“I love this time of year!” Confidence Heart spun on one foot as she and Love Heart walked through the Readington Park in the crisp autumn air. She was wearing a dark blue kangaroo jacket with the hood down and she shoved both her hands into the front pocket as Love Heart caught up to her.
Love Heart smiled, “Why’s that? The Halloween costumes? The holidays about eating lots of food?”
Confidence Heart put her left arm around Love Heart’s shoulders, “That and the colors of the leaves: red, orange and yellow instead just green everywhere.”
Love Heart smirked as he put his arm around her waist, “I thought you liked green things.”
Confidence spun around to wrap Love Heart in a hug, “I love it on you.”
Love Heart blushed as he hugged her around the waist, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” they kissed.
They kept an arm around each other as they resumed their walk, “So any idea what you want to dress up for Halloween this year?” Love Heart asked.
Confidence groaned, “Not yet, I’ve been wrapped up in costumes for the play ever since the auditions finished. At least Grams and Teacher Bear are helping me even though I’m in charge of costume design.”
“So no costumes this year?” Love Heart sounded disappointed.
“I didn’t say that!” Confidence snapped back then sighed, “I just need some ideas and I don’t want to just do something generic.”
“So no bed sheet ghosts, mummies or vampires then?” Love Heart chuckled.
Confidence couldn’t help but laugh, “If I get desperate I may have to.”
Love Heart kissed her cheek, “Don’t worry about it I can me think of something. Should we do a couples costume?”
“Yeah,” Confidence leaned her head up against him and nuzzled him as best as she could as they walked, “It’s the first time we can do that, maybe out last time too...”
“Hey, we can still dress up once we graduate,” Love Heart nuzzled back, “I promise.”
Confidence sighed happily, “What did I do to deserve a guy like you?”
“You want the full list?”
“Nah, but thank you anyway,” they kissed again.
OoOoO
Loyal Heart felt his stomach growl as he stood in the school sewing room while Confidence finished taking his measurements. “How much longer is this going to take?”
“Not long, actually I’ll have your costume done in no time,” Confidence hung the tailor’s measuring tape around her neck, “As long as you can see out of it I just need to make sure you’re covered in a long black robe that doesn’t trip you up, also gotta get you some black gloves.”
“Can I leave then? I’m hungry,” Loyal rubbed his stomach.
“Lunch was barely an hour ago, how can you still be hungry?” Confidence didn’t look back as she selected some long pieces of black cloth Grams Bear had donated.
Loyal Heart shrugged, “I don’t know, maybe I’m going to hit a growth spurt.”
“Well at least if you do this won’t be too hard to alter,” Confidence was getting immersed in her work so Loyal knew not to disturb her.
Loyal ran into Love Heart as they were both leaving the school for the day, “Rehearsal over?” Loyal asked
“As much as I can do at least,” Love Heart put his hands in his pockets as he walked, “Trying to get The Illusion to mimic face movements for the Marley in the Doorknob scene. Bright Heart’s trying to rig up a way we can show that off on stage properly. Want to come over for a while? Mom and dad should be busy for at least a couple hours.”
Loyal Heart felt his stomach growl again, “Sure, can we get something to eat first?”
Loyal Heart stopped by the Hall of Hearts kitchen to make a dozen salami sandwiches before they made it to Love Heart’s house. Before long, he, Love Heart, Kero and The Jump were all playing a four player co-op game on the TV, shouting and whooping as they cleared levels or groaning if one of them took a hit. Loyal Heart had to stop and practically inhale a sandwich every couple minutes until he finished his stack and felt satisfied.
Halfway through the game, they all took a break and Loyal Heart leaned back on the couch, “Haven’t had this much fun in a while.”
“Yeah,” Love Heart sat back with him, “Senior year’s a pain even without all this play stuff we have to do.”
“So what’s this play about?” The Jump asked.
“A Christmas Carol?” Loyal Heart sat forwards, “It’s probably the most famous Christmas story of all time, and definitely the mot adapted, there have been hundreds of versions out there and it’s about...” Loyal Heart paused.
“What’s it about?” Kero flew up over to Loyal Heart, suddenly interested.
