Gummadoon Meeting Room

"It's the wording." Lucki spoke with Lady Bane's tone; he hated to let her take control but he had to. After all, with the journals being read, they needed her input. "The way she phrases things. That is…" She paused and Lucki's spirit gave her a nudge, a reminder that she had agreed to cooperate with them. "…like my mother's form of writing."

The room was quiet for a moment more. It was finally Plucki that spoke out, "Her explanation coincides with young Cubbi's revelation." He caught himself, reminding himself to keep his word to Cubbi but this was the time to compare their notes, "Young Cubbi told me that while locked in that prison, he was exposed to memories. Memories of Emi and of what was occurring when she lived within the Glen." He could not hold in a deep sigh at that thought, "He did not tell me great detail but great detail was not needed."

Oh, Plucki had the whole attention of the room now. None more so than that of Gruffi. "He saw memories?"

The Captain nodded "He could tell me little, scarcely able to stay awake for the most part, but he was quite clear that he was able to see Emi, see her memories and he saw, or rather, felt, another entity among her, a dark creature. He said only that he felt…this creature break Emi's will. Shatter it utterly." He paused, took a breath "And then it took over, entirely."

Corvi looked down at the journals he held and set them down slowly, "So…Emi was possessed?"

The entire room reeked of emotion, nearly dripping under the emotions of sadness, horror and utter frustration at their lack of sight. Those who had fought against Emi the first time could only look over their past battles and wonder…how had they missed it? How had they not seen it? Those that had not been there, that had only grown up hearing the stories, felt their own hearts sink. The knowledge that one of their own, one of their own that they had shoved from the forefronts of their minds out of pure fear, had been a victim and indeed still was, coated hearts in sickness.

Blastus lay a hand on the Corvi's shoulder, breaking the solemn silence. "So it seems, mon petit enfant." He felt a whole mess of emotions himself. "All this time…mon frer, do you know when it occurred? How long were we blinded?"

Grammi interrupted before Plucki could reply, "Poor dear but does it matter, Sir Blastus? We hafta free the poor girl!" Gum, the idea of anyone being possessed, let alone for as long as they were indicating…if she had been possessed before her prison and now, now, after so many centuries, she had been free and that poor child was still stuck as a prisoner in her own body? The motherly gummi shuddered at the mere thought. "Now that we know she's possessed, we can focus on getting rid of that evil thing inside of her!"

Murmurs of agreement rumbled through the room. "So…" it was little Toni that spoke up, "It's _really_ Lady Bane's mom that's in Emi?"

Lady Bane spoke out through Lucki again, directing her caustic tongue at the little cub, "Yes, you little fool. Haven't you been paying attention? Stupid of you all to allow babies in here." She directed her attention to the adults gummies in the room as Toni snarled at her and stuck out his tongue, defending,

"I'm not a baby. I'm clar..clari.." The cub never lost his sharpness though his energy dropped somewhat as the word escaped him.

"Clarifying, darlin'" Grammi supplied, with a small smile at the boy's spirit. Reminded her so much of Cubbi, no wonder the two of them had bonded so much.

Toni nodded, "Right. That. Stupid to _assume_ that everyone else is on the same page. You make sure everyone understands so we can decide what to do together!" He shifted his attention to his mentor, "Right, Gummie?"

The knight chuckled, lightly and squeezed the boy's shoulder, "Yes, Toni. Rushing into things is how people get killed." He eyed Lucki, tried to ignore the horrible fear that still coated him when he looked at the cub, pictured what might happen to him… "So, with what the journals say and your own experience, you state you believe it is your mother?"

Lady Bane scoffed, "There is no other explanation for it. The two of them entered one of your blasted tunnels together. That memory is crystal clear in my mind. Only one of them came out." She nodded towards the journals. "And the style in these journals. My mother had a very precise writing tone. These journals…there was a reason they gave me a shudder. They are her, completely." She laughed, such a haunting sound to hear coming out of Lucki's throat. "Her bragging, the way she savors her victories, counting off her victims….oh, that is all her. She would bathe in the blood if she had the chance." She eyed the room, "I'd imagine if you let the boy keep reading, she would have gone into detail on it."

"How can your own mother be so cruel?" Speaking out verbally in the room, Lucki's soul would have shuddered had it been able to so in its stead, the body shook. His voice interrupted her deep sarcasm. "I mean, I understand her wanting power..."

