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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Wooddale paled so much at the mention of a possessed Cubbi inside the walls of Gummadoon that Tavi thought she might pass out. Even when she told

her Aunt that Plucki was right behind him and wouldn't let anything happen to Cubbi, the wizardess did not improve. Standing beside Spinwillow, he saw her fright. Knew it as his own. All gummadoon councilors, from the first Spinwillow down to him, the 28th, Olli Gummi... every councilor knew what was hidden within the very walls of Gummadoon.

Flurryfeather scowled, her fright ebbing. "We can't just stand here! I'm going!"

Wooddale broke out of her paling and followed, Berrybottom, Spinwillow, and Tosslewind right behind. They could not allow the staff to leave Gummadoon, for not only would their beloved city fall, but many others. The power was simply too great. Such was the nature of only cursed gummi artifact.

"Tavi, stay here. Keep the others safe." her aunt Toffi said, removing her gummi medallion and placing around her niece's neck. She was barely old enough to learn spells and hadn't succeeded yet, but she knew enough to know the power behind the medallion and could likely use it to defend herself and the others stationed to guard this hall. No matter. The councilors had to move.

Future

"So... It's true. Things have been going on underneath my very nose."

Cubbi tensed at Plucki's words. "Sir Plucki, I can explain..."

"And I too much of a dullard to see it." Finally breaking out into a grin, he grabbed Sir Cubbi in a sound embrace, then Tavi. "When were you

planning on telling me? Do I have to wait forever to hear such happy news? I'm surprised at you, Sir Cubbi! Brave, but not so brave now?"

The pink fur turned red around his cheeks as he grinned and ducked his head. "We were coming over to tell you right now."

Blastus gave Plucki a dig in the ribs. "Tol' ya! Leave the kid be, Pluck. Look at him, all but stammering."

"Cause he's worked so hard to please you guys and GET his knighthood, dummies! We'd have told you sooner but we wanted to plan it just right." Tavi grinned, leaving no doubt that telling the knights had all been planned by her and Cubbi was going with the flow.

Chuckling, the knights all congratulated the pair and swept them immediately toward the current Gummadoon councilors. King Cavin and Queen Calla waded forward, apologizing for having a hard time getting near, but they had seen the ceremony. Arrived just in time.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world, Cubbi. Or your next life-changing event." His childhood human friend grinned and glanced over at his own wife. "And little Gregory is running about somewhere."

"Er.. would that be him over there?" Zummi pointed out a toddler, getting acquainted with the local pie seller, a sea-furred gummi cook.

Cavin laughed. "Yep! Loves the sweets, Greg."

The four past Glens exchanged looks of wonder, their eyes immediately pulled back to the surroundings. Glens and Barbics at peace and even living

together happily in love, humans alongside gummies as if a long-standing tension never was, everyone happy, doing well, prospering. Grammi's eyes filled with tears. Joyful tears. Tummi unashamedly shed his own, seeing precisely the same thing. Gruffi and Zummi passed a second look between them, smiling in wonder. Look at what had been accomplished... WOULD be accomplished.

"It's all possible..." Gruffi breathed. "I never thought it could be but... It really happened. WILL really happen."

Cubbi waded toward them again, Tavi's hand firmly in his. "And I know it might be hard for you at times, but... Don't you think it's time to let this happen? Isn't it about time you go _home_?"

He wasn't being rude. In fact, what he suggested caused instant sadness rekindled. Cubbi was pointing in the direction of Lorath Woods. In the direction of Gummi Glen, which Igthorn destroyed seemingly so long ago.

"Cubbi Gummi! How can ya even suggest such a thing when you know--"

"Grammi... He's right. It's time to go." Zummi dug around for his spell, wishing to return quickly now. Unlike the others, he saw in Cubbi's eyes the

promise of good things. Not just in the distant future, but in their return as well. As if he ... knew... something good awaited them. Zummi's hope was positively phenomenal, making him quite foolish sometimes, but he could dare to hope at least this one time. He dare to think quite silently to himself... Was Gummi Glen still in ruins?

Fangwood Forest

Treefolk are generally exciteable over the approach of humans and often take great pains to keep such folk out of their territory, but the leading march were Buddi and Sunni, and the force behind them lugging barrel after barrel of blasting powder were a welcome sight indeed. All a twitter with giddy anticipation, for after centuries of waiting, they'd be freed by humans of all things!

