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Gumball slowly opened his eyes.
The faint light that the Void did have, shone directly onto the blue feline from one of the windows of the general store.
He glanced at his watch: "9:00 a.m."
He slowly began to shift himself from his chair to reach the floor beneath his feet.
"Nothing like a good stretch after a long rest..."
He stated in a soft whisper, as his claws dug deep into the floor beneath him, his stretching causing his bones and joints to crack from the release of tension.
He quickly glanced over to the adjacent part of the room where he was standing, and saw that his mother, Nicole, and his son, Tristan, were still very much asleep.
"It's such a shame I have to disrupt their sleep, they truly deserve a rest...we really need one after such erratic events transpired."
Gumball continued to ruminate within his own thoughts, his synapses continued to flood with contemplation and thoughts of his family finally being safe from the threat the Void posed.
He quickly shifted back to reality, as he crept slowly to the blue felines; gently shaking his mother's arm.
"Hey Mom...it's time to wake up. We got a big day ahead of us if we want to see home again..."
Nicole slowly opened her eyes as the blurred shape of her son slowly transitioned into focus.
"Oh...Good morning Gum-*Yawn* Gumball..."
Gumball chuckled at this greeting from his mother, as he leaned into give her a kiss on her forehead.
"You and Tristan can start making preparations to get up soon, I'm going to fix us some breakfast sandwiches to go."
Gumball then left the two felines, as Nicole gently pulled the blanket over Tristan ensuring that he was warm and secure.
Gumball entered the kitchen with a contemplative expression.
"Surely a general store kitchen would have the ingredients for this recipe...right?"
Gumball shifted his vision and attention to the cupboards and drawers.
He pulled out various utensils and bowls, before rummaging through the refrigerator for ingredients.
"It has been a while since I did this recipe...actually a VERY long time...the last time I did learn about this was just before I graduated high school..."
Within the hour, Gumball was preparing a delicious breakfast for all three of them to take on the road. It was imperative that they didn't waste a single second in the Void, it was of the utmost importance that they reunited with their family and retrieved those memories.
Outside the kitchen, in the general store washroom upstairs, Nicole was waiting outside for Tristan to finish preparing himself for the day.
Tristan opened the door, and scratched the back of his neck, as he was now dawning his vacation clothes which consisted of a white and red striped t-shirt; and some beige summer shorts.
"Sorry about the wait Grandma Nicole...the sink was a little high to reach at my height, so washing my face was a bit of a struggle..."
Nicole smiled at her grandson.
"Oh Tristan it's quite alright sweetie! Grandma has a lot more patience than what she used to with your father!"
Nicole than whispered under her breath after this remark, putting on a now reminiscent expression.
"Granted...you were a lot less bombastic and spontaneous than your father...the little silly troublemaker he was..."
This received an adorable chuckle from the small feline, as Nicole placed her paw on the smaller felines shoulder.
"Now, go tell your father I will be downstairs in a few moments. There's a lot to attend to today, and you'll need to stick close by to your father and I. The Void can be...unpredictable and EXTREMELY dangerous to unwary travelers."
Tristan gulped as Nicole let out these ominous words, before she noticed and knelt down to console her grandson.
"As long as you stick by your father and I though, there's nothing that can take us on! Remember too...I taught you a few karate tricks on our last vacation as well! Not to mention little man...you're a Watterson, which means nothing can slow you down!"
As Nicole said this, Tristan dawned a faint smile.
"Thank you for that Grandma Nicole..."
The larger blue feline smiled, before leaning in to kiss the small feline on the forehead, along with also providing him with a hug.
"Don't mention it Tristan...now run along! Your father is going to be wondering where we are!"
Tristan nodded, as he quickly made haste down the staircase towards the kitchen; as Nicole went into the washroom to prepare herself for the potentially dangerous day ahead.
With all three felines now ready after a lengthy hour and a half of preparation, Gumball stood at the front door of the store entrance.
"Alright guys...once I turn this lock we don't know what's going to be on the other side waiting for us, so I'll give the thumbs up once the coast is clear from my surveillance!"
Both Nicole and Tristan nodded in affirmation, as Gumball carefully and quietly rotated the deadbolt lock mechanism, and slowly inched his head outward to check the outdoor surroundings.
