Chapter 5
"Humans in Ursalia"
The quick car carrying Cubbi, Sunni, Cavin and Calla returned to Ursalia just after nightfall. It had been a very interesting day in which the two youngest Gummi Bears were introduced to King Gregor and learning that Sir Tuxford had succumbed to injuries that he did not tell anyone until it was too late. Walking up to the main level of the Gummi Capitol, Calla was amazed at how big Ursalia really was. She had heard about Ursalia from Sunni and the others, but never got to visit it until now. To her, it reminded her of Dunwyn in a sense, large and almost like both Gummi Bears and Humans could live here. Just as they entered the main square, they were greeted by Grammi, Gruffi and Zummi.
"Cavin! Calla!" cried Grammi. "It's good to see you both. How was your trip?"
"It was great," said Cavin. "I am glad we could see each other again."
"We have so much to catch up on," added Calla. "There has been a lot going on in Dunwyn since you left."
A little while later, Cavin and Calla were led into the main hall where Ursa, Gritty and Buddi were sitting at the round table. Upon seeing Cavin and Calla, the Barbics were happy to see Cavin again and yet defensive since they had never seen Calla before.
"Well, Cavin," said Ursa. "Welcome back to Ursalia. We are always glad to see an honorary Barbic back with us."
"Yeah," added Buddi. "I've always for the day you came back. But, who is your friend there?"
"Buddi, Barbics," said Cavin. "This is my friend, Princess Calla from the kingdom of Dunwyn." Gritty wasn't so sure about Princess Calla and grabbed his spear and pointed it at her.
"How can we be sure you can be trusted?" he snarled. Ursa walked over and lowered his spear.
"She can be trusted Gritty," said Ursa. "You need to give her a chance. Cavin has shown us that not all humans could be evil like the ones we dealt with in the past."
"Ah, you're right," said Gritty. "But, I'm still keeping an eye on you, human." Calla glared at Gritty and the large Barbic stood back.
"I'm sorry about Gritty," apologized Ursa. "He has a particular dislike for humans. We understand that this is Calla's first time in Ursalia. But, what are you doing here with your friend, Cavin?"
"We invited them to welcome the Great Gummies," said Cubbi. A long silence was filled in the room upon hearing those words. Gruffi stood forward and faced the group.
"Are you out of your minds?!" he shouted to the cubs. "If the Great Gummies saw them here, they would turn around and go back to where they came from. You both know better than to bring them here."
"Gruffi, calm down!" cried Grammi. "I said that they are welcome to be with us when we welcome the Great Gummies and I meant it."
"Indeed," said Zummi. "It's an honor to have a quincess, eh, princess with us for an occasion quite like this."
"I have to agree with the others," said Buddi. "Humans and Gummi Bears have been enemies for a long time and it's time for that end."
"Buddi," remarked Gritty. "I'm surprised at you for going along with this."
"Remember the time we had to help humans, Grittty?" said Cubbi. "I think you still either haven't gotten over that or you might have forgotten about it."
"You have a point there, Cubbi," sighed Gritty.
"Well, Cavin and Calla," said Zummi. "We appreciated the both of you coming out all the way here for this momentous occasion."
"Come along, you two," said Grammi. "We'll show you to your rooms."
"Welcome back, Cavin," said Buddi. "And it's very nice to meet you, Calla."
As the group left, the Barbics sat back down at the table and stared at each other with surprise and shock.
"Did we really just let humans stay in Ursalia?" asked Gritty shockingly. "The Great Gummies are going to go nuts over this."
"Maybe," said Buddi. "But, I think we should give Cavin and Calla a chance. Who knows? Maybe, the Great Gummies will be won over."
"I don't know, Buddi," replied Ursa. "Don't forget what the humans did to Barbic Woods and to other Gummi clans. We'll do our best, but, trust me, they won't be won over right away."
"It's only a chance," added Buddi. "I just want peace between humans and Gummies."
"I hope so too, Buddi," said Ursa. "I hope so too."
Meanwhile, Cavin and Calla were led to their rooms which conviently enough was right next door to Sunni and Cubbi's rooms respectively. They were large rooms like their bedrooms back in Dunwyn, but Gummi-fied to include more space so more Gummies could sleep in them.
"I hope you both enjoy your rooms," said Grammi. "It's not like Gummi Glen, but it's doable."
"Thanks everyone," said Calla. "Cavin and I really enjoy them very much. When do you think the Great Gummies will arrive?"
"I got another message from the Gummiscope," said Zummi. "They should be arriving in two days. Perhaps, we could show you around Ursalia tomorrow before they arrive."
"I would like that very much," replied Princess Calla. "Considering that this is my first time here."
"Well, get a good night's sleep you two," said Grammi. "We've got two big days ahead of us."
So the adult Gummi's left and Cavin and Cubbi went to Cavin's room while Sunni stayed behind with Calla so she could help her friend unpack.
"Did you bring something to wear, Calla?" asked Sunni. "The Great Gummies expect us to look our best."
Calla opened her small trunk and pulled out a blue and white dress and laid it on the bed. It was the same one she had worn to her first grand ball as well as to the Fall's Farewell dinner that was held at Gummi Glen two years ago.
"Wow, Calla," gasped Sunni. "I didn't know you still had that dress."
