Birds of a Feather
Around midnight Fauna began to stir. It was a full moon tonight and the silver light poured into the clearing making it easy for her to distinguish her surroundings. Getting to her hooves and seeing Blue sleeping a few feet away she sighed and stretched hers wings.
"I wish he would just butt out sometimes."
Above her, Hunter was still perched as an owl and heard her. He spoke so that she could hear, not a difficult task considering it was a quiet night. "And why is that, aren't you two a couple?"
Looking up she saw the owl perched in the tree she had been sleeping under. "Just because we're a couple doesn't mean he always knows what's best for me. Like today, when he 'decreed' me to let you stay here."
Hunter sighed and flew down, changing to human form, "There is so much I do not understand about things out here. If I'm causing problems here perhaps I should leave and go somewhere else."
"I'm pretty sure you'd cause problems anywhere. Like you said, you don't get how things work." She cast her eyes around to make sure the others weren't around. "So since you didn't cut my throat while I slept, I've decided to not beat you to a feathery pulp."
"I guess that's as much trust as I'll get out of you for the foreseeable future," Hunter said.
"You make it sound like I'm the bad guy here. I want you to take a little walk down memory lane to when we first met. You attacked me, not the other way around." She gained her human form as well. "So yes, it will take some elbow grease on your part to gain my trust. That's just the way I am."
Hunter remained silent for a moment, not really sure what to say, so he changed the subject, "So, what's it like, the place you live?"
"There are no words that can describe the Falls. But whenever I'm away from it, I never feel quite right. It's magical, plain and simple."
"Hmm, it sounds nice," Hunter said, "About how many Pegasus live there?"
"Why do you want to know that? So No Heart knows how many he has to destroy?" She eyed him suspiciously.
"Just curiosity," Hunter said, sighing, "what about you, are you some sort of princess because you're in a relationship with Blue?"
A laugh sounded from nearby, causing the two of them to look at Blue, "Haha Fauna a princess. Oh man that's a mental picture I'm never going to forget." He had been listening to their conversation and could no longer resist chiming in. "The only way she would have a royal title is if she were my mate."
"Which is never going to be anything more then a fairytale if you continue to tease and order me about." She crossed her arms and scowled at him.
Blue ignored her and looked at Hunter, "Our leader is referred to as Kingsire, and his mate is the Queendame. Any heirs are kinglings and queenlings as gender dictates."
"Hmm," Hunter thought for a moment then asked Blue, "Why are you giving me a chance, I may be a Pegasus but I didn't think clones fell under your laws. You know what, never mind, I'm not sure I want to know the answer to that question. Maybe you could tell me more about the Care Bear Family, I only have what No-Heart told me about them, which is pretty biased information at best."
"For that I'm afraid you'll have to ask her." He pointed to Fauna, "She was the one adopted by them and I can count on one hand the number of times I've had to interact with them." He looked to Fauna, "And as for the answer you don't want, I'm going to tell you anyway because I think it will help. Even though you are a clone, you share Fauna's DNA which makes you real enough for our laws. And because you are made of the same stuff she is..."
Her eyes widened as she looked at Hunter in a whole new light, "You have a part of my mom and dad." A small smile slowly turned up the sides of her lips as she gazed at Hunter, "What would you like to know?"
Hunter managed a small smile as well, "Well what are they like, how do they live, and what did No-Heart mean when he said 'the Care Bears always ruin my plans'?"
"No Heart has been trying to rid the world of caring for years. But every time he comes close, the Care Bears always ruin it for him. And as far as what they're like, the best way to describe them is they go out of their way to help people, no matter the circumstance. Growing up it was like having a mess load of brothers and sisters who all wanted the best for me."
"Sounds like a real pain," Hunter said, smiling.
Both Fauna and Blue laughed as Fauna continued, "You have no idea!" Blue nodded, "She lived for the days when she got to get out of their and get back to us." Fauna nodded, "Even though they meant well, they were so unprepared for raising me. I just couldn't get my mind around some of their beliefs. Oh but don't get me wrong, they aren't all angels all the time."
"I guess everyone has flaws," Hunter acknowledged, "But I guess you still care about them, since you showed up to help them with...us," his voice trailed off.
"Well yeah, obviously. Just because we disagree on stuff doesn't mean I don't love them." She paused a moment, thinking, "I guess you don't have that kind of connection with any of the other opposites huh?"
"None at all," Hunter said, sounding subdued, "Considering what No-Heart said about me and the fact that the few memories of you that I have are fragmented and vague, maybe I'm flawed in some way, maybe because of this fractured shifting you and I can do, Fauna," Hunter shifted his hand into a lobster claw briefly then back to a human hand to reinforce his point.
"What memories do you have? Since you don't seem to know much, no offense, I'm wondering what you do know." Blue asked him.
"Very little, I knew Pegasus Falls existed, but not what it's like or where it is, I knew Blue was important and next in line for leadership of something, but not what or why he was important, and I knew how to shift, but not about the fractured shifting until that fight with you two where I only changed my arms into wings and nothing else. There's not much else that stick out, except that apparently all the people important to Fauna are colored blue, guess that means I don't have much of a shot," he managed a weak smile as he said that last sentence.
