CHAPTER EIGHT

Noname paced back forth, though he had taken the precaution of moving away from the cloud's edge. He kept his eyes on the ground as he walked. The sight of the puffy clouds beneath his paws prompted an amused chuckle.

The one place in the world where you have to look down in order to go cloud gazing. This place certainly is interesting. He looked around at the heart-shaped leaves on the brightly colored trees. Can't say much for the décor though. Does the phrase 'toneitdown' not exist up here?

Noname shook his head to clear his mind. He wasn't here to evaluate the real estate. He was here to make the most monument decision in his life. Me a Care Bear? Sounds unreal, like nominating a used car dealer to be the Dalai Lama.

He continued pacing until his legs started feeling heavy as lead. Then he opted to lie on the ground to continue thinking it over. He felt his eyelids drooping. He yawned and before he knew it, had dozed off.

His eyes snapped back upon almost immediately, but when he looked around he saw that he was no longer in Care-a-Lot. Noname felt like he was trapped in a void. There was nothing, anywhere. He couldn't even see himself as standing on anything.

An astral plane? Noname wondered. He'd read about the theories about them. But how…No Heart. He concluded. As if summoned by his thoughts, the wizard materialized in front of the fox. Was he a dream, an image conjured by his subconscious, or the real thing?

"If that is you No Heart, then you're as unoriginal as ever. You already tried this trick before." Noname admonished. No Heart—if that's who it was—laughed derisively.

"You are not position to judge me on originality when you are the living embodiment of unoriginality. You're nothing but an imitation, a cheap knock-off." Noname made a rude gesture, which only caused the wizard to cackle again. "Now that's hardly the proper Care Bear attitude now is it? You really think you can be one of them? Hah!"

"And what would you suggest? Going back to being your slave?" Noname asked, matching No Heart sneer for sneer.

"You have more in common with me than you ever will with them. We are both creatures of darkness after all." No Heart answered coldly. "I was intruged to learn that you had given yourself a name, something I had never gotten around to doing. Noname. Strange is it not, that you would give yourself a name so much like that of the one you profess to despise so…"

Noname growled. "Rest assured this…identity I claimed for myself is for temporary use only."

"All the same, you were created with one purpose in mind and you failed at that the second your creation was completed."

"You're talking to me of failure?" Noname shot back. "You, who failed at everything you've ever attempted? The wizard who can't make a single spell stick? Your only borderline decent creation was me and I didn't do what you wanted me to do either." The fox screeched furiously. "You're pathetic you know that? You ought to change your name from 'No Heart' to No Brain!"

No Heart trembled with rage. "You wretched little cauldron-born abomination! When I'm finished with you your soul with writhe in torment for the rest of eternity!"

"And what you someone like you know about souls?" Noname snapped furiously, too angry to take heed of threats. Then a thought occurred. "Since when do you even care about souls? What did you mean earlier, that I belong to you 'in mind, body, and soul?' Since when do creatures of darkness have souls?"

Noname stared No Heart down: the first time he had ever met his creators' eyes in his life. Noname's eyes were so expressive that even a stranger could look in them and know his thoughts and ways with stunning simplicity. Noname usually found this a nuisance, since it made his inner thoughts all too accessible to anyone who looked into his eyes. It all but made any sort of mental privacy impossible. But like most things this worked both ways. Noname saw No Hearts' eyes and everything within them.

"You're afraid." He breathed in amazement. "You've never had one of your creations acquire a soul, have you? You're wondering how it happened and if it'll happen again. I should've guessed. Your only real accomplishment and you've done no idea how you did it, a complete accident…"

"Shut up!" No Heart demanded.

"I seem to have struck a nerve. So I'm right…I do have a soul." That changes everything…

"You wont when I'm through ripping it from you." No Heart threatened.

"What's the matter No Brain? Are you interested in souls because you're looking for answers? Or are you trying to find something you lost…"

"SHUT UP!" He bellowed as he rushed towards Noname, hands outstretched. Clasping his hands around Noname's throat, he brought him to face level, leaving the fox's legs dangling in midair. "Finally quiet are you!" He demanded angrily. Noname tried to answer but could only gasp hoarsely. Noname chuckled. "Ah, just like old times…You know, I must admit that I rather like your rasp. Very unCare Bear-like."

Growling angrily, Noname did the only thing that occurred to him. He opened his jaws and bit Noname's hand. Howling in pain, No Heart tossed him angrily to the ground.

