Prince of Penance

Chapter Four: Suspicion

Gruffi felt a little out of sorts. It was only a few moments ago he had been enjoying a cup of tea, and wondering where the kids had gotten to, when the kids arrived with two strange Gummi bears in tow. He couldn't fault them for being suspicious enough to make the visitors prove their Gummi bear status before bringing them here, but one look at them and the clothes they wore and Gruffi immediately placed them as the upper curst of Gummi society. He would not ever have questioned their status the way the children would have, simply out of honour of being around such noble travellers. But he was glad the kids weren't so prejudiced towards the ruling class, which hadn't bothered itself with Dunwin or its inhabitants since he himself was a young bear. They COULD have been human wizards disguised as Gummi bears, it had happened once before.

After brief introductions, Gruffi sent Artie to go find Gusto, and then the travellers were safely ensconced at the dining room table, soon being served tea by Grammi, who was awfully polite to them. She knew to which class they belonged as well.

"Have you travelled far?" she asked kindly.

"All the way from Monteray!" Felli said grandly with an unnecessary flourish of his hand. "And not another large Gummi settlement between here and there that we've seen! Our race are really dwindling if this is all we have to show for our search efforts!"

"Yeah this is it," said Gruffi, taking his own mug and sipping from it longly. "The Barbics live all the way in Ursalia, but thats just a small group, city's been empty for years."

"The Great book has something about Monteray," said Zummi softly. "I think I remember, an island of Gummis. But I thought you were all driven out by the humans years ago?"

Zummi wasn't as well acquainted with the upper class of Gummi society as Gruffi was. Probably because he was considered a simple hedge wizard by the upper crust before obtaining the Gummi medallion, and probably wouldn't be seen as anything more now. He didn't see the difference between himself and others, really, and that was the way Gruffi knew he liked it.

"No, we managed to re-establish ourselves," Melli explained over her mug of thistle tea, which she was hardly sipping from. It seemed to not agree with her palette. "Does not help that the current ruler of Monteray is a sixteen year old boy. But we've got a sea monster whose legend has basically kept any human sailors from attempting to step foot nor ship anywhere near our island."

"A sea monster?" Cubbi said wide eyed. "Wow!"

"But doesn't that effect you too?" Sunni asked, highly curious.

"Yes and no," Felli said pertly, running a dark finger around the rim of his cup. "It only resurfaces every fortnight that we've seen, and it attacks any ship it can get its grasp on, feeds on any Gummi or human it can get its tentacles on, then goes back to the bottom of the ocean from whence it came. It takes at least one victim every fortnight, sometimes two, never more than that, and leaves. Its quite confounding."

"Oh that's horrible!" Grammi said, nearly dropping her teapot.

"Yes, and that's why we're here," Melli said sadly, looking at her brother briefly, before turning back to the group. "We're in search of the one who summoned the beast to begin with, in hopes of setting things right. A dark villainous Gummi acolyte, whom may be the only person who can rid us of the creature!"

"We're, um, head hunters," Felli said with an indecent blush. "Bounty hunters. We've got orders from the Crown, and an unlimited purse, to fetch the vile scoundrel back to Monteray forthwith!"

"Well you are welcome to stay at the Glen while you search," Gruffi said immediately. "Its not as grand as a royal hall or a palace, but its a traditionally Gummi household so you won't want for the ancient traditions."

"We are very flattered I'm sure," Melli said brightly. "We don't want to inconvenience you."

"No inconvenience at all," Grammi said softly. "I'll have to clean out one of the guest rooms..."

"No imposition, we're wizards after all. We can manage a bit of a cleaning spell."

Zummi looked longingly as if he wanted very much to witness this cleaning spell and master it himself.

"Excellent, now I have an important question for you," Melli said immediately.

"And that would be...?"

"Is this your entire family? There isn't anybody else?" she let the question draw out pointedly.

"Well there's Tummi and he's sick so he's in bed," Grammi said forlornly. "Poor dear got that cold of Gusto's, whatever it is..."

"Our resident artist is in the process of moving in," Gruffi huffed, trying hard not to blush at the mention of Gusto. "Used to live just north of here. We're all a family now really...Too few of us left to be scattered around the map."

"Oh..." said Melli, rolling her head back to look at the skylight as if frustrated. "We'd be happy to meet everyone, really we would..."

"Not that we mind at all that you are peasants," Felli said immediately, at their confused looks. "But you must understand. Our runaway has been missing for many years, and could have integrated himself well into any family."

"Well the way you described this person your looking for, it can't be any one of us. We're poor but we're good people. Not into the dark stuff, if you know what I mean. And Zummi here is our only wizard."

