AN: Not going to say much. Busy work time.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Amazing World of Gumball, nor do I own Alaska who is the character of Amethyst Wereraven. This story is adopted from her own "Dragon Rider" story.

Darwin had never thought things could be awkward at a funeral, but that was all he could feel right about now. It had been a week since Gumball had been declared dead and, to keep up the act, the family had to arrange a funeral for him. The whole thing was weird mainly because Gumball was still alive and training to be a Dragon Rider with E-4 and Alaska. His brother wanted to actually come over and see what others said about him, but Ms. Mom told him it was too much of a risk.

Darwin nodded as he accepted the sympathies of Banana Joe before he moved on to the closed casket with Gumball's photo on top along with a set of white flowers. The Wattersons had done their best to look sad, Mr. Dad even giving out a series of waterworks every ten minutes, but their fake sorrow only put the dagger of guilt deeper into Darwin's chest. The people who had come to say their farewells to Gumball were the ones who were really sad while they were just pretending. He had never known that so many people were touched by his brother in his life. Not just their friends and teachers from school, but those they knew in passing from one of Gumball's many adventures.

The worst to see was Penny. The poor fairy has lost all her color and looked as grey as a rain cloud. She sobbed in silence as her friends and family comforted her, even forced to tear her away from the casket when she held onto it for dear life. I'm glad Gumball's not here to see this or else he would have just stopped the charade and explained everything.

The idea of exposing Gumball as not only alive, but the one who saved the day, was talked about, but according to the news the Knight was wanted for questioning. Not to mention the government wanted to capture Alaska just as Gumball always feared. Worse there were some folks online who weren't sure if they could trust the knight that saved their lives from the monster. Some even accuse it of bringing it here.

Until they could come up with something that could work, Gumball was going to have to still be thought as dead for now. Darwin was about to head out for some fresh air, and to get away from the sorrowful atmosphere, when he felt a familiar wisp of a hand grab him. "Carry?" Darwin asked, surprised. "I didn't see you come-"

"No time. I need to talk to you," Carry quickly said, taking her boyfriend by the fin and dragging him out of the funeral parlor room. She didn't let go until they were outside of the building.

"W-what's going on?" Darwin asked.

"Look, I know this is going to sound strange, but here me out," Carry said, taking a deep breath. "Gumball isn't dead."

Eyes widening, Darwin asked just how in the name of cheese did Carry figure that out. "How did you-"

"A ghost can tell when someone has died near them. It's like a sixth sense in a way," Carrie said, interrupting Darwin. "I didn't feel Gumball's soul leave his body for the afterlife at all when that monster attacked. I did feel it disappear, however, like it left the area and was gone. Not in the sense that he died, more like he got replaced or something."

I see. When Gumball transformed into his Dragon Rider armor, it must have blocked Carrie sensing him, Darwin thought. "Um, if this is true, and I hope it is, where is he then?"

"That's just it," Carrie said, huffing. "I've been trying to get a reading on him using a scrying ritual, but something keeps blocking me. Some kind of magic I've never felt before."

Darwin really was now thankful that Gumball unlocked his Dragon Rider abilities. "O-Okay, so if Gumball is alive, but something is preventing him from being found, what do you think it could be?"

"I don't know," Carrie whispered, rubbing her ghost chin. "Maybe something is holding him hostage? I need to figure out more about this strange magic before I try anything. I don't know how powerful it is and it could sense me trying to scry it. In the meantime, let's keep this between the two of us. I don't want to give anyone false hope in case I'm wrong."

"Don't worry, I won't tell a soul!" Darwin lies, crossing his fin between his back. Sorry, Carrie. I love you and all, but I can't risk anything happening to Gumball or Alaska.

Nodding, Carrie opened a ghostly portal for herself. "I'm going to check the spirit world for some clues. I'll let you know if I find anything." After giving him a peck on the cheek, she flew into the portal which disappeared as soon as she was gone.

"Hey," Anais said from the funeral home entrance. Walking towards a worried Darwin, she asked, "Everything okay? I saw you leave with Carrie in a rush."

"Uh, yeah," Darwin said, with a nervous smile. "We just have a tiny problem..."

"I can't go on anymore!" Gumball gasped as he lay there on the grass with sweat pouring down from every poor in his body. The training gi his mother loaned him was in tatters and ruined to the point where his fur could be seen poking out. "When I said I wanted to be trained as a Dragon Rider I didn't mean train me until I'm half dead!"

"Oh, hush. It's only been six hours," E-4 said, rolling his eyes.

"Six hours of nearly killing me!" Gumball shouted, moaning as he felt his back ready to break.

"You're way behind as it is so we need you to get up to speed as quickly as possible,"

"If by getting up to speed you mean running around the lake with you shooting stun lasers at me, swim across the lake with weights on my legs. forcing me to carry boulders up the mountains, and forcing me to fight against wild wolves?!" Gumball stood up and rubbed his arm. "Ugh, maybe I should have taken Mom's offer to train me. At least I know she wouldn't be trying to kill me."

"Oh come on, Alaska isn't complaining," E-4 said as he turned to Alaska who was lying flat on her back, tongue out, and all four limbs in the air. "See? She's not completely dead from her training yet."

Sitting up, Gumball rubbed the back of his neck. "Can't I just use that auto helper thing that was assisting me last time? That worked out pretty well."

"The Automatic Combat System was designed as a means to help while training. Against weak or slightly below average threats it can do the job fine," E-4 explained. "However, when facing more dangerous opponents you will be outmatched unless you are able to train yourself to unlock your full abilities. You've only barely scratched the surface of your powers and have yet to unlock your additional armors. The ACS will not be able to help you unlock that, so you'll have to do it the old fashioned way.

