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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Unfortunately for Calla, the few Aerials left fired at her, hitting her horse's leg. The animal let out a painful neigh and fell, Calla tumbling off its back. She rolled away as the horse fell on its side, neighing with pain. A second arrow from the Aerials knocked her helmet off and she turned her eyes skyward, towards her opponents.

The Aerial, one of the three still left in the air, drew his arrow at her, only to have his prey snatched from his grasp. Someone knocked the princess out of the way, slamming her against the ground. It was a bit rough but it had saved her life. Her armor held up pretty well. She never did deny Gummi armor held fast. She blinked, shaking her head to clear her thoughts and turned to her savior.

Cavin smiled at her, "Mind if I cut in?"

"Cavin!"

He nodded and then looking up, he yelped, pushed Calla to the side and rolled off to the other side. An ogre landed between the two. Cavin, using the last bit of his supernatural strength before it faded, swung his fist, shattering the ogre's left leg. The ogre tumbled downward and Calla went into a roll to prevent from being hurt. She turned to Cavin, who was getting his feet and drawing his sword to enter the battle. A smirk made its way across her face,

"What took you so long?"

Igthorn jumped, barely missing the blow from a…a living tree! Where were his ogres?...

The Duke growled and hit his forehead. They were still fighting for that staff. Didn't those morons realize HE was to yank the staff free? He jumped up to head over that way but a tree blocked his path. He pulled his sword out and without a word, began to cut at branches. A sharp wail cut loose and the next thing the Duke knew, he was being lifted upward by a tentrile. He struggled against the tree, hissing and cursing all the while.

"Woodcutter Toadie will risk life and limb for his Dukie!"

Toadwart…the sole creature of his ogres that had even a start of what might grow to be intelligence. Besides that, Toadwart was forever loyal. The small ogre's small size was sometimes of some use and it seemed to work here. The green ogre scrambled up the tree and started to beat on the tentrile with a small dagger. A shriek let loose from the tree and dropped the Duke of Drekmore. Igthorn wasted no time in rushing past the other trees, leaving Toadwart to the mercy of the treefolk.

His ogres were still tugging on the staff even as he saw a council of Gummi bears head forward, followed closely by two gummi knights-impossible! That little knight was that bratty baby bear that had foiled so many of his brilliant schemes. Well, he would finally have his revenge. That little twerp would _not_ ruin his plans this time. None of these walking throwrugs would! Not now…King Gregor was down! Dunwyn would be his to take after this battle. Once Gummadoon fell as well…he would be invincible.

The Duke's thoughts were solely on his ensuring victory as he started up the raised plateau of land. Only to suddenly see a sea of arrows which forced him backwards and was immediately swept up into a second battle. He felt his shoulders slump as he saw , in the distance, an additional army of at least fifty humans. And judging by the way they were cutting down Lady Bane;s skeleton reinforcements and driving his allies towards an army of Barbic warriors…they weren't on his side.

Ursa was stunned…humans had lined up alongside the battlefield and were firing arrows with excellent precision. And they were aiming for the individual leaders. The Barbic leader couldn't believe that humans could have planned this. In fact, she highly doubted it. But whatever had possessed them to do this was turning the tide. With the leaders of each assemblage falling, the others were left lost.

Most of them were a bunch of cowards without leaders to lead them. Typical of a non-Barbic culture…

"Ursa!"

The Barbic leader turned, her blond hair sticking briefly to a small cut on her forehead. Ryo and Gritti were running her way. Her other Barbics were working on chasing off and getting rid of the remaining enemies. The humans had gotten rid of the leaders…now they left the rest up to them?! Typical of that blasted race…

Wait…

She saw the enemies returning! Were they…no! A second army, human, was chasing them right back into their arms. Now _this_ she would enjoy. Still…this was so expertly planned. When they chased their enemies, they were put on the offensive, their enemies returning now, with an army on their tails almost insured their victory. It was almost like a war plan…but no! No human could come up with _this_ type of battle strategy.

"Ursa!"