“You know, I think you two might be the only people in Readington or the Kingdom of Caring that don’t know the story,” Loyal Heart gave a smile.
Love Heart had gotten up and was digging out an older game console but he caught on to what Loyal Heart was saying, “I think you two deserve to see the story without spoilers, we want to see what you think about our version.” He pulled out an old game disc and plugged it into the console.
“I agree, Loyal Heart watched as Love Heart pulled a different controller from an old console back to the couch, “What game’s that?”
“An old one I haven’t played in years. I used to love it so I want to see if I’m rusty at it or not,” Love Heart turned to the others, “mind just watching for a bit?”
“Sure, I could use a break,” The Jump rubbed at imaginary soreness in its arms as the game started up.
While not enraptured they figured out it was some sort of flight simulator and watched an interesting story start up. Love Heart was only half paying attention until the mission briefing started and he sat forwards, taking in the whole thing as a blue area map filled the screen and a piece of music played that seemed to demand their attention.
“Here is the current sitrep and your orders for deployment, effective immediately. Enemy agents destroyed our early warning radar network, allowing several Bear bombers to penetrate our airspace...”
OoOoO
Loyal Heart had brought some extra food to munch on as Confidence gave the finishing touches to his costume. He swallowed and wiped his mouth as Confidence pulled the finished costume up, “Alright let’s try it on.”
Loyal Heart pulled on long black gloves and then let Confidence pull the large black cloak over his body and stepped back to admire her work. “There, the perfect Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come don’t you think?”
Loyal Heart was completely covered by a long black robe with a hood that suggested a face but with his hidden behind a mesh he could see out of. “I can’t tell, everything’s so fuzzy,” he voice was slightly muffled.
“Looks good, now try pointing,” Love Heart stood nearby, Clow Staff in one hand and The Illusion in the other.
Loyal Heart pointed with his right hand covered in the black glove and both Love Heart and Confidence scrutinized it.
“Kinda hard to see, hold on,” Confidence dug around and pulled out a longer white glove, “Try this one.”
Loyal Heart switched the glove and pointed at Confidence Heart, who still stared at it. “Hmm, not quite right, now it sticks out too much. I suppose you could hold a plastic skeleton hand but that would look too rigid.”
“That’s why I’m here, let me try.” Love Heart summoned The Illusion card which materialized beside him as a humanoid figure made of a transparent kaleidoscope pattern, “Illusion, can you make Loyal Heart’s hand look like a skeleton hand.
The Illusion made no sound but reached out as the air rippled and invisible waves flowed over Loyal Heart’s hand which slowly took on the appearance of a skeletal hand.
“Wow,” Loyal Heart looked at his hand which still felt complete but now looked entirely skeletal.
“Perfect!” Confidence grinned, “Mixing your magic and my sewing skills this will be the greatest high school Christmas Carol ever!”
Love Heart watched Loyal Heart move his skeletal looking hand around experimentally, waving and pointing at various things before he gave Love Heart a thumbs up. “OK, I think we’re done for now, Illusion you can return.” The Illusion didn’t hesitate to flow back into its card and Love Heart put it away.
“Yeah, I’ll get started on the other costumes tomorrow. Still need time to make Halloween costumes for us, if you thought of something,” Confidence was already putting the sewing tools away.
“Actually I do, here,” Love Heart pulled out his heartphone and showed Confidence a picture, “How about these two, with this?”
Confidence looked at the pictures Love Heart was showing her, “That’s mostly easy, but the bigger part is a bit outside my talents.”
“I asked Bright Heart and Grumpy if they could help, just a bunch of cardboard,” Love Heart assured her.
“Then let’s do it!” Confidence grinned, “So will we be going out that night?”
“If Sweet Heart goes trick-or-treating then we’ll be chaperoning her, and probably Hugs, Tugs and Get Well too. All of Teacher Bear’s kids are going with her, family traditions and such.” Love Heart sounded uncertain.
“Sounds good to me,” Loyal Heart finished pulling the costume up and hanging it in the closet set aside for the play’s costumes, “I’m probably just going to be handing out candy in the Kingdom of Caring.”
“So what are you going to be this year, Loyal, a knight?” Confidence joked.
