Disclaimer: I do not own: Rurouni Kenshin, Slayers or the Care Bears Movies. Though I confess to owning a couple of DVD movies and I might have owned a bear or two at some point in my life…I was always partial to Tender Heart!
The magic Of Care-a-lot
Part 1: Sorcerers? Ninjas? Care Bears?… WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON AROUND HERE!
Amelia returned slowly to consciousness, her head pounding painfully and incessantly. That inter-dimensional teleportation spell must've backfired or at least had side effects they hadn't counted on. Reluctantly, she opened her eyes and was so surprised by the sight that greeted her that she wondered if perhaps she was still unconscious!
"She's awake," whispered cheerfully a cute little yellow bear with a smiling sun on his white belly. She blinked twice hoping that it was just a hallucination and that there really wasn't a little talking bear standing next to her prone form.
"Well, hello there!" said a soft cheerful voice coming from a pink bear with a rainbow on his white belly standing on her other side.
"Hello to you too!" she replied automatically 'they are so cute!' she thought in spite of the strangeness of the situation
"Welcome to Carealot! I'm Funshine Bear and this is Cheer Bear!" the little yellow bear happily introduced
"Well, nice to meet you Funshine and Cheer Bear! My name is Amelia!" she returned cheerfully as she sat up realizing that the spell most definitely backfired! 'Miss Lina!' she whined silently and wondered how in the world she was getting back to Seyruun.
"It's nice to meet you Amelia! How are you feeling?" Funshine bear asked helping Amelia get up. She held her head for a moment and did a quick mental assessment of her injuries but other than the headache that already seemed to be fading there didn't seem to be anything else wrong.
"I'm all right!" she answered cheerfully getting to her feet. She looked down at the ground and realized she was standing on something very white and fluffy, like a cloud! Then she gasped as she took in the sights.
The soft white ground stretched as far as the eye could see. Slides made out of rainbows were everywhere and bears of different colors came to and fro in little vehicles made of the same mysterious fluffy material as the ground and landed in a cheerfully colored landing pad. In the distance she could see a large pink castle with heart-shaped windows and all the shutters open; a magnificent fountain in front of it burst upwards a multicolored spray of water that made it look as if it was shooting out a rainbow.
Its huge heart-shaped door was thrown open as if to say "welcome one and all!" and she immediately felt as though she belonged here. She could see a group of people and what looked like more bears coming out of the large palace. There was a red heart shaped clock nearby her on a large pedestal with only one arrow that didn't seem to move form the twelve o'clock position but she couldn't be certain because it had no numbers only little red hearts.
"We should take her with the others!" suggested Cheer Bear. Funshine happily agreed and took one of Amelia's hands and the two little bears led her towards the group near the castle. She cheerfully went along thinking most likely Miss Lina, Mr. Gourry and Mr. Zelgadis were probably the others that they were talking about. With every step she took she felt more and more cheerful and her headache faded away.
She frowned in concern when she reached the group. Ms. Lina and Mr. Gourry were not there, neither was Mr. Zelgadis! There was a girl there who looked to be about her age playing with a little boy and a little girl who looked no older then ten. And of course there were more bears…
"Hey everyone! This is Amelia!" Cheer Bear announced to the group and everyone looked up to wave and welcome her
"Hi everybody!" Amelia greeted cheerfully. The older girl wearing a short dark blue outfit with a pink sash tied around her waist stepped forward her shoulder length brown hair swirled around her and she smiled cheerfully and introduced her self and the children.
"Hi my name's Misao Leader of the Oniwaban group of ninjas! This is Kim and Jason and they are…" she pointed towards the bears who at the command of a brown bear with a pink and red heart on his white belly lined up in a V-shaped formation and
"WE'RE THE CARE BEARS!" they all gleefully shouted in unison. Misao giggled and Amelia joined her thinking 'They're so cute!' She was delighted to hear Misao echo her thought out loud. Amelia quickly realized that she could sort of guess their names just by looking at the pictures on their white bellies and they spent some time introducing all the bears. But what impressed Amelia the most was the Care Bears mission: To spread joy and help people share their feelings! She volunteered to help!
"So how did you end up here?" Misao asked her. The two girls cheerfully swapped life stories as they watched the care bears and the children frolic and play among the clouds. The children's story was simple: they were orphans and had originally given up ever being able to have friends or family and so of course the care bears brought them to Care-a-lot to show them they were wrong.
