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book","count":"30","submission_left_submission_id":"1755311","submission_left_file_name":"2513567_jcriver_the_confidence_secret.jpg","submission_left_thumbnail_url_huge_noncustom":"https://inkbunny.net/files/preview/2513/2513567_jcriver_the_confidence_secret.jpg","submission_left_thumbnail_url_large_noncustom":"https://inkbunny.net/thumbnails/large/2513/2513567_jcriver_the_confidence_secret_noncustom.jpg","submission_left_thumbnail_url_medium_noncustom":"https://inkbunny.net/thumbnails/medium/2513/2513567_jcriver_the_confidence_secret_noncustom.jpg","submission_left_thumb_medium_noncustom_x":"120","submission_left_thumb_medium_noncustom_y":"103","submission_left_thumb_large_noncustom_x":"200","submission_left_thumb_large_noncustom_y":"172","submission_left_thumb_huge_noncustom_x":"300","submission_left_thumb_huge_noncustom_y":"259","submission_right_submission_id":"1782312","submission_right_file_name":"2555112_jcriver_the_confidence_secret.jpg","submission_right_thumbnail_url_huge_noncustom":"https://inkbunny.net/files/preview/2555/2555112_jcriver_the_confidence_secret.jpg","submission_right_thumbnail_url_large_noncustom":"https://inkbunny.net/thumbnails/large/2555/2555112_jcriver_the_confidence_secret_noncustom.jpg","submission_right_thumbnail_url_medium_noncustom":"https://inkbunny.net/thumbnails/medium/2555/2555112_jcriver_the_confidence_secret_noncustom.jpg","submission_right_thumb_medium_noncustom_x":"120","submission_right_thumb_medium_noncustom_y":"103","submission_right_thumb_large_noncustom_x":"200","submission_right_thumb_large_noncustom_y":"172","submission_right_thumb_huge_noncustom_x":"300","submission_right_thumb_huge_noncustom_y":"259"}],"description":"The Chapter 21 of The Confidence Secret is up! ^^ Do not stop commenting. Due to the character limit, I had to divide the chapter into two parts. Read part 21B after.\n\nTime invariably passes. While some old friends leave forever, others come to be part of this story. And Care Bear Family will definitely have to face their biggest enemy while Frank faces the loneliness of old age. With this chapter, we are closing the second part or arc of story.\n\nThe theme song is the Brazilian version of Elvis Presley's \"Green Green Grass of Home\". Sung in Portuguese by Agnaldo Timóteo, it is called \"Os Verdes Campos de Minha Terra\" (The Green Fields of my Land). Link to the Brazilian song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeJb5ybq6P0\n\nImpulsive Heart Bear belongs to @Firerush\n\nGood Reading. :)","description_bbcode_parsed":"The Chapter 21 of The Confidence Secret is up! ^^ Do not stop commenting. Due to the character limit, I had to divide the chapter into two parts. Read part 21B after.

Time invariably passes. While some old friends leave forever, others come to be part of this story. And Care Bear Family will definitely have to face their biggest enemy while Frank faces the loneliness of old age. With this chapter, we are closing the second part or arc of story.

The theme song is the Brazilian version of Elvis Presley's "Green Green Grass of Home". Sung in Portuguese by Agnaldo Timóteo, it is called "Os Verdes Campos de Minha Terra" (The Green Fields of my Land). Link to the Brazilian song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeJb5ybq6P0

Impulsive Heart Bear belongs to \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFirerush\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t		\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFirerush\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


Good Reading. :)","writing":"[center][b]The Care Bears\nThe Confidence Secret\n2nd Part\nChapter 21[/b][/center]\n*****\n\nUnlike other meetings, where she had always shown great joy and presence of spirit, True Heart was taciturn and frowning. It was visible to all that the founding bear was uncomfortable with the situation, even irritated, at how much effort she made in trying to do otherwise.\n- I still do not understand why we have to deal with it - she complained again, folding her arms and staring seriously at Noble Heart - Care Bear Family's safety comes first, and it's not a good idea to bring strangers to the Kingdom of Caring.\n- That means that if it had not been for Noble Heart to bring me here, would you have left me in the middle of the forest? - complained Impulsive Heart Bear - After all, deep down I'm a stranger to Care Bear Family.\n- That's not the case, Impulsive! You are one of us, you were chosen by the Great Wishing Star to be a member of the Family. But we can't afford to bring children here every time!\n- But what would be the problem in doing that, after all? - Tenderheart asked curiously, as he did not imagine he would face such resistance on the part of the matriarch bear - It would certainly help us to have more interaction with the children, opening up new possibilities for them to hear our message of love and caring.\n- Besides, if Kim and Jason were not here, they would certainly have been contaminated by that evil spirit's spell, and would not have helped convince Nicholas that he was acting the wrong way - Brave Heart pondered gravely, also wondering at the reaction of True Heart to that idea.\n- Then I'll tell you a few problems - the female bear said angrily - First, a child may fall on the edge of the cloud. Secondly, No Heart and Professor Coldheart can attack and injure some visitors. And thirdly, after what Dark Heart did recently, he may well turn into a child just to get close again to all of us giving the final assault. Do you want more reasons?!?\nThey all looked at each other silently, since in the bottom True Heart was right in worrying. Many things had happened in recent years with the Care Bear Family, and it was natural that some had not yet fully adapted to new developments.\nBut not all had been bad. During a Rocky Mountain mission a year earlier, Noble Heart had accidentally spotted a young light-orange bear, which had got into trouble when trying to get honey out of a beehive. Seeing that that bear was one like them, the horse took him to live in Care-a-Lot, where his precipitous and explosive temper made him gain the name of Impulsive Bear. Since then he had been trained to be a Care Bear, supported by True Heart, Noble Heart and Brave Heart, who had become his best friend, and being under the supervision of a Loyal Heart, but despite all his efforts, was not easy to deal with the new clan member.\nIn addition, Noble Heart and True Heart saw their greatest fears come true when Dark Heart located and attempted to once again destroy the Care Bear Family. To do so, he disguised himself as a maintenance electrician and tried to sabotage the caring meter at a time when the founders were not in Care-a-Lot, taking advantage of the fact that none of the younger bears and cousins knew him. Fortunately, the little stars and little hearts that inhabited the Kingdom of Caring realized the ruse of the evil being and unmasked it, allowing the Family to reject the enemy, not without hearing him curse and promise that soon he would return.\nNo sooner had the bears and cousins recovered from that fright, and a new threat arose in their lives. One morning Noble Heart noticed a sudden change in the color and shape of the clouds to the northwest of Care-a-Lot, and when investigating along with Tenderheart, Brave Heart, Looter and Goodluck, were captured by a sorcerer who called himself No Heart, and who had magically built a castle of fear in that region of clouds. At the same time True Heart, Grams Bear, Grumpy Bear, Joyful Heart and the others were attacked by another human with magical knowledge and allied with the wizard, named Professor Coldheart, who used a freezing beam to try to paralyze all bears and cousins. Fortunately Friend Bear, Secret Bear and Harmony Bear were unaffected, managing to unfreeze the others and rescue the hostages that were in the castle of the wizard. But from that day on, they knew they would always be exposed to new attacks by No Heart and Coldheart.\nFinally, there were the events of the previous week, when Noble Heart and True Heart were again absent investigating the whereabouts of Dark Heart. At one point, the couple felt that something was wrong, and upon returning to the Kingdom of Caring, they found Care-a-Lot practically destroyed and the caring meter near zero. Only Grams Bear, Grumpy Bear and Goodluck Bear were around, and they quickly explained that a boy named Nicholas was being used by an evil spirit trapped in an old book to spread hatred and fear around the world. Only two children, named Kim and Jason, had not been directly affected because they had accidentally been brought to Care-a-Lot along with Friend Bear and Secret Bear who were trying to help them. As the cloud cars were not working right, the Care Bear Family headed to Earth in the Cloud Clipper, led by Tenderheart and Brave Heart and having the company of the two children, while the grumpy bear, the lucky bear, and the old bear continued to try to repair the new invention of the first to join the others.\nSuch an invention was the Rainbow Rescue Beam, a device to teleport the bears from one place to another in safety. It was really thanks to that contraption that Kim and Jason were brought to the Kingdom of Caring, the first children to know the place, and were also protected from the effects caused by the spell of the evil spirit. After presenting several problems, that equipment finally worked and sent Grumpy and Goodluck to Earth, while Noble Heart, True Heart and Grams Bear saw the caring meter reach practically to zero. Suddenly, the pointer began to rise rapidly on the dial, while the storm sweeping the place diminished in intensity until it faded completely.\nCare-a-Lot was saved! It was just what the three of them knew. Only later, when the others returned with Cloud Clipper, did they know that Kim and Jason had been the great heroes of the day, because the two brothers, seeing their friends bears and cousins in distress, ran alongside Nicholas and wished ardently to be his friends, breaking all the hatred and bitterness that the boy had in his heart and defeating the black magic that the spirit used to feed such feelings.\nPrecisely because of the important role of the two children in the battle, and the fact that they did so after their short visit to the Kingdom of Caring, Noble was the first to suggest that children assisted in caring missions could know where the family lived, and was that's why all the bears and cousins were meeting now at Hall of Hearts, despite True Heart's opposition to that idea.\n- We are unable to receive children in the Kingdom of Caring - said the matriarch after a short silence - It's dangerous for them and for us as well. The case of Kim and Jason occurred by accident and good thing it turned out well for them.\n- And just because it ended well for them, should not we think the same about other children? - Noble Heart teased with a wink - Think about it, my dear. Children will not only hear us more easily, but bringing them here will be a way for Care Bear Family to interact with them even more!\n- Noble is right, this would be an opportunity to revive coexistence between humans and bears and cousins, as in the old days - Grams Bear commented with a faint smile, receiving in return a furious look from True Heart - And do not look at me like that, True Heart Bear. You're being very pessimistic, not even Grumpy Bear should consider such a bad idea...\n- I just hope that bringing children here does not mean any more work for us - said the blue bear with a closed countenance and arms crossed - And in the background True Heart is correct in worrying about accidents or attacks from our enemies.\n- An enemy attacking us while a child is visiting us should not be very different from when we are attacked without anyone visiting us - Forest Ranger Jaguar pondered animatedly - And if that happens, we'll find a way, after all we have some experience. Moreover, it is enough that we keep an eye on the young people we bring so that they do not come too close to the edges of the clouds.\nEveryone agreed with a murmur of approval, while True Heart grunted and folded his arms, his expression becoming more and more closed and irritated while his arguments were deconstructed, the opposite of Noble.\n- If no one else has arguments against or in favor, I believe we can pass the vote - said the horse animatedly - Raise your hands those who agree to bring the children we help, for get to know the Kingdom of Caring...\n- Hey! Wait a moment! - the matriarch bear demanded seriously - I have already had to agree to the engagement of Joyful and Looter, although I find them both very young to make that decision. But I will not agree that four cubs vote on such an important issue!\nThese words were addressed to Champ, Cheer, Bright Heart and Treat Heart, who looked at each other for a few seconds, unsure what to say.\n- That's not fair, True Heart! - said at last the sportsman bear with an angry look - We may be the youngest, but we are not cubs anymore!\n- Of course you are, and I do not allow you to take part in the vote. In fact, you should not even be attending this meeting, much less should have gone to Earth to face that evil spirit! You are very young and inexperienced for this...\n- Well, we've done very well this mission - Bright Heart said with a furrowed brow - Brave Heart has already begun our training along with Impulsive Heart.\n- And you'll be just like them if you do not learn to respect me.\n- You mean I do not respect you? When did I disrespect you? - complained the orange bear.\n- Enough! - Noble Heart shouted, standing up and making everyone silent - This was supposed to be a quiet, quick meeting, not a discussion among Family members. True Heart is right, Champ, Cheer, Bright Heart, Treat Heart and Impulsive are just beginning their workouts like Care Bears and Care Bear Cousins and should not vote, and that's just for that reason.\nThe four pre-teens did not like to hear that, just like Impulsive, but they all had deep respect for Noble Heart and True Heart and decided not to question.\n- All right, now we can go on - the horse went on, more calm - Raise your hands those who agree to bring children to meet the Kingdom of Caring.\nEveryone raised their hands, except for True Heart, who continued with her arms folded and a sulky gaze toward her husband.\n- And now raise your hands to all those who are against the idea - he continued, his wife being the only one who voted otherwise - Well, I do not think I need even comment on the outcome.\nWhile everyone was celebrating the fact that they could bring to the Kingdom of Caring the children who they helped, True Heart just sat there, silent, still arms crossed and an angry expression. Noble Heart then sat down beside her and tried to hold onto her hand, but she quickly pulled it.\n- You may not like the idea, my dear, but I'm sure you'll soon realize that it will not bring us as many problems as you think - the horse said in a low, cheery voice.\n- Honestly, I hope you're right... - she snapped dryly, before giving a deep sigh and a small smile to her husband, demonstrating that she gradually regained her normal mood and wished that idea worked.\n*****\nSlowly the coffin was lowered to the grave, while the gravediggers threw the first shovels of earth over the coffin. Everyone was silent, mournful, not sure how to react. But the biggest fear of all was how Frank would react after losing his brother, his only family bond and great companion at all hours.\nBut contrary to what most expected the old man did not weep at any time of the funeral or burial, remaining extremely calm and merely looking silently at his brother's body and receiving words of support and feelings from his friends, especially those whom he considered most. Among them was Brad with his little white hair and having to walk leaning on a cane, and also Ted sitting in the wheelchair that he had to use after having suffered a stroke that paralyzed his right leg. Also in this group he included his faithful secretary Elizabeth, along with his sister and niece, Adelaide and Christine respectively, and young James Crevell, B&H's business director.\nAll the while, Frank stood by his sister-in-law Stella and nephew Warren, sheltering them in the face of such a loss. But as much as the businessman seemed strong, he was also shaken by the death of his brother the night before, due to a cardiac arrest at the age of 79. Frank stood there watching Trevor's body, motionless, cool, surrounded by the dozens of wreaths sent by friends and authorities, trying to hide his sadness, and only when the coffin was already being covered by the earth did they all see a tear trickle down the face of the businessman as he struggled to swallow sobs of emotion.\n- Rest in peace, my brother... - Frank murmured in an excited voice - I promise I'll finish what we started.\nEveryone thought the old man was referring to his work at B & H, but Brad and Ted understood what his friend meant. No sooner had the ceremony ended, Frank said farewell to his sister-in-law and nephew before taking a cab and heading to the company's office in the World Trade Center, where a meeting awaited him, despite all the grief he suffered.\nAs the car drove down the streets of New Jersey to Manhattan, the businessman began to recap his life and realized how fast the years were going. Slowly he remembered the green and cheerful fields of San Martin, the peaceful life they all had, and the desire he and Trevor had to return there someday. Then he thought of how the company he had been president and partner had grown up in the last few years. And that it could help many people around the world, and that his friends bears would be very happy if they knew that. He thought of how he longed to find the bears and cousins before he died.\nSince the deserter Hans had warned them about the existence of UGARE and that one of the ways to defeat these powerful enemies was to locate bears and cousins, Trevor and Frank had been conducting a number of investigations which soon produced some results. Both actually discovered that their friends were alive and that now they called themselves Care Bear Family, being able to help children of the entire world to solve their problems.\nFor several months, the two brothers interviewed several children and teenagers who were helped by bears and cousins, but none of these youngsters could give more information about where and how those colorful and special beings lived. And pursuing the investigations was not easy, since they did not want Klaus or other enemies to know his intentions. But after many problems and some disappointments, the private detective they had hired had phoned Frank to tell them he had found three children who, besides having been aided by the bears, had all the information that the Heartom brothers wanted, and that the next afternoon they could meet. Frank confirmed the meeting, even though he had received the news of Trevor's death half an hour before...\nThe businessman sighed heavily. If on one hand he was saddened by the loss of his brother, on the other hand he knew that the best way to honor Trevor's memory was to locate the bears and cousins, something that might have been possible thanks to those three children. That is why he soon arrived at the south tower of the WTC, taking the elevators to the floor where the company offices were, where private detective Ernest was already waiting with the three children and their caretakers.