“I was thinking a samurai, they’re kinda like knights right?” Loyal Heart led them out of the room, holding the door for them.
“Really?” Love Heart quirked an eyebrow.
“Well they’re that or cowboys depending on the story,” Confidence shrugged, “Any real reason?”
“Just felt like a change and don’t really feel like dressing up as a knight... Proud Heart and Gentle Heart both called me their ‘knight in shining armor’ so... yeah,” Loyal Heart sighed. “So I just need some armor bits and a katana sword right?”
“Doesn’t need to just be a katana, Samurai were actually more prominently archers, especially on horseback, and they trained with spears too. Their katana was more of a status symbol,” Confidence saw both boys looking at her with surprise, “After watching so much anime I just had to look up how samurai really were. Oh and if you really want to look the part you should get a helmet with some beetle like horns on it, the Japanese love big beetles.”
“Huh, never knew that, tell me more,” Loyal Heart kept pace with Confidence while Love Heart just rolled his eyes and smiled, following a few steps behind them.
OoOoO
“I want to go trick-or-treating this year,” Sweet Heart finally spoke up at supper that night. The rest of her family stared at her, including Kero who was just waiting around for dessert.
“Really?” Life Heart held her breath as did the rest of the family.
“Yes, I do,” Sweet Heart smiled, not a forced smile she had been putting on since summer but a genuine smile.
Sage Heart let out a sigh of relief, “That’s great, so what do you want to go as?”
“Well I do have an idea and I’d like The Jump Card’s help,” Sweet Heart turned to Love Heart.
“The Jump?” Love Heart sounded confused, “What do you want to dress up as?”
Sweet Heart looked a bit nervously between each of her parents then to her brother and Kero. She gulped then smiled again and said, “Alice from Alice in Wonderland and I want to ask The Jump to be the white rabbit.”
“You’ll have to ask it, it was sleeping on my bed earlier,” Love Heart resumed eating.
“What’s trick-or-treating?” Kero spoke up.
Because Love Heart’s mouth was full, Sweet Heart answered, “It’s where kids go all around town in costumes and ask everyone to give them candy.”
“You mean you get a ton of candy? For free?” Kero had flown right into Sweet Heart’s face which forced her to lean back with her eyes wide.
Love Heart grabbed Kero’s tail and pulled him back, “Yes, it’s a thing kids do every Halloween.”
Kero rounded on Love Heart, “I want to go! Can we go please?” Kero was practically begging.
Love Heart considered Kero for a moment then grinned, “Actually I think I have a perfect costume you can wear with me and Confidence, since I’ll need to chaperone Sweet Heart and her friends.”
“Alright!” Kero shot up and pumped his fist in the air, “Free candy!”
“I’m happy you’re excited,” Sage Heart rolled his eyes.
“Just don’t give yourself a tummy ache,” Life Heart carefully pulled Kero down from where he had floated up.
“Don’t worry, I don’t get sick from eating too may sweets,” Kero grinned.
“Yeah, I mean a single bowl of pudding would do it at his size,” Love Heart snickered.
“Hey, just wait till you see my true form,” Kero pointed at Love Heart, “It’s quite the sight to behold.”
While she was chewing Sweet Heart had a sudden mental image of a giant Kero standing over all the buildings in town but otherwise looking exactly the same as he did now and almost choked as she laughed.
OoOoO
On Halloween night everyone had finished an early supper and Sweet Heart was getting the last touches put on her costume by her mother. It was nothing too complicated: just a blue dress with a white apron on the front, holes in the back for her wings and a blonde wig.
“There, you look so cute!” Life Heart beamed as she stepped back, “And now for the white rabbit.”
The Jump sat nearby as Life Heart put a blue waistcoat on him and attached an old pocket watch to it with a short chain, normal sized for a human or Care Bear but rather large on its small frame. For once it had the ribbons taken off of its ears and it scratched at the spots where it usually wore them, “This feels weird.”
“You look great,” Sweet Heart motioned for The Jump to hop up on her shoulder, which it did, “Thanks for this.”
“With all your family’s done it’s the least I can do,” The Jump checked the watch again, “So what do I have to do?”
