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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"Only a Barbic would use THOSE tools! The Great Gummies had much-"

"The Great Gummies, in case you haven't noticed, aren't here Gruffi! We are! What's that tell you?"

A low growl followed by an earringing shout, "ARE YOU IMPLYING YOU…BARBICS CAN OUTDO THE GREAT GUMMIES?!"

"You said it, not me."

"Ursa Barbic, you-"

"I what?!"

Grammi sighed out loud. It was just after noon here and already those two had started arguing. She nodded once to Zummi's questioning face as he reentered the room. He'd been wandering about for a while but now he shook his head and sat down in a chair. Tummi had gone into the kitchen to get something to eat. Grammi got up, walking out. She'd do anything to avoid hearing those two bicker like children.

"That bear is impossible!"

Gruffi stormed in and flopped down in a chair. Grammi chortled.

"By 'that bear' I'm gonna assume ya mean, Ursa?"

He snorted, "Who else wouldn't listen to reason because they're so pigheaded?"

Grammi sneered, "I can think of one name fer the top of the list."

Gruffi glared at her briefly before Ursa stormed in after Gruffi,

"We aren't done yet!"

The Battlefield

Buddi led the way towards the sounds of battle, being careful to keep out of sight. Sunni remained by his side. Buddi took a look over the situation, including the new ogre troops. His eyes scanned the field and then went wide.

The ogres had set their sights on Ursa. Although her agility easily got her out of the way in time, she ot a nasty gash on her shoulder from their claws. Buddi felt his blood boil at the sight. He growled low in his throat and said low and dangerously,

"Nisha amech! Shaza Tesca!"

Sunni grabbed his arm,

"Buddi, wait! We'll get them…don't worry but I need you to help me handle Lady Bane."

The cub growled, his Barbic temper rising to it breaking point. He was all ready to charge in when some familiar words ran through his mind, You _never_ let your temper take control, got me, Buddi? Yeah, it got away, but these are the years a Barbic learns the greatest control. Self control.

As much as Buddi's mind and heart hated it, he knew that these words Gritti had said to him weeks ago were true. He had never seen it before but now, it all made sense. He couldn't just run out there. It would accomplish nothing but his own death. He took a breath to force his anger to slow down. His mind was almost pushing his legs forward. He had never felt such a strong desire…

No! Getting himself killed wouldn't help Ursa or any of his clan. In fact, it would do the exact oppositiee. He couldn't help them that way. The best way was to stick to his plan. He turned to Sunni, nodded, his hands sweating and his eyes watching the battle. He turned to Jean-Claude.

"You know the plan…so let's do it."

That said, they split up and moved into position. Sunni took Buddi's hand and with a gentle squeeze the two searched the field for Lady Bane. Spying the leviating sorceress easily, Sunni led Buddi to a quicktunnel that led to her position and with a jump, the two vanished below the field.

Lady Bane and the possessed Wooddale stared at one another, neither one moving. Neither went to make the first move. For those two, time had stopped.

"Ecri, behind you!"

Ecri ducked, a reflex Sir Blastus had pounded into him during his years as a squire. It paid off here and he whirled around and blocked the sword from one of the twin helpers of Erwilline. They were quite strong for their size, especially when they doubled up on their opponents as they did now. Ecri's feet slid back, deep into the mud.

Ecri found himself losing his footing and he fell to the ground, struggling to regain his offensive position. The other knights had their own problems. Although their squires and pages had been called out, most were far too young to be much help. They'd seen far too few battles to know what to do. Lucki had been one of the few that could have been an asset. Now he was gone.

However, his death had propelled Gumlittle. He struck out with more intensity and anger. He would also give orders to his other two squires, to help them aid but keep them as far from harm as possible. The elder of the two was only eight. The youngest was five. Blastus had slightly older squires, about ten and nine but they had not seen enough battle and they were of a mild help.

For now, it seemed, Ecri was on his own and he was losing ground. He could feel the tip of a sword against his throat…

Suddenly, one of his attackers was pulled off and Ecri took the opportunity to rid himself of the remaining one. Then, a familiar scream cut through his ears.

