A/N: for those who might not have noticed, in this story and any sequels thereafter, the members of the Care Bear Family are all taller than normal, around 3 feet 6 inches to 5 feet tall, anatomically correct, and usually wear clothing, but do not need to most just prefer to do so, showing off their various styles.
Welcome to your new family
After arriving at Share's house, Snowy set his suitcases down and let share excuse herself to "freshen up" whatever that meant. He sat down on the couch and looked around at the décor, it reminded him of things he'd read about being the general style of the 1950s. Granted the way that Share was dressed with a poodle skirt and blouse, she seemed to enjoy the style of that time. He looked down at his tummy, even lifting his shirt up so he could see the symbol underneath it. It signified that he was no longer alone in the world, he had a place he belonged. It would take him time to adjust but I the end it would be for the best.
At that moment, Share emerged, looking no different, as far as Snowy could see, and she grabbed his hand.
"Let's go Snowy dear," she said, smiling and sweetly, "you should see what we do outside of meetings, it's much more fun than that."
"I should hope so," Snowy said, as he was pulled to his feet and dragged out the door, "So anything I should be aware of?"
"Just watch out for Playful Heart, he tends to pull pranks and anything that moves," Share rolled her eyes, "but he's all right when you get used to him," she giggled before pulling him along to the Forest of Feelings.
***
In the Forest of Feelings, the cousins were setting up to have a game of touch football. Well except for Proud Heart who was worried about getting her clothes dirty and Gentle Heart who didn't approve of violent sports. Treat Heart too was choosing to sit out and just watch. Swift Heart was one captain and Loyal Heart the other. Both were trying not to laugh at Brave Heart pumping up his "muscles" so he would be chosen first.
"Your go Loyal. Why don't you take Shwartzelion." He nodded to Swift Heart, still laughing.
"I'll take Brave Heart." Whooping the lion went to Loyal Heart, high fiveing him.
"I'll take Playful Heart." The monkey went to join Swift Heart. Proud Heart rolled her eyes, "This is going to end badly Loyal." Swift Heart shrugged over to her, "Sorry Proud Heart but our receptionist is out at the moment, please leave your complaint at the tone."
Loyal Heart ended up choosing Lotsa Heart and Bright Heart along with Brave Heart. Swift Hearts team consisted of Cozy Heart and Playful Heart.
"You're one player down Swifty. That doesn't seem fair." Loyal Heart told her looking her team over.
"No worries Loyal Heart, I have one more player on the way." Looking at her watch she counted backwards from 5. On 1, Fauna cantered up to the group.
"Hey sorry I'm late. Ready to play?" Swift Hearts team smirked evilly at their opposition.
Loyal Hearts team exchanged a look before saying in perfect unison, "NO SHIFTING!"
"Aww you guys take all the fun out of it." The appaloosa Pegasus changed to become a dark brown haired 13 year old with tan skin and wearing jeans and a t-shirt. "Better?"
"Yes." Brave Heart told her before the teams split to begin play.
As the game began, Share and Snowy Heart arrived, with Snowy not walking beside her, but still holding her hand. Noticing what's going on snowy asked.
"What's this, a football game?"
"Looks like, let's go and see!" Share sped up, forcing Snowy to match her pace as they made it to the benches on the sidelines.
Swift Heart was about to throw the ball when she saw the two approaching out of the corner of her eye. Turning she left Brave Heart the perfect opportunity.
"Charge!" He grasped Swift Heart around the middle, tackling her to the ground on her back.
"Oww! It's TOUCH football Brave Heart!" Pulling her legs up she kicked him in the gut sending him flying backwards. Flipping to her feet she sent the ball sailing towards Playful Heart.
Snowy watched the game going on and asked, "Who's the human girl?"
"That is Fauna Greywolf," Proud Heart said, "She was adopted into our family by Noble Heart and True Heart and she is a shapeshifting pegasus."
"A what?" Snowy was confused.
Bright Heart was standing near them and over heard, "A member of family Equidae who have mutated a set of wings that grow from their scapula and allow them to sustain flight."
"Umm ok," Snowy sat down, "That's not what I meant, but ok then." He watched as Playful caught the ball, and took off with Loyal Heart chasing to intercept him to keep him from reaching the goal zone.
Fauna went after Loyal Heart reaching for him. Treat Heart sat on Snowy's free side, "You'll have to excuse Bright Heart, he forgets not all of us have read encyclopedia Britannica. She is a Pegasus but has a special ability that allows her to take on the shape of any animal she pleases. Cupcake?" She offered him a container of brightly colored cupcakes. Fauna meanwhile had tagged Loyal Heart giving her team possession of the ball once more. As they lined up she glanced to the side lines and saw an Arctic fox taking cupcakes from Treat Heart.
