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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There were other memories as well. She remembered Buddi telling her a while back that he was grateful for her help after Barbic Woods fell. He thanked her for telling Ursa what he couldn't and for her words of encouragement. Even after she'd thought about it for quite some time, she _still_ didn't know what the cub was talking about. He claimed that she had said something to him that had encouraged him to confess to Ursa all the fear and sorrow he felt. While the cub had not gone into detail, he was certainly grateful to her for something. Although….Grammi had not the _slightest_ idea what it was.

"You'll find out."

The glen turned and recognized Buddi's older voice. He smiled at her. "Trust me, you won't be clueless as to _what_ for much longer. You'll find out."

"Why can't you-"

Buddi shook his head, "I can't tell you what you hafta do. Trust me, you'll know." He turned to Zummi. "The same reason I can only tell you a little bit about the Festival of Three."

Gruffi now turned his attention to Buddi, as this festival was easily the most elaborate he'd ever seen, with far more activities and traditions than any of those that they currently celebrated. And to the best of his knowledge…more than _any_ celebration done in the past. The origins of such an event was intriguing. But at the same time, the Glen felt a twang of fear in his gut that he couldn't place or get rid of. Still, he had to learn all he could.

"Is this a Gummadoon holiday or-"

"No," Sunni interrupted. "Every gummi clan celebrates it. The Barbics make a tremendous deal outta it."

"But…" Zummi intervened, "What's it celebrated for?"

Buddi spoke out, "We can't tell you much."

"Tell us what you can, Buddi." Gruffi said simply. The Barbic nodded.

"Soon, a second war will break out and Lady Bane and Igthorn will join together forgotten enemies to lead the battle against us. The Festival of three is to celebrate the three that ended that war and insured the alliance of gummies with the humans of Europe and France."

"WHAT?! What second war? When? What three-how-"

"Sorry," Buddi took the squirming Ursa from Grammi and cradled her, feeling very odd. She used to cradle _him!_ "I've told you all I can. The rest you'll hafta find out yourselves."

The Barbic rose and walked over to Wooddale. She and he got into a conversation and, following his instruction on date, she murmured a few words and the baby Ursa vanished, whisked back to her own time. Gruffi had to admit that was probably a better idea than letting Zummi try it. The Barbic returned as soon as his mother had been returned to her proper time and place.

Grammi was at a loss. A second war…with only _three_ to end it? How-

Grammi was drawn away from her thoughts as the song ended and Tavi and Cubbi once more joined them. Tavi clung to his arm, a young, laughing expression on her face. She kissed Cubbi once on the cheek and then took note of Plucki and Blastus. They ahd been quiet through the Glens' conversation but now were looking at her and Cubbi, stunned. They knew, no question about that. Nodding to Cubbi, Tavi yanked Blastus out onto the dance floor, leaving Plucki and Cubbi together.

Present

"Listen…Jean-Claude do you have a map?"

"Qui." The French King placed a map down in front of the Barbic cub and as an afterthought, a quill and ink. Buddi thanked him and looked the map over. He marked out the approximate location of Gummadoon, a few hours journey from Dunwyn. Tracing down from that location, he pointed out where Fangwood Forest was.

"Here. We have three possible allies here. But they're stuck in a valley. Do you think that blasting power would be enough to lower a side so it wasn't so steep? We might be able to get them out then."

"Qui, I believe so."

"Okay, then that's the first thing we need to do. There's a small dock about four miles from the forest. Right here."

The King left to give such directions to the captain. Buddi waited and when he return, went on.

"They could provide some maximum firepower, up the center. And chances are they could provide a distraction just long enough for the rest of us to get into place. King Jean-Claude, who are your best archers?"

"Armaund, Gaston, Platt, Phillippe, Sumner, Vicq, Wiatt, and Parfait."

"Good. While the armies are distracted, I'll need them to split up and hide in the trees and hills surrounding the armies. Ya can put that blasting powder on the ends of your arrows. Judging from what I've been told, the Aerials will be the only enemies in the air. The blasting powder can be used to take them out. The rest of your army, except for a small section, needs to advance from behind. You come in when we've been fighting a while and begin to tire. The section that doesn't stay behind should divide into about eight different smaller sections, I need each of those sections to concentrate on _one_ villain or a group of them. Take the leaders out. The smaller the better because you're less obvious."

"Mon ami, that will be quite hard. With fewer knights-"

"I know…it's risky. But once yer on the field, count on getting help from us and Gregor. The leaders of each set of villains still have power. Without them, the others will be easier to take out."

A nod of acknowledgement. Buddi turned to Sunni.

"Sunni and I take Lady Bane. We've got a score to settle."

"What?! Us…alone, against Lady Bane? Are you insane, Buddi?!"

"No Sunni. But I've got a theory."

"Let's hear it."