"No, you gummies understand nothing about the importance of power." Lady Bane refuted. And odd sight, two souls speaking from the same mouth and seemingly forgetting all others in the room. "Fools. You willingly give power to your own people. This council of yours, it has enough power to rule the entire human race and yet it relies on votes, cooperation, compromise. Likewise, your precious knights...how much strength do they possess? How much skill? This Plucki of yours" She gestured with Lucki's arm to the golden furred knight, "He commands them and yet he does not bother to DO anything with this strength!"

Lucki did give a soul shudder that time, even though it seemed impossible, plus another shake of his physical body in revulsion. "Why? We don't NEED to. We work together to live together. why can't you humans...no, why can't YOU understand that?"

Lady Bane laughed aloud, "This argument achieves nothing. You ask why my mother is so cruel, it is out of need for power. Nothing more, nothing less."

"She could have killed you before," Lucki argued, slamming a balled fist on the table in agitation. "She could have killed you lots of times before. Why didn't she?"

Sensing where the gummi was headed, Lady Bane laughed. Oh, how she laughed. It was a deep, harsh, heartless sound which made the entire room wince just out of discomfort. Such a noise should never come from a gummi throat, let alone that of a kind hearted child like Lucki. "Foolish cub. If you are hoping on the idea that my mother carries any affection for me that can be exploited...forget it. She has left me alive, if for nothing else, her own amusement. There is no love lost between us."

"But..." Lucki tried to wrap his brain around this concept, feeling so utterly lost. "You're her daughter..."

"And Jason was her son." Wow, Lady Bane must have been feeling the pressure too, willingly admitting and talking about Jason in front of this room full of people. She had been trying so hard to keep that secret. "Family has no meaning to her. She has simply learned to use it to her advantage."

Lucki interrupted the conversation to clarify to the room, "Jason is her brother. I saw…her mother murdered him in front of her." He paused, fought Lady Bane's screeching protests. "It scared her."

Lady Bane cursed the child for making her talk about such things openly. How dare he spout about her history so non-chalantly! For that matter, how was he diverting her to _force_ her to use the mouth? Making it impossible for her to simply communicate with him on the astral plane. Did he even know he was doing it? "Allow me to put it in crystal clear terms for you" she purposely ignored Lucki's statement on her brother "-my mother absorbed power wherever she could. My grandfather, at a time, held financial and political power and she lost no time in taking it from him, of ending his life to obtain it...and she did so openly, with no hidden secrets about who was deciding to do so. Tell me, little cub, do you know why?"

Lucki was quiet. The entire room was quiet.

"Because," the sorceress sneered, twisting that green furred face into such a horrific glare, "She knew that HE still loved HER. And that he would not dare attack his 'little girl.' She knew the limitations that this disgusting love gives you and make no mistake, she will exploit the Hell out of it." She narrowed her eyes, internally wishing she could stare down that snotty cub, "If your race had any sense, it would do the same!"

The squire said both mentally and physically, "Let's just agree to disagree cuz, Lady, we will NEVER understand yer motives." With that said, Lucki added, "So, it's your mother in Emi. Fine. How do we fight her?"

It was impossible to not see the tensing of Lucki's body, of the spirit within him withdrawing. Oh, the emotions that erupted from her at that point. So much disgust, anger but fear. Lots of fear. Fear that she tried horribly to hide. It was transparent even through a face that was not her own! Lucki's mind was being bombarded with so many things and they flew so fast, so quickly. He grasped the sides of his head, wincing, "Ow…ow…" Turning from his position, he buried his face into Gumlittle's nearby chest, focusing his energy back on getting Lady Bane to settle.

Lady! Stop it. You knew we were gonna hafta fight her! Lucki snarled at her You said you would help us!

It is not a simple thing! The sorceress replied. You are speaking like this is a minor thing! She can—

You're just being a coward! He accused. We don't have time for that!

I am not being a coward, I am being realistic. She countered, snarling. You did not grow up with her. I did.

Lucki drew himself back to the present and spoke out to the room, "She's panicking." He reported simply, gently pulling from Gumlittle. "She's afraid."

Wrenching control of his mouth back, the sorceress snarled, "I am not afraid, I am simply being cautious. Mother is clever, sneaky. She is patient." That had always been mother's strongest point, her patience. It had proven so lethal though and yet it was always something she had struggled with. "She has probably already devised a plan. It is not as simple as fighting her. She will not have spent all that time in that prison without coming up with numerous angles, plans. She is too clever for that."