Fauna cocked her head to the side as she thought that last statement over, "You know you're right. I never noticed that before. Maybe its cause blue is my favorite color." She teased exchanging a look with Blue.
"Ha! We were meant to be!" Fauna smiled at him, thus ending their fight from before.
Turning back to Hunter she told him, "Not all of my nearest and dearest are blue. Thunder, Red Snout, and Frosty have no blue on them what's so ever and I love them more then I could ever say."
"Then there's hope I guess," Hunter gave a snort laugh, "So Blue can you fracture shift like Fauna and I can?"
He shook his head, "Nope only full body shifts for me. And other then going from timber wolf to Pegasus I'm not very good at holding them."
"Maybe you could practice more," Hunter suggested.
"Don't have the time." He leaned over to him and put his hand up by his mouth, "And between you and me, the shifting thing is her shtick and I wouldn't dream of out shining her. It wouldn't be in my best interest if you get what I'm saying."
"Yeah, I suppose not," Hunter said. He stared up at the sky for a minute before asking his next question, "So, what do you think I should do now?"
"What do you mean what should you do now?" She asked him.
"Well, I can't go back, that's for certain and when this conflict is over I don't exactly have a home to return to," Hunter explained.
Fauna and Blue exchanged a look, "Well I'd have to talk to Wind Rider and resolve some...security issues, but then I'm sure you could make a home in Pegasus Falls."
Hunter looked up in surprise, "Are you serious?" he asked hopefully.
Blue nodded to him, "It's just like I told you. As long as you remain loyal and abide by our laws you are considered one of us."
Fauna shoved him with a smile, "So don't screw it up."
"I promise I won't, thank you!" suddenly Hunter launched forwards and hugged Fauna, overwhelmed with sudden happiness.
She tensed up, thinking this was some kind of attack, but when no pain followed she relaxed and patted him awkwardly on the back, "Umm...your welcome."
Hunter backed off feeling a bit awkward, "Sorry, I'm not sure about things like this. So now what, I guess we should wait until the opposites are dealt with so Blue can talk it over with the others while we handle pest control."
"Blue could actually go back to the Falls like I've been trying to get him to do all along." Fauna looked to him and saw the scowl she had been expecting.
"You shouldn't have been gone this long in the first place. We can handle things from here. The only one who even stood a chance against me is him, so I'm totally safe now." He still didn't say anything as he thought it over.
"Right," Hunter suddenly yawned, tired form keeping watch not to mention the events of the previous day, "maybe I should get some sleep and we can decide what to do after that."
"You do that. There are some things we need to talk about." Blue moved away first, leaving Fauna and Hunter alone.
She nudged a dirt clod with her foot, "Guess I'll see you in the morning."
"Yeah, I'll see you in the morning," Hunter said, shifting to his natural Pegasus form and lying down to rest, "good luck, or whatever someone says in this situation."
Joining Blue she slipped her hand into his and rested her shin on his shoulder. "I know you need to practice issuing decrees, but not on me. I like you Blue, if you just talk to me about things..."
He kissed her, silencing her. "I know. But I needed you to realize what he was, under all of No Hearts influence. And true or false if I hadn't made you let him stay, he would have been kicked out in a heart beat."
She sighed, "True."
He rested his fore head against hers, "I thought it over, and I'll head back to the Falls in the morning, on one condition. First sign of trouble and you come for help. Deal?"
She nodded, before burrowing her head in his shoulder. They sat together for the rest of the night keeping watch over the clearing.
When morning came, Terra Heart Mole dug out, right near where Hunter was sleeping, or rather had been sleeping.
He snorted as he woke up, "Guess I should have picked another place to lie down. How's everyone else down there?"
"On, they're all right," Terra Heart said as she pulled herself out of the hole, followed by Noble Heart and True Heart, who was having cravings again.
"That's good to hear," Hunter said.
Valiant Heart exited next, holding the orange crystal that held Delay Heart, "Hey Hunter," the wolverine said, "Do you know where Blue and Fauna are, I'd like to get to a mirror to deal with this crystal ASAP."
Fauna whistled to get Valiant Hearts attention. She and Blue were sitting against one of the trees with Fauna wrapped in Blues arms.
Getting to their feet they walked over to the wolverine, "Blue's going home. He can take you to the Falls and you can use one of the scrying mirrors there."
"Thanks," Valiant Heart said, "I guess I should feel honored, I'm guessing non-Pegasis aren't usually allowed to see where it is. Should I blindfold myself or something?"
Fauna smirked, "Something like that. Or else the guards will be forced to kill you as soon as you enter because they'll think you have taken Kingling Blue hostage."
"Umm, I guess they're not all as well adjusted as you," should I just tie myself up while I'm at it?" Valiant Heart asked, honestly not sure if he should or not, looking at Blue and hoping for a serious answer.
