28. Tint's Dream
Clear blue skies and calm weather reigned over on Sculptville as the Pretty Cures are about to embark back to Pigment Village. Once again, the Pretty Cures warriors went back to their civilian forms, and all the villagers and dinosaurs of the town gathered together to say their farewells to the heroines of Spectrum Land.
"We can't thank you enough for saving Sculptville, Pretty Cures." Mayor said with pleasure.
"This might be our last time to see each other, but you're always welcome to our harmonious home." King Tyran said.
"There are still dangers out there, Pretty Cures." Blaze speaks, "But I'm sure you can handle any situation you come across. Be tough and wise young girls."
"Until then Pretty Cures, good luck on your adventure." Maya said with a smile, "We'll be cheering you on from the bottom of our hearts."
"Yeah, thanks again for everything." Tino said with joy.
"Stay calm, and never give up." Dino said with a wink and thumbs up.
"Thanks again everyone." Ellen speaks, "That festival was so much fun."
"We'll keep moving forward until Spectrum Land is fully saved." Love said with joy.
"You all take care now." Reika said with a grin.
"And give our happy regards to the gatekeepers too." Miyuki noted.
"Let's go, team." Tint commanded, "We still got work to do."
The Pretty Cure team then walked away and started to head back to the painting portal leading back to Pigment Village. All the people, the dinosaurs, and Blaze waved goodbye and shouted farewell to the Pretty Cure team. The team did too, and the heroines continued with their mission.
Back at Rainbow Castle, things are not going so well.
"GRRAAAAHHHH!" Erass screamed in great anger. He has all bandaged up once again as he slams his right fist right to the wall with brute force. "Not once, but TWICE! I can't believe those annoying fancy brats beat me again! But I'm outraged is that they use those Wonder Colors to cheat their way to defeat me with ease. I was this close! THIS CLOSE to defeat them for good, but noooo…, they pulled out a trump card at the last second just when I was near the finish line."
Blot General Turp is sitting on a couch as he listens while enduring Erass's fierce anger. "That's not only it," Turp said in little irritation from Erass. "What's worse is that our leader, King Splat, did not appreciate your failure, twice. You're on total stand by and ordered to wait until further notice."
"You don't have to rub it in, you baggy overalls." Turp almost blows a gasket after hearing Erass insult, but the overall general endured the anger once again. Erass then takes a deep breath to calm down his rage. Once he is relaxed, Erass started to speak, "Look, I don't mean to so rude…, it's just… those Pretty Cures are very difficult. By now they got a hold of half of all the Wonder Colors. If this keeps up, our conquest we'll be a total failure."
Turp understands Erass's concern, and then he speaks up. "Don't give up yet. There is a chance we will succeed and destroy those Pretty Cures for good. If we can obtain at least one Wonder Color for our leader, King Splat, then nothing will stand in his and our way. We will then splatter and scribble all over Spectrum Land." Turp then makes a concern and aggressive look on his face. "Especially of what Spectrum Land did to us…"
"Speaking of scribble, where's our cheeky woman run off to?"
"Scribbelle you mean?" Erass nodded in response. "I was just getting to the good news for you to hear. While you were away, she successfully located a town and conquered it. She also has a plan of how to get rid of the Pretty Cures with ease."
"No kidding?" Erass questioned as Turp shook his head in response. "Well, let's see if our cheeky woman can successfully destroy those Pretty Cures, forever."
Back at Sage Mark's treehouse, he is reading a book in the living room. He is studying about the enemy he, the Pretty Cures, and all of Spectrum Land are facing. Just then he heard and seen a flash coming from the Warp Gallery Room. Knowing that it's just the Pretty Cures' return, Sage Mark wanted to make sure the team made it back safe and sound. So Sage Mark went down to the Warp Gallery Room and peeked. And he smiled knowing that in Mark's view is the Pretty Cures appearing in the room.
"Hey Pretty Cures," Sage Mark said with joy, "You made it back safe and sound."
"It was rough at first, but we came all the way through." Love said with a wink and an "ok" fingers.
