Mommy Fearest

(Open POV)

Townsville…

There is the city skyline at night.

"The City of Townsville, which is kept safe from crime until…" The narrator said.

(Jared's POV)

Utonium Residence…

On the TV screen, it is showing a program with Puppet Pals Clem and Mitch, two characters from the 'bumper' segments on Dexter's Laboratory. Mitch has his padded bonking stick.

"Bonk, bonk!" Mitch yelled, hitting Clem overhead.

"Who's there?" Clem asked, on the TV.

"Bonk!" Mitch said, hitting Clem.

"Bonk who?" Clem asked, on the TV.

"Just bonk." Mitch said, hitting Clem.

A laugh track is heard throughout this exchange.

"Okay, putting on T.V. Puppet Pals was a good idea." I said, happily.

At the end of it, the Professor, the girls, and I are watching the program in our living room.

"Yeah. I can't believe you hooked it up through your phone." Blossom said, smiling. "What converter did you use?"

We laugh along with it.

"Oh. It was an HDMI to DVI converter." I said, looking down at the time on my Apple Watch. "It's 7 PM. Time for bed girls."

The PowerPuff Girls are going up the stairs in a flash and hit the bathroom to brush their teeth; as the Professor and I look in from the hallway. The Professor is holding a pink nightgown over his head as I am putting on my slippers.

"Blossom!" The Professor said, angrily.

Blossom zips across the room and into the waiting gown.

"Buttercup!" I said, holding up a light green one. "It's your turn!" I also held up a green blanket in my other hand. "Come down here!"

Buttercup follows her sister's lead, after which the Professor holds up a light blue gown.

"Bubbles!" The Professor said, while he looks down at his feet. "Bubbles?"

The girl in question tiptoes past, giggling and wearing only her bra and her underwear.

"Come back here, young lady!" The Professor said, walking, sternly.

Still giggling, Bubbles flies around a corner and down the hall but hits the brakes when she sees that I have moved in to intercept her. She suddenly finds herself in her nightgown; I point the way to the bedroom.

"Now go to bed, Bubbles." I said, as Bubbles floats sadly.

The Professor and I are at the bedroom doorway.

"Good night, girls." The Professor said, turning off the lights and shutting the door.

Across the bed, Buttercup and Blossom have gone out as quickly as the lights did, Bubbles is sitting up, stuffed octopus in hand and looking very ill at ease.

Out in the hall, the Professor has turned to leave when he catches the sound of soft whimpering through the door. He turns back; inside the room, the hinges squeak and a ray of light fall across Bubbles - he has cracked the door open for her. They smile at one another, and she instantly goes to sleep. I peeked through the door to see the entire decoration on the bed's headboards: a large pink heart with the initials 'PPG' inside it.

I walked down the hall, still smiling, and I walked towards my bedroom, knowing what my plans are tonight.

My bedroom…

I walked over to my bed and jumped down on top of it, picking up the AmuSphere and placed it on my head.

"Link Start." I said, seeing a bunch of rainbow lines come into my peripheral vision.

Lisbeth's Smith Shop…

"Hey Liz." I said, walking over to Lisbeth. "Has business been good?"

"Yeah. It has." Lisbeth said, looking at me. "You look awful."

"Try dealing with three girls with superpowers. Then come back to me." I said, smiling.

"The PowerPuff Girls?"

"Yup. I love these girls so much."

Supermarket…

A public-address system is switched on, after I spent the whole night talking to Lisbeth with Silica coming on a while later.

"Cleanup on aisle 8!" The voice on P.A. yelled.

The Professor and I are at the supermarket, pushing two grocery carts. Bubbles flies up to us, carrying a box of some product.

"Wow! I want these!" Bubbles cheered.

"Of course you do." I said, looking down at Bubbles as the product name is Wow. Bubbles is elbowed aside by Buttercup, who carries a box marked 'Better'. "Which do you want? Do you want 'Wow'?"

"No way! These are better!" Buttercup said, angrily.

Now Blossom flies up in front of Buttercup with a box marked 'These'.

"Uh-uh! These!" Blossom said, as they reached into view, holding up their boxes to the Professor and I.

"Professor! Jared!" The Girls yelled.

