Blossom floated back towards her sister, panting. She hated using that maneuver. It is always so draining to fly that fast. Right before reaching their side, Blossom turned while forming a ball of red energy in her hand and bicycle kicked the energy ball into the debris cloud floating around Bell's impact site. Following suit, Bubbles formed two energy blasts in her hands and released them, spinning like a blade. Buttercup formed a green aura around her clenched fist and unleashed it with a single quick punching motion.
The area around Bell exploded in a vibrant display of color and then nothing. Nothing, not even a speck of dust remained where Bell and the floating island once were. And then from nothing, there was Bell, her childish demeanor still radiating. Her body was slightly bruised, burnt and torn but was standing strong. Bell chuckles "Being a ghost has its advantages. Now its my turn."
Bell extended her arms and formed two tiny balls of energy, each at the tip of her index finger. Turning intangible, she flew effortlessly through Bubbles, inserting the tiny bombs into her shoulder blades. Turning tangible again, Bell turned with a smug grin and snapped her fingers, causing the energy balls to explode.
Bubbles screamed in agony as a crippling pain shot through her body. It was the most intense pain she had ever experienced. Both arms hung limp as her shoulder blades were completely obliterated. Loosing consciousness from the pain, Bubbles floated stationary; her arms dangling like wet spaghetti.
"You Bitch. Ill kill you!" Screamed Buttercup as she charged the spectral Bell.
"Tisk tisk", you never learn Bell said lazily. Extending her index and middle fingers, she fired a beam of white and green energy straight through Buttercup, missing her vitals at that angle but severing her spine with great precision. She made only a tiny squeak before looking consciousness herself.
Blossom look on in horror as her two sister fell to this monster of a girl. "Why?" she cried, tears swelling up, "Why do you want to hurt us? What have we ever done to you?"
What childish innocent that remained of Bell's face quickly washed away and was replaced with pure rage. "Why?!" she said. "Because I see you and your sisters and it reminds me of what my life was. You have everything! I have nothing and its all your fault!" She fired a single bolt through Blossom's left hand. Blossom looked on, unfazed.
"I dont understand. I only met you once before this when we fought. I didnt even know your name." Another bolt fired through Blossom's right hand.
"Where did Professor Utonium learn about the properties of Chemical X? My father, Doctor X, developed the compound. He wanted Utonium to develop the ultimate weapon using Chemical X as a catalyst for his genetic research. He left the test vial with Utonium who used it successfully in your creation." Bell's rage was starting to slip. Blossom could see tears start to well up in her eyes. "My father wanted to take and train you to use your powers but Utonium refused. Instead he tried to recreate your work while using a more potent strain of Chemical X. He failed. He used one part of everything nice too little and the imbalance created an explosion. My father was mutated by the Chemical X radiation and his heart warped. The next 10 years of my life were nothing but painful training and neglect. I wasnt a child. I was a weapon." Bell was now hunched over, tears streaming down her face. " Then I saw you. I saw three girls, exactly like me but able to live a normal life. As I watched, I grew to envy and despise you. All I want is to be loved. IS THAT SO MUCH TO ASK?!" Bell screamed as she began to sob.
Blossom felt such sympathy for the child in front of her. She wasn't an evil person. Her childish ways were twisted and warped to make her into the thing she was today. "Im so sorry Bell. I can't even begin to imagine what your life was like. But being a Powerpuff isnt the perfect life you envisioned. We are feared by our peers, chastized by the community and hunted by our enemies. Few people actually accept us for who we are. Our family and friends have been threatened time and time again. If I could, I would trade my powers in a heartbeat to have a normal life." Blossom extended her hand. "I dont hate you for what you have done. I want to help you. You are still a Powerpuff. Please. Help us. Join us."
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