"We were just too perfect to succeed anything." Miki said with little confidence.
"And did you retrieve another Wonder Color?" Mark asked.
"We sure did." Ellen replied.
Matt even showed Mark the Wonder Color Red being safely inside in the Wonder Color Case. "Oh-ho! A job well done. You Pretty Cures are progressing very well. And to top things off, your halfway done. Only four more Wonder Colors to restore the Prism Diamond, and we can save Spectrum Land." Everyone feel so happy that the Pretty Cure team's mission is going smoothly. But then, Sage Mark makes a firm look on his face. "But don't get too overwhelmed by your achievements. I have something important to tell you all." All the Pretty Cures girls, the fairies, Matt, and Tint, looked Sage Mark in little confusion.
Back at the living room, everyone is gathered as Mark sits in his comfy and leathered tall chair. The Pretty Cure girls, the fairies, and Matt sat on the wooden floor with some sitting on comfy pillows that Mark offered. Sage Mark then clears his throat and then speaks. "Pretty Cures," he said, "I just got good information from my dear good friend Sage Pencillia."
The team blinked realizing their good mage friend from Crafty Town. "Oh Penny, how she's doing?" Itsuki wondered.
"She's doing great. She also wants me to give her regards to you Pretty Cures." The team smiled to hear about Pencillia. "But moving on… She just informed me about the enemy you are dealing with." Everyone in the room listened for the anticipation. "According to Sage Pencillia, she stated that your enemies, King Splat and the Blots, are beings that are from this world. The odd part is that we never had an adversary ever since."
The team blinked in little shock. "Wait, an enemy from this world?" Hibiki asked.
"But you never had an enemy before?" Kanade followed up.
"You mean to tell me that our foes, the Blots, are not from another planet or vast space, but they were born here in Spectrum Land?" Erika said confusion.
"That's exactly right youngsters." Sage Mark replied.
"But…, how can that be if you never had any enemies you dealt with before-sharu?" Sharu questioned.
"Yeah, I mean, isn't that really a red alert right there-lapi?" Flappy asked.
"I know what you mean," Mark said in concern, "but I just can't figure out how Pencillia's advice is valid."
As a curious guy to know and to solve mysteries, Matthew Oda speaks up a question. "Sage Mark, how did Pencillia get this information?" He asked.
"Well young man," Mark replies calmly, "Sage Pencillia happened to come across a sample of the Blot's ink. The ink was a leftover ash that you Pretty Cures defeated. Pencillia and her expert researchers back at Crafty Town did a thorough research about the ink and discovered that the energy source of the Blots came here in this very world. She informed me as soon as she got the news she and her researcher friends found out."
After Matt heard what Sage Mark said, Matt makes a curious look on his face. Everyone else is a bit confused about how this information is given about their enemy.
"I have a theory…" Matt speaks up again. Everyone, the Pretty Cure girls, Sage Mark, the fairies, and Tint got their attention to Matt. "It could be that the Blots came from a faraway place that we haven't nor ever seen here in Spectrum Land. It might be that there are other more areas out there besides Spectrum Land." The Pretty Cure team begins to make impressive look on their faces as if Matt Oda is right.
"That's a good thought, Matt," Sage Mark complimented, "but to be honest, Spectrum Land is the only major area that exists in our world. Everything all in this world is all part of Spectrum Land." Matt took Mark's words and became a little more confused.
"I have a theory too." Yuri speaks and grabbing everyone else's attention, "It could be that the Blots are created by some negative energy from the civilians here in Spectrum Land."
"Ha? What do you mean by that?" Erika said in little surprise.
"Well I mean, maybe the blots were born by the people's failure artwork or inspirations that made our enemies come to life."
"I get what you're saying." Ako said, "Like our former enemies were the Negatones, they were born from our negative and sorrow emotions that made Noise got its birth."
"Uh, you mean villains are born from dark emotions and shadow feelings from us like that?" Matt said in little shock.
"It can do the same thing here in Spectrum Land too, Matt." Ellen noted to the gentleman.
