The silence gradually went away as Ken, Diamond, Gumball, and Penny entered Ember's house.
"Wake up, Ember!" Ken shouted, "It's 6 o'clock in the morning, time for school!"
Ember yawned and stretched her legs out. Her and Alana were still under the covers. "Uh. Um. Yeah, I'll be at school later. Lemme, uh, wake up Alana."
"What are you doing?" Ken asked, about to snatch the covers off.
Ember tried to keep the covers, "Don't do that. Please. Just go to school, me and Alana will be there soon."
"What are you hiding?" Ken questioned.
"I don't go to sleep with clothes on," Ember lied.
"That's new," Ken replied, backing up. "Although, I don't believe you because I am currently putting two and two together. Everyone, follow after me."
Ken opened the door and rushed out of the house, shouting, "See you all at school!"
"I am going to follow Ken's advice and also see you at school," Gumball said, grabbing Penny's hand and jogging outside.
"I'll see you at school. I gotta go untraumtise Ken," Diamond said before calmly exiting the house. Once the door was shut and the kids were far off the sidewalk from the house, she tapped on Alana to wake her up.
"Ali, wake up, we fell asleep. The group came by and I had to lie. Ken put two and two together, and yeah."
Alana sat up, "How are we gonna get outta this one?"
"I guess just back me up and say we sleep without clothes," Ember chuckled nervously.
"Let's go get dressed," Alana suggested, getting off of the couch.
"Let's run," Ember said, standing up. They both jogged into their room and grabbed some clothes.
"Don't be suspicious," Ember said before grabbing her bookbag and teleporting to the school.
"Good morning," Ken greeted at the door.
"That was a quick run," Ember noticed.
"What'd you two do last night?" Diamond teased.
"Slept."
"Why were you clothes-less?" Diamond asked.
"I sleep like that."
"We live with you, no you don't," Diamond replied.
"It's a new thing.
Ken turned to Gumball, "Can we live with you now?"
"Fine, I'll stop," Ember gave in. Gumball sighed with a smile and a slight head shake.
"See ya at lunch," Ember smiled, talking ahold of Alana's hand and walking away from the group.
About four weeks later, Ember, Alana, Ken, Diamond, Darwin, Carrie, Anais, Gumball, Penny, and Izzy was hanging around in Ember's living room. It was 11 pm on a Saturday and they had a special party.
"Stay put, everyone," Alana demanded, "I made Peanut Butter pie."
Ember gagged, "Please no, I'm gonna vomit."
"But you love Peanut Butter pie," Ken noted.
Ember gagged again, "Don't."
"Are you okay?" Alana asked.
"I'm...fine. Just please fix something else," Ember begged.
"Alright. Is Pumpkin pie alright?"
"Blah, no," Ember gagged again.
"Chocolate...?"
"Ember hates chocolate, remem—"
"Chocolate actually sounds amazing right now," Ember replied, "Do chocolate pie."
"Why not Peanut Butter pie?" Ken asked.
"Yeah, no," Ember said, before running quickly into the bathroom.
"Ken, she told you to stop saying it," Alana told him before following Ember into the bathroom.
"Why does she keep gagging when Peanut Butter pie is mentioned?" Ken asked. Ember threw up again. "I'mma be quiet now."
"Good question," Penny replied, "Gumball, Izzy, let's go ahead and head home."
Gumball and Izzy nodded as they followed Penny outside. Ken tried to go to the door, but Diamond pulled him back.
"We need to find out what's wrong with Ember," Diamond told Ken.
Ember and Alana exited the bathroom. Ember grabbed the car keys and said, "I'll be back. I'm gonna go...try and find some medicine for me. Mind staying at Gumball's for a little while? Alana?"
"Sure," Ken replied, "Don't do anything weird, now."
Alana gave Ken the stink eye, "Don't."
Ember sighed before watching Ken, Diamond, and Alana leave the house. She followed them and headed for the car.
