Cubbi curled into Plucki's torso, feeling safe inside the Gummi Captain's arms. Plucki was so strong, a true legend, just like his storybooks said. Surely, he was safe with him if he wasn't with anyone else. He knew he should have been ashamed, should have tried to pull away from this but he couldn't. It felt good to be held, much as he hated to admit it. Grammi had done it…

"Relax, lad." Plucki cradled the cub, sliding his hand up the cub's pajama top and rubbing his back. Cubbi fought but then at one moment, his muscles relaxed and he slumped. Plucki chuckled. Every cub had a sweet spot. A sweet spot was what he called it although it had no medical term. Put frankly, a sweet spot was a small area on a cub that if touched or massaged right could spell relaxation and sleep almost instantly. Aldi's had been right below his shoulders. With a quick sweep over Cubbi's back, Plucki found his in the arch of the cub's back. He dug his fingers into the fur and skin, rubbing in slow circles.

Cubbi didn't know why but a sense of peace ran through him when Plucki started to rub his back. It was a sense of total relaxation. It wasn't the normal relaxation either. This was deeper, much deeper. He felt his entire body slack and relax. He wanted to stay awake, afraid of more dreams but his eyes and mind weren't cooperating. He fell asleep, his face pressed into Plucki's shoulder.

The Gummadoon Captain held the cub a few more minutes and when the cub's breathing turned heavy, he scooped the boy up and carried him back to his own room. Walking in, he chuckled. The cub certainly acted like the other squires when it came to room etiquette. Plucki stepped over several toys and books scattered over the floor and laid the cub down on his own bed. The boy didn't stir.

Reaching down to straighten the sheets and blankets, something caught his eye. After covering the younger gummi up, he knelt to see what it was. He pulled from underneath the bed a small teddy bear, weathered and loved. He smiled at the fond memories it brought to mind and slipped it under the covers with his squire. The cub clutched it in response.

He knew why it was where it was now. Plucki knew how much Cubbi tried to impress him. It flattered him but he really wanted the boy to feel comfortable just being himself, as the other squires and paiges did. He and the other knights would always check on the other squires before they turned in for the night. The paiges went home for the night until they became squires, as most of the paiges were still too young to be away from their parents that long. But they would check on the squires. Cubbi wasn't the only one that still clutched a stuffed animal for comfort. Martinni had his lamb, Flynn had a stuffed bird, Toni used a stuffed fish. Corvi had given his deer up just last year. In a way, Plucki loved to watch them sleep. Still so young and innocent…

The captain took one last look at Cubbi before he left to get dressed for the day and to head out with the others.

Gumlittle took a glance at the clock as he finished dressing. He had a few minutes to himself. The gummi knight sat down at his armchair and reached into his file cabinets. He and the other knights had offices where they kept the major paperwork but these files were more personal. Gumlittle was not unused to admiration. He kept all his pictures and paintings from his squires here. Most of them were from his paiges right now but he opened a file near the back.

Sorting through the papers, he had to smile at the odd scribblings and colorings. The ones closest to the back were obviously done from a long time ago. Scrawled across the bottom of each one, in sloppy and uneasy handwriting was the name "Lucki, Page of Sir Gummie."

Gumlittle shook his head, remembering that boy's old nickname for him. He had called him that the first day he had seen him. That was so long ago but he could recall it with every bit of detail as he could recall battles and wars and the day of his knighthood…

Eight Years Ago…

"That was better than yesterday, petit celui."

Gumlittle and Plucki chuckled as Blastus helped his youngest paige, Corvi down from the training equipment. His other paiges had long since passed through squirehood and were now all knights, with the exception of Ecri who was due for knighthood in a few weeks. Plucki's squires had grown and were knighted as were most of Gumlittle's except Yaci, Ecri's twin brother. It was time to start the next generation of trainees. Corvi was the first of them and the little cub was definitely determined. The cub pouted, his light golden hair blowing into his eyes. Mud and a faint bruise marred his light cream fur. His eyes were watery, with tears of frustration. His lip stuck out in the traditional "pouty" look. That look was deadly.

"Not good 'nough!"

Plucki chuckled and walked out to the small cub. "Don't get frustrated, lad. It takes time."

Corvi crossed his arms, "Don't wanna wait! Wanna be good TODAY!"

Blastus chuckled and ruffled the cub's hair, "In time, petit celui. You've had enough for today. Go play."

"Wanna train some more!"

"No more today."

