Chapter 10 The Carebear's faith
At Nohearts castle, in a dimly lit large grey bricked room with a single square window looking outside, while all of the carebears and cousins were all trapped inside a medium metal square cage together. Aqua bear and Lonesomeheart's body remained ten feet outside the cage layed next to one another side by side still grey and lifeless. Noheart and his leaders of the villains alliance remained by the entrance of the room to the chamber which was just outside the cage twenty feet away with Noheart and Darkage at the front.
"Now tell me carebears, why did you kill my parents? Did you enjoy watching them burn before they died?" Said Darkage accusingly as he had his eyes fixed upon them with anger, and hate.
"Like we told you before, we didn't kill your parent's," Responded Wishbear who began to tear up. "We didn't kill your parents."
"Then how do you explain this locket that was left at my parent's grave site?" Asked Darkage as he held it out with his right hand.
"To show that we cared," Said Trueheart bear. Darkage slapped his forehead with his hand doubting this answer was true.
"Fine, you can stick to your story," He said as he removed his hand from his forehead. "But you must collaborate your story with evidence."
"We can," Said Trueheart with a smile. "May we see the locket please?" Darkage was about to hand over the locket to Trueheart till...,
"Don't do it Darkage," Noheart said interjecting. "They will only destroy it!" Darkage paused for a moment remaining still and calm.
"If they are truly innocent like they claim to be, they have a right to prove there innocence," Said Darkage in a unusually reserved manner. "They also have the right to debate the evidence in question."
"Who made you judge and jury?" Said Noheart sneering. Darkage turned around and shot him a warning glance. This caused Noheart to back up in fear now looking down to the ground.
"My parent's were the ones that were killed! Not yours! Or did you forget that," Said Darkage fiercely staring at Noheart who still looked down to the ground. "I want to make sure they are the ones who did this before I give them there death sentence!" Several of the bears and cousins gulped.
"So you will spare them if you think they are innocent," Shouted Noheart. "You must make them pay now!" Darkage briskly paced towards Noheart and got in his face.
"If you keep on interrupting I'll make you pay," Said Darkage. Noheart backed down and did not respond. Darkage stared Noheart up and down for a moment before he turned and walked back to the cage. "You may proceed Trueheart". Darkage then handed over the red locket to her in which Trueheart took from his hand and opened the red heart shaped locket and poof, a black cloud came out of it filling up the room in a imperfect square with red lettering inside it. 'We are the carebears and we leave this locket as a reminder that we killed your parents to make them pay as an example to anyone who doesn't take caring seriously!" Signed, the carebear family.' Trueheart and several of the other bears murmured on with shock.
"We didn't write this." Argued Trueheart in shock as she looked up to the message reading it again.
"She's right," Agreed Nobleheart Horse. "I was there!"
"Oh really," Said Darkage. "You said this is the same locket that you left at my parent's graveyards corrcect?"
"Yes, but that's not the same message that we wrote." Said Nobleheart.
"Oh really? Are you saying that someone tampered with the locket and changed the message?" Insinuated Darkage.
"Yes. Someone must have changed the original message." Said Trueheart.
"Its too bad you don't have any evidence to back that up." Smiled Darkage wrily.
"Wait a second," Said Trueheart. "Look at the color of the lettering inside the message. Its of a different text than we use! This is somebody else's message! Noheart must have been the one who left this locket there in order to frame us!" Said Trueheart pointing directly at Noheart who looked as nervous as could be.
"That's rediculous," Said Noheart doubtfully. "Just another one of there lies to make you betray me."
"You'll have to show me much more than that in order to convince me of your story Trueheart." Said Darkage not believing a word that she was saying.
"Evidence that we can provide," Said Trueheart smiling. "If you let me outside of this cage, I can provide it." Everyone in the dimly lit room laughed out loud.
"There just trying to free themselves." Said Noheart.
"Can you blame them," Said Darkage. The room fell silent. "If I was being blamed for a crime I know that I did not commit, I would want every opportunity to prove my innocence."
"Your not going to let her out are you?" Shouted Noheart in disbelief.
"Why not," Said Darkage. "Even if she tries to escape, she won't leave without her family. We also could simply recapture her and drain her of her feelings if she does tries to escape." The carebears shouted in protest while the bad guys cackled wickedly.
"Let her out," Agreed Noheart. "But only her." Darkage opened the cage with an outstretched arm but only wide enough so that Trueheart could get out. To his surprise, the carebears didn't try to bail and make a run for it like he was expecting. Trueheart walked out while Darkage closed and relocked the cage door behind her.
Now Trueheart was free still holding onto the locket while the others were still locked up.
"Proceed Trueheart." Said Darkage. Trueheart gently placed the locket down on the ground.
