MetaPhysical Plane

Sorting through the metaphysical plane was always a chore. For one thing, there was much more that transpired on the outskirts of reality than most people were aware of. While Lady Bane kept herself mostly confined to the blasted gummi body she inhabited, it was also a deep pit of emotions, thoughts, memories. Quite frankly, it was revolting to sort through these things but she felt the desire as well as the need to do so. She was not one to accept defeat easily and that boy's blasted body giving into injury, simple injury, so easily was the sign of something else afoot.

Well, she meant to locate the source of it, right now!

She would not say she had a "form" here because she was purely in control of the body but she did feel like she had a presence, something that moved, something that had to seek out things further away than nearer. A bit like swimming through a murky ocean in that sense. Each move she made was met with a flood of either emotions, memories or both. Thus far, it had forced her to sort through the brat's 'dearer' memories, namely his lost parents. It was quite easy to see the resemblance between his little sister and that old fossil of a council member as they resembled his mother quite a bit, save the color. The bratty green furred boy she currently controlled did not seem to resemble his father very much either. As she pushed through older memories, she saw his likeness in his grandfather, though only briefly. The older gummi had been quite old, even by gummi standards, when his son Glenfield was born but she could still see, through the dark of the blue wrinkles that Lucki remembered the bear with that he possessed that same build that made this scrawny lad so agile.

She could not put her finger on it but the gummi she found in these memories, though faded with time and the lad's age when the grandfather had passed onto the afterlife, was familiar, or rather he possessed a familiar aura. There was a faintness of power to him that she could recognize anywhere. Being a creature who longed for power and status, she recognized the potential of magic when she saw it, even if it was through old memories of a little cub who seemed only to want to hear "Story, story!" In fact, she had to admit that the power she was sensing, was in fact, watered-down. Perhaps by several generations of non-use. It was quite the feat and frustrating as all get-out. Is THIS why the lad's body responded to her so? Some kind of magic rejection?

No, no, magic could be a natural inclination but it had to be taught. THAT much she knew.

Right?

She had to admit that every fiber of the gummi's body resonated with natural magic. It was like it saturated every cell. She had heard stories, when she was younger and would overhear her mother talking amid other sorcerers (the few that cared for the company of such a person) that gummies had more natural magic in their bodies than any other creature. It was part of what fueled their long lives, part of what made them so intone with the earth and one another and what allowed them to harness the natural magic they did so flawlessly.

Mother had been investigating that theory when she had vanished, shortly after working with Emi Gummi. Hardly missed in any event but—

Wait!

Lady Bane would have narrowed her eyes if she had possessed command of them at the moment. She was reluctant to give the brat any command but she needed so much of her attention here. However, as she came across the memory of Mother vanishing, amid her work with Emi Gummi, she felt ice cold run through her veins.

Her mother was quite powerful, thousands more power than she was, though she was loathe to admit such a thing. Yet, even her mother had been cautious around Emi. Truthfully, she was sure she was trying to find a way to trick the gummi sorceress but it seemed that, in the end, Emi had overpowered her mother and that…that scared her. Her mother, like her, had unnaturally prolonged her life, acquiring magical artifact after talisman, after life force, and making them a part of herself. Though Lady Bane was limited in her knowledge of her mother prior to her birth, she did know that she had given Zorlock many things in exchange for his magical knowledge, including wine, riches and sex. (Truth be told, she knew it was a possibility that Zorlock had been her father though she never pondered such a thing long; he was dead and had been a fool, that was all she needed to know.) She also knew that her mother had dabbled in relations with Fey, the magically inclined creatures that were prone to causing mischief among mortals but had more raw power at birth than most acquired in their whole lives. If her deceased elder brother was to be believed (and honestly, he was the only male she could ever say she had cared for on any level) then Mother had even absorbed the raw ability of a Fey throughout her long life.

Yet, it seemed Emi Gummi had possessed not only enough power to kill the blasted witch but to not drain herself considerably in the process. By all the spirits, was gummi blood capable of such incredible feats?

