Secondary Council Chambers
"What in the blue blazes is goin' on?" demanded Grammi.
"An' who's this kid?" Gruffi waved at the pleading Lucki, still grasping desperately at Councilor Wooddale.
The councilor's face - all of them in fact - had gone white as flour. The knights were no help either as they tore outta the room without a word.
Finally, the one with the title Flurryfeather answered. "I... I apologize. You're our guests but with this new emergency it's best-"
"I'm Lucki, Lady Bane is currently possessing me, and now Emi's gonna get both Cubbi and my sister if we don't stop her!" the green-furred cub got out in a rush.
Flurryfeather had been meaning to spare them all of that, to keep everyone as calm as possible while the situation was thought through, given that their knights had just rushed out.
At Lucki's words, the Glens surged into the tiny room, squishing Toni to the center and right up next to Lucki. Then everybody started talking at once and nobody could hear a thing, least of all Toni, but he kept the Merlinni book clutched to his chest.
"You better... get back, Toni." Lucki started to warn, but his legs buckled and his words stopped after that. Thankfully, he was caught by Spinwillow before he fell right to the ground.
"Land sakes... Tummi, go get the poor dear some water. Can't even stand on his own two feet." Grammi said to the large light blue bear.
"Okay, Grammi." And you can bet he had no problem leaving the confusing scene behind to try and go find a cup of water!
"I'm perfectly fine." came the saccarine tone of a stranger from the green cub's mouth. "Toni, may I see that book?" And, oh, did everyone see the hunger in the cub's eyes - so foreign to gummikind, and he reached for the book.
Grammi marched forward, yanked Toni away before anyone else had the sense to, and wound her hand back for a mighty slap before anyone knew what was what.
Councilor Wooddale just managed to grab Grammi's arm before she let loose. "No! Don't!"
"Why not? That'd teach that witch ta hijack one of yer cubs, an' maybe smack her right outta him, to boot!"
Amid the eerie mad cackling of Lucki, Wooddale shook her head. "No, it won't. Lady Bane cannot currently leave my nephew. They're stuck as they are for the time being. And... and if more harm comes to him..." Her lower lip trembled.
Grammi, and now Zummi and Gruffi, came over to stare critically at the boy, saw the intense bruising up and down his body.
"What's happened to the coor pub - er, I mean poor cub?" Zummi asked, aghast.
The Council was again at a loss, for they didn't want to blurt out that the boy had been dead no less than a month ago. But they didn't want to lie about it either. They could say he's sick, he has a condition... It wasn't the whole truth though, and they all knew it.
"Stop... worryin' about... me." Lucki said, sparing them all, sagging against Spinwillow's. At least Lady Bane had stopped forcing his body to act. It hurt, pushing his body like that, and she couldn't feel it. He sure as Gum did! But she knew to push him more, make him get hurt more, would only speed up the destruction of his body, his soul, and hers. At least, he thought privately, I can be thankful for that. "Just go... stop Emi! Save my... sister... and Cubbi."
"And don't worry, Lucki." Toni spoke up bravely. "She won't get her hands on this. Won't work for you anyway, ya dumb witch! It's a smart book and only talks to us!" And he even stuck his tongue out at Lucki but of course meant it for Lady Bane.
While the adults began discussing option, Lucki still struggled to keep Lady Bane from breaking out again. He was losing, he knew, but at least it was all outu there and they knew SHE was in here with him. She was literally drooling to get at the book and he wanted Toni and that book as far away from her as he could keep them apart. Didn't know what that thing was. Just knew that Lady Bane REALLY wanted it.
You better behave. I know what your weakness is. Lucki reminded her.
You have no idea what you know and don't know, you stupid child. she seethed, pacing in her corner, still intent on getting the book.
I know you think emotions are weak, are your weakness. That's why you look down on us. We have this great connection and yer afraid of having it yourself, again. Cuz it really ripped you up to have it torn from you. You just sat there and didn't even tell yer mom off for killing your brother. Oh, he knew he was pushing it but it was a test, see? He had to know.
She didn't reply. She acted. She sprang from her dark area and began throttling him on a metaphysical level.
