It was late at night when the three set out. It looked like night, anyhow. Care-A-Lot had become so shadowed by storm clouds that sometimes it was hard to see if the sun was shining at all.
"Are you going to tell your family we're going?" Flight Heart whispered.
"No, I'm not gonna tell them!" Honey Heart whispered fiercely. "No one needs to know!" Timber Heart chuckled slightly before Flight Heart stamped on his foot to silence him.
As they walked farther into the clouds, an increasing sense of dread could be felt in the air. Timber Heart coughed uncomfortably.
"Are we...going to where they used to round the Starbuddies up to? Big Star Point?" He asked. Honey Heart grimaced, and shook her head.
She didn't know the way there, and frankly, she wasn't sure she wanted to go. Young Starbuddies used to be led to that spot every year to become full stars before they faded away. Of course, they hadn't been able to do that for years now, and the little stars were all but extinct.
"Probably not the best place to go," Flight Heart agreed. "It-it's upsetting…"
"It's pretty far away too," Honey Heart added. "We'll have to find another place that's closer." The other two nodded in agreement, and continued to scour their surroundings for anything that might lead them to the Star.
"Maybe we oughta call it. Will he come if you call?" Flight Heart inquired, staring upwards. Timber scowled.
"He's not a dog, bird-brain," Timber Heart snapped. "Besides, I doubt it'll be that easy! We can't just walk up to a clear spot in the clouds, say we're here for him, and he'll appear." As if on cue, a bright light had begun to form in the space between two clouds.
"It's always you that does these things." Flight Heart muttered, glaring at him. Honey squinted up at the light as it became more and more solid in form.
"Shh, look!" She gasped.
Lo and behold, the Great Wishing Star had appeared before them. After only a second's glance, the three could tell that something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong.
Instead of being the bright, glowing yellow star that Honey Heart had heard stories of, he was now a faded grey, crumbling piece of light. She could hear Flight Heart draw in a breath of fear behind her.
"G-Great Wishing Star?" Honey Heart ventured forward. She swallowed nervously. "We've come to ask for your help." The star's eyes flicked towards her slowly. He was silent for a moment, but then began to speak.
"I'm...afraid," He mumbled weakly. "That I cannot offer the help you seek…" Timber Heart stepped forward now, looking distraught.
"But you haven't even heard what we have to say yet!" He exclaimed in distress. "You've got to listen!" The star turned to him, a pained expression falling over him.
"Go...ahead." He murmured. Honey Heart gulped, but hardened her expression and face him head on.
"We have to save Care-a-Lot, and the Earth too! We hardly have anyone left," She pleaded. "If you can't help us, who can?" The Star closed his wide eyes and breathed heavily.
"There are...more of you that will help…" The Wishing Star murmured tiredly. "You must find the last Bears and Cousins. Only when you have them all will you be able to heal the Earth…and Care-a-Lot as well." The three stood dumbfounded before the Star. Flight Heart's jaw had gone slack, and Honey Heart shook her head in surprise.
"Find...more? Where are they?" She asked, hopping up eagerly. The Wishing Star forced a smile.
"That is up to you," He replied. "If you follow the stars and your hearts, you will find them." The Star began to fade once more, and before long, the blank space in the sky had returned. The three exchanged glances with one another.
"That was about the vaguest set of directions I've ever received." Timber Heart said. Flight Heart perked up, looking at Honey Heart expectantly.
"So...what do we do?" He asked curiously. Honey Heart looked out into the clouds.
"We're going to find our family."