She drove to the store, bought a pregnancy test, and drove back to the house. She entered the house, put the keys on the shelf, and entered the bathroom. She opened the box and took one of them out. She glared at it and took a deep breath before taking her pants off and peeing in a plastic cup. She dipped the test into the cup and placed the blue hood over the end. She set the test down and took another deep breath. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, followed by an exhale. She looked down, picked up the test, and flipped it around.
"Pregnant."
Ember put the test down and covered her mouth with her hands.
"What in the actual Carter.'s snake..?"
"I'm...pregnant? No, no...I-I can't be...or is it Elmore logic...? Where girls can make children...? I...what will Alana say? Will she be happy? I'm being crazy, of course, she'll be happy...right? Maybe I'm overreacting...I-" Ember looked at the test again, "Oh my god...this is happening...this is actually happening...I gotta call Alana! I- I have the perfect—no, purrfect idea! A picture."
Ember quickly grabbed her phone and called Alana.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Alana answered the phone, already in Gumball's house.
"Hello?"
"Leave Ken and Diamond there, I want you first."
"Alright, I'm on my way," Alana said, hanging up, "I'm heading to the house. Ken, Diamond, you have been asked to stay here for a little while."
"Why?" Ken questioned.
"I guess I'll find out," Alana said, exiting the house. She walked down the sidewalks to the house and walked inside. "What is it, Ember?"
"I got you a present," Ember smiled, handing her a box, "Here, open it."
"Okay..." Alana replied, "How are you feeling?"
"Better," Ember smiled.
Alana grabbed one of the books that were in the box and read it aloud, "How to Be a Mom."
"Wait..." Alana looked in the box again to see a baby outfit that says "my moms are the best".
"Are you..." Alana looked again to see a frame that says "Lil' Triangle. Coming August 31st, 2025."
"You're pregnant?" Alana looked at Ember, who held up the positive test. "We're gonna be parents?"
Ember nodded with a smile, "Surprise."
"Oh my god, kitty, this is amazing news," Alana hugged her tight. She let go and asked, "How about the others? How will we tell them?"
"Here's the plan..."
Ring! Ring! Ring! Ri-
"Hello?" Ken picked up.
"You can come on down," Ember said, "Just you and Diamond. Not Gumball and them."
"Alright," Ken replied, hanging up, "Diamond, let's go."
They headed down the sidewalk and to the street of the house. They entered the house and met Ember and Alana in the living room.
"So, is it safe?" Ken asked, "To say...y'know."
"No, not at all," Ember replied, without a doubt, "I wanna take a picture. I bought this necklace that you two can split."
"Okay, sure," Ken replied.
Ember handed Ken one part of the necklace, and Diamond the other. She gave the camera to Alana and stood behind Ken and Diamond.
"Alright, you three," Alana got the camera ready and continued, "3, 2, 1, say Ember's pregnant."
"Ember's pregnant!" Ken and Diamond said, not understanding yet.
"Wait," Diamond paused.
"Wait, what?" Ken looked behind him at Ember.
Ember smiled, "That is the reason for the gagging and the blacklisted word."
"Okay, that makes sense," Ken replied, "Congratulations."
"Thanks," Ember replied.
"Can I be a God Mother?" Diamond asked.
Ember smiled, "Of course."
"Woo-woo!" Diamond exclaimed.
"So, what now?" Alana asked.
"When we get to school on Monday, I'll do a special assembly."
"I have the perfect idea!" Diamond giggled.
"I already have a plan," Ember replied, "Just wait."
"Fine..."
"Trust me, it's worth it."
Two days later, on Monday morning, Alana and Ember were getting ready for school.
"Alana, do you know where I put my bookbag?' Ember asked, searching the living room.
"I think you put it beside the bookshelf."
Ember looked over at the shelf and saw it beside the beanbag chair. She walked over there and picked it up and put it on her back. She walked back to Alana but paused.
"What is it?" Alana asked.