"Girls, you may each have what you want, but we can't see where we're…" The Professor said, sadly.

"We can't see where we're going. And don't worry about how much things cost. I get my pay from the British Monarchy and the United Nations." I said, looking down at the PowerPuff Girls. "Get as much as you want."

Three carts - one of them the Professor's, the third empty - approach in slow motion and get into a head-on collision. Groceries go flying.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I couldn't see where I was going, and I…" The Professor said, looking down at the carts before looking up. "I... I-I-I-I-I…"

The Professor continues stammering as the girls fly up beside us. He looks down at the floor, just in front of him; behind the third cart are two very attractive legs, sporting pink high heels, that disappear into a matching skirt. Turn up from these to show their owner - a young, well-proportioned woman in a suit of this same color. She has blond hair that is so light as to appear white, that stops just below her ears, huge, light green eyes, and a pink pillbox hat. She also sports a lovely smile and a sprinkling of freckles under her eyes, which twinkle under the store lights.

The Professor, meanwhile, is still at a total loss for words; hearts appear around him, "I-I-I-I…"

"Uh-oh! Direct hit, Cupid." The narrator said.

"At least I don't have to play matchmaker this time around." I said, looking at the PowerPuff Girls, who look at the Professor over to the woman, then back to the Professor; with the girls looking at the Professor. "Love at first sight."

"I-I-I-I…" The Professor said, at a loss for words.

"It's your turn, girls." I said, looking at the girls, who suddenly had a brainstorm. I then looked at the woman as the girls flew to her. "Be the matchmakers today."

"Hi! What's your name?" The girls asked.

"Ms. Goodelady. Ms. Ima Goodelady." The woman said, and her voice is soft and quite pleasant.

"We're the Powerpuff Girls!" The girls cheered, posing heroically.

"Oh, I know exactly who you three wonderful girls are." Ima said, laughing, before speaking in a stage whisper. "But who is that strapping gentleman behind you?"

The girls move aside, giving Ima a clear view of said gentleman. He still has not found his tongue.

"I-I-I-I-I…" The Professor said, still in awe.

"He's the Professor." Buttercup said, flying to Ima.

"He's single!" Bubbles said, flying to Ima.

"Bubbles!"

"What they mean to say is, perhaps if you're not too busy, maybe he could take you out?" Blossom asked.

"Why, that'd be splendid." Ima said, happily.

"Saturday night, then?"

"No, Sunday!" Buttercup said, flying into view.

"I like Friday!" Bubbles said, flying into view.

"Friday it is." Ima said.

"Now you girls have to figure out the time." I said, looking between Blossom and Buttercup.

"Right. Say, eight o'clock?" Blossom asked.

"No, ten o'clock." Buttercup said.

"I like 7:00!" Bubbles said, flying into view.

"7:00 sounds great." Ima said.

"Yay! Friday at 7:00!" The girls said, excitedly.

"We'll see you then." Ima said, pushing the cart to the Professor. "And of course, you too, Professor."

Ima passes the Professor and walks away.

"I-I-I-I…" The Professor said, looking after Ima.

"Boy. That Professor is one smooth operator." The narrator said, sarcastically.

Utonium Residence…

It is now nighttime and I am drinking a nice cup of green tea.

"The big night!" The narrator yelled.

Bubbles holds up a bow tie.

"I found your bow!" Bubbles said, setting it on the Professor's head. "Oh, it looks so lovely!"

The Professor is dressed in a tuxedo. Buttercup flies into view and grabs the tie.

"Bubbles! It's a bow tie…" Buttercup said, putting it on the Professor's collar. "...and it goes down here. See?"

"Oh. I guess that looks good too." Bubbles said, shrugging.

"It's better than good, Bubbles." I said, sipping on my green tea. "Bow ties are and always will be cool."

The two girls go to work primping the Professor, applying the next four items in the proper places.

"And your hair gel." Buttercup siad, putting hair gel into the Professor's hair and messing with it.

"And cologne." Bubbles said, spraying cologne on the Professor.

"Breath mints." Buttercup said, placing breath mints into the Professor's mouth.

"And cufflinks." Bubbles said, putting cufflinks on the Professor's suit.

"And some of these!" Buttercup said, reaching in the Professor's breast pocket.

