Chapter 17: The Final Judgement
Sweet Heart was in the middle of her phone call when Loyal Heart transformed into Yue.
"Sweet Heart? Sweet Heart is everything alright?" Life Heart asked after a minute of silence.
"Yes, just get everyone here now!" Sweet Heart could barely avoid shouting. Life Heart didn't question this and hung up as Sweet Heart lowered her Heartphone.
"Where's Loyal Heart?" Confidence Heart was the first to speak.
"He is no longer here," Yue turned to her, "Loyal Heart Dog was just a shell in which I slept as I waited for the Clow Cards to be gathered. Now that time is here and it was time to cease the illusion and reveal my true self."
"No," Love Heart's voice was filled with barely contained fury, "Loyal Heart is not just a 'shell'! He's a Care Bear Cousin! He's my friend! He's a loyal, friendly, helpful, hard working dog and not some... thing to just be thrown away!"
"Enough! It is time for Final Judgement!" Yue pointed at Love Heart and his eyes suddenly went vacant as he floated off the ground.
"Love Heart!" Confidence made to grab Love Heart only for him and Yue to teleport away, leaving Love Heart's winter clothes behind for her to catch.
Both reappeared on the roof of a nearby building, Love Heart now wearing his battle costume instead of his winter clothing as he came back to his senses.
"Huh? What?" Love Heart shook his head to reorient himself.
"Love Heart!" Sweet Heart called out up to the roof top.
"Now then here is your judgement," Yue folded his arms, "Cardcaptor Love Heart Bear, you must defeat me in combat. If you win then you will claim the title of 'Master of the Clow Cards' and if you lose then I will take the Clow Cards and all of the memories they have been a part of from you and everyone here. Do you accept?"
"On one condition," Love Heart gripped the Clow Staff in his hands.
"Condition? You are in no position to make demands!" Yue held one hand up as a blue crystal formed right above it.
"If you want this judgement then you'll hear me out!" Love Heart pointed the staff at Yue head first, "When I beat you, give Loyal Heart back to us!"
"You care so much about my vessel?" Yue raised an eyebrow.
"I'm a Care Bear, of course I care!" Love Heart shot back, "So promise me that when I win you'll bring my friend back!"
"You certainly are confident that you will win."
Love Heart smiled as he pulled a card out and glanced sideways at Confidence Heart on the ground, "I learned from the best."
"Very well then, if you win then I will return my vessel to you. No more stalling," Yue spread his wings, "Let The Final Judgement begin!" numerous small, sharp crystals formed around Yue's hand and launched right at Love Heart.
"Sword!" Love Heart transformed the staff into The Sword Card then jumped over the attacks with the Jump's wings still attached to his feet. Love Heart swung down at Yue as he landed only for Yue to dodge by flying backwards.
"I see, you have a strong rapport with The Jump," Yue pointed at Love Heart and made a beckoning motion as Love Heart jumped again.
Love Heart's feet were yanked out from under him in mid-air and he landed hard on his rear on the roof, feeling like his feet were being pulled off.
"Jump! Return! Return! Return!" Love Heart shouted until finally The Jump returned to its card form. Love Heart stared at The Jump in its card form, "What happened?"
"I'm sorry," The Jump spoke to Love Heart in his mind, "he told me to come to him and I couldn't stop myself..."
"It's alrAAAUGH!" Love Heart was pelted by more crystals from Yue while he was distracted, tearing several small holes in his battle costume.
"Focus on the battle, Cardcaptor!" Yue launched another barrage of crystals at Love Heart which he wasn't able to dodge in time, shredding parts of his battle costume further.
Yue prepared a third strike and on instinct Love Heart pulled out another card "Shield!" The metal wing-shaped shield formed in front of him just in time to defend him. Yue flew right at Love Heart around The Shield and Love Heart just barely dodged back as a blue blade of energy from Yue's arm just barely missed the top of his head.
"Shield! Form a dome to protect me please!" Love Heart tripped and fell back, forced to roll out of the way as the shield dome formed around him.
"You can't win if you just defend!" Yue struck the shield barrier but it held.
"Love Heart!" Sweet Heart took off and flew right at the roof, only to smack into an invisible barrier that kept her from getting closer.
"You can't interfere!" Keroberos called out from the ground.
"But I can't just leave him in there!" Sweet Heart kicked the barrier with a hoof, only to receive a jolt of pain in response.
