Love Heart stood in his backyard as he held the sealing staff in his right hand and The Sword Card in the other. The Jump sat nearby in its winged rabbit form, Kero floated next to Love Heart and Sage Heart watched from nearby.
“Here’s goes!” Love Heart threw the card forwards and struck it with the staff’s beak. “Sword!” The card broke apart into flame-like wisps that flew up to envelope the staff as Love Heart pointed it skywards. The fire dissipated and showed that the staff had transformed into The Sword, looking identical to how it had before.
Love Heart held The Sword in front of his face then gave it and experimental swing. “It feels so natural in my hand, and light.” He held it up again, staring into the red jewel in the middle of the cross-hilt. “I don’t think you can talk, but can you hear me?”
Silence
Love Heart blinked, “I can feel something from it, emotions, anger, resentment.”
“The Sword has always been a violent card,” Kero nodded, his arms folded.
“Well how would you feel if you’re literally just a weapon?” The Jump shook its head.
“Not sure how I can earn its trust. I don’t think letting it go free is the best idea,” Love Heart swung the sword down and looked down along the blade, “I should at least practise with it.”
“Yes, you should.” Sage Heart turned and conjured up a number of straw targets for his son from his tummy symbol, “If The Sword is as sharp as Kero said, you’ll need to work on precision instead of power.”
Love Heart gripped The Sword in both hands and struck out at the first target, slicing it neatly in two.
Kero and The Jump watched as Love Heart practised, showing off his swordsmanship. “Is he still worried because he couldn’t capture it?” The Jump asked.
“He is,” Sage Heart nodded, “and it’s mixed up with his feelings for Harmony and his friendship with Brave Heart.” He sighed, “I’m worried that his friendship with them will never be the same.”
“I’ll worry about that later,” Love Heart didn’t turn as he spoke, “For now I need to focus on the Clow Cards.” He returned to his practise.
Confidence Heart arrived a short time later, vaulting over the fence as usual and biting her tongue when she saw Love Heart practising.
The Jump glared up at the new arrival, “What are you doing here?” it was clearly irritated.
“Huh?” Confidence looked down at the small winged pink rabbit, somewhat confused.
“What? Don’t remember grabbing me!?” The Jump stared at her menacingly.
“Wait, are you The Jump Card?” Confidence looked it up and down. It was slimmer and had a less menacing appearance despite its death glare.
“That’s right!”
Confidence folded her arms, “I’m not apologizing.”
“You needed to be sealed,” Kero interjected, “Besides are you really that angry about that?”
“Annoyed,” The Jump sighed, “But fine. I’m not that angry,” It turned to watch Love Heart again, as did Kero and Confidence Heart.
Love Heart was panting when he finally re-sealed The Sword and turned to see her.
“Confidence,” he smiled, “just come to watch?”
“That wasn’t my plan, but I enjoyed the show,” Confidence smirked, “Your battle costume is finished.”
“Really?” Love Heart perked up, “Let’s go try it on,” He motioned to The Jump.
The Jump smiled and bounded onto Love Heart’s shoulder where it perched. Kero latched onto Love Heart’s other shoulder, neither weighing enough to throw off his balance, before he let Confidence Heart drag him away.
OoOoO
Sweet Heart Pegasus flew over Readington, preferring to view the town from above rather than the Kingdom of Caring. She enjoyed being able to fly without a cloud car license, to be up here without anyone to bother her. She loved being able to find a place that was truly isolated, too far away to hear anyone shouting at her from the ground and being able to shut off her heartphone and just relax. She caught a thermal and soared higher, letting her wings rest as she felt the air rush up around her and carry her worries away.
A sudden screech knocked Sweet Heart out of her bliss as she spun around in the air to catch sight of the source. It flew by her, knocking her for a loop and she was barely able to steady herself. She caught sight of a massive bird as she leveled off then dove for the ground. The screech behind her signaled that the thing was still pursuing her and she made a beeline for the portal to Care-a-Lot.
OoOoO
Love Heart looked at himself in the full length mirror, turning to get a look at the battle costume he now wore. The outfit consisted of dark blue pants and a light blue shirt open at the bottom with yellow cuffs, light blue boots with yellow rims, a light blue cape with dark blue hearts on each corner and red on the inside that was attached by a bright yellow chest piece with a dark blue heart emblazoned in the middle and topped off by a headpiece that attached under his ears with small white wings attached to the sides by large red fasteners.