\n- I'm sorry I was late, but I had a last-minute engagement - Frank said warmly as he entered the room, shaking hands with the adults - I believe Ernest has already explained to you why you are here?\n- Yes sir, I have already explained a few things for them - the detective confirmed with a sarcastic shrug. \"But I do not think all the explanations of the world will convince Mr. and Mrs. McClouds and Mr. Fettucini that I am telling the truth...\n- And what did you expect? - asked a fat man with a broad mustache and a little goatee, who evidently was Mr. Fettucini - Mr. Heartom, your employee told us a story so crazy it's hard to believe!\n- Well, I do not know what Ernest told you exactly, but if it's about the kids here being friends of some colorful beings called Care Bears, he told you the truth - the manager replied with a small smile on his lips.\n- You can only joke with us - said Mr. McCloud, rolling his eyes, before turning to his children - And you two will have to explain a lot of things to us, just like Mr. Frank.\n- All explanations will be given in due time. But now I ask the kindness of you to wait here while I talk with these three more calmly and to make them feel more comfortable.\n- You do not expect us to leave you alone with our children, do you? - inquired Mrs. McClouds, with frowning brows.\n- I'm no pervert, and the door will be ajar - Frank said amiably, before looking at the three kids - Please come in.\nThe two boys and the girl looked at each other a little worried before slowly entering the office. The old businessman sat in an armchair and motioned for the three of them to do the same on a wide couch straight ahead. For a few moments everyone was silent, the three children with their heads down and showing shyness as Frank studied their features.\n- First of all, I want you to know that I'm not a crazy old man and... - he began, before laughing to himself - Okay, this is a bad start to a conversation. You know why you're here, do not you?\n- Yes, because of our friends Care Bears - the girl said - That investigator told us that you knew them a long time ago, and you want to find them again, so you need information. Only...\n- We just do not know if we can trust you - the teenager said sternly - We do not want to get our friends in trouble.\n- I'm a good person, and I'm really old friend of theirs - Frank said amiably - I'll tell you how I met the bears and cousins, but first we'd better introduce ourselves.\n- My name is Nicholas Cherrywood - said the preteen with deep blue eyes, still suspicious of Frank - They're the brothers Kim and Jason McClouds. Now try to explain how you met bears and cousins.\n- Hey! Calm down, boy, you do not have to act like this. I am not here as your enemy, but as a friend. Why do not you tell me about your date with bears and cousins? It's certainly a shorter story than mine.\nNicholas gave a deep sigh and rolled his eyes, briefly telling his story. He was a circus boy, Fettucini's assistant, with no friends and no respect for the tutor. One day, he found a magic book that locked an evil spirit, who used it to try to end the happiness of the world. That was when Tenderheart Bear appeared, trying to show Nicholas that he was wrong. But the boy did not hear the one who wanted to be his true friend, and followed the words spoken by the spirit. At the same time, the orphans Kim and Jason were convinced by two other bears, Friend Bear and Secret Bear, that everyone needed to have friends, being that accidentally the two ended up in Care-a-Lot, where lived part of Care Bear Family, finally discovering the value of the friendship and that the couple McClouds wanted to adopt them. But for this to come to fruition, they had to join forces with the little furry friends to stop Nicholas from completing the final spell, demonstrating to the boy what true friendship was, and thus defeating the evil spirit that had dominated him.\n- It was a great adventure, but to sum it up, the Care Bear Family was able to open my eyes - Nicholas said with a satisfied smile - And the best, besides being my friends, gave me Kim and Jason as adventure buddies.\n- What you tell me makes perfect sense - Frank said after a few seconds in silence -Only the bears and cousins of San Martin would risk this way to help others... The only thing that surprises me is the fact that they live in this place called Care-a-Lot. Where it is?\n- In the clouds, in a place they call the Kingdom of Caring - Jason explained cheerfully - It's a really cool place!\" It looks like an amusement park, full of rainbow slides and toys. It's like walking on a giant mattress, and bears are always creating things with their Stare.\n- Wow!... Well... I do not even know... - stammered the old man, surprised by that information - I do not even know what to think. A fun and colorful world in the clouds... And what is this Stare?\n- A warm, colorful ray that changes the personality of the affected people for good, and also serves to defeat evil - Kim said with a small smile - Bears and cousins also use to create things, such as balloons, cars, lollipops and much more.\n- Every member of the Care Bear Family has an individual symbol on their bellies, and the Stare flows through those emblems - Nicholas added in a calmer tone - They used against me, it's like a wave of good feelings flooding your chest and your mind, almost to the point where you can see and touch love as something material.\n- It's the same kind of skill that Heavenly Bear had... - Frank commented scratching his chin - I wonder if he could do all that, too.\n- And who is Heavenly Bear? - Nicholas asked curiously - I do not remember seeing him with the others.\nThe old man smiled sadly, taking a deep breath.\n- It's a long story and not as cheerful as I'd like - he said, leaning back in his chair -When I was young, I lived with bears and cousins on an island called San Martin, and for us that was the best place in the world...\n*****\nAgain they were face to face, and this time it would be for the final fight, after almost 40 years since the first time they met in San Martin. On one side was Dark Heart, in his favorite form in recent years, of a red-haired, insolent-looking boy. On the other side, Noble Heart and True Heart, tired of all the tricks of that disgusting entity, ready to defeat her definitely. Above their heads was a large chandelier with dozens of magic rubies, where all other members of the Care Bear Family were imprisoned except for Grams Bear and his grandchildren Hugs and Tugs. There they were all, with no chance of reacting to the powers of the evil being, and the only chance of salvation was their foster parents beat Dark Heart to free them.\nAnd between the two groups, there were three children whose fates intertwined with each other. John and his sister Dawn were twins, and their best friend was the young Christy. The three of them were in a summer camp, but because they had no sporting or manual skills, they always lost the competition for the other children, who delegated tasks such as sweeping the huts or collecting the garbage. Tired of this, the three fled the place and were lost in the forest, and True Heart and Swift Heart went to their aid. The two brothers listened to the wise words of the bear and the rabbit and even went with them to visit the Kingdom of Caring, but Christy was more resistant and only returned to the camp, being that in this path met someone who promised to make her the person dearest of the place, as long as it did him a small favor. This creature was just Dark Heart, and the favor he demanded from the girl was she helps him capture the Care Bear Family.\nNow Noble Heart and True Heart realized that their greatest enemy had schemed all that plan with much care and patience, just as he had done years before with Incomprehensible. First he had located the Care Bear Family, then he had sought out a child with problems that could serve as bait, and at last he had deceived the founders by having them chase a hologram, while attracting the young bears and cousins to their trap with the aid of Christy. In addition, it was apparently the evil being that had caused the disappearance three months before Looter Bear and Joyful Heart.\nThat was the biggest blow ever suffered by bears and cousins, especially for the leadership role the young couple wielded along with Tenderheart and Brave Heart, as well as because they both became the fourth-generation patriarchs of Care Bear Family with the birth of their sons Hugs and Tugs. And after several months away from caring missions to take care of their children, Looter and Joyful felt ready to return to normal activities and return to assist humans. However, soon after his first mission after the leave, which consisted of helping a troubled kid with his father, they did not return to the Kingdom of Caring, and no matter how Care Bear Family investigated, they could not find out about their whereabouts.\n- I know what I'm going to say is not a very nice thing, but I see no other solution - Noble Heart began sadly, meeting with all the other bears and cousins after a month of fruitless searching - Dark Heart used a child to capture Looter Bear and Joyful Heart, and only the Great Wishing Star should know for sure what happened to them after that.\n- No! Please, not this! - exclaimed Grams Bear, beginning to cry - My daughter, no! There must be another explanation for their disappearance!\n- As much as it hurts me, I have to agree with my husband - said True Heart, looking down and trying to hold back his tears - Only Dark Heart would have the courage to do something like that, and... I'm sorry, Grams Bear, but I think... Looter and Joyful... They will never return...\nOver the next few weeks, a mood of consternation reigned over the residents of the Kingdom of Caring, and even as Grams Bear began to recover from the great sadness he felt, supported by Noble Heart, True Heart, and the others, when Dark Heart appeared, attacking the old woman and her two grandchildren. Soon the founding couple placed the three in a safe place in the Forest of Feelings before chasing after the evil being and leaving the Family command for Tenderheart and Brave Heart.\nThat same afternoon, Wish Bear saw through the star-o-cope a girl caught in a canoe, in the middle of a lake, and part of the Family went to Earth to help the girl. But it was too late because the girl was Christy and she was just being the Dark Heart bait to catch the bears and cousins. And when the others tried to free their friends, they also became imprisoned.\nDark Heart was thrilled that his plan was working. It was only necessary to destroy the pair of founders, in addition to the two babies and Grams Bear, and for this he bewitched all the children of the camp to destroy the place, only Christy, John, and Dawn were unaffected by that magic, precisely because the couple of brothers had gone after their friend to show her that she had acted in the wrong way and that, therefore, many would suffer, finally succeeding in making the girl understood why she felt so sad.\nIt was at this point that Noble Heart and True Heart, realizing that they had been deceived and that their adopted children had certainly been captured, returned to Care-a-Lot and followed the clues that the young people left, reaching the Dark Heart lair at the exact moment in which the three children quarreled with the evil being and he proudly displayed the chandelier with crystals of rubies where he had imprisoned the other bears and cousins, and where soon the horse, the beige female bear, the old female bear and the two cubs would also be.\n- You will not do that! - Christy said bravely, running in front of Noble Heart and True Heart, grabbing their hands and hiding them behind their body, while Dark Heart turned to evil cloud again - You deceived me, used me to capture the bears and cousins. I do not want to be the most popular girl in the camp anymore. I demand that you undo this magic and leave us all alone!\n- And who do you think you are to face me that way? - screamed the evil being, facing the girl and trying to reach the horse and the female bear, which Christy continued to protect with his own body - If you do not want your part in the agreement, this does not matter, I already have what I want. Now get out of there and let me finish Noble Heart and True Heart!\n- I will not let you touch a hair of them, if you really want to destroy them, you'll have to get over me first!\n- You think saying that will move me? I do not care about you; I do not care about anyone! I just will not destroy it now because my main job is to do away with the founders of Care Bear Family, and that's what I'll do!\nAnd with a spell of the wind, he lifted Christy off the ground, forcing her to drop Noble Heart and True Heart, before throwing her across the room and throwing bolts of black energy toward the horse and the resolute female bear to destroy them once and for all.\n*****\nFrank was lying down asleep, when he jumped up on the bed. He was sweating cold, and his heart throbbed as if something very bad was about to happen. Slowly he stood up and walked to the window, staring out the night sky dotted of stars. In the background he knew that his feelings only reflected one thing: his friends bears and cousins were in big trouble.\n- How I wanted to be there - he said to himself in a low voice - How I wanted to help them... Why do I, among all men, have to endure this?\nThe last sentence was said with a touch of anger and disappointment. Since Trevor had died Frank felt alone, feeling more and more that he was deluding himself about finding his friends. But that was his greatest desire, and it was also an obligation, and he would not rest until he had done it. With that, he closed his eyes and remembered again the peace and joy he had in San Martin and wished he could have it all back.\n\n[i][center]If some day\nMy land I return\nI want to find\nThe same things I left\nWhen the train stops at the station\nI will feel in the heart\nThe joy of arriving\nTo review the land where I was born\nAnd run like a child\nIn the green fields of the place\n\nI want to find\nSmiling at me\nMy love at the station waiting for me\nI'll take your hand again.\nAnd we will follow with emotion\nIn the green fields of the place\n\nAnd relive the moments of joy\nWith my love to walk\nIn the green fields of my home.[/center][/i]\n\n*****\nChristy was thrown to one side of the room by the magic of Dark Heart, and watched as he began to fight with Noble Heart and True Heart. She also quickly realized that the two of them alone could not defeat the magic of the evil being, so she got up and ran toward the lever that freed the chord of chandelier where the other bears and cousins were prisoners. If she knocked over the chandelier, the rubies would surely break and everyone would be free.\nBut Dark Heart realized what the girl intended to do and struck her with a bolt of black energy before turning again against her enemies. Christy fell very hurt and almost unconscious, but still she did not give up helping her friends, seeking redemption for the evil deeds she had practiced before and had taken them to that trap. Using her last strength, she took a marble from her pocket and tossed it toward the lever, hitting it full and causing the chandelier to crash on the floor, freeing all the bears and cousins.\nWithout wasting time, they all joined Noble Heart and True Heart, and used the Stare against Dark Heart, but he was very powerful and quickly retaliated with lightning bolts and more bolts of black energy that would soon were going to destroy Care Bear Family if, in the middle of his attack, he did not give a cry of horror, stopping the fight. His eyes were now focused on Christy's body, tossed to the ground and enveloped in his black magic that gradually took the girl's life.\n- What did I do?!? What did I do?!? - he shouted in the purest pain of remorse one could feel before turning back to the red-haired boy and kneeling beside the girl - Christy! Please do not die! Sorry, sorry for what I did! You can’t die! You're not to blame for my mistakes! Please, wake up!!!\nTears began to trickle from Dark Heart's eyes as Care Bear Family, Johan and Dawn look at each other in surprise. Never, not even in the most insane dream, did they think they would see that malevolent, murderous being cry for someone, cry for pain and regret.\n- Is he faking it? - Grumpy Bear asked.\n- No, that's real - True Heart replied - He's sorry...\nDark Heart lifted his head toward the bears and cousins, your face furrowed with pain and tears.\n- What can I do to bring her back?!? - he shouted desperately - Why can't I just make her wake up?\nEveryone approached of Dark Heart and Christy, and Noble Heart took a shock to try to touch the girl.\n- We do not know what to do - he said sadly - She seems to be surrounded by a magical net that is sucking her energy.\n- You have to undo this magic, or she will die - True Heart added regretfully.\n- I can't, I have used all my hatred to create this magic, and there is no means of destroying it - declared the magical being full of remorse - As much as I have my differences with you, however much I want to destroy them, I can't just let an innocent die... We have to do something!\n- And why do you want so much to save her? - Dawn inquired, even though she knew that each second was vital to save her friend's life - You said two minutes ago that you did not care about anything and anyone.\n- Yes, but... She was the only person who really cared for me in all those years - Dark Heart replied with tears in her eyes - Now I understand why she took me out of the water when I fell from the canoe... Because she cared about me and had me as a friend... And I killed her.\nNoble Heart, True Heart, Tenderheart, Brave Heart, and all the bears and cousins looked at each other in surprise to see that such a terrible enemy had a heart with good feelings, though he himself had never realized it. They quickly gathered and whispered among themselves, before they turned again toward the malevolent being.\n- We can do something for her, but you have to help us - the horse said quickly - More than ever, you must show that you care for her, because only then will the power of love break your spell.\nDark Heart nodded immediately, and the Care Bear Family together with John and Dawn quickly joined hands and circled the girl's body, beginning to sing a single phrase, \"we care\". But that did not seem to work, so the evil being felt more and more guilty for murdering an innocent. Then his mind was flooded with memories of all the deaths he had caused, of all the lives he had destroyed, and of all the evils he had ever caused in his life. But the biggest memory he had was just his sense of surprise when Christy, who knew of her plans, had saved him one day from drowning and said she was his friend. Your friend! Your only true friend in all your long existence! The same friend he had killed with his evil powers, powers that had never served to anything, only for death and destruction. So that he needed so many powers, to have so much hatred in his heart, if he was alone and hurt others and himself?\n- I care... - he murmured in Christy's ears - Oh my God! I care...