"You might have a point there Yuri," Sage Mark speaks, "but I'm not sure if that's even true. Whatever the reason, all we know is that the Blots are these evil beings that are oddly born here in Spectrum Land."
Everyone positively became concern about their enemy. But Tint cheers them up. "Ah, who cares." Tint said in a cheeky tone, "Whatever the cause is for these Blots to appear, we still have our epic heroines to help and save Spectrum Land. We've got four of the Wonder Colors, and we're halfway done. We'll save the queen, Drawville, and everyone in this world. The Pretty Cures are unstoppable."
"You're right Tint." Sage Mark said with a grin. "Why am I worried about if we have our legendary heroes on our side." Then Mark realized something and speaks up. "Speaking of Wonder Colors, I was wondering… May I have a good look at the magical orbs you've young ladies have collected and saved?"
"Sure thing, Mark." Saki replied, then she turned to Matt. "Matt?"
"I'm on it." Matt answered with a grin.
Matt brought out the Wonder Color Case from his messenger bag. He opened the lid to the case. "Come on out." He said. The case then glowed, and in a few seconds later, the Wonder Colors, Green, Yellow, Blue, and Red, popped out of the case and floated toward Sage Mark. The colors landed on Sage Mark's table where it has his crystal ball. The Wonder Colors glowed a little with its magical aura beaming inside of them.
"Aaahhh…, in perfect mint condition too." Mark said with delight as he observes the colors thoroughly. "A brilliant work, girls. You truly are the Pretty Cures that will save our world."
"Oh, you're too kind for us, Mark." Miyuki said being a little shy.
"It was tough to get these Wonder Colors, but we all came through." Setsuna noted.
"And let's not forget our gentleman friend Matt Oda." Urara noted, "Without him, we would never pass any of the puzzle challenges we faced. Matt truly is a smart and wise man."
"Oh, you're too polite, Urara." Matt said in little embarrassment.
"As long we keep our head up in the game, we will save Spectrum Land, our homeworld, and the whole galaxy." Megumi said with a smile.
"I'm proud of you girls." Sage Mark said with joy. "You've come a long way, and you can't turn back now. Keep going until the very end Pretty Cures. Spectrum Land believes in you." The Pretty Cure team nod in agreement and surpassing confidence.
Tint smiled to see the Pretty Cures being brave and ready for action. She then begins to speak. "Alright then everyone, let's head over to—"
"Wait!" Tarte shouted. "Look!" Tarte pointed.
Everyone looked, and they were all surprised to see all four Wonder Colors glowing brightly.
"Hey, the Wonder Colors." Komachi said while in an awed look.
"Wh-What's happening?" Honoka said in concern.
"I don't know." Hikari said in little fear.
"Bless my palettes, what's this!?" Sage Mark said in shock.
Tint wondered and got closer to the Wonder Colors. "I'm not sure." Tint replies to Mark, "Are the Wonder Colors are trying to show us something?" Tint gets a little closer the colors. She kept staring at the colors. "I… I think I see something…" Tint looked carefully at what's inside the Wonder Colors.
FLASH!
Tint flinched from the bright light, and the Wonder Colors stopped glowing. But after that unexpected moment, Tint froze, and her eyes widened. Everyone is concerned about Tint. "Hey Tint, you okay?" Sage Mark asked. Tint didn't say a word, but after a few seconds later…
Thud!
Tint fell and hit the ground. Everyone jolted in fright to see Tint collapsed.
"TINT!" Nagisa shouted in fear.
"Oh my god! Tint!" Inori screamed.
"Tint! Tint!" Urara screeched.
Everyone gathered around Tint and tried to bring her conscious back. Sage Mark ordered a couple of the Pretty Cure girls to get a pillow for Tint's head to rest on. Everyone else kept shouting to Tint trying to bring back alive. Tint barely opened her eyes by a squint as she blurry sees the Pretty Cures with their panicked faces on them. "Pretty… Cure…" Tint said slowly.
"Tint, hold on!" Yayoi cried.