Gritti's yell brought her back to the present. He and Ryo grinned at her and gestured towards the returning enemies. Ursa looked to the side.

"Together, gummies!"

Three of the magicians of New Gumbrea responded to Wizard Ruffi's call. Nerferti, the elder sorceress, was struggling. She had been but a young apprentice when they had fled the lands five hundred years ago. Now, she had returned and she had no intention to go back to the lands across the sea. While it was certainly not horrid, she missed this land.

Despite their struggles, the New Gumbrea magicians were taking care of the Levitan Giant. The Barbics were needed for these returning enemies. And oh what a greeting they would give them.

Ursa trotted up to stand beside Gritti, her adrenaline-rush smile on her face. Gritti put his hand on her arm for a brief second,

"Do me a favor; don't get yerself killed, okay?"

Ursa blinked, shocked. Gritti had never questioned her ability in battle; the idea of her dying had never once come up. What was he implying?! Her eyes narrowed and she hissed her words out,

"What's that mean, Gritti?!"

He looked at her, without a trace of regret at his words. "What I said. I know you: just remember that this'll work best if you live through it."

Ursa just growled deep in her throat and as the human army chased the opponents over the hill and back right towards her mini army. Ursa drew her sword, lifted it skyward and called,

"Barbics attack!"

"Ecri!"

Tavi dove to stop the livid knight but he was too fast for her. He had years of training. Tavi looked up and Sunni tossed her the medallion. Before she could use it however, she was slammed backwards, rolling across the ground. Sir Ecri had been flung into her. The force of the blow, sent both _through_ the hill side, rolling to a stop by the battlefield. Ecri was all for charging right back at that sorceress but he saw a few of his fellow knights being overrun by a handful of Troggels. As much as he hated to give up his chance at that sorceress, Blastus would die if he didn't intervene.

Tavi fell backward, her ribs aching. Sheesh, Ecri certainly wasn't light. A cold sensation touced her arm. She was on top of something. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She swore she heard Buddi and Sunni fighting Lady Bane…that balsted sorceress. Tavi slowly opened her eyes and a screm cut from her throat, a cry of pain and anger in one,

"LUCKI!"

Indeed, it was her brother…or her brother's body…

"No..NO! LUCKI! You can't be dead!"

She knew he was gone…he was cold. She laid her face down onto her brother's frozen chest and cried, wept her heart out. If not for the anger that overtook the sadness, she no doubt woulda stayed there for hours on end. Slowly, her ears caught the sound of her aunt's voice…her aunt…she had to help her aunt. Her aunt Toffi was all she had left! She had to help her…if she could get her aunt's medallion to her…

"No!"

Reaching into her shirt, Tavi found the remains of her aunt's medallion…shattered by the blow through the hill. But there was Lady Bane's medallion…

It lay in pieces on the ground.

Tavi scooped the bits up, tears rolling down her cheeks. Why? Her last chance…her last chance! Oh how she wished for the medallions to once more be whole so she could work a spell. Or at least try! She was an amateur, no doubt but…she had to try! A tiny spell…a protection spell yes! Oh if she could only cast it. Tears started to stream from her face faster than ever and she collapsed onto her brother' still form again, the harsh sounds of battle blocked out. A bright light stunned her and dried the tears on her fur. Blinking, Tavi looked for the source of the heat and found it in her hands.

The remains of the two shattered medallions were glowing dark gold. As Tavi watched, they turned to liquid in her hands and began to run down her arms, as water would have. She was too stunned to do anything. An odd sensation cut through her entire body…a feeling of weightlessness and burning fire. Her fur felt like it was on fire. A mind splitting pain overtook every sense in her body, like all of her senses were supercharged.

Then just as suddenly the feeling passed and Tavi was lying on her back, flat against the ground. Sweat was built up on her forehead and her breaths came fast, shallow. Sitting up, unknown to the girl, three strips of gold had permantely been embedded in her maroon hair, on down the center and two thinner strips off to each side. She knew something had happened. But she didn't know what. But a feeling of power rushed through her body. More power than she had ever felt. It felt…scary. For a brief moment, an idea entered her mind but she shoved it aside as she stood.

