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Chapter 10: Substance

"I still don't know how talking about this is going to help." Love Heart lay on the therapy couch in Take Care's office and stared up at the ceiling.

"It's going to help by letting you take the weight off your shoulders and to help you work through what's bothering you." Take Care sat in an armchair next to Love Heart with a laptop computer on a miniature desk on wheels at her arm. "It will be better for everyone if you do this, now I know you told us this stuff before but I need to ask to make sure I'm getting the right information: When did you start having nightmares?"

Love Heart just lay in silence for a moment before he answered, "Right after Patient Heart was abducted, the first time I remember was the night before I had that battle with No-Heart."

Take Care typed what Love Heart told him into the computer, then took a notepad and wrote the same thing down, "Did anything else happen that night?"

Love Heart averted his eyes from Take Care and didn't say anything.

Take Care looked over at her patient, "Love Heart, please, I promise anything we say here is confidential."

Love Heart sighed, "I found the old caring castle and...our old nursery. I saw my crib from back when I lived here." Love didn't realize that he had started to cry, "I should have been here this whole time, I should have grown up here, been here to protect you but instead I was stuck on earth." Love Heart only just now realized that he was crying and put and arm up to wipe his tears away. "I can't remember, but someone, Cheer I think, said they used to call me 'Little Brother Love Heart'. I was here, I was supposed to be here..." Love Heart covered his eyes with his arm as he started to choke up.

"I see," Take Care, "Love Heart, I will say this again, and I'm sure I'll have to say it a lot before we're done: none of that as your fault. You were just a baby when you all of that happened."

Love Heart pulled his arm away from his face, "I know, but..."

Take Care gave Love Heart a concerned look, "Then why are you blaming yourself? It's not right and it's not helpful. Is this why you're so obsessed with protecting us now?"

Love Heart nodded, "Yeah."

Take Care sighed, "It's admirable that you want to protect us, but it's not entirely your responsibility. We can defend ourselves if we need to, we have been for over a decade, and you have friends who will help you fight too, not just the ones who can use magic."

"So what am I supposed to do? Stop fighting?!" Love Heart's temper had started to rise and he sat forwards and turned his torso to face Take Care.

"That's not what I said," Take Care groaned, "I'm saying you need to take it easier and stop obsessing or it's going to overwhelm you and you'll do something stupid. Now, what exactly is it you're having nightmares about?"

Love Heart sat back and sunk into the chair. "It's always the same: I'm running again, from Dusk Heart. I never see Dusk Heart but I can feel him. He's always there, chasing me, getting closer and closer and then I wake up before he catches me." Love Heart drew his legs up to his chest as he spoke. "If I wasn't sleeping with Cassy I think I'd lose it."

"Cassy?" Take Care quirked an eyebrow.

"Short for Cassandra, the name Confidence Heart's human parents gave her. I love her, I feel like I'd be lost without her." Love Heart smiled.

"That can be good for you, loved ones are important to help you through crisis like this but you don't just have her, you have all of us too," Take Care rolled her eyes, she had a feeling she'd be repeating that a lot in the coming weeks.

Love Heart nodded, "Yeah. How long will this all take?"

Take Care sighed, "There's no hard time estimate I can give you. Healing the mind is a long and complicated process and sometimes there is no complete cure. I do have a good idea what you're suffering from: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder."

"What?" Love Heart turned his head to face her.

Take Care nodded, "It's a sadly common problem that many people face. Because of what happened with Terrence and his parents and because you were in constant danger while on the run it's stuck with you."

Love Heart turned to glare up at the ceiling, "But I was fine when I came here, why is this starting now?"

"Because when you first got here you were ecstatic at having found your family again and getting to rest and meet everyone and make friends. It was an assault on your senses that made you feel happy and relaxed, but Patient Heart being kidnapped broke you out of your euphoria and everything that you were unintentionally suppressing just came back to you." Take Care set down her notepad. "When people experience traumatising events they can end up suppressing them instinctually due to adrenaline or other factors forcing them to focus on surviving or to keep themselves from losing their minds, especially when the danger is immediately followed with what must feel like paradise. But the trauma doesn't evaporate an eventually it does come back, either because your mind settles and you can't avoid thinking about it forever or, such as in your case, because something triggers you and all the events come rushing back."

