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Chapter 13: Confident Passion

If it wasn't for the itching from the cap and gown she was forced to wear Confidence Heart Fennec would have fallen asleep from listening to the valedictorian's graduation speech a long time ago. She snorted when he said that they would all look back on their time in high school with fondness, as if she'd miss the homework, exams, peer pressure, wrestling team and Stuart.Sshe just wanted the speeches to end so she could get her diploma and never have to deal with this shit ever again. Even after this ended she still had to wait a week before she could leave on her journey, her mind wandered back to the conversation with Life Heart the previous day.

OoOoO

"So how did you find out where we need to go?" Confidence Heart sat next to Love Heart on the couch in her living room with her arms folded and looked across at Sage Heart and Life Heart.

Life Heart pointed to the map on the coffee table, "It was rather complex but I created a spell to lead us to others of our kind. It searched for the largest concentration of the natural magic we possess and that is where they are: Regina, Saskatchewan." She pointed to a city across the Canadian border.

Confidence Heart groaned, "Great, so you all need to get passports now. Please tell me you planned for this."

"As soon as mom told us we did," Love Heart sighed, "Unfortunately the earliest we can get in is tomorrow afternoon and if we don't it'll be at least two weeks before we can go again, so we're going to miss your graduation ceremony."

Confidence smirked and put an arm around Love Heart, "Trust me, you won't miss much. If it's anything like my brother's, you'll be bored stiff before the speeches are half done."

"If you're sure." Sage Heart said.

"Please just get your registry over with so we can be out of here."

OoOoO

So that was that, and only Terrence and James had shown up to her graduation ceremony. She admitted to herself that she wished at least Love Heart was there but she meant what she had said: she wanted to be on her way before she had second thoughts about leaving. At least some of mom's old work friends were able to expedite the passport processing so it would be done in a day to a week instead of a month, granted it had been at an extra cost but thankfully the inheritance and insurance had made it a drop in the bucket.

At last the principal gave her congratulations to the graduates. Confidence Heart literally jumped for joy as she tossed her hat high up into the air. Diploma clutched in one hand she ran over to where her brother sat in the audience and gave him a huge hug. "Finally it's over!" her shout attracted a lot of attention but she didn't care, she was done with school and that was all she cared about.

Love Heart and his family were still stuck at the passport office so Terrence and James took Confidence downtown for a celebratory lunch, finding a pizza place because for once Confidence didn't give a crap about eating healthy especially as she ordered a pound of dry ribs slathered in garlic and parmesan sauce. Confidence sat and ate slowly, enjoying a taste she might not get to have again.

"Enjoying yourself?" Terrence asked, he had a small meat lover's pizza in front of him and a slice in his hand.

"Mmmhmm!" Confidence smiled, her mouth still full.

"Well you should, graduating from high school is quite an accomplishment," James said. He only had a caesar salad in front of him.

Confidence Heart swallowed. "At least we know where we're going. I haven't been to Canada before, should be interesting." She grinned, "I can't wait to see who else we get to meet."

"I still don't like this, Cassy," Terrence said. "I mean, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Positive," Confidence Heart nodded.

James put a hand on his boyfriend's shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll be here with you. And thanks for saving me from having to pay rent again."

Terrence chuckled, "Anytime, James." He gave the pale skinned man a kiss. Confidence smirked and rolled her eyes as she continued to eat.

They ate for over an hour, sharing stories about their lives in the city: smiles and tears, joy and sorrow, happiness and pain. Confidence Heart leaned back in her chair and laughed along with her brother and James about the humorous way the two had met when the were ten which involved a swarm of angry cats, a swimming pool full of noodles and some very expired cheese.

Confidence excused herself to use the bathroom, still giggling to herself. James leaned back in his chair, "I'm gonna miss her when she's gone."

Terrence nodded and took a drink of water, "Yeah. Me too."

A commotion from outside drew their attention. A group of people outside were gathered around and shouting about something, though they couldn't hear through the windows.

"What's going on out there?" James craned his neck to see what was going on.

"Hmm?" Terrence glanced over the crowd, then blinked. "Hey, look at that." He pointed at a gap in the crowd. James tilted his head and caught a brief glance of a head covered in orange and silver fur.

"What was that?" James stood up to get a better look.