“Just ride with me, or hop along,” Sweet Heart made her way to the front door, “Oh and some things to say...”
Life Heart didn’t dress up while Sage Heart was wearing a crude wizard’s robe and carrying a staff as they escorted Sweet Heart to the portal where she would meet her friends and chaperones for the early evening. While the Kingdom of Caring was decorated and a Halloween party was planned for later at the Hall of Hearts for the older Care Bears and Cousins, no one trick-or-treated in the Kingdom of Caring just in case someone got lost in the night in the Forest of Feelings. Life Heart, Sage Heart and Independent Bear were handing out candy at the portal entrance with Loyal Heart Dog and Funshine Bear (A yellow girl bear with a smiling sun for a tummy symbol currently dressed as a mummy), both to take part and to keep kids from sneaking through the portal.
Hugs, Tugs and Sweet Heart were waiting there with Love Heart and Confidence, Grams Bear having dropped off her grandchildren to go off with Teacher Bear and her cubs, as Grams and Teacher Bear had become close friends since Teacher Bear moved to Care-a-Lot.
Sweet Heart whispered to The Jump, which nodded and jumped forwards glancing at the pocket watch and shouting, “I’m late! I’m late! For a very important date!” bounding forwards and stopping in front of the rest of the Trick-or-Treating party. Those assembled clapped for the performance as Sweet Heart joined the group.
Hugs was dressed in a crude costume of Medusa, just a toga-like robe and a bunch of green pipe cleaners with sequins to look like eyes as a tangle of snakes on her head. Tugs was dressed as a vampire with a black shirt and cape and a pair of fangs on his upper teeth which gave him a slight lisp. Get Well’s costume was the simplest: just a white bed sheet with two holes for her eyes to make her a ghost.
“I vant to suck your blood!” Tugs spread his cape and hissed with his plastic fangs which just got an eye roll out of his peers.
“Very nice,” Get Well snarked from beneath her sheet.
“At leasht I have a real coshtume, you’d think a surgeon could sew better,” Tugs countered.
“She knows how to sew flesh, not fabric,” Get Well’s response elicited retching noises from those in earshot and she mentally kicked herself, growing up in a doctor’s office and reading medical book far above her age level she sometimes forgot that casually talking about medical stuff could turn one’s stomach.
Love Heart and Confidence Heart had the most elaborate costumes of the group. Confidence was wearing white pants and shirt with a pink overshirt all of Chinese inspired designs with a light-purple bag around her left shoulder and right waist. Her hair had been dyed black and done up in two hair buns that extended down into a few long braids.
Love Heart’s costume completely covered him: a large suit of armor made of cardboard with a prominently designed face and a zig-zag shaped mouth.
Hugs looked them up and down, “Who are you two supposed to be?”
Confidence grinned, “I’m Mei Chang and Love Heart’s Alphonse Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist and... come out Kero.”
There was a grumbling as Kero floated out from behind Confidence Heart and sat on her shoulder. The guardian beast had been painted to look like a tiny panda bear which made Hugs have to suppress a giggle. “I’m only doing this for the candy.”
“Kero is playing Mei’s little panda friend Xiao-Mei,” Confidence stroked the Guardian Beast’s head.
“How can you walk in that thing, Love Heart?” Sweet Heart looked up and down the cardboard suit of armor.
“Easier than you think,” Love Heart’s voice was muffled, “can’t move the arms though, my head’s about here,” he tapped from the inside just below the large spike on the chest and only now did Sweet Heart notice there was a grey mesh there instead of cardboard so, which allowed him to see.
“It’s very good,” Loyal Heart was indeed dressed as a samurai with a kimono-like cloak and cardboard armor plates on his chest and over his arms and an old motorcycle helmet with long horns glued to the front, with a fake longbow and arrows attached to his back and a toy katana at his side.
“Thanks,” Love Heart’s muffled voice replied, “Everyone ready to go?”
“Wait a minute!” The shout came from an approaching Syaoran. Who, instead of a costume, was just wearing his family robes, which no one seemed to mind.
“Li?” Love Heart had to turn his entire body and costume to see him, “You celebrate Halloween?”
Syaoran shook his head, “That’s not why I’m here, I need to talk to you about a Clow Card.”
