The U.F.O.
"Too bad for him!" said James Lâne to Gumball apparently sad for Darwin's submission.
"He no longer talks to me or plays with me at school during playtime or at home. He doesn't want to see me anymore. In fact when he sees me he closes his eyes and turns hi head!"
"Why?" asked James.
"Because I'm still faithful to you and Darwin doesn't like that!"
"Why?" asked curiously James.
"Because you're an idiot, at least that's what he said!"
"Do you think that I'm really an idiot?" asked James.
"Well…."
Gumball was unsure about the answer. Why he still trusts James? Why he couldn't say that he was an idiot?
Gumball thought deeply: if James was really an idiot then why he won so many prizes? Do idiots win prizes? Do idiots usually become directors of a studio?
"….I guess not!"
"So, why your brother doesn't agree?"
"Because he didn't like your version of Nancy Slime…err…..Emils!"
Gumball just realized Nancy's last name, Emils, is Slime in reverse.
"He said that she ruined the comic book because no one likes her and she will decrease the sales of our comic!"
"Oh, that's what he says!" said James smiling.
He opened his laptop and connected to his Elmore Plus's account.
"Look at here!" said turning his laptop to Gumball.
James's Elmore Plus page was plenty of images. Most of them were characters from "The greatest adventures of Billy Bunny". He clicked on a pic of the slime version of Nancy.
Under that pic, there were many comments. They were all positive for Gumball's surprise.
"She's a kick-ass!" wrote a user.
"She's so cute!" wrote a second user.
"Now I know why Billy loves her!" wrote a third user.
"So cute. Now the comic is not totally trashy!" wrote a fourth user.
Those comments were incredible. Darwin would go crazy if he read them.
"See?" said James.
Gumball was very confused. He was sure that many people hated Nancy. What happened now? They no longer hate her?
"People love her, and the comic book is selling good!"
"Can I see the selling chart?"
"Oh no, is not ready yet!"
James took something from the drawer.
"Look!" he said.
"What is it?" asked the blue cat watching James holding a flyer.
"Is another invitation to another Enny ceremony!"
"Oh, I don't care!"
"Are you sure? If we win again I'll allow you to keep the prize this time, if you participate!"
Gumball wasn't interested about prizes but, if he would win one, his brother, probably, would stop hate him.
"All right. I'll come!" was his answer.
"Very well!" said James smiling.
During the ceremony, Darwin kept his head turned to the other side in order to not see his brother. Nicole was upset for their quarrel. She forced Darwin to participate although he wasn't intentioned.
"And now for the best comic book series….." said the presenter reading the flyer.
"….we have: "The greatest adventures of Billy Bunny" by Gumball Watterson and James Lâne…."
An image of the last issue (#29) of their comic book appeared on the screen next to the presenter. The story was about Billy taking a trip in to the deep space with Peter.
"….."Hotel Samurai" by Jill Esaner…." Another comic book cover appeared next Gumball's one.
The story of a bunch of samurais living in a hotel at Miami Beach. The concept sounded very silly even to Gumball, but the cover was cool.
"….."The Revengers" by Shy Laman and….."
With Gumball's biggest surprise.
"…."The perfect strangers" by Darwin Watterson!"
Gumball didn't know that Darwin's comic had a nomination.
"And the winner is:….."
A moment of silence.
"The greatest adventures of Billy Bunny!" screamed the presenter.
"Thank you, thank you!" said James on the stage holding his 16th prize.
"I'm so excited, my genius, once again, is turned into a trophy!" said when people stopped clapping their hands.
"Another success Mr. Lâne!" said the presenter.
"Yes, it is!" answered the donkey.
"Since we are here, can you please tell us how the future of Billy will be?" asked a journalist sat on the stalls.
"Well…" said James.
"I didn't expect that question. All I can say we have great project for Billy's future. He have a great surprise for the issue #30!"
"What kind of surprise?" the journalist insisted.
"You'll see it by yourself!"
Gumball wondered what kind of surprise James was talking about.
