Welcome audience to the revised version of Healing Through Hard Times. Nominated for the 1st TAWOG Awards and now the 2013 TAWOG Ceremony. I like to thank the people who helped support the story. Also, I might not be able to finish some stories for a while do to me working on a project. By that, I mean, Elmore Diaries. Not sure how long it will be, but I plan on making it a very interesting story. So, some stories will be hold off for a while. As for the Gumball Bioshock, it is to be set after the events of the first game but before the second game. Aside from that, hope you like this version.

Gumball wakes up to see white lights glaring at him from the ceiling. He faces forward to see some kind of mysterious man sitting on a chair across from him. The cat looks around to see he was in a hospital room. Something tells him this is not good

"Hello, Mr. Watterson." The man in black asked kindly. "How do you know my name?"

"That's not the point. We have questions for you young man. You're in a whole lot of trouble."

"What did I do?"

"Right. Forgot to mention that there is some slight memory loss."

"Memory loss? What happened?"

"I can't say. Still you to tell me."

"I don't know what happened. I can't remember. Can't think straight." The man groans. He hoped he would get some answer.

"Fine. Let's jog your brain a little bit. Now, what happened 2 months ago?"

"Well, I had a family, a life, went to school, and I had a girlfriend."

"Is her name Penny? Penny Fitzgerald?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Keep going."

"It all started fine until... well..."

"What is it?"

"I can't tell you

"You have to."

"Why, you suit?"

"I'm working with the government, young man. Provide me with answers or I could hand you in to the CIA."

"So, I did do something horrible. Enough for the US government to hunt me down?"

"Apparently. Now, tell me."

"After a few months, my mom had gotten and a promotion and she started working in the morning more. We were left with my dad who basically watched TV all day."

"I can see by the bills I checked from your family."

"I also have a brother, well not biological, but we adopted him. His name's Darwin. We have a biological sister, Anais, who's very smart for her age."

"Anais? I heard that name before. I believe she received a prize from the president for a revolution in weaponry. I believe she invented some kind of laser weapon or something to help combat foreign invaders. Not a chance that will ever happen."

"Anywho, the three of us walked to school when it was 7:00 to get there early on mom's first day of her promotion. We could have asked her to take us, but she was rushing. We didn't want to take a bus, actually, we couldn't take the bus because me and Darwin accidentally stink bombed it and we got banned from using it until the ban was lifted. The ban already passed then and we got to ride the bus again. Easier than walking. My feet got tired from walking all the way to school. Now we move on to our classmates."

"Yeah, please don't, son."

"Why?"

"The other students are not involved in this kind of situation. Only two of them are."

"Right. First is Penny. She was the best. I had known her from my childhood and through Jr. High. We had a lot of great time until she got involved in sports in High School. At her first volleyball game, she lead the team to victory. Eventually and surprisingly, the team got to the championships and won a trophy for our school. Man, that was great. I cheered her on at the championships. Another thing she got in band. At first, she didn't feel like trying. She never played on the piano before, but she found out that she was actually good. With that talent, she actually did manage to play at the town hall and even at Los Angeles and San Francisco. She is some kind of pianist prodigy. It was all good for a while when suddenly her dad started pushing her more, even making her own schedule. Basically, her schedule was filled. She had not time for fun. Of course, she only gets free time on Sundays because of her mom. That's beside the point. I don't get to see her much anymore. We see each other at school, our eyes looking at each other, lost in a trance. That is when the bell rang and the moment is ruined. Man, now that I think of it, I liked life better in Jr. High."

"I feel bad for you kid, but things change. You can't stop fate. Whether this is by choice or destiny, it happened because it happened. You understand?"

"I guess. I wish I had a time machine to send myself back in time to live my old life again."

"It'll be okay. That's all I can say."

"How do you know? You have a kid?"

"Actually, two kids. Well, now we have one. I have a son. He didn't pass away, he decided to join the army and fight in Iraq. Heard terrible things are happening there. Hope he's okay. Meanwhile, my little girl is here safe and sound while my son is in a war zone."

"Gee. Sorry."

"Like I said, things change. It happened because it happened. Now, let's go back to the one day where everything change for you. Tina, is it?"

"Yeah, Tina."

2 months ago

Gumball has awoke from his bed, got dressed and ready and headed downstairs to have breakfast. Anais baked them some good waffles, pancakes, eggs, sausage, and bacon. It was like a breakfast in heaven. Already sitting down and eating is Darwin Watterson, his adopted brother. In the living room lies Richard Watterson, already asleep from watching TV.

"So Gumball, what are you going to do?"

"Darwin, what are you talking about?"

"You know, the dance on friday."

"Oh right. Maybe I can ask Pen- never mind."

