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Chapter 35: Under the Shield

Harmony Bear sat near the edge of the Kingdom of Caring, staring through the barrier at the night outside, even though it was day for them.

"Just watching the world go by?" Love Heart Bear walked up behind the bench Harmony was sitting on and sat down next to her.

"Yeah, it's really weird," She pointed out to where the light suddenly turned to darkness, "How is it night out there and day in here?"

Love Heart leaned back against the bench, "Something mom came up with. Time passes normally out there but the sky is an illusion that changes so we have normal days and nights in here."

Harmony turned to Love Heart, "Shouldn't you be training?"

"We're finished for the day, Confidence is spending time with Cheer and Champ and Take Care is busy with a couple injuries Defiant and Anger Heart inflicted on each other," Love Heart sighed, "At least they're learning."

"So you have the night off?" Harmony smirked and leaned up against him, "Want to come back to my place for supper?"

Love Heart blinked then chuckled, "Sure."

Love Heart decided to take a stab at making supper and it wasn't a total disaster, granted tortellini and meat sauce wasn't the hardest thing to make. Harmony didn't have a dining room, she had cleared it out to make space for her music hall, so they just sat in front of her Television and ate off TV trays.

"Too bad we can't get signals through the barrier. Wanna watch a movie?" Harmony said.

Love Heart swallowed then set his fork down, "Sure. Let me see." He stood up and looked through the collection of DVDs next to Harmony's TV, until one caught his eye, "The Care Bear's Movie?" he pulled it out.

Harmony rolled her eyes, "That's just a big movie they made of us, hun, it's kinda goofy and exaggerated but it is based on one of our bigger cases."

"So it's like historical fiction?" Love Heart looked up at her.

"Kinda. But sure let's watch it and you'll see." She took another bite of supper and motioned to the DVD player. An hour and a half later both the movie and supper were finished, though Harmony was cringing slightly at several points in the movie.

While they were washing the dishes, Love Heart and Harmony discussed the events they had seen in the movie.

"So was the Spirit Book real?" Love Heart asked.

Harmony nodded as she dried a plate and set it back in the cupboard, "Yes, she was. We're just relieved she's still sealed away."

"What about you and the cousins being separated?"

"Not a thing. Nicholas exaggerated most of the events and he was a 'fact councillor' during the production. Besides he never even came to the Kingdom of Caring during that stuff, he was in the carnival that whole time."

"Wait... if we're sealed off from the outside world would that mean the Kingdom of Caring is going to fall apart with a lack of caring and happiness from children in the world?"

Harmony snorted, "If that could destroy us we would have died a long time ago. There are more unhappy children all over the world in places where our help doesn't do any good, places that struggle just to stay alive and have enough to live on." She put the last dish away and drooped slightly, "It's hard to think about them, but we don't have the resources to help them and our advice is only useful for those who might grow up to change the world some day, relief efforts and charities are more capable of doing those things. I just wish we could help them all in more meaningful ways."

"Maybe we can," Love Heart drained the sink and dried his hands, "When this battle is all over maybe we'll have a way to help them more than we ever could before." He put an arm around her shoulder. "So the Kingdom of Caring wasn't actually almost destroyed?"

"Oh no, that totally almost happened. The Spirit Book's spell was designed to destroy is, I guess it knew we were going to be its greatest enemy. If Nicholas had completed the spell we would have been homeless."

Love Heart nodded, "So why weren't you in the movie?"

Harmony rolled her eyes, "Because they thought it would confuse the kids if they had more than one purple bear in the movie and with Share in, I was out. But I was in there in my own way," she smirked, "They had to get our permission to use our likenesses in that cartoon so I told them I would only agree to be left out if I wrote all the songs for the movie, not alone of course and they gave my partner in composing all the credit but I'm in there and they at least let me into the second movie."

"I'm impressed," Love Heart smiled, "Can we watch that."

"Nah, not tonight, I've had enough of watching weird cartoons about us. I'd rather spend time with you." She gave him a kiss on the cheek. Love Heart blushed but turned and returned the kiss to her.

"I think I'm getting used to all of this," Love Heart put his arms around Harmony.

Harmony giggled, "Good. Now where should we begin?"