It turns out that Misao had just gotten married and was leaving for her honeymoon in a few days and she was in her friend Mrs. Kate's room looking for something and accidentally touched a weird bracelet sitting on her dresser. She went poof and ended up here! The care bears were trying to help her get home with a device called the Rainbow Rescue Beam but Grumpy Bear was still having trouble calibrating it to dial her world.
"I hope I can get home soon! Aoshi's probably worried about me…" she said softly. The sad look that suddenly came over her made Amelia's heart ache for her…
"Don't worry we can find a way to get you back home!" Amelia asserted confidently. It would be a terrible injustice after all if this girl missed her honeymoon! She vowed to make it her mission to ensure Misao did not miss it.
"We'll do it together!" Misao cheerfully declared pumping her fist in the air.
"That's the spirit!" Tender Heart Bear added happily and Cheer Bear got up then and started a song and they all got up to sing. Amelia definitely felt herself at home here! As they were cheerfully singing and dancing the ground suddenly rocked violently under their feet and everyone went tumbling down except for Misao.
'I guess being a ninja makes you sure footed!' Amelia thought grateful that they were on a cloud when she landed on her butt!
"Is everyone alright?" Misao commanded helping Amelia up. Amelia blinked her demeanor had changed and it was kind of like what happened to Ms. Lina when she switched from happy little treasure hunter to kick butt angry sorceress! She looked serious and commanding as she checked on the bears and the children.
"What happened?" Amelia asked helping Tender Heart up. He shook his little head and looked towards the large heart-shaped clock which Amelia had been told was the Caring Meter and its function was to measure the level of caring on earth and alert them when there is a shift in the caring levels.
"Oh, no! The Caring Meter has dropped five whole points!" Tender Heart gasped in horror and so did all the bears.
"What does that mean?" Amelia asked horrified at the sight of all the broken rainbows and the cracks on the castle walls. But before any of the bears could reply the cloud-ground quaked again and the Caring meter dropped another two points.
"It means that a lot of people on earth must've just stopped caring!" Funshine Bear explained fear plain to see on its cute little furry face Amelia ached for the saddened and terrified bears.
"…and when lots of people stop caring Care-a-lot suffers, huh?" she deduced looking around at the devastation in the once bright and cheerful Care-a-lot.
"We'll just work together and make it better!" Misao declared firmly with her fists on her hips and a determined look on her face. Amelia cheered!
"That's right! As a crusader for justice I cannot allow these brave and righteous bears to suffer! I, Amelia pledge myself to your cause of spreading joy and happiness and bring justice to whatever evil has perpetrated this heinous act!" she declared boastfully. Misao just stared at her in utter shock as the bears and the children cheered.
"Ok…right! Umm…what are we waiting for let's get going!" Misao added still looking a bit stunned. So half of the bears, Misao and Kim went on the rainbow rescue beam and transported down to earth. Amelia, Jason and the rest of the bears piled onto the platform and were transported by Grams Bear who stayed behind with Baby Hugs and Baby Tugs and would await the return of the Care Bear Cousins who were currently on another assignment.
Once on earth they split into smaller groups figuring they had a better chance of finding out what was going on if they did so. Kim and Jason however were instructed to find a hiding place and remain there until called for. As the only two children who still cared it was important that they remain safe!
Misao left with Secret Bear and Grumpy Bear. Amelia went with Tender Heart, Funshine and Luck Bear. They all scattered in a vandalized carnival, which seemed to be the epicenter of the trouble, in search of the cause of the disruption in good feelings on earth.
Zelgadis came to with a pounding headache. He got up carefully wondering where in the hell he was and hoping that Lina was there so he could kill her! He looked around the small room and realized there were others with him. There was a large fat man snoring on a desk and a tall one in a dark purple outfit with a sash of the same color tying it and a long trench coat draped over his lap sitting on a small stool. He didn't seem to be carrying any weapons other than a rather short thin sword.
"Finally, you're awake," the man intoned in a deep emotionless voice. He definitely radiated power but it was raw physical power more like Gourry.
"Are you all right?" he asked in that same tone. Zelgadis dusted himself off and drew himself to his full height proudly ignoring the pounding headache.
"I'm fine," he replied non-chalantly checking to make sure his sword and all other items were still there.
"The headache will fade in a few minutes it's just the residual effect of travel through whatever it is we came through," Aoshi explained calmly and moved away towards a small window
"An inter-dimensional portal," Zelgadis explained mildly impressed that the man had seen through to his discomfort. He could tell right away that despite him being as big and strong as Gourry this man was not at all like him.
"What's his story?" Zelgadis asked pointing to the fat man with the garish light blue suit snoozing at the desk. The tall man turned again and shrugged.
