Sorry this one's so short, guys. Sacrifices must be made, and a good cliffhanger is better than a long chapter!

Chapter 3: Her New Family

No Heart turned away from his cauldron, grumbling angrily. He had been watching the Care Bears for ages, suffering through each nausea-inducing moment. Every hug, every loving word, every party so saccharine it made your teeth hurt, No Heart had endured in his attempt to find a way to destroy the Care Bears. However, tonight he was granted a rather unwanted reprieve. No Heart peered once more into his cauldron, and saw the same thing he had seen the last ten times—a complete whiteout, courtesy of the storm down on earth.

Why hasn't that bumbling fool Beastly returned yet? He wondered. While the average person might have been concerned for their assistant's safety, No Heart merely wanted news of Beastly's success, or, as was more often the case, his failure. He again peered into the cauldron, straining to find a break in the blizzard. It was then that he heard the all-too-familiar squeak of a pedal-powered helicopter. The sound stopped outside the door, and in strolled Beastly--cold, soaked, but strutting as proudly as a furry little evil minion could. "Mission accomplished, boss!" He said, puffing out his chest.

No Heart turned, half-shocked that Beastly had actually done something right. "You did everything I commanded? You hunted down all the wolves?"

"That's right, No Heart! I got rid of 'em all!"

No Heart grinned. "Finally, revenge for what happened so many years ago…"

Back in the Forest of Feelings, a floppy-eared blue dog was walking a cloud-white wolf to her new home. "Here it is," Loyal Heart said, stopping at the door. "It may not compare to what you had down on Earth, but it's a start at least. And if you ever need anything, I'm right across the way there."

Patient Heart pretended to thoroughly analyze the house. "Well, I have to say it's a far cry from the tree stump you and Grumpy found me under, but I suppose it will do." Embracing Loyal Heart, she held him for quite a few moments. "Thanks, Floppy. For everything."

Embarrassed, Loyal Heart hadn't even noticed his new nickname. The dog blushed so brightly that it showed through his blue fur. "Um…You're welcome, Lady Patient Heart." Was all he could utter.

As the doggiggled euphoricallyback to his house, the wolf stepped into hers. Although the house was small, it was indeed palatial compared to anything else she had slept in or under. The living room was the first she entered upon opening the front door. Somehow the others had already furnished it before she arrived. In the first room, there was a small couch, a coffee table, a desk, and a bookcase with several books inside. Attached to the bookcase was a small note.

Dear Patient Heart,

Hope this house works out for you. If you need anything else, just ask!

Love,

Your family

Patient stared at the note, tears forming in her dark blue eyes. "I guess they really do want me to stay." After re-reading the note several times, she decided to tour the house further. However, as she put the note on the table, she heard a faint boom in the distance, and the clouds began to shake. Rushing to the door, she met Loyal Heart on the front porch.

"We gotta go, Patient! No Heart's in Care-a-Lot!

Even before his feet touched cloud, No Heart began his assault. Buildings crumbled and fire raged as the wizard attempted to shout above the chorus of explosions. "Finally, I have won!" he announced. As he advanced toward the Hall of Hearts, a small group of Care Bears stood in his way and began to stare. "Give it everything, Care Bears!" cried Tenderheart Bear. "We can't let him get any further!"

"You must be joking." No Heart laughed. "At this point, your entire family could stare me, and I'd barely notice!"

As the wizard raised his hand for another attack, he did notice something out of the corner of his eye. A white flash. It was only for a second though, before his whole world went red, and then black.

The stare stopped abruptly as the group of bears also saw the white flash make contact with No Heart and send him flying to the ground. "What in the world was that?" Asked Share Bear.

Although it only took a second for him to get back to his feet, his head was still ringing considerably. That couldn't have been a Care Bear, he thought. They would never dream of actually striking anyone! Eyes still shut in pain, No Heart bellowed. "Whoever just did that…will be the first and most violent casualty!"

As he opened his eyes however, any violent thoughts were replaced by those of disbelief when he saw who the culprit was—a miniature, cloud white, very ticked-off wolf.

Eyes narrowed, teeth bared, and a low growl coming from deep within her, Patient Heart Wolf stood among a group of Bears and Cousins just as shocked at the attack as No Heart was.

"Patient Heart!" Yelled Share Bear. "What in Care-a-Lot are you doing?"

It wasn't that Patient Heart was ignoring her. It was just that to the wolf, at that moment, getting rid of the threat to her family was the only thing that mattered.

"Touch another Bear or building, and we'll see who the casualty is, buddy!"