"You earned your 16th prize. Do you have someone to thank?" asked the presenter.
"Yes, for this prize I have a lot of people to thank, but one in particular….."
James looked at the blue cat.
"Gumball Watterson….please come here!"
Gumball reached James on the stage.
"Since he is the original creator of this fantastic comic book series, I'll show him my gratitude by giving him this award!"
Gumball took the award and people clapped for James's generosity.
Gumball, also, gave a look at Darwin; despite he was holding a trophy, the goldfish was still sitting with his head down.
"So, Mr. Watterson, are you happy?" said the journalist.
The blue cat was still watching his brother: why was he still sad?
"Mr. Watterson…..?"
James hit the blue cat with his elbow.
"Ehm…uhm…what is it?" said confused the blue cat.
"Are you happy for this act of generosity?"
"Me…ehm…..yes…I'm happy!" said to the journalist.
"Will you work with James for the next years?"
"I…guess….so!"
Gumball looked so unsure.
"Why?" asked the journalist.
"Because James is…. Is…."
"A genius?" suggested the journalist.
"A…..a….a…."
James was looking at him with his big smile; he looked eager to hear Gumball's last word: "Genius"
Gumball turned to look Darwin. Suddenly he had a vision of him; a vison where he gets an idea of a comic book. A vision of him when he creates Billy. A vision where he and his brother realize their first book. A vision where they had success. Where he imagines Nancy as a beautiful cat and a perfect girlfriend for Billy. Where he cries because Nancy is not an animal but a terrible monster and where he gives his dismissal. He was the real creator of "The greatest adventures of Billy Bunny!"
He created a great comic and everything gone sour because of a donkey and his twisted ideas.
"…idiot!" said, eventually, Gumball.
"That's right, I'm a gen…..what?" said James puzzled.
"Yes, I said "idiot"! You're a snail-eater idiot!"
"Eh eh….he's just kidding!" said James laughing like an idiot.
"No! I'm not kidding!"
People gasped. Darwin, suddenly, raised his head.
"My brother is the real creator if this comic. He made a beautiful comic from a beautiful idea and you ruined everything! Your ideas are not brilliant, but wrong. Nancy was supposed to be a cat, not a slime from a video game franchise. My brother deserves a prize and if he can't have it then I won't too. So take your stupid award back, because I'm ready to give my resignation in front of all these people!"
Everyone was shocked except Darwin; he was touched for his brother's choice.
"As you wish….!" Said James calling his lawyer.
James's lawyer raised from hi sit and arrived with a flyer.
"Sign here!" said James pointing the lower edge of the contract.
Gumball read the contract first; it was a real contract of resignation of copyright. Once signed James would become proprietor of the comic book at 100%.
The blue cat started to sign the contract.
"Gumball Thristopher Watter…."
He couldn't finish to sign when, all sudden, a U.F.O. interrupted the ceremony.
The spaceship broke the ceiling and landed on the floor. A door from the spaceship opened.
A small weird looking alien appeared.
He was short and thin. His head was big and his eyes black. He also had two long and thin arms and legs. His skin was grey. He wasn't wearing any clothes except a red mantle and a weird-looking hat.
"Hi earthlings!" said the alien.
"I'm Xxyyzz Xxyyzz from the planet ç&%"#!$" planet's name was unpronounceable.
"I'm looking for a man named James Jeremiah Lâne!"
"It's me!" said James showing himself to the alien.
"Hooray hooray!" screamed happily the little alien.
"I was looking for you for so long!"
"What do you want from me?" asked James.
"You have been chosen to participate at the Zenit awards. Prize that we assign to all cartoonists of the galaxy!"
People were shocked.
"See…" said James looking at the blue cat.
"I'm so genial that even aliens want to give me a prize!"
"So do you accept?" said the alien.
"Of course!"
"Then head to my spaceship!"
James headed to the spaceship.
"Don't worry, I'll be back soon!" said James to his friends.
The door closed and the spaceship left the ceremony.