Focusing again, she forced herself to address a deep seated fear.

Was it possible, even from within her prison, and a truly well-constructed one at that, that Emi was reaching out to this body she had claimed? She loathed to be met with that fact but she had to see. As it was, she and the boy's soul were at constant odds with one another but like water and oil, she always remained on top, at least thus far. She could FEEL the body's spirit trying to leak back into the pores. Despite her best efforts, it was like trying to push back water with one's bare hands, some always slipped through.

As she focused though, her entire being focused on the metaphysical plane about her, she felt something else. A new presence.

The best was to describe it was as if a paper-thin, no—even thinner, was stretched around the entire cub's body. It kept her from claiming complete command and it kept the boy's soul drifting in and out. The body knew something was wrong, she suddenly felt it. It was stretching for that soul, trying to find it and claim it but without success. In response, the body was breaking down. Were gummi bodies so reliant on their souls? Was that their secret? Was that secret to all that power they possessed?

All at once, she felt the alien presence in full force and it made her mentally scream. An icy coldness that clasped her about the throat, a hissing voice that sneered,

"Truly, do you think you are ANY match for me?"

"Emi…" She managed in response, "You are imprisoned…"

"Possessing a cub's body, even with my prison is, to be frank, child's play. As for my current incarceration, it will not be for much longer. Oh no, not long now at all."

Gummadoon Healer's Quarters

The works of Healer Shrei were not small. It was no wonder. The healer had lived a long life and had served gummikind until their very last breath. According to what little reports had survived that long regarding the life of healer herself, Healer Shrei had delivered a child just hours before her own death. The female gummi had been a beautiful soul, one that truly threw everything they had into their craft. She had lived long ago, hence the age of these manuals but thank goodness for Gummi preservation techniques. They had learned so much from her trials and errors.

She had lived during the period of time when gummi and humans lived, for the most part, in harmony. It was hard to imagine and remember a time before the anxiety and tensions. As Sarrika looked over the old volumes, Sir Ecri poured through some of them himself. There was a silent determination within the room, a sense that could nearly be felt. They both had similar goals, in fact, now she was certain they had the same goal. Lucki Gummi's resurrection was not natural and as such would surely not be without its cost. As it was, Sarrika saw such a degradation of the flesh that it frightened her. For as much as the sight of him unnerved her, she had to admit that if it were truly Lucki, the cub that she had helped to deliver during her apprenticeship, then she must not stop until answers were found.

Ah! She may have come across something. Sir Ecri had stated that Healer Shrei was mentioned in the research on dark magic and lo and behold! He was right. Here it was, a dark period of history to be sure. Several sorcerers, while with good intentions, had resurrected several of those lost during a raid on one of the villages, at least three human and two gummi. The results were disastrous. The risen dead, true enough, had breathed and their hearts had pumped but that was where the joy ceased. The human bodies had turned back to the dust from whence they came within days. The gummi bodies, according to this, had lasted a bit longer.

Turning a page, Sarrika groaned out loud.

Sir Ecri glanced up, "Healer?" he inquired.

"You were correct, good Sir." She reassured him, "But I forgot that Shrei's notes would be in Old Gummi. I must admit, that is part of my schooling that I neglected."

Ecri stepped closer, "Let me see." He took a seat beside her. She blinked, surprised, at the knight,

"You know Old Gummi?" she inquired.

"It's a requirement during squire training though I must admit, I am hardly fluent." He told her simply. "Most squires, including all the knights right now, seem to forget it once they reach knighthood. It's never used and it was primarily used as a history teaching tool."

Sarrika nodded solemnly, "It is a shame we have let such a thing fall away."

"Not all gummies have." Ecri reminded her, "Lady Cressi, if she were here instead of aiding in Ursalia, would have laughed at all our struggle. I suspect even Corvi would have." He gave her a look, "If you've ever the time, listen to that boy translate it. It's as natural as the common tongue to him." He frowned, looking over the words, "I cannot speak Old Gummi to save my life, nor can I translate from spoken language. But written…written I can do." Here, he eyed her, stating, "Though not as quickly as I once could, I must admit."

