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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Past
The new baby sleeping soundly against her snoozing mom, Grammi broke her gaze only at the sound of approaching steps.
"She's fine." the old gummi lady whispered, rising from her seat as Warrio approached.
"I shouldn't have left. Nor should I have left her with strangers." He eyed Grammi critically.
The Glen shook her head. "After all we try to show you we're no threat, you still look at us that way. What happened here to make gummi estrange gummi like that? Ain't there somethin' in yer code against it?"
"What about our code?" He turned defensive, his voice rising.
Una stirred slightly but a calming hand on her head let her drift back to sleep.
"What makes you go against other gummies so easily? We haven't done anything to you."
"Who's to say you won't?"
"Warrio, that's no way to live."
"It's the only way we have! How can you come here and criticize our life? We've left ties to our kin gummies long ago. We are Barbic!" he hissed out, trying to keep his voice low. "We need no others, nor their ways."
Present
The door to Plucki's room creaked open a tad. Shadowed eyes peered in, saw that he was aware, and moved on.
Didn't Sir Ramsei see the blood? Didn't he care?
No. They don't care.
Shut up! I know who you are! Cubbi yelled back at the voices rising in his mind.
They screamed right back. You're weak, cub! Because of your weakness, you'll be the undoing of your friends and we'll delight in their blood just as we revel in the crushing of your little spirit! If you were stronger, we couldn't havetaken control of you but you weren't. You were too _weak_!
Shut up! Shut up shut upshutup!!
Make us! You are powerless. Sit back and watch the masters at work. Who knows. After we crush your heart, we may really be able to turn you to your darker nature. The howl of voices seemed to smirk and sit heavily on whatremained of Cubbi's self-awareness.
Stop it! I'll never turn evil!
Oh really? That's what they all say. That's what _we_ used to say. Oh, I'll be good, Mother. I'll do my best, Father. But your best wasn't good enough! They still left you and they're never coming back! Why would they want a scrawny cub like YOU? They'd have died from disappointment now anyway.
Shut up! It's not true! I'll never believe that!
Oh, you will. In the end, you'll believe anything we tell you, just so you can be free. In fact, I'll promise you'll be begging for us to make you forget you ever existed. By the way, nice handiwork.
His eyes moved without his desire to the scrawling wounds he'd inflicted.
Take a good look, kid.
His hand moved to wave over the fleshy letters. His lips moved to utter words he'd never heard. The wounds began to heal!
Hahahahahahaha!!! This isn't a minor possession, kid. We're moving in for the long run! To finalize that remark, the voices exerted their will to contort Cubbi's face into a merciless grin.
No! No no noNONONONONOOO!!
The lamp was waved at, and more words. It returned to an unbroken and untouched state.
Plucki protested his extended absence every step to the Council chambers. Until he saw a human girl talking anxiously with the councilors.
"What's the meaning of this?" he demanded.
"She comes to warn us of the encroaching masses, Sir Plucki, and to inform us that young Cavin's been captured."
Frown turning to shock at Gumlittle's explanation, Plucki faced the girl.
"I am Princess Calla of Dunwyn, Good Knight and I beseech your aid. Please help us! We haven't the defenses to stop that horde outside."
"I regret to inform you that we may not either, Princess. They're after us."
"Why don't we just retreat like we did before?" Ecri asked.
"The spell has been undone." Councilor Berrybottom rose. "To summon it again will take some time. We may not have it. And if that is the case, you and the others would have to leave and fend for yourselves or be time-lost with us."
"But... we can't do nothing! YOU can't do nothing!" She argued, turning her face to any who would look at her.
"Yer right. We won't do nothing." Gritti leaned up against the doorway to the Council chambers.
Ursa stood ready beside him. "And there's plenty of something we'll do, you can bet that. This is war, gummies. Either fight or flee but stay out of our way."
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