FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

A/N: While I was starting to write this chapter I realized that this story might get into nsfw territory going forwards, but that's in the nature of the story. I decided to title this story Care Bear Magi Life both because it introduced Life Heart Unicorn and because the story is supposed to explore multiple aspects of life for the characters. I felt the need to warn anyone who's reading this just in case they find this objectionable. I haven't increased the rating yet but I may have to in the near future.

Chapter 3: Family

Beastly struggled under the weight of a sack easily twice his size, which squished and squelched as it bumped up the stairs. Beastly stopped in No-Heart's lab and watched the wizard for a moment as he pulled a large volume from a bookcase. The wizard turned and narrowed his blood-red eyes at Beastly.

"Are those the remains?" he asked.

"Y-yes, b-b-b-boss," Beastly dragged the sack around and presented it to No-Heart.

"Bring it over to the table." No-Heart turned with a flutter of his purple robe and moved towards the table. The table in question was covered in surgical tools: scalpels, bone saws, clamps, needles and strong surgical thread. The sack squelched to a halt next to No-Heart as he set the book on the table, a book with the title Fleshwarping on the cover, and he reached down into the sack and drew out an arm mostly covered in dark blue fur and heavily stained brown with dried blood.

"There should be enough," he muttered as he set the arm on the table in front of him.

Beastly knew better than to ask what No-Heart was up to but watched as he poured liquid from a vial on the arm then reached into the sack and pulled out the right side of a torso, pink with black stripes, and poured more of the same liquid on to it. No-Heart picked up and needle, levitated the surgical thread through the eye and began to stitch the arm on to the empty socket of the upper torso.

~~~

Miranda looked up from the desk as she heard the library's front door open and smiled as Sage Heart Bear strode in. "Good morning and happy spring," she said brightly.

Sage Heart smiled back. "Thanks, Miranda." He scanned the library's floor, "It's quiet today, even more than usual."

Miranda nodded. "So how's Life Heart doing?"

"She's doing great," Sage Heart sighed happily and a light smile settled upon his face.

"Oh?" Miranda smiled, "How are the two of you doing?"

Sage Heart blinked, "I just said we're fine, I mean..." he paused.

Miranda giggled, "Sorry. I thought that the two of you might be together now."

"Together?" Sage Heart half-scrunched one eyed and tilted his head.

"As mates. I didn't think you two would be married the way I think of it?" she asked.

Sage Heart blushed and gaped for a moment. "I-I never thought about it, I mean..."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to pry." The sound of the door drew Miranda's attention to the new arrival. Sage Heart took his chance and darted away from the desk.

It wasn't long before Sage Heart was deep into the same book he'd studied for most of the last year, the manual of medieval swordplay, except he couldn't focus. His mind kept wandering back to what Miranda had said. What was his relationship with Life Heart? Was she just his friend? His mind drifted farther and he smiled as the unicorn overtook the rest of his thoughts. She was beautiful, gentle, kind but emotionally unstable (though not as much as she had been when they first met). She had also been more patient than he thought she'd be when was teaching him.

Sage Heart blinked and looked up at the clock. He'd been daydreaming for about half an hour. He shook his head and stood up, leaving the book on the table as he dashed towards the entrance, nearly crashing into a man as he opened the door to enter.

"Excuse me, sorry!" Sage Heart shouted as he ran down the street towards the beach, only slowing down when his feet touched the sand. He conjured his earthen platform, stepped on and rode it back to the island. He smiled as he stepped onto the shore of the island and walked towards him home at an easy pace.

Sage Heart's smile grew wider as he came in sight of his home and saw her. Life Heart Unicorn was standing in their bathing pond and letting the waterfall wash over her. Sage Heart couldn't help but stare as Life Heart ran her hands through her hair and pulled any tangles loose before she let the silver waterfall cascade down her back. She was beautiful.

Life Heart pulled her head from the waterfall and opened her eyes. She blushed as she caught sight of Sage Heart and smiled. "H-hello."

Sage Heart couldn't help but blush as he stepped out from the foliage and crossed the clearing towards her. "Good morning," he said.

Life Heart stepped away from the falling water and took a deep breath. His cheeks were still red but her smile widened and she offered a hand to Sage Heart. "Would you like to join me?"

It took all of Sage Heart's willpower to avoid jumping for joy. Yes, he was certain now. He accepted her hand and stepped into the pool. "Yes I would."

A moment later Sage Heart was under the flow of the waterfall, cleaning off the dust, sweat and nerves from his early morning excursion to the town. He turned around to find himself face-to-face with Life Heart. Her face was still red and smiling. No words were needed. Life Heart stepped forwards. Sage Heart put his arms around her. They leaned in and kissed.

Time stood still even after their kiss ended. They stood there, arms around each other, resting their heads against one another. Finally, they separated. "I-" they both stopped and Life Heart giggled.

Sage Heart blushed "Sorry."

"It's alright," Life Heart smiled. "I love you, for always being there for me, helping me through the hardest part of my life and the compassion and stability you've brought me, Sage Heart Bear."

"I love you too. You have a beautiful spirit, you're gentle and kind and you mean the world to me, Life Heart Unicorn." They both blushed.

"So what do we do now?" Life Heart asked.

"What comes naturally." Sage Heart smiled and kissed Life Heart on the neck which caused her entire face to turn a deep crimson.

"Oh-oh my you mean? I've never, I mean..." Life Heart rested her head on Sage Heart's shoulder.

"What? You mean you've never had a mate?" Sage Heart pulled his head back, careful not to dislodge her.

Life Heart shook her head, "No, have you?"

"Twice, before we met, but they didn't want me around. I can show you if you like," Sage Heart offered.

Life Heart nodded, "I would."

A moment later they were inside their cave home, sitting together at the rear wall. "So what do I do?"

"Well..." Sage Heart put a hand on his chin, "I just followed my instincts before, now it feels... different."

"Like this?" Life Heart leaned forwards and planed a soft kiss on Sage Heart's lips. Her face was hot and it was all she could do to avoid running off to hide.

Sage Heart smiled and put his arms around her, pulling her up against his chest, "I think this works." He kissed her back. Life Heart leaned in more and before they knew it Sage Heart was flat on his back. Life Heart held Sage Heart's face against hers in a deep kiss and closed her eyes.

Life Heart pulled back and smiled, "This feels right."

Sage Heart smiled back and brought his arms up to her shoulder blades. "It does." He kissed her again, "Are you alright?"

"Just scared..."

"If you don't want to-"

"I do! Just... show me how."

"I will."

