This storyline is based off of the 2012 Care Bears series. This does not include the Cousins that appear in the later series. Enjoy!

Grumpy looked around the forest nervously. He couldn't get caught. He really couldn't. He would probably be in a lot of trouble. Especially because of what he was and what he'd done to the young man's parents. He swallowed and lit the black care charm. A tall figure, taller than any that they usually had in Care-A-Lot, appeared in the growing darkness.

"Michael," Grumpy greeted.

"Heya, Grumpy Bear," Michael said softly.

"How ya doin'?"

"Better since you came into my life. Why didn't you invite Sofia or Rico or the others?"

"I…Well, it's just I…Oh, I need to talk and I don't want them to worry. First let me get rid of Bedtime Bear, then I'll be back, okay?"

"Okay."

Grumpy hurried to his Care-A-Van and got inside just in time to hear a knock at the door. He opened it, faked niceties, and pretended to fall asleep quickly. When he was sure Bedtime wouldn't come back, he went back out to meet Michael.

Michael was a human, which was quite obvious. But he was much too old to be coming to Care-A-Lot. He was twenty-five and married to another one of Grumpy's kids, Sofia. He called them his kids because, though it was impossible for them to be his biological kids, he had helped them in ways that most Care Bears couldn't. And wouldn't, for that matter.

Each one of his kids, he had six of them so far, had been horribly abused by their parents. So Grumpy took care of them, making sure they never would be abused again by those horrible creatures. He could still remember the blood on his claws gleaming as lightning cracked outside the window. Wait a second, Michael had said when he'd seen what happened. Care Bears don't have claws.

He was right of course. Grumpy was, in actuality, not a natural born Care Bear. He was what the Care Bears called Terror Bears. They lived in storm clouds and were mean and nasty and larger than Care Bears. Grumpy was a runt and the perfect size for Care Bears. But being the runt meant he had to take abuse so that he'd be 'Just as strong as your brother,' Mother had said before clawing his belly open.

"Heya Grumps. Whatcha thinkin' about?" Michael asked.

"My parents," Grumpy said shortly.

"You shouldn't. They're not worth it. You say that to us all the time."

"I know. Just the train of thought was a chuggin' that way."

"So, what do you need to talk about?"

"Care-A-Lot has recently come under a lot of storms," Grumpy replied in a small voice. "It's hard, and it's just getting harder, to keep what I am a secret. I'm tired of it."

"Oh, Grumpy. Just come live with us!"

"I can't do that," Grumpy sighed. "What if another kid comes that is being abused?"

"Oh…I don't know, Grumpy. You'll just have to work it out. I suggest leaving this place behind. It's a place of constant fear for you."

Grumpy did with Michael what he never did with anybody, Care Bear or human. He crawled into his lap, snuggled close, and began crying. His sobs were quiet, but they shook his whole body. Michael ran his hands though the bear's fur and lightly touched the black care charm that he held against Grumpy's shoulder. In the dim light from the moon, the blue fur turned black. Michael also knew that the belly badge had changed. The cloud was now pitch black, like Grumpy's fur, with silver rain and lightning bolts instead of hearts.

"You don't have to worry about anything now. Make a storm. Let it roar and thunder. Give the others a little scare," Michael whispered.

Clouds began billowing up to the sky from Grumpy's belly. The moon and stars were quickly obscured, leaving them in darkness. Soon, long, forked bolts of lightning lit up the sky. One blasted towards them and landed only ten feet away, leaving little balls of zapping energy lying on the ground. The earth absorbed them. The two of them were suddenly hit by gale force winds, followed swiftly by a torrential downpour.

Grumpy's tense form relaxed and Michael felt movement. Lightning flashed through the sky, one after the other, with the almighty boom of thunder following. In the brief instances of illumination, Michael saw Grumpy's outstretched hand sweeping across the sky, drawing forth the lightning. But the young man was not afraid. Storms had always been comforting to him, ever since he'd been saved from his parents' wrath in the midst of a terrible storm. The house had groaned under the pressure from the wind and the thunder's roar was continuous. But, after a bath to wash the blood off his claws and fur, Grumpy had held him and promised that his parents would never beat him again. He'd fallen asleep to the wild sounds outside, and had never feared a storm since.

