Part1

Everyone knows of Care-A-Lot. That happy little kingdom in the sky that floats on clouds, the home of the care bears. Everyone knows Baby Hugs, Baby Tugs, Bedtime Bear, Braveheart Lion, Brightheart Raccoon, Cheer Bear, Cozy Heart Penguin, Friend Bear, Funshine Bear, Good Luck Bear, Grams Bear, Grumpy Bear, Harmony Bear, Love-A-Lot Bear, Secret Bear, Share Bear, Swift Heart Rabbit, Tenderheart Bear, True Heart Bear, Wish Bear and their wild cousins as the hip high, fun loving rescuers that made sure everyone one Earth cared for another and made sure that No Heart, Shreeky and the rest of the villains didn’t fill the world with hate. Or take over Care-A-Lot Kingdom.

This was all well and good in 1986, when cloud cars were the hippest way to get around, and rainbow rollers were even better. But as the world moved on, the care bears sort of got left behind. Though they still did their duty by arriving to stop the evil with a care bear stare, they were a little behind the times. It’s several years later, and a lot has changed on the planet below, but in Care-A-Lot, things still appear to be stuck somewhere in care bear history. Until one day….

Inside the Hall of Caring, Tenderheart Bear had called a meeting of gigantic proportions. Their world was literally falling apart; their home in the clouds was slowly crumbling as caring slowly leeched out of the Earth. Rain clouds and lightening now flashed ominously above, cloudquakes rumbled underneath paws and threatened to open up and plunge Care-A-Lot to the waiting planet below. Several homes had already crumbled and others showed horrible cracks that no amount of plaster could cover up. Some houses had even caught fire. Clouds with still stable homes had broken away and carried away a few luckless bears still there. Rescue teams had been sent to bring them back; the Hall of Caring was getting crowded as more and more stragglers made their way to the hall. Care-A-Lot was coming to an end.

“I’ve called this meeting because I’ve noticed how we care bears and care bear cousins seem to be doing very little caring of late,” said Tenderheart. “Caring has fallen to an all time low, past what we'd normally allow and it’s ripping our home apart.” A teeth-rattling shake confirmed what he was saying. “If we don’t do something, Care-A-Lot will be no more!”

“We’ve faced this problem befor, and we have nothing to fear. All we need to is increase the caring and we’ll be fine.” yawned Brave Heart Lion. He was bored with all this and saw no reason to even be here. Everyone was worrying about nothing, but that idiot Tenderheart just had to make a fuss over everything. Under lowered lids, he tracked the movement of the pompous fool. If I were leader, we wouldn’t be here, we’d be out actually doing something, and he sneered at Tenderheart as the care bear took his seat at the head of the meeting table. Gentle Heart Lamb, who was sitting across from Brave Heart, didn’t like the way in which his eyes seemed to glow or the look on his face and hoped she hadn’t upset the mighty lion.

“But what can we do? We’re sending out all available teams, but there aren’t enough of us,” said Swift Heart Rabbit. “Even with the cousins, we’re barely even saving the children from not caring at all!”

There were muted conversations and noises of agreement from all. Tenderheart banged the gavel, bringing them to order. Brave Heart rumbled softly in his throat. “We need to do something, care bears, and we need to do it fast. Does anyone have any suggestions?”

Lotsa Heart Elephant raised his trunk and then stood up. “Well, why send teams? We could just do as good a job with one care bear as we could with two or three.” He was pleased to have come up with an idea.

Swift Heart patted him on his shoulder and looked pointedly at the other end of the table. Brightheart Raccoon, Funshine Bear, Playful Heart Monkey and several others were wrapped in bandages and had several bruises. They’d all volunteered to go by themselves and had come back with very troubling news. Those that they’d tried to help had turned them into punching bags, and Brightheart had nearly lost his tail befor escaping. Their cloud cars were damaged beyond repair, and the few that came back intact were covered in spray paint. Lotsa Heart paled, and quickly sat down.

“Any other suggestions?” There was an eerie silence that was punctuated by claps of thunder. Tenderheart looked at every care bear there—none would meet him in the eye. No one said a thing. He sighed sadly, “Then we are doomed.”

Baby Hugs and Tugs, though no longer babies, stared at each other then at Tenderheart. Now old enough to join in with the other care bears in the Great Hall, they had come of age in time when Care-A-Lot was on its last leg…er cloud. “Tugs, do you think we should tell them?” whispered Hugs.

Tugs looked at her brother. They’d played together, learned together, had adventures and new no other babies except for them. They’d explored every inch of their home and beyond; they were fierce in their loyalty to each other and kept better secrets than Secret Bear. Hugs was asking if she wanted to share their ultimate secret of secrets, a place so special that they swore to never tell unless it was really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, REALLY important. “Hugs, do you really think it important enough?” she whispered back.

