Chapter 3: New record.


*still normal at Townsville. 4 hours and still no monster attacks. It's currently naptime at Pokey Oaks Kindergarten. And yet, there's one who's having a hard time sleeping...right next to the PPG*

Shad: How did this happen? I was just drawing pictures and next thing I knew I'm sitting and napping with...them! I wanted to sit with them but how can I be their friend if I'm not a superhero? All I did was just get even more nervous ever since I started sitting next to Bubbles. Every time I got called on since then I got the wrong answer. I keep letting them down even if Blossom says it's all right. It's all right to her. She's the smart one in this class. The only good thing I learned is that heroes aren't good at everything.

*flashback to art class*

Shad: That...that's a hamster?! :ogle: *stares at some feathered mesh that obviously isn't a hamster*

Bubbles: Sure. What do you think?

Shad:... :eyepopping:

Buttercup: Mush! That's what he thinks.

Bubbles: Yours doesn't look any better!

Shad: Wait. Um...*removes a few feathers from the "hamster", rearranges the remaining ones and adds google eyes and strands of paper for a mouth* Uh...will this do?

Blossom: It looks a little like a hamster now.

Bubbles: It even has a mouth now. Thanks Shad!

Shad: *blushes* Uh...t-t-thanks?

*end flashback*

Shad: I'm their friend now. Sort of. And friends help friends...I think. I helped Bubbles fix her hamster, but arts and crafts are nothing compared to what they do best. How can I really help them if I don't have any powers? Now I feel so shaky just lying down with them I can't sleep. Unless...*reaches out for something from under his blanket* Huh? Where is it?

*Shad stands up and tip-toes toward his bookbag. He slowly zips it open and takes out what appears to be a small, squishy plushie in the form of Bubbles*

Shad: There. I feel like butterflys are in my tummy when I'm sleeping with the real thing.

???: Sleeping with what?

*Shad turns around to see not blue, but big round pink eyes*

Shad: AHH! *jumps up in fright* W-w-w-why do you keep doing that?

Blossom: Doing what?

Shad: That thing. You say something, I turn around and I see really really big eyes up...*realizes it's Blossom and not Bubbles* Oopsie. I thought you were Bubbles. She keeps doing that.

Blossom: She does that to the other students sometimes. I was asleep until I heard someone talking about not being able to help us and being some sort of burden, something like that. Was that you?

Shad: *gulp* Maybe. I just can't sleep without...this. *shows Blossom the Bubbles plushie*

Blossom: I know those. They were really big a while back.

Shad: I got it for my birthday last year. I thought the nightmares wouldn't come if I sleep with this. It's also a keychain for my key.

Blossom: I heard you say something about getting nervous just being with the real thing. With Bubbles.

Shad: What can I do? I always wanted to help you Powerpuffs but I can't! I have no powers, I feel scared easily, I even sleep with the hallight on with my room door creaked open! What do I have in common with any of you?! Anything I can't do, you can do.

Blossom: You just read Bubbles like a map, you know that? She sleeps with the hallight on too. And she sort of falls apart when it comes to ghosts and horror movies and stuff. Not counting the "no powers" part of course. And you help her fix her feather hamster. Didn't look like you used any powers to do that.

Shad: That was a tiny thing. You all fight robbers and monsters and a supersmart monkey man. You're all superpowered and I'm a normal.

Blossom: Strange. Bubbles didn't seem to care when she kept coming to your old table. And she got you to come here on your own. She's the type of person who wanted you to have a friend whether you were a superhero or not.

Shad: ...........

Blossom: When you sleep, what do you dream about?

Shad: Huh? Why'd she...? NO! * covers himself with blanket*

Blossom: It's probably not that...

Shad: Nuh-uh! Who cares? It's not like it's real.

Blossom: Let me guess: You dream that you're a superhero don't you?

Shad: How did she?..........

Blossom: I'm right, aren't I?

Shad: I dream that I save the world before bedtime with all of you. It's the only time I don't feel nervous, or scared, or anything that keeps me from at least talking to you, or anyone. There, I said it. Happy?

Blossom: That wasn't so hard just saying that. So just go to sleep. Naptime's almost over and Ms. Keane will be here any minute.

Shad: Fine. Just don't bother me again.

Blossom: Just one more question: Do you happen to like Bubbl...*Shad snores loudly. Blossom sighs* Figures.

*just outside the classroom, Ms. Keane oversees everything through the door window. She then takes out a stopwatch and clicks it twice*

Ms Keane: Well well. 6 minutes of chit-chat. New record.


End of Chapter 3.