"Yaci!"

His brother…his brother had saved him…again! Sweet Gum, he shouldn't have need help…

"YACI!"

Those thoughts fled as he saw his twin collapse, a sword wedged through his side, where he had no armor. His attacker fled, going for different gummies. Ecri ran to his twin, fell to his knees beside him. Tears filled his eyes and he grasped his brother's hand,

"Yaci…Yaci…"

His brother stared back at him with cloudy eyes. His chest refused to rise and Ecri's knees were sinking in a pool of his twin's blood. Tears fell down Ecri's cheeks.

"No…Yaci..YACI!"

But now…he had no time to mourn and that realization made his blood boil. With hands trembling, he brushed his brother's eyes shut…shut forever….before turning eyes ripe with anger on his twin's murderer.

Gummadoon's Interior

"'M sorry, m'sorry, m'sorry!"

Cubbi's sobs had turned to hysterical wails. Tears flowed down his cheeks and he refused to lift his face from Plucki's shoulder. More than anything…he felt guilt. He kept saying over and over,

"'M sorry, m'sorry, m'sorry!"

"Cubbi-"

"I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough. I'm sorry I couldn't hold him off. I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

"Cubbi!"

The cub didn't hear him.

"It's my fault Destini died. I tried to stop him…I tried! How could I let him take me over like that? I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

The cub rubbed his soaked cheeks onto Plucki's tunic. His nose ran but he paid no mind to that, just kept saying,

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry…I failed you…"

Near Past

Buddi had long since given up chucking rocks. He'd tried to ride the scooters but that was no fun without a playmate. He had tried numerous things but each time, the realization hit that he was alone and for a brief moment he had panicked. It was too much, so the cub retreated back to Ursalia's main halls and courtyard. Right now, he wandered into the kitchen, where he found Grubbi.

Inspired, he walked up and asked,

"Grubbi?"

"Hmm? Oh hey, cub."

"Whatcha doing?"

"Just this and that, preparation and trying to get things together mainly."

Buddi had finally realized: it wasn't that his games weren't fun…it was that he was alone…in…in…back home, he was never alone. The trees were his friends and now-

He swallowed to keep from crying and then said,

"Will you play with me?"

"I can't Buddi, I've got work to do. Why don't you go ask one of the others?"

"Okay."
Unperturbed, he did just that…again and again and again. Everytime, he not only got turned down but got scolded. He was told that he was bothering them and that he needed to entertain himself. It hurt…didn't…didn't they wanna spend time with their own clan? Sure, his games were childish but…Gum, he'd have settled for a short game of Victory, one of their board games. In fact, he tried to get across he'd let them pick but to no avail. Finally, he had two choices left: Ursa and Gritti.

He found Gritti first, out in the courtyard, laying weapons out.

"Gritti?"

"What's up, partner?"

"Will you play with me?"

Gritti set the weapons down and turned,

"What?"

"Will you play with me?" he patiently repeated.

"Buddi, do I _look_ busy?"

"Sorta…"

"I am! We all are, partner. We've still got a lot of things to do. Yer creative-"

"A simple no woulda worked."

"Okay…no."

Buddi sighed and sulked. He walked off, wandering inside Ursalia. Sweet Gum, all the repairs were done. Sure, they still had to find rooms and such but how hard was that? There couldn't be that much work left.

"Now, this room has fallen beams. That'll take-"

Buddi beamed as he heard Ursa's voice. He stuck his head in and saw the door slam, Gruffi's voice faintly heard. Oh…so they'd been arguing. Still, for the moment, the cub's desire for companionship overwhelmed all else.

"Ursa?"

"WHAT?!"

She saw who it was and took a breath. She didn't look up from her notes and maps but said,

"What is it, Buddi?"

He got the feeling this was a bad idea but he couldn't undo it now. Taking a breath, he repeated his question once more,

"Will you play with me?"

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