The cub stomped his foot and sat down on the ground, "Not fair."

Blastus smiled, "Tell you what. You go play some, mon ami, and I'll tell you some stories on our battles later."

Corvi looked up, interest perked in his eyes, "Promise, Blastie?"

Plucki held in a laugh at that nickname. Blastus took it in stride and nodded to the cub's question. The cub got up to leave but at that moment, a cry of "NO FAIR!" pierced over the training field. Corvi clamped his hands over his ears. "Too loud!" Blastus chuckled and nodded past Plucki. Turning, the Gummi Captain blinked and greeted his exhausted mate, Illsi, who was dragging their eight year old son Aldi by the arm.

"Plucki, help!"

Plucki raised a brow at the small pink cub in his wife's arms. "Aldi?"

The young cub stopped his tantrum. "Papa!"

"Don't "Papa" me. What is the deal with this tantrum and giving your mother a hard time?"

"Mama's being mean!"

Illsi rolled her eyes, "I told him to start on his studying and he threw a fit."

"It's boring!"

Plucki just narrowed his eyes, "Aldi Gummi, haven't I talked to you before about this?"

While the adults went over to where Plucki and Illsi were lecturing Aldi, little Corvi wandered about, not wanting to leave the field yet. He climbed up on training equipment, no easy task. He went higher than the smaller beams where he and Sir Blastus trained. The adults' training equipment was much more interesting. They had obstacles to avoid! It fascinated the young gummi. He tottled about the beams, holding his arms out to keep his balance.

Finding the spinning pods that were meant as obstacles, the small boy ducked under them, trying to find the start switch. He knew that the councilors could turn it on but he'd also seen the knights use it when the councilors weren't present so he figured there was another way to turn it on. After climbing the pole that actually held the swinging pods, he found what he desired. He had to crawl out on the pod itself to reach it though. Swinging down so he hung from it, he kicked it on with his foot.

To his childish delight, the pod started but now his former task was forgotten. This was fun!

"Blastie! Look at me!"

"Blastie! Look at me!"

That call made the knights look up. Plucki, Gumlittle, and Blastus shouted nearly as one, running at the same time,

"CORVUS! Get off there!"

"It's fun!"

Blastus jumped up, turning the machine off but at the last second, he called again, "Corvus! Let go!"

"Kay!"

That said, he did just that! The swift speed sent him flying across the training field and into a pile of bushes. He sat up as the knights ran over, laughing.

"That was fun!" He shook his head, still a bit dizzy and then realized he had landed on someone! Looking closer, he laughed, "Lucki!"

Blastus pulled Corvi up as they arrived, looking him over for any injuries. The cub just grinned. Blastus glared at him and the cub's smile faded. Looking for a distraction, he said, pulling Lucki up,

"Blastie, this my friend Lucki!"

The three knights looked at the newcomer, who looked about a year younger than Corvi, with dark green fur and hair. At closer glance, they recognized him as Sir Glenfield's son. Plucki left Aldi to his wife and knelt to the boy's level. The cub was painstakingly shy. It was the first time they had seen him without having to pry him from his mother's skirt.

"What are you doing here, lad?"

The reply could scarcely be called a whisper,

"Watching."

Corvi added, "He always watches you guys!"

Plucki raised a brow at Lucki, "So, we have a little spectator?"

Lucki said softly, "Wanna train…"

"Oh, you do?"

Lucki pointed right at Gumlittle, "With him."

Gumlittle was stunned, "What? Me?"

Lucki emerged from the bushes and walked around the gummi knight, "You giant. You my favorite."

Blastus and Plucki laughed. Gumlittle looked down at the small cub who barely reached his knee. The boy asked ,softly,

"I…maybe…train under you?" he asked quietly. Gumlittle chuckled,

"That's up to your parents and our Captain."

Before Plucki could say a word, Corvi and Lucki ran over to him, looked up at him, softened their eyes, quivered their lips and asked,

"PU-Lease?"

Plucki laughed out loud and replied,

"If it pleases you, Gumlittle and your parents, I see no objection."

Lucki yelped and ran back to Gumlittle, attaching himself to his leg. "Gummie's page!"

Present

Gumlittle shook himself out of him memories, realizing he'd been brooding too long. Blastus would be waking Corvi any minute and the knights would be heading out to the stables to tend to the steeds. He slipped the pictures back into their file and closed the drawer, rising to get his boots and put those on. That task accomplished, he stared at his desk once more.

