Chapter 20 – The end to the darkness.
As Tenderheart drifted into a parked state, he and Brave got True and Wish’s badges and rushed over.
	“Mom, here’s your badge. Sorry it took until the final mission.”
	“Tenderheart, honey, you and all the others did everything carefully. Now we’re all here to finish this.” True put her badge to her stomach as her color returned, Tenderheart hugging her tight.
	“I’m so glad you’re back to normal, mom.” True returned the hug and kissed Tenderheart’s cheek as she got in the Cloudseeker.
	“Well, I wouldn’t wish for it any other way, Brave Heart. Thank you for being so brave.”
	“Ah, well shucks Wish, it’s part of my duty as the leader of the cousins!” Brave rubbed his mane with a blush of embarrassment but happiness.
	“Now, while you two boys were having your moments, I didn’t need to wait.” Watchful was holding his belly badge as he put it to his stomach and returned to his color. “Like I said, negativity can’t win against hope. You did good, Tenderheart, thinking of your mom first. That’s what makes you a grand leader. Now, let’s go boys.” Watchful got in the back seat, Mend rushed over with Wonderheart.
	“We’re joining your car, Tenderheart.” Mend’s eyes were burning with determination.
	“Let’s go, Uncle Tenderheart! We have to save Thief Heart!”
	“Well of course little one but um, where is Floppy Bunny?”
	“Floppy Bunny is watching the watch tower until we return! He said he’ll um…He’ll…Ummmm…”
	“He’ll be our coordinator?”
	“Yeah! Thank you Mend!” Wonderheart hugged Mend as Mend helped her into the Cloud Car, and then getting in themself. Tenderheart and Brave got into the front as not just the Cloudseeker and other cloud cars, but some cloud cycles were all filled with the others. Tenderheart led the charge back to Void’s castle, everyone was silent even on the radios, they were all focusing on the fight to come. 

Thief Heart slid on his back and rolled over, landing on his stomach and slowly pushing himself up with his arms, glaring at Void Heart. He was reaching his limits, he coughed up a bit of blood and wiped his mouth.
	“This isn’t good, I’m basically just prey being played with. I need to make a move soon.” 
	“This is your end, Thief. With one last swipe, it’ll all be over!” Void raised his claw, as Thief closed his eyes bracing for impact, he heard a voice.
	“Fire in the hole!” Funshine fired an arrow into Void’s eye, making Void stumble back as the vehicles parked randomly and everyone rushed forward. Mend and Swift bent near Thief.
	“Holy crap, Thief. You’re bleeding! Where was the promise of being careful?”
	“Hey, I got True’s badge to you all didn’t I? Plus I’m not dead.” Thief let out a small chuckle.
	“Not a moment to laugh about it, Thief!” Swift hugged Thief closely. “If…If I lost you, god…If WE lost you, we’d all be deeply heartbroken. Mend’s your BEST FRIEND. I’m your…I’m your partner…Gentle’s taken a shine to you as a big sibling, the cubs see you as a role model. Please…” 
	“Swift…Heh, sorry. I wasn’t thinking when I spoke. Mend you got that jelly bean?”
	“The one you made once?”
	“Yeah, give it here.” Mend rummaged in their bag and brought up a bag with a jelly bean, after handing it to Thief, Thief took it and instantly his wounds seemed to heal.
	“Heh, knew reading about that healing recipe would come in handy.”
	“You caring creatures dare to defy me?!” Void roared.
	“Sí, el diablo! We shall end this!” Amigo stepped forward firing his stare as Void laughed.
	“Your stare will barely even stop me, you’ll run out of power and I’ll still have my power!”
	“There’s power in numbers!” Unity took Amigo’s hand firing their stare. All the other bears and cousins started to form a circle.
	“Mend, take our hands and complete this circle!” Tenderheart and Grumpy left a spot for Mend. Mend looked and saw Wonderheart was holding Tenderheart and Tugs’ paws, with Tugs holding Hugs, who was holding Grams who was holding Watchful’s paw. Watchful’s other paw held True’s paw. Noble was on True’s other side, with Brave on his other side. Mend rushed over and took the open spot as Thief slithered behind the circle.
	“Care bears! Count down!” Every bear and cousin tightened their grips as Brave and Tenderheart sounded the call. Every member took a deep breath as they sounded their call.
	“FIVE. FOUR. THREE. TWO. ONE! CARE BEAR STARE!” The members fired their badges, making Void squirm, but unable to move from his location.
	“Where is that damn thief?!”