"A condom?" I asked, walking over to Buttercup. "Where did you get that?"

"Uh, I got it from your personal stash."

"And don't forget the flower!" Blossom said, flying up, carrying up a bloom.

The Professor and I are looking at the girls floating nearby and admiring their work. The Professor looks quite dashing now; Blossom's contribution is tucked into his buttonhole.

"Lookin' sharp, Professor." The narrator said, and I looked at a wall clock, showing 6:55. "And speaking of sharp, it's almost 7:00 sharp!"

The Professor is at the door.

"I won't be late, girls. And Mayor, Jared…" The Professor said, and the Mayor and I are inside with the girls. "...thanks again for babysitting."

"It's not a problem." I said, while I am standing behind the girls. "They'll be safe and sound. I promise."

"Goodbye, Professor!" The girls said, as the Professor leaves and pulls the door shut. "Have fun!"

I looked over at the wall clock, now showing 8:00. After a second dissolve, it shows 11:00. The Professor eases the door open and looks in; the Mayor asleep on his feet, snoring and babbling in his sleep. The would-be Casanova eases up behind him. I am sleeping on the floor, wearing my pajamas.

"Mayor, Jared, I'm back." The Professor said, softly, touching the Mayor's shoulder. "Uh, Mayor, you can go home now."

"Hey, Mr. Mayor." I said, opening my eyes and tapping on the Mayor who snaps awake and screams. "It's time to wake up."

"Aah! My life is a lie! Oh! Uh, ahem." The Mayor said, stammering, then walking away. "Uh, good night!"

Now I lifted myself off the floor and the Professor and I peeked into the living room; we heard static from the TV. The girls are asleep on the couch in front of it.

"Wake up, girls. I have a surprise for you and Jared." The Professor said.

The Powerpuff Girls open their eyes and mumble sleepy queries; behind him, the door stands open and a beaming Ima is inside. Now she wears a white cocktail dress and matching heels. Ima hangs on the Professor's arm and faces the girls and I, who seem a bit bemused by her presence.

"I'm so excited to be helping out around here with you girls." Ima said, happily.

"Helping out?!" The girls exclaimed.

"With what?" Blossom asked. "We already have Jared to help out around here."

"That they do." I said, walking over to the girls. "The girls have been relying on me for ages now."

Well, girls…" The Professor said, sadly.

"Why don't you let me explain to them?" Ima asked.

"Oh, okay, uh, sure."

"Alone?"

"I'm at your command, Ima." The Professor said, laughing with Ima before walking away.

"Oh, you." Ima said, looking at the girls. "You see, it's quite simple, girls. With the Professor being as busy as he is, and with Jared also being busy as is, it'll be good to have a female touch helping out around here."

"But... we don't need any extra help around here. We already have Jared and we're…" Blossom said, smiling.

The PowerPuff Girls pose again as before.

"...the Powerpuff Girls!" The girls said, excitedly.

Ima laughs softly and leans down to them. Her next words are delivered in a harsh, angry tone.

"And it is that kind of attitude that is going to change around here!" Ima yelled.

The girls react in shock.

"Girls, I have a hint for you. It rhymes with Azusa. You know, that girl from that anime I like." I said, happily. "It'll make sense with time."

"Uh-oh. Something is amiss... or maybe even soon, a Mrs!" The narrator said, worried.

It is now morning, and I know what is to come. But I know it is going to be long. Especially with the wait.

(Open POV)

"The next morning…" The narrator said.

The girls are set for action.

"Come on, girls! Townsville's in trouble!" Blossom said, angrily.

The PowerPuff Girls prepare to take off but find Ima in their way. She is now dressed casually but smartly, and addresses them in the same harsh tone that surprised them so much the night before.

"And just where do you think you're going?" Ima asked.

"We're going to fight crime!" Blossom yelled.

"That's what we do." Buttercup said, smirking.

"Duh!" Bubbles said, looking at Ima.

"Not today, you don't. You three left the living room a complete mess last night, and there will be no 'crime-fighting' until that room is SPOTLESS!" Ima said, angrily.

"No problem." Buttercup said.

The girls dash away.

The living room is indeed in disarray, but they put it shipshape in an instant.

