As Shion and Dark Heart battled, Shion barraged Dark Heart with physical attacks and magical volleys, matching him hit for hit. But as the battle grew longer and longer, Shion began to weaken, and Dark Heart had the upper hand.
With one massive slash from his Soul Eater, Dark Heart struck Shion down, sending her falling hard onto the floor. Panicking, she tried to get up, but she was just too weak.
Cackling, Dark Heart gripped Shion by the throat and lifted her up, her weakened body dangling and her Keyblade slipping to the floor.
“Now,” he said, with a menacing grin, “it’s time to finish you off!”
“Let her go, Dark Heart!”
Both Shion and Dark Heart turned to see Christy, Dawn and John standing nearby.
Dark Heart smirked, and flung Shion away, her body slamming into the wall and crumpling. Dawn and John gasped and ran over to her.
“Where are they, Dark Heart?” Christy shouted, hands on her hips.
“The Bears? Their Cousins?” Dark Heart answered, laughing. “I’ve created my most prized treasure!”
He snapped his fingers, and a large, glass chandelier fell from the ceiling, landing right above Christy’s head. Christy looked up at the petals of glass and saw, to her horror, that each petal contained a Care Bear and a Care Cousin.
“A chandelier of frozen feelings!” Dark Heart said with glee. “All that feeling and love, frozen forever!”
Christy tore her gaze away from the chandelier. “No! You can’t do this! I won’t let you!”
Dark Heart smiled at her coldly, snapping his fingers and raising up the chandelier. “But you made it all possible. Now, everything I touch will be drained of goodness and kindness!”
“You’ll have to deal with us first, Dark Heart!” a voice rang out.
“It’s time to put an end to your evil trickery!” another voice called.
Dark Heart looked up and grinned evilly. “True Heart and Noble Heart,” he said smugly, “True and Noble to the very end. But you see, you’re far too late. Now you will join the others and leave me to do as I will!”
Dark Heart’s form changed to the dark red cloud, and got bigger and bigger.
“No!” Christy shouted, running toward them. “Stop!”
“Christy!” Noble Heart said, “Get out of the way!”
“Christy, do as he says!” Dark Heart said, his voice reverberating through the room.
“No!” Christy stood her ground. “I won’t let you do this! Free the others!”
“We have concluded our bargain,” Dark Heart said testily. “I’m allowing you to leave. Now go!”
“I know you don’t want to do this!” Christy pleaded.
“Leave us,” Dark Heart growled, “Or I will take back all that I have given you.”
Christy stared back at him, stonefaced. But inside, her mind was reeling.
He would take them back? Her Camp Champ abilities? A part of her thought he was joking, but given the severity of the situation, he was likely not. A selfish part of her heart screamed, no, don’t do it! But she knew now what was most important.
Gritting her teeth, she took True Heart and Noble Heart’s hands and pulled them close to her, a look of defiance on her face.
“So be it.” Thunder cracked, and a red light streamed from Christy’s body. “You are back to the way you were,” Dark Heart said sternly, “A loser!”
Christy closed her eyes, taking a moment to mourn the loss, then opened them. “Okay,” she said shakily, “So what? I helped you do this, now I’m going to help stop you!”
“You saved my life, Christy,” Dark Heart said, almost desperately, “Now run and save yourself! GO!”
He let out a series of red lightning bolts, hitting everyone in sight. One lightning bolt hit Christy, sending her sprawling across the floor.
Meanwhile, Shion opened her eyes and looked up painfully at John and Dawn.
“Are you all right?” Dawn asked worriedly.
“You were out cold!” John said.
Shion nodded and sat up. She looked over at the battle between the two Guardians of Caring and Dark Heart, as they traded light beams and lightning bolts. The two Guardians were clearly outnumbered, but they pushed on, firing their Stare and Call toward Dark Heart.
Shion slowly stood up and called her Keyblade to her hand.
“Shion, no!” Dawn said sharply.
“You’re still hurt!” John said, holding Shion back.
At the same time, Christy opened her eyes. Her head was swimming, and every movement brought pain. She looked up, and managed to focus on the switch holding the chandelier to the ceiling. If she could only flip the switch…
A newfound strength filled Christy as she realized she could hit the switch. With the only skill she had going for her. She pulled the colored marble from her pocket, and with the last of her strength, she aimed and shot the marble. And it hit home.
