Gummi VenturePart 5: The King’s ContestVenture had been gone long enough from the glen that su

Gummi Venture

Part 5: The King’s Contest

Venture had been gone long enough from the glen that summer had disappeared from the woods and autumn was already bearing her final colors. The air was no longer warm and dry, instead it had become brisk and biting. With only the slightest provocation it pulled dried leaves from the gently swaying trees. Zummi wrapped his cloak more tightly around his neck and shoulders as he looked up to the early evening sky. The sunlight was fading now, but it left a canvas of bright pinks, oranges and emerging violets in its wake.

“Beautiful.” He said quietly to himself.

He stayed where he was, with his short legs dangling in the crisp air, sitting on a limb of the gummi tree overlooking the forest canopy below. This was a spot he often came, where he could relax and get lost in the natural beauty of the forest. Despite the falling leaves from the trees surrounding the glen, the gummi tree, steeped in magics as it was would be the last to drop its own, and the first come springtime to replenish them.

The old bear sighed and adjusted his spectacles on the top of his snout. His green friend had said he planned to be back before the first snow of winter, but it seemed less and less likely that it would be the case. Zummi watched as the color slowly drained from the sky, and when the air became too chilly, he gathered himself up and strode the length of the large branch to a small round door hidden away in the trunk. As he reached for the knob, it opened suddenly outward, catching him by surprise.

“Oh! Zummi, here you are!” Said Sunni as she blinked up at him with wide, youthful eyes.

“Sunni!” Exclaimed the magician. “You just about lared the scife out of me, er, well scared the life!”

She giggled and pushed a long tuft of yellow fur out of her face. “I didn’t mean to! You were up here so long I started to get worried, that and Gruffi wants to see you.”

“Gruffi? Oh, that’s fine. Is he in his room, or the den?” Zummi asked.

“Um, the den.” Sunni said and nodded.

“Thank you for letting me know.” Said the purple gummi as he moved with Sunni into the tree’s upper passageway before shutting the door behind them.

“Was it a nice sunset tonight?” Asked Sunni while they walked.

“Oh yes, quite lovely.”

“You’ve been up there a lot lately haven’t you?”

“It’s a good place to sit and have a think.” Zummi explained.

“About what?”

Zummi chuckled at the girl’s inquisitive nature. “Oh I don’t know, this and that. I’ve been hoping the Great Book of Gummi might reveal a new spell to us, but it’s been still for a long time now.”

“When did the last spell show up?”

Zummi scratched his chin in thought. “Perhaps half a year or more? I’ve nearly memorized all the magics the book contains by this point, still trying to find something that could help Venture’s friends, but nothing seems quite right.”

Sunni nodded her understanding. “They’ll be okay, I know they will. If they can be turned to stone, they can be turned back.” She offered with a smile.

“I think so too.” Zummi smiled back, patting the younger bear on her shoulder.

They continued down the winding passageway which ran in a tight descending spiral throughout the massive tree trunk until they reached the underground, where carved-out wood walls and floor gave way to earth and stone. Within another minute or so they would reach the den, the gathering hub for the Gummi Glen family.

“Do you know what Gruffi needs from me?” Zummi asked presently.

“Hm? Oh, uh, I can’t remember.” Sunni said, with a sort of mischievous smirk on her face.

“What’s with the look?” Asked Zummi.

“Maybe Gruffi didn’t really ask me to come find you. Maybe I just needed an excuse to get you down here.”

Zummi gave her a bemused expression.

Just ahead they could hear excited voices. It sounded as though most of the others were already there, perhaps playing board games or enjoying hot cocoa around the hearth?

As the two bears rounded the last bend of the hallway and entered the spacious den, Zummi felt his heart beat a little faster. It looked as though all of the others were here alright, chatting excitedly, laughing and clustered around a certain gummi bear.

“Venture! You’re back!” Zummi all but shouted as he made his way into the crowd.

“Zummi! Good to see you! I’m pretty sure I said I’d be back before it snows, didn’t I? So here I am!” Said Venture as he gently pushed past Tummi and Cubbi to embrace his friend.

“Well, yes, but, it’s very nearly that time of year already.” Said Zummi as he patted the green gummi on the back while they hugged.

“Come on now, I still made it. Hope you weren’t too worried about me.” Said Venture with a teasing grin.

Zummi hesitated a moment as they pulled apart. “Not, too worried.” He said.

“He’s been working on helping your friends the whole time you’ve been away!” Sunni chimed in as she also greeted Venture with a warm hug.