And, oh, after the mountains shook and the wind blew and the loud noises echoed out of the hollowed valley, you'd never think to've seen such a

strange parade as that of a hundred tree folk making their way towards Gummadoon alongside two young cubs and a handful of foreign human knights and their king.

Gummadoon's Interior

Destini gasped, struggling to pull air into burning lungs as the fire encircled her.

"You really think you can stop me? You're weak, and old. You're nothing and it'll be a pleasure to peel you off of my boot, ancient mystic."

"No... *cough* NO!!" Rising from her knees, Destini drew out a small stick from her robes and, with great concentration, calmed the fire. "We will *cough* do anything to keep you from the staff. *cough cough* Even destroy ourselves."

"Oh, that is so stupid! At least give ME the pleasure if yer gonna blow yourselves up!" Zorlock within Cubbi chided, ignoring the cub's ramblingly quiet but insistent pleas not to hurt anyone. Don't hur her, don'thurtherdon'thurtherdon'thurther... Over and over. That's all he thought. Annoying... Perhaps he'd work the kid over again as soon as the staff was in hand. He rather liked this body. Small, but gummi bodies had secret advantages, too. And they could wield magic naturally.

In his minor contemplation, Zorlock missed Destini's leap into an adjoining room. Yelling his rage, he gave chase. Stumbled in the process. Hm... Yes, perhaps he shouldn't rush into this. Zorlock edged closer to the entranceway and peeked in. Destini waited, breathing hard and clutching in both hands, barely able to wield it, the Gummadoon Staff.

The Battlefield

Igthorn was a leader, and no coward, but he preferred to order and fight only when he had no other alternative. Currently, they were winning. Sort

of. He did a headcount on each side. Though his ogres were bumbling, the Aerials and the Spinster were doing better than expected. Ah, and his beautiful Lady Bane, flashing fist and magic angrily at anything that came near her. Stunning. Gleefully, he stroked his mustache, waiting for the tide to turn irreversibly. Waiting for Toadie...

The gummi/Dunwyn force was no longer creeping forward but being forced back. Ursa dared a look at Gritti, holding his own, Ruffi, doing okay, and

Sir Ramsei, fighting with everything he's got. True gummi warriors all, despite such huge clan differences. Striking again with her sword, Ursa lunged in for a final blow against the Sluggerd and the horrible thing fell to her wishes.

An arrow slashed across her left arm. Hissing in pain and fury, Ursa whirled, saw an Aerial grinning evilly and aiming his flying machine right for a collision with her.

"Yes! Come and get me!"

The stupid person did. With incredible skill and years of experience rolled into one great leap, Ursa landed on top of him and tossed him to the

ground, leaving herself free to figure out how to work the contraption she was astride, and hearing Gritti yell a triumphant battlecry below her.

Gumlittle saw the feat and thought for sure they'd still be able to make it. The little diversion cost him, however. The Spinster, already furious with three spears in her side and and blackened by the sorcerers' spells, came out of nowhere, barreling through their ranks and right into him.

Gumlittle was pitched to the ground, saw Yaci and Ecri each on a different leg, trying to saw the creature out from under its own weight. But the legs were too tough, and they had a fight just to hold on.

"Hey!" Gumlittle waved his arms, sword drawn.

He needn't yell. The Spinster was already turning about to come at him and several others again. Steeling himself for a blow, he wouldn't move before taking a swing. The monster swarmed. Gumlittle struck a mighty blow. A leg fell twitching to the ground. A howling Spinster bent down and grabbed Gumlittle in her jaws, intending to crush him for the pain he'd caused.

"Put him down!!" roared a new player on the field. Though not as strong as some of the others, Lucki hefted a spear and flung it with all his might. It pierced the Spinster in the chest. She dropped Gumlittle, he falling solidly to the ground. Just winded though. Yaci and Ecri pulled him to safety as the monster roared and howled and clawed at the spear.

He'd done it! He'd be made a knight for sure for saving one of the main guards! Thrilled by his success and bravery, the sudden chill of a shadow dawned on him slowly.