OoOoO

Funshine Bear was dressed in his gym outfit, a tank top and shorts, as he snuck through the Kingdom of Caring doing his best to avoid the dirty looks anyone shot him if they spotted him. He cringed when he had to walk too close to Good Luck Bear but did his best to just hurry onwards to the gym, slamming the door behind him once he arrived.

Funshine found himself staring at Champ Bear, Cheer Bear and Confidence Heart Fennec, all dressed in the same gym clothes he was and the last of whom was holding a basketball in both hands.

"Hey sports fan. Are you alright?" Champ walked over and offered a hand to Funshine.

Funshine brushed past him, "Thanks but I don't think you want to be seen with me."

"Why not?" Cheer put her arms on her hips, "Because of the whole 'I want to be a girl' thing?" she waved him off, "Seriously what's wrong with that?"

Funshine just stared at Cheer, then to Champ, "Really? I mean you don't mind?"

"Mind what?" Champ shrugged and put an arm around Funshine's shoulders, "I mean sure, it's gonna be weird seeing you as a girl if you do this 'cause you've been a guy all your life, but I'll support you."

Funshine smiled, "Thanks, Champ."

"Me too," Cheer bounced over to Funshine and smirked, "Besides you're gonna need someone to guide you through the wonder world of the female body."

Funshine laughed, "I've done some research, but I would appreciate it."

The sound of a bouncing basketball drew their attention as Confidence bounced the ball on the gym floor, "I'm happy you guys are bonding over this and I admire your bravery, Funshine, but are we going to play a game or not?"

Champ pulled away from Funshine and walked back to the side of the court opposite to Confidence, "Alright, sports fan. You and Funshine against me and Cheer, ok?"

"Sounds goods," Cheer cartwheeled over next to Champ, stopping just right that she was able to lean up against him as Funshine joined Confidence Heart.

Confidence bounced the ball and grinned, "Time or score?"

"Ten minutes, highest score wins," Champ said as Cheer stood up and they stood ready.

"OK." Confidence tossed the ball to the middle of the court and stopped it on a small twister.

"No fair!" Cheer protested.

"Relax, I'll be fair." Confidence exhaled and the tornado compressed like a spring and shot the ball straight up. Champ and Confidence both dove for it but Champ was just a bit faster and knocked the ball back towards Cheer, who caught it easily and dribbled it past Funshine as he tried to intercept her. Confidence was about to steal the ball when Cheer jumped up and made a jump shot from just on the 3-point line.

Cheer smirked, "3-0, your turn."

Confidence's gaze narrowed to a laser focus as she retrieved the ball, "This isn't over yet."

Ten minutes later, the final score was Champ and Cheer 37 to Confidence and Funshine 31. Everyone was sweaty and panting as Confidence grabbed the ball and put it back in storage, "How the heck did you do that?" Confidence asked, once she had her breath back.

Champ grinned, "Strength and speed only go so far if you haven't played the game as much as we have. Not bad all things considered."

"Yeah, we used to have an annual Bears vs Cousins basketball game, and until the last two the Bears won every time," Funshine grinned.

Cheer rolled her eyes in annoyance, "But then Lotsa found out how to use ballet in the game, and they all started practising more."

"And you quit because you kept losing?" Confidence Heart gave Cheer a lopsided look.

"No!...kind of..." Cheer gave her an annoyed look.

"After the second time they beat us, Brave Heart offered to let us stop the games and 'preserve out dignity' as he put it." Funshine sighed, "At least we can still have friendly games every now and then."

"Well I've had enough for today," Confidence Heart stretched her arms then headed into the locker room.

Cheer watched her go, then smirked, "I'm gonna call it quits too. See ya." She undid her ponytail as she followed Confidence Heart.

Funshine and Champ watched them go then went over to the weight machines. They worked out in silence for a couple minutes before Funshine stood up from the chest press and watched Champ on the bench press for a moment.

"Champ, would you find me attractive if I was a girl?"

Champ started, just barely keeping the weights steady enough to lower before he answered, "What?!"

Funshine repeated the question, "Would you find me attractive if I was a girl?"

Champ said up, sweating as much from nerves as exercise. "Well, I mean..." he took a deep breath to steady his nerves, "I don't know. I mean I don't know how you'd look and I'd still like hanging out with you. I guess it would be weird because I've known you as a guy our whole lives, Funshine. I can support you if..." what Funshine was saying finally hit him. "Do you have a crush on me?"