"What's going on?" Confidence Heart emerged, shaking the last of the moisture from her hands. She looked out at the crowd as a gap showed and allowed them to see what was at the center of the commotion and spotted the creature at the center. It was a creature like her, but not of a type she recognized with a protruding muzzle full of sharp teeth, mustard yellow eyes, silver fur on the top and orange at the sides. He was wearing a black two-tailed longcoat, a grey shirt, green sweat pants and heavy brown approach boots. He turned, their eyes locked and he grinned.

He came barreling through the crowd, knocking people aside. He pulled down the collar of his shirt to expose the heart shaped bloodstone that was his chest symbol. A large silver and red double-headed axe appeared in his hand and he leapt, shattering the window with a single blow and landing amidst the glass debris on the other side. He grinned and pointed at Confidence Heart with his free left hand.

"You, rabbit girl! You're coming with me."

Confidence Heart had been stunned for a moment but now grit her teeth. "I'm no rabbit!"

He hefted up his axe, "Doesn't matter, come with me or die!" Without waiting for an answer he swung his axe at her and she dodged aside which made it cut the table James and Terrence were sitting at in half.

Confidence saw this and shouted, "RUN! GET HELP!" as she jumped through the broken window and took off. The crowd all pulled out of the way as first Confidence, then the crazy animal with the giant axe ran past them.

As she ran, Confidence Heart pulled her hair around and managed to tie it into a huge braid with a hair tie she kept in her pocket. More people cleared away as she and her pursuer kept barreling through the city. Confidence finally spotted the park and charged into it, shouting as she ran. "Crazy psycho with an axe coming through! RUN!" Most people took heed of her warning but some stayed to watch, unsure if this was real.

Confidence Heart skidded to a halt and rounded on the charging maniac, who had slowed down once they got into the park. Confidence Heart tied up her braid into a bun on the back of her head to keep it out of the way.

He sneered at her, "Giving up, rabbit?"

"Not at all. Just didn't want anyone else getting hurt." Confidence Heart took up a fighting stance, "And my name's Confidence Heart Fennec."

His sneer turned into a grin, "I'm Passion Heart Wolverine, so are you really going to fight me?"

Confidence charged and punched Passion Heart hard in the gut. "How that for an answer!?" She turned and kicked him in the side. Passion Heart reeled under her attacks and staggered back. He glared up at Confidence Heart who just stood in a ready stance. "Had enough?"

Passion Heart growled and dropped his axe, "No way in hell!" he grabbed his two-tailed longcoat and threw it off, wisps of darkness rising off his body. "You're coming with me or you're going to die!"

Confidence bared her teeth and charged, fists ready to pummel Passion Heart into the dirt. Passion Heart shout out his empty left hand and a hollow cylinder of darkness where the air seemed to compress inside fired off from his hand and struck her in the chest. Confidence reeled in pain and dropped to her knees as she felt gravity forcefully drag her to the ground.

"You can't beat gravity!" Passion Heart hefted his axe in both hands, "Now die!" he charged and swung down at Confidence Heart.

It took all her strength to wrench out of the gravity well and tear away as the axe slammed into the grass. "Gotta watch for that," Confidence muttered as she charged again and grabbed Passion's arm as he was about to pull the axe from the ground. Confidence Heart strained as she threw her whole weight into the throw as she hurled him over her head and to the ground. He thudded hard onto the grass but despite the pain he got up and roared at her. Another gravity blast flew at Confidence Heart and she just barely ducked under it.

"Hold still!" Passion Heart charged at Confidence, his teeth and claws bared. She dodged aside and punched him in the back which made him stagger slightly but he grabbed the discarded axe and swung it at Confidence Heart. This time it bit into her side and she was forced to roll out of the way. She was bleeding from the gash in her side but she used his backswing to get in close and start pummeling him hard in the chest. She threw her whole weight into her punches which forced Passion to let go of his axe, which dissolved on the ground, as she pushed him back with each blow. Her hands started to hurt as she pushed him nearly out of the park, until Passion Heart finally came back to his sense and grabbed her by the shoulders. He claws dug into her as he tried to tear into her until she kicked him hard in the groin.

Passion reeled from the blow to his nether region and released her which allowed her to back off. She tore the sleeves off her t-shirt and saw the ten points of blood on both her shoulders. Passion Heart was still in pain from her kick so she charged at him, ready to strike. Passion Heart spotted her and shot out a hand, firing off another gravity blast at her. Confidence couldn't dodge but this time she was flung backwards several feet and only just barely managed to stay on her feet.

