Trouble at the River
A/N: This chapter has a pretty big flashback -I want you, the readers, to get to know the Color Kids'
children, and what happened before Niji arrived. Also, I changed Niji's age from eight to eleven,
because of what happens in this chappie between her and a certain blue-haired guy, and it suits
her better. ^^ I was too lazy to type the other color kids' looks, that'll be next chappie.
---
*The Morning after the Meeting*
Rainbow Brite was still eating breakfast and feeling grumpy while the other kids had already gone
to work. They had been so- so- *frustrating* yesterday. She was still in her pajamas and didn't
feel like working today. She drew her hair back and tied it into a ponytail again- she didn't want
to be confused with that little girl, Niji. Rainbow chewed her nail. Was she harmful? She couldn't
tell. And they really hadn't gotten anything done at all in the meeting. She was just reviewing
what had been discussed when she heard a soft padding of feet- Niji had come down.
Rainbow smiled hazily, still lost in thought. " Great to see you know your way around the castle
so well already. "
Niji flushed. " Just lucky, " she mumbled. After breakfast, she turned to leave, but Rainbow
stepped in front of her.
" Yes? "
" I... uh... " Rainbow stared as the words wouldn't come. How could you ask if someone was evil?
It was a delicate subject. " ...Have a nice day. " she said lamely, stepping aside, " The color
kids will help you if you're confused about things. "
" Thanks! " Niji smiled at Rainbow but the older girl was hesitant in returning it. Rainbow stared
after her as she left and shook her head slightly as Twink walked in.
" I don't know what to think of her, " sighed Rainbow. " She doesn't look evil... does she? "
" Nope, she looks like you. " replied Twink.
" I know, I know... "
Outside, Niji had chosen to sit by the river. It looked the same as she remembered, in the future,
except the grass was a bit brighter here. The weather was exactly like... exactly like the week
before she left when she had sat with her friends under this very tree...
*Flashback*
" I have to go. " It was the morning after her mother presented her with the plan, and Niji was
moody. She and her friends, the other color kids, were relaxing by the river, because it was a
free day and they had no work to do.
" Go? Where? " asked a cute girl in yellow keenly, looking up from the star sprinkle she was polishing.
She was wearing a yellow dress which reached her knees and had white, puffy lining on the bottom,
collar, and sleeveless armholes. Around her waist was a white belt with a large yellow star on it,
and she wore knee-high yellow boots with tiny gold stars on the sides and front. She also had a
necklace on that had a small gold ring on it, that jangled when she moved. On her right arm she
wore a single yellow wristband, and her hair, blond, was done up so that a little bit of her hair
was in two pigtails on each side of her head, held with daisy clips, and that some hung loose, too.
She was known as Daisy Yellow.
" Really? " said the cutest boy of the group that was wearing a blue t-shirt with with white trimming
that had a yellow star on the front, with a dark blue belt that had a yellow star in the middle, and
dark blue baggy pants which hung over blue sneakers. He was slightly muscular and wore blue armbands
with a white pouch attached to the side of his belt. He had blue hair with bangs that fell into his
clear blue eyes. His name was Sky Blue.
" Yup. " Niji lauched into the story and when the was finished, the other color kids looked surprised.
" Oh, no! " said a girl in red, who's name was Raspberry Red. She wore a red dress with a white heart
on it that only came halfway down her thighs with white trimming on the collar and bottom. White
shoulderpads with red stars on them were attached to the dress, and on a bit of an angle was a white
belt with a red star on it. She had red clips in her brown, shoulder-length hair, and red sneakers
with white clips on them. She had brown eyes, too, and tanned skin.
" I've got no choice, " grumbled Niji.
Jade Green looked sadly at her best friend. " I'm gonna miss you... "
" I will too. " said a girl dressed in violet, who's name was Lilac. She had long violet hair and
matching eyes, but she didn't have glasses like her mother. She wore a violet dress that came down
to her knees with, once more, white trimming on it, a white belt and white suspenders attached. She
wore purple sneakers to match and two white armbands.
