So what do Carrie and Penny have planned for "Gumball"? And what is the matter with Carrie's mother? OC's are not mine, Gumball is not mine. Only the plot is mine, and any coincidence with future or current shows is unintentional. Please review or you suck.
Reader beware! Portions of this chapter may be disturbing, unsettling or downright distasteful. It if helps, skip to the end to have that portion ungraphically recapped.
Carrie stood on a rise near the edge of the forest of doom. She was waiting in the shade of a gnarled old oak, fidgeting anxiously. From her vantage point, she could see the graveyard dotted with crumbling tombstones sprawling across the adjacent hill. She worried again about this plan.
Geez, girl, chill out. The foreign thought popped into her head. You look more nervous than Gumball during a pop quiz. Penny's thought was punctuated by the odd tinkling sensation of mirth.
I don't know why you're having so much fun with this, she thought at her invisible friend hiding quietly among the leafy boughs of the hunched oak and huffily crossing her arms. That text was so embarrassing! I may as well have sent a naked picture with "Come get me!" written on it and he is rushing here like I just rang the dinner bell. Carrie though vehemently.
A feeling of hurt poured through the link and Carrie immediately regretted what she'd said. She looked down at the grass covered ground and kicked a root poking stubbornly above the ground. Sorry, I'm just worried about him, you know?
Penny mentally shrugged at her. It's alright. We can't expect to get the hang of this right away. And I'm worried too. Carrie got the impression of a smile. She smiled, too. She was kind of amazed that they had reached a resolution so quickly.
Well not quite, she thought privately. It was obvious that they still weren't completely comfortable with a polyamorous relationship. She wondered how much effort and time it would take to get that comfortable. Her ruminations were cut short by the sound a car engine.
Carrie looked across the field and watched as Gumball's car slowed and stopped. Gumball stepped out with a bundle under his arm. Carrie watched him look around before spotting her and climbing the grassy hill towards her.
Carrie took a deep breath. Here goes nothing, she thought to Penny. Raising her arm, she waved to Gumball. "Hey, s'up?"
Gumball waved back. He patted the bundle under his arm. "I brought along a picnic and a blanket in case we wanted to, you know, lie down,or something." Gumball said nonchalantly and Carrie's eyebrows rose. She was more certain than ever that this wasn't Gumball.
"Lie down, huh?" Carrie chuckled sultrily. "That sounds interesting." Carrie was really laying it on thick. She couldn't afford to let Jealousy find out she was onto it, though so she committed to it. She could feel Penny's shock at her uncharacteristic behavior and mentally cringed. Sorry, she sent silently.
Returning her focus to Gumball, she was surprised to find him setting out a pretty good picnic. The bundle he'd grabbed turned out to be a blanket wrapped around a basket that he was unpacking. There was fried chicken, sandwiches, a salad, and even sparkling grape juice. Despite herself she was impressed and flattered. "Wow… when did you have time to put this together?" she asked.
Gumball shrugged. "When I got your text, I was kind of hungry, so I stopped by the mall and grabbed a few things real quick." He pulled out a couple of paper plates and held one out to Carrie. She accepted it and tucked her hair behind her ear as she folded her legs to sit on the checkered blanket he'd laid just under the forest's canopy.
Carrie watched as he poured a glass of juice for her. He handed her the cup, and offered her the basket of chicken. Once they'd both been served, Gumball just sat gazing at her. As Carrie took a bite of chicken, she noticed his disconcerting stare. Quickly swallowing the hot meat, she covered her mouth to ask, "What?"
"Nothing, I guess. I just never realized just how beautiful you are," Gumball said smoothly. Carrie couldn't help it, she blushed and smiled. Gumball must have taken that as an invitation, though cause the next thing she knew, his lips had found hers and he was kissing her.
She tried to push him off but the shock of having the boy she loved kiss her robbed her of strength and she melted into his embrace. Carrie! You have to focus! Do you really want this if it's a lie? Penny's thoughts snapped her out of it and she went intangible to escape. Or tried to, but Gumball held her fast.
Surprised, Carrie struggled in his grip. If her arms were free she would have face-palmed. She'd forgotten that he could touch her… Wait, what? She realized that his arms were free of the stripes that meant he was using his power. He shouldn't be able to touch me right now! Help! She sent a silent call to Penny.
