Chapter 14: Times are changing…
Authors note: THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR THE LAST REVIEWS! I don't know the last time that I had so many reviews for just one chapter! Over 45 reviews! Thank you all so much for all your support so far through this story! I never realized how popular this story would be when I first thought of it ages ago! And there are still loads more to come yet! Now I haven't done this dedicating a chapter to an author thing yet but I thought it would be nice to start, especially to the ones who have given me support through both of my stories! So this chapter is dedicated to IJGirl and Kagnomehater4ever thank you both so much! So anyway this chapter is set a year later than the last chapter… time will pass a lot quicker from now on! Anyway enough of me rambling! Enjoy the chapter!
Times had indeed changed over the following year for both gardens. Firstly the new Lady Blueberry had finally got married to Gnorman who became joint leader of the blue garden and all its dominions. Their relationship had sped up quite a lot over a few months and they had finally decided it was time Blueberry shared some of them responsibilities with Gnorman. The new Lord Gnorman was quite a responsible leader when he wanted to be. He still used his charm and good looks to get his own way at times but he had seemed to have matured a lot more and became a very responsible gnome for the welfare of his fellow blue gnomes. Blueberry couldn't have been more thrilled or proud of her husband and what they were now doing with the garden.
Secondly Lord Redbrick had finally got round to marrying June when he had finally developed enough courage to ask her. They too had been spending a lot of time together though out the year and finally ended up getting married. The red gnomes actually grew quite attached to their other leader and knew she would be good for the job because she had a good heart. June and her husband were extremely close and shared their responsibilities fairly. And after several ups and downs over the past year the reds were succeeding in their newly refurbished garden. Yeah that's right, NEWLY REFURBISHED!
And lastly a year after the day they had heard the terrible news that Pansy was pregnant... A few months back she finally had her baby and to everyone's surprise she and Boris actually seemed happy about having it. Pansy had given birth to a little baby boy and she and Boris called him Tybalt. Tybalt was a bright and healthy baby that had inherited both of his parent's distinguished features. The little gnome had inherited Pansy's pansy on his belly while he looked a lot like his father. He had inherited Boris's heavy built body with strong arms and legs. His little bushy beard looked exactly like his fathers and his eyes were just like Pansy's. They were now parents of a healthy baby boy and their behaviours seemed to change. This got a few suspicions up but no one inquired further, unless they were after a death sentence.
And of course the war between Miss Montague and Mr Capulet hadn't changed all that much. Although Miss Montague took a high pleasure in teasing Mr Capulet and the more she made him angry, the more fun it was. Mr Capulet continued to show off about his newly refurbished garden while Miss Montague kept adding odd little things to make her garden more attractive. But she still hadn't found a decent plant to put in that toilet of hers in the garden. She was still looking for a decent plant to place there but she couldn't seem to find one. And of course Miss Montague still loved her records (She was still unaware that half of them had been stolen by one of her gnomes 'Wisteria') but they drove Mr Capulet up the wall as it was about to be shown one afternoon.
…
Miss Montague lay back on her sun chair rubbing sun cream on her arms while she relaxed in the warm sun with her hat and sun glasses on. Today was supposed to be the hottest day of the year so far and it was in the middle of summer. Today was also Miss Montague's day off work so she decided to spend the day out in her garden getting a tan. She lay back and shut her eyes as a familiar song came on the radio. It was 'Saturday nights alright for fighting' By 'Elton John' and Miss Montague loved this song. She turned up the volume to full blast so everyone could hear it and someone wasn't best pleased by the sound of it.
Meanwhile in his garden Mr Capulet was watering his new tulips while trying to cool down himself. He was boiling and felt the need to sit down with a cool drink. But his plants needed more water than he did at this current moment in time so he had to wait. Mr Capulet suddenly jumped as he heard a sudden burst of music appear from next door. Mr Capulet grumbled and muttered under his breath as he dropped his watering can to look over his fence to see what his irritating neighbour was doing. Mr Capulet was a little surprised to see Miss Montague lying back on a sun chair with her eyes closed beneath her sunglasses. And when she spoke that made him jump two feet into the air.
"Spying on me again Mr Capulet?" Miss Montague asked not moving from her current position. Mr Capulet's eyes began to widen. How did she know he was there?