Love Heart looked down at his feet, "What do I do?"

Take Care thought for a moment, "Other than our sessions? I'd suggest you talk to Brave Heart about this."

"Why Brave Heart?" Love Heart asked.

"Because he's your friend and he's been through something similar before, but you can see him after we're done here."

Love Heart nodded, "OK."

OoOoO

Despite Love Heart being in therapy sessions all week, Confidence Heart was still getting prepared for her wedding with Love Heart. Word had spread quickly and before too long everyone had heard about their engagement. This was how Confidence Heart found herself dress shopping with Love-a-Lot Bear, Harmony Bear, Swift Heart Rabbit and Cheer Bear.

Confidence Heart made a face at a particularly poofy wedding dress then turned to the others, "Why can't we just ask Grams to sew me a dress?"

"Because she doesn't have time to do that with the little time left before the big day," Love-a-Lot looked over a dress for the bride's maids, then shook her head, "Nope."

Confidence Heart sighed then turned to Harmony, who was standing next to her. "So how are things with you and my brother?"

Harmony smirked, "Goin' good so far. He's a real charmer now that he's not just going off and flirting with every girl in the kingdom."

"Oooh, do you think he's 'the one'?" Love-a-Lot had snuck closer to listen to their conversation.

Harmony giggled, "Maybe."

"Hey! We're here to help Confidence Heart not talk about your love lives!" Swift Heart shouted. She grinned at their disapproving expressions then darted over and grabbed Confidence Heart, pulling her over to a less elaborate dress on a stand, "How about this?"

Confidence looked the dress up and down with her hand on her chin, then shook her head, "Nope, sorry, can't wear that one."

"Oh and why not? It's looks perfect for you," Swift Heart tapped her foot and waited for an explanation.

"It's virginal white," Confidence Heart turned to search around the store only to be met by the shocked faces of the three bears. She blinked, "What?"

Cheer held up her hands, "So you're saying that you and Love Heart," she made a lewd gesture with her hands. The other two blushed at her motion.

Confidence rolled her eyes upwards, "Yeah and? What haven't you and Champ?" When she saw Cheer shake her head, Confidence turned to look at Swift Heart.

"Nuh-uh, I am in no way ready for that!" Swift Heart violently shook her head.

"Seriously? Wait," Confidence held up her hand, "Is everyone up there a virgin other than True Heart, Noble Heart, Regal, Stellar, Love Heart and me?"

Love-a-Lot chuckled nervously, "Heheh, more or less."

"Kinda awkward someone younger talk to us about this," Harmony averted her gaze.

Confidence Heart growled slightly, "We're the same age!"

Swift Heart patted her shoulder. "I remember. so hussy white then?"

Confidence Heart sighed, "Does it have to be white?"

OoOoO

Love Heart stood in front of Brave Heart's house with his hand hovering in front of the door. He took a deep breath then finally knocked.

"Just a minute!"

Love Heart considered turning to run for a moment before Brave Heart appeared at the front door. "Hey, Love Heart, what brings you here?"

Love Heart lowered his eyes and looked away from Brave Heart, "Take Care said I should talk to you." He looked back up at Brave Heart, feeling somewhat guilty. "Can I come in?"

"Of course, come in," Brave Heart stepped aside to let Love Heart in, "Wanna drink?"

Love Heart took a seat on the couch, "OK. What do you have?"

Brave Heart stuck his head in the fridge, "Let's see...water, orange juice and diet pepsi."

"I'll try the pop," Love Heart said.

"Alright." Brave Heart stepped away from the fridge with two silver cans in his hands. He kicked the door shut then walked over to the couch, handed Love Heart one can and sat down next to him. He cracked the can and took a long drink, "So why did Take Care tell you to talk to me?"

Love Heart took a sip from his can before he answered, "She said I have PTSD because of what happened on earth, with Terrence becoming Dusk Heart and murdering his parents and running from him for so long. She said you had a similar experience but didn't say what."

Brave Heart's face turned somber and he set his can down. "It's not something I like to remember, but everyone up here knows about it except you and the other Magi...and my nieces and nephews..."