"No…not possible…Auntie Toffi and Winsli tol' me it's never been done. That it never _could_ be done."

She was trying to deny herself of what she knew inwardly was true.

The fact was she and the medallions were now one.

Whatever had happened, Tavi decided she had to keep her aunt and she raced towards her voice.

Past

Buddi honestly had no clue what Grubbi was going to show him but he followed obediently. To his shock, it was into Ursa's room he was led. Grubbi sat down on the ground and pulled a small box from under her bed. He gestured the cub over and Buddi, a little nervous, sat down. The barbic healer handed the box to him. He didn't say anything, just gave the cub a short nod.

Buddi was a little uneasy when he opened the box, unsure what to expect. It certainly wasn't what he got! Inside, he found old drawings…things he had colored when he was three or four. Aside from that, he found small figures of clay he had made. He looked up at grubbi with wide surprised eyes. Grubbi smiled.

"Ursa saved them when the woods fell."

"Why?"

Grubbi stared at Buddi, "What kind of question is that, Buddi?"

"I-"

"You're her baby, Buddi. I know you miss her spending time with you. Believe me when I say she would love to. She adores watching you, even if she won't admit it. Why do you think she saved these?"

Buddi didn't reply so Grubbi filled in.

"It reminds her of when you were little. If she could keep you young, she would. But she can't. She wants you to be able to take care of yourself."

"I know! Does she hafta abandon me-"

"She did no such thing! Buddi…I raised Ursa. Sometimes, even when I knew she wanted my company, I couldn't give it her. It hurts. Do you _really_ think she'd rather work on repairs than play with you?"

Buddi's ears drooped. Grubbi lifted the cub's chin. "She'll find time to spend with you. But…do you really think she ignores you on purpose?"

Buddi looked down at the box at his hands and then said, "Nyie."

Grubbi nodded. "I know you're lonely. Just hang in there kiddo."

Buddi nodded. Grubbi chuckled,

"Yer stomach feel better?"

"A little."

That surprised Grubbi. There musta been something else bothering the cub. But by the way he looked, Grubbi figured it was subconscious; he doubted Buddi truly could name it. In time, perhaps it would surface. For now, he'd treat the physical symptoms for it.

Looking outside, Grubbi saw the sun was setting; it was later than he thought. Turning to Buddi, he said,

"Buddi, I'm gonna go finish up dinner. If I don't, I'll have some cranky Barbics after me. Including Ursa and her cranky is enough to convince someone to end a war."

Buddi chuckled a bit. Grubbi smiled at him,

"Now that I like."

Buddi turned red about the cheeks and his ears drooped again. Grubbi rubbed the cub's left cheek.

"Look, 'cause it's so late why don't you go ahead and get yer bath? That way Ursa won't hafta nag ya later."

Buddi shrugged,

"Sure, whatever…."

Buddi sighed and splashed water onto his face. Since Gruffi and Ursa had repaired the aqueduct, the water flowed easily and it was warm. Buddi actually admitted it felt good. It eased the pain of his belly a bit. But still…the fear was there. Fear of being alone again, of…

Buddi grabbed his forehead, trying to get rid of that horrid image. His hands shook a little and he quickly ducked them into the water, hoping that the heat and warmth would still his muscles. When he had tried to get out of Barbic Woods, he'd gotten stuck, trapped. He remembered that clearly…fire all around, smoke clouding his vision. He had never felt so alone.

Gritti had gotten him out, when he was ready to just lie down and accept his fate. He never wanted to feel like that again. Never-

"Buddi Barbic!"

Ursa slammed the door open. Buddi screamed,

"UR-SA!" and swiftly ducked under the water. The Barbic leader did not turn her face away but she did slam the door behind her.

"What are you doing hanging out with Glens? And downright vanishing?! I've been looking for you all afternoon!"

The cub surfaced for air and his face was about as red as it could get. He snagged a towel from the rack and swiftly wrapped himself in it while he said, again,

"URSA!"

