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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He was naked, had ice packs arranged about his elbows, knees, and neck. He sat up a little, propping himself up on his elbows. He couldn't really sit up on his own yet, probably because he had not eaten in a long time. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. But no matter what he did, that dream still burned hard into his heart. Was that a dream? Or was it a memory…

NO! No! It couldn't be! No...Plucki would had told him if he had a son. And if he had a son…why had Cubbi never seen him? It didn't make sense…

Then…Plucki was not always there. And Sarrika had told him that Plucki was busy…did that mean he was ditching him? No! Plucki cared about him. He…he had to. He did care, didn't he? Or was he just-

Cubbi growled; his head hurt. He wished more than anything that he could remember what had happened when he'd been sick. That might have provided some answers. But his mind was a blank. He couldn't remember anything past…past the party. In fact, he couldn't even remember going to bed that night. Last thing he _did_ remember was Plucki pushing him out onto the dance floor.

For a brief moment, Cubbi thought back, remembering. But Zorlock intervened, again, omitted things, adding others…

Flashback

Cubbi stood off to the side, not about to dance unless he had too. Blastus and Gumlittle were good. Blastus, always the flirt, was the better of the two but Gumlittle was good too. Cubbi was nervous. He _couldn't_ dance. He'd told Plucki that. But Plucki, busy as always, had dismissed it as an excuse to get out of dancing. Truthfully, Cubbi couldn't blame him; that _did_ sound like something he'd do. Still…

"Being a wallflower?"

Cubbi looked up. Sir Plucki had cocked his left eyebrow at the cub. Cubbi nodded. Plucki grabbed the cub by the arm and pulled him out towards the dance floor. Cubbi's hands sweated and he shook his head,

"I…I can't dance, Plucki-"

"Don't give me that. Every fool of a bear can dance. Cubs five years old can dance. Probably better than you, of course but maybe you can manage to preserve some of that knighthood pride."

Tears stung Cubbi's eyes at the harsh words. But he nodded, and found himself shoved into the arms of a girl. Tavi…

Present

Depressed, the cub turned onto his side and closed his eyes; suddenly, he was no longer hungry.

Sarrika ran through the halls of Gummadoon. Although she knew that a war was building, she felt that she ought to tell Plucki that Cubbi was going to be all right. She knew the Captain. When he had someone's health on his mind, he wasn't at his best. With a battle, he needed to be at his best.

Luckily, it did not take her long. The knights were still in session with the council so she waited by the door. Plucki caught sight of her and gave her a side nod. He turned back to council, making it clear he would be with her in a minute. The humans had gone to ready their weapons, even the princess although her father, her knights as well as the Gummadoon knights had rejected. The Dunwyn Princess could not have cared less of their opinions.

It was quite ironic. At the moment, the humans returned; instead of being led by their king, whom they called Gregor, it was the princess who walked ahead. Her long blond hair bound in a loose braid, tossed over her shoulder, her clothing changed to a human boy's tunic, with long slacks. She'd donned knee high black boots and she had a bow swung over her shoulders. Her face was determined and she had her eyes narrowed. She caught sight of the council looking at her and stated,

"We've assembled all the weapons and knights we were able to. I've already got some of our knights keeping watch, relieving some of yours, Sir Plucki."

The Gummi Captain gave the human princess a nod. She turned to the council, now feeling what the others did, a gravity in the air. Wooddale stood and then paused. Turning, she nodded once.

From behind the council emerged a new Gummi. Calla was immediately alert by the way the Gummi knights immediately became more attentive. Plucki straightened, Gumlittle stood a little taller (if that was possible) and all the humor left Blastus' face. Ramsei mimicked his Captain's moves. Even the twins, young as they were, looked more alert. Although they did not have the respect on their faces that their elder knights had.

The new Gummi was old, clearly quite advanced in her years. She was a light violet shade, with whitened hair that had once been indigo. Her eyes had large wrinkles underneath them. Her hands shook with age, and it was clear that she was probably nearing the end of her years. When she spoke, her voice was weak, although not near death yet. Plucki and the others gave her a brief bow, and Plucki spoke,

"Milady, Destini."

She nodded, leaning on the chair for support,

"Yes, young one." She caught a brief chuckle at her reference to the Captain as young but it quickly faded. "I hardly ever appear before the council or you brave soldiers. But in these recent events, I feel it is only right that I must."

