Final Resolutions
About two weeks after they had escaped from No Hearts castle and defeated the opposites, Jolly found himself flying home to Australia to check on how his opposite, Glum Heart was adjusting to living with his mother. As he flew over his mom's refuge he waved at her before landing the cloud mobile.
She beamed down at him before embracing him, "G'day Jolly. Moi aren't you lookin the bee's knees."
His grin widened, "Ta mum! Illusion 'Earts been 'elpin me work out. 'Ows the new nipper doin?" She pointed over her shoulder where Glum Heart sat on the steps leading up to the house, drawing in the dirt with a stick. "Moind if OI go 'ave a yack with 'er?"
"Suite yerself. OI'll be wid the cassowaries when yer done." Patting his cheek she moved off.
Jolly moved to Glum Heart, "G'day sis."
Glum Heart looked up at Jolly and sighed, "Oh, hi Jolly Heart," she said, sounding depressed as she had since she had been released from the crystal and heard the news of most of the opposites' deaths.
"Woi so glum?" He laughed, "Pardon moi pun. OI thought you woulda been happy here. It's noice an quoiet. An that view sure is a beaut eh?" He swept his arms around to indicate the refuge.
"I guess, it's nice an peaceful here and the scenery is nice, but..." she stared up at the sky, "It just causes me to think about too many things, the other opposites, except for Hunt-Renegade, and Serious Heart. Renegade was able to change, ironically because he didn't get enough from Fauna to be a clone so he was able to become his own person," Glum Heart sighed, "So that leaves me, Glum Heart Platypus, cared for by my opposite's mother." She looked up at Jolly Heart, "I haven't seen you since you dropped me off here, so tell me why did you spare me instead of destroying me like you did with the others?"
"Well we were gonna spare the others too, but they weren't to keen on conforming. An OI felt bad 'bout spurring you, so OI figured OI owed you a secon' chance. Plus, moi mum is ace when it comes to rehabilitation, OI thought she could do you some good." He sat next to her on the step.
"Well I guess she's done some good, I've been keeping busy and I haven't tried to attack you yet, then again," she looked down at her now bare tummy, "I guess this change of heart changed me some way. My symbol vanished and I feel different. Maybe it's the atmosphere or maybe it's cause I've changed on the inside. Another question, why do you keep calling me 'sis'?"
"Took a page off Renegade on that one. He's been callin Fauna that since we got back. Figure he's got a point an all, seein as we share DNA an all." He whacked his forehead, "Bloimee OI'm a berk." He dug around in his pocket for a moment, "Renegade wanted me ta give you this. Seemed to think it would help you somehow." He handed her a letter in a plain white envelope with her name on it. Glum Heart took the envelope and opened it, reading the letter she found inside.
"Dear Glum Heart
I was wondering how you're adjusting to life now that you're not under No-Heart's thumb anymore. I'm adjusting to life in Pegasus Falls but it's taking some doing, the other Pegasus were a bit wary of me at first but it seems that a vote of confidence from Kingling Blue and my sister Fauna, who will probably be a Queenling soon if she isn't considered one already, has won some of them over..
But anyways, the reason I'm writing is to give you some advice, mostly you need to forget about the whole opposites thing and to help with that you need to change your name, if you can't think of an appropriate Care Bear name then try a human one. Take your Brother's advice too, he knows how to cheer people up if you let him.
Sincerely, Renegade Whitewolf"
Glum Heart looked up from the letter, "So, I should choose a new name then," she echoed, passing the letter to Jolly Heart so he could read it too.
He glanced over the letter, laughing when he read the part about Fauna being a Queenling. "If Blue popped the question now OI think she'd run as fast as 'er hooves could take 'er. But OI do agree 'bout you given yoself a new name." He smiled widely at her, "An course OI'm always 'appy to take a burl at gettin people to laugh."
"Well it's worth a shot," Glum Heart said, "any ideas; I don't really know what I should call myself."
"Well dunno if OI mentioned this or if the ol' lady did, but moi real name is Julian. So maybe to honor me an show 'ow much you love me you could go with Juliana." He teased nudging her with his elbow.
