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Chapter 21: Reunion

"Love Heart, wake up." Love Heart stirred in his bed then rolled over, his eyes bleary. Was that Life Heart? He drew his hand across his eyes to clear them and saw what looked like the ghostly image of his mom, Life Heart Unicorn, standing next to his bed.

"Mom?" He sat up.

"Good. I need to be short, we are leaving now and will be there in eight hours. Please come meet us." This image froze in place, like a video on pause.

Love Heart nodded, "OK, I'll see you at the airport later, mom." He waited for a moment then the image disappeared. Love Heart shook his head as he became fully awake and smiled, "My family's coming, they're coming! Woo!" Love Heart's shout reverberated through the house. He glanced at the clock, 4:25am, then strolled out of his room.

Defiant Heart emerged from his bedroom and glared at the giddy bear, "Keep it down, we're trying to sleep." Love Heart didn't even seem to notice him. Defiant Heart grumbled then went back to bed.

"What was that?" Crafty mumbled in her half asleep state as Defiant got in next to her.

"Just Love Heart, go back to sleep," Defiant Heart smashed his head back into his pillow.

Four hours later Defiant Heart finally came downstairs; he didn't even bother to get dressed as he grabbed some cereal and sat down to munch. Love Heart came in from the back door a moment later covered in sweat and passed by Defiant on his way to the shower. When Love Heart came down he was finally dressed in the same clothes he'd first arrived in, thankfully washed several times in the past month.

"You're happy today, what happened?" Defiant dumped his dishes in the dishwasher.

Love Heart was smiling, "My family's finally coming, they'll be here in four hours." Love Heart grabbed his own bowl of cereal, "So why are you sleeping with Crafty Heart?"

"I'm letting her share my bed because I don't want to force her to sleep on the couch after everything she's been through," Defiant turned to Love Heart, "And you took the guest room."

"Right. So how did your conversation with your parents go?" Love Heart sat down and dug into his breakfast.

Defiant Heart sighed and leaned up against the wall with his arms folded, "It barely went at all."

"Did you at least hear them out?"

Defiant Heart opened his mouth to shout, then closed it and thought before he continued, "Honestly, I don't want to hear them out. They've almost completely ignored me for my entire life and I'm just supposed to forgive them after all of that? I don't think they deserve a chance anymore." Defiant stared at the ground, "You've been more of a parent to me in the last month than they ever have."

Love Heart looked up and swallowed his mouthful of cereal, "All I've done is teach you kinetics."

"And that's more than they've ever taught me. My teachers had to teach me how to tie my shoes." Defiant looked up, "Can we get some practise in before you head out."

"Sure," Love Heart drank the rest of his cereal then dropped his dishes in the dishwasher before they headed out back.

Defiant Heart held his hands up and focused his mana into them, trying to give it some form.

Love Heart stood facing Defiant Heart with his arms folded, "Don't rush it, you don't want to hurt yourself."

Defiant bared his teeth as there was as shimmer in between his hands, "I can do this!" A moment later several white flecks appeared and floated in between his hands.

Love Heart blinked, "That's not what I expected. Hold still," Love Heart reached in and plucked one of the white flecks from the field. He stared at it and felt it, "I have no idea what this is, Defiant?"

Defiant Heart was visibly sweating and panting as he maintained the field of white flecks.

"You can stop!" Love Heart dropped the fleck, which dissolved, and grabbed Defiant Heart's shoulder. Defiant stopped and let the field disperse. Love Heart smiled, "It's very draining the first few times you do that."

"Right," Defiant nodded and managed to stand on wobbly feet, "I need a shower, and some food."

Love Heart had left by the time Defiant Heart had showered. He came downstairs to find Crafty Heart munching on some cold take-out pizza. She swallowed, "Morning, Defiant."

"Morning," Defiant Heart opened the fridge and dug out another piece of cold pizza.

Crafty sat down at the table as she finished her slice. "Thanks for sharing your bed."

"No problem," Defiant Heart said with his mouth half-full.

"So why did you let me sleep with you?" Crafty propped her head up on the table with her arms.

"Because you've been through enough and I wasn't going to make you sleep on the couch." Defiant said.

Crafty leaned back in her chair and folded her arms under her breasts, "Question: do you find me attractive?" She smirked.

"Nope."

Crafty blinked, "What?"

"I don't find you attractive," Defiant Heart said.

Crafty wilted slightly, "Why not...?"

Defiant Heart could see Crafty's downcast expression and sighed, "I don't find any girls or women attractive, Crafty, I'm gay."

Crafty started but sat up straighter, "You are?"

Defiant nodded, "I am."

"How did you find out?"

Defiant rolled his eyes, "No parental supervision and unlimited internet access. Does it bother you?"