Funshine blushed, "I'm pansexual, Champ, and I've always liked you."

"Even though I only like girls," Champ averted his gaze, "I mean...I won't say no but I'll have to wait and see how things go."

Funshine smiled, "Thanks. I'm gonna clean up and head out OK?"

Champ nodded and lay back down, "OK, sports fan." He started up on the bench press again, trying to parse out what Funshine had told him.

OoOoO

Cheer found Confidence Heart in the showers and gave an eager grin as she crept up on the fennec. Despite the water falling down around her, Confidence heard Cheer approaching but acted like she didn't know until Cheer was right behind her. Cheer tried to grab Confidence around the chest but the fennec slipped aside and behind her. Cheer was stunned for a moment until she felt the fennec's arms wrap around her from behind.

"Surprise," Confidence whispered in Cheer's ear. "You might have me beat at basketball but I have my own skills."

Cheer tried to act tough, "Oh so what are you going to doooooo!" She gasped as Confidence Heart grabbed her breasts and squeezed them.

"More sensitive than I thought." Confidence practically purred. "I think I'm ready now."

Cheer turned around so their chests were pressed together and gave a seductive grin to Confidence, "Oh, really?"

Confidence smiled and carefully pushed Cheer backwards until she was pressed up against the shower wall, "I am. Love Heart took the plunge so I think I will too."

"Good!" Cheer leaned forwards and pressed a big kiss onto Confidence's mouth.

Funshine smiled when he saw the two girls going at it but just went to his own shower head and cleaned off before leaving the two to enjoy each other's company. When he passed through the gym again Champ was still working out, doing squats with a set of weights in his hands.

"You were done fast," Champ set the weights on their stand as Funshine passed.

Funshine shook his head and smiled, "Nah, the girls are just getting intimate in the showers, don't know when they'll be done. I'm gonna head home."

"Already?" Champ looked disappointed.

"Yeah. I mean I feel better but I still need some time alone," Funshine stepped outside, not hearing Champ's last shout.

"Haven't you had enough time alone?!" Champ sighed as the gym door closed behind Funshine.

Cheer was the first to exit the locker room, a contented grin on her face as she approached Champ. "Hey, lover," she wrapped her arms around Champ and gave him a big kiss.

Champ kissed back, "Have fun?"

Cheer giggled, "More than fun, and I think it's time for you to have some fun too. Where's Funshine," she looked around, not seeing the yellow bear anywhere.

"He went home," Champ said.

Cheer pulled away from him, "I think I'll follow him. He might need some help relaxing," she winked and headed for the door. Champ watched her go with fascination, until he felt something wet grab his arm.

"Hey Champ," a still dripping wet Confidence Heart pulled Champ towards her, a seductive smirk on her face.

Champ suddenly felt very hot, "Hey, Confidence. You're still wet." Was all he could manage.

Confidence giggled, "You bet I am, I think it's time for you to get cleaned up." She carefully pulled him towards the locker rooms.

Champ couldn't resist grinning, "Yeah."

OoOoO

Funshine was maybe in too good a mood as he walked him, ignoring anyone who gave him funny looks, right up until one of them finally approached him.

Playful Heart Monkey, whose chest symbol was a heart wearing a party hat with a party favor in front, walked right into Funshine's path. "Funshine, I need to talk to you."

Funshine's smile vanished. He and Playful had been close friends as children but they had slowly drifted apart as the years went by and Funshine's interest shifted from pranks to sports. "What about?" Funshine asked, though he was certain he knew exactly 'what'.

"This whole, 'I wanna be a girl' thing you're going through." Playful grabbed Funshine's shoulder, "You can't be serious, I mean why would you want to change yourself, you're just fine the way you are."

Funshine glared and roughly grabbed Playful's hands and tore them off his shoulders, "No I'm not! And this isn't just a 'thing' I'm going through. I've been thinking about this for years and I just don't feel right in my body."

"Your body is fine!" Playful threw up his arms, "Why is it so hard to be comfortable with who you are?"

Funshine was still glaring as he stepped around Playful Heart, "If you have to ask that then I can't possibly explain it to you."

Playful just stood there as Funshine walked past him, then sighed and headed into the Forest of Feelings, grumbling to himself.

