Hey everybody! Okay, so I thought I had learned my lesson on posting big stories (aka ones with a bunch of chapters) when I fell behind on them all. However, I just couldn't help myself! I've been into Care Bears lately, and I have decided to do two new stories: Darkest of the Dark and Care Bears Z. I have already gotten started on DotD, but CBZ is really calling me. So, I will post that one first. However, I will not be able to upload any more stories until maybe Friday, as I will be traveling out of town (ah, grandma's old house of no internet, how I love and hate you). Anyway, about this story…

Care Bears Z is really more of a reboot of the series. It is heavily inspired by the fan anime series Care Bear Stars, which was unfortunately discontinued. It was a really great project, though. I am trying my hardest not to copy the creator's ideas, but if anything seems familiar, it was most likely inspired by the fan anime. (Unless I make a reference to some other thing like a game or movie, but I will usually point it out.)

Like I said, Care Bears Z is going to be a reboot. There will be a lot of characters from the original 1980's TV series as well as some of the ones from the newer shows, and some OCs. There will also probably be a lot of drawbacks to old episodes. My main goal is to try and make this as awesome as I can and do this show justice. Yeah, no pressure. *smiles weakly*

But enough talk. On with the story!

~Z~

Tiara Hart had never been more frightened.

Her heart raced as she bolted through the winding alleyways of the city. She had been running nonstop for a good 15 or 20 minutes, but it felt like hours. Her only breaks were the pauses between each time her foot touched the ground. She could feel her legs aching, her lungs burning as she pushed them to their limits. However, she knew she could not stop. She couldn't let them catch up. Even now she could feel their presence, looming just behind her, waiting for her to slow down and fall into their grasp.

She couldn't let them take her.

This kind of thing never usually happened in Carenburg. It was a peaceful city; one would hardly even notice it on a map of the United States or even Pennsylvania, where it was located. It was such a quiet town; it was hardly ever recognized on any news except its own. The crime rate was next to nothing; perhaps an odd break-in or theft (like once in every two years), but never a murder, assault, or even a kidnapping. Perhaps that was why she was so scared. Nothing like this ever happened, not in the 26 years of her life!

Tiara began to stumble. Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself further. She couldn't let those ghastly things catch her. She kept on for his sake, if not for hers. The memory of the last half hour was still vivid in her mind. It had been a regular evening for the two of them. She and her husband, Niall, had been walking through the quiet streets, chatting and watching the shops begin to close for the night. He had held her close, his arm gently wrapped around her. She remembered when his grip suddenly tightened, and the thrill of fear that had shot through her at his alarmed face. They had emerged without warning, their dark bodies slithering over the walls and street.

"Come on!" he shouted. He gripped her arm, pulling her along as he ran. She numbly ran with him, her eyes hardly leaving the dark shadows that groped and slashed at them. She didn't know what those things were, but in her heart she knew they were dangerous. The two ran as fast as they could down the now deserted street.

"N-Niall!" she cried. Tiara stumbled and nearly fell to the ground. Niall caught her just in time. Hoisting her up, he half-carried her away from the shadows' reach. She was beginning to go numb with fear, her eyes slowly widening as the shadows began to surround them.

It happened so quickly she didn't see what happened. Suddenly, she was on the ground, watching as Niall furiously tried to beat back the shadows. His efforts were futile, however, and he was overtaken by the dark entities.

"Niall!" she cried. He looked up at her, his eyes crackling.

"Tiara!" he shouted. "Get out of here! Run!"

Hesitating only a moment, Tiara stumbled to her feet, turned, and bolted. She looked back only once, and was met with the sight of Niall being carried down the street by half of the shadow gang. The other half turned and rushed at her. Tiara looked forward again and began running as fast as she could.

Tiara was gasping for air. Her legs felt like they would give out any second now, and she was sweating so much her long pink and purple hair hung in damp strands. She made it through one more alley, but it let out to a dead end. She fell to her knees for a second, and then tried to push herself up. Turning around, she saw the shadows closing in, their eyes glowing an ominous red. Panic gripped her heart. She squeezed her eyes shut, ready to meet the same fate that had befallen her husband.

Then she remembered his face.

Sudden warmth flowed through her, starting at her chest and traveling to her toes. Determination overcame the fear. Tiara opened her eyes.

I won't let him down, she thought, slowly getting to her feet. He saved me. I won't let it be for nothing.

Warmth began to well up in her, gathering into her tummy. She could have sworn it was glowing. She squeezed her eyes shut again, though not out of fear. Even though she didn't see it, the shadows began to back away from the light she was emanating. Words began to form in her mind, and she said them without question.

