There was a sudden silence to the crowd of the ship, as the captain emerged from the sea of passengers and crew aboard the ship.
"Attention everyone! May I please have your attention!?"
The Walrus said in a commanding, yet professional manner. Soon, most of the passengers were directing their attention towards the Walrus captain.
"I understand this situation may seem foreboding and ominous to many of you, but I can assure everyone that everything is well in hand, and our crew is working tirelessly to restore our navigational systems since they were lost this morning."
A slight unnerve arose from the crowd as the captain continued his announcement.
"You are free to leave the ship and roam the island as you please, but it is highly advised to travel in groups and to have some form of protection. This island did not appear on any of our records or charts; so we truly are possibly the first of the civilized world to have discovered it."
The walrus captain announced, as Gumball looked to his right as he saw Penny, his kids, and the rest of the Watterson family approaching him. Penny gave a quick peck on the cheek of the blue feline, as Tristan grabbed his father's paw.
"It seems like we have discovered a new part of the planet Dad! What do you think we'll find?"
Tristan said in an excited and jubilant tone of voice, as Gumball picked up the small blue kitten and held him in his arms.
"We'll have to ask your mother what she thinks of the situation little man, she's not exactly fond of you and I getting into unnecessary danger...As fun as the prospect of having a little fun and danger would be."
Gumball whispered to the blue feline with a wink, prompting a chuckle out of the blue kitten.
Penny turned and rolled her eyes at the remark.
"Look boys, I just don't want you both to get hurt! You don't know what this island brings with it in terms of dangers and threats! If we're going on an expedition or exploring anything of the sort, we must do it in groups or as a family! The Watterson family always watches each others' backs!"
Penny stated, as Nicole soon interjected.
"I couldn't have said it any better myself Penny!"
Nicole soon placing a paw on the yellow fairy's shoulder and smiling.
"Gumball and Tristan, especially Gumball, I understand how you both are eager to explore such daring endeavor; but you must remain aware of the dangers that lie ahead of you!"
Penny said with an expressed worry in her voice, as Gumball gave a reassuring smile.
"No worries honey! Tristan and I are the dynamic duo! Isn't that right little man? Tristan?"
Gumball asked, as he looked around to see that Tristan was nowhere to be seen. The little blue kitten had seemingly vanished from his arms, and was now lost on a massive vessel.
"He was just in your arms two seconds ago Gumball! Where could he have possibly gone off to?!"
Penny said in an annoyed and worried tone, as Gumball was visibly trying to restrain himself from panicking and playing terrifying scenarios of his wife and mother sending him to the shadow realm for losing their son/grandson.
"Uh...n-no worries Penny! I'm sure he didn't go far, you know how we were as kids! Always adventurous, curious, and-"
"What is that kid doing? He's going towards the jungle!"
Gumball was cut off by one of the passengers spotting Tristan running on the beach towards the jungle of the island.
Both Penny and Gumball ran over to the railing of the cruise ship, Penelope also still in her mother's arms.
Gumball slowly turned to Penny, as the yellow fairy was donning her Medusa like expression, as Gumball put on a worried smile.
"Well...we found him! I'll uh- be right back!"
Just as Gumball finished his statement, he was sprinting towards the end of the ship where the anchor chain and port were located. Quickly he leapt onto it with his feline agility, and was sliding down towards the water.
He quickly dove into the depths of the crystal clear water of the cove, as the sprawling reef life and aquatic creatures that dwelled within were startled by the sudden motions of the cat. He resurfaced and quickly began to swim with all of his strength and might to make it towards the shoreline.
Eventually, his paws finally touched the soft and warm sand, as he glimpsed upwards to see Tristan trudging his way through the thick foliage of the jungle, before vanishing out of his father's view.
"TRISTAN! WAIT! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS IN THERE! PLEASE COME BACK!"
Gumball shouted at the top of his lungs to get his son's attention, but it was futile. The only course of action the young father could take now, was to regain his footing and begin running in search of his son.
The faint sounds of the passengers on the cruise ship became increasingly harder to hear, as Gumball trekked through the jungle. Seconds soon became minutes, as the feline frantically searched and called out for his only son.
