The Ring and The Dagger: Memories of Ursalia

Anthem Seven: Golden Goblets and Sleeping Bears

They came into Ursalia in a ragged company, the Barbics setting up a safe watch up around the perimiter of the city, the Glen Gummies building a camp just within the gates. Delphi didn't feel like waiting for any sort of group vote; she, Gruffi and Gusto proceeded into the city, taking in the broken columns and crumbling stone with shaking heads. A rain had soaked everything recently, and the area about Sir Thornberry's grave was a quagmire of dark dried mud and dust.

"This...is going to take a great deal more than a kiss..." Gruffi said.

"Don't worry," Gusto said softly, taking Gruffi's hand and holding it tight. "We'll manage all right."

"Somewhere in the old palace maybe?" Delphi said hesitantly, not wanting to break the softly smiling looks the two bears were sharing.

"Sounds like a plan."

As they approached the palace, a chill fell over them, a sort of dispair that leeched into their veins and seemed to suck the life out of their eyes. Gusto found himself wanting to stray closer to the palace, pulling away from Gruffi and leaning forward, while the gruff bear was determined not to enter.

"That place is cursed," Gruffi said firmly. "Not good."

"I don't like the feel of this..." Delphi said softly. She stepped whoozily sideways and leaned against the rock. "Something is wrong..."

"No...its all right...I can feel..." Gusto continued forward...

"HOLD BEARS!"

All three were snapped back suddenly to attention by the jeering voice. All three looked up the grand steps of the old palace as a bear stepped down the stairwell, a glowing green sphere in his open hand lighting the city in an eerie light. He was cloaked, but they knew immediately who he was.

"Don't trust him or his words," Delphi said finally. "My brother has been taken by the dark powers of Delphinus. For this is the prophecy; 'The Twins shall split twain, one shall aid them, and one oppose them'."

"Don't spout that old rubbish at me wench!" Denni shouted. "You, who were born in Voralia! Did you not think that the bearers would one day rule Voralia?"

"And should they choose to rule Ursalia instead?" Delphi quipped.

"Or not rule at all," Gruffi suddenly said, pushing Gusto behind him, who seemed now incapable of speech. "We have a job to do! So let us do it!"

"No, first I must see if you are worthy..."

It was lightening fast, so fast that Gruffi barely had time to raise the shield of the ring before blasts of lightening, green and poisonous, shot towards them. Out of the corner of his eye Gruffi saw Delphi had raised her own shields too late; she was knocked to the ground, unconcious.

"No...no Gruffi its too late..." Gusto was pushing against him. "Just...give him...the...thing..."

"What's wrong with y..." Gruffi looked into Gusto's eyes and saw a green light there that made his stomach churn. He whirled around to face Delphinus, who had finally come down to the courtyard where they stood, and was not ten feet away, the orb still glowing in ominous rythem to the beating of his heart. "What did you do to him?"

"Why, its his fate!" Delphinus laughed. "To join me, to join the dark powers! We who are his family, his ancestors...my dear cousin, come forth!"

"C-cousin?" Gusto said, eyes now watering and lost for any sanity. "Cousins?"

"D-don't listen to h-him," Delphi said, raising her head up with difficulty from where she lay on the ground. "It is your destiny to rule n-not destroy..."

"Bah, enough of this! I'll get rid of this accursed ring bearer, and deal with the dagger as I may!"

Delphinus raised the green orb even higher above his head and green lightening lashed the ground at their feet. Gusto was thrown to the ground, and Gruffi, still shielding, found himself incapable of any motion, of any kind, whilst the ring was keeping them protected. It seemed his only power was defence...the power of fighting back was left to...the dagger.

Gusto shrieked when another bolt of lightening seared the ground around their feet. He drew his dagger and...stared.

"I..."

All motion stopped in the clearing. It was too far away for Gruffi to call for the barbics for help; this was his and Gusto's fight alone. He had a sneaking suspicion that there was a barrier of some kind preventing their entrnace at any point in this battle, they may even be standing outside the clearing and were simply not visible to him. Even Delphi, who had risen to a sitting position to start wrapping the wound that was dripping blood on her stomach, couldn't help them. She must of known this for she crawled away behind the protective shelter of a crumbled wall.

And when Gruffi turned to look at Gusto, his sight was marred by the glowing of inhuman green eyes, a light that was glinting off a dagger, poised for use, but its owner not sure whom to use it upon.