He frowned and it took a moment for him to process the words but then he began to speak, "Alas, what more can I do?! The body refuses to respond to me! The natural immunity we gummies carry has been sliced in half of what it once was! The poor gummi bleeds at the slightest touch, bruises at mere wisps of air!" Sarrika bit her lip; that sounded far too eerie and far too much like the young green furred lad in her office, waiting for answers. "My supplements boost the body's defenses but the body itself is dying again! I have called in Spiritualist Nivi, perhaps she shall have a better insight. In the meantime, I provide what comfort I can offer."

The knight was not blind to the healer's anxiety, "Healer?" he inquired again.

"It sounds so similar, too similar." She shook her head, "The bruises I have seen on that child…not natural. Nothing bruises like that."

If Ecri had an emotional reaction, he was well schooled in keeping it hidden. He directed his attention back to the manual. Honestly, reading this was unnerving him to the core. He had read much about resurrection in the research on the dark arts. Even when used for "good" so to speak, the results were the same. It was playing the role of a Creator, something that even the wisest of souls knew better than to meddle in. The very balance of nature had means to keep such things from being done. There was a reason that even the most studied of magicians typically utilized possession or mindless zombie-walkers in the stead of a true resurrection.

What he had read, combined with the actual accounts of one who had seen it, made a sharp pain settle in his belly. For not the first time and in fact more recently, he wished for a hand on his shoulder, for that laugh at his side from his wise-cracking brother and Blastus' gentle French comforting his heart. Was he so wrong to isolate them? Surely this was useful?

"Sir Ecri?" Sarrika interrupted his thoughts and he shook himself out of his self-pitying spell.

Ecri read on, the next entry, "Spiritualist Nivi has nothing but painful news, I fear. The body and soul have been separated in death as is the natural course. They have been thrust back together and the shock is too much! As a body rejects warmth if thrown from ice into heat and as the stomach rejects food if denied it for too long and given too much in response, the body is rejecting the spirit it once knew! The body must have the soul and yet the soul cannot rejoin its flesh! The shock is too much! The poor gummi's flesh decays, breaks into bleeding and pain. Nivi says that the connection is incomplete. In some places, the two have rejoined, others they are separated by a chasm! It is as a machine with broken pegs and cogs! It does not work!"

Silence in the room and Ecri swallowed hard. He cared for Lucki, he did. He remembered when the boy became a page when he had been a squire, an older squire but a squire nonetheless. They had not had much interaction, given that Lucki was Gumlittle's trainee but they had interacted some. The boy was smart, sweet and had a strong will and heart. When he had started to delve into this research, he had done so initially out of fear and revulsion, much like the emotions he was picking up from Sarrika. Yet, the more he read, he dared to hope, not just for his young friend but for his brother. If it was possible…he shook his head. Not only was it sounding like such a thing was fruitless but frighteningly dangerous, on the spiritual level. It was one thing to have the body threatened. But, the soul, the eternal presence of one's strengths and that which waited patiently for their loved ones in Gum's presence…

The last entry, "Oh, my soul weeps for my lost brother! Truly, lost beyond claim! The body fell away, piece by piece but then…oh Gum, then, the soul, for a mere moment appeared for an eye's blink, fading, shaking, then, as it pleaded silently for aid, ceased to be. It shattered, as glass shatters upon a stone ground. Gone and beyond reach. Nivi, bless her own soul, sought and searched for days, tears blurring her vision. She searched, she prayed, she pleaded but she must come to the same conclusion that I must. The soul is destroyed. The soul is gone. No salvation, no punishment, nothing. We shall never, throughout all eternity, see our dear brother again. I dread and cry for the gummi in the next room. The bond could not be reclaimed. If I am to save her soul, I must find a way to relink the body and soul. Dear Gum, what do I do…"

The dreaded answer. Sarrika put her hands to her mouth, trying to stop her sobs. As revolted as she had been by the prospect, dear Gum, for the very soul itself to die. The soul of that sweet, innocent boy…

Ecri reached out, grasped her shoulders, "Sarrika! Now is not the time for tears. Now is the time for action."