"You do need to be blindfolded on the flight to the portal and deafened momentarily when I open it, but those we can do magically and they will fade once in the Falls. We take visitors very seriously."
"Ok then," Valiant Heart closed his eyes, "Just do it and take me along, I'd prefer to get the sensory deprivation over with as quickly as possible."
Fauna placed her hands on either side of her head, standing behind him. "This may be disconcerting at first. I'm giving you your hearing up to the portal and it will vanish on its own, but only for a minute or so." As Fauna got her hands glowing and began to chant, Valiant Heart found himself suddenly plunged into darkness. Next to him Blue regained his true form and Fauna lifted Valiant onto his back. "Be careful and don't do anything stupid."
Grinning she kissed his forelock, "I'll do my best." With a few flaps of his wings, he rose into the air and quickly disappeared from sight.
"He's quite brave to let that happen to him," Hunter said, shifting into his human form, "I guess we'll have a meeting or something when the rest of them wake up."
Fauna shrugged, "I guess, we tend to have a lot of those to figure stuff out. They are usually real boring until one of us livens them up," She smiled over at True Heart and Noble Heart, "Isn't that right?"
True Heart rolled her eyes and swallowed the berries she had in her mouth, "I'll admit not everything we discuss interests everyone, but we still need to talk about it."
"Today should at least be more interesting because it will be a battle plan most likely," Noble Heart added.
An hour later the rest of the Care Bear Family was up and eating, contributing various foraging or hunting skills, for the meal. Tenderheart tried to get things going.
"Well, Valiant Heart is busy so I suppose we should think about how to handle No-Heart's opposites, first I think-"
Swift Heart groaned and let her head roll back on her neck, "For crying out loud Tender Heart, do not tell me you are going to be in charge of these plans. You can't even win a game of Battle Ship." Getting up she began to pace, "We need someone who has an aggressive mind set to coordinate our attack. Not someone who's idea of spontaneity is using his Tuesday highlighter on a Monday." Her comment got snickers from more then a couple family members.
Defiant Heart spoke up, "Well, how 'bout our other leader," he said turning to the lion cousin, "Brave Heart, what do you think we should do here?"
Feeling put on the spot, Brave Heart gulped nervously and tried to collect his thoughts. Seeing this Swift Heart lent over his shoulder to whisper in his ear, "Just pretend like your telling the Cousins about our latest training. We have faith in you."
Taking a deep breath he stood tall, "We need to attack the Opposites on their home turf, where they wouldn't be expecting it. If we split our group into 4 squads, with one of our 'gifted and talented' members in charge, then we can sweep through No Heart's Castle and round up all them opposites."
Defiant Hearty rolled his eyes at Brave Heart's 'gifted and talented' comment. Loyal Heart spoke up, "I agree, though what about Proud Heart and True Heart?"
"I'm still a bit shaken," Proud Heart said, "And my opposite is dead so maybe I should stay behind with Trust Heart."
"I know I'm pregnant, but I want to see this through, I'll just be careful and stay back," True Heart said, sounding a bit nervous but convicted in her words.
"Me and Jolly don't have dance partners either so we can stick with True Heart for added protection." Swift Heart offered. Jolly nodded eagerly in agreement.
True Heart hugged Jolly and Swift Heart, "Thank you, both of you, I really appreciate this."
Loyal Heart put his hand on his wife's shoulder, "And I'll stay close by you at all times."
"Well that's enough planning," Defiant Heart said, standing up and wiping his mouth, "Let's split up and get this over with."
Fauna pointed to Hunter, "I'll keep an eye on my lesser half here, and I can have Brave Heart, Grumpy, Funshine, Playful Heart, and Harmony go with us."
Defiant Heart spoke up next, "True Heart, Noble Heart, Swift Heart, and Jolly Heart can come with me," he turned to Terra Heart, "You can come with me too if you want."
"All right, thank you," Terra Heart said, carefully kissing Defiant Heart on the cheek causing him to blush.
"It would be prudent for me to go as well," Take Care Bear said, "considering True Heart's condition and the fact that while you are a good fighter you are more likely to need medical attention, Defiant Heart."
"I'll come with you too," Bedtime added in.
"Me too, and that's the truth," Lotsa Heart said, raising his hand.
Illusion moved over to Fauna, "I tink I go wid you too fille."
"Me too." Said Wish Bear as she moved to join them.
"Glad to have both of you."
Snowy Heart and Loyal Heart nodded and quickly divided the remaining 16 members of the family between them in teams. Loyal Heart had Proud Heart of course and their son Trust Heart, Cheer, Champ, Friend, Secret, Grams, Anger Heart and Guidance Heart. Snowy Heart took Share Bear, Treat Heart, Birthday Bear, Love-a-Lot, Tenderheart, Bright Heart, Gentle Heart and Cozy Heart.
"Looks good," Noble Heart said.
"Then let's get moving," Defiant Heart said, conjuring a cloud car. Everyone other than the Pegasus followed suit and they climbed in, taking off for No-Heart's castle. Fauna and Hunter shifted into an osprey and a hawk respectively and followed after them.