She leaned down to Cozy Heart, "So what exactly did I miss last night." The penguin cousin laughed, "One heck of a meeting. That's Snowy Heart, our new addition."
Snowy accepted a cupcake and took a bite. After swallowing it he said, "Thanks, they're good," before turning to watch the game again.
"I don't see how they can play games like this," Proud Heart said, rolling her eyes, "even so, I'm cheering for Loyal Heart's team."
"Of course you are." Gentle Heart bleated. All the cousins knew the two of them had a thing going.
Treat Heart called out to the field, "Hey Playful Heart... Proud Heart says she's not rooting for you guys."
The monkey cousin froze up and grabbed his heart before falling to the ground, "No! How can I go on?"
Proud Heart rolled her eyes, "You guys are so immature sometimes."
The monkey shot back to life, "I resent that! I am immature all the time thank you."
"Are things always like this?" Snowy Heart asked.
"Some times they are crazier," Share said, "but you get used to it after a while."
"Oww!" Brave Heart had tossed the ball a little too hard at Lotsa Heart, and he had missed causing it to hit him between the eyes.
"Take it easy Brave Heart," he rubbed the spot.
"It's not my fault you can't catch."
Fauna made a t-shape with her hands, "Okay, I'm evoking a time out because I really want one of Treat Hearts cup cakes."
"I second that!" Swift Heart replied.
Cozy and Playful both raised their hands, "We third it." As a team the walked over to the spectators. Snowy stood up and moved aside so they could easily get access to Treat Heart's cupcakes. Once she got one, Snowy found himself face to face with Fauna.
"Hi," he said, "I'm Snowy Heart, or Kona was the name I used on Earth."
She took a quick lick of the frosting before extending her hand, "I'm Fauna. Here and on Earth." Her eyes widened momentarily, "Not that I go to Earth all that often."
Snowy took her hand and shook it carefully, "Nice to meet you," he said, not sure what else to say.
"He's a bit shy," Share said, "the meeting last night probably didn't help his nerves at all."
Fauna laughed, "Ah the meetings. Or as we call them target practice for Playful Heart." Looking at her cupcake, she tossed it at Proud Heart, the blue icing sticking into her fur. She shrieked and began to wipe it off.
"How dare you!" Proud Heart said, clearly angry, "I've had enough of this, I'm going home to fix this."
"Why not just lick it off, that's how you clean yourself isn't it?" Playful called after she left, Proud Heart chose not to dignify that with a reply. Loyal Heart decided to slip away without causing a stir, it wasn't in his nature to create a ruckus at Playful's pranks, it would just lead to problems, and there was a new member there who probably shouldn't get caught up in this.
"Well looks like the end of our game." Swift Heart commented. "What are we going to do now?"
"Wait, where's Valiant Heart? I know he always like to play these games with you?" Share asked, surprised not to see the wolverine there.
"Oh, he was here, but he was complaining about some sort of spasm and left to go see Take Care," Bright Heart said.
Fauna twirled her finger by her temple, "Yeah spasm of his brain."
"Do you just need a tenth player?" Snowy asked, "Or would you rather do something else?"
"If you want to join come on! You'll be on my team!" Brave Heart grabbed Snowy pulling him to the field.
Snowy was taken by surprise as he was pulled to the field, he turned to Bright Heart and asked, "So is this like the football you see on TV or is it different?"
"It's the same, just instead of tackling someone all you have to do is tag them." Bright Heart responded. Swift Heart tossed the ball up and down, "Okay teams, line-em up."
Snowy got into the position that Loyal Heart had formerly occupied and got as ready as he could, waiting for the game to continue.
"Hike!" Swift Heart waited to toss the ball as Playful Heart bounded up the field. Lotsa Heart was guarding her, waiting for 10 seconds to elapse so he could tag her. "Hey Lotsa, your shoes are untied." "They are?" he looked down at his feet and the ball sailed over his head towards Playful Heart, "Wait! I'm not wearing shoes."
Brave Heart immediately went after Playful Heart, who had caught the ball, reaching out to try and stop him. He took the ball in his tail and held it out for Cozy Heart to grab. The penguin cousin did so, before waddling away as fast as she could.
Bright Heart got in front go Cozy Heart, blocking her path, "Go for it, Snowy!" he called. Snowy wasn't sure what to do, so he just ran at Cozy Heart and reached out a hand to tag her out.