The Barbic Leader's face softened just a bit at his embarrassment; she had been so relieved to find him she was probably being too harsh…still, he shoulda told her where he was going! He had just vanished! He was always in those rooms! She had a _right_ to be angry! What if he'd gone off to explore and…well, she was a mother. She didn't wanna _begin_ to go over all the scenarios that had popped into her head, all that guilt. Yes…she _was_ being too harsh…but she couldn't let Buddi know she felt that way-

"Do you mind, Ursa?"

The cub's pleading snapped her from her thoughts. Crossing her arms, she chuckled just a tad,

"It's not like I haven't seen you in your Nature's Clothes before."

"That's not point."

Ursa turned her back while he got dressed but she didn't stop talking,

"Where were you this afternoon, hmm?"

"With Grubbi. I told someone where I was…someone was with me."

This completely destroyed Ursa's prepared lecture. He _hadn't_ broken any rules if he was with Grubbi. That meant she was at fault…oh how she hated that! But…she couldn't say anything. She wouldn't scold when it wasn't needed.

"Buddi, about this afternoon…"

"It was my fault Ursa. I know yer busy…I just miss you."

"You have to-"

"I know…I know I hafta play by myself…but…all the time? I just want fifteen minutes Ursa…no more. But…I know yer busy…I…I guess I can wait."

Ursa turned around and chuckled. Buddi only had the pajamas he'd escaped wearing. They had to make new ones. For the time being, he wore one of her daytime tunics for a nightshirt…it swallowed him. She sighed,

"Buddi…I know it's hard. It's hard for me too. But we're nearly done. Think ya can handle being by yerself a little longer?"

Buddi didn't reply so she dropped the topic,

"Dinner's ready, c'mon."

Buddi looked about, panicking. He was in the courtyard of Ursalia…but he coulda sworn…no…not here too!

Yes…fire…that horrid fire.

Tears rolled down his cheeks and he ran…fire sprung up right in front of him. Screaming, the cub turned around. No….he was trapped…again! NO!

"Ursa! Gritti! Anybody! Help me!"

ursa was quick to respond. Buddi turned as he heard her feet and then screamed again.

Right in front of his eyes, the fire engulfed her. Her scream echoed through the courtyard, stunning Buddi's heart. Then…her ashes blew away with the wind.

"NO! FYCA!"

Similar screams followed and whenever the cub turned, he was confronted with more of his clan…burning before his eyes until he was alone.

And then the fire stopped.

"NYIE!"

"Don't tell _me_ how to do repairs Glen!"

Grammi sighed and rubbed her forehead. It was late and a lot of the other Barbics had either gone to patrol or to bed. But Gritti and Ursa were still awake. Zummi had decided they should try to ask some questions perhaps get a better understanding of their code but Gruffi, stubborn ol' bear, had ruined it and now he and Ursa were at one another's throats…again.

"Funny, I seem to recall that _I_ was the one to finish first," he hissed. "What does that tell you about _Barbic_ ways?"

Grammi was a split second away from interfering when a blood curdling scream cut through the room…

"NYIE!!"

Present

Sunni and Buddi ducked and dodged. They knew they had to take the gem on her forehead. They had hoped that they could end enough of her power by just taking the medallion but they hadn't worked. She had thrown Sir Ecri off as if he were nothing. Now, they were on their own. Sunni was a little closer to Lady Bane than Buddi.

"Oh, you'll regret that…"

With that statement, Lady Bane fired a blast of magic at Sunni. She dodged, but barely. Buddi saw her nursing a burn on her left foot as she rolled off to the side. He turned to the sorceress and all his anger, all his hate…it came bubbling to the surface. All the pain she had caused, both him, his clan, and his friends. How dare she…how _dare_ she! And he was not about to let her get away with it.

Sunni hissed, rubbing her burn. The aged sorceress was headed right for her. How were they supposed to get her headband? She wasn't letting them close enough. She was smart, Sunni couldn't deny that in the least. And she was ruthless…Sunni had always known Lady Bane was ruthless and evil. When she had learned that she was using Igthorn, it didn't surprise her.

