Chapter 13: A Girl and her Gumlump
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. I know many of you are excited to see what I have planned and don't worry it's coming. In the meantime I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
In the Mysticon base, all the lights were turned off as Arkayna appeared in her Dragon Mage outfit.
"Unleash the Dragon!" Firing the green dragon, it flew across the room breathing fire to the many candles on a cake.
"It's the most beautifullest cake in the whole wide realm." Piper said with a big smile on her face.
"Yeah it is. I baked my heart out." Doug said.
"I can't believe you're already 110." Zarya said.
"Happy Star Day Piper!" Everyone said.
"Now blow out the candles and make a wish." Ryou said.
'I wish I can get a kiss from Ryou.' Piper thought before blowing out the candles. "It's present time."
"You're going to love it." Malvaron said as Sophie put a gift in front of her. "What did we get her again?"
"Don't worry I picked it up myself. She'll love it." Sophie said as Piper tore off the wrapping to reveal a small stuffed Griffin.
"A stuffed toy?" Piper said holding it up.
"Nailed it, best gift ever." Doug said when Piper started to sniffle.
"Why? Why?" Piper cries throwing the toy away. "I wanted a pet. Please will you get me a pet. What could go wrong?"
"Piper, you don't exactly have the best history with pets." Ryou said.
"Remember Floaty the Goldfish?" Zarya asks.
"Yeah?" Piper said.
"Remember why he was called Floaty the Goldfish?" Ryou adds.
"Yeah." Piper frowns.
"And what about Squashy the Fruit fly, he lasted seconds. Seconds!" Zarya said.
"Before he could experience the succulent taste of fresh peach?" Em asks.
"I'm afraid so." Ryou sighs.
"The world is so cruel." Em said.
"I guess I guess I just don't deserve a pet." Piper said breaking out the doe eyes.
"Oh come on you two what's the worse that can happen?" Tecna asks.
"You're right! This time will be different! I promise, I pinky promise. No, I double pinkie promise. We swear to be good pet owners. Please." Piper begs.
"Ugh fine." Zarya sighs.
"I hate it when you use the Doe eyes." Ryou sighs.
"I'm getting a pet!" Piper cheers turning into Mysticon Striker and throwing glitter bombs everywhere. "And I'm gonna be super responsible!" Piper said throwing a blast into the air causing the chandelier to crash down. "I didn't know we had a chandelier."
"What's the worst that could happen, huh?" Zarya said sarcastically.
"I'm starting to see why you two said no." Tecna said as Piper chuckles nervously.
In Drake City, Medusa was doing an interview with Gawayne as he showed her a line of gold statues of himself.
"As you can see, I've made several improvements to Drake City. There's my Urban Beautification Project, my Softer Sidewalk initiative and my No King shall go Hungry program." Gawayne said as they walked down a red carpet and he was fed a taco.
"All these programs are great, but what about helping others?" Medusa asks.
"Others? What are others?" Gawayne asks acting like he never heard that word before.
"Other people. It would be great if you used your powers as king to help them, like the Mysticons do." Medusa said when Arkayna, Zarya, Piper, Em, Ryou, and Sophie walked by.
"Mysticons?! Who cares about the Mysticons?" Gawayne asks outraged when Piper appears on camera with him.
"Yeah Mysticons rock! I'm getting a pet!" Piper said excited.
"Uh this is my exclusive interview, nobody cares about others." Gawayne said when Medusa walks over towards Arkayna.
"Do you agree Princess Goodfey?" Medusa asks.
"Yeah do the Mysticonssss rock?" One of her snakes ask.
"Uh yeah they do: they're smart, strong and stylish defenders of good. Love you Dragon Mage." Arkayna said.
"Whoo! Mysticon Ranger!" Zarya cheers.
"Mysticon Knight." Em cheers.
"I'm all for Mysticon Tacitician." Ryou smiles.
"He is the handsome one of the group." Sophie said causing Ryou to blush.
"Uh really?" Ryou said.
"Yes, in fact I wouldn't mind getting to know him." Sophie smirks.
Before Ryou could say something Piper grabs him.