"I feel...strange. Like something's gonna go wrong...but then again, we are in a cartoon, and cartoon logic exists. But still...what if I have a miscarriage? Or if everyone isn't surprised or don't care? Or if I get arrested for young pregnancy?"
"Kitty, it'll be okay. You're just paranoid."
"Maybe I'm paranoid for a reason. Gah, I needa know!"
"Let's just go to school and tell everyone," Alana held Ember's hand, "I'll show you that there's nothing to be scared about."
"Yeah, what Alana said," Ken said, entering the living room. "Besides, it's just a day at school. You've been surviving for the last, like, 5 weeks. Or something. What's the worst that could possibly happen?"
Alana facepalmed, "Are you KIDDING ME?!"
Ember whined, "See? Now it's gonna be exactly like the first day of school. Stressful. Violet. Someone's gonna get mad about sexual problems, and then someone will get hurt. What if my baby is the one that's hurt? I could NEVER live freely after that!"
"Let's go to school," Ken demanded, trying to pull Alana and Ember outside.
"F-Fine," Ember sighed, "But if one thing goes wrong, I'm sacrificing Ken."
"What?! Why me?"
"You said those six words!" Ember shouted.
"Actually I said seven," Ken replied.
Ember cracked her knuckles, sending the words "Okay, I admit, that happened," out of Ken's mouth.
Ember rolled her eyes before Alana said, "Let's go to school, okay?"
"Okay, okay, let's go," Ember grabbed her phone and held both Ken and Alana's hand and teleported to school.
"Wait, where's Diamond?" Ken asked.
"She said she will help set up the assembly. I'mma head to Principal Brown's office. Cya," Ember teleported to Principal Brown's office, "Principal Brown, I request an assemb-"
"Oh, hey, Ember," Nigel pushed Lucy away.
"Okay, then," Ember responded, "Like I was saying, I need a set up for an assembly. Diamond is helping in the auditorium."
"What's the assembly about?" Nigel asked.
"It's a surprise. You'll see at," Ember checked her watch and looked back at Nigel, "10 o'clock. Or something. I don't know, we'll see later, I guess."
"Good enough for me, let me figure out the schedule," Nigel replied, looking at his computer, "Aha! We're free this morning to the afternoon. Choose wisely."
"I won't need long," Ember smiled and teleported into the auditorium. "How's it going, Diamond?"
Diamond turned to Ember before falling off the ladder. Ember twitched and gave a 'eesh' look. "It's going just peachy."
Ember giggled cutely, "Poor Diamond. Here, lemme help." She teleported to Diamond and held her hand as she stood back up. "There ya go."
"Appreciated," Diamond replied, dusting off her dress, "Now, do you want the strip over the bar up there or against the curtains?"
"The bar," Ember replied, "Try not to fall this time."
"Why don't I sprout wings and use them instead?" Diamond sarcasted.
"You'd have to train with your wings, anyway," Ember informed.
"I meant that in sarcasm, Ember."
Ember giggled, "I know, I know."
"I got the microphone fixed," Ken said, entering behind the curtains, "Testing?"
"Oh, yes," Ember got the microphone from Ken and tapped the top, "Testing 1, 2—"
Ring!
Ember poked her ear, "Ow! Gosh, that was a loud ringing."
"It wasn't that loud, but I'll fix it," Ken grabbed the microphone and walked back to the sound booth.
"Okay, so I'm planning for the assembly at 9:00. Right after the second bell," Ember grabbed a clipboard from the ground and a pencil and jotted down a schedule, "Maybe students will leave first period, get here, and return to whatever class it's time for next. Maybe we can do a special lunch or something."
"Maybe a taco bar, some peanut butter sandwiches, maybe some burgers and-"
Ember dropped the clipboard and covered her mouth with her hands, "Don't. We're not doing those sandwiches."
"Oh, right, sorry, Ember. I forgot you're avoiding that..."
