Chapter 6
"Arrival of the Great Gummies"
The five ships bearing the Great Gummies was only a few hours away from arriving in Ursalia and while the Glens and Barbics prepared the city for their arrival, some of the Great Gummies themselves were still wary about meeting Cavin and Calla. Perhaps, none more so than Captain Blastus, who for as long he could remember, had always been taught that humans were evil and nothing more. In fact, as he sat in his office, he was making a list of ways to execute the Glens and Barbics human friends or any humans for that matter. It wasn't until a knock at the door was heard that he dropped whatever he was doing.
"Who is it?" he said annoyed. "Can't you see that I am-?" But, the person who knocked the door was revealed to be Starbuck again.
"I'm sorry, sir," he said. "I just wanted to tell you that we are 100 miles from Ursalia and should be arriving at sunset and-." Starbuck then took notice of Captain Blastus' note taking of methods to cause harm to the Gummies' human friends.
"What are you doing, sir?" he asked. "Are you making a list for something?" Captain Blastus felt like yelling at Starbuck for disturbing him and snooping around, but realizing how loyal he was, he calmed down.
"My dear Starbuck," he said, feigning innocence to hold in his anger. "I was only trying to come up with ways to do away with these 'friends' that the Gummi Bears we are meeting with have made."
"Sir," gasped Starbuck. "I think you shouldn't jump to conclusions before you decide to act. I think it is best that you leave the humans alone. From what you have said to me, it seems like they are peaceful people and are no threat to you." Captain Blastus simply ignored what his first mate had said and instead grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt.
"It's sounds like you're the one who is need of jumping to conclusions on this one, Starbuck," snarled Captain Blastus. "There is no place for kindness, charity and love in the game of being a Gummi Bear."
Letting his first mate go, Captain Blastus went back to his desk and sat down at it. He then looked up at his first mate with a look of hatred in his eyes for some reason.
"I want you to remember, Starbuck," he said. "The humans and Gummi Bears will never be friends and when we meet these two humans of our fellow bears, we will capture them on the spot, torture them and make them pay for all they have done to our kind all those years ago. Then, once we have done away with the humans, then we will be remembered as the Gummi Bears who saved the Glens and Barbics from falling into the hands of treachery and treason. Now, return to your duties, Starbuck."
Trying to not take in much of what his superior had to say, Starbuck left Captain Blastus' office and returned to his duty, while Captain Blastus went back to his own work at hand.
Meanwhile, Foxglove was out on deck looking out towards the mountains where Ursalia was located. Unlike Captain Blastus and her husband, Night wing, she was looking forward to meeting the humans that the Glens and Barbics befriended. She looked over towards the helm and saw her husband at the helm, filling in for the helmsman who was not feeling very well. She wanted to walk over and persuade him again to change his views about the humans, but he would probably say no anyway. But, knowing how important this was to her, she walked over and approached her husband.
"Night Wing," she said. "We should be nearing Ursalia by nightfall. I was wondering if you would be so kind as to change your ways on humans before we meet them."
"Foxglove," he replied huffingly. "How many times must I tell you? Humans cannot be trusted and we can't trust them. You know that and I know that, so it's time to move on."
"From what I have heard, my husband," continued Foxglove. "Both humans are very athletic and can defend themselves in certain situations of peril. Perhaps, we could learn from them on how to defend ourselves in the face of danger." This made Night Wing turn his attention back to his wife.
"How could you be so sure?" he asked, beckoning over another helmsman to take control. "Perhaps these humans are hiding secrets from the Glens and Barbics that they plan to use for their own selfish gain and we cannot be sure as to what they are planning to do. So, if you are asking me to change my views on the humans, then until I believe what I see, the answer is no."
Night Wing then stormed off down to the lower deck and his wife followed him.
"But, don't you see Night Wing," she said. "If the humans prove to us that they mean to do no harm to us then perhaps maybe, will you give them a chance?"
"Foxglove, my wife," he replied, trying to hold back his anger. "Ever since that day my life was turned upside down and shattered forever, I have always being taught that humans could never be trusted and I still stand by that decision to this very day, so if you are once again asking me to change my views before we arrive in Ursalia my answer is and will always be no. You may have a desire to be with the humans, but not me, so it will be time for you choose whether you love me, your dear and darling husband or the humans that we have never met before that may be planning an attack to destroy us all."
Foxglove tried to speak but just before she opened her mouth, Night Wing stormed off down below to help get the ship ready to dock at Ursalia. As he left, she could see that he had a knife in his back pocket, completely unaware of what he was planning to do one they arrived in Ursalia.
Meanwhile, the Glens and Barbics had just finished preparing Ursalia for the Great Gummies' arrival and were making their way down to the docks. The Glen Gummies had all dressed in their formal clothes from Fall's Farewell while Calla was dressed in the blue and white dress that she wore to her first grand ball and when she went to Fall's Farewell. On her head was her gold tiara with a red diamond in the center and her long blond hair was in her favorite braid that hung on her left shoulder. Cavin was in a light blue tunic and pants that squires would wear for special occasions. The Barbics on the other hand, particularly Ursa and Gritty, thought that formal clothes were against their character, so they just went as they are, although Buddi had dressed himself in a really nice tunic that once belonged to Gruffi when he was his age.