"I have attempted several times to wake him but he continues to sleep. There is something unnatural about it however because he doesn't appear to have any illnesses that would cause such abnormally heavy sleep," he explained calmly. Zelgadis examined the man and concurred with the other's assessment. He chanted a few words and the snoozing man glowed for a second.
"You're right. He's under a sleep spell and a pretty strong one from what I can tell. Nothing I can't break…" Zelgadis looked from the snoozing man to his tall companion. The tall one shook his head but his expression remained completely unreadable.
"Best not from what I can tell he wouldn't be much use to us. This cabin belongs to him and all he has here are implements for simple parlor tricks and slight of hand if we run into trouble out there he'll just be a hindrance," the tall man opined calmly.
"We could get some information from him and I can always put him back under," Zelgadis surmised but he had a feeling his new companion already had a counter for that too. The tall one shook his head.
"This man is just a magician in a carnival, it says so on the side of his cabin and from what I can tell he's been asleep since before the trouble began" the tall man explained. He told Zelgadis that he had arrived a few hours ago in this very cabin and at the time all seemed well (except for the heavily sleeping magician) but slowly people's behavior started changing. The adults who were at the carnival with their children just disappeared and the children themselves who at first seemed like normal happy children turned violent, angry and destructive.
The entire carnival grounds had been savagely vandalized as well as a summer camp nearby. The trouble apparently was being caused by two children whose names he had managed to gather were Kristy and Nicholas. According to the boys he questioned when he found Zelgadis there was a third child involved but they had not known his name.
"Wait! You didn't find me here?" Zelgadis asked surprised. The tall unemotional man shook his head.
"No, I was scouting an area in the forest nearby and I saw the flash of light so I went to investigate. When I got there some of the transformed children were planning to steal you're possessions and damage your clothes I thought you'd be safer here since you were unconscious," the tall one answered and Zelgadis inwardly saluted the man's ability to hide his emotions so well.
If he was surprised by any of the things happening around him he didn't show even an iota of it! He didn't even seem surprised by Zelgadis' odd appearance and that was something that surprised even the people of his world! On the other hand strange occurrences like this could be commonplace for him. He made a mental note to find out which. However, Aoshi's guarded and stoic demeanor made him think of him as a lone wolf so most likely he was the type to have extensive experience in guarding his emotions to hide his true intentions. In that respect Zel realized Aoshi was much like himself.
"Thank you. My name is Zelgadis by the way," Zelgadis offered by way of introduction 'he's probably a spy or an assassin although that coat sure would give him away!' Zel thought warily. The tall man looked at him and bowed his head slightly.
"You're welcome. Aoshi is my name," he returned and Zelgadis mirrored his gesture. He went over to the window to see what Aoshi was looking at. Indeed the outside was a mess! It looked like a war zone! He was right about the kids too: they all had strange demonic expressions and dark ugly bags under their eyes. Even the sky looked overcast!
"Well, you're right that guy won't do us any good! I suppose I better find my companions. Did you come alone?" Zelgadis asked as he turned away from the window and looked around the room for items he might be able to use for a locator spell. Aoshi shook his head.
"No and I have been unsuccessful in my search for my companion…" he replied and for the first time since Zelgadis met him a flicker of emotion flashed in his face. The flicker of frustration was there and gone so fast that if Zel had been looking elsewhere he would've missed! But before he could speculate Aoshi's calm demeanor changed. His entire body tensed as he spotted something outside that made him activate his battle senses.
"What is it?" Zel asked going back towards the window his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"I just spotted several small creatures being chased by the violent children. There are also two children over there and they don't seem changed like the others…" Aoshi paused in his explanation his brow furrowed in thought as though speculating what was going on. Zel wondered if some kids were immune to whatever spell these kids were under as he looked out the window.
By now he figured all of this must be the work of some very angry sorcerer but judging by the victims of the spell it had to be someone who hated kids and carnivals or anything that's happier than him or her! They watched as the two children suddenly ran past the cabin. Another child who looked only slightly older with the worst malevolent expression ran after them. Just then a small explosion rocked the small cabin.
"Damn! He must be the spell caster!" Zelgadis realized as a small ball of energy erupted from the boy's finger and hit the cabin again.
"Agreed and his target are those two children," Aoshi reasoned calmly. He grabbed his trench coat and headed out the door with Zelgadis right behind him.
"They're either immune to his power or they're the key to stopping him! Or both!" Zel reasoned Aoshi nodded his calm serious expression didn't change. The two of them ran side by side and Zel admired the man's ability to keep up with him as he hopped onto the roof of a Funhouse that they'd seen the children run into and Aoshi leaped up with equal nimbleness. They were hoping to intercept them at the exit and figured the roof would be quicker than trying to get through the obstacles in the funhouse.