~~~

No- Heart stood back from the table and observed his creation: right blue bear's arm, right pink and black striped zebra torso, left torso green and brown spotted like a giraffe, left arm a yellow hawk's wing, right leg a brown elephant's, right red and thinner that ended in a deer's hoof, and its head a stitched together amalgamation of orange wolf, purple panther, and teal rhino. All-in-all better than he expected from the mish-mash of parts he had to work with.

"And now to animate it," No-Heart pointed a hand at the stitched up bodies and drew out nine tiny glowing shards. Dozens of other shards floated out of the sack of remains and they coalesced into a sphere the size of a baseball. The glow faded to a multicolored mosaic as the sphere lowered and sank into the body's chest.

No-Heart raised both his arms towards the thunder pit and began chanting in a strange language. Beastly darted behind a door arch as electricity arced out of the thunder pit and enveloped the stitched together body. The lightning danced along the body for a full minute before it began to stir and its arms and legs began to twitch.

"Good. Beastly!" No-Heart shouted. Beastly jumped and darted to his master's side, "Pick up this flesh golem and follow me." No-Heart headed for the stairs as Beastly scrabbled to pick up the creature. He staggered under the care bear flesh golem's weight for a moment then followed after his master.

No-Heart stopped in a mostly barren storage room, the same place the remains had been stored. The wizard pointed to a spot on the ground. "Leave it here and keep an eye on it. The instant it awakens find me and I will see to its progress." Beastly nodded.

No-Heart turned to leave as the noise of an explosion rocked the upper floor. "What?!" No-Heart stormed upwards as he heard shattering glass and thumping noises. The spell-lab was filled with smoke which No-Heart swept away with a wave of his hand.