Lucki fought back, grasping control of his mouth again, "So that means you have to help us, Lady! You gotta talk to us! Are you gonna just cower and not do anything? Like you did with Jason?"

Oh, she tensed, "I…will….never…be…that…helpless…again." She ground out through Lucki's clenched teeth. Teeth clenched so tight that it made his jaw ache. Lucki knew he'd struck a nerve. Good!

"You don't wanna feel that helpless again? Then don't. Don't hide from your feelings. Use 'em! Stop bein' a little bane in everyone's backsides, lady, and use whatcha got. Ya want out? Fine. Then do what needs to be done an' stop yer bellyachin'. We all lost people. We're sick of it. So we're not gonna let it happen again. Either help us or get outta our way." The Glen leader's sharp tone left little room for argument.

Those words... "Get out of my way"... The last time she'd heard them, fear froze her. But not this time. No... Oddly enough, they... they awoke a little fire in her. And not that old flame Mother had extinguished at Jason's death. No. This was something... new. This was... Damn, what was it?

Internally, Lucki snorted at Lady Bane's confused surprise. Don't always have to name it. Just use it! Personally, I like to call it guts.

It made sense to gummies of course but such gumption, such strength in the face of poor odds, was completely out of Lady Bane's realm of expertise or trust. She trusted magic. She trusted herself. She trusted no one and nothing else. Which led her to a single conclusion in the upcoming battle. And, yes, there would indeed be a battle. Whether she wanted to be a part of it or not was irrelevant. It was coming and she would be yanked right into the middle of it. Somehow, she knew that, as she knew she would never be able to defeat her mother like this.

I... I need my body back. I can't fight her while inside you. You're always resisting, even if you don't do it intentionally. I'm much more powerful inside my own beautiful body. I must have it back.

Lucki was taken aback by her sudden request. For once, it wasn't a scheme. He could tell now, being around her foul soul for so long. She was telling the truth. So, where'd you stash it?

Suspicious at first, she paused before asking, You would help me, knowing I will turn on you at the very earliest opportunity?

We don't always like our alliances, Bane, but sometimes we just don't have a choice. I know we need you. You know it. So let's get to it. Where did you put your body?

Tavi's Prison

Tavi's feelings of lostness generated around the two souls. She was grateful to not be alone but what was she to do now? She was still imprisoned and her visitor had no means of getting her out. Did she even have a right to? After all, with what she had unleashed? Was it better and _just_ for her to just linger her? But then, what if there was time to save those she cared for? Desperation and sickness of the heart poured over her like a thunderous downpour and her grandfather spoke out softly, fearing he might lose her again. "Child, the way out lies with you." He stroked her face, as much as spirits could, "And you possess the best chance against Emi we have had in quite some time."

Tears filling her sight, Tavi eyed him but the elder bear quickly added, "You truly do not understand the kind of ability you possess, do you?" He shook his head, smiled gently again, "My dear child, just like Emi is so lethal because of her abilities, so are you but you can dictate what side you stand on." He frowned, took hold of her hands, "Tell me, little one, what is the purpose of the medallions?"

Taken aback, Tavi wrinkled her brow, wondering what purpose such a question carried for her current situation. Nevertheless, she answered, "It lets us do gummi magic..."

Shaking his head, the bear corrected her, "No, it helps us to CONTROL gummi magic."

Eyes huge, Tavi inquired "B-but, we have to have a medallion to do gummi magic."

Shaking his head a second time, her grandfather corrected her gently, "No. We don't. The medallions did not create gummi magic, gummi magic created the medallions. The medallions make the process easier. Over time, the hard focus and concentration and spiritual dedication needed to tap into magic became misconstrued as inability. The first magicians had no medallions. Our first attempts at magic were...messy. Injuries, far more power than we wanted to deal with nor believed we should have been entrusted with. The medallions not only made the power easier to find and utilize but also limited how much we could pull out at once."

His eyes kind, he spoke gently, "Tavi, dear daughter of my daughter, think. While, yes, you were tricked, a simple touch from you was strong enough to shatter a bond created by twenty wizards. Emi simply has learned how to pull magic when one is close enough. It was YOUR power that cracked and destroyed that seal. All without your conscious thought. Tell me, what do you think you could accomplish with training and time?" He raised a brow. "What are you capable of doing now?"

Tavi just stared.

