Don’t you dare replace Your first and only want Don’t give up on the chase Keep holding on!
Everything had gone to failure My ambition turned into my broken dreams I left a promise out to die
Every word I still remember They’ve been ringing in my head on full repeat Can’t get your talk to ever leave my mind
But now, from the clouds There’s a wind that gives me a boost My heart, burning hard Is about to light my fuse (Let’s try again!)
Live in the now and break your confines Take ahold of this precious time (precious time) Glory days (glory days) ‘Cause your life is not to trade (Let’s try again!)
Bring back the color as you advance Paint it red, and then take a chance (take a chance) Shout it loud (shout it loud) ‘Cause your style’s worth a bow
Don’t you dare replace Your first and only want Don’t give up on the chase Keep holding on!
Chapter 28: Monsters Unleashed
Birthday and Gift were the first to leave the prom that night. Though they had enjoyed the dancing and music in each other’s company they wanted to talk away from everyone else and so retreated to the side of the building, far from where anyone exiting the school would see them.
Birthday fiddled with the collar of their suit before they finally spoke, “Are you ready to talk about it?”
“No, but I promised I would,” Gift gulped. She was wearing a simple emerald green backless dress. “I guess I should explain what I am, or what I was created to be. Eriol created me to be his guardian and to go after Love Heart.”
“What? Created?” Birthday just stared at her.
Gift nodded, “I’m a creature of magic, at least as Ruby I’m wholly made of magic. My true form you saw is a counterpart to Yue but fueled by Eriol’s magic. Because Care Bears are partially magic my body started to adapt and grow organs.”
Birthday nodded, still trying to process what Gift had said, “Why did he tell you to go after Love Heart?”
“It was a test for Sweet Heart, to try and deprive her of allies to see if she could stand on her own. I can drain magic from people I get close to, maybe forever. Yue’s power is dependent on the one who commands the Clow Cards, if their power is inadequate then Yue and his host will fade from existence.”
Birthday interrupted, “What about Keroberos?”
Gift shook her head, “Kerberos’ power comes from the sun so he can gain enough power on his own while Yue’s is from the moon so he needs to draw on an external source, though both can supplement their energy with food.”
Birthday chuckled, “Which explains why Kero loves sweet stuff, he never misses a birthday party.”
Gift nodded, “Yes. I was supposed to try and get close enough to Love Heart so I could drain his magic so he couldn’t give it to Yue, depriving Sweet Heart of two allies so she would be forced to rely more on her own magical energy. But things didn’t turn out that way…”
“And how did that make you feel?”
Gift averted her gaze from them, “I didn’t really think about it, at the time I didn’t really feel anything but now I feel ashamed.” Gift grabbed her head, “I can’t handle all these feelings! It’s so intense that sometimes I just wish I could stop caring so much or feeling anything!”
“Hey hey! Don’t say that!” Birthday grabbed Gift in a tight hug, “It’s alright, everyone has regrets just don’t let it get to you.”
Gift sniffed and wiped a tear that had formed in her eye, “I just… none of this has gone as planned. Even Eriol’s prediction about how this was supposed to go was wrong.”
“Because of Sweet Heart’s time travel.” Birthday’s remark made Gift turn to look at them, “We all know what happened. But now what?”
“Now… now we’re just watching and waiting,” Gift finished clearing her eyes, “Eriol’s worried because some of these attacks aren’t our doing. He said it’s Su Yung.”
Now Birthday was confused, “Who’s Su Yung?”
“I don’t know, Eriol didn’t say anything else about her just that she was responsible for this. He said we’re going to look into it soon,” Gift Bear sighed, “That’s about it. Do you hate me, Birthday?”
“No,” Birthday kissed her on the cheek, “Are you going to be alright?”
Gift smiled and carefully pulled out of Birthday’s hug, “I will be, thank you Birthday.” She smirked, “Did you know I can change this body, not too much but I can make myself look a bit different if you want,” she turned to face Birthday with a seductive look, her arms folding under her chest.
Birthday just looked Gift up and down for a moment, “You should decide how you look not just to appeal to me… but…”
“But?” Gift listened intently.
Birthday blushed, “I like your butterfly wings.”
Gift blinked, “My wings?” she looked back over her shoulder at her bare back.