"How did you know it was me?" Mr Capulet replied sounding rather staggered.
"Well other than the obvious fact you are my next door neighbour, I could sense your appearance because you have that gloomy effect that seems to make me shiver every time you step within 10 meters away from me!" Miss Montague explained as she sat up.
"Well I came over here to tell you to turn that contraption off! Not only are the sun and the heat giving me a headache, but your music seems to have a very bad affect on my ear drums," Mr Capulet said.
"Oh I am sorry I have a better music taste than you! Just because you listen to classical and opera whilst I like the catchy modern day music! Listen if it bothers you that much, go inside and play some Beethoven or something! Perhaps then it will calm your nerves!" Miss Montague teased.
"My nerves are calm enough thank you! It's just some pesky little witch seems to twitch them every so often which makes me very agitated as all!" Mr Capulet growled a little.
"Whatever you say Mr Capulet! Now today is my day off and I would like to spend it in peace if you don't mind!" Miss Montague replied trying to give a very strong hint for him to get lost and leave her alone.
"Well that will be hard to get around here won't it? With your music blasting out for everyone to hear! I won't be surprised if you get anymore complaints!" Mr Capulet exclaimed.
"Oh I have had enough to last me throughout today thank you!" Miss Montague smirked and Mr Capulet shook his head.
"I don't have time for this you hag!" Mr Capulet shouted before storming away. Miss Montague smiled in victory as always.
"Have a nice day too Mr Capulet!" Miss Montague waved sarcastically before going back to her sunbathing.
…
Later on when the sun was beginning to slowly go down both Miss Montague and Mr Capulet had left their houses to do their shopping leaving their gardens as they were. All the gnomes came to life just seconds after the humans had gone and a lot of drama was going to happen as usual in both gardens.
Meanwhile in the red garden Redbrick went around surveying his garden with a serious expression. Recently they were having more and more frequent attacks from the blues after they destroyed one of their prized plants. Of course they were only minor attacks like throwing snails over the fence or setting a bunch of crickets into the garden, but they were still becoming more and more annoying to the reds. And guess who had to deal with them? Pansy and Boris of course!
"And keep your blasted crickets next time!" Boris yelled over the red fence, he then turned to walk away until he heard a reply from one of the blue gnomes on the other side of the fence.
"Oh and what you gonna do about it?" the gnome shouted back confidently, Boris grumbled and then turned back to the fence.
"Don't tempt me blue!" Boris threatened. If this gnome had any common sense he would shut his trap before something else would be done, but this gnome obviously didn't have much common sense as he called back.
"Come on then! Hit us with your best shot!" the gnome called. Boris chuckled was he asking for a death wish? Or was he just plain stupid?
"Ok then if you really say so…" Boris smirked and grabbed his sling shot. He then walked over to the hole in the fence and saw the gnome who continued to yell over the fence. None of the gnomes notice he was there and as the blue gnome continued to shout abuse over the fence Boris grabbed a small unfortunate snail and picked it off of the ground. He then placed it in his sling shot and aimed it at the gnome.
"Come on then! We don't have all day!" the gnome continued as he had no idea what Boris was about to do "Or are you to chicken to even-" the gnome stopped as he suddenly dropped to the floor when a snail collided with his face and somehow landed in his big mouth. The gnome began to choke as other blue gnomes ran over to help him. They then turned to see where the snail had come from and then they noticed Boris laughing menacingly.
"And next time I suggest you keep that big gob of yours shut!" Boris yelled before walking off, laughing as he went.
After the blue gnomes managed to force the snail out of the gnome who had just stood up to Boris they all looked toward their leaders. Blueberry and Gnorman had witnessed the entire thing and decided to walk over to the gnome who had just recovered from choking on a snail.
"Are you alright James?" Gnorman asked sympathetically and the gnome nodded.
"Yeah I'm fine!" James began and then noticed the look on Blueberry's face he then felt a little guilty "I got a bit carried away again didn't I?"
"Yes James you did get carried away! Your lucky Boris didn't do anything worse to you considering you were yelling nine to the dozen! I sometimes wish you would just leave these matters to us instead of fighting the battle yourself!" Blueberry replied not helping James' guilt.
