The first Humans to meet Care Bears were Kevin and Donna. Both were pre-teens. Though they were the first to meet Care Bears they certainly were not the last. To this very day lucky Humans still meet Care Bears and Care Cousins. Most are young. As Humans become teenagers they often lose their sense of innocent wonder. Their jaded eyes and senses just cannot see the wondrous things they once did. Once vivid imaginations replaced by conceptual thinking. It is a darn shame.
Luckily a few adults have retained that sense of wonder and awe. Care Bears and Cousins sometimes seek out such adults. It can be a bit startling as one catches a glimpse of a Care Bear for the first time. Meeting a Bear such as Surprise really is a surprise!
Kevin and Donna also experienced another first. They were the first Humans to meet a Care Bears enemy. Professor Cold Heart was that villain. Frost Bite was his apprentice. Eventually Professor Cold Heart was defeated. Frost Bite was redeemed into normal Care a Lot society.
Over the years other foes tried to defeat the Care Bears and Care Cousins. Some have tried many times. Only to be defeated once again. Or until they like Frost Bite found redemption. One of the latest such reformed villains is Grizzle Bear. He once dreamed of using high tech methods to control Care Bears. Ironically he is now controlled in a sense by a Care Bear. His Care Bear mate, Lovalot, wears the fur in that family. Their daughter, Miracle Joy, knows how to get what she wants from Daddy. Grizzle tried a scientific approach to try to conquer Care a Lot. Just as Professor Cold Heart had so long ago. Other villains such as No Heart tried Black Magic. Despite their failed efforts other bad guys and bad girls tried to become the latest Care Bear/Cousin Most Wanted villain. The theme of good versus evil played out over and over again.
The Care Bears and Care Cousins have used many resources to defend the cause of caring. Their Tummy Tags and their wits are augmented by tools of caring. From Cloud Cars to Care Bear Stares you never know what they may use to help you. Or if you are bad, defeat you. The Bears and Cousins have also had some unique helpers over the years. One of the latter ones is Princess Starglow. A mystical Deity. An early one was the so called Cloud Keeper. Just who or what these Beings are is not for Humans to know.
Humans know not whether these Beings are indeed true Deities, friendly Aliens, or Angels. However they are all a vital resource for Care Bears. Their wisdom and advice has often been used as a trump card of caring.
After Grizzle Bear's redemption a period of tranquility settled over Care a Lot. However the good times were about to take a turn for the bad. The boy who had once been Dark Heart was now a grown man. One of good stature. Over the years he had become a wonderful Father. Often telling his children bedtime stories of Care Bear adventures. Little could his children and grandchildren know there was a ring of truth to his tall tales.
As a student in High School he had once had a boy bully him. With the aid of Care Bears and Cousins the bullying was stopped. However the bully was not one to stay out of trouble. Eric barely made it through High School. Not because of his intelligence, but unruly behavior. In college he began some troubling research. He knew there really were Care Bears and Care Cousins. If only he could use their powers for his own greedy purposes.
The young man began to study and ponder as to why past Care Bear foes had failed. His journey into darkness accelerated after he had discretely broken into the home of the now grown man who had once been Dark Heart. Among the items stolen were old amulets, an ancient tome, and other relevant items.
The next possible victim of theft was a relative of Professor Cold Heart. The woman had wanted no part of her uncle's misdeeds. Which had occurred when she was just a pre-teen. However some of her uncle's former possessions were handed down to her. Her parents did not know the significance of a small trunk they had once been asked to store in their garage.
The professor's niece rediscovered the trunk years later. In the nick of time she moved the trunk to where Dark Heart couldn't find it. She had avoided being a victim of theft. She was mystified by some of its contents. So the woman asked around if any one knew if what looked like old chemistry texts were of any value. One day in a pawn shop she asked the proprietor if there was any value to them. A customer took note and told her he was studying for a Doctorate Degree in Chemistry. After quickly perusing through the old looking texts he tried to hide his evil delight.
Dark Heart had found what he was looking for. He offered the young woman a decent sum of money. He said he could use the texts in furthering his education. It seemed like a winning transaction for all involved. However it was a transaction which furthered a young college student's decent into evil. One which would bode ill for a land in another Dimension.
