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Chapter 42: Fierce Battle: Round 2 in the Castle

Over the last three relative years, Guidance Heart had gained quite the proficiency with invisibility and she was able to keep herself unseen for hours if needed. The hardest part had been learning how to walk, it sounded simple but most people didn't realize how hard it was when you couldn't see where your arms and legs were. She tripped over and bumped into everything even in familiar settings and making any noise would render invisibility pointless. It took six months for her to walk properly and develop any sort of coordination until she had developed an uncanny awareness of where all her limbs were.

Walking invisible through the forest wasn't as hard as Guidance thought it would be but she still had to be careful not to trip over anything. She paused as she heard something, just a bird, then moved on.

Eventually she came to the edge of the forest and looked out over the flatlands beyond. She spotted a city nearby, nothing familiar but it would be something at least. She heard something else overhead and looked up, then sighed in relief when she saw a cloud car overhead being led by a green speck. She was about to shoot off a laser but stopped herself at the last moment. What if someone else saw it? She had to do something else to draw their attention.

Love Heart slowed to a stop in mid air and Indy pulled up alongside him in the cloud car. "Something wrong, Love Heart?"

"Other than my little sister staying behind to fight Passion Heart, this is as far as mom's signal led me. I know they're down there, but where?" He looked down then started, seeing a giant yellow arrow of light seemingly carved into ground next to the treeline. "Wait here," He held up a hand and dropped to the ground in the middle of the arrow.

"Love Heart?" Guidance Heart faded into view next to a tree, "I was worried it was one of those hunting us."

"You mean the Shadow Magi," Love Heart looked up and motioned for the cloud car to descend. "Do you know where everyone else is?"

Guidance Heart nodded, "They're this...way..." Guidance Heart froze when she saw Flash Heart in the cloud car.

"Relax, Guidance, he's with us," Crafty Heart jumped out of the Cloud Car and walked past Guidance Heart, patting her shoulder as she did so.

"I've agreed to help you save my family," Flash Heart stepped out of the car and approached the raccoon.

Guidance shrank back, "I can't trust you, not after what you tried to do."

"I'll vouch for him," Indy said, "He helped us fight the two who chased after me until I met you."

Flash Heart smiled, "Thank you."

"Wait...where's Sweet Heart?" Guidance's voice carried a note of worry.

Love Heart narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists at his sides, "She stayed behind to fight Passion Heart. As soon as I make sure everyone else is alright I'm going back for her." He turned to Guidance Heart, "Can you show us where they are?"

Guidance Heart nodded, "This way," she pointed into the treeline then led the way.

Confidence Heart was taking her turn at watch, her huge ears twitching back and forth for anything that sounded out of place. She tensed as she heard the snap of twigs approaching and whirled to face the approaching sound. Her face split into a huge smile as she saw them approach and she all but pounced on them.

"Love Heart!" She caught the green bear in a tight hug, which he returned. "I was waiting for you."

"Worried?" Love Heart smirked.

"I wasn't, but Take Care, Gift and Healer were." Confidence paused as she saw Flash Heart over Love Heart's shoulder. "I see you took a prisoner."

"Sort of," Love Heart released his grip around her, "He's on our side now."

"Ah. Well let's go see everyone," Confidence turned and marched back into the crowd of Care Bears.

"Daddy!" Gift Bear and Healer Bear shouted together and toddled over to Love Heart as fast as they could. Gift tripped over an exposed root and fell on her face. Her face was tearing up when Love Heart scooped her in his arm, where Healer was already in his other arm.

"Don't cry, daddy's back," Love Heart kissed her knee where she had landed.

"I can make it better," Healer concentrated and a small bandage popped out of his chest symbol.

"You're a good brother, Healer," Take Care said as the cub stuck the bandage on his twin sister's knee. Healer beamed with pride as Love Heart set the twins down.

"Where's our big sister?" Meek Heart was looking at the returning group.

"Yeah, where!?" Wild Heart stamped her hoof.

Love Heart's face turned serious again, "Back in Care-a-Lot. I have to go back to her."

"Whoa!" Confidence Heart grabbed Love Heart's shoulder, "You have to hold down the fort here, and be a leader too." She jabbed her thumb towards her chest symbol, "I'll go see what's holding up my future sister-in-law, don't go taking off and leaving your kids and family to worry again."

Confidence turned to leave but was stopped when Love Heart grabbed her arm. He managed a slight smirk, "Is that your way of saying you want to marry me?"

"Do I have to spell it out?" Confidence gave a coy smile to Love Heart.

"Nope," Love Heart gave her a kiss, "I accept, as soon as this is over."