His mom's laughing drew their attention to her. "OI only need one of you runnin round sonny. An even though you share DNA, your personalities are quite separate." She leant on the railing by Glum Hearts head, smiling down at her, " 'Ow do you fancy Gloria love?"
"Oy mum! OI don think yer givin Juliana a fair go."
She clamped her hand down on his beak, "No more yarn outta you."
"Gloria," Glum Heart said the name aloud, "I like it I think that will be my name from now on." Gloria stood up, "So, now what, I have a new name, maybe Jolly Heart, my older brother, could try to cheer me up then?"
"Roit o! Here, OI got a joke fo' ya. Woi don' skeletons play music in church?"
"Umm, I don't know," Gloria said, confused.
He grinned, "Cause they got no organs!" he told her excitedly.
Gloria smiled and snickered a little, "All right, that's a little funny. So how are things going back in your home?" she asked.
"All roit. We're almost done with the rebuildin. Course it would be a lot easier if a certain monkey cousin an yellow bear would stop stealin our supplies to make a 'secret clubhouse.'" Jolly looked at the position of the sun in the sky and realized the tide would be coming in soon. "Saaaay," he turned to her once more, "you don know 'ow ta surf by chance do ya?"
"Well no I don't," Gloria admitted, "I've been mostly just staying in the shelter and helping out mom."
Jolly looked at his mother flabbergasted, beak hanging open with no sound coming out. She smirked and shook her head, "Here we go."
"Mum! How hard is it to get her some togs an a board, drag 'er down to the beach, toss 'er in the waves, an teach 'er how to surf?"
"OI figured you'd want to love. After all, you are the best roit?"
He regained his composure, "Roit you are ye old cheese!" Turning to Gloria he grabbed her hand, "Come on. OI'm gonna teach you the sport of kings!" Gloria let herself be dragged along, it would be the first real fun she'd had since coming here, and she was looking forwards to it.
Back up in the Kingdom of Caring, the final repairs were being done on the Hall Of Hearts. Grumpy, Birthday, Valiant, and Anger Heart were on the roof hammering boards into place. Grumpy paused to wipe the sweat from his bow, "I don't remember it being this hot out an hour ago."
"Well we've been working hard, what did you expect?" Anger Heart shot at Grumpy.
"I'll be glad when we're done up here maybe we can go for a swim and get something to drink," Valiant said.
"I'll second that notion." Birthday said.
Grumpy however scowled at Anger Heart, "How would you know what working hard is? You do more complaining then hammering."
"Look who's talking grumbler!" Anger Heart shouted back.
"All right, break it up up there!" Tenderheart's voice came from down on the ground, having come to check on their progress, "If you're done up there then come down you four."
Grumpy hammered his final board into place. "I'm done." Birthday got up to follow him, holding the ladder as Grumpy climbed down it.
Anger Heart followed after them as did Valiant Heart, the wolverine was too tried from the day's work to bother with his usual fancy way of getting around.
"So how's everyone else doing?" Anger Heart asked Tenderheart.
"Most of them are done, just a few more houses to touch up, though Bright Heart says he still has a lot of stuff of his he has to replace," Tenderheart said, consulting his clipboard, "With any luck we'll be up for caring missions again by tomorrow."
Grumpy twirled a finger in the air, "Whoopee, what a relief."
Birthday shoved him, "Oh Grumpy, you know you would rather be helping kids then building things."
"Why are you in such a rush to get back to work, Tenderheart?" Noble Heart said, coming up from behind him and wearing carpenter's overalls, "After everything we've been through we deserve a vacation, maybe we should go down to see Jolly and Glum Heart, see how she's doing and go to the beach while we're there."
"Australia was fun the first time around. And who doesn't like the beach?" Birthday agreed.
"Oh I can think of someone." Swift Heart came up behind them, depositing the paint cans she had been using to paint some of the houses. "Jolly went to see his opposite huh?" she had come in on the tail end of the conversation.
"That he did," Noble Heart said, "He finished all his work so I didn't see the harm in letting him go."