An awful sound was coming from Gumball. It was like a maniacal giggle, but his voice was distorted and raspy. He released her with one hand and reached into the picnic basket, pulling out a rope that seemed to glow. Fear gripped her, but she seized the opportunity. She kicked him in the chest and jerked her arm to free herself. Gumball grunted when she kicked him and dropped her.
Carrie scrabbled at the ground, crawling away while struggling to gain her feet. She finally managed to stagger to her feet but she barely managed a step before her foot was jerked from underneath her. Gumball was dragging her backwards by the loop around her foot. The rope glowed intensely as she tried first to phase through it, the teleport.
Gumball grabbed her and forced her into a kneeling position, looping the rope quickly around her. With a jerk of the rope, she found her hands bound behind her and her head being pulled towards her knees, forcing it to the ground and her rump was pointed up into the air. Real terror gripped her when she heard Gumball undo his pants.
He ripped the skirt exposing her underwear with his claws and grabbed her panties to do the same. Carrie had tears streaming down her face as she begged, "Please, don't do this! Gumball, if you are in there you have to fight this! I know this isn't you!" The hands on her underwear released their grip and a new voice spoke.
"Oh, clever girl. You mean you knew the entire time it wasn't the boy?"
Gumball's feet appeared in front of her face and he crouched next to her. He loosed one bit of the rope and lifted Carrie to a kneeling position with a finger under her chin. Without warning he slumped to the ground and Carrie tried to process what she was looking at.
The ghost of a woman was staring at her with burning green eyes. Her long hair framed flawless pale features and her curvaceous figure was incredible. Carrie gaped at the incredible beauty of the woman who smirked and shook her head. "Really dear, I thought you might have done better than this if you knew."
Carrie was bewildered. "Who are you? Where is Jealousy? And what have you done to Gumball?"
The woman stared at her and began to laugh that same horrible distorted mad giggle Carrie had heard from Gumball. "You mean you were expecting someone else?" She laughed. "For a moment there I gave you too much credit." Her face contorted and she grabbed her head. She stayed crouched like that for a moment before she started to sing.
Carrie's memory suddenly sparked and she was suddenly in the arms the beautiful ghost woman. She was singing the same song while staring lovingly at her. But as she sang her face changed. Her eyes glowed green and as she bent toward Carrie, fangs appeared in her open mouth and Carrie was back in the woods staring with horror at the being before her.
The woman finally straightened up and returned her attention to Carrie. Carrie couldn't help it she had to ask, "YOU'RE MY MOM!?"
The spirit's eyes widened and she smiled maliciously, "Bingo! But you can call me Aretha, dear. 'Mom' makes me sound old."
"But why? Why would you do this? Did you think I would want this?" Carrie couldn't understand any of this least of all her mother attempting to… to rape her, worse still, using the only boy she had ever trusted. She couldn't help the tears of frustration and anger streaming down her cheeks.
The woman glared at her. "I am not really concerned with what you want," she snapped. "What I care about is making sure that this you and this boy produce an offspring for me. I need a soul without any memories and his genetic material to satisfy this accursed hunger."
Carrie recoiled as much as possible, bound as she was. "You were going to use him to rape me and get me pregnant so you could take our child to eat!?" she whispered in abject horror.
Aretha tsked, as she picked up Gumball. "Not were, dear. Am. And I don't really have time to go into the why." She stepped into Gumball like she was putting on a jump suit. "With all the yelling we don't have much time and I really do need to get to business." Finished repossessing Gumball, she removed his underwear and jerked the rope binding Carrie, sending her face back into the dirt.
Carrie began sobbing uncontrollably as her mother slid one of Gumball's claws under each side of her panties and sliced the thin material, turning her underwear into an hourglass as it fell, leaving her bare. With her nether bits exposed, she felt hopeless to stop her mother's intentions. She felt Gumball's warm hands grip her waist and scrunched up her eyes in fearful anticipation of the terrible violation. It never came.
A furious roar rang out, and Carrie winced as she heard a resounding SMACK! Suddenly she was in the air and flying off. She looked down to see Gumball slumped against a tree. Above her, cradling her trussed up body was Penny, beating the powerful wings of her dragon form to gain altitude and safety. Carrie sighed in relief and, unable to cope with everything, she promptly fainted.
Page Break.
Penny had was horrified when she realized that Jealousy intended to rape Carrie. She rushed to help her friend and was about to jerk the slimy blob from Gumball when he ceased his attack and spoke in a strange voice.