As was tradition, each year the Gummadoon knights had professional portraits done both as a group and with each of the trainees. Gumlittle had several around his room but on his desk were two special ones. The first had been done years ago, when Yaci was sixteen. When Yaci had still been his squire and before those two brothers had lost their love for life and humor. Yaci had been a little sarcastic one, always finding the humor in things. In the picture, he was clinging to Gumlittle's neck, like a little monkey.

The other was the one that sliced his heart open. No more than five months old, it had been done at the annual portrait paintings earlier that year. Little Lucki, newly eleven, standing by his mentor's side, a bright and happy grin on his face. So full of life and hope. Now, what had come of it? That young cub laid with the others in the dark ground, tore from life before his prime.

Gumlittle got up, scooting the pictures back a little before heading out to meet the others at the stables. Work was always good. He had to press on and work was the best way to go about that. Lucki wouldn't want him to brood and weep forever. Lucki had always been the type to move forward. It took Gumlittle weeks before the child understood he had to stop for a training injury or illness. Now, his mentor took a lesson from his deceased squire:

Remember, cherish but press on.

Cubbi sat, watching the other squires silently. He had slept late, surprisingly pretty well. He had never imagined the dreams would have dulled but they not only dulled…they all but disappeared! He had experienced a few brief bits of dark dreams but they had passed. He hadn't remembered other dreams but his bad ones had been limited. He'd woken up only twice. He had not slept so well since before the war. He didn't know what Plucki had done but he hoped he'd do it again. He had felt so safe when he did that…

The cub had slept well past noon when he finally woke up. Plucki hadn't scolded; he'd been glad to see the boy sleep so well. Cubbi had missed training and tutoring but Plucki had said that he was out of both for the week until his body could catch up on the sleep. Cubbi had complained briefly but a brow raise from Plucki had ended all his complaints. Now, he sat watching the other squires play in the sitting room. He wanted to play but after the way Martinni had looked at him…

He wanted to play with them!

Stubborn to his core, he got up and walked over to them. Sweet Gum, it looked like fun! He never missed out on a good game if he could help it! Maybe Martinni would be more accepting or something. He supposed he coulda stuck with the adult knights but… the adults were in a room down the hall, doing who knew what…adult stuff. Boring!

The squires were tossing toy quickcars around at the moment. They could fly like gliders if they let the wings fold out so that's what they were doing. They were made to model the Gummadoon swans of course. Cubbi approached them. Flynn, Martinni and Toni were tossing it back and forth. He called out,

"Guys, can I play?"

The three turned. They paused, uncertain. Fed up, Cubbi said,

"Look, I know I'm probably a big baby to you but I didn't exactly-"

"No, you're not…" Martinni spoke. "It's just…well,"

"We aren't having dreams like you and we-" Flynn added,

"Didn't go through what you did. We didn't think you'd wanna play or talk!" Toni finished, blunt as ever. "Do you wanna play?"

"Yes!"

Toni grinned and flew it towards Cubbi. "Here then."

Cubbi beamed and tossed it to Martinni, in a spiral. The green furred squire beamed.

"Teach me to do that!"

"Just curve your wrist," Cubbi explained. The cub did that but Martinni's aim was less than perfect. The swan soared over Toni's head, lodging at the top of one of the china cabinets where figurines, dishes and the like were kept. Toni hissed,

"Smooth!"

Martinni blushed and pushed a chair up to try and reach the small toy. There was no such luck. Martinni pouted,

"Guess that game's over."

"Nu uh!" Toni argued. He climbed up the stairs halfway and leaned over the railing. "Give me a hand guys. I can almost reach it."

Cubbi got up and followed Toni. The light blue cub was leaning as far over the railing as he could so Cubbi grasped him around the waist so he didn't fall. They probably looked completely ridiculous but in a way, Cubbi loved it. This was kinda fun, being one of the guys again and solving a problem without adult interference! Toni almost had it..

"Whoa!"

Toni plunged further than he meant to and suddenly he was much heavier than he had once been. Cubbi went sailing over the railing and both boys slammed hard into the far edge of the cabinet. Being old and not meant to support weight on its top, the wooden cabinet toppled and then plunged forward with a sickening crash onto the floor. Toni and Cubbi went sprawling across the ground while Flynn covered his ears. Martinni ran out of its path, yelping,

"Heads UP!"

When the hideous crash and echo ceased, Toni rubbed his aching arm and asked Cubbi,

"Ya think they heard that?"