Our Beginning
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT NOW NOR EVER HAVE NOR EVER WILL OWN THE CARE BEARS. All I own is Starshine, Meteyo, Flora, Fauna, Earth, Water, Wind, Fyre, Winter, Summer, Spring and Autumn.
Chapter 15: Underground
"YOU MONSTER!!" Bear growled as she struggled with her binds. "What do you want with us?"
Dark Heart simply eyed the small frightened cubs. "Only to protect myself, dear lady." he told her with a sickeningly polite grin.
"From what?" she asked. "Why do you need us to protect yourself?"
"To be sure that you are in no position to kill me." He had no qualms with telling her his plans. After all, he had her right where he wanted her. She was of no further threat to him, neither she or that pathetic horse, and least of all, these tiny cubs.
Bear gasped. "You think that we would try to kill you? Why?"
Dark Heart's eyes seemed to leap in astonishment. "You mean that they never told you." Bear shook her head in response. Dark Heart continued. "You were created solely for the purpose of destroying me!" Again his captive gasped. "The point of your new forms, the cubs, your "divine" protection has been so that one day you and yours would have gained the power to kill me!" Talking about it, he realized it made him even angrier than he'd been when he'd argued with Starshine. How dare they plot against him, when it was he who had been wronged? When it was he who was trying to make things the way they ought to be? And they didn't even have the guts to do it themselves. Instead they'd created his assassins from innocents beasts, females and cubs even. They'd condemned babies to be killers! And worse still, they hadn't even told them, hadn't even warned them or given them a choice. He almost pitied them enough to let them go. Almost. "And that's why I brought you here. To destroy you before you can destroy me." Then he put his hand to his chin thoughtfully. "But maybe that is unfair. After all, you had no idea what you were being thrust into, it's hardly your fault, so perhaps, yes, yes. I believe I have solution to our little dilemma."
"What kind of solution?" Bear asked warily.
"Oh nothing too horrid at all, I promise." Dark Heart assured. "You see, I am about to gain control of the heavens. The current ruler isn't quite up to snuff and he's making things horrible for the people of the Earth, I mean look what he's done to you. I will need some help because his previous servants were not exactly trustworthy. So, here's my proposition. You join me in my fight against the Great One and I can not only guarantee that you and your cubs will live, but that you will live eternally, have eternal glory, and powers beyond your imagination. Why I can even give all of you, human forms. I'd go so far as to give you queenship, at my side, but that position has already been promised to someone, provided she agrees to my proposal. But what do you think? Truly a great opportunity, I think. I think I have been far more than generous, magnanimous even. Isn't it a marvelous idea? I am quite simply a genius." He really was rather proud of himself. He could just see the Great One's face when his "chosen ones" sided with him. "So what do you say?" He flashed her his most alluring grin.
Bear only glowered and spat in his face.
Dark Heart was taken aback. He'd thought for sure that he'd given her an offer she couldn't possibly refuse. "Oh…" he replied, sounding somewhat hurt. "Very well then, I guess I have no choice…" Dark Heart reached down to pick up one of the cubs by the scruff. "I really don't want to do this, you know." He wrapped his strong hair around the cub's frail neck. The cub squirmed fearfully, helplessly.
Tears poured down Bear's cheeks. What was she to do? How could she join this monster's side? He'd killed Horse. But if she didn't then the cubs would….She began to open her mouth to agree to his offer.
But there would be no need. Dark Heart looked up from his task of suffocating the cub. His eyes filled with bewilderment, he put the cub gently on the stone floor and slowly went to the mouth of the throne room. Without a word, he walked from the room and out of sight.
Moments went by as they waited with bated breath for his expected return. The cubs huddled by Bear as she hung from the wall by her irons.
"Psst!" came a whispering from the doorway. All turned their eyes and see the handsome face of Horse peering at them from around the corner.
Bear fought down a scream of joy. Horse was alright. Surely everything would be fine now.
Watching what was happening, moments prior, Horse had felt his heart leap into his mouth. Now that he was able to do something, he felt only relief for a brief while. He quietly ran over to her.
"Horse!" Bear whispered excitedly, tears pouring joyously down her cheeks. "I thought you were dead."
His smile touched her very soul. "I'll be honest, I almost was. Now, we don't have a lot of time. Let's get you out of these things." Horse began fighting with the manacles. But the chains were strong.
"Horse! Forget about me. You need to take the cubs and get out of here." she pleaded frantically. "Quickly, before he comes back!"
Horse only shook his head and continued to fight the binds. "I'm not leaving you here!"
Another tear streaked her cheek. "You have to. He'll kill the cubs if you don't. I am nothing compared to them. Get them out of here!"
But he was firm. "No, I am not leaving without you! I'll get you out of here!" When she opened her mouth to protest, he clamped his upon it in a deep and loving and kiss. "And that's a promise."
Horse looked around the room for something to break the chains with. Finally he spied a large red jewel. That would work, he decided as he began hacking, however softly, at the first chain.
After many long, dangerous minutes, Bear dropped to the floor, massaging her wrists. Horse helped her to prepare the poor, frightened cubs. They had a bit of a run ahead of them.
"Okay, let's mosey on out of here" Horse whispered.
But they hadn't taken two steps before a puff of smoke announced the return of their captor.
"Ah, leaving so soon are we?" Dark Heart sneered. "But we haven't even had tea yet." Then he noticed Horse. "Back from the grave, I see. I'll fix that soon enough!" Clearly, the demi-god was livid. He lifted the cub that he'd been in the process of suffocating before, intending to finish the job.
"PUT HIM DOWN DARK HEART!" Lady Starshine ordered as she walked into the room.
Dark Heart released the cub and bowed, although unlike other times, this one merely mocked the priestess. "Milady, I thought you'd left, or are you not through making a fool of me?"
Star's eyes were like molten steel. "Let them go, Dark Hear! They are of no threat to you!"
"I have no doubt of that Star, now that their fate rests in my hands."
Starshine gripped her staff. "Don't force me to fight you, Dark Heart!"
Dark Heart could only laugh. "You? Fight me? Don't be a fool, Lady! You and I both know how powerless you are against me." The man's arms snaked sensuously across her waist. "You are powerless to stop me, my queen."
Harshly, the priestess pulled away, putting her staff in front of her. His mind tricks and well-oiled manipulations were too powerful to let him be so close. "Maybe I used to be, but no more! You have no power over me! I will fight you, if I must!"
That was when Dark Heart realized that extent to which the Great One had taken. He'd trained Starshine well. Perhaps she had merely been another of his tricks. Maybe he'd ordered to feign love for him. Maybe, in this fight, she was merely his little spy and saboteur.
"Lady, because I am a generous man, I will allow you one last chance to leave us,"
But Starshine refused. Tighter, she held her staff.
Dark Heart's eyes flashed dangerously. "So be it!" In a flash of vapor, he became a large, long, Chinese dragon.
"Chosen Ones, take the cubs and go. I'll hold him off." Starshine ordered.
They didn't need to be told twice. They hurried out of the throne room. The final battle was about to start.
AN: Yes, only two more chapters, for sure. Prepare the tissues.