As the chandelier fell and broke, freeing the rest of the Care Bears and Cousins, Christy slumped back to the floor and passed out.
Dark Heart laughed as he shot bolt after bolt, each one pushing True Heart and Noble Heart back, weakening them. When he was about to make the final blow, he was suddenly pushed back by a multitude of light beams. He stared back, confused and enraged, as he realized all of the Care Bears and Cousins were free. Every Stare and Call brought pain and weakness. He gathered up all his strength to fire back, causing the Care Bears and Cousins to cower. He relished this, and continued his attack until he focused on a crumpled, shimmering figure on the floor.
Christy.
“No!” Dark Heart immediately stopped his attack and glided toward her, transforming into his human form. He took her in his arms and gave a frantic cry that sent chills down everyone’s spine.
He turned toward the Care Bears and Cousins and held out a hand beseechingly.
“Help me, Care Bears.”
Noble Heart approached them and looked down at Christy’s body. She was wrapped in a crystallized red light that shined menacingly. He put out a hand to touch her and was immediately stung. He looked back at True Heart in dismay.
“Please,” Dark Heart pleaded, “You must bring this child back from where I’ve sent her!”
“We…” Noble Heart and True Heart said together, “We can’t…”
“It would take more love, and caring, than even we have… all put together,” Noble Heart said sadly.
“No!” Dark Heart shouted, “What good is all your love... your caring… if it cannot save this child?” He looked back at them desperately. “If you can’t help, who… can?”
There was a silence as no one had an answer.
“Maybe…” Shion spoke up weakly, “There’s something I can do.”
Everyone turned toward her. “Shion?” True Heart looked her questioningly.
Shion took a deep breath. What she was about to suggest, the Dive to the Heart, was something only a Keyblade Master was allowed to do, when gathering Keyblade Wielders to fight against the darkness. She wasn’t even sure if she had the ability to do it, but if she did, she would be violating a major rule.
But these were desperate times, and they called for desperate measures.
She walked over and knelt next to Christy. “If I focus,” Shion said, “I may be able to guide Christy’s heart through the darkness.” She closed her eyes. “If Christy can fight off the darkness in her heart, she’ll come back to us.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Dark Heart demanded.
Shion’s eyes snapped open and she looked at him in bewilderment. Was he serious? After all that he had done…
But then Shion looked at the desperate expression on his face. His eyes flickered between deep red and a lighter blue. If he was serious, and willing enough to turn back from his ways, then…
Shion nodded curtly. “You can observe,” she said, “But don’t interfere.” She placed a hand over Christy’s chest, Dark Heart following suit. Then she closed her eyes and focused, blanking out everything else around them.
Christy slowly opened her eyes. She was in a dark place, falling headfirst into nowhere. Her mind was blank, and she did nothing, thought of nothing, until her feet landed on a firm surface.
There was a brilliant flash of light, and the surface she was standing on brightened to reveal a stained glass design, with her sleeping form in the foreground, and with Dawn, John and Dark Heart’s human form in the background.
Christy took a breath and looked around curiously, wondering absently where she was.
A vaguely familiar voice rang out in the distance.
“Don’t be afraid.”
Christy took a few steps, her mind still in a daze. She stopped as three objects appeared in front of her: A sword, a shield, and a staff.
“The power of the warrior,” the voice continued as she faced the sword, “Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction.”
When she faced the shield, the voice said, “The power of the guardian. Kindness to aid friends. A shield to repel all.”
And when she faced the staff, the voice said, “The power of the mystic. Inner strength. A staff of wonder and ruin.”
As if she was hypnotized, Christy reached out for the staff.
“Is this the power you seek?” the voice asked.
“Yes…” Christy said faintly. As her hand gripped the staff, there was a blast of light as the staff changed into a Keyblade, light blue and purple in color, covered in icy blades.
“Your path is set,” the voice said, “And you have now gained the power to fight.”
A group of shadows appeared. As they hobbled close, something in Christy’s heart told her to use the Keyblade to fight them. She swung the blade forward, hitting a shadow and destroying it, then continued swinging the blade, attacking the shadows until they were no more.
A path of light formed, and Christy was compelled to follow it. The path ended at another stained glass station, this time with True Heart and Noble Heart on it.
