The Calm Before The Storm
It's a shorter Chapter than the previous ones I'm not going to make a habit of it I just thought this didn't need to be any longer. I wanted to give the characters a chance to finish the week they started with Bubblegum and Gumball's Story.
After leaving Marceline's cave Bubblegum called Morrow to take her and Gumball back to the candy kingdom. The pair were greeted by a very shocked Peppermint Butler.
"Wait… is that a male version of you?" The little butler asked confused to Bubblegum.
"Yes it is Peppermint, I advise you get in contact with Death and Hunson Abadeer. Faith is back and I know all about the Greater Evil." She told him, she was sure that the little butler knew what the others did considering he played poker with them a few nights a year.
"Then the time has come for me to take my annual leave Princess, please do not take it personally that I did not tell you, nothing you can do would have changed it and you were so close with the Immortality potion I did not want to hold you back. I have to go now; if you need of me you know how to call my Princess." With that the butler ran away to his dark chamber to open a portal to the Nightosphere.
"You've completed the immortality potion already Bonnibel?" Gumball was shocked to hear this. He had spent years on the potion and was still none the wiser as to how to create it so was very surprised to know his counterpart had.
"Yes I have and I will tell you it is amazing, I have to tell you I believe from what you've told me that the defining factor that splits our universes allowing for the differences in timelines was the arrival of Lumen to our world. Let me guess around a year ago you decided to do some research into what really happened with the humans so that Fionna no longer had to be alone?"
"Why yes but how ever did you know that Bonnibel?"
"You see Gumball I was about to do the same thing when Lumen arrived in our world. With him here I didn't have to worry about Finn being alone and could really concentrate on the potion. The Elixir itself has hairs from both Lumen and Finn in it. I think that's also a difference. They're DNA is remarkably similar but shows that they existed a thousand years apart. I used the light powers that were embedded in Lumen's hair to help settle down the chemicals within it and used the hair from Finn to add proteins of someone who is young to make sure that we don't just live forever but stay young. Then I added a fraction of pure sugar I got from the Baker's shard to make it so the Elixir of Life is designed for Candy people. I then diluted it and distributed it among the Candy hospitals so that they have a cure to all illness and can heal any injury but in its diluted form it doesn't stop aging and doesn't grant immortality."
Gumball was stunned. "Remarkable Bonnibel I must say it is clear who the superior is between us. I must request to have a look at this Elixir and your notes if you would please allow me… For science obviously"
Bonnibel blushed at the Prince's remark, she had a feeling that they were equal just that factors had weighed in her favour and she was sure the Prince knew this too meaning he was just being flattering for her sake.
"Of course Bubba, come with me I could use another test subject as well as myself to see if the Elixir fully stands up the course of time and grants immortality… for science obviously" winking at the Prince.
The two headed into the castle and spend the next few days going over Bonnie's notes, Bubba drank the immortality potion and had the same gold glow appear over his body and then disappear. Bonnie liked having someone who understood her science and enjoyed the princes company. Gumball on the other had been fascinated with Bonnie's work, he himself had done some amazing work in the last year but it didn't compare to hers. She had both gained eternal life and cured her candy people of their exploding problem with one solution. She had also upgraded the Gumball Guardians, Repaired and upgraded Sir Rattleballs so he could protect the kingdom from the shadows. She had installed a city wide surveillance system that worked better than the last and had even built bridges with Lemongrab 3. All the lemon had wanted was approval from his mother; she had recreated the Lemon people, taught them how to grow eating lemon drops and watched their Kingdom bloom. He felt a bit insignificant in compare to her and her deeds but he wasn't bothered by it as he saw how happy and passionate her work had made her. He had even helped her with a few problems she was unable to fix alone. The two were now sitting on the balcony overlooking the Candy Kingdom. They still had two days to pass before the agreed meeting up time.
"Bubba do you remember why you originally started looking for the Immortality solution" Bonnie asked the Pink prince.