But, as it seemed his body began to deteriorate more, his mind, his soul, remained sharp and appeared to be getting stronger. They wrestled for a bit, and in doing so, no one controlled the body and it slipped into an outward unconscious state, but inside, there was war, and for the first time, he wasn't losing. He was stronger. He could stand his ground. And he did. Whenever she tried to put the choke-hold on his being, he could break it. Each time she tried, one right after the other, seemed to be getting easier to break from. It didn't make sense; his soul, his whole being getting stronger while his body faded; but at this point he'd catch any break he could get!
Stop this! He yelled at her. It's a waste of time. We gotta find a way to get Emi, to save everybody, or we're all toast and you know it!
I will not be ordered about by a disgusting emotion-saturated child! she screeched back, but then, finally, the battle ceased.
He... He'd won. Really won this time. Could he do this every time she tried?
When some semblance of order was established amongst the gathered gummies, attention filtered back to Lucki and each one had the same reaction. It was eerie, real spooky, for everyone gathered to see a really big grin on the unconscious cub's face.
That's how Sir Blastus and Corvi found the group.
Still a little unstable himself, Corvi tried not to show it as he waded into the already-full room and squatted down beside his out-of-it friend.
"Don't die on me, too. Make a promise, gotta keep it." he said to the green-furred cub.
"Councilors, where are my brothers?" Sir Blastus asked.
"Ran out, prob'ly heading for Gummi Glen." Gruffi answered, walking up to the knight who was actually one of the few adults shorter than him. "And they ran off without askin' for help. How the Gum are they supposed to find Cubbi and that Tavi girl without someone who actually knows the place?" he demanded, fuming, before storming out to find the knights in question.
Zummi trailed after him. "Gruffi, wait! They may have need of a wizard, too, and I know the Glen just as well as you."
"My left foot, ya do!" Gruffi countered but did not hinder the elder lavender-furred historian from following him. None of the others were volunteering...
"Hey! He's sorta my brother, ya know!" Sunni surprised everyone by shouting after the pair and then dashing after them.
Amid the three Glens zipping out, Sir Ecri came upon the tiny impromptu councilroom. He surveyed silently the looks of query, the unconscious Lucki, his mentor Sir Blastus, and then found Corvi kneeling by his ailing friend.
With a nod to his mentor, Blastus joined him at the doorway. He said in as quiet a tone as he could manage, "Sir Blastus... I've found something disturbing. Lady Cressi is not in New Gumbrea, Ursalia, or any of the others. I'm beginning to think she never left Gummadoon. Do you think Corvi is mistaken? Or is it possible his mother's been-"
Sir Blastus gave a sigh weighed down by his heavy heart. "Mon ami... Corvi has confessed to me that his mother has died of illness. It is too much to go into at the moment. Cubbi and Tavi it seems have gone to Gummi Glen and have been fooled by Emi. Sir Plucki and Sir Gumlittle may already be en route to that location and I must join them. If she is free-"
"Then it is even more imperative that we find a way to bind her once more and that means helping the magihistorians and wizards here in unravelling the construction and use of the Gummadoon Staff."
Sir Blastus blinked at his once-squire. "Sir Ecri, I should join my brothers."
"And what if Emi has already escaped? What if she is headed here now? We need answers, and we need a strong defense. I do not think it wise to leave Gummadoon without all three of its strongest knights. I've heard rumor that Corvi mentioned Lady Bane's palace may hold some clues? If this is true, we must send a group immediately, but not just magicians. Knights as well, for there are bound to be traps in that witch's lair."
"I hate to say I was overhearing but you should really take that cub with you." Gusto spoke up, indicating Lucki.
"You may not be aware, mon ami, but he is quite frail right now..."
"Even so, you may not be aware but Lady Bane's in there with the kid and she doesn't like Emi any more than we do."
"What?!" The shock on Sirs Ecri and Blastus's faces silenced the whole room, as did their twin exclamation.
"It's true." Wooddale admitted. "She's been in Lucki the whole time. Possession. And I agree that we must move forward quickly. Even if Lucki is not awake yet, he, and the witch inhabiting him, will prove invaluable - as long as she cooperates. Berrybottom and I will come with you to Lady Bane's palace, Sir Ecri. Sir Blastus, we must have a strong presence here with much battle experience and you are the most qualified. Sir Ecri? Can you manage my nephew?"
He gave a silent nod and waded into the room to accept the boy from Councilor Spinwillow.