Two strange looking rockets thundered into the sky from Area 51. The
tabloids had a field day writing about alien aircraft. Those in the know
chuckled, since when did Care Bears become aliens? After 25 years of
exile in the fourth dimension on Earth, The Care Bears and their human
allies made final preparations for Emigration Day.
Grumpy and the other survivors of Carealots' most horrible day had
worked long and hard to see if they could ever return home. First the
human's helped research the problems of Care Bear reproduction. Genetic
sterility plagued most bears and Care Cousins. Most females went three
months or more between periods. If they did become pregnant live births
were rare. The boys often had low sperm counts. Medications and new
treatments were developed. The birth of a Care Bear remained rare, but
they did occur.
Being on Earth had also caused the bear's paws to change shape. Their
foot claws became more toe like. Their hand claws became more finger
like. Most bears were leaner than their ancestors. One great fear was that
Care Bears would lose their ability to travel into and live in the Fifth
Dimension.
Carealot was not any old cloud. It existed in the Fifth dimension where
the laws of physics differed. It's mass was quite dense and its polarity
provided just enough repelling power to keep it from falling to Earth. A
human could stand on Carealot without falling through If they could get
into the Fifth Dimension. The strange looking rockets were the first
human built machines to breach the Fifth Dimension. They carried pre-
fabricated home building kits and many other supplies the Bears and
Cousins would need to rebuild their homeland.
The devastation of Carealot and The Forest of Feelings by NoHeart
and his henchman had left emotional scars the survivors had to live with.
They vowed that if they ever returned to Carealot they would protect
themselves and their prodigy. There would be no repeat day of destruction.
Grumpy stood tall as the Care Bears and Cousins prepared to enter the
"UFOs" in Area 51. These sleek cloud cars were designed to get the Bears
to Carealot. All launch procedures were Care Bear controlled. As soon as
liftoff was achieved they would use remote control detonations to destroy
all materials and documents pertaining to The Fifth Dimension. No human would
get to Carealot without their help or permission. Their human helpers did not
blame them for their fears. They were willing to sacrifice a lot of research to
keep the new Carealot safe.
Grumpy and Swiftheart had two cubs before she finally succumbed to
her injuries. Despite the loss of her legs she was able to give birth to
Grumpy Junior and Swifty. Most bears called Grumpy's son Young Grumpy.
Grumpy had named their girl cub in honor of his mate. He feared her
injuries would eventually end her life. When they did Grumpy had her
cremated in the hope he could one day carry her remains back to their
homeland. The other bears would often name their cubs after those
who had perished in Carealot's day of hell. They had insisted that Swift
and Grumpy name their son Grumpy. To honor all he had done they said
there must always be a Grumpy, just as there must always be a TrueHeart
and a NobleHeart.
As they waited to board a cloud car Grumpy's family greeted the other
bears and Cousins. There were so few cousins they needed only one car.
There were five cars to carry the bears. Hugs and Tugs were there with
BrightHeart. "You did a bang up job raising Hugs and Tugs" Grumpy said.
" Who's the little girl cub?" " That's Hug's little girl Snugs, I'm a grampy
now." "The father is over there, his name is TenderHeart. Tug's mate is
the girl who's helping to load the cars, her name is Funshine. I'm a Care
Cousin but I'll live in Carealot with the rest of my family.
" Time to board all cars" Funshine called out. " Care Cousins follow me"
yelled out TreatHeart. As their car lifted off Grumpy looked down with
mixed emotions. He had worked so hard for this day. His dream come true
meant he would leave many human friends behind. As he sat back in his
seat he smiled as Swifty and Young Grumpy oohed and awed at the sight
of the receding Earth below. They looked shocked as the car jumped to
the Fifth dimension. It was the first time they had experienced the strange
sensation a jump brought on.
Grumpy clutched an urn to his chest. Inside were the ashes of SwiftHeart.
He held it close to his heart. As he checked out the car's other passengers
he noticed a cheerful little bear with a rainbow on her tummy. She was
sitting on her mother's lap. Grumpy said hello to them. The Mom was Daisy
Bear. Her cub Cheer had been conceived by artificial insemination. The
sperm donor had been Grumpy.
The cloud car took a sudden downward turn to the right. Their driver
had spotted what looked like a humungous brightly lit cloud. "Look at
that", Grumpy called out. "It's Carealot and over there is the Forest of
Feelings!" The forest was about half the size it once had been. Some
burnt dead trees were still visible. There was enough green living ones
for the Care Cousins to live among and get some naturally grown food.
As the Cousins' car headed for the forest Swifty said " When I'm grown
up I would like to go there and help to make it grow bigger."
Grumpy rubbed the fur between her ears and said " You're mother
would be so proud to hear you say that. There are so few cousins that
it will take years to repair the damage and to repopulate the forest.
They will certainly need your help when the time comes. I want you
and your brother to be with me for as long as possible. I wish you
you would never grow up. But you will, and life will go on."
As the car settled down on Carealot it was filled with excited voices.
As Grumpy put his feet on Carealot's soil a tear rolled down his cheek.
For the first time in twenty five years he was breathing the air of Carealot.
It's soil was beneath his feet. He said a little prayer of thanks. Then he led
his family to the spot on his map where they should find the prefab house
that would be their new home.
The next few weeks flew by as every one tried to set up their homes
and even some little businesses. Carealot was indeed coming to life, a new
community arose from the ashes of the day of destruction. Now it was
the days of construction. The sight of Earth through the dimensional
shift continued to amaze all. To Grumpy the Earth looked like something
from a cartoon he had watched back on Earth. He wondered if he would
look like a cartoon to a human visiting Carealot. The inability of humans
to see in five dimensions meant they could not see many of the universe's
most unique sights.
Grumpy was sitting on his porch. He was holding the urn that held
SwiftHeart's ashes. He had carefully opened it and put in a spoon full of
of Carealot's soil from his new dooryard. Someday he would go to the
Forest of Feelings to get some soil from there. It was the only way he
knew how to let his deceased mate to be part of their home and homeland.
In his will it was stated when his time was done he would be cremated.
His ashes were to be put in with SwiftHeart's. Some day they would be
together again.
After putting the urn on the mantle he went out side to check up on the
cubs. Swifty pointed to the door yard next door and said "Grumpy junior
is with some girls." He was talking to two cubs with purple tinted fur.
One handed him a cookie and said "I'm Share and this is my sister Surprise."
Grumpy loved hearing their giggles as they played tag with his cubs. The
sounds of laughter in the streets of Carealot was something he once thought
he would never hear again.
It had been a long day. Swifty and Grumpy junior were tucked in bed.
Grumpy was trying to sleep but too many thoughts and memories swirled
in his head. He heard little footsteps. "Daddy, can I sleep in here with you?"
"Sure Swifty, hop up into the bed." As she cuddled up to her father it
brought back memories of SwiftHeart cuddling up to him. "She is so
like her mother" Grumpy thought. "SwiftHeart lives on in our cubs and
in Swifty's, Grumpy Junior's, and my heart. She'll always be here in pleasant
dreams and memories."
Grumpy kissed the top of Swifty's head between her ears. Soon father
and daughter were fast asleep. It was the best sleep both of them had since
the day they gave their final farewell to SwiftHeart. Sweet dreams had
come to them at last. Sweet dreams were had through out Carealot.