"I'm sorry Lady Blueberry! I know I shouldn't get involved, but after what happened to our prized bluebells I feel someone should stand up to them blasted reds!" James exclaimed.
"Don't worry James; the reds won't get away with this we promise you! Now why don't you go get some rest and leave this matter to me and Lady Blueberry?" Gnorman encouraged and James smiled gratefully.
"Thanks Lord Gnorman! You teach them a lesson they won't soon forget!" James boasted again and Blueberry sighed frustratedly.
"JAMES! Don't get so carried away!" Blueberry shouted a little and James soon realized what he was doing.
"Yes, right, of course! I'm sorry! Good day!" James said before rushing off to save anymore embarrassment.
"Oh that kid makes me laugh!" Gnorman chuckled turning to his wife.
"Yes… he had better change his attitude before he gets himself into some serious trouble!" Blueberry replied sounding more serious.
"Hey, he's young and all talk and less action! He'll learn eventually! I mean he is only one of the many new gnomes here! They'll soon get the picture that the reds aren't ones to be trifled with," Gnorman explained and Blueberry nodded.
"Yes, let's hope the reds don't do anything else today! I would like to go one day without having to see Pansy or Boris or any other red gnome for that matter!" Blueberry sighed knowing that would be a far off memory to actually go a whole day without seeing those wretched reds!
"Hey, let's drop the subject about the reds and let's go visit Wisteria!" Gnorman suggested and Blueberry smiled. If anyone could cheer them up, it was her!
While Blueberry and Gnorman had a gentle walk towards Wisteria's pad they could hear her music in the distance and some voices come from the same direction. When they finally got there they noticed Wisteria trying to do her cleaning whilst trying to get two mushrooms to stop chasing each other.
"HEY YOU TWO! Stop that! Don't you two realise I'm trying to do some spring—eh I mean summer cleaning?" Wisteria shouted but it was useless.
As well as there being some new gnomes, there had also been many other new items in the garden. Miss Montague had one day brought back with her another small mushroom which was called Fungie. She was a female and she and Toadstool got on like a house on fire, which was a bad thing for Wisteria because they would never stop chasing each other around the garden happily.
"Will you two stop trying to kidnap my broom? Unlike you I have jobs to do!" Wisteria sighed as both mushrooms continued to pester her "Ugh! I give up!" Wisteria sighed and dropped her broom while the two mushrooms carried it away and began to wrestle with it.
"Having some trouble Wistie?" Gnorman chuckled as he and Blueberry approached Wisteria.
"You could say that…" Wisteria replied turning to him whilst occasionally glancing at Toadstool and Fungie. "They're like two little children! I can never get any work done anymore!"
"Ha! Well try living with them bunnies!" Blueberry exclaimed "they can be annoying at times!"
"Yes, but at least their cute! And THEY DON'T PINCH YOUR BROOM!" Wisteria called at the mushrooms who both still ignored her and continued to wrestle with the broom.
"Well cute isn't what I would call them…" Blueberry replied before deciding to change the subject "So Wisteria, how are you?"
"Is this one of your routine checks on the garden again? Or are you actually going to say a proper 'hello how are you'?" Wisteria asked.
"No, it's an actual hello! We did our routine checks this morning before James decided to mouth off at Boris and ended up choking on a snail!" Gnorman explained.
"Oooh yes I heard about that… How is he?" Wisteria glanced around the garden before focusing her attention on Gnorman again.
"He's fine! Still as boastful as ever! I guess he doesn't exactly realize how serious the situation is! But you know kids these days!" Gnorman replied.
"How long is it now?" Wisteria asked slowly and Blueberry and Gnorman gave her dodgy looks as they had no idea what she was talking about "Since her baby was born?" Wisteria glanced in the direction of the red fence and it took both Gnorman and Blueberry a few seconds to realize what she was saying.
"Oh you mean Pansy?" Gnorman asked and Wisteria nodded "Oh about 4 months, wouldn't you say Blueberry?"
"Why are you asking us this Wisteria?" Blueberry asked feeling slightly concerned for her friend.