'Not bad! He's definitely not Gourry!' Zel thought, he didn't mind Gourry as a partner the man was capable and strong but sometimes he wished he had a more serious and intelligent companion. Gourry wasn't exactly the sharpest knife in the kitchen and Aoshi was a refreshing change from his usual assortment of eccentric companions. They reached the exit of the Funhouse and it was apparent that the children were still inside. Zel was about to jump down and go inside to rescue the beleaguered children but Aoshi's hand stopped him. Zel gave him a puzzled look.
"They have not been captured and they have a lead on the young warlock if we wait until they emerge and move quickly we can avoid being seen thus maintaining our element of surprise, at least until we know more of what has happened to this place," Aoshi explained quietly. Zel nodded his agreement and looked down to watch the door.
'Damn! I have to stop hanging around Amelia! Her "charge to the rescue" attitude is starting to affect my judgment!' Zel berated himself. In fact in the days before Amelia and company he wouldn't have even bothered with little kids that vandalized carnivals. He wouldn't have even bothered to thank Aoshi for saving him from vicious little thieves while he was unconscious and would've just walked away without a second thought. Now he recoiled from such an idea!
'I can't believe I'm going soft! I'm one third Golem for crying out loud!' Zel scolded himself. Then he stopped to the think about his companion. He looked serious, tough and completely unemotional but he had rushed out at the sight of the children in trouble.
'I guess nothing seems to be what it appears!' he thought but before he could speculate further the two children stumbled out in a panic. Aoshi and Zelgadis moved at lightning speed. They each grabbed a child and rushed back to the cabin. The children struggled at first not knowing what was happening but once they realized Zel and Aoshi were getting them away for their pursuer they hung on tight to their saviors; so tight in fact that when they reached the cabin it took some convincing to get them to let go.
"Are you all right?" Aoshi asked the two frightened children gently going down to one knee so he could be at eye level with them. His gentleness surprised Zelgadis he was obviously someone used to dealing with children, specifically frightened children it seemed by the way they responded to his gentle reassurances. It got Zelgadis to really wonder what is it that the man did for a living that he knew what to do with frightened children.
'He can't possibly be a cold-hearted spy or assassin if he can be that way with scared kids,' Zel speculated. The two children introduced themselves as Kim and Jason. They smiled up at Zelgadis as Aoshi introduced himself and Zel. The little boy asked to see his sword but the little girl cut him off.
"No Jason! We don't have time! We have to help our friends!" she exclaimed desperately looking to Aoshi and Zelgadis a pleading look on her face that made Zel think of Amelia. His resolve crumbled he knew there was no way he wasn't going to help this little girl.
"Don't worry we will help them. Just tell us where you're friends are," Aoshi patiently urged. The little girl explained about Care-a-lot, the cloud quake, the caring meter, the rainbow rescue beam about not wanting friends or family and how the care bears changed their minds. Zel took it all in stride if Aoshi wasn't going to show any surprise at any of this crazy nonsense then neither would he!
'It sounds just like the sort of thing Amelia would go for!' he thought amused then it hit him!
"Kim, were there other humans in Care-a-lot?" Zelgadis asked as gently as he could manage. Gentleness was not one of his strong suits!
"Yeah!" Kim piped up "Amelia had just gotten there when the cloud quake hit! Did you know she's a princess?" she explained cheerfully. Zel nodded thinking he was finally making some progress as Kim told him she was the oddest princess she'd ever seen. She wondered aloud why if Amelia was a princess she didn't wear a tiara and a pretty dress? Because everyone knows princesses wear tiaras and pretty dresses!
"Is that one of your companions?" Aoshi asked. Zel nodded and explained that she was probably the only other one of her companions that came through with him. Knowing Lina once she realized that she had miscast the spell she would not try it on herself until she was certain she had it right. He probably shouldn't expect a rescue either Lina would probably cast the spell correctly on herself and Gourry and hang around in a restaurant stuffing their faces waiting for him and Amelia to show up. He explained as much to Aoshi.
"Were there any others?" Aoshi asked calmly. Jason's face lit up! Kim smiled…
"Yeah! Misao was there too! She's a ninja!" he exclaimed happily. Kim nodded vigorously explaining her little brother loves ninjas and watches ninja movies all the time. Zel paid little attention to any of Jason's wild and excited exclamations about her. Aoshi's eyes were blazing! A series of emotions flashed quickly through his face: relief, joy, impatience, pride. It took Zel by surprise! He hadn't realized he had come to expect his companion to react to this news in much the same why he reacted to everything else.