The old texts were just what one Human needed to try a star crossed attempt at immortality. Soon the young man had adopted a code word for the texts he had transcribed to his home computer. He knew Care Bears praised Mother Star. So his twisted mind came up with a moniker for himself. The name Eric just didn't sound impressive. Thus Dark Star was born. A more apt name would be something like Dark Star the twisted minded professor. For he believed a combination of Magic and Science was the answer to conquering The Care Bears.
As Eric, Dark Star had once been fascinated at a Circus. A hypnotist mesmerized members of the audience. The young man thought if he could learn how to hypnotize others it could be another tool of evil. Better yet, what if he could devise a hypnotizing device. After some experimentation he found he could use strobe like lighting on animals to confuse and temporary stop them in their tracks.
He next experimented on a Human subject. After a traffic stop he used the device to confuse a police officer. Then used voice hypnotic voice commands to increase the effects. Soon a confused police officer found himself standing by his cruiser. With no idea of why he was outside of the car as it idled with lights flashing. Then Air Force M.P.s found them selves confused outside of a Special Weapons storage area.
Dark Star had added this advanced hypnotism to his own twisted bag of tricks. However no amount of Earthly study could foresee all the ways to defeat Care a Lot. Dark Star realized that. In his twisted mind it mattered not. He began to believe he could do most anything. Especially after his first leap beyond the Fourth Dimension.
It took several minutes before his eyes and brain adjusted to seeing in another Dimension. As he crouched behind a strange looking tree he could see creatures some what like he was used to seeing on Earth. However there were amazing differences. Care Bears did look something like bears he had seen on television. However they were smaller than Earth bears. They walked upright. Although a bit hunch backed. Some wore no clothing like any old bear. However a few were dressed in strange looking outfits.
The Earthly spy saw several use their Tummy Tags. Some looked down occasionally at devices on their wrists. He heard the Bears talk but couldn't quite understand what they were saying. He was able to use his Camera Phone's recorder app to get a sample of their language. He also did the same as something that looked like a Lion spoke to a strangely colored Cat. The Cat was only slightly smaller than the Lion.
Dark Heart then he returned to Earth in the Fourth Dimension. He now had some valuable observations to study. He soon developed a discrete translating device. The small device could be worn under his clothing. Transmitting deciphered words into his ear through an ear bud. He knew from stolen documents that Care Bears and Care Cousins would be able to understand most Human languages naturally. The only fly in the ointment was what language to use to try to hypnotize them.
Dark Heart added small microphones woven into special clothing to broadcast hypnotic chants. Emitted in the deciphered language he had recorded. It was the ultimate tool in his bag of tricks. Finally a Human with a twisted mind was ready to attempt to subjugate Care a Lot. He believed he had found an easier way to transport himself back to Care a Lot in the Fifth Dimension. He was also counting on being able to transport his bag of tricks. Late one night he did so.
He found himself in a dark area. A flashlight revealed strange looking trees. When he looked up through the foliage the stars looked different. They seemed to twinkle more than he had ever witnessed before. He was not sure if the moon he saw was the Luna that orbited Earth. It was, however he was seeing it from an un Earthly angle. Also through a dimensional shifting of its light. As a Human he couldn't see Care a Lot from the Earth. But he could see the Earth from Care a Lot. Again the dimensional light shift made Earth hard for him to focus on. However he no longer care about the Earth. He cared about being a conqueror. The conqueror of Care a Lot.
Even in his madness never had he believed he could subjugate Humanity. So he would be the conqueror of Care Bears. To his relief his heavy back pack had remained with him. He now had simple supplies to survive on. Luckily it was pleasantly warm. His simple lightweight tent should suffice. Soon he had set up his base camp. After a restless night in a strange land he set out to see if he could indeed be Care a Lot's conqueror.
Little could Dark Star know he was being watched. Unseen above the trees was someone some Care Bears thought a myth. However the legendary Cloud Keeper is no Care Bear or Care Cousin myth. He was ever ready to help protect Care a Lot.