"Child," he clarified, "The medallions act as a guide, like one uses a funnel or a cup to determine how much liquid to pull from a pool. Without a medallion, you have access to the entire pool."

"But...but...humans and stuff don't have that kind of power. Why are we different?" Was that truly what made Emi so powerful? Her gummi blood?

"Because, grandchild." The gummi explained gently. "All other magic is drawn from a source. From nature, from science, from a mysterious source," He frowned at that thought, mainly because that was how Fey used their magic and he was still not very fond of them but he smiled at her "But not with gummies. Our magic is the power created by our souls."

Eyes nearly springing from her skull, Tavi clarified, "Y-you mean every time we do magic, we're using our SOULS to make it?"

"Exactly."

Bewildered and stunned, the girl was silent a long time, processing this information. "That's why this prison is based on emotion. Can't make a prison using your soul without emotions being there...and...and that's why it took some of the life of the wizards...that's why you're so tired after you do a spell...especially if it's a powerful one" Everything suddenly made so much sense!

"Right on all accounts, smart girl." The gummi winked at her, "Also why humans, even if they manage to figure out gummi magic, can never duplicate it without a conduit like a medallion or an artifact. Imitate it yes but never actually create it. Our souls are unique in this universe, for reasons we have yet to understand. Perhaps it's best we do not understand." He grinned, adjusted the glasses on his face, "Smart girl," he said again, "Take after your mother, who obviously takes after me."

And now he was making jokes! "But Grandfather.." She pleaded "If all that's true then why didn't this place heal Emi? Why did all this..." she motioned to the landscape that literally reflected all emotion, all memories, that literally dipped right into the soul. "not heal her?"

The bear turned serious, "Something kept it from touching her soul. I cannot say for certain but I believe your boy Cubbi may have more insight than I."

"Cubbi!" Tavi jerked her head around, feeling a sickening feeling in her gut. How could she have forgotten?! Her spirit screamed for her dear friend but could not locate the boy. Had he vanished entirely? Had she been so caught up in her own predicament that she had let his spirit whisk away into this dark nothingness?! Feeling panic, she turned back to the spirit before her "Grandfather—

"He is safe. He is back in Gummadoon, waiting for you." The bear said softly. "Cubbi had to reach out, had to bear his heart to get out. As you must." He eyed her softly, said gently, "Child it is your defeating thoughts which are your chains here. You must break free of them and the only way to do that is forgive yourself for something you are not guilty of."

"How..." she began to sob.

"Sweet child, remember what I said. Our magic is in the soul. If your soul cannot escape on its own, call for aid." He sincerely wished he could tell her more but he had done all he could do. He knew Tavi knew little about him, as did most of his family. Not out of a lack of desire. Far from it. For safety. Perhaps he had been foolish to change his name. Foolish to not speak of these things when he was alive but...nothing to be done for it now. He would aid his last family member in all ways he could. Then, perhaps in time, in some way, he could unveil all he had to hide when he was alive.

Frowning, Tavi didn't like being spoken to in riddles but she supposed even spirits had limits to what they were allowed to do. Call for aid, huh? A small piece of her still cried she deserved no aid but she forced it to be silent. Her grandfather had spoken so many things to her and she still had to save her brother. Regardless of her thoughts on herself, she had to save Lucki and she could not do so while she was trapped in here!

She frowned again, deeper, her spirit seeping out like a liquid, seeking help, seeking aid. Like a rush of energy, like a vision, she saw her brother, felt his poor soul but it was not weak, not like she had feared. There was a power to it. A strength. She felt a twinge of something else but then it was pushed aside and she felt only her brother's strong presence and it was rushing closer and closer to her!

The spirit of Merlinni Gummi vanished with a smile as he felt his grandson come closer, and there was more strength to him than that of a dying soul. Oh, no…that soul was _alive_.

Gummadoon Halls

Martinni paused in his patrol of the halls, hearing chattering inside the corridors. Knowing all too well about the hidden passages in the walls as well as the coming and increasing threat, he cautiously pressed into the nearby passage, slipping into the inner corridors, his muscles tensed, his nerves frayed and ready. He really didn't know what he was expecting to do if he came across a threat but he wasn't thinking that far ahead. In any event, it was a moot point as all he found within the hidden walls were Corvi's little brothers.

"Martin!" Morri greeted him after an initial jump. "You startled us!"

The slightly older cub frowned, "Well, you were making a lot of noise." He accused, "I came to see what it was."