"Tell me Jason: Where is Misao now?" he asked gently cutting Jason off though the desperation in his eyes was easy for Zelgadis to see! Jason smiled…
"Oh she's with Grumpy Bear and Secret Bear! I think they were headed for the big creepy castle in the center of the carnival!" he explained eager to help out his favorite ninja. Aoshi stood up then and nodded.
"We'll go there then," he replied calmly. His face set again in that stoic expression. Zelgadis couldn't contain his curiosity any more.
"So I take it Misao is your companion?" Zel asked hoping he didn't sound too curious. Jason had said the woman in question was in fact a leader of a clan of ninjas. He had also described her as being cheerful, nice, helpful, sweet, pretty …well there were a lot of adjectives that didn't quite describe what a ninja was supposed to be! In fact Jason's description sounded more like Amelia - crusader for justice - rather than a leader of a group of highly trained spies and assassins! In fact Aoshi looked more like what his mind told him a ninja was supposed to look like and it would explain a lot about him if he was a ninja.
'Unless ninjas are different in his world...' he thought. Aoshi simply nodded in response to his question.
"Hey! Wait a minute your that Aoshi aren't you! You're a ninja too! Wow!" Jason exclaimed happily.
"I didn't realize ninjas carried swords too?" the boy added calmly. Zel's mouth formed a soundless 'oh' as he confirmed that indeed Aoshi was a ninja.
"So that means Misao is your wife! She'll be so happy to see you!" Kim added gleefully.
BOOM!
Zel's butt hit the floor!
"YOU'RE MARRIED!" Zel exclaimed jumping back onto his feet looking utterly shocked! Aoshi simply nodded calmly.
'Wait what is that? Is he amused…by my reaction?' Zel thought annoyed as he caught a quick flash of a smirk in his stoic companion.
"Yes and we should hurry," Aoshi replied calmly turning for the door.
"Wait we're coming too!" Kim called going after Aoshi. Aoshi turned and looked at them thoughtfully then nodded. Zel however did not move right away!
"Now wait a minute! Is it really a good idea to bring the kids with us! We don't know how dangerous it might be at the heart of this matter! That kid may be just working for someone even worse!" Zel reasoned starting to feel irritated with all this craziness!
"Zelgadis, I understand your misgivings but I know Misao wouldn't have brought these children along with her if she thought their lives were in danger," he countered patiently then turned to Kim and Jason.
"Did Misao, Amelia or any of the Care Bears have an idea of how this situation might have arisen?" Aoshi asked the two children. Kim thought about it…
"Yeah, Friendship Bear and Secret Bear found out that Nichols – the boy who was chasing us – started turning everyone mean because he thinks no one cares about him," Kim answered,
"But we used to be just like him and the Care Bears showed us that we were wrong!" Jason added fervently,
"We can stop Nicholas if we can all work together and convince him that we care about him!" Kim explained enthusiastically. Jason piped up again,
"So will you help us? Will you help us get through to Nicholas and stop him from destroying all the joy and caring in the world Aoshi?" Jason pleaded
"Please Zelgadis?" Kim added and the soft beseeching look on her face broke Zel yet again. He sighed and rolled his eyes 'Damn it! I am going soft! I have to stop hanging around Amelia!' he thought annoyed. Aoshi nodded solemnly and moved towards the door again but waited for Zel to decide.
"Well what are we waiting for…let's get going," he sighed resigning him self to this fate…
Aoshi picked up Jason and put him on his back so they could move faster, Zel did the same with Kim and together they hurried through the carnival towards the vandalized castle at the center.
"Look!" Jason exclaimed pointing at a rainbow of lights flashing in front of the castle.
"It must be them!" Kim added sounding just as excited as Jason. Judging by the light show Zel could tell there was some sort of magical battle going on near the castle entrance. He exchanged a quick glance with Aoshi who had apparently reached a similar conclusion and without saying a word was steering them for cover. Zel knew that a covert approach was best if there was a battle going on. He smiled; it was really nice to have a partner like Aoshi!
"There they are!" whispered Kim excitedly. The little creatures he and Aoshi had seen were lined up in front of the castle. Light beams shot out from their white bellies! The boy they had seen earlier was standing atop a little train cart with a maniacal twisted look on his face. He laughed evilly as the bears used their good magic in a futile attempt to stop Nicholas' rampage. Amelia stood at one end of the line up casting a magic enhancement spell but in the end despite their best effort the bears all slumped in exhaustion with Nicholas laughing evilly at having resisted their assault.