Hope, though faint, sprung up in her heart, "Sir Ecri, do you believe there is a way…"

"I'm not expert on magic," he admitted, "Never have been, wasn't my forte. I do however, know history. In Healer Shrei's time, it was simply a distant dream but no longer. When I was still a squire, there was rumor of the creation of an a talisman designed to break and link bonds. For safety, for unity, for protection. You know what I'm talking about?"

Oh, she knew, it was a popular story, "You're talking about Concordia?"

A strong nod, "I don't know if it was ever used. Rumor said it was used to link all that negative energy to the Gummadoon staff." He frowned, in utter frustration. Destini had been knee deep in most of this but it appeared she had died before passing much of her information on. Dear Gum, hindsight truly was depressing.

Sarrika froze, "The Gummadoon Staff…" she eyed Ecri, "Sir Ecri, have you found any information on that?"

He nodded, "yes, why?" he indicated the book he held in his lap, "It was our only cursed artifact, of course."

"Think. We started seeing evidence of Emi's presence, what, a month ago?"

Oh now his eyes went huge, "Emi? I thought Lady Bane was our key threat." Granted, he had been isolated from the others but dear Gum how had he missed something this significant? Had he really become so distant? The thought that something so dangerous had slipped by his sight, that he had LET something so important slip by unnoticed made him weak in the knees. Stupid errors, stupid mistakes. Dear Gum, he could almost repeat Blastus' lecture about being vigilant in his sleep and yet, in his self-proclaimed seclusion, he had let an enemy slip by.

"My, you have become separate from the main goings-ons, haven't you?" Sarrika remarked though it was without poison. Ecri made no reply so she amended her statement "Apologies good knight, I meant no…"

"No, no you were right." He admitted to her, his ears dropped somewhat, "I have become slack. You say that her presence was first suspected a month ago?" The healer nodded, and Ecri frowned, deeply. Dear Gum, he remembered the battles with her. Such losses, such sadness…

"How long does it take magic to decay if it is not reinforced?" Sarrika truly hoped she was not grasping at straws and she hoped to bring the knight back from his self-loathing. They had no time for it and he had no cause to engage in it. How was he to know? Most of Gummadoon still did not know. Better it stayed that way.

Frowning, Ecri stated, "Like I told you, magic was not my forte. My brother….could have told you more." He closed his eyes a moment, thinking, "But, a few months I believe, depending on how strong it was. It's like anything, if it isn't reinforced, it fades and eventually dies."

"WHAT was destroyed in that last war?" she demanded, shaking his shoulders, nearly bursting with her excitement. Dear Gum, they may have finally gotten a clue!

Pain surfaced in the knight's eyes and she regretted her words but no time for that now. If he saw what she saw…

"…the Gummadoon staff."

Realization sank in quickly. "The Gummadoon Staff." Sarrika repeated, "It was destroyed then, not even a few months following, her presence begins to be detected. Is it possible the staff was linked to her prison?" She knew that Sir Ecri was hardly well informed; in fact, she was probably more well informed than she was but he was more likely to know details on this kind of thing than she was. While he claimed not be knowledgeable on magic, he WOULD know what was important to be guarded and he would have SOME knowledge of how gummi prisons worked, right?

"I'd say more than a chance." Ecri reached for his book on dark magic. He had read some about the circumstances surrounding the staff in there, then paused, "Sarrika."

"Yes?" she inquired, nearly bursting. Finally, a potential lead!

"I will pursue the leads on the staff." He assured herm, "I'll meet up with Blastus later and let him know what we suspect. But you…dear Healer, you MUST pursue the knowledge of Concordia!"