"I..."

"No Gusto, fight him! Don't let that kook control you! Don't let him manipulate you!"

"Gruffi...too strong..."

"Close your eyes!" Gruffi yelped. "Close your eyes and remember, remember the waterfall, your home. Remember the glen, and Grammi baking cookies..."

"Grammi...the glen..."

"Remember...me..."

Gusto did close his eyes, and lowered the dagger. Gruffi could sense the conflict of interest within him, the fear. Then he opened his eyes again.

The green was gone.

"You...Gruffi. My love...I..."

"Yes, that's right...I love you too..."

"Fine!" Delphinus shouted to them. "If that is what you have chosen!"

The green globe floated ominously upward, green light bathing the city in its poison, and Delphinus strolled forward, not stopping an inch, and every inch he took he changed. His legs grow longer, he sprouted wings, his fur became scales. Gruffi grabbed Gusto and they retreated from Delphinus in terror as the bear transformed, arms becoming long black claws, tail turning into a long and reptilian whip. Smoke surrounded the bear as he transformed and every inch of what was once a laughing yellow Gummi bear was replaced by a black dragon, with scales like the dried blood that oozed from his claws; this dragon had recently killed.

"So this is your true form now!" Gruffi shouted. "Instead of a Gummi bear you're a beast!"

The dragon snarled and roared to the sky, before swallowing the green globe whole. The creatures eyes glowered a hot green, and within an instant Gruffi had the shield up, just barely protecting them both from the spout of green and red flame.

"Gusto, get behind me!"

"No...I have...to...do this...Fight back..."

"What...Are you crazy?"

"Maybe, I love you don't I?"

Gusto raised the dagger above him, as they danced away from the dragon, remembering the instructions of the Dragon ancestors; the way to make the dagger become a sword, to counter attack, and the sword grew long within his palm. This sword was a little different than the one in the cave. This sword was a bright silver flame of light.

Gusto was suddenly caught off guard as Gruffi dropped their shielding completely and fell to the ground exhausted.

"Gusto..."

The dragon saw his chance and moved in to send twin bolts of killing ligtening at the pair with his eyes. Gusto leapt high, and landed between the dragon and his love, and the sword (or was it Gusto himself?) shrieked in horror and pain as electric fire rocketed down the blade to hilt and penetrated his spinal column.

"GUSTO!" Gruffi shrieked.

"I'm...all...right..." Gusto said, all the fur on his body standing on end. "Give me...a shield...love..."

Gruffi moved into action crawling to his side and raising a weak shield before them. Soon they were both protected, but Gruffi knew the shielf wouldn't hold. The dragon seemed to realize this fact and chuckled, waiting patiently for their pitiful shield to fall before resuming attack. Gusto fell to the ground and panted.

"I can't hold this up forever," Gruffi said softly, eyes watering.

"I know..."

"What do we do?"

"I...don't know...I know I need to stab it, try to kill it, but how...?"

"Wait..." Gruffi shivered softly. "I can distracte it...lure it to the palace...make it follow me...you can get in behind it there and..."

"It won't fall for that."

"Might..."

"Gruffi..." Gusto looked up at Gruffi, and smiled a beautific smile that made Gruffi's heart shiver in delight. "Kiss me? Goodbye...or goodluck..."

Gruffi did so, and in that shining moment there was nothing in the clearing, no sound, no movement, but the beating of their hearts.

The shield seemed to suddenly gain in strength. Gruffi pulled back and ohed softly.

"We...that's right! Love powers this stuff, doesn't it?"

"Something like that...Ready?"

"Definitely! Lets do this!"

Both of them leapt to their feet and Gruffi made a movement, dropping his shield completely, faking exhaustion and stumbling in a run towards the palace. The dragon spun, hooked into the play and swirled its body, going directly for the bear that seemed most defenceless. Gusto leapt over the tail that swung at him, then ran towards the nearest hind leg with his sword.

"Gruffi now!"

The dragon blew a spout of green flame that could have melted bones. It brought Gruffi, and his shields, to his knees, shaking with the intensity of the dark power.

"Gusto hurry!"

Gusto craweled beneath the belly of the dragon as its feet danced back and forth trying to crush the Gummi beneath it.

Well...this is it...

