ASFL-01 Never Too Late For Caring Rating Options

[Captain Leo]

Cloud Kingdoms - Q.C. Planet

ASFL-01 Never Too Late For Caring
By Darrel James Vanwinkle
11/3/2009

Chapter 01

"Mr. Dangers," exclaimed the school teacher. "You are late again. You have just earned another afternoon in detention."

The boy sighed as he took his seat. Most of the other students were all giggling and razzing him, which only made him feel worse than before. The rest of his day was going to be really long and sad.

"Nobody loves me... maybe I should run away..."

At that moment in the Cloud Kingdoms, in Care-a-lot Square... the Caring Meter chimed loudly alerting all of the Care Bears to the emergency immediately.

"What do you see, Cheer Bear?" asked Grumpy Bear. "The Caring Meter made me mess up my model kit project."

Cheer Bear replied, "There is a boy in Dullton who needs our help. His name is Harold Dangers. He has a problem with being on time. He's always late and getting detention. He's on the verge of running away from home."

At that moment, Braveheart Lion and Brightheart Raccoon arrived from the bridge that led to the Forest of Feelings. Braveheart roared, "We can't let him run away from home, guys! No-heart and Beastly are recruiting kids near Dullton for an evil experiment! If Harold leaves town, he'll bump right into those fiends!"

Brightheart hummed, with a thought on his mind. "The boy is always late, is he...?"

Cheer arched an eye. "What are you thinking about, Brightheart?"

"I know someone who would be perfect for a mission like this. The only problem with this person... is that he's currently depressed."

Braveheart face-pawed himself, covering his eyes. "You mean my son. I don't know... he's just reached that age where he could get missions. He barely knows how to use his tummy symbol."

Grumpy folded his arms over his chest. "So who are you guys talking about? You never told us that you had a son, Braveheart. Who is this Care Bear Cousin?"

Braveheart turned to face in a direction that none of the Care Bears had explored as yet. "He lives in the Isles of the Forgotten Legacies." He paused. "His name is Timesheart Tiger and his special powers are time manipulation and time travel. He's been depressed ever since he found out that our producers won't let him be in one of our TV episodes."

Cheer exclaimed, "WHAT?! That's preposterous! He's one of us! He should be in our shows! What is his catch phrase?"

Brightheart smiled. "He came up with an awesome one all by himself. His catch phrase is... There's always time for caring."

Even Grumpy received the heart-felt feeling when he heard the catch phrase. "We have to go get Timesheart! That boy down there NEEDS him! Let's get over to the Isles of the Forgotten Legacies right now!"

Brightheart said, "To the cloud cars, everyone! I'll lead the way to his island!" And the Care Bears and the Care Bear Cousins all scrambled to the cloud cars and immediately took off following Brightheart's cloud car.

End of Chapter 01

[Captain Leo]

Chapter 02

On the shores of a lone island in the mists, the Care Bears and Care Bear Cousins saw and heard a mish-mash of scenes and events stemming from both famous history and random personal history from people on Earth. In fact, it was rather chaotic.

"Welcome to the Island of Nod," exclaimed Brightheart. "And don't worry; nothing you see and hear can hurt you. It is only replaying images and sounds from the past on Earth. It freaked me out the first time, too. Timesheart's Tower of Time is in the center of the island. I know he smiles every time I come to visit him. I hope he doesn't frown when he sees all of us."

Funshine Bear asked, "Does anyone else come out here, Brightheart?"

Brightheart smiled. "Just another forgotten legacy. His name is Dalis Hailey. He is a panthagoyle inventor. He and I compare notes a lot. He's pretty cool. When I told him about Timesheart, he wanted to meet him. This island gave him some strange ideas. He was studying the effects for hours."

Soon, the group stood at the base of the tower that was covered in Dali like clocks and digital time displays. Some running forward, others stopped on important dates, and yet others running backwards.

From somewhere within the tower, the group heard... BOOM! "Wow! That was a wild trip, Timesheart! Thanks for taking me back to the War of 1812! Now I'll be sure to ace that test in school!"

Timesheart was heard replying, "Any time, Dalis! Just remember: There's always time for caring! Unless you're a producer!"

Both occupants were then heard laughing their asses off!

Funshine whispered, "Sounds like he's in a good mood."

Brightheart replied, "Until he sees his dad, that is... right Braveheart?"

Braveheart sighed. "He and I... have a sore spot 'issue' that we always end up arguing about. I... really don't want to talk about it."

Grumpy Bear then asked, "Who is Timesheart's mom, anyway?"

Braveheart sighed again. "That is the sore spot issue."

Grumpy Bear said, "Oh."

The discussion inside the tower seemed to be moving downward toward the ground floor and then it sounded as if the volume of the conversation was approaching the door.

Brightheart whispered, "Prepare yourselves. I don't know what his reaction will be to all of us standing here."

And then the front door opened and the large black panthagoyle known as Dalis Hailey strode out passed the Care Bears and then he took flight and flew away giggling. He either didn't see them or ignored them.