Passion Heart roared and conjured another axe before he charged at her. Confidence was forced to retreat and found herself back on the street. At first people just stared until Passion Heart came charging towards her. Confidence charged forwards and managed to grab the haft of his axe, just barely keeping it from cutting her left shoulder. She struggled to force the axe aside but Passion Heart just grinned and pressed down harder. Confidence found her strength overmatched and the axe descended until it cut into her left shoulder. Confidence took a chance and forced the axe upwards just long enough to dive to her right, which made the axe hit the ground next to her. Confidence had trouble standing and Passion tried to pounce at her, only to get kicked in the chest and diverted up and over her.

Passion landed on all fours, like a wild wolverine, then turned and charged her right as she stood up, and sunk his teeth into her right elbow. Confidence Heart screamed in pain as he bit down harder, trying to bite through her arm with his powerful jaws. Confidence grabbed his muzzle with her left hand and tried to wrench his jaws off, but he just bit down harder. She wanted to pull away, her whole body told her to run but she knew if she did she would lose her arm. She had to do something desperate and hope it worked.

Confidence stepped closer to Passion Heart and planted her right foot, then she exerted all of her strength and forced her elbow upwards while pulling her forearms towards her. His teeth shredded her skin as she tightened her arm but she finally managed to grab her right wrist with her left hand and focused all of her strength into her arm and forcefully swung as hard as she could. Passion Heart was stunned when he felt his feet leave the ground and he loosened his grip for an instant, which was all it took as Confidence swung him sideways and slammed his head onto the pavement, forcing his jaws to let go of her.

Even without full momentum the force of Confidence's swing cracked his skull and Passion Heart's head spun. He tried to stand up again, struggling to stay awake and keep on all fours. Confidence spun around one more time and kicked out at his face, catching Passion Heart on his jaw and cracking his mouth shut and to the ground one more time. This time Passion Heart Wolverine stayed down.

Confidence Heart dropped to her knees. Tears born from pain poured from her eyes as she held her right arm, which hung at her side as it was in too much pain to move. Her whole body hurt, and not in the satisfying way exercise made it hurt. The holes along her right shoulder had tears in between them and her right elbow was a complete mess. Her left shoulder wasn't much better with both the holes and the shallow cut the axe had created not to mention the gash in her side.

Confidence heard the approaching sirens and spotted her brother and James running over to her. Despite her pain, Confidence managed a cocky grin, "I won." She finally fell over and passed out as the ambulance pulled up.

OoOoO

Love Heart would have done anything to not spend his entire day in the passport office. He'd already had his photo taken and Sweet Heart was being difficult with the camera so all he could do is sit down and wait for her to finish. He heard a ringing and looked up to his mother. Life Heart had bought a cell phone a couple days ago in preparation for their journey and had only just figured out how to use it.

Love Heart tuned out what his mother was saying and just stared at the ceiling in the windowless office, until Life Heart spoke up. "Love Heart! Confidence Heart's in the hospital!"

Love Heart didn't remember the next few minutes. He just got directions and demanded to be allowed to leave and then he was running through the streets. He didn't even notice when Life Heart came charging out of the office after him. Love Heart's magic parted the wind in front of him as he dashed through the streets, not caring about a vehicle, he had to get to her!

Even with his magic, Love Heart was out of breath when he reached the hospital and stumbled up to the front desk. "Where's...Confidence!" he asked.

The receptionist just stared at the lime green bear in front of her until James, who had been sitting in the lobby waiting for him, walked up behind Love Heart. "He means Cassandra Avalon. He's her boyfriend."

The receptionist nodded, "she's in preliminary care while the doctors decide what to do to her. You can go in and see her if..." she paused as Love Heart trotted up next to her son. "...you want. Are you here to see Cassandra too?" Life Heart just nodded, too out of breath to speak. The receptionist gave them directions but told them not to run and just to talk to the doctor.

Love Heart had to be restrained from running off to Confidence Heart's room. He was stopped by the doctor and directed to look through the window. Love Heart was aghast at the state Confidence was in, wrapped in bandages and with a blood bag slowly feeding into her arm via IV.

Love Heart saw Terrence nearby and turned to face him, "What happened?!" He was immediately shushed by a doctor nearby and Terrence glared at him.

"She was attacked by a Care Bear Wolverine. He's being looked after in a high security part of the hospital." Terrence turned back to look at his sister.

Life Heart trotted up behind them and put a hand on her son's shoulder in an attempt to calm him down. "Can you tell us everything?"

