FDAU Meets the Canon

## Plot

After jumping into a weird portal before an angry mob could get them, Gumball/Darwin land into an alternate universe where they meet their "canon" selves, same for Anais. However, more people from their world start coming in, and the two realities threaten to collide and destroy everything. Now it's up to G/D, Anais, and their canon selves, to get the people back in before it's too late!

## Story (WARNING SPOILERS)

Gumball/Darwin are running from an angry mob. They hide, and finally lose the crowd, to their relief.

They soon notice however, a weird thing nearby, looking to be a purple and blue swirling around portal. The mob soon comes back, making the two panic. Gumball/Darwin quickly get into the portal, and are safe from the mob.

The two land on concrete face-first. They get up, realizing they were in a whole new world, or as a matter of fact, universe. In their mind, Gumball comments that it looks almost identical to their Elmore.

Gumball/Darwin soon meet the universe's Sarah G. Lato, who takes them by the hand and begins dragging them down the sidewalk. Gumball questions where she's taking them, in which she almost flinches by his voice. She replies to find a way to get rid of them.

The two refuse to follow her, not knowing what she's talking about. However, they are forced to come with her anyway.

Sarah takes them to the universe's Watterson house. She still holds on to them, so that they don't run off. The Canon Gumball and Darwin soon open the door, looking pretty annoyed. Canon Gumball asks Sarah what she did this time, hoping it wasn't another instance with her weird fanfiction.

She answers yes, and gestures to G/D, which Canon Gumball and Darwin are weirded out by. It's revealed that Sarah had mistaken the two for one of her OCs. G/D finally pull their hand away from her, now agitated.

Canon Darwin soon realizes that the two are not an OC, in which Gumball/Darwin agreed, replying that they're not even from here. Canon Gumball becomes confused, hearing his voice from them. G/D explain that they're from a different universe, more or less a bad one.

Soon everyone is in the canon bedroom. Canon Gumball ask G/D what name they want to go by, in which the two are confused by the question. Canon Gumball says that they can't just go by the same names. At first, he suggests "creepy weird version of us", commenting that Gumball/Darwin look like they were hit with both a truck and train at the same time, while on fire. The two are quite hurt by that.

Canon Gumball then suggests the name "gumwin", but once Sarah whispers to him what that iteration was for, he quickly scraps that idea. He soon decides on the name "Darball", before the two could say anything about it.

Canon Gumball and Darwin (plus Sarah too), eventually learn about Darball's backstory, and how they landed into the canon universe.

Canon Anais soon steps into the room, looking horrified at first to see Darball. She questions what "it" is. Canon Gumball introduces her to the two, explaining the whole "from another universe" thing. Canon Anais is skeptical about this, asking if it wasn't just some hobo off the street. Darball deems that kind of rude, remarking that their Anais was a lot nicer about their situation.

After introductions were over with, Canon Anais was a little more serious about this. She tells them that the situation isn't good, and that worlds could get glitched up. She is interrupted by Canon Gumball, but continues soon after. She explains that both universes could get mixed together on accident, and nobody would know who was who really. She asks Darball if they had seen anybody come in with them, in which they shook their head no.

Sarah quietly lets herself out, since this wasn't exactly her business anymore.

Everyone soon hears Nicole from downstairs, wondering how she heard them. They go downstairs. Nicole is confused (while also a little disgusted by Darball). Canon Gumball explains the whole "from another universe thing" again, this time adding that the worlds might be at stake. Nicole understands that explanation, but replies that it doesn't explain the fact there were two Anais's there at the same time. The FDAU universe Anais is standing by Nicole.

Seeing G/D, the other Anais quickly comes up to the two, worried about their wellbeing. She examines them, and questions if there was anything wrong. (Injuries, loose stitching, etc.) Canon Darwin believes that this is G/D's Anais, in which the two nod. The other Anais notices the canons, and soon questions what is going on.

Canon Anais explains that the other Anais and Darball come from a different universe through the portal. Other people are leaking through into the canon world, and it could mean the two worlds could collapse, since they're not meant to be together obviously. FDAU Anais asks what they were going to do, in which Canon Gumball replies that they were going to the portal to fix this mess.

Anais is hesitant, but decides to come as well, seeing that the situation sounded pretty bad. Canon Gumball and Darwin are concerned by the fact there would be two Anais's. The two Anais's remind them that the worlds are at stake, and they should worry about that instead. Canon GB and DW soon agree.

As the five walk to the portal, they see other characters from the other universe. Canon Gumball and G/D both agree this is getting confusing.

Canon Anais soon asks if G/D are the only "dead" person in their universe. Darwin replies yes. She then asks if they're basically alone with all that. The two nod, Gumball replying that their Elmore doesn't take it too well. Canon Gumball is a little blunt, asking if they have witch hunts, burning at the stake, and trial stuff. Canon Anais glares at him, telling him that's the Salem Witch Trials, and that personal questions like that weren't any of his business. Canon Gumball stops asking.

Gumball explains that they aren't really too sensitive about it, it was just the name calling and bullying that gets to them. Canon Anais asks what they get usually called. G/D look uncomfortable, replying they get called such names like zombie, freak, or monster. Canon Darwin feels bad for them, showing worry.

Anais cuts in, telling them they're getting off topic, and that they still need to get to the portal. Soon however, a mix of people from the canon world and the other universe spot them. Anais takes G/D and they hide by the fences. Canon Gumball is confused by their behavior, inquiring that they should be running. Anais apologizes, admitting that they were used to just hiding from them.