“Tugs! Just look at our home! Our tree house has fallen down, and Care-A-Lot is probably next!” A flash of lightening lit up the room and thunder rocked the room. In unison, the twins jumped up. “We have a suggestion!”

No Heart gleefully laughed as another bolt of lightening lit up the now gloomy skies of those pesky care bears. He nearly danced in joy as he watched the little monsters scrambled for cover. :Finally! Those nasty little care bears are coming to a rather dreadful end. Ah…the world has finally done what I strove so hard to accomplish these many years! The final destruction of Care-A-Lot and the Care Bears!: He laughed manically and waved off the glowing orb.

Beastly crept in. Knowing how No Heart hated to be disturbed, he inched his way in to stand shakily befor the terrible wizard. “Um….e-e-excuse me, b-b-boss,” he stuttered.

No Heart glanced bemusedly down at his bumbling henchman. Beastly had served him well, somewhat, and he was in a charitable mood today, which was as rare as a bright sunny day in his kingdom. :What is it, Beastly?: his voice rumbled throughout the hall.

Shivering, Beastly said, “N-n-now that the c-c-care bears are about to um….d-d-disappear forever, what am I supposed to do?” No Heart sat back in his chair as he contemplated the question. With the care bears about to be gone for good, he smiled at the thought, what could his bumbling henchman do. There would be no need for him to go out and try to steal a care bear for his potions, or to lure them into his castle so he could destroy them, and the castle was as nasty as it could be. There truly was no need for the little fur ball now.

:Beastly, you are longer needed. Be gone.: No Heart saw no reason to keep him, so he’d get rid of him.

No Heart’s eyes glowed. :Did I stutter? I said be gone! I release you from my services; stay any longer and you’ll regret it. Take what I offer as my only kind deed…ever.:

“Y-y-yes sir,” Beastly immediately left at run. He still couldn’t believe what had just happened! No Heart had let him go! After over 20 years of loyal service, he was free! He packed what few things that belonged to him, stuffed them all onto his air bicycle, he hoped it didn’t fall apart, and was ready to go. How he’d yearned for this day, when he no longer would serve No Heart and his insufferable niece, Shreeky. He giggled uncertainly, as he pedaled furiously to get enough lift from the heavily loaded air bike; he knew that his life was about to get better.

Brave Heart snorted and began to laugh. “What could you two cubs come up with that none of us could think of? Sit down. You have no say in this matter.”

Hugs and Tugs were hurt that their idea had been dismissed. But they’d been invited to this meeting and had felt very grown-up when the others had greeted them. “But it’s a good one…”

He roared, showing all his fangs. Fangs? They immediately slumped back into their seats.

Tenderheart stared disapprovingly at Brave Heart. “That was uncalled for, Brave Heart. In these desolate times, every suggestion is welcome, even from our youngest family members.” He smiled at Hugs and Tugs, who beamed. “What do you two have to say?”

Before they could stand, Brave Heart slammed a fist on the table, drawing everyone’s attention to him again. “Enough of this! Those cubs shouldn’t even be at this meeting! What are they going to suggest? That we go play hop scotch? Or maybe even tag?” He shrieked angrily at Tenderheart. “This is no time for foolish nonsense! I won’t let…”

Tenderheart banged his gavel fiercely. “Brave Heart Lion! Another out burst like that and I will have you removed from this meeting! You are family, but such behavior is uncalled for.”

Pushing back his chair, Brave Heart jumped onto the table. His tail swished angrily as he stood befor all of the Care-A-Lot family. “Who died and made you king? Care-A-Lot has never had a king, and we don’t need one now! Who said that you were our leader? I don’t recall ever holding an election to make you our leader! You’re not my leader, you over stuffed, pompous swine! You are no leader at all!” Astonishment held many of them still, while others looked on in incredulity. Brave Heart must have gone mad! Long ago, when they were just cubs themselves, before they’d found the cousins, Tenderheart had always guided them on many adventures and were the best organizer of them all. He was most certainly a great arbitrator[1]. No one saw reason to even pick a leader when they grew up when Tenderheart was already doing a good job. They all respected him and saw no reason not to follow him.

As Brave Heart made his little speech, he stalked closer and closer to where Tenderheart sat. Soon, he stood in front of the shocked care bear. He snatched the gavel and held it over his head. “Hear me Care-A-Lot! Not once has anyone thought to question who leads us! Not once has anyone thought that since we were born, did we need a leader! We need no leader! We need no king! Together, we can overthrow our supposed leader,” he sneered down at Tenderheart, and broke the gavel’s handle. “and follow our own rule! Who’s with me!?” The gavel pieces rolled off the table and hit the floor with a thump.