" That sucks. " said the girl called Sugar Pink pointedly. She had pink hair tied up in two pigtails
and wore a pink dress that came to her knees with white trimming on the bottom. She wore a white belt
with a pink star on it, and her top had a rainbow stipe down it. She also had on rainbow boots.
The boys, Sky Blue, Orange, and Indigo Twilight- Twy for short- nodded their agreement. Orange
had messy, rarely brushed orange hair and light, barely there freckles across his cheeks and nose.
He wore an oversized, long sleeve orange top- a 'hoodie' on earth. It had a yellow star on it.
For pants he wore oversized dark orange jeans which were so low you could easily view his peach-
colored boxers. His shoes were like Sky's, although orange. Twy had dark skin like his mother's,
and short, cut-close-to-his-head black hair with a single, indigo colored streak in it. He, too,
wore a t-shirt, although it was Indigo with a white star. He had on a white color belt with an
indigo star and baggy dark indigo pants so large at the bottom his feet weren't visible and the
bottoms were always getting dirty.
" I leave in a week. A stupid, cruddy, stinking week. " muttered Niji, slumping lower onto the grass.
" How long will it be? " asked Daisy worriedly.
" Weeks. Months. Years. I dunno. "
Raspberry sighed. " That *does* suck. "
" It sucks sh*t, that's what! " cried Jade suddenly. Sky let out a whoop.
" I'm telling mom! " he doubled over with laughter. " You swore again! Ooh, you're in for it now! "
he looked delighted as he suppressed laughter. " Sorry, Niji- talk to you later! " he cried as
he took off to the Green Grange to find his mother.
" Nooooo! " screeched Jade, leaping up after him. " Niji - ya gotta understand - ooh, man, I'm
gonna be in deep doodoo! "
Niji nodded. " It's ok. " the remaining color kids watched Jade run off after her brother, yelling
that he would indeed be murdered, if he told, as soon as she caught him. Niji smiled. The blue-green
twins were much more crazy than the orange-red twins, who were more social.
" Hey, Ni, I have to run off. Told mom I'd do an errand. " said Raspberry, getting up and casting
her a sympathetic look. " And you have to help, too, Orange. " she looked at her brother.
One by one the color kids began to leave, until Niji was the only one left by the riverbank. She
picked up a large rock and heaved it hard, breaking the smooth surface of the water.
" Stupid idea. Stupid rainbows. Stupid mom. " she mumbled, naming one thing for each rock. " It's
not fair! " she yelled the last part and watched some Sprites, some thirty metres away, stare
questioningly at her.
" ARGH! " she grabbed another rock and threw it so hard it almost landed on the other side. She
then slumped down onto the grass and sighed. She didn't notice, either, when someone came up to her.
" Niji? " it was Sky Blue, who had ditched Jade. He sat down beside her.
" Hey, " said Niji softly.
" So. " he said. " You're leaving. " an uncomfortable silence followed.
" Yes. " said Niji shortly.
" Ya know... it's really too bad... cause things won't be the same... and we're all going to miss
you, " he said, looking up, " Especially me. " he turned his head slightly and Niji could almost
feel the heat.
She looked at him, bewildered. " What do you mean? "
He looked at her, exasperated. " Niji... I thought you knew... for the past five hundred years...
ever since I was the earth age of six... I really, really like you... "
Niji was silent. " Why are you telling me this? "
" I have to go... " he muttered, getting up and half running away.
Niji stared after him guiltily. She hadn't meant that, not at all. She just wasn't used to the
feeling called love, which she only felt for her mother. She supposed she felt it for her father,
too, but he was dead, and she couldn't remember. She just liked Sky, as a friend.
Niji allowed herself to fall backwards so that she was spread eagled staring at the bright blue sky.