Crafty shook her head, "No, it's just... well I couldn't tell."

Defiant Heart groaned, "Not every gay man is a 'queen', Crafty."

"Sorry..." Crafty fidgeted in her chair.

"Relax, it's not a big deal. I never bothered to show it off anyway, not like it mattered," Defiant Heart rolled his eyes sideways.

Crafty thought for a moment, "Wait, did you have a crush on Anger Heart?"

Defiant Heart snorted, "Don't tell me you buy into that 'picking on him means you like him' bullshit. I bullied him because I thought it was easy because he was different," he folded his arms, "It was stupid and cruel and I only did it because I needed some attention, even if it was bad." Defiant sighed, "I want to say that I would do it differently if I could go back but honestly I'd still have the same baggage that I have now so I'd probably be the same asshole I've always been." He looked up at Crafty with mild annoyance on his face, "Are you ever going to get dressed?"

Crafty Heart stood up, "Even if I could go back home, none of my clothes fit now."

Defiant Heart sighed, "Right, too loose?"

Crafty Heart grinned and put her arms behind her head, "Nope, too tight. I didn't just fill out but I measured myself at Anger Heart's and I grew about 10cm since I changed. I had to literally tear those stupid robes apart with my new teeth," she grinned which showed off her sharper canines.

Defiant Heart stared at her, his mouth twisted sideways and his left eye half-squinted, "What?!"

Crafty huffed and looked up at the ceiling, "Yeah well in case you hadn't noticed I was kind of a shrimp for an 18-year old, heck I'm pretty sure I skipped puberty," she grinned again, "That crystal gave me everything I wanted and more!"

Defiant glowered at her and folded his arms, "Well I'm so happy you're enjoying it!" his voice dripped sarcasm.

Crafty turned to Defiant Heart and sighed, "Yeah, I get it you hate that this was forced on you, but here's some news," she jabbed her right thumb at her chest, "I literally asked for this!"

Defiant Heart opened his mouth, ready to shoot back, then stopped and shut it again. He saw the smirk that Crafty gave him then glared again and finally spoke up, "And did you think about what this was going to do to your life?"

"You mean other than save me from my family?" Crafty put her hands on her hips.

Defiant growled, "Yeah you escaped, but now what can you do?" he counted off on his fingers as he continued, "You don't have a home, or a social insurance number, or any money, or any possessions, or citizenship," he pointed his index finger at her, "If you're not Samantha then you don't even legally exist! How are you supposed to live like that? Mooch off me for the rest of your life?! Did you even think about how fucked your life was going to be once you transformed?!"

Crafty was taken aback, but she regained her mental footing and fired back, "Do you have any idea how fucked my life was going to be if I didn't do this?!" She slapped her chest symbol with her hand, "My parents were shipping me off to a convent where I was going to be smashed, molded and drained of my spirit until I was an empty husk just like my sister! Yeah I gave up everything for this but at least I have the freedom to choose whatever I do with my life now!" As she spoke she had closed the distance between herself and Defiant Heart and jabbed a finger into his chest, "And what's your big problem? Your parents don't pay attention to you? Oh boo hoo!"

Defiant's eyes blazed and before he knew it he had punched Crafty in the face. Crafty Heart staggered backwards with her hand over nose. She pulled it away to see that she had a nose bleed then looked up at Defiant Heart, who now stood with his hands clenched into fists. Their blood boiled and Crafty let out a howl and pounced on him.

Defiant Heart a Crafty were rolling around on the kitchen and onto the living living room floor kicking, scratching, biting and punching until they were bleeding and bruised (albeit hidden by their fur except for Defiant's black eye). The fight finally ended when Crafty's head smacked into the leg of a side table and stars burst in her vision only for a cheap empty vase to fall off and smash over Defiant's head which left him briefly senseless

They were both lying on their backs on the kitchen floor, waiting for their heads to stop pounding when Defiant finally spoke. "That was a low blow."

"At least I didn't kick you in the nuts," Crafty shot back. "You have it easy."

"Excuse me?!" Defiant Hear tried to push himself up, only for his head to start spinning as he fell to his back again.

Crafty just put a hand to her head, willing the pain to stop, "You heard me. You complain that your parents don't pay attention to you and yeah I get why you were such an ass in school, but at least your parents love you." She waited for a response, but only received a grunt from Defiant Heart, "They know you're a badger and they didn't throw you out. You can do whatever you want and your parents will probably still support you. Despite your looks you could probably do anything you wanted for the rest of your life, get a job, travel or just lie around with no real ambition."

Still no response except for a grunt.

Crafty forced herself to sit up then looked over at the badger, who just stared at the ceiling. She looked away, "All those things you said I gave up, I never really had them."

