Phew…hello to everyone, and welcome back to Care Bears Z! I don't know about you guys, but my life is about to get BUSY with school. Between reports, finals and regular homework, it doesn't really feel like it's the end of the year. I guess it's the thing with high school…but in three weeks I can say goodbye to freshman year! I also tripped on the stairs and strained my ankle. ._.

Well, enough about my personal life. *ahem*

Last time on Care Bears Z, tensions rose and emotions wavered as the people around our heroes, particularly young Terrence and Lisa, began to notice key events in their Care Bear adventures so far. No Heart has concocted another scheme to get rid of the Care Bear Family, somehow involving Niall's spiteful co-worker Jossburg. Could this plan possibly trigger another Care Bear to awaken? Or will it be enough to wipe away the guardians of caring altogether? Find out in Care Bears Z Episode 09: Starless, Starless Night!

~Z~

"Ah!" Jossburg let out a strangled cry as he fell roughly to the ground. He was met with cold, hard stone that scraped his arms despite his long-sleeve shirt. Upon opening his eyes he could only see darkness. He frowned as he squinted around the room. "Where am I? What is this?"

"Ah, our guest has arrived," a low, chilling voice said. Jossburg looked up. He blanched at the site of a tall man standing before him, dressed in a purple robe and cowl, his face invisible except for his glowing red eyes.

"Who are you?" Arnold stumbled to his feet. "What's going on here?"

The man merely chuckled. The sound caused goosebumps to rise on Jossburg's skin and a shiver to rattle his spine. He looked to his left and saw someone enter the room. It was the same girl that had confronted him. She was holding her mirror to her chin, and a smug smile graced her face.

"Allow me to introduce myself," the man said. "My name is No Heart, great wizard of the High Eclipse Council. I have brought you here to…request a favor," the last three words were said slower than the rest, as if No Heart was having difficulty saying them.

"Look, I don't know what this Eclipse gang is all about," Jossburg snapped. "And I don't know what you could possibly want from me, but you can forget it!" the businessman folded his arms defiantly. "You can be sure that the police will be hearing about this."

"Will you not even listen to my offer?" No Heart took a step toward Jossburg. "I believe you will be most crucial to our plans."

"No sir, I will not assist some punk gang in whatever you're scheming!"

Arnold suddenly felt himself being lifted. Before he could protest, he was somehow floating face-to-face with the tall Non Heart. Angry words died in his throat at the wizard's powerful glare.

"I do not believe you understand your predicament, Mr. Jossburg," No Heart said in a calm, icy tone. "You will assist me. You will do as I say…" At the man's silence, No Heart narrowed his eyes. "What if I told you that I would deal with your little work issue?"

"What are you talking about?" Jossburg gulped, causing his Adam's apple to bob. No Heart's eyes gained a triumphant gleam.

"Why, your issue with Mr. Hart, of course."

"You…know Niall Hart?" Arnold's head tilted skeptically. No Heart lowered him back to the ground. When the wizard spoke again, his tone had changed to a more pained one.

"Yes, I know him well. You see," he spread his arms. "Mr. Hart is not who everyone makes him out to be."

"Wait," Jossburg, though intrigued, traded his interest for rationality. "How did you know that Hart was my co-worker?"

"I know a lot of things about him," No Heart's eyes darkened. "I know the truth. He is not as good and kind as he seems. A dark past lies behind that man."

"But, I knew Niall in high school," Arnold said. "What past are you talking about? Niall was always the perfect student. He was and is the popular one, the one who everyone should know…"

"You know what's beyond this exterior," No Heart studied Jossburg's scowling face. "I can see it. You have suspicions, as well as…could it be jealousy?"

He'd struck a nerve. Jossburg's face scrunched up in anger. He almost snarled at the other man, this strange man who was prodding his nose where it didn't belong. How dare this man, this "No Heart", kidnap him and then try to evaluate his feelings!

"Do not be prideful. I can see the truth," No Heart pointed a slender green finger at Arnold's chest. "Your heart so green with jealousy it is turning black. If you wish, I could help you. I could tell you what you wanted to know about Niall. I could tell you the truth."

