Family
Chapter 411 Image Steps
By: Major144
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is just a story for fun.
Back in Ooo things were peaceful. Over at the Candy Kingdom, Neddy had begun to develop Candy Elemental powers like his mother. Bubblegum was both thrilled and excited about this development and asked both Patience and Slime Princess to come to her kingdom to help her oversee Neddy's training. Neddy greatly enjoyed his new powers and he had fun making the candy he created float in the air with his psychic powers. After a good training session Patience and Slime Princess, along with Braco decision to present a plan to help Bubblegum's public image. The four of them sat in a meeting room together and Patience pitched the plan.
"Alright Bubblegum right now your approval and public image are at an all time low in Ooo. We need to improve the people's perspective and opinion of you before the trial. Lucky for us there's a fast way for us to do that through the use of social media. Basically we plan to film you doing super good deeds to show everyone you're a great and awesome person."
"We even called on the aid of a social media expert to help us." Said Slime Princess before she clapped her hands.
The doors to the meeting room flew open and in floated Lumpy Space Princess holding a cellphone and taking pictures of everyone.
"Sup! You ready to do this thing?" Said LSP.
"Really?" Asked Bubblegum looking at Braco.
"Lumpy Space Princess has a large number of followers and fans on several forms of social media. I've looked at quite a few of her post and they're very good. LSP knows how to take good pictures and videos, which is exactly what we need to help your image." Said Braco.
"I suppose you got a point." Said Bubblegum.
"Relax girl friend, we got this. When we're through you'll be kissing puppies and petting babies in no time." Said LSP as she snapped her fingers.
"Alright where do we start?" Asked Bubblegum.
"We thought it would be best to start with something simple." Said Patience.
"A carwash to raise money for charity." Said Slime Princess.
"Seems a little small." Said Bubblegum.
"I know it seems small, but it'll be a great start and it'll show everyone that you're a good person. Plus it'll be fun." Said Braco.
"Ok let's do it then." Said Bubblegum feeling both determined and excited.
"#carwash!" Said LSP taking a picture and posting in online.
A few hours later Bubblegum had changed into some pink shorts a pink T-shirt, and sandals and was ready to get to work washing cars. Both Braco and Patience had changed into similar attire and were ready to wash cars as well. Slime Princess didn't change clothes since she didn't wear any. The carwash was set out outside the Candy Kingdom. Several Banana Guards volunteered to assist with the carwash and Simon, Betty, Eria, Lolly, Chicle, Mimi, Peridot, Lapis, Jeff, Julie, Lila, Valerie, Dakota, Sam, Pumpkin, and Trucy showed to help as well. A inflatable kiddie pool was set up and filled up for Neddy and Eria to play in while the others worked. A table was set up with a few large plastic jars to collect money.
The carwash was slow at first, but cars, trucks, and some carriages began to show up and the carwash began to start making some real money. Things were going smoothly and Bubblegum was enjoying herself and having fun. Then Gumbald showed up in KARR for a wash.
"Hello niece. My times must be tough if you're doing labor like this." Said Gumbald.
Bubblegum scowled and her hands tightened into fist. She was fixing to make a rude comeback to her uncle and maybe shoot some candy and soda at him, but a hand landed on her shoulder and stopped her. Bubblegum turned around to see Braco.
"Don't let your uncle egg you on. He wants you to have an angry outburst, so don't give it to him. Show him, you're stronger then he thinks you are and that he has no power over you." Said Braco.
Bubblegum realized Braco was right and took a deep calming breath. She put a smile on her face and faced her uncle.
"Hello uncle. Things are actually really good right now. I'm just doing a bit of hard work to raise money for charity. I would be happy to clean your car." Said Bubblegum.
Gumbald just frowned, but didn't say anything as Bubblegum and Braco cleaned his car. Braco was scrubbing the hood of KARR, when he swiped his sponge fast across the hood and sent some water and soap flying and splashing onto Gumbald's face and chest. Gumbald spluttered and reeled back as Braco gave a quick, but fake apology. Bubblegum smiled at her husband's action and let out a chuckle. Gumbald just scowled as he paid for the wash and then he drove off in a huff.
"I love you." Said Bubblegum with a smile on her face before kissing Braco on the cheek.
Some time later a black limo drove up to the carwash and out stepped Black Hat and Flug. Black Hat searched the crowd, until his eyes landed on Bubblegum and he walked over to her. Bubblegum looked at the approaching Black Hat not sure what to make of him. Black Hat stopped a few feet from Bubblegum before he took off his hat and did a little bow.
"Greetings and salutations Queen Bubblegum of the Candy Kingdom. I am Black Hat the head of the Black Hat Organization. I'm here to offer my services and say I'm a great admirer of your work." Said Black Hat offering Bubblegum a black business card.
"What work are you referring to exactly?" Asked Bubblegum taking the card.
"Oh why your work in the Fire Kingdom of course. You caused quit a great deal of destruction and snuffed out so many lives. A truly impressive act of evil." Said Black Hat with a grin.
"That...was a mistake. I'm...not evil." Said Bubblegum feeling very uncomfortable.
"Oh I think your actions say otherwise. Trust me I'm an expert in evil. It's my business." Said Black Hat.
"Well I have to disagree with you sir." Said Simon as he walked over to Bubblegum and Black Hat.
