Family
Chapter 461 Twisted Time
By: Major144
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is just a story for fun.
Back in Ooo, Gumbald was deep within his lab at Castle Lemongrab working on a special project and had called upon the aid of his computer CHAD, and Blargetha, Monkey White, General Monkey, Dr. Blowhole, Doktor Frogg, Dr. Flug, and Zim for some assistance and to bare witness to what he was creating. Gumbald had also called upon the aid of Duke Nukem to use his powers to assist in the project. Said project involved a power absorption crystal taken from RECR the military robot, several spare parts from SAM the weather controlling robot, and a lot of nuclear energy from some old bombs and Duke Nukem. A metal ring with circuitry was placed around the crystal and then the crystal was placed in a glass chamber with multiple cables and tubes attached to it.
"Proceed with the energy transfer." Said Gumbald to Duke Nukem.
Duke Nukem began to fire his nuclear energy into one of the tubes and into the chamber. The energy bathed the crystal and the metal ring. The crystal absorbed the energy and then it began to hover in the air. Everyone watched as the ring began to stretch out away from the crystal. The crystal began to glow green and what appeared to be black and grey winds began to form a tornado around the crystal and grow a little, but it stayed within the ring. Gumbald just smiled with glee as he put his hand on the glass container.
"What is it?" Asked Blargetha.
"My comrades this is a thing that will give of us control of one of the most powerful things in the universe. Time. I call it the Timenado!" Said Gumbald.
(Author's Note: The Timenado is from Regular Show.)
"Timenado?" Asked Dr. Flug.
"Surly you jest? No power can manipulate time." Said Dr. Blowhole.
"Perhaps a demonstration is needed. CHAD ready the demonstration." Said Gumbald.
"Right away sir." Said CHAD.
One of the cables lifted up and a spark of energy shot out of it and formed a portal. Everyone stared at the portal as it showed an image of dinosaurs roaming the planet. At first the others thought they were merely looking at the Dinosaur Kingdom, but then they saw cavemen running among the dinosaurs and realized they were looking at the very distant past. The portal flickered and showed an image of human men in red and blue coats fighting each other with muskets. Another flicker showed human cowboys robbing a steam train. Another flicker showed several plans flying over a modern looking city with humans in it. The plans dropped the bombs and they exploded creating large mushroom clouds. It was the Mushroom War. The portal flickered again and vanished. Dr. Blowhole and the others looked at Gumbald in stunned amazement.
"You...actually did...it." Said Dr. Blowhole.
"That is a device of nearly limitless power and possibilities!" Said Dr. Flug.
"It could destroy the whole world! Maybe even the whole universe!" Said Frogg looking very fearful.
"Calm yourselves my comrades. I have no intention of destroying the world or the universe. I have something else in mind." Said Gumbald.
"What's that?" Asked Blargetha.
"Oh I'm going to have a little visit with my niece and make a little deal with her. If she rejects it, well I'm going to just send her on a special trip." Said Gumbald with a wicked twinkle in his eyes.
Some time later a large eighteen wheeler truck with a large trailer exited Castle Lemongrab and headed in the direction of the Candy Kingdom. The truck made it halfway through the Grasslands and stopped. Gumbald sat behind the wheel of the truck, pulled out a phone, and made a phone call to Bubblegum. Bubblegum's face appeared on the screen and she glared at her uncle, when she saw him.
"What do you want uncle?" Asked Bubblegum.
"And hello to you dear niece. I just called to invite you to a little sit down between the two of us. I have something you would be very interested in." Said Gumbald.
"What could you possibly have that I would be interested in?" Asked Bubblegum.
"Something that can give you Crimson's identity as well as the location of the Lich's lair. A wondrous device that can make all your problems disappear." Said Gumbald.
"Even you." Said Bubblegum.
"Very funny. But I'm serious. Just come to the Grasslands and meet with me. You can bring whatever weapons or security precautions you want. I'm completely unarmed." Said Gumbald.