“I believe it.” Said Venture, smiling with appreciation at the magician.

“What else could I do?” Said Zummi.

Grammi cleared her throat and spoke above the others. “Plenty of time to catch up everyone, but let’s allow the poor dear time to get little settled first, and maybe some food in his belly!”

“Oh gee, anything to eat at all would be amazing.” Said Venture. “Thank you, Grammi.”

She ushered him over to the long banquet table that sat in the middle of the room, expertly carved from old logs. He took a seat near the middle and the other gummis bunched up around him.

“Where did you go this time?” Asked Cubbi as he hopped onto the left side of the bench where Venture sat.

“Was it scary?” Tummi wondered.

“Did you, find any leads? Not that I care one way or the other.” Gruffi grumbled as he tightly folded his arms over his chest.

“How long will you be back for?” Asked Zummi as he seated himself on the long bench to Venture’s right.

The green gummi laughed and unfastened his cloak which he carefully stowed in the bag of holding at his belt.

“Okay, okay, one at a time! Cubbi, I went to the south, a land of swamps and wetlands, it was murder on the fur. I had heard some local legends about a peculiar witch who lived out in the bogs who knew about petrification magic so I did my best to find her. To answer your question Tummi, yes, sometimes it was pretty frightening! There were serpents in the swamps that grew to some thirty feet in length and would have loved to have made a meal of me! Honestly, from time to time I miss having an ogre’s size. I found the witch’s hut, but it was falling to pieces and I suppose she was long dead or moved away. I searched the rest of the area, spoke to the nonhumans that I could find, and eavesdropped on the humans I came across. None of that seemed to pan out. And by then it was time to return to the glen. On the journey back however, to answer your question Gruffi, I heard a rumor about a nobleman, a collector of artifacts specifically who lives nearby, in the kingdom of Dunwyn.”

“Why is this nobleman important?” Asked Cubbi.

“Well, what I overheard was he has a particular interest in relics from the Sandibas region and has amassed quite the collection. Perhaps, he holds a clue from my time that could help. I know it’s a long shot, but it’s something to go on at least.”

He turned his head to look at Zummi. “As for how long I’ll be staying, I’d really like to follow up on this antiques collector before winter hits us. But after that, I suspect I’ll want to stick around for awhile, until it gets warm again. After all, bears hibernate in the winter right?”

“Not gummi bears!” Said Cubbi, quite oblivious to Venture’s joke.

“So a few months then.” Said Zummi. He appeared relieved, though perhaps a little disappointed too.

Grammi brought out a hearty seeded bread with butter, a steaming squash and vegetable soup, and a raspberry custard tart for dessert and set them down in front of Venture. The bearded bear looked almost like he might burst into tears.

“This looks too good! I haven’t eaten this well since, well since I was back here! Thank you so much!” He said sincerely.

She gave him a satisfied smirk. “Well I’d hate to think you were getting food half as good as this out in some swamp!” She said.

Venture finished his meal and the group continued to speak long into the night until the younger bears began to yawn at the late hour.

The green gummi couldn’t help but stifle a yawn himself.

“After the trek you’ve had today, I think it’s about time we got you settled back into your old room.” Suggested Zummi.

“I wanted to hear more about the serpents and poisonous toads!” Said Cubbi.

“I’ll still be here in the morning ya know!” Said Venture as he rose to his feet.

“Fiiine.” Said Cubbi, and then he brightened. “You wanna help me and Sunni with our morning chores? They won’t take long, and you can tell us more stories!”

“Looking forward to it.” Venture said.

“Good to have you back.” Said Gusto, as he got up from the table and bade everyone a good night.

“Yes, you know you always have a place here, sweetie.” Added Grammi.

“Thanks everyone.” Said Venture, who blushed under the green fur of his cheeks. “It’s nice to be back.”

“May I walk with you?” Asked Zummi after the others had cleared out of the den.

“Of course.”

The two headed into the long corridor just outside of the den that led further down to the sleeping chambers.

“We missed you around here.” Said the purple bear.

“It sure seems that way. It’s… a little overwhelming being fussed over on my return like this.”

“They’re just showing their fondness for you.” Said Zummi.

“Oh, I know, I didn’t mean that… I meant,” Venture paused. “I’m overwhelmed to, have people to come home to again.”

Zummi patted Venture’s back as they walked, and thought he saw a glint of moisture at the corner of his friend’s eye, before it was quickly wiped away.