Love Heart’s gaze narrowed inside his costume but he said aloud, “Just give me a minute then we’ll start.” He shambled in the costume over somewhere out of sight, “OK, Li, what’s going on?”
“Can’t you sense it? There’s a Clow Card somewhere,” Syaoran’s voice was serious, “And with everyone out it’s going to strike tonight. How are you supposed to capture it like that?”
“Yes, I did,” the front of Love Heart’s costume lifted up and tilted back on a hinge. Inside Love Heart was wearing his battle costume and had the Clow Book attached to his side and the Clow Key hung around his neck. “I’m ready but this way I can still wear my Halloween costume and be out and ready when it shows up. I can’t even move this thing’s arms.”
Syaoran actually smiled as Love Heart pulled the cardboard armor back over his body, “Then I’m coming with you.”
“Alright,” Love Heart’s voice was muffled again as he walked the armor back over to the group, “Li’s going to be joining us tonight.”
“Maybe I should come too,” Loyal Heart moved over to join the group and Syaoran went rigid.
“Alright then, let’s go!” Confidence pumped her fist in the air.
“Yay! Free Candy!” Kero and the cubs all shouted.
As they headed for the first houses on their rout Syaoran marched with his knees and elbows rigid, seemingly unable to relax.
“Li looks like a windup toy,” Hugs whispered which made all the cubs and The Jump card giggle. Syaoran didn’t seem to notice and stayed back when everyone but him and Love Heart went up to the first house.
“Trick or treat!” They all chorused, holding out pillowcases they were using as candy bags, with Confidence holding an extra one that she claimed for her boyfriend but was really for Kero. The man at the door smiled and dropped a piece into each of their bags.
“One house down, so many more to go!” Tugs grinned.
“Mom says all this candy is bad for you,” Get Well picked the piece of hard candy out and looked at it.
Hugs scoffed, “Yeah, so’s hot chocolate and she drinks that stuff all winter.”
Get Well smirked behind her bed sheet and dropped the candy back into her pillowcase, “I’ll remind her of that when I get home.”
You can do anything If you believe it’s true See what this friendship brings It can only get stronger when you work it through
You can go anywhere Imagination will take you through Magic and mystery In the blink of an eye you could fly to the moon
Out of all the people in the world You're the chosen one Of every boy and girl Now your friends are here Your mission’s clear You’re the guardian of the cards
Every day is a new adventure As you discover the magic you need You uncover the mystic secrets Where the power within is the will to succeed
Yes this is your destiny This is what you were born to do Bring back the harmony To make a better world for me and you
Out of all the people in the world You're the chosen one Of every boy and girl Now your friends are here Your mission’s clear You're the guardian of the cards
You're the Guardian of the cards You're the chosen one Yes you are No matter where you search Near or far You're the guardian of the cards
Out of all the people in the world You're the chosen one of every boy and girl Now your friends are here Your mission’s clear You’re the guardian of the cards
You're the guardian of the cards You're the chosen one Yes you are No matter where you search Near or far You're the guardian of the cards
Out of all the people in the world You're the chosen one Of every boy and girl Now your friends are here Your mission’s clear You're the guardian of the cards
A couple hours later the sun was setting all their pillowcases were full, Confidence letting Kero dive into the one she had filled for him. “Have fun?” she asked, looking into the bag.
“Oh yeah!” Kero lay on his back among the packages, “So much sweet stuff,” he looked and sounded in complete bliss.
“So is anyone tired yet?” Love Heart asked from inside his costume.
“No way!” Tugs shook his head.
“uh-uh,” Hugs added.
“I’m not!” Get Well added.
“I’m good,” Sweet Heart voice was quieter but she smiled.
“I’m fine,” Syaoran had relaxed a bit, he only had a small shopping bag as he hadn’t started going up for candy until the last half-hour or so.
“Good, because a bunch of the parents set up a haunted Halloween carnival in the park,” Loyal Heart pointed towards where they could now see spooky lights emanating from the park, and other kids were converging on the location. “Let’s hurry home and drop off our candy so we don’t have to drag it around there all night.” All the kids let out a cheer and made a mad dash to the portal, with Loyal Heart right on their tails; Syaoran and Confidence went off in different directions since they lived on the Readington side while Love Heart waited, not able to run in his costume.