“Do you like it?” Confidence fidgeted as she waited for Love Heart’s opinion.
Love Heart grinned, “I love it! Thank you.”
Confidence Heart visibly relaxed, “Good. So how does it feel, tight anywhere?”
“A little in the shoulders,” Love Heart twisted his torso left and right.
“It should loosen up after a while,” Confidence Heart walked over to check the shoulder sections, “I’ll try to let it out if it’s still stiff after a couple weeks.”
“Thanks anyways,” Love Heart felt slightly embarrassed, “How can I thank you for this?”
“Let me come on your card capturing missions,” Confidence replied, “I helped capture The Jump after all.”
“Yeah, I remember,” The Jump piped up.
Both Care Bears turned to Kero and The Jump, “What do you think?” Confidence asked.
“I like it, makes you stand out,” The Jump said.
“Pretty good, should get the cards’ attention,” Kero flew over and around Love Heart to inspect it.
“Which reminds me, I have something for you.” A moment later, Kero had a large blue bow with a red heart-shaped button at the center tied around his neck.
“Nice! Stylish!” Kero grinned as he looked at himself in a mirror.
“What about me?” The Jump suddenly felt left out.
“Do you want me to make you something?” Confidence turned to the winged pink rabbit.
“Maybe... I mean...” The Jump hadn’t expected her to offer but Confidence was already searching around the room and came up with a set of pale green ribbons.
“Here,” She carefully tied them around The Jump’s ears, or at least the things that looked like ears, so they wound up and around ending with small bows at the tips. She then held up a mirror in front of it.
The Jump flicked its ears, testing the weight, “I think it looks good, maybe?”
“It looks cute,” Love Heart complimented then motioned to his shoulder and The Jump hopped on up, “Do they get in the way, do they itch.”
“Nope,” The Jump shook its head.
Before more congratulations could be sent around, Love Heart and Kero felt the twinge of magic shoot through their minds.
“A Clow Card!” Kero shouted.
“I feel it too,” Love Heart tuned to The Jump, “Sorry but I need you back in your card now.”
“Alright!” The Jump vanished in a bright rush of wind, flying into the Clow Book Love Heart had left on a table which Love Heart snatched up at he and Kero bolted from Confidence Heart’s house. They nearly crashed into Tori’s boyfriend Julian as they ran out the door.
Love Heart just stared as he saw the giant bird diving towards the portal, only to pull back as its wing struck something. It shrieked in pain and took off into the sky.
“It’s The Fly Card!” Kero shouted as Love Heart took off to chase the giant bird. He was about to pull out The Jump Card when he saw Sweet Heart flying towards the portal only to hit the ground right before passing through. All thoughts of capturing the card were forgotten as Love Heart beelined for his little sister as she struggled to her hooves.
Sweet Heart had crashed from shock rather than injury and was struggling to breathe as she stumbled to her hooves. She felt Love Heart take her hand and help her to stand.
“Sweet Heart, are you alright?” Love Heart crouched to look her in the eyes.
Sweet Heart spread her wings and began smoothing out her feathers and pulling out a few that had molted, “Just scared, The Fly almost got me.”
“Yeah,” Love Heart sighed in relief and stood up then searched around, “How can a bird that big just disappear?”
“Don’t underestimate it,” Kero flew up beside Love Heart, “The Fly Card might not be the most subtle of cards but it can be clever. But it will come back.” Neither of them noticed Sweet Heart shuddering at Kero’s words.
Confidence Heart arrived, slowing from her run, “Where’d the big bird go? Wait...” she held her hands up to her huge ears. Her left ear twitched as she heard a strained cry, “I think it’s... that way!” She pointed off in the direction she had heard.
“Right,” Love Heart nodded then turned to Sweet Heart, “Will you be alright?”
Sweet Heart just nodded.
“Alright, let’s do this.” Love Heart pulled out his pendant.
“Key of Clow Power of Magic Power of Light Surrender the Wand The Force Ignite Release!”
Love Heart snatched the staff from the air, “Let’s go!” He, Confidence Heart and Kero took off with Confidence leading them by her ears.
Sweet Heart just held her chest as he breathing returned to normal before heading home through the portal.
