Erhmahgherd, many thanks to dbd

The clouds had been dark since before he was born. He had seen pictures hanging in the Hall of Caring, from photographs to oil paintings to chalk and charcoal to primitive pigments that had nearly faded to the aeons, even in this unreal and virtually timeless locale, but he’d never known a world of… white.

He frowned at the picture opposite him now, a huge mural hanging in a simple oak frame, depicting what seemed to be some sort of picnic. There were dozens of his kin cavorting in the sunshine, but the focus was clearly in the almost pornographic detail paid to the foodstuffs themselves. He didn’t trust it.

Big Heart Bear hefted the satchel slung over his shoulder and carried on his duties.

The Hall was dusty, despite his best efforts. There just wasn’t enough hours in the day to get all of the cleaning done that needed to be done, and his efforts needed to be apportioned where they were most needed. In the beginning he’d spent a tremendous amount of time trying to keep the huge, faintly glowing Hall clean and tidy, but it soon became apparent he was the only one who, to use a rather unfortunate word, cared.

Well, almost the only one.

“Tenderheart?” the huge bear rumbled, approaching the Caring Meter reverently. It was as he had always known it, immense even compared to himself, still and silent and somehow standing reproachfully at the far end of the Hall. Before his time it had once occupied a place of great honor on a cloud overlooking the Kingdom proper, but that had been before the bombs. “Are you there?”

Big Heart easily ducked the wrench, which went clattering off into the darkness. “I brought you crackers, and tea,” he replied, kneeling and removing a tiny thermos and an equally tiny basket from his satchel. “I don’t suppose you kept the thermos from last week?”

A sibilant hiss was the only response. Big Heart sighed, glanced around without much hope of finding one of the increasingly rare thermoses, and backed away from the Meter, the Hall, and the former leader of the Kingdom. He would have bowed, but people kept telling him that it was just unsettling when his head suddenly descended like that.

In an alternate history, the accidental discovery of the Kingdom of Caring in the mountains ringing Switzerland changes the course of World War II. While managing to remain unconquered, as only the truly innocent may find the path into that realm, the acquisition of advanced emotion-controlling technology doesn't just turn the tides... it washes away all possible resistance under a tsunami of despair.

And into this world is born a new kind of Care Bear... the first Care Bear destined to do more than offer guidance, help and support to those losing touch with love and life. The first Care Bear with the unshakeable desire, and the raw power, to protect the helpless and fight for justice.

But don't worry... he'll have some help.