Birthday smiled, “Yeah, they look pretty. Can you keep them out as Gift Bear?”
“I’ve never tried, they usually just come out when I change,” Gift Bear took a deep breath. There was a brief glow as Gift’s wings emerged again but instead of enveloping her they stayed and yet Gift started sweating.
“Gift? Are you ok?” Birthday reached forwards.
“No!” Gift’s shout made them jump, “I can… handle it…!” She panted as the wings curled forwards, then back, then forwards and back again as she struggled to avoid changing into Ruby. A few moments passed until Gift stopped panting then smiled up at Birthday, “There, what do you think?”
Birthday looked at Gift’s wings. “They look beautiful, but the decorations are different,” they pointed at the edges of her wings. They were still black but now the pink squares along the edges of her wings were heart shaped.
Gift turned to look at her wings, “Oh my stars,” she reached out to touch the heart shapes, “So I guess that makes me Gift Butterbear?”
“That sounds great,” Birthday stepped forwards and gave Gift a kiss which made her go rigid. She suddenly wrapped Birthday in a hug and flapped her wings, taking off upwards and flying them to the school roof.
Birthday gasped as they felt their feet leave then ground and hugged onto Gift until they felt their feet hit the roof. “Wow! That was quick!”
Gift giggled, “I just wanted to see if they still worked.”
“They did, and…” Birthday pulled back an looked down at Gift’s chest which was noticeably larger.
Gift giggled, “I wanted breasts, I mean I didn’t have any really but I’ve grown so many other organs I thought I’d complete this. Is that wrong?”
“No, just because I’m NB doesn’t mean I think everyone has to be,” Birthday gave Gift a kiss which made both of them blush, “I’m feeling kinda hot.”
“Me too,” Gift flapped her wings to cool them down before she kissed Birthday again, “Want me to fly you home?”
Birthday’s face was red as they nodded, “Please.”
“Hold on!” Gift spun Birthday around so they were being held around the waist before she flapped her wings and took off. Birthday yelped and swung their arms behind their back to grab hold of Gift for support. Gift giggled as she flew over the Kingdom of Caring, straight to Birthday’s house easily landing right at the front door. “Here we are.”
Birthday was still riled up and was panting as they let go, “Thank you, that was exhilarating.” They opened their front door then paused and turned to see Gift still standing there, fanning herself with slowly flapping butterfly wings, “Want to come in?”
Gift felt like she was going to burst into flames, “Really!? I mean what if we… I mean I don’t know how…”
Birthday offered a hand to her, “I know, but I can show you how.”
“How? I mean… you want this?” Gift slowly took Birthday’s hand.
“I do,” Birthday gave Gift a kiss before they carefully pulled her inside, Gift folding her wings back to step through the door.
Once inside they both embraced and kissed, Birthday forced to hug Gift up around her shoulders so they wouldn’t be blocked by her wings. Birthday’s hand slid sideways and they touched one of Gift’s wings, which made her shudder.
“Sensitive?” Birthday whispered.
“Yes. Please do it again,” Gift whispered back, before she kissed them again.
OoOoO
Take Care wasn’t a morning person so she was a bit annoyed that someone was knocking at the hospital door around 9am. “You can come in.” She was a bit shocked to see Eriol enter with Gift Bear behind him, especially since Gift Bear had two large butterfly wings with hearts lined down the edges.
“Good morning, Doctor Take Care,” Eriol bowed politely, “Are you busy?”
“No,” she gave Gift a confused look, “Is this about the butterfly wings?”
“Somewhat, I would like you to give Gift a physical if possible.” Eriol glanced back at his ‘sister’ and saw she looked nervous.
“Alright, let’s get you into the exam room,” Take Care stood up and was about to lead Gift away when Independent Bear entered the room.
“New patients?” Indy’s gaze narrowed on Eriol for a moment.
“Yes, with an interesting addition, even for us,” Take Care couldn’t resist a chuckle.
“She has wings?” their adopted daughter, Get Well Bear, poked her head around the doorway with their younger adopted daughter, Cautious Heart Car, peeking from behind her older sister.
“She does,” Indy patted his older daughter’s head, “We haven’t seen you three in here before.”