The storm roared throughout the night and well into the next day, so nobody came looking for Grumpy. He could instead spend time with Michael. They laughed at jokes, shivered in dark remembrance, and altogether had a good time. Then Michael said goodbye and left. Grumpy picked the Light Flowers that the lightning had planted, bound them together, put them in his carry-all, then hurried home and took a nice nap. Or it was nice until there was a knock at the door. Grumpy got up and opened the door.

"What?" he groused.

"Are you okay, Grumpy?" Share asked. "That was some storm and we didn't dare get out to check on you."

"I'm fine, Share," the blue bear sighed. "Just tired. The storm kept me up."

"Oh. I'm sorry. I'm having an 'after storm' lunch. A big one, too. Want to come and have some?"

"You had me at lunch, but then I want to sleep," Grumpy said, slipping his carry-all on.

The other bears were relieved to see him alive and whole. Grumpy ate until he was full, then ate a little more. Between him and all the other bears, they had eaten just about everything. Share was more than pleased. Grumpy snuck away when she brought dessert out. He just didn't feel like eating anymore. He slept the rest of the day and all night until late the next morning. He came down to Tenderheart's house where all the other bears were gathered.

"Ah, Grumpy!" Tenderheart exclaimed. "Just in time. Here comes Sebastian."

The rainbow seemed a little dim to Grumpy. He expected a visible mark, and got a bruised cheek and a black eye. The other Care Bears noticed, too. Share gasped and raced up to him.

"What happened?" she asked, setting the care package down and grabbing Sebastian's hands.

"Baseball," the boy said as Grumpy mouthed it; he knew the stories all too well, and Rico had actually used that one.

"Really?" Grumpy asked; he had to be absolutely sure.

The kid cringed and reached up to touch his cheek. His eyes went to the ground and he flushed.

"Yeah. Just an accident. Nothing more."

All day Sebastian played with the other bears, but Grumpy finally got him alone near the end of the day. Sebastian walked up and sat down beside him.

"So…tell me, was it a bully at school?" Grumpy asked, still being cautious.

"Huh?"

"That hit ya."

"It was a baseball." Sebastian wouldn't look at him.

"I guess it wasn't a bully. Was it a sibling?"

"It was a baseball. And I'm an only child."

"Okay. That only leaves one option." He paused until the kid met his eyes. "Your parents."

Sparks flared in his eyes. "No! My parents never hit me! They're kind and loving and…" he trailed off.

"No?" Grumpy asked calmly. "Are you sure?"

"No! I mean, yes! I mean…" he whimpered and began to cry softly.

Grumpy stroked his hand. "Do you have any scars?"

Sebastian nodded then slowly raised his shirt up. Scars trailed down his torso. Grumpy smiled kindly, grabbing the boy's hand and leading it to his belly.

"Feel around," the blue bear said with a nod.

The human did so, slowing his movements when he felt the irregular lines that ran across the hidden skin.

"I don't understand," he said softly.

"My parents used to hit me. And they had claws."

"But Care Bears don't have claws."

"Maybe I'm not a Care Bear."

"Oh? And what, then, are you?"

"A Terror Bear."

"What's that?"

Grumpy explained quietly. Sebastian sat there in silence for a minute.

"Why are you telling me this?" he asked.

"Because I want you to know I'm here if you need me. Here."

Grumpy dug around in his Carry-All and pulled out a care charm. Instead of being blue or pink, it was black, like Michael's had been. He handed it over to Sebastian.

"It doesn't grant wishes, but it does teleport. When you push the crystal, mine lights up and I can tell when you need help. I can even…persuade your parents not to hit you anymore."

Sebastian's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Yeah. Unless something bad happens to me, I'll come help you."

The human's eyes filled with tears as he stored the care charm in his pocket. "Thank you, Grumpy."

Grumpy hugged the boy. "I only ask that you don't tell the other Care Bears. They don't really know that I'm not one of them."

"Okay."

"Aw, aren't they cute?" Share asked as she and the others walked over.

"Ha, ha," Grumpy said gruffly, releasing the boy and crossing his arms sulkily.

"I think I'm ready to go home now," Sebastian said with a smile.

"Very well."

Once the rainbow bridge had disappeared, Grumpy went back home. He was glad he had ignored Michael's advice to go live with them. If he had listened, what would have become of Sebastian?