In Hiding
The mole's living space was large and spacious, and as expected, completely pitch black because the mole had no need for lighting. Not wanting to force them to spend their time in the dark, Snowy Heart conjured a lamp from his symbol that was bright enough to allow them to see each other.
The mole blinked as she looked around, "So, who are you all exactly?" she asked.
"I'm Swift Heart Rabbit, the one with the whistle on her 's' is Cozy Heart Penguin, dude with a funny accent is Jolly Heart Platypus..." She stopped seeing the two scowl at her, "What? She's blind? I needed a different way to describe you to her. Anyways, then there is Loyal Heart, who sounds like he's straight off of the Round Table, his wife Proud Heart Cat and their son Trust Heart Dog. You already spoke to True Heart, and the others are Valiant Heart Wolverine, Snowy Heart Fox, Defiant Heart Badger, and Fauna Greywolf."
"Nice to meet you all," the mole said, "Welcome to my home, it's simple," she said gesturing around, the place had nothing that one would consider furniture, but a few spots with soft grass and moss for sitting or sleeping on, "But I mean what are you, I can tell that you're animals, but I've never met other animals that can talk."
"We're the Care Bear Family, our job is to help others share their feelings, but, we're having difficulty with that right now," True Heart explained.
"Why, what happened?" the mole asked.
"Well, we got nothing better to do," Defiant Heart said, "we might as well tell her the whole story from the beginning.
For the next few hours the story unfolded for the mole, everything about the family, the various adventures they had, the battles in Wonderland, and ending with the battle against the opposites which had led them to here. The mole sat for a while digesting this information, "That's quite a story, and I can see why you're in such a bind."
"Hey, I know it's hardly a good time, but I think our new friend here needs a name," Defiant Heart said, having sat next to her.
"That's true, she is one of us," True Heart said.
"I am?" the mole was surprised.
"Yes, you are, miss mole," Loyal Heart said, "you have the heart marking on your nose that shows you are one of us, so what would you like to be named?"
"Well, I've never thought about it before," she admitted.
"How about Terra Heart Mole," Defiant suggested.
"I like it. It sssuitessss you." Cozy told her.
"I wish Playful Heart was here, he always came up with the best names. O! How about Blind Heart? Because they say love is blind?" Swift Heart voiced.
Defiant Heart blushed, but Valiant saved him embarrassment, "Terra Heart suits her fine, Swift Heart, though I'd like to know, Terra, how do you see us?"
"Well," Terra Heart said, getting used to the idea of having a name, "A few ways, first I can feel vibrations in the earth, that's how I knew you were above me and most of what happens around here, and I have special receptors in my nose, I can sort of smell life around me. Also, I may not be able to see, but I'm not totally blind, in bright light like this I can make out dark shapes and see vaguely where you are in here."
"Standard issue mole survival package." Fauna quipped from her place in the burrow.
"I see," Valiant said, "but we need to figure out what we're going to do from here. We do appreciate your hospitality, Terra, but we don't want to spend the rest of our lives down here, we have to rescue the others, Fauna said she managed to get them away from No-Heart so we'll have to search for them. Then we have to destroy the opposites and maybe find out how No-Heart created them. We need to get our home back, I don't think Proud Heart wants to raise her son while on the run, or True Heart wants to have her child without her husband around."
"Children actually," True Heart said. Everyone turned to her.
"What's that? Ya got more than on bun in the oven preggers?" Jolly had a big grin on his face. Fauna tried her best to conceal a shudder.
"How many cubs are you having True Heart?" Swift Heart questioned.
"Twins," True Heart said, placing her hands over her tummy symbol, "Take Care's sonogram showed me that one's a boy and a girl. Noble Heart and I also decided on the names for them before all of this started. We're going to call them Hugs and Tugs." She smiled, "We were going to tell you all later, but this seemed as good a time as any."
Proud Heart scooted next to Fauna, as she nursed her son, "Fauna, I've been meaning to ask, what's you're issue with pregnancy, first me and now True Heart, even though you hugged her before we came down here."