The Void, to his surprise, was rather tranquil and there were no imminent threats that he could perceive. A somewhat relieving observation, but also an uneasy one, as the Void always has dangers lurking in the shadows...
Gumball slowly pulled his head back in, and gave a nod accompanied with a thumbs up.
Nicole and Tristan were behind the larger male feline, as he took the lead towards the outside.
"Remember Tristan, stick close to your father and I, and we will get through this...I promise."
Nicole was smiling and looking down at her grandson as she said this, wiping away the uneasy feelings of impending danger the small kitten had ever so slightly.
Gumball and company continued to venture down the deserted and desolate streets of the Void, block after block of endless silence and vacuous inactivity accompanied them for their every move.
It had seemed as though they would never find any sign or trace of life or activity, when suddenly they turned the corner of a street and saw something...rather unexpected.
"Is that...a portal?!"
Tristan remarked in a confused tone.
Gumball inched closer to the portal, which seemed to have faint voices and sounds emanating from within, its bright and fluorescent pink color entrancing all three blue cats.
"It...seems like it kiddo, although with the Void, you can never be too sure sometimes..."
Gumball extended one of his paws, almost about to touch the portal, before he would be gripped on the wrist by his mother.
"Gumball...this could be one of the memories Rob was referring to in his letter! Judging by the familiar sights and sounds coming from it...it's one of our family members' memories!"
Nicole exclaimed, as Gumball looked at the portal once more.
"I think you're right Mom...but lets be careful in how we approach this, we don't know what's waiting for us on the other side."
Gumball slowly treaded towards the opening of the oval shaped portal, as he began to extend one of his paws to touch it.
Upon immediate touch of the portal, Gumball, Nicole, and Tristan were greeted by a bright flash which blinded them, sending wavelengths of energy throughout their bodies.
Before they could react, they had awoken to something...rather strange.
*ZAP!* *WOOSH!*
The initial shock of what just transpired had still overcome the three blue felines, but as they regained their consciousness, their surroundings became...eerily familiar.
"What the what?!"
Were the only words that the blue feline could utter, as he realized he was back in his hometown of Elmore...but at an earlier date in their lives.
"Why...why are we back in Elmore, Dad?"
Before Gumball could answer his sons' question, a yellow car with a wood side varnish had sped past them accompanied by yelling from a female voice.
"THE BABY IS COMING!"
The three felines sat in shock on the sidewalk they were on, as Nicole quickly rose to her feet with a confused expression.
"Was that...ME?!"
Nicole was absolutely stunned and flabbergasted, before Gumball also rose to his feet in shock and awe.
"We've gone back in time...this must be when Anais was just about to be born!"
Gumball had quickly come to the realization, before he was suddenly blindsided and struck back down to the ground. The impact had caused collateral damage, as Nicole was knocked back down to the ground as well.
"OUCH!"
Gumball exclaimed, as the confusion of the impact soon settled, before he quickly gathered his surroundings.
From his blurred vision, he could perceive a pink silhouette which soon focused to show Anais.
"WHY DON'T YOU MOVE OUT OF THE WAY NEXT TIME YOU...jerk? Gumball?!"
"Anais!?"
Both brother and sister soon embraced in a hug, as Tristan and Nicole joined in as well.
"We were so worried that we wouldn't see another member of the family again!"
Nicole exclaimed, through sudden tears of joy seeing her daughter being reunited with a small contingent of the family.
"I thought I wasn't going to see you guys either! I received a note from Rob when I first arrived in this memory, and it told me to find you guys!"
Anais confirmed Nicole's and Gumball's suspicions that this was in fact, a fragmented dream of their past that was needed to defeat; and escape the Void.
"So...what's the plan sis?"
Gumball asked, as Anais and the three felines got back on their feet to wipe away any portions of gravel or dust that had caused abrasions on their clothes.
"Well, basically this a memory that we have already completed. You knew that this was my memory and you found me...or I guess I found you guys. Each family member has a memory that signifies an important part of their past as well as the family overall, this memory being the day I was born. We have to go to each memory, find out who's memory it is, find the family member from our present within the dream; all the while avoiding our past selves from seeing us and avoiding disruption of the space time continuum!"
