Title: Care Bears in The Land of the Living Lies
Rating: K
Category: Adventure
Pairings: None
Summary: The Land of the Living Lies is where children are taken for judgment when their lies get out of control. Little Sandy's lying habit has caught the attention of the Care Bear Family, and a small team of them hurry to save her from the evil Honorable Judge of Lies.
Spoilers: A few for the 'Puff the Magic Dragon in the Land of the Living Lies' special. Nothing too big is being spoiled, just a few names and types of lies that are told.
Disclaimer: All rights and properties belong to Nelvana, Dic, ABC, and Romeo Muller. I am not profiting in any way by writing this story.
Notes: This was written as a request fic from FFNet author retro mania. It was a crossover and AU idea like none I had ever attempted before, and the challenge of it drew me right into writing. It will be seven chapters long and updated as quickly as I am able to write it!
Gentle Heart Lamb was the first to notice the change in the Lying Meter.
It was the newest addition to Care-a-Lot, and it sat next to the Caring Meter. The two resembled each other in nearly every way except the Lying Meter's shape and theme was stars instead of hearts. It also let out let a high-pitched alarm instead of a long groaning sound when something terrible happened on Earth.
The alarm had just gone off, frightening away the two butterflies that Gentle Heart had been playing peek-a-boo with only moments before. She looked up at the Lying Meter and found that it had plunged down five points. She scrambled up from the tuffs of clouds she had been sitting in and ran for Wish Bear's looking post.
Luckily, it wasn't too far away from where Gentle Heart had been playing, so she was able to climb up and reach Wish Bear in almost no time. The Staroscope was already pressed to Wish Bear's eye as she laid tummy-down on the clouds.
The alarm stopped as Gentle Heart lay down next to her and said, "Who is it this time? Have you found him or her yet?"
Wish nodded. "Yes. It's a little girl named Sandy. I've actually been watching her for a couple of days now, but this is the first time she's caused the Lying Meter to drop." Wish Bear held the Staroscope out to Gentle Heart. "Here, have a look and listen."
The little lamb accepted it and then listened carefully as Wish Bear explained just where to look. A few moments later, she was able to see the inside of a nearly empty classroom.
An older woman and a small girl were standing in front of a wall-length chalkboard. They were clearly a teacher and her student. Around them sat numerous empty desks, and a quick glance at the clock above the chalkboard showed Gentle Heart that it was just after two in the afternoon.
The teacher was a long and lanky woman with short, honey-brown hair. She wore a long grey dress and matching high heels. A necklace made out of big silver rings sat around her neck. She was presently standing with her shoulders slumped and one hand covering her eyes.
The little girl Gentle Heart now knew as Sandy was rocking back and forth on her Mary Janes while slightly swishing her lavender paisley skirt. Her white blouse was a little untucked on one side, and her long black hair hung down to her waist. A pair of rounded, cream-colored glasses sat on her nose.
Gentle Heart was surprised. Sandy looked to be a very sweet and innocent girl. She didn't seem to be someone who was now in great danger for lying too much. Gentle Heart re-focused the Staroscope and then waited, listening.
The teacher let out a sigh and then dropped her hand from her eyes. "All right, Sandy," she said, "Please explain to me one more time why you didn't bring in your homework."
Sandy stopped rocking and looked up at her teacher with big eyes. "I told you, Mrs. Berry. A very small lady who traveled through time appeared in front of me on my way to school, and she said that she was there to change the future and save mankind. She needed to blend into our society, so I offered to switch outfits with her so her mission could succeed."
Mrs. Berry sighed again. "Oh, Sandy."
"I had to do it!" Sandy told her. "I couldn't risk the future of all humankind! So I gave her my clothes and my backpack with my homework in it, and she gave me this outfit." Sandy twirled around.
Her teacher shook her head. "Sandy, those are your clothes. You've worn them to school before."
"No I haven't," Sandy insisted, plucking at one of the pearl buttons on her blouse. "These clothes are way too old. No one wears stuff like this nowadays."
"You always wear outfits like this one, Sandy."
"No, I don't," Sandy replied.
Another shrill alarm from the Lying Meter drowned out Mrs. Berry's reply and startled Gentle Heart away from the Staroscope. "Oh my!" she cried, handing the scope back to Wish Bear. "Sandy is really in danger!"
Wish Bear said something that couldn't be heard. Then the alarm stopped again, and Gentle Heart noticed that a few other members of their family had joined the two of them at the look out.
"What did you see?" Proud Heart Cat asked, wringing his paws together.
Wish Bear pointed below them. "There's a little girl named Sandy who is dangerously close to being taken to The Land of the Living Lies! We need to warn her down there quick before she tells any more lies. Where are Friend Bear and Secret Bear?"
Gentle Heart felt herself calm down a bit. Friend and Secret had saved a few children from The Land of the Living Lies before. They were definitely the best team to send down to Sandy to help.
"I'm right here!" Friend Bear stepped forward through Funshine Bear and Love-a-Lot and stood in front of Gentle Heart and Wish Bear. "Secret Bear hasn't come back from the caring mission he had this morning. But I can't wait for him to come back. Sandy needs to know about where her lies will send her if she doesn't stop them. If we can get to her in time, we can prevent her from being taken to see The Honorable Judge of Lies."
A shiver went through the crowd of Bears and Cousins. Gentle Heart was especially affected.
"But you can't go by yourself," Wish Bear told Friend Bear. "Sandy may need more than just one Bear's word to believe anything about the Land of the Living Lies. It will take at least two of us to try and convince her."
Friend Bear looked quickly around before putting an arm around Gentle Heart's shoulders. "Then I choose Gentle Heart."
"M-me?" The little Lamb questioned with a tiny bleat.
"Yes, you," Friend Bear replied. "When children lie as much as Sandy, then there is usually a very big and serious reason for it. We need to find out that reason and you, Gentle Heart, are the most comforting out of all of us Bears and Cousins. I know Sandy will appreciate you putting her at ease while we help her."
A warm feeling settled in Gentle Heart's tummy. "Really? All right then, let's go."
"Great!" Wish Bear said. "I'll keep an eye on all of you from up here. If you need help, just send up the distress signal and we'll send a few more of us down."
"We will," Friend Bear promised. Then she glanced at Gentle Heart and said, "Let's go save Sandy."
Gentle Heart nodded her head. "Yes, and let's hurry!"