"TRISTAN! WHERE ARE YOU!?"
At first, there was no response to the tall feline's cries for his son. Soon the sounds of the jungle engulfed his senses, the deafening silence was stirring emotions of complete helplessness in Gumball.
"I haven't lost you...not like this, PLEASE not like this..."
Suddenly, as if providence had answered him, he heard a familiar voice cry out to him.
"DAD! I'M OVER HERE, YOU GOT TO COME SEE THIS! IT'S BEAUTIFUL!"
Gumball's ears perked upwards immediately, and the flick of his tail signaled that he was eager to find his son.
"Tristan? TRISTAN I'M COMING! DAD'S COMING!"
Gumball ran on adrenaline and paternal instinct, as he ran towards the source of his son's voice, using his claws to scratch the vines in his way; and leaping over the fallen trees with his cat reflexes and predatory instincts...or it could have been his Mother's genes showing through in him.
Either way, he was determined to find his son; and he had a clear sign of where he was. Gumball had been running for what seemed like ages until he had spotted a small blue kitten peeking through a bush in front of him.
Acting upon pure joy and elation of finding his son in one piece, Gumball ran up to the blue kitten who was observing something that was beyond the tree line, and embraced him tight in his arms.
"AHHHH! DAD! You scared the daylights out of me!"
Tristan slightly yelling, as Gumball pulled away from the tight hug he had on his son, now holding back a few tears of fear he had lost him.
"I scared you!? Little man, I thought I had lost you to the jungle! Your mother just finished telling you about how dangerous this place could be and you ran off! You don't know how scared Dad was for you! Don't venture off without me being present, okay?"
The blue kitten soon had a look of guilt overcome him, as he slowly nudged himself into his father's neck, slowly starting to sob.
"I'm...I'm so sorry Da-Dad! I just wanted t-to be as daring as you we-were as a kid!"
Gumball soon had his eyes widen at these remarks from his son. All of the stories from his childhood that he had told the young kitten...inspired the young kitten to try and be like his Dad at his age.
"Oh...Tristan! You don't need to show your bravery or courage to me, you're already braver than I was at your age! As a matter of fact, do you know why I was so scared just now?"
Gumball holding back the quivering in his voice as the blue kitten look into his father's eyes, tears starting to form.
"Wh-why Da-Dad?"
Tristan asked in a timid tone, as his father wiped away tears from his son's eyes with his free paw.
"It's because I was less brave than you were! You, little man, are the first to stare the dangers of this island head on and were having a blast in the process! In my days as a kid, I would have been too scared to venture this far in here alone!"
As his father finished his remarks, the blue kitten stifled a sniffle and cleared his voice.
"Rea-really Dad? You think I'm brave?"
Gumball smiled at his son's question.
"I KNOW you're brave Tristan...I love you so much son."
Both cats shared a smile.
"I love you too Dad."
As Tristan finished his loving retort, both cats hugged each other tight as Tristan wrapped his arms around his father and rested his chin on his father's chin. Gumball smiled and rested his chin on Tristan's head.
"I'll always be here to protect you son...always."
Gumball said, as both cats hugged for a few more moments. The quiet tranquility of the jungle soon was replaced by the sounds of...traffic and urbanization ahead of the tree line in front of them.
Gumball's eyebrows soon narrowed closer to a diagonal, as he was confused as to where the source of the sounds were originating from.
"Do you hear that? It sounds like...we're directly next to an urban area?!"
Tristan soon lifted his head in excitement from his father's question.
"Oh yeah! That's what I was going to show you! Come on, you're going to love this!"
Tristan was filled with excitement and eagerness in his tone, as he grabbed his father's paw and began to drag him towards the bush.
"Woah! Woah! Slow down little man, I'm sure it is nice and all, but what could a deserted island possibly have-."
(If Kokomo by The Beach Boys is compatible with your device, please press play now.)
Gumball parted the leaves of the bush to reveal a most spectacular sight. Just ahead of them was a beautiful resort city, resembling Hawaii almost identically.
"To...offer?"