Funshine was incensed and he started to stomp the clouds as he headed home. If there was any remnant of his good mood left it was literally smashed out of him when the mud covered rock hit him in the side of his head.

Funshine fell to the clouds, mud plastered to the side of his ringing skull as he turned to see who had thrown it. Share Bear stood there, her face a mask of rage as she approached Funshine, her hands balled into fists. "What the hell is wrong with you!?" she demanded.

Funshine tried to stand but Share pushed him back down and stepped on him to keep him from standing, "You show up as a girl at a meeting without saying a word, hide out in your house for weeks and now you're just walking around the Kingdom of Caring as if nothing happened?!" She bent down to stare him down, "What is wrong with your head?"

"Right now, mud and pain," Funshine said, he couldn't focus on what Share was doing as he started to cry.

"I mean in your head. For crying out loud why are you trying to change who you are?" She sighed, "I mean do you think there's something wrong with being a boy? What if everyone thinks the same way."

"I'm not trying to change the way other people think, I-"

"Just stop it and accept who you are. That's what we used to teach children every day. What kind of message are we sending with this?" Share spread her arms as she stared down at Funshine.

"GET OFF HIM!" Cheer practically screamed as she stormed towards Share. Share turned to face her just as Cheer pushed her off Funshine, "What the hell is your problem, Share?!"

"My problem?!" Share pointed first at her chest then to the still downed Funshine, "What about his problem?!"

"He doesn't have a problem, you do!" Cheer had to resist grinding her teeth as she stared Share down, "Unless he smacked himself in the face with mud and forced himself to the ground."

"Don't you see what this means?" Share spread her arms. Before she could continue, Cheer stomped forwards, grabbed one of Share's outspread arms and hurled her to the clouds. Share, like many members of the Care Bear Family, often forgot that under Cheer's normally bubbly demeanour, she was just as strong an athlete as Champ was. The clouds cushioned her fall and kept her from being hurt, but Share was stunned and struggled to get up as Cheer helped Funshine to his feet.

"Here, I'll help you stand," Cheer gave Funshine a look of concern before she turned to glare at Share. Then she noticed that Proud Heart was standing nearby and had watched the whole thing unfold in silence.

Cheer just stared Proud Heart down and the cat turned away and walked back into the Forest of Feelings. Cheer gave a mild snort of derision, "Forget them, let's get you home."

Funshine sat on the closed toilet lid in his bathroom as Cheer cleaned the mud off the side of his head. Cheer winced as she pulled a small rock from the mud and revealed that Funshine was bleeding. She carefully soaped up a cloth and scrubbed the rest of the mud away, dried it with a towel and bandaged the wound.

Funshine managed to smile despite the fact that he was still crying, "Thanks Cheer." He rubbed the tears away with the back of his arm.

"That's what real friends are for. Just ignore them," Cheer stood up.

Funshine stared at his feet for a moment, then stood up and followed Cheer into the living room. Cheer plopped down on the couch and watched as Funshine trudged over to sit next to her. Cheer leaned forwards and saw that he was crying again.

"Funshine, I... I'm sorry I didn't get there sooner."

Funshine turned to face her, "It's not your fault, you didn't know they'd do that," he rubbed his bandaged head wound. "Thanks for saving me from Share."

Cheer put an arm around his shoulders, "It's what real friends would do. Just ignore them."

"But I can't!" Funshine winced slightly, "What if everyone else thinks the same, I mean True Heart thinks I'm sick and Playful...I think he thinks I'm crazy."

"Oh..." Cheer knew how close Funshine and Playful had once been. The prankster duo of the Kingdom of Caring in their younger days before Funshine's interest turned to sports and away from comedy. "Do you still want to be a girl though?"

Funshine nodded immediately, "Yes, but maybe I'm jumping into this too soon...I don't know." He dropped his head into his hands.

Cheer rubbed his back, trying to think of something to make him feel better. An idea struck her and she smiled, "So, if you could choose what you look like as a girl what would you look like?"

Funshine looked up at Cheer and dried his eyes again. He looked her up and down and answered, "I think I'd like to look kind of like you."

Cheer smiled and put her arms behind her back, pushing her chest out, "Oh really?"