The sword made a sickening squelch as it imbedded deep into the ribcage of the dragon where Gusto surmised the heart should be. A shower of black blood soaked him and the dragon howled in rage and pain, jumping backwards, wings flapping in chaos like a chicken trying to fly. Gusto took the offensive at last and pounced forward after the dragon, jumping higher than he had ever jumped and impaling the sword in the creature's throat.

A rumbling shriek echoed through the city, causing the palace to shiver. The dark magic of the dragon was broken, and the dragon fell over onto its back, took a shuddering breath, and died.

Gruffi had taken a pounding. His hair was all but soaked in sweat. He approached Gusto, putting a hand out to touch him. Gusto shuddered and turned to look at the other bear with hollow eyes.

"Look..."

The dragon form had shrunk down into the broken form of Denni, blood soaking the bear's bright fur. Next to him lay the still form of Delphi. She wasn't moving.

"Oh heaven..." Gruffi said.

They approached the two lifeless forms, and Gusto touched Delphi's hand. Then breathed a sigh when he found a pulse.

"She'll be all right. But I don't know about Denni. I don't...think we can heal all the damage that was done. Gruffi I don't know..."

"Nothing can bring back the dead, lover."

"Well not nothing."

Both of them whirled...and there stood Tanni.

"What?"

"I appologize," said Tanni, stepping sorrowfully towards her children. "It was my job to guard the Ring and Dagger. I alone knew the true secrets. It is my fault all this came into being. I failed to keep the ring and dagger from you both. I failed to keep them away from Gummis. I abandoned the Ring and Dagger to their fate."

Gusto and Gruffi watched her and waited as she went to touch the eyes of her fallen son.

"The ring, and the dagger..." said Tanni softly. "Were made from the gold of an old goblet that had been brought to this area by the humans many ages ago. They called it the Holy Chalice. It was believed the chalice would bring back the dead. Wanting this power for their own, ancient human mages stole the cup and pounded it into raw metal rods, which was then kept by each mage in order to lengthen their lives and give them power."

"It was an apprentice of one of the mages, a Gummi, who stole one of the golden rods and brought it to Gummi kind. The gold was melted down, mixed with steel and the Voralian and Ursalian mages poured them into two magical objects with which to use to rule over Gummi kind. By that time the true power of the gold had been forgotten. The mages had discovered other uses for the gold, and placed their own magic upon it, forgetting completely the ancient myths; that the Holy Chalice had been drunk from by the one they called the Christ, who could raise the dead, bring to life that which had been destroyed, to heal the sick, the wounded, and the infirm."

"I...is that true?" Gusto asked, swallowing hard.

Tanni laughed.

"I don't know. That's the myth. The reality could be even simpler than that. The human mages wanted to live forever, you see, they may have stumbled upon a way to turn gold into an elixer of life and kept the gold with them, taking peices of it to give to their followers in a drink. But perhaps not. What's done is done. I've never seen the gold used on the dead myself, but it was one of my ancestors who witnessed the ring, during a woman's pregnancy, give life to her stillborn child. This is the only record of the ring or dagger giving life to a living creature. It may be that the dark magic that killed my son would prevent that sort of magic."

"What...do we do?" Gruffi said anxiously.

"Do what you came here to do. Heal the city. Come what may."

Tanni then left them in the clearing, levitating her sons body and her unconscious daughter with her magic and taking them away towards where the Barbics and Glen Gummies were waiting.

Gruffi turned to look at Gusto, and reached for his hand.

"Are you ready then?"

"...In the palace, maybe...?" Gusto stammered.

"No, here is good, I want some light, so I can...so I can see you," Gruffi sighed awkwardly. "Um..."

"It will be all right," Gusto said, squeezing Gruffi's hand. "I love you, and we were meant to do this."

"I love you too. I don't know how it happened, but maybe it was always meant to happen. Love is fickle that way, ya know?"

Gusto hiccupped, feeling the tears come to his eyes. He approached Gruffi carefully, and kissed him, and let himself be pulled by the magic within him to his love, his partner, his mate.

And Gruffi willingly returned the favor. They used their clothing for a bed, and the stars above them for light. They let themselves be carried into their passion, let their love ignite the internal flame, oblivious to all else beyond the simple throbbing hum of their entwined bodies.

An explosion of light filled all the aching places in their their hearts, a light like nothing either of them had ever known or felt in their entire lives. It destroyed all shadows of fear and doubt, and left only love, healing and acceptance in its wake.

Unconciousness soon followed.