"Don't die! Don't die Tint!" Tsubomi screamed in fright.
Tint starts to lose her consciousness as her hearing and sight start to fade away. Slowly and steadily, everything went dark for Tint. The Pretty Cure team, Matt, and Sage Mark kept shouting in a panic to Tint.
"Tint!" "Tint wake up!" "Tint!" "Tint!" "Tint!" "Please Tint!" "Tint!" "TINT!" "Tint"… "Tint!"…
…
…
…
Everything went silent for Tint, until a dream came to her unconscious mind.
"Tint!" "Tint!" "Tint!" "Tint!"
Tint heard voices, voices of two men and two women. She opened her eyes, and in her view, she felt lying on the ground as she looks up toward the sky and sun. Surrounding Tint is two women and two men, just like she first heard them.
One man wears small round glasses on his nose and has blonde hair with a bald spot on top of his head, and the other man has fuzzy brown hair with a thin brown mustache. One woman has big glasses on her face and light purple short hair, and the other woman has a long white ponytail hair with a frilly magenta hairband holding her hair. The four stared at Tint in great concern.
"Thank goodness Tint." said the woman with big glasses, "You frightened us."
"What were you thinking!?" the man with blonde hair shouted, "I don't know how Queen Chroma would react."
"I'm sorry everyone," Tint said in a gentle voice, "I didn't mean to make you worry. I wanted to see what it feels like to see from a top of a tree."
"Well, don't you ever scare us like that again." said the man with a mustache.
"We're delighted that you're alright." the woman with the white ponytail hair said in relief. "We don't know what we would say to the Queen."
The man with a mustache extends and offers his hand to Tint to help her off the ground. Tint grabbed the man's hand, and he pulled Tint up. After she got up, Tint wiped the dirt off herself. She then did a graceful bow to the four people helping Tint. "Thank you, Compass, Traci, Sketcher, and Sheeta." Tint with a kind tone.
Compass straightens his small glasses, Sketcher rubs on the back of his fuzzy hair, Traci feels happy as she plays with her ponytail hair, and Sheeta takes off her big glasses as tears appeared in her eyes. The four are very glad that Tint is in one piece.
"Goodness Tint," Compass said in little concern, "how are you going to rule peacefully over Spectrum Land with a reckless behavior like that?"
"I'm not reckless." Tint pouted. "I'm just curious, that's all."
"Well, just be more careful next time." Sketcher warned Tint.
"We better head back to the castle." Traci said, "We got a lot of work to do."
Tint and her four friends all walked together and headed back to Rainbow Castle. They all kept talking while they are walking back home.
"I have to say Tint," Sheeta speaks, "ever since the day you were born, you've been getting into a lot of trouble."
"Yeah really," Sketcher agreed, "I don't how many times we had to come and make sure you were in one piece."
"You guys, you worry too much." Tint said with little exasperation. "All I just wanted to do is know more about the world."
"You mean like riding a horse without training, or doing labor work without proper wear, or not preparing for dangerous situations."
"You don't have to rub it in." Tint pouted, "But, it's my job to rule Spectrum Land in the right and peaceful direction one of these years. And to do that, I need to know all about the people, the creatures, and the life here in Spectrum Land before I inherit the thrown." Tint then smiles. "How I wouldn't give myself to see such happy people living in this colorful world."
"Oh Tint," Traci speaks with a grin, "I bet you soon enough that you will watch and rule Spectrum Land with your kind and golden heart. Everyone will look up to you like a legendary artist who can give inspiration and ideas all over in this world. Just like Queen Chroma."
Tint smiles at her cherished friends. "Thank you, guys. For being my loyal servants, you certainly are my wonderful friends." Her servants smiled back at Tint.
Soon, Tint and her friends arrived at a colorful carriage waiting for Tint's return. Once they got close, Tint speaks up. "Okay, I'm ready to head home." She said.
Just then, a door to the carriage opened. Someone stepped out of the carriage and approached to Tint and her friends. The loyal servants bowed to the person, but Tint smiled. Appearing before Tint's eyes is the lovely and beautiful Queen Chroma.