"Yes, I thought as much," Melli sighed. "Well..."

Both visitors cocked their heads up in sudden alarm as Artie sailed in through his usual entrance and landed with a thump on the back of Grammi's chair.

"Well?" Gruffi said, more than a little annoyed. "Is Gusto coming? Or are we going to have to drag him in here to meet our guests?"

"Nothing doing," said Artie, appraising the two strangers suspiciously. "He's not feeling well, and well, you know what happens when he gets the mood to paint!"

Gruffi sighed and pushed back from the table.

"My fault really," he said apologetically. "We had a...problem earlier. I'll go find him."

"No wait...you there," Melli suddenly stood to her feet, and went over to Artie, as if she were approaching an honoured king. "Travel very far strange bird? This isn't your normal territory."

"Nope," Artie squawked. "I'm a parrot, tropical, and your dress is about three years out of date I'd say."

Rather than be offended, Melli smiled.

"Tell me, friend bird, you come from the south. Say, from an island..."

Artie squawked and then Gruffi coughed.

"He belongs to Gusto."

"I see..." Melli had a tricky look on her face.

Gruffi recognised that look. It was the look of somebody who was piecing together the clues to some puzzle or mystery.

"Strange to see a parrot, native inhabitant of our own region, here in the cold North, and inland. Strange indeed..."

"Not that strange," Artie quipped. "I can fly you see!"

Melli laughed and clapped her hands together.

"What a delightful bird!" She said, picked him up and began to stroke his rainbow feathers. "Do you have a name friend bird?"

"Artie Deco at your service!" Artie said, then flew off again to wherever his owner was hiding.

I've never heard of the upper crust being so curious over a bird... Gruffi thought suspiciously.

He wasn't the only suspicious one. Grammi was eyeing Felli with obvious distrust, for the bear hadn't said a single thank you since arriving. Zummi was looking very off put by the way the strangers were brushing them off as nothing more than simple peasants. But the kids seemed to be completely unaware that anything was wrong. Cubbi tried to get more information about the sea monster from Felli and Sunni started asking many questions about the high fashion at court, possibly prompted by the comments of Artie.

But...where is Gusto?

By nightfall there was no sign of Gusto, and Gruffi ended up sitting by the fireplace in the main hallway with yet another cup of tea. The cold was creeping in on them fast and his bones were feeling the ache of winter more and more with each passing day.

Melli had pleaded tiredness and had gone immediately to bed after a light supper. The kids were already tucked in, and Tummi had come out and went back to bed, not wanting to share his cold with the visitors, (maybe that's why Gusto was hiding away...maybe.) Zummi had gone to the library, probably researching Monteray, since their guests were too tired to give any long descriptions of their native homeland, and he would probably be up all night studying the great book, especially if he was in one of his grumpier moods. Grammi had wanted to finish up one more batch of berry juice before bed, so only Felli remained in Gruffi's company, seemingly not the least bit tired, though there seemed to be no end to his complaints about how horrible the weather and the journey had been.

"You seem pensive about your missing friend," Felli prodded gently, stirring his mug. "Perhaps your friend simply needs space from whatever argument you incurred."

"It wasn't an argument, it was more of a...thing. Nothing big. I don't know why he's holding himself up in that cold damp waterfall after telling us he was gonna move in here. It really wasn't anything important, I wasn't offended or anything."

"Well, maybe if you told him that...?"

"Maybe..." Gruffi sighed. "Its just well, I'm not completely old fashioned and all, but, its not every day your best friend kisses you. I'm kind of...embarrassed to talk to him."

"Ah, I see...No you are right, that would be awkward..."

For a moment, Felli seemed polite, almost eager to be helpful, to be a friend. He was looking at Gruffi in a rather kindly and sympathetic manner. Perhaps even more so now that Gruffi had made this confession.

I guess the upper class folk do have hearts.

"I'm sure things will work out, if you're honest with your feelings and with him. If males aren't your...preference...then you must let him know, before things get any worse."

"I suppose you are right."

"It you'll excuse me, I think I shall retire," Felli suddenly said whilst rising, as if the topic was even too much for him to bear. "Good night."

"Good night."

Gruffi wanted to go to bed, but couldn't. In the back of his mind he was restless and confused. He wanted to sleep, but was wide awake, and knew that sleep would not come for him by the simple fact that Grammi went to bed before he did. She stopped to ask him if he needed anything, then told him not to snuff the candles in the hall before he went to bed in case the visitors needed to find the loo in the middle of the night.