"What?" Defiant Heart rolled over on his side to get a look at her.

Crafty was crying but she kept her voice level, "I didn't have a SIN, or a driver's license, and my parents always reminded me that the stuff I owned was really theirs. Yeah I mooched off my friends but I never even had an allowance so I didn't have a choice. Honestly the only thing I don't have now is my own bedroom or clothes and that's a small price to pay for what I've gained." Crafty used the table to stand up then offered a hand to Defiant, "I'm sorry about what I said."

Defiant Heart accepted and let her pull up, "It's fine, sorry I punched you."

Crafty smirked, "I think we're pretty even on that."

Defiant Heart sighed, "Yeah." They stood in silence for a moment before Defiant continued, "You're right."

"What?"

"You're right. I don't really appreciate what they done but," he clenched his teeth, "How can I just forgive them for their ignoring me for years?"

"You don't have to, but maybe just be grateful for what they have done and for accepting you even as you changed." Crafty put a hand on Defiant's shoulder.

Defiant gave her a sideways glance, "Are you trying to convince me to give them a second chance?"

Crafty Heart put on an innocent smile, "Who me? Being crafty? Never."

Defiant Heart sighed, "Maybe. Let's get this cleaned up before someone step- YOWCH!"

"Too late," Crafty winced as Defiant sat down on the couch and pulled the shard out of his foot.

OoOoO

Anger Heart was not happy to be awakened by loud banging on their front door. Guidance Heart stirred as he slid out of bed. "Alex?"

"Just some psycho at the door, I'll go check and call the police if I need to," Anger Heart touched her briefly before he headed for the door; he didn't bother to get dressed.

As soon as Anger Heart was in the living room, he saw the man lifting his head up to the half-sun window at the top of the door, it was Samantha's, or rather Crafty Heart's father. Anger Heart growled and didn't even bother to open the door as he spoke. "What the hell do you want?"

"Give me back my daughter you red devil!"

Anger Heart winced at the shout but felt his hackles raise and he snarled through the door, "I told you I don't know your daughter now get the fuck off my front step before I call the police!"

"My daughter is Samantha! I know you were her so-called friend so you had to be the one who took her from me!"

Anger Heart felt his blood boil as he shouted back, "I haven't seen Samantha in two weeks!"

"Lies!" The pounding on the door resumed, "Let me in so I can find her!"

Anger Heart was about to start screaming when he felt Guidance Heart's hand on his shoulder. He relaxed as they both listened to the tirade from the man on their front step for a moment before Anger Heart turned around, "Screw this, I'm calling the police."

Ten minutes of tirades and door banging later, two police officers showed up and dragged Samantha's father off the step.

"But you don't understand! They have my daughter!" He shouted.

Guidance Heart opened the front door and stepped out with Anger Heart behind her. "I'm sorry about this, but he won't leave us alone."

The younger officer gave the pair an odd look, no clothes but they weren't "naked" by a strict definition.

"Give her back! Search their house," Samantha's father struggled.

Anger Heart growled, "If you want them to search then fine! Search the danm house if it'll make you leave us alone!"

The elder of the two officers gave Anger Heart a stern look, "Are you sure. We would normally need a warrant for this."

Guidance Heart nodded and pointed in the front door, "If it will end this peacefully, then please search our house for his daughter so we can continue with our lives undisturbed."

Samantha's father was left to the younger officer as the senior officer searched the house. Anger Heart and Guidance Heart kept their eyes on the man, who had his arms folded and was giving them a severe death glare that Anger Heart matched in intensity.

An hour later the senior officer emerged. "There's no one else inside."

"She has to be in there!" Samantha's father tore away from the younger officer and ran over to the two Care Bears. Guidance Heart stumbled backwards as he grabbed her and started to throttle her, "Tell me where she is!"

Anger Heart grabbed his arm and tried to pull it away from Guidance's throat. There was a sudden rapid clicking sound and Samantha's father slowly went limp. The older officer pulled a stun-gun away from the man as the younger caught him. The elder set the stun-gun back in its holster and went to check Guidance Heart, "Are you alright."

Guidance Heart just nodded as Anger Heart rubbed life back into her neck.

The elder officer nodded and turned back to his younger partner, who had cuffed the stunned man's hands behind his back, "We'll have to take him in on assault charges. Are you going to press charges?"

Anger Heart had to resist the urge the snarl or bare his teeth but simply stared daggers at Samantha's father. "Yes."

"Very well. You'll be contacted later, please show up in clothes though." The senior officer helped move Samantha's father into the squad car and drove away.

Anger Heart helped Guidance Heart inside and onto the couch. "Can you breathe?"

"Yes," Guidance coughed.