Love Heart looked up at him, "Sorry, I can go if-"

"No, I can tell you," Brave Heart took a deep breath. "It happened shortly before we found my sister. I got an urgent caring mission for a teenage girl named Heather Barfield, she was suicidal. I found her on the edge of a cliff, just holding on to the safety bar and ready to jump." Tears sprang unbidden to Brave Heart's eyes, "I...I tried to talk her down but...I think I said the wrong thing and...she jumped! I tried to s-save her but I couldn't and..." Brave Heart buried his face in his hands.

Love Heart's mouth was agape, "I'm sorry, I didn't..." he started to choke up.

Brave Heart rubbed his eyes with his right arm, "No, it's fine, you didn't know. It never gets easier to think about. Some days it comes back and I can still see her, frozen in mid air before she fell and..."

Love Heart put a hand on his back, "You don't have to say anything else. I...I feel the same way about what happened with Dusk Heart."

"What do you mean?" Brave Heart looked over at Love Heart.

Love Heart sighed, "I didn't tell the whole story but... the day everything went to hell was the day he saw me and Confidence Heart kissing. He didn't just get mad, he attacked me, punched me on the nose and I hit back. Confidence Heart kicked him and then he ran off. We were both mad at him for thinking I was forcing myself on her but we thought he'd just get over it. Later that night he returned...as Dusk Heart. I feel like it's my fault that he ran off and got possessed, that it's my fault we lost our home and were on the run for so long..."

"I see," Brave Heart put a hand on Love Heart's back, "But it wasn't your fault that happened, you had a right to protect yourself and you didn't know."

"But I still hit him!" Love Heart squeezed his hands into fists, "I chased him off right into Dusk Heart's grasp and then... then..." Love Heart choked on his words.

"We both made mistakes, and we have to live with them." Brave Heart rubbed his back, "want to stick around and watch a movie or some TV with me?"

Love Heart took in a shuddering breath then nodded.

"Great, I'll get some popcorn ready and you pick something out of my DVD collection," Brave Heart pointed to a rack of DVDs on the wall next to his TV.

Love Heart waited for Brave Heart to leave before he started to browse the DVDs. After a minute he pulled out something and looked at the cover, "It Stinks?" he asked, reading the word balloon coming from the character's mouth.

Love Heart carried the DVD into the kitchen where Brave Heart was popping popcorn in a domed hot air popper, "Hey, what's this?"

"Hmm?" Brave Heart turned around, "The Critic?" Brave Heart chuckled, "Playful got that as a prank gift for my birthday a couple years ago, haven't watched it yet. I heard it's funny."

"Wanna watch it?" Love Heart asked.

"Sure, get it started and I'll join you in a minute." Brave Heart turned back to the popcorn.

Love Heart didn't head home until well after midnight, he and Brave Heart had torn through the entire 23-episode series in eight and a half hours and Love Heart all but dragged himself home, half-asleep. Love Heart smiled when he saw Confidence Heart asleep in bed. He slid in next to her, gave her a kiss and wrapped his arms around her.

"I love you," he whispered. Then he fell asleep.

OoOoO

Flash Heart leaned back in his seat in the monitor room as he listened to Tenderheart.

"Can you handle it, Funshine Bear? OK take Good Luck Bear too," Tenderheart pressed the hang up button and pulled off his headset. "Are you just going to sit there or are you going to help?"

Flash Heart turned his head to Tenderheart, "Pray tell: how do I help? You seem to have this well in hand and I lack any sort of training on this matter."

Tenderheart pointed to the screens, "Well keep an eye on the monitors for one, I can show you what to look for and how to dispatch someone if needed." Tenderheart checked the console, "But things seem fine for now, most missions are automatically detected by the caring meter and sent out to any Care Bear or Cousin's Caring Beeper that's still in the Kingdom of Caring."

Flash Heart looked at his empty wrist, "Forgive me, but we don't carry those. Love Heart was rather insistent that we be on the ready for any threats to your physical beings and not go on caring missions except in emergencies or as guards."

Tenderheart sighed, "I know, I need to talk to him about that. Some days are getting hectic and we could use a few extra people to help."

"Are you that short of help?" Flash Heart cocked an eyebrow.