Panting heavily, Noname got to his feet. "…I guess…having a soul….makes me…more like the Care Bears….then you…after all." With a final roar of anger No Heart raised his arms and prepared to cast his trademark lightning spell. Noname stood his ground.

So this is where I belong…He thought to himself as he prepare to meet his own end. Then, as suddenly as he arrived there, Noname was gone. He awoke with a start, sitting up quickly from the cloud he had fallen asleep on. Whipping his head from side to side for any sign of No Heart, he breathed a quick sigh of relief when he found none.

"Was that astral experience or a dream?" He asked himself. Noname wasn't sure. Looking up at the sky he was surprised to see that the sun was already setting and the shadows had grown long a good time ago. Setting off for the Hall of Hearts, Noname had come a decision and hoped that he could still run into Bright Heart, Gentle Heart or the founders. At the very least he hoped to grab a bite to eat and drink. Anything to get the awful taste he just acquitted out of his mouth.

CHAPTER NINE

Gentle Heart was getting concerned. Shouldn't Noname have been back by now? We left him there hours ago…She started when she felt someone put their paw on her shoulder. Gentle Heart whirled around. It was only Bright Heart, a concerned smile on his face, nodding knowingly. He knew what she was thinking and she was fairly certain he was thinking along the same lines himself.

Noble Heart and True Heart were waiting with them. Most of the others had already eaten and drifted home to relax. A few remained, including Tenderheart who continually looked over at Bright Heart and Gentle Heart, concern etched on his face. He didn't want to think about how'd they feel if the fox they discovered and brought back with them didn't return. They'd be devastated.

"Do you really think he'll come back?" He asked Noble Heart and True Heart. Noble Heart didn't say anything. True Heart spread her paws helplessly.

"I hope so." She said quietly, but apparently not quietly enough.

"I think he will." Bright Heart said confidently. Gentle Heart nodded in clear agreement.

"I hope you're right Bright Heart." Tenderheart sighed. Grumpy folded his arms across his chest and snorted.

"From what I saw of him, he didn't seem very sociable. Or friendly." Swift Heart snickered and tried to cover it up with a coughing fit as Grumpy shot her a glance.

Bright Heart did his best not to notice. "He's just had a hard life. Give him time and I'm sure he'll come around."

"I agree with Bright Heart," Gentle Heart bleated. "I think he'd make a great Care Bear."

"That's his decision to make." Noble Heart reminded them. "We'll just have to wait and—" Their attention was suddenly riveted on the doors, which had just been pulled open with a loud squeaking (Noble Heart mentally reminded himself to ask Grumpy to oil them) as Noname entered.

Gentle Heart sighed in relief. At least he's okay. No one said anything as he closed the doors behind him. He strode up to where they were standing and stood still, his eyes on the ground.

"You've been gone a long time." Bright Heart ventured at last. Noname looked up.

"I've been doing some…soul searching."

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Gentle Heart asked. Noname shot her a half smile.

"You could say that." Noble Heart approached the fox and took a deep breath.

"Have you come to a decision?"

"Yes."

"…And?" They seemed to be having a contest to see who could keep their answer the shortest. Noname paused and almost imperceptibly nodded.

"I…I want to stay. Be a part of your family. If you'll have me." Noble Heart gave his shoulder a brief squeeze. He—correctly—didn't think he was the hugging type.

"We'd be glad to have you. But there is one thing left to take care of. Tenderheart?" Tenderheart nodded. Noble Heart turned back to Noname. "Tenderheart is going to give you a tummy symbol like the rest of us. But we also need to think of a name for you. Somehow I don't think that 'Noname' is something you want to stick with."

"No argument." He agreed quickly. "But I can't think of anything else." He looked Noble Heart in the eyes. "Any ideas?"

"Hmmmm…I just might. Tell me, have you ever heard of the expression that the eyes are the 'windows of the soul?' " The fox nodded.

"I have."

"Well given that, and from what True Heart and I heard you telling Bright Heart and Gentle Heart…" He began as Tenderheart's tummy symbol began glowing, "I can't think of a more fitting name than…" Tenderheart's Stare connected with Noname's belly leaving a new tummy symbol behind: A black Egyptian eye in a red heart.

"Soulful Heart Fox!" The newly christened Soulful Heart gently touched his tummy symbol as if afraid that it would vanish if he touched it too hard.

"You know…" He said in a breathless rasp. "I rather like that." Gentle Heart smiled happily.

"I knew you'd stay, I just knew it!" Bright Heart grinned too and reached out a paw. Soulful accepted it gladly.

"Welcome to the family Soulful Heart."

THE END