TAWOG: Instinct

The End

The End 

With Larry running Chanax Inc Patrick was not only able to strike up a contract for his hospital plans, but several other plans in the future. And it was around this time that Patrick finally ceased being against Penny and Gumball's relationship. After all, if it wasn't for him, Patrick not only wouldn't have been able to procure these deals, but might have been indicted with the Office Goblin’s for his crimes. It also helped that, as time went on, Gumball ceased getting up to his usual shenanigans. When asked why, Gumball merely explained that his usual obliviousness to dangerous and unethical situations was being tempered by his new prominent survival instincts.

Apparently, the mischievous he'd usually get up to even a wild animal like the abyssalis cat would have the sense to avoid.

“Hey Gumball,” said Tina as Gumball exited Elmore Junior High one day m

Gumball turned on the steps as Tina approached him. In the past her visage alone would be enough to instill soul crippling panic within him but such hadn't been the case recently. For starters, he knows he can take her now. One thought and he'd change into the abyssalis cat. Another reason he no longer feared her was because of his guilt. Upon Tina's neck he could see zigzaggy scars, caused by his own fangs. From what he had been told, she had almost bled out before being rushed to the hospital.

“Hey, stop staring,” said Tina, covering her neck with her stubby arms as she noticed his downtrodden expression. “You’ve apologized enough already, and besides, that's not what I'm here to talk about.”

“Well, sorry again anyway, Tina,” said Gumball, rubbing his arms guiltily. “I've never hurt anyone like that so bad before. How's your dad, by the way?”

“Oh, don't get so worked up about him,” said Tina. “The brute probably doesn't even remember what happened. He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer. But anyway, Gumball, I was wondering.”

“About what?” asked Gumball.

“A rematch,” said Tina. “You took me off guard with that transformation, but now I wanna see which one of us is tougher, now that I know you can turn into that thing.”

“It's more accurate to refer to it as a regression, Tina,” said Gumball. “But as for a rematch, sorry, but I'm going to have to decline.”

“Oh c'mon! You're not afraid, are you, Gumball?” inquired Tina almost tauntingly.

“Actually, yes, I am, but not of you,” said Gumball, looking up at Tina with a serious expression. “I may have control over my regression now but I don't have full control of my instincts. If you and I get in a fight Tina I might lose control, and abyssalis cat's only know one way to finish a fight. To the death.”

Tina gulped fearfully. The abyssalis cat had already almost killed her once, and if what Gumball says is true, if he were to lose control the abyssalis cat wouldn't hesitate to do so again.

“I…see what you mean,” she admitted.

Afterwards Gumball caught the bus home, looking forward to another date with Penny tonight. And it was going to be an extravagant date this time. Nothing cheap or childish. They were going to the best high end restaurant in Elmore. It was kinda unusual for a middle school student to do such a thing without the aid of his parents, but thanks to the royalties Elmore was paying him to act as the city's main attraction he was quickly finding himself with more money than he knew what to do with. At least regarding himself.

For those he cares for, like his family and girlfriend, he had no qualms spending the money.

As for Penny, she had never expected to be treated to a date like this so soon, having been expecting it to only happen around the time she went to college, but here they were. And it was fantastic. If there was anything negative about the experience it was how “rare” Gumball liked his steak now; any meat really. But it was a small price to pay for how much he was pampering her. And he was doing it properly, never doing anything overly flamboyant.

Though, truthfully, she was beginning to miss some of the more reasonable grand gestures he'd done in the past.

“Gumball?” Penny inquired as they left the restaurant.

“Yes, my love?” Gumball replied, holding her hand.

Penny rubbed the back of her head nervously with the other hand. “I…I know I said no grand gestures, but, do you think you might be able to start up with them again?”

Gumball gave her an inquisitive look. “After everything that happened with the treasure hunt?”

Penny blushed again. “You show much more rationality now than ever have. I trust you'll be able to pull things off that won't result in bodily harm now. So…can you?”

Gumball smiled, feeling a weight lifting off his shoulders. “Funny you should mention that.”

Penny's eyes widened in anticipation. “What do you mean?”

Gumball pointed forward. “See for yourself.”

Penny followed his finger, finding that he'd led her to a dock situated on the Yolo River, and what was moored at the end made Penny gasp in shock. It appeared to be a classic Venetian gondola, decorated in candles that gave the small boat a romantic appearance. Mr. Small was there as well, dressed up in the cliche attire of a gondolier.

“Oh Gumball!” whispered Penny in shock and astonishment. “You rented a gondola?”

“Rented? Nah. I bought one,” said Gumball, much to Penny's shock as he guided her down the dock. “If you like the experience tonight we'll be able to enjoy a casual drift down the river in a classic romantic Venetian style whenever we please.”

Penny was taken slightly aback, but couldn't help feeling somewhat excited as Gumball helped her into the gondola. Gumball bought a gondola for them. It was grand, but not to the point of overbearingly so. Just like she wanted.

“Let us shove of, my good man,” said Gumball to Mr. Small.

“Alright, dude,” said Mr. Small, untying the gondola from the dock and rowing them out into the river, singing a lovely tune in Italian. Cliche, and who knew Mr. Small spoke Italian.

It was a tranquil experience, drifting on the river under the light of the stars and moon, and it ended with Penny and Gumball sharing a romantic kiss under the night sky.

Needless to say, their relationship only grew as time went by. Even surviving through the period where they both attended different colleges. Gumball continued his to draw business for Elmore as the abyssalis cat, people coming from all over the world to not only see him, but study him as well. After all, he was essentially a living fossil. However, he'd decided to not solely rely on that for his livelihood, for someday the attention he drew might wane. But that didn't mean the abyssalis cat couldn't still be a source of income, which is why Gumball was studying to be a top expert on the subject. After all, who knows more about an abyssalis cat than an abyssalis cat?

Eventually, Gumball asked Penny to marry him, once they were old enough, and she readily accepted. The wedding was a grand affair, with both friends and family, which included Darwin and Carrie, who had gotten married sometime prior. From there, they'd eventually have a son together, a now young adult Gumball watching his newborn form bundled in a blanket from over Penny's shoulder as she lay in a hospital bed.

And all this would be observed from a wispy orb in a very dark place.

—

“Fools,”  sneered Green as he observed Gumball and Penny fawning over their new baby. “As if I, Green, could ever be destroyed! I merely wanted to know what it would be like to lose for once. Although…” He smirked sinisterly, holding up a bottle of luminescent white liquid. “I wouldn't say I lost!”

His smirking intensified as he looked at the orb again, to the bundle held by Penny, a pudgy blue feline face poking out, framed by luminous orange wings that twitched cutely.

“Your father was a great contender. How will you fare against me, little Woodrow? With such powerful parents, your abilities will undoubtedly be formidable,” said Green with a smile of anticipation, Woodrow's eyes changing to a luminescent orange and yellow briefly, the phenomenon going unnoticed by his parents.

—

Gumball will return someday in

TAWOG: FAMILY