\nFor the first time in his life, Dark Heart had shown himself genuinely caring for someone, and it was certainly only what lacked. Quickly he felt himself undressing all his power and immortality, and with that too his spell on Christy's body disappeared. The girl breathed again and slowly opened her eyes.\n- What... What happened? - she asked weakly, looking around without quite understanding what had happened.\n- Are you alive! - cried Dark Heart, his heart filled with joy for the first time in his life -Oh, Christy! I'm so sorry!\nThe Care Bear Family also started shouting with joy, hugging and dancing while Dark Heart helped the girl stand up and explained what had happened. That was when she looked him in the eye with a surprised smile.\n- Your eyes... They are normal!\nThe boy looked in a mirror. Blue eyes! They were no longer red with hatred. He was a mortal now. He was disconnected from his powers, and could resume his life. But he did not have much time to think about it, as a strong tremor shook his magical hiding place, and the ceiling began to collapse. Quickly everyone rushed out of that magical cave, before an explosion made it all disappear.\n- I'm a human now - the boy said, looking at himself and the others - And now I have friends, people who care about me... I'll never be able to pay for what you did for me, bears and cousins. Thank you!\nThroughout that day, the bears were with the four young men, teaching the ancient enemy to live as a human being and having fun with them. Finally, at dusk, the Care Bear Family returned to the Kingdom of Caring.\n- At last we're free of him - said True Heart in a relieved tone, his heart lighter - We no longer need to fear being hunted down and destroyed by Dark Heart.\n- More important than that, we managed to get him to win a heart - added Noble Heart with a kind smile - Our friends must be proud of us, wherever they may be...\nMeanwhile, on earth, John, Dawn, Christy and the new friend watched the cloud cars disappear into the sky.\n- Now we can't call him Dark Heart anymore - Christy said with a grin - You need a new name.\n- That's true, you're someone else after all - Dawn agreed - How would you like to be called?\n- Think of a common, very nice name - John added with a wink - And I'm sure our coordinator will accept you in the group without even questioning.\nAfter a little thought, the boy looked at the new friends with a broad smile on his lips and a cheerful gleam in his eyes.\n- I want to call myself John Cristian Dawson - he said excitedly - There could be no more common name, and no other way to honor you three for all you've done to get me on the right track.\nThey all smiled excitedly at the words, and Christy took his friend's hands and stared at him deeply.\n- That's a pretty name - she agreed kindly - From now on you are John Cristian Dawson, our best friend.\nAnd the four of them smiled and hugged each other again, before looking once more at the starry sky. Dawson now had a name, and had happiness. He could never afford the good that his friends bears had done to him, even after all the evil he'd done to them... But he swore to himself that he would try, if they ever needed his help.\n*****\nFrank slowly tapped the eraser from the tip of the pencil on the table as he carefully read a letter of recommendation sent to him the day before. It was when he heard the sound of light knocking on the door of his office, and looking at his watch, realized that the young man he was interviewing had just arrived.\n- In between! - said the old man, the door being promptly opened by a young man of at most 28 years, black hair and a small mustache, who looked around the room before staring at the figure of the great businessman on the other side of his desk - Please, Mr. Frederick Ainstée, close the door and sit down.\n- If you do not mind, I'd rather be called Fred - the newcomer said quickly as he closed the door - It's enough hear my parents called me by their full name and...\nAt that moment, Fred slammed the door and accidentally caught his fingers, releasing a cry of pain and blasphemy before pulling his hand.\n- Damn it! Why do these things just happen to me?!? - he screamed as he sucked on his fingers to ease the pain - It was not enough to have fallen on my bike yesterday, to have broken the window of the neighbor's apartment, I still crushed my fingers in that crap of door! What else is going to happen to me?\n- First of all, this crap is an oak door and cost me US$ 500 - Frank said quietly, staring at the young man - And secondly, I see that you, as well as unlucky, really do justice to the hot-headed fame your former bosses have told me. I even see that you spent a week in jail, charged with personal injury.\nFred stopped and looked at Frank with some nervousness and his fingers wiggling non-stop, before sitting down and being silent for a few seconds.\n- Well, I have nothing to hide, I did not get along with my last three bosses, and the last one I sent to the hospital after punching him in the face - the man said dryly - I hate rich dandy who get around with their luxury cars from one place to another, and who do not value their employees as they should!\n- I hate it, too - agreed the old man with a smirk - But was it at least worth breaking your old employer's nose?\n- In a way, yes, I was no longer supporting him - said Fred with a malicious grin - I just hope it does not disqualify me as a candidate for this vacancy.\n- Do not worry; I was already arrested for breaking a person's nose in a moment of fury. Also, I have my own criteria for judging who my new personal secretary will be.\nIt had been some time since Frank had been thinking of hiring someone to act as his personal secretary and butler, especially after Trevor's death. He was no longer so young, and though he was very active and did not show his real age, surely the company and help of someone of confidence would come in handy. In the last few days the old man had interviewed several candidates who did not arouse him any sympathy, but for some reason it was Fred's character that drew his attention to the boy.\n- I'm glad to hear that and to know I still have a chance - the interviewee said cheerfully - So it's true this story that you punched Joseph Stalin when he called you an evil capitalist?\n- And I called him of socialist murderer - the old man said with a laugh - It was the best time I could use my fists, you can be sure, my boy. Now, let's talk more about you. You holds a bachelor's degree and secretarial degree from the Universities of Chicago and Harvard, served as personal secretary for the past two years for five different people, took a cabinet course and mechanic as a teenager, and worked as an ambulance driver for three years in Arizona.\n- Yes sir. I also speak Spanish and a little French, I am qualified to drive heavy vehicles and have an offensive direction course.\n- Otherwise you could not drive the ambulance, could you? Here it says that you were dismissed from employment after a traffic accident during the rescue of a patient...\n- It's a long story, and almost cost me a stay in the asylum - Fred said with a giggle -You would not believe me.\n- I've seen many things in this life, my dear. So if you want to share with me, I will not judge you.\n- Well, we were called at a trailer camp in Williams, Arizona, to rescue a lady who was apparently having a heart attack. Apparently there had been a fire a few hours before on site, as one of the vehicles was half-destroyed by the flames, and I was staring at that trailer while paramedics were tending our patient. There was a very dismayed young man in front of the trailer, he picked up something that was hanging from the door and looked at it intently. I did not pay much attention to it, but when we went out with the ambulance, I looked again at the boy and saw with him...\n- What? - Frank asked visibly interested, as his new acquaintance stopped the story with a frightened look - What was next to the boy?\n- Death, Mr. Frank! I swear to you, it was death, as depicted on newspaper strips: a tall man in a robe and a hood. He just did not carry the sickle in his hand and his clothes were purple and green. That creature talked to the boy, and I could almost see hatred surrounding those two. At that point I walked in with the ambulance on the freeway without looking sideways and collided sideways with a truck. The patient we were carrying died, one of the rescuers was injured, and I was fired on the grounds that I had fallen asleep at the wheel. But I swear to you that I saw, as well as I see you now in front of me, and that was no dream!\n- I'm not going to try to explain what you saw, but it's certainly an incredible story - the old man murmured thoughtfully - And after that you decided to specialize as a private secretary?\n- Well, in college they said that made a lot of money, and when you're young and inconsequential... In addition, my driver's license was already suspended and I would have to deal with a civil case for the death of the patient, although I was not arrested. Honestly, I do not even know if that profession was a good choice. I could not get used to any of my bosses, and I know a lot of it's my fault. I'm restless, hot head, and I do not leave insults unanswered. And usually rich people are full of mania and follies.\n- You too are a very sincere and direct person. You did not hesitate to share with me his story, his thoughts and even his prejudices towards the rich, of which I am one of them.\n- We all have flaws, do not we? Mine is to be sincere.\n- But sincerity is not a defect, it is a virtue, and that much is lacking in our time - Frank answered seriously, leaning back in his chair - Well, Fred Ainstée, I may not be the best person in the world, and I may as well have my hobbies, but if you can come to my residence tomorrow at 10 a.m. to start your training, the vacancy is yours.\nFred's eyes widened, staring at the old man as if he could not believe what he was hearing.\n- What? - exclaimed the young man, leaning his neck forward - Are you hiring me? Are you crazy?\n- I hope not - said the old man with a giggle - And why the surprise? You're a type of person I like. But if you do not want the job, I can call another candidate...\n- I... I want this job - Fred stammered, giving him a legitimate smile of joy, since he did not expect that - I really want to be your secretary, Mr. Frank. And I promise I will not disappoint you.\nThe old man got up and, turning around the desk, approached the young man, effusively pressing his hand with a broad smile on his lips.\n- Then welcome, my dear Fred - concluded the businessman amicably to his new employee, whose admiration and astonishment on his face had no measure, as well as his happiness.\n*****\nLightning and thunder fell incessantly through the black clouds surrounding the castle of No Heart. Noble Heart, True Heart, Tenderheart and Braveheart looked at each other worriedly and unsure what to do. After all, the Care Bear Family had already fought several battles against the wizard and they had been victorious at all times, using their good feelings and the Stare to paralyze their enemy. However, this time this was not what was happening, as it seemed that No Heart was getting stronger and stronger and absorbing all the power of the bears and cousins for themselves.\n- This is not working! - the horse shouted with extreme concern - He seems to have become immune to the Stare!\n- Perhaps he has created some medallion that turns good feelings into hatred, which is strengthening his powers - the brown bear quickly suggested - The more we try to hit him with the Stare, the stronger he will become and we will be worn out!\n- But we can't give up now - said Braveheart with all the courage he had - Quick, people! Let's retake the line of attack!\nAlthough exhausted, the bears and cousins attended the call of the lion, and quickly formed two lines of attack before No Heart, which was transformed into a gigantic purple dragon.\n- Care Bears, Countdown! - ordered Braveheart - Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Stare!!!\nAnd again they all threw their stares at the enemy, who stood there laughing as he received that wave of love that did not seem to strike him. It took only five seconds for the first bears and cousins to begin to fall on the ground without strength, and the few who remained soon were forced to lower themselves as the wizard launched a gigantic blaze through the nostrils.\n- You'll not defeat me this time! - No Heart said with a sinister laugh - Today will be the definitive end of the Care Bear Family, and I will destroy the affection and love on earth!\nOn a nearby cloud top, Shreeky and Beastly watched the battle with great pleasure, being that they were so certain of the wizard's victory that they even ate popcorn as if they were watching an action movie.\n- Let's go, Uncle! - shouted the girl in an encouraging tone - Show them who is in charge here!\n- That's right, chief, they'll see what's good for a cough now - the monster pig burst into laughter before he caught sight of the girl's eyes spiked on your person - I mean, what's bad for coughing, because what's bad for them it is good for us, and being evil or good...\n- Shut up, Beastlyyyyyyyyyyy!!! - Shreeky bellowed louder than a crow, causing his companion to fall to the floor while covering his ears.\nMeanwhile, the bears and cousins were trying to get up, and Noble quickly helped True.\n- What will we do now? - asked the female bear with a tremor on her lips - We can't keep fighting...\n- We have to think of something, and quick - Noble said with a frown, but with a frightened glint in his eyes - We can't just let him win this battle, or it will be our end!\nSuddenly, in the midst of the thunder, everyone heard the sound of a cloud car approaching through the storm, sweeping past No Heart and allowing two of its occupants to jump. As soon as they were on their own feet, Aqua Bear and Lonesome Heart Bear faced the wizard and pulled out their lightsabers, positioning themselves for the fight.\nAqua and Lone had arrived just over a week ago at the Kingdom of Caring, and they had a great story. They had been born special, though their parents were ordinary bears, and they had been friends since they were very young. His parents were killed by mercenary hunters, and the two cubs sent to a private zoo by an Australian businesswoman. Aqua had escaped from the boat and been saved by dolphins who taught him to swim and love water as his second world. Later he was aided by a magical being, an elf named Mel'feir, to rescue Lonesome and also Redemption, another special bear whose human who was your guardian had also been murdered just before her was sold and sent to Australia as an exotic wild animal.\nTo protect the life of the three cubs until finding someone who could receive them in definitive, Mel'feir took them to a deserted island, where Aqua learned a bit of fighting with sabers and mainly the secrets of magic, while Lonesome mainly specialized in the use of lightsabers. Redemption, in turn, besides teaching her two bears friends to play with tickles, was against violence and so preferred to specialize in the use of medicine, because her former tutor was a nurse. For several months the three were alone on that island, until the day Mel'feir returned saying that he had met other beings like them, the Care Bear Family.\nGetting to the Kingdom of Caring was not complicated for the four of them, as the elf's magic carried them quickly to that special spot. The hardest part was explaining to the Care-a-Lot residents what they were doing there, especially after Champ had inadvertently given the invasion alarm. But soon everything was resolved and Aqua, Lonesome and Redemption were accepted into the Family, while Mel'feir returned to his world.\nDuring that last week, the three newcomers began to receive their instructions on how to use Stare and how to help people, while exchanging experiences with new friends, especially with True Heart, Noble Heart, Tenderheart, Wish Bear and Champ, who had apologized for the bad reception. And because Aqua, Lone and Redemption were just at the beginning of their training, they did not follow the others when the first signs appeared that No Heart was preparing one more of their spells.\nFortunately for all, the three new members of the Family did not want to stand still, especially when the sea bear felt that the others were in trouble. And even more fortunate they were because Forest Ranger Jaguar, always reclusive in the Forest of Feelings, had heard the sound of the battle and decided to go to Care-a-Lot to know what was going on, giving a ride to the three newbies.\nQuickly the feline parked the car next to Noble and True, and Redemption ran to them with a thermos bottle in their hands.\n- Are you all right? - asked the bear to her friends as she poured some tea for each one - Take that, it's a fortifying herbal tea. It will certainly help them to feel better.\n- Thank you, Redemption - said True Heart, taking some of that drink - It's the best tea I've ever had. But what are you doing here?\n- Shopping, what do you think? - said Forest Ranger ironically - We have come to help you. That sea-green bear said he felt you were in trouble, and the sound of battle seemed to confirm that.\n- I just hope that Aqua and Lone know what they're doing - Noble said in a worried tone after also having some tea and handing the bottle over to Braveheart and Tenderheart - No Heart has ever been stronger in life!\n- Just look, he'll have a lesson from our friends - Redemption concluded with a mischievous smile.\nAqua and Lonesome were standing in a fighting position, staring at No Heart in their eyes like no other bear or cousin had ever done. And this attitude made the wizard not immediately attack them, curious as to what those two new members of the Family wanted.\n- I see we've finally met - he said slowly, maliciously - I saw you two come to the Kingdom of Caring, along with the other bear and that strange individual who brought them in, and I wondered when we would meet.\n- The strange individual is called Mel'feir, and you never more call him that way in front of us - Aqua replied with a serious look - And as for you, No Heart, undo your black magic and go back to where you came from, leaving our Family in peace!\n- How arrogant, you're just a beginner, and you're already considering yourself a real Care Bear to face me - the wizard laughed -Who do you think you are? I can destroy it with a snap of fingers!\nAnd to prove that he was telling the truth, he took a great breath and let out a gigantic blaze in the direction of the sea bear. But instead of running away, Aqua just swung his saber quickly before his body and Lonesome's, creating a magical barrier of ice that absorbed the fire without melting. That surprised No Heart, and he threw new flames in the direction of the couple and all the flames were absorbed by the ice.\nSuddenly, as the wizard took one more breath to throw more flames at his opponents, Aqua just slammed the end of his lightsaber into the ground causing the ice barrier to shatter and all the blocks flying toward No Heart, which defended himself with an energy barrier. Without even waiting for the wizard's reaction, the sea bear began to create balls of white energy, the size of bowling balls, hurling them toward Lonesome who, using his own saber as a baseball bat, threw them with all the strength and speed against No Heart.