Chapter 5: The Road to Ursalia

9796 BC - Gummi Glen - Dunwyn - New Land of Magic

While Gruffi was looking up how to fix a loom in the Great Book of Gummi, the candle he was using as light accidentally catches the Book on fire. The Gummis manage to put out the fire before it burns down the library, but the Book is lost

Hall of Legends

"And this is why you should never put any source of fire near your spell book" Simultaneous said "and don't think about practicing fire magic"

"Isn't there a spell to get it back?" Merlin asked

"Sure" Simultaneous said "but you know we're not supposed to interfere, and today, you'll see why"

Gummi Glen - Dunwyn - New Land of Magic

"We're too late" Sunni said

"I can't believe it" Zummi said "all that knowledge and tradition… gone forever"

"Sorry… I… ah… must of left the candle burning" Gruffi said

"Gruffi how could you?" Grammi asked

"I'll make it up to you" Gruffi said

"But how?" Sunni asked

"Great Books don't exactly grow on trees you know" Zummi said

"I promise I'll find another one" Gruffi said "even if I have to go all the way to the Great Library in Ursalia"

"Ursalia… wow!" Cubbi exclaimed and Gruffi and Cubbi leave for Ursalia

Ursalia

"Wow!" Cubbi said as they arrive "get a load of this place"

"I've got to admit, it's pretty impressive" Gruffi said

"Do you think there's still Gummis living in Ursalia?" Cubbi asked

"I don't know, kid" Gruffi said as they approach the entrance "but we'll find out soon enough"

"And I bet they'll be surprised to see us!" Cubbi said as he rushes in, but Gruffi grabs him

"Not so fast hotshot" Gruffi said "something is definitely wrong, the Ancient Gummis would've never left their gates unlocked"

"Why not?" Cubbi asked

"They had many secrets to protect" Gruffi said "especially from greedy humans who were jealous of their knowledge" and they head in to find it deserted and in shambles

"Where is everybody?" Cubbi asked

"Face it, kid" Gruffi said "they're long gone, probably left years ago with the rest of the Ancient Gummis" all of a sudden, smoke bombs are tossed at Gruffi and Cubbi

"Looks like someone doesn't want us around" Cubbi said

"No fooling" Gruffi said as they look for cover. They find a trap and set it and it catches something

"A Gummi Bear?" Cubbi asked

"Gummi Bear?" the Gummi asked "there's… impossible, there hasn't been any Gummi Bears around here for years, I should know, I'm the last one left"

"Wanna bet?" Gruffi asked and he lets the Gummi out of the net

"Crackers" the Gummi said "I must be seeing things, seeing things, again. You guys don't look like Troggles"

"Troggles?" Cubbi asked

"Troggles?" the Gummi asked "Where? They're everywhere, we've got to hide"

"This guys out of his mind" Cubbi said

"Put some bounce in your steps boys" the Gummi said "we can't stand here like Ogres in the rain"

"Wait, who are you?" Cubbi asked

"The name's Thornberry" the Gummi said "Sir Thornberry, I've been taking care of the old homestead for 50 years, lad. The official caretaker"

"Really?" Cubbi asked "then maybe you can help us. I'm Cubbi and this is Gruffi, we're from Gummi Glen. We're looking for a Great Book of Gummi"

"Ours was destroyed… accidentally" Gruffi said

"You need a Great Book do you?" Thornberry asked "no problem, there's plenty of Books in the library"

"Terrific, where is it?" Cubbi asked

"I'm the only one who knows" Thornberry said "and I'm not telling, how do I know I can trust you?"

"We're Gummis, isn't that enough?" Gruffi asked

"Not to me, sonny" Thornberry said

"That's someone else" Gruffi said

"Besides you're not the only one who wants to find the Great Library, so does she" Thornberry said

"Who's she?" Gruffi asked

"Lady Bane" Thornberry said

"I should've known a human was behind this" Gruffi said

"I've trying to defend the city from that woman for months" Thornberry said "but it's not easy, believe me. Troggles are tricky fellows"

"I'm not afraid of any Troggle" Cubbi said "let's stand and fight" and he knocks over a suit of armor

"Now you've done it!" Thornberry said "those Troggles will be right on our tails" and he opens a secret passage as he hears the Troggles coming "quick, get out of here" but the Troggles manage to grab Thornberry before he makes in the secret passage. However, they miss Gruffi and Cubbi

In the throne room, Lady Bane is tormenting Thornberry when Gruffi and Cubbi bounce in a grab him

"Gummi Bears?" Bane asked "there's more of them? Stop them!" the Troggles try to stop them but the Gummis knock them over. Gruffi and Cubbi lead the Troggles into a trap, taking them out of commission

"You boys sure did a number on those Troggles, but what about her?" Thornberry asked as Lady Bane approaches

"I'm not through with you bears yet, that Gummi is mine!" Bane said as she uses her Magic to throw a statue at the Gummis, which they dodge "you'll wished you never crossed my path"

"Bet you can't catch us!" Cubbi said as they run off and jump into a swan cart, with Lady Bane jumping into a second. The first one took them around the courtyard, but the second was rigged to send Lady Bane far away

"I have to hand it to you Gruffi, you saved Ursalia" Thornberry said

"Ah, it was nothing" Gruffi said

"Oh, I wish I could do something for you boys in return, I wish I could, I wish" Thornberry said

"You can" Cubbi said "just show us where the Great Library is" Cubbi said

"Oh, that's easy, that's easy, it's in front of your nose" Thornberry said and Gruffi and Cubbi look around, only seeing ruins

"I think you've been alone for too long" Gruffi said "there's nothing here"

"Oh, want to bet smarty pants" Thornberry said and he goes and hits a stone and the fountain slides over, revealing a secret passage

"If only Zummi could see this" Gruffi said, marveling at the Library

"Yeah, he'd set up camp and never leave" Cubbi said

"Help yourself boys" Thornberry said

"We only need one" Gruffi said "the Great Book of Gummi" and Cubbi finds one and blows the dust off the cover… and it disintegrates

"This one just bit the dust… literally" Cubbi said "it looks like all these books are ruined"

"Nothing lasts forever you know" Thornberry said "not even great books"

"I've failed" Gruffi said

"Well you just need to add another chapter, another chapter" Thornberry said as he hands Gruffi a bookmark. Gruffi and Cubbi decide to return to Gummi Glen

Gummi Glen - Dunwyn

"Gruffi you're back" Zummi said

"Did you get to Ursalia?" Sunni asked

"Yeah, we got there alright… but I failed" Gruffi said "this is all that was left, an ancient Gummi bookmark, it's worthless" and he goes to put lay it in the ashes of the Great Book.. and it starts glowing

"The bookmark… it's magic!" Zummi said as the Great Book of Gummi is restored

Hall of Legends

"So why not help them?" Merlin asked "it would've saved them a trip and would've achieved the same end result"

"But it wouldn't have achieved the same result, Merlin" Simultaneous said "Lady Bane would've destroyed Ursalia and killed Thornberry. And more importantly the Gummis from Dunwyn would've never traveled to Ursalia… and them traveling to Ursalia is needed to survive what is coming…"