Love Heart was about to head for the park where he’d meet them then paused and looked up. He swore he could sense something faintly, but it passed so he shook his head then went to the park entrance, not seeing some hanging ghost decorations spontaneously combust and burn to ashes.
As everyone returned, now longer dragging pillowcases with them, they saw that the park was decorated like a large haunted house with ghost and bat decorations hanging from almost every tree and wooden standees of witches, vampires, mummies, werewolves and even the Frankenstein monster around a large clearing full of entertainment and games.
“Yahoo!” Tugs literally jumped for joy as he took off into the haunted park followed by the other kids. He immediately spotted Grams and Teacher Bear with the latter’s adopted cubs and they ran off to join them.
Love Heart lingered at the edge with Confidence Heart and Kero and gave a sigh of relief, “Sweet Heart’s actually having fun, I was worried she’d stay home after we finished trick-or-treating.”
“She thought about it,” Confidence nodded, “But she said the doctor told her to spend time with her friends, that and The Jump was too excited to see the park.” She leaned up against his costume, “And when this is all done we can go to the Halloween party at the Hall of Hearts. Are you having fun?”
“Yeah, but there’s something nearby,” Love Heart’s muffled voice became serious. “I sensed a Clow Card.”
“What?” Confidence’ kept her voice low, “When?”
“Right after you left to drop off your candy and before that while I was waiting with you at the portal. Sorry I didn’t say anything earlier but I didn’t want anyone panicking.”
“It’s fine, I get it,” Confidence nodded, “Are you ready for it?”
“Yeah, got the cards and the staff in here with me,” Love Heart peered through the mesh visor in the armor’s chest to se Sweet Heart and Tugs bobbing for apples. Syaoran was wandering around observing parts of the park but clearly searching for something.
“Yow!” The shout from Hugs nearby drew everyone’s attention as she had dropped a now smouldering toy she’d won on the ground, “it just caught fire!”
“It’s here!” Syaoran drew his sword as several strings of bats and ghost caught fire.
“A Clow Card!” Kero flew up, still in the panda make up, “Look out!” Some of the monster standees had burst into flames. “It’s one of the four elements.”
“The Firey Card!” Love Heart and Confidence shouted together.
“We have to get you out of that,” Confidence was about to start tearing Love Heart’s costume apart when he flipped the top back on its hinge revealing himself in his battle costume.
“Way ahead of you!” Love Heart hopped out of the legs and pulled out the Clow Key.
“Key of Clow Power of Magic Power of Light Surrender the Wand The Force Ignite Release!”
As soon as the staff formed the flames around the park had burst into a conflagration and Love Heart started shouting, “Someone called the fire department! Li suppress the flames so everyone can get out! Confidence, Grams, Teacher, Loyal Heart get all the kids out of here! Move!” his shout galvanized them into action.
Syaoran pulled out a talisman, "Obey the command! Water Dragon, Come Forth!" A blast of water put out some of the fire but it flared up again as the kids were pulled away from the edges of the park where the flames were strongest.
“The Firemen are on their way,” Grams shouted as she had her Heartphone in hand.
“Good! Now let’s see if this works,” Love Heart raised the staff over his head as the star on his forehead started to glow. “Winter, heed my call! Water Torrent!” He swung his staff where at the same place Syaoran had and a stream of water shot out of the head of the staff.
Syaoran saw this and immediately added his own to the efforts "Obey the command! Water Dragon, Come Forth!" The two streams of water merged and forced a sizeable tunnel to form out of the park.
“Everyone get moving!” Loyal Heart shouted, ushering the cubs to run to safety then moving to help the elderly Grams and Teacher Bear out as fast as possible. The instant they were across the threshold of the park the fire flared up again which trapped Loyal Heart in the remains and forced him back, tearing off some of the cardboard parts of his costume as they caught fire.
Love Heart, Confidence, Syaoran and Loyal Heart stood back to back facing the flames, “How can I capture this? The Watery Card?”
Kero shook his head, “No! If you put the fire out without forcing the spirit into the open it will just run away, or spread elsewhere!”