Funshine smiled, "Yeah. I mean you're hot, you've got nice tits and you're still as strong as ever. Don't think I'd want to have long hair though but I'd like to be taller, like Hidden Heart or Brave Heart."

Cheer giggled, "So you want to join the double-d club eh?" She leaned in closer, "Can't say I blame you."

Funshine put an arm around Cheer and pulled her closer, "Yeah, I think I would."

"Well I'll have to help you through that," Cheer rolled onto Funshine's lap so her chest was level with his face, "I mean there's back pain you have to learn to deal with and I bet your balance is going to be completely out of whack, but I can be your personal trainer if you do go through with that." She leaned down, giving him an eyeful of her cleavage.

"I'd like that," Funshine kissed her and twisted sideways, pulling Cheer down on top of him until they now lay sideways on the couch.

Cheer was heating up as she broke the kiss, "Wait, you still want to do this?"

Funshine nodded, "It's weird, but I'm still a guy for now." He kissed back, "I might as well get what's left of this out of my system before I take the plunge."

OoOoO

Giving birth never seemed to get any easier for Life Heart Unicorn, especially not with twins. After a long a grueling day she gave birth to two healthy unicorn foals: an orange girl with purple hair and a tail tuft they named Wild Heart Unicorn with a chest symbol of a heart with a lightning bolt through it and a purple boy with orange hair and tail tuft named Meek Heart whose chest symbol was a heart resting on a cloud. Life Heart was released from Take Care's hospital later that day. By now she and Sage Heart had been given their own house. Despite her young age, Sweet Heart decided not to move in with her parents, especially with two cubs about to be born.

Life Heart was roused one morning by the twins crying and quickly went to nurse them. Once she nursed them, burped them, and put them down to bed, Life Heart went to her new living room and stood near the window. She was bathed in the false moonlight created by her spell as she looked out the window. Tears trickled down her cheeks as something finally dawned on her.

"My children will grow up alone and without friends, again." She hugged herself tightly and stared down at the floor. "I can't! I won't let my children grow up alone!" Her horn glowed as she looked out the window again and brought her hands together up to her chin. "They won't grow up alone!" Magic spread out from her horn and engulfed the Kingdom of Caring for a brief instant before dissipating like white mist.

Only Bedtime Bear, the light blue male night watchmen with a clouded crescent moon for a chest symbol, saw this event, but he didn't know what it meant as he was a loner by nature. He merely noted it in his night log and waited to see if there were any effects on following days.

OoOoO

Proud Heart Cat approached Loyal Heart's house. Everyone had become concerned over the blue dog's state of mind ever since his encounter with Passion Heart. He had only come to the Hall of Hearts for meals four times in the last two months and each time he looked and smelled like he had just gotten out of bed, if not worse. Several members of the Care Bear Family had tried to visit him only to be turned away but they respected what they assumed was just a desire for privacy. Proud Heart decided to take matters into her own hands as she finally knocked on the front door of Loyal Heart's house.

The only answer Proud Heart received was a groan from the other side.

Throwing caution to the wind, Proud Heart opened the door and recoiled at the smell. She found Loyal Heart lying on his couch amidst an uncountable number of empty bottles. One whiff was all she needed to know what happened as she made her way across the living room and to the couch.

"Loyal Heart, what going on here?" She stood over where he lay on the couch.

Loyal Heart blinked and stared up at her, "Proud? Why you here?" he mumbled.

"To see if you're alright." Proud Heart pulled Loyal Heart off the couch and helped him to his feet. She grimaced at the smell, "No way wet dog is worse than this. You need a bath, or a shower." She carefully guided him towards the bathroom. Thankfully it seemed that the mess didn't extend beyond the living room so Proud Heart was able draw a bath for Loyal Heart and help him in.

Loyal Heart didn't resist as Proud Heart scrubbed him down, starting with his head and ears then moving down his back, stopping once to drain the bath and refill it as the water became too dirty to use.

Loyal Heart remained silent until he was nearly clean. Though he was still clearly in a drunken stupor, Loyal Heart looked up right at Proud Heart and said: "I love you."

Proud Heart smiled as she finished up and finally drained the tub, "I know. I love you too."

"No," Loyal Heart shook his head as Proud Heart helped him out of the tub, "I'm in love with you, I have been for years."

This made Proud Heart start for a moment, "Really?"