"Done." Buttercup said, smirking.

"Fine, just fine." Ima said, walking past the girls towards a potted plant. "But I'm afraid you forgot…" She pushes the plant to the floor. "…this!" Now she approaches a picture on the wall, before tearing it down. "And this!" Ima is throwing mud on a window. "…and this!" She then smashes another vase. "…and this!" Ima is wrecking a board game. "And this! From now on you are forbidden to use your 'superpowers'!" The girls are cleaning implements in hand and dissatisfied looks on their faces. "You will do things like normal little girls!"

The girls are tidying up the living room and really not enjoying it a bit.

"And so the Powerpuff Girls clean the room like normal kids. Boring." The narrator said, wearily.

(Jared's POV)

The girls are lying in a sparkling room. They are wiped out. The Professor and I stepped into the room.

"Oh, girls! It's time for…" The Professor said, happily.

"The Puppet Pals Show!" I said, excitedly.

The girls perk up and zip into place on the couch, ready to watch their favorite show.

"Bed!" Ima said, in a soft tone.

This catches the girls off guard; I am looking between Ima and the Professor. Ima is now wearing a magenta dress.

"Uh, what? Uh… Bed?" The Professor asked.

"Well, honey, Jared, they are growing girls, and growing girls do need their rest…" Ima said, draping herself on the Professor and I. "...don't they?"

"Well, I-I-I…" The Professor said, at a loss for words.

"But, Professor...! But, Jared…!" The girls yelled, flying up to the Professor and I.

"Well, if Ima thinks it's time for bed, then I'll have to agree with her." The Professor said, letting out a sigh.

"As I said. Your only hint for this adventure is Azusa." I said, frowning. "I don't want to make things worse for you girls."

Ima throws a smirk at the girls, and they float slowly up the stairs, their heads down. The girls are under the covers of their bed and thoroughly unhappy. Bubbles has her octopus doll, but Ima snatches it away and leans down to her.

"And growing girls don't play with stupid dolls!" Ima said, in a harsh tone.

Bubbles's mouth wobbles and her eyes fill with tears at the prospect of having to spend a night without her favorite octopus doll. Ima is now at the door.

"Now, good night." Ima said, hatefully.

Ima turns off the lights and slams the door, blacking out the room - no hallway light for Bubbles.

"This stinks." Buttercup said, annoyed.

"It's too dark." Bubbles said, sadly.

"There's something fishy about that…" Buttercup said, and she is cut off by a buzzing noise and flashes of red light that illuminate the entire room.

The source of both is a hotline just like the one at Pokey Oaks Kindergarten.

"Never mind that for now. The city needs us!" Blossom yelled.

The girls take off.

"That's more like it!" The narrator cheered, with the girls flying towards the exterior of the house at night. "And so after a tiring evening of crime-fighting, the girls quietly return home."

The girls fly to the front door. Inside, the lights out, as they ease it open and tiptoe in, hoping to make it back into bed without being caught by the Professor, Ima, or I. They are stopped by an all-too-familiar voice.

"And just where have you three been?" Ima asked, in a harsh tone.

Across the room, Ima's eyes glint in what little light there is, and she switches on a nearby lamp to show herself, tinted in red tones from the light. She is quite put out at their late-night activities and having been out past the curfew she put down earlier.

"Well?!" Ima exclaimed.

"We were out fighting crime!" Blossom said, angrily.

"That's what we do." Buttercup said, smirking.

"Duh." Bubbles said, annoyed.

Those are not the words that Ima wanted to hear. The girls have intentionally disobeyed her orders. Ima grinds her teeth and holds back a roar of fury. Finally, she blows her top.

"THAT'S IT!" Ima said, pointing at the girls. "You three…" She extended her hand. "…are…" Ima is still looking at the girls. "…GROUNDED!"

The Professor and I are at the foot of the stairs, with us yawning in our pajamas - the yelling has woken us up.

"What's going on down here?" The Professor asked, yawning.

Ima whirls around in surprise and shock; she embraces the Professor and pulled me over to embrace me too.

"Oh, Professor, Jared, I was so worried!" Ima said, in a soft tone, sobbing. "I-I went to check on the girls, and they weren't in bed, so I waited and waited." She is fake-crying. "Oh! I was so worried. They purposely disrespected me and left to fight crime."