They reached Venture’s room, the door next to Zummi’s and went inside. Venture reached up to the apple-sized light sphere affixed to the wall and touched it softly with his paw. The orb slowly came to life, bathing the room in a warm glow. Each of the rooms had such spheres, a simple magic enchantment Zummi had used to light the great structure many years ago. Each light would remain lit, by using a tiny amount of ambient magical energy until touched again. They were incredibly handy, and much more practical than torches or lanterns.

“Wow, this place looks just the same.” Said Venture as he glanced around. “Actually I take it back, it looks cleaner than I remember.”

“Well, I didn’t want the place collecting dust in your absence.”

“You’ve been keeping my room clean for me?”

Zummi shrugged. “Just once a week, I’ll pop in and tidy. Not a dig beal.”

“There it is.” Grinned Venture.

“Big deal!” Zummi corrected himself.

“Well I appreciate it, you’re always so thoughtful.” Said Venture.

Zummi blushed at the compliment. “It was really nothing. But listen, I’d love to write down some more of your experiences, like before, if you have the time.”

“What, like right now?”

“N-no of course not! Whenever you want, if you have some time before you leave for Dunwyn.”

“Well, what about tomorrow night then?” Venture offered.

“That’s wonderful, let’s plan for tomorrow around sundown? Just pop over and I’ll be all set!” Said Zummi happily.

“Sounds like a plan.” Venture agreed. “Then I’ll say good night for now, and see you tomorrow.”

“Oh, good night Venture, and,” Zummi scratched at the scruff of his neck. “It is good to have you back. We’re, all very fond of you.”

“And you know I feel the same about you guys.”

“Sleep well.” Said Zummi before leaving the room and softly shutting the door on his way out.

Venture moved over to the small bed and practically collapsed onto the mattress. The frame creaked slightly under his weight. The gummi had expected he might stay up for a time, unpacking some items from his bag, getting situated again, but after being on the road the last few weeks, he was so exhausted that he fell asleep almost immediately.

***

The following day was the most relaxed that Venture could remember having in quite some time. He helped Sunni and Cubbi collect firewood in the morning as promised, and afterwards they lay in the long grass of the grove and deciphered shapes in the clouds. He enjoyed a nice lunch in the afternoon with Grammi, Tummi and Gusto, and even found an hour to catch up with Sir Thornberry who had apparently moved himself into the armory on the lowest level of the glen. He learned that Gritty had returned to his native gummi homeland of Ursalia, but Thornberry was becoming quite fond of the glen and would be staying indefinitely. The green gummi expected he would feel restless after the months away, but instead he felt like he was back where he belonged. The feeling made him a bit uneasy.

The gummi bears all gathered in the den for supper which Grammi and Tummi had prepared for everyone. Venture followed up with Zummi about meeting later as discussed while Cubbi wrinkled up his nose and did his best to hide the mushrooms on his plate from Grammi under a dinner roll.

Again the meal was delightful, and afterwards Venture took some time to unpack a few belongings from the bag of holding into his room. He lined the shelves with a couple of books he had begun reading on his travels alongside the maps he had been using. When he was finished he touched the light sphere on the wall and went into the hallway. A few moments later he was knocking at the door next to his own.

***

Zummi carefully poured two cups of gummiberry tea and set them onto a clattery copper tray. The tea was good for the mind and body, refreshing, though not nearly as potent as its counterpart: gummiberry juice. He smelled the wonderful, warm aroma rising from the teacups as he lifted the tray with both paws and took it over to the nearby table where Venture sat.

“Mmm.” Said the green bear, sniffing the tea as he lifted the cup closest to him. “You make the best tea in all the realm, I swear.” He said.

“You have visited much of the realm, haven’t you? Perhaps I shall just take the compliment then.” Zummi said with a smile. He lifted his own teacup and carefully set it aside.

He was very happy to spend a quiet evening speaking with his friend. It had only been four and a half months since he had first met Venture, on that fateful, if tumultuous day. Since that time, the green bear had only stayed in Gummi Glen for three short weeks. Then he was gone, continuing the journey to find aid for his friends. Just like in those weeks before, the two arranged a night to relax and converse, which Zummi found to be a doubly good opportunity to get more of his friend’s incredible history down on paper. From the wooden table next to him, he gathered up a canvas-bound notebook and retrieved an ink quill with its jar.

“Are you wanting to write anything in particular tonight?” Venture asked, craning from his side of the table to see the book.

“In fact, I’d like to get another one of your stories written down, if you’d care to spare the time.” Zummi said, looking over his glasses at the bear sitting across from him.