Take Care paused as she and Gift were about to leave, “Actually you never came in for a physical before,” she turned to face the two, Eriol still looking as impassive as ever but Gift now looking nervous. Take Care turned to her husband as she processed what he had just said, “Three?”
Indy gestured to a seemingly unoccupied chair by the hospital door, “I can sense your presence, you might as well come out.”
“So much for hiding,” Spinel sun floated out from behind the back of the chair where he had been hovering.
“What’s that?” Cautious Heart walked into the room with Get Well right behind her, “Little kitty with wings?”
“His name is Spinel Sun,” Eriol noticed that Indy had a katana sheathed at his side, “I think we should wait to talk until Gift has had her physical.
“Alright,” Take Care decided to bite her tongue for the moment.
Some time later, Take Care had doubled checked the physical notes before she gave the results, “Gift Bear is perfectly healthy, even her wings seem alright for her size.”
Gift Butterbear sighed in relief, “Good.”
“Yes, now Ruby I think you need a second exam,” Eriol had entered the room at some point.
“Alright,” Gift’s wings enfolded her and a moment later she emerged as Ruby which made Take Care jump. Even knowing about Loyal Heart and Yue sharing the same body it was still a shock to see something like that right in front of her.
Ruby’s disposition changed, becoming a lot calmer as she sat back down, “Now then, doctor, please examine me again.”
“OK, but we need to have a serious talk after this,” Take Care eyed Eriol seriously before she started again.
When she finished a second time, Take Care was flabbergasted, “There’s nothing inside you,” she looked at the x-ray that just showed Ruby’s outline with no internal organs, “What are you, Ruby?”
“I’m a being of magic so in this form I am just magic,” Ruby enfolded herself with her wings and changed back into Gift Butterbear, “But like this I’m a full Care Bear, or cousin? Half-and-half?”
“Either way, I believe I owe you an explanation,” Eriol left the exam room with Gift and Take Care right behind him.
Indy was still in the waiting room with his eyes on Spinel the whole time, who was watching him back. Even the kids could feel the tension in the room as Gift sat down and Eriol stood at the center of the room.
“Now then, I believe I owe you an explanation,” Eriol’s voice sudden dropped an octave which made him sound 20 years older than he looked.
Indy nodded, having move Get Well and Cautious Heart behind him, “Yes, you do. Who are you, Eriol?”
“I am the reincarnation of Clow Reed, the magician who created the Clow Cards.” He saw the stunned looks on everyone’s faces (and the confused look on Cautious’ face), “It seems you suspected me from the start.”
“We knew something was up when you were able to just join classes in the middle of the school year,” Take Care sat down, “But that wasn’t what we were expecting.”
“So you’re Clow Reed?” Get Well asked.
“Not exactly,” Eriol shook his head, “I have all his memories and my soul was his but I am a distinct person. I came here expecting to help Sweet Heart Pegasus transform the Clow Cards by giving her magical challenges to overcome so the cards would have something to expend their energy on as for Ruby and Spinel, I created them to help me with these tasks. However, things are not as I predicted with Sweet Heart using her magic to rewind time after her failure and then Love Heart claiming the cards himself. I must admit I am impressed with how Love Heart has made the cards his own and rise to the challenges set before him.”
“And these tests involve putting the whole city in danger?” Indy had tensed up, almost ready to draw his sword.
“No,” Eriol’s tone became grave, “The more violent attacks were not our doing, they were sent by someone else. I must ask: have you ever encountered any other magical books or tomes?”
“Just one,” Take Care stood up, “It was a magical spirit that made a boy named Nicholas Cherrywood try to destroy us using the magic it had in its pages.”
“Did the book have a face on it?” Eriol was focused on Take Care now.
If his gaze made her nervous, Take Care didn’t show it, “It did. Just a minute I have it locked up somewhere.” She turned and left.
“What’s going on, Eriol?” Indy was even more on edge now.
“I’ll explain when she returns, but I must ask how did you know Spinel was hiding in here,” Eriol glanced at the small black flying cat.
“I’m psionic, I can sense the presence of others and a few other things,” Indy telekinetically levitated a block from the children’s play area of the waiting room over to himself.
“I see, and you haven’t felt the need to interfere in these tests of Love Heart’s?” Eriol sounded intrigued.