She clapped her hands to her face and rolled over, screaming in a muffled way, " WHY DOES EVERYTHING
HAPPEN TO ME?!?! "
*End Flashback*
Niji dragged her palm across her eyes. " It's too late now, " she muttered angrily. Sky had stayed
away from her until the day she left. And he didn't even come to say goodbye...
And now when she thought of it, she did like Sky. More than a friend. She wondered why she never
noticed it. " How can you not notice when you're in love? " she asked aloud, grabbing a rock and
heaving it the way she did a week ago, her time.
/And Meanwhile.../
" Anyone know where Niji went? " Rainbow had just entered the Color Caves.
" Oh, Rainbow, you're such a worrywart, relax, she's not exactly charging around with a big fat
gun, is she? " asked Red calmly, putting some color crystals into a large wheelbarrow.
Rainbow turned red. " No, but, you know, we really have to be careful, and- " she stopped suddenly.
" I'm sorry. I've been horrible to you guys lately. I don't know what to say about her. It's just
because I worry about you guys. "
Red placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. " And we care about you too, but ya gotta loosen up,
you know? "
" I guess so. " Rainbow let out a small smile and wordlessly began helping Red.
" Hey, guys, " said Canary as she walked up to them. " I'm really worn out, do you two mind if I
have a little break by the river? "
" Sure. " Rainbow smiled. " Be back in less than half an hour. "
" I'll be back before that. " Canary said, walking away.
Near the river, Canary and Niji both didn't notice each other. Niji, for one, was too busy sulking,
and Canary, on the other hand, was staring at the sky and wondering how she could make the sun a little
bit yellower. The younger girl had only noticed her visitor when she heard the splash.
" Eeeeek! " shrieked Canary as she absentmindedly fell into the river, which was moving fast. " HELP! "
she struggled to stay up as it swept her along down to where Niji was.
" Wha? " Niji sat up and noticed the yellow color kid struggling, her eyes widening. " Wait up! "
she yelled as she got up and grabbed a handful of star sprinkles out of her pouch. She dashed to
the bridge. Canary was some thirty feet away and coming closer.
" Please work, " muttered Niji as she held the star sprinkle to her belt. Nothing happened. " OH,
COME ON, YA STUPID RAINBOW! " she fumbled around and brought a green star to her belt. Nothing.
Canary was coming ever closer and if she didn't act she was most likely to drown.
Now Niji was onto the last one, an orange sprinkle. She held it to her belt and concentrated. She
let out a yell of shock and almost dropped the star sprinkle when a beam of solid rainbow light shot
out far enough for the yellow color kid to grab onto.
Canary snatched it and Niji ran off the bridge, still holding the light and struggling to keep it
there, onto the shore. She tugged at it and Canary came closer until Niji could let go and Canary
could walk onto the shore.
Both were exhausted with the effort, but Niji collapsed.
***
" Is she going to be ok? " worried Canary, staring down at Niji, who was in the spare room at the
castle with the color kids fretting around her. " I really hope she'll be ok.
" I think so, " said Shy Violet, looking up. " I mean, from what I know with the medical books I
read, she'll be fine. "
Rainbow Brite was the only one not looking at Niji. She was sitting in a chair, confused, with
Twink with her.
" How did she make a rainbow? " she hissed for the sixth time at Twink, who was as bewildered as
she was.
" And if she's so evil, why would she save Canary? " said Twink, but before Rainbow could answer,
he cried, " Because she's not! "
Rainbow said nothing. Then she got up and joined the others in tending to Niji.
***
" That was brave of you. " It was dinnertime and Niji and Rainbow were eating alone.
Niji dropped her fork then picked it up hastily. " Uh... thanks? "
" ...Why did you save her? " asked Rainbow.
" It was the right thing to do. " said Niji, but in her head she said, ' Because Canary and her
daughter are my friends! '
" Mmn. " mumbled Rainbow. " So you're... you're... not...? "
" Not evil? " finished Niji. " No. Not me. And you have to trust me on that. "
" You really can't remember where you're from then? "
" Nope. "
" Ok. "
And for the first time, Rainbow Brite felt assured that Niji was not harmful.