"Some days, yes. Right now it's Cozy Heart and Jolly Heart's day off so I don't want to call on them if I can avoid it," Tenderheart looked over the schedule.

Flash Heart blinked, "You get days off? I was under the impression that you all have to be ready for action at any given notice."

"Sort of. For each day we have a priority list of who can be called on for missions with the two at the bottom being considered to be their 'day off'. Anyone with monitor duty it at the bottom and Take Care is always at the very bottom below them," Tenderheart looked up at the monitors, "So where are the rest of the Magi today?"

"Let's see," Flash Heart counted off on his fingers as he listed them, "Love Heart said he was going to spend time with Brave Heart, Anger Heart and Guidance Heart are having a date on earth, Indy's asleep and Confidence Heart is doing more wedding shopping down on earth with Love-a-Lot." Flash Heart grinned, "so when is your wedding?"

Tenderheart smiled, "Next month, if things go well and no major emergencies happen. Why is Confidence Heart rushing into her's so fast?"

Flash Heart folded his arms and stared up at the ceiling, "My sister and Love Heart have spent years 'together' as it were and now they simply wish to make it official. That and they both want the excuse to show everyone how much they care for each other."

Tenderheart chuckled, "I see. Hopefully things don't get too crazy today."

"Do not tempt fate," Flash Heart turned to the monitors. "Why do we need to be here? I thought alerts went straight to caring beepers."

"Usually they do, but sometimes the caring meter doesn't pick something up so we need to send someone out, that or a new mission is close to someone who's nearly done or on the way home so we can send them instead of pulling someone up here down to earth," Tenderheart scanned the monitors.

"Hmm," Flash Heart leaned forwards and propped his head up on his hands.

Flash Heart wasn't sure how much time passed before he spotted something on a monitor. He thought he was seeing things but he tapped some controls and moved one of the control sticks to check; the monitors were attached to a number of star-o-scope inspired cameras that Bright Heart had rigged up to the underside of the Hall of Hearts. They weren't as effective as the original but it was a big help on busy days.

"See something?" Tenderheart leaned over.

"I think so, but I pray I'm wrong," Flash Heart's eyes were narrowed as he zoomed the camera in. A humanoid figure covered in dark mist was approaching a family sitting at a picnic table. "Dusk Heart!" Flash Heart had his cell phone in hand as Tenderheart watched. The family spotted Dusk Heart and tried to run, but dark tendrils shot out and ensnared the mother. Tenderheart could hear her scream but he watched in horror as her body seemed to wither until she became a mass of shadows that was absorbed into Dusk Heart's body.

Love Heart was on the toilet when he got Flash Heart's phone call. He groaned and pulled his phone out of his tummy symbol, "Can this wait, I'm kinda-"

"It's Dusk Heart! He's attacking humans and absorbing them!"

"What! Shit! Just give me a few minutes and I'll be ready!" Love Heart hung up his phone.

Brave Heart shuddered when he heard Love Heart groaning in the bathroom. "Love Heart? Are you alright?" Brave Heart didn't hear anything else other than the sound of the toilet flush followed by running water.

Moments later, Love Heart came bursting out of the bathroom. "Emergency! It's Dusk Heart!" Love Heart shouted as he ran past Brave Heart.

"WHAT?!" Brave Heart almost fell flat on his face as he jumped up before he ran after Love Heart. He was hard pressed to keep up pace with the Magi's leader as they ran through the forest. Love Heart spotted Flash Heart at the forest's edge with a cloud car idling by the path. Love Heart all but vaulted into the driver's seat and turned to where Brave Heart stood and panted after his frantic run.

"Brave Heart, get Defender, Truth, try to wake Indy up and call Confidence Heart and Anger Heart," Love Heart turned to Flash Heart.

"I'll navigate for you, Tenderheart is watching what's going on, he can show them where to go," Flash Heart said.

"OK...I'll get them," Brave Heart took a deep breath to settle his breathing as Love Heart drove off.

Love Heart gunned the cloud car's engine harder than he should have. The wind screamed past his face as Flash Heart directed him towards the campground.