There was shattered glass on the floor and the table and the table itself was scorched. No-Heart swept the area and narrowed his eyes. The bag of remains and the fleshwarping book were gone! A sudden rush of air drew his attention to an open window high up on the wall. "Bring it back!" No-Heart shouted as he turned into a tornado and flew up to and out the window. He cast his gaze about, searching for the intruder.

A figure cloaked by dark clouds held its breath as the tornado swept around. It watched No-Heart for almost five minutes before it heard a squealy voice from a nearby window.

"Boss! It's awake!"

The tornado seemed to huff and flew through the window. The cloaked figure let its breath go then hefted the bag of remains over its shoulder and let the solid dark clouds drift down towards earth.

~~~

Life Heart was sweaty. Life Heart was tired. Life Heart was in pain. Life Heart had never felt like this before. She lay next to Sage Heart and stared at the ceiling.

"Are you OK?" Sage Heart asked. He rolled onto his side and propped his head up with his hand, his elbow on the cave floor.

"I... don't know." She continued to stare blankly up at the ceiling. "I feel different, even more then after I transformed. It hurt and it feels good and I..." Life Heart wrapped her arms around herself and started to tremble but stopped when she felt Sage Heart's hand on her shoulder. She rolled on to her side and gazed into his soft green eyes.

"Did I hurt you?"

"A little..."

"I'm sorry." Sage Heart tried to withdraw his hand but Life Heart took gentle hold of it.

"Don't apologize. I'm happy it was you." Life Heart drew Sage Heart into a hug and kissed him.

~~~

"Try it again!" No-Heart bellowed. The Golem raised its arm and wing and stared ahead as mana gathered in front of it, only to disperse in a small puff.

"Again!" No-Heart shot a blast of purple lightning at the golem, scorching its back and causing it to stumble. The golem raised its limbs and tried again to summon the mana, and again it fizzled.

"Again!" another purple lightning bolt, "We will do this until you can control mana!"

The golem said nothing but stared blankly forwards as it tried again...

~~~

Winter was coming and Life Heart Unicorn couldn't be happier. For the first time she strolled through the town on her own, smiling and taking in the sights and the sounds. She shivered slightly as a cool breeze blew through the town and waved back to a few of the townsfolk she recognized. She knew the town's layout well enough and it wasn't long before she was knocking on the door to Miranda's house.

Miranda answered and started slightly. "Life Heart, what brings you here?"

"I just wanted to visit my friend before winter sets in." Life Heart stepped in and Miranda closed the door behind her.

"Where's Sage Heart?" Miranda asked as she shut the door.

"Back home," Life Heart hopped up onto the couch. "He's not going to sleep for all of winter but it is easier if we do that most of the time."

"I see you've gotten started already." Miranda prodded the slight pudge on Life Heart's normally slender frame.

Life Heart blushed, "I have been eating more lately."

Miranda smiled and moved over to a cupboard. "So how are you and Sage Heart doing."

Life Heart brightened up and sighed contentedly, "Wonderful."

"So you two have already- here it is!" Miranda pulled a bulky package covered in green and red wrapping paper. She handed it to a very red-faced Life Heart.

"What's this?" she asked, her face returning to its normal moss green.

"A Christmas present for you and Sage Heart." Miranda said, "Save it until its snowing and then open it."

"Oh, thank you." Life Heart smiled and set the package down next to her.

"As long as you're here, would you like something to eat? I was about to make dinner." Miranda headed for the kitchen.

"I would. Thank you."

~~~

"Finally!" No-Heart glared as the golem held a glowing mote of light in its hands. "Now you will learn how to control it, and gather more." No-Heart raised a hand, then stopped and yawned. "For now you will rest. Beastly!" Beastly darted in. "Guard this golem and allow it to recuperate. It does not need to eat but do not let it leave."

"Yes b-b-b-boss."

No-Heart turned and left Beastly just staring into the blank eyes of the golem. He poked and prodded it a few times, then laughed. "Shakakakakaka, you can't even talk can you?" he asked. It said nothing but continued to stare at Beastly. "Well, lie down, on the ground." He said. The golem stood there.

