Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
"A Rainbow Connection"
Chpt. 7
Trueheart Bear and Nobleheart Horse had rethought their decision and tried to find another way to get to Grey. They searched every corridor they dared to go down but were unable to find him. They had instead found Dark Heart, No-Heart, and the others, and witnessed No-Heart perform a spell on Dark Heart. They watched as Dark Heart created a shadow of himself, and then to their surprise as all but the shadow left. It was then that they decided to go join the others who had escaped so they all reconvened at the Hall of Hearts.
"Where's Grey?" asked Rainbow.
"He's was caught by Dark Heart," said Trueheart.
"His plan to stall Dark Heart worked, but Dark Heart caught up to us," Nobleheart explained. "He locked us on the other side of the door so we could escape."
"He risked his safety for ours," Trueheart concluded.
"If he's still there then we have to go get him," said Rainbow.
"We will, and all our friends as well," said Nobleheart. "It should be easier this time. Trueheart and I saw Dark Heart and the others leave for Earth. They left only a shadow behind, but it should be easy to defeat."
"Oh no!" said Rainbow. "I forgot I don't have the color belt or any star sprinkles."
"But you do have the color belt Rainbow. You're wearing it," said Moonglow.
Rainbow looked and sure enough the color belt was around her waist. "How did I get it back? I thought for sure that Murky had taken it when we were captured."
"I believe Grey had it," said Moonglow, "And put it on you before we left."
"I didn't notice him do it, but I'm glad he did. All I need to do now is get more star sprinkles. But I'll have to go to Rainbowland for them and I don't know how I can get there."
"That's easy enough," laughed Trueheart, "We can take you."
"How?" asked Rainbow.
"Follow me," said Trueheart. Rainbow followed Trueheart and Nobleheart outside where Trueheart used her tummy symbol to create a cloud car. "We can use this." Trueheart, Nobleheart, Rainbow and Moonglow climbed into the cloud car to go to Rainbowland. Rainbow had instructed Grox to stay behind. He whined a little but obeyed. Trueheart told the Care Bears to stay inside the Hall of Hearts until they returned. As the cloud car took off, the Bears waved goodbye and then went back inside.
It wasn't long before they arrived in Rainbowland. Rainbow was surprised at how close Rainbowland and Care-A-Lot actually were. She had not seen Haven on their trip however and wondered where it was and how had she and Grey got there. The total extent of the damage to Rainbowland was very apparent in the air.
"Oh my, this looks worse than it sounded like," said Trueheart sorrowfully. "If you hadn't come to Care-A-Lot when you did, it would look like this now. Most of it does, but thank you for saving what you could."
"If I can find some star sprinkles we can rescue our friends and restore both our homes to their full beauty," said Rainbow. "There's the Color Castle, we should be able to find some there." The cloud car spiraled down and landed in front of the Castle and its four occupants jumped out. A dark-colored sprite came running out the door, gibbering excitedly.
"Nightsprite," said Moonglow. She ran to her friend who began telling her something immediately. The two ran back to the others, who had stopped when Moonglow ran to Nightsprite. "Rainbow, good news. Nightsprite tells me that there were some sprites that hid in the Color Caves and they have the star sprinkles there."
"That's great Moonglow, thank you Nightsprite," said Rainbow. They all got into the cloud car and went up to the Color Cave. Inside were dozens of sprites that were spared from the rains. At first they were confused by Rainbow's appearance, but she assured them of who she was.
"I know I look different, but I am still the same Rainbow Brite inside," she told them. "I need your help. I need star sprinkles so we can rescue our friends and put Rainbowland back the way it was. Will you help us?" The sprites agreed and from the back of the Cave a bag of star sprinkles were brought out. "Thank you everyone, thank you very much. I must leave again, but I promise to return as soon as I can." The sprites wished them luck as they left the Cave and returned to Care-A-Lot.
With everyone together again and Rainbow with a new supply of star sprinkles, they returned to No-Heart's castle. The door that Grey had jammed shut was no problem for Grox had busted through it with no hesitation. Using the power of the rainbow and the Care Bear Stare, the inhabitants of Rainbowland and the Care Bear Family were returned to normal. Rainbow and Moonglow were happy to have their friends back, and like the sprites in the Color Cave, they were surprised at how Rainbow looked.
"Rainbow, I'm so glad to see you are safe," said Starlight.
"I'm glad you're safe too Starlight, and all of you too," Rainbow told her friends.