	“Look above if you want to see a flying cat!” Thief was floating with his glider before he folded it and dive bombed at Void. “Now! HEART THEFT!” Thief’s paw touched Void’s head as Thief entered the darkness inside Void Heart. Thief landed on a rainbow pathway that led to the small white orb. Thief rushed forward as an assortment of badges protected him from the wind.
	“I’M NOT GIVING IN!” Thief pushed past the wind and touched the orb, he was blinded by a light, and when his vision restored, he was in a totally white area.
	“Well, this is reminding me of a psych ward…”
	“Mind not saying that about my remaining light?” A small white dragon with gold accents and wearing a diaper was standing behind Thief, as Thief turned to look at him, he noticed how small the dragon looked. 
	“Are you…Void Heart?”
	“Well, the conscience and part that hopes.” The dragon crossed his arms.
	“Part that hopes? What do you mean?”
	“I’ve been in the void for a thousand years! Anyone in there for THAT long is sure to be fully corrupted, but not me. I held onto the hope that someone, anyone, would come and free us from that prison. Despite those who lost hope and became corrupted fully, I never gave up hope. I was able to only be 98% corrupted because of this hope I have! WHAT POINT IS THERE?! I STILL ATTACKED AND STOLE EVERYONE’S BADGE! MY ONLY RELEASE FROM THAT PRISON AND NOW IT’S EITHER I DIE AS VOID HEART OR LET THE LIGHT BE ENGULFED BY DARKNESS. WHY SHOULD I HOPE THINGS CAN CHANGE?!” The dragon began to cry as he screamed at Thief. Thief could sense this dragon was finally releasing all it’s pent up emotions of the past thousand years. Thief frowned.
	“Look, I want to say something. In times of darkness and uncertainty it can be easily to feel overwhelmed and afraid. But remember this! No matter how dark things seem, there’s always a flicker of light, of hope, awaiting you! Having hope means believing in a brighter tomorrow, even when the world around you feels heavy and impossible. It means holding onto the belief that things will get better, no matter how long it takes or how hard things may seem. And remember, in moments when you feel like there is no one in your corner, know that there are always people out there who would love to be your friend. Reach out, open up - connections can help break through any darkness. So keep your head held high, have faith in yourself and in others, and never lose sight of the fact that hope can conquer all. You are stronger than you think, and together we can navigate through the stormy seas towards calmer waters. Let me be the first friend, the first connection to a new life.” Thief held out his paw. The dragon looked at it and snorted.
	“Friends? Open up? Why should I. I have no memory of my past but minor parts. I know I’m stuck in this age of three, this body that was never potty trained. I’ll forever be three and in diapers. No one would want to be friends with a diaper wearer who’d never grow out of them.”
	“Heh, you sure of that? I know a certain four and a half old bear cub that isn’t potty trained at night. Same for a fourteen-year-old lamb. I know of a bear only a couple years younger than I am who would willingly wear them all day if they could get away with it. I know it may be hard, but if this is your true form, your true self…Well, Void Heart doesn’t seem to fit you. I think the name that suits you better, would be Light Heart Dragon.” The dragon turned their gaze to Thief Heart.
	“Light Heart…Somehow, that name sounds…It sounds right. I know that wasn’t my name but…Could I really be one of you all out there?”
	“Of course, I became one despite being a total stranger, didn’t I?” Light Heart mused as Thief pointed it out. He closed his eyes and concentrated as a heart with three wings on each side, the middle wing midway to touching with the bottom wings crossing with a halo above the top wings and top of the heart appeared. 
	“Does this…Fit?”
	“It looks lovely. So, how about it Light Heart? Let’s end this Void Heart era, and start YOUR era.” Thief held out his paw, Light Heart shook before rushing and ramming into Thief, arm’s outstretched as Thief caught them in a hug, hearing Light crying into him.
	“I…*hic* I wanted someone…someone to save me… *hic* you’re…the first…*hic* *sob* to do it…” 
	“There, there, kid. I promised to be your first friend and the first connection. Shall we?”
	“Yes…Your friends are most likely worn out…” The area began to glow around the two.

	“Ugh…We can’t keep going…” Funshine was on his hands and knees.
	“We can’t give up…We did our best…Right?” Do-Your-Best was leaning against Unity and Amigo, holding his chest as Void Heart’s body was not moving.
	“Ugh…This better not be some surprise waiting for us. I’m the one who brings the surprises!” Surprise bear sighed as she fell back into Oopsy and Laugh-a-Lot. Mend was huffing as they noticed Void’s body shaking and cracking.