Zel looked to his side to see what Aoshi was doing. His tall companion's eyes were riveted on a small shadow moving slowly towards Nicholas, he narrowed his eyes to try and make out what he was seeing but if Aoshi hadn't been looking in that direction he realized he wouldn't have spotted it at all. With his lips pressed closed together he let out a soft low whistle. To the untrained ear it would sound like just the wind whistling through the branches! The shadow stopped and Aoshi did a couple of hand signals and just like that the little shadow melted away into the darkness.
'Whoa, ninjas are awesome!' thought Zel beginning to re-evaluate his companions other half. He turned to Zelgadis and nodded signaling that they would wait for Zel's next move. It made sense after all Aoshi must be aware by now that Zelgadis and Amelia both possessed weapons more effective for this type of battle. He was about to step out of his hiding spot and help Amelia who was looking pretty exhausted by now when the two children suddenly leaped out ahead of them. Zel and Aoshi stopped them!
"What do you two think you're doing!" Zel whispered in great concern. Aoshi scowled obviously not at all pleased with the children's recklessness.
"Don't you see? We have to tell him how we feel!" Kim whispered desperately,
"It's the only way we can save him!" Jason added pleadingly. Zel opened his mouth to protest but Aoshi beat him to it…
"Zelgadis, they're right. This is their battle…they have walked the same dark path as Nicholas has and are the only ones capable of drawing out his true self," Aoshi intoned solemnly. Zel just stared at him in surprise as Aoshi continued,
"They need to draw out the light which will clear Nicholas' mind and make him see the worth of his own life…" Aoshi said softly with an almost nostalgic tone in his voice that greatly intrigued Zelgadis. He hoped he would have time after all this was over to get to know Aoshi. They released the two children and jogged after them…
"It's the children!" hissed an eerie voice that appeared to be coming from the book the boy was holding as the children burst forward. At this point neither Aoshi nor Zelgadis were going to find anything surprising any more! Amelia moved forward to protect the children and Misao materialized from seemingly out of nowhere to take a stand next to Amelia.
Aoshi wordlessly stopped Misao from launching herself forward to protect the children by placing a firm hand on her shoulder. Zel tried to do the same but he and Amelia didn't have the kind of bond that apparently Misao and Aoshi shared so he actually had to tell her to wait and let the kids handle it for now.
"Nicholas! We care about you!" Jason called out above the howling magical wind that Nicholas' dark power was creating.
"We used to be like you! We thought nobody cared!" Jason yelled above the howling wind and his words seemed to be affecting him because the older boy's features softened. That's when Kim decided to jump in.
"But we we're wrong and now we want to be you're friends! Believe us Nicholas! Believe us…" she added fervently in that same pleading tone that had softened Zelgadis twice. The boy's resolve wavered as everyone watched with bated breath. The book he was holding was shrieking at him not to listen!
"I…I…I believe you!" the boy said suddenly as a tear rolled down his cheek and began struggling to close the shrieking book. Zel and Aoshi moved forward then to help the boy with the recalcitrant book. They slammed the book on the ground and it surprised both Zel and Aoshi how much of a fight the thing was putting up.
"Quick Amelia! A binding spell!" Zel called out to his companion as both she and Misao rushed towards them with the care bears closely in tow. Immediately both he and Amelia began chanting the words for the binding spell as Misao joined Nicholas and Aoshi in holding the book down. Their hands glowed and the book shrieked one last time before the lock was welded shut by the spell. A great cheer erupted from the bears and the children as Nicholas expressed his deepest gratitude and went over to hug and thank Kim and Jason for their faith and their caring.
"Glad to see you're all right Amelia!" Zelgadis finally said with a relieved smile on his face. She smiled brightly and cheerfully
"I'm glad to see you're ok too Mr. Zelgadis!" she greeted in return he smiled and turned to introduce her to his new friend but at the moment Aoshi was very busy greeting his wife and it didn't look like they were coming up for air anytime soon! He shook his head and the turned back to see Amelia blushing and giggling…
"I guess that must be her husband Aoshi!" Amelia pointed out cheerfully as the two of them stepped away from the kissing couple. Zel just nodded and he smirked in amusement as a pink bear with two pink and red overlapping hearts on his white belly pointed out how nice it was that Aoshi and Misao were together again so they could share their feelings.