\nThe sorcerer had been totally taken aback by the speed and intensity of that attack, for it was nothing like Care Bear Family's. In addition, he was dealing with different spells and even stronger than the Stare himself, which forced him to stay on the defensive, unable to fight back the attack. And unlike before, when he was sucking the energy of the bears and cousins magically to reinforce their own energy, now those two bears that were sucking their energies.\nIt was not just No Heart that he was impressed by the powers of the newbies. The Care Bear Family herself was amazed at the combat, surprised by all the energy and skill that Aqua and Lonesome had, far surpassing everyone's expectations, so they hoped for that for the pair to win.\n- Reach his medallion, sports fans! - shouted Champ at the top of his lungs - Reach his medallion!\nThe bear couple quickly understood what the athlete meant, and focused on destroying the triangular medallion with a red stone in the center that No Heart wore around his neck. Turning around, Lonesome Heart threw his lightsaber toward the object, but the wizard repelled the weapon with his own hands and screamed in pain as he cut himself deeply as he touched the magical blade of the saber.\nThis distraction allowed Aqua to create a strong ball of electric power and throw it directly at the opponent's neck, striking the medallion in full and blowing it up into thousands of pieces, while all the energy contained in it was released into electric rays that made No Heart fell to the ground, at the same time that he was transformed back into his human form.\nRealizing that he had lost most of his powers, and that the two opponents were ready to continue the attack, the wizard turned into a hurricane and retreating, sucking Shreeky and Beastly into the whirlpool.\n- I will take revenge! You will regret it! - cried No Heart as he walked away toward the castle.\nAqua and Lonesome hugged each other happily, celebrating the fact that they had defeated the wicked wizard. And it was not just them who were happy, since soon the whole Care Bear Family ran up to their new members to congratulate them.\n- That was the most incredible thing we've ever seen! - Noble Heart exclaimed with a broad smile on his lips - No Heart could not even respond to your attack!\n- Surely it will be a long time without tormenting us after today's defeat - Braveheart remarked as he shook hands with the sea bear and the pink bear - I wonder what he must be feeling now, after having experienced a little his own magic...\n- I don't even know how to thank you for your help - said True Heart kindly - If it were not for both of you, perhaps the Care Bear Family would not have survived. We have an eternal debt to you both.\n- Really, you arrived just in time - Tenderheart added cheerfully - Sorry if we doubt your ability to help us. We promise we'll not do that anymore.\n- Well, we just did what any member of the Care Bear Family would do - Aqua retorted cheekily - You certainly would have done the same to defend us from that wizard.\n- Of course, but the way you did is incredible - said Wish Bear with great animation - I never imagined that a Care Bear had as many magic and fighting skills as you two demonstrated today.\n- And you didn't see half of what we can do - Lonesome replied with a wink - When that wizard comes back, we'll take care of him again, Aqua with his magical powers and I with my lightsaber.\n- Honestly, I'm relieved that I was not really attacked by you on our first date - Champ joked with a chuckle - As strong as I am, I would not even be able to defend myself.\n- You didn't know who we were and what we wanted, just fulfilled your obligation to set the alarm - Redemption said amiably - You are excused for that, and can be sure we will never attack you. The most we can do is kidnap you for a few days to make tickle tortures in you.\n- You're joking, aren't you, sport fan? - asked the athlete bear with some concern -Would you even have the courage to do that?\n- Well, we... - Aqua smiled and looked at Redemption and Lonesome, who laughed in response - Yes, we would. There is nothing better than torturing a bear with tickles for days and days without stopping. After all, this is our favorite joke.\n- But you don't have to worry for the moment, just like the others - Redemption added, seeing the worried looks of most of the crowd - At the moment, we'd better worry about getting out of here before that wizard comes back.\nThey all agreed with the gray bear, and quickly created cloud cars and moving cloudmobiles to get out of there as quickly as possible, taking advantage of the rest of the day to rest after that hectic battle.\nMeanwhile, No Heart arrived at his castle and, still turning into a hurricane, entered through the window of its throne room, where it left Beastly and Shreeky before turning again into human. With the sudden stop, the monster-pig was thrown to the wall, falling dazed to the floor, while the girl quickly balanced and looked in her portable mirror to straighten her hair. As for the sorcerer, he stood in one corner of the room, moaning and looking at the injured hand.\n- Are you bleeding, Uncle? - Shreeky asked with a worried look - Do you want me to prepare an ointment to heal this wound?\n- Don't worry about me, I'm fine - cried No Heart, whose red eyes were full of hatred -\n This wound doesn't hurt more than my hatred of being defeated by those two bears! I didn't think they were so powerful when I saw them through my magic cauldron.\n- And what are we going to do now to get our revenge, chief? - asked Beastly, standing still with dizziness, and getting a real growl from the wizard - I mean, what will I do now to avenge you, chief?\n- Shut up, you stupid! - No Heart demanded as he used a healing spell to accelerate the healing of his wound - They will soon feel the weight of my revenge, we can wait a little longer. The day of victory will soon come! Do you agree with me, my dear Darkage?\nAt that moment a male figure in a black robe appeared in the shadows, and when his face became visible, it turned out to be that of a tall, strong, brown-haired boy of 24 or 25 with a wicked grin on his lips.\n- Yes, of course, because it will be the day of my victory, No Heart - said the young man, beginning to laugh in an affected way, with a heart full of hatred for the Care Bear Family and desiring revenge, at the same time as rays and thunder crashed around the castle, attracted by Darkage's dark aura, the No Heart's apprentice and heir to Dark Heart's powers.\n*****\n- Are you sure I can attend this party? - Dawson asked as Christy kindly arranged his tie.\n- Of course I do, my dear - said the young woman - Every year my aunt Elizabeth's boss performs a fraternization among the company's employees to celebrate the good results and maintain everyone's self-esteem. Aunt Elizabeth always participates because working in the office, and this year she also invited us to introduce us to her boss. After all, she does not want to see us washing dishes in diners for the rest of our life.\n- It seems Aunt Elizabeth thought of everything - the young man chuckled softly - But what about her boss, know we're going to participate?\n- I guess so. In any case, employees can bring their relatives to this event, so there are no problems. I myself have participated twice when I was very young.\n- That business men have their oddities I already knew, but never before did I meet someone who had a fraternization with employees and still allowed the participation of their relatives.\n- Ah, Aunt Elizabeth's boss is a very nice person, she always speaks well him on the phone or when she visits us. He likes to invest in young minds in his company, and from what my aunt says, he does not like to judge people by their past or appearance, which certainly is a great advantage to someone with a story like yours, my dear.\nDawson smiled, but there was a little sadness in his smile. It had been ten years since he had become a respectable and intelligent human, always trying to help people around, but even so he still felt the weight in his conscience for everything he had done before as Dark Heart. He seldom alluded about his previous life, even for Christy, who was now his girlfriend.\nThe young couple, who had never lost touch with each other since their affair with Care Bear Family, had been dating for some time, and had moved to New Jersey from to attend college. Christy was living with her aunt Elizabeth and studying secretarial, while Dawson was studying history and was in a rented apartment near the house of the girlfriend. In order to support themselves, they worked as waiters in a diner, but Aunt Elizabeth had other plans for the career of her niece and her boyfriend, inviting them to join the fraternization organized by your boss.\nIt was easy for the young couple to find the address indicated. Despite being in an elegant neighborhood of the city, it was not an opulent mansion as you would expect from a large industrialist. In the background was a simple building, little larger than a family residence. The young woman was anxious about such an important meeting, while the young man was curious to know the owner of that place, mainly because there was something familiar in those heraldic coats that adorned the gate and that Dawson could not recognize.\nAnd this feeling that there was really something familiar about it all got louder and louder in Dawson as he walked through the garden and saw the people getting together, the way the tables and stage were set up, the dance floor and even the format and arrangement of ornaments. However, he quickly ignored this feeling and went to greet Aunt Elizabeth, who welcomed them with a big hug.\n- I'm glad you two came - she said cheerfully - I'm sure you guys are going to have a lot of fun today. The chief said he was anxious to see her again, my niece. By the way, Dawson, let me introduce you to him. Mr. Frank!\nBehind Elizabeth was a tall, elegantly dressed, bald man with only a small band of white hair on his head. He had his back to the three of them, using some candy on a table, but he quickly turned to face the secretary and the young couple.\nWhen he did, and his eyes met Dawson's, they both jumped. The young man immediately recognized Frank Heartom and swallowed, beginning to shake and sweat cold, but the old man did not recognize Dawson as the Dark Heart, he only found it very familiar.\n- Mr. Frank, I think you remember my niece Christy - Elizabeth continued cheerfully as the manager greeted the girl - Then let him introduce you John Dawson, her boyfriend.\n- Nice to meet you, John - the old man said, reaching out and squeezing the newcomer's hand, giving him a good look - Have not we met before?\n- NN-No, I've never been there... I mean, we've never seen it before - stammered Dawson, shaking with fear and emotion - Nice to meet you. Come with me Christy, please!\nAnd he practically pulled his girlfriend some distance away from Frank, who stood there not understanding what was happening, just like Elizabeth. Even the girl did not understand what was going on with her boyfriend.\n- After all, Dawson, what's going on? - she asked as she was pulled by the young man - You look like you've seen a ghost!\n- Why did not you tell me that your aunt's boss was Frank Heartom?!? - he exclaimed in a low and trembling voice - Christy, he knows who I am, he was in San Martin the day I tried to kill the bears and cousins!\n- What? - the girl gaped at her boyfriend, then her eyes flashed to Mr. Frank, who was watching them in the distance - Is Mr. Frank a Care Bear Family friend?\n- More than a friend, he was a great companion and defender of all of them. Oh, my God, Christy! I can’t stay at this party; I have to leave right away.\n- And why do not you want to stay in the fraternization? - Frank inquired calmly, coming slowly and listening heard Dawson's last words - Do you have yellow fever or any other disease? I've never seen anyone shake so much...\n- I... I'm a little... WW-With a little stomach ache - said the boy swallowing again - I think I need to go home to take medicine.\n- You do not have to worry; I have an anti-gas medicine in my office. Come with me.\nAnd the old businessman motioned for Dawson to accompany him. The young man began to shake even more, looking indecisively at the old man and at Christy, who just nodded and said that he had better do it. Quickly Frank and Dawson walked through the party, entered a side door in the big house, walked down a small corridor, and entered the businessman's office.\n- It will not take more than a minute to find the medicine glass, I'll keep it at my desk - Frank said as he rummaged through a drawer.\nDawson had his eyes fixed on the old man, but he also glanced around the office, a large place, full of books, maps, diplomas, and photographs. But there was no mention of Frank's past in San Martin, except for a picture hanging on one of the walls, showing a paradisiacal landscape, which the young man recognized as being from one of the island's beaches.\nThe old man quickly found the bottle of anti-gas medicine and approached the new friend, realizing how much the picture had drawn him.\n- It's beautiful, is not it? - Frank asked with a slight smile - I painted it myself, it's one of my hobbies. I like to portray nature, especially from places where I met one day and today they no longer exist or are very much altered. I played on this beach when I was a kid.\n- That picture... This place that you portrayed... does it represent a lot to you? -Dawson asked excitedly.\n- A lot, that's where I spent the best years of my life. It is one of the beaches of San Martin, the island where I lived until 1943. But the war caused a disaster in the population and forced us to flee, and we were never able to return... Here is your remedy, Dawson.\nBut the young boy did not seem to hear what Frank had said to him, just continued to stare intently into the landscape, his eyes lost and pensive.\n- What do you feel for those who have caused such a disaster in your life and in your friends' lives? - asked the young man in the same excited tone - Would you kill them if you had the opportunity?\nThe old man stared at Dawson curiously, since no one had ever asked him that kind of thing about his feelings about the island before.\n- Well... To be frank with you, I feel sorry for those who provoked the whole situation - Frank declared slowly - For a long time I have felt anger, and even hatred, but now I only feel sorry... And killing them would certainly not bring back everything I lost.\n- BB-But what if you met some of those who affected you so harshly, if you were face to face with him, what would you do? Would not you even kill him for all the pain and suffering that forced him to go through?\n- I never thought about it... And it would not be good to think, time has passed and it is impossible for me to find any of those who caused such the disaster on the island.\nSlowly Dawson turned to Frank with tears in his eyes, licking his dry lips and taking courage to utter his next sentence, which would surely reveal everything to the old man.\n- And if the one who corrupted Incomprehensible Heart... Who killed almost all the bears and cousins... And tried to kill him that day March 16, if he was by your side now? - stammered the young man, his lips trembling.\nFrank slowly widened his eyes at that, and turned to Dawson before looking deeply into his eyes and finally remembering where he knew that young man.\n- You... - Frank muttered, his teeth starting to grind.\nDawson only nodded slightly, confirming the old man's suspicions. For a minute or two, neither of them said anything, just continued to stare, until, to the boy's surprise, Frank gave him two sharp punches in the face and made him fall to the floor.\n- That's for all you've done to me! - cried the old man, snorting in rage, before taking a deep breath and calming down - You bastard... And as for Christy, are you also using her as you did with Incomprehensible?\n- NN-No more - said the young man, standing up dazed and with lips injured - I used her, but she taught me... How important it is to care about someone. Including the Care Bear Family.\nFrank was silent, his countenance heavy as he continued to watch Dawson. Finally he took out a tissue and handed it to the young man.\n- Wipe the blood out of your face - the old man said dryly - It's been 50 years since I was to meet him again, and I was afraid you would tell me that you had beaten the bears and cousins with their wickedness and desire for destruction... What I did not expect is that you had become mortal.\n- How did you know that? Just because I'm bleeding?\n- And because if you wanted to kill me, you would have done it much sooner - Frank corrected with a shy smile - Besides, I can see that you're no longer that creature of yesteryear, and I suspect Christy and Care Bear Family have a part in that change.\n- They really are responsible for my change of life. So you're not mad at me?\n- Of course I am! After all you are responsible and always will for what happened! The scar still exists here - and Frank pointed to the heart with a trembling hand - Since that fateful day it's here. I never saw my best friends again. To this day I am struggling to find them and to start a normal life with them again. I believe witch you, with a heart now, also understand this.\n- Yes, I understand... I think I deserved that punch.\nFor a few moments they were both silent, until finally Frank relaxed his features and began to laugh with pleasure, something that surprised Dawson. Suddenly the old man got up and ran to give the young man a hug.\n- My dear fellow, to know that you are no longer a servant of evil is one of the greatest bliss I can ever experience in life - the old man said cheerfully - I wished God so much that He could soften your heart and bring you for the light...\n- Well, I think God heard your prayers - Dawson said, tears streaming down his cheeks - Thank you for forgiving me, Mr. Frank...\n- At least that all served to cure your stomach ache - said the businessman, making his new friend laugh - Now sit here and tell me everything that has happened to you, and how you became what you are today. And especially as our friends bears and cousins were responsible for this.\nAnd for a long time Frank and Dawson talked about their lives, the young man telling how he had ceased to be the Dark Heart thanks to the help of Christy, John, Dawn and Care Bear Family, while the old man spoke of his relentless quest to locate the old friends and assist them in whatever was necessary. And so a great friendship was born between them that would last as long as they lived...\n*****\nSlowly Frank opened his eyes, as if waking from a dream, and stared at his small audience consisting of Champ, Confidence, Hector and James.\n- And it was thanks to the support of Dawson, Christy, and Jason that I kept looking for you, bears and cousins, until I could find you today - the old man concluded his story with a small smile, and feeling a great relief at finally being able to share everything with someone.\n[b]\n[right](End of 2nd Part)[/b][/right]\n","writing_bbcode_parsed":"
The Care Bears
The Confidence Secret
2nd Part
Chapter 21

*****

Unlike other meetings, where she had always shown great joy and presence of spirit, True Heart was taciturn and frowning. It was visible to all that the founding bear was uncomfortable with the situation, even irritated, at how much effort she made in trying to do otherwise.