A little while later, they could all see the Gummi Ships coming over the horizon and the Glen Gummies could barely contain their excitement.
"Oh, I can't wait to meet other Gummi Bears my age," giggled Sunni, trying to hold in her excitement. "Just think of all the things I would be doing with them."
"We'll be doing many things with them, Sunni," said Zummi. "Just remember that these Gummi Bears are the most important Gummies we mave het, eh, have met."
"Oh, you're right, Zummi," she replied. "I'm sure of that. But, it doesn't hurt to be excited, doesn't it?"
Zummi chuckled at what the middle cub of the Glen Gummies had said to him. But, just behind them, Calla was a little concerned over how the Great Gummies would react to their presence.
"Cavin," Calla whispered. "How do you think the Great Gummies are going to react when they see us here?"
"I'm not sure, Calla," replied Cavin. "But, if some of them try anything to hurt you, I will be ready to defend you."
"Cavin," she answered. "I may be wearing my favorite formal dress and thus, may be considered vulnerable, but I can still at least defend myself. I have been to enough special events in Dunwyn to know trouble when I see it."
"Suit yourself, then princess," sighed Cavin and he took note of his dagger that he kept in his tunic pocket. Calla may be able to defend herself, but she was still a princess and King Gregor's daughter and if anything were to happen to her, he would never forgive himself and that he would be a disgrace to Sir Tuxford's memory. After all, his death was still fresh in his mind as it was not too long ago.
Just then, the five ships stopped about a mile from the docks and Gusto and several Barbics stepped forward and the sailors on board dropped rope down to them and tied them to the docks. Afterwards, the gangplank dropped down and the first of the Great Gummies emerged from the ship above. The Glens could barely keep their excitement in check as the first bear walked down the gangplank. Unfortuantely, for them, the first bear to walk off the ship was Captain Blastus. The Glens took note of his regal attire and were amazed that they were in front of one of the Great Gummies.
"Greetings, Great Gummi," said Zummi, reaching forward to shake his paw. "I'm Zummi Gummi and I am honored to say-."
But just before Zummi could finish introducing himself, Captain Blastus saw Cavin and Calla and drew out his sword, causing the others to gasp and shriek.
"Oh, My Stars!" cried Zummi, causing him to trip and fall. "What is the matter?"
"That's what is the matter!" shouted Captain Blastus and he lunged forward towards Cavin and Calla with his sword pointed right at them. Fortuantely, Gruffi and Tummi managed to restrain him before he could do any damage to them.
"Land Sakes," cried Grammi. "Cavin and Calla mean no harm, friend! They come in peace, don't you understand that?"
Not wanting to embarrass himself any further, Captain Blastus calmed down and Gruffi and Tummi let him go, with Blastus still seething at them.
"How could you do this to your own kind?" asked Blastus, angrily.
"They are our friends," said Tummi. "They don't want to hurt you."
"That's no excuse, my fat friend," said Captain Blastus. "I have been taught that humans are and always will be the primary enemy of the Gummi Bear."
"Well," remarked Sunni, picking up the skirt of her long green dress. "Perhaps, you could tell us who you are and where you come from before you decide to attack our friends?"
"Since you put it that way," Captain Blastus said. "I am Captain Blastus from the royal navy of New Gumbrea, I have been sent here to claim Ursalia as the capital of the Gummi Bears and to eradicate anything that stands in the way of the Gummi way of life."
"Now, just a moment, hot shot," said Gruffi. "Ursalia has not been claimed yet, we and the Barbics have made this place home for a while now and for you to just come in and barge in here is not the Gummi Way."
"What makes you so sure, human lover?" asked Captain Blastus mocking Gruffi's speech. "The council of New Gumbrea has sent me to deem this city as the next Gummi capital and I am here to make sure that nothing stands in the way of that and that means your human friends over here."
"Perhaps you should know who we are as well," said Calla. "I'm Princess Calla, Princess of the Kingdom of Dunwyn. I am here representing my father, King Gregor, the ruler of Dunwyn and we mean you no harm at all."
"Then who is this human, princess?" asked Captain Blastus.
"He is my escort, Cavin," replied Calla.
"Then is he royal, too, or not?" remarked Captain Blastus.
"I am just a page, sir," replied Cavin. "But, I want to be a knight one day."
"So, you shall want to become one," remarked Captain Blastus, putting the tip of his sword at Cavin's throat. "All the more reason to prepare yourself for certain and immediate death on the field of battle one day."
He put his sword away into his holster and left to make his way towards Ursalia. Everyone was shocked and surprised by what they had just seen and as they saw Captain Blastus leave, they could see other Gummi Bears making their way into the city.
"What a rude Gummi Bear," remarked Calla. "Cavin and I don't mean any harm."
"And I am not sure all the other Gummi Bears are going to react well to you being her too, princess," said Gruffi.
"It's worth a try," said Cubbi.
"I have to agree as well with Cubster here," said Gusto. "Cavin and Calla do deserve at least a chance."
"You're right, Gusto," added Grammi. "With Duke Igthorn still out there, now is the best time for Gummies and Humans to be united against evil."
With that said, the group began to make their way back to Ursalia, which by now, was beginning to fill with Gummi Bears coming off the ships and who knew what Great Gummies would either be nice towards Cavin and Calla or mean towards Cavin and Calla.