Surprise Bear had been a late comer to Care a Lot. Although just a Cub at the time she had gone through some early indoctrination. The young Care Cub to be had learned her lessons well. She had also quickly gained some rare Care Powers. She became capable of inter dimensional travel. One strange defensive capability is her "Scare Stare" . She can stare into your eyes as her pupils emit an orange glow. It does take a hike out of you! That orange glow has other uses than just scaring others. A certain Deity was aware of that. Thus the Cloud Keeper sought out Surprise. He was also aware of some of Bedtime's rare Caring tools. Sleepy looking eyes can be a defense. So he too was sought after by the Cloud Keeper.
It was a pleasant early morning in Care a Lot. Bedtime Bear had just lain down on a park bench. Suddenly his nap was interrupted as "surprise Share" was yelled from the nearby sidewalk. As Bedtime sleepily sat up Surprise noticed him. Before she could apologize for disturbing his nap a sound came from over heard.
As the two Bears looked skyward what appeared to be an old man was there. Sitting on what appeared to be a floating window washer's safety support. "Who are you" asked a groggy Bedtime.
Surprise Bear gasped as if surprised. "Why I do believe it is the legendary Cloud Keeper!" The old man smiled as he descended nearly to ground level.
"Bless you my Bear for knowing who I am. Yes, I am The Cloud Keeper. I come to give warning. A new enemy of caring is about to attack Care a Lot. You two Bears have the correct Caring tools to defend yourselves. Also to help Bears or Cousins who may be affected by the attacker. Heed these words carefully. Sleepy eyes and a sleepy mind can be a hindrance. They can also be a blessing. Dreams can have meaning. The color orange neutralizes a light spectrum which will be used against you. Beauty lies behind orange eyes!"
With those words the Cloud Keeper rapidly ascended skyward. Two Bears pondered their meaning. Then got themselves physically and mentally ready. It was none too soon. As Grumpy would soon find out.
It was just another morning Care Meeting in Care Square. Or so most Bears and Cousins thought. Then True Heart let Surprise Bear speak. After relaying what she dared of the message from the Cloud Keeper all were issued guidelines to follow. It shook most everyone up a bit. Share was especially leery. Grumpy just dismissed it all as a bunch of hooey.
Share had just walked away from Grumpy's workshop. Grumpy was outside dumping trash. Share stopped to talk to Surprise. They were startled as they heard Grumpy yell "get that thing away from my face!" Surprise pushed Share up the sidewalk. "Run Share! I think our wannabe Conqueror may have arrived!" Surprise ran unflinching toward possible danger. She hoped she was correct as to what the Cloud Keeper's warning meant.
Grumpy was standing stiffly as Surprise ran up. Also standing there was a man dressed in black. He turned towards Surprise holding up a strange looking object. Then he gasped as Surprise sprung a surprise. Her eyes were like olive shaped orange lights. "You can't hypnotize this Bear" yelled Surprise. With a flying leap she knocked Dark Star onto his back. She kicked his tool of evil as far as she could.
The man staggered to his feet. "You can't stop me. I am Dark Star" he snarled. He ran for his device. He was confronted by Bedtime. Dark Star tried to steady the device in front of Bedtime's face. "I will conquer you all" he yelled. To his consternation Bedtime only yawned as the device was once again activated. "I'm too sleepy to be entranced by that puny thing" said the Bear. Once again the device was sent flying. This time by a bear hand paw.
Then Bedtime pushed Dark Star hard enough for him to fall on his butt. It gave Surprise the time she needed to run for the device. Before Dark Star could grab Surprise she pointed the device at Dark Star's face. In his over zealousness he never thought about his own device being used against him. To his amazement it wasn't. Surprise faded from sight just as Dark Star got a Bear Hug. One that was not the friendly kind.
Soon Bedtime had some help as Share arrived along with Loyal Heart and Funshine. Dark Star yelled insults before he was led away. "Drat that Bear with orange glowing eyes" he snarled as he got hand cuffed. "I never knew about such a Care Bear power. I just don't know why I couldn't stop the sleepy looking one." Though Dark Star was in a Humanoid form the paw cuffs around his wrists worked rather well.
Surprise Bear reappeared. "Never underestimate the Powers of Caring! Your evil device is under lock and key. As you will be for awhile." Loyal Heart would soon be using some unusual but non cruel ways to get Dark Star to tell all of his plans. Like Cold Heart before him Dark Star would soon be left marooned on a lonely isle. Luckily he too would be guaranteed monthly air supply drops.
