Chapter 17: Battling Emotions
(A few hours after)
(Watterson's residence)
Lexy and Christine were still sobbing at the couch while the others were at the dining table figuring out how to find this force. Then, Endo came in to join in the conversation with his regular ol' British accent.
Endo: What's up with those two?
Amber: Some dark force came up. It's a long story.
Cato: Where have you been all this while Endo?
Endo: Hey, being principal isn't easy, mate. There's a lot of work to be done.
Ivan: So how exactly are we gonna find this thing?
Cato: No idea for now.
Amber: Wait, Endo. Where's Kira?
Endo: I told her to head home first earlier. No idea where she went next.
Suddenly, the door bursted open and Gumball, Carrie and Darwin came in. Darwin laid flat face-first on the living room mat.
Gumball: What's with them?
Cato: What's with Darwin?
Gumball: He suddenly got bummed out about something.
Dante: Same for those two.
Amber: Guys, focus. So what we know is that this dark force thing broke out and is now making people feel sad and/or bad on themselves or each other, only ghosts and apparently Ivan can see it, what else did they say?
Cato: I think they said you have to say some ritual spell stuff? They said you'll know.
Carrie: I think I know which one is it. Hang on.
Carrie disappeared and reappeared seconds after with a book.
Carrie: Maybe what we're looking for is a banishment spell. It's the only spell that can bring it back to where it came.
Ivan: But they said it was "captured".
Carrie: Captured, banished, it's the same thing.
Dante: Uhh...I don't think so.
Amber: So, how are we gonna find this dark force?
All of them tried to brainstorm until something started beeping from under the couch. They looked at it and found what seems to be an energy/force tracker.
Cato: What's this?
Endo: That's Anais'. She made it in hopes that she could find Gumball when he ran away. After she found out it only finds energy levels, she gave up.
Gumball: Guess she really was trying so hard to find me.
Dante: Quick question, how is that thing not smashed since she left it for a long time? That's not how physics work.
Ivan: The wonders of the couch, but it was conveniently placed. Where should we start?
Amber: Hmm, good question.
Gumball: Maybe the mall? There was a lot of people who were feeling down there.
Carrie: Yeah, he's right.
Amber: Then we better get going before...
Amber was cut off by the sounds of a riot going on outside. When they opened the curtains, they saw everyone fighting including Nicole.
Endo: Yeah we should go.
Cato: Maybe it's best you guys stay here. Wouldn't want more people going negative. Me, Ivan, Carrie and Amber will go.
Gumball: What about you?
Cato: Let's just say I really need to follow them.
Dante: Okay then, we'll keep an eye on these guys. Make sure they're not going crazy or suicidal.
Ivan: Okay guys. Let's go.
Endo: Good luck.
Gumball: Stay safe.
(Elmore Mall)
Ivan opened up a portal and they passed through it to see a lot of sad faces and people starting to rob the stores as if the apocalypse has arrived.
Amber: This is not good.
Carrie: So where do we go?
Cato took out Anais' device and examined it.
Cato: Signal's coming somewhere outside, cuz the energy readings is not that strong here.
Ivan: On it.
Ivan again opened a portal to the parking lot outside the mall and they went through. The readings on the device increased a little.
Cato: It's going up, maybe we should keep heading this way.
Amber: Alright, c'mon let's go.
As they were running along the ruined streets of Elmore, they witnessed many people on a rampage and crying dead on the ground. As they headed to the same direction, the readings got higher and higher. On the way, they heard a cry in the distance. Sounded quite familiar.
?: Carrie! Amber!
Carrie: Do you hear that?
Amber: Yeah.
?: Guys!
Amber: It's coming from this way.
Ivan: Hey guys. Where you going?
Ivan and Cato chased down Amber and Carrie who were chasing the voice. When they reached the source of the cry, they were relieved.
Amber: Kira!
Kira: Finally found you guys. What's going on?
Carrie: Long story short, there's an ancient force who's making people cause a fuss and we need to find and stop it.
Kira: Well no point in going home now. Guess I'll join you. Someone tried to take away my purse so I really need some company.
Amber: Okay then.
Cato: Hey guys. I'm picking up something. This way, follow me!
Cato started running at the same pace the others were so that they could keep up. They kept on running until they stopped at the park.
Ivan: This is where it's coming from?
Cato: Guess so. Let's get inside. There's probably no one in there.
They headed inside and saw the wreckage of the park.
Amber: Oh my gosh.
Kira: This is terrible.
Cato: Umm...are you guys seeing a swirling wind of black leaves over there?
Everyone turned to where Cato was looking and saw it happening in front of him. All of the sudden, Cato felt something. He started to lose control of his emotions and started shaking. The others took notice of this.
Ivan: Cato?
Amber: Cato...are you okay?
Cato turned around and started tearing up in front of them.
Cato: Amber, I wanna ask you something.
Amber: What is it?
Cato: Do you actually love me?
Amber: What?
Cato: All these years I stood by you. All this time we were together. I started feeling that it's all a lie. That's why I'm asking, do you actually love me?
Amber: Yes, I do. What makes you think it's a lie?
Carrie: Amber, don't you see? This force thing already manipulated him. He's having an anxiety attack right now. We need to stop it.
Ivan: Um...where did it go?
They just noticed that the swirling bunch of leaves that was behind Cato suddenly vanished. Next thing they knew, Carrie got pushed away by the force along with Kira causing them to lie on the ground.
Amber: Are you kidding me? Why am I always the last one standing.
Ivan: We need to get the spell book.
Ivan noticed the spell book near Carrie who's possibly knocked out or her energy being drained by the force's push. He ran to get it and threw it to Amber after signalling her. However, Cato was being hesitant for answers and started moving closer to her.
Cato: Amber, c'mon. Why aren't you listening to me?
Amber: What?
Ivan: Don't listen to him.
Amber: I...I don't know what to do.
Ivan: Goddammit.
Ivan ran in between them so that Amber can focus on the dark force. But it didn't stop Cato.
Ivan: Amber, hurry up!
Cato: Let me talk to my girlfriend!
Cato punched him straight on his stomach causing him to be thrown near the tree.
Ivan: There has to be some way to stop him.
Then, he noticed the shadow of the tree covering all three of them. That's when he had an idea. When Cato was about to get closer, he suddenly got stuck and wrapped by Ivan's Shadow Bind.
Ivan: Amber, do it, now!
Amber turned to the dark force before Cato trying to persuade her.
Cato: Amber, no.
Amber: I'm sorry, Cato. I have to focus.
Cato was heartbroken as he thought his girlfriend had given up on him and cried a lot more. However it didn't stop Amber.
Amber: Ankoku no chikara de, anata wa koko de jūbun'na toraburu o hikiokoshimashita. Ima wa anata ga hoka no ryōiki ni iku tokidesu.
No one can notice, but the dark force is actually fighting back from the banishment spell Amber was casting upon it.
Amber: Itte kudasai!
Finally the dark force gave in and a bright white light emitted causing everyone to close their eyes.
And that's the end for now. There was so many, actually too many cliches in this chapter. So, Amber has casted the banishment spell but did it work? Well, find out in the next chapter. In the meantime, drop a comment below and fav, I'll see you guys next time. Peace out!
Okay, so this chapter seems pretty weird comparing to the other chapters, so here's something to clarify on the chapter:
- Amber was talking in Japanese when reading the spell
- Anais' energy tracker was supposed to be a tracker for people but it somehow manifested and tracked down energy readings instead
- Cato is under an anxiety attack when he was manipulated
- The swirly black pile of leaves is referenced from a game "Anxiety Attacks"