A/N: This chapter has a pretty big flashback -I want you, the readers, to get to know the Color Kids'
children, and what happened before Niji arrived. Also, I changed Niji's age from eight to eleven,
because of what happens in this chappie between her and a certain blue-haired guy, and it suits
her better. ^^ I was too lazy to type the other color kids' looks, that'll be next chappie.
---
*The Morning after the Meeting*
Rainbow Brite was still eating breakfast and feeling grumpy while the other kids had already gone
to work. They had been so- so- *frustrating* yesterday. She was still in her pajamas and didn't
feel like working today. She drew her hair back and tied it into a ponytail again- she didn't want
to be confused with that little girl, Niji. Rainbow chewed her nail. Was she harmful? She couldn't
tell. And they really hadn't gotten anything done at all in the meeting. She was just reviewing
what had been discussed when she heard a soft padding of feet- Niji had come down.
Rainbow smiled hazily, still lost in thought. " Great to see you know your way around the castle
so well already. "
Niji flushed. " Just lucky, " she mumbled. After breakfast, she turned to leave, but Rainbow
stepped in front of her.
" Yes? "
" I... uh... " Rainbow stared as the words wouldn't come. How could you ask if someone was evil?
It was a delicate subject. " ...Have a nice day. " she said lamely, stepping aside, " The color
kids will help you if you're confused about things. "
" Thanks! " Niji smiled at Rainbow but the older girl was hesitant in returning it. Rainbow stared
after her as she left and shook her head slightly as Twink walked in.
" I don't know what to think of her, " sighed Rainbow. " She doesn't look evil... does she? "
" Nope, she looks like you. " replied Twink.
" I know, I know... "
Outside, Niji had chosen to sit by the river. It looked the same as she remembered, in the future,
except the grass was a bit brighter here. The weather was exactly like... exactly like the week
before she left when she had sat with her friends under this very tree...
*Flashback*
" I have to go. " It was the morning after her mother presented her with the plan, and Niji was
moody. She and her friends, the other color kids, were relaxing by the river, because it was a
free day and they had no work to do.
" Go? Where? " asked a cute girl in yellow keenly, looking up from the star sprinkle she was polishing.
She was wearing a yellow dress which reached her knees and had white, puffy lining on the bottom,
collar, and sleeveless armholes. Around her waist was a white belt with a large yellow star on it,
and she wore knee-high yellow boots with tiny gold stars on the sides and front. She also had a
necklace on that had a small gold ring on it, that jangled when she moved. On her right arm she
wore a single yellow wristband, and her hair, blond, was done up so that a little bit of her hair
was in two pigtails on each side of her head, held with daisy clips, and that some hung loose, too.
She was known as Daisy Yellow.
" Really? " said the cutest boy of the group that was wearing a blue t-shirt with with white trimming
that had a yellow star on the front, with a dark blue belt that had a yellow star in the middle, and
dark blue baggy pants which hung over blue sneakers. He was slightly muscular and wore blue armbands
with a white pouch attached to the side of his belt. He had blue hair with bangs that fell into his
clear blue eyes. His name was Sky Blue.
" Yup. " Niji lauched into the story and when the was finished, the other color kids looked surprised.
" Oh, no! " said a girl in red, who's name was Raspberry Red. She wore a red dress with a white heart
on it that only came halfway down her thighs with white trimming on the collar and bottom. White
shoulderpads with red stars on them were attached to the dress, and on a bit of an angle was a white
belt with a red star on it. She had red clips in her brown, shoulder-length hair, and red sneakers
with white clips on them. She had brown eyes, too, and tanned skin.
" I've got no choice, " grumbled Niji.
Jade Green looked sadly at her best friend. " I'm gonna miss you... "
" I will too. " said a girl dressed in violet, who's name was Lilac. She had long violet hair and
matching eyes, but she didn't have glasses like her mother. She wore a violet dress that came down
to her knees with, once more, white trimming on it, a white belt and white suspenders attached. She
wore purple sneakers to match and two white armbands.