"Besides, we're all done here as far as I can see," Anger Heart said, "I'm going home to shower and change if we're going to the beach. If you don't want to go maybe you should just stay behind Swift Heart."
Grumpy bristled at the foxes tone but Swift Heart brushed it off, "Oh gee Anger Heart, now that I've got your permission to stay behind I think I will." She grabbed Grumpy's paw, "Come on. I'm sure we can find a much cooler way to cool off." Grumpy smirked back at Tender Heart, "Go with them man. You need to have some fun and stop thinking about work."
"But-" Tenderheart tried to protest but Valiant Heart grabbed his arm.
"Take his advice, let those two go make out or whatever it is they're going to be up to. Let them have the Kingdom of Caring to themselves while we chill on the beach. Maybe now that my spasms are gone I can learn to surf properly." Valiant dragged Tenderheart away, the deputy leader protesting all the way.
Swift Heart snickered, her ears picking up on Valiant's last comment. "Why do people think all we do is make out?"
Grumpy shrugged, "Beats me? So what are we going to do?" She thought for a moment. "We could go check on Fauna and Renegade and make sure they haven't killed each other secretly."
"Sounds good to me. We can do that," He wiggled his brows, "After we make out."
"Well if you're going to twist my arm..." Pressing her up against the nearest house, Grumpy kissed her.
Renegade Whitewolf was charging through the newly replanted Forest of Feelings in his white wolf form, enjoying having the freedom to do this now that work was done and he had nothing else to do.
"You better watch where you're going Ren. If you tear up any of Proud Heart's new flower beds even I won't be able to keep her from teaching you a lesson." Fauna commented from her perch in one of the trees that had been left standing.
Renegade stopped running and sat on his haunches, "I know I know, you told me to stay away from her stuff, especially her son and flower beds," he said, "So now what do we do? Looks like all of the repairs are done for now."
"I could use a swim. It's getting sorta toasty out here." Jumping to the ground she motioned for him to follow her to the Rainbow River.
"If you insist," Renegade said following after her, "I need to practice turning into water animals anyway."
"Believe me, I insist. When was the last time you had a bath? You reek?" She waved her hand dramatically in front of her nose.
"You're one to talk sis," Renegade said, taking off ahead of her to the rainbow river's edge.
"I smell just fine thank you!" Spinning so her back was facing the water, she lifted her arms above her head and dove backwards, hitting the water in a spray of color. A minute later she breached the surface as a dolphin.
Hunter dove into the water, shifting into an otter as he hit the water, spinning around under the water before coming up to float on the surface on his back, "Ahh, now this is the life," he said.
"Much better then helping a hooded robe wearing psycho rid the world of caring right?" Fauna floated next to him as an alligator.
Renegade sighed, "Never gonna let me forget that, are you sis?"
She splashed water over him with her tail, "Nope! Not for a good long while. Call it even for tackling me when you first saw me." Her eye looked up and saw a cloudmobile soaring over head. "Looks like we have company."
"Oh yeah, who do you suppose that is?" he asked.
Submerging once more she swam to the shore and hopped out as a sea lion. Seeing Swift Heart and Grumpy in the cloudmobile she clapped her flippers together and barked. "Only my two favorite care bears in the known universe. What's up guys? Finish making out early today?"
Fauna teased them. "Seriously? we do other things too!" Swift Heart shouted at her before waving to Renegade in the water.
"Hi Swift Heart," Renegade climbed out of the water and shifted to his human form, "So what brings you guys here, apart from this being where you live."
"Figured we'd check on you and see what's up. A bunch of the others went to the beach so there wasn't much else to do." Grumpy told him.
"The beach hmm," Renegade said, "I think I might join them, you up for that sis?" he asked Fauna.
She shook her head, "Nope I'm happy up here. I'm probably going to be heading home soon, Blue was thinking he'd be done early today. And Red Snout wanted to try and get a game of tackle down going."
"Ok, I'll see you at home Fauna, I want to go and check up on Glum Heart anyway," Renegade said, shifting into a hawk and taking off to go meet up with those who were going down to Earth.
