He had promised himself that he would return each year and this year was no different. It was the 11th year and Gruffi made the same painful march every year. Up the same hill to find the same abandoned tree. There was something different about this time around. In some strange way the day had appeared just as it had last year. His steps felt dragged and the wind was gentle but felt heavy it the same time. He felt it.

"He's here…"

Could it be? He runs up the hill. Heart pounding in a panic he races to the top of hill. There was the tree and by it was…

"Gusto."

He looked exactly the way he left except he was holding his bandana in his hand. Turning around he greats his friend with a smile.

"Hey Gruffamando."

He didn't know what to say or do. He just couldn't believe what he was seeing. The tears naturally came and began to fall heavier and faster after each drop.

"It's you…by Gum it's really you!"

He runs up to the blue bear nearly collapsing when he reaches him. He didn't want to touch him. He feared that he would disappear if he did.

Gusto maintains he same familiar smile.

Gusto reaches out tempting Gruffi to hold his hand.

"It's alright Gruffi."

He couldn't take it. He pulls the younger bear into a hug and cries into his shoulder.

"GUSTO!!"

Gusto holds his dear friend.

"You waited."

Gruffi slowly pulls away from the other bear to put himself together.

"I knew it! I knew you would come back! The others said I was foolish but boy did I know!"

Smiling Gusto takes the other by the hand to lead him to the tree.

"10 years right?"

"No, it's been 11."

"Really? That long?"

Gruffi couldn't bring himself to tear his gaze from him. His hair flowing in the wind, his smile, his scent, it was everything he dreamed it would be.

"You waited here? Why?"

"This was the last time I saw you…before-"

The bear couldn't hold it any longer. He began to cry.

"Before what Gruffi?"

"Before Igthorn took you away!"

Gusto taking in the comment grabs the other by the hand.

"Why the tears Gruff? I'm here now aren't I?"

That's when it happened. The skies began to darken.

"Gusto?"

"You know Gruffi. Ten years is a long time."

The blood. Gusto began to bleed a little across the temple of his face.

"No…"

"You gotta just learn to let go."

In a panic he reaches out for the bear and shakes him.

"No! Gusto please! Don't go!"

Then suddenly he was back to that day…the day it all happened.

"Gusto!!"

There was an explosion among the chaos.

Igthorn and his ogres were attacking Darwyn.

Gusto had cleared the hill. He was scared. He could tell in his eyes. Somebody was chasing him. He couldn't make out who though.

"GRUFFI!"

Looking up at the hill he sees Gusto he was bleeding a bit from the previous blast.

Then there was another explosion by the tree.

He couldn't see anything. For a couple of seconds he had lost his hearing. All he kept thinking was of the other bear. Coming to he can see several the ogres making there way to the castle. He couldn't bother with that at the moment. He used every strength he had in his body to crawl up that hill. Finally reaching his destination he is not prepared for what he sees. Gusto was pinned under the tree and bleeding bad.

"GUSTO!!!"

Forgetting of his minor injuries Gruffi runs over trying to lift the tree off his friend.

Gusto was lying face up, eyes wide open staring blankly into the sky.

Gruffi honestly thought he was dead until the bear coughed.

"Gruff…"

Blood began to seep from the corner of his mouth.

"DON'T SAY A WORD! SAVE YOUR ENERGY! I'M GOING TO GET YOU OUT OF THIS KID!"

He hated himself for not having anymore juice.

"BY GUM!! I'LL SAVE YOU GUSTO!!"

"No…not this time…Gruffamundo. Artie…ask-"

"STAY WITH ME KID!!"

He wanted to die. There was nothing he could do without his juice. Gusto was going to die and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

A shadowy figure cloaks the two in its darkness. Suddenly the tree is lifted freeing the injured bear. Was this really happening? Turning around to face there hero his hopes disappear just as a fast as they appeared. There stood the man who had caused all this trouble. Instead of his more familiar attire he was dressed in a captain's attire leading his army to war. In his hands was an empty bottle of juice.

He had drank the juice.

"How did you get that?"

Gusto had remained where he lied slowly dying.

Gruffi understanding that there is no time to waste. He runs over to only feel himself being lifted and tossed aside.

Igthorn looks down noticing the half dead bear.

Without a word he bends down and lifts him.

"DON'T TOUCH HIM!!"

With the injured bear in his arms Igthorn turns around in time to kick Gruffi away.

The kick felt like another another explosion. Gruffi falls violently to the side. He stuggles up to see Cubbi walking up to Igthorn with a sword in hand. It was sad to see a boy who had always played battles was now in a very real and dangerous situation.

"I'll save you Gusto!"

Igthorn still holding the injured bear pulls out his sword and without warning slashes the boy across the face.

The tiny cub falls hard from the attack. His tiny sword falls close by.

"CUBBI!!!"

Igthorn turns away leaving the cub to bleed.

Gruffi removes his hat in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

Cubbi was crying so hard Gruffi felt that he would never stop.

"Calm down Cubbi! I'm here!"

Cubbi never stopped. His whole ideal of swords and fighting was fun had left his innocent soul.

Looking back up he sees Igthorn walking back to his horse with Gusto.

"GUSTO!!!!"

"Yes?"

He was back at the tree with him.

"It's a dream. You're not really here are you?"

"No."

H wanted to cry but he felt as if he had none left.

"I can't do this Gusto. It hurts too much."

"I know but I'm not asking you to. I'm asking for you to ask Artie."

"Ask him what?"

That's right! Gusto had said something when he was pinned to the tree!

"No…not this time…Gruffamundo. Artie…ask-"

Gusto smiles and gets up to leave.

"Where…where are you going!?"

"Gotta go."

"No…please."

"Sorry Gruffi. I'll catch you later."

He winks at his friend and vanishes.

"Gusto!"

He shoots up from his bed sweating.

He touched everything to make sure everything was real and that he hadn't jumped into another dream.

"Artie? I have to ask Artie!"

Jumping out of his bed he puts on his day clothes and rushes out of his room.

"I need to find that tucan!"