"Oh yeah, Penny's too busy now."

"What am I going to do?"

"Have you thought of asking someone else to the dance?"

"No dude. I'm in love in Penny no matter what. Nothing can separate us."

"If you say so dude."

"So, Darwin, who are you going to ask."

"Well... I... going to ask..." Darwin starts to get sweaty. Gumball knew what that meant. "You didn't think about it did you."

"Gumball, please give me some slack."

"Dude, if you're going to the dance, you need to at least have a date. How about Masami?"

"Don't you remember. She only used me to prove to the other girls she had a girlfriend."

"Rachel?"

"Maybe, but she always busy with her friends."

"What about Carrie?"

"Carrie, I wish, but I'm not a ghost."

"Well those is who I can think of. Got to ask one of them of your choosing."

"Okay. Got it. Want to check what's on TV?"

"Sure." As they went to change the channel on the TV, a breaking news is released on TV. The channel was on Elmore News and the words 'Breaking News: Man found dead inside house." appeared on the screen.

"Breaking news. In San Francisco, a man is found dead inside his own home. There is shown to be a sign of struggle. The victim's girlfriend was visiting him when she had seen his body. She immediately called the police and the department came a few minutes after. Police has stated on the report that the man was brutally assaulted. Most of his skin was cut out and his scalp was scratched. His body is also reported to have been burned, possibly due to gasoline found in the closet. The victim's girlfriend said he never owned a can of gasoline leading this to be a murder. No evidence or motives has been discover so far, but police investigation is on the way."

"More murders. That's the 10th one this week. What the hell is happening, Darwin?"

"I don't know, bro. You think is some sort of conspiracy?"

"Come on, dude. Don't turn into some kind of conspiracy theorist. You know I hate conspiracy theorist just like I hate alien conspiracy theorist."

"Gumball, but aliens are real. Aliens came to earth, but to live with us. Don't you remember, the Galactic Republic and all that?"

"Of course I do. I mean I hated the alien conspiracy theorist before. Besides, we also haven't seen the Galactic Republic in months."

"Where do you think they're are?"

"Probably dealing with other things in the galaxy."

"If you say so."

"Gumball, Darwin, come on, we need to go to school. We can use my car." Anais called out. The three left after saying goodbye to their dad, who was apparently still sleeping. Anais recently got her driver's license and so did Darwin. In fact, everyone had one but Gumball and he was sixteen years old. Besides that point, Anais drove the brothers to school. When they have gotten there, it was 7:55. Anais had class starting at 8:00 so she said goodbye to her brothers and went to her advanced science class. Gumball and Darwin in the meantime hangout with their old friends like Banana Joe, Tobias, Bobert, and Clayton. All of them talked about the game they played last night. The game they played was called Frontlines. On multiplayer, they played as the Marines while battling the opposing team, the Japanese army. Tobias went ahead and exposed their team's position, and the result is the entire marine being terminated by the Japanese army team. Tobias did it because he didn't know the plan, so he went Leroy Jenkins on them. They're still mad at him. It had reached 8:15 and it is time to go to class. To their surprise, they found out their substitute teacher was Miss Simian. Their classroom teacher got sick and then somehow cut off his hand in one day. How was that possible? Anyway, he has been put in a hospital for who knows how long. Turns out that this sickness is not a mere flu. Could be something serious or worse. So, the school hired Miss Simian because she won an award for best teacher. What they don't know is that Miss Simian pretended to be nice to get the award. Only Gumball and his family know this.

"Hello class. I see you are surprise as I am. I believe you know me as Miss Simian. I know you hate me with all your guts, but you will have to deal with it cause I have the control. Step out of line and you will be put in detention!"

"Yeah right." Banana Joe begins laughing. Somehow, in a few seconds, he was put immediately in detention.

"She wasn't kidding." Joe said in shock. Every student after sawing that became stiff. Just what Miss Simian wanted. For the rest of class, the students payed attention to what she is saying. If they fall out of line, they would be put in detention until who knows. She decided when they should go. No time is chosen. Just random. Luckily, they manage to survive class and got out without getting into trouble. Though, poor Banana Joe. He had to stay put until Miss Simian decides to let him go. They all went to lunch. Today's lunch is meatloaf, although, not properly made. It is raw and mostly burnt. Gumball was happy because this is when he usually gets to talk with Penny because they can't talk to each other except on Sundays. While Darwin and the others hang out, he headed to Penny's table which only had one person which is herself. Now that she was busy, she couldn't hang out with friends. So, her friends hang out with each other, which made Penny feel lonely. Once she sees Gumball coming, her frown turns into a smile.

"Hi Penny." Said Gumball, sitting next to her. "Hey Gumball."

"So how have things been for you?"