Loyal Heart stumbled and caught himself on Proud Heart as she supported him, "You are the most beautiful and radiant person I've ever known, but I can't tell you because I want you all to myself and that's selfish," he hung his head.

Proud Heart helped Loyal Heart towards his bedroom, purring all the way, "Well now. You have me all to yourself tonight." She helped him lay down on his bed then smiled and climbed over him.

"Am I dreaming?" Loyal Heart stared up into Proud Heart's hooded eyes, unable to focus.

"It can be," Proud Heart purred. She leaned down and kissed him, "but for me it's very real."

OoOoO

Loyal Heart opened his eyes. His head was pounding and he was sweaty. He felt a soft vibration against his chest and looked down, to find Proud Heart Cat wrapped around him. He stared down at her in horror and tried to extricate himself from her. Proud Heart woke up and smiled towards Loyal Heart, holding him tighter, "Good morning."

Loyal Heart managed to pull himself free and stood up. "Proud Heart, what happened last night?" He tried to keep his voice level.

Proud Heart rolled onto her front and propped herself up on her elbows, "Well I came over to find you on a downwards spiral, helped you clean up and you confessed your love to me," she purred, "Then I showed you how much I love you."

Loyal Heart stood still for a moment, then turned around. Proud Heart was shocked to see hurt in his eyes as he pointed to the door, "Leave."

Proud Heart sat up, her expression turning to one of shock, "What?"

"Leave, go home, go get breakfast, just go anywhere. I need to clean up," Loyal Heart kept pointing to the door.

Proud Heart stood up and approached Loyal Heart, "But I though you would want me to stay."

"Not after this," Loyal Heart had started to cry, "I don't want to see you. Just go!" his last bark finally made Proud Heart take of like she had been scalded.

Loyal Heart stood in his room for a moment and shuddered, then he went to the living room and started to clean.

OoOoO

That same morning, Swift Heart Rabbit finally got up the courage to go and visit Funshine Bear, encouraged by Grumpy Bear to at least try. She slowed to a stop some distance away as her ears picked up the unmistakable sound of Funshine's skateboard rolling up and down his halfpipe. She sighed in relief as she approached to see him making a jump up and landing with the precision he usually did.

Funshine saw Swift Heart as he made one of his lip balances, doing what was called a gymnast's plant: balanced on his right arm and spreading his arms and legs wide with the board held in his left, before snapping the board back under his feet as he brought them together and slowed to a stop at the bottom of the halfpipe. He stepped off the board and kicked it up into his waiting hands as Swift Heart approached.

"Hey, Funshine," Swift Heart leaned on the fence surrounding the skate park. Only up close did she notice the small bandage on Funshine's temple and her eyes widened, "what happened?!"

Funshine touched the bandage momentarily, "Share disagreed with my life choices. What about you?"

Swift Heart was hoping she wouldn't be put on the spot, "I've had time to think about it and... I'm fine with it."

Funshine narrowed his eyes, "Fine?"

Swift Heart took a deep breath, "I mean, I get feeling like something you can't control is wrong with you, maybe not as deep as you do but I still had the whole 'tomboy' thing to go through and I just handled it differently than you. If you want to be a girl then I wish you the best," she gave a semi-enthusiastic thumbs up. Then turned to leave.

"Wait!" Funshine hopped over the fence and darted around to Swift Heart's front.

Swift Heart was a startled but didn't try to step around him, "Yeah?"

Funshine offered her a smile, "Why don't you come in. We should spend some time together."

Swift Heart smiled, "Alright."

They sat next to each other on the couch. "So when are you going to take the plunge?" Swift Heart asked.

Funshine drummed his fingers on his knees for a moment be answering, "I spoke to Life Heart and I'm doing it the day after tomorrow."

"I see." Swift Heart looked down at her feet then kicked them slightly, "I'm sorry for how I acted, I mean...I shouldn't have been such a jerk."

Funshine smiled and put an arm around her, "Apology accepted, now if only Playful and Share were so accepting."

Swift Heart gave a small smirk and turned to face him, "Hey, forget about them. Let them be jerks about it. Just enjoy your last two days as a guy before you have to face everyone."

Funshine chuckled, "Thanks, Swift. Was that an invitation?" he asked.