"Or if we can find some down time," Confidence gave him a deep kiss and was about to take off when Bright Heart called out.

"Wait, take these with you," Bright Heart handed her a pair of hand radios with small headsets attached to their tops.

"Walkie-talkies?" Confidence stared at them for a moment.

"Ones with a nearly global range. I have about 20 here," Bright Heart tapped his chest symbol, "I meant to hand them out this morning, but in all the excitement it kinda slipped my mind." He looked up and around at the rest of the Magi, "Every Magi should take one and the rest will be divided up."

"Alright." Confidence stuffed them both into her chest symbol then turned and took off at a run through the trees.

Healer tugged on Take Care's leg, "Mommy, why's daddy marrying her?"

"I thought you two were married," Gift Bear looked confused.

Take Care crouched and patted her children's heads, "It's just the way things are. I love your father and he loves me, but he and Confidence have known each other longer and I can respect that."

"But you two have us," Gift pointed to herself, "Doesn't that mean you're married?"

Take Care shook her head, "Maybe on Earth, but Care Bears don't play by the same rules as humans. It doesn't mean your father and I love each other any less, it's just that he and Confidence have a close bond they want to express."

"I hate to break things up, but we have more serious things to deal with," Independent Bear's tone got everyone's attention, and snapped Love Heart out of his minor haze of romance as Bright Heart handed him one of the radios, and continued to pass them out to the others.

"Right," Love Heart's face turned serious. "First I need to tell you what happened at No-Heart's castle..."

OoOoO

As soon as Confidence Heart reached the edge of the treeline she made a mighty leap as wind currents enveloped her and she blasted off into the sky surrounded by a rippling silver aura of wind that left a slight trail behind her.

"YAHOOOO!" Confidence Heart shouted as she turned a single spiral in mid air. This was what it was like to really fly! She had spent months mastering this level of flight under the shield in Care-a-Lot but she could never go beyond the barrier, but now? Now she was free to fly as fast and far as the wind could take her!

Confidence Heart re-oriented herself, turned towards the Kingdom of Caring and blasted off at high speed.

OoOoO

"... and then Guidance Heart lead us back here." Love Heart finished his story.

Everyone stood or sat to digest the information for a moment, then Take Care spoke up, "Do you know what killed No-Heart?"

Flash Heart was the one to answer, "I told you, Soul Heart killed him."

Take Care shook her head, "But how? And more importantly how was she able to do it? I can learn more if I do an autopsy."

"Mommy? What's that?" Healer tugged on Take Care's leg.

Take Care looked down, as if only just remembering her children were there. She stared down into their curious eyes as she tried her best to come up with an answer. "It's when a doctor looks at something dead to find out what killed them." Everyone was a bit stunned at her blunt.

"How?" Gift Bear asked.

"Don't bother mommy with so many questions." Love Heart walked over and crouched in front of the twins, "She just has doctor work to do." He looked upwards at Take Care, "Will you do that?"

Take Care nodded, "I just need to go home and get my tools."

"Are you leaving, mommy?" Gift Bear eyes trembled and she looked like she was about to cry.

"Just for a while, and daddy will stay with you this time," Take Care ruffled her daughter's headfur.

"I will," Love Heart drew his children into a soft hug. He looked up from them as they buried their faces in his chest, "Anger Heart, Indy, get Take Care to the hospital then head to No-Heart's castle."

"Why me?" Anger Heart asked, his six tails twitching as he glared at Love Heart.

"Because I need two people who can fly in case there's an emergency." Love Heart turned back to Take Care, "If you see her, help Sweet Heart too."

"I will," Take Care bent over and gave Love Heart a kiss, which he returned, before she left with Anger Heart and Indy.

"I'll drive," Indy said as they left view.

Love Heart stood up but let Gift and Healer continue clinging to his legs, "As for the rest of us, we need to be ready to defend ourselves from the Shadow Magi. Flash Heart do you have any idea what we can expect?"

Flash Heart looked around at the expectant faces of the Care Bear Family before he spoke, "You can expect them to try any dirty trick and not to hold back just because you're not capable of fighting."

"They would probably try to flood the small cave I made for us to hide in, or seal it up," Sage Heart said.

"I wouldn't put it past them anymore," Flash Heart stared at his feet for a moment then looked up at them, "They might even be on their way here right now."

"Probably because they're following you here." Defiant Heart had conjured his spear and had it pointed, one handed, at Flash Heart.

"More likely they followed the cloud car or saw everyone else leaving," Flash Heart said, "even if they left at the edge of the treeline it would still narrow where they have to search."

"Then we should set a trap!" Crafty Heart had been silent for most of the meeting, kissing Hidden Heart as the wolf had her face buried in Crafty's breasts.