In the meantime a blank eyed Grumpy was led into Bedtime's home. Grumpy kept mumbling "I must destroy Care a Lot." So for the safety of all involved Grumpy was in paw cuffs. Anything that could possibly be used as a weapon had been removed. Do Your Best Bear was on guard for further protection.
Bedtime like Surprise had pondered over The Cloud Keeper's words of warning. Bedtime had no hypnotic powers. He did have the power of dreams. Which he did not like to evoke unless absolutely necessary. Take Care Bear told him this was one time she could not help medically. A mass Care Bear Stare had not worked either. So far nothing had helped Grumpy. Take Care had also pondered over The Cloud Keeper's words after being told of them. Including the clue about dreams. She could not snap Grumpy out of his hypnotic state of mind. So she gave Bedtime permission to try to "go inside of" Grumpy's head.
Before doing so a very upset Share was given a mass Care Bear Stare. Then under Doctor's orders she was sent to stay home in bed. I Love You Bear was there to make sure Share did as told.
Finally all was ready. Grumpy was led to a bunk bed. He was placed in the bottom bunk with his foot and hand paws shackled to the bedposts. Then Bedtime climbed into the top bunk after using his Tummy Tag to make Grumpy feel drowsy. Then in a bass voice he softly sang a melodic chant. In a nearby cot Do Your Best was ready in case Grumpy did not sleep or got free. Do Your Best was listening to loud music in head phones. It was to keep him from falling asleep from Bedtime's chant.
From the upper bunk Bedtime soon heard Grumpy snore. "Ah, time for some working sleep" he muttered to himself. Soon he was sleeping, in a way. His mind was in Dream Land. After greeting the Dream Weavers he found Grumpy's muddled mind. Grumpy was dreaming of having a Nuclear Weapon supplied by an evil Human. A weapon to be detonated in Care a Lot.
Bedtime approached Grumpy. In Bedtime's paw was something supplied by the Dream Weavers. It looked like ordinary spider webbing. Bedtime flung the webbing over Grumpy's subconscious mind. Bedtime saw Grumpy's dream of Nuclear War dissolve. Replaced by a dream of rubbing noses with Share. Then Bedtime held what looked like an alarm clock in front of Grumpy's mind.
"Grumpy, when this alarm goes off you will awake for real. Your mind will be free of all hypnotic suggestions." Soon two sleeping Bears awoke with a startle. No alarm had gone off in Bedtime's home. Only in his and Grumpy's dreams. As Bedtime sleepily sat up he heard Grumpy mutter loudly. "Alright, who is the big joker! Untie me now, unless you are Share."
"Oh, kinky" laughed Do Your Best. He sent a message to I Love You Bear's home. One directed to Share. Then he and Bedtime went over to Grumpy. "Grumpy, do you remember what happened to you yesterday? Do you feel like doing anything evil?"
"Only like kicking your Butts if you don't explain what is happening!" Grumpy's eyes were no longer blank looking. They looked indignant. He got an explanation that was hard for him to comprehend. Just after he was untied Share nearly smashed the front door. The normally shy Share looked into Grumpy's unglazed eyes. Then gave him a bear hug. The good kind of Bear Hug. Followed by a nose rub. Grumpy could comprehend that! "Well, I like that part of the explanation!" Grumpy had flashed his well known half-smile. He was back to his normal self.
Then he thanked a yawning Bedtime. Grumpy actually smiled when informed of Dark Star's punishment. "I hope he likes coconuts" said Grumpy. In fact Dark Star was sitting on a far away beach. On a small tropical isle. Which now had one inhabitant. He was cooking food over an open fire. A ways offshore was something dropped into the depths from a Cloud Car. A now disarmed Nuclear Bomb. It was encased in lead. Its plutonium core never to be used for destruction.
As the exiled man finished his noon meal he laughed ruefully. "I always heard prison was a bad place to be. I can live with this type of imprisonment!" Then he hauled in a heavy feeling fishing line. "Who needs the food airdropped by those infernal Bears. I will be eating fresh caught fish tonight!"