"AH!"

Despite what looked like a minor burn, that wound on her ankle hurt…and now she was having trouble moving which was not good.

"Now…to finish off you meddling bears…"

Sunni growled, "Not yet, Lady Bane."

That said, she flexed her claws. Gummies were bears; they had claws but they hardly ever used them. They hated to use them. But Sunni knew what this sorceress; weak point was.

Darting her hand out, her claws snagged fabric and she ripped it with all her strength.

"My dress!"

Sunni rolled off to the side, getting out of Lady Bane's direct range. She saw Buddi running up and swiftly shook her head. No…not yet. But…they had to work together. If she could keep her distracted…without getting herself killed, then Buddi could probably snag her headband. Yes, that was it. Oh but how she hated that plan.

Lady Bane frightened her. She did. Sunni was not fond of Igthorn and she was cautious of him but she never believed her life to be in danger around him. He was more the type to enslave than kill. But Lady Bane was the exact opposite. She lived to kill and make things suffer. Sunni didn't know why and she doubted that she ever would understand.

The sorceress had recovered and now she turned to Sunni with murderous eyes. The Glen girl had to fight down a cry of fear and she got to her feet, despite the pain. She had to end this. They couldn't let this sorceress go on with her ways. She would just keep returning, over and over. They had to end her power…now.

"C'mon…Grandma."

"ARG!"

Sunni ducked but the majority of the blow still hit, pinning her against a tree. The pain was immense…it felt like someone had skinned her shoulder. Looking at it, she saw that was not far from the truth. Her left shoulder was gushing blood and the fur that remained was black and burnt. It hurt like mad but the glen girl had to ignore the pain, no matter how bad it was and no matter how bad it hurt.

"C'mon, Lady Bane…show me that your magic doesn't dull with age…if ya can."

"Oh, I am truly going to enjoy killing you."

Sunni dodged again but the pain was kicking in with both the shoulder and ankle wounds. She didn't know how mobile she could be but she knew that no matter what, she had to get the sorceress; full attention.

Buddi crept closer.

Buddi's eyes were all but seeing red when he saw Lady Bane had done. But Sunni told him, silently, not to charge but to sneak. This…this was what Gritti meant too. He couldn't lose his head here. He had to keep calm if he wanted to beat this sorceress. He shifted his weight to the balls of his feet and slipped over the field, trying to force Sunni's cries from his head. Oh, how he wanted to charge and throttle this sorceress but the time was not right. Not yet.

Lady Bane was arrogant and that was working in their advantage. Sunni was keeping her full attention by tearing and insulting her looks and magic. The girl was failing though. The blood loss from her shoulder was getting to her; Buddi could see it. She was slower and that was _helping_ Lady Bane. Sunni was already cornered and now, the sorceress was less than an inch from her. Buddi could wait no longer.

He lunged, landing on her back. He was swift and grabbed her headband-

"AHH!"

PAIN! Pain more intense than anything he'd felt…straight into his belly and rocketing through his hand. Burning, an immense burning, far more potent than average fire. His hand started to tremble and he saw blood gush out from his fingers but he kept his grip. His stomach felt like someone had stuck a sword straight through it and he wondered…

Had he underestimated her…

Yes…he had. Sunni was barely conscious and certainly in no condition to help. He had gotten himself into this mess; it was up to him to get them both of it. Drawing up his weakened and dry voice, he said,

"Give it up…hag."

That did it. A surge of pain cut through his body but it was enough. Lady Bane flung him and he tightened his grip at the last moment. Her headband snapped and he went flying until he hit a tree. Pain coursed through his head and he felt blood flowing from his stomach and the agonizing burn in his hand. She wasn't wasting time approaching so he couldn't waste time either.

Rocks…yes…rocks…good.

"You'll pay for this!"

"N…No."

Buddi lifted both arms and slammed the gem against the stone with all the strength left he could muster. The result was a blinding flash, a ripple of pain from Lady Bane and a surge of more pain for him and Sunni as a wave of magic swept over the small area where they were.