Penny remained invisible as Carrie's mother revealed herself and her plans, feeling the shock and horror Carrie was being subjected to and biding her time while she tried to figure out what she could do to save both Gumball and Carrie. She ran out of time though. When she saw the vile woman put on Gumball like he was a set of clothes and use his body to remove Carrie's underwear, she had to act.
She made a snap decision and in the blink of an eye, she had abandoned her invisibility and assumed her dragon form. As the being inside him positioned Gumball for the despicable deed, Penny spun and focused on immateriality. Her tail went right through Gumball and struck the spirit possessing him. Hard.
The ghost shot out of Gumball with such force that she disappeared into the forest, flying backward at an impossible speed. Even Gumball was sent flying, albeit a much shorter distance, to land more or less unharmed at the base of a nearby tree.
Penny wished she could carry them both, but she knew this form couldn't handle the weight of more than one person and judging from the state of Carrie's chaotic thoughts, she didn't think she would be able to help much.
Low on time, and sure that the older ghost would be back any second, Penny grabbed Carrie and took off. After she finished climbing, she leveled out and checked on Carrie. Aside from being naked from the waist down and unconscious, she seemed fine but Penny worried that she may not have been in time to prevent her from being violated. She hoped she'd made it and flew all the harder.
Penny's first thought was to get home, but thought better of it. Penny had to assume that this Carrie's mother had access to Gumball's memory. That meant that both she and Carrie's houses were out of the question. With a glance as Carrie's wardrobe situation, though, she decided a quick stop at Carrie's was necessary.
She spotted it below and dove, back-winging and dropping the final foot in her new base form. When she tried to go intangible, the rope binding Carrie glowed and Penny couldn't phase through the roof. Glaring at the ropes, she changed one hand into a serrated bony saw and made quick work of the twine while Carrie moaned, coming around. Her eyes fluttered open just as Penny cut the last of the rope from her.
Carrie burst into tears. Penny held Carrie and her temper as she focused on phasing through the roof and controlling their descent into the house the sobbing girl's attic room. She sat Carrie on the bed looked around the bedroom. Several punk rock poster's adorned the walls of her room but Penny was too busy to pay much attention to décor. Her eyes swept the room until they landed on Carries dresser.
Penny crossed the attic bedroom to the old peeling dresser. She paused when she got close enough to see the pictures scattered across the top. Gumball, Darwin and Carrie smiled out at her from most of the photographs. Any other time it might have been touching. Just now, Penny had a purpose. She dug into the drawers until she came up with two changes of cloths.
"Carrie?" Penny spoke very evenly and carefully. "We need to hurry. I understand what you've just been through, but I think she is going to know where we live. We need to get out of here. Do you have a bag I can put this stuff in?"
Carrie was sniffling but managed to point out a bag hanging on the back of her closet door. Penny grabbed it and stuffed the sets of cloths into it. She grabbed a pair of panties and some jeans and set them in Carrie's lap. "You need to put these on. I still need to grab some stuff from my place," she said softly and watched as Carrie mechanically put the clothes on.
Looking her over, Penny nodded and grabbed her hand, going weightless and floating towards the ceiling using the abilities Carrie taught her. Suddenly she felt Carrie yank her hand away and she turned to see her phasing through the floor. Sighing Penny chased after her, calling out to her mentally but all she got from the connection was anger and a steely determination.
Penny followed her all the way until she came to a halt in the den. Penny was struck by the size of Carrie's house. The vaulted ceiling and rustic lodge feel in the den was eerie when coupled with the various heads mounted around the room. Penny came to stand next to Carrie and followed her gaze to a vase above fireplace.
"What is that?" Penny said after a minute.
Carrie's anger was palpable at this point even without the link, but her answer was deceptively calm. "Those are my father's ashes. Considering his history, I feel fairly certain he will have some clue as to why my mother tried to…" Carrie didn't finish, just grabbed the vase and carried it upstairs.
She grabbed a pillow and wrapped it around the fragile urn and stuffed it into the bag while Penny held it open. Opening the front pouch, she stuffed a couple of books she pulled from beneath her mattress. When Penny raised a puzzled eyebrow, she smiled grimly and explained, "My spellbooks. Got a feeling they'll come in handy."
