Christy yawned and stretched her legs and arms. She looked over at her cellphone and noticed the date. It had already been a week since she was attacked, since she became bedridden. She rolled her eyes. I'm never getting out of here. Dawn walked in the room.

"Hey Chris, guess what?"

"Did Drake ask you out?"

Dawn smiled nervously. "Um… no… Actually, the CareBears told me that you should be able to walk around today! Wanna give it a try?"

Christy sat up excitedly. "Wha- you really mean it? Heck yeah get me out of here!"

Christy went to the edge of the bed and, using Dawn as support, managed to get to her feet and walk across the room to her wardrobe, this time without falling over or feeling faint. Dawn helped Christy change out of her old clothes and into something new. Finally Christy was able to leave the room she'd been trapped in for so long. The hallways of the castle never looked so good.

"Oh Dawn! You have no idea how good this feels. Seriously, I was so sick of that room."

"I bet! I can't believe that you were out for so long. That thing must have really done a number on you. And the Bears won't even tell us why, they've been super secretive about the whole thing. It's totally getting on my nerves! But they said that now that you've got your strength back, it's time!"

"Ugh, it's about time! Those Bears with their secrets. And I thought friends weren't supposed to have secrets!"

Dawn laughed. "I know, right?"

"So… Drake?"

"I haven't seen him since yesterday morning. Neither has Jon. Maybe he took off because he's feeling guilty about what he did!"

"Maybe…" Christy's voice trailed off. She was so mad at Drake, but she couldn't help but feel sad. Why did Drake choose Dawn over her? She and Drake… well, she thought they had something special between them, something deeper than just friendship. But she felt stupid now for making that assumption.

Christy stumbled and nearly fell, but Dawn caught her. "You okay, Chris? We can walk slower if you want."

"No, I'm fine. Let's just get to the meeting room as soon as possible."

When they arrived, they found all of the meeting seats full with every CareBear and Cousin. Jon was seated at the end at a new table they'd made just for the humans present. There were three empty seats. Christy and Dawn sat down next to Jon.

"Where's Drake?" Christy asked. Not that she cared, she just wanted to know.

TenderHeart replied softly but firmly, "All in good time, Christy. First, there is something you must know. It has come to our attention that the thing that attacked you was no mere shade, it has a name. A name you will remember."

"Me? But I don't know any-"

"It was Dark Heart. Or rather, his shadow."

Christy was confused, hurt. "What? No- that's… That's not possible. Drake would never do something to hurt me like that. You've got it wrong."

"It wasn't Drake, it was his shadow. Different and the same all at once. We don't know how or why it exists, but we know that it is not a good sign."

GrumpyBear spoke up. "And that's why Drake isn't here right now. We had to lock him away. He admitted that his powers have returned, and that the shadow has spoken to him in thought, asking to join Drake once again. Drake is dangerous. He has hidden this from us for a long time."

Christy and the twins were silent. Why would Drake keep this a secret? He knows better than anyone that there's strength in numbers and in friendship.

"I have to see Drake." Christy said.

BraveHeart Lion replied, "No, Christy, you can't. Drake needs to be alone right now. He needs to focus on staying good. It's his fault that the caring meter dropped. He is the one who needs to fix this. In fact, maybe you three should just go home, you'll only distract him. As long as Drake resists the shadow, it has no real power except to manipulate young minds, and we can handle that."

The three of them looked at each other. Jon agreed with the Bears. "I think it's time we went home, we've been gone for too long. We have responsibilities, we can't stay here forever."

Dawn nodded. "Yeah… plus we have that big test coming up, and I need to study… And if I don't get back soon that guy from class will totally move on from me!'

Christy shook her head. "I… I can't leave yet. You two can go home. Tell my parents I'm sleeping over at your house or something."

"Christy, after what he did? You really want to stay here for him?" Jon asked.

Christy looked at the ground. She didn't know why she wanted to stay. Even though Drake hurt her, she couldn't help but feel for him still. Their destinies seemed to be intertwined, and for whatever reason, she couldn't give up on him yet. "Maybe it was just a mistake. We don't know why Drake did what he did. There could have been a reason, and I need to know."

"I don't think so, Christy. He just wanted an out, and he wanted me. If you ask him, you won't get the answer you're hoping for. You should just come home. It was fun to see everyone again, but they don't need us like we thought they did."