“Oh, I’ll always make time for you, not that I had any other plans tonight anyway.” The bearded gummi said. “So, something specific? A bit more about what you call ‘the Great Gummi’ culture from centuries ago? Something from my wandering years as an ogre?”

Zummi blew some steam from the top of his cup and then took a tentative sip of the hot beverage. “Your choice. Anything you would like to have written down for pummi gosterity, uh, gummi posterity?”

Venture took a sip from his own cup while he thought about the magician’s request. “Oh, that is good, not too strong, just perfect.”

“Thank you kindly.” Said Zummi.

“Hmm, I know I’ve told you about the night we vanquished the sorceress, but have I told you yet about how the team was formed?” Asked Venture, raising a fuzzy eyebrow.

“You have not.” Said Zummi, offering a curious look. “But please do, I’m all ears.” He readied his quill at the top of a fresh page.

“Let me think.” Venture said as he began his tale. “I was still a cub at the time, around fourteen or fifteen, living with my grandfather in his general store. He was getting up there in age, as he often reminded me, so he had gifted me our family heirloom, the bag of holding for my birthday. That’s right, for my fifteenth birthday, that checks out. Anyway, Gummiton was bustling on that particular morning, more so than usual. And you have to remember, we had opened our town and lands to the displaced humans from the kingdom of Serenade, so Gummiton in those years after the sorceress had forced them out was especially crowded. Sorry, I should try to stick to the main story.”

“It’s fine, my shorthand is up to the task.” Zummi assured his companion.

“Great, well, where was I? Oh yes, everyone in town was acting like they had a special secret to share.”

***

Maddi came by Grandpa’s store in the morning, like she did almost every day. She had this huge grin on her face, stretching from ear to ear. She was seven years older than me and a lot more interesting, adventurous, and brazen too. Maddi was amazing, I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. She was just like my big sister, even called me her little brother sometimes. I had known her my whole life, our parents used to be friends.

“Hey Venture, how’s business?” The burgundy-colored bear asked as she leaned against the front counter of the shop.

“Fine, we sold a bunch of knitted scarves to the humans. The nights just started getting colder recently so Grandpa figured it was a good idea to have them in stock.” I told her.

“Sad to see Summer coming to an end. That’s smart though, I mean, they don’t have any fur, they gotta be cold all the time, right? Must be annoying.” She said.

“I guess.” I said.

“Anyway, whatever, I’m not really here for that.”

“I figured. So what’s up?” I asked her as I tidied up one of the display shelves of buttons, needles and colored thread spools.

“You haven’t heard the news?”

“No. what news?” I asked.

“Whole town’s talking about it.” She said.

“About what?”

“Wow, you are seriously clueless.”

“Maddi, come on! Just tell me already!” I snapped.

She smirked. “Geez, calm down, if you want to know that bad I’ll tell you.”

I rolled my eyes.

“So yeah, the human king sent out a request, he’s looking for people.” She told me.

“What for?”

“They’re calling it ‘The King’s Contest.’”

“Well that doesn’t explain too much.” I said and grimaced. “What kind of contest?”

“He wants to find people with skills, who can fight. He’s hosting a tournament in three days.” Maddi said.

“Whoa, that sounds exciting!” I exclaimed. “How do you know all this?”

She pulled a carefully folded sheet of paper from the yellow sash around her waist and handed it to me. “This is how.”

I unfolded it and saw it was a flier, presumably one of many that had been posted around Gummiton and the more recent human settlement of New Serenade earlier that morning. Quickly I scanned over the information before giving it back.

“That’s really gonna be something to see.” I said and whistled.

“I’m going to enter.” Maddi told me proudly, tossing her long, single braid of hair back over her shoulder.

“Is it even open to gummi bears?”

She scrunched up her face. “Why wouldn’t it be? It doesn’t say ‘humans only’ or anything on it, does it?”

“No.”

“So then, of course I’m going to enter, and I plan to be one of the winners too!”

“It’s just, humans are so big and powerful, what if you get hurt?” I said.

Her expression softened. “Don’t worry about me, little brother. I’m quick, they won’t even lay a finger on me. Besides, that old king wants the best, and it’s going to be me for sure.”

“Will I be able to see you participate?” I asked.

“Obviously. I can only do my best if you’re there cheering me on.” She said and fluffed up my hair with her paw.

***

Gummiton was beyond excited over the next few days leading up to the tournament. It was surprising to pass anyone on the street who wasn’t talking about it, though to be fair there usually wasn’t much else going on, at least not on such a grand scale. By that time, the top rumors were that the king wanted to host the event for morale, find a team to be his new royal guard, or make a strike force to defeat the sorceress. They all seemed equally preposterous and plausible. Unfortunately for me however, I was scheduled to mind the store on the day of the contest while my grandfather traveled just out of town into the forest to gather berries and herbs to dry and sell.

