Title- Before the Rainbow
See chapter one for disclaimer

Author's note: Italicized paragraphs are dream sequences, the color kids are thinking or dreaming about their past lives.

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Chapter 5- Leaving Rainbow Land


Red Butler strolled around the Red Region, checking up on the morning's production. The main red sprite, Romeo, spotted him and hurried over.
"Good Morning, Red. The red color crystal mined yesterday will be enough to last the rest of the week, so the sprites have taken a few days off until the first day of Spring. I hope that's alright."
Red nodded an approval. Romeo noticed that he wasn't as chipper as usual.
"What's wrong?" Romeo asked. Red shrugged his shoulders.
"I keep thinking about my past, well trying to. I still can't remember anything. It's been almost a week now, and everyone else has been able to remember something." Romeo gave his friend a smile.
"Why don't you take some time off as well? Go somewhere and clear your mind, relax." Red nodded at that, and struck his fist into his palm.
"Right! All I need is a little vacation! Are you up for a camping trip, Romeo?" The little sprite shook his head no.
"Sorry, Red. I've got too much to do. Maybe next time, huh?" Red looked away sadly, then forced a smile.
"Sure, next time."

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Canary and Indigo were enjoying the early afternoon in an open field in the Yellow Plains. They were surrounded by buttercups and daffodils in full bloom. Spring started early in Rainbow Land so that they didn't have to worry about it when Spring arrived on Earth.
"I noticed more tension between everyone. Especially Buddy! Doesn't he seem sad to you?" Indigo asked. Canary giggled.
"You mean, is Buddy blue?" Canary laughed at her pun. Indigo rolled her eyes, Canary could be such a ditz sometimes.
"No, really. I heard him begging with Rainbow to let him go to Spectra." Canary leaned forward, interested.
"Why Spectra?" Canary asked.
"Orin was the one who found us, the first Color Kids. Violet was telling me that since then he's found many more Color Kids around the universe. Orin would be the first person to ask about our pasts." Indigo stared out at the horizon, tuning out her surroundings. "I wonder what he'd be able to tell me." Canary recognized that look in Indigo's eyes. She wanted to look for her family. Canary had hoped that this would be a phase, and everyone would grow out of it. But, she realized that with each passing day Indigo grew more and more restless. What Canary didn't know was that Indigo was already packed and ready to go, she only needed the right opportunity.

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Later that afternoon, during lunch, Rainbow began to discuss plans for Earth's Spring. Patty sat forward, taking in as much info as she could. Spring was her favorite time, there was so much green to take care of! She looked at Buddy, expecting to see the same excitement, but Buddy was hardly listening. He was absent mindedly poking at his salad with his fork while Rainbow was talking. Rainbow noticed it too, and began to get aggravated. Se purposely changed her topic to her plan for blue, but got the same response. Rainbow stopped talking and stared at him.
"Buddy Blue, are you listening to me?" All eyes turned to him, and his cheeks turned a slight shade of red. He dropped the fork onto his plate, sat up, and smiled a weak smile.
"Sorry, Rainbow, my thoughts drifted. I'll pay attention now." Red rolled his eyes at that.
"That's been happening quite a lot lately, hasn't it Buddy?" Red commented to him. Patty frowned.
"Be quiet, Red. You're not helping." She told him. Rainbow held up her hands.
"Everyone, stop! Patty, Red, this doesn't concern you. Buddy, please try to keep your mind on your work." That said, she continued to discuss her plans. Buddy tried to pay attention, but it wasn't happening. He couldn't stay here anymore. Buddy stood up, and once again all eyes were on him.
"Excuse me." He whispered before he quickly left the room.