Dead silence followed that statement. The Gummi took a breath, as if to gather her strength. She spoke again, slowly and clearly,

"Long ago, before we had to flee," she paused, and as if to give an idea of _how_ long ago, added, "When your great-great-grandparents were still in diapers," she paused a second time, "I was young and had finished my sorceress' training. For a reason is till do not know, I was exploring our Great Book when I received a vision from our book, hence my name Destini was born. What I saw…what I heard, foretold things that have since past, things that are still being put into motion," she paused yet again, took a gulp of air, "And some things that have not yet come to pass."

Berrybottom handed her a glass of water. She took a sip and then took the seat that Wooddale offered her. Sitting down, she spoke again, "It spoke of our forced escape into the very time stream, of our meeting of a 'young one' and of our eventual return. It also spoke of this war. This war will once again put us in armed combat with all those we thought to be gone." She locked eyes with the Gummi Captain. "And it gave me a prophecy that would one day become fulfilled. That day draws near."

Taking another swallow, she repeated the words that had been whispered to her, so long ago: "There are lost ones…if love can save them, then there shall be… one born again to conquer a fiend shall become the knight greater than any ever before seen. One when the task said and done, shall deliver clans from several to one. There is but one more, who shall be the one who ends this war. This is what I see. But what I have told you has not yet come to be."

All were silent. The old Gummi turned and walked away, leaving the gummies both frightened and more determined than ever. So…now besides having to deal with a war, there were three that they were supposed to somehow save and perhaps rise to greatness? And a baby born twice? One to merge two clans? _One_ Gummi ending this war? It was all _more_ responsibility. They had to not only deal with war but now the very real possibility that there were lost ones out there that they had to save. Princess Calla swallowed and turned to Plucki, who nodded and ordered,

"Prepare for the worst."

Fangwood

Buddi was hardly a healer but he worked as fast as carefully as he could. The trees had the herbs he needed, thankfully. They had familiar herbs to those of Barbic Woods. Buddi was grateful. He could hear his girlfrie- what! Sunni! She wasn't his girlfriend! Was she-

"Thanks Buddi."

Buddi smiled. He'd done a crude job but at least she had stopped bleeding. Now, they were quite interested in the trees' proposal. He knew what they wanted. A way out of this valley. Sunni knew it too. But they could not do that alone-

"Buddi!"

"What?"

"We're near the ocean!"

"I wouldn't call that _near_ but yeah…"

Sunni turned to the trees. "if we get help to get you out, you'll aid us in this war?"

"Gladly."

Sunni began to pull Buddi away, towards the direction of a wider river. "C'mon."

"Where're we goin'?"

"To get more help."

"From where?!"

Sunni smiled; she had no idea how to get there but she figured they could figure something out. 'Sides Buddi was probably a good navigator. And she remembered a fishing town not far from here by quick car. They'd have ships. In answer, she grinned, knowing that Calla and the others probably had not thought of their _other_ ally.

"France."

Near Future

By the time they entered Gummadoon, Gruffi and the others had semi-recovered from their shock. But Cubbi…oh, what a shock he was!

He'd grown up to be quite handsome. His voice was deeper and he had the beginnings of a beard on his face. But his eyes were still young, still Cubbi. But there was experience in them. And something else that none of the past gummies could place. He'd grown taller.

"Cubbi!"

The name caught everyone's attention. A Gummi girl, about seventeen, ran out towards Cubbi, her arms open. Cubbi laughed and caught her as she dove towards him.

"Tavi! I thought you were-"She was pretty, long maroon hair and dark pink fur. But she wore a green tunic and long black slacks. Gruffi, forever on the guard, and not liking the way their youngest cub had greeted the girl, stated,

"Cubbi Gummi, who's this?"

The girl smiled. "Well….technically no one knows yet. But since Plucki is gonna find out soon anyway…." The girl bowed and smiled, "My name is Tavi Gummi. Plucki doesn't know cause Cubbi's been too chicken to tell him! Ya'd think after training under the knight for ten years and practically seeing in him a father, that he'd have the guts."

"I'm going to Tavi." Cubbi insisted. Tavi chuckled.

"After the ceremony, right?" she laughed again and greeted the Glens with a smile and a wink. "…and I am Sir Cubbi's fiancée."

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