-seperator-

Tanni wept miserably as the minutes passed. She didn't know what was happening in the city. She had brought her children to the Gummis and now they were wrapping Denni gently in funeral clothes. She busied herself with cleaning Delphi's wounds. It helped that Zummi was there to give her a shoulder to cry on, and that Tummi was there to lend Delphi some support. Grammi kept Freni busy helping her cook, and Sunni played a game with him when he became bored of that, even though she considered herself far too old now for children's games.

A sudden commotion nearby caused Tanni to lift her head.

"What on earth...oh!"

A sphere of glowing white light had begun to rise from the heart of the city. It outshone the sun in its brightness and intensity. It blinded Tanni so that her eyes watered and she gasped in pain. It was such a bright light that many months later when she returned to Voralia, Tanni would hear from the Voralians how a very bright light on the horizon, opposite the sun, had confused them and filled them with awe. The humans would remember nothing; the magic was only something seen by Gummi kind.

"Tanni what's happening?"

Tanni leapt to her feet as the light faded and a rumbling noise filled the city. It started at her feet, causing the pebbles to dance and shiver. Zummi held her carefully as the city shook with what felt like the onset of a earthquake.

But it was quite the opposite. One by one, like posts being raised into place, the great pillars and columns of Ursalia began to rise from their places of rest. Electrical magic drew lines along cracked marble, leaving only solid surface and the dancing patterns of bears and unicorns. The dust from the ground exploded from their feet into the air and the stone streets began to repave themselves, long majestic sweeping highways of glittering red paving stones, which grew and wound their way around towering marble fountains which burst forth from the ground and shower their sparkling waters into the air. Buildings began to emerge from the city floor like great beatles rising from their rest, their domed shells glittering with streaks of limestone that caught the last remaining traces of sunlight and sent it dancing across the skyline. The mighty walls of the city defence rose themselves up to attention at once. The magic spread from the central palace, which was glorious in is splendor of golden domed glory, to the outer city limits where the roads wound their way back to join with old roads that had once forgotten them.

Tanni felt the tingle of magic through her own body, a feeling of sleep dozy euphoria filled her and she felt alive, truly alive for the first time in many years.

"Mother?"

Tanni twirled and gasped in delight and shock and fell to her knees. Denni had just simply sat up from his funeral bier, rubbing his head, and pulled himself free of the funeral wrap. Delphi went at once to his side to hug and kiss him.

"Mother..." Denni said, looking at her in a way that he hadn't looked at her in many years. "I...had the strangest nightmare...it was aweful."

"Oh child..." Tanni ran to them, and held her children tightly into her arms, sobbing her grief. "It is all right. Mother is here."

"By Gummi its a miracle!" Zummi said pointing. "Look!"

He was pointing towards the nearest column of marble, where Thornberry's statue stood tall and proud. In almost a mirror reflection next to the statue stood Thornberry himself.

His eyes had the strangest expression Tanni had ever seen, and what he said next even made her laugh.

"I fall asleep on one watch and all these bears invade the city!" he declared as the barbics all ran over to hug him and touch him and to verify that he was indeed alive.

"Not a miracle..." Tanni said softly. "Love. Pure, awkwardly bashful and honest love. Goddness me!"

Sir Thornberry seemed to remember quite a bit, but not having died. By the same token, Denni was sitting cross legged, shaking his head in total confusion.

"But I don't remember any of these people!" He said, clearly upset. "Did we move again Mother?"

Tanni laughed, pulled Denni into her arms and kissed him on the top of his head as if he were three years old again.

"Yes my dear, we moved again! But I promise we'll be going home soon. Soon."

"I feel funny."

"You'll be all right my love. Just know that I'm here and I love you."

-seperator-

Night came again. The clear absense of people in the city and the silence that followed was what caused the joyous celebrations following Thornberry's resurrection to die down again.

"So," Ursa said, waddling over to sit next to Tanni by the fire, where she was helping Grammi cook their dinner. "Only those who died here recently were returned. It is rather sad."

"Mortal love is quite strong, but not that strong," Tanni reflected softly. "The ancestors would never let themselves be returned, so long crossed over to the other side."

This confused Ursa for a time, but Gritty came over to take her by the arm.

"We should go find them..."

"Who?"

But Tanni knew who he meant.

"Let sleeping bears lie, I say," she admonished.

"I want to walk with Ursa," Gritty insisted.