“So how does his force the spirit out?” Confidence was sweating both from the heat and nerves.
“You have to make the flames stronger so it manifests,” Syaoran had several talismans in his hands, ready to start.
“Then I guess I need to fan the flames,” Love Heart held his up staff and his forehead star glowed again, “Fall, heed my call! Wind Squall!” a burst of wind blew into the flames surrounding them.
"Obey the command! Wind Flower, Come Forth!" Syaoran launched a blast of wind from his sword and talisman as well.
The rushing winds fanned the flames and the conflagration burned higher, Kero pointed as flames gathered into a twister, “There! The Fiery Spirit!” The spirit raised out of the twister, a young woman with flaming hair and bright red wings and everything below the waist nothing but a sea of flames.
It grinned maliciously at the group and flicked it fingers, sending a streak of fire right at them which they barely managed to dodge by scattering.
“Stop this!” Love Heart shouted.
“Not gonna happen!” the Firey Spirit flicked another blast of fire at Love Heart which he had to dive to get away from.
“You can’t talk this one down!” Kero shouted, “The Firey is one of the most volatile and aggressive Clow Cards.”
“And destructive,” Love Heart picked himself up.
“Hey flame head! Over here!” Confidence took up a martial arts stance as she faced the Firey Card.
“Oh shut up!” The Firey shot a wisp of fire at Confidence but she easily dodge.
“Missed me!” She stuck out her tongue.
“Hold still!” The Firey began shooting off fire at Confidence. Love Heart recognized that she was buying him time especially when Loyal Heart got in on the act though nearly getting singed a few times.
"Obey the command! Water Dragon, Come Forth!" The stream of water from Syaoran flew right at The Firey spirit only to evaporate into steam before it struck.
“That little water spout’s not going to work,” it tuned to ace Syaoran who still held his sword at the ready, “You smell like Clow Reed.”
“I’m a direct descenden!” Syoaran shouted. That got the Firey’s attention as it turned to focus on him instead, Syaoran’s martial acrobatics keeping him from being burned.
“I have to capture it,” Love Heart pulled out the Watery Card, “Should this work now?”
“No, we gave it too much and now the Firey might vaporise The Watery spirit as well,” Kero said, “It would survive but it would be severely weakened.”
“Then I’ll just have to overpower it,” Love Heart pulled out The Windy.
“What! You can’t do that!” Syaoran heard and saw what Love Heart was doing, “You can’t risk using two elements at once!” A blast of fire struck him thankfully not setting his outfit on fire.
“Have to risk it!” Love Heart held up both element cards in his hand then flung them forwards even as The Firey turned its attention back to him. “Windy Card! Watery Card! Combine your powers to overwhelm and trap Firey! Release!” Love Heart stuck both cards at once as the Firey prepared to shoot a basketball sized fireball at Love Heart. Both Windy and Watery spirits emerged together and flew, back-to-back, right at The Firey.
The Firey shot it’s fireball at them but both spirits combined their power and blew right through the ball of fire. Before The Firey could react the Watery and Windy spirits broke into several streams of water and wind and wrapped themselves all over The Firey’s body, overwhelming it as steam hissed up from their bodies. The Firey tried to struggle but finally fell to earth still wrapped up in the other two elemental spirits.
“NOW!” Kero shouted.
Love Heart needed no second prompting and ran over to the downed Firey Spirit, swinging his staff right at it, “Firey Card! I command you to return to your power confined! Firey!” The Firey tried to resist with the last of its strength but it broke apart into streams of fire and was absorbed into its card. Love Heart caught the card and quickly pulled a pen out to write his name on it.
“Alright!” Confidence gave a whoop, then coughed as she realized the fire was still raging around her, “What?”
“The fires it started didn’t go out!” Loyal Heart was shocked.
“All the dead leaves on the ground just caught fire!” Syaoran shouted, “It’s not magical fire anymore.”
“Kero, what do we... Kero?” Love Heart turned to the guardian beast only to find him suspended in mid air, his eyes closed and glowing bright, vaporising the panda paint on his fur. The little creature’s wings grew to immense size and wrapped around his body, completely hiding him from view. A moment later the wings spread and a new form stepped down, what looked like a massive maneless lion with the same huge wings.