Christy was silent for a while, the room was tense. Finally, as TenderHeart was about to adjourn the meeting, Christy said, "No. I'm sorry, I can't leave. I won't leave. There's still something I need to do, and I don't care what you say, Drake needs me."

TenderHeart somewhat begrudgingly complied. "Alright, Christy, if that's how you feel, then you can stay. Jon and Dawn, I think you should return to your homes. When you're ready, I will take you."

Jon and Dawn looked at each other. Neither of them wanted to leave Christy alone, especially now when they know that Drake could be dangerous, but they had no choice.

The meeting was closed, and every one left. Jon, Dawn, and Christy were left alone to say goodbye.

Jon was concerned. "Look, Christy, if it was me or Dawn, you would want us to leave. You're going to stay behind in this place over a hang-up with some guy? He hurt you, you need to let him go. I don't want to see you get hurt even worse."

"Jon… I just can't. You don't understand, you can't understand the way I feel for him. We're… connected. He needs me. I know it. I'll come back, I will. You just need to trust me. I can help him out of this."

Jon gave Christy a tight hug. "Then you be careful. And if anything happens, even if he just makes you sad again, I want you to call me. I'll beat him up."

Christy smiled. "Of course, Jon. And Dawn…" She said while giving her friend a hug. "Take care of this goof. I'll tell you if Drake says anything about what he said to you."

"You better, I love a good drama." Dawn replied.

After that, the twins left, and Christy was left alone in the cloud kingdom, the only fully human person in Care-A-Lot. She walked around the castle until she found GrumpyBear. "Take me to him."

GrumpyBear agreed to take her to see Drake, but in his own annoyed manner of doing things. Drake was kept in a cell that the Bears had made just for him in the basement of the castle. "I'll leave you two alone." He said, going back upstairs to do his work.

Drake looked up at Christy. "I didn't think you'd come to see me." His eyes were full of delight.

Christy still had a hard time looking at him. "I didn't either, but here I am."

"So…" Drake said. "You know, about my shadow?"

"Yes. I know. But I don't think you'll give into it. You were evil once, but you're good now. Well, as good as you can be, I guess."

"Yeah… but I'm scared, Christy. If I go back, I'm worried I'll really be terrible. Worse than before, now that I'm older. I'm more powerful now, I can feel it. And if the shadow joins with me… I fear the things I could do."

Christy shook her head. "You won't, Drake. I'll be here for you. All I need to know is the answer to one question."

Drake looked up with a confused expression on his face. "What's that?"

Christy looked away. "Why did you say those things to Dawn?"

Drake furrowed his brows. "What? What are you talking about?"

"Oh my God, don't act like you don't know, Drake."

"No, seriously, what do you mean? I haven't said anything to Dawn."

"Drake! Are you kidding me? I know all of it, I know everything about what you said, and about what you planned to do. You were selfish, and mean, and you scared her. And you really hurt me, too. Don't you feel any guilt at all for that?"

"Well, no, I don't! Because-" But before Drake could finish, Christy stood up in a huff.

"Really, Drake? I thought you were better than this."

"Wait, Christy-"

"No, you know what? I hate you! I don't ever want to see you again. After what you did? And you won't even confess to it? And you don't even feel a shred of guilt over it? You can just forget it. I'm out of here, have fun, you jerk." Christy said angrily as she stormed out of the room.

Drake was so confused, he had no idea what just happened. "Girls…" He muttered to himself. "What does she mean? I haven't talked to Dawn nearly at all since we got back from the recon."

A dark voice whispered into Drake's mind. "See? Everyone hates you, Drake. Even those little CareBears that you love so much, even that girl who stole you away from me when you were still immortal."

"Go away… I'm not going to talk to you, shadow."

"Come on, old friend… You know you can't resist me. I am you. We are one."

"No, not anymore! You're evil, and I left that life behind a long time ago."

"You were evil a lot longer than you have been good. I can see what's in your heart. Since you have become human, you have felt so much pain. And now, after what the girl said to you, you're in agony. The one you love… She hates you now. I can feel how that makes you feel."

Drake shook his head, attempting to hide the tears welling in his eyes. "You don't know how it feels. You can't feel."

"I do know. And I also know that there is only one way for you to stop this pain."

"No, I won't do it. You can't have me, shadow. Not this time. I don't care what she says to me, I will never hurt her again."

The shadow laughed. "I will have you. Soon. I have you all to myself now."