- I still do not understand why we have to deal with it - she complained again, folding her arms and staring seriously at Noble Heart - Care Bear Family's safety comes first, and it's not a good idea to bring strangers to the Kingdom of Caring.
- That means that if it had not been for Noble Heart to bring me here, would you have left me in the middle of the forest? - complained Impulsive Heart Bear - After all, deep down I'm a stranger to Care Bear Family.
- That's not the case, Impulsive! You are one of us, you were chosen by the Great Wishing Star to be a member of the Family. But we can't afford to bring children here every time!
- But what would be the problem in doing that, after all? - Tenderheart asked curiously, as he did not imagine he would face such resistance on the part of the matriarch bear - It would certainly help us to have more interaction with the children, opening up new possibilities for them to hear our message of love and caring.
- Besides, if Kim and Jason were not here, they would certainly have been contaminated by that evil spirit's spell, and would not have helped convince Nicholas that he was acting the wrong way - Brave Heart pondered gravely, also wondering at the reaction of True Heart to that idea.
- Then I'll tell you a few problems - the female bear said angrily - First, a child may fall on the edge of the cloud. Secondly, No Heart and Professor Coldheart can attack and injure some visitors. And thirdly, after what Dark Heart did recently, he may well turn into a child just to get close again to all of us giving the final assault. Do you want more reasons?!?
They all looked at each other silently, since in the bottom True Heart was right in worrying. Many things had happened in recent years with the Care Bear Family, and it was natural that some had not yet fully adapted to new developments.
But not all had been bad. During a Rocky Mountain mission a year earlier, Noble Heart had accidentally spotted a young light-orange bear, which had got into trouble when trying to get honey out of a beehive. Seeing that that bear was one like them, the horse took him to live in Care-a-Lot, where his precipitous and explosive temper made him gain the name of Impulsive Bear. Since then he had been trained to be a Care Bear, supported by True Heart, Noble Heart and Brave Heart, who had become his best friend, and being under the supervision of a Loyal Heart, but despite all his efforts, was not easy to deal with the new clan member.
In addition, Noble Heart and True Heart saw their greatest fears come true when Dark Heart located and attempted to once again destroy the Care Bear Family. To do so, he disguised himself as a maintenance electrician and tried to sabotage the caring meter at a time when the founders were not in Care-a-Lot, taking advantage of the fact that none of the younger bears and cousins knew him. Fortunately, the little stars and little hearts that inhabited the Kingdom of Caring realized the ruse of the evil being and unmasked it, allowing the Family to reject the enemy, not without hearing him curse and promise that soon he would return.
No sooner had the bears and cousins recovered from that fright, and a new threat arose in their lives. One morning Noble Heart noticed a sudden change in the color and shape of the clouds to the northwest of Care-a-Lot, and when investigating along with Tenderheart, Brave Heart, Looter and Goodluck, were captured by a sorcerer who called himself No Heart, and who had magically built a castle of fear in that region of clouds. At the same time True Heart, Grams Bear, Grumpy Bear, Joyful Heart and the others were attacked by another human with magical knowledge and allied with the wizard, named Professor Coldheart, who used a freezing beam to try to paralyze all bears and cousins. Fortunately Friend Bear, Secret Bear and Harmony Bear were unaffected, managing to unfreeze the others and rescue the hostages that were in the castle of the wizard. But from that day on, they knew they would always be exposed to new attacks by No Heart and Coldheart.
Finally, there were the events of the previous week, when Noble Heart and True Heart were again absent investigating the whereabouts of Dark Heart. At one point, the couple felt that something was wrong, and upon returning to the Kingdom of Caring, they found Care-a-Lot practically destroyed and the caring meter near zero. Only Grams Bear, Grumpy Bear and Goodluck Bear were around, and they quickly explained that a boy named Nicholas was being used by an evil spirit trapped in an old book to spread hatred and fear around the world. Only two children, named Kim and Jason, had not been directly affected because they had accidentally been brought to Care-a-Lot along with Friend Bear and Secret Bear who were trying to help them. As the cloud cars were not working right, the Care Bear Family headed to Earth in the Cloud Clipper, led by Tenderheart and Brave Heart and having the company of the two children, while the grumpy bear, the lucky bear, and the old bear continued to try to repair the new invention of the first to join the others.
Such an invention was the Rainbow Rescue Beam, a device to teleport the bears from one place to another in safety. It was really thanks to that contraption that Kim and Jason were brought to the Kingdom of Caring, the first children to know the place, and were also protected from the effects caused by the spell of the evil spirit. After presenting several problems, that equipment finally worked and sent Grumpy and Goodluck to Earth, while Noble Heart, True Heart and Grams Bear saw the caring meter reach practically to zero. Suddenly, the pointer began to rise rapidly on the dial, while the storm sweeping the place diminished in intensity until it faded completely.
Care-a-Lot was saved! It was just what the three of them knew. Only later, when the others returned with Cloud Clipper, did they know that Kim and Jason had been the great heroes of the day, because the two brothers, seeing their friends bears and cousins in distress, ran alongside Nicholas and wished ardently to be his friends, breaking all the hatred and bitterness that the boy had in his heart and defeating the black magic that the spirit used to feed such feelings.
Precisely because of the important role of the two children in the battle, and the fact that they did so after their short visit to the Kingdom of Caring, Noble was the first to suggest that children assisted in caring missions could know where the family lived, and was that's why all the bears and cousins were meeting now at Hall of Hearts, despite True Heart's opposition to that idea.
- We are unable to receive children in the Kingdom of Caring - said the matriarch after a short silence - It's dangerous for them and for us as well. The case of Kim and Jason occurred by accident and good thing it turned out well for them.
- And just because it ended well for them, should not we think the same about other children? - Noble Heart teased with a wink - Think about it, my dear. Children will not only hear us more easily, but bringing them here will be a way for Care Bear Family to interact with them even more!
- Noble is right, this would be an opportunity to revive coexistence between humans and bears and cousins, as in the old days - Grams Bear commented with a faint smile, receiving in return a furious look from True Heart - And do not look at me like that, True Heart Bear. You're being very pessimistic, not even Grumpy Bear should consider such a bad idea...
- I just hope that bringing children here does not mean any more work for us - said the blue bear with a closed countenance and arms crossed - And in the background True Heart is correct in worrying about accidents or attacks from our enemies.
- An enemy attacking us while a child is visiting us should not be very different from when we are attacked without anyone visiting us - Forest Ranger Jaguar pondered animatedly - And if that happens, we'll find a way, after all we have some experience. Moreover, it is enough that we keep an eye on the young people we bring so that they do not come too close to the edges of the clouds.
Everyone agreed with a murmur of approval, while True Heart grunted and folded his arms, his expression becoming more and more closed and irritated while his arguments were deconstructed, the opposite of Noble.
- If no one else has arguments against or in favor, I believe we can pass the vote - said the horse animatedly - Raise your hands those who agree to bring the children we help, for get to know the Kingdom of Caring...
- Hey! Wait a moment! - the matriarch bear demanded seriously - I have already had to agree to the engagement of Joyful and Looter, although I find them both very young to make that decision. But I will not agree that four cubs vote on such an important issue!
These words were addressed to Champ, Cheer, Bright Heart and Treat Heart, who looked at each other for a few seconds, unsure what to say.
- That's not fair, True Heart! - said at last the sportsman bear with an angry look - We may be the youngest, but we are not cubs anymore!
- Of course you are, and I do not allow you to take part in the vote. In fact, you should not even be attending this meeting, much less should have gone to Earth to face that evil spirit! You are very young and inexperienced for this...
- Well, we've done very well this mission - Bright Heart said with a furrowed brow - Brave Heart has already begun our training along with Impulsive Heart.
- And you'll be just like them if you do not learn to respect me.
- You mean I do not respect you? When did I disrespect you? - complained the orange bear.
- Enough! - Noble Heart shouted, standing up and making everyone silent - This was supposed to be a quiet, quick meeting, not a discussion among Family members. True Heart is right, Champ, Cheer, Bright Heart, Treat Heart and Impulsive are just beginning their workouts like Care Bears and Care Bear Cousins and should not vote, and that's just for that reason.
The four pre-teens did not like to hear that, just like Impulsive, but they all had deep respect for Noble Heart and True Heart and decided not to question.
- All right, now we can go on - the horse went on, more calm - Raise your hands those who agree to bring children to meet the Kingdom of Caring.
Everyone raised their hands, except for True Heart, who continued with her arms folded and a sulky gaze toward her husband.
- And now raise your hands to all those who are against the idea - he continued, his wife being the only one who voted otherwise - Well, I do not think I need even comment on the outcome.
While everyone was celebrating the fact that they could bring to the Kingdom of Caring the children who they helped, True Heart just sat there, silent, still arms crossed and an angry expression. Noble Heart then sat down beside her and tried to hold onto her hand, but she quickly pulled it.
- You may not like the idea, my dear, but I'm sure you'll soon realize that it will not bring us as many problems as you think - the horse said in a low, cheery voice.
- Honestly, I hope you're right... - she snapped dryly, before giving a deep sigh and a small smile to her husband, demonstrating that she gradually regained her normal mood and wished that idea worked.
*****
Slowly the coffin was lowered to the grave, while the gravediggers threw the first shovels of earth over the coffin. Everyone was silent, mournful, not sure how to react. But the biggest fear of all was how Frank would react after losing his brother, his only family bond and great companion at all hours.
But contrary to what most expected the old man did not weep at any time of the funeral or burial, remaining extremely calm and merely looking silently at his brother's body and receiving words of support and feelings from his friends, especially those whom he considered most. Among them was Brad with his little white hair and having to walk leaning on a cane, and also Ted sitting in the wheelchair that he had to use after having suffered a stroke that paralyzed his right leg. Also in this group he included his faithful secretary Elizabeth, along with his sister and niece, Adelaide and Christine respectively, and young James Crevell, B&H's business director.
All the while, Frank stood by his sister-in-law Stella and nephew Warren, sheltering them in the face of such a loss. But as much as the businessman seemed strong, he was also shaken by the death of his brother the night before, due to a cardiac arrest at the age of 79. Frank stood there watching Trevor's body, motionless, cool, surrounded by the dozens of wreaths sent by friends and authorities, trying to hide his sadness, and only when the coffin was already being covered by the earth did they all see a tear trickle down the face of the businessman as he struggled to swallow sobs of emotion.
- Rest in peace, my brother... - Frank murmured in an excited voice - I promise I'll finish what we started.
Everyone thought the old man was referring to his work at B & H, but Brad and Ted understood what his friend meant. No sooner had the ceremony ended, Frank said farewell to his sister-in-law and nephew before taking a cab and heading to the company's office in the World Trade Center, where a meeting awaited him, despite all the grief he suffered.
As the car drove down the streets of New Jersey to Manhattan, the businessman began to recap his life and realized how fast the years were going. Slowly he remembered the green and cheerful fields of San Martin, the peaceful life they all had, and the desire he and Trevor had to return there someday. Then he thought of how the company he had been president and partner had grown up in the last few years. And that it could help many people around the world, and that his friends bears would be very happy if they knew that. He thought of how he longed to find the bears and cousins before he died.
Since the deserter Hans had warned them about the existence of UGARE and that one of the ways to defeat these powerful enemies was to locate bears and cousins, Trevor and Frank had been conducting a number of investigations which soon produced some results. Both actually discovered that their friends were alive and that now they called themselves Care Bear Family, being able to help children of the entire world to solve their problems.
For several months, the two brothers interviewed several children and teenagers who were helped by bears and cousins, but none of these youngsters could give more information about where and how those colorful and special beings lived. And pursuing the investigations was not easy, since they did not want Klaus or other enemies to know his intentions. But after many problems and some disappointments, the private detective they had hired had phoned Frank to tell them he had found three children who, besides having been aided by the bears, had all the information that the Heartom brothers wanted, and that the next afternoon they could meet. Frank confirmed the meeting, even though he had received the news of Trevor's death half an hour before...
The businessman sighed heavily. If on one hand he was saddened by the loss of his brother, on the other hand he knew that the best way to honor Trevor's memory was to locate the bears and cousins, something that might have been possible thanks to those three children. That is why he soon arrived at the south tower of the WTC, taking the elevators to the floor where the company offices were, where private detective Ernest was already waiting with the three children and their caretakers.
- I'm sorry I was late, but I had a last-minute engagement - Frank said warmly as he entered the room, shaking hands with the adults - I believe Ernest has already explained to you why you are here?
- Yes sir, I have already explained a few things for them - the detective confirmed with a sarcastic shrug. "But I do not think all the explanations of the world will convince Mr. and Mrs. McClouds and Mr. Fettucini that I am telling the truth...