I suppose I should say a couple of things about Grandpa at this point: The gummi was strict, not overly harsh necessarily, but he had his rules and expected them to be followed. The other thing was, he liked to stay up late with his pipe and a book in the evening and sleep late in the mornings, which almost always meant I had to open the shop. So on the day of the tournament, I wrote him a note, apologizing that I had something urgent to do that I deemed more important than opening the store. I left it on his nightstand next to the snoring bear, said a quiet ‘goodbye’ and then headed out for the day.

The contest grounds were set up just outside of Gummiton, in a large clearing at the edge of the Honeypaw woods, where there was enough space for all the festivities. Some of the town carpenters had constructed wooden stands for spectators, and roped off rings for individual battles. There were even benches and seating areas in some of the trees, obviously being more for the gummi bears who could easily get to them. The area was completely transformed from the meadow it had previously been. Somehow, in just three days there had been time for many local businesses to set up stands with food and drink as well as a few game booths like I had seen and played before at a human’s carnival when I was very young. I felt my stomach rumble as I looked over some small cakes and sweet buns at a baker’s stall. The smell of cooked sugar and spices was nearly overwhelming to my sensitive nose, but in a wonderful way. I had told Grandpa we should do something similar, but he wasn’t much for the idea. Maybe he just didn’t understand how many people would be in attendance.

I continued through the rows of booths until I reached the largest fight ring designated for the main events. It was the most impressive due to its sheer size as well as knowing it was where the final matches would take place. It was wider and had tall, waving banners surrounding it flying the colors of New Serenade and Gummiton respectively. For now there was no one competing here, although a few people were already making themselves comfortable to have good viewing later in the day. Behind and above the ring in sturdier-looking stands were the nicer seats for the human’s king Josef, his family, and the gummi elders. There were also padded seats for advisors, probably some other people too, but basically, the most important folks from both settlements.  

I found Maddi about an hour after I arrived, she was just finishing a match, which she won. She was beaming, waving at folks, talking to some others. When she saw me though she ran right over.

“Hey! There you are! You missed my first fight!”

“I’m sorry, I wanted to leave sooner, but I almost didn’t… I think Grandpa’s gonna be really upset when he finds out.” I told her, still feeling guilty.

“Hey, this tournament’s a big deal, he’ll understand. They say it’s better to ask forgiveness than permission, you know.” She said, tying her yellow bandana more tightly at the back of her head.

I frowned. “That seems subjective.”

“Whatever, anyway, I got my first win!” She said, grabbing me by the shoulders and shaking me. She laughed like a crazy person. I couldn’t help laughing with her.

“Congratulations! Was it a close match?” I asked her.

She shook her head. “Nah. I was too quick, besides, with these rules it was a piece of cake!”

“Oh? What do you mean?” I asked.

“I told you already, Venture. We’re not trying to kill each other or anything. You just need to knock your opponent down three times, or get them out of the ring. You can use weapons, but absolutely no lethal attacks.” She reminded me.

“I know all that! I meant, how did you win?” I asked.

“Just outmaneuvered him, tripped him up a few times. No sweat.” She flexed her arm for me and grinned.

“There actually is some sweat on your forehead, Maddi.” I said and pointed.

“Haha, you bratty little cub!” She shouted and grabbed me in a headlock. We both laughed again.

I stuck by my sister for the rest of the day and was able to watch her next match from the sidelines, which she also won, with relative ease. She was even faster than I remembered. She had spent years training for the Gummi Guard, so it made sense that she would be in peak physical condition. Of course, there were plenty of gummis also trained to join the guard, and several of them were in attendance, but I doubted they had Maddi’s grit and determination. I had heard her mother, Clover, remark that if Maddi had been born a human she’d have her own queendom by now. When Maddi was in a battle, the way she read her opponent’s moves, reacted so quickly and effortlessly, seemed to be pure instinct on her part. You could see her opponents calculating strategies in their heads, but Maddi had already tripped them up or disarmed them before they could act. Her third match of the day was in the finals, which meant, if she won, she would be one of those deemed worthy by King Josef. As the number of participants dictated, only three would be counted as champions.