“Tell me about yourself,” the voice spoke up again. “What’s most important to you?”
Christy thought for a moment, sensing the weight of the question. “Friendship.”
The voice asked another question. “What do you want out of life?”
“To be strong,” Christy said immediately.
Then another question. “What are you afraid of?”
Christy was silent, then answered “Being indecisive.”
The voice fell silent, as if mulling over her answers. Then it replied, “Your adventure begins in the dead of night. Your road won’t be easy, but a rising sun awaits your journey’s end.”
The ground rumbled as a giant shadow appeared, towering over Christy.
“The closer you get to the light, the greater your shadow becomes,” the voice said, “But don’t be afraid.”
Christy’s Keyblade shined brightly.
“You hold the mightiest weapon of all.”
The voice then faded away, leaving Christy to deal with the shadow. She swung her Keyblade, slashing away at the shadow, but her attacks appeared to do nothing against it. With a few sharp blows, Christy was knocked back.
Before the shadow could attack again, another, different voice rang out.
“Christy!”
Another form materialized – a red-haired boy in a red tracksuit, brandishing a wicked-looking blade. His eyes were a bright, brilliant blue.
“Let me help you,” the boy said, holding out his hand.
“You…” Christy said wonderingly. Then she took his hand.
Together, they battled against the shadow. With flashes of blue and red, the shadow was beaten back until it finally disintegrated in a shower of sparks.
“We did it!” the boy shouted.
Christy laughed and looked over at the boy, surprised at the genuine, kind smile he gave her. His blue eyes danced with joy.
Then the ground shook again, and everything around them began to fade away. Before everything went black, the boy shouted, “We’ll see each other again soon!”
Christy nodded and closed her eyes, giving herself up to oblivion.
The Care Bears, the Cousins, Dawn and John waited eagerly as Shion and Dark Heart emerged from the dive, opening their eyes and collapsing to the floor.
“Did she make it?” True Heart asked.
Shion nodded as she caught her breath. “Yes. I think so.” She looked down at Christy’s body, no longer covered in the crystallized red sheen. “It may take some time, but she’ll wake up.”
She met Dark Heart’s eyes, and he stared back at her a little sheepishly. “I know you said not to interfere,” he said, “but I couldn’t just leave her there…”
Shion gave him a lopsided smile. “No worries. You did fine.” She noticed the blue color of his eyes, and the relieved expression on his face, so different from the angry, red-eyed entity he was before. Perhaps he was on his way toward redemption.
When Christy finally opened her eyes, all of the Care Bears cheered. Dawn and John jumped for joy. Dark Heart smiled and gave Christy a big hug.
“Thank you,” he said, looking around at everyone.
“Thank you for caring!” True Heart Bear said.
Then, the entire complex began to shake apart. Large chunks of rock dropped from the walls and ceiling.
“Come on!” Grumpy Bear called out, “Let’s get out of here!”
They ran through the maze of tunnels and passageways, past the now crumbling cages, and out through a magical door leading to the counselors’ office. Dark Heart was the last one out, then the entire realm collapsed and disappeared.
Immediately, the dark shroud that had fallen over the camp lifted. The early morning sun shined through the shattered windows of the counselors’ office, as if welcoming a new beginning.
“It’s over…” Dark Heart murmured. “It’s all over, and I…” He looked at his hands, as if he’d never seen them before.
Christy looked over at him closely, and gasped. “Your eyes!” She grabbed a mirror and handed it to him. “Look!”
Dark Heart gazed at his own, very human face. A pair of bright blue eyes stared back at him.
“I’m… a boy,” Dark Heart said in amazement.
“Your evil left you after you showed how much you cared,” True Heart said happily.
Shion nodded. “In helping to fight Christy’s darkness, you won against your own.”
Dark Heart turned to Christy. “I never really understood why you pulled me out of the river,” he said, “but I think I do now.” He gave Christy a warm hug.
Shion looked at the two of them, one who had regained her worth and the other who had just discovered his own self. They were brave and strong, and willing to sacrifice much for their friends. It occurred to Shion that had the two of them been in Daybreak Town, they might have been granted Keyblades…
Bright lights suddenly flashed in front of Christy and Dark Heart. A pale blue and purple Keyblade with sharp, icy blades appeared in Christy’s hand. In front of Dark Heart, his Soul Eater blade appeared, and with a flash of light, it reforged itself into another Keyblade with light and dark wings.