" That sucks. " said the girl called Sugar Pink pointedly. She had pink hair tied up in two pigtails
and wore a pink dress that came to her knees with white trimming on the bottom. She wore a white belt
with a pink star on it, and her top had a rainbow stipe down it. She also had on rainbow boots.
The boys, Sky Blue, Orange, and Indigo Twilight- Twy for short- nodded their agreement. Orange
had messy, rarely brushed orange hair and light, barely there freckles across his cheeks and nose.
He wore an oversized, long sleeve orange top- a 'hoodie' on earth. It had a yellow star on it.
For pants he wore oversized dark orange jeans which were so low you could easily view his peach-
colored boxers. His shoes were like Sky's, although orange. Twy had dark skin like his mother's,
and short, cut-close-to-his-head black hair with a single, indigo colored streak in it. He, too,
wore a t-shirt, although it was Indigo with a white star. He had on a white color belt with an
indigo star and baggy dark indigo pants so large at the bottom his feet weren't visible and the
bottoms were always getting dirty.
" I leave in a week. A stupid, cruddy, stinking week. " muttered Niji, slumping lower onto the grass.
" How long will it be? " asked Daisy worriedly.
" Weeks. Months. Years. I dunno. "
Raspberry sighed. " That *does* suck. "
" It sucks sh*t, that's what! " cried Jade suddenly. Sky let out a whoop.
" I'm telling mom! " he doubled over with laughter. " You swore again! Ooh, you're in for it now! "
he looked delighted as he suppressed laughter. " Sorry, Niji- talk to you later! " he cried as
he took off to the Green Grange to find his mother.
" Nooooo! " screeched Jade, leaping up after him. " Niji - ya gotta understand - ooh, man, I'm
gonna be in deep doodoo! "
Niji nodded. " It's ok. " the remaining color kids watched Jade run off after her brother, yelling
that he would indeed be murdered, if he told, as soon as she caught him. Niji smiled. The blue-green
twins were much more crazy than the orange-red twins, who were more social.
" Hey, Ni, I have to run off. Told mom I'd do an errand. " said Raspberry, getting up and casting
her a sympathetic look. " And you have to help, too, Orange. " she looked at her brother.
One by one the color kids began to leave, until Niji was the only one left by the riverbank. She
picked up a large rock and heaved it hard, breaking the smooth surface of the water.
" Stupid idea. Stupid rainbows. Stupid mom. " she mumbled, naming one thing for each rock. " It's
not fair! " she yelled the last part and watched some Sprites, some thirty metres away, stare
questioningly at her.
" ARGH! " she grabbed another rock and threw it so hard it almost landed on the other side. She
then slumped down onto the grass and sighed. She didn't notice, either, when someone came up to her.
" Niji? " it was Sky Blue, who had ditched Jade. He sat down beside her.
" Hey, " said Niji softly.
" So. " he said. " You're leaving. " an uncomfortable silence followed.
" Yes. " said Niji shortly.
" Ya know... it's really too bad... cause things won't be the same... and we're all going to miss
you, " he said, looking up, " Especially me. " he turned his head slightly and Niji could almost
feel the heat.
She looked at him, bewildered. " What do you mean? "
He looked at her, exasperated. " Niji... I thought you knew... for the past five hundred years...
ever since I was the earth age of six... I really, really like you... "
Niji was silent. " Why are you telling me this? "
" I have to go... " he muttered, getting up and half running away.
Niji stared after him guiltily. She hadn't meant that, not at all. She just wasn't used to the
feeling called love, which she only felt for her mother. She supposed she felt it for her father,
too, but he was dead, and she couldn't remember. She just liked Sky, as a friend.
Niji allowed herself to fall backwards so that she was spread eagled staring at the bright blue sky.