Guilt settled in her stomach. So excited was she about finding a potential clue against that evil gummi that haunted their every waking moment that she nearly forgot the reasoning behind her seeking out this good knight's aid. Rising, she set the works of Healer Shrei aside, saying, "If you need me, I will be in the library."

Gummadoon Burial Grounds

It was a long time, though how long he did not know, before Corvi got enough control over his emotions to open his eyes and look skyward. He hardly ever prayed anymore, though he supposed perhaps he should have more. Occasionally, when he was younger, he and his mother would bring his brothers here and let his father's spirit touch them. That was the nice thing about being gummi. Even if your loved one had moved on, you could beseech to feel their spirit once more, though your prayers were not always answered. Sometimes, they would feel nothing. Yet, at other times, he would feel that strong protective sense wrap around him for a moment, a short moment but a moment nonetheless.

Sitting here, he had considered it ironic that the time he wanted to feel his father's spirit the most was when it did not come. He knew he should get inside. The meeting was starting and he was already late. He was certain he was going to hear it and looking down at himself, soaked through to the core, he knew he would be getting an earful for that too. Still, he had hoped ot get some comfort from out here and honestly, just taking the time to remember and reflect did take some, if not a lot, of the stress off his chest.

Yet, as he stood, he blinked as he suddenly found himself focused on the day his father died, almost three year (relatively speaking anyway) to tomorrow. It made sense but it still hurt, it still burnt. He had seen him die from a distance. He had not listened to either his father or Blastus and had left the city. Yet…no, the more he reflected on that day, despite not wanting to, he found he was seeing holes in his memory. He remembered seeing his father fighting. He remembered it was a field, he remembered his father falling…dying…someone leaning over him…

A block. A mental block.

Corvi bit his lip. Mental blocks were not common among gummies. Being a very open race, they were always talking, always communicating. That was one reason keeping this under wraps about his mother was so hard! He wanted to collapse into tears, sobbing about the unfairness of it all to Blastus. Truthfully, with each passing day, he was considering it. Blastus had never failed him before. Surely…surely…surely…he would make sure that he would not lose them, right? Right?

That made this mental block disturbing. Corvi frowned, closed his eyes, focused on that day, a piece at a time. He HAD to push past it. He was not sure why…but something…something told him he needed to. Maybe it was Papa? If that was the case then he had to. Papa was trying to tell him something, he decided suddenly. He could feel a faint warmth in his chest. Yes, Papa's spirit was trying to tell him something. Now, remember Corvi! He cursed at himself. Focus and remember!

Papa heading out on a mission.

Mama saying she was feeling labor pains, going to the healer.

The healer saying she was in labor.

He took off out of the city, after his father.

He spied him, heading east…followed him…

Suddenly, a rush of memories overwhelmed him. Not the things he had "assumed" had happened. Not the images his brain had plugged in but the horrors of that day. In pure color, in complete emotional intensity. His knees gave out and he collapsed, sinking into the wet earth. He felt a horrible tightness in his chest and nearly vomited right there. Fear, a deep rooted fear that plunged through his veins like an ice cold water made him shake like a terrified child. He remembered. He remembered all of it.

And he remembered why he wanted to forget.

Jumping up, he took off back for the palace, tears running down his face, "Blastus!"

Gummadoon Main Council Chambers

"No one else ever went down there? There was not an additional entrance?" Sir Gumlittle inquired.

Grammi shook her head, even as Gruffi said, "Least one person did."

Zummi turned as did the entire room, "Someone else?"

Gruffi shrugged, "I didn't know where this entrance was 'til I was an adult. Never had any desire to. Thought it was all hogwash. Evil gummies and magical prisons and entire wings of the Glen we didn't know about. Didn't believe none of it!" He shook his head, a strong frown on his face. "But then Merri and Kashimi got on this exploring kick. Merri knew the Glen inside out, said one of his granddads helped design it. Kashimi, well you all remember how she was. Always wanting to explore, always wanting to know more. She heard the stories, same as we did but guess she took after you two and decided to find out for herself."