- And what did you expect? - asked a fat man with a broad mustache and a little goatee, who evidently was Mr. Fettucini - Mr. Heartom, your employee told us a story so crazy it's hard to believe!
- Well, I do not know what Ernest told you exactly, but if it's about the kids here being friends of some colorful beings called Care Bears, he told you the truth - the manager replied with a small smile on his lips.
- You can only joke with us - said Mr. McCloud, rolling his eyes, before turning to his children - And you two will have to explain a lot of things to us, just like Mr. Frank.
- All explanations will be given in due time. But now I ask the kindness of you to wait here while I talk with these three more calmly and to make them feel more comfortable.
- You do not expect us to leave you alone with our children, do you? - inquired Mrs. McClouds, with frowning brows.
- I'm no pervert, and the door will be ajar - Frank said amiably, before looking at the three kids - Please come in.
The two boys and the girl looked at each other a little worried before slowly entering the office. The old businessman sat in an armchair and motioned for the three of them to do the same on a wide couch straight ahead. For a few moments everyone was silent, the three children with their heads down and showing shyness as Frank studied their features.
- First of all, I want you to know that I'm not a crazy old man and... - he began, before laughing to himself - Okay, this is a bad start to a conversation. You know why you're here, do not you?
- Yes, because of our friends Care Bears - the girl said - That investigator told us that you knew them a long time ago, and you want to find them again, so you need information. Only...
- We just do not know if we can trust you - the teenager said sternly - We do not want to get our friends in trouble.
- I'm a good person, and I'm really old friend of theirs - Frank said amiably - I'll tell you how I met the bears and cousins, but first we'd better introduce ourselves.
- My name is Nicholas Cherrywood - said the preteen with deep blue eyes, still suspicious of Frank - They're the brothers Kim and Jason McClouds. Now try to explain how you met bears and cousins.
- Hey! Calm down, boy, you do not have to act like this. I am not here as your enemy, but as a friend. Why do not you tell me about your date with bears and cousins? It's certainly a shorter story than mine.
Nicholas gave a deep sigh and rolled his eyes, briefly telling his story. He was a circus boy, Fettucini's assistant, with no friends and no respect for the tutor. One day, he found a magic book that locked an evil spirit, who used it to try to end the happiness of the world. That was when Tenderheart Bear appeared, trying to show Nicholas that he was wrong. But the boy did not hear the one who wanted to be his true friend, and followed the words spoken by the spirit. At the same time, the orphans Kim and Jason were convinced by two other bears, Friend Bear and Secret Bear, that everyone needed to have friends, being that accidentally the two ended up in Care-a-Lot, where lived part of Care Bear Family, finally discovering the value of the friendship and that the couple McClouds wanted to adopt them. But for this to come to fruition, they had to join forces with the little furry friends to stop Nicholas from completing the final spell, demonstrating to the boy what true friendship was, and thus defeating the evil spirit that had dominated him.
- It was a great adventure, but to sum it up, the Care Bear Family was able to open my eyes - Nicholas said with a satisfied smile - And the best, besides being my friends, gave me Kim and Jason as adventure buddies.
- What you tell me makes perfect sense - Frank said after a few seconds in silence -Only the bears and cousins of San Martin would risk this way to help others... The only thing that surprises me is the fact that they live in this place called Care-a-Lot. Where it is?
- In the clouds, in a place they call the Kingdom of Caring - Jason explained cheerfully - It's a really cool place!" It looks like an amusement park, full of rainbow slides and toys. It's like walking on a giant mattress, and bears are always creating things with their Stare.
- Wow!... Well... I do not even know... - stammered the old man, surprised by that information - I do not even know what to think. A fun and colorful world in the clouds... And what is this Stare?
- A warm, colorful ray that changes the personality of the affected people for good, and also serves to defeat evil - Kim said with a small smile - Bears and cousins also use to create things, such as balloons, cars, lollipops and much more.
- Every member of the Care Bear Family has an individual symbol on their bellies, and the Stare flows through those emblems - Nicholas added in a calmer tone - They used against me, it's like a wave of good feelings flooding your chest and your mind, almost to the point where you can see and touch love as something material.
- It's the same kind of skill that Heavenly Bear had... - Frank commented scratching his chin - I wonder if he could do all that, too.
- And who is Heavenly Bear? - Nicholas asked curiously - I do not remember seeing him with the others.
The old man smiled sadly, taking a deep breath.
- It's a long story and not as cheerful as I'd like - he said, leaning back in his chair -When I was young, I lived with bears and cousins on an island called San Martin, and for us that was the best place in the world...
*****
Again they were face to face, and this time it would be for the final fight, after almost 40 years since the first time they met in San Martin. On one side was Dark Heart, in his favorite form in recent years, of a red-haired, insolent-looking boy. On the other side, Noble Heart and True Heart, tired of all the tricks of that disgusting entity, ready to defeat her definitely. Above their heads was a large chandelier with dozens of magic rubies, where all other members of the Care Bear Family were imprisoned except for Grams Bear and his grandchildren Hugs and Tugs. There they were all, with no chance of reacting to the powers of the evil being, and the only chance of salvation was their foster parents beat Dark Heart to free them.
And between the two groups, there were three children whose fates intertwined with each other. John and his sister Dawn were twins, and their best friend was the young Christy. The three of them were in a summer camp, but because they had no sporting or manual skills, they always lost the competition for the other children, who delegated tasks such as sweeping the huts or collecting the garbage. Tired of this, the three fled the place and were lost in the forest, and True Heart and Swift Heart went to their aid. The two brothers listened to the wise words of the bear and the rabbit and even went with them to visit the Kingdom of Caring, but Christy was more resistant and only returned to the camp, being that in this path met someone who promised to make her the person dearest of the place, as long as it did him a small favor. This creature was just Dark Heart, and the favor he demanded from the girl was she helps him capture the Care Bear Family.
Now Noble Heart and True Heart realized that their greatest enemy had schemed all that plan with much care and patience, just as he had done years before with Incomprehensible. First he had located the Care Bear Family, then he had sought out a child with problems that could serve as bait, and at last he had deceived the founders by having them chase a hologram, while attracting the young bears and cousins to their trap with the aid of Christy. In addition, it was apparently the evil being that had caused the disappearance three months before Looter Bear and Joyful Heart.
That was the biggest blow ever suffered by bears and cousins, especially for the leadership role the young couple wielded along with Tenderheart and Brave Heart, as well as because they both became the fourth-generation patriarchs of Care Bear Family with the birth of their sons Hugs and Tugs. And after several months away from caring missions to take care of their children, Looter and Joyful felt ready to return to normal activities and return to assist humans. However, soon after his first mission after the leave, which consisted of helping a troubled kid with his father, they did not return to the Kingdom of Caring, and no matter how Care Bear Family investigated, they could not find out about their whereabouts.
- I know what I'm going to say is not a very nice thing, but I see no other solution - Noble Heart began sadly, meeting with all the other bears and cousins after a month of fruitless searching - Dark Heart used a child to capture Looter Bear and Joyful Heart, and only the Great Wishing Star should know for sure what happened to them after that.
- No! Please, not this! - exclaimed Grams Bear, beginning to cry - My daughter, no! There must be another explanation for their disappearance!
- As much as it hurts me, I have to agree with my husband - said True Heart, looking down and trying to hold back his tears - Only Dark Heart would have the courage to do something like that, and... I'm sorry, Grams Bear, but I think... Looter and Joyful... They will never return...
Over the next few weeks, a mood of consternation reigned over the residents of the Kingdom of Caring, and even as Grams Bear began to recover from the great sadness he felt, supported by Noble Heart, True Heart, and the others, when Dark Heart appeared, attacking the old woman and her two grandchildren. Soon the founding couple placed the three in a safe place in the Forest of Feelings before chasing after the evil being and leaving the Family command for Tenderheart and Brave Heart.
That same afternoon, Wish Bear saw through the star-o-cope a girl caught in a canoe, in the middle of a lake, and part of the Family went to Earth to help the girl. But it was too late because the girl was Christy and she was just being the Dark Heart bait to catch the bears and cousins. And when the others tried to free their friends, they also became imprisoned.
Dark Heart was thrilled that his plan was working. It was only necessary to destroy the pair of founders, in addition to the two babies and Grams Bear, and for this he bewitched all the children of the camp to destroy the place, only Christy, John, and Dawn were unaffected by that magic, precisely because the couple of brothers had gone after their friend to show her that she had acted in the wrong way and that, therefore, many would suffer, finally succeeding in making the girl understood why she felt so sad.
It was at this point that Noble Heart and True Heart, realizing that they had been deceived and that their adopted children had certainly been captured, returned to Care-a-Lot and followed the clues that the young people left, reaching the Dark Heart lair at the exact moment in which the three children quarreled with the evil being and he proudly displayed the chandelier with crystals of rubies where he had imprisoned the other bears and cousins, and where soon the horse, the beige female bear, the old female bear and the two cubs would also be.
- You will not do that! - Christy said bravely, running in front of Noble Heart and True Heart, grabbing their hands and hiding them behind their body, while Dark Heart turned to evil cloud again - You deceived me, used me to capture the bears and cousins. I do not want to be the most popular girl in the camp anymore. I demand that you undo this magic and leave us all alone!
- And who do you think you are to face me that way? - screamed the evil being, facing the girl and trying to reach the horse and the female bear, which Christy continued to protect with his own body - If you do not want your part in the agreement, this does not matter, I already have what I want. Now get out of there and let me finish Noble Heart and True Heart!
- I will not let you touch a hair of them, if you really want to destroy them, you'll have to get over me first!
- You think saying that will move me? I do not care about you; I do not care about anyone! I just will not destroy it now because my main job is to do away with the founders of Care Bear Family, and that's what I'll do!
And with a spell of the wind, he lifted Christy off the ground, forcing her to drop Noble Heart and True Heart, before throwing her across the room and throwing bolts of black energy toward the horse and the resolute female bear to destroy them once and for all.
*****
Frank was lying down asleep, when he jumped up on the bed. He was sweating cold, and his heart throbbed as if something very bad was about to happen. Slowly he stood up and walked to the window, staring out the night sky dotted of stars. In the background he knew that his feelings only reflected one thing: his friends bears and cousins were in big trouble.
- How I wanted to be there - he said to himself in a low voice - How I wanted to help them... Why do I, among all men, have to endure this?
The last sentence was said with a touch of anger and disappointment. Since Trevor had died Frank felt alone, feeling more and more that he was deluding himself about finding his friends. But that was his greatest desire, and it was also an obligation, and he would not rest until he had done it. With that, he closed his eyes and remembered again the peace and joy he had in San Martin and wished he could have it all back.

If some day
My land I return
I want to find
The same things I left
When the train stops at the station
I will feel in the heart
The joy of arriving
To review the land where I was born
And run like a child
In the green fields of the place

I want to find
Smiling at me
My love at the station waiting for me
I'll take your hand again.
And we will follow with emotion
In the green fields of the place

And relive the moments of joy
With my love to walk
In the green fields of my home.


*****
Christy was thrown to one side of the room by the magic of Dark Heart, and watched as he began to fight with Noble Heart and True Heart. She also quickly realized that the two of them alone could not defeat the magic of the evil being, so she got up and ran toward the lever that freed the chord of chandelier where the other bears and cousins were prisoners. If she knocked over the chandelier, the rubies would surely break and everyone would be free.
But Dark Heart realized what the girl intended to do and struck her with a bolt of black energy before turning again against her enemies. Christy fell very hurt and almost unconscious, but still she did not give up helping her friends, seeking redemption for the evil deeds she had practiced before and had taken them to that trap. Using her last strength, she took a marble from her pocket and tossed it toward the lever, hitting it full and causing the chandelier to crash on the floor, freeing all the bears and cousins.
Without wasting time, they all joined Noble Heart and True Heart, and used the Stare against Dark Heart, but he was very powerful and quickly retaliated with lightning bolts and more bolts of black energy that would soon were going to destroy Care Bear Family if, in the middle of his attack, he did not give a cry of horror, stopping the fight. His eyes were now focused on Christy's body, tossed to the ground and enveloped in his black magic that gradually took the girl's life.
- What did I do?!? What did I do?!? - he shouted in the purest pain of remorse one could feel before turning back to the red-haired boy and kneeling beside the girl - Christy! Please do not die! Sorry, sorry for what I did! You can’t die! You're not to blame for my mistakes! Please, wake up!!!
Tears began to trickle from Dark Heart's eyes as Care Bear Family, Johan and Dawn look at each other in surprise. Never, not even in the most insane dream, did they think they would see that malevolent, murderous being cry for someone, cry for pain and regret.
- Is he faking it? - Grumpy Bear asked.
- No, that's real - True Heart replied - He's sorry...
Dark Heart lifted his head toward the bears and cousins, your face furrowed with pain and tears.
- What can I do to bring her back?!? - he shouted desperately - Why can't I just make her wake up?
Everyone approached of Dark Heart and Christy, and Noble Heart took a shock to try to touch the girl.
- We do not know what to do - he said sadly - She seems to be surrounded by a magical net that is sucking her energy.
- You have to undo this magic, or she will die - True Heart added regretfully.
- I can't, I have used all my hatred to create this magic, and there is no means of destroying it - declared the magical being full of remorse - As much as I have my differences with you, however much I want to destroy them, I can't just let an innocent die... We have to do something!
- And why do you want so much to save her? - Dawn inquired, even though she knew that each second was vital to save her friend's life - You said two minutes ago that you did not care about anything and anyone.
- Yes, but... She was the only person who really cared for me in all those years - Dark Heart replied with tears in her eyes - Now I understand why she took me out of the water when I fell from the canoe... Because she cared about me and had me as a friend... And I killed her.
Noble Heart, True Heart, Tenderheart, Brave Heart, and all the bears and cousins looked at each other in surprise to see that such a terrible enemy had a heart with good feelings, though he himself had never realized it. They quickly gathered and whispered among themselves, before they turned again toward the malevolent being.
- We can do something for her, but you have to help us - the horse said quickly - More than ever, you must show that you care for her, because only then will the power of love break your spell.
Dark Heart nodded immediately, and the Care Bear Family together with John and Dawn quickly joined hands and circled the girl's body, beginning to sing a single phrase, "we care". But that did not seem to work, so the evil being felt more and more guilty for murdering an innocent. Then his mind was flooded with memories of all the deaths he had caused, of all the lives he had destroyed, and of all the evils he had ever caused in his life. But the biggest memory he had was just his sense of surprise when Christy, who knew of her plans, had saved him one day from drowning and said she was his friend. Your friend! Your only true friend in all your long existence! The same friend he had killed with his evil powers, powers that had never served to anything, only for death and destruction. So that he needed so many powers, to have so much hatred in his heart, if he was alone and hurt others and himself?
- I care... - he murmured in Christy's ears - Oh my God! I care...
For the first time in his life, Dark Heart had shown himself genuinely caring for someone, and it was certainly only what lacked. Quickly he felt himself undressing all his power and immortality, and with that too his spell on Christy's body disappeared. The girl breathed again and slowly opened her eyes.
- What... What happened? - she asked weakly, looking around without quite understanding what had happened.
- Are you alive! - cried Dark Heart, his heart filled with joy for the first time in his life -Oh, Christy! I'm so sorry!