"Azusa." I said, looking over at the girls that showed Blossom's disbelief, Bubbles' guilt, and Buttercup's impatience. "Sorry about repeating it. But it's the only hint that makes sense."

"Oh, I just want to be good to them…" Ima said, still fake crying, as I looked back at her and the Professor. "…so I punished them. I just— I just— Oh…"

Ima faints in the Professor's arms.

The Professor's expression hardens into a stern scowl as he buys Ima's sob story and looks at the girls in disappointment, "Girls, she's only looking out for your best interest."

"But—But— But…" The girls said, sadly.

"No buts! You're g-g-g-grounded." The Professor said, frowning.

I looked at Ima's face as she threw a wicked look at the girls, bathing in victory at having outsmarted them, but the Professor did not catch it. They float sadly out of the room as he looks down at her unconscious form in his arms with deep concern. In the girls' bedroom, they are in bed and appearing very distressed.

"The Powerpuff Girls grounded?" The narrator asked, while it is still nighttime outside. "How can this be? What kind of crimes will go unpunished?" He looks at the front door. "What evil will befall Townsville?" The door opens, and Ima's silhouette slips out and runs across the lawn. "And…" He is changing gears. "...just where the heck is she off to?"

(Open POV)

PowerPuff Girls' bedroom…

The hotline goes off again. Blossom floats to it and picks up the call.

"Hello?" Blossom asked, without enthusiasm.

"Blossom, it's the Mayor." The Mayor said, over the hotline.

"Oh, hello, Mayor."

PowerPuff Girls' bedroom / Mayor's office…

The Mayor is on the other end, phone in hand.

"Blossom, I need your help right away." The mayor said, sadly.

"Sorry, Mayor, but we're grounded." Blossom said, letting out a sigh.

In the office, the Mayor's phone looks exactly like the one in the girls' room. Behind him, a woman's silhouette is seen reaching into an open wall safe. The figure has glowing red eyes and wildly overgrown hair.

"Well, you picked a fine night to be grounded. Sedusa is robbing my safe of its jewels as we speak." The mayor said, while the figure runs away and he calls after it. "Hey, put those back!"

"Sedusa?!" Blossom exclaimed, her fire returning. "That explains the rhyme Jared came up with. Azusa, a bassist from After-School Tea Time, her name sounds similar to Sedusa." Now she puts it all together. "Yes, that is quite a coincidence we got grounded. Don't worry, Mayor. We'll catch Sedusa…" She looked over at Bubbles and Buttercup. "…as soon as she gets home."

Utonium Residence…

In the darkened front hallway, the door opens slowly, and Ima tiptoes across. Now it is her turn to be brought up short by a familiar voice.

"And just where have you been?" Blossom asked, and across the room, three pairs of huge eyes gleamed in the darkness. "Well?"

Bubbles hit the lights; they are lit in the same red tone from before.

"Miss Goodelady?" Buttercup asked.

Ima has a bulging bag nestled in her arms. Her shocked expression when she first heard the girls catch her and looked up is now replaced by one of contempt.

"I thought I grounded you brats!" Ima said, in a harsh tone. "I'm getting the Professor and Jared."

"Afraid not, Ima. They've conveniently stepped out." Blossom said.

"And we know you're not such a good lady after all." Buttercup said.

"What's in the bag, Sedusa?" Bubbles asked, flying up to Ima and grabbed her hair and pulled.

The woman's dress rips away to expose Sedusa, the thief from the Mayor's office. Her outfit is almost completely red - long gloves and boots, leotard, fishnet stockings. The only other color she wears is black, on the pantyhose she has on under the fishnets. Locks of her long black hair writhe in all directions. She still holds the bag - the spoils from her caper. The harsh tone is her true voice; only her eyes carry any reminder of her alter ego, and she's livid at having been exposed without the Professor there for her to ask for help to maintain her cover.

"Sedusa?! Who woulda guessed it?" The narrator asked.

Bubbles grabs the bag and pulls.

"Let go!" Sedusa yelled.

The bag gives way, spilling gems all over the floor. Bubbles floats down to inspect them.