"What truth is there? What has he possibly done that's so horrendous?" Arnold folded his arms, his morbid curiosity taking over his wary mind. No Heart's eyes were gleaming with twisted amusement.

"That, I'm afraid, will have to wait."

"I knew it," Jossburg pointed an accusatory finger at the wizard. "You want me to do whatever it is your gang wants, and you're bribing me with dirt on Hart!"

"You are quite sharp, human," No Heart said. "However, this task is a rather simple one, and it will bring about satisfaction to both of us. If you do what I say, we will be able to expose Niall Hart for what he truly is. He is a fraud; he seems like an angel, but this man is a criminal!"

"A criminal?" Jossburg took a step back. "How?"

"I will tell you in time," No Heart said. "And only if you are willing to obey my commands."

"Hmm…" Jossburg stared at No Heart with interrogating eyes. Then he smiled.

"What do you want me to do?"

~Z~

"Is everything ready?" Niall asked Tiara as he headed into the living room. Tiara strode from the kitchen with a package of cookies in one hand and a pitcher of lemonade in the other. She smiled at her husband before setting the snacks down on the table.

"Everything's ready," she said. "It's great we finally all have time to talk together. We'll need to do this often if we want to make any progress."

Currently, the young couple was waiting for Terrence and Tiara to arrive. They had all decided that they needed to meet up and discuss important things that needed sorting out, and Sunday evening was the only time in the week that everyone was actually free. None of them had heard anything from the Great Wishing Star as of late, and they had many questions that needed answers.

At that moment, the doorbell rang. Niall went to answer it, and was greeted with the sight of both teens standing behind it. He ushered them in with happy greetings. They made their way to the living room, where more greetings were issued and some hugs were given. The lighthearted mood dimmed slightly when they all sat down.

"There are a lot of things we have to talk about," Tiara began. "I'm sure everyone has countless questions."

"If I could start," Lisa said. "Why have we been humans all these years? My memory is foggy. I remember a battle, with lots of evil beings. I remember No Heart and Cold Heart most clearly," she counted the villains off on her fingers.

"I remember seeing the spirit book there," Terrence said. "I think there were others, too, but I don't recall all of them…"

"I remember most of them quite clearly," Tiara said. "When I was talking to the Great Wishing Star on the first night, I remember seeing nearly all the evils we've faced. I even saw the Vizier and Doctor Fright."

"Another thing that confuses me," Terrence added. "Is why both of you," he looked at Tiara and Niall. "Turned into your original forms when your powers awakened, and we didn't."

"I have a bit of a theory," Niall said. "Perhaps…perhaps the longer we stay human, the longer our Care Bear powers have to stabilize."

"But how can that be?" Lisa asked. "There's an age difference between us. If that's the case, shouldn't Terrence and I have turned into our original forms?" Niall shook his head.

"No, what I meant was-

He was cut short when a panicked squeaking sound filled the room. Upon looking up they all saw little Heart Buddy swooping frantically through the air. The small creature came to rest at the window, and floated there while gesturing to the sky. Tiara got up and looked out the window.

"It's getting dark?" she blinked, confused. "But it's hardly 7:30…"

"Something's wrong…" Lisa joined her at the window. "It's getting dark so fast! Is there a storm coming?"

Heart Buddy was nearly pounding against the window. All four guardians of caring peered through the glass, trying to see what had gripped the Heart's attention so fiercely. Niall squinted hard at the growing inky darkness. Then he gasped.

"Where's the Great Wishing Star?"

"What? He's right…" Tiara froze as she gazed at the empty spot where the big, bright star usually resided. "Ah!? He's gone!"

"Where's Star Buddy?" Lisa noticed suddenly. There was no sign of the little creature anywhere in sight. "Oh no…"

"Something tells me a certain wizard is behind this," Niall said. "We'll have to find out what's going on and put a stop to it!"

The group filed out into the night. Niall was the first out, thus the first to notice the heaviness in the air.

"What's…this?" he gasped, clutching at his chest. "I can't breathe…"

"Ugh, what's that smell?" Tiara covered her nose. Terrence and Lisa followed suit. "It's rotten…"

"The stars are disappearing faster!" Lisa's voice was high and nasally due to her stifled breath. She pointed at the sky, where indeed less and less stars were shining.