Zummi and Grammi exchanged glances and then Grammi said, "Oh, Gum, Gruffi, don't tell me that it was there that poor Kashimi…"

Gruffi sighed deeply. He hated bringing up emotional stuff and this was chock full of it. "The beam gave way by the entrance. She and Merri had been trying to see if there was a way through. Merri said there was another way in, some kind of ceiling opening but she said she was almost through and that beam came down. Blocked the entrance the rest of the way and crushed her. It was quick at least." Gruffi sighed, "I sealed that blasted door up myself with 'bout three others. It's sealed sealed."

Silence for a moment then Cubbi finally spoke, "Who's Kashimi? And Merri? You never tol' me about those two."

An awkward silence settled once more. Sir Plucki, picking up on it, eyed his squire. He could almost feel the frustration reeking off the cub. Cubbi leaned forward a bit, "Look, I'm not asking you for a life story or somethin.' First you didn't even tell me about Emi…at all…." He was a bit hurt about that though he supposed he could not blame them. Now, they were mentioning other gummies that he had never heard of. A Kashimi and Merri. Who were they? "And now you can't even tell me who these gummies were?"

Gruffi sighed, "Kid…"

It was Tummi, of all people, who interrupted Gruffi. "Your parents, Cubbi."

Cubbi jerked his attention to the blue furred bear, "Huh?"

"Kashimi was your Mama, Merri was your Papa. I was a little older than you when they died." Tummi shrugged, "Never knew about the entrance with your mom though."

Grammi wrung her hands, "Cubbi, it just never came up, darlin'." She gave a deep sigh, "It was hard to address…"

"Never…came…up." Cubbi felt anger though he really didn't know why. He certainly never asked about his parents. Still, they shoulda tol' him something! Their names would have been a good place to start. And now…now…he had to find out about them here? Cubbi bit his lower lip and looked to the side a moment, obviously gathering his emotions. He ground his hands into tight fists and then felt the comforting hand of Plucki on his shoulder. The knight gave a gentle squeeze to him and Cubbi nodded, "…I'm fine, Plucki. I'm fine."

To the surprise of his old clan, he did not give into the many different emotions as he had been prone to do before. Instead, he addressed them, "I wanna talk to you 'bout that later. Not the time." He took a shaky breath to steady his emotions. "So…the door is sealed?"

Taken aback slightly, Gruffi nodded after a moment, "Sealed tight."

Gumlittle frowned, "You mentioned that Merri said there might have been another way in?"

Gruffi nodded, "Said some kind of trapdoor or somethin' that got you in from the upper floor. We never investigated it after Kashimi passed away. Figured it was best to leave it buried."

The room seemed heavy with sorrow a moment and then Wooddale cleared her throat, "Do you know anything about Lumina Gummi? Presumably, she was one of the key creators of the prison."

Zummi nodded, "Lumina…she was a sweet one. Her granddaughter's right here." Zummi indicated Sunni who blinked in surprise.

"What? My grandmother helped make the prison?"

"More like did most of it." Grammi cut in. "Always thinkin' outside the box Lumina was." She shook her head, "She was pretty secretive about it though, least from what I remember and I was young, Zummi too. The adults kept us out of the loop on a lot of things. I know she spent a lot of time in the library and talkin' with a lot of other gummies. Visitor gummies that I didn't know. I didn't think much on it. She just came out each night tired as could be." Shaking her head, the motherly gummi sighed, "Poor dear."

Zummi frowned, seemed to be thinking, rubbing his chin. Gusto, who had been quiet for a lot of the meeting, absorbing what he could, eyed the purple furred magician, "What's up Zums?"

"Well, there might be one thing. Remember how close Lumina was with Gheralli Gummi? Weren't they usually together?"