"Lie down!" he pushed the golem but found it unmovable as stone. "Dummy, like this!" Beastly promptly fell to his back and began snoring uproariously. A sudden thud started him out of his stupor and he looked up at the golem, which seemed to have fallen over. He got up and walked over to the golem. It was staring up at the ceiling, unmoving. Beastly waved a hand in front of its eyes and it followed his hand with its eyes. Shrugging he lay back down to get some rest of his own.

~~~

Life Heart Unicorn stirred under the blanket, opened her eyes then smiled and snuggled closer to the still sleeping Sage Heart Bear. She paid no attention to the howl of winter wind from the entrance, only wanting to be here with her mate.

Hunger finally convinced her to get up. She slipped out from under the covers and stumbled upwards, using the wall for balance. Her center of gravity felt off. She lit up her horn and release four glowing balls of light to float around and illuminate the chamber. She looked down and gaped.

Her belly had ballooned outwards into a round dome, stretching out her tummy symbol in the process. She tentatively moved her hands downwards to stroke it. It was solid, not soft like fat and it felt alive! Life Heart's mind ran thought dozens of possible explanations but it settled on only one possibility.

"I'm pregnant."

Life Heart leaned back against the wall with her pregnant tummy cradled in her hands. Every so often the child would shift or kick but otherwise it remained still. How was this possible? Unicorns didn't-couldn't get pregnant, at least she never heard of such a thing. Then again she wasn't as she had been for eons before. She glanced down at the still sleeping Sage Heart. How would she tell him? She had until he woke up which could be in a few minutes, a few days, or after she went back to sleep herself.

Life Heart pushed off from the wall and headed for the cave entrance, her new weight forcing her to waddle. She stopped at the cave entrance and watched the blowing snow, protected by the shimmering barrier of her spell. She breathed deep as the storm raged on and carefully opened a small crack in the barrier, the momentary blast of cold air clearing the last of cobwebs from her mind before she shut it again and shivered. Her child started kicking up a storm in protest and he patted her tummy. "There there. It's alright. Mommy's here," she said. She giggled. Mommy, a word she never thought she'd use for herself. Further protest, this time from her stomach, led her back to the pile of magically preserved food stacked by where they slept for a much needed meal.

The sounds of Sage Heart stirring brought Life Heart out of her little feast. She had consumed an entire pile of berries and fruit. Satisfied for the moment, she stood up, waddled over to Sage Heart and lay down next to him under the blanket as he opened his eyes.

Green eyes met hazel and Sage Heart smiled. "Good morning, Life Heart."

"Good morning, Sage Heart, and Merry Christmas." Life Heart kissed him.

"It's Christmas?"

"Close enough. I have a present for you." She took one of his hands under the blanket in her own and placed it on her stomach. Sage Heart gave her a curious look, then his eyes went wide as he felt a kick.

Sage Heart drew back the blanket and stared at her tummy. He carefully placed his other hand on her tummy. Sage Heart's face lit up and he drew her tummy into a hug, nuzzling his face into it. Life Heart smiled as Sage up drew himself up to her face and they kissed.

It was quite some time before Sage Heart released his hold on Life Heart, only relenting when she told him she was getting hungry again. The two of them sat next to their food store and ate. Silence reigned until Life Heart stood up and retrieved Miranda's Christmas present to them.

"Merry Christmas." She smiled as she sat back down and between them they unwrapped the package. Inside were a pair of Christmas sweaters with their tummy symbols knitted into the fronts. Sage Heart's was striped red, white and green while Life Heart's was blue with white snowflakes scattered across it.

Sage Heart pulled his on, "It's a bit bulky." His hands stuck out of the sleeves well enough but the shirt hung down to his knees.

"Mine feels perfect." Life Heart beamed. Her sweater stretched over her baby bump and came to rest just above her waist.

"You're gift to me was the most perfect." Sage Heart drew her into a hug and kissed her nose as he ran his hand over her tummy.

Life Heart giggled, "It's your present too. I didn't do this alone."

Sage Heart nodded. "Thank you."

"What?"

"For staying." Sage Heart drew her into a hug and let a few tears leak from his eyes. Life Heart blinked and then hugged him back, eyes closed she wept tears of joy.