	“Everyone…Either Void Heart’s about to have a new form, or they’re breaking.” Everyone groaned with worry and intrigue. As everyone focused on Void’s body, the cracks started to have light beaming from it. Eventually a beam of light engulfed Void’s body, as the light began to fade, only Thief Heart stood holding Light Heart in his arms.
	“Thief Heart!” Mend cried out before stumbling over to him.
	“Ah, Mend. Sorry, you all look so worn out.” Thief smiled.
	“Who’s that?”
	“Explain later. Three…Two…One…” Light Heart counted down as the area began to shake. “Right, without Void Heart to keep the base stable with Void Energy, it’s falling apart.” Immediately everyone scrambled to their feet, adrenaline fueling them.
	“Everyone! To the vehicles! I’ll be the door guard, Brave, you do a head count of everyone!”
	“On it, Tenderheart. Come on everyone, let’s go!”
	“Thief, there’s something I need in the throne room. It’s VERY important.” 
	“Got it. What is it?”
	“It’s an orb, It’s affixed to the back of the throne.”
	“Understood, Mend take him and I’ll be back quick!”
	“Thief! Wait!” Thief didn’t listen as he rushed toward the Throne area. They avoided debris and slid away from sudden moments, using their reflexes to jump when the area rumbled. Eventually they got to the throne and saw the orb and grabbed it, as they pulled it out the ground beneath them quaked and caved in. 
	“Shit! No…I…Not here!” Thief’s glider wouldn’t open, it had some debris damage as Thief fell with the rubble around him into the darkness.

After Tenderheart exited and Brave Heard did a head count, he grimaced.
	“Tenderheart, Thief’s missing.”
	“Thief is—” Tenderheart saw the ground collapse into a giant chasm and everyone went silent. Mend put Light down and walked to the edge. 
	“Thief…You…Dammit…” Mend fell to their knees as Grumpy and Funshine caught them, pulling them back a bit so they didn’t fall in.
	“No way…He…He swore to be my friend, to be my first connection. How could he betray it so soon…” Light stood looking at the hole. Soon everyone heard a rope sound. Mend looked and saw a grappling hook, and it looked like it was pulling someone up.
	“Dear stars! If it wasn’t for all the debris that was down there, I’d probably have broken more than my leg, or worse!” Thief appeared at the top as the others scrabbled and pulled him in. 
	“Ok, that’s a problem. Your leg is broken.”
	“Thanks Grumpy, it’s not like I didn’t feel searing pain as I used the grappling hook to climb up.” Thief groaned. “But, Light, I got your item.” Thief held up the orb. Light Heart was stunned.
	“You…Kept your promise?”
	“I told you I’d get it. Now…can we get my leg in a cast or something?” The Care family started to work on getting Thief’s leg in a cast state and carried him into one of the vehicles. Light Heart joined at his side, holding the orb as they all drove back to Care-A-Lot. 

As they arrived at Care-A-Lot and everyone parked, Noble Heart called for a meeting at the Hall of Hearts. Everyone headed over chatting, Tenderheart was asked to wait for Thief, Mend, and Light.
	“So, we’re supposed to wait?”
	“Yes, they are most likely setting it up for a meeting. Most likely on you three.” Thief and Mend got closer to one another and began to whisper.
	“Mend, you know…we may…”
	“Yeah, we usually never get to stay anywhere for long. Our mission is done but will they have us leave? I…I like this place.” The two mulled it over as Light Heart just looked at his orb.
	“So, little…Sorry we never got to introduce one another.”
	“Light Heart Dragon, that’s the name I go by.” 
	“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you Light Heart, I am Tenderheart.” Tenderheart held his paw out. Light Heart stared at it.
	“Shouldn’t you resent me? I mean, I stole all your belly badges.”
	“Well, normally yes, but you were corrupted by the Void. The fact you’re trying to, in some way I suspect, repent for it. I don’t think resenting would be acceptable, especially for a Care member.” Tenderheart smiled as he got a call on his portable radio about the meeting being ready. 

At the Hall, all the bears and cousins were in a nearly complete circle with enough room for Mend, Thief, and Light to walk to the middle.
	“Hello you three, we’ve called to discuss your ultimate fate.” Noble started the meeting with a smile.
	“You two helped us all, saving every single Belly Badge that was stolen, and for that we are grateful. However, we should start this a little bit differently.” True looked at Light Heart. “Please, introduce yourself.”
