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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Buddi nodded. As he and Sunni followed the march from the forest, they looked at one another again. Sunni half offered her hand and Buddi took it, giving it a delicate squeeze. She was nervous, he could see that. He was nervous too. While he knew he had a mind for strategy, he wondered still: would this work? He must have looked miserable because the next thing he knew, he and Sunni were riding atop a tall tree. It was the old oak who had smiled at them and urged them to set them free so they could aid. Sunni clung to her branches desperately, terrified of falling while Buddi remained quite calm. In fact, it brought back memories. Sad memories, most of them.

The cub laid his cheek against the tree's bark. Tears, without his will, slipped from his eyes and spilled down his cheeks. Her bark reminded him of those playmates he'd had in Barbic Woods. Although the event was behind him, it still caused him pain. He doubted that the pain would ever dull completely. It was always there. Sometimes, it still haunted his dreams. Not nearly as often as when the pain had been fresh but it was still there.

"Mon ami," it was King Jean-Claude. "Why don't you tell our…eh…allies about your plan, n'est-ce pas?"

Buddi nodded, "Right." Even as he explained to the best of detail, his heart pounded. He wished that he could have spoken to Ursa, gotten her approval. While he had a strategic mind, he did not have Ursa's experience on the field. That was one reason that Ursa did not have to have an elaborate plan when it came to war and battle. Buddi had no experience, except that brief experience with the Troggels and he would rather forget that.

Oh sure, he won strategy games. But that wasn't real life. He knew his talent lay in planning. Still, while he knew he won their strategy game 'Victory' against all the adult Barbics, even Ursa on occasion, that was a game and this was real life. Would it actually work? He didn't know all those villains personally, just from what Sunni told him about them.

There was a little rocking as the trees boarded the boat. Since there was no way all the trees would make it on the boat, Buddi had decided that a few go by land and a few by sea. The old Oak and about four others were going by boat while the younger ones, who could move faster, went by land. King Jean Claude posted a few guards to make sure none fell during the trip before telling the Captain to shove off.

"Buddi?"

Sunni interrupted his thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"I think I'll go below for a while. Ya coming?"

The tree lowered her to the deck. Buddi thought a moment and then said,

"If it's all right, I'd like to stay here a little longer."

The tree gave a bright smile as Sunni ran down into the depths of the ship. The old oak must have sensed the cub's pain and worry because she lowered her branches to rest on his head. Buddi smiled at her and laid his cheek on her trunk. His eyes watched the ocean below and he felt oddly nauceous. He had never taken an ocean voyage before the trip to get Jean Claude and Marie's aid. Living and growing up in a wood, the only water they dealt with were rivers, brooks and lakes. The rolling of the ocean waves was a bit much for the cub.

"Buddi?" It was the tree, in an old but kind voice, "That is a very well thought out plan. I believe it may work. You've a brilliant mind. And splitting us up was a grand idea as well."

The cub moaned and laid on his belly, astride on the large branch.

"Then why do I feel so horrible?"

On the Battlefield

"Ursa!"

The Barbic leader saw what was in her sights. It was much too dangerous for her to remain in the air. Her own Barbics could not tell where their leader was and where their enemies were. But before she gave up the machine, she had one thing in her sights.

Their king.

She tilted the machine skyward and pressed it as fast as it would go. She caught a brief look of the King's shocked eyes before the two machines collided and exploded. The force knocked her further back than she thought and she fell.

Into someone's arms.

"Don't make a habit of that, okay?"

Gritti set her on her feet and charged back at the Grand Fromage, whom he had abandoned to catch her. Ursa stared, stunned for a moment before setting her sights on a new adversary. Jumping over the fallen, she drew her sword, crying,

"I've been meaning to get back at you two."

The Hairy Gobbers foolishly ran towards their attacker. It was the last mistake they ever made.

"Lucki!"

The limp cub stared back at his mentor with empty, lifeless eyes. His face was locked open in a panic, his skin white. When Gumlittle supported the lad in his arms, the child did not breathe, did not give a reply. His chest did not rise, his throat did not flash. No pulse ran under his skin. Already, his skin grew cold. He was gone, taken before his prime.

"Mon ami," Gumlittle looked up as Blastus gently touched his shoulder. "we've others to save. We cannot save the dead."

Gumlittle nodded. As Blastus once more joined the battle, Gumlittle laid the young squire down. With the words of, "You'll be avenged, brave knight," he brushed the cub's eyes closed.

In Gummadoon's Interior

"Sir Plucki!"

The gummi captain made his way into the vast chamber, taking care to duck. He saw almost all the Gummadoon council there, minus Wooddale. But he saw more.

In Berrybottom's arms, Cubbi lay limp, almost lifeless save for the flash of his throat. A panic immiedately rose in his heart, as he remembered that all too well. That was how Aldi had looked. As the captain rushed over, Berrybottom immediately placed Cubbi in his arms. Still on the instinct of a father, he immediately cradled the cub, supporting his head against his forearm.

"We must go, quickly Winsli." The councilor nodded and turned to Plucki,

"Captain, Zorlock has moved to Wooddale, the Gummadoon Staff has been taken."

"What?! I must help!"

"No Captain. Wooddale is a powerful sorceress as is Zorlock. We will need magic. Your best aid will be to revive Cubbi. He may hold some knowledge we can use."

"How-"

"The trauma Plucki." Flurryfeather replied sadly. "The trauma of Zorlock's possession. He lives but his soul is crumbled…weak. You must give him the strength to come back."

He only gave a nod in reply as the council rushed from the room. Turning to the fragile child he cradled in his arms, his throat constricted at what he saw.

The cub's eyes were open but empty, not seeing anything. He breathed evenly but there was no soul behind his breaths. He just stared at Plucki, emotionless.

Past

"Well, Zummi. Looks like you got it right, for once."

Sure enough, it looked like Zummi's spell had landed them back in Ursalia. But there was something different. Grammi couldn't place what it was though but she knew it had something to do with future Buddi's words to her. Something about what he ahd said to her…he'd said she would find out the reason for his thanks soon.

"Gruffi! Zummi! Tummi! Grammi!"

Looking up, the group saw Buddi Barbic run down from the city and were shocked. Zummi spoke out,

"Weren't you on a haiana?"

"A haiana?" the cub burst out laughing, "Are you kidding? Only older gummies do haianas…I'm eleven. How do you know about them anyway?"

"E..eleven?"

"Yeah…I thought you all left. Gruffi got the aqueduct working and we just have a few more repairs to do…why are you still here?"

"But we-" Grammi clamped her hand over Zummi's mouth and said,

"We started back dear but the quick tunnels failed. The cubs made it but we didn't. We figured we'd come back here for tools."

"Oh…okay. I'll go tell Ursa you're here." Grammi noted his face fell tremendously when he learned Sunni wasn't here but the cub turned and ran up to the city. Grammi began to follow. Gruffi grabbed her arm,

"Are you crazy? This _still_ isn't our time!"

"But we were needed to do or see _something_ in every time we've been to. If Zummi's spell accidentally dropped us here, then we're here for a reason. Now clam up and come on."

"I'm not gonna be any part of this foolish trip."

The others shrugged and at Grammi's glare followed her. After a few moments, Gruffi huffed and threw his arms up, storming after them, muttering,

"Someone's gotta be reasonable…"

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