The blue bear quickly puts on his robe and runs over to the toucan, being careful to pick him up he walks him over to the window.
"How close?"
"I would say from the distance of their ships they could be here anywhere from three to four days."
He couldn't believe it. They had run out of time.
"How many ships?"
The toucan gave the bear a sad glance.
"I would say about hundred."
"By Gum…"
"Augustus, leave the bird here. We have preparations to take care of."
Turning around surprised he gives the man a quizzical look.
"Preparations?"
The man walks towards the exit grabbing for his amor.
"Did you really think I Duke Igthorn would not prepare for the biggest fight of his life? Come!"
Not fully understanding what exactly what was going on he is quick to put on his armor as well and go along with Igthorn.
"Artie! If you can, I really need for you to try and fly back to Gummi Glenn and warn the others."
Worried for his friend he tries to hobble over to where the Blue bear was. He wanted to go wherever he went. They were the best of friends.
"But what about you?"
Smiling he pets his good friend on the head.
"The next time we'll see each other is on the battlefield. Be ready Artie and be safe!"
Gusto lifts the toucan by the window and with a push the toucan takes to the air.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do Gusto!"
It hurt Gusto to see how fragile the toucan had become. He asked himself if that would be the last time they would ever see each other.
"Goodbye Artie…"
With the toucan now in the distance Gusto takes his leave.
Meanwhile at Dunwyn castle Gruffi had made his way to the throne room where Calvin sits and listens to Gruffi's reasoning.
"So your majesty, that is why it is imperative that you put your focus towards the Great Gummies and not Igthorn."
Unimpressed Calvin waves off for his soldiers to leave the room.
With them gone Calvin brings his focus back to the bear.
"You're telling me to call off an attack that we have been strategizing and near protecting over a hunch?"
"It's not a hunch! We have proof! The Great Gummies are coming and they do intend to kill us all!"
"And what of Igthorn? What if he does intend to attack and instead of defending my castle as I'm suppose to my men are off helping you?"
"Igthorn is probably building up for the war as well! Why would Gusto stay if it weren't for this war?"
"What that bear does is none of my concern! My concern is Dunwyn and as King it is my responsibility to insure the safety of my people! "
Gruffi wasn't expecting such retaliation from Calvin. He needed to make Calvin understand the dire of this situation.
"If you're wrong then not only will you lose Dunwyn, but Calla as well!"
That had set a nerve with the king.
"How dare you? Every decision I have made as king was for her! I do everything for her! That is precisely why I choose not to follow Gruffi! Our attack against Igthorn took months to put together. You walk in here asking me to throw not only that but the safety of my wife and son's life out the window! If everything you say is true why are you the only one to have mentioned it to me? Why not Cubbi? He would have told me!"
"CUBBI IS WITH THEM!"
Pain streaked the face of the king. Cubbi was his best friend. He would never put his life or the life of his family endanger.
"What?"
"There is a lot you don't know that's going on Calvin. I thought I knew it all, but after losing Gusto and finding out from Zummi of Cubbi's betrayal it showed me that we need help. You're not the only to stand and lose from this. I'm begging Calvin, I need you to be there with your men and the army of all neighboring castles. If not then we will die."
Nobody ever said being king would be easy. Looking up Calvin sees the wooden sword hanging on the wall. How simple everything looks through the eye of a child.
"How does Zummi know that it was Cubbi who had betrayed you?"
Gruffi hated to be the one to tell Calvin. He was there when the pair became great friends. Now it would be up to them on how they would view each other after informing Calvin of the pink bear's treacherous ways.
"After Zummi and Gusto were handed over to the Barbics on a silver platter Cubbi was promoted."
Calvin staring angrily at the wooden sword removes it from its placing. He fiddles with it in his hands. He had remembered how happy he was for Cubbi when he was reinstated as an honorary member of the Gumadoon Knights. Cubbi had looked more upset then happy. Now he understood why.
Taking a deep breath in he turns around to face the bear.
"I will notify the nearby and castles and tomorrow we will go through several war tactics."
Pushing so hard for this result yet Gruffi couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Thank you! Thank you Calvin- I mean KING! Thank you King Calvin!"
Calvin remains serious.
"I'm warning you Gruffi. If this is some desperate attempt to retrieve Gusto then may my god have mercy on you. Do we understand each other?"
He nods nervously.
"Yes. I understand."
"I suggest you use this time to strategize with the remaining gummies."
"Thank you."
Gruffi exits the room leaving the king to remain alone in his quarters.
"Cubbi what have you done?"
Excited with the news Gruffi is quick to return to the Glenn.
"We can actually do this! By Gum we can win!"
As he walked back to the Glenn he heard to sound of a familiar voice. Looking up he sees the source.
"Artie?"
Happy to see the bear he flies down to land on a nearby tree.
"Wow who would have guessed I ever be happy to see that grumpy old face of yours?"
"Artie? What are-"
"No time for that. I just flew back from Drekmore."
"Drekmore?"
"Yeah so I'm pooped! Oh and before I forget the Great Gummies will be here in about four days."
The toucan had said it so calmly that Gruffi had almost missed it.
"WHAT!"
" I know ! The trip from Drekmore to here is a real killer."
"No not that!The Great Gummies are almost here!"
The bird had seemed a bit annoyed out how his well being wasn't being considered.
"Yeah yeah! Tell me something I don't already know."
"What are we going to do!"
"Pull yourself together bear. Do I have to do everything around here? Geez!"
Gruffi couldn't believe how the calm the toucan was preceding this news.
"I need to organize the others! I need to tell Calvin! I need-"
"To breathe!"
The toucan sat there with a smug look running across his face.
"Artie this isn't funny! This is serious! The Great Gummies are coming and we have nothing planned!"
"You might not but Igthorn does."
Artie returns the puzzled stare with a smile.
"It's going to be alright Gruffi."
Taking the bird's word he forces himself to remain focused and quickly makes his way back to the Glenn.
"Come Artie! We have things to do!"
They only have 4 days to strategize.
After that it's war.