"Why should I believe anything you say?" Asked Bubblegum.
"Because despite our unfortunate history I respect your intelligence and I do wish to get our people out of the mess you caused with the Fire Kingdom. Plus I'm a man of my word. Remember the last conference we had in the Ice Kingdom. I came to the meeting unarmed, while you showed up with a device that created black holes you intended to use to kill me. That same device almost killed your own son and could have destroyed the world, but I was the one who stopped it." Said Gumbald.
The memory of that day really stabbed at Bubblegum's heart. In her own arrogance she nearly lost Neddy and the world nearly got destroyed. Bubblegum hated to admit it, but Gumbald was a man of he's word. She also wanted to know Crimson's identity as well as learn the location of the Lich's lair.
"Fine. I'll come meet with you, but if you try to pull any stunts, I will make you pay." Said Bubblegum.
"I look forward to seeing you." Said Gumbald before the call ended.
Bubblegum changed into some pink pants, a pink long sleeve shirt, and some shoes. She then went to go see Braco and Neddy to tell them where she would be and gave them both a quick hug and kiss.
"I don't like the idea of you seeing your uncle. He's a slippery one and he knows how to get in your head." Said Braco.
"Don't worry. I'm taking precautions and I'm taking some security with me." Said Bubblegum.
"Just be careful." Said Braco.
"I will be." Said Bubblegum.
Bubblegum headed to where she kept the Marrow and was met by Peppermint Butler.
"I heard about what you're doing and I wish to accompany you. It is my duty to be by your side." Said Peppermint Butler.
"I can always count on you Peppermint Butler." Said Bubblegum with a smile.
The two of them got onto the Marrow and Bubblegum pressed a button on a watch she was wearing summoning the Master Safety Bot and ten other Safety Bots to accompany her on her little meeting with Gumbald. The Queen and her escort flew from the Candy Kingdom and to the Grasslands. They found Gumbald waiting outside his truck waving at them. Bubblegum and her forces landed and the Queen jumped off the Marrow.
"Wait here Peppermint Butler, this won't take long." Said Bubblegum walking towards Gumbald.
"Right this way." Said Gumbald leading Bubblegum into the trailer.
"So what exactly did you want to show me?" Asked Bubblegum looking at a glass container that had what appeared to be a tornado inside with cables and tubes hooked up to it.
"Allow me to demonstrate my most brilliant achievement of all time." Said Gumbald as he pressed a few buttons on a computer nearby.
A cable sparked and a portal appeared showing Bubblegum as a young child sleeping in a bed. Bubblegum blinked her eyes in shock as she recognized her younger self and the bed she slept in, when she lived with Gumbald and his family in the early construction of the Candy Kingdom. Gumbald smiled as he walked over to the portal and stuck his hand through it and began to stroke the sleeping Bubblegum's head.
"Weren't you just the cutest little thing. So adorable yet very troublesome. I could just reach through this portal and snuff you out, before you ruined everything back then and cost me 800 hundred years of my life. It would be so easy." Said Gumbald with a cruel smile.
Bubblegum felt her heart hammer in her chest as the weight of the situation set in. Gumbald had created a time travel device and he could end her life, whenever he wanted. Bubblegum was powerless in this situation! Gumbald let out a chuckle as he pulled his arm out of the portal.
"I could kill you as a child, but you've been in the world so long, your death in the past would cause some huge ripple affects that could drastically change the present. I could kill you at a time closer to the present, but that wouldn't be any fun and I would hate to lose that beautiful mind of yours." Said Gumbald.
"What do you want?" Asked Bubblegum as she felt her mouth go dry.
"I want to give you the opportunity to fix your greatest mistake." Said Gumbald as he hit a few more buttons on his computer.
The scene in the portal changed showing Bubblegum as she was fixing to launch her plan to cause the Cooler Incident in the Fire Kingdom.
"This little plan of yours killed thousands of innocent civilians, destroyed the lives of many more, and has put the entire Candy Kingdom at risk. You can undo all of that and I just ask for a few things in return." Said Gumbald.