So Grammi gave them both coats and a warm folded blanket and they went for a walk.

"It seems anti-climactic, this silence," Ursa said, leaning against her husband. "Almost ominous. I'll be happy when the baby is born and I can be at the ready again. "

"Always ready to fight," Gritty teased. "You think there'll be a lot of fighting?"

"I don't know...the clan Gummies on the outskirts will all want to make a claim here, I mean look at the size of the city now! Its huge, and well fortified."

"I think it'll be a little while before words spreads, though many may come just to see what the light was."

"That was...truly amazing. I have never been closer to heaven...save when I'm with you."

Gritty blushed crimson and wrapped an arm around her tightly.

Gruffi and Gusto were found asleep, naked, on the cold stone floor of the palace courtyard. Ursa laid the blanket over them both and left the extra coats for them, then went with Gritty inside to inspect the palace for potential supplies.

"Only the buildings were renewed," Delphi said, running a hand over one wall. "No tapestries, no furniture, just what was here before."

"Its been hundreds of years. Not like Voralia, which was newer and had furniture left in it to be repaired and restored, and so many people there already, so Gusto told me..."

"The library might be renewed though, Zummi will want to get his hands on those old books before Grubbi and the others decide to turn it into kindling."

Gritty chuckled largely, and they shared a deep kiss before leaving the palace.

Epilogue: Return To Ursalia

"Good morning beautiful."

"Oh brother," Gruffi lifted his head from the pillow and groaned. "What time is it?"

"Almost time for breakfast..." Gusto declared, yawning and stretching. "And of course we have a birthday party to go to today..."

"The little minx. Takes after her mother I swear..."

"Now now, Gruffi, you should be honored that they named her after you."

"I still think Gruffa is a bad name for a girl. I still think they should have named her Figgy or something."

"She'll probably grow up hating it too," Gusto laughed, and took a moment to appreciate his lover's taught back and strong shoulders before the bear pulled on a night robe. "You better not tell that to Ursa though, she'll have your head off."

"Yeah..."

Gusto and Gruffi had decided to abdicate all claims either of them had to any throne.

"It isn't what we want...The barbics have always lived in Ursalia and Thornberry has always watched it, it should be their home."

"You're giving the crown to Ursa and Gritty then?" Tanni had said, smiling. "Who will then takeover Voralia?"

"My oldest sister and her husband, who have been looking after Voralia since long before I went home," Gusto had decided at once. "That's what's proper."

"And the Ring and the Dagger?"

"Should be destroyed," Gruffi had said bluntly. "They should never be made use of again. Their power is too great..."

"I agree. I shall make it my life's work to destroy them," Tanni said. "It will take strong magic, and maybe ages to remove all the spells that prevent their destruction...But I suppose this is my family's penace for all the trouble we have caused."

Zummi had said he would help her, but Tanni had shaken her head.

"I want to take Denni away from Gummi Glen and away from here for a few years, until all this has passed over. I know Delphi wants to stay here, but Denni needs to leave. It is not safe for him to stay here, with no memories and much animosity towards him. We'll be going to Vorallia, and I'll take the objects with me. But Delphi and Frenni will stay here behind, where its safe for them. They have friends here and I'd be wrong to bring them with me..."

Zummi had not taken this information very well, and had ensconced himself into the library to bury himself in his old tomes the moment Tanni and Denni had left. Grammi remained very faithfully supportive of him in his grief. Gusto would sometimes see her sneak to the library with cocoa, even though Zummi didn't like having drinks or food in the library. Which meant that if he wanted to have cocoa with her he'd have to leave the library. Sneaky Grammi.

"I think that the worst part of all this birthday mess will be when she finally gets her little paws on that cake."

"Oh don't be a sour puss, Gruff! It'll be a fun party! With paper lanterns and steamers..."

"Yeah, I suppose so."

The Glen Gummies, which now included Delphi and the young Frenni, assembled outside the glen after breakfast and climbed into the carts laden with gifts for the birthday girl, and for the barbics, whom they didn't see as often as they once did.

"She's got to be at least knee high or near bigger now," Gruffi told Grammi as he flicked the reins of his cart.

The pony shook its head, and gave Gruffi a look that said, 'I'm not budging without carrots'. Gusto laughed.

"Get going you!" Gruffi said, swearing colorfully. "Ya! Ya!"

