And here is the third and final part to this epic adventure story. Definitely ended up a lot longer, but still good. I'm sure some of you may have caught some references to Lost Storms in this fic, which were intended. Stormy mentioned having spent time with Murky and remember, gloom doesn't affect her like it does everyone else. I suppose that's what happens when you have to drink a variant every day for 18 years...Anyway, I've been working on the rp I'm part of, so my fanfic writing will be lax for a bit, unless I decide to write this one story that's been in my head forever and well...it's rating makes it unable to be posted here. It's not RB though so rest easy. Anyway, enjoy and let me know what you think!
Rainbow Land Rescue
Part 3
Murky was cackling as he reached the top of the stairs. "That'll teach her to mess with me! Her friends don't even know she's here! They all left her! How perfect…I took away Moonglo's powers, and I can have Rainbow's Color Belt, all in the same day!"
Stormy held the gun tighter. Her finger rested against the trigger. She crept around the tables, until she was mere feet from the entrance to the lower caves. All it took was the sight of Murky's foot stepping out of the darkness, and she fired. Again and again she fired, until she was sure she'd affected both Murky and Lurky.
The duo stumbled across the threshold, disoriented, dazed, and depressed. "Oh… I don't really feel like taking that Color Belt now…" muttered Murky.
"Colors aren't so pretty..." added Lurky.
Stormy tied the pair up and left them be. She wanted to do more to them; she'd never felt this angry before. It was a different kind of anger. Her fists clenched, but then she thought of Rainbow. There was no time for doing anything else. She raced down the stairs into the Colorless Caves.
"Rainbow? Rainbow, where are you?" she yelled loudly, hoping to hear some sign. She listened carefully and ever so softly, a groan came back in reply.
Stormy ran in the direction of the groan and found Rainbow locked in a cell. She was pacing back and forth with no purpose. "Rainbow!" called Stormy, getting her attention.
"It's hopeless…why bother… he's already won…" muttered Rainbow.
Stormy pulled on the doors of the cell, but it wouldn't budge. Murky had to have the key to unlock it. Back up the stairs she ran. Murky had the key hidden in his vest. Triumphantly, she grabbed in and then raced back to Rainbow. Moments later, the cell door swung open, and Stormy grabbed Rainbow's hand. "Let's go!" she called.
The gloom was beginning to wear off of Rainbow. She shook her head to clear away the dismal thoughts. "What about Murky and Lurky?"
"I took care of them! We have to hurry!"
The girls raced past the dazed Murky and Lurky and outside the lair. Starlite was waiting for them. "What about Murky?" he asked.
"He won't follow us!" replied Rainbow. "Let's get back to the Color Castle, quick!"
"The most magnificent horse would go no slower!"
True to his word, Starlite had them back to the Color Castle in no time at all. Stormy slid from Starlite's back and began to run into the Castle. Rainbow grabbed her arm and stopped her. "Wait, Stormy."
Stormy looked back impatiently at Rainbow. She wanted to go to Moonglo. "What?" she asked.
"Stormy, Shy Violet will do her best, but if she can't… you can't be mad at her."
"I know that," replied Stormy impatiently. Rainbow saw the look in her eyes, one she hadn't see before, and had never expected to see from Stormy. She released Stormy's arm and Stormy dashed off.
Moonglo's room was lit up, and Shy Violet had claimed the large desk as her own. Moonglo had no purpose for it, save to store the books she retrieved every so often. When Stormy entered, Shy Violet didn't look up, too busy working on something at the table. Stormy's eyes wandered to Moonglo's bed, where Moonglo lay tucked under the blankets. Her arms were sticking out of the blankets, and Stormy realized that she had been stripped to her undergarments. She was still out of it, and looked paler than usual. Nite Sprite sat at the end of the bed, keeping a silent vigil. He glanced up when the door opened, but went back to his watch when he saw it was only Stormy.
Padding softly across the floor, Stormy stood by Shy Violet's desk. She didn't know what to say, and Shy Violet was so engrossed in her work that she didn't realize anyone else was in the room. Stormy watched her make notes on a piece of paper and mumble to herself. A small jar of reddish-black liquid sat beside her, and every so often she picked up the bottle as she took notes. Softly, Stormy cleared her throat in an attempt to get Shy Violet's attention.
At the sound, Shy Violet glanced up. "Oh, Stormy. You've made it back. Is everything all right?"
Stormy nodded. "I saved Rainbow from Murky and Lurky. How…" she trailed off as her eyes wandered to Moonglo.
Shy Violet looked over at Moonglo and then back to Stormy. "I'm not certain at this point. Her vitals are stable and I project that that they will continue to be so. However, I took a blood sample." She gestured to the small jar on the desk. "From visual examination, the blood has changed. I am predicting that the liquid Murky gave her has entered the blood stream and is slowly taking its course. I need to analyze the liquid for any possible solutions and antidotes."
Stormy nodded. She didn't understand much of what Shy Violet had said, but she did get that she was looking for a way to cure Moonglo. "What can I do?"
"Stay with her. She'd want you to do that." Shy Violet rose from her seat and exited the room. "I'll be back soon."