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Buddy threw his backpack onto his bed. He packed quickly, and changed out of his work uniform into a faded blue t-shirt and jogging pants. The faster he was ready, the faster he'd be on his way. He was going to visit Spectra. Surely Orin would have some answers for him, it was a start at the very least. He slammed his dresser, and knocked over a stack of books with the force. Something falling out a book caught his eye and he bent down to pick it up. It was Patty's four-leaf clover. He had gotten it from her for his birthday so many years ago. Buddy paused and stared at it.
"No," he said out loud while he pocketed the pressed clover, "I have to go now." Buddy zipped up his bag and hurried down stairs. He tiptoed through the hall, trying not to make a sound. He had almost made it to the door, when he heard someone clear their throat behind him. Buddy cringed but he turned around. Rainbow stood there with her arms folded, and a very sour look on her face.
"Buddy, where are you going?" she asked him. Buddy made a pathetic attempt to hide his pack, but Rainbow had already seen it. She quickly put her fists on her hips, and stared him down.
"You're going to Spectra, aren't you?" she hissed. Buddy dropped his pack and began stammering, not knowing what to say. Rainbow began to walk towards him, but Buddy stood his ground.
"Rainbow, I have to go. If I don't, I may never know...." Rainbow cut him off by holding her hand up. She closed her eyes in annoyance and sighed.
"Buddy Blue, I can't let you go now. We need all the help we can get, and you know that. I promise, you will be allowed to visit Spectra as soon as we can get everything under control here." Buddy began to get mad, he couldn't understand why she was being this way.
"There's nothing wrong here, you and the other Kids have everything under control! Please, Rainbow, I have to leave now." Rainbow's only response was a hard, cold stare. Her blue eyes were as cold as ice, and she refused to back down. The sound of the dining room door opening broke the silence. Canary, alarmed at the scene before her, stopped in the doorway. Indigo, who was following behind her, ran into her back.
"Rainbow? Buddy? What's going on?" Canary asked. Indigo peeked over Canary's shoulder and gasped. She pushed past her best friend and ran into the room.
"Buddy? Are you leaving? Are you going to Spectra?" Indigo excitedly asked him. Before anyone could answer, Red, Lala, Patty, and Violet walked in and overheard Indigo. Violet looked at Indigo, then at Buddy, then Rainbow.
"Buddy's leaving?" she whispered. Rainbow turned to the other Kids, exasperated.
"No!" she sighed, "Buddy is not leaving. No one is leaving, you are all needed here." Buddy frowned. He picked up his pack and put it on his back.
"I am leaving, right now. There is no way you can stop me." He purposely avoided eye contact with Patty, and she knew it.

Patty's eyes began to sting. Buddy was going to leave her without saying good-bye! How dare he! One tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it. Patty turned her head and wiped the rest of them out of her eyes before she was discovered. Lala touched her shoulder and Patty looked at her.
"You should stop this, he's only going to listen to you." Lala told her. Patty looked back at Buddy and became aware that he was in a shouting match with Red and Rainbow.

"Will you listen to yourself? You're being selfish, Buddy!" Red gestured towards the other Color Kids. "Don't you think we all want to find out about our pasts? We do, but now is not the time."
"Then when is the time, Red?" Buddy asked. Rainbow answered for him.
"Not now." Her voice was harsh and cold. "We have a lot to do. Spring is less than a week away, and you know it's our busiest time of the year. Especially for blue!"
"You don't need me that bad. Besides, I did overtime this winter! I worked harder than anyone." Rainbow did remember how hard he worked to get the icy ponds beautiful, but that's what made him so special. He was dedicated to his work, and never stopped until it was perfect.
"I'm sorry, Buddy. I can't let you go. You have a duty and a responsibility as a Color Kid to color the world." Without thinking, Buddy took off his Blue Color Belt.
"Well, then, I quit." Patty gasped, and quickly clasped her hands over her mouth. Rainbow's mouth dropped open in surprise.
"You can't quit." Rainbow managed to get out.
"Yes I can," Buddy replied. He looked down at his belt one last time, then back up at Rainbow. "And I just did." Buddy tossed his belt at Rainbow's feet. He paused only a moment to glance at Patty but walked out the door before she could make him change his mind.