Morri shot his toddler brother a glare, "Tol' ya." He had been trying to get Cori to be quieter, to walk more carefully but the three year old was having none of it. All he knew was that he was being entrusted to do something to help Big Brother! That means he approached it with so much zeal and excitement that Morri's directions about being wary of his noise level just went right over his head. In the back of Morri's mind, he was beginning to think that he should have taken Gori up on his offer but Cori was way too into it now, "Cori, you need be quieter!"

Cori just stuck out his tongue, "Am quiet!" but didn't say anything else, aside from rushing up and hugging Martinni's leg.

The squire ruffled his hair a little before asking, "What are you doing here anyway, Morri?"

The younger boy replied, "Helping out my brother. He said we needed to remember where all these passages went to." Morri added "So Cori and I have been explorin' them. They go everywhere! All over the place."

Martinni blinked in surprise "Why did he say we needed to know?"

Morri was quiet a moment before remarked, "Just in case."

"In case of what?" Martinni's voice was utterly bewildered. He had a deep feeling that this was something he should have been able to figure out but no matter how he racked his brain, nothing was coming. He knew the knights were working on the threat and that they were having a meeting right now to address it. But they would beat it! They always did! Unless… "Did Corvi tell you something else?"

Morri shook his head "Not really. Just said that we needed to know…a way out."

Martinni's eyes grew again and then went huge. "You mean…to run? To leave the city?" Impossible! Never done! Ever!

"Corvi said he hopes we won't need to but that it'd be stupid not to plan for it." Morri clarified. "So Cori and I have been exploring."

Martinni stood there, dumbfounded another few minutes, his mind racing. The concept of abandoning Gummadoon, it was so alien! He knew his history, Gummadoon had NEVER been abandoned, never been left, never fallen! Even against the worst of odds…

Mind your confidence, Sprout. Gumlittle's lesson from weeks ago suddenly was drawn to the front of his mind. Pride is a good thing but if it's taken too far, it's dangerous and the worst kind of dangerous. The worst thing a knight can do is think he's undefeatable.

He had just taken the lesson like he took most of his lessons—listening but not truly understanding the impact. Now, though, with all the secrets having to be uncovered due to the adults trying to "spare" them, all the adults being so frightened of admitting they were afraid, it took on an entirely new weight. The thought of the city actually falling…would they be potentially preparing for evacuation if it wasn't a possibility? Fear taking his knees in the form of shaky muscles, the squire found that he suddenly thrust way deeper into this current dilemma than he thought was possible. What had started as wanting to be of aid was quickly turning into preparation for war. Well, that's what he was training to be a knight for, wasn't it?

Taking a shaky breath, Martinni asked, "What have you found?"

Morri laughed, a little, "That there are a LOT of passages down here. Some of them are locked, some aren't. It's like another city!"

Thinking, the olive colored cub inquired, "Have you asked Flynn?"

Blinking, Cori asked, "Flynn?" He knew the squire, though he had known him more as a page. They would play on occasion but since Flynn graduated to being a squire, they had not spent as much time together.

Martinni nodded, "You might not know him that well but Flynn loves maps. Loves blueprints and passages and all kinds of things like that. I think he has a whole collection of gummi warrens layouts in his room. Loves to study them. Saw him making a few of his own for fun." How that could be fun, Martinni would never know but that wasn't the point. "I'd betcha anything that he has something on Gummadoon's insides."

"Then let's go!" Morri replied and the group of three took off, with Cori calling "'low down! 'Low down!"

Gummadoon Meeting Room

"You are putting your foot down, now?" Lady Bane snarled out of Lucki's mouth. "You told me that you would be willing to lead me back to my body. Then I can be rid of you!"

Lucki replied simply, "I didn't say we wouldn't," He looked at the room before finishing, "But my sister first." Shifting his eyes to his Captain, he stated, "You said you pulled Cubbi from the prison. How did that work? We need to get my sister out. If she's still stuck in there, then I don't trust this sorceress not to try something." He did not specify if it Lady Bane he referred to or her mother inside Emi. Kinda a moot point really. He eyed the knight deeply, pleading with his eyes. "We _have_ to get her out."

Blastus nodded before Plucki could reply, "Qui, we must. Her power…this…creature…" he shook his head, "Much as I hate to bring it up, the creature within her has realized the kind of power she holds. She may well be in danger as we speak."