Stormy looked around her. It was strange being in Moonglo's room with the lights all blazing. She was used to the soft glow of the bedside lamp. She moved to Moonglo's bedside and sat on the edge of the bed. Her right hand was close to Moonglo's left hand, and she reached for it, and took it in her own. Moonglo's hand was clammy to the touch, but when Stormy squeezed gently, Moonglo squeezed back. Stormy looked to her face, and noticed that Moonglo had opened her eyes.
"Stormy?"
"I'm here."
"I'm losing them, aren't I?"
"What do you mean?"
"My powers. I'm losing them. I can't feel the connections as well in my body anymore," whispered Moonglo softly.
"Shy Violet's trying to find a way to get rid of what Murky gave you. She just needs time."
"I hope she can do it soon…I'm not sure how much longer I have until they're gone."
Stormy squeezed her hand again. "She'll fix it; I know she will." She couldn't imagine being without her storm powers. What would she do if she couldn't control the clouds, the thunder and the lightning, the rain? That was her nature, her job. She couldn't imagine losing all of that and she couldn't imagine what Moonglo must be feeling at the very thought of it.
"I hope so… stay with me, Stormy."
"I wouldn't go anywhere."
Moonglo moved herself slightly, so that her head rested against Stormy's side. "I don't want you to."
Stormy bent over and kissed the top of Moonglo's head. "I don't want to either."
It was late that night before Shy Violet returned to Moonglo's room. Stormy and Moonglo had talked softly when Moonglo wasn't falling asleep or resting. Rainbow had checked on them at one point to see how things were. She wasn't going to intrude, and it was taking all her will to keep the other Kids from entering the room. Everyone was worried about Moonglo, especially after Rainbow had told them exactly what Murky had done to her. They couldn't stand the thought of one of their own, their family, being treated in such a way.
Stormy jolted awake when she heard the click of the door behind shut. She rubbed at her eyes and groggily looked at Shy Violet. Without a word, Shy Violet turned on the desk lamp and then looked to Stormy. "I think I have an antidote. The tests I ran on the blood provided more information. The main component of the liquid was gloom, which is combated with star sprinkles. I then was able to contact Sorrell and together we worked through a list of ingredients that would also effectively attack this virus, so to speak." She held up a small vial. "This is the solution. I tested it on the blood given to me, and after a time, it changed back to normal."
"That's great," Stormy answered, relieved.
Shy Violet attached the vial to a needle. "I'll need to inject it directly into the blood stream where it'll have the most effect." She moved next to Moonglo, who had woken up and been listening as well. She prepped Moonglo's left arm and then finished prepping the needle. "This'll sting, but it's for the best."
Stormy moved to the other side of Moonglo's bed and held her right hand. Moonglo looked up at her and Stormy smiled softly. Moonglo yelped quietly as the needle pierced her skin. Stormy watched as Shy Violet emptied the vial.
"There, that should do it. I only hope that I am not too late with this antidote."
"How will we know?" asked Stormy.
Shy Violet tapped her chin. "We'll test it tonight. She won't be her usual self, but she will be able to effectively test her powers. For now, she'll want to sleep. The antidote will probably make her drowsy so that she can let her body rest. It's all we can do."
Evening soon settled on Rainbow Land once more. Stormy had spent the entire day with Moonglo, reading to her, and bringing her trays of food. Moonglo said nothing about her powers, and Stormy didn't ask, knowing Moonglo would talk if she wanted to.
Now, the two walked hand in hand to the outside of the Color Castle. Stormy led Moonglo across the bridge. Nite Sprite waited on the other side, while Rainbow and the other Kids watched from the front door. No one said a word as Moonglo let go of Stormy's hand and reached for Nite Sprite's.
At first, nothing happened. Then, the two of them began to shimmer, and begin to become transparent. Suddenly, they stopped. Moonglo frowned, and Nite Sprite chattered to her. She nodded. "You're right," she replied. Once more, they began to shimmer, and this time, they disappeared.
Stormy held her breath, hoping that things had worked. She was sure the others were in the same position as her. Then… a star appeared, followed by two, and then three more stars. The night sky began to light up, speckled with stars. The moon appear, a round yellow glow alighting on the Color Castle. A cheer went up behind Stormy, who only smiled.
In no time, Moonglo and Nite Sprite had reappeared. Moonglo looked exhausted and unsteady on her feet. Stormy reached out, placing a hand around her waist to help steady her. Moonglo leaned against Stormy, glad for the assistance.
"I…didn't finish…" she stated weakly.
"But you still have your powers," remarked Stormy. "That's what counts."
"What if it hadn't worked?" asked Moonglo.
"What do you mean?"
"What if I had tried to decorate the sky, and nothing happened? Would you still be my friend?"
Stormy smiled. "Always, Moonglo, always." She leaned over and kissed the side of Moonglo's head and then led her back to the others. Moonglo was pulled into a group hug, and this time, Stormy allowed herself to join the group as well. Like the others, she was overjoyed that Moonglo was simply okay, powers or no powers. That was what mattered most.