"What happened to you Rainbow? How did you change?" the Color Kids all asked her.
"It was a new friend of mine that caused it. He did it to save my life, and he helped me to come rescue you all. We met the Care Bears and we helped each other."
"Rainbow isn't the only one who has changed," interrupted Trueheart. "It seems our friends Share Bear, Champ Bear, and Harmony Bear have changed as well." Standing in the center of a crowd was three bears. Two were purple and one was blue. "The one in the middle is Champ Bear, he used to be yellow but now he is blue. And as for Share Bear and Harmony they have new tummy symbols."
"I don't see Tenderheart or Grey anywhere, have you seen them," asked Rainbow.
Trueheart shook her head, "I'm afraid that Tenderheart, Braveheart, Love-A-Lot, Lots-A-Heart, Cheer Bear, and Swiftheart Rabbit haven't changed back. They were not effected. We are going to take them back to the Hall of Hearts until we can figure out how to help them. As for Grey he was not here, but I think he might be where we found him the first time." Trueheart led Rainbow to the cell where they had found Grey before. Starlight and the others as well as a few of the Care Bears followed along.
As they came into the hallway they saw Grox digging in a pile of rubble.
Fear crept into Rainbow's thoughts, "Oh no!" The group ran up to the rubble and began to clear it away. Grox pulled on the cloak and dragged it out. It was empty. More help had arrived and the rest of the rubble had been cleared away. To everyone's surprise the cell was empty, save for cloak Grox had pulled out and the diary he found in Haven.
"Where is Grey?" said Rainbow as she picked up the book. A page fell out as she did. "It's me. Grey must have done this at Haven, but why?"
Trueheart and Moonglow looked at the picture and Starlight looked on from above. The picture on the page was of Rainbow asleep. "It's because he cares for you," said Trueheart.
"You were the first person he spoke to in long time," said Moonglow. "He must feel some connection to you."
Starlight nuzzled the back of Rainbow's neck, "Don't worry we will find him, I promise."
Gasps from out in the hall diverted their attention. Down on the far end of the hall was Dark Heart's shadow. The Care Bears lined up down the hallway so as many of them as possible had a clear shot. Trueheart's and Nobleheart's voices rang down the hall.
"Care Bears."
"Care Cousins."
"Stare."
"Call."
Multiple beams hit the shadow all at once. It slowly began to move forward but with some trouble. Rainbow touched the star on her belt sending a rainbow at it as well. The moaned in pain as the rainbow made contact and then it popped like a firecracker. Multicolored sparks showered down where the shadow once stood.
"I'm sure Grey is okay and is probably looking for us," Rainbow spoke calmly. Grox sniffed the floor around the cell again and then took off running down the hallway. "Grox will find him and lead him to us. Right now though our main concern should be Earth. Who knows how much damage has been done by now." She turned to the Color Kids and Twink, "I would like you all to return to Rainbowland and do what you can there and here in Care-A-Lot. And I would like to ask for some help from you too," she asked Trueheart.
"Of course we'll help," Trueheart agreed. Moments later the Color Kids, Twink, and ten of the Bears and Cousins left for Rainbowland. Nobleheart instructed some of the others to take Tenderheart and the others to the Hall of Hearts. Back outside, the groups went there separate ways. Only Rainbow, Starlight, Trueheart, Nobleheart, and ten other Bears and Cousins remained. Soon they were on their way in cloud cars and rainbow rollers and Rainbow riding on Starlight across a rainbow.
Something cold and wet hit Grey's face. He flinched and slowly began to come to. Soon more cold wet things were hitting him.
"Hey son you might want to move back out of the rain. You could get sick sleeping there." Grey opened his eyes. He was lying on a scorched wooden floor and rain was coming through a hole in the roof. Stiffly he picked himself up onto his hands and knees and crawled slowly over to where an old man was sitting next to the wall. He sat down with his back to wall, his head spun when he did.
"You look terrible son, what happened to you?" asked the old man.
"I don't know," replied Grey.
"By the look of you I'd say you were probably beaten. That's been happening around here a lot lately, especially to the homeless."
"The homeless?"
"Are you homeless son?"
"I don't know," said Grey; his head felt like it was on fire.
"You don't know? Must have hit your head," the old man held out his hand to Grey. "My name's Bill. Do you remember your name?"
Grey sat in silence for a moment, "No I don't, I don't remember my name."