Growing Up

The Barbics, Glens and any other Disney characters are copyrighted to Disney and we claim no ownership. However, any new characters are copyrighted to Ulisa, Silver Fox and Cheetah the Furry. This plot is a collaboration of Ulisa, Silver Fox, and Cheetah the Furry.

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Gruffi couldn't make his legs move. Zummi and Grammi also. For once, they were all in total agreement. Zummi held Tummi back as he started to follow the cub.

"Zummi!" Gruffi hissed. "Where've you taken us??"

"Well... Obviously, we're still in pe thast... er, I mean, the past."

"Zummi..." Grammi prodded him in the ribs.

"We better get outta here before he comes back."

"Finally, Tummi, some common sense!"

Gruffi ducked into the forest overgrowth, the others following.

Chattering away at the new gummies, Buddi noticed the silence too late. He turned, frowning, only to see that the strangers were gone. "Huh?"

Later, when Ursa found him puzzling over the scenario near their hut, he told her he'd found some gummies earlier.

"Oh, you mean these gummies?" She grinned, indicating the three bears talking with Grubbi and Ryo.

"Uh-uh. There were four of 'em and they dressed funny."

Ursa quirked a brow at her adopted child, not sure whether to believe his tale to be fiction, just imaginary gummies, or something else.

"We should get outta here." Gruffi said in a quiet voice, pacing.

"You wanted to be around Barbics. These are Barbics!" Zummi brought up in defense.

"Not the ones we _know_! Can't we pick an in between time?"

"I... I suppose. Gruffi, we shouldn't do so many hime tops.. I mean, time hops. It's like ripples in a pond. The more pebbles tossed in, the more ripples. They'll grow, and touch other ripples."

Gruffi rolled his eyes. "How many _other_ time travelers do ya think are out there?"

Grammi's eyes went round. "Land sakes, ya don't think anyone else can do this, do ya, Zummi?"

"I don't know..."

They grew quiet at the uncomfortable idea. Only the noise of Tummi's growling stomach broke the silence, until a slight hush of woodland creatures stilled the air further. Then low voices approached. The four Glens ducked out of sight to see who might pass by.

"...and they don't know. Not yet."

The four peeked out, saw three bears in traveling cloaks talking in hushed voices, glancing about warily. They looked... familiar. The one who spoke was quite old, greying. There was a second of middle age and another old bear.

"They're not going to know, Ne." the youngest said roughly. He seemed the leader of the three.

The third put a hand on the younger's shoulder. "This isn't right, Mal."

"Don't you start, too."

"Your sister wouldn't approve."

"Stay out of it, Pittori!" Mal spat. "Kuriani has her ways. I have mine. When I find them, I'll make them undo it. Undo everything!"

Pittori... Ne? _That_ was Nevi? And... Malachi. There went Zummi's ripples in the water! And how they'd spread! Who could they be looking for? And how had they gotten here? No Gummi lived _this_ long without aging, Gruffi was as sure as the fur on his back. They had to get out of here. That thought stood firm. But—

Grammi, obviously realizing the same, had taken a step back. A twig snapped under her foot. She froze, but the three aged Barbics had already swung into action. With a speed not even seen in the present day Barbics, Zummi, Gruffi, and Tummi were leaped upon and bound. Mal... Malachi, approached Grammi slowly, a glower in his eyes. Not malice. Something else.

"We've been waiting for you. A long time."

Present

"No! I gotta go with you! I gotta know they're alright!" Cubbi argued. "We're wasting time. C'mon!" He surged ahead of the knights, not about to dawdle when there was such peril. He couldn't lose any of them. Not another loss. He couldn't take it!

They gave up any arguing and dashed onward, Cubbi in the lead.

Lady Bane's cackle died with a sudden hiccup. Her body went stiff, her eyes fluttered and she was limp again. Straightening, her expression altered and a different laugh arose as she examined her appearance, hands, the situation around her.

"At long last! I'm free!!" The changed sorceress eyed the gummies. "I, Zorlock the Magician, will finally have my revenge against you do-gooder bears! I can't access this host's mind as of yet, but no matter. Mine is more than sufficient. Her kiosk will be the source of your undoing!!"

What the...? Barbics and Glen passed looks about. A body switch?

"That's not Lady Bane any more, Ursa! Please! Don't do it! You don't know what you're fighting now!" Buddi pleaded.

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