"Come on! We have to get to the Pet Store before all the good ones are gone!" Piper said pulling him away.
"Shoo, shoo get off my carpet. Now less talk about the Mysticons and more talk about me." Gawayne said grabbing the camera.
Making their way to an alley, they saw multiple crates lined up.
"Are you sure this is the place?" Ryou asks.
"It doesn't look like a pet store." Zarya said.
"More like a pet cemetery." Em said.
"The app said this was the place." Arkayna said looking at her glyph.
"Ooh I see the pets!" Piper runs to a box and multi-eyed creature let out a fierce roar. "Too roary." Walking over to another box whatever was inside it was trying to punch its way out. "Too punchy." Opening another one and a horrible smell came out. "Too farty."
"Maybe we should try another pet store." Arkayna said none of them noticing a small blob like creature coming out of the sewers.
"Agreed." Sophie nods.
"What are you saying my Pet Store isn't good enough for ya Princess?" Looking up they saw Mathis looking down at them.
"Mathis. I knew this wasn't legit." Zarya glares.
"Anything to make a quick buck, huh?" Ryou glares.
"Chill you two, have a look at the beasties. Maybe we can find something cuter than that lame old Foz." Mathis said as Choko growled at him.
Suddenly Piper heard something from a bucket. Looking inside it was the blob thing that came out of the sewer. "Aw look at you."
"What is that thing?" Ryou asks as they all look at it.
"That is uh…my best seller and it's yours for only 50 gold." Mathis said.
"50? That is total robbery." Arkayna said.
"Robbery because he's stolen my heart." Piper sighs.
"We'll give it to you for 30." Sophie said.
"45." Mathis said.
"35." Sophie said.
"40 and that's my final offer." Mathis said.
"Deal." Sophie said as she gave him the money.
"Not bad Sophie." Ryou said impressed.
"I'm gonna name you Puddin." Piper said picking it up only for Puddin to slip out of her grip. "Oops."
At the Royal Palace, Gawayne was leading Medusa to the top deck.
"The pool, the cabana mermaids, the way the sun makes my Iris' pop. Make sure you get my good side. I know it's hard to choose." Gawayne said when Medusa remembered something.
"Wait, this is where the Mysticons battled Dreadbane. Isn't it?" She recalls.
"Stop!" Gawayne said as his hovrboard stopped causing him to fall into the pool. "Why is everyone so obsessed with the Mysticons?!"
"Because they're heroes." Medusa said.
"People love heroes your highnessss." One of her snakes hissed.
"Well I'm not finished, you want to see a hero? I'll give you a hero." Gawayne said.
In the Mysticon base, Tecna looks to see Piper empty the bucket to let out Puddin on the couch next to Choko.
"What is that thing?" Tecna asks.
"You've never seen it? I was hoping you knew." Ryou asks.
"I'm not seeing any records of a creature like this in my database." Tecna said looking at her glyph.
Puddin moved towards Choko but he hissed at him.
"Relax Choko, it's just a pile of harmless goop." Zarya said.
"The cutest goop in the cosmoverse." Piper said hugging Puddin. "Are you hungry?" Taking out some Foz food she feeds Puddin but he just spit it out. "Hmm guess you don't like Foz food. What do you blobs eat?" Taking out her glyph she typed it in getting Puddin's attention. "Oh you like magic huh?"
"Uh Piper, maybe you shouldn't feed an unknown creature magic." Arkayna suggests.
"Right, responsible. Come on Puddin." Piper said grabbing Puddin.
Throughout the day, Piper took Puddin and Choko out to try and do normal pet stuff but no matter what she tried it all ended the same with Puddin soaking Choko in one way or another.
In Piper's room, Puddin was laying on her bed as Piper had a sock puppet on her hand.
"Then Mysticon Striker was like WAH! HIYAH!" Piper said kicking some stuffed animals away from Puddin. "And she freed Puddin from the evil Goblin Bunnies." Piper said when Puddin turned darker. "You're not looking too good Puddin. I know. I'll show you box of wonders. That always cheers me up."
Piper reached in and showed Puddin multiple magical objects, but with each one she took out Puddin drained the magic from it and multiplied. But she didn't realize it until it was too late.