"I don't think she has much inherent magic. When she does a large spell or one without words, her headband lights up. If it's a small spell, it doesn't. So I think-"

"Most of her power is a trinket? That gem?"

"Exactly. If we can get that gem away from her, she will still be a great adversary but it'll diminish her power a great deal. Besides, _everyone_ has a weakness." He grinned, "But one thing at a time. Next stop-"

"Fangwood Forest," Sunni finished a grin of anticipation on her face.

Outside Gummadoon's Walls

A low moan made its way out of Plucki's lips and he sat up, slowly. His whole body ached but he was alive, which downright surprised him. But there was no doubt in his mind that Zorlock was in control. But Tavi was right as well. Cubbi had to be alive. If he hadn't been, Zorlock would have killed him with that blast of lightning. Tavi was- Tavi!

That's what that weight was! As the knight sat up, Tavi's body rolled off of his back, unconscious but alive. But soon, she too, began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open and she sat up. Plucki opened his mouth to ask if she was alright but she beat him to it.

"I must be alive. A dead person cannot hurt this much!" she shook her head and said, "where's Cubbi?"

Plucki glanced along the wall and a feeling of dread rushed through his heart. Only a scarce few knew about the Gummadoon Staff. Only Wooddale and Berrybottom of the council knew of its existence and only Wooddale knew where it was. Destini knew and out of necessity they had told him, when he had only been Captain for a few months. That's what Zorlock was after, he could feel it. Turning to Tavi, he said,

"Go alert your aunt. Quickly!"

"But what about Cubbi?"

"Leave Sir Cubbi to me. Now go! Tavi Gummi, that is an order!"

The girl jumped up and ran off, taking the backway into Gummadoon. Plucki watched her go and then walked along the wall. He stopped, pressed a stone inward and being barely small enough to fit, squirmed inside towards the sounds of a battle.

Tavi ran through Gummadoon's courtyard, seeking her aunt Toffi, her mother's older sister. So far, she'd found nothing.

"Tavi!"

Turning, she shouted, "Lucki!"

Her older brother rushed towards her, still dressed in his squire clothes. His short green hair fluttered in the wind and his boots clanked against thes tone courtyard. He snagged his sister's hand and ran. She saw that the Aerials were fast approaching and they were not without weapons. It looked like crossbows mainly. Lucki rushed her towards their small cottage. Although they had the right to stay in the main chamber sof Gummadoon, due to their relation to a wizard, they chose not to. Only the knights, wizards, and historians stayed in the main chambers. The rest of the gummies preferred to stay in their own houses. That was where Tavi could see her parents, waiting.

She would have that sealed in her mind the rest of her life.

Her father, armed and ready to aid. He was of large stature, and a deep golden yellow in shade. His curly hair fell to his chin and he had on some old armor. He was once a knight but retired from it as soon as he could, stating he wanted to become a family man. He'd served under Sir Plucki for a few years. He had taken out that old armor…something he never did. He looked the part now of a past he had claimed was buried, his past of Sir Glenfield.

Her mother was a few steps ahead of her father, rushing towards her cubs. Her dark golden hair flowed behind her, contrasting with her almost silver fur. She had hiked up her dress so she could run easier, her thoughts only on reaching her children, to pull them to safety. Her mother…the little sister of Councillor Wooddale. Lady Amaultea.

But before they ever reached them, an Aerial acted.

Whizzing through the air, Lucki's shout came too late and before Tavi knew it, both her parents fell to the ground, dead before they met impact.

"NO! MOMMY! PAPA!"

She rushed forward, intent on reaching them. They could not be dead! They could not be! NO! Tears welled up and she no doubt would have ran right into another arrow's path but her preteen brother would have none of it. Despite him only being eleven, he scooped up his little sister and rushed into the main chambers, where he saw several magicians gathering. Spying his Aunt, he rushed over.

"Aunt Toffi! Mom and Dad…" his voice cracked and he didn't need to say anymore. Tavi ddi that for him. Reaching out to grab her aunt's shirt, she howled,

"They're dead! My Mommy and Daddy are DEAD!"

Toffi's eyes went wide with sadness and anguish then narrowed in anger. She grabbed her niece's hand and looked at her nephew. His own eyes were full of pain but he stated simply,

"The knights are calling out the squires…I have to go help Gumlittle."

"No Lucki!" Tavi embraced her brother. "You'll-"

"I have to go Tavi!" he hugged her and then rushed out the door, snatching a handful of bolas and some weapons as he did so. Tavi looked up at her aunt. Although she was trying to maintain her composure for her niece's sake, Tavi saw her pain. Placing a hand on her aunt's, her cause was remembered and she found herself saying to herself,

I'll not lose a friend too! Yes…she still had a job to do. Despite how much her heart ached, she knew it would ache more so if she lost a friend as well as a family.

Taking a breath, she said,

"Aunt Toffi…it gets worse."

"Dear child, how could it?"

"Well…it's Sir Cubbi…"

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