The Care Bear Family also started shouting with joy, hugging and dancing while Dark Heart helped the girl stand up and explained what had happened. That was when she looked him in the eye with a surprised smile.
- Your eyes... They are normal!
The boy looked in a mirror. Blue eyes! They were no longer red with hatred. He was a mortal now. He was disconnected from his powers, and could resume his life. But he did not have much time to think about it, as a strong tremor shook his magical hiding place, and the ceiling began to collapse. Quickly everyone rushed out of that magical cave, before an explosion made it all disappear.
- I'm a human now - the boy said, looking at himself and the others - And now I have friends, people who care about me... I'll never be able to pay for what you did for me, bears and cousins. Thank you!
Throughout that day, the bears were with the four young men, teaching the ancient enemy to live as a human being and having fun with them. Finally, at dusk, the Care Bear Family returned to the Kingdom of Caring.
- At last we're free of him - said True Heart in a relieved tone, his heart lighter - We no longer need to fear being hunted down and destroyed by Dark Heart.
- More important than that, we managed to get him to win a heart - added Noble Heart with a kind smile - Our friends must be proud of us, wherever they may be...
Meanwhile, on earth, John, Dawn, Christy and the new friend watched the cloud cars disappear into the sky.
- Now we can't call him Dark Heart anymore - Christy said with a grin - You need a new name.
- That's true, you're someone else after all - Dawn agreed - How would you like to be called?
- Think of a common, very nice name - John added with a wink - And I'm sure our coordinator will accept you in the group without even questioning.
After a little thought, the boy looked at the new friends with a broad smile on his lips and a cheerful gleam in his eyes.
- I want to call myself John Cristian Dawson - he said excitedly - There could be no more common name, and no other way to honor you three for all you've done to get me on the right track.
They all smiled excitedly at the words, and Christy took his friend's hands and stared at him deeply.
- That's a pretty name - she agreed kindly - From now on you are John Cristian Dawson, our best friend.
And the four of them smiled and hugged each other again, before looking once more at the starry sky. Dawson now had a name, and had happiness. He could never afford the good that his friends bears had done to him, even after all the evil he'd done to them... But he swore to himself that he would try, if they ever needed his help.
*****
Frank slowly tapped the eraser from the tip of the pencil on the table as he carefully read a letter of recommendation sent to him the day before. It was when he heard the sound of light knocking on the door of his office, and looking at his watch, realized that the young man he was interviewing had just arrived.
- In between! - said the old man, the door being promptly opened by a young man of at most 28 years, black hair and a small mustache, who looked around the room before staring at the figure of the great businessman on the other side of his desk - Please, Mr. Frederick Ainstée, close the door and sit down.
- If you do not mind, I'd rather be called Fred - the newcomer said quickly as he closed the door - It's enough hear my parents called me by their full name and...
At that moment, Fred slammed the door and accidentally caught his fingers, releasing a cry of pain and blasphemy before pulling his hand.
- Damn it! Why do these things just happen to me?!? - he screamed as he sucked on his fingers to ease the pain - It was not enough to have fallen on my bike yesterday, to have broken the window of the neighbor's apartment, I still crushed my fingers in that crap of door! What else is going to happen to me?
- First of all, this crap is an oak door and cost me US$ 500 - Frank said quietly, staring at the young man - And secondly, I see that you, as well as unlucky, really do justice to the hot-headed fame your former bosses have told me. I even see that you spent a week in jail, charged with personal injury.
Fred stopped and looked at Frank with some nervousness and his fingers wiggling non-stop, before sitting down and being silent for a few seconds.
- Well, I have nothing to hide, I did not get along with my last three bosses, and the last one I sent to the hospital after punching him in the face - the man said dryly - I hate rich dandy who get around with their luxury cars from one place to another, and who do not value their employees as they should!
- I hate it, too - agreed the old man with a smirk - But was it at least worth breaking your old employer's nose?
- In a way, yes, I was no longer supporting him - said Fred with a malicious grin - I just hope it does not disqualify me as a candidate for this vacancy.
- Do not worry; I was already arrested for breaking a person's nose in a moment of fury. Also, I have my own criteria for judging who my new personal secretary will be.
It had been some time since Frank had been thinking of hiring someone to act as his personal secretary and butler, especially after Trevor's death. He was no longer so young, and though he was very active and did not show his real age, surely the company and help of someone of confidence would come in handy. In the last few days the old man had interviewed several candidates who did not arouse him any sympathy, but for some reason it was Fred's character that drew his attention to the boy.
- I'm glad to hear that and to know I still have a chance - the interviewee said cheerfully - So it's true this story that you punched Joseph Stalin when he called you an evil capitalist?
- And I called him of socialist murderer - the old man said with a laugh - It was the best time I could use my fists, you can be sure, my boy. Now, let's talk more about you. You holds a bachelor's degree and secretarial degree from the Universities of Chicago and Harvard, served as personal secretary for the past two years for five different people, took a cabinet course and mechanic as a teenager, and worked as an ambulance driver for three years in Arizona.
- Yes sir. I also speak Spanish and a little French, I am qualified to drive heavy vehicles and have an offensive direction course.
- Otherwise you could not drive the ambulance, could you? Here it says that you were dismissed from employment after a traffic accident during the rescue of a patient...
- It's a long story, and almost cost me a stay in the asylum - Fred said with a giggle -You would not believe me.
- I've seen many things in this life, my dear. So if you want to share with me, I will not judge you.
- Well, we were called at a trailer camp in Williams, Arizona, to rescue a lady who was apparently having a heart attack. Apparently there had been a fire a few hours before on site, as one of the vehicles was half-destroyed by the flames, and I was staring at that trailer while paramedics were tending our patient. There was a very dismayed young man in front of the trailer, he picked up something that was hanging from the door and looked at it intently. I did not pay much attention to it, but when we went out with the ambulance, I looked again at the boy and saw with him...
- What? - Frank asked visibly interested, as his new acquaintance stopped the story with a frightened look - What was next to the boy?
- Death, Mr. Frank! I swear to you, it was death, as depicted on newspaper strips: a tall man in a robe and a hood. He just did not carry the sickle in his hand and his clothes were purple and green. That creature talked to the boy, and I could almost see hatred surrounding those two. At that point I walked in with the ambulance on the freeway without looking sideways and collided sideways with a truck. The patient we were carrying died, one of the rescuers was injured, and I was fired on the grounds that I had fallen asleep at the wheel. But I swear to you that I saw, as well as I see you now in front of me, and that was no dream!
- I'm not going to try to explain what you saw, but it's certainly an incredible story - the old man murmured thoughtfully - And after that you decided to specialize as a private secretary?
- Well, in college they said that made a lot of money, and when you're young and inconsequential... In addition, my driver's license was already suspended and I would have to deal with a civil case for the death of the patient, although I was not arrested. Honestly, I do not even know if that profession was a good choice. I could not get used to any of my bosses, and I know a lot of it's my fault. I'm restless, hot head, and I do not leave insults unanswered. And usually rich people are full of mania and follies.
- You too are a very sincere and direct person. You did not hesitate to share with me his story, his thoughts and even his prejudices towards the rich, of which I am one of them.
- We all have flaws, do not we? Mine is to be sincere.
- But sincerity is not a defect, it is a virtue, and that much is lacking in our time - Frank answered seriously, leaning back in his chair - Well, Fred Ainstée, I may not be the best person in the world, and I may as well have my hobbies, but if you can come to my residence tomorrow at 10 a.m. to start your training, the vacancy is yours.
Fred's eyes widened, staring at the old man as if he could not believe what he was hearing.
- What? - exclaimed the young man, leaning his neck forward - Are you hiring me? Are you crazy?
- I hope not - said the old man with a giggle - And why the surprise? You're a type of person I like. But if you do not want the job, I can call another candidate...
- I... I want this job - Fred stammered, giving him a legitimate smile of joy, since he did not expect that - I really want to be your secretary, Mr. Frank. And I promise I will not disappoint you.
The old man got up and, turning around the desk, approached the young man, effusively pressing his hand with a broad smile on his lips.
- Then welcome, my dear Fred - concluded the businessman amicably to his new employee, whose admiration and astonishment on his face had no measure, as well as his happiness.
*****
Lightning and thunder fell incessantly through the black clouds surrounding the castle of No Heart. Noble Heart, True Heart, Tenderheart and Braveheart looked at each other worriedly and unsure what to do. After all, the Care Bear Family had already fought several battles against the wizard and they had been victorious at all times, using their good feelings and the Stare to paralyze their enemy. However, this time this was not what was happening, as it seemed that No Heart was getting stronger and stronger and absorbing all the power of the bears and cousins for themselves.
- This is not working! - the horse shouted with extreme concern - He seems to have become immune to the Stare!
- Perhaps he has created some medallion that turns good feelings into hatred, which is strengthening his powers - the brown bear quickly suggested - The more we try to hit him with the Stare, the stronger he will become and we will be worn out!
- But we can't give up now - said Braveheart with all the courage he had - Quick, people! Let's retake the line of attack!
Although exhausted, the bears and cousins attended the call of the lion, and quickly formed two lines of attack before No Heart, which was transformed into a gigantic purple dragon.
- Care Bears, Countdown! - ordered Braveheart - Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Stare!!!
And again they all threw their stares at the enemy, who stood there laughing as he received that wave of love that did not seem to strike him. It took only five seconds for the first bears and cousins to begin to fall on the ground without strength, and the few who remained soon were forced to lower themselves as the wizard launched a gigantic blaze through the nostrils.
- You'll not defeat me this time! - No Heart said with a sinister laugh - Today will be the definitive end of the Care Bear Family, and I will destroy the affection and love on earth!
On a nearby cloud top, Shreeky and Beastly watched the battle with great pleasure, being that they were so certain of the wizard's victory that they even ate popcorn as if they were watching an action movie.
- Let's go, Uncle! - shouted the girl in an encouraging tone - Show them who is in charge here!
- That's right, chief, they'll see what's good for a cough now - the monster pig burst into laughter before he caught sight of the girl's eyes spiked on your person - I mean, what's bad for coughing, because what's bad for them it is good for us, and being evil or good...
- Shut up, Beastlyyyyyyyyyyy!!! - Shreeky bellowed louder than a crow, causing his companion to fall to the floor while covering his ears.
Meanwhile, the bears and cousins were trying to get up, and Noble quickly helped True.
- What will we do now? - asked the female bear with a tremor on her lips - We can't keep fighting...
- We have to think of something, and quick - Noble said with a frown, but with a frightened glint in his eyes - We can't just let him win this battle, or it will be our end!
Suddenly, in the midst of the thunder, everyone heard the sound of a cloud car approaching through the storm, sweeping past No Heart and allowing two of its occupants to jump. As soon as they were on their own feet, Aqua Bear and Lonesome Heart Bear faced the wizard and pulled out their lightsabers, positioning themselves for the fight.
Aqua and Lone had arrived just over a week ago at the Kingdom of Caring, and they had a great story. They had been born special, though their parents were ordinary bears, and they had been friends since they were very young. His parents were killed by mercenary hunters, and the two cubs sent to a private zoo by an Australian businesswoman. Aqua had escaped from the boat and been saved by dolphins who taught him to swim and love water as his second world. Later he was aided by a magical being, an elf named Mel'feir, to rescue Lonesome and also Redemption, another special bear whose human who was your guardian had also been murdered just before her was sold and sent to Australia as an exotic wild animal.
To protect the life of the three cubs until finding someone who could receive them in definitive, Mel'feir took them to a deserted island, where Aqua learned a bit of fighting with sabers and mainly the secrets of magic, while Lonesome mainly specialized in the use of lightsabers. Redemption, in turn, besides teaching her two bears friends to play with tickles, was against violence and so preferred to specialize in the use of medicine, because her former tutor was a nurse. For several months the three were alone on that island, until the day Mel'feir returned saying that he had met other beings like them, the Care Bear Family.
Getting to the Kingdom of Caring was not complicated for the four of them, as the elf's magic carried them quickly to that special spot. The hardest part was explaining to the Care-a-Lot residents what they were doing there, especially after Champ had inadvertently given the invasion alarm. But soon everything was resolved and Aqua, Lonesome and Redemption were accepted into the Family, while Mel'feir returned to his world.
During that last week, the three newcomers began to receive their instructions on how to use Stare and how to help people, while exchanging experiences with new friends, especially with True Heart, Noble Heart, Tenderheart, Wish Bear and Champ, who had apologized for the bad reception. And because Aqua, Lone and Redemption were just at the beginning of their training, they did not follow the others when the first signs appeared that No Heart was preparing one more of their spells.
Fortunately for all, the three new members of the Family did not want to stand still, especially when the sea bear felt that the others were in trouble. And even more fortunate they were because Forest Ranger Jaguar, always reclusive in the Forest of Feelings, had heard the sound of the battle and decided to go to Care-a-Lot to know what was going on, giving a ride to the three newbies.
Quickly the feline parked the car next to Noble and True, and Redemption ran to them with a thermos bottle in their hands.
- Are you all right? - asked the bear to her friends as she poured some tea for each one - Take that, it's a fortifying herbal tea. It will certainly help them to feel better.
- Thank you, Redemption - said True Heart, taking some of that drink - It's the best tea I've ever had. But what are you doing here?
- Shopping, what do you think? - said Forest Ranger ironically - We have come to help you. That sea-green bear said he felt you were in trouble, and the sound of battle seemed to confirm that.
- I just hope that Aqua and Lone know what they're doing - Noble said in a worried tone after also having some tea and handing the bottle over to Braveheart and Tenderheart - No Heart has ever been stronger in life!
- Just look, he'll have a lesson from our friends - Redemption concluded with a mischievous smile.
Aqua and Lonesome were standing in a fighting position, staring at No Heart in their eyes like no other bear or cousin had ever done. And this attitude made the wizard not immediately attack them, curious as to what those two new members of the Family wanted.
- I see we've finally met - he said slowly, maliciously - I saw you two come to the Kingdom of Caring, along with the other bear and that strange individual who brought them in, and I wondered when we would meet.
- The strange individual is called Mel'feir, and you never more call him that way in front of us - Aqua replied with a serious look - And as for you, No Heart, undo your black magic and go back to where you came from, leaving our Family in peace!
- How arrogant, you're just a beginner, and you're already considering yourself a real Care Bear to face me - the wizard laughed -Who do you think you are? I can destroy it with a snap of fingers!
And to prove that he was telling the truth, he took a great breath and let out a gigantic blaze in the direction of the sea bear. But instead of running away, Aqua just swung his saber quickly before his body and Lonesome's, creating a magical barrier of ice that absorbed the fire without melting. That surprised No Heart, and he threw new flames in the direction of the couple and all the flames were absorbed by the ice.
Suddenly, as the wizard took one more breath to throw more flames at his opponents, Aqua just slammed the end of his lightsaber into the ground causing the ice barrier to shatter and all the blocks flying toward No Heart, which defended himself with an energy barrier. Without even waiting for the wizard's reaction, the sea bear began to create balls of white energy, the size of bowling balls, hurling them toward Lonesome who, using his own saber as a baseball bat, threw them with all the strength and speed against No Heart.