"That wasn't very nice." an ice cold voice creeped like daggers from the shadow.

Lucki whirled, saw Lady Bane's shadow stretched from afar to hold him in darkness. He couldn't move! Even as she played the offensive against two

others with her magic, she could still control her shadow to claim him. And claim him she would! Of all the denizens she had to keep company with in this endeavor, the spinster was the only one she had any hope of feeling respect for! A manhater naturally, the spinster was the only female foe the gummies had. HAD had, as the great spider queen was already down and failing fast. Condemn them all!! Her shadow enclosed the young squire in suffocating darkness while others tried to free him. Unsuccessful, all.

Gummadoon's Interior

It certainly wasn't much to look at. A simple wood staff taller than a gummi and decorated with old runes. Didn't matter to Zorlock. Appearances of

artifacts was secondary, and he'd know THIS artifact anywhere.

"You really are stupid, bear. You know you can't use it. Just as gummi magic can't hurt you, a cursed gummi artifact will always do damage. So by all means, _try_ and use it. Makes my job easier." Zorlock made Cubbi smirk.

"Dear brave Cubbi, forgive me. I fear I shall kill us both, but we cannot let Zorlock through." Destini said by way of apology, and prayer, as she made a circle in the air. "Gum preserve us."

"Gum? Oh, don't tell me you're into that belief!" Zorlock guffawed, totally unimpressed.

Shutting out the image of an evil Cubbi, Destini went on, "Guide my hands, my thoughts, my direction. I beg you please, end this here, now. Let all suffering end here!"

Destini's lungs filled with air, the staff was pointed in Zorlock's direction-- for she could not think of him as Cubbi-- and the words were spoken. "Fire, Wind, Earth,..."

There grew a great blowing of air, hot as fire, and the ground shook them both to their knees.

"Chaos, rain. Ebony, burn..."

All light fled from sight. Pitch black, heavy stones or something hot began pelting Cubbi's and Destini's bodies. It burned!

"W..water, boil..."

Zorlock cackled, _feeling_ the old fool fading, despite the pain to the body he inhabited. Let Cubbi feel it. He didn't have to, didn't need to. She was killing herself, and the cub, and none of it mattered because he could hear others coming. They'd get here before the cub expired and he'd just choose a new host.

"Destini, no!!" Tosslewind cried. He tried to get near but was shot back by fits of lightning encircling the old one and lighting the secret chamber.

"Quickly, encircle her! The storm must be calmed!" Wooddale ordered, taking her own place as Cubbi fell to his knees. They'd never done the chant before but had to try. It must work.

Speaking in an ancient tongue few gummies still knew, the Gummadoon council slowly calmed the brewing chaos. Destini had already fallen, the black-glowing staff supporting itself without a user. They continued their chant until it fell to the ground, without life. Like Destini.

Berrybottom hurried to Cubbi, sat him up gently. Wooddale was by his side in an instant, the other three seeing if they could do anything for poor Destini.

"Cubbi?" Berrybottom queried.

The cub stirred, his eyes focusing on Wooddale. He flung his arms around her, then collapsed. Blinking, Wooddale stood, placed the cub in Berrybottom's arms, and went to Destini's side.

"She's gone..." A mourning Flurryfeather approached Wooddale, who seemed to to hear.

The cream-furred wizardess turned to the staff, bent down, and picked it up.

"Wooddale, what are you doing?!" Spinwillow yelled as he saw his fellow councilor race out with the staff.

What was she doing? She was going to end this battle! Or rather, Zorlock was going to end this battle! Once and for all, HE would rule, even if he had to take this old gummi's body for now to do it. But she was a powerful sorceress, after all. She'd die using the staff, but there were plenty of bodies to hop to on this battlefield...

As Tosslewind and Spinwillow chased after her, Berrybottom and Flurryfeather stayed with Cubbi, trying to revive him. His eyes were open, he was breathing, but he would not respond to voices. Not even after they'd healed his wounds magically.

Berrybottom shook his head. "It is the trauma, the suffering at the hands of that evil Zorlock. I'm afraid we can do nothing but wait."

"Waiting is what we have no time to do, Winsli." Flurryfeather said, biting her lip. "Please, Cubbi, come back! We've no time!"

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