~~~

Shards of ice fired from the outstretched bear hand of the golem and peppered the wall behind the target that had been set up for it. A purple bolt of lightning struck the golem in the back, leaving a scorch mark. "Aim, you pathetic golem!"

The golem stumbled slightly then raised its arm, conjured more ice shards and sent them flying at the target once more. Only two shards hit the edges while the rest flew wide. Another bolt to its back. "You will keep trying until you get it right!"

~~~

Life Heart lay her head back against Sage Heart's chest and listened to the sounds of spring, with her hands at rest on her pregnant tummy. Since winter she had ballooned out, her belly the size of a beach ball and her skin as taut as a drum. Sage Heart brought his hands around to rest on hers. "Soon," he whispered in her ear. "I love you."

Life Heart smiled. "I love you too." Her tummy moved slightly and Life Heart looked down, giving it a careful stroke, "I love you too, always."

Sage Heart gave her a soft kiss on the neck then nuzzled her. Life Heart turned her head and met his lips in another kiss.

~~~

"Very well, that's enough." No-Heart said. The golem was covered in burns from his lightning but it stood, unfazed. "Rest, we will continue tomorrow."

The golem fell to the ground, doing as it was told.

~~~

Life Heart stumbled out of her home into the morning sunlight clutching her swollen belly before she dropped back against the stone by the entrance. She breathed heavily then grit her teeth as she felt another contraction wrack her body. Once it passed she used what little concentration she had to magically amplify her voice and called out, "SAGE HEART!" She let the magic fade and began breathing hard again.

Sage Heart came dashing across the clearing less than a minute later, skidding to a stop next to Life Heart. "It's time," he said. "What should I do?"

Life Heart gripped his hand, "Just stay with me. It hurts... so much..." tears leaked from her eyes. "I'm scared."

"I'm here." Sage Heart winced as Life Heart squeezed his hand.

Motes of light floated around the barely moonlit clearing as Life Heart gasped in pain, squeezing Sage Heart's hand again. Life Heart started rapid breathing again. "Why is it taking so long?" Life Heart said.

"I don't know, it's different for everyone." Sage Heart said.

"Haven't you seen this before?"

Sage Heart shook his head, "Sows avoid boars once we've mated and they give birth during torpor."

Life Heart was about to speak when another contraction hit. "P-please look," she panted out. Sage Heart barely had time to crawl around to her legs before another contraction hit and on pure instinct she pushed.

Something told Life Heart the time was right and she pushed as hard as she could and was rewarded by Sage Heart saying. "I can see it!"

How long it lasted, neither of them were certain, but with each contraction Life Heart pushed as hard as she could. Finally, it stopped. There was a small flash of light as Sage Heat conjured a knife, cut the umbilical cord and a moment later Life Heart heard crying.

"It's a boy," Sage Heart whispered. He stood up and walked over to the pool to wash off their son. Life Heart felt another release as something else slid out of her. She looked down and grimaced. She was covered in sweat and the area beneath her was beyond disgusting. She used what little concentration she had to cast a simple spell to wash the sweat off herself and the mess away from her legs.

Sage Heart walked back with their now clean son in his arms and sat down next to Life Heart. Their son was a lime green bear with reddish-brown eyes and the fur on his forehead formed a dark green eight pointed star. He whimpered softly as a soft breeze blew through the clearing then reached a tiny arm up to Life Heart's chest.

"Hungry?" she asked. She took their son from Sage Heart, lifted him up to her breast and he latched on, drinking greedily of mother's milk.

"He doesn't have a symbol," Sage Heart said, placing a hand on their son's white tummy.

"I think he needs a name first," Life Heart said. "What do you think?"

"You did all the work. You should name him," Sage Heart said, averting his eyes from their son.

Life Heart shifted their son to her other breast so she could hold him in one arm and drew Sage Heart's face back with her free arm, then smiled and looked back at their son. "A name like ours. Love?" she asked.

"Love Heart Bear." As the words left his lips, Sage Heart and Life Heart's tummy symbols lit up and two soft beams of light flowed out, then combined on their son's tummy. When the light faded it left a symbol: a large red heart with twelve smaller hearts surrounding it and three small pink hearts within the large one.

Life Heart smiled. "Yes, our son Love Heart Bear."