"STARE!...," Shouted the elder bear as her tummy symbol lit up the room with a great white light. All of the bad guy's shuttered in fear of this and protected themselves just in case she made an attempt to stare at them. But instead, the stare poured out onto the locket. After a few seconds of the concentrated stare upon the locket, the locket suddenly changed color from red to purple. "There," Said Trueheart who now stopped her stare upon the locket. She picked it up from the ground as the bad guys now stood in relieved that she wasn't aiming at them with her stare. "Now open it." She said as she bent over and grabbed the locket and offered it the locket to Darkage who looked at her wondering what she had up her sleeve.
"Is this some sort of trick?" Said Darkage.
"No trick Joaquin, honest." Said Trueheart with a big smile. "Shall we proceed?"
"Let's!" Said Darkage who opened it. A blinding white light blasted out of the locket startling Darkage who shielded his eyes from the great white light. Darkage immediately reached for his saber who thought this was some sort of escape attempt by the elder Bear.
"Calm down Darkage, I'm not trying to escape," Said Trueheart. Darkage calmed down and opened his eyes squinting to see where the elder bear was after the light had weakened. She was in the same standing position as before attempting no escape. Darkage put away his Saber. "Look!" Said Trueheart pointing to something above Darkage's head. Darkage looked up into the light that took the shape of a heart shaped bubble with a message inside it. It read, 'To whomever this may concern, we are truly sorry for your loss. Although we managed to rescue many people and pet's, we were unable to rescue these two people who unfortunately burned to death in the fire. If there is anything we can do to help, please feel free to contact us at .com.' "That's our message that we had left. Also the locket was red, not the purple that it just transformed to."
"So your saying that Noheart is the one who framed you for the murder of my two parents and is also responsible for the other message?" Asked Darkage.
"Yes." Trueheart answered.
"But what motive would he have? It doesn't make any sense. Why would my own master who took me in and trained me plant false evidence when he clothed and fed me for ten years?!" Asked Darkage with doubt.
"How else do you explain the purple writing," Asked Trueheart looking directly into Darkage's eyes. "We help people Joaquin, we don't try to hurt them," Stated Trueheart. "We also know people who witnessed us helping."
"Unfortunately, they are not here with us now," Said Darkage who now turned to face Noheart. "So there is only one way to find out for sure. Noheart!" Shouted Darkage as he turned to face this shade of evil who reluctantly stepped forward. "Did you plant this message?" Noheart shifted around nervously.
"No. What would I have to gain from all this?" Said Noheart with a slight quiver in his voice. That set a alarm off in Darkage as he now began probing his mind detecting thoughts of fear, nervousness, and anguish from him.
"You seek having greater power at whatever cost. I have seen you seek power like no tomorrow." Said Darkage tensing up in anger.
"I also witnessed first hand with my partner Grumpy bear that Noheart said he was only going to merely use you to help destroy us," Said Tenderheart bear as Darkage turned around and faced the brown bear. "We heard this when we were spying on Noheart."
"When did you spy on Noheart?" Asked Darkage curiously eying the bear with caution.
"During the meeting when Noheart and his ally's were planning there attack on Carelot!" Responded Tenderheart.
"Such outrageous lies!" Laughed Noheart nervously. Darkage turned around and shot him a warning glance yet again. His master immediately stood still. Darkage then turned his attention back to Tenderheart as he turned and faced him.
"What exactly did you observe?" Asked Darkage.
"Noheart said when he found you homeless eleven years ago, he promised to help you find the ones responsible for your parent's death's in exchange that you would let him train you in the ways of the Darkside," Said Tenderheart. "Noheart lied to you Darkage! It wasn't us who had set the fire in the forest, it was Noheart!" Said Tenderheart pointing directly at Noheart. "What exactly did he say?" Asked Darkage.
"He said that he intentionally put the forest on fire so that he could make you homeless and heart broken so that you would want revenge on whomever did this," Tenderheart Bear said. "The Vizior asked him what would happen if you ever found out the truth. Noheart said it doesn't matter if you were to find out or not. So long as you remain on the side of the force, the dark prophecy would become fulfilled and..." The brown bear said with a tear rolling down his left cheek. "Don't you see Darkage, he doesn't care about you, he only wishes to use you to fulfill his own evil agenda!" Darkage turned with rage in his eyes facing Noheart.
"Is this true," Asked Darkage. "Is what Tenderheart said true Noheart?" Three seconds passed with no response. "Answer me!" The room echoed with Darkage's enraged voice.
"Of course not Darkage," Said Noheart trying to sound calm and innocent. "Who took you in when nobody else wanted to help you?" Darkage's face did not change a bit. "Who fed you and clothed you and provided you shelter?" Noheart said ever so gently. Darkage's facial features only hardened more. "And what do I gain out of all this? Only the satisfaction of knowing that your parent's deaths will finally be avenged and that I helped you!"
"You know what, your right Noheart," Said Darkage pretending to unhardened his face although he was still burning with deep anger inside him because of Noheart trying to use this as leverage against him. So he decided to test him to try and catch him and beat him at his own game. "The carebears story makes no sense as to why you would even try such a foolish thing. Although the carebears are your sworn enemy and you have alway's wanted them destroyed at whatever cost."