Eventually the pony took the hint. In the other cart, Tummi wasn't having much trouble with his own pony, but his fiance was being a bit of a distraction for him.

That girl, Gusto sighed, chuckling. I don't know what's worse, the Delphi we knew who had all the power in the world and the brains to match, or this magicless Delphi who is exactly like she was when we first met her, a total flirt...but for Tummi only at least.

When the carts finally rolled into the city, Gusto felt a shiver of apprehension and magical synergy flow through him.

This is where it had happened. He would be sensitive to this place for the rest of his life. As if sensing his distress Gruffi put an arm around him and hugged him.

"Easy now...It still brings bad memories doesn't it?"

Gusto nodded. He remembered the conflict inside him, the voice that had urged him to kill the beautiful and wonderful bear sitting next to him. The strange memory of meeting with Thornberry and...Denni. Who had been dead. Who had all been a part of it.

And knowing it was him, he had done it!

"I'm just glad the Barbics didn't choose to live in the palace," Gusto said, pulling his jacket tight around his body. "This city is so open and empty."

"It echoes..." Gruffi said. "And that big palace is bound to be pretty cold in the winter without a hundred servants to keep all the fireplaces lit."

Grammi made a gruff sound of agreement. The barbics had chosen the safety of one of the watchtowers for their home, and the birthday party was in the main building of the tower below it.

"Looks like the barbics are settling in nicely," Grammi said, as Zummi helped her to the ground.

Sunni was in charge of making sure Frenni and Cubbi didn't run off somewhere, and she wasn't liking this chore one bit. The first sunflower blossoming signs of her womanhood were starting to show up and it was clear to Gusto that she would rather be conversing with the adults then play babysitter. Delphi helped in her own way by keeping her own little brother close at all times, and making sure that Sunni felt that her help was highly appreciated.

At least she keeps Sunni happy. Gummi help us if Sunni turns into another Delphi though...

But the party inside the tower turned into a much more subdued affair. It turned out the birthday girl had wanted nothing to do with partying or cakes, and was blissfully napping away in her crib.

"She does that sometimes," Ursa said, greeting each Glen Gummi with a tight hug. "Thanks for coming. The kids can have some snacks in the kitchen, we won't have the cake until she's done napping."

Gruffi and Grammi did exactly what Gusto thought they would and immediately went to go admire the toddler sleeping in her crib. Gusto tried very hard not to chuckle at his mate's behaviour, and found himself a warm place by the fire where he could chat with the other men away from all the womanly vapours of babies and cubs.

"So, what news?"

"Vorallia sent us fair warning of pirates from the north, trying to stake claims in Vorallia now that its becoming such a center for trade," Gritty said softly. "I've heard rumors of ships from the west, the Gummies coming back across the sea to seek out the source of the 'light'. Though this could be rumors, you can't trust pirates."

Gusto shivered softly, and soon was embroiled in adult conversation about the trade routes, bears who brought goods and services from Vorallia by ship to their new friends in Ursalia, to the friends of Gusto and Gruffi. Some even stayed behind to settle here, with the permission of the Barbics, and it was some of these new faces that Gusto had trouble identifying.

"Seems the cycle is complete," Grubbi commented. "The two friend cities that had once been enemies are friends again..."

"Yeah," Gusto said, then turned and had to grin as Gruffi and Grammi were now fighting over who would get to hold little Gruffa first.

"I think I should go first!"

"She's named after me!"

"I think," Ursa put in thickly. "That I would like Gusto to take the first go..."

Erp! Gusto was glowered at by both his mate and Grammi, who both then had to grin when Gusto was suddenly given an arm full of squirming toddler which he didn't know what to do with.

"Careful, she's pretty much crawling and ready to walk any day now, takes after Buddi that way...she might try to crawl right out of your arms."

Buddi was very enamoured by his little sister and because of this he made himself almost an annoyance, wanting to hold his sister, wanting to show everyone how to properly hug and kiss her, how not to damage her. Gusto held the baby awkwardly against his chest until Ursa shooed the lad away, and handed Gusto a bottle.

"There, take that."

It was weird, feeding a baby, especially an almost-toddler who wanted nothing more than to crawl around and be crazy. Eventually she did settle down, and Gusto found himself enamoured by her big blue eyes.

"She looks like you," he told Ursa.

"Her dad's spirit, this one," Ursa said primly, looking at Gritty with a firm look.

"What did I do?" Gritty said in complete innocence.