Terrence shook his head, "not much. We were out for lunch when this psycho wolverine shows up, crashed through the window and demanded that she go with him or die. I didn't see the whole fight but she won, or at least she knocked him out before she lost consciousness."

Love Heart had calmed down and turned to look at her. "What's going to happen."

"Ahh Terrence...Oh, are they family?" he the doctor had approached the three looking in on Confidence.

"Yes. What's going to happen?" Terrence asked.

"Well she's going to recover, except for her right arm." The doctor flipped up a page of notes, "I'm afraid the damage is extensive and the safest thing to do would be to amputate it."

"What?!" Love Heart and Terrence both shouted, Life Heart covered her own mouth as her eyes widened in horror.

"I'm sorry, but with her arm nearly ripped out of it's socket it's likely to lose all feeling and die in a few days due to the extensive tearing damage from his claws and teeth. If we don't amputate then it could go gangrenous and pose serious risk to her life." The doctor looked at Love Heart and Terrence, whose faces shifted from rage to sorrow. They turned to stare back through the glass.

"I can help with that." Life Heart had raised a hand.

The doctor gave Life Heart a funny look, partly for her statement and partly because he'd just noticed that she was a unicorn. "I'm sorry, what do you mean miss?"

"Life Heart Unicorn, and I can help her so she doesn't have to lose her arm." Life Heart clasped her hands together.

The doctor blinked, "I'm sorry miss but while I appreciate your enthusiasm to help I'm afraid I can't let an untrained person try to help our patients. Now why don't you just scoot along and let the grown ups do their work."

For once in her ancient life, Life Heart Unicorn was livid. Her eyes hardened and she gave a glare so fierce to the doctor that he stumbled backwards as she did her best to bare her teeth at him, her voice actually resonated as her horn suddenly flared up, "I am you ancient and senior by millennia, doctor, and I will not stand by while my future daughter-in-law is about to have her arm torn off! Now let me in there so I can save her!" The doctor was shaken so badly that he almost failed to open the door for her.

Life Heart would have stomped in if she didn't suddenly remember what she had to do. She looked under some of the bandages and almost hurled when she saw the horrible state that Confidence was in, but shook her head and raised her hands over Confidence Heart. She started chanting under her breath as her horn lit up and white magic flowed from her hands. Even though she was still covered by bandages, Confidence's wounds started to close and the torn flesh on her shoulders and elbow knit itself back together. Finally, Life Heart stepped back and exited the room, the doctor moved past her to give her another exam.

Life Heart slumped against the wall and slid down until she sat on the floor. Love Heart walked over to her and crouched beside her. "Mom, are you OK?"

Life Heart shook her head then buried her face in her hands and started to cry. Love Heart just stared at her until she looked up, her eyes wet. "I keep forgetting how alien such feelings are to me. I've never been so mad before and," She shuddered, "I don't know why I did that, I just couldn't stand it when I heard he was going to cut off her arm."

Love Heart found himself in the unusual position of comforting his mother, wrapping his arms around her. "It's alright. Thank you for saving her."

Life Heart nodded, "I did what I could."

"So why don't you do that more often, heal people I mean?" Terrence watched at the doctor wheeled Confidence Heart away for more tests following the healing magic Life Heart had used.

"Because it's unpleasant to feel." Life Heart looked up at Terrence, "healing magic doesn't dull the pain and, so I've learned, also repairs the nerve endings so any pain that remains, even with the injuries gone, is extreme. Magic that regenerates or even replaces limbs feels even worse and some people might die from shock if they're conscious." She smiled, "Don't worry though, Confidence was unconscious so there was no risk to her life, she'll probably be in even more intense pain than when she came in though."

"Well there's something to look forwards too." Terrence groaned.

Love Heart stood up, "Now all we have to deal with is that wolverine. Do you know anything else about him, Terrence?"

Terrence folded his arms and looked down, "No, but he seemed to be looking for you. He must have heard about you guys if he knew to look in this city."

"Then we need to leave as soon as possible." Both Terrence and Life Heart stared at the bear even as he continued, "As soon as Confidence is released we should catch the next bus to another large city and then catch the next flight to Regina from there."

"Are you serious?! I mean even if that miracle healing did the trick you want to force her to leave with now? I thought you were waiting till next week." Terrence stared, open-mouthed at Love Heart.

Love Heart stared Terrence down and raised a hand clenched into a fist. "Change of plans. What if he recovers, or he has friends who come looking for us? We need to leave now before we're in any more danger."