Grammi nodded, snapping her fingers and before anyone could ask, she said, "Your grandma, Tummi, dear. She was a weaver of the utmost caliber. Learned how to sew from the one that made the Great Quilt." She eyed the room, "Anyway, Gheralli said she had been making a 'memorial' quilt for centuries. Never said what for but I'd bet my cookin' pot that it was for Emi's victims. Then she started talkin' with Lumina a lot before they made that prison. I'd reckon she put somethin' about that prison in that tapestry. Maybe how it worked even."

Zummi eyed Sir Plucki "I believe she said she was going to give it as a gift to Gummadoon, said that you deserved a way to honor those lost as well—"

What was going to be said was lost as the door to chamber was burst open, nearly knocking Sir Horli off his feet as a soaking wet Corvi, his hair a mess and his uniform muddy burst into the chambers, screaming Blastus' name in rapid succession. The Gummadoon knight was quickly out of his seat and grasping his squire by the arms as the room erupted into shouts. Corvi was screeching in French at his mentor, in such rapid fire speech that even Blastus had a hard time catching it all. Putting his hands from the boy's shoulders to his face, he implored "Calm! Calm, Corvi. Great Gum, what is it?"

"I remember it now, remember it. I didn't want to remember it but I did and if I knew then I woulda told you all sooner but I-"

By now, nearly everyone had stood and Plucki turned, raising a hand, indicating he wanted silence. When that failed, he raised his voice, a rare feat, "Be still!"

The result was instantaneous as all voices stopped and clamoring stopped, save for Grammi who looked like she wanted to sprint over and grasp the teenaged bear in her arms. Plucki dropped his gaze from the room and set his sights on Corvi, as did Gumlittle who went to the boy's side, even as Blastus attempted to speak to the frantic lad in French to calm him. The short Gummadoon knight started to stroke the boy's wet blond hair, saying in French still "Corvi, we will listen but you must be calm. Do you hear me, little lamb?"

A shaky nod and the boy took a swallow of air. This time, it was Sir Plucki who touched the boy on the head, saying, "Good, lad. Now what in Gum's name vindicates this panic?"

"I…remember. I didn't want to remember. I wasn't lettin' myself remember. Then, I…" he took another gulp of air, keeping his eyes on Blastus, "I went out to Papa's grave and I started to remember. All of it. Something to do with Emi."

The room went dead silent and the council members exchanged glances as did the knights. Councilor Berrybottom spoke out, "Can you share it with us, young Corvi?"

The cub nodded, though he was still panicked and he had to focus to breathe normally. Blastus wrapped an arm around the boy and led him to a seat, still keeping a firm connection to him, hoping to still his nerves. "It was the year she was imprisoned. Before she was captured."

Still shaking and trying as hard as he could to keep his voice steady, the teenager forced his mind back to a place he didn't want to go, to a place he didn't want to go ever again, to a place that he understood why his mind tried to block it out…

Frowning, Corvi upped his speed. Papa was fast. He supposed that was expected. After all, one did not become a knight by being a weakling! Still, in this case, he wished that his father was slower. Mama was in sickbay and he was going to have his new sibling soon. Surely Papa would not want to miss that. There was not a battle going on right now. Surely Papa's investigation mission could wait. He knew he wasn't supposed to leave Gummadoon but he reasoned that telling his father he was going to be a Papa again was a good reason!

There he was. He'd stopped between a forest path and a corn field. He glanced first left and then right. Always on guard, as always, "Papa!" he called, not wanting to surprise him.

Sir Gustav whirled around and shock then fear shot through his eyes, surprising his son. "Corvus!" he hissed, using the boy's birth name, "What are you doing here?"The knight's heart began pumping a million miles a minute. True enough, this was a mission to see if their spies had been right. He feared they were as they had yet to report back. He feared that on this mission to once more try to narrow down Emi's whereabouts that he would come across their bodies. He and several of the other scouts had theories, though he had to admit he was disgusted that it was even a possibility.

Then, his son….his son was here!

"I came to tell—"

Gustav cut the boy off by clamping a hand over his mouth. Looking about, the very air seemed to have turned cold. An icy wind blew but there was no snow and the plants didn't sway to it. The Gummadoon knight cursed under his breath then pushed his son roughly into the cornfield, hissing to him, "No matter what, you keep still and silent, hear me! Not a word, not a breath! No matter what happens!"