"Oh hi Puddin." She said before turning fully and gasping. "Oh my goblin! You're Puddinses!" Piper gasps when they started moving towards her. "Puddins, sit, sit Stay!" Piper orders but they all jumped into her chest causing them to multiple even more.
Panicking Piper jumps out of her room and seals the hatch shut. "That should hold them." She jumps down to see Ryou walking over. "Aah! Ryou! Uh hi."
"Hey how's Puddin doing? He's not lost or starving, is he?" Ryou asks.
"They're definitely not starving." Piper said.
"They?" Em asks as she, Zarya, Arkayna, Sophie and Tecna came over.
"I mean he. He is definitely full." Piper corrects when she heard the hatch crack. "Hey uh why don't we all hit the Snork Stand?"
"I'm really glad you're taking the whole pet thing so seriously." Arkayna said.
"Yeah good job." Sophie said when two popped out.
"Hey uh Piper. We want to apologize." Zarya said as Piper hid behind them.
"Uh really?" Piper asks.
"Yeah you're really doing great." Ryou smiles when suddenly the hatch burst open and all the Puddins rained down on them.
Pikcing themselves up both Ryou and Zarya glare at her.
"Oopsie." Piper said.
As the Puddins entered the main area they all looked in shock.
"Piper what did you do?" Zarya asks.
"I don't know! One minute I'm showing Puddin my treasure chest and the next thing I know all these are appearing.
Suddenly one jumps on their magical TV and absorbs it creating 5 more.
"And they keep showing up." Em panics when Malvaron and Doug came in.
"Oh man who let in the Gumlumps?" Doug asks.
"Gumlumps?" Arkayna asks.
"Interplanet pests with a ravenous appetite for magic. We gotta deal with them before they escape the stronghold." Malvaron warns.
"Don't worry I got this." Zarya said changing into Mysticon Ranger.
"No! They're attracted to magic!" Mavaron warns.
"Can they drain our magic?" Arkayna asks.
"What about our Titans?" Sophie asks.
"They could drain all the magic in the Cosmoverse if this gets out of hand." Malvaron said.
"The Codex pieces!" Tecna points to see all the Gumlumps making their way towards them and the Dragon Disk.
"Ryou, Tecna, Sophie get us a way out!" Arkayna said as the Mysticons grabbed their Codex Pieces and the Dragon Disk.
"Hyperstride!" The three of them said leaping them up to the lab area.
"That was close. Gasp my Hexbox." Doug points when a Gumlump drained the magic from it. "My leaderboard score!"
"Let it go Doug." Sophie and Ryou said.
"We need to figure out how to stop this infestation." Malvaron said.
"If we contain them in here the city should be safe." Arkayna said.
Unfortunately, a Gummlump found a way out through the sewers and were attacking every item with magic they could find and everyone in Drake City who used magic in their daily lives.
In the Royal Vault, Medusa was looking around for whatever it is Gawayne was gonna show her.
"Alright, King Gawayne so you brought us here to show us the original Mysticons?" Medusa asks looking at the statue.
"Uh no I brought you here to show you this." Gawayne said descending down in some kind of suit. Meet the Gawayne a lot 3000."
"How aspirational." One of her snakes said.
"This is made from various magical items from around the vault." Gawayne said before crashing down into some gold.
"You're saying you're gonna be a hero of Drake City?" Medusa asks.
"Why not? I'm handsome, charismatic…did I mention handsome? Why do the Mysticons get all the fun?" Gawayne asks when Medusa got a message.
"This just in, Drake City is overrun with hideous slug monsters. Your highness, what are you gonna do?" Medusa asks.
"Sssounds like hero time." Her snake said.
"Awesome! I can't wait to kick some slug butt and use my catchphrase: show no mercy, show no—" Gawayne goes down the elevator to show Gummlups taking over the palace causing him to scream. "What is that?!" He screams as they go back up.
Back in the stronghold, all of them saw the Gumlumps taking over.
"So much for keeping them in the stronghold." Sophie cringed.
"Guess they found a way out." Em said.
"Way to go Pipes." Zarya blames.