"With each passing day I know that one day something bad will happen and that child of hers will be a part of it. I fear that as he will grow up, Pansy will get stronger and one day without warning; something bad will happen that will affect everyone!" Wisteria said looking toward the red garden with a very distant look on her face. Gnorman gave Blueberry a weird glance before deciding to speak.
"Ok… thanks for the dramatic tension Wisteria! I think it was well played!" Gnorman pretended to clap but received a glare from Blueberry.
"Come now Wisteria; is this another one of your deep feelings?" Blueberry asked placing a hand on Wisteria's shoulder.
"Yes, but I know it's true! I know I can't see the future, but I have this gut feeling that one day Pansy will use her son to do something bad to her own garden as well as ours!" Wisteria explained still looking a little distant.
"Come on Wisteria lets just go inside your pad and listen to some music for a bit…" Gnorman suggested as it was obvious he didn't believe her. But all the same they did so and Wisteria decided to keep this feeling to herself.
Oh something bad would happen alright! But unfortunately for Wisteria, she didn't know when or who it would affect…
…
"Boris you evil bugger!" Pansy laughed noticing what had just happened.
"What? Them morons needed to be taught a lesson, so I just decided to play the role of teacher for a change," Boris smirked pretending to be innocent.
"Well I wouldn't like to be your pupil!" Pansy exclaimed still grinning humorously.
"Where's Tybalt?" Boris asked and suddenly Pansy's features fell.
"Oh… the brat's sleeping," Pansy muttered and Boris crossed his arms.
"Now Pansy, you did promise me that you would be nice to him! Aren't you forgetting why we are raising him?"
"Yes I remember!" Pansy sighed "I just can't stand being a motherly figure! Everywhere I go other mothers say 'Oh what a cute baby you have there' or 'could I see that charming baby of yours?'" Pansy made a horrible impression of the gnomes who had said these things to her.
"It's all a part of the plan! We have to act nice to people or else they will grow suspicious!" Boris insisted.
"They're suspicious already! Especially my brother and his petty wife! You know, June keeps looking over my shoulder every 5 minutes to tell me what I'm doing right or wrong! She's hovering over my child like a bee is to a flower! Since when does she know the first thing about being a mother?" Pansy shouted angrily.
"Maybe she's jealous of you because you have a child while she doesn't?" Boris suggested and Pansy shook her head in disagreement.
"No, she'll have a baby in the future! That could bring down our plan and we will then have no further use for our child. She and Redbrick would love to see me suffer at their hands! They don't care for me, or you or any other gnome in this stupid garden for that matter! Our little Tybalt would bring about their downfall in a certain amount of time, but if they have a child that could ruin everything!" Pansy looked down and shook her head frustratedly.
"Come now… child or no child, we both know that Redbrick won't stand a chance against me, you or Tybalt. While he may have a child, he will still have to raise it in a certain way to become the great leader. But because he isn't a great leader we stand more of a chance at gaining power than his silly future child!" Boris explained and Pansy was about to reply if only it wasn't for a sudden burst of crying coming from the opposite direction.
"That will be Tybalt for a guess!" Pansy grumbled storming off to find her son. Pansy was suddenly stopped by Boris when he placed a hand on her arm.
"Be gentle with him! He is after all our son! You don't want to give the wrong impression do you?" Boris asked and Pansy nodded before walking off as the cries got louder.
When Pansy made her way through the bushes to find her son she suddenly halted when she heard the sound of crying fade. She then heard a voice that was very quiet and gentle. Pansy then fumed in anger when she realized whose voice it was.
"Sssssh there little one. It's alright! Aunty June is here!" June cooed holding the baby gnome closely in her arms. When Pansy exited the bushes her suspicions were confirmed and she felt a rush of sheer aggression and anger as she saw June holding her baby closely. She had a look of love and adoration in her eyes; it was as if she thought the child was hers! This made Pansy even more livid.
"LET GO OF MY SON!" Pansy roared marching over to June and snatched the baby Tybalt out of her arms.
"I was only comforting him because he was crying and-" June tried to explain but was cut off by Pansy.
"I know what you were doing and it wasn't comforting my son!" Pansy snapped looking down at Tybalt who now began to cry again.
"What are you implying? I only care for my new nephew!" June replied.
