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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Ramsei emerged from his bunk with the twins while they argued over who got to sleep where. His eyes spied his captain. As Plucki stared on at the lad with what looked like fatherly affection, Ramsei stared with different feelings stirring. He gritted his teeth and wandered closer to the scene.

Plucki caught the motion, shifted to face him. He nodded once to Ramsei.

The blue knight sighed, hands on his hips as he gazed down at Cubbi. He glared at Plucki before shucking off the look. Squatting down, Ramsei poked at the fire.

"Something to say, Ramsus?" Plucki challenged, feeling tension in the air.

"Not at all... Captain."

Plucki dropped his offensive guise, as it failed to bring out what bothered Ramsei. He resorted to genuine concern. Anything to get him to speak! "What is it? You've been quite moody lately, for one of my knights." His brows rose inquiringly.

Ramsei glared, though with such bushy brows, it could be from habit and not truly meant to be a glare. His voice betrayed his true feelings, of anger. "My sister; and your son."

"Illsi... Aldi..." Plucki's face shadowed over with the resurfacing of old memories.

"Yes. Your wife and child. You forget them so easily--"

Plucki shot up and rushed Ramsei, shaking him by the shoulders. "I DO NOT forget, Ramsus! I DON'T! I wish for them every day, even though that can never be! Don't EVER say I've forgotten.... Ever..." Jaws clenched, Plucki sagged, releasing his fellow knight. "What ails you, Sir Ramsei? Why are you prone to attacks these days? What heavies _your_ heart to bring up such sad times?"

"You, Sir Plucki. And your attentions on that cub. It plagues me to see him fawned on, as if he WERE your son. I will not let you replace Aldi!"

Plucki stared at Ramsei in shock. "How can you even think I would try? He was dearer to my heart than anyone. That's why you blew up at Sir Cubbi, why you insisted he stay in Gummadoon."

"Yes. I know this goes beyond what a knight should and should not do, Plucki, but as a matter of honor to my sister, and my nephew, I couldn't let the cub be a substitute. I've seen your eyes Plucki. You care for the lad."

"Of course. As a Gummi, how can I not? How can you see in him less than the great knight he will become? After traveling to save his friends with such fierce injuries. Surely, you see it."

Ramsei looked away. "...Yes. And, yes, such traits should not be hindered." he admitted.

Plucki offered a small smile and a hand on Ramsei's shoulder. "Then let us not. Creating barriers is for enemies alone. I never forget loved ones, Ramsus. I never will forget. But do not forget our duty to the living, even if they seem to resemble those that have passed. Please, my friend."

Truly, they fought such demons before, and won. In light of recent events, Ramsei was willing to put his personal feelings aside. He gave a curt nod. "There are many these days who require our duty, Plucki. Care to hear a plan before turning in?"

Plucki grinned. "Always, Ramsei."

"Er... Duke-ums?"

"What is it, Toad-scum? Can't you see I'm _busy_? After that last near win against Dunwyn, I've got to come up with yet another brilliant--"

"Dukie!"

"STOP BELLOWING, YOU MISERABLE EXCUSE FOR A FOOTSTOOL!!" Igthorn yelled, delighting in watching the shrimp of an ogre tumble backwards. "Now, what is it? Come, come. I haven't got all day."

"Dukie, Lady Bane and a troop of nasty looking baddies are on their way up Drekmore's main road."

"WHAT?? What'll I do? What'll I say??" Igthorn ran around like a chicken with his head cut off.

Toadie, as an aside, muttered, "Obviously, Dukamente still got feelings for witch after last dump."

"She didn't dump ME!" Igthorn roared. "_I_ dumped HER! So... She's come crawling back, has she? Well, I won't fold easily. This is her last chance to see what an opportunity our union could be, then I'll throw HER out for a change. Ha H A!"

Toadie sighed as Igthorn laughed maniacally. "Duke-ums, maybe they come to attack and not offer help."

"What?? They wouldn't be fool enough to... Who did you say was with her?"

"Come see, Dukie." Toadie ushered Igthorn to the telescope in the war-room. Spying through the glass, Igthorn gasped and sputtered.

"I... But... Who are those people??"

"Not look like good welcoming committee to me."

"Shut up, mush-for-brains!" Igthorn hurried out of the room, dashing down the steps and out into the courtyard, yelling for his ogres. "You, cover the east wall. You, go with him. You ten stay with me. We'll be greeting some... 'guests'... at the drawbridge."

The troops obeyed, and even managed to lower the drawbridge without mishap by the time the motley crew arrived. Lady Bane, in the lead, strode forward and stopped before the waiting Duke Igthorn.

"Hm. So you're him. Doesn't look too impressive to me. Shut up! I don't have to listen to you. La la la la la la la!!"

Igthorn quirked a brow at the changed Lady Bane. "Er... My dear, are you ill?"