Fauna watched him fly out of sight, "I'm still not totally used to having a 'little brother'." Turning into a human she sat on the ground cross legged.
"So, Fauna, how's he doing in Pegasus Falls?" Grumpy asked, "Any problems?"
"Some of the others still aren't too sure of him, Red Snout mostly. He thinks he'll snap at any moment and tell No Heart how to find us. But he's always been a little paranoid. The other white wolves are getting on with him though, Frosty saw to that." She ran a hand through her hair, "He still has moments though when he doesn't seem quite...right I guess."
"Well I hope that doesn't make him go crazy then, that's the last thing we need after all this," Grumpy grumbled.
"I'm doing the best I can and trying to get him to make friends, he's just very clingy."
"He probably still feels bad for when he had to trick you or for how he acted before or something. Just be patient." Swift Heart told her.
Fauna laughed, "Ha! Patience advice from you is like Tender Heart telling me how to loosen up."
Word spread fast in the KOC of the impending beach trip and those who wanted to go, pretty much everyone other than Swift Heart and Grumpy, began to prepare for the trip, grabbing their swim suits and other such things.
Bright Heart was helping Gentle Heart pack, the lamb seemed less than enthusiastic about going and Bright Heart took notice of this.
"Gentle Heart, you seem nervous, are you all right," Bright Heart said, putting his arm over her shoulder.
"Well it's just that, you know," she placed a hand on her ample chest, "I can handle being up here with you or the girls but down there. I can't wear any one piece swim suits and I still don't like the attention I get from humans down there at times."
"Don't worry, I'll be there, and like the other said not everyone will notice and we'll be there to help you," he kissed her on the cheek.
Gentle Heart smiled and kissed him back, "Thank you, Bright Heart," she packed the last of her beach gear and the two of them left her house.
Cozy Heart was watching the other cousins loading up their cloud mobiles while waiting for Jolly Heart to pick up his phone. She felt it was only fair to give him fair warning they were coming to invade. She laughed as she watched Trust Heart pound on an over turned bucket with a plastic shovel.
"G'day Sheila. To wha' do OI owe the pleasure of this call?"
Cozy Heart snapped her attention back to her phone, "Hey Jolly. Jussst thought I'd let you know we are headed your way for sssome beach time."
She smiled as she heard his voice get even happier, "Good on ya love. That sounds loike a roit good oidea. Me an Glum are already hittin the surf, an she's doin ol' roit for a firs' toimer. See ya soon love, OI gotta dash a big sets comin in. Ta!" He hurriedly hung up on her.
Stashing her phone, Cozy continued to pack her cloud mobile, making sure to tie her board onto the trunk. Etienne was whistling a happy tune as put his bag in Cozy Hearts car. Already he had ditched his shirt and was walking around in flip flops and swim trunks.
"You ssssure sssseem ready to go Illusssion."
He flashed her a toothy grin, "Oui petite. I'm very excited fo' dis trip. Sun, sand, and water," he gave a happy sigh, "What more could a gator need."
Noble Heart looked around at everyone taking a headcount, not bothering to ask where Grumpy and Swift Heart were, he knew she hated the water. He called out, "All right, everyone here who's going to the beach?" he asked.
The reply was enthusiastic as everyone was ready, "All right then, let's get going!" he shouted, helping True Heart who was already in the stretchy swimsuit she had to wear over her now even larger belly, into the cloud car before hopping in and taking off, followed by the others. Renegade was flying under his own power in his hawk form along with them, enthusiastic to go to the beach and that none of the Care Bears seemed to have much of an issue with his presence.
Playful Heart was weaving his cloud mobile over and under all the others, causing some of them to turn abruptly or slam on the breaks. "You guys drive like a bunch of old ladies." He called from the top of the loop-de-loop he was executing."
Tenderheart was about to shout at Playful for being so reckless when Playful flew by again and Funshine, who was in the passenger seat, dropped a full water balloon she had loaded back at home on Tenderheart's head. Playful accelerated out of the range of Tenderheart's shouts.
"There, that should help him cool off," Funshine giggled.
