Family
Chapter 470 Dark Future
By: Major144
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is just a story for fun.
(Author's Note: Alright folks we're going to cut back to Bubblegum in the future for a few chapters and then head back to the Underground. Enjoy.)
Far into the distant future, Bubblegum rode on the back of a massive snow owl construct, along with Chicle, Noah, Mavis, and Eria. Bubblegum looked at the barren wasteland that had once been the lush and vibrant Grasslands. She then turned her attention to her rescuers and studied them. Mavis was the daughter of Marceline and Lance and Noah was the son of Lucinda and Henry. It amazed Bubblegum that her friends now had children. Bubblegum glanced over at Eria. It was hard to believe that this fierce and powerful woman had been a cute little girl that had played with Neddy. Bubblegum had only seen Eria a few days, but now it was 800 years into the future and things had vastly changed.
"How you doing?" Asked Chicle as he removed his face mask and scooted over towards Bubblegum.
"Physically I'm fine. Though...mentally...I'm having a hard time processing all of this." Said Bubblegum indicating the surrounding area.
"Yeah a whole lot of bad things went down, while you were away." Said Chicle.
For a few seconds neither cousin said anything and then Chicle spoke.
"Before I go into details about what went down there's something I need to get off my chest."
"What's that?" Asked Bubblegum.
"I just want to say I'm sorry for agreeing to go along with my father's plan to turn you into a dumb candy servant all those years ago. It was a terrible thing to do and me and my mom should have never agreed to go along with it. You were just a kid, Bubblegum and you didn't deserve to have us all turn on you or stripe you of your intelligence and your free will. I was a fool at the time and I was no better then my father. I should have become aware about the kind of person my father was and stood up to him. Instead I sided with him at that time and I ended being betrayed by him. Guess I deserved it. I'm truly sorry for what I did and for not apologizing for it after me and my mother were returned to our normal selfs." Said Chicle with a sad and remorseful look on his face.
Bubblegum was surprised and touched by this apology.
"I forgive you Chicle. I'm glad to have both you and your mother back in my life." Said Bubblegum as she hugged Chicle.
After a few seconds of hugging they stopped.
"I need you to provide me with every detail of all the events that happened in Ooo since my absence. No matter how bad or painful they might be." Said Bubblegum.
"Very well. After you vanished things got really bad for Ooo, especially for the Fire Kingdom. A civil war broke out between the fire people." Said Chicle.
"Civil war?" Asked Bubblegum already not liking the sound of this.
"A large portion of the Fire Kingdom's citizens were enraged that you vanished and never showed up to the trial to answer for your crimes. Most of that portion was made of people who lost friends and loved ones or were hurt during the Cooler Incident. There were also people who believed what you did was a war crime and it made the Fire Kingdom look weak. They all wanted revenge." Said Chicle.
"So what about the rest of the Fire Kingdom?" Asked Bubblegum.
"The Flame King, his family, and the other citizens were understandably angry about what happened with you vanishing, but they chose not to seek revenge and try to move on. The people who desired revenge didn't want to move." Said Chicle.
"They wanted revenge on me, but they couldn't get it since I was traveling through time. That...means they were going to take it out on Candy Kingdom." Said Bubblegum looking pale.
Chicle just nodded his head and continued to speak.
"The people who sought revenge on the Candy Kingdom called themselves the Infernos and they were lead by a member of the Royal Court, named Lord Infernicus and the son and daughter of Flame Duke, Furnius and Torcho."
"Phoebe's cousins, haven't heard much from them over the years." Said Bubblegum.
"They've kept a fairly low profile ever since Flame Duke was killed, but they started becoming more vocal and active in the Fire Kingdom's affairs, especially after you vanished and the citizens grew angry. Furnius and Torcho saw an opportunity to siege the throne and they took it." Said Chicle.
"So the Infernos wanted to destroy the Candy Kingdom, but Flame King, his family, and several fire people were against it." Said Bubblegum.
"That's right and that disagreement lead to a Civil War in the Fire Kingdom. It was a very violent war and the Peace Protectors, the Wizard Police, and various heroes were called in to aid Flame King and his forces. Unfortunately during all that the forces of Castle Lemongrab made their move and began to invade other kingdoms and territories. It was a huge surprise attack and many kingdoms and villages fell in a matter of days. Those who escaped the invasion sought refuge in the Ice Kingdom." Said Chicle.
"Gumbald took full advantage of of absence to stir up a conflict and distract the Peace Protectors and those who would stand against him." Said Bubblegum.
"He did." Said Chicle.
"What exactly was the outcome of the Civil War in the Fire Kingdom?" Asked Phoebe.
"Well for a while the Flame King and his allies held their own against the Infernos and they began pushing them back, but then Pyro joined up with the Infernos and the Black Hat Organization sold a giant nuclear powered robot named Brimstone. The war became much more chaotic and things got even worse when the Infernos asked a powerful wizard named Addwaitya to raise all the spirits of those who had died in the Cooler Incident as hate filled wraiths. The wraiths were infused into Brimstone making the robot even more powerful and violent with all that hate flowing through it. The war was intense, but eventually Brimstone was defeated along with most of the Infernos, but what little that was left of the Fire Kingdom was left in ruin and many brave heroes lost their lives including the Flame King and Flame Queen." Said Chicle looking glum.
"Oh...my...Glob." Said Bubblegum stunned by the news.
"Pyro took what was left of the Infernos and with the aid of both the Organization and the forces of Castle Lemongrab he launched a attack on the Candy Kingdom. The Peace Protectors came to the Candy Kingdom's aid, but they had suffered heavy casualties with the Civil War and despite their best efforts the Candy Kingdom fell. The Peace Protectors may have failed in saving the Candy Kingdom, but they did succeed in evacuating a large number of candy people out before the fall." Said Chicle.
"We're my husband and son among the evacuees?" Asked Bubblegum with a pleading look in her eyes.
Chicle was about to answer, but Noah spoke up.
"We got trouble coming in from behind! It's the Green Knight and Phantomrider!"
A serious look appeared on Chicle's face.
"We will continue this later, right now we have to focus on protecting you and surviving." Said Chicle.
Bubblegum looked back to see what appeared to be a living swarm of some kind of insects in the shape of a man flying through the air followed by a Topiary Bush Dragon with a tall green armored figure riding on it's back. Bubblegum watched as the figure who she presumed was the Green Knight turn his righthand into a axe blade and point it at Bubblegum. The Candy Queen felt a great sense of dread go through her as the pursuers began to close the distance.
To be continued.
Glossary
Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated: Lord Infernicus
Justice League Unlimited: Brimstone