"What do you want?" Asked Bubblegum.
"First I want you to make a Royal Promise to tell your past self to return my past back to normal and then I want him to be given royal status and complete control over the Candy Kingdom. You will still have some royal status and some say in the Candy Kingdom, but I will be the one in charge. I think it's a good deal and you should take it." Said Gumbald offering his hand to Bubblegum.
Bubblegum thought about the deal. It did sound really good and it would solve a lot of Bubblegum's problems, plus save tons of lives. True Bubblegum would no longer be the ruler of the Candy Kingdom, but the kingdom would still have a capable leader. A part of Bubblegum wanted to take the deal to undo her mistake, but she knew what kind of man Gumbald was. He may seem nice and caring, but in reality he was a manipulative power hungry tyrant, who would do great harm to the Candy Kingdom and the rest of Ooo. Bubblegum wanted to save the lives she ended in the Cooler Incident, but if she took the deal more would be at risk.
"It's a tempting offer, but my answer is no." Said Bubblegum as she turned around and began to leave.
"Well that's too bad. I really did try to help. Oh well I guess it's time for Plan B." Said Gumbald as he pressed a few buttons on his computer.
A new portal appeared next to Bubblegum and before she could think about getting away from it or call for help, Gumbald rushed at Bubblegum and shoved her into the portal. Bubblegum screamed loudly as she fell down a tunnel of spinning time.
"Don't worry Bubblegum, will meet again! It's only a matter of time!" Called Gumbald with a sinister smirk as the portal closed and vanished.
Gumbald headed to the trailer door and opened it. The Master Safety Bot and the Safety Bots stood outside motionless and deactivated. Gumbald looked at Peppermint Butler.
"Hello Peppermint Butler or should I call you Crimson." Said Gumbald.
"So you figured out." Said Crimson in his normal voice.
"I always knew there was something up with you, when you first came to work for me and my family. Took me awhile to figure it out after I was returned to my normal self, but it all makes sense now. Surprised Bubblegum hasn't figured out that the Lich's top servant is right under her nose." Said Gumbald.
"What can I say. I'm very good at earning people's trust and hiding my true identity. I am the one who rescued Bubblegum from you after all and I have been her loyal friend and servant ever since." Said Crimson.
"I see. You really are something." Said Gumbald.
"Now speaking of Bubblegum, what did you do to her?" Said Crimson.
"Oh I sent her on a little trip. She'll either come back here in a little bit or she won't show up for a long time. Time travel is a bit unpredictable and you can never be too sure with what will happen." Said Gumbald.
"Time travel. That's quite a accomplishment." Said Crimson.
"Thank you. Now you know what I am capable of. Let's talk business." Said Gumbald.
"What kind of business?" Asked Crimson.
"I know your master's organization has been manipulating everyone in Ooo for a very long time. The royals and leaders are your pawns and playthings. I am no ones pawn. I wish to be a partner in your organization." Said Gumbald.
"Very well. I think there's a place for you among our ranks." Said Crimson.
"I like the sound of that." Said Gumbald.
Elsewhere, Bubblegum tumbled through the spinning tunnel of time for what felt like a eternity, until she fell and hit solid ground. Bubblegum groaned as she sat up and took in her surroundings. She still appeared to be in the Grasslands, but it looked different. The grass looked old and dead and their were a few scorched patches. Bubblegum pressed a button on her watch to summon some of her robots, but after several minutes none showed up. She pulled out her phone and tried to call Braco or any of her friends and allies, but there was no response. Could Gumbald have sent Bubblegum to the past? Bubblegum shook the thought from her head and just decided to walk to the Candy Kingdom since it wasn't too far and it might give a better idea of when she was at.
Bubblegum walked for nearly an hour, until she came across a disturbing sight. It was the Candy Kingdom, but it was completely in ruins! Bubblegum realized with horror that she must be in the future!
To be continued.