Jolly peered over his shoulder and saw the wave beginning to crest behind him. He turned to Gloria on his right, "All roit love. Jus paddle harder than last toime an you should catch this one." She nodded and began to paddle along with Jolly. Feeling the wave push them higher into the air, they both stopped and began to stand on their boards.
Gloria grinned in her moment of triumph, "I got it-whoa!" Unfortunately she lost her balance and dove into the wave.
Jolly dropped in with a "Cowabunga!" And turned sharply, surfing along the wave. While his time with his new family had been great, he never felt so at home as he did when riding a wave. Closing his eyes briefly he inhaled, breathing in the surf. Riding out of the barrel he straddled his board and looked for Gloria.
She had recovered from her fall and was watching the fleet of cloud mobiles flying over head and landing on the beach. Jolly grinned and waved at the shore, "Spot on mates! The waves are jus gettin roipe!"
Gloria swam back to the shore, "That was fun!" she said, smiling, "I guess I'm going to get a lot more practice in the near future."
Jolly was paddling in right behind her, "Yea you will. Best place ti practice is here in the Oz. Mum'll be more'n 'appy ta let ya practice all ye want."
"You adjusting all right down here, Glum Heart?" Renegade said, shifting to human form as he landed.
"Yes but, actually I took your advice and changed my name," the female platypus said, "You can call me Gloria now. I'll be staying down here to help Julian's mom at the shelter. I'll join the rest of the Care Bear Family when I feel I'm ready."
"Hey Jolly Heart, how are things going down here?" Valiant Heart called, pulling off his shirt, already wearing his trunks as he stuffed his shirt into his beach bag.
"Goin good mate." Jolly went to help Cozy Heart unload her cloud mobile, " 'ello love." She blushed as their beaks met in a quick kiss.
"Jus so you know I take full responsibility for dis." Etienne told them while setting up his beach chair. "Homme wanted to tell you how he felt on Valentines Day, but I tol' him non. A femme as belle as you Cozy deserved a day jus fo' herself."
"Oy! Are yer trunks on too toit ya bloke. Who was it that got the snow machine?"
Cozy laughed, "Now now boyssss, if you spend all day arguing we are going to miss all the wavesss." Cozy grabbed her board before calling to the others, "Lassst one in isss a rotten egg!"
"I'm no rotten egg!" Anger Heart shouted, charging in after them with Guidance Heart following him.
The others all charged in, some to stay and swim, some to surf, some just to get wet right away before they took off to do other things.
Illusion glanced over to Renegade, "So, first time at de beach homme? How you like it?"
Renegade had shifted back to his otter form and grinned over at Illusion Heart, "I love it. I wish Fauna had decided to come with us though, ah well her loss," Renegade dove underwater, spinning around as he did so.
Submerging, Illusion Heart swam slowly beneath the waves. Because he was an alligator, he could speak underwater, "You have plenty of chances to go to de beach wid her. Don sweat it. You gonna have to get used to comin second string to her beau."
"Yeah that's true," Renegade said, his otter form allowing him to speak underwater as well, "maybe I'll find a girl in Pegasus Falls too." he said, smiling before he went up for air and dove back under.
Proud Heart was in the shallows with Loyal Heart, both of them keeping their young son Trust Heart happy. Trust Heart was paddling around in the shallows, stopped by his parents when he went too far. Eventually he began to build a sand castle with his parents helping him.
True Heart and Noble Heart walked over so True Heart could sit in the shallows next to them. The female founder smiled at Trust Heart playing with his parents.
"He's very precious," she said, running a hand down her taut belly.
"Yes he is," Loyal Heart said.
"Yes, and we love him very much," Proud Heart smiled at True Heart, "And I hope he'll have some playmates soon too."
"Oof!" True Heart grunted as she felt her kids kick her from inside, "He will soon, the due date's only a couple weeks from now," she said.
Out in the water Cheer was on top of Champ's shoulders, trying to push Harmony off of Brave Hearts. "You are so going down Harmony."
She sneered at her, "So you say, but I think you'll be singing a different tune when the waves are ruining your do." Brave Heart kept a tight grip on Harmony's legs as she tried to unseat Cheer.