'I'll bet that's not the only thing he wants to share with her,' Zel thought mischievously as Amelia informed him that the bear that made the comment was aptly named Love-a-lot Bear! Sooner than he would've expected Aoshi and Misao joined them and they quickly exchanged a few introductions then watched in awe as the overcast sky suddenly cleared and the torn carnival became bright and whole again almost instantly. The adults that had disappeared magically reappeared next to their children who were no longer under the influence of the evil spell and were happy normal children again.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" Wish Bear exclaimed jolting everyone out of their reverie.
"What is it Wish Bear?" Tender Heart asked as everyone turned expectantly towards the blue-green bear with a heart and a shooting star on its white belly.
"Just before the cloud quake hit; I spotted parents for Kim and Jason headed for the orphanage!" Wish Bear answered happily. Everyone cheered and clapped and hugged Kim and Jason. Nicholas volunteered to accompany Kim and Jason back to the orphanage and Zelgadis and Aoshi were invited back to Care-a-lot so they could remain there until the Care Bears could figure out how to get them back home.
Zelgadis look around Care-a-lot and he still couldn't believe his eyes!
"How can this place be so fluffy and white?" he wondered incredulously Amelia giggled.
"It's not all white Mr. Zelgadis!" she countered laughing happily he rolled his eyes. There was way more "pink" in this place than he was comfortable with! He cast a quick glance at Aoshi. He was sitting comfortably against a rainbow with his wife nestled in his arms. They had hardly said two words to each other instead they had been "sharing their feelings" mostly by making out! Zelgadis rolled his eyes again.
'How can someone as tough as Aoshi have such huge soft spot?' Zel asked himself for the millionth time since he had met Aoshi's overly cheerful wife! He shook his head.
"What is it Mr. Zelgadis?" Amelia asked noticing his discomfort…
"This place is too cheerful! It's giving me the creeps!" Zelgadis answered gruffly Amelia laughed but before she could reply Misao came up to her and pulled her towards the bears who were doing their usual singing and dancing. He sighed and shook his head again then walked over to where Aoshi was sitting. The big man shifted a little as a silent invitation for Zel to sit next to him. They watched in silence for a while as the girls and the bears sang and danced together.
"I don't get it…" Zelgadis began confused,
"Don't get what Zelgadis?" Aoshi replied calmly.
"How can you and her even be compatible? You're so…different!" Zelgadis asked truly mystified. Aoshi watched him for a moment looked back at Amelia and Misao then back at Zelgadis.
"You mean: how could someone who is so much like you fall in love with someone who's so much like Amelia? Or for that matter fall in love at all!" Aoshi countered shrewdly leveling Zelgadis with a calculating stare. Zel smirked; he should've known this guy would read his real meaning!
"Zelgadis, men like us often make the mistake of assuming strength comes only from weapons or special powers and our ability to suppress all emotion," he paused considering how to proceed.
"But consider Misao for example. She has led a life filled with hardships: her father – a respected and powerful ninja – was killed during a mission, her mother – a beautiful and kind woman – was brutally murdered before her eyes when we were very young…" he paused; pain andsorrow reflected in his eyes. Zelgadis was shocked speechless he would never have guessed that about her!
"The person she loved the most betrayed her and everything she believed in to become a demon of vengeance! Leaving her to assume the responsibility of the leadership of our clan at the age of sixteen with hardly any training or warning," he added the guilt and sorrow in his voice making Zelgadis that much more intrigued. He watched quietly waiting for Aoshi to continue.
"But despite all that she remained exactly as she is now! Not because she's stupid or ditzy and doesn't understand what's happening but because she's strong enough to risk breaking her heart because she firmly believes the reward is worth it! I suspect it is the same with Ms. Amelia," he concluded his eyes glowed with pride as he watched his wife dance around the playground.
"When you put it that way it makes guys like us look like cowards…" Zelgadis replied softly Aoshi was giving him much to think about then turned once more to Aoshi.
"It was you!" Zel realized suddenly Aoshi nodded a flicker guilt shot across his face and he told Zel the whole sad tale of how his friends died and the rematch that had very nearly cost him his soul.
"Misao has been our leader now for three years and she does a great job!" Aoshi declared prideful "and she would've sacrificed her entire life just to help me stave off the darkness I was mired in! I was coward; I was willing to stay trapped in guilt and self-loathing rather than take the risk of having my heart broken. What I would've lost with that attitude is not a price I was willing to pay," he explained and Zel was surprised by the little smile that appeared in his stoic new friend's face. Self-loathing; now there was a concept Zel could understand! He and Aoshi were more alike than he thought…
"So what made you change your mind?" Zel asked cautiously but he had a feeling he already knew the answer.