"Yes." Said Noheart now smiling underneath his cowl. 'I now am in the clear and the situation is about to turn around in my favor.' Noheart thought to himself. However, Noheart was completely unaware that Darkage was locked into his mind.
"However, you had opportunity which would make you the perfect suspect!" Shouted Darkage.
"What!" Shouted Noheart in shock at his apprentice's change of tone.
"You knew that I would fight for you against the carebears because you sensed the power that I had!" Shouted Darkage. "As much as I hate to this admit this, the bears are right! You merely used me to get at the carebears!"
"Darkage, you know that's not true!" Argued Noheart.
"Have you any other testimony to prove your innocense carebears?" Asked Darkage with obvious embitterment.
"No. But Darkage, we saved many people from that dreadful fire. We saved everyone, but we weren't able to save your parents." Said Trueheart Bear regretfully.
"Why not?"
"Because by the time we got to them, the trailor was already consumed in flames," Darkage's anger began to rise. "We are so sorry that your parents died Joaquin." Trueheart bear said sobbing and choking with tears. "If we could have saved them, we would have!" Shouted Trueheart which caused Darkage to calmed down a few degrees. "We were so sad that day when we weren't able to save your parents! So much so that we vowed to help in whatever way that we could. Had we known you were homeless, we would have took you in for a time to help you get back on your feet."
"I, I, believe you!" Darkage stated while looking at the red heart shaped locket. "There is no doubt in my mind that Noheart was the cause of all of this!" He said now enraged turning and looking directly at Noheart with hurt betrayal in his eyes. "How could you do such a thing! I trusted you!" He said with a tear that escaped from his eye. Noheart began to shift side to side nervously once again as if he was anticipating something till he managed to remain perfectly still and lead out some soft laughter. "Stop laughing! This isn't funny!" Shouted Darkage with rage now filling his heart and mind. "Your going to pay for what you did to my parents!"
"Not likely!" Said Noheart as he reached out with one hand using the force knocking him backwards hitting his back hard against the cage before he fell to the ground.
"Darkage!" Shouted Trueheart running to his side. Darkage sat up holding his head while Trueheart gently placing her paw on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"Not until I finish that traitor off!" Shouted Darkage as he got to his feet swatting Trueheart's paw away.
"Darkage, fighting isn't going to help the situation!" Stated Trueheart.
"I don't care!" Shouted Darkage as he looked down at Trueheart. "He's going to pay for everything hurtful thing that he ever did to me and my family!" With that, he reached and activated his duo red saber.
"Fool," Said Noheart as he also activated his single red saber. "I suggest you stand down before I order everyone to attack you!" Darkage showed no fear in his eyes as he got into his fighting stance. "No? Very well! Attack!" He said turning over to some of his minions. But before any of them could do anything, Darkage ran in and began attacking Noheart with side swipes and over head strikes. Noheart managed to evade them, even managed to block a few of them until they ended up pushing their sabers against one another.
"You see Darkage," Said Noheart tauntingly. "You are no match for me. I've taught you everything that you know. I only made you think that you were in control so that you could do my bidding! And now that you set up the destruction of the carebears! I will kill them all as well! So how could you possibly hope to stop me when I know everything that you already know?!"
"Shut up," Shouted Darkage grasping his dou edged saber pushing with all of his might but Noheart still managed to match him strength for strength, and thrust for thrust till Darkage finally managed to thrust him away with one final heave with Noheart still on his feet. Darkage charged after Noheart and swung his saber down on Noheart which the shade managed to block and parry with his saber and countered Darkage drawing back his sword and swiped downwards at Darkage with a over head strike. Darkage quickly brought his saber above his head held his position and easily blocked the overhead shot locking sabers with Noheart yet again with Noheart bearing down with everything he had.
"I have an army capable of having you destroyed along with the rest of the carebears!" Said Noheart mockingly. Darkage angrily thrusted Noheart forward with so much force that he sent his opponent flying backwards causing him to fall to the ground. But as he fell, a purple locket fell out of Noheart's cowl by Noheart's right side.
"What's that?" Said Darkage pointing with his saber at the locket. Noheart alarmingly reached for the locket but was pushed back by the force from Darkage reaching out with one hand.
"Don't touch that!" Shouted Noheart as he tried to recapture it back into his possession. Darkage reached out with his hand using the force summoning the amulet to his hand and opened the purple locket. Just like before, it showed a similar message except this one was a purple cloud instead of a black one surrounding the letters in the inside acting like a bubble with a clear message written in the center. It read the exact same message as the other one before Trueheart stared at the previously locket. But at the end of that message, it read, 'Master Copy. But it was signed Noheart at the end of the message instead of the Carebears.
"Now I know without a doubt that your the one who did this," Shouted Darkage enraged. "You planted this false message to make me believe that they did this!" said Darkage pointing with one hand referring to the carebears inside the cage. "This is your signature!"
"So you finally now know the truth." Said Noheart sarcastically standing up a bit wobbly.
"Why Noheart. Why did you set the forest on fire?" Asked Darkage angrily. "My parents never did anything wrong to you!"