"Well, it's been stressful. Our next tournament is next week and I have to practice. This week, I have to play a song for the governor of Elmore. Also, my dad has been showing me other schools to attend."

"Man, that stink- wait, your dad wants you to go to other schools?!"

"Yeah. It stinks. I want to stay here. My friends are here and I been here my whole life. At last, I think I still have friend. I only usually hang out with Leslie since he doesn't have anything else to do. The girls on the other hand has other things like meeting boys, going out, going on trips, throwing parties. Man, I wish I could do that."

"Why don't you just quit?"

"I wish, but my dad. He's just pushing me."

"Why don't you tell your mom about how this makes you feel?"

"I feel if I tell her, it might strain her relationship with my dad."

"Oh. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"I got an idea. Why don't you come over Sunday and maybe you can help me with my song I'm playing."

"Sure. I would do anything to make you happy."

"Thanks Gumball." Penny leaned in and slowly gave Gumball a hug, making his body turn all red and his back tingled. From there, the bell rang an hour later. Penny and Gumball went their separate ways to continue their own classes. Gumball tried to stay up in his other classes, but he was so bored. To pass most of the time, he doodled in his notebook. Most of them about Penny and him. He does it when the teachers are not looking, although, in one class, mainly math, Tobias took a peak at the drawings and gave a grin to Gumball. Gumball wondered why he even hangs out with him. As time passed, it eventually is time for PE. Good news, the day was almost over. Bad news, it was dodgeball, Gumball and Darwin's most disliked sport. On the opposing team was The Jocks. Yeah, the name the others chosed were The Jocks. Cheesy and unoriginal. The only members they had to fear were Tina and Tobias. On Gumball's team were the weakest players there was like the Eggheads. Basically, they were screwed. What also made it worse was Bobert. He was on their team. Even though and Gumball and Darwin are grateful for him being on their team, they were also worried, as he could get into his giant robot transformation. If he did, he would destroy the school and worse of all, principle Brown would blame them. He said if they don't watch Bobert, he would hold Gumball and Darwin responsible.

"Alright, class. Today we're playing dodgeball. Now remember, rules is if you get hit, you're out. You catch a ball, the thrower is out and the other team's member is in. That's it. Now, let's have some fun" The coach blew his whistle. Soon dodgeball are flying everywhere. The Eggheads try to dodge, but they ended up getting out.

"Gumball, what do we do?" Darwin asked. "I don't know buddy, but we will survive."

"How? We're in a battlefield."

"Watch out."

"Huh?" Darwin quickly dodges the ball after seeing it. It again hits the Eggheads. "Thanks Gumball."

"You're welcome. Now, how do we get ourselves out of this situation?"

"I know. I'm part sucker fish, remember?"

"What about it?"

"I can suck up the balls and fire at them."

"That sounds like a great plan, but we have to do it without getting hit."

"I understand that." Gumball grabbed Darwin and the fish sucked the balls straight into his mouth. "Oh no." Tobias said. Before they could evade, they are all shot with the dodgeballs. To the coach's surprise, he expected the Jocks to win. Looks like he was wrong.

"Looks like you two and that little robot of yours are the only one's left. We have a winner." The losers groan in defeat and shame.

"Great job Darwin. You're the best brother ever."

"You two dude." The two gave each other a hug, but it results in a leftover dodgeball that comes flying out his mouth. It bounced all over the gym until it hit Bobert.

"Oh oh." Gumball said, now terrified. "Attack identified. Initiating defense mode." The tiny robot transformed into his defense mode, which includes machine gun hands and missiles. The brothers quickly ran out the gym with Bobert now on their tail. The coach is left in the gym in soot.

"Lousy kids." He said before he passes out. Bobert fires his machine guns loaded with laser bolts that came flying at them. They dodged everyone. Then came the missile, which destroyed most of the lockers, turning them into ash. The student who owned those lockers are not going to be happy. They ran into the bathroom, hoping to avoid confrontation with the robot. To their shock, they were in the girl's bathroom. The girls in the bathroom shriek. They even shrieked more when Bobert destroyed the bathroom. Good thing no one was using the toilet. Gumball and Darwin resume their run until they have reached the outside of the school.

"Darwin, where's Anais's car?"

"Over there." He shouted pointing it out. They broke into the car. When they try to start the car, they remembered something.

"Gumball, wait, we don't have our driver's license." Bobert quickly busts through the doors of the school.

"Really, Darwin, you want to deal with that?!" Darwin looked at Bobert and then Gumball, comparing the both of them.

"Good point, driver!" Gumball starts driving the car down the streets with the giant robot still hot on the trail, trying to hunt them down like little bugs looking for food. Without knowingly, the two passed a traffic light during a green, causing most of the other drivers to crash into each other. They then pass a doughnut cop who was watching the speed.

