Disclaimer: Rainbow Brite is property of Hallmark Cards. Care Bears are property of Those Characters from Cleveland. Grey and Grox are property of the author of this story.
"A Rainbow Connection"
Chpt. 5
Rainbow, Grey, and Grox walked down the bridge, opposite the one they entered on, into the swirling mist. They walked in silence through the fog, the entry in the book going through their minds. Rainbow was the Guardian of Color and they were going to meet the Guardians of Feelings. According to what was written they were to never meet, but both knew that it was already too late. They had already come too far to turn back now.
The thud of their footsteps on the wood soon ceased and Grey slowed his paced until the fog cleared. At first they weren't sure that it had cleared for all they could see were clouds all around, but the bright blue sky above told them it was gone.
"First we have an island floating in space and now we are standing on a cloud," said Grey. He kicked at a hill sending cloud puffs floating around.
"I have a good feeling about this place, I believe we will find my friends here. We just need to figure out which way to go."
Grey snapped his goggles on his head. "That's better. Now that I can see, I can have a good look around." Grey surveyed the landscape. "Do you see a building over there?"
Rainbow focused where Grey was pointing. "Do you mean that big red heart-shaped building? Yeah I do. That must be the home of the Guardians of Feelings."
"I think we're a bit late. Look up there." Grey pointed off to the left horizon where a growing storm cloud gathered. "It's the same as the one that was over Rainbowland."
They watched as the cloud quickly spread across the sky toward the heart-shaped building. "We have to go warn them," said Rainbow. Grey grabbed her shoulder and shook his head.
"If we go in now we could get caught in it too. Then there would be no one left to rescue the others. The best we can do is hope some of them avoid it. It looks like it is staying concentrated over that area. If some of them escape to over here they will be okay."
Rainbow shook off Grey's hand and started to speak when a beam of light shot toward the cloud from the building. At first it looked as if nothing happened, but after a couple of minutes the cloud dispersed. "They were able to stop it," said Rainbow. "Now I know they will be able to help us."
"They didn't stop it," said Grey, "They only slowed it down. Look." The cloud formed once again and began releasing its devastating showers. "I wonder. Change of plans, get on Grox." Rainbow climbed up on Grox's back and Grey climbed up behind her and sent Grox running toward the building.
"What are you planning?" asked Rainbow.
"You might be able to help them," said Grey. Once again the light erupted from the large building. "When we get close enough, aim your rainbow at the same spot on the cloud as the light."
Rainbow nodded and prepared to use the color belt. She sent the rainbow through the air toward the cloud where it collided with the light beam. A shockwave of light, alternating the colors of the rainbow and the light beam, burst from the point of impact. It spread across the sky eliminating the cloud. "It worked," said Rainbow. Grox slowed down as he neared the heart-shaped building.
"Thanks for your help," said a voice from inside. Out of the door stepped a small brown bear with a big red heart on its belly. "My name is Tenderheart Bear." Five others came out behind him. Two more bears, a lion, a rabbit, and an elephant. All were no bigger than the first bear and each had a picture on their bellies. The two bears were pink, one had a double heart on its belly and the other had a rainbow. The lion had a heart with a crown on it, the rabbit was blue and had a heart with wings, and the elephant was pink with a weight with hearts on it. Tenderheart introduced the others. "And this is Love-A-lot Bear, Cheer Bear, Braveheart Lion, Swiftheart Rabbit, and Lots-A-Heart Elephant."
Rainbow and Grey dismounted, "My name is Rainbow Brite, this is Grey and this is Grox," she said as she patted Grox's head. "We're from Rainbowland."
"Welcome to Care-A-Lot," said Braveheart. He extended his hand out to Rainbow. "We're glad you came when you did, that rain cloud was getting to be too much for us."
"We we're glad to help," said Rainbow. "I just wish we could have got here sooner because I need your help."
"You need our help?" asked Swiftheart. Rainbow nodded.
"Come inside and tell us about it," said Tenderheart. They entered in the door; Grey left Grox outside to guard the place. They sat around the table and Rainbow told what happened in Rainbowland and Grey filled in the spots that she didn't know.