Light Heart walked up with a bit of a nervous twiddle of his claws. He took a deep breath as he looked at all the bears and cousins he stole the badges of.
	“I’m…I WAS Void Heart…But that isn’t who I am anymore. I am Light Heart Dragon. I don’t really have much memory before waking up outside the Void, my memory and knowledge of my power are foggy.”
	“Do you have am…um…am nue…” Wonderheart was fiddling with her word.
	“Amnesia, right? That’s the word you were looking for?” Light Heart looked over at Wonderheart’s chair, which was booster seated for her.
	“Yeah, that word!”
	“I guess so, I think being trapped in the Void for a thousand years would be the cause as well.” The family mumbled about the thousand years, seemingly surprised Light had been there for so long. 
	“Well, young Light Heart, what do you plan to do now?” True was being gentle and motherly, but still a bit wary.
	“I want to repent for what I did. I do truly apologize, everyone, for what I did as Void Heart.” Light bowed, his paws on top of one another in front of him. The act seemed to surprise a few of them. After they calmed down with Noble’s gesture to quiet down he decided to follow up.
	“If you want to repent, you’d have to learn your powers and help with caring missions once you know your power. Even Oopsy, without a normal badge, has helped kids down below out.” 
	“Hehe…Sometimes you need someone who knows how Oopsies and accidents go to help someone with issues. Being a klutz comes in handy…Along with my, mental disorder, I’ve helped my fair share.” Grumpy gave a sigh as he spoke.
	“As much as your Oopsies annoy me when it’s around my workshop, I will admit, you’ve helped when none of us could do the job. You’re a good guy, Oopsy. You’re still not allowed at my workshop unsupervised for a month.” Some of the other family members chuckled with Oopsy rubbing the back of his head with a bit of a chuckle. 
	“Well, while normally we’d vote for Light’s stay or leave, the others down on earth should at least get a say.” The other bears and the panda twins started to discuss.
	“We’ve decided, amigo.” Amigo spoke up, looking at Unity.
	“Yes, it took many of us to keep his Void Heart form in position, but that’s what we do, power in numbers.”
	“I feel it was his destiny to be saved by the power of family.” Destiny bear spoke up as he smiled a bit. 
	“So, as the resident Friend here, we all say…” All of their screens behind them showed a green check mark, Noble and True nodded as the others all had a green.
	“All…Green?”
	“Despite how uncool it was for you to take our badges, seeing you this small and cute along with how you do actually feel apologetic shows you knew what you were doing wasn’t right.”
	“I…I don’t know why I did either.”
	“Well, until you do, we’ll all be here for you, especially me!” Always Here smiled from his seat as the others agreed.
	“Yeah, and besides, it’s better then having your return to the Void and possibly being worse then before.”
	“I…Thank you.”
	“Now, Thief and Mend. I doubt either of you would separate from the other?” Thief and Mend locked arms together with a smug smile at one another.
	“Of course, we’re a team. If it wasn’t for Mend, I’d never have found my place in life.” Thief unhooked his arm as he stepped up. “When I was thirteen, I was blamed for a crime despite not doing it. I was set up and my parents were given an ultimatum. Leave with me or chase me out and stay. They decided on the latter, so from the age of thirteen until now, I was on the run. I’d stay at a town for at the minimum, a day to at most a month. At 23 I met Mend, and they were the only one who listened to my story and realized that beneath my name and my species, I was someone just wanting a place to belong. They followed me and even when I got chased out, they came with me and stood by my side getting booted with me.”
	“I’d never leave you like that, Thief. I know how it feels to have your heart hurt, you heard my story and I heard your story. We’re family and I’d never betray my family.” Mend smiled as Thief warmly smiled back, making Funshine tear up a bit.
	“Oh…Man you two are making me tear up! You guys are so sweet to each other!” Funshine sobbed as Share rubbed his back. 
	“Thief, Mend, what do you both expect to happen?” Tenderheart put both paws together in front of his chin.
	“Well, I expected to me run out, or asked to leave after all this. I mean…My name sets a prejudice.” The others started to chuckle a bit.
	“Why would we do that? Even through me and Polite were lost members of the family, and even got our badges from Tender, we lived in the valley willingly because our love for it kept their days warm and happy.” Perfect Panda smiled.
	“You have to believe in yourselves! Things can always change!” Dream Bright smiled as she had a gleam in her eyes of encouragement. 
	“I’ve worked with Tenderheart on Great Giving’s day, and I believe the greatest gift is the gift of caring.”