"I was lucky enough to have a good teacher and some new friends who were kind enough to hit me with the facts and make me open my eyes!" he replied with a bemused smile. There was a flash of light in the distance and the familiar form of his foreign language teacher Mrs. Kate materialized in the distance. Aoshi knew instantly she had come for them and stood up as Misao waved him over. Zel got up too…
"Misao loves me for who I am. She accepts me just as I am, it's a gift I would've been a fool to waste," he concluded solemnly. Zel nodded his eyes fixed on Amelia. He wouldn't say he was in love with the girl because he didn't think he'd known her long enough for that but he had to admit it was nice to be able to talk to someone who listened without passing judgment on his every word and action.
It was nice to be able to talk to someone who could see the man behind the chimera. He couldn't deny that his heart had been ripped apart by rage and sorrow when Phibrizzo had killed her. Holding her lifeless body in his arms had been almost too much for him to endure. He could understand how Aoshi could've become a demon of vengeance at losing his friends he too had come close to that precipice many times but pulled back by the faith and companionship of his friends.
"Something to think about…" Zel replied seriously he looked up at his new friend and extended his hand. Aoshi took it and shook it firmly.
"It was good knowing you Aoshi!" he added sincerely. Aoshi bowed his head slightly.
"Likewise Zelgadis," he replied. Then turned to smile at his wife and the two hurried towards the group. Amelia and Misao exchanged sad goodbyes and expressed their hopes in seeing each other again. Alas, it would not be possible Mrs. Kate explained that powerful magic; like the magic that accidentally brought them here was forbidden on their world by the Guardian of the Universe. She informed them that it was her duty to uphold the rulings of the Great Guardian. Misao and Aoshi's memory of these events would be erased to protect them and their world. None of them liked that…
"But Mrs. Kate! I don't want to forget my new friends!" Misao whined. Aoshi frowned and cast a quick glance at Zelgadis who was obviously not happy by this development. Secret Bear tugged at Mrs. Kate's skirt and whispered something in her ear she smiled sadly,
"No Secret Bear not even if they promise to keep it a secret!" she sighed "you see, there are beings of such great power out there that could easily break through any mortal's mental defense no matter how strong that mortal is and should any of the items hidden on their world – like the item that brought them here – were to fall into their hands it would be the end of all existence!" she explained patiently with a touch of weariness and sorrow in her voice.
Aoshi and Misao looked at each other and smiled. Being ninjas they understood perfectly the heavy price you pay when you keep secrets. They had a new life ahead of them and they understood that Mrs. Kate was just trying to relieve them of the burden this secret would be on them and the danger it would present to their future. Aoshi wrapped his arms around his wife and turned to his teacher.
"Ok Mrs. Kate let's go…" Aoshi intoned solemnly the old woman smiled she raised her hand and magical swirls of silver light slowly enveloped the pair. Amelia and the care bears all called out their goodbyes promising that they would remember for them. Aoshi and Misao each raised a hand to wave goodbye before the magic completely surrounded. Once they were gone Amelia stepped up to Mrs. Kate.
"So what's going to happen to them now?" she asked curious and a bit sad to see her new friend go.
"What do you think? They lived happily ever after of course!" the old woman replied cheerfully. Zelgadis laughed and everyone turned to him surprised by his reaction.
"Don't worry Amelia! Aoshi will take good care of his gift!" he added stepping forward and placing a reassuring hand on Amelia's shoulder she gave him a confused look at his mysterious comment.
"I'll explain later," he promised giving her a reassuring smile he turned to ask the old woman if she knew a way to get them back to their world but she was gone!
"Where did she go?" Amelia asked surprised by the old timer's sudden disappearance. They looked around but it was quite obvious that she wasn't hiding anywhere. That long dark gray skirt and matching petticoat would easily give her away in such a white background! Zel just shrugged it just meant they'd have to figure out a way home on their own. Nothing new…
"Oh, Kate always comes and goes like that!" Tender Heart explained the other bears agreed…
"You guys know her?" Amelia asked caught off guard by Tender Heart's admission.
"Oh yeah! She comes to hear us sing!" Cheer Bear added gleefully. Amelia giggled and just like that she was back to being her cheerful happy self. Zel smiled as Amelia scampered off to sing and dance with the Care Bears then looked back towards where Aoshi and Misao had disappeared. His mind replayed his conversation with Aoshi.
"Something to think about…" he repeated softly and walked back towards Amelia and the Care Bears
Well, Part 2 will have no ninjas in it but just as much silliness and seriousness along with a major power boost for Zelgadis. TTFN!
Thanks for reading and reviewing!