The care bears stared in shocked disbelief at one another, not believing what they had just witnessed. Brave Heart howled angrily. “Who’s with me!” he demanded again. No one moved. He stared in disbelief at them. “Loyal Heart? Cozy Heart?” They avoided looking at him. He turned to the other cousins. “Surely, my wild cousins, you will join me?” They shifted uneasily under his blistering glower. He couldn’t believe them! His own kin had sided against him! “You fools!” he growled. “You wish to be led by this dupe, this braying mule?” He grabbed Tenderheart and yanked him up onto the table. His unblinking gaze was horrible as he stared down into Tenderheart’s anxious eyes. “You will lead these poor saps into a black pit of nothingness. Care-A-Lot already suffers under your leadership, and will soon crumble around you.” He flung Tenderheart back into the chair with enough force to send him and it tumbling backwards. Lightening lit up the room, highlighting Brave Heart in an unholy glow. “I give you one last chance to forget this fool, and join me so that we can actually do something to stop this uncaring from spreading. Again, I ask, are you with me?” He glared around the table, spearing each member with a very unBrave Heart Lion look. It was so cold, so unfeeling. Like there was not an ounce of caring in his entire body. Was this Brave Heart? Terrified, confused no one said anything.

His wintry eyes narrowed as he watched them all. “Brave Heart, what has gotten into you?” gasped Tenderheart. He’d been stunned a little from the fall, but was now standing a little ways back from the table. “You’re not acting yourself.”

Brave Heart laughed manically. “Not acting myself? Not acting myself! Ha! You fool, this is myself! My real self! You who always thought you were so great, so wonderful, how would know what my real self is? You were too busy with being the wonder bear, too busy being our maaa-velous leader!” He sneered. “Come, Tenderheart, let me show you who I really am!” With a yell, Brave Heart pounced onto Tenderheart and began to fight him.

Pandemonium broke out among the stunned care bears. Two beloved care bears were fighting! Something no care bear had ever the heart to do! “No Brave Heart!” “Stop!” “Can’t someone do something!” They all rushed to break up the fight, but what to do? Distressed, they circled the scrabbling pair and called out to them both to stop.

But Tenderheart wasn’t about to be beaten up by his best friend. He’d tried to talk around the flying fists, but Brave Heart was enraged and refused to listen to anything except the crunch of a fist connecting. I hate to do this to you, my friend, but…with a mighty heave, Tenderheart grasped Brave Heart by his mane and flung him off. Before he could right himself and prepare for another attack, Tenderheart hit him with a flying kick, followed by an uppercut that sent the powerful lion reeling. Standing up, Brave Heart shook his head to get rid of the ringing in his ears. “I don’t want to fight you, my friend. I don’t understand why you’re acting this way, but if I must defend Care-A-Lot from you, I will.”

Looking at Tenderheart, all he could do was snarl. From his stance, he could tell that the false leader was indeed prepared to “defend” Care-A-Lot and knew exactly how to do it! He’s done it to me again! Shown me up in front of the others! In front of the cousins! In front of them all! His icy gaze glared at them. “I will ask you once more, my family.” He spat. “Join me and help me stop this plague of uncaring. Without me to guide you, all will fail! Do not let yourselves be deceived by Tenderheart and his ways!”

The cousins had always followed Brave Heart, but with him acting so strangely, after his uncharacteristic display violence just now, they weren’t sure what to do. Brave Heart stared in disbelief. “Traitors,” he whispered hoarsely. “All of you are traitors to the very symbols you wear. I will not forget this day, nor forgive you Tenderheart for what you did. Never…never!” Bellowing in agony and rage, he ran out the double heart doors and into the blackened night.

“S-s-shouldn’t someone g-g-go after him?” asked Treat Heart Pig, her nose trembling.

Sighing, Tenderheart could only stare sadly into the night. Swift Heart quickly zipped over and closed the doors as they banged against the building. The wind had picked up and now blew with the force of a tornado. Lightening flashed, and an unchecked fire could be seen on the horizon, more than likely caused by the lightening. “No, Treat Heart. I think we should leave Brave Heart alone. I don’t know why he acted like he did, but there is nothing we can do until he asks for it.”

The question on many minds as the doors slammed shut with a final bang, was what if he didn’t get a chance to ask?

[1] A person chosen to settle the issue between parties engaged in a dispute or controversy; one having the power to make authoritative decisions.

The Fall of Care-A-Lot