The men all laughed. Gusto had to heave a tragic sigh as Grammi finally took her off his hands, much to Gruffi's dismay, to help Ursa change her diapers.

Thank Gummi I wasn't volunteered for that too, Gusto thought, getting up to go over and kiss his pouting lover on the cheek.

"You, my love, are much too baby crazy..."

"Yeah I suppose," Gruffi coughed. "I raised both Cubby and Sunni you know..."

"Yeah, I know," Gusto said, aware that the men had gone quiet, covering up their dismay at the open display of affection by taking sips of ale. "Don't look at me though, I'm not gonna give you a baby, no matter how much you want one."

This broke the awkward silence, and a few people even chuckled. Even now, after so long, there were still people who looked at their relationship as queer, strange, unnatural.

He really hoped the barbics would get over their discomfort. Especially when they made their announcement.

"Its not my fault!" A voice finally declared. "Its Cubby's! He broke it!"

"And you kids shouldn't have been playing in the kitchen!" Grammi chided Sunni. "All of you outside! Go play in the snow!"

Sunni huffed pointedly and almost had to be physically forced to go outside with the cubs.

"That girl is getting on my last nerve!"

"We'll go look after them, Grammi," Delphi said primly, taking Tummi by the hand. "C'mon hon..."

Tummi immediately obeyed. He was looking a little more trim now; Delphi had been keeping a close eye on his between meal snacking. Though not too close a watch; Gusto suspected that she liked to lay on his big soft stomach at night.

"Its your turn now," Grammi said smugly at last, giving Gruffi the toddler in her arms. "Don't drop her."

"Don't be stupid," Gruffi said. "I've held cubs before, you know," he sat down next to Gusto and started bouncing the giggling girl on his knee. "Hello girly. Happy birthday to you."

Ursa gave a cheerful laugh and went back to the kitchen with Grammi to continue cooking dinner. It was a little too peaceful.

"When do you want to..." he said to Gruffi with a slight hinting tone in his voice.

"Whenever, wait until dinner maybe, when everyone is inside."

Dinner, in contrast to the somber mood of the evening, was loud, cheerful, and full of toasts to the baby Gruffa, (who had totally annhialated her birthday cake by climbing right into it, leaving the rest of the company to eat vanilla iced cupcakes for dessert.)

After the mess of eating was cleared away and Gruffa was cleaned and put to bed, Gruffi stood up and clanged his fork loudly on the table.

"All right bears, wait up a moment. Before everyone heads off to bed for the night, we would like to make an announcement...er..."

Gusto tried not to chuckle as Gruffi completely froze. Everyone was staring at him.

"Well you see...that is to say, well..."

"Just out with it," Grammi said. "I haven't got all day! There are dishes to wash!"

"We're getting married," Gusto piped up, grinning when Gruffi put his face in his hands. "And everyone is invited, unless they don't want to of course..."

"Oh I'm sure they'll all go," Ursa said thickly, looking around at her fellow Barbics. "After all, you saved us all. Right guys?"

A chorus of hastily agreeing nods and last round of drinks in congratulation followed this before Gusto finally had to lead his now slightly tipsy fiance to bed.

"Two weddings...Delphi and Tummi in the Spring, and us in the Fall..." Gusto said, as he peeled Gruffi's clothes off him. "It's going to be a busy year."

"Can I have my honeymoon now?" Gruffi asked with a slight pout. "I deserve it for putting up with those loud cubs, Grammi's temper, the Barbics..."

"Of course you can lover..." Gusto said, and rolled on top of Gruffi with a cheeky grin. "You want our second and third honeymoon too or can I save something for after the wedding?"

"Cheeky bugger," Gruffi said, and punctuated each word with a kiss. "Beautiful. Frustrating. Adorable..."

Lamplight flickered from the sconces. The last of the party goers finally seeked the solace of their beds. The guard dogs finally stopped barking at their own shadows. The ponies stopped whickering in the stable. Light from the moon crept across the bedroom and played delicate magical fingers over the figures laying softly there, resting in the afterglow of their passionate union.

On the last day of winter, before the ground thaws, a seed is planted.

The End

--This story has been completely revamped, edited, proof read, and altered from the original story. :) I hope you enjoy the edits, and I decided to just make Gritty Ursa's husband like I should have from the start. This'll teach me to do my research for a story before committing to something! Hope you enjoyed these new polished up chapters! ^__^