While she was preparing for her last match, I was able to catch some of the other finalists’ bouts. The first of them featured the most physically imposing swordsman I had ever seen. He was enormous, with a midsection shaped like a pickle barrel and a golden moustache wider than his head! He faced off against against a smaller, though capable swordfighter. The big fellow moved with purpose, deflecting his attacker’s assault with little shrugs, it seemed, letting the sword glance off his shining silver plate armor. The giant man had a sword himself, an impressive broadsword, but at that point in the fight it was being used more as a shield than a weapon. He was just sizing his opponent up, gauging his battle style before actually going on the offensive. It was clear to everyone watching who the victor would be just based on the sheer size and strength of the man, but what was actually surprising was that his attacks were incredibly fast. It seemed, with the added weight of the huge blade and armor, he should be sluggish, but nothing could be further from the truth. The golden-haired man began to use the two-handed sword in earnest then, but avoided slicing with its sharp edges entirely, otherwise I expect he could have cut his opponent in two. He won the match easily, using the flat side of his blade to lift his opponent into the air before hurling him out of the ring. The crowd applauded and cheered, “Osric, Osric, Osric!”

The second person to become a champion that day was also human, lean and quite plain-looking. He had long black hair that covered some of his face, tied into a small tail at the back and wore simple brown robes. The fellow announcing the fight said that his name was Talwyn, and he was the most gifted acolyte from the former mage’s academy in Serenade. These days he was also adding gummi magic to his repertoire, studying with Gummiton mystics and magicians. He battled a barbarian woman who fought with enormous claw weapons. The mage seemed to keep her at a distance easily enough, blowing her back with gusts of air from his staff. She roared and charged at him but Talwyn mired her with a mud spell, and while she struggled to pull herself free, began to summon a fireball in the air above his unassuming wooden staff. As the flames grew in size, you could see the hesitation in his opponent. The air over the ring began to heat up, and I could feel its unnatural warmth on my skin. All eyes were glued to the glowing crimson sphere as it rotated in space and grew in size. When the fireball was as wide across as a wagon wheel, and close to being launched, the barbarian admitted defeat. I can’t say that I blamed her. The crowd expressed some disappointment at the anticlimactic end of the duel. I’ll admit I had wanted to see what that fireball could do too.

As fate would have it, the very last final match of the day was between Maddi and a tall human named Bernard who strutted about the ring in a reddish-brown long coat. The man appeared fierce, with fiery crimson hair that flowed into an equally wild beard. The fight judge had the two shake hands as the match was about to start.

I heard people behind me whispering, “What a handsome rogue he is! I hope he isn’t too hard on that little gummi bear!”

“Rogue is right, you know he’s one of those sailors from Glassport don’t you?” Said someone else.

I didn’t know much about the place, only that it was, as the name suggested, a port town many miles away, and also that the folks who traveled through and did business there didn’t have the best of reputations.

Like the previous finals, this one was being held in the larger ring in front of the royal stands and the crowd was dense with spectators. I climbed the narrow stairs into the raised common seating area and pushed through some onlookers, attempting to get a better view. Bernard used a bo staff, because it was most like a trident. Apparently he was also a fisherman from the lands he hailed from and was accustomed to the range and feel of the weapon. He was well trained like Osric, but in a very different style, and I could tell that Maddi was having real difficulty for the first time that day. She was still faster, and obviously a much smaller target, but I could tell Bernard had fought alongside or perhaps with gummi bears, so he knew what he was doing. Maddi bounded over and around him, testing his strike range with the long staff, though I could tell he was learning hers at the same time. It was several minutes before either of them got a knockdown, and I gasped when Maddi was the one to end up face down in the dirt. She got back up, and they circled each other.

“Apologies lass, this is just a game after all.” Said Bernard with a gruff, accented voice as he expertly twirled his bo in one hand. “But I do play to win.” He grinned so wide I could see a shine of gold from one of his teeth.

Maddi patted her face with her paws, getting the dirt off before she responded. “Don’t worry about me any, nothing I can’t handle.”

“Good to know.” He said. “I’d be insulted to think you made it to the finals by accident.”

Maddi just smirked.

Her movements didn’t look quite as sure as before, as she was being more defensive now. The only weapon she carried was a small dagger sheathed at her sash belt, but I didn’t see how it would do her any good in this match. No lethal attacks allowed, not that Maddi would ever take someone’s life, and nothing that would permanently injure the man either. She bounded over him, I suspect to land on his head and use her weight to force him to the ground, but he seemed to be waiting for that, stepping out from under her before she landed and pummeling her with the staff, scoring his second knockdown. In fact, the hit very nearly sent my sister out of the ring. There was a collective gasp from the spectators.