"Yes," Swift Heart leaned up and gave Funshine a kiss.

Funshine wrapped his arms around Swift Heart and kissed her back. "Might as well give it one last go, Swift Heart. I'll be busy getting ready tomorrow."

"OK, let's make it one last day to remember," Swift Heart pushed him back onto the couch and Funshine let her.

OoOoO

Despite being disgusted with both his own actions and Proud Heart's, Loyal Heart decided to go to the Hall of Hearts for lunch. His return in a more lucid, and cleaner, state was met with enthusiasm and worry, but he managed to deflect their concerns with promise that he would speak to Take Care later.

To his dismay, Proud Heart decided to run up next to him in the buffet line. "Loyal Heart, I just...I'm sorry..." she swished her fluffy tail without even grabbing a plate.

Loyal Heart wanted to just ignore her, but he couldn't and took a deep breath. "Proud Heart, you took advantage of me when I wasn't myself. Do you know what it's called when you do something like that to someone who can't give real consent?"

Proud Heart gulped, "I'm sorry, I just...I thought you needed some comfort...What happened to you?"

Loyal Heart glared sideways at her then answered, "After I was nearly killed by Passion Heart, I lost it for a while. What happened scarred me, physically too, though the fur hides it well. I was lost for a while and I decided to take in the stuff we got for some of our parties back when we were younger but I never drank until lately. It's all gone now, what I didn't drink I poured down the drain. Despite what you did you at least snapped me back to my senses." He turned away from her and went down the buffet line.

"Wait!" Proud Heart didn't even grab a tray as she darted up to Loyal Heart and put a hand on his shoulder. "Last night, you said you were in love with me. Is that true?"

Loyal Heart tensed up and set his tray down before carefully removing Proud Heart's hand from his shoulder and turning to face her. "You were my lady, my perfect princess, beautiful, gentle and I thought you could do no wrong, but it seems I was loving a shadow that or I idealised you too much to learn as much about you as I should have." He turned away and picked up his tray, "You're no longer any of those things to me, you may still look beautiful but I do not see it anymore. I no longer love you."

Proud Heart nearly choked as Loyal Heart walked away from her. She rubbed her eyes then turned and left the Hall of Hearts as she began to cry. She had suddenly lost her appetite.

Either oblivious to the wreck Proud Heart had just become or because he decided she needed to feel the hurt, Loyal Heart gathered up his lunch and found Take Care Bear among the tables seated across from Love Heart Bear and Confidence Heart Fennec. On approach, he cleared his throat to get her attention and asked if he could see her later to deal with his issues. Take Care agreed and extended an invitation for him to join them for lunch, but he declined and went to sit alone.

Defiant Heart was one of the last to arrive after his morning training session, which he stayed for longer than even the others. He witnessed what happened between Loyal and Proud Heart and once the dog was seated alone he went to join him.

"Can I sit here?" Defiant motioned with his head to the seat across from Loyal Heart.

"Go ahead. Can't promise I'll be good company," Loyal Heart didn't even look up from his lunch.

Defiant Heart sat down across from Loyal Heart but didn't start eating yet, "What happened with Proud Heart?"

"I'd rather not discuss that at the moment," Loyal Heart said.

"Alright." Defiant Heart shrugged and dug in.

They ate in silence for a few minutes before Loyal Heart spoke, "Thank you for spending the time with me."

Defiant smiled, "You looked like you needed a friend."

"I need more than that, but thank you nonetheless." Loyal Heart finished off his meal, "How has your life been going? Have you had any romantic liaisons?" Loyal Heart shuddered slightly but Defiant didn't seem to notice.

Defiant Heart chewed one of the last bites of his lunch as he thought for a moment, "I tried to have something with Lotsa Heart, but we didn't have enough in common." He saw Loyal Heart's confused look, "I share your preference to not treat so casually. It's fine for everyone else but I think emotional intimacy is more important that physical."

Loyal Heart gave a very brief smile, "Thank you. I too do not begrudge them their free love, but it's not a lifestyle I want, especially not after today..."

Defiant Heart finished off his meal and took the tray as he stood up, "You should tell me what happened, it might help." He saw Loyal avert his gaze and shrugged, "But I'll wait until you're ready."

OoOoO

"I think you should move in with me." Take Care dropped the proposition in the middle of her lunch conversation with Love Heart and Confidence Heart.