“I’m his swordsmanship teacher and if I felt he couldn’t handle it I would intervene, like with The Sword and Wood Cards.” Indy relaxed slightly.
“I’m surprised you let everyone know about the magical events going on in town from day one,” Eriol turned as Take Care re-entered the room.
“It was easier to keep people safe if they knew what kind of danger… Take Care what’s wrong?” Indy had turned to see the distressed look on Take Care’s face.
“The book’s face is gone,” Take Care turned the book in her hand around. It was the Spirit Book, a large green tome with a large round indent in the surface. At one time it had showed a face that looked to be asleep but now the indent was smooth, as it nothing had ever been there.
“It’s as I feared, Su Yung is free.” Though his voice remained level everyone could hear the distress in Eriol’s voice.
“Who’s Su Yung?” Indy was instantly on alert as Eriol took the book from Take Care and popped the lock off without even trying a key.
“Su Yung was a madoushi, a sorceress of some power who lived in the same region Clow Reed did centuries ago.” Eriol opened the book and checked the pages, now all blank, “she was a fortune teller at first but as Clow Reed was developing his own magical powers he was able to make more accurate predictions than her. This angered her and she often challenged him to duels or contests to prove who was better. After a time things changed and they fell in love, in fact Su Yung is the ancestor of Syaoran’s family.”
“So, why’d he lock her in a book?” Get Well spoke up.
“Things changed,” Eriol sighed and shut the book before he set it down on the reception desk, “After their children were born Su Yung’s cooled temper raised again and she became jealous of how Clow Reed’s power was growing, especially after he created the Clow Cards. She wanted to prove she was just as powerful and made cards of her own but she rushed the process and made unstable and destructive monsters that she couldn’t control nor could she provide the sustenance they needed. When Clow Reed confronted her about this she grew enraged and attacked him. He had prepared for the confrontation and imprisoned her and her unstable Clow Cards in that book,” Eriol looked at the book, “but though she lost, her attacks permanently injured Clow Reed so he was forced to prepare for his death many years before he was ready for it, sealing the Clow Cards, Keroberos and Yue away so they would be ready for the day the chosen one, or the unchosen one, would be ready to take up their reigns.”
“So how did she get free now?” Indy asked.
“Clow Reed planned to be able to release her, if someone with magical potential were to touch the book they would be able to communicate with her,” Eriol sighed, “This Nicholas you mentioned must have had some magical talent but in her bitterness she likely sought to destroy any other beings of magic in the world which is why she targeted your family. Unfortunately Clow Reed’s hasty preparation of her prison meant its seal was tied to the Clow Cards. As Love Heart has been transforming them the prison has weakened and she has escaped with her own magical cards. She’s been attacking Love Heart due to his magical power as he can’t suppress its presence as I can. If I had known she ended up here I would have taken possession of her book the moment I arrived to prevent this from happening but with Sweet Heart altering the timeline and needing to change my plans on the fly I was distracted from her attacks until it was too late.”
“She’s alive again?” Get Well asked. Cautious was shaking too much, with her tail frizzed out, to say anything.
Eriol shook his head, “No, she has long since passed away inside her prison. She is a vengeful ghost but retains all the magical power she had in life and possibly more now that she’s unbound by a physical form. If I knew where she was I could imprison her again but now that she’s free it will take time to locate her and lock her down. A moment please,” Eriol took a small key with a lopsided sun at the top out of his pocket.
“I call upon the powers of the day and the night Sun and Darkness unleash your might Release!”
Eriol’s incantation caused the key to grow into a long staff taller than himself with the same large sun with lopsided rays at the top. He didn’t wait for any questions as he held it up and a magical disc, identical to the old Clow symbol, appeared beneath his feet. A moment later it faded and for the first time Eriols’ face creased in worry, “This isn’t good. Wherever Su Yung is I can’t locate her. Either she’s outside the range of my magic or she knows how to hide herself.”
“That’s bad, if she’s not here when what’s she doing?” Indy looked around the room then down to his adopted daughters, everyone looked worried, even Spinel.
“I don’t know, but we need to warn everyone,” Take Care picked up the old book from her desk.
“Not everyone,” Indy shook his head, “At least not all the humans. Our family yes but even if we could put the word out people will either not take it any more seriously or might panic; we probably don’t have time to tell everyone in Readington.”