"That's just awful," said Cheer Bear, "All the color gone and your friends kidnapped."
"The mysterious stranger you described sounds like Mr. Beastly," said Tenderheart.
"That means No-Heart is involved," concluded Braveheart.
"Is this No-Heart a sorcerer?" asked Grey.
"Yes he is," answered Tenderheart. "He tries to end all caring on Earth, which will cause the end of Care-A-Lot as well."
Grey thought for a minute then spoke. "No-Heart wants to end caring and Murky wants to erase all color. Color induces happiness in people making their hearts more open to sharing their feelings. Get rid of the color, people get bummed out and in bad moods causing their hearts to close and push others away, resulting in the end caring. Since the two work together neither could be defeated alone. The bad guys joined forces making it impossible for either of you to defeat them alone. I'm beginning to see why the two worlds were not to cross."
"Is that written in the diary you found?" asked Lots-A-Heart.
"Yes it is," replied Grey. "I have no idea what has happened to the writer of the book, at least not yet." He glanced over at Rainbow. "But that can wait until later. What we should do now is go rescue everyone, then you may be able to end this once and for all."
Standing on a ledge stretching out over a pit, stood a man dressed in red and purple robes with the hood drawn over his head far enough to hide his face. He tossed miscellaneous items into the pit while chanting in some strange language. Eruptions came from the pit as the items hit the bottom. "Now there are just two more ingredients left," he spoke.
"Lord No-Heart, I brought Murky just as you asked."
"Excellent Beastly. Did you bring the things I asked for?" he asked Murky.
"I've got them right here." Murky pulled out two bottles. One was filled with a black liquid and the other contained a smoke with a pair of eyes peering out of it. "If its not too much trouble, might I ask why you want these?"
No-Heart turned to face Murky. "My shadows failed in capturing Rainbow Brite, insisting that she had drowned. But it seems as though she survived for she has joined the Care Bears and together they have destroyed the Doom Gloom Rain Cloud before it could complete its purpose."
"I knew it was too good to be true," Murky fumed.
"I bet it was Rainbow Brite's big sister Murky," said Lurky.
"It matters not who it is," interrupted No-Heart. "I've searched far and wide for the remnants of an ancient evil. The Care Bears thought they had defeated him, but an evil such as his cannot be fully destroyed. This spell will resurrect him and with the items you hold he will be even more powerful than before and his power will exceed that of the Doom Gloom Rain Cloud. Even the combined powers of the Care Bears and Rainbow Brite will not be able to defeat him." He turned back toward the pit. "Quickly now, throw the bottles into the pit."
Murky tossed them in; black smoke erupted from the pit as No-Heart began chanting again. The amorphous cloud began to take shape. Energy bolts shot forth out of the amassing form. Murky and Lurky huddle together and Mr. Beastly leapt about the room, dodging the blasts. The energy bolts stopped and red eyes emerged on what looked to be a head. "I am reborn," it spoke in a booming, devilish voice.
"Welcome back," said No-Heart and the shadowy form took the shape of a young boy, "Dark Heart."
Rainbow and the Care Bears, with Grey bringing up the rear, crept down the hallway in No-Heart's castle. "The others are probably in the dungeons below," said Tenderheart.
A laugh echoed throughout the hallway, stopping them all in their tracks. "Well well, if it isn't the Care Bears, the Care Bear Cousins, and I see you have some new friends with you," said a voice from the darkness ahead of them.
"Who's there?" asked Braveheart.
"What's the matter, have you forgotten me after all this time? I'm hurt." Dark Heart stepped out of the shadow, "do you recognize me now?" he asked.
"It can't be," said Love-A-Lot.
"Dark Heart, but I thought you were good now?" said Tenderheart.
"Oh that part of me is, but part of me was elsewhere when that happened and now I am back. And this time there is no one who can help you." Dark Heart changed to a smoky form and quickly filled the hallway, choking all whom stood there.
One by one they dropped to the floor, Grey was the last one to fall. He saw the color slowly draining from the others as he crawled toward Rainbow. "I can't let them know who she is," he thought to himself. He grabbed the color belt and hid it on himself, with that done he finally gave in and passed out.