"We have to find the source of this…" Terrence reached into his pocket. "And fast!"

With a twist of the top and a shower of sparks, Terrence was suited up. Lisa, Tiara, and Niall did the same.

"…How exactly…do we find…where this is coming from?" Lisa asked, wheezing a little.

"…Look there!" Niall pointed to the sky. "Is it just me, or does that part of the sky look more…wispy?"

"Like…smoke?" Tiara gasped. "That would explain…the difficulty breathing…but if it's…blocking out the stars…yet still affecting us…"

"Come on," Terrence coughed. "It…gets thicker…this way."

"H-here," Lisa clicked her pen. Four small, stringed cloths appeared above each guardian. They floated down and gently tied themselves around their mouths and noses. "Better?"

"Much better," Terrence said. "Let's go!"

~Z~

"Everything is working perfectly," No Heart said, peering into his cauldron. He was not, however, peering into the one within his castle. Currently, he was set up within the living room of Arnold Jossburg. While his spell was immensely effective, it did little damage if the target wasn't in close range. "You have been a great help to me. Have you found the next ingredient?"

"I don't see how this is quite possible," Jossburg wrinkled his nose at the rotting apple pinched between his pointer finger and thumb. "But whatever you're doing seems to be working…"

"Trust me; this spell will rid you of all your troubles with Mr. Hart."

"…How do you know him, anyway?" Arnold tossed the apple into the smoking cauldron.

"There is a long history between us. I know many things about him, things that would change your opinion of him forever."

"…Is he really a criminal?"

"He has committed more crimes than you can imagine."

"How is this," Jossburg gestured to the cauldron as it poured smoke. "Going to expose him and his 'crimes'?" He took a sniff and winced. "It smells awful!"

"You could say it will…stifle his act for good," there was evident triumph in No Heart's voice.

"Well, it better work fast. I'm going to get some air freshener," Jossburg turned and left the room. From the other side of the hallway Shrieky strode into the living room.

"You told such a lie, Uncle No Heart," she said. "It's almost sad how much he believes what you say."

"Humans are creatures easily manipulated, Shrieky," the wizard said. "Especially when they are promised something in return for their services."

"Heh," Shrieky sat down on the couch. "It's so much fun to mess with them…"

~Z~

"…Something's wrong."

This was probably the most Brian had said all day. His usual nightly stargazing had been interrupted by something most disturbing. For one thing, the dark of night had settled in much earlier than normal, despite the fact that it was still early spring. Secondly, many of the stars he loved to watch were gone. They weren't just dim, nor had they changed positions. They were just…gone; spirited away over the course of the time he had been outside.

"Brian…? Are you awake again?" A sleepy voice called to him. The sound of light footfalls coming toward the porch filled his ears. A teen girl with soft green hair plodded outside. "You know, if you slept at night maybe you wouldn't be asleep all during the day…" she yawned.

"Whitney, it's not even 8:15," he retorted. "You're going to bed early."

"I'm exhausted," she mumbled. "I can't believe Ms. Wright made us practice from ten 'til four…I know the concert's in a week and everything, but really…"

"Whitney, can't you see something's up? Look at the sky," he guided his sister's eyes to the dark mass above them. "So many constellations are missing."

"Huh?" the girl peered up for a few seconds. Then she gasped. "You're right! Where's Ursa Major? And Chameleon? And Leo?"

"Look!" Brian pointed to a darker spot in the sky. "It looks like it's a cloud or smoke…"

"I've never seen clouds like that," Whitney said. "Maybe we should check it out."

"Let's hope Grandma is asleep," Brian got up from the porch step and rushed to his bike. Whitney did the same, and together they rushed into the night, looking for the source of the darkness that had taken away the stars.

~Z~

Sigh…my ankle hurts :(

There's that episode. I hope you liked it! Though now it kind of feels like it was over too fast...

FUN TWO CENTS OF THE DAY: I posted a drawing of Terrence! I created a folder just for Care Bears Z, as I will be making more of these. There's also a little bio of him. The link is on my profile page. Enjoy!

~Smiley :)