They didn't have to look hard to find Dusk Heart, he had stepped into a large camp clearing and had a woman gripped in his tendrils. Love Heart tried to unbuckle himself but it was too late, by the time he had it undone the woman's body had been turned into dark mist which was absorbed into his body.

The Cloud Car hit the ground so hard that it burst and Love Heart jumped free. He conjured swords into his hands and charged, "DUSK HEART!" he screamed as lightning coated his body. Dusk Heart heard him and flung his right arm at Love Heart, which sent several tendrils out at him. Love Heart dodged or deflected each of the attacks then leapt at and struck Dusk Heart hard.

The lightning and blades only made small cuts into Dusk Heart's skin before Dusk Heart swung out and knocked him away. "I knew you'd come," he said. His still sightless eyes didn't even try to focus on Love Heart as he sent out a wave of darkness.

Flash Heart was on his feet and he bisected the darkness wave with a light sword, "He is not alone."

Dusk Heart's eye's narrowed, "I know that voice! You're the one who blinded me!"

Flash Heart held up his sword and pointed it at Dusk Heart, "I shall take more than your sight this time, Dusk Heart, and reclaim my human brother's body and soul from you."

Dusk Heart growled, then laughed, "Heheheheheh, I'm afraid that's far too late, but you may try if you wish."

"Stop talking and die!" Love Heart sheathed his swords and held his hands together and started to charge up a ball of plasma as a sphere of darkness formed around Dusk Heart. Love Heart fired off his plasma ball, which exploded on the sphere and blew a chunk off.

"Come out!" Love Heart charged up and fired off a bolt of lightning. Flash Heart held up his left index and middle finger and fired off a yellow laser at the ball of darkness. The light seemed to bore into the darkness until it compressed and became more and more solid with each passing moment until the light was unable to pierce it. Flash Heart stopped his attack and he and Love Heart just stared as the darkness compressed into the shape of Dusk Heart's body and he stood up.

Dusk Heart's entire body was covered in black plate mail armor with short spiked sticking up in various places and what looked like a dragon's head mounted on each forearm. His skin had dulled and his once short hair had grown out into a long pale grey mane, but his eyes were still a sightless white. He grinned and held up one of his arms and a blood red serrated blade shot out from the dragon's head. "Now then, I believe one of us was going to die!"

Love Heart and Flash Heart barely had time to react as Dusk Heart charged at them and swung at them with his new wrist mounted sword. Love Heart hit the ground and had to dive to the side as a second blade shot out of Dusk Heart's other arm and he sliced at Love Heart.

"I can hear you and I can sense you through the darkness," A dark area spread out rom Dusk Heart's feet and covered the ground around him. Love Heart had to roll away as Dusk Heart leapt at him and stabbed down at him. Flash Heart charged, a light blade in his right hand and he struck at Dusk Heart, the light dissipating at it his hit armor and reforming as he pulled back.

Love Heart jumped to his feet and whirled around just in time to block another blow from Dusk Heart. Flash Heart was forced to jump back and avoid a spike of darkness that shot up from the ground. Dusk Heart swung his second sword at Love Heart and caught him on the leg as he tried to dodge. Love Heart growled in pain as he hurled a bolt of lightning from his sword tip that struck Dusk Heart's armor and glanced off.

"You can't win, anymore than you could before," Dusk Heart stomped towards Love Heart as he limped away.

"We will win, no matter what it takes!" Love Heart hurled his swords at Dusk Heart where they bounced off his armor before dissolving. He concentrated into his right hand and conjured a field of electric plasma that he hurled at Dusk Heart, the strings danced over and around him and seemed to force him to compact himself as the strings singed his armor.

"Is that all you can do?" Dusk Heart raised an arm and swung his sword downwards which created a shark-fin shaped wave of darkness that flew at Love Heart. He dodged aside right as Flash Heart fired off a light blast from his fingers at the back of Dusk Heart's head. Dusk heart reeled from the shot and sent a horizontal wave at Flash Heart, which forced him to drop to the ground to avoid being hit though the blade sheared off the back of his longcoat.

Love Heart conjured two more swords and charged at Dusk Heart, aiming for his neck, but his swords stopped when they struck his hair which was as hard as his armor. Dusk Heart elbowed Love Heart in the stomach which made him reel then seize up in pain when Dusk Heart kicked him. Love Heart landed in a heap, gasping for air and struggling to stand as Dusk Heart marched over to him.