Gumball finished his remark abruptly, as he was still in awe of the sight in front of him. The town had citizens, resembling heavily those that would be found in their hometown of Elmore.
"Pretty cool, huh Dad?"
Tristan asked with a proud and confident tone to his voice, as Gumball turned towards him and ruffled the fur on top of his head.
"You sure did find a diamond in the rough son...well done, I'm so proud of you!"
Gumball said, as he picked up his son and spun him around in the air, prompting the small blue feline to laugh; which was then followed by Gumball also laughing.
"Now come on! We got to return the ship to tell the others! Our family is going to be worried sick about us...especially your mother and grandmother."
Gumball said, as he raised the small blue kitten over his head and placed him onto his shoulders.
As they were walking back along the small natural trail to the beach were the cruise ship was anchored, Tristan soon broke the silence with a question.
"Dad?"
Gumball soon looked up momentarily to his son, and then back towards the trail.
"Yes, Tristan?"
"Do you think Mom and Grandma Nicole are going to be happy to see us?"
Gumball chuckled for a second and then glanced back at his son with a slight smile.
"Well...I know for certain they will be relieved to see you again little man, as for me I may get chewed out with a few words that are not appropriate for kids your age."
Tristan put on a confused expression, as the two felines continued their route towards the cruise ship...and the worried family that was waiting for their return.
Soon the pair of felines were on the beach, and the sounds of cheering were heard from the ship, as the two blue felines waved to the crowd.
Once they were back on board, the Watterson family were ecstatic to see them both in one piece and safe.
Penny gave Gumball and Tristan massive bear hugs.
"Oh my gosh, I was SO worried about you two! Tristan, do not leave without your fa-"
Penny was going to continue, until Gumball interjected into the lecture.
"It's okay honey, he understands...he was just trying to be like his old man when he was his age, perhaps a bit braver."
Gumball then turned to Tristan with a smile and a wink, which prompted an adorable smile from the blue kitten.
Penny then quickly reserved her lecture, as her facial expression transitioned to one of being content and relieved that two very important people in her life were reunited once again with her and Penelope.
Suddenly, Nicole also rushed over to hug the two blue felines.
"Oh you're both okay, thank goodness! I heard that you two went missing, and had you been gone for much longer I may have went searching for you both myself!"
Nicole said, as she frantically tried to get the words out without hyperventilating from excitement and concern.
"We're okay Mom, no worries."
Nicole then transitioned to an expression of concern and worry.
She then began frantically began checking for scratches or unusual marks on the two blue felines.
"You can never be too sure Gummypuss! I mean, this is a tropical area after all, you guys could have contracted Malaria from a mosquito without knowing, Dengue fever is also a MAJOR concern, as the travel magazine I was reading laid out to me before we came here and-"
"Mom?"
"Did you drink from an unknown water source? Cholera could be present within the contents of what you were drinking-"
"Mom!?"
"Oh my goodness! That's a peculiar mark on your arm...oh wait that's a birth mark."
"MOM! We're okay, relax!"
Nicole hugged the two blue cats once again, as the three were locked in a tight group hug by the female feline.
"I'm sorry you two, I got a bit carried away...I just wanted to make sure you guys were safe and sound."
Nicole said in her familiar and kind motherly tone, as Gumball an Tristan returned the hug back to her.
"We're here Mom, it's okay..."
Nicole wiped away a tear from her eye as she smiled.
"I'm glad you are Gummypuss...I'm glad you both are safe and sound."
The Watterson family were quickly interrupted, when the Captain of the ship, Captain Blubber the walrus, emerged from the crowd.
"Excuse me, good sir! The gentlemen who is the blue cat with the summer attire! What news have you to report of what you and your son saw on the island?"
The walrus captain asked, as Gumball nearly burst out in laughter at the posh and sophisticated accent of the captain, before Tristan tugged on his father's paw to help regain his composure.
"Oh! Uh...well there was something we did find...and it could be interpreted as good news and bad news. We have discovered that there are people on the island much like us, both in appearance and lifestyle; they seem to have constructed a tropical resort city in the middle of nowhere! Cars, buildings, paved roads, and shopping centers it appears!"