Her fur puffed up slightly, "I hugged her from behind, so I could avoid it. I don't mean to avoid you, it just weirds me out. I can't imagine the whole growing another life inside you thing without thinking of it like a parasitic relationship. I know that sounds awful, but that's just how I feel. Plus all the commitment afterwards. I'd be terrified to be responsible for another being."
Proud Heart smiled as she looked down at her nursing son, "I understand, believe me I was terrified when I first found out. I was so worried about what would happen to me, what I would do, what Loyal Heart would say. But I have to tell you, the feeling is indescribable, wonderful and at the same time burdening, and yes it is hard to care for little Trust Heart but it's still the most rewarding thing I've ever done."
"Maybe my view will change in a few years. All I know is that as of now, a baby is the last thing I want. And even then I will be heavily considering adoption." Proud Heat just rolled her eyes.
Valiant spoke up again, "Well we need to decide what we're going to do, in my opinion, when Fauna gets back after telling the other Pegasis what's going on, we need to split into groups in order find the others, and maybe Fauna can find a way to reverse this whole crystal prison spell they've been put under. We can't all go as some of us aren't fit to fight or travel."
"I'll stay behind to protect those who can't travel," Defiant Heart volunteered.
"When I get back I can sneak into No Heart's castle and see if I can find a reversal spell." Fauna said.
"Good idea," Loyal Heart said, "I assume you would prefer to go alone, or perhaps you can convince Blue to return with you. I'm sure he would not want his lady to be facing such danger alone."
She smirked at Loyal Heart, "I don't think I'll have to try very hard to convince him."
"Right, but we still need to decide what groups we'll be going in," Snowy Heart said.
Swift Heart raised her hand, "I'll go help look for the others. I can outrun the Opposites easy once my ankle feels better."
"You shouldn't go alone," Valiant Heart said, "maybe Jolly or Cozy should go with you, just in case you find one of them underwater."
"The other can come with me," Snowy Heart added, "I can swim but not that well, nor can I fight in the water."
"You know I'm not going to let Ssswifty go alone." She flung her flipper around Swift Hearts shoulder.
"An whereah moi sheila goes OI go." Jolly nuzzled his beak into Cozy's neck making her giggle.
Defiant Heart sighed, "Maybe we should all discuss this when we've gotten some sleep, as little as I would like to split up such a close team we need to keep teams small to avoid being spotted. As long as we're down here we're safe for the moment."
"You're welcome to stay here as long as you want," Terra said and yawned, "but I do believe we should all get some rest."
As the group found comfortable spots to curl up on the ground, Swift Heart found herself laying her head on Fauna's furry badger body. Curling her body around Grumpy's crystal she closed her eyes. Cozy Heart and Jolly lay next to each other a short distance from Fauna and Swift Heart. Defiant Heat slept close to Terra Heart, who just slept where she had been sitting. Loyal and Proud Heart curled up together, carefully cradling the sleeping Trust Heart between them, True Heart slept on her back and Valiant lay down near her to sleep.
As soon as Fauna's internal clock told her it was morning, she found her way back up the tunnel and broke through to the surface. Taking a moment to fill in the hole, she then regained her true form. Stretching her wings and ruffling her feathers, she invoked her locator incantation. "Day Break and Night Shade, I ask that you show me the fastest way home." A gold light drifted from her and formed a circle in the air. A picture formed of a cave high up in the mountains. "Where?" A gold arrow pointed the way for her. Looking briefly over her shoulder she whispered, "Be safe till I'm back." Before taking to the air.
Valiant Heart was the second one up and seeing that the light had gone out created a dim one so he could see. He felt stuffy, not used to being underground but he just sat, waiting for others to get up. True Heart was the one who woke up next, disturbed by her children moving and her own hunger.
"Morning Valiant," she said.
"Morning, True Heart, hungry?" he asked.
She actually glared at him, "You have to ask," she blinked, "sorry, hormones."
"No problem, there's bound to be edible food around here, I'll take you up to the surface and we can get some food for the others and you three as well," he got up and helped her up.
Jolly Heart woke up next. Seeing Cozy was still asleep he went topside rather then waking her, she'd need all the rest she could get. "G'day mates. 'ows it lookin fo' some eats?"