She clapped her hands to her face and rolled over, screaming in a muffled way, " WHY DOES EVERYTHING
HAPPEN TO ME?!?! "
*End Flashback*
Niji dragged her palm across her eyes. " It's too late now, " she muttered angrily. Sky had stayed
away from her until the day she left. And he didn't even come to say goodbye...
And now when she thought of it, she did like Sky. More than a friend. She wondered why she never
noticed it. " How can you not notice when you're in love? " she asked aloud, grabbing a rock and
heaving it the way she did a week ago, her time.
/And Meanwhile.../
" Anyone know where Niji went? " Rainbow had just entered the Color Caves.
" Oh, Rainbow, you're such a worrywart, relax, she's not exactly charging around with a big fat
gun, is she? " asked Red calmly, putting some color crystals into a large wheelbarrow.
Rainbow turned red. " No, but, you know, we really have to be careful, and- " she stopped suddenly.
" I'm sorry. I've been horrible to you guys lately. I don't know what to say about her. It's just
because I worry about you guys. "
Red placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. " And we care about you too, but ya gotta loosen up,
you know? "
" I guess so. " Rainbow let out a small smile and wordlessly began helping Red.
" Hey, guys, " said Canary as she walked up to them. " I'm really worn out, do you two mind if I
have a little break by the river? "
" Sure. " Rainbow smiled. " Be back in less than half an hour. "
" I'll be back before that. " Canary said, walking away.
Near the river, Canary and Niji both didn't notice each other. Niji, for one, was too busy sulking,
and Canary, on the other hand, was staring at the sky and wondering how she could make the sun a little
bit yellower. The younger girl had only noticed her visitor when she heard the splash.
" Eeeeek! " shrieked Canary as she absentmindedly fell into the river, which was moving fast. " HELP! "
she struggled to stay up as it swept her along down to where Niji was.
" Wha? " Niji sat up and noticed the yellow color kid struggling, her eyes widening. " Wait up! "
she yelled as she got up and grabbed a handful of star sprinkles out of her pouch. She dashed to
the bridge. Canary was some thirty feet away and coming closer.
" Please work, " muttered Niji as she held the star sprinkle to her belt. Nothing happened. " OH,
COME ON, YA STUPID RAINBOW! " she fumbled around and brought a green star to her belt. Nothing.
Canary was coming ever closer and if she didn't act she was most likely to drown.
Now Niji was onto the last one, an orange sprinkle. She held it to her belt and concentrated. She
let out a yell of shock and almost dropped the star sprinkle when a beam of solid rainbow light shot
out far enough for the yellow color kid to grab onto.
Canary snatched it and Niji ran off the bridge, still holding the light and struggling to keep it
there, onto the shore. She tugged at it and Canary came closer until Niji could let go and Canary
could walk onto the shore.
Both were exhausted with the effort, but Niji collapsed.
***
" Is she going to be ok? " worried Canary, staring down at Niji, who was in the spare room at the
castle with the color kids fretting around her. " I really hope she'll be ok.
" I think so, " said Shy Violet, looking up. " I mean, from what I know with the medical books I
read, she'll be fine. "
Rainbow Brite was the only one not looking at Niji. She was sitting in a chair, confused, with
Twink with her.
" How did she make a rainbow? " she hissed for the sixth time at Twink, who was as bewildered as
she was.
" And if she's so evil, why would she save Canary? " said Twink, but before Rainbow could answer,
he cried, " Because she's not! "
Rainbow said nothing. Then she got up and joined the others in tending to Niji.
***
" That was brave of you. " It was dinnertime and Niji and Rainbow were eating alone.
Niji dropped her fork then picked it up hastily. " Uh... thanks? "
" ...Why did you save her? " asked Rainbow.
" It was the right thing to do. " said Niji, but in her head she said, ' Because Canary and her
daughter are my friends! '
" Mmn. " mumbled Rainbow. " So you're... you're... not...? "
" Not evil? " finished Niji. " No. Not me. And you have to trust me on that. "
" You really can't