But Lady Bane fled and the gem shattered.

"Your father isn't here to prove anything to, Zorlock."

The magician froze and with a surge of power from the staff, he turned Wooddale's body to source.

"Sir Cubbi."

The little knight walked towards her, his eyes empty of any emotion and that bugged Zorlock. What was the fool cub doing?

"He's why you did magic, remember? To prove you could do what he said you couldn't. To prove that you were better than what he said-"

"SHUT UP! YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT, CUB!"

"Don't I?" the council had fallen to their knees and Plucki was with them. But they watched this, intrigued and worried. Cubbi ignored them. "But this isn't proving anything. The staff is doing the magic, not you."

"I don't need the staff."

"Then why take it? You _do_ need it. You were always the runt, always the forgotten one. The one no one dared admit was theirs, not even yer own mother…"

"SHUT UP!"

"So you take magic to prove them wrong only to find you can't do any magic that'd truly yers."

The female gummi's body twitched and then she lunged at Cubbi, swift as lightning. Cubbi locked his hands on the staff, and got the result he wanted. In a brief moment, he felt Zorlock leave Wooddale and reenter him. The sorceress gummi collapsed but her force sent the cub flying down the side of the raised hill and onto the soft ground.

"You're weak, like your father said."

"You're the weak one, cub."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you let me take you over again did you not?"

"My-"

"I am every bit as powerful as any of your gummi sorcerers and then some! But I'll let you be the judge as I destroy you from the inside out!"

Pain came then…agonizing pain. Like fire in his mind. But…no…Cubbi knew then…he had to do it.

He tightened his grip on the staff and spoke the words Zorlock had begun.

"Fool! You'll kill yerself."

"And you…"

A laugh. "Oh no…just you."

That said, Cubbi felt it…he was leaving…NO!

Zorlock was locked within when the cub's will turned to iron. He brought up hideous memories, twisted them…weaken the cub, yes! But the cub said softly,

"It ends here Zorlock. You and I die…no one else."

"Cubbi…"

What? Tavi?! No…no! And Plucki and the others. They were rushing over. He had to end this and end it now. He would not let them die as well. He had to…he had to turn the spell inward, keep it as close to himself as he could. If he had to destroy his soul to keep them safe, he would. They would survive this war, even if he didn't. He couldn't bear the thought of losing them…

Locking his body to the staff, he spoke the final words.

"NO!"

Zorlock fought, as hard as he could. Now,that the end was approaching, now that he knew the cub was serious, he panicked. How could a cub be so selfless to die for people who weren't his blood? Zorlock had never felt such a link and it made him sick. It was eerie. The cub…why should HE be granted a love that great. HE had never had that and he certainly wouldn't be killed by one that did! He fought, let loose another bout of horrid, twisted thoughts and images of crushed dreams. But the cub's soul held him firm, kept him locked. The pain of the staff…oh, it was intense. Like nothing imaginable…fire, wind, rain, snow…everything of the earth, raining down on…on just their souls? Had Cubbi truly turned it so it attacked what made them who they were? He was gonna destroy himself…foolish.

"No…because I'll be rid of you."

Zorlock was about to retaliate when he felt a warmth but not towards him…towards Cubbi! No…it was that Tavi girl…a protection spell…foolish brat! If he was to perish, this cub would go as well! He hit Cubbi's mind with all the magic he had, all the anger, all his hatred he had had built up. He unleashed it directly at the cub. He was the cause…HIM! All the anger he had, he let it loose.

And in the end, it made no difference because Cubbi's heart was locked.

Then, he felt the slow pain as life ceased to be.

Sunni could fight it no more. As hard as she tried to reach Buddi…she could not.

Buddi heard his clan's cheering cries and tried to call for them, for Ursa, but his strength was gone.

The staff fell from Cubbi's hands, shattering on contact with the ground; its task delivered.

All three cubs fell to the ground, their eyes closed as the Great War drew to an end.