"Ah Simon Petrikov, the Ice Kingdom. I've heard quite a lot about you." Said Black Hat with a scowl.
"True Bubblegum did do wrong, but she's trying to make up for what she did and she is willing to go to trial and face justice for what she did. Bubblegum is not evil." Said Simon.
Bubblegum looked at Simon, then at Black Hat, and then at the business card. She scowled at the card and ripped it to pieces.
"Sorry Black Hat, but my kingdom will not be doing business with you. So take your business elsewhere." Said Bubblegum.
"You are making a foolish mistake. One day you will realize your true evil potential and you will seek me out." Said Black Hat.
"I suggest you leave." Said Simon with a glare as the air around them became cold.
Black Hat glared at Simon, before he and Flug returned to the limo and drove off.
"Everything ok sir?" Asked Flug.
"Well I just met a man who represents embodies everything I hate, but he has made me feel something I haven't felt in a very long time." Said Black Hat.
"What's that sir?" Asked Flug curiously.
"I've been in the evil game for a very long time Flug. I've been a villain and later a entrepreneur of evil. In both careers I encountered many heroes and do-gooders of all sorts, yet not a single one of them proved to be a great challenge or excited me, where I bested them. This Simon Petrikov is different. I have heard a lot about him and his accomplishments and I just got a little read of his power. For the first time in a long time I feel excited. Simon might be the challenge I need." Said Black Hat.
"So what's your next move?" Asked Flug.
"For now nothing. There's a storm brewing in Ooo, Flug and once it hits, well that's when the true fun and games begin." Said Black Hat with a chuckle.
Back at the carwash, Bubblegum let out a sigh and looked at Simon.
"Thanks for coming in and saying what you said." Said Bubblegum.
"No problem, but I know you would have turned Black Hat down and told him to leave. I just made sure he left." Said Simon.
"What do you make of Black Hat?" Asked Bubblegum.
"His a wildcard from what I've been told. Black Hat hasn't signed up with Castle Lemongrab or the Lich's organization, but I wouldn't be too surprised if he ends up working alongside them in the future." Said Simon.
"Will just have to be on our guard and keep a close eye on him." Said Bubblegum.
"Indeed." Said Simon.
The two of them went back to work.
Peridot, Lapis, and Mimi were finishing drying a car, when Zim's ship appeared next in line. The trio took notice of the words 'Voltar Rules' painted on the side of the ship in big black letters. The ship opened and a unhappy looking Zim hopped out followed by Gir. Zim's eyes blinked in surprise as his eyes landed on Peridot and he marched towards her.
"Oh great this clod again." Groaned Peridot in annoyance.
"Well. Well. If it isn't my rival, Peridot. Looks like I get to humiliate you by making you clean my ship! You have no choice, but to do as I say!" Declared Zim.
"So who exactly is Voltar?" Asked Lapis.
"Um...his just some evil pretender who thinks his better then me. Voltar is nothing more then an insect, who I will utterly annihilate!" Said Zim.
"As if a fool like you could possibly end me!" Said Voltar as he and the rest of the League Of Super Evil arrived on the scene.
"Now there's a red clod." Muttered Peridot.
"Whose she?" Asked Voltar pointing at Peridot.
"That is my rival, Peridot!" Said Zim proudly.
"A rival huh? I always wanted one of those. I think I'll take Peridot as my own rival." Said Voltar.
"What?! You can't do that!" Yelled Zim.
"I just did! Deal with it!" Said Voltar.
"Would you two clods just shut up and leave!" Said Peridot with annoyance as she splashed a bucket of water on the two bickering villains.
Both Voltar and Zim shouted in surprise as the water hit them. Peridot expected Zim's skin to start burning and for the alien to fall to the ground screaming in pain, but he didn't. Instead Zim smiled at Peridot.
"Ha! Your acid will no longer affect me. I covered my skin in invisible nano fibers to protect it. So what you going to do now?" Said Zim with a confident smirk on his face.
Peridot responded by slamming the bucket over Zim's head. Zim cried out in surprise as he stumbled back trying to yank the bucket off his head. He ended up stepping on a bar of soap, slipped on it, and crashed to the ground groaning in pain. Voltar laughed at Zim and faced Peridot.
"Now that fool is out of the way. I shall prove how evil I am by spray painting every car here!" Said Voltar pulling out a can of spray paint.
"No painting." Said Mimi before she blew a blast of freezing breath that froze Voltar in ice.
The rest of the League Of Super Evil stared at their frozen leader in shock.
"You guys feel like causing trouble?" Asked Lapis.
The villains shook their heads no. Red Menace picked up the frozen Voltar and the League of Super Evil fled the scene. Zim got the bucket off his head and he and Gir got back into the ship and flew off.
The rest of the carwash was uneventful, until the end, when the two thieves Sal and Roquefort showed up grabbed the jars of money and attempted to get away on a motorcycle. Bubblegum saw the two thieves and blasted them with soda knocking them to the ground. Sal and Roquefort were quickly arrested and handed over to Captain Grime. Bubblegum was hailed as a hero. The carwash raised several thousand dollars and all the money was donated to various orphanages and hospitals around Ooo. Bubblegum was pleased to learn from LSP that her public opinion and approval was up. Things were starting to look good for Bubblegum and her trial, though there was still work that needed to be done.
To be continued.