"I save it for my favorite occasions, Sunni," replied Calla. "It's very special to me. What do you plan on wearing?"
"I'm wearing my dark green dress that I wore to Fall's Farewell," replied Sunni. "You might say we have been thinking the same thing." The two girls giggled at each other and refocused on getting settled in after a long journey from Dunwyn.
"You know, Sunni," said Calla. "Ever since Father increased security at Dunwyn and you moved here to Ursalia, we really don't get to spend a lot of time together."
"You are right, Calla," replied Sunni. "I hope that now your father knows about me and Cubbi, he lets you come here more often and we will have the adventures we used to have."
"I hope so too, Sunni," added Calla. "There are times where I wish we were back at Gummi Glen, but thanks to Duke Igthorn, those days might be over."
"You never know, Sunni," reassured Calla as she placed her gold tiara on the dressing table. "Maybe the Great Gummies will fix it and you and the others could return there."
"If only that were possible," said Sunni gloomily. "Gummi Glen was badly damaged and Gruffi said not even he could fix it. That termite really damaged it beyond repair. I actually still have nightmares of seeing the glen badly damaged."
A small tear came down Sunni's eye and she sat down on Calla's bed. Calla walked over to her friend's side and sat down next to her.
"Sunni, I want you to remember something," said Calla. "The recent events on both of our lives have been hard for both of us. What Duke Igthorn did to my father and me was unforgiveable and our subjects understand that fully. If Duke Igthorn ever decides to show his face again, I promise you that I will make him pay for what he did to both Gummi Glen and Dunwyn. I swear on my life."
"Gee, Calla," cried Sunni. "You really have come a long way since we both met a few years ago."
"So have you, Sunni," replied Calla. "I just hope that this is the start of a new beginning for both of us and Cavin and I are honored to be here and meet other Gummi Bears just like you."
Sunni and Calla hugged each other tightly for a quick moment and then returned to the task at hand, both of them reassured of the things that were about to happen.
Meanwhile, Cavin and Cubbi were in Cavin's room where Cavin and Cubbi were unpacking Cavin's things. The two aspiring knights were both excited for the Great Gummies to arrive as much as anyone. But, like Sunni and Calla, both of them were dealing with the most recent events that weighed on everyone's mind.
"How do you think Calla feels about being here Cavin?" asked Cubbi. "It's her first time after all."
"I'm surprised King Gregor let her come with us to welcome the Great Gummies, Cubbi," replied Cavin. "It's the first time that she had traveled far away from Dunwyn for something as big as this."
"You're telling me, Cavin," replied Cubbi. "I just hope that I can meet Gummi Bears my age that have the same ambition as me and that is to become a great Gummi Knight."
"Perhaps, you will have that chance, Cubbi," said Cavin. "I know that you will one day become a great Gummi Knight. "
"As a matter of fact, Cavin," said Cubbi. "Did I ever show you the plaques Gruffi made for me that has all the great Gummi Knights?"
"No, you didn't Cubbi," replied Cavin. "What about them?"
"Many of the great Gummi Knights that were in the plaques are still alive," explained Cubbi. "I managed to save them from the termite and they give me strength to get through my most troubling moments. My most treasured is the Sir Cubbi plaque that Gruffi made me when I initially left with Chummi to go to New Gumbrea. Its perhaps my most treasured."
"I know how you feel Cubbi," said Cavin. "I just wished I shared my views with Sir Tuxford." Cavin sat down and buried his face in his hands. Cubbi took in his friend's grief and sat down next to him.
"I'm sorry, Cavin," replied Cubbi, placing his paw on Cavin's leg. "I know how hard it is to lose someone as great as Sir Tuxford. But, I am also sure he doesn't want to see you sad."
"I know, Cubbi," said Cavin. "I just miss him, that's all."
"Much how we miss Gummi Glen," replied Cubbi. "Maybe the Great Gummies will come up with something to fix Gummi Glen and we could return there, but, we would have to pick up the pieces that Duke Igthorn caused when he attacked it. It wouldn't be the same."
"I know how you feel, Cubbi," added Cavin. "The Barbics have been great with you being in Ursalia and all. But, Ursalia is not Gummi Glen and Calla and Calla and I can't journey from Dunwyn and Ursalia as much as we did when you were living at Gummi Glen. Calla has a kingdom to rule over and I still have to complete my knight's training. Perhaps after I finish my knight's training, we could come here more often since Calla could protect herself and I could protect her as well."
"But," said Cubbi. "We should just focus on welcoming the Great Gummies and then we could focus on all those things later."
Cavin smiled at his friend and hugged him and Cubbi hugged him right back. As the four friends were settling in, Grammi, Gruffi and Zummi were listening in nearby and were just about to check in on each of them, when the Gummiscope was flashing on top of the city. Zummi ran up to the Gummiscope and read the message.
"What is it, Zummi?" asked Grammi. "What is the Great Gummies saying?" A loud gasp from Zummi was heard next.
"Oh, my stars," cried Zummi. "They plan on arriving here tomorrow!"
The three elder Glen Gummies stood at each other with their mouths wide open over the fact that the Great Gummies were arriving no more than one day away and they had to prepare Ursalia in such a short time.