Confidence Heart glared at Take Care and was about to reply when the doctor amended her phrase, "Both of you should move in with me."

"Why?" Confidence asked.

"You're still waiting for a house and I have one extra bedroom in my home attached to our hospital. I think it would be a good place for the both of you." Take Care looked from Confidence to Love Heart.

Love Heart and Confidence Heart leaned in to share a quick whispered conversation, minor argument and then gave each other a quick kiss before they sat back up.

"Sounds good to me," Love Heart said.

Confidence Heart folded her arms, "You're just asking because you and Love Heart are lovers."

Take Care smiled, "Yes, and I get lonely there all by myself unless someone comes to me with medical problems. I'd love to have both of you over there."

Confidence Heart rolled her eyes, "Alright. Beats waiting for a new house to be built."

"What about Sweet Heart?" Take Care glanced over to where the little Pegasus was eating with Hugs and Tugs.

"She said she wants to live with Grams, since there's our new twin siblings living with mom and dad now, doesn't want to go through what I went through with her." Love Heart smiled, "Mom said she needs me to watch them in a couple day because she has something important to do."

"Ahh, I see," Take Care nodded and went back to her meal, an idea forming in her mind for that day.

OoOoO

Funshine stood naked in Life Heart's living room; the center of the floor had been cleared to allow him to stand with a lot of clearance on every side.

Life Heart stood in front of him and looked him up and down, "Are you ready for this? Once I start there's no going back."

Funshine took a deep breath and smiled, "Let's do this!"

Life Heart nodded, "OK. Now just hold as still as you can, this won't be like before."

Funshine gave her a quizzical look, "Huh? Can't you just flash and make me a girl permanently?"

Life Heart shook her head, "The spell I used was a magical layer and could be dispelled in the future and the change might eventually wear off even if it's complete. If you want this to be permanent against all factors then I will have to transform your body down to the minutest level, physical instead of entirely magical." She lifted her head to face him again, "Are you ready?"

Fuinshine stiffened up and hardened his expression, "Yes. I'm ready."

Life Heart's horn lit up a bright blue, "Focus on what you want to look and feel like and it will guide the spell," and she directed the spell energy towards Funshine's feet.

Funshine felt his whole body tingle as the wave of magic traveled up his body. His feet didn't change much but his legs became longer as he gained over ten centimeters in height and when the energy reached his hips he felt them widen and he felt his gender shift as the energy raised up over his stomach. Funshine felt tingling all throughout her new body as her stomach became narrower and her finger and arms became slimmer and her shoulders narrowed.

The change she had been anticipating finally hit as the field concentrated on her chest. She brought her hands up to cup her new breasts as they grew in, bigger, and bigger, and bigger! She gasped as the changes moved up to her head, her face shifting into a more feminine bone structure and her eyelashes grew a full centimeter.

The changes finally stopped and Funshine stood there, fully female. She ran her arms down her new body, feeling the changes, especially how she stood a head taller than she had previously. She smiled when she felt the abs she still had under her layer of fur and reached up her right arm and flexing, still feeling the strength still there. Then she reached up to her chest and felt her new DD-cup breasts, hefting their weight to get a feel for them.

"This is awesome!" Funshine took a step forwards, but stumbled with her center of gravity being completely off and had to grab the back of a couch to steady herself. "Ok, maybe not completely awesome," she still grinned.

Life Heart swiped her brow, "It will take some getting used to, I suggest you spend the next few days getting used to your new balance. Excuse me, I need to lie down."

Funshine straightened up, a look of concern on her face, "Life Heart, are you alright?"

Life Heart smiled weakly, "I'll be fine, I've just used more magic than I'm used to lately and the twins are keeping us up, especially Wild Heart." As if on cue, they heard crying coming from another room.

"That would be them. I have to go now. Be careful, Funshine." Life Heart was about to turn to leave when Funshine hugged her.

"Thank you, Life Heart. I'll always remember this." Funshine released her then turned and marched out the door, stumbled, then straightened up as she adjusted her walking pace. She reached into her chest symbol, amusingly noting that it looked like she was reaching into her cleavage, and pulled out her cell phone. "Better call Cheer for a ride. Looks like I need my 'girl lessons' now."