"Hey this was an accident. At least we saved the Codex Pieces." Em said when Tecna found something in a book.
"Okay here it is. Apparently 2000 years ago there was a Gumlump infestation that nearly ravaged half the Cosmoverse." Tecna read.
"How did they stop it?" Ryou asks.
"The Astromancers stopped them by summoning a great firestorm that caused all the Gumlumps to—" Before Malvaron could finish Doug shushed him.
"Ixnay on the illing kay." He whispered before turning to Piper. "They sent the Gumlumps to live on a very nice farm."
"What?! I know what the very nice farm is and you can't send my Puddins there!" Piper said.
"Don't worry Piper, we won't. What's the very nice farm?" Em whispers.
"Uh Em it's what people say sometimes instead of—"
"She doesn't need to know Tecna." Sophie interrupts.
"Look I'm no Rocket Mage, but if Gumlumps eat magic, can we send them to an anti-magic dimension?" Zarya suggests.
"The Scroll of the Plane!" Arkayna and Malvaron said at the same time.
"There's a Nexus Point in Centaur Park. If we can lure the Gumlumps there, we can trap them." Malvaron said looking at a scroll.
"Yaay! These will be safe on the Astromancers Island until then." Piper said holding the Codex.
"And this will all be a nightmare that will haunt me in my sleep forever and ever." Doug said as a Gumlump appeared on his shoulder causing everyone to cringe.
"Doug, don't move an eye." Arkayana warns.
Doug looks over at the Gummlump and screams. "Get it off! Get it off!" Throwing it away it latches onto the Codex causing everyone to gasp as it glowed.
"Oh my goblin! The Codex!" Em screams as Malvaron knocks it away.
"Take cover!" Malvaron yells as he jumps on it causing the Gumlum to explode creating dozens of them and draining Malvaron of his magic.
"Malvaron!" Piper screams.
"Magic drained. You must open the portal on your own." Malvaron said weakly.
"We will Malvy, we will." Piper said closing his eyes.
"I'm just resting." He said swatting her hand away.
"Come on Mysticons and Seekers, we got a city to save. If we're not too late." Arkayna gulps.
Back at the Royal Vault, Medusa was pulling Gawayne by his leg but Gawayne refused to budge.
"No, no, no! I am not going out there!" Gawayne whines.
"Get out there and save the city! All I have is a day in the life of a boring king story!" Medusa said dragging Gawayne down the elevator and throwing him down to the Gumlumps.
Screaming Gawayne fires magical blasts at the Gumlumps but that just made them all multiply.
"Out of my way! Nothing comes between me and a story!" Medusa said following after the screaming King.
Running through Centaur Park, Ryou, Arkayna, Zarya, Piper and Em had turned into their Mysticon forms while Sophie and Tecna were in their spy outfits.
"Okay once we get to the Nexus point, I open the portal." Arkayna said.
"We lure the Gumlumps in." Zarya said.
"They release all the magic they absorb." Em said.
"And we seal them inside the anti-magic dimension." Sophie said.
"Permanently?" Piper asks.
"Yes, permanently." Ryou said.
"There it is." Tecna points seeing the Nexus Point with only one Gumlump near it.
"And only one Puddin, easy peasy." Piper smiles.
"Make way for the real hero!" All of them looked to see Gawayne flying past them towards the Gumlump.
Screaming Gawayne blasts the Gummlump turning one into many.
"So much for easy." Tecna mutters.
"Was that Gawayne?" Em asks.
"What's he doing?" Arkayna asks when Medusa pushes past them.
"Out of my way! Big story!" Medusa yells.
"I really that spoiled brat." Ryou mutters.
"Join the club." Sophie groans.
"What do we do now?" Piper asks.
"We keep them away from Arkayna, if even one touches her it's goodbye powers." Em said.
"And I won't be able to open the Nexus point." Arkayna said.
"I got your back Princess!" Zarya draws her bow and starts whacking Gumlumps away but after whacking away a few her bow disappeared. "Uh oh." Zarya jumps to avoid but one catches her and drains her of her Mysticon powers. "Let me get a pet she said. What could go wrong she said." Zarya growls.