The five run down the street, getting chased. It's still confusing, but Canon Darwin points out that the mob is pretty slow. They turn left, and the crowd is gone. Canon Gumball questions if this happens all the time, Darball responding yes. CG then asks how they live like this, with all the running and bullying, and the fact they know they're dead. G/D are puzzled by the question, replying that they just kinda have luck with that stuff, and they have their family and girlfriends looking out for them. Anais adds that she helps out a lot.

They soon find the portal, now larger than before. Canon Gumball asks what they'll do about all the alternate people running around. Anais is unsure, saying that they all still hate G/D, and probably won't listen to what they'd have to say. The ground starts to shake more, with loud destruction noises heard.

Canon Anais orders Canon Gumball and Darwin to go round up the people, but CG asks how they would know which is which. Both Anais's groan by this response. Canon Anais gets Darball to their canon selves, the plan being that the mob would spot them. They question this plan, and Canon Anais ushers the four to just get going. They quickly follow the order, and the two Anais's wait by the portal.

Meanwhile, Canon Gumball shouts at the mob, catching their attention, as he yells that the "monster" is here. He quickly whispers "no offense" to the two, which they reply none taken. Canon Gumballs asks if they can handle getting chased. G/D say yes. Canon Gumball then shouts that they're getting away, Darball running off ahead. Canon Darwin adds to follow them, and the canons quickly run behind G/D, pretending to go after them as the crowd follows as well.

Canon and noncanon Anais notice they're back. Canon Anais tells them to hurry, CG replying that they're going as fast as they can. She asks if they got the right ones, and he says yes.

The angry mob is now confused by what's going on. Canon Anais tells them to listen, in which they scowled and grumbled, but agreed. Anais explains to them that they're not in their correct universe, and that the portal brought them here by accident. Canon Anais adds that the worlds are collapsing, since they can't handle two versions of everyone all at once, and if they don't get back, the universes will be destroyed, and they'll all die.

One by one, the people went back. The crowd was soon gone, Darball and Anais the only ones left.

Anais shakes her canon self's hand, the other doing the same. Canon Gumball comments that he wished they'd stay longer, as he and Canon Darwin said their goodbyes to Darball. Gumball pointed out that if they did, everyone would probably be at risk of dying again. CG admits yes, and asks if they'd be able to come back sometime. G/D looks over at Anais for permission, and she nods yes, however she says that they'd probably only be able to stay for at least eleven or twelve minutes. Darball faces their canon selves, and replies yes.

Before they can react, Canon Darwin hugs them, thanking them for accidently coming here, since it was kind of fun with all the action. Canon Gumball soon joins the hug as well, just wanting to be part of it too, saying his thanks. Darball hugs back, pretty happy since it was kind of only their loved ones that hugged them back home, so they wanted to make it count. Even if it was just different versions of themselves.

Anais says she'll be in their universe, telling them to hurry up. She jumps down, and disappears.

Darball says goodbye, ready to fall below, but being careful not to slip off. Canon Gumball calls out to them to bring something cool next time, in which the two nod in agreement. They enter the portal, falling past other universes like before. After a few minutes, they land painfully on the ground like earlier.

Anais helps them up, the three now back in their own universe. She asks if they're ok, Gumball replying yes. He soon questions why the other universe was just the same as before this all happened. Anais now questions it too. She says their alternate selves did sound like them, so maybe it was an alternate universe where the Gilson stuff ever happened. She changes subject, realizing they should probably get home before the mob comes. She's interrupted by the mob before she could finish the sentence.

The three soon run off, heading home where things could be safe. Everything was sort of back to normal

## Fun facts!

* This was a special short story posted in honor of Franken Darball AU's 1st anniversary, released on October 14th, 2019.
* The canon world is in the after events of Season 6's episode "The Shippening".
* Originally, it was created in July of 2019, as a fun little idea ImaginationStudios8 had. Mostly, FDAU meeting the canon.
* ImaginationStudios8 worked on the original story during lunch on school hours with her Chromebook. Yes, she was that dedicated to it. It took a total span of one month to finish in school, while the full story was completed in 3 months, since it was actually first drafted in July of 2019.
* FDAU's universe in the story is set around chapters 5-6, where the townspeople often chase them down. However, they do not actually reveal themselves to society just yet in those chapters. Yeah, ImaginationStudios8 sort of spoiled it for you. Whoops!
* The story was heavily based off a drawing ImaginationStudios8 drew, where Darball meets their canon selves.
* Canon Gumball commenting that the two look like they were "hit by a truck and train at the same time, on fire", was a reference to the drawing the story's based off of, where in the doodle Canon Gumball says the exact same thing. However, he does not say "on fire", unlike in the story.
* When Canon Gumball is suggesting names to call G/D, he comes up with "Gumwin", only for Sarah to whisper in his ear about something, which makes the blue cat disgusted. He then says "No scratch that. Sarah says that’s some weird.. Uh.. Forget it you probably figured that out.”. This is a reference to the ship name, where yes, people ship Gumball and Darwin together as a couple.
* This is the only instance where Gumball/Darwin are called "Darball" in an official story. They are called this so that they and the Canon Gumball and Darwin don't technically have the same names.
* The "superhero movie they watched that was animated" Canon Gumball mentions after Canon Anais explains that the worlds could get glitched up, is referring to "Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse".
* In the original draft, the ending was supposed to feature the world glitching after Anais says "where none of that Gilson stuff happened", in courtesy of jokes in the show. Is8 changed it though, since it wouldn't make any sort of sense really. Also it was just difficult to write.