Plucki nodded, addressed the room, "Agreed." He smiled at Lucki "And we must save her from that horrible place. In fact, young Lucki, you might be what she needs."

Blinking surprised, he asked, "Me? How? Why?"

"Cubbi was able to pull himself from the prison because he spoke to me. Spiritually, with his soul." Plucki thought back on that, that moment when his heart understood, knew who was calling to him. It was a moment he would never forget and it was a moment that he doubted Cubbi would ever forget either. It was as distinct and memorable as…well, as anything Plucki could bind his heart to. He seriously believed that just like the memory of Aldi's birth would never leave his memory, that moment when Cubbi's soul had cried out to him…that would never leave either.

Councilor Wooddale spoke out, "Oh? Like when we appeal to our lost loved ones for connection?"

Plucki nodded, "Yes, exactly. The prison seems to run on spiritual energy. I was able to see Cubbi though I could not touch him. But his spirit called out to me, pleaded with me." He ignored the heart broken looks on the Glen gummies faces. "It is the emotions of the person within the prison that keep them there. It was the protection put into its making to prevent Emi from escaping while she still had ill intent—"

"Which is why she needed my niece to break the seal on the main door," Councilor Wooddale concluded.

Plucki nodded "Exactly."

Zummi interrupted, "But…Cubbi doesn't have those tangerous doughts..er, dangerous thoughts." The mere thought of such a thing was inconceivable. Cubbi, while mischievous, never did anything with malice. In fact, he had such a giant heart; that was one reason he had been drawn to knighthood. If the prison held you in because of emotions, then why had Cubbi been trapped in the first place?

Plucki nodded, "Indeed, you're correct, my friend. It seems that self-doubt and self-blame serve the same purpose as negative thoughts towards others. I had to reassure him of our forgiveness before the prison released him through that same tapestry he had drawn our attention to." He eyed Lucki. "I would guess that your sister is trapped by the same type of emotions, young Lucki and given her devotion to you as well as her reasoning for going in the first place, you might be just the one to reassure her."

Tavi's Prison

Lingering amid the misty atmosphere, Tavi lay as much as she could, taking in the comforting presence of her grandfather. While he had vanished from "sight" per say, he was still there. She could feel it. She had her information now, at least some that she didn't know before. Her grandfather had said that Cubbi had found some things out though he did not say what. She wanted to be back with her family. What if her family was in danger? Her fault…it was all her fault. That sickening darkness began again.

Focus. She coached herself. Lucki is…

"Tavi!"

Jerking upright, she looked around as the atmosphere shifted to a flurry of lights as her emotions rushed like water. She knew that voice! Her heart leapt with joy and she felt, briefly, her grandfather smile. "Lucki!" Slowly, gradually, her brother seemed to fade in within her view, right in front of her. Pale but not the same kind of pale that he had been. He looked…well, healthy. Almost like he had looked before he died! But more important than that, it meant that he had not faded away yet! He was still alive! Oh, Gum, he was alive! "Lucki!"

Her brother smiled gently, "Yep, it's me, come on, sis, you hafta get out of here."

"How?" she demanded. "I…I can't get out!"

Lucki knelt, grasped her gently on the cheeks where they whipped around like mist. "The exit is right here. Feel, with your spirit." He would have touched her if he were able but she did take heed to his words. If he said to feel with her spirit…and her grandfather had said that it was built on emotions and that magic was drawn with the soul so…she focused, keeping her eyes locked on her brother as the atmosphere shifted, solidified and then, she saw it. A simple doorway that led out of this horrible place. She could see the library beyond it!

Rushing it, she yelped in horror as she was pushed back from her salvation. Hard. It was like hitting a wall. Tears in her eyes, she whirled "Lucki!" She accused. "It won't let me out!"

He nodded, simply "Not yet. Your spirit isn't ready."

"Isn't ready?" she demanded, tears running, "Why?"

"You tell me, little sister." He replied without missing a beat. "What is your soul yelling at you? What are you telling yourself that's a lie? Tell me so I can yell at you for being so silly." He gave her a gentle smile, the same smile he used to give her all the time when he caught her doing something she knew better than to do but he opted to humor her regardless. "You get it easy; Plucki was able to tell us how the prison freed Cubbi."

"So he IS free?" she inquired.

A nod from her brother, "He is, and you will be too in a minute if you can focus and really listen to me." He raised a brow at her "I know I was never your favorite teacher or lecturer…"

"No!" she interrupted. "I…love to listen to you." It was true, especially now. If he…if he… "What…do I needa do, Lucki?"