	“And with that said, everyone, shall we show them our decision?” Brave Heard heralded everyone as the green check marks appeared again. Leaving the pair stunned.
	“You…Are allowing us to stay?” Thief was shocked. His whole life he was sent away, chased off and never given a chance to settle down. Mend smiled a bit in surprise but happiness.
	“Thief, we can use our powers to help. I can help heal emotional pain and help make care mission strategies! You can help return stolen items back to those in need. Oh…But what would we do for a house?” Mend began to enter their thinking mode before Grumpy spoke up.
	“It’s nearly Lunch time, or in this case since Birthday Bear is here, a party full of sweets. Normally I’d say I could start building but we’re exhausted after the two missions and the whole ‘escape the crumbling castle’ fiasco. I can probably work with Bright on some blueprints before we go to bed tonight, and maybe start tomorrow if we’re done.”
	“Might not be that easy, Grumpy. They’d need three bedrooms.” Bright pointed out as he adjusted his goggles.
	“Um, well, it’s not my best work but I can probably work with Thief on some blueprints for the house…Wait, three?” Thief chuckled before ruffling Mend’s fur.
	“What, you think we’d leave Light Heart on his own?”
	“Wait, me? You barely know me…Why are you so nice, Thief? You saved me, sure…and yeah, I know my parents are most likely Void creatures fully corrupted but…”
	“You need a family, Light. If you’d let me, I’d like to at least be like a father to you. Maybe Mend as your Ancle.”
	“Ancle huh? Has a nice ring to it….”
	“…But…What if I somehow get tempted or do something bad…” Light didn’t realize how deep his claws were gripping until he felt Thief’s gentle touch.
	“Hey, calm down there buddy. You’re starting to bleed a bit…” Thief sounded worried.
	“Oh…I didn’t notice…” Light held his open palm above the wound, a small circle with symbols on the outside with a thinner ring on the outside appeared and started to heal the wound, surprising the other members.
	“You can heal yourself!?” Cheer jumped over the table and rushed over.
	“Oh…I guess? I just…I felt like something was telling me to do that. I guess I can heal wounds?” The other’s started chattering about how useful it’d be once it’s trained enough. “Um…Thief, were you serious?”
	“I was, I’d care for you, and if you did something wrong I’d punish you accordingly, but nothing too severe of course, you’re technically still a child.”
	“Well yeah, in size…Mentally I’m over a thousand…”
	“Still, I’d help you learn good from bad, help you learn to control emotions and help you grow…Well, maturity wise.” Both chuckled as Light looked at Thief and Mend.
	“Um…can you both get closer together? Like shoulder to shoulder?” Mend and Thief raised their eyebrows but did so as they got to Light’s height. Before they could ask or react, Light did his best to hug them both.
	“Whoa! Light? You ok bud?”
	“Yeah…I’m ok…Dad…” Thief felt tears well up in his eyes at the words. “I’m just glad to have a…A dad I can recall easily and an Ancle, both who did everything they could to save me…” Mend and Thief hugged Light close.
	“I said it to Wonderheart and I meant it…”
	“No one left behind!” Wonderheart proclaimed as she stood up on the table with a proud smile.
	“Heh, yeah. That was the promise, and I seem to have succeeded.”
	“I’d say, it was luck you came when Light did as well. If it wasn’t for you saving my badge and noticing the light inside him, you may have never thought of trying to save him.” Good Luck smiled as he leaned back.
	“Well, it seems all’s well that ends well. Everyone, let’s throw a party to celebrate our three new members and for everyone surviving the ordeal.” Noble Heart stood up as he put his hooves together. Everyone cheered as Birthday Bear created sweets and Surprise Bear helped Cheer and Share create confetti and other party favors, such as hats. Everyone celebrated late into the night. By the end many had fallen asleep in the hall, with the three cubs changed and tucked into the nursery room nearby. Gentle being walked to her house by Lotsa Heart and others either walking home together or solo. Mend and Thief were sitting back-to-back, Light Heart asleep in Thief’s arms.
	“We really found our new home…”
	“I’m glad, Thief. Hope you don’t mind me as your roommate.”
	“If I did, I’d have kicked you out when we first got ran out.” The two chuckled and sighed.
	“Let’s continue to work together, and getting to know everyone in Care-A-Lot.”
	“Deal, Mend.” The two pounded fists. A long few days led to both of them having a new family member and a home to call their own. Many adventurers awaited them, but those are stories for another day. 

					THE END