Hidden Heart pulled back and looked at Crafty, "What kind of trap?"

Crafty smirked, "Sage Heart, you said you had some sort of little cave already carved out right?"

As Crafty laid out her plan, Flash Heart pulled Guidance Heart aside. "You use light, right? How do you turn invisible?"

"It took some time to learn, how do you teleport?" After hearing the whole story from Love Heart, Guidance Heart decided to give the yellow bear the benefit of the doubt.

Flash Heart smirked, "Looks like we have a lot to teach each other."

OoOoO

Confidence Heart saw the Kingdom of Caring come into view. She slowed down and swept her gaze across the clouds until she spotted a bright pink sphere sitting on the clouds. She dropped, feet first, towards the orb, slowing just enough so she wouldn't hurt herself as she made a three-point landing then jumped to her feet. She saw Sweet Heart lying unconscious on the clouds and Passion Heart unconscious and without the green orbs stuck to his body inside the pink sphere.

Confidence glared at the unconscious wolverine and knelt down next to Sweet Heart. "Hey, Sweet Heart, you alright?" she shook her slightly.

Sweet Heart groaned and half-opened her eyes, "Confidence?" she smiled and raised a fist, "I won, yay." Her arm fell to the clouds, hand open.

Confidence smirked, "Great job. You look pretty beat up," she turned to the pink sphere, "What do we do with him now?"

The sound of an approaching cloud car made Confidence Heart look up, it was too far away to see at first but she kept her eyes on the sky until it appeared. A few minutes later, Indy, Anger Heart and Take Care landed next to her and the cloud car dissolved around them.

Take Care was immediately at Sweet Heart's side and checking her injuries.

Indy turned to the imprisoned Passion Heart, "Looks like Sweet Heart did a good job."

"What happened to the green balls stuck to his body?" Anger Heart pointed at the sphere.

"Used my stare and they evaporated," Sweet Heart gave a weak smile.

"She's not badly hurt. It looks like she used healing magic on herself after the fight. She just needs rest." Take Care stood up, "Can you look after her?"

"No problem. I'll keep an eye on her until she wakes up, and him if he tries anything," Confidence Heart glared at the unconscious Passion Heart.

"Good. Just lie there and rest, Sweet Heart, clouds make a good bed," Take Care stood up.

"OK." Sweet Heart closed her eyes and drifted off again.

"No we have to get back to our job, let's go." Indy motioned for Take Care and Anger Heart to follow him to the hospital, leaving Confidence Heart seated on the ground as she kept her vigil.

OoOoO

Take Care couldn't help but stare at the ruins of No-Heart's castle as she landed her ambulance in front of the still open doors of the castle.

"The Shadow Magi really did a number on this place," Indy commented as they stepped out of the vehicle.

Take Care hauled her field kit out of the back of the ambulance, "I never thought I'd come here again." She shuddered, "Alright, let's find what's left of No-Heart."

The walk through the castle was carried out in eerie silence, the three cast their gazes over the rubble and holes in the walls and ceiling. Take Care took a deep breath as she held her kit, almost jumping at every shadow she saw around each corner, expecting one of No-Heart's shadow monsters to jump out and attack her at any moment.

A scrabbling noise nearby made Take Care freeze but Anger Heart charged towards the sound, a jet of fire appearing on his left arm, "Hold it!" He grabbed the creature and slammed him against a wall.

"I give up! I give up!" The pathetic voice whined as Anger Heart hauled a brown creature out into plain view.

"Beastly!" Take Care stared at him, "Anger Heart put him down now!"

Anger Heart glared at Beastly but dropped him where he lay, shaking.

"This is not your day," Indy looked down at Beastly, "I imagine Love Heart and Sweet Heart put you through this too." Beastly nodded. "Then just show us where No-Heart's remains are and we'll leave you alone."

"O-O-OK," Beastly scrabbled along the floor, leading the three Care Bears to the small room where No-Heart's body lay.

Take Care couldn't help but recoil slightly when she saw the body, looking emaciated and frail under voluminous robes, but regardless she stepped forwards and opened her kit. "I need time to autopsy his body, then we can head back. Just keep an eye out for trouble."

Beastly had run off by this point as Anger Heart and Indy stood guard over Take Care while she worked. Anger Heart had his arms folded as his tails twitched and Indy had conjured a katana with his chest symbol and stood at the ready for any trouble.

They didn't have to wait long.

"Ahh, our favorite victim. I was wondering when I'd find you again."

Indy tensed up, "Blade Star!" he drew his sword.

"Not just her!" Shatter Heart charged into the room and immediately swung down at Indy only for his blow to be blocked.