But the middle of the night came of its own accord. Three cups of thistle tea and Gruffi still couldn't rest. He could not stop thinking about Gusto.

Gusto had kissed him. Had broken an unspoken barrier between them as to their relationship to one another, and took things a completely different direction. And those butterflies from yesterday which had hadn't been able to figure out were back with a vengeance now. He settled himself to drinking tea, and to settle his stomach, if that was even possible, and contemplating how he could fix this thing before it got out of hand.

"Gruffi?"

Gruffi jerked up his head at the voice, which had totally caught him off guard.

And he stared. Gusto looked like a ghost in the moonlight. He was pale, his fur was standing up on end, and his eyes were like twin pinpoints of pure white fear. He stumbled forward with a 'whoops' and then sat in the chair across from Gruffi that Felli had left earlier, and curled his knees up to his chest. He looked so lost and beautiful that Gruffi felt his heart complaining wildly in his chest.

Something to the tone of, Why him, why this and, by the Great Gummies, why NOW?

"So..." Gruffi said, but couldn't think of anything else to say. He had a feeling that Gusto was going to share something with him, but he was afraid to break the spell that the other bear seemed to be holding over his heart.

"V-visitors still here?"

"Sleeping. You...should have been here to meet them, they're curious about you..."

"I..." Gusto looked down at his knees. "I was painting."

"I see."

"I was planning, you see, to run away," Gusto said, startling Gruffi completely. "To go away as far as I possibly could. To leave the Glen forever."

"You...were going to leave?"

"I can't seem to feel normal anymore," Gusto put a hand to his face. "I went to the waterfall, thinking I just needed air and space, and, well it was just cold. Its just so cold. I just can't get warm, no matter if I'm in the Glen or in my waterfall. Nothing can keep me warm anymore. This always happens. I don't know why, but it does."

"Well of course," Gruffi said rationally, putting down his mug. "You lived on a tropical island for twelve years, and now you're in a place where winter brings the snow. Course you feel cold. Your body isn't used to this yet as mine is."

"But after three years?"

"Could take as many as ten. Were you...raised in a tropical area?"

Gusto nodded vigorously.

"Well then there you go," Gruffi said, consciously aware that Gusto was being more open with him now in this few minutes that he had ever been in the three years he had known him. "This isn't what you're used to. Just like Artie, you gotta adjust, is all. Being inside the Glen should help. Its always warm in here."

"Yeah," Gusto said. "I know I can stay warm here. I feel safe, I shouldn't, but I do."

"Why shouldn't you feel safe?" Gruffi asked, consciously aware that he had risen, and had moved towards Gusto like a ghost towards a startled human it wanted to spook.

"I...don't think you want to know the answer to that question, Gruffi. It might..." Gusto's breath hitched when Gruffi put both hands on the arm rests on either side of him and bent down so that they were nose to nose. "...destroy you."

"Destroy me?" Gruffi smirked, and then kissed Gusto before he could answer.

Ah, I see, this is what my stomach wanted me to do! I thought so!

Gusto's lips weren't cold, but warm, and parted in panic at being encroached upon by another pair. It was a few warm moments later before Gruffi pulled away, proud of himself for being brave at trying the kissing thing out for himself, then pressing their foreheads together so that their noses touched.

"Don't leave the Glen..."

"I'm not gonna," Gusto said, eyes damp for some inexplicable reason. "Nothing can scare me away now..."

"Not even your greatest fears, Augustus?"

Both bears jumped in total shock and fright at the voice that had intruded upon their romantic interlude. Gruffi took several startled steps back and fell into his chair, staring.

Felli and Melli Bella stood before them now, candle holders in their outstretched hands and dressed from head to toe as if they hadn't been sleeping at all, in their finest aray, their hands flourished above them in a most gaudy fashion. Gusto made a sound like a cornered snake and pulled himself into the back of the chair he was sitting on, his eyes wild and wide.

"So you've found me have you?"

"G-Gusto?" Gruffi stammered. "What...?"

"We have indeed!" Felli said with a boisterous laugh. "We knew if we left it alone, if we waited, you'd show up yourself, simply out of curiosity, to see what we wanted."

"We housed ourselves with peasants, and caught ourselves a Prince!"

"What in the name of Gummi is going on out here?"

Everybody jumped suddenly as Zummi poked his head out of the library, looking quite cross that his late night study had been interrupted. Grammi poked her head out of her bedroom, complaining about the noise, then stopped short at seeing the strange events unfolding in the hallway.

Silence reigned supreme for several deep breaths. Then Melli stretched a hand and suddenly the other two bears froze mid step, and took a step back. Gruffi found himself unable to even speak.