She giggled, "You got me. Your ball." She handed him the football.
Snowy took the football and blinked, "Umm, what do I do now?" he asked.
Fauna pushed him from behind to the center of the field, "You stand here. Since you recovered the ball it's your teams turn to run it." She stood across from him, "That is if you can get it past us." She crouched, ready for his move.
Snowy stood and lifted the ball, looking to Brave Heart, whom he hoped to throw the ball to, "Umm hike?" he said, hoping that was the right thing to say.
Although he tried his best, Snowy's team ended up loosing by 14 points. All the competitors except Swift Heart collapsed on the grass exhausted from the running. Cozy Heart looked up at the sun, "Looks like it's almost lunch time. Should we head back to Care-a-Lot?"
"That...sounds...Good," snowy said, panting between each word. He was by no means unfit, but he wasn't used to this level of physical activity all at once.
"That sounds good," Share stood up and walked over to the fox, helping him up, "Good effort out there."
"Err, thanks," Snowy said, a bit embarrassed.
Cloud mobiles were conjured and the cousins present climbed aboard. Fauna remained where she was, "You guys go ahead. I'm gonna tell madame dramatic and sir chivalry that it's lunch time."
Snowy blinked in surprise at the cars coming out of no where, "how did you do that," he said, getting into one that share was driving.
"You'll be taught how to do that, don't worry," Share said, before driving off to get food.
In the Hall of Hearts it was Grumpy, Good Luck, and Wish Bears turn to serve lunch today. They three looked up from handing out plates of food when the cousins entered the, and watched as they grabbed trays. Good Luck smiled, "So how's the first day going Snowy?"
"Tiring," was all he said as he was served.
"He ended playing touch football with us," Bright Heart explained.
"Well that makes sense," Wish said, "don't be too rough on him today."
Where's Fauna at?"
Swift Heart smirked at Grumpy, "Why? You're not worried about her are you?"
"No! Just wondering is all."
He handed her a bowl of mac and cheese, "She stayed behind to get Loyal Heart and Proud Heart. Fussy pants stormed off after an incident with a cupcake."
He rolled his eyes, "Didn't ask for a whole story. Jeeze."
***
At the moment, Loyal Heart was at Proud Heart's house, sitting on a chair near her room while she cleaned up and changed. Loyal Heart hadn't offered to help as he considered that impolite, and he knew that Proud Heart preferred to be left alone in those circumstances, though if she would allow anyone to help her, it would have been Loyal Heart.
Fauna knocked on Proud Hearts front door, "Hey you two. Lunch time!"
Loyal Heart answered, looking a bit miffed, "If you don't mind he lady is still getting ready, we'll be along when she is finished.
Fauna scowled, "I came out of my way and now all the good food is probably gone." Regaining her true Pegasus form, she kicked the door with a hind leg before flying towards Care-a-Lot.
"We will manage," Loyal Heart said, thankfully the door was mostly undamaged. A minute later, Proud Heart emerged, clean and wearing a different dress, this one pale green instead of yellow like before, "who was that Loyal?" she asked.
"Fauna, just saying that lunch was ready," the dog said. He took ehr hand carefully, "You look nice milady, shall we?"
Proud Heart giggled, as corny and old fashioned as it was, she loved the way Loyal Heart spoke to her, so formal, "Yes of course, let's." Once outside Loyal conjured a cloud car and climbed into the driver's seat, after first opening to door for Proud Heart so she could get in the passenger seat, and they drove to the Hall of Hearts.
Fauna had regained her human form before going inside. She smiled when she saw Grumpy behind the food, "Hey Grumpus! Got anything good?"
He scowled, "I hate when you call me that." Handing her a bowl of mac and cheese he made sure no one else was looking and slipped her a big cookie.
Fauna grinned "Thanks!" Walking to the table Swift Heart was at she tried not to make eye contact with Noble Heart and True Heart.
Loyal Heart and Proud Heart landed nearby and entered the Hall of Hearts, meeting up with Valiant Heart Wolverine and Love-A-Lot Bear as they did so.
"Valiant, are you feeling better?" Loyal Heart asked.
"Yeah, no big deal," Valiant waved it off, "Take Care didn't find anything wrong. Love-a-Lot showed up cause she was concerned."
"I was not!" she said, defiantly. Proud Heart rolled her eye and gave Loyal a look, they could tell those two were close, but they themselves did not want to admit it. So they entered and got served for lunch.