"Who's dear??" Her eyes flashed angrily and locked with his. "Oh great. NOW you tell me he's infatuated with you! No, no, that makes things easier, actually. Er.. Ahem." Lady Bane sidled up beside Igthorn and twirled his goatee in her fingers. "Listen up, Duke. I've been itching to get at those nasty gummi bears for centuries. Me and my gang here are all for it. How bout it... er... handsome?"

"Y-y-yow-ow-owiee!" Igthorn's heart was beating so loudly, it drowned out the cacophony of loud cheers from the dangerous group behind Lady Bane. "Y..Yes. I've been after their furry hides, too. Oh, could it really be true? The same evil mind, the same evil scheme. We're made for each other!"

Emboldened, Igthorn grabbed Lady Bane and dipped her, planting a kiss right on the lips. Lady Bane struggled and sputtered, but without using magic. Igthorn got his kiss and the motley crew hooted loudly in the background.

Near Past

The cub just wouldn't stay asleep. He kept having nightmares. Gritti was half asleep each time the cub yelled, leaped up from his bed, and attached himself to Gritti's chest. The smokey-furred Barbic finally decided to lay beside the cub. He'd seen Ursa do it at least once, when the cub nearly lost his life to a deadly fever. Buddi was prone to nightmares then.

He sighed as he settled to the bed, letting the cub pull his arms around him. It was actually very peaceful. Buddi was safe as long as he kept his arms about the cub. Perfectly safe. Gritti felt a stab of envy that Ursa got this whenever she wanted. He fell asleep without realizing it, to the gentle rhythm of Buddi's breathing.

Far Past

Kuriani stared at Malachi, then Ursa. Saw an identical helmet on Ursa's head as her own. If all were true, the _exact_ same helmet. From the future. As was Malachi. Oh, how grown he was... And so angry.

The other Barbics were approaching at the commotion. Kuriani motioned them to drop their weapons.

"You four come with me." She said to the Glen group. To her Barbics, she said, "Watch those two carefully."

Kuriani had little idea what she'd say to the Glens as she led them to a more secluded area to talk. Above, the trees were still being fitted with long lasting shelters. Huts, really, but not sturdy enough yet for these ground dwellers to be safe.

"Kuriani..."

"Hope you're going to explain things, Gruffi."

"We'll try." Zummi said. "You see, we _are_ from your future. From Ursa's time, in fact."

"Zummi... Do ya think we should?"

Tell those of the past, Grammi meant. Zummi shrugged. "I doubt it makes any difference. Malachi found out somehow."

"And?" Prodded Kuriani. "What was Malachi talking about? What is he after?"

"He..." Zummi's head bowed. "He wants us to go back and stop your sister's death. Or send him back to do it."

Kuriani gasped. "You can do that?"

"No."

"You must be able to. You were there before!" She grabbed at the hope, probably like Malachi clung to it.

"We can't, Kuriani." Gruffi broke in. "We tried. We tried to stop everything and ... we failed."

"Where you failed, I'll succeed. Send me. Please! I've got to try!"

"Kuriani... You can't undo the past. It can't be done. What do you think we decided to do when we told you the humans would attack. That caused you to leave Gummeria and take its defenses. Without the defenses... Everybody died. We tried to change the past and ended up being the cause, not the effect."

"Who is dead is dead." Kuriani mumbled to herself, eyes red as she fought tears.

"And if that's changed, the present is altered and things may just go back without our control anyway." Grammi added, understanding more having lived through the theory now. "I'm sorry, sweetie. We really tried.

Kuriani nodded. "And my brother? He and Nevi and Pittori..."

"You can help them." Zummi said, smiling. "Show them to themselves. That's sure to scare them into ending this mad circle."

"I thought you said you couldn't change the past."

"This isn't the past for us. It's the present. Things happening now is now for us, just like it is now for you, and for those three."

Kuriani rolled her eyes at the confusing loops. "And Ursa?"

"We'll take her back with us, to our now in the future."

"But we have one favor to ask." Gruffi put in. "Can you tell us about that code we heard you mention? What is the Barbic Code?"

Present

"Now, my dear, surely you have time to eat."

"No! Stop touching me! How can you stand this guy? Now, don't give me that! This was your idea! Oh, yes it was!"

Igthorn puzzled over why the love of his life was in such a funny mood, talking to herself all the time. Literally. "Er... My lovely Lady Bane, might I inquire as to whether you have a plan?"

"Of course we do! I don't go around making false claims! I, Zor--- I mean, Lady Bane, have a brilliant scheme and it's already in the works. That wasn't just a love tap I gave that Gummi girl back at the castle."

Igthorn turned an aside to Toadie. "What is she talking about?"

Toadwart shrugged.

"Well, it wasn't! And all will soon see the extreme and awesome power of... of ME!!!!Ahahahahahaha!!!!"

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