“Come on, Maddi, come on…” I said under my breath as I watched.

“That’s two knockdowns now.” Said Bernard cooly. He stood back, taking a relaxed stance and hooked a thumb over his large silver belt buckle. I knew enough to realize that his nonchalant act was meant to rattle my sister. He didn’t know her like I did though. She always did her best work when she felt the pressure of a challenge.

“Not sure what you’ve heard about gummi bears, but we all know how to count, thanks.” Said Maddi. She hopped back to her feet and tossed her braid over her shoulder.

“Well that’s good! We only have to get to three after all.” Bernard said and chuckled.

From where I stood I couldn’t see as much of the fight as I wanted to. The humans in front of me were standing and crowding the wooden railing, so I could only see through their legs. I had to get a better view so I began to make my way to the very front of the wooden platform, maybe four meters above the fighting ring below.

Maddi and Bernard engaged one another again and again. With the weapon, he just had too much coverage and reach to his advantage. Given the inherent differences in our species, Maddi didn’t have the strength needed to disarm him either. This only left one option available to her: cunning. The burgundy gummi came in from the sailor’s side, waiting for his inevitable sweep. When it came, she slid under it, tipping her head back and letting her long braid trail out behind her as the staff whooshed over her face. I couldn’t help but cry out, if his hit had connected she would really have been hurt. She withdrew the small dagger from her belt in an instant as she moved, ending her slide just behind the man after passing right through his legs. She leapt up from the ground, leaving a small dust cloud, slashing the dagger carefully. I couldn’t see what exactly she had done, but it was apparent a moment later when the fisherman’s heavy leather belt and trousers suddenly slipped down to his knees. He instinctively reached down to pull them back up while Maddi jumped and kicked him in the small of the back, forcing him to the ground. Now it was one knockdown to two. The crowd roared with laughter at the unexpected turn of events. Bernard got up again, embarrassed, and was now forced to hold his trousers up, leaving him to fight with only one hand. It wasn’t difficult for Maddi to take the upper hand and score the next knockdown on her unbalanced opponent.

“That was a dirty trick!” Snarled the flustered man.

Maddi shrugged. “It’s just a game, but like you said, I play to win too.” She told him.

She bounced over him, avoided his awkward strike easily and landed on his shoulder blades. She scored her third knockdown. The spectators went wild. Even the king and gummi elders applauded excitedly from their vantage point. Bernard for his part, tried to stand tall after his defeat, red-faced though he was.

“So this is what was more important than minding the shop today?” Came a gravelly voice from behind me. I knew it all too well and immediately broke out in a nervous sweat.

With the events of the afternoon, I had completely forgotten about Grandpa, hadn’t even considered that he might come looking for me. Now, hearing that stern tone made the fur at the back of my neck stand up and I felt like a cub who had been caught with his paw in the cookie jar.

“Gr-Grandpa! I can explain!” I started to say automatically, but in my haste as I turned to face him, I was bumped by a human next to me and lost my balance. The collision sent me tumbling back against the wooden guardrail of the stands. Unfortunately for me, the wooden slats were high and wide apart, so a cub my size could slip right between them, which I did. I just had time to see the look of surprise on my grandfather’s face as I fell from the tall platform.

The drop was dizzying, but I had the presence of mind to pull my limbs in and cover my head. Gummi bears are naturally bouncy so though I knew the fall could do some damage, it wasn’t life-threatening. What I hadn’t realized however, was that I was directly above Maddi’s humiliated opponent, Bernard the sailor.

Bernard yelped as a small green bear crashed into him from above, with enough force to knock him to his knees and force him to drop his pants yet again. I bounced safely off of him and rolled some distance away before getting to my feet, dusted myself off and stood before the man. I was about to ask him if he was alright, and apologize, but his face told me my best bet might just be to flee.

“You blasted gummis! Think you can just embarrass me like this and get away with it?” He said with an angry snort. He still struggled to keep his britches up over his underwear as he found his feet and brandished his weapon.

I quickly glanced  around me. Maddi had already been escorted away by one of the contest judges, Grandpa was high above me in the stands, and a bunch of onlookers had begun crowding around us, as if they thought another match was starting.

“Hey look!” Someone shouted. “Bernard’s fighting another gummi!”

“Guess he didn’t learn his lesson last time!” Someone rejoined. There was laughter.

Bernard’s face was perhaps even redder than his hair. He charged me, bo staff drawn, and he obviously meant to use it. Unlike my fall, this would undoubtedly leave a mark. I tried to run from the large roped-off arena but a tall human man reached down and forcibly shoved me back. Behind me, the humiliated fisherman roared. I was panicked and terrified.