Magic!! A spell!

"Well, we've magically surrounded this place with enough barriers to keep anything out we want want out, and anything in we want to stay in. So you bears should get yourself some sleep, and we'll talk in the morning. I feel we all will have much to discuss and a good nights rest will help give us the energy to do it!"

"That's right," Felli said. "Since you aren't going anywhere, are you?"

Gusto gave a jerking huff that broke the unhappy air around him and shook his head with a very characteristic laugh.

"I guess not. Okay, you've found me. But I said I'm not leaving and I'm not so you're wasting your time."

"You, my dear Prince, haven't any choice."

"I want to know whats going on!" Zummi suddenly said, his glasses askew. "Who are you two really?"

Ah, thought Gruffi. Being a wizard, Zummi isn't effected by the spell the way I am!

"No," Melli said softly, and Gruffi could feel the manipulating tendrils of the spell strengthening around him. "We'll wait until dawn, and the children can join in on our discussion. It wouldn't do for us to spirit off their beloved friend into parts unknown without any explanation as to why. And everyone needs rest."

Gusto didn't say a word, just looked as if for all the world his life were over, and he was ready for it. Gruffi looked over at the visitors, who were smirking like the proverbial cats that had caught the mouse, trying to figure out what was going on.

Then the spell was broken.

Grammi said, "Suffering succotash, I'm going back to bed! And we had better settle this nonsense in the morning, I've got sixteen batches of Gummi Berry Juice to make!" before she disappeared down the hallway. "If it isn't one thing its another!"

Zummi likewise went to bed, but Gusto didn't move an inch.

"Well?" Felli said, sneering pompously. "Going to flee?"

"No...Since its obvious you'd padded this place out with so much magic I won't be ale to. So I'm going to bed. I'm too sick with a cold to argue right now..."

"And you, what about you then, Gruffi? Are you going to bed?"

"I wasn't planning on it to begin with," Gruffi said, and looked over at Gusto, who was looking anywhere but at him. Gruffi took a deep breath. "Mostly I'm going to stand watch so nothing horrible happens to my best friend in the middle of the night while he sleeps. I take care of the people in this family, you see, and I'm not letting you do anything to harm him!"

"We wouldn't dreeeeam of it. We're having the time of our lives, aren't we sister!"

"Indeed. Well its off to bed with us both at last! Its boring sitting around waiting for somebody to actually show up. I much prefer tracking my quarry down to their very hiding spot and catching them by surprise instead."

"But the last thing we wanted was a fire fight with an acolyte wizard," Felli said dryly. "Though I suppose there's not an inch of power left in you after all these years...is there my Prince?"

With that both wizards sauntered down the hallway to their rooms, laughing at the top of their lungs. Once they were gone, Gusto turned to look at Gruffi, his eyes wide.

"You...don't seem surprised at all?"

Gruffi shrugged.

"I know rich Gummi wizards. And I know they like to toy with magic-less peasants, and I've come to expect it really. Its how my own parents died. Are you really a Prince?"

Gusto sighed, and nodded.

"Yeah, you could say that..."

"Wow...that's...something."

"Yeah, I think I'll go sleep now."

"I don't know how you could sleep," Gruffi said, knowing he had a billion questions now he wanted to ask, and not daring to ask them. "I wouldn't."

"Well, I've been waiting for fifteen years for them to find me. I guess I'm just more willing now then I used to be, to be caught. And I want to stay her with you. I couldn't bring myself to run now."

"I see."

There was a moment of silence, then Gusto got up, stretched and laughed as if nothing untoward had occurred. Some of the magic restraining them both was still working, effecting their minds, and making them behave as if nothing strange had happened at all.

"Night Gruffi!"

"G'night..."

Gruffi watched him leave, and then stared at the dying candle in agony.

Gusto...doesn't know how much they've told us...Is he really the dark and evil wizard they've been searching for? No, I don't believe it, I can't believe it!

A place in his heart that had long been frozen since the death of his parents now throbbed with an agony he couldn't put words too. It was too much for him, and he curled up on the chair and closed his eyes, and prayed to the Great Gummies that daylight would come and bring to him the answers that would restore the order and balance in his world that he so craved.

Nothing would ever be the same.


---Phew, long chapter, but this all sets up the next bit very nicely. Its a little awkward, but I couldn't think of a better way to get the twins and Gusto alone together, and still have the rest of the Glen Gummies know about the twins, AND bring all this up to where the next chapter ends up. So next chapter all the problems of the twins will be explained, and Gusto will have some splainin' to do! :P