"It's fine, just please..." Ember took a deep breath, "I swear, if I vomit on this stage, I'm gonna cry."
"Aww, Ember, don't cry," Diamond replied, "You can't control it."
"Yeah, I know..."
"Here, let me go fix you some kool-aid, is that o-"
Ember released her hand and threw up on the stage, "Ah! Oh no...oh god, Nigel's gonna kill me!"
"Wait...are you avoiding..." Diamond gasped, 'Koolaid?"
Ember gagged, "I-I think so! Please don't mention it again...please! Someone get Rocky..."
Ken entered from the curtain and said, "I think I got it now, now just to te- what the Spongetron happened here?"
"She's avoiding...her favourite drink," Diamond replied.
Ken gasped, "Oh no! Not the-"
"Don't," Ember interrupted, "Don't you dare say it," she turned to him, "I'm begging you."
"Who's gonna get Alana?" Ken asked.
Alana walked out of the curtains with a checklist and said, "Ken, we might need a headset microphone. I can't get it to say connect-" Alana looked up to see Ember and the stage. "Alright, who said the avoidment?"
"There's a new one," Diamond said, texting Alana 'Koolaid'. Alana looked down at her phone and read the message.
"Oh, wow," Alana looked over at Ember, "I'll go get Rocky, you go clean up."
Ember nodded, "Alright," and teleported into one of the bathrooms.
Alana spotted the clipboard on the ground and picked it up and read over it. She walked out of the auditorium and shouted, "Rocky, come to the auditorium with your mop stuff."
Rocky appeared behind Alana, "I'm here."
Alana jumped and turned around, "Jesus, Rocky, you scared me."
"Whatcha need?"
"Ember. Stage. Clean-up needed."
"What's wrong with her?"
Alana looked left, and then looked right, and whispered in Rocky's ear, "Pregnancy avoidment."
Rocky gasped, "What? Awe, congratulations."
Alana put her finger against Rocky's lips, "Shhhhh, don't say anything too loud. It's a surprise. Now please go clean the stage."
Rocky picked up his cleaning materials and replied, "Yes ma'am, Alana." He walked down the auditorium aisle and then up the stage stairs.
Alana smiled and turned back to the door to see Principal Brown at the door. "Hi, Principal Brown! Ember has a schedule running," Alana handed Principal Brown the clipboard.
Brown scanned his eyes on the schedule and nodded, "This looks alright to me. What do you think, Simian?"
"Looks good to me," she replied.
"Perfect," Alana smiled cutely, getting the clipboard back from Principal Brown. "Make sure no kids enter this auditorium until the second bell."
"Yes, ma'am," Brown replied, he and Simian walking the hall. Alana walked back to the stage as Ember teleported back onto it.
"Hey, Rocky," Ember smiled.
"Hey, Ember," Rocky waved with a smile.
"Sorry about this mess here," Ember apologised, "You can blame Diamond."
"Hey, I'm setting this assembly up, don't blame me!" Diamond replied, still on the ladder.
"Yeah, you still said it."
"I said Koolaid, not peanut butter pie-" Diamond covered her mouth, "Whoops."
"I'll be right back," Ember smiled before teleporting to the bathroom.
"I'm just gonna," Rocky wet the mop and started cleaning the stage.
"Can someone please help test the microphone headset?" Ken asked.
Alana sighed and turned to him, "Here, give me the headset."
Ken handed the headset to Alana, who connected it to her head and put the box in her somehow-existing pocket.
"Testing 1, 2," Alana spoke into the microphone.
"Hey, no ringing," Ken noted, "We are awesome at this."
"Unlike your girlfriend up there."
"She didn't mean to," Ken said as Alana walked past him, handing him the headset.
Alana sighed, "I know, I know. Now, is this all we need for the assembly? A banner, microphone, and a taco bar?"
Ember teleported back on-stage, "What's going on?"
"Alana wants to know if this is all we need," Ken replied.
Ember looked around and nodded, "Yeah, this seems fine."