So startled, Corvi was not able to give a response as his father straightened and drew his sword. The cub got to his knees and peered through the corn stalks. He was still fairly close to his father. The bear was purposely staying in front of his son. A dark feeling settled in Corvi's stomach. He bit his lower lip as a faint light appeared in front of the two of them. Stalking from the light came a gummi he had never seen before. Purple fur, so dark it was nearly black and long flowing black hair. She stepped towards his father, unarmed but with a confident swagger.

Corvi's nose detected sweat. His father was sweating. His father never sweated!

"So, you found me. I guess that makes me it, then?"

Her voice…so dark, so cold. It was…well, honestly impossible to describe. It made Corvi's blood run cold though and he was very grateful for his father's strong presence. The gummi in question, stood tall, his sword out in front of him, "So, it's true, Emi. It's not enough…the things you've done, you're in league with that witch, that Lady Bane too?"

The gummi laughed, throwing her hair back, "Well, I would not call it alliance, good Sir Knight." She teased the title on her lips, walking about, eyeing him. It was like a lion approaching a prey animal. "Though, yes, rest assured that her castle has been quite the refuge for me." She pushed her black hair back, "Never would have figured it, would you? Living and plotting with a human?" She stood still a moment, locking her gaze on him, "That place of stone and wood knows more about me than any of you do and she holds my secrets well."

Gustav narrowed his eyes. "Your ways have caused nothing but pain and anguish. It is a betrayal of your very blood! We gummies live by honor, by love. For life, not for death."He shook his head "And you align yourself with someone who desires the destruction of all of that!"

"So you say." She responded, her hands glowing a faint shade, a golden shade. "I chose to live for myself, for my own power."

Then without warning, she charged, the gold in her hands forming at each strike, first a sword, then a mace, then a shield when Sir Gustav struck back. This song and dance continued for a few minutes before Emi Gummi stated, "As amusing as this workout has been Sir Knight, I must admit, you know more about me…and my whereabouts than I am comfortable with getting out!"

The flowers about the knight's feet in an instant were sharp thorns that rose as knives and dug into his flesh. Blood spilled forth and caught off guard the knight fell to his back, just before his son, still crouched amid the golden corn. It blended in with his hair and fur brilliantly. In fact, the knight could not even focus on his son, despite wanting to before the dark furred gummi appeared in the air above him, stating "You know how hard it is to find a refuge? I won't have you blabbing about mine!"

Gustav's sword was up, ready to strike back.

The gummi lady's grew brilliant golden and she grasped the blade itself, with no damage to her hands (a mini magical shield apparently) and with arms fueled by a simple strength spell, she pushed back, with all her strength.

The hilt of the sword passed through the knight's chest armor with a sickening sound and emerged out the back, exploding with a shower of blood over his child, not three feet away.

Corvi bit his hand to keep from screaming. He would have shrank back into the cornfields more but Papa had said to not move. Not move. That was what Papa had said. Oh, Gum Papa…

The dark haired Gummi stepped forward, grasped the blade of the sword and yanked hard, forcing it back through the way it came. She stared at the crimson color a moment and at the blood that flowed from that horrific wound, as if amused by it. Then, leaning over , she draped her face right over the lost warrior's face. Corvi pinched his eyes tightly shut and held his breath. That gummi was right there. If she turned, she'd see him, she'd see him! The corn stalks moved a bit and despite it tickling, despite it itching, the cub dared not move, he dared not breathe.

"Well, you can rest assured knight, you know more than most people about me. Feel free to drop by sometime. You know where I live." Standing, she dropped the blade to the ground, turned on her heels, dying some of that black fur a bit darker in red blood, and vanished in a flash of light.

Corvi caved, unable to stand it any longer. He buried his face into his mentor's shoulder, still at his side, sobbing, "My fault, my fault, my fault!"