Short Stories of the Care Bear Family

Part II of III: "Swift Heart and the Three Bears (Well, Two Bears and one Elephant)"

"Come on Swift Heart, we're almost there." Good Luck steered the blindfolded bunny. "No peeking."

"What's this all about Good Luck? It's not my birthday, Birthday Bear would've given it away by now."

"You'll see, come on." Swift Heart felt Good Luck's paws on her shoulders, gently steering her towards her still unknown destination.

"Why can't you just tell me where we're going? That way I could get us both there, quick as a bunny!"

"Nu-uh, Swift Heart. This is going to be a surprise and that's that." Swift Heart crossed her arms and "Hummphed!" but it was mostly in humor.

After what seemed like an eternity (going anywhere without running seemed to take forever for Swift Heart) Good Luck finally stopped.

"We're here!" He announced as he took off Swift Heart's blindfold.

"Finally!" She said, shaking her ears as the cloth came free. "Now what was so important that you had to-?"

"Surprise!" Swift Heart idly noted her jaw dropping as she saw Lotsa Heart Elephant and Grumpy Bear sitting on a blanket, now joined by Good Luck, picnic baskets beside them.

"What's this about?" She asked.

"Well we thought that no one's really sat down and told you just how great a friend you've been."

"Of course that could just be because you never stay still long enough for anyone to tell you." Grumpy added.

"You guys are so sweet! But, um…what is it you're talking about?" Swift Heart asked.

"Well, remember when we met the Pandas?" Good Luck asked. "You were right with me the whole time." He chuckled suddenly. "You were one the main reason I told Polite how I felt about her."

"Really?"

"Yeah, he told her just to get you to stop teasing him about it!" Grumpy said. Good Luck smiled weakly since there was more than a little truth in the statement.

"In any case," Good Luck continued. "There was also the whole Wonderland incident-"

"Don't remind me." Grumpy moaned. Good Luck ignored him.

"You were right there the whole time. I don't know how we would have gotten thorough it without you."

"And that's the truth!" Lotsa Heart added.

"Of course if it wasn't for your uncle we never would have been there in the first place either." Grumpy said.

"Uh, that's the truth too." Lotsa admitted.

"You guys," Good Luck sighed. This wasn't going the way he planned. The fact that Swift Heart was snickering at the whole thing was not helping.

"Well anyway," Good Luck said, forgetting his place in his little speech, "We thought that, er-that you well…oh skip it, let's eat!"

"Best thing he's said all day." Grumpy said as he offered Swift Heart a carrot.

"Thanks." Swift Heart said as she sat down and started munching on her lunch. "So, you basically dragged me out here to have lunch and tell me how good a friend I was, hmm?"

"Well it sounded better when we were putting it together." Good Luck admitted.

"It was great, don't worry about it." Swift Heart assured him. "But seriously, what brought this on?"

"Well, remember what happened after Lotsa won the big race?" Swift Heart nodded. Her own foolish arrogance cost her the race and nearly cost the family the Kingdom of Caring. "You're speech was really great."

"So was that gift you got me, and that's the truth!" Lotsa added. Swift Heart smiled. It wasn't hard to figure that his favorite movie was Dumbo.

"And remember when the Pandas had to return to their valley?" Good Luck said. "You took went on some of my Caring Missions for me just so I could go visit. It was really great what you did."

"Aww, stop you're embarrassing me!" Swift Heart smirked. She turned to Grumpy.

"And you? What's on your mind Grumpy?" Swift Heart asked. The blue bear rubbed the back of his neck and cleared his throat.

"Well, there was after Wonderland and you, um-well…I guess I wanted to thank you that."

Good Luck scratched his head. "I don't remember her giving you anything. Do you Lotsa?" The pink elephant shook his head. Swift Heart stuck her bottom lip out in a mock pout.

"Awww, you mean you never told them?" She asked. Good Luck and Lotsa blinked in amazement at the sight of Grumpy blushing.

"Well, I-I er, didn't think—" Grumpy trailed off when Swift Heart leaned over and gave him a full-blown kiss on the lips. Good Luck felt his jaw drop and saw Lotsa Heart's do the same.

"You know what, Lotsa?" Good Luck numbly asked.

"What?"

"Grumpy's right: These things always do happen to him!"

"And that's the truth!"