"You bastard!" Anger Heart's arms burst into flames and he drew back an arm to shoot a blast of fire at Shatter Heart. Some sixth sense warned Anger Heart barely in time for him to avoid a splash of green acid that began to sear a hole in the ground.

"Just stay where you are and die," Blade Star drew her ninjato and pulled up her face mask.

"RAAAAAA!" Anger Heart suddenly burst forwards with jets of fire shooting from his feet and slammed into Blade Star at the same moment, Indy grabbed a chunk of debris with telekinesis and hurled it at Shatter Heart, sending him flying out of the small room they were in.

Anger Heart just barely pulled away from Blade Star when she shot a blast of acid at him, landing in the large main room.

"A better venue in which to die, then I'll finish off that pink doctor." Blade Star drew a dozen of shuriken from her chest symbol and hurled them at Anger Heart.

A burst of fire blew the shuriken off course as Anger Heart held his hands forwards. "I'm not the one who's going to die here!" He let off a barrage of firebolts at Blade Star.

Shatter Heart fell in a heap nearby as the stone that struck him in the gut finally let loose. Indy was on him in an instant, slicing down at the bear's arm. Shatter Heart took a deep breath and right as the blade cut into his arm the bear screamed, sending a sonic wave at Idny and blowing him back.

Indy landed on his back and forcefully levitated himself back to his feet just in time to see Shatter Heart jump to his feet and charge at him. There was a flurry of steel as scimitars and katana clashed against each other. Shatter Heart let out a scream that forced Indy back only to be pummeled with a barrage of debris that Indy hurled with his telekinesis.

Blade Star easily dodged the rapid fire barrage of flames that Anger Heart shot at her, even using shots of acid to dissipate fireballs she couldn't evade. "This is pointless," she landed on an exposed upper floor. "You're too weak to bother with."

"I'm not weak!" Anger Heart rocketed up towards Blade Star on jets of fire and threw a flaming punch at her, but she easily dodged aside.

"Yes, you are," Blade Star slashed at Anger Heart as he passed by her. Anger Heart shouted in pain as his arm was cut but he whirled around, conjuring a sai in his right hand to block a swing from her weapon. "You're still an amateur, even if you have a bunch of extra tails." She swung her sword which hurled Anger Heart over the ledge and to the lower floor.

A haze of green acid covered Blade Star's right hand, "You'll soon just be a puddle of goo on the floor." She shot a stream of acid right towards Anger Heart. The fox just barely rolled away as the acid burned a hole in the floor. Anger Heart looked up just in time for Blade Star to land on him and stab the fox through the arm, which made him scream in pain. "Now you die, weakling."

"I'm not WEAK!" Anger Heart's body burst into flames, incinerating Blade Star's sword and forcing her to jump far back from the fox. The fox stood up, his six tails flaring out behind him like a peacock's feathers. "Now you'll burn!" The fire surrounding Anger Heart's body turned bright blue and he rocketed toward Blade Star, his right arm ignited into a bright blue jet of fire and he plowed into Blade Stars chest.

"You! YOU!" Blade Star conjured another sword and slashed down at Anger Heart, which forced him back. She stood there with a giant hole through most of her torso and black smoke pouring from the injury.

"Now you die!" Anger Heart's fire aura flared up again.

Shatter Heart had just forced Indy back in time to see Anger Heart pierce through Blade Star's torso. Ignoring his opponent, he turned and screamed, sending out a sonic wave that blew Anger Heart onto his side and extinguished his flames.

"Focus on me!" Indy sliced halfway through Shatter Heart starting at the shoulder with a charged up sword blade only for Shatter Heart to kick him away then run towards Blade Star as the katana dissipated, his arm practically coming detached from his body.

"I'll kill him!" Blade Star tried to conjure a jet of acid when Shatter Heart grabbed her.

"We're in pieces, and they're stronger than we were told," he said, just barely keeping his rage contained as he bared his sharp teeth.

"Alright, we'll retreat for now." Blade Star withdrew a small capsule then shot a spray of acid at Anger Heart and snapped the capsule in between her fingers, and they both vanished.

Indy ran over to Anger Heart as he lay. The fox cried out in pain as the tiny flecks of acid burned through his fur and skin.

"Hold on, Anger Heart!" Indy telekinetically pulled the acid blots off of Anger Heart's body then wrapped the energy around Anger Heart, weaving the strands of aether into the fox's wounds, stitching them shut with visible effort.

Anger Heart grunted in pain and watched as Indy seemed to be sweating, "What are you doing?"

"Healing you, and it's draining on me but I can handle it, you can't," Indy grit his teeth, "just hold still." Anger Heart grimaced as he felt his injuries closing but held still.