"Tint," Queen Chroma speaks with a graceful grin, "how are you doing, my little dearie rainbow?"
Then suddenly, a bright light blinded Tint.
…
…
… "Tint!" … "Tint!"
Tint then heard voices, only this time it is the sound of the Pretty Cure girls. Tint's dream ended, and she slowly starts to open her eyes. As she gradually and comprehensively awakes, she can hear the Pretty Cure voices again.
"Tint!" "Tint!" "Tint!"
"Look! she's waking up!" Hikari said and noticed.
"Pretty Cures… Everyone…?" Tint said as she starts to gain her consciousness.
Everyone in Sage Mark's house felt relieved to see Tint wake up.
"Thank goodness," Yayoi said as she calmed herself, "I thought we lost her."
"That honestly scared me." Matt said in little fright and feeling his heart.
"Tint, are you okay-mepu?" Mepple asked in little fear.
"Yeah, I'm all right." Tint replied. "But I had a strange dream."
"A dream-coco?" Coco wondered.
"What kind of dream-popo?" Porun asked.
Tint took a breath and then speaks, "Well…, I don't know how or why…, but my dream depicted me with these four people I know named Compass, Sketcher, Traci, and Sheeta."
"Go on, continue." Tarte begged to hear more of Tint's dream.
"They seemed so worried about me, but they treated me very kind and caring. They said I would make a perfect princess. And to top it off, they weren't not only my friends, but they were my loyal 'servants.' The last thing was that I met Queen Chroma. And that's pretty much it."
"Hmm, that's some dream you got there." Aguri said in curiosity.
"But why would your friends be your loyal servants too?" Setsuna pondered, "You're just a fairy student learning to become a princess."
"I know what you mean Setsuna." Tint replied, "But that's what my dream showed me." Tint scratches her head in confusion. "It's weird as if I know them, and they know me. But who is Compass, Sketcher, Traci, and Sheeta anyway? That's the first time I heard those names."
The Pretty Cure girls, the fairies, and Matt wondered and thought about Tint's dream. It is bizarre to the team.
"Why those are the queen's royal and loyal servants," Mark speaks up. Everyone got his attention. "Queen Chroma can't handle chores, tasks, and duties by herself, so she hired four of those people to help her. Compass is a young man who is the Queen's right-hand man, an advisor you might say. Sketcher is a man who handles and organize upcoming events and meetings for the royal courts. Traci is a calm and compassionate woman who manages the castle's workers and guards. And Sheeta is another woman who is a representative of Drawville and gives reports about the townsfolk's complaints and suggestions to the queen. They are excellent servants to Queen Chroma, but I'm sure they are locked as well at Rainbow Castle with all of those mischievous Blots."
"But why would Tint's dream told us that Queen Chroma's servants be right by Tint's side and her friends?" Karen asked.
Sage Mark is about to answer, but… "I'm afraid I can't explain that now."
The team became surprised by Mark's response. "Wha…!? Why not?" Nozomi complained.
"I'm afraid we're wasting time. Your world is still losing its color. Soon all the worlds in the galaxy will lose their color, fast. I'll explain the truth about Tint's dream when the time is right. But right now, we must find the next Wonder Color, ASAP."
"Speaking of Wonder Colors, where are they now?" Tint wondered in concern.
"They went back into the case, a few minutes after you passed out." Reika replied.
"Well, whatever my dream was, we can worry about that later." Tint flies toward the opening door to the Warp Gallery Room and turns to the team and Mark. "We must hurry. Let's go to the next area of Spectrum Land."
Everyone nodded in agreement. …Except Matt makes a curious and suspicious look on his face. He was looking at Sage Mark while he didn't notice Matt's stare. Matt continues to stare at Mark when a thought came into his mind. "The way he reacted from Karen's question, it looked like he was ignoring something important about Tint, but why? Is Tint something that we don't truly know what she is?"