"Now you die!" Dusk Heart was about to run Love Heart through when Flash Heart suddenly appeared at Love Heart's side and blocked the blow with a pair of light swords.

Love Heart coughed as he struggled to his feet. "Flash, how did-"

"New technique I haven't tried before, don't think I can do it again," Flash Heart dropped to one knee as he struggled to keep Dusk Heart's sword at bay. Dusk Heart just glared and stabbed his other sword forwards, only for Love Heart to dart into the way and block his attack.

"No more resistance, now I finish this!" Darkness raised up behind Love Heart and Flash Heart and formed spears to stab them.

Streaks of white and black dropped out of the sky as Defender Bear and Truth Bear struck hard at Dusk Heart's back, scratching his armor with their weapons and knocking him off balance. Love Heart and Flash Heart dodged aside as the spears stabbed forwards, stabbing into Dusk Heart, however the darkness merely reabsorbed into his body and he stood up.

"Who dares stop me?" Dusk Heart raised his swords as the sensory darkness grew outwards as he tried to sense them, but Defender and Truth were hovering half a meter off the ground.

"We do!" Truth Bear hurled a ball of fire at Dusk Heart which glanced off his armor. Dusk Heart growled and charged, flailing at the air where Shade had been a moment ago.

Defender flew around behind Dusk Heart and struck out at him with his swords, dodging a reflexive counter attack and shooting a stream of flames to try and burn his armor. "Sorry we're late, Confidence Heart should be here soon."

"Don't talk, fight!" Love Heart held up his hands as lightning gathered in his hands, forming a whining blue ball of lightning, "YAAAAH!" Love Heart hurled the sphere at Dusk Heart which barely gave time for Defender and Truth to dodge out of the way. Dusk Heart roared as the sphere grew to surround him and electricity from the orb assaulted him, seeming to hold him in place.

"We need to finish him, fast!" Love Heart charged up a ball of plasma in his hands.

"I agree," Defender Bear landed and sheathed his sword, "Give me a moment to focus."

"We will try to make sure he does not get one," Flash Heart darted over to Love Heart as a ball of yellow light appeared in his hands. He stood alongside Love Heart as he held out his pulsating ball of plasma and both of them launched their orbs at the same time. The plasma and light orbs merged en route to Dusk Heart into a big purple and yellow sparking ball that struck through his orb prison and hit him dead on.

A bright blast erupted from Dusk Heart as Defender Bear focused harder, trying to call up the same energy he'd used to defeat No-Heart and the Shadow Dragon in the past. Orbs of light appeared on his hands and grew in size, larger and larger until they were a meter in diameter as the smoke surrounding Dusk Heart cleared. Defender gave a cry and brought his hands together, firing off a brilliantly pure white beam right at Dusk Heart that consumed him. Love Heart, Truth Bear and Flash Heart were blinded by the light but they could vaguely make out the anguished cries of Dusk Heart.

Despite calling up his power on purpose this time, Defender Bear was still no better at controlling it and he could feel his strength draining from him. Truth Bear grabbed his brother's arm and pulled, "Urrrg! Stop!" he shouted as he agonizingly pulled Defender's arm back.

Defender cried out as his left arm was slowly pulled away until, finally, his arms yanked away and he fell backwards. He was light-headed and exhausted, but he was alive and conscious. He looked over to where a just as tired Love Heart and Flash Heart were getting to their feet then he smiled up at Truth Bear. "Thank...you," he panted.

"You did most of the work," Truth pulled Defender to his feet and let him lean on his shoulder, "Now let's get you home."

"I believe that is a good course of action, I need a reprieve," Flash Heart gave a goofy grin.

"Yeah, that sounds..." Love Heart looked over at where the dirt and smoke was clearing. Love Heart bared his teeth, "He's still alive!"

Dusk Heart stood up from where he had dropped to one knee. His armor had been mostly burned off as had his hair and he had several dark patches on his skin. His body was nothing but featureless grey skin as he turned in the direction he heard their voices.

"How did you survive!?" Truth demanded. He would have rushed forwards with his guandao if he wasn't supporting Defender.