Anais was almost out of breath and exasperated from explaining such a lengthy process.
"Does...this make sense to everyone?"
Anais asked, as the three blue felines had neutral sentiments.
"It was...quite the mouthful sweetheart, but I'm sure we all understood the general premise of it."
Nicole stated, as Gumball nodded in agreement.
"Right, find the memories, bring our present selves out of said memory, without disrupting the reality of our past selves and having them question their sanity in seeing our future selves...got it!"
Gumball then finished recollecting the plan, as Anais nodded.
"Exactly...wow you actually understood one of my plans! That's...a new one..."
Anais was surprised by the new behavior of her brother, as Gumball now dawned an egotistical and pompous expression.
"What can I say sis? A few years of maturity and becoming a parent can do wonders to interpolate various concepts..."
Anais facepalmed as she heard this from Gumball.
"Don't you mean...interpret?"
Gumball once again smirked and smugly expressed.
"Right! Interpolate!"
Nicole, Tristan, and Anais all chuckled, as Gumball was left confused.
"There's the old Gumball I knew as a toddler..."
Anais remarked, as she head towards the portal the three felines had originally come from to enter her memory of the past.
"Well then, we better go find the others and their memories, time is of the essence!"
Anais stated enthusiastically, as she disappeared into the portal, followed by her three feline relatives.
Once back in the Void, the four of them had stopped for a small lunch break in one of the small fragmented parks within the infinite and desolate expanse.
Gumball retrieved some breakfast sandwiches from his backpack, and handed one each to Tristan, Anais, and Nicole.
"Wow Gummypuss! These are fantastic! How did you remember the old recipe to make these?'
Nicole asked, as Gumball smirked wiping away a few crumbs from his mouth, swallowing the last remnants of his current bite into his sandwich.
"Well, it was usually through continued repetition and fondness for the recipe Mom. The combination of the sausage patty, egg, and cheese over a breakfast bun is so simplistic; yet utterly delicious and delectable!"
Nicole smiled as she heard this.
"I see...well I should have guessed, we always used to run out of eggs consistently once I taught you the recipe...I guess I know why now."
Nicole finished her statement, as the four Watterson's shared a few brief moments of laughter before suddenly being disturbed by a low thumping.
*THUMP!*
"What was that?!"
Tristan asked, and immediately upon finishing his remark another thump could be heard in the nearby vicinity of the park.
*THUMP!*
"Whatever it is little man...it does NOT sound good at all..."
*THUMP!*
The footsteps were increasing in frequency and intensity, as the entity behind them was fast approaching.
Soon, a blood curdling roar could be heard as the Watterson's finally realized they were being visited by a familiar adversary for a rematch.
"I think I know what it is...that wretched and abhorrent smell could never be found anywhere else..."
Finishing her observational remark, Nicole then turned to the tree line on the distant edge of the park, along with the three Watterson's with her to witness Kenneth; who had once again found them.
"RUN!"
Anais shouted, as Gumball grabbed Tristan's paw and hurled him onto his shoulders, sprinting alongside Anais and Nicole.
"We need to find a fire hydrant! Water is his weakness!"
Gumball shouted, as Tristan spotted a fire hydrant positioned at the main gate of the park; which was not too far away from where they currently were.
"Dad! Look!"
Tristan pointed to the main gate, as Gumball transitioned to a confident smile and demeanor.
"Good eye little man!"
Gumball said, as he looked up to Tristan with a proud nod.
He then turned to his mother, Nicole, who was just alongside him.
"Mom! Do you think you can distract Kenneth while I get the fire hydrant working?!"
Gumball shouted, as Nicole nodded.
"Sure can! He'll never know what hit him!"
Nicole responded, as she diverged from the present course they were taking, and proceeded to give a powerful kick to the knee of Kenneth, the inertia and force of the impact causing the mass to roar in frustration, anger, and pain.
Gumball then turned to Anais.
"Anais! I need you to take Tristan to a safe place until this is over! If Mom and I don't make it, continue on with him and find the others with the rest of their memories!"
Anais was shocked to hear these words from her brother.
"Gumball...you are coming back though...right?!"
Anais asked in concern, as Gumball chuckled.