Summoning her shield Em charges into a large pile of Gumlumps but once they collided Em turned back to normal.
"Keep going I got this!" Piper said as Arkayna, Tecna and Sophie ran to the Nexus point unawre of a Gumlump behind her.
"Piper lookout!" Ryou runs in front of her as the Gumlumps dogpile him draining him of his magic turning him back to normal.
"Ryou! No!" Piper screams as the Gumlumps got her too turning her back to normal and multiplying. "Oh no! The Puddins ate my magic too!"
As Arkayna opened the portal Sophie, Tecna and Choko fought them off.
"Scroll of Planes your powers I enlist, open a portal to where Magic cannot exist!" Arkayna declares as they drained the magic from Sophie and Tecna. "Alright Puddins follow the magic beam."
As they hopped in everyone thought the day was saved until one hopped on Arkayna draining her staff before the rest of them drained her of her magic.
"What do we do now? We don't have any more magic to lure them in." Zarya asks.
"It's all my fault, I was a bad pet owner, but now I'm gonna fix this." Piper said taking out her glyph. "Your highness, I need your help."
"Sorry pipsqueak, I'm in the middle of running for my life." Gawayne answers.
"My name is Piper and you're the only one who can save the realm." Piper said.
"Did you just say Sir Gawaynealot is our last hope?!" Medusa asks running headfirst into a tree.
"No I'm not! I am out of here!" Gawayne declares.
"Wait, wait! I can tell you how to make the Mysticons look like fools." Piper said.
"Now you're speaking my language." Gawayne said as he flew back to them. "Ha! So much for your great Mysticons!"
"Oh they just cut and run." Piper said.
"They are such cowards." Arkayna said.
"Especially that hopeless Dragon Mage." Sophie said as Arkayna elbows her.
"If only someone would save us." Tecna said as Piper hopped on Gawayne's back.
"We need a real hero to lure the Gumlumps into that portal. Be that hero, make the Mysticons look bad." Piper said.
"Alright, let's round up some Gumlumps, whatever they are." Gawayne said flying off.
Flying around Drake City, Piper and Gawayne rounded up all the Gumlumps leading them to the portal.
"Okay, let's ditch the suit in the portal and get outta here." Piper said.
"What?! No way am I giving up this primo suit!" Gawayne said.
"Do you want to make the Mysticons look bad or what?" Piper asks.
"Hmm selfishly keep my or destroy it to humiliate them? The hero's choice, I'm gonna go with no." Gawayne said landing.
"Wait!" Piper said before she got an idea. "What's that?"
"What?" Gawayne asks.
"Bad Puddin, get outta his armor." Piper said.
"What?! Get it off!" Gawayne said taking off the armor making Piper scream and cover her eyes at the awful sight as he threw the armor at her feet. "Did you get it?"
"Yep, I got it alright." Piper said grabbing the armor and running off.
"Whatever, the suit chaffed anyway." Gawayne said.
At the portal Piper threw the armor into it causing the Gumlumps to follow restoring all the magic.
As the last Puddin made his way to the portal, Piper picks him up.
"Don't worry Puddin, this is the best home for you. Go on boy, get." Piper tears uo tossing him in.
"Good job, Gawayne you almost intentionally helped someone." Arkayna said as Gawayne walked by.
"You saved the realm." Tecna said.
"I did? I mean yeah I did. So long slugs." Gawayne said when Medusa ran over.
"King Gawayne the Great, what did it feel like to save the realm?" Medusa asks.
As the two of them walked away to do their interview Ryou saw Piper sitting by a tree crying.
Walking over Ryou sits next to her. "Hey you alright?"
"I'm gonna miss Puddin." Piper sniffles.
"You did what was best for everyone, besides now that he's in that portal you can come visit him." Ryou said.
"I can?" Piper asks.
"Yep and I gotta say Piper, the way you handled all of this was pretty responsible." Ryou said when he leaned in and pecked her on the cheek causing Piper to turn bright red. "Good job." Ryou said walking away.
Slowly Piper reaches up and cups her cheek as a big smile forms on her face seeing her wish came true. "Best Star Day EVER!"