“Venture, hey, boy!” I could just hear my Grandpa’s voice over the din of the crowd. I looked up into the stands and saw his familiar bearded face. “Use your bag!” He indicated the simple coinpurse at his waist and it took me a moment to catch his meaning.

I reached down and took my own pouch, the bag of holding, from my rope belt. Grandpa had shown me how it worked of course, so I knew all of its practical applications, so why did he want me to use it now?

The enraged sailor swung wildly, and natural instinct took over as I dived out of the way of the weapon while it swung past me. It struck the ground, sending a small shower of grit and pebbles into the air. I gasped and opened the bag. If the old shopkeeper thought this thing could help me, he was probably right.

“Can’t even win against a little cub!” Scoffed a bystander.

Bernard lunged at me.

I tugged the bag of holding wide open. I wasn’t even thinking about what I was doing. Bernard’s forward momentum took him right into the open mouth of the bag. The look on the man’s face as he stumbled into an impossibly-sized pouch, that was small only a moment ago was something to see. In the blink of an eye my assailant was gone. The roar of the crowd cut out almost immediately. They seemed as shocked as Bernard was by the turn of events. I surveyed the throng of onlookers surrounding me. They were nearly silent except for some confused whispers.

“Now say his name and let him out, boy!” I heard my Grandpa call down from above. So using the bag to store a person was just like with any other object. I understood now why my grandfather hadn’t shared this information with me, it could get a kid into a lot of trouble.

“Uh, what was his name again?” I asked the people around me. The thrill of the ordeal had momentarily made me forget.

“Bernard.” One of them told me.

“Oh right, Bernard!” I said after opening the bag up again.

The red-haired fellow suddenly sprouted from the magical pouch, tumbling forward, weapon still in hand. He sat on the ground near the edge of the ring, quite baffled judging from his expression.

“Sorry about that, and about landing on your head earlier.” I told him.

“Um, that’s alright lad.” He said quietly. For the time being at least, his anger was replaced by confusion.

The crowd, as intrigued as they had been a few moments earlier began to disperse once the action was over. Grandpa made his way down from the wooden viewing platform and walked over to me. Even at nearly sixty years of age the olive-colored bear was quite intimidating to behold with his puffed-out chest, full beard and serious expression.

“I’m sorry, it’s just that the contest was today and Maddi really wanted me to–” I began.

He held up a paw and I was silent. “Venture, you don’t need to explain, I understand perfectly well why you couldn’t miss today.” He said, his tone much more fair than I had been expecting.

“R-really?”

He nodded. “My boy, I’m not completely unreasonable. I was young once too, and I know most days there isn’t much going on in this town.” He huffed. “Though I suppose it’s more lively since the humans came to stay with us. My point is, you should have just told me.”

“Sorry Grandpa. I will next time.”

“The truth is, if you had reminded me last night about it I could have gone to bed earlier and opened the shop myself, maybe just done a half day. Besides, I wouldn’t have minded seeing more of the fights!” He added.

“’More?’” I asked.

He grinned. “I only saw a few but they were exciting, especially Maddi’s at the end there!”

“Yeah!” I said in agreement.

“That mage fellow’s fire spell?”

“I know, it was amazing!” I agreed.

“And you humbling that man with your bag was pretty entertaining too.” He said and gave me a wink.

I was going to ask him more about the bag’s capabilities, when two human soldiers, clad in blue and grey armor appeared next to us. We looked up at them.

“Excuse me, son.” One of the men who wore a reddish mustache said.

“You mean me?” I asked. It was fairly uncommon for a human to speak with me, except inside our store of course.

“Yes, you see, our King Josef has asked for an audience with you and the other winners of the contest.” He said.

I looked to my grandfather for help.

“That’s a mistake, my grandson here wasn’t part of the tourney, just got into a bit of an altercation afterwards with a pretty sore loser.” He explained.

“Be that as it may,” The other knight, a taller fellow with a dark goatee and scar over his eye said. “Our king has asked to speak with you, and it would be very rude to turn him down.”

I gulped, but the knight smiled down at me. My guess was to show me I wasn’t in any trouble, at least that was my hope. Regardless, my stomach began to knot itself.

Grandpa patted me on the back. “It’s alright Venture, let’s go see what the fellow has to say.”

I swallowed nervously but nodded my head. Two human knights were leading me away to meet their king, what did I have to be worried about?