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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"...Cubbi?" Grammi was at a loss, barely able to keep a hold of the squirming new Barbic in her arms.

The knight grinned at the baby. "Geez, I never thought I'd see her like _this_!"

Gruffi turned to Zummi. "I think ya shot us a little _too_ far ahead."

"Hey, it's no problem. No sweat. We've been expecting you the last few days."

"You have?" Tummi was having a bit of trouble with the whole situation. Look at how tall Cubbi got! And that confidence suited him so well.. So he was a knight now?

"Sure!"

There was the pounding of more hooves as a full-sized horse was cantered up to the group. There was a human on its back! The Glens of the past ducked for cover immediately, Grammi and Gruffi behind a bush, Zummi pulling at Cubbi, Tummi behind a tree.

"Sir Cubbi! There you are. We've been looking for you. Sir Blastus sent me to get you. The council is ready."

"Thanks, Vorin." With a wave, Cubbi sent the human knight away.

"I... I don't believe it. What's goin' on?!" Gruffi demanded, emerging from the bushes.

Cubbi grinned.

Zummi, coming from behind Cubbi, stared on with a dawning realization. "This is the future. You've made peace with humans..." He looked to Cubbi for confirmation and received a huge smile and nod.

"C'mon. The ceremony's about to start and you're right on time."

Grammi got a strong flashback, from Cubbi's first encounter with Gummadoon, and their honorary knighthood of the cub. Now, he was a full knight. Oh, it had to be Gummadoon again. And he mentioned there being so many gummies now... It seemed too wonderful to be true.

"Uh... I got a question." Tummi broke in as they followed Cubbi onward. In the direction of Gummadoon. "What happens when we run into each other; I mean, ourselves?"

"Don't worry. They're not attending. YOU are. They know how much is gonna mean to you. Trust me, okay?" With a dashing smile, he turned back to their route and led the bears into the city of Gummadoon.

Present

Cubbi tossed in his sleep. Sarrika could see only that. If she knew what was about to occur in his head, she would have stopped it at all costs but she was no magic healer, nor could she sense the evil aura surrounding the cub. She could only sit and worry and hope he'd be fine. His body would survive the fever at least. His mind... She prayed.

Zorlock had nudged into his sleepy dream awareness the fact that Plucki had said something very important while he was sick and that he should remember what that something was.

"You had a son?"

That was Sunni's voice!

"Yes." Plucki's voice. He sounded so sad... "Aldi."

Zorlock smothered the rest of the dialogue and began his little derivative with glee, Lady Bane beside him and lending her own brand of nastiness to do the trick.

The voices became faces. Sunni and Plucki both stared at him, emotionless.

"He has a son. He's a father."

"No." Cubbi denied it with every ounce of his being. "NO!! He woulda tol' me! He would!"

"His name is Aldi." That from Plucki. "He is a stronger, braver, and more caring knight than you'll ever be. I love my son. You..."

"How dare you say that to him!" Sunni jumped in. "He's better than any ol' son of _yours_!"

"Aldi was perfect. Cubbi... He's too impatient, too rough around the edges. Even with all the training I can provide, I really doubt he could be the best."

"What?..." Cubbi stammered, stepping towards the image of Plucki. "You said... You said I _could_ be the best knight ever."

Sir Plucki's eyes turned on him, burning deep into his soul as the emotionless gummi knight locked gazes with Cubbi. "You? I don't think so. I encourage all my students, but that doesn't mean they really will meet my expectations."

"No! Shut up! I don't believe it!"

"I never asked you to believe me. You believe because you want to, 'Sir' Cubbi."

"No! No! It's not true!!" He ran forward and beat on the dream vision until it broke into nothing. Plucki crumbled away, and then he attacked Sunni and she crumbled, screaming in agony.

"You've hurt your friends. How could you do that?"

Gruffi's voice! Oh, why couldn't Gruffi be here? Cubbi's heart cried out for that solid father figure yet no one came. And suddenly, Cubbi was awake, sitting upright in bed. A dream?... A dream...

Sarrika smiled gently and placed a cool hand on his forehead. "Ah. The fever's broken. I'm so glad." She smiled in renewed relief. "Are you hungry?"

"..Yeah. Um.. Who're you?"

"Sarrika. You're in Gummadoon. Do you remember anything about being sick with fever?"

Cubbi frowned, thought. "...No. I remember the party, and.. and Plucki--..." He trailed off, haunted by the dream and unknowing that Zorlock was shadowing his memories.

"Well, it can be common to have a bit of lost time when suffering under Fire Plague. But we're very glad to see you awake. I'll get you some soup."

"Sarrika?"

She'd risen but paused at Cubbi's call. "Yes?"

"Who's Aldi?"

The healer blinked, her brows turning to a frown. "Where did you hear that name?"

"Who is he?"

"He _was_ Sir Plucki's son."

Cubbi's mind reeled. He didn't hear the 'was'. Froze, he similarly did not feel the dark forces rising and moving in to claim little bits of his mind and cloud over anything good in the cub. His will was leaving quickly.

"Toadwart, I want you to collect five of my smartest ogres and return to Drekmore. Get to work on the secret project I mentioned to you yesterday."

"Yes, Dukems! Er... What secret project?"

Igthorn grabbed Toadie by the neck and throttled him, talking so low not even Cavin, close by and tied to a tree under Aerial watch, could hear. "The secret of the juice, nimnul! And don't let _anyone_ hear about it or you'll be food for the moat-monster!!"

"Y-yes, Dukie!"

As the little spud raced off, Igthorn passed covert glances around to make sure no one heard. The duke sighed. No doubt the little puss-weed would fail, but just so long as the castle had a minimum staff of guards, he didn't care. And if by some miracle they did succeed to make gummiberry juice from the recipe under lock and key within Drekmore, all the better to rampage with!! Igthorn grinned gleefully.

Ah! Finally, some movement from Lady Bane's tent! She stepped out and looked so radiantly dark and despicably noble. So wise and evil... His heart melted on the spot and he rushed to her side. "My lady..."

"Assemble the troops. We have our way in." Grinning with the delight of the unmerciful, Lady Bane's hands went over her head. The jewel on her forehead began to glow. Trees groaned, earth heaved, and up from the firmament arose a collection of long-dead warriors.

Igthorn yelped and dashed behind the lady. "What... Why do we need _those_!?"

She smirked. "You can never have too much back-up."

Buddi's mouth fell open, and he knew. These trees, for more of them had come to encircle he and Sunni, these trees were related to the ones near Barbic Woods. Distant relatives but still...

"You're welcome." he passed a smile the tree's way.

"Buddi..." Sunni tugged at his sleeve.

"Don't worry, dearie. We won't hurt you." one of the blonder trees said.

"O-Okay.." She glanced nervously at Buddi but he seemed right at home."

"What brings gummies to Fangwood Forest? We haven't seen you in quite a while. Been busy?" the old one asked.

"Well, sort of. We're trying to get back to the war that's brewing."

The trees looked startled at this news. "War? Gummies at war? With whom?" They feared, of course, the war in the past that caused the gummies to fled. According to Gruffi Gummi, that's what happened. They needed further tending of the water to truly grow free again. Without gummies to provide help, their kind would keep dwindling until all are gone. They could not let it happen!

"Humans. Some really nasty ones. Got an army of the worst kind. We gotta get back. So... Sorry. We gotta go."

"No. Please!" the old tree caught him with a limb. "Please..."

"I'm sorry. We gotta go!"

"Let go of him!" Sunni broke in, not liking to see Buddi manhandled. She yanked on the tree limb holding him in place.

"Please listen. Perhaps we can help you, if you help us..."

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