"This is Love Heart's test!" Yue turned to face Sweet Heart, "Do not interfere unless you want him to fail!"
Sweet Heart clutched The Wish Card close to her chest. If Love Heart lost would she be freed or would Wish Bear be gone forever? Unable to take that risk she drifted back down to where she had discarded her coat as the rest of the Care Bear Family were arriving, along with a fair number of human observers. Life Heart Unicorn picked up her daughter's coat and draped it over her back.
Independent Bear ran over to Syaoran and Keroberos then looked up at the roof top, "What's going on?"
"Love Heart is undergoing The Final Judgement to determine if he can be master of the Clow Cards," Syaoran watched as Yue assaulted Love Heart's shield.
Take Care Bear sighed then turned to Confidence Heart, "What happened? Where's Loyal Heart?"
Confidence pointed up at the rooftop, "He's up there. When Love Heart sealed the last Clow Card Loyal Heart turned into Yue."
Take Care Bear's eyes went wide, "Wh-what?" She turned up to see Yue charge at the barrier and strike again, sounding completely shocked in a way most of the Care Bear Family had never heard, "That can't be Loyal Heart."
"It is," Keroberos's voice drew everyone's attention, "Loyal Heart Dog was a false identity that the slumbering Yue hid himself within until the Clow Cards were all captured. Now he can assume his true form and administer The Final Judgement."
Noble Heart stepped forwards, "Loyal Heart isn't just a false identity, I found him as a puppy, I raised him, I watched him grow up."
"We're still watching him grow up," Take Care Bear said.
"Don't worry," Confidence Heart was watching the fight up on the roof, "Love Heart made Yue promise he'd bring Loyal Heart back when he won, and he's going to win." She shivered but didn't try to wrap herself back up, still holding Love Heart's winter clothes.
"You sound sure of that," Syaoran folded his arms.
Confidence Heart pumped a fist, "Of course I'm sure! Just watch!" She smiled and turned to watch the battle again.
While the conversation was going on down on the ground, Love Heart's mind was racing as his dome shield started to fracture, "OK, Love Heart, think. He took control of The Jump Card but he's not just taking control of The Sword or The Shield but why?" He re-sealed The Sword Card, then winced as Yue struck again and a huge crack appeared in the dome. "OK so if Keroberos' power comes from The Firey and The Earthy Cards then Yue must get his power from The Windy and The Watery. I can feel that The Sword is tied to The Firey so maybe any card tied to one of his cards is one he can take from me, and The Jump is related to The Windy so The Fly probably is too and I can't risk using The Wood Card because it's tied to The Watery because it's a plant, same with The Flower. The Shield must be connected to The Earthy card because shields are made of metal!" he snapped his fingers then jumped as The Shield's dome began to buckle.
"OK and the sun creates light so, I got it!" Love Heart pulled out The Light Card and recalled The Shield right as Yue's last attack nearly shattered it. "Light Card, create a flash to blind Yue! Release!"
Yue barely had time to shield his face as the flash lit up in front of him, his shadow projecting on to a taller building behind him which evoked several gasps from everyone watching below.
"I can't be beaten that easily!" Yue spotted Love Heart's form through the fading flash and conjured more crystals that he hurled at Love Heart.
"Shield and mirror! Create a wall to block and reflect Yue's attacks! Release!" Love Heart shout came not a second too late and a large flat mirrored surface materialized in front of him. The crystals were absorbed into the surface then fired back at Yue with the same speed, slicing through him.
Love Heart stared defiantly through his side of the barrier, "If I can't use half the Clow Cards, I'll just have to use the other half the best way I can."
"I'm impressed," Yue pulled out one of the crystals that had embedded in him and crushed it, "Figuring out which cards I can't take from you. But that won't be enough." He flew sideways around the barrier then charged at Love Heart with a blade of translucent blue energy on his arm.
Love Heart dodged back as his mind raced. Dark would be tied to Yue but he didn't know if Erase or Illusion would be under his power and Erase was too risky as he didn't want to erase Yue completely or risk having it turn against him. Love Heart was barely grazed by the sword which destroyed his costumes right arm. He needed some way to buy time but he didn't know if The Maze was covered by The Earthy card and also too risky if it backfired. The Dark wouldn't work so neither would The Shadow... wait! He remembered the flash from The Light and Yue's shadow on the building. Shadows needed light and couldn't work in darkness! It was a long shot but he pulled out The Shadow Card.