"Decent," Valiant Heart said, pointing to a small pile of roots and berries, "True Heart is mostly just eating though, fortunately I know what's edible in this area, I know about what's edible out here. Everyone else still asleep?"
He nodded. "OI'm gonna go look fer a stream o' lake. Back in 15 if Cozy wakes up an OI'm not back yet."
"OK, hope you find some fish or water plants," Valiant called after him.
When Jolly returned a half hour later, he had gotten lucky and found a pond full of fish, everyone was awake. He walked up to Cozy Heart and gave her a kiss, "OI come bearing gifts!" Handing her a fish he put the other 6 he had caught on the ground. "Any takers?"
"Sure," Snowy Heart said, as he stood next to a fire pit he had made while Jolly was fishing. He began rubbing sticks together in the pit and before long had a fire going. "I know you two probably eat fish raw, but I'm sure everyone else here prefers them cooked."
Once the fish were cooked everyone started eating, Terra Heart only ate the plants and Proud Heart explained she hadn't started Trust Heart on solid foods yet so she nursed him once she had finished eating. As they ate, they shared conversation, there wasn't much to discuss but some people did discuss things.
"None of us have seen much of Proud Heart lately," Snowy said to Loyal Heart, "She doesn't seem as stuck up as she used to be," he noted the coring look on the orange cat's face as she nursed her son. In truth not many people had spent much time with the couple since Trust Heart was born, but Snowy had spent a fair amount of time with Loyal Heart as they trained together.
Loyal Heart nodded, "It's not as noticeable in me as I was always devoted to her, but parenthood has done much to change both my lady and myself. Caring for Trust Heart has helped to soften her temperament."
Swift Heart was picking at her fish while she stared at the blue crystal on the grass before her. She wondered if Grumpy was still conscious and aware in there or if he was in some sort of hibernation. She worried it had hurt being turned into a crystal and if there would be any side effects when they found a way to turn him back. That's when a thought hit her, "Hey, how do you think No Heart made those clones of us?"
Snowy Heart looked up, "That's a very good question, from my experiences and what you've told me, No-Heart's never been able to this before."
"Maybe he had some help," Valiant Heart suggested.
"Beastly isn't exactly the sharpest crayon in the box, I don't think he could concoct this. He can't even work his own two feet half the time." Swift Heart told them.
"That is true," Loyal Heart said, "Perhaps he found someone else who hates us and who helped him with this magic of his."
Cozy Heart swallowed her fish, "Maybe it wasss in one of hisss sssspell booksss? He doesss have an awful lot of them."
Proud Heart looked up as she helped her son burp, "Spell book, spell book? That reminds me of something," she thought for a moment, "Remember that spirit book we had to fight once?"
Snowy looked at Proud Heart, "Spirit book?"
"It was before you were around," Valiant Heart said, "A kid called Nicolas accidentally unleashed a spirit from a magical book on this world and we were forced to stop it. It took a lot out of us."
"I was sore for weeks after that one. We had barely learned how to stare back then." Swift Heart paused considering, "You don't think...?"
Loyal Heart growled, "No-Heart may have found the Spirit Book. In Nicholas' hands it gave us serious trouble, but he was inexperienced, if a powerful magic user like No-Heart got his hands on it..."
"Then we might end up in this very same situation we are in now," Valiant finished.
Meanwhile Fauna saw that she had arrived in the desert region of Pegasus Falls. The guards nodded to her granting her entrance. She paused, "I need to get a message to all the gate guardians. If a Pegasus with my markings but in yellow and black tries to gain entrance he should be detained immediately." The guards nodded. Spreading her wings she headed for the royal caves in Pearl Head Mountains.
Blue and Wind Rider were going over some of the important rituals the king had to conduct when one of the messengers came in, "Fauna is here to see both of you. She says it's important." Blue smiled widely as Wind Rider told the messenger to let her in.
Entering Fauna paused briefly to do the appropriate greeting, spreading her wings wide and bending her left foreleg up she lowered her nose down to the ground, "Greetings Kingsire." At Wind Rider's nod she stood tall and turned to Blue. Spreading her wings and bobbing her head she said, "Kingling Blue."