The sound of a car door slamming had the girl's staring wide eyed at one another. Penny rushed to the window and sure enough, Gumball was climbing the stairs and coming in through the door.
"Carrie! Carrie, are you okay?" Penny felt Carrie relax at the concern in his voice. Carrie was about to call out when Penny clamped her hand over her mouth.
I don't trust this. Aretha was able to mimic his behavior pretty well. I think she can read his mind or something. We need to get out of here. Penny thought furiously. She could feel Carrie's indecision and added. Look, if it is him and he doesn't find us, no harm done. If it's her and we let her catch us…
Carrie slowly nodded and together they floated silently up through the roof. Once outside, Carrie turned to Penny whispering, "Where to n-" Carrie's eyes bugged out and the next thing Penny knew, Carrie was hugging her. Carries thoughts burst into her head. Why are you naked!?
Blushing, Penny glanced down to find that her newer and more womanly figure was on display for the world, but for the efforts of Carrie. Note to self, she thought to Carrie, clothes do NOT transform with you. Penny immediately used her ghost abilities to turn invisible and Carrie released her.
They floated a few houses away and watched from their vantage point as Gumball came out of the house and shrieked inhumanly. Carrie grabbed Penny's hand when he got into the car and drove off in the direction of Penny's house.
"Well, so much for getting some clothes." Penny grumbled.
"Come on, I think I have something that will fit you." The two girls went back into Carrie's room and Carrie dug in her closet for a second. She finally came out with a blue tee and a pair of grey slacks, as well as a set of underclothes.
"The bra might be a little big, but everything else is about the same size," Carrie said apologetically.
Penny shrugged and dressed. She did have to pad the bra a little but otherwise, the clothes fit well enough. While she was pulling the shirt over her head, her stomach growled and she was reminded that she hadn't eaten since last night. She looked sheepishly at Carrie who burst out laughing.
Still laughing, Carrie beckoned to her as she went through the floor to the kitchen.
Penny sat down and watched Carrie move around a kitchen that looked like it was last updated 30 years ago. She fretted about the situation earlier. She had frozen, unsure what to do and had nearly let Carrie be…
"Don't worry about it." Carrie said answering her thoughts.
Penny looked at the floor. "Did it… uh did she…" Penny wasn't sure how to ask if she had been too late.
Carrie finished the question for her. "Was I penetrated?"
Flushing, Penny nodded. Carrie shook her head and Penny slumped in relief. "Oh, thank goodness," she breathed. Carrie finished and set two plates with two sandwiches and a tall glass of milk each. She also grabbed a big jar and set it next on the table.
"Bon' appetite," she said, and attacked her food.
Penny picked up one of the sandwiches and bit into it. The flavor exploded in her mouth. "Oh, wow! This is really good," she said around her mouthful.
Carrie ducked her head, swallowing the bite in her mouth. "If you like it you should try it when gumball makes it, it's his recipe. A BLT with a sauce he showed me. I like it so much I literally keep bacon ready in the fridge at all times." Penny gaped at her and she chuckled. "I had to beg for a week before he finally told me how to make it and then he had to show me how to build the sandwich properly before it tasted right."
"I wasn't even aware he could cook…" Penny trailed off remembering the bacon she burned for him yesterday. She cringed. "Does he cook a lot?"
It was Carrie's turn to stare at her. "The only reason he doesn't make straight A's in Home Ec is because he always fiddles with the recipes, almost always for the better. How do you not know this?"
Penny bit her lip. Due to cheerleading she had dropped Home Ec as an elective. She didn't even know that Gumball was in the class. "I had cheerleading; it was one or the other."
Carrie grinned. "You're loss. Dude's got talent."
Before she knew it the sandwiches were gone. She wiped up the last of the sauce with her fingers and licked them clean. She still felt a little hungry and looked hopefully at the jar Carrie had placed next to them.
Carrie followed her gaze and smiled. "Oh yeah I saved the best for last. Gumball's homemade double chocolate cookies. Except this time it's not just his recipe." She put an arm possessively around the jar and popped the lid. Her reverence was almost comical as she carefully handed a stack of 5 cookies to Penny and took an identical stack for herself.
Geez, it's just a cookie, she thought biting into the first one and immediately condemning the thought as blasphemy. She stared at Carrie who was slowly and deliberately chewing the bite she'd taken while her mouth had something akin to an orgasm. The cookies were the perfect texture with just the right amount of chips and sweetness combined with a buttery undertone that offset and complimented the slightly bitter taste of the semi-sweet chocolate.