"Well, what do you know? The Mayor's jewels." Bubbles said, pointing at Sedusa. "Nice try, Sedusa, but the game's over."

"Ha! Never." Sedusa said, speaking in Ima's voice. "I'll just sweet-talk those saps of a Professor and of a fanboy. They'll believe me…" She went back to her own voice. "...and you three bug-eyed creeps will be grounded forever!"

Sedusa throws her head back and laughs maniacally.

"Ground this!" Bubbles said, pulling her fist back and pounding Sedusa in the face and backing up for another attack, but the criminal lashes out with a hank of hair and catches her around the waist.

Bubbles is flung across the room and into the wall. Now her sisters get into the game; Sedusa whips Blossom away, but Buttercup knocks the wind out of her and Blossom returns for another go. This time, she delivers an uppercut and Buttercup does likewise. Bubbles lands a one-two combo consisting of a stomp on Sedusa's foot followed up with a jumping uppercut. Buttercup kicks her in the back, driving her to her knees.

(Jared's POV)

At the front door, which opens to admit the Professor and I. The Professor's arms and my arms are are loaded with groceries. The beating continues, but the Professor does not immediately take notice of it.

"Oh, girls, we're back from the stoooOOORE?!" The Professor exclaimed, as he trails off, shocked, he drops his load. The girls now have Sedusa pinned. "What's going on here?"

"This isn't going to end well." I said, looking between the girls and the criminal - who is now up to her knees and rubbing her jaw. "By the looks of things."

"Oh, Professor, honey, Jared, dear, thank goodness you're both back." Sedusa said, in Ima's voice, pleading. "The girls just went crazy and jumped me when I came home."

"No, Professor, Jared, it's not true!" Blossom said, worried.

"She's really Sedusa!" Buttercup said, terrified.

"And she grounded us so she could make off with the Mayor's jewels!" Bubbles said, angrily.

"Liars!" Sedusa yelled, in her own voice, before going to Ima's voice. "Professor, sweetie, Jared, darling, you believe me, don't you?" She is reaching out to the Professor and I. "Please... Help me."

The Professor thinks this over for a long moment, the love of his girls colliding on his face with that for Ima and the debris scattering in all directions. His eyebrows work as the other four watch him intently and the tension mounts.

"Please." Sedusa said, whispering.

Another long moment of silence in which the tension becomes thick enough to choke a horse. Finally, the Professor takes Sedusa's hand. The girls gasp in disbelief and hang their heads. After a beat, the Professor made his decision.

"Girls, call the police." The Professor said, firmly.

They look up, their faces shining again. The Professor has locked Sedusa's arms behind her back with one of his own and put her in a headlock with the other. Sedusa's face is twisted into an angry grimace at the Professor refusing to fall for her tricks this time and restraining her until the law arrives to take her to prison. She's not fooling him any more.

"This crook isn't going to deceive us anymore." The Professor said, happily.

"Time to lock her up." I said, taking out a pair of handcuffs from my pocket and placing it on Sedusa's wrists, as her hands are behind her back. "Sedusa's off to jail, girls."

"Yay!" The girls said, excitedly.

Living room…

The family and I are again gathered around the TV.

"Well, it looks like things are back to normal at the Powerpuff household." The narrator said.

The doorbell rings. The Professor's hand is at the knob; now he is at the door.

"Hello, can I-I-I-I-I…" The Professor said, and he is right back where he started.

At ground level, looking out the door, to show a light blue skirt. It was part of a dress worn by a pretty woman with dark blond hair done up in a style similar to that of Donna Reed. She wears an apron and has large, twinkling eyes. Her voice is also quite pleasant.

"Hello. I live down the street, and I heard all about your apprehension of that vicious criminal, and so…" Woman 2 said, holding up a fresh pie. "...I baked you a pie."

"I-I-I-I-I…" The Professor said, while he is at a loss for words.

"Here we go again." I said, as the girls reacted in surprise. "Go get her!"

"Uh-oh! Here we go again!" The narrator said, and the girls fly to the door. "Better nip this one in the bud, girls."

Just before they can plow into the woman, the standard end shot comes up.

"And so once again the day is saved, thanks to the Powerpuff Girls." The narrator said.