Gusto stood still. He didn't smile like he had in his dreams. He stood there with a seriousness in his face.
Tummi had to swallow hard to help relieve the tension he was feeling.
"Gruffi?"
The two had always shared a special bond with each other. It was back to the trio who started it all.
It wasn't a dream. He was here. He was in the same room as him! A whimper had escaped the brown bear's lips.
"It's you. It's really you."
With each step he took forward Gusto took one back.
"What's wrong?"
Nothing like he had dreamed. There was no hug, no words of comfort, nothing.
Tummi could instantly see that Gusto was getting a bit annoyed.
"Gruffi I think you should back away."
"Quiet Tummi! This is between me and Gusto."
"I think you should listen to him Gruffi."
Who was this bear standing in front of him? It looked like and sounded like Gusto but it wasn't him.
"What?"
"I said I think you should back off."
"Gusto?"
There was a glint of sadness in his eyes. He picks up a wine glass by the table and takes a sip.
"Wow. That's the first time in a long time somebody has called me by that name."
"What do you mean?"
Gusto reaches over and pulls out a sword.
"It's Augustus. I don't go by 'Gusto' anymore."
The sympathy was quickly turning into rage.
"What's wrong with you?"
Tummi was afraid this was going to happen.
"Gruffi! Ask what you came to ask! We need to go!"
Raising an eyebrow Gusto looks over at the brown bear.
"You had something to ask me?"
Numb by the events Gruffi stood there speechless. He had so much to say, but where to start?
Tummi could hear ogres.
"GRUFFI! There's no time! Ask what you came to ask and let's go!"
Gusto leans against the wall and crosses his arms sword still in hand.
"I'm growing impatient."
"The day you left. You said to ask Artie. I did what you asked. Artie told me to ask you. What are you not telling me?"
Gusto was surprised by the question. He had totally forgotten what happened that night.
"Good ol'Artie, loyal to the end. Well I'm sorry to disappoint you guys but I'm the wrong person you should be asking."
Tummi had to interfere. They risked both there lives for this very moment and now Gusto is sending them in a different direction.
"Why would Artie tell us to see you just for you to send us off? You know more then you're telling!"
Gusto glances over with an annoyed look.
"If it were that simple then why didn't he tell you?"
Tummi remained silent.
"Look I don't know what possessed you two to come here but the one thing I can leave you with is that you should be talking to Zummi. He knows more then I do if that helps you feel any better. Now there's the door. Use it."
"No."
Gusto glances over at Gruffi.
"I need to know. Why didn't you come back?"
"Excuse me?"
"Every year for the past ten years both Sunni and I waited for you by the fallen tree in hopes that you would come back. Why didn't you come back?"
Gusto looks over at Tummi.
"Tell him Augustus. Tell the bear that had waited all these years for what you told me and Cubbi. "
He places the sword down and walks towards his old friend.
"I have not going back Gruffi. I don't want to have to tell you all this again. Stop chasing ghost and leave."
Brushed away like annoying fly. All these years wasted on him just to be swatted off.
"How could you just walk away from everything and everyone!? Did we mean nothing to you? Did I mean nothing to you!?"
Tummi grabs him by the shoulder.
"That's enough Gruffi. We need to leave and find Zummi for that answer."
"NO! I NEED TO KNOW WH-"
Pain filled his abdomen. The punch came out of nowhere.
Gusto released his grip and held onto the bear before he fell unconscious.
He softly whispered into his ear.
"Thank you..."
Tummi stood there in shock.
"What did you do that for!?"
He places the bear carefully on the floor.
"I had to. He would never have left if I hadn't. Still the stubborn bear I remember."
Anger consumed him. Tummi stepped forward unafraid of the other bear.
""I might not know as much as you, Zummi, and Artie, but what I do know is that Gruffi has never been the same since you left. He had devoted every waking day to you. "
"When I told Artie that Igthorn was going to be gone for a couple of days it wasn't meant for you to come with guests! I told you not to bring him here! You better go. The ogres are ordered to check on me every half an hour when Igthorn isn't around."
Tummi struggles to pick up his fallen friend.
"So what now?"
"You take Gruffi back and find Zummi. We only have a couple of days before the Great Gummies arrive leaving us with little to no time left to fight back."
"And you?"
"Nothings changed. If you need to reach me send Artie. I only have a couple of days before Igthorn gets back."
"What are you not telling me? There is more to your story than this war. What's keeping you from coming back? The plan was for Cubbi and I to take you back but instead you decided to stay. You know Cubbi is in this to have you pay for your betrayal and Sunni has given up on you all together."
"I know. I didn't intend for it to get this far."
"Fine but next time you tell him. I'm tired of seeing him hurt for you."
There was an unexpected knock at the door.
The ogres had come early.
"Take the stairway in the back! Quick!"
"Gummi bear?"
"Just a minute!"
He runs towards the back releasing a panel on the floor.
Tummi jumps in as Gusto passes him Gruffi.
"Tummi here!"
He passes the medallion to Tummi.
"What's this?"
"It was a gift from Gruffi. If I don't ever get the chance to say it to him tell him I'm sorry."
He could hear the door open.
"Bye Gusto."
Gusto smiles and closes the door panel on him.
"Gummi Bear?"
He shakes off the nerves and walks back to the throne room.
"What is it you-"
The Ogres moved to reveal the man behind them.
Gusto stood his ground as the 6 foot man dressed in armor approached him.
He had arrived days early.
"Hello Augustus."
"My Lord Igthorn?"