Yue spun around as Love Heart raised his staff, "Shadow Card! Envelope this battlefield in shadows! Release!" The Shadow spirit emerged as he struck the card with the staff and spread its cloak. Yue couldn't stop in time to avoid being enveloped by The Shadow's darkness.
Yue floated in mid air, "So you figured out The Shadow isn't under my power, but you can't see me to attack, unless you can hear very well."
"I don't Confidence Heart's lovely big ears," Confidence blushed slightly from Love Heart compliment, "but I have my own way," Love Heart smirked as he pulled out a new card, "Glow Card, illuminate Yue in the darkness. Release!" Yue blinked as he was suddenly surrounded by numerous glowing blue orbs that clung to him even as he tried to swat them away.
"Gotcha!" Love Heart swung his staff in Yue's direction, "Summer, heed my call! Lightning Bolt!" a blue bolt of lightning flew right at Yue and struck him dead on.
Yue seethed under the blow but was only lightly singed, as he conjured a bow of blue energy on his left hand, "That was clever of you," he drew back on the string and a blue energy arrow formed in his hand, "I never thought you would be able to use The Glow in a fight!" he shot an arrow in the direction the lightning had come from.
"You missed!" Love Heart's voice came from Yue's left and he turned and fired off another shot only to hear nothing again.
"Stop hiding and fight," Yue lowered his bow.
"If you insist!" The Shadows Rescinded as The Glow pulled back and Yue fired where the orbs were flying, only for there to be nothing there. Love Heart was behind him as he pulled out another card.
"Thunder Card! Emerge and attack Yue! Release!" Love Heart struck the card and The Thunder emerged in the form of Raiju and pounced on Yue, who turned around just in time to block the beast's jaws with a blue shield. The Thunder fractured into multiple bolts and struck Yue from multiple sides and he struck out at it, managing to catch its form on an energy blade and knock it to the ground as Love Heart recalled The Glow Card.
"Time to finish this," Love Heart pulled out another, "Firey Card! Attack Yue alongside The Thunder! Release!"
The Firey Spirit emerged with arms folded and grinned, "So you made it to The Final Judgement," it held up its hands and conjured two fireballs, "Remember me, Yue?" it hurled the fireballs at Yue and struck him in the back as he was trying to deal with The Thunder, then The Firey flew right at Yue.
Love Heart watched as The Firey and Yue dueled and quietly recalled The Thunder. "Alright, time to end this." Love Heart pulled out The Earthy Card, "Alright, Earthy, I know we just met but I need your help to end this." He took a deep breath then threw the card forwards and spun the staff around.
"Earthy Card! Form chains of rock to bind Yue to the ground! Release!" he struck the card and The Earthy Spirit emerged. Love Heart looked up and made a beckoning gesture to The Firey while Yue's back was to him.
Above, The Firey saw Love Heart beckon it down and it grinned, flying over Yue and conjuring a massive fireball over its head, "Heads up, Yue!" it hurled the ball at him and Yue dodged under the throw, ready to shoot an arrow at The Firey only to feel his right hand snared by something. Yue jerked around to see that a long column of rock had formed a snare on his arm and he yanked it free only for The Firey to dive bomb him in the chest and force him closer to the roof.
The Earthy moved its arms like an orchestra conductor and sent several streams of rock and dirt towards Yue as he was knocked into range. Right as Yue threw The Firey Spirit off the chain of rock snared him around the middle and four more locked around his arms and legs.
"Good job," Love Heart recalled The Firey Card and replaced it with another as The Earthy pulled Yue down to the roof with his arms and legs encased in stone and his waist also bound to the surface.
"Sword!" Love Heart transformed the staff into The Sword Card then pointed the tip at Yue's throat, hovering a few centimeters away. "Fight's over Yue, I win."
Yue stared at Love Heart down the length of The Sword. "Well done, Love Heart Bear. The Final Judgement is over, now release me, please."
"You'll keep your promise?" Love Heart didn't lower The Sword.
Yue nodded, careful not to let the sword tip touch him, "I will, after I confer with Keroberos."
"OK," Love Heart re-sealed The Earthy and The Sword which allowed Yue to stand up.
Yue raised his hand over Love Heart's head. "The Final Judgement is over. I name Love Heart Bear as Master of The Clow Cards."