Confidence Heart followed her ears as she led Love Heart and Kero to the edge of the town, all three easily able to keep up the pace. Love Heart squinted then pointed to the massive shape in the sky “UP THERE!” He shouted.
“What? Whoa!” Confidence skidded to halt, “How did I miss that.”
“The Fly can’t be seen past a certain distance,” Kero piped up, “from too far away it looks like a giant cloud.”
“Well I have to get up there!” Love Heart reached into the Clow Book and pulled out a card. “Jump!” He struck the card with his staff and wings materialized on his feet. “Alright here goes!”
“Wait!” Confidence’s shout came too late as Love Heart launched himself right at the giant bird, Kero clinging to his shoulder to keep up.
Love Heart’s cape billowed behind him as he reached the apex of his jump, falling slightly short of reaching The Fly and beginning to plummet. The giant bird shrieked as it dove towards Love Heart, missing him as he fell except for the wind to blow him off course.
“It’s slow to turn!” Love Heart looked over his shoulder as he fell then looked down at the wings on his feet.
“You’ll have to get on its back!” Kero shouted as they finally hit the ground.
Love Heart spun around, seeing that The Fly was losing altitude and heading towards town. “Ready to try again, Jump?” Love Heart swore he could feel The Jump agreeing with him as he crouched again, then aimed himself at The Fly and jumped as hard as he could. The wings on his feet flapped slightly, tilting his body towards The Fly as he first overtook it then fell towards its back.
The Fly screeched as Love Heart hit its back, grabbing onto its feathers to stay attached. He forced himself to look up at the bird’s head. He wished he could cover his ears as The Fly shrieked out in pain.
“What’s wrong?!” Love Heart shouted to be heard over the wind and received another pained cry in response as The Fly banked left. Love Heart turned in that direction and saw a snapped off tree trunk had impaled The Fly’s left wing.
“No wonder it’s going crazy!” Kero shouted.
“I have to get it out!” Love Heart pushed the staff into his mouth and bit down as he laboriously crawled forwards against the wind to get closer to The Fly’s head, pulling the staff out once he was holding onto the base of its neck. “Fly Card!” Love Heart shouted, “I can help you but you have to land! I can get that tree out of your wing! Please land!”
The Fly Card’s cry nearly shattered Love Heart’s ear drums but it seemed to get the message as it was descending, or maybe the pain was finally too much. As they got closer, Love Heart let go and fell to the ground, landing safely thanks to The Jump. His expression softened as he saw the giant bird go in for a crash landing in a large open field.
“I don’t think it can fly anymore,” Kero floated off Love Heart’s shoulder, no longer needing to hold on.
“Then it’s time to keep my promise,” Love Heart jumped towards where The Fly had crashed, leaving Kero behind.
Love Heart could tell The Fly was in pain as he landed next to its head, though its bird-like head didn’t betray much emotion he could tell. He carefully reached out to touch it above the eye but paused when it glared at him from the one eye.
“Relax, I’m here to help,” Love Heart lowered his voice, “I’m Love Heart Bear and I’m the Cardcaptor.”
The Fly gave him an incredulous look then craned its neck to look at its impaled wing. Love Heart followed its gaze for a moment then turned back to face it.
“I’ll get that out, just lie still. It’s going to hurt.” Love Heart turned and jumped on to the Fly’s back. The Fly screeched in pain as Love Heart walked carefully along its wing to reach the place where the tree trunk had impaled it and he touched it.
“Can’t pull it out but... something Take Care told me in first aid.” Love Heart pulled out his only other Clow Card, “Sword!” A flash of magical fire and The Sword had replaced the staff in Love Heart’s hand. He took held the sword in both hands and took a deep breath then swung, slicing the tree trunk off right near the wing. He pushed off the piece so it fell to the ground then turned back to the piece still lodged in The Fly’s wing.
“This is going to hurt,” Love Heart eyed the piece nervously. He swore he could feel a sensation from The Fly that said ‘Just get it over with!’ so he raised his foot and stomped down hard on the wood. The Fly cried out as the wood was pushed through its wing, fighting to stay still. It took three more slams of Love Heart’s boot before it was finally pushed out and The Fly flopped down, letting out a cry of relief. Love Heart jumped down in front of The Fly’s head, returning The Jump and The Sword to their cards as he faced the exhausted bird.
“Feeling better?” Love Heart watched as the bird gave a small nod of its huge head.