"Care Bear STARE!"

A beam of light shot from her body. The shadows hissed in pain, and then retreated into the night. The light didn't stop for several seconds, but when it did, Tiara Hart was no longer standing in the alley. In her place was a three foot tall bear. It had light beige fur and a tuft of pink and purple hair on its head. Its belly fur was white, with a multicolored star with a heart inside it.

"Ohh…" the bear groaned. "What…what was that?" Blinking, she looked around. "The shadows…they're gone?" She put a paw to her head. Then she retracted it with a yelp of alarm. She looked over her body in wonder.

"I…I'm a bear!?" Tiara gasped. "Wha…how…ooh…" a sudden wave of fatigue crashed over her. She stumbled out of the alley, trying to remember her way home in her drowsiness. She turned onto a street, but her eyes drooped too far, and she collapsed.

~Z~

"Wha…where am I?" Tiara sat up. She was within a dimly lit space; there was nothing around her.

You are asleep, my dear.

"Who's there? Who are you?" she looked around.

I am known by many names, though you may call me the Great Wishing Star.

"Great…Wishing Star?"

Yes. I am the watcher of dreams and wishes. I see the desires of everyone, and grant wishes as I see fit.

"Oh…but why are you talking to me?"

You are Tiara Hart, a young woman living in the city of Carenburg. You and your husband, Niall Hart, were walking when you were attacked by a group of shadows.

"Y-you saw that?" her eyes widened.

Yes. I foresaw it a long time ago. Unfortunately, it was not in my power to alter this event. However, there is something I must tell you.

"What's that?"

You are Tiara Hart, but this you know. What you do not know is that you are also True Heart Bear, co-founder and "mother" of the Care Bear Family.

"The what?"

As this is a dream, I am finally able to unlock your dormant memories. Allow me to show them to you…

Tiara's shoulders slumped as memories began to play through her head. There were so many of them, so vivid, foreign yet uncannily familiar. She saw a small bear, the same color she had been, and inside she knew it was her. She saw…her as she talked with other bears, as well as other species of the little, candy-colored animals. One distinct memory showed her talking to a light purple horse with a light green and cornflower blue mane. He smiled at her, that same smile that she knew…

"Niall…" just like that, the memories were gone. True Heart touched her forehead in wonder. For some reason, tears began to well up in her eyes. "All those creatures…no, my family…"

Yes, your family. The Care Bear family.

"I remember it all…and…!" she gasped as another memory popped into her head. She saw all of them, battling together against a man in a purple cape, a man with ice blue skin, and several others.

"No Heart…Cold Heart…the spirit book…I remember everything, everything about the battle!" she looked up at the…she supposed it was the sky. "What happened to them all?"

They are sleeping. Their spirits lie dormant in the forms of humans. However, the time is upon us for them to awaken again. The attack tonight proved that.

"So…we have to wake them up? How?"

In the same way you were Awakened tonight, True Heart, they will also awaken. However, this will not be an easy task. It will take time, and many trials await you.

…Ah, the dawn comes. I am afraid I cannot stay with you much longer.

"But…I have so many questions!" she said. It was true. Questions buzzed about in her head, each of them about her human life, her Care Bear life, and the trouble in store.

Try not to worry. I will guide you all as best I can. For now, take this.

A small, glowing star floated down to True. It was cute; it had big eyes and a happy smile. Suddenly, the little star vanished with a twinkle.

He will be your helper. All you have to do is call on the Star Buddy. Now, as for finding the members of your family, it will not be too difficult. However, they might not believe you at first. At best you can point them in the right direction. When you encounter them, you will know. The voice began to fade.

"Wait! How will I…"

Suddenly, she was drifting upward. It was slow at first, but got faster and faster until the world around her grew brighter. Finally, she jolted awake. True Heart blinked. Her eyes were wide with confusion.

"…find…them…"

~Z~

That concludes the first part of "episode" one! I hope you liked it! Now, just a few notes:

I really don't know if there's an actual city called Carenburg, though I don't think there is. I just thought, if DiC could create Drab/Rainbow City, then I could stick Carenburg into Pennsylvania. BTW, does anyone know what episode the city came from? Awesome points and a virtual cookie if you do! ;)

Each of these chapters will sort of be like episodes. My brain seems to view this story (and many of my other stories) as an anime, and I tend to write them out as such.

Now. It's late. My foot is tapping and I don't know why. I'll try to work on the story while I'm traveling so I can type and post it when I get back. See you then!

~Smiley :)