"Same...power...how?" Defender panted.

Dusk Heart held up a hand as darkness began to rise off his body, "It was the same power that nearly destroyed me before, but that was from within my old being, a body made almost entirely of magic. I commanded great power but my body lacked substance and durability," Dusk Heart grinned and held up his hand as if he could see it, "But this body is composed mostly of water and carbon, it is far more durable especially when reinforced with my magic," he frowned as a small amount darkness gathered in his hand, "You forced me to spend so much of my power to defend myself, but even without the power I once had, this body has one other strength," he grinned, "It never gets tired!" Dusk Heart suddenly charged at Defender and Truth as a blood red sword formed in his right hand.

There was a blur of green as Love Heart intercepted his attack and struck at Dusk Heart with his sword, but his sword snapped in half as it struck his skin and Dusk Heart's sword struck through Love Heart and sliced through him. Love Heart gasped as his blood started to spill out and he fell backwards, where Defender tried to catch him but was pushed down by his weight.

Love Heart held up his left hand, where he had been trying to staunch the blood. He stared at the blood staining his hand and let out raspy gasp.

"So much for your efforts, we are all weakened here but I can still fight," Dusk Heart raised his hand.

Love Heart raised his hand and tried to charge lightning through it, but pain lanced through him and his arm seized up. Truth pulled out his guandao and managed to block the fatal blow but the force sliced the haft in two and Dusk Heart turned his sword sideways to slice his arm. Truth cried out in pain and he tried to hurl the broken haft at Dusk Heart, but it fell to the ground.

"No more games!" Dusk Heart raised back to swing again, when a beam of light shot into his shoulder.

"RUN!" Flash Heart cannoned into Dusk Heart which forced him away from the three fallen bears, "I'LL HOLD HIM JUST RUN!" he conjured a light sword in his right hand and swung at Dusk Heart only for his blow to be blocked by Dusk Heart's blade.

"No, don't!" Love Heart gasped out as he tried to stand, his legs too shaky to keep him supported. Flash Heart was so focused on his duel with Dusk Heart he didn't see the dark spear form behind him.

"Look out!" Truth shouted. Flash turned in time to dodge the spear as it struck at him, but that gave Dusk Heart the opening he needed and he stabbed his sword through Flash Heart's chest.

The blood spurted from Flash as the sword stuck through him. Flash Heart's tummy symbol lit up as he channeled the energy into his sword of light and he rammed it into Dusk Heart's body. It pierced through Dusk Heart's skin and Flash Heart used the last of his strength to pierce out through his back.

Dusk Heart roared as the light sword vanished and black smoke stared to pour out of the wound, "NO, GRAAH!" He ripped the sword up and out of Flash Heart, and the yellow bear fell into a pool of his own blood.

Love Heart's world went white and he collapsed as his own injuries overwhelmed him.

"We have to leave now!" Truth spoke several words and a yellow sphere appeared around all three of them. He used all his will to force the ball of light to fly up to the Kingdom of Caring with them inside.

They didn't need to rush as Dusk Heart turned and staggered into the tree cover. He held his hands over the wound Flash had inflicted, trying to keep his dark energy inside. He left Flash Heart's body where it lay.

A small ice carved helicopter camera had quietly observed the whole battle and started to transmit back to its master.

OoOoO

Take Care was up late into the night trying to save Love Heart's life. Defender and Truth were too tired to provide any help and their injuries were minor enough that Get Well was able o see to them which left the life saving operation to Take Care.

Confidence Heart had been about to fly off to join the fight after getting her phone call when she was recalled before the fight was already over. Now she sat in the waiting room, alone after everyone else had gone to bed and barely awake herself as she slumped sideways on the waiting room chair. Anger Heart and Independent Bear were the last two to stay while the operation was still going on. They left together, Anger Heart's twin tails brushing the ground behind him.

"We were in a movie, my cell phone was off," Anger Heart stared at the ground.

"I forgot to charge my cell phone, it was dead when Brave Heart tried to call me and my front door was locked." Independent Bear looked up at Anger Heart, "If you don't mind, I'm going to start my patrol now."

"OK. I need to go home, night," Anger Heart gave a half-hearted wave then headed for home.