Gentle Heart had gotten out of the water, letting the sun dry her off a little. Bright Heart came up behind her, putting his arms around his girlfriend from behind and up onto her chest.
"Too wet for you?" he asked.
Gentle Heart blushed deeply, "Bright Heart, not here!" she said, a bit panicky, "and careful my top isn't that secure when I'm wet!"
Bright Heart let her go and took her hand, "All right, let's go and sunbathe then, it'll be nice and relaxing," he pulled her over to where they could set up their towels.
Cozy Heart was lying on her back on her board, smiling as the sun beat down on her. The big waves had stopped for the moment so she and Jolly were taking a break. Her platypus boyfriend was floating on his board nearby, holding Cozy's flipper in his hand.
"Thisss wasss jussst what I needed. It'sss no ski resort but itsss cooler then back home."
Jolly grinned, "Soon as the mountains open luv, you an I will hit the slopes. OI wanna give that snow boardin of yours a crack."
She glanced at him upside down, "Sssoundsss good to me."
Defiant Heart had opted to stay on the shore with Terra Heart. The blind mole was understandably nervous about swimming and on the loose sand she was having difficulty sensing what was going on around her.
"Want to try digging?" Defiant Heart asked.
"I thought about it," Terra Heart said, scooping up some sand in her digging claws, "but the sand is so loose and I can't really sense anything, not to mention I can't swim and I can't even try to feel anything when I'm in the water."
"Oh, OK, let's go farther up to the harder ground," Defiant Heart said, carefully leading her up.
Terra Heart sighed when she felt firmer ground under her feet, "Thank you Defiant Heart." She turned her blind eyes to the badger, "So why are you spending so much time with me?" she asked.
"Well someone has to show you around," Defiant Heart smiled, "plus, I kinda like you."
"You do?" Terra Heart asked, smiling. Because she was blind she was able to feel Defiant Heart's pulse while holding his hand and could feel how excited he was.
"Well, it's more than that," he admitted, "I have a crush on you, Terra Heart. You're kind and calm, and easy to get along with."
"You're sweet, Defiant Heart," she said, giving him a peck on the cheek, "and you're quite grounded even though you live up in the sky."
"Thanks, Terra Heart, want to take a walk around, I'll help you feel and hear some of the places in the city if you want," Defiant Heart suggested.
"I'd love to," the two new lovebirds strode off, hand in claw.
After a long day at the beach the group decided to go to one of the local restaurants Jolly recommended. The owners had known Jolly since he was a youngster and were more than happy to serve his new family.
Each of the couples sat together, sharing thoughts and comments from the day, each of them ordering some food they liked. When everyone was mostly quite, Noble Heart tapped his glass with his spoon and stood up out of his seat. Everyone turned to him and he smiled.
"Care Bears and Cousins," he began, "We've been through a lot in the past few weeks, we lost our home, were forced to fight opposites of ourselves who nearly destroyed us, and many of us were captured, but we've persevered, rebuilt, even made some new friends out of former enemies," he smiled over at Gloria and Renegade, "And soon we will be welcoming two new additions to our family. Good work everyone," he raised his glass, "let's all savor this moment."
"Yeah, before the next wacko comes along!" Playful Heart shouted.
Brave Heart hopped to his feet and pointed an accusing finger at Playful Heart, "You jinxed it! I can't believe you did that! Hear that everyone? If something happens it's Playfuls-"
He didn't get to finish as Harmony yanked him back down into his chair. "You need to chill boo, before you start riding some seriously negative vibes." Before he could respond she shoved a breadstick into his open maw.
This elected a laugh out of everyone. As they continued to eat and drink, Valiant whispered in Love-a-Lot's ear, "Too bad Swift Heart and Grumpy aren't here to hear this."
"Oh well, their loss hon," Love-a-Lot kissed him, "I'm sure they're enjoying themselves just fine."
As the group dined long into the night, they let themselves become completely wrapped up in the jovial atmosphere emitted by their family. For now their horizon was clear of danger and distress and they were going to enjoy that time as long as they could.