"OK. Just sit there and I'll make us breakfast, OK?"

Guidance Heart nodded then smiled, "Thank you, for trying to stop him."

Anger Heart smiled slightly, "No problem."

OoOoO

Love Heart kept his eye on the clock as he slowly ate the rice bowl he'd bought for lunch. It was noon by the time he finished and set the dishes on the counter, "Thank you," he spoke fleetingly as he left the small restaurant. Love Heart couldn't help but grin as he saw a plane fly overhead and felt a tingle in the back of his mind, "They're here!" He jumped for joy and didn't come back down.

He floated upwards then flew over the rooftops towards the airport, dipping down to skim the grass once he passed over the road that separated the city from the airport. Several people stared out their car windows as the green bear flew low to the ground and beside or past their cars. Love Heart finally came to a stop once he was on the sidewalk in front of the airport. He ignored the stares as he strolled in and stood in receiving to wait for his family.

He didn't have to wait long and he spotted them coming down the escalator. Love Heart couldn't contain himself and as Confidence stepped off the escalator and spotted him, Love Heart literally flew through the small crowd and into her arms. "Confidence!"

Confidence Heart caught him with a big grin on her face, "Love Heart!" they kissed.

"Big brother!" Sweet Heart literally flew off the escalator and landed into the hug, "I missed you."

Love Heart wrapped an arm around his sister, "I missed you too."

Life Heart and Sage Heart stepped off the escalator and retrieved their bags while they waited for the three of them to finish, but then Love Heart darted over to and hugged his parents, "Mom, dad, I missed you. Where's Independent bear?"

"He couldn't come with us, he said he'll walk here and meet us in a couple weeks," Life Heart levitated their suitcases onto a trolley.

Sage Heart extracted himself from the hug, "So what has happened this last month?"

Love Heart took a deep breath as they exited the terminal, "A lot. I'll tell you on the way to where I've been staying." Love Heart stopped for a moment as they waited for a Taxi van. "Confidence, how's your arm?"

Confidence grinned and rolled her right arm a couple times, "A lot better, need to limber it up a bit but I'll be fine."

OoOoO

"He was arrested?" Crafty Heart stared at Guidance Heart and Anger Heart. Once they ate the two had decided to visit Defiant's house after the incident with Samantha's father.

Guidance Heart nodded, "We're pressing assault charges, I don't know when the trial is yet." She rubbed her neck again.

Crafty Heart looked down at her knees and tightened her hands into fists, "Good!"

Anger Heart looked over at her then back to Guidance Heart. He sighed, "Do you want to come?"

Crafty didn't change her sitting position, "No. I mean yes! But if Emily or his wife are there they might recognise my voice and that would screw up everything." She sighed then smiled and stood up, "But let's not think about that now."

There was a knocking at the door, followed by the sounds of Defiant grumbling as he answered. The badger was nearly bowled over as a pink pegasus in shorts and a t-shirt flew through the door, "Wow, this place is big!"

"What the?" Defiant turned back to the entrance as the pegasus landed down the hall and Love Heart, Confidence Heart, Sage Heart and Life Heart entered.

Then the entrance hall was crowded as Crafty Heart, Anger Heart and Guidance Heart came to see the commotion. Love Heart was the first to speak, "Hi, this is my family."

Sage Heart managed to pull Defiant Heart Badger and Crafty Heart Coyote aside for a moment, "Hmm..." he looked the two up and down.

Crafty smirked and put her arms behind her head, "Like what you see?"

"I'm more curious. So you two used to be humans?" Sage Heart didn't seem phased by Crafty's attempt at flirtation.

Crafty deflated a little, then nodded, "Yup."

"Yeah. So?" Defiant Heart asked.

"I just wanted to ask you myself, I mean I trust my son but I found that hard to believe even with everything I've seen. Oh sorry, my name is Sage Heart Bear." Sage Heart offered a handshake to both of them.

"And I'm his wife, Life Heart-"

"Unicorn!" Guidance Heart had finally caught sight of the green and silver haired unicorn Care Bear and dashed over to her, "Are you Love Heart's mother? Does that mean he's half-unicorn?"

Life Heart took a step back but nodded, "He is, and so is my daughter."

"Hi, I'm Sweet Heart," the pink pegasus hopped and hovered over to Guidance Heart.

Defiant saw the starry-eyed look in the raccoon's eyes and grimaced slightly, "What's with her?"

Anger Heart carefully guided Guidance Heart away from the entrance hall, "She loves unicorns and I think meeting a real one overloaded her brain."

Confidence Heart got through the group and stretched, "Well that's fun. So why don't we all swap stories."

Defiant Heart groaned, "I can't handle this, this isn't a boarding house!"