There was a great cheer from below from humans and Care Bears alike. Love Heart used The Jump Card to safely jump down from the roof and barely had time to re-seal it before Confidence Heart pounced on him in a tight hug.
"You did it!" Confidence had dropped his winter clothes and planted a huge kiss on Love Heart's lips as the rest of the Care Bear Family all but mobbed him.
"Very well done, son, I'm proud of you," Sage Heart patted his son on the shoulder.
"We're all proud of you," Life Heart hugged him from behind once Confidence Heart released him.
"What about Loyal Heart?" Take Care Bear had to ask.
"Yue said he'll bring him back after he and Keroberos talk," Love Heart looked up at where Keroberos had flown to talk to Yue.
"So he was not supposed to be the Cardcaptor was he?" Yue asked, having heard Keroberos explain Sweet Heart's story, "I suppose her change made things difficult with Clow Reed's prediction."
"Not as much as you might think, though another of their kind has paid the price," Keroberos looked down from the roof top at the assembled Care Bear Family, "But living among them I know Love Heart will be responsible and he has proven himself both with and without help. Even I didn't expect him to be able to use The Glow Card in a fight successfully."
"So now what do we do? I have a promise to fulfil to bring back his friend as my vessel." Yue turned to Keroberos.
"I think we'll be needed, right now in fact. Shall we?" Keroberos spread his wings and jumped down as his wings closed around him. Yue nodded them followed suit, wings enfolding his body as he landed on the ground.
"Love Heart!" Kero in his small form again flew right at Love Heart, "I knew you could do it!" He all but latched onto Love Heart's face in a hug.
"Hey!" Love Heart laughed, "Let me breathe, Kero." As the small guardian detached from his face, Love Heart turned to where Yue had landed right as the wings vanished and Loyal Heart Dog reappeared.
Loyal Heart held his head, feeling dizzy as he saw everyone surrounding him. "Huh? Take Care? Love Heart? What happened?"
Love Heart approached and put a comforting hand on the dog's shoulder, "I'll tell you tomorrow, right now we all need some rest."
Sweet Heart stepped forwards, The Wish Card held up in both hands, "Love Heart, what about Wish Bear?"
Love Heart carefully took the card from her and stared at the image of his friend on the front, "I'll try but I'm not sure I have the energy for it on my own."
"Then everyone can contribute, us included," Ms. Mackenzie stepped forwards wither moon bell in hand. "This bell was created to give the Cardcaptor a second chance if they failed The Final Judgement, but it seems you didn't need it and its purpose is unfulfilled. However," she smiled, "I can lend you its power to help you free your friend from the card."
"Not just free her," Love Heart held up The Wish Card, "Make sure she's a full Care Bear again and not just a summoned spirit. I will free her from this prison permanently."
"Then we'll all help," True Heart Bear spoke up, taking Noble Heart's hand in her own, "Our magic of caring lent to yours."
"Me too," Syaoran surprised everyone by speaking, his sword-wand in hand. "She deserves to be free."
Love Heart smiled as everyone gathered around him, "Thank you, everyone. Now let's set Wish Bear free!" with the final word he threw The Wish Card overhead as every Care Bear's tummy symbols lit up as did Life Heart Unicorn's horn and the eight-pointed stars on Love Heart's and Sweet Heart's foreheads. Love Heart raised the staff so the head was just under the hovering card and both Ms. Mackenzie and Syaoran raised the bell and sword to lend their own magic.
Love Heart reached deep down inside as he poured all his magic into the staff, which glowed bright white as energy flowed from every Care Bear and Care Bear Cousin into him and the bell and sword lit up.
"SPRING! SUMMER! WINTER! FALL!
ANCIENT FORCES HEED MY CALL!
WISH BEAR! I RELEASE YOU FROM YOUR CAPTURED PLIGHT
AND GRANT YOU FREEDOM WITH OUR LIGHT!
WISH BEAR!"
The staff glowed blindingly white as The Wish Card exploded into streams of white light that flew down and converged into a form on the ground, slowly building into the form of a Care Bear and when the light dissipated she stood there in a daze: a teal colored Care Bear girl with short wavy hair and a shooting star for a tummy symbol.
All at once, everyone's memories of Wish Bear came flooding back and she found herself mobbed by everyone, hugging and kissing her on her cheeks as they all expressed their worries about her.