"Pffffft! Of course I am silly! I just added in that last bit for dramatic effect! It looked cool in the movies when the actors did it, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to use it for myself ya know?!"
Anais rolled her eyes in frustration.
"Just get back safely alright?! I'd be devastated if I lost you and Mom!"
Anais shouted with love and concern, as Gumball shifted to a more sincere and genuine demeanor.
"Don't worry...we will."
Upon saying this, Gumball quickly gave Tristan to Anais, who carried the kitten in her arms; running to an adjacent gate which led out to one of the secluded back alleys on the streets of the Void.
Gumball ran with urgency and ferocity, as Nicole continued to land ferocious blows to slow down the mass.
*HEEYAH!*
Nicole landed another blow directly to the temple of the mass, as Kenneth stumbled, temporarily disoriented and unable to move further from the sheer aggression in the blow he sustained.
Meanwhile, Gumball finally approached and climbed the main gate to the fire hydrant on the opposite side of it.
Conveniently, there was a long fire hose directly next to the hydrant itself, though still needing to be connected.
"Huh? Really?! A fire hydrant just laying next to this thing?! I guess the magic and uncertainty of the Void has its perks..."
Gumball quickly picked up the connective end of the hose and inserted it into the open socket of the hydrant. His movements conveyed a steady and calm urgency, as he picked up the hose nozzle and ran towards the gate.
Using a powerful roundhouse kick, he was able to break the lock to the gate and sprint with the hose towards Kenneth and his mother.
"Gumball! I don't know how much longer I can continue this! It just seems like I'm making him more angrier rather than slowing him down if anything!"
Gumball smirked, as he twisted the nozzle to the maximum PSI it could handle; before aiming it towards the grotesque mass of horror.
"Don't worry Mom! Step aside, I got this!"
Gumball now dawned a confident smile, before imitating his best Cuban accent.
"KENNETH! SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!"
Gumball pressed the trigger on the hose, causing only a small amount of water to funnel out from the hose.
Nicole and Kenneth both stopped in confusion as Gumball looked down at the hose.
"AWWWW SHOOT! I put it on the wrong PSI...one sec..."
Gumball now realizing his mistake, quickly adjusted the nozzle before aiming once again towards the beast once again with a smile.
"What's another cheesy one liner that I could use?...I got it!"
Gumball then dawned some opaque, jet black shades.
"Hasta la vista...baby!"
Soon, a powerful torrent of water funneled from the hose, as Nicole instinctively evaded the incoming water; as Kenneth screamed and roared in terror.
Soon, the mass was reduced to nothing...ending a long ongoing saga between the Watterson's and the hell spawn from the microwave; killed by his creator nonetheless.
Nicole jumped down to the ground and ran towards her son, both of whom were exhausted from the movement and stress brought on by the battle.
"Well...well done...Gumball..."
Nicole had managed to get the words out from her mouth, as Gumball nodded.
"You weren't too bad yourself Mom...thanks for the distraction."
Nicole playfully swatted her paw in the air.
"Oh...anytime honey. Although...I think your father owes me a coupon to the massage parlor when we get home...I think I sprained my back...this body is not what it used to be."
Both blue cats chuckled, as Anais and Tristan ran up to the pair of blue cats.
"THAT. WAS. AWESOME! Dad, you and Grandma Nicole kicked butt!"
Gumball gave a playful rustle on the top of Tristan's head, displacing his fur.
"All in a days work little man...although I came pretty close to needing another pair of underwear given how stressful it was."
The four Watterson's shared in a few moments of loud laughter, as Anais was soon the first to regain her composure.
"Well, I'm glad to know that we all made it through in once piece but we still have to find the rest of those memories and reunite with the family."
Anais stated, as Gumball nodded.
"Anais is right, the more time we waste, the more worried the rest of the family becomes and the more in peril they become with the rest of our world. We better get going!"
Gumball finished speaking, as the four Watterson's continued to the exit of the park, and back onto the desolate and vacant streets of the Void; after surviving one of its many horrors. Would they collect all the memories? Would they ever reunite with their family and return back home to Elmore and their world? For Gumball, this was a question that plagued his mind...but for now, only the Void awaited them and whatever further troubles that dwelled within the vast expanse of it...
*END OF CHAPTER*