“Kero? Is that you?” Love Heart seemed to have completely forgotten about the fire around him.
“Yes it is, now hurry and get on my back!” Kero spoke with a much deeper voice now. Reminded of the danger all four of them hurriedly climbed onto the larger guardian beast’s back and, with some difficulty, he flapped his wings and took off. The heat of the fire seemed to be deflected by Kero as he flew them out of the burning park right as the fire engines were pulling up.
As soon as they landed beyond the perimeter of the fire trucks and dismounted, Love Heart was hit by Sweet Heart plowing into him.
“Love Heart! You’re alive!” she was crying, “I thought I lost you again!” She buried her face in his chest.
Love Heart smiled and patted his sister’s head, “Yeah, I’m fine and look,” he carefully pushed her away and showed her The Firey Card, “I captured the Firey Card.”
“I’m sorry,” The Jump hopped up to Love Heart, “I ran with Sweet Heart when I should have stayed with you.”
Love Heart looked down at The Jump and motioned for it to climb onto his shoulder. He scratched it behind its ears, “Don’t worry, it all worked out.”
“Yes, it did,” Kero approached the group which consisted of all the other Care Bears who were just as worried for their safety.
Everyone stared and got a good look at Kero’s new form, a large maneless winged lion wearing armor around his head and down across his chest with a large red gem in the middle of his forehead and the middle of his chest.
“Who is that?” Tugs was the first to ask.
“Allow me to properly introduce myself: I am Keroberos the guardian beast of the Clow Cards. My energy is governed by the sun and with the Firey Card captured a large portion of my power has been restored and I can take on my true form.”
“Wow...” Sweet Heart approached him, “So this is what you really look like?”
“Can you change back?” Hugs asked
Keroberos shook his head, “No, I cannot. Though much of my power has been restored until the last card is captured I will remain in this form.” He turned to Love Heart Bear and bowed to him, “Cardcaptor Love Heart, until the task is finished I shall remain and serve you.”
“Thank you, Keroberos,” Love Heart bowed back.
The sounds of water spray nearby told everyone that the fire department had things under control and Love Heart sighed, “Well if my costume wasn’t burned to ashes before it’s a soggy mass by now.”
“Don’t worry, your battle costume looks just fine,” Confidence hugged Love Heart, “I’m just relieved we all made it out OK. Want to go home?”
Love Heart smiled and kissed her, “I’m not that bad, besides I don’t want to miss the party.” He turned to Keroberos, “want to join us and introduce yourself to the rest of the Care Bear Family?”
Keroberos nodded, “Yes, I believe that would be a wise idea, so they can recognize who I am.”
Syaoran was staring at Keroberos, “So this is the real you?”
“For the most part,” Keroberos turned to face him, “descendent of Clow Reed, Syoaran Li, you have done well despite your distrust of me. For now you should rest and prepare for the greater trials that lie ahead.”
“Ominous,” Sweet Heart shuddered.
The paramedics descended on them to make sure they were alright even as Love Heart insisted they were all fine. As soon as they were done Love Heart, Confidence, Sweet Heart and Loyal Heart headed for the Kingdom of Caring portal while Syaoran went home.
Love Heart took Sweet Heart home first, leaving The Jump around who insisted on watching over her that night, then they headed for the Hall of Hearts. Despite the firestorm that had struck the haunted park the Halloween party was in full swing.
After grabbing some food, Love Heart and Confidence lingered at the edge of the hall, eating and watching everyone as they were in awe over Keroberos.
Confidence nudged him, “Still want to be here?”
Love Heart smiled, “Yeah,” he took a bite of a sandwich and didn’t continue until he swallowed, “I’m just worried about what’s going to come, the play, the rest of the Clow Cards and the ‘greater trials’ Keroberos mentioned.”
Confidence kissed him on the cheek, “Well whatever they are, I’ll be here to help you. I love you.”
“I love you too, thank you,” Love Heart kissed her back, “But let’s enjoy the party tonight.”
“Then back to school,” Confidence stretched, “And preparing for the play.” She and Love Heart headed into the crowd to enjoy themselves.