"Oh my stars! Everyone thank you but," Wish Bear shivered as she realized she wasn't wearing anything, "It's a little cold isn't it?"
That got everyone laughing as a few of the Care Bear girls donated parts of their winter clothing to keep her warm.
Love Heart was laughing too when Sweet Heart's voice cut through to him, "Love Heart! The staff!"
Love Heart looked down at the staff in his hand. He stared then held it up for everyone to see. Ms. Mackenzie still smiled as her bell vanished in a shower of stars.
"It seems the bell found its purpose after all."
The staff was slightly longer, better fitted to Love Heart's size, and instead of pink it was bright green, the same lime green as Love Heart's own fur; the top had changed to a ring with a wing on either side and a gold colored three dimensional valentine heart suspended within the ring.
"That is your staff now," Kero floated up to the staff and touched it, "Your power is now tied into the staff as Master of the Clow Cards."
Syaoran sealed his sword, "If it's all the same I'm going to head home. I need to tell mother about what's happened."
"That's fine, Li," Love Heart turned to see the rest of the Care Bear Family still gathered around Wish Bear. He shivered slightly as the torn up battle costume, "I think we have a lot of Christmas celebrating to do."
Syaoran smiled, "Please, call me Syaoran. Goodbye," he gave a short bow then turned to walk home.
Confidence Heart hung up her Heartphone, "I just called dad, let them know I'm going with you." She suddenly shivered, realizing how cold it was. "And I gotta take a look at your battle costume."
Love Heart finally looked down at his costume, it had been shredded in several places, the left sleeve was hanging under his arm and when he reached up to the headpiece it broke in half and fell apart, "Yeah, I guess it needs some repairs," he chuckled, "Sorry I wrecked it."
"It's fine," Confidence gave him a kiss on the cheek, "let's go."
Confidence Heart's clothes needed to be washed so she sat without them in the living room with the equally unclothed members of Love Heart's family. Sweet Heart couldn't help but laugh at how red her brother's face was especially as Confidence snuggled up next to him letting her fur dry.
"So this is what it's like to celebrate Christmas like a Care Bear," she smiled, "I like it."
"Aren't you going to spend it with your family?" Sage Heart asked as he brought in some chocolate chip cookies for them to share.
"Yeah, but it's half a week till then, I want to just spend some time with you here in Care-a-Lot." She turned and nuzzled Love Heart's cheek.
"So... want to share my bed too?" Love Heart reached for a cookie trying to get his face to calm down.
Confidence sighed happily, "I'd love to."
"Now don't do anything to reckless," Life Heart cautioned.
"We'll be fine, mom," Love Heart seemed to get over his embarrassment in an instant, putting an arm around Confidence's shoulder and touching the new Heart Key around his neck, a small green key with the smaller version of the new top of his staff.
"Oh boy! Cookies!" Kero practically dove at the table and grabbed a chocolate chip cookie easily his own size and weight and dove in.
"Yow!" Sage Heart stumbled a bit as Kero flew past him, "Almost forgot about you, Keroberos."
Kero swallowed the large chunk of cookie in his mouth, "How could you forget about me?" he grinned before he took another bite.
"Yeah, you're pretty unforgettable Kero," Love Heart rolled his eyes as everyone laughed.
Later that night, Confidence and Love Heart settled into his bed together.
"So how does it feel, being 'Master of the Clow Cards'?" Confidence traced a finger down Love Heart's chest, stopping at his tummy symbol.
Love Heart giggled slightly at the touch, "Like I got a huge homework assignment done and now I can just enjoy my vacation, and my company," he wrapped his arms around Confidence Heart. He blushed slightly, "You alright being naked in bed with me?"
"You did offer," Confidence leaned up against him and took a deep breath to take in his scent. "And I want to be as close to you as possible."
"Me too," Love Heart nuzzled Confidence's cheek, taking in her scent as well, "I love you."
"I love you too," They kissed then snuggled up close to each other, keeping each other warm into the long winter night.
A/N: Whew ok part one of this story is over and while I will be labelling this story "Complete" on sites that allow it, the story isn't over, but it's the Christmas season and I need some time to relax before I pick this up again especially with my job in retail. The next part will be its own story (on sites where chapters are collected in stories like ) and I might have another project to work on before that but I will return in the new year with the next part of Cardcaptor Love Heart. Thank you for reading.