The sorcerer had been totally taken aback by the speed and intensity of that attack, for it was nothing like Care Bear Family's. In addition, he was dealing with different spells and even stronger than the Stare himself, which forced him to stay on the defensive, unable to fight back the attack. And unlike before, when he was sucking the energy of the bears and cousins magically to reinforce their own energy, now those two bears that were sucking their energies.
It was not just No Heart that he was impressed by the powers of the newbies. The Care Bear Family herself was amazed at the combat, surprised by all the energy and skill that Aqua and Lonesome had, far surpassing everyone's expectations, so they hoped for that for the pair to win.
- Reach his medallion, sports fans! - shouted Champ at the top of his lungs - Reach his medallion!
The bear couple quickly understood what the athlete meant, and focused on destroying the triangular medallion with a red stone in the center that No Heart wore around his neck. Turning around, Lonesome Heart threw his lightsaber toward the object, but the wizard repelled the weapon with his own hands and screamed in pain as he cut himself deeply as he touched the magical blade of the saber.
This distraction allowed Aqua to create a strong ball of electric power and throw it directly at the opponent's neck, striking the medallion in full and blowing it up into thousands of pieces, while all the energy contained in it was released into electric rays that made No Heart fell to the ground, at the same time that he was transformed back into his human form.
Realizing that he had lost most of his powers, and that the two opponents were ready to continue the attack, the wizard turned into a hurricane and retreating, sucking Shreeky and Beastly into the whirlpool.
- I will take revenge! You will regret it! - cried No Heart as he walked away toward the castle.
Aqua and Lonesome hugged each other happily, celebrating the fact that they had defeated the wicked wizard. And it was not just them who were happy, since soon the whole Care Bear Family ran up to their new members to congratulate them.
- That was the most incredible thing we've ever seen! - Noble Heart exclaimed with a broad smile on his lips - No Heart could not even respond to your attack!
- Surely it will be a long time without tormenting us after today's defeat - Braveheart remarked as he shook hands with the sea bear and the pink bear - I wonder what he must be feeling now, after having experienced a little his own magic...
- I don't even know how to thank you for your help - said True Heart kindly - If it were not for both of you, perhaps the Care Bear Family would not have survived. We have an eternal debt to you both.
- Really, you arrived just in time - Tenderheart added cheerfully - Sorry if we doubt your ability to help us. We promise we'll not do that anymore.
- Well, we just did what any member of the Care Bear Family would do - Aqua retorted cheekily - You certainly would have done the same to defend us from that wizard.
- Of course, but the way you did is incredible - said Wish Bear with great animation - I never imagined that a Care Bear had as many magic and fighting skills as you two demonstrated today.
- And you didn't see half of what we can do - Lonesome replied with a wink - When that wizard comes back, we'll take care of him again, Aqua with his magical powers and I with my lightsaber.
- Honestly, I'm relieved that I was not really attacked by you on our first date - Champ joked with a chuckle - As strong as I am, I would not even be able to defend myself.
- You didn't know who we were and what we wanted, just fulfilled your obligation to set the alarm - Redemption said amiably - You are excused for that, and can be sure we will never attack you. The most we can do is kidnap you for a few days to make tickle tortures in you.
- You're joking, aren't you, sport fan? - asked the athlete bear with some concern -Would you even have the courage to do that?
- Well, we... - Aqua smiled and looked at Redemption and Lonesome, who laughed in response - Yes, we would. There is nothing better than torturing a bear with tickles for days and days without stopping. After all, this is our favorite joke.
- But you don't have to worry for the moment, just like the others - Redemption added, seeing the worried looks of most of the crowd - At the moment, we'd better worry about getting out of here before that wizard comes back.
They all agreed with the gray bear, and quickly created cloud cars and moving cloudmobiles to get out of there as quickly as possible, taking advantage of the rest of the day to rest after that hectic battle.
Meanwhile, No Heart arrived at his castle and, still turning into a hurricane, entered through the window of its throne room, where it left Beastly and Shreeky before turning again into human. With the sudden stop, the monster-pig was thrown to the wall, falling dazed to the floor, while the girl quickly balanced and looked in her portable mirror to straighten her hair. As for the sorcerer, he stood in one corner of the room, moaning and looking at the injured hand.
- Are you bleeding, Uncle? - Shreeky asked with a worried look - Do you want me to prepare an ointment to heal this wound?
- Don't worry about me, I'm fine - cried No Heart, whose red eyes were full of hatred -
 This wound doesn't hurt more than my hatred of being defeated by those two bears! I didn't think they were so powerful when I saw them through my magic cauldron.
- And what are we going to do now to get our revenge, chief? - asked Beastly, standing still with dizziness, and getting a real growl from the wizard - I mean, what will I do now to avenge you, chief?
- Shut up, you stupid! - No Heart demanded as he used a healing spell to accelerate the healing of his wound - They will soon feel the weight of my revenge, we can wait a little longer. The day of victory will soon come! Do you agree with me, my dear Darkage?
At that moment a male figure in a black robe appeared in the shadows, and when his face became visible, it turned out to be that of a tall, strong, brown-haired boy of 24 or 25 with a wicked grin on his lips.
- Yes, of course, because it will be the day of my victory, No Heart - said the young man, beginning to laugh in an affected way, with a heart full of hatred for the Care Bear Family and desiring revenge, at the same time as rays and thunder crashed around the castle, attracted by Darkage's dark aura, the No Heart's apprentice and heir to Dark Heart's powers.
*****
- Are you sure I can attend this party? - Dawson asked as Christy kindly arranged his tie.
- Of course I do, my dear - said the young woman - Every year my aunt Elizabeth's boss performs a fraternization among the company's employees to celebrate the good results and maintain everyone's self-esteem. Aunt Elizabeth always participates because working in the office, and this year she also invited us to introduce us to her boss. After all, she does not want to see us washing dishes in diners for the rest of our life.
- It seems Aunt Elizabeth thought of everything - the young man chuckled softly - But what about her boss, know we're going to participate?
- I guess so. In any case, employees can bring their relatives to this event, so there are no problems. I myself have participated twice when I was very young.
- That business men have their oddities I already knew, but never before did I meet someone who had a fraternization with employees and still allowed the participation of their relatives.
- Ah, Aunt Elizabeth's boss is a very nice person, she always speaks well him on the phone or when she visits us. He likes to invest in young minds in his company, and from what my aunt says, he does not like to judge people by their past or appearance, which certainly is a great advantage to someone with a story like yours, my dear.
Dawson smiled, but there was a little sadness in his smile. It had been ten years since he had become a respectable and intelligent human, always trying to help people around, but even so he still felt the weight in his conscience for everything he had done before as Dark Heart. He seldom alluded about his previous life, even for Christy, who was now his girlfriend.
The young couple, who had never lost touch with each other since their affair with Care Bear Family, had been dating for some time, and had moved to New Jersey from to attend college. Christy was living with her aunt Elizabeth and studying secretarial, while Dawson was studying history and was in a rented apartment near the house of the girlfriend. In order to support themselves, they worked as waiters in a diner, but Aunt Elizabeth had other plans for the career of her niece and her boyfriend, inviting them to join the fraternization organized by your boss.
It was easy for the young couple to find the address indicated. Despite being in an elegant neighborhood of the city, it was not an opulent mansion as you would expect from a large industrialist. In the background was a simple building, little larger than a family residence. The young woman was anxious about such an important meeting, while the young man was curious to know the owner of that place, mainly because there was something familiar in those heraldic coats that adorned the gate and that Dawson could not recognize.
And this feeling that there was really something familiar about it all got louder and louder in Dawson as he walked through the garden and saw the people getting together, the way the tables and stage were set up, the dance floor and even the format and arrangement of ornaments. However, he quickly ignored this feeling and went to greet Aunt Elizabeth, who welcomed them with a big hug.
- I'm glad you two came - she said cheerfully - I'm sure you guys are going to have a lot of fun today. The chief said he was anxious to see her again, my niece. By the way, Dawson, let me introduce you to him. Mr. Frank!
Behind Elizabeth was a tall, elegantly dressed, bald man with only a small band of white hair on his head. He had his back to the three of them, using some candy on a table, but he quickly turned to face the secretary and the young couple.
When he did, and his eyes met Dawson's, they both jumped. The young man immediately recognized Frank Heartom and swallowed, beginning to shake and sweat cold, but the old man did not recognize Dawson as the Dark Heart, he only found it very familiar.
- Mr. Frank, I think you remember my niece Christy - Elizabeth continued cheerfully as the manager greeted the girl - Then let him introduce you John Dawson, her boyfriend.
- Nice to meet you, John - the old man said, reaching out and squeezing the newcomer's hand, giving him a good look - Have not we met before?
- NN-No, I've never been there... I mean, we've never seen it before - stammered Dawson, shaking with fear and emotion - Nice to meet you. Come with me Christy, please!
And he practically pulled his girlfriend some distance away from Frank, who stood there not understanding what was happening, just like Elizabeth. Even the girl did not understand what was going on with her boyfriend.
- After all, Dawson, what's going on? - she asked as she was pulled by the young man - You look like you've seen a ghost!
- Why did not you tell me that your aunt's boss was Frank Heartom?!? - he exclaimed in a low and trembling voice - Christy, he knows who I am, he was in San Martin the day I tried to kill the bears and cousins!
- What? - the girl gaped at her boyfriend, then her eyes flashed to Mr. Frank, who was watching them in the distance - Is Mr. Frank a Care Bear Family friend?
- More than a friend, he was a great companion and defender of all of them. Oh, my God, Christy! I can’t stay at this party; I have to leave right away.
- And why do not you want to stay in the fraternization? - Frank inquired calmly, coming slowly and listening heard Dawson's last words - Do you have yellow fever or any other disease? I've never seen anyone shake so much...
- I... I'm a little... WW-With a little stomach ache - said the boy swallowing again - I think I need to go home to take medicine.
- You do not have to worry; I have an anti-gas medicine in my office. Come with me.
And the old businessman motioned for Dawson to accompany him. The young man began to shake even more, looking indecisively at the old man and at Christy, who just nodded and said that he had better do it. Quickly Frank and Dawson walked through the party, entered a side door in the big house, walked down a small corridor, and entered the businessman's office.
- It will not take more than a minute to find the medicine glass, I'll keep it at my desk - Frank said as he rummaged through a drawer.
Dawson had his eyes fixed on the old man, but he also glanced around the office, a large place, full of books, maps, diplomas, and photographs. But there was no mention of Frank's past in San Martin, except for a picture hanging on one of the walls, showing a paradisiacal landscape, which the young man recognized as being from one of the island's beaches.
The old man quickly found the bottle of anti-gas medicine and approached the new friend, realizing how much the picture had drawn him.
- It's beautiful, is not it? - Frank asked with a slight smile - I painted it myself, it's one of my hobbies. I like to portray nature, especially from places where I met one day and today they no longer exist or are very much altered. I played on this beach when I was a kid.
- That picture... This place that you portrayed... does it represent a lot to you? -Dawson asked excitedly.
- A lot, that's where I spent the best years of my life. It is one of the beaches of San Martin, the island where I lived until 1943. But the war caused a disaster in the population and forced us to flee, and we were never able to return... Here is your remedy, Dawson.
But the young boy did not seem to hear what Frank had said to him, just continued to stare intently into the landscape, his eyes lost and pensive.
- What do you feel for those who have caused such a disaster in your life and in your friends' lives? - asked the young man in the same excited tone - Would you kill them if you had the opportunity?
The old man stared at Dawson curiously, since no one had ever asked him that kind of thing about his feelings about the island before.
- Well... To be frank with you, I feel sorry for those who provoked the whole situation - Frank declared slowly - For a long time I have felt anger, and even hatred, but now I only feel sorry... And killing them would certainly not bring back everything I lost.
- BB-But what if you met some of those who affected you so harshly, if you were face to face with him, what would you do? Would not you even kill him for all the pain and suffering that forced him to go through?
- I never thought about it... And it would not be good to think, time has passed and it is impossible for me to find any of those who caused such the disaster on the island.
Slowly Dawson turned to Frank with tears in his eyes, licking his dry lips and taking courage to utter his next sentence, which would surely reveal everything to the old man.
- And if the one who corrupted Incomprehensible Heart... Who killed almost all the bears and cousins... And tried to kill him that day March 16, if he was by your side now? - stammered the young man, his lips trembling.
Frank slowly widened his eyes at that, and turned to Dawson before looking deeply into his eyes and finally remembering where he knew that young man.
- You... - Frank muttered, his teeth starting to grind.
Dawson only nodded slightly, confirming the old man's suspicions. For a minute or two, neither of them said anything, just continued to stare, until, to the boy's surprise, Frank gave him two sharp punches in the face and made him fall to the floor.
- That's for all you've done to me! - cried the old man, snorting in rage, before taking a deep breath and calming down - You bastard... And as for Christy, are you also using her as you did with Incomprehensible?
- NN-No more - said the young man, standing up dazed and with lips injured - I used her, but she taught me... How important it is to care about someone. Including the Care Bear Family.
Frank was silent, his countenance heavy as he continued to watch Dawson. Finally he took out a tissue and handed it to the young man.
- Wipe the blood out of your face - the old man said dryly - It's been 50 years since I was to meet him again, and I was afraid you would tell me that you had beaten the bears and cousins with their wickedness and desire for destruction... What I did not expect is that you had become mortal.
- How did you know that? Just because I'm bleeding?
- And because if you wanted to kill me, you would have done it much sooner - Frank corrected with a shy smile - Besides, I can see that you're no longer that creature of yesteryear, and I suspect Christy and Care Bear Family have a part in that change.
- They really are responsible for my change of life. So you're not mad at me?
- Of course I am! After all you are responsible and always will for what happened! The scar still exists here - and Frank pointed to the heart with a trembling hand - Since that fateful day it's here. I never saw my best friends again. To this day I am struggling to find them and to start a normal life with them again. I believe witch you, with a heart now, also understand this.
- Yes, I understand... I think I deserved that punch.
For a few moments they were both silent, until finally Frank relaxed his features and began to laugh with pleasure, something that surprised Dawson. Suddenly the old man got up and ran to give the young man a hug.
- My dear fellow, to know that you are no longer a servant of evil is one of the greatest bliss I can ever experience in life - the old man said cheerfully - I wished God so much that He could soften your heart and bring you for the light...
- Well, I think God heard your prayers - Dawson said, tears streaming down his cheeks - Thank you for forgiving me, Mr. Frank...
- At least that all served to cure your stomach ache - said the businessman, making his new friend laugh - Now sit here and tell me everything that has happened to you, and how you became what you are today. And especially as our friends bears and cousins were responsible for this.
And for a long time Frank and Dawson talked about their lives, the young man telling how he had ceased to be the Dark Heart thanks to the help of Christy, John, Dawn and Care Bear Family, while the old man spoke of his relentless quest to locate the old friends and assist them in whatever was necessary. And so a great friendship was born between them that would last as long as they lived...
*****
Slowly Frank opened his eyes, as if waking from a dream, and stared at his small audience consisting of Champ, Confidence, Hector and James.
- And it was thanks to the support of Dawson, Christy, and Jason that I kept looking for you, bears and cousins, until I could find you today - the old man concluded his story with a small smile, and feeling a great relief at finally being able to share everything with someone.

(End of 2nd Part)
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