~AUTHOR'S NOTE~ It is only due to ff.net's recent problems that I haven't updated…I'm sorry! One clarification about this chapter: the planet Wayland plays a big role in the Thrawn trilogy (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command) of the Star Wars novels (a.k.a. the Extended Universe). It is the home of several cloning cylinders and one insane Jedi named Joruus C'boath. I won't tell you any more about him, you'll just have to read the books ;) But the planet does exist in the Star Wars universe.
~DISCLAIMER~ Love my Star Wars action figures. They're on display now! But I don't own anything besides them. No characters or anything.
Wish Bear led Luke to a small hut fashioned out of (what else?) a cloud. "You can stay here," she told him.
"Um…thank you."
The bear smiled at him and left, leaving Luke alone. He was surprised to see actual solid furniture inside the cloud structure. 'Wow,' he thought. 'I thought the Cloud City on Bespin was impressive, but this is a true cloud city!'
Luke used his time alone to try to figure out what had happened to him. He remembered flying to Wayland to investigate a strange Force tremor emanating from the planet. He had followed his senses to a small cave in a mountainside. And inside the cave, he had discovered a glowing crystal.
Since he had sensed no danger from the crystal, there seemed no reason that he shouldn't touch it. Then of course, next thing he knew, he was lying on the forest floor of a strange planet and could no longer feel the Force. "Damn!" he said out loud, mad at his own stupidity. "Of course there's no reason to touch the damn crystal!"
Luke's train of thought was interrupted by a knock on his door. "Yes?"
The door opened slowly and Wish Bear looked timidly inside. "Hello," she said shyly.
"Hello. You're back!"
She entered the room and turned to face him. "Yes. I, I just came to ask you something."
Luke smiled and said, "Of course. What is your question?"
The green bear relaxed noticeably under his smile. "Well…what you said before – about me using your Force – is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
The question caught Luke off-guard. "Well…it is bad that I cannot feel the Force. But your power comes from the Light Side of the Force, and that is very, very good."
"Oh good!" Wish Bear looked relieved. She turned to leave, looking back at Luke to say, "Thank you!"
He looked after her for a moment, then back around his cloud house. 'Well,' he thought, ' better make myself at home. I may be here a while!'
~~~~~
"Care Bears and Care Bear Cousins!" Tenderheart Bear opened the second meeting of the day, this time without their mysterious human guest. "We are all confused," he continued. "But Luke seems to be no danger."
"But he's not from Earth!" Friend bear piped up. She leaned over to listen to her best friend Secret Bear's whispered comment, laughing. "Although Secret Bear points out that we aren't from Earth either!" Secret Bear nodded as Friend translated for him.
Noble Heart Horse stood up and the family quickly quieted down. Noble Heart only spoke at meetings when it was terribly important. "We must figure out how Luke came to Earth and how we can get him home. He is not part of our world."
A murmur of agreement went through the Hall of Hearts. The Bears and Cousins were not afraid of the man, but his sudden mysterious arrival was unsettling. And they could all sense his alien-like qualities that suggested he was from far, far away.
Bright Heart Raccoon stood up to be acknowledged. "Perhaps we can learn from Luke." The others looked at him, slightly confused and Bright Heart continued. "He truly believes that we use his Force. Maybe we do. Maybe he can teach us more about it."
No one spoke as everyone considered this. "But what if he's wrong?" Grumpy Bear asked. "He could just be crazy."
"We could test him," suggested Loyal Heart Dog.
"Yeah," started Playful Heart Money, "but how?"
"I know!" Cheer Bear cried after a moment. "Everyone looked to her expectantly. "You remember how we saved Christy from Darkheart? We combined our power and all cared together. Our power grows when we're all together!"
"Maybe," Noble Heart stood up again, "if we can combine our power with his, he could again use his Force."
"It's worth a try!" Brave Heart Lion shouted.
"Then it's settled," Tenderheart announced. "If Luke can touch the Force through us, then perhaps he can really teach us more about our own power."
Wish Bear remained in her seat as the other Care Bears and Cousins left. Share Bear saw her friend still in her chair and walked over to her. "Are you okay, Wish Bear?"
"I guess so."
"Are you sure? Do you wanna talk about it?"
Wish Bear looked at her friend. "Share Bear, I want to be the one to test Luke."
Share Bear was surprised, for usually Wish Bear was not as brace as to volunteer for such a test. "Why?"
"Because when I first met him…I could feel how lost he was. He's so convinced that the stare is his Force. He told me that I used it and that it was a good thing that I did. I'm curious, I guess. I want to know more about our power."
"Oh. " Share Bear had never really questioned where her power came from, but Luke had raised questions in her mind as well.
"I mean," Wish Bear continued, "why did we get our symbols in the Kingdom of Caring? What would if feel like to return to the Kingdom of Caring?"
"I don't know, Wish Bear." Share Bear glanced out towards Luke's hut. "Maybe Bright Heart's right. Luke may be able to teach us after all."