He nodded to her as well. "So my dear, what news do you bring us?" Walking to stand next to them she told them how No Heart had made clones of the Care Bears and how some of the others had been turned to crystals. She also told them all about Hunter.
Blue's ears went back at that. "I just came to warn you of him. I don't think he knows how to get here and I sure don't want him to find out and bring No Heart along for the ride."
Wind Rider nodded, "I will be sure everyone knows what he looks like and to be sure to get the Guard if they see him."
She nudged his nose in thanks. "I have to go, the others are waiting for me."
"Hang on I'm coming with you."
She smiled at Blue, "Are you sure? This isn't your fight."
"If it involves you then it is my fight."
Turning to Wind Rider, he looked surprised to see the King laughing, "Did you really think I was going to be able to keep you focused if you knew Fauna was in trouble?"
"My thanks Kingsire." He and Fauna both bowed to Wind Rider.
"Be careful you two." Nodding they headed out of the caves and flew back to the desert portal.
Back at the fire, everyone had finished eating and Valiant stood up, "All right, we can't wait for Fauna to get back, she said she was going to No-Heart's castle once she returned to find a way to reverse this whole crystal prison spell so we need to do our part and find the others before No-Heart does. The way I see it, we have three advantages here," he counted off on his fingers as he continued, "One, No-Heart doesn't know where we are, two, until now, No-Heart and the, spirit book if it's involved, don't have first hand experience with our special abilities, and three ," he looked at Terra Heart, "We have a new friend he knows nothing of and can hide us until we are ready to move, not to mention I destroyed my opposite already." Valiant started pacing, "We have to split up, but small teams because if we move in too large groups then we will be easier to spot. And most importantly, we have to go by foot; if we fly No-Heart may find all of us too quickly."
" 'Ow small o' groups were you thinkin mate?"
"And how are we going to keep in contact with each other once we sssplit up?"
"Well there's the rub we won't be able to keep in contact or No-Heart and those opposites might be able to find us easily, and we need to move in groups of no more than two," He looked around, "I know it's rough but we need to move in the groups like this and I know how we're going to. First, Swift Heart, you're fast enough to move one of us by foot and keep ahead of others with no trouble. I have my flash steps which can take us long distances in a moment, and Snowy recently had a breakthrough," he looked to the fox who nodded, stood up and suddenly vanished, reappearing next to Valiant in much the same way the wolverine did.
"It's called Hirenkyaku, or screen step, I basically ride spirit energy at high speed to a new location," Snowy explained.
"Right, so each of us needs to go with someone who can't move at high speed. Cozy, Jolly, you two can swim and Snowy and I can't all that well, and Swift Heart, I know you're fast but last time, you were tripped and couldn't run so you need to go with someone who can defend you."
"That leaves me as the only possible candidate," Loyal Heart said standing up.
Swift Heart grinned at him, "I guess there are worse travel buddies I could think of."
Cozy Heart waddled over to Snowy, "Cold loving birdsss of a feather ssshould flock together."
"That leaves you an me aye Valiant?" The platypus grinned at him.
"That it does, Jolly, and unless there's more to do here, we should get moving right away," Valiant said. Before they got moving, Loyal Heart kissed his wife and son good bye and True Heart stood up, walking carefully over to Valiant Heart.
"Valiant, I must say I'm proud of you, and I'm sure Noble Heart would be too if he was here," she wiped a tear from her eye.
"Thanks True Heart, managing this family may be too much for me to handle day to day but," he grinned, "if Tenderheart, Brave Heart, you and Noble Heart are ever incapacitated again, I'd be more than willing to take command in a crisis situation. But we should go," he took Jolly's hand and pulled him half a step before they vanished.
Snowy took Cozy's flipper, "We should probably check the colder parts of the world," he said before they too vanished via Snowy's screen step.
Loyal Heart stepped back from Proud Heart and took Swift Heart's hand, "I'm ready when you are."
"Let's go!" She tucked Grumpy's crystal in the top of her pants. Gripping his hand she sped away from the clearing and those staying behind.
Defiant Heart looked around at those who were left, "Well I guess it's just us for now." No one else really had anything else to say because now it was up to the world travelers.