Wish Bear, who was done serving, and Cheer were huddled around a magazine. "Can you believe orange is the new pink this season Wish? I mean who's idea was that." The teal bear shrugged, turning the page, "It was all the rage on the Paris runways this year at fashion week. Valentino even invented a new shade, he calls it shorange." Cheer sighed, "Well he must know what he's talking about. Ooooo! Shoes!"
Proud Heart and Love-a-Lot overheard the girls squealing over the magazine and went to sit with them and share in the discussion of the latest trends. Loyal Heart obligingly went along with Proud Heart, but Valiant just rolled his eyes and decided to sit next to the new member, Snowy Heart, as he wanted to get to know him.
Grumpy too came over to sit at Snowy's table. "So you had to spend a whole morning with the cousins and Playful Heart didn't try to prank. That has to be a new record."
"Must be," Valiant said, "He usually gets me after each game."
"Well, I guess he wanted to be nice to me for one day," Snowy said, eating his food, "So, could you maybe explain some things to me, I don't really know anyone other than Share and maybe Harmony."
"Ask away." Grumpy told him, taking a bite out of his hamburger.
"Well, who are you? Grumpy I think I heard your name was," Snowy said, unsure.
He nodded. "Yup that's me."
"The most pessimistic member of the Care Bear Family!"
"It's rude to eavesdrop Swift Heart!" He called back scowling at her.
"So that's Swift Heart, she's fast from what I saw," Snowy said.
"She calls her self the fastest member of the Care Bear Family, which is probably true," Share said.
"And you, Valiant Heart, what about you?" the fox asked.
"I'm just a tough guy, with a heart of gold," Valiant smirked.
"And meat for brains!" Funshine called from the end of the table, starting up some giggling from those in earshot. Valiant glared at her.
"Anyone else I should be aware of?" Snowy asked.
"Tender Heart, the one who looks like he has a stick up his butt. He's a real stickler for the rules." Grumpy indicated the red-brown bear talking to True Heart and Noble Heart. "He's training to be in charge of sending us out on missions."
"Then there's Bedtime Bear," Share indicated the blue bear who looked like he was half asleep, "He's supposed to be training to be a night watchman, basically he sleeps all day and is up all night, otherwise you probably won't see much of him outside of meeting times. Wish is the teal one who was serving you food, she's over there with Love-A-Lot and Cheer, the two pink bears, and I believe you met Proud Heart and Loyal Heart earlier."
"Thos two are usually joined at the hip, they're in love and they don't deny it, why else would Loyal Heart put up with the torture of listening to them gawking over the latest fashion magazine," Valiant commented, smirking as he finished off his food.
"Why anyone would subject themselves to the mindless ramblings of a girlfriend is beyond me. That's why I prefer my cars to work on." Grumpy agreed.
"You work on cars?" Snowy asked Grumpy.
Share grinned and made air quotes, "He tries to work on cars. Most of the times he ends up cursing at the parts for not fitting together correctly. It's totally amusing to watch."
Valiant smirked, "Cursing so loud we can hear it all the way back in the Forest of Feelings." The wolverine ignored Grumpy's irate glare and continued, "who else, well there's Bright Heart, he's kind of a nerd, but he's really smart, probably knows more about technology than anyone else here."
"Yeah he knows more about making things explode than any one else here. It get's real old reaaaaaaaaal fast." Grumpy lifted his arm to show a missing patch of fur, "This was from me helping him on his self sufficient vacuum cleaner."
"Well it's your own fault for volunteering to help," Share said.
"Umm, I think I'll stay far away from your houses, no offence," Snowy said.
Grumpy shrugged, "Doesn't bother me. I prefer not having visitors. And I did not volunteer...he black mailed me."
"first I've heard of him black mailing you, but I honestly don't care enough to know what happened, there was a big boom, end of story," Valiant said, "excuse me, I'm going I need to use the gym," The Wolverine got up and left, leaving snowy to finish off his lunch, which he had eaten rather slowly.
"So, what is there to do for fun, or should I ask someone else?" the arctic fox cousin inquired.
"See you around Snowy." Grumpy too got up, bussing his tray and heading out the side door. Share smiled apologetically at the fox, "Not exactly the warmest people for your first taste of Care-a-Lot society."
"I'm sure I'll get used to it after a while, and there's bound to be more things to do up here. Once I set up a place for archery I'll be able to amuse myself when I have free time," Snowy said. He got up and bussed his tray as well before leaving, and Share followed him,
"You're good at archery?" she asked.
"Quite good at it," Snowy said, sounding happy about one of his skills for once, "but I need a good place to practice so I'll be looking for one for a while."