"Oh, these hooligans are on big trouble now!" Before he takes off, he looks to see a giant robot following them. His color is flushed out of him.

"Never mind." The cop said before going back to drink his coffee. This proves how lazy the police department is. Seriously, where is the swat team and the military? Back to the chase. The cat and fish are still trying to get away, but Bobert was so huge, he could spot him anywhere.

"We are so dead. You just had to spit at him did you." Gumball scolding his brother. "Me! I didn't know there was an extra ball."

"Really so you didn't watch the balls you sucked in?"

"Yes, but that's not the point. We got to find a way to stop him."

"Can we try to reason with him?"

"I think it's already passed that."

"Well it's not like there is a water tower that is big enough to stop him."

"That's it, we need a water tower."

"Where are we going to find one?" Gumball turned Darwin's head around, pointing at the conveniently placed water tower.

"I think you made your point Gumball. Now, you distract him while I'll ram the car in order for the water tower to fall."

"I have to do it."

"Hey, you survived his attack last time, right?"

"Yeah, barely."

"Just do it dude."

"Fine." Gumball gets out the car, running towards Bobert and kicked him in the feet, only to feel sharp pain tingle through his feet. The laser guns now point at him and the missiles.

"Crud." Gumball said, when the laser bolts are fired. He ran and ran in order to evade them and the missiles. It took a while, but it finally reached the point when Bobert had to use a laser beam on him. Gumball stared at the lasers and waited for his end. The lasers caused a giant explosion that can be seen throughout Elmore. It was like an atom bomb was dropped, except it was not that radioactive. Gumball thankfully survived. Bobert raised his foot and was about to squish Gumball when the water tower went and hit him, water spilling out, which caused him to short circuit and fall.

"Gumball, you okay?" Darwin asked running towards him after leaving the car which had minor damage.

"Sure buddy, I'm okay."

"Looks like we did it."

"Yep. What do we do now?"

"I say you should see me in my office." The two are stunned when they turned around. Facing them was the high school principle.

"Hi Mr Johnson." Both said in fear. "You two come to my office now! No buts." The two quietly listened and follow his orders. Now they were really going to the doghouse. Meanwhile, a couple blocks away was the Elmore hospital. In one of the rooms lied the teacher who was support to teach. Now, here he was, sick with some sort of terminal illness. Sitting next to him seems to be an old friend watching over him. The old teacher opened his eyes to see his friend staring at him.

"Hi Nate, how have you been?"

"Good. Looks like you are stuck in a pickle here, Matt."

"Yeah, doctors said it was a terminal illness."

"Sucks to be you. Anyone teaching at the high school? A substitute?"

"Yes. She's a teacher from Jr. High. We had no other teachers available for the job."

"Is she good?"

"Not really. From what I heard from my two students, she cheated her way to winning the teacher of the year award. I didn't believe them at first, but in my mind, I secretly believed them, at least now."

"Great. Great for you. Also, didn't you used to have another job?"

"Yeah. I remembered working at the rainbow factory."

"What did you do?"

"I helped in shipping. I was the vice manager once."

"So do the vice managers knew some things?"

"Yes, including what is in the stuff we sell."

"You know, it would be nice if you could tell me."

"I don't know, Nate. I don't trust people with my secrets."

"Hey, I'm been you're best friend since 4th grade. You can tell me."

"Okay, if you say so. You can not tell anyone else. Are we clear?"

"Yes sir." The teacher whispered everything into the man's ear. After it has been spilled, Nate was now satisfied.

"Great. Pleasure doing business with you." Nate walks out of the hospital room, leaving the friend to sleep. Something suddenly prevents him from doing that. He could feel sweating and his chest was in pain. He thought he was having a heart attack. He can not die now. He has a family. Matt looks at his chest to find out a shocking secret. Before he could call someone, the entire room exploded, shaking the hospital and stirring up terror as the staff ran away from the explosion. Nate walked away casually. Maybe too casually.

"Like I said Matt, pleasure doing business with you. Thanks for the tips." He said chuckling. Nate ran out of the hospital before the police could arrive to see what he has done. They wouldn't find him, oh no. He would be long gone, disappeared to nowhere. That doesn't matter now. He had what he needed to fire up the thing.

I hope you enjoyed reading this first chapter of my revised Healing Through Hard Times. Don't worry, you will be expecting drama and more hurt/comfort in the next chapters, so don't worry about it. I won't leave that out. Although, I might not be able to update soon because I'm working on another story for another category. So, until then, this is Laengruk signing off. Happy one year anniversary to Healing Through Hard Times. Sorry that I didn't release the story on March 26th.