"I know what this is about! Ever since Tybalt was born you have been breathing down my neck! Watching my every move! And when I'm not there you smother my son with love and adoration! I don't know what you think this is but this is MY son! Not yours! And if you don't like that, well tough! Go spend some time with my arse of a brother and leave me and my baby ALONE!" Pansy fumed leaving June very confused and stunned.
"You know Pansy, I really pity you! I never realised how selfish you were until now! You won't let anyone around your son! Do you really want your son to grow up lonely? Or is that what you intend for him? To become as ignorant and self centred as you! Good luck raising your son! You're going to need it with the attitude you have!" June then passed a loving glance at Tybalt before departing. Pansy gave her cold glares as she left and then looked down at her son and smiled a little.
"Don't worry my little Tybalt; you won't have to put up with these idiots for long! For when you are older, you shall be able to get your own back!" Pansy then smiled evilly as she looked up and noticed June and Redbrick talking in the distance. "And they will be begging at our knees for mercy!"
…
As June walked away her thoughts pondered on what had just happened. Ever since she had figured out she was pregnant, Pansy had been acting very peculiar, and to think of it so was Boris. This made June very sceptical about their behaviour. To think when Pansy first found she was pregnant she was furious and now suddenly she wanted her baby? What were they up to? June was now becoming more and more suspicious with each passing day and she was beginning to worry for the poor baby Tybalt.
June decided to consult her husband on this matter, if anyone knew how to handle things it would be her Redbrick!
"June there you are!" Redbrick greeted June and smiled while June did the same, but only briefly before looking back at Pansy with her baby.
"Hello Redbrick…" June replied but it was obvious her mind was preoccupied.
"What's wrong love?" Redbrick looked down into his wife's eyes with a warm concerned look on his features.
"Nothing just a little flustered as all…" June explained looking away before looking back again.
"Want to talk about it?" Redbrick asked and June nodded before explaining the situation to him.
"Well it's to do with Pansy!" June began "Don't you think its odd how suddenly she seems to love Tybalt so much? I mean a few months ago she was so angry with the idea of having a baby that she wanted to kill it. But now she seems to be the 'Perfect mother'! It's just odd! I know she's up to something, but I just don't know what!"
"I agree with you June! But what Pansy does is entirely up to her! Just as long as she doesn't do anything drastic that could harm any gnome this garden, I just think it is easier to leave her be than to play with fire!" Redbrick explained as they both passed glances toward Pansy who noticed them and glared in return.
"So you're just suggesting we leave her?" June asked a little sceptical.
"Yes! I would because she isn't acting too odd now is she? She may even change and become a better person!" Redbrick said almost immediately regretting saying that.
"Now don't go over the top Redbrick! It would take more than a baby for Pansy to change! Perhaps a near death experience, but not a child!" June replied.
"Your right as usual!" Redbrick smiled.
"Of course I am! Now why don't we go for a walk and put all of this behind us?" June suggested and Redbrick smiled.
"I couldn't think of anything better!" Redbrick then grabbed June's arm and they went off for an evening stroll to put all their problems behind them.
…
Meanwhile in the blue garden Blueberry smiled as her husband and Wisteria were playing a game of snakes and ladders in Wisteria's pad. She didn't want to play because she didn't feel like it. When Blueberry decided to get some air she went for a small walk outside to clear her head but what she got in return wasn't that pleasant at all!
"Oh… my!" Blueberry gasped as she suddenly stopped to place a hand on her stomach. A sudden pain made her feel extremely faint and sick and Blueberry had to lean on a nearby stone for support. This was unexpected!
But several moments later the pains had gone and the faint, sick feeling suddenly disappeared. Blueberry let go of her stomach and sat on the stone for a few moments wondering what all the pain was about. When she finally agreed it was a short odd pain gnomes sometimes get Blueberry decided to walk back inside and pretend nothing had happened.
But something was happening to her! A fate that could not be escaped was about to affect Blueberry! And the effect on the feud would happen once again by this sudden change! Although Blueberry didn't realize it yet, this was about to change her life forever!
Authors note: Ok guys I hope this wasn't too quick and short! I don't feel I am putting enough detail in but I don't know how to add anymore in! But how did you like it? We finally meet baby Tybalt! YAY! And soon someone else will make an appearance! Please review! Thanks!