"Probably the same reason as you Bonnibel"
"My reason… After hearing how Marceline had lost both Simon and her mum I started planning ahead so I would never have to leave her… Until I could be sure it was possible I wanted to keep my distance from her so I'd never had to hurt her live they had" She suddenly felt guilty. She had shunned her best friend for a long time and never gave her an explanation and now her friend was happy who was she to say she could just be her friend again after putting Marcy through what she had.
"Mine's the same as you then however when I accepted I had more important things to do first and started to neglect Marshall for no reason our friendship turned even more sour. I don't even know if there's anything to go back to." Gumball admitted it seemed to hurt more now he said it out loud.
"Well we're both immortal now and we'll see them in a few days… I have an idea Prince Gumball that I'm going to need your help for…"
"Anything for you Princess Bubblegum"
"Hehe oh you… let's get going, we are going to need a lot of red and some special tops"
"I fear what you have to say will lead to utter embarrassment for us both."
"Do Marshall or Marceline deserve any less?"
"No, now my beautiful friend lets go shopping" Gumball grabbed Bonnie by the hand and the two set off planning for the days ahead.
Lumen, Marceline and Marshall were the last 3 to arrive at the Candy Kingdom, the Gumball Guardian who greeted them had said to head to the main hall of the palace then started to snicker to himself and walked away. The trio thought nothing of it and moved on. The streets of the Candy Kingdom were unusually empty just a few candy people here and there and a banana guard slacking off but other than that everyone was absent. The three began to worry something was up and headed to the castle quicker. They saw the door shut quickly when they had arrived and the sound inside die out and started to think something was up. Marcy drew her axe bass, Marshy drew his electric axe and Lumen materialized his swords before kicking open the doors.
The trio's eyes readjusted to the lights in the room and what they saw was a massive surprise. All their friends, every resident from the candy kingdom even the two MO's were in the room looking at them with grins on their face. There were streamers and decorations hanging from the ceiling next to Manfried. The trio were speechless so were grateful that something seemed to be happening, Finn and Fionna ushered them into the room up to the front where there was a stage. The lights were off on the stage but as soon as the two vampires had gotten to the front they came on revealing the two monarchs of the Candy Kingdom. Bubblegum was wearing a black dress with a large snake coiling round the whole of it with two muddy candy people heads on stakes on the front. Gumball had the same print but on the back of a sleeveless denim jacket. Bonnie was wearing red heels and had her hair shaved off on side like Marceline use to. Gumball was wearing his hair like Marshall does and had black jeans, shoes and a piercing in his ear. The two vampires stared at their friends get up trying to find the right words to say when Jake and Cake stretched their paws to their mouths to keep them quiet and then both BMO's said in union "Just listen." Music started to play in the background.
(Bonnie (Bold) and Bubba (not Bold))
"Marshall and Marceline, there's something we need to tell you" Bubba started.
~ Marshall I feel, that I have done nothing but neglect you,
I feel like I haven't done what a friend should do,
If I said that I want to be your friend would you let me,
Because the way I feel right now I want to know and see,
Ohh Marshy, I have been a fool and a dingbat for years,
But I beg of you do not let the truth be my fears,
Your still my best friend and I hold that in my heart,
Ohh Marshy I won't let anything anymore keep us apart,
Dear Marceline my friend from a time long left behind,
I hope it's not too late and that time can be rewind,
Dear Marceline I left you when you needed me,
I left and I wasn't the friend you needed me to be,
I'm sorry for not spending time with you my friend,
I'm sorry that I was the one that put us to an end,
I claim to be your friend yet a friend I was not,
I want to tell you so much I'm sorry it really is a lot,
I'm sorry Marshy that I lost my rag and was a wad,
Now I beg forgiveness in the eyes of Glob,
I thought I couldn't be there if one day I would die,
I never realised before how much I made you cry,
Marshall I feel like all I am to you is a stick in the mud,
I feel like you would never want our friendship to bud,
If I said that I want you to be my main guy would you refuse,
Because the way I feel I just don't want you to loose… the friendship that we had,
I'm sorry Marcy that I refused to spend time with you,
I neglected our friendship and I neglected you too,
I'm sorry that I haven't lived up to the promise that I made,
I'm sorry that attention to you I have not paid,
So my dear Marceline I beg that stay and listen to my heart,
I want to be the friend I should have been from the very start,
So dear Marceline lets be good friends and survive the end,
Because Marcy I am the one who now wants you to be my friend.~
The two Candy Monarchs finished their song with tears in their eyes; they looked down at the Vampires expecting to see them disgusted but the two were smiling and crying themselves. They floated onto the stage and hugged the gum people.