Shion gasped. She stared at Christy’s Keyblade, recognizing it as a blade few Wielders carried: Diamond Dust. She glanced over at Dark Heart’s Keyblade, and after a moment, realized it as one that had appeared only once – far in the past… or far into the future – The Way to the Dawn.
Christy and Dark Heart stared at the Keyblades in their hands in awe. “Shion…” Christy said shakily, “what…?”
“You’re Keyblade Wielders,” Shion said happily, “Like me!”
“Keyblade Wielders,” Dark Heart said pensively. He suddenly swung the Keyblade out, the movement causing him to overbalance and tumble to the floor. He looked up at Christy, laughing.
His laughter was infectious, and Christy giggled as she pulled him to his feet. “Don’t worry, we can learn together!”
Shion looked at the two of them, seeing their tired, excited, and somewhat confused expressions. “I’ll explain it all later,” she said.
“Hey!” Grumpy Bear called from outside, “Come on, let’s go!”
“The sun’s out,” Funshine Bear sang out, “A new day is beginning!”
Shion looked around at the Care Bears, Dawn and John, and the two newly minted Keyblade Wielders, and followed them outside to face the day.
“Dionysus.”
Christy, Dawn and John stared back at Dark Heart in confusion. “What?”
“Dionysus,” Dark Heart intoned, “It was what I was called in ancient times, when I was stirring up chaos and causing wars between different nations, leading people to care for nobody but themselves.”
“It’s a good name,” John said, “But… for our time, it’s a little… uh…”
“Dioni... diony…” Christy screwed her nose up trying to pronounce the name. Then she brightened. “Dio! We’ll call you Dio!”
Dawn and John nodded encouragingly.
“Dio…” Dark Heart murmured. He thought a moment, then slowly nodded. “Dio it is!”
They looked out at the now-repaired Camp Thunderbird, with kids gathered around campfires in the twilight of early evening.
“This camp’s turned out to be a great place,” Dio said, smiling. “It’s a shame Christy and I can’t be here to help make everyone a Champ!”
“We’ll do our best in your place,” Dawn said.
“And the two of you will go on to help more people in need,” John added.
Dio and Christy looked at each other and smiled.
It had taken a while, but with the help of Shion and Chirithy, Dio and Christy were approved to begin training as Keyblade Wielders in Daybreak Town. Shion and Chirithy had petitioned the Union leaders, and after much deliberation (as well as overlooking Shion’s rule-breaking with her Dive to the Heart) they agreed to take Dio and Christy on. The darkness was always growing, and everyone who could wield a Keyblade was needed.
It was more difficult explaining the situation to Christy’s parents. They believed very little of what Christy told them of her time at summer camp, even with Shion and Dio backing her up. It wasn’t until Master Ava herself made an appearance, walking into the room through a Dark Corridor and emphasizing the Unions’ request, that Christy’s parents finally relented.
Christy turned to Dawn and John and gave them a big hug. “I’m gonna miss you guys,” she said, tearing up.
“We’ll miss you too,” John said.
“Think of us, wherever you are,” Dawn added.
“I will,” Christy wiped her eyes. “No matter how far apart we are, we’re still friends.”
Christy then looked toward True Heart and Noble Heart, who had come especially to see them off.
“Thank you so much,” Christy said, “For everything.”
“As long as you keep caring,” True Heart said, “no evil can touch you.”
“Good luck on your journey,” Noble Heart said.
A bright light flashed, and a dark doorway appeared out of thin air. Shion and Chirithy stepped out of it.
“Are you guys ready?” Chirithy asked.
Dio and Christy looked at each other and nodded.
“I guess this is goodbye,” Dio said.
“We’ll come visit as soon as we can!” Christy shouted as they walked toward the entrance to the Dark Corridor. “Goodbye!”
Dawn, John, and the Care Bears waved goodbye as the two new Keyblade Wielders stepped through the doorway and disappeared, setting off on a new journey.
Well, that's the end. For anyone who's been following this story until now, thank you for reading! And for anyone who's just discovered this story, I hope you'll enjoy it!