Everyone around Gumball, which included the passengers and crew, were relieved and in anticipation of what this could mean for their vacation plans, as well as their way back home when it was time to depart.
"On the other hand..."
Gumball continued, as the crowd returned back to its original silent and suspenseful gaze at the blue feline.
"We're not sure if these citizens are friendly to outsiders, so I would suggest that we tread with caution and announce to them our intentions of peace and cooperation should we venture to their city."
Captain Blubber soon twisted one of his whiskers, as members of the staff and crew were in agreement with Gumball's plan,
"Very wise and astute observations Mr.?..."
"Watterson sir, Gumball Watterson."
"Right! I'll have my crew commission supplies and our expeditionary equipment that we have on board, and your family will lead us to this... Paradise city."
Gumball nodded, as the passengers and crew began preparing themselves for the potentially trip changing experience...
Gumball and the rest of the Watterson family were leading the ships' passengers and crew along the trail, accounting for the footsteps they had made to reach the city they had found...or rather Tristan had found.
Darwin quickly rushed up towards the front of the long line and walked next to his older brother.
"Hey dude! Make sure you tell Tristan he did a very brave thing finding this place! We would have still been without salvation or rescue without his curiosity...it seems like he picked that up from you I guess, right?!"
Gumball chuckled along with his brother.
"Thanks for the compliment Darwin, and I'll be sure to pass along the praise to Tristan; or perhaps when you get the chance you can tell him yourself. I'm sure he would be delighted to hear a compliment from his uncle."
Darwin smiled.
"Thanks bro...so, do you think the inhabitants of this island will be friendly to us?"
Darwin asked with a tinge of curiosity and wonder in his tone, as Gumball looked downwards towards the jungle floor.
"I sure hope so Darwin, I sure hope so..."
Soon, they had reached the bush where his son and him made their discovery.
Gumball turned back to face the crowd of people behind him.
"Alright this is it here! I do not know what will happen next, so be sure to follow the captain's advice and stay close to one another...even though these people appear civilized, that can be deceiving!"
Gumball finished announcing, when suddenly there was a sound of a microphone being turned on in the city below.
"Welcome everyone! I'd like to send a warm thank you to you all for coming here for the annual Little Elmore festival!"
Gumball was confused as to what the disembodied voice had just said.
"What the what did he just say? Little Elmore?"
Gumball soon approached the bush of the tree line and cleared a viewing point for himself. Penny, Carrie, and Darwin soon crept up next to the blue feline as they gazed over the vast crowd that had formed below. Families and people could be heard cheering and waving the flag of Elmore, as the four adults were taken aback by the sight.
"Why...are they waving our town flag?"
Carrie asked, as Penny shook her head in confusion as well.
"I know right? We're in the middle of...wherever we are, and they're waving the flag hung up a our city hall! Something is definitely fishy..."
Gumball, Darwin, and Carrie nodded their heads at the yellow fairy and her remarks.
"Whatever it is we got to find out who leads this group of people who appear to be carbon copies of Elmore citizens, and see if we can investigate as to where we are and how we can get out of here!"
Gumball stated, as the group nodded.
"Sounds like a plan bro and-WOOOOOAHHHHHH THERE'S A GIANT SPIDER ON YOUR BACK!"
Darwin screamed, as Gumball soon started dancing and shaking, frantically attempting to get the spider off of him.
"A SPIDER? WHERE!? I HATE ARACHNOPHOBIAAAAAAAAAA!"
Gumball soon fell down from the cliffside behind the brush and fell to the stage below.
"GUMBALL!"
The Watterson family and passengers of the ship shouted, as the blue feline was still falling to the stage below.
Suddenly, he hit the stage and was slow to regain consciousness. The crowd in front of him were scared and concerned for the well being of the blue feline.
"Is he dead?"
"He hit the ground pretty hard."
"Do you see any blood?"
Gumball's vision was blurry, and soon he saw a figure tower over him and then kneel down to him. He had a microphone in one of his hands.
As the blue feline's vision cleared, he was able to finally able to recollect who the person was in front of him.
"Gumball?!"
"...Rob!?"
*END OF CHAPTER*