"Bonnie… I've never heard you sing before and that dress… it's rocking but all of this? You didn't want to hang out with me the other week?" Marceline said confused choking on her words a bit.
"Marcy I'm sorry… I… I left after you told me about losing Simon and your mum I wanted to find a way to be Immortal so you never had to be alone again… and I did it Marcy I did it for you… Now we can be friends forever" Bubblegum cried while hugging the vampire.
"Bonnie… you did all that for me? You know I would have been happy with a jam session a week and then you and your science brain had to go and do all that… for me… of course I want to be your friend" The two girls just stood on the stage hugging and crying.
"Look Marshall" Gumball said staring at the floor avoiding eye contact. "I know I lost my rag and I know I was a terrible friend to you, unlike Bonnie I never got close to discovering immortality… I felt I had failed you as a friend and you were better off without me and better off if you never had to lose me…" He started to rub his hand against his arm feeling awkward in the clothes he was wearing.
"First off Bubba, that get up is sweet, you've never looked more cool and here was me thinking you only had pink in your wardrobe and second… I don't care about whether you're gonna live forever I just want you to be my friend now." Marshall admitted shaking the Prince out of his awkwardness.
"That's the thing Marshy, I'm immortal now I can be a good friend for you and never leave you like Simone and your dad did. You won't have to bury me like you said you were afraid to do." Prince Gumball said remembering a time where the Vampire King had admitted his deepest fears.
"That's good and all… but I'm happy being me, a bad little boy, with you, a good little boy. All I want is my friend back Bubba that's all. And if you finding immortality means that we can be friends again… then I couldn't be happier" The Vampire pulled Bubba into a hug and the two stood their mirroring their counterparts. Everyone began to Aww and cry at the rekindling of the friendship. Fionna and Lumen went up to Marshall and Marceline and hugged them as they were beginning to choke up. So much good had happened recently and they knew more was to come. They also knew the evil was coming but right now. It didn't matter.
After the hugs were passed round and the celebration a grand party occurred in the palace, Marceline and Marshall went on stage and performed the new songs they had wrote and a few old favourites even Treetrunks and Mr. Pig went on stage and performed their song 'Dream of Love'. The group of friends relaxed partied and just forgot about the trouble that had brought them all together. In the land of Ooo there had never been a better party, half way through the evening the party bears arrived as well as many of Ooo's princesses. They had a lot to celebrate with happy couples, engagements, reuniting of friends and more. At the end of the night they said goodbye to everyone, both MO's got a lift from the Party Bear Giant on the way home the castle settled down. Finn, Fionna, Phoebe, Phoenix, Bubba, Bonnie, Marshall, Marceline, Betty, Benny, Simon, Ice Queen, Jake, Cake and Lumen all stayed over for a sleep over in the main hall. The research provided by Death and Hunson had predicted that the next day would be the first day of the trials set by the greater evil and they all struggled to sleep dreading what was to come.
The song sung by Bonnie and Bubba was based on the song they sing in the show (Lemonhopes song/Oh Fionna) I feel i didn't do it justice but i'm glad with how it came out. As i said this is a shorter chapter as its meant to be a brief glimpse at the life they could all have if the evil wasn't coming. It was also a calm chapter as the next few are going to be packed with a lot to take in. I had fun writing these little tales of the character time away and hope later on i'll give myself the oppourtunity to do a few more short stories. I'm going to divide the first trial up with different pairings/groups of the characters please remember to review and possibly leave a favourite :)