“Alright,” Gift Butterbear stood up, “I’ll let everyone know and… apologize to Love Heart when I see him.” Before she could be stopped, Gift was out the door and had taken off to tell everyone.
OoOoO
Out in Gloomy Gulch Trail, former territory of No-Heart when he was the Care Bears’ nemesis, a ghostly form prowled the area before it paused over a patch of dirt.
“Heeeeeere!” the ghost said in an ethereal voice as she plunged into the earth. It was still for a moment before the ground erupted and the ghost held an ornate bronze chest in her hands. She stared at the top of the chest and spoke the words that were still visible.
“Decambebay Percigarum!”
A pair of red eyes glowed on the chest before a massive green and purple cloud emerged from it, the same red eyes glaring at the ghost.
The ghost of Su Yung pointed back the way she had come, “Destroy… Love Heart!”
The cloud only waited a moment before it took off towards the Kingdom of Caring.
OoOoO
Love Heart and Confidence were on a date in Readington park, just laying on the grass under the branches of a tree.
Confidence rolled onto her side and put a hand on Love Heart’s chest, “So now what? This isn’t just summer vacation we’re finished school, for now at least.”
“For now?” Love Heart looked over at her.
“Before you showed up mom and dad said I needed to think about going to college,” Confidence rolled onto her back, “I never knew what I would want to study and after mom died that was the last thing on my mind especially after you found me.”
This time Love Heart rolled onto his side to face her, “And now?”
“Now I just want to be a Care Bear,” Confidence smiled and rolled over to give Love Heart a kiss, “I mean yeah the last week of caring missions helping other kids with test anxiety was hectic but I’ve enjoyed it, helping kids and teens with this stuff.”
“Me too, I just need to finish transforming the Clow Cards,” Love Heart kissed her back, “I talked to mom and dad and we can have a house of our own in a month.” Love Heart paused, “Are we moving too fast?”
“Nope,” Confidence kissed him back, “Tori freaked when I told him we were moving in together but I didn’t back down. We’re ready.”
“Yeah,” Love Heart was about to kiss her back when there was a loud boom of thunder. Both looked up at the clear sky. “No clouds,” Love Heart jumped to his feet, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
Confidence covered her ears against another boom of thunder before she could get up, “What is that?”
Love Heart didn’t respond but just grabbed the heart key around his neck.
"Key of the Heart With Powers Burning Bright Reveal the Staff And Shine Your Light Release!"
He grabbed the staff and immediately spun it around him.
“Bonds of Love and Life Help me now to end this strife!”
As the Heart Book and Love Heart’s battle costume appeared a massive purple and green cloud flew over the park.
Love Heart’s eyes went wide, “It’s back!”
“What’s back?” Confidence jumped up.
“LOVE HEART!” Independent Bear came charging towards them, “It’s No-Heart’s demon!”
“What demon?!” Confidence looked back and forth between them.
“He set it on us years ago when we were rounding up the Star Buddies, we’ll tell you later,” Love Heart pulled out two cards, “Jump! Sword!” he didn’t use the staff, the wings just appeared on his feet and The Sword Card changed into its sword form itself just as the cloud landed and changed into a purple bull the size of a semi trailer.
“Care Bears countdown!” Confidence was about to get her tummy symbol glowing when Love Heart held out a hand in front of her, still holding the staff.
“No, we tried and our stares and calls just passed right through it!” he saw the bull demon readying to charge as other humans nearby fled, “Call Loyal Heart!” Love Heart jumped out of the way as the bull demon charged, sticking the staff through the back of his battle costume.
Confidence just barely dodged aside and sent a text to Loyal Heart to come help them before she cracked her knuckles and charged at the bull.
Love Heart slashed down at the demon’s side, making a cut that only lasted for a moment as Indy charged in his katana wreathed in his psionic energy and delivered a powerful slash at the bull’s side. It seemed to roar and kicked at Indy which struck a spherical shield around his body but still sent him flying, though he righted himself before he hit the ground.
Confidence hesitated and ran over to Indy as he landed, “How did you beat that thing before?”