The Pretty Cure team, Matt, Tint, and Sage Mark are in the Warp Gallery room. Matt placed the Wonder Color Case on the pedestal, and then Tint spins the spinner on the case. The case glowed. FLASH! A rainbow beam appeared, and it aimed and hit another blank painting right next to the picture of Red Volcano. The painting that has the beam getting hit glowed in a purple aura, and it flashed brightly. Then a few seconds later, lines appeared on the painting drawing a picture of the next area of Spectrum Land. Then purplish colors filled in the painting. The painting depicted dark swampy forest with trees without leaves and dried up bushes. An eerie purple fog surrounds the land of the woods.
"Whoa…," Yuko said in little fear, "…Wh-What is that place?"
"It looks… spooky…" Nao said with a little shiver on her body.
"…Y-Y-Yeah…" Miyuki agreed.
"Well young girls, and young man, I hope you are brave." Sage Mark said to the team, "That next area you're seeing is, of course, Purple Bog."
"Purple Bog huh?" Yuri said with concern.
"It's part of Spectrum Land, but it's the one area where it's dark and creepy."
"You mean…, there could be…ghosts!?" Rin said in great fright.
"Would you believe if I say 'yes?'"
Rin, Ellen, Nao, Miyuki, and Makoto greatly trembled as their whole body shook like a blending machine. The other Pretty Cure girls, the fairies, and Matt see the fearful girls shaking.
"Hey, are you girls okay?" Matt asked.
"Heh, heh…, sorry about them." Mana replied to Matt as she scratches the back of her head. "Unfortunately, these girls only have this problem."
"Wait, you mean, they're afraid of ghosts?"
After Matt said that keyword, the girls screeched in fright. Everyone else covered their ears from the scream.
"Oh man," Tint said in concern, "Now we've got Pretty Cures who are afraid of spooky beings."
"Don't feel bad girls." Honoka tries to cheer the frightened girls. "We're all in this together. We'll be right by your side."
The fearful girls try to remain calm as they try to handle their fear of spooky things.
"Oh…," Ellen moaned, "why do you guys have a scary place in Spectrum Land?"
Mark then replies calmly, "Despite it might be a horrifying place, Spectrum Land is a world of immense creativity from the people's inspiration and ideas. Not all creations are just rainbows, fairies, and beautiful scenery. Sometimes great inspirations come from the horror side. But don't feel too scared my friends. Purple Bog might be a creepy area, but they do have happy and cheery people."
When the fearful girls heard what Mark said, they stopped their shivering fright but kept their concerned looks on their faces. "Are you sure they are friendly?" Rin asked in little fear, "They're not going to attack and haunt us?"
"Don't feel so scared young miss. I've been to Purple Bog before, and they have friendly and good people. It might be wary at first, but you're going to love it there once you visit."
"Then I think we better visit there now." Matt speaks up suddenly in concern.
Everyone else heard Matt as they are curious why he is worried. "Uh, why Matt?" Erika questioned.
"Look!" Matt answered and pointed.
Everyone looked to where Matt is pointing, and he's aiming toward the painting of Purple Bog. But everybody gasped to discovered that a dark aura surrounds the painting.
"Oh no! Not again!" Sage Mark said in shock. "Purple Bog is being taken over by the Blots."
"It's the same thing as Blue Ocean." Tint exclaimed. "Which means that painting portal is going seal the entrance forever."
"Pretty Cures!" Sage Mark shouted, "You need to move out now. Purple Bog is in need of your help!"
"No time to be frightened, we got to get that next Wonder Color ASAP!" Iona commanded.
"And don't worry girls," Urara speaks to the fearful Pretty Cure girls, "Will all be right by your side."
"If you say so…" Nao said with little terror.
"Come on everyone!" Hime shouted, "Let's go!"
With no time to waste, the Pretty Cure team dashed forth to the Purple Bog painting and jumped into it.
"Hurry Pretty Cure!" Sage Mark shouted, "Save Purple Bog!"
Author's Notes
In the next two chapters, things are about to get interesting. And I mean interesting. What's that and why? Find out when the next chapter is published.