The older boy replied, "The prison is built on emotion Tavi. It was designed so that Emi couldn't escape with negative thoughts dictating her mind. But it works the same for you." He clarified, "You're thinking negative things about yourself and that's what's lockin' you here."

Blinking in surprise, she gaped, "I…that's what's keeping me here?'

Lucki nodded, "Yep. So, spill, little sister. Talk to me."

So nonchalant, like him dying had not happened. Like him dying AGAIN wasn't going to happen. Her breath caught briefly in her throat but she managed to respond, "I…I was an idiot Lucki! Emi tricked me! I cost you time, energy! I let her loose on our race! It's MY fault! _I'm_ the one that let her break out of her prison! And …and I still can't cure you!" Tears running now and a fierce rain began. "I can't lose you again! Not again and not like that! I failed you!" Her anger at her own ineptitude surrounded them in the form of raining fire—sadness and anguish mixed into one.

Shaking his head, Lucki replied, "Is that what this is about?" He asked softly, "Tavi, first off…you and Cubbi were tricked because Emi knows how to play you. She's old, older than we thought, and you learn to read and manipulate people's emotions over time. See, if this prison works the same way that the spirit world works, you can always watch. I think that's what she's been doing all this time. Watching, observing, waiting. Using my situation and what you went through to move us like she wants." He locked sight with her, kept his voice stern but kind, "This is NOT your fault, Tavi!"

He remembered very little of the spirit world to be frank though he found that as Lady Bane's control faltered, his memories of it grew. Not in any distinct way though, it was more like he remembered being at peace, feeling completely relaxed and feeling the all too familiar spirits of his parents and deeper than that, the feeling of love—of people he did not know and yet his spirit recognized as family, as comfort. It was similar to what he felt here. There was a spirit here, a presence that he didn't know and yet his soul recognized whole heartedly as good and as family. Someone had come to comfort his sister. It gave his heart a leap.

As he focused so intently on his sister, that odd yet familiar sensation, that tickling at his senses, made him look just off point of her. He never expected to actually SEE anyone but, just slightly out of focus, just slightly visible, was a very wise-looking gummi. Dark blue in coloring, least as much as he could tell, with hair long since whitened and old glasses upon his nose. Lucki's memory raced, trying to place the face. He knew it. It was so blurry and faded with time but he knew him!

Long ago…right after Tavi was born. He was young, barely four and pestering to see his new baby sister. His mother and his Aunt Toffi was there, his father was there. And yes, sitting in a chair, clutching a cane as his hands shook with age, that same old gummi, with that gentle smile as he lifted young Lucki up to better see his new sibling.

Grandfather? He inquired silently, seemingly only at the elder gummi though, could you direct thoughts like that here? Odd thing but given the spiritual nature of this place…perhaps it was like using a whisper.

A gentle nod was his only reply before his attention was drawn back to his sister once more.

Tears still staining her face, Tavi eyed her sibling, "Not my fault? But I was the one who let her out…"

Lucki rolled his eyes, "She used your power to break the seal. She knew you would do whatever you needed to do to save me. Tell me, sis, did you think you were releasing Emi or did you think you were helping me?"

Head down slightly, the young sorceress replied, "Thought it was gonna help free Concordia so we could save you." She admitted, "But then…it felt like something just ripped at my insides. Then I was so tired and so worn and so scared…."

Lucki nodded, stroked his sister's hair, "See? And who do you think did the ripping?"

Head down, she said "Emi?"

"Uh huh." Lucki replied. "And there's nothing wrong with wanting to help me, sis. Wish you'd thought it through a little more…" he admitted and then smiled, "But I'm not mad at you, no one is."

"But Emi's free…" she began.

"And that isn't your fault." He reminded her. "She used you." Here, his eyes turned dark, the kind of dark that Tavi used to see occasionally if it seemed like someone was picking on her or teasing her, even if it was playful. "And she isn't going to get away with that." Tightening his grip, as much as a non-tangible grip could be, Lucki added, "And we're gonna need your help for that Sis. _I_ forgive you. So forgive yourself."

For a moment more, she just stared at her brother. Stared and stared before caving into tears and burrowing herself into his chest. Burrowing herself so hard and so quickly that the harsh light and odd shifting feeling scarcely made a lick of difference to her.