Life Heart managed to stand, "I agree. But we'll have to wait for our passports to leave the country."

Love Heart stopped, then sighed. "Ugg, right. Now what?"

"Since you can't do anything about it, just come back home and don't worry," Terrence said. "I just hope he stays out of commission long enough."

OoOoO

Even though Life Heart had saved Confidence from losing an arm, the shoulder joint had still dislocated which forced Confidence to leave her arm in a sling, with it being in too much pain to move and told it would be that way for a few days.

Then came more bad news, even with the favors called in only one passport could be finished. The one piece of good news was that Love Heart's passport was handed out the next morning by an office intern/delivery boy who clearly had been dragged out of bed too early to hand it over. Nevertheless, they decided to leave on the bus the afternoon following the fight and just set up a reservation at the hotel that had shuttle service to the airport they were going to leave from and wait for James to deliver their finished passports to them, as he was taking two weeks of vacation to move and relax as he settled into his new home.

Confidence Heart watched as Love Heart passed her luggage to the driver, who was loading all their bags into the undercarriage of the bus. Her right arm was still in a sling and it still hurt to move but that would pass in a few days.

"So you're really going." Terrence sat next to her in the boarding area as they waited for the call to board.

Confidence Heart nodded, "You knew I was. I have to do this," her voice was somber as she turned her head to face him. He was still staring at the bus.

"I know, Cassy" he sighed and stood up. He was on the verge of tears. "I'm going to miss you."

"I'll miss you too." Confidence Heart stood up. She sniffed and Terrence looked at her, she was trying and failing to hold back her tears. "I'm scared."

"You're scared?" Terrence was taken aback.

Confidence nodded, "Yeah, I mean I don't know what I'm going to find out there, where this Kingdom of Caring is or how long it'll be before we find it."

"But you're still going?"

Confidence Heart nodded again.

Terrence turned to his little sister and gave her a hug. Confidence winced slightly as he squeezed her arm, but her only response was to hug him back with her good arm. They stayed like that for a good three minutes, until the bus boarding was called.

"Goodbye, big brother." Confidence Heart let go and moved to join Love Heart in the lineup for boarding.

"Goodbye, baby sister," Terrence couldn't stop the tears as he watched his baby sister boarding the bus, then he turned and walked out of the bus terminal.

Confidence Heart took a right-side window seat next to Love Heart near the front, while Sage Heart, Life Heart and Sweet Heart took a group of seats all facing each other towards the back of the bus. Confidence Heart leaned her head up against the window, letting her own tears stream down her face as the bus finally pulled out of the station. She spotted her big brother standing on the sidewalk as the bus backed out. He was crying but he still waved goodbye. Confidence Heart started to cry softly as she waved back. Love Heart put a hand around her shoulder in comfort and leaned up against her. She watched until her big brother was out of sight, then she finally turned and leaned up against Love Heart, burying her face in her boyfriend's shoulder as she cried and the bus carried them onwards.

OoOoO

Passion Heart lay still with police and hospital security outside his room late into the night of that same day. They thought he was unconscious but in reality he just hurt too much to want to move so he waited and rested, biding his time until he could escape.

He didn't have to wait long for a chance.

A figure in a black cloak hovered at the barred window outside. She easily forced the window open then paused.

'Leave him! He's worthless to you!'

_ _

Soul Heart bared her teeth to her reflection in the window glass and forced herself to continue, "No! I won't le-leave him behind!" She conjured a blade of black ice and sliced through both sides of the bars. Even as the alarms went off a blast of ice froze over the door, locking people out of the room.

"S-Soul Heart?" Passion Heart gasped.

"Hold still. This will hurt a lot." Soul Heart conjured water on both of her hands then pressed it into Passion Heart's body. He screamed in agony as she forcefully healed his wounds through the power of water. When she was done, he lay limply on the table, unconscious from the pain, and Soul Heart merely sliced or smashed anything he was connected to before she lifted him over her shoulder.

"We'll be home before you know it." At that moment someone smashed the glass and ice with an axe and a gun was leveled through the door. Soul Heart's eyes turned solid yellow for an instant as she spoke a single word and fired a ball of ice into the corridor, that exploded into a forest of spikes in the hallway. There were cries of pain and then silence before she flew out the still open window then away into the sky before she could be spotted. Soul Heart shook as she flew, but not from the cold. She focused on flying, it was all she could do to get him home.