This is the third and final installment of Bubblegum’s flying adventures. Here are Part 1 and Part 2.
Bubblegum touched down at the Midtown Zoo to the shock of the flock but the disdain of Rusty. Once, Rusty was the only important flamingo, but since Bubblegum took off, she was all the other birds discussed.
Rusty spent a month monologuing against Bubblegum. “She’s not brave! She flew off and got herself killed, or she is working as a mascot somewhere. Don’t waste your breath on that silly bird.”
Unfortunately, his campaign against Bubblegum failed. To Rusty, Bubblegum’s return was the only thing worse than her departure.
“Oh, look who came flying back to the safety of the zoo,” Rusty shouted, drowning out the welcoming squawks from the other birds. It was time to reassert his dominance. “Couldn’t take it out there?”
“I missed you too,” Bubblegum said. “I missed all of you. I had so many adventures.”
“Tell us what happened!” Blush pleaded as she, Fuschia, Rose, Watermelon and Coral crowded around Bubblegum. Rusty stayed a short distance away, his ego swelling in indignation.
Bubblegum told her tales. She talked about fighting with Geese and getting attacked by a broom. Then, when she was at a low point, she landed at the Uptown Aviary.
He suddenly knew why Bubblegum returned—to tarnish his feathers and rip him apart. She would reveal why he was named Rusty.
She didn’t know who she was messing with—Rusty was a professional at these war games. He would drag Bubblegum’s reputation into the mud.
“Those Uptown Aviary crackpots?” Rusty squawked.
“Crackpots?” came a voice from above.
Just then, two more flamingos landed in the pond. They were strangers to the flock but well-known to Bubblegum and Rusty.
“Guys, this is Ballet Slippers and Taffy,” Bubblegum said, introducing the birds. “They also know Rusty.”
Rusty fumed at the sight of them. He tried to think of the meanest lies he could come up with about these birds. He needed to dig them just as big a hole as he felt himself falling into at that moment.
“Oh what, you losers have come to steal all of my stories?” Rusty yelled, but the losers didn’t take the bait. However, Rusty was aware of a kicking motion from Ballet Slippers.
“Good to see you too, Rust,” Taffy said, “It looks like your face is healing. How’s the wing?”
“I do not have to answer that!” Rusty yelled.
“We’re not here to just talk to Rusty,” Bubblegum said, taking the spotlight off of him. “We want to teach you all how to fly!”
“Right to your deaths,” Rusty yelled, but again, no one listened. Instead, Rusty watched in disbelief as each bird learned from the three experienced flyers. Flamingos are so stupid, he thought. They think like a flock instead of as individuals.
One by one, the flamingos took to the air. Then Bubblegum came over to Rusty.
“I will destroy you, you foolish owl,” Rusty yelled at Bubblegum.
“I met an owl that tells hilarious jokes,” Bubblegum said and made a hoot like an owl.
“Your lies won’t work on me,” Rusty said. He was a pro at controlling flamingos, and he could still bring Bubblegum down.
“I came to see if you’d like to try to fly,” Bubblegum said.
“You know I can’t. My wings are clipped,” Rusty shouted.
“From what I’ve heard, you haven’t been clipped in at least eight months. You should be good.”
Rusty huffed. “I don’t know what you’re trying to pull, but I will bury you for slandering me. I am the best flamingo.”
Bubblegum just smiled at Rusty. “I’ll come back and visit you sometime.”
Bubblegum took off, and the other flamingos followed. It was a scene that caused even some clueless zookeepers to look up. Rusty fumed in the pond alone and watched them fly away.
More flamingos joined the flock in the air, and Rusty guessed they were more enemies from the Uptown Aviary. He couldn’t tell for sure where they were heading but expected them all to end up crawling back to his zoo. Rusty would reject them, of course. By then, he’d have more loyal flamingo subjects, ones who wouldn’t abandon him if a flamingo was stupid enough to fly off into the unforgiving city.