"Fine, but can't we call it a day? It's been six hours now," Gumball said.

"Ugh, fine. I suppose we can call it early. If only so you can stop complaining," E-4 muttered, floating awhile while talking to himself.

Gumball walked over to Alaska and poked her with their bond. Oi, Alaska? We can go home now.

Leave me here to die...I can't feel my wings...

"Come on, I'll carry you home," Gumball said, tapping his foot.

Upon hearing this, Alaska began to shrink until she back in her cat size as Gumball took her into his embrace. Making his way towards the pick up spot his family agreed on, he thought about how much things had changed in less then a week for the two of them. He was a member of an ancient group of warriors, had fought one of their ancient foes, became a superhero, and was thought dead by everyone save his family. Why am I always getting dragged into these things?

Granted, this was the most dangerous adventure he had ever been in. And it looked like it was going to last quite a while. Gumball knew B-4 was right about training to become stronger, but this was such a radical change. He had never been a fighter, personally he tried to avoid it, but here he was having to join a war that potentially threatened his home. He stared down at the sleeping dragon in his arms and wondered what would have happened if Alaska never came to his world. Would he and earth be safe? Would he have lived a normal life (or as normal as one can get) while remaining ignorant of the dangers between worlds?

No, Gumball thought as memory after memory of Alaska all these years entered his mind. I wouldn't trade her for anything.

Upon feeling this through their bond, Alaska gave a small smile.

It had been a nice funeral all things considered. The Wattersons requested that the burial be private and Patrick could understand. He wished he could have said more than just give his sympathies, but he had been too busy looking after his little girl. Penny had been a mess and he could tell it was taking every bit of her willpower to not lose control of her powers.

When they got home, Penny rushed up to her room and hadn't come down for dinner. Judith had tried to bring her some food to eat, but she yelled she wasn't hungry. It had been like this for nearly a week and Patrick knew he had to get his daughter to come out or she would end up getting sick.

It was a good thing he had a lock for every door in the house.

Opening the door, he saw his daughter, still in her dress from the funeral, hugging herself while shedding tears on her bed. He could see he dozens of photos she had of Gumball in front of her and sighed. "Penny, we need to talk."

"Leave me alone, Dad."

"No, I'm-"

"I said leave me alone!" she shouted, her head turning to that of a serpent but Patrick wasn't phased.

Instead, he stared right back at her and pointed his finger. "Penny Fitzgerald! You will not use that tone with me! I understand you are in mourning, but I am your father and I am going to talk to you! Not today! Not tomorrow! NOW!"

Penny huffed and hissed a bit before turning back to her normal fairy form and looked away. Taking this as a sign that she had calmed down, Patrick walked over, pushed some of the photos away, and sat next to his daughter. There was a small pause between the two as Patrick tried to think of what to say. In the end, he just sighed and said, "Sweetie, I get it. You loved him. I may not have liked him that much or even respected him, but you loved him. Even if I never fully agreed with it I loved your happiness too much to stop it. Heck, all the times I did try it always failed."

"...Why do you care then?"

"...Because I realize that I've been an ass," Patrick said, admitting it which made Penny look at him with wide eyes. "Everyone from you to your mother kept telling me he was a good kid. He has flaws, but there were too many in my eyes. Hearing how he risked his life for you...I guess deep down I just didn't want to admit I was wrong...and a part of me didn't want you to grow up so quickly."

He looked up at the ceiling. "Holding you for the first time was what made me into the Dad I am now. I just wanted to protect you and give you the best life possible. I guess I never really considered you'd find yourself falling for a guy like Gumball was possible, let alone genuine." He turned to her and shook his head. "I'm sorry I never gave him a chance, and I'm sorry it led to this to make me realize how much you two cared for each other. But if there is one thing that Gumball and I both have in common is our love for you. I know you're hurting, I know this is going to take time, but Penny we're family. We're all here for you and we want to help you, but only if you let us."

He took her hands as tears started leaking. "Let me help you, Penny. Because as someone who does love you, I can safely say that Gumball wouldn't want you to be sad forever nor waste yourself away. So, please..."

"...can I have some dinner?" Penny asked, sniffing with a small smile. "I'm...kinda hungry."

Patrick smiled and helped her out of the room to a warm meal waiting for her. It was a start, but he was sure this was the right sign that things would get better.

It had sensed one of its own dying on this world as it passed by through the waylines. Its dying voice echoing as it faded back into the nothing that birthed them. Curious, it stopped and arrived in this dimension to get a better view of this world and what could have caused it to kill one of them.

It only grew more confused as it began to really look into this world. They weren't technologically or magically advanced. They knew nothing of dimensional travel. Even the accursed dragons didn't exist here. Or so he thought.

He began to learn from the shadows the whispers of rumors they spoke of. Of the Dragon Rider and his Dragon who defeated the monster. He managed to watch footage of the fight from the home of one of the residents and indeed the proof was there. A dragon and its rider were in this world and it had killed one of them.

It had pondered what to do next. It could alert its kind and invade this world to destroy the accursed Dragon Rider, but it seemed like this was its first time fighting one of them. This Rider was new and wet behind the ears as the mortal saying went. The only reason it managed to defeat one of them was because it wasn't smart. It didn't think with intelligence. A mindless one that had no sense of imagination or planning. Sadly a good portion of them were made up of its kind, but they were good foot soldiers at the very least.

It would not be like its fallen sibling. It would lure this Dragon Rider to its doom with a trap. It needed to spread its web and capture those for substances. But also those for the role of bait.

Oh yes. It would be a feast it could sink its fangs into and suck it all dry.