“Good, I have to seal you now. I can’t have you flying around hurting yourself or anyone else,” Love Heart held the staff forwards in both hands. The Fly just slumped down, admitting defeat as Love Heart raised the staff.
“Fly Card! I command you to return to your power confined! Fly Card!” He struck the air right over the bird’s head and after a whirl of magic he held The Fly Card in his hand, depicting the same giant bird with folded wings.
“Love Heart!”
“Love Heart!”
Love Heart looked up after having just written his name across The Fly in time to see Confidence Heart and Kero slowing to a stop in front of him. He smiled and held up the card for them to see.
“All taken care of, one more Clow Card sealed.”
“All right!” Kero floated over to the card, “How did you do it?”
“I cut the tree out of its wing, after that it let me seal it.”
“That’s great!” Confidence lunged forwards to hug Love Heart, who smiled and hugged her back. “So I guess we should start the walk home.”
“No need,” Kero pointed to the card still in Love Heart’s hand, “You can use The Fly Card to get home.”
“Are you sure?” Love Heart let go of Confidence with his right arm to look at the card as Confidence stepped aside to look at the card too, “It’s still hurt.”
“Resting in the card heals and recharges them,” Kero nodded, “Go ahead.”
Confidence stepped away from Love Heart so he could toss The Fly forwards and strike it with his staff, “Fly!”
Instead of summoning the giant bird, the little wings on the staff’s head grew to massive size.
Confidence whistled, “Wow. So do you ride it like a broomstick?”
“I guess so but I can’t drive a cloud car,” Love Heart swung his leg over the staff and felt a small twinge in his mind, “I can feel it though. I think I can control it.” The staff’s wings flapped as it rose slightly. Love Heart winced as his feet left the ground, “OK, I think I can do this.”
Confidence couldn’t help but giggle as she hopped on the staff behind him, “Well let’s go home.” Confidence wrapped her arms around Love Heart’s middle to hold on as Kero grabbed on to Love Heart’s shoulder. With a little concentration, Love Heart was able to take off and fly them back to town.
Kero happily stayed after lunch to clean up with the promise of cookies afterwards while Love Heart retreated to his room. He stared at The Fly Card in his hand as he lay back on his bed until he felt something from the Clow Book.
Love Heart looked at The Jump, noting how the green ribbons were on its ears in the picture now, before he pulled out the staff, “Come out, Jump!” he summoned The Jump in front of him on the bed. “What’s wrong?” he could see that The Jump looked downcast.
“Well, now that you have The Fly I guess you won’t be needing me anymore...” it hung its head.
Love Heart frowned then reached over and lifted The Jump’s chin, “Jump, look at me. I’m not going to abandon you or stop using you, I promise.”
“Really?” The Jump perked up.
“I promise,” Love Heart scratched under The Jump’s chin which made its wings flutter in happiness. Love Heart smiled then turned to his still open door, “I need to talk to Sweet Heart.” He stood up, “Want to come?”
“Yes!” The Jump hopped up onto Love Heart’s shoulder as he left the room.
Sweet Heart lay on her bed, staring at something as she propped up on her arms. She nearly jumped when she heard a knock on her door and hastily stashed it under her pillow.
“Who’s there?”
“It’s Love Heart, can I come in?”
Sweet Heart sighed then forced herself to smile, “OK, big brother.” She sat up as the door opened.
Love Heart smiled at her, “You doing alright, Sweet?”
“Just tired and a little scared,” she couldn’t help but stare at The Jump sitting on Love Heart’s shoulder as he sat next to her.
“Don’t worry,” Love Heart held up The Fly Card, “I caught it, you’re safe now.”
“Thanks, big brother,” Sweet Heart was still staring at The Jump.
“Is there something on my face?” The Jump rubbed its face with its forepaws.
“Oh, no!” Sweet Heart’s wings flared slightly, “I just wasn’t expecting you to be out of your card so much and what are those things on your ears,” she pointed to the green ribbons still tied around The Jump’s ears.
“Confidence gave them to me,” The Jump seemed to smile, “They make me look cute.”
“I like having him around,” Love Heart scratched The Jump under its chin, “Just let me know if you want to talk about anything, ok?”
“Ok. Thank you, big brother.” Sweet Heart stayed seated until Love Heart left then flopped back on her bed with a big shuddering sigh before she folded her wings and curled up on top of her bed sheets. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