Diamond climbed down the ladder and said, "Finally, the banner stays up!"
Ember pinched the bridge of her nose, "Diamond, honey, it's upside down."
"Hey, I only I can call her pet names," Ken argued.
"Here, lemme just," Ember used her secret telekinesis power to change the position of the banner. It was now right-side up and unrisky to fall down. "There we go! We're on schedule! What time is it?"
"First off," Ken glanced at the clock and replied, "Somehow 8:55. Secondly, you have telekinesis powers? Since when?"
"Since last weekend. It's about to be my 16th birthday, so it makes sense," Ember smiled, "And secondly, let's get into place. Rocky, great job cleaning my mess. I will pay you extra for that. Alana, behind the curtain. Ken, gimme the headset and let me test it."
"Alana's tested it, it works perfectly," Ken replied.
"Awesome, now gimme," Ember reached her hand out and grabbed the headset. She connected it to her somehow-existing-pocket and out the headpiece on and around her ear. "Testing 1, 2, 3. Okay, perfect, let's do this."
"Someone give me an intercom thing," Ember demanded. She teleported into Brown's office and pressed the button. "Attention Elmore Junior and High. Please make your way to the auditorium at this time. Thank you." She released the button and teleported back to the auditorium.
"Alana, Ken, sound booth. Diamond, you're in charge of the curtain," Ember inquired.
"Gotcha," Alana grabbed Ken's hand and went behind the curtain and up the ladder.
The seats started filling up with the students. When they got completely filled, Ember sent Diamond to the podium first.
"Welcome to a special assembly that Ember has planned. Uh, enjoy this and the taco bar afterwards. Ember, come on."
Ember walked out of the curtains and replaced Diamond on the podium.
"Hello, Elmore Junior High. And High school. Normal High...Hello Elmore Secondary school. Nice to see you here Little assembly going on, as Diamond said. Taco bar afterwards. Well, anyways, huge news for you all. Lemme just. Who wants to take a picture with me? Everyone? Okay, perfect!" Ember grabbed her phone and turned toward the curtains, pointing the forward-facing camera toward her and the audience.
"Okay everyone, 3! 2! 1! Say Ember's pregnant!"
"WOOOOOO!!!!!"
"CONGRATULATIONS!!!"
"CAN I BE A GOD PARENT?!"
"Who asked to be a godparent? The only godparents are Diamond, Ken, and Izzy. Because she's my favourite."
"HEY, EMBER?"
"Hm? Who said that?"
"It's me, Julius!" he replied, "Question."
"What is it, jerkface?" Ember giggled.
"How do you spell icup?"
"I see you pee."
Julius cackled, "GOTCHA!"
"Julius, say that again."
"GOTCHA!"
"That's right," Ember giggled, "Idiots do what they're told."
"OOOHHH!"
"SING IT WITH ME EVERYONE!" A 1, A 2, A SCOOBY SCOOBY DOO!" Ember motioned Ken.
"THIS LITTLE WORLD WE LIVE IN! IT'S SO AMAZING!"
The music continued playing as Diamond climbed up the ladder and over to Ken.
"Hey, Ken?"
"Yes, my love?" Ken asked with a smile.
Diamond smiled, "I love that smile of yours."
Ken blushed, "Why, yours is cuter."
Diamond giggled back.
"So, what's up?" Ken asked.
Diamond took a deep breath and went, "I have booked us a hotel. By ourselves. I stole Ember's money to buy the entire building for one weekend. That way, we can have peace."
"What are you rooting for?" Ken asked.
"I wanna sleep with you," Arf said.
"You don't have to ask me twice," Ken replies, about to unbutton his shirt.
Diamond slapped his chest to put the shirt back into place, "Shh, not yet. You gotta wait for home."
"Alright, alright," Ken replied, giggling.
"You're so silly, my Kennyz."
"And so are you, Arfyz."
...Am I just a fish out of water, maybe not. I found a place where I can be king...