“A girl Tenderheart brought back for a caring mission dropped a ten-ton boulder on it,” Indy pulled his sword back as the demon charged at Love Heart again then swung out, sending a crescent blue blade of psionic energy at the demon, nearly slicing its leg off. For the moment the demon turned its attention on Indy and bellowed before charging.
Love Heart had barely avoided being skewered by the demon’s horns when Indy distracted it. “Can’t let it touch me but I can’t just hold a shield on all the time.” Love Heart pulled a Clow Card out of the book.
"Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall Ancient forces heed my call! Shield Card, discard your former might And draw new power from my light Heart Card!"
The shield card’s transformation drew the demon bull’s attention so Love Heart called out his order fast, “Shield Card! Form armor to guard my body!” The spirit exploded into beams of light that flowed onto Love Heart’s body and a moment later a set of white and blue plate armor appeared on his body, though it was weightless and didn’t impede his movement. It came not a moment too soon as the bull demon charged and struck Love Heart in the chest with both horns. Love Heart felt the impact but the armor held strong and he as just pushed back.
“LOVE HEART!” Confidence charged in and grabbed the Demon’s tail. The demon cried out in irritation and tried to spin around and shake her off.
“UP HERE!” a bright blue energy arrow streaked down and pierced into the demon’s back. Loyal Heart hovered overhead with his wings extended as he drew back on his energy bow to fire again.
There was a roar as Keroberos arrived, breathing fire on the demon that thankfully didn’t set any of the park on fire as it struck. Confidence let go and flipped to land on her feet before she ran at and jump-kicked the creature in its side, managing to recover and narrowly dodge a retributive kick from the demon. Love Heart bounced closed and sliced the kicking leg clean off, only for it to regenerate in a puff of smoke.
“Why won’t it stay down!?” Conifdence darted backwards as Love Heart jumped to avoid being stomped.
“Because none of us hit with the force of a ten-ton boulder!” Love Heart shouted back then swung The Sword sideways and sent a wave of energy at the Demon.
Near the portal, Noble Heart, True Heart, Sage Heart and Life Heart stood with No-Heart as they watched the battle.
True Heart turned to their former arch-enemy with pleading eyes, “No-Heart, can you please stop it?”
No-Heart just looked on grimly, “Even if I wanted to I could not. That demon only obeys a being with great magical power which you stripped from me. It would be just as likely to attack me if I tried to command it.” He looked down at the assembled founders, “Like it or not, it is in the hands of your children now.”
Life Heart clasped her hands together, “Please be safe, Love Heart.”
“HEY! OVER HERE!” Love Heart shouted at the demon as he swung down at its head, splitting it in half for a moment before it merged again. He jumped away as the demon tried to stomp him. Confidence saw a chance and grabbed the thing’s tail again, yanking hard enough to startle it.
“NOW!” Indy shouted out as his energy flowed into his katana blade and leapt at the demon, slicing down and sending a shark-fin shaped wave at it which Confidence just barely managed to dodge as the demon was cleaved in half. Loyal Heart took the chance and fired off as many arrows as he could into the two halves of the demon before it could reform and Keroberos flew between the halves, breathing flames on the insides. Confidence dove at one half as it fell sideways and began pummeling the body, parts breaking into smoke under her rain of blows as Love Heart jumped at the other half and sliced it in half again.
“STAY BACK!” Indy charged right at the Demon, his katana thrumming with energy as he sliced at the demon’s body over and over barely giving everyone else time to get out of the way. He stopped on the opposite side of the monster and sheathed his sword. A moment later the demon broke into pieces and evaporated into purple and green smoke that drifted back towards the portal.
Indy just barely managed to stay upright even as Love Heart, Confidence and Loyal Heart (once he landed) all collapsed from exhaustion.
“Did we… get it?” Confidence asked.
Indy shook his head and wiped his brow, “No, we just forced it to retreat.”
“Why did it come back?” Love Heart took a deep breath to avoid panting.
Indy also took a deep breath to calm down. “I know why. I have a lot to tell you.”
Everything is starting to get explained and I love it^^
Really like the call back to the first movie and bringing back the spirit book in such a unique way. It's pretty cool to see gift / Ruby a more flushed out personality now. The whole deal with those three it's really fascinating I won't spoil it here but I like that development. Looking forward to the next chapter.
Everything is starting to get explained and I love it^^ Really like the call back to the first movi