Timesheart Tiger on the other paw had a neutral look on his muzzle as he saw the group and his father.

End of Chapter 02

[Captain Leo]

Chapter 03

"What are you doing here, father?" asked Timesheart. "I've been staying out of your way."

Braveheart replied, "A mission came up. And the others... think you are the best one who can handle it."

Timesheart sighed. "Come on inside." And he allowed the group and his father inside the Tower of Time. "Does mom know you're out here bothering me? Of course she doesn't. Because you won't tell me who she is. Who is this kid who needs my help?" He didn't sound happy to be dealing with any of them.

Brightheart coughed. "Timesheart... we aren't out here to give you and Braveheart Round 12... Harold Dangers is in trouble and about to be in worse trouble. He has a problem with being on time... he's always tardy for school and he is getting detention because of it. And worse... he's planning on running away from home. And now for the really bad news. No-Heart and Beastly are outside of Dullton capturing kids for an experiment of theirs."

Timesheart sat down in his throne of time. "Give me a N! Give me an O! Give me a Dash! Give me a H! Give me an E! Give me an A! Give me a R! Give me a T! What does that spell? No-Heart! No-Heart! YEAH!" He then looked at the others. "What's in this for me if I help?"

Grumpy Bear growled, "What do you mean 'what's in this for you if you help?' You help because it's the caring thing to do! Besides, I am the only one allowed to be grumpy in the Care Bears!"

Cheer Bear stepped forward. "Timesheart... please. What would you think appropriate for your help?"

Timesheart sighed again. "Bring me one of three things. I'll let you choose which. One, get the producers to let me star in one of your TV shows or movies. Two, force dad to bring mom to me. Or three, fetch me a bottle of the best Scotch in Pony Land. They make the best stuff."

Braveheart growled. "Have you been drinking again?"

Timesheart nodded his head. "Can you blame me?"

Braveheart suddenly said, "Okay son, you win. Your mother's name is Jazzheart Jaguar. I had a one night stand with her one night at a club where Champ Bear and I were clubbing at. A year later, Jazzheart surprised me in my cave in the Forest of Feelings and she handed me you. And she told me to raise our son, Timesheart Tiger. Then she left again. I haven't seen her since. But I did learn later that she was performing criminal acts with Professor Cold Heart. Last I heard, she left for the Q.C. Amazon. And after that, I hadn't heard a thing. I didn't have any trouble raising you until you started asking these questions about your mom. Then you moved out on me and came here. At least you have Dalis. And now you have your payment, son. Will you help us now?"

Timesheart hummed. "That information will be extremely useful later. And now..." he stood up and pointed off toward a central chamber. "Come! We will now turn back time and interact with this Harold Dangers BEFORE he leaves his house for school! And we will learn for ourselves what is making him late! To the Chamber of Time!"

Within the chamber, there was a jukebox on a pedestal and Timesheart activated it, and powered up the Transporter to Yesterday! "All ABOARD! Next stop! Dullton, yesterday!" And the Care Bears and Cousins all joined Timesheart within the teleporter and when the jukebox began to play, they were transported back in time!

End of Chapter 03

[Captain Leo]

Chapter 04

If I could turn back time; If I could find a way; I'd take back those words that hurt you; and you'd stay;

I don't know why I did the things I did; I don't know why I said the things I said;
Pride's like a knife it can cut deep inside; Words are like weapons they wound sometimes.

I didn't really mean to hurt you; I didn't wanna see you go; I know I made you cry, but baby...

[Chorus:]
If I could turn back time; If I could find a way; I'd take back those words that hurt you; And you'd stay;
If I could reach the stars; I'd give them all to you; Then you'd love me, love me; Like you used to do;

If I could turn back time.

My world was shattered I was torn apart; Like someone took a knife and drove it deep in my heart;
You walked out that door I swore that I didn't care; But I lost everything darling then and there;

Too strong to tell you I was sorry; Too proud to tell you I was wrong; I know that I was blind, and ooh...

[Chorus]

Ooohh

If I could turn back time; If I could turn back time; If I could turn back time; ooh baby;

I didn't really mean to hurt you; I didn't want to see you go; I know I made you cry; Ooohh;

[Chorus #2]
If I could turn back time; If I could find a way; I'd take back those words that hurt you;
If I could reach the stars; I'd give them all to you; Then you'd love me, love me; Like you used to do;

If I could turn back time (turn back time); If I could find a way (find a way);
Then baby, maybe, maybe; You'd stay.

[to fade]
Reach the stars; If I could reach the stars;

Legalese: "If I Could Turn Back Time" by Cher

Heart of Stone album - 1989

And the colors of the time stream flew by them as the sun set in the East and the moon rose in the West and set in the East and the sun slowed... then began moving in it's normal time pattern again.

And instantly, the Care Bear rescue party arrived in Dullton the evening before the Caring Meter Alarm sounded.

Timesheart smiled. "Welcome to Dullton, Georgia... Eighteen hours ago. Now we can learn what makes the boy late."

End of Chapter 04