NORTHERN LIGHTS, UKAHALA—Senior Reporter Arne recites tale of Prior Bumble’s great-grandfather, Ford Bumble. Another link on the Bumble family tree!
One fall evening, Ice Agent Stitches waddled around the Plaza. She had been informed an event would soon take place there, but saw not a soul in sight, and the sun was setting. To top off the disappointing evening, Stitches was getting hungry, and the smell of pizza wafting her way from the Pizza Parlor was killing her. Giving in to temptation, she waddled into the pizza parlor. Smooth jazzy music and an even stronger smell of the delicious pizza greeted her inside. However, the thing that caught her attention was a purple penguin wearing a red and white striped hat.
Stitches walked to a nearby table and looked at the individual, noticing a striking resemblance to some portraits she had seen before. After ordering a pizza, she decided to calmly approach the purple penguin.
“Uhhhh, hey there. Are you Prior Bumble?” Stitches asked nervously.
“Granvar,” he replied softly, (which means “I am” in Penguin Latin). “And you’re Ice Agent Stitches, right?” His smile was as warm as a fresh-cooked pizza.
“Yeah.” Stitches nodded, happy that he had known who she was. “What are you up to these days?”
“Retired life. Dragon Tales, occasionally checking in on CoolJ and the gang,” Prior said. “I’ve also been discovering more about my ancestors.”
“Oooooo, can I hear about it?” Stitches asked with great interest.
“Once I get done with this pizza, we can talk in my office.” Prior assumed Stitches would like to see the portrait he had.
“Sounds good. I’ll be back in a second,” Stitches said eagerly before going back to her own pizza.
After eating, Stitches attended RFCP’s training event distractedly. She couldn’t stop thinking about the exciting visit ahead. Once she was done, she went to the Pizza Parlor again to see if she could find Prior, and noticed that he was gone. Stitches sighed quietly as she walked out of the warmth of the Pizza Parlor and went on her way to find Prior’s igloo. A while later, she managed to find it and knocked on the door gently. When Prior Bumble opened the door to let her in, Stitches stepped into the massive igloo and looked around, smiling upon seeing the many decorations, and a TV playing Dragon Tales, which heavily contrasted the impressive oil paintings.
“Welcome, Stitches. Sit down here,” said Prior happily as he sat in a big cushy armchair.
“So about your ancestry or lineage… what’s the newest discovery?” Stitches asked after taking a seat in a comfy chair near his.
“Well, I’ve discovered the chronicles of my great grandparent, Ford Bumble, who fought during the Clan Wars and served under Rockhopper the Pirate.” Prior paused the TV.
“Ford Bumble was the son of Woodrow Bumble, who was born soon after the end of the Color Wars. In contrast with Woodrow’s pacifist nature, Ford grew as a kind yet rebellious child. He respected others, but wasn’t afraid of biting back. Indeed, he wasn’t as benevolent as his father, and did his fair share of fighting and had to serve during the chaotic Clan Wars. Before that, he lived calmly, underseeing his father’s humanitarian foundation come to fruition.
“Ford’s peaceful life was somewhat boring for him, so in a search for adventure, he signed up to participate in Rockhopper’s expedition across the Unknown Sea. He carried the Vial of Tears with him on their quest, it being his most prized possession.
“The trip went smoothly at first, and they left Club Penguin Island with no fuss. But one day, a giant storm capsized the ship, causing Ford and most of his crewmates to drift away in the torrential water.
“While Rockhopper managed to save the Migrator, a big part of the expedition was lost during the storm. Some of the adrift penguins that disappeared into the angry waves were never found, but luckily most of the crew stayed together while drifting away unconsciously, and ended up washed up on an island shore. Ford led the pirates, and they built a decently sized boat to carry them back to the safety of Club Penguin Island.
“After roughly two months on the water, the expedition arrived back on Club Penguin Island, emptyhanded. The habitants were relieved to see some of their family back considering how long they had been away, despite their failure. However, the feeling of wastefulness didn’t go away for Ford, who still wanted to do something that actually ended up in the history books or was remembered fondly. Little did Ford know, the war was just around the corner.”
Prior took a deep breath solemnly before continuing.
“The Clan Wars, also known as World War II, was the last great unorganized conflict. It was a time where many of the powerhouses of old like the Army of Club Penguin (ACP), the Underground Mafia Army (UMA), and the Rebel Penguin Federation (RPF) took over from the color gangs, which had fallen quite a bit. Ford Bumble participated in the Romans vs ACP conflict, serving under the Romans. They fought valiantly, but they ultimately ended up losing the war.
“ACP saw the Romans as a threat to their power, considering that they were the second largest semi-organized clan in the community. This conflict triggered the first large battle of Club Penguin Army history, in an igloo. Snowballs galore flew left and right between the two armies, and they seemed to be pretty evenly matched for most of the battle, but the Roman soldiers were falling, and eventually they retreated for good.
“The leader of the Romans, Explorer77777, gave up after losing to ACP, and faded away, never to be seen again. Ford, however, disappointed with the Romans’ failure to step up their game, quit the army with ire. He returned home, angered after everything he’d been through, but he was received happily by his father. Woodrow Bumble gave his son a fresh cookie and wrapped him in a warm blanket, while Ford let his tears do the talking.
“Ford returned the Vial of Tears to his father, claiming not to be worthy of the family heirloom. Woodrow knew that his son was too stubborn to accept it again, so he kept it safe. Eventually, Ford took over the bakery and the foundation, which we know today as Coins for Change, that his father had founded when he was just a child, and he lived happily with his family.
“Ford eventually met a woman named Angelica Becker, and they lived a full life together. He learned to live joyfully, cherishing the simple gifts the world had to offer. He dedicated his life to the discovery of the Bumble lineage, and his notes have been key to unearthing the history of Hamilton, Eudgegard, and Woodrow’s life. Ford eventually wrote his own tale to add to the family’s legacy. However, soon after his father’s death, Ford decided to travel to Int’ai’uto.
“He was one of the few, if not the only, Bumbles that made it back to Int’ai’uto, and, using what he learned in his time sailing with Rockhopper, he made it across the territory of the orcas unscathed. What happened there was a mystery, as Ford decided to keep the information to himself, but rumor has it that Ford spoke to the Fifth Grey Bear–the second youngest–who gave him the prophecy of the army that one day his descendant would start. Ford returned home, at peace with himself, and enjoyed the time he had left.
“Ford is therefore the ancestor credited with first hearing of the prophecy of RFCP, for being the guardian of the Vial of Tears, and for representing the eternal struggle of war peace that wages within every Bumble.
“They say that Ford disappeared a month later, and his body was never found. To this day, nobody knows what truly happened to him.” Prior gazed at the portrait as he finished the tale.
“Did he ever get the Vial of Tears back after finally reconciling with himself?” asked Stitches.
“Some say the Vial disappeared with him,” said Prior darkly. “We do not know. But it would be a miracle to find it again, for the liquid is said to hold mysterious powers.”
“That was one cool story,” said Stitches, after a moment of pondering over everything Prior had told her.
“Wait until you hear his father’s story,” replied Prior with a smile. “Let me put on some cocoa and I’ll tell you all about it.”
Filed under: Bumble Ancestors
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