Carrie was watching her and she gathered herself together. Penny fought the urge to gobble them down and took her cue from the other girl, slowly chewing and savoring Gumball's culinary triumph. On the last cookie, Carrie dipped it in her milk and Penny followed suite. The slight alteration brought new but equally delicious tones to the experience and Penny was at a loss.
"How on earth can he make a cookie do that?" Penny gasped at her friend.
Carrie smiled dreamily and shrugged. "Don't ask me, girl. I just strive to enjoy as much of his efforts as possible."
Penny drained her glass and gathered up the dishes. Carrie stood up and tried to get them but Penny shook her head. "What kind of friend would I be if I let you do all the work? Where is your dish washing detergent?" Carrie pointed out the section of cabinet that folded down to reveal a modern dishwasher.
"The detergent packs or in the cabinet next to it," Carrie said with a smile ate Penny's stare. "I know, the old looking décor got you, huh? It's shabby chic. My grandma likes it, and I don't mind 'cause it helps keep the old and haunted feeling."
Penny nodded seeing the house in a new light. After she loaded the washer and got it started she and Carrie headed upstairs. Just as they were climbing the stairs the lights went out. Eyes wide, they went upstairs and locked the door behind them. Downstairs, they heard footsteps.
Moving quickly, Carrie grabbed the pack with her clothes, spellbooks and dad. They were ready just in time. The sound of footsteps on the stairs were the only warning they had before Gumball crashed through the door, and landed in a heap on the floor. Picking himself up, he focused on Carrie and rushed at her.
Penny intervened with a length of the rope she'd cut off Carrie earlier and prepared in the hopes of capturing the malicious spirit with its own device. Now she used the noose she'd created to catch his foot and hastily wrapped the end around Carrie's bedpost while he lay dazed. Penny ran over and grabbed Carries and the two of them floated up through the roof. Almost.
Carrie was suddenly jerked down but this time Penny was ready. She held fast and pulled back. Looking over the back of her friend, she could see Gumball, his eyes burning green, holding with one hand on her ankle. His face was twisted into a mask of rage. His face further contorted as Penny and Carrie's combined efforts were slowly overcoming his.
Finally pulling Carrie free of his grip, she and Penny shot up through the roof, chased by Aretha's howl of fury. When Aretha started to come through the roof, Carrie grabbed Penny and shouted into Penny's mind Teleport! Your house. NOW.
The ghost woman was speeding towards then and Penny just managed to wink out before she got caught.
CRACK! CRACK!
She popped in just above the hole that used to be her window. Carrie waved urgently. "Grab what you need and let's go. You only live three blocks away; it won't take her long to get here, even on foot."
Penny flew into her room and grabbed a couple changes of clothes and threw them into her bag. She also grabbed a stash of money she had under her mattress. After her preparations were complete she rejoined Carrie outside. Not comfortable staying where they were, they rose above the rooftops, floating away from Penny's house.
"Any thoughts on where to go?" Penny asked helplessly.
Carrie shook her head. "No clue. I can't think of any place to hide that I never told or showed Gumball…" She trailed off and her eyes widened.
"What is it?" Penny asked desperate.
"Gumball told me once about a time when Mr. Robinson was living in his attic," Carrie said slowly. "It's probably the last place she would look and we should at least have enough time to figure out our next move. I also intend to see what my dad can tell us." Carrie finished with a determined look.
"Alright, Gumball's house it–"
"I wouldn't recommend that." A voice spoke from a nearby tree and Penny screamed in surprise.
Carrie and Penny were stunned as a short pink bunny appeared out of the shadow of a tree below them. There staring up at them was Anais.
"Come with me," she said. "I have a space I'm renting nearby. In the meantime, you can get me up to speed on why my brother is acting like a lunatic."
Penny looked and Carrie and shrugged. Then they followed the bunny girl.
Dug into my dark side for that one. Hope my writing wasn't too graphic or over the line. Let me know!
The recap: In the woods, Aretha, while possessing Gumball clearly prepares to rape Carrie. Carrie says she knows this isn't Gumball. Aretha shows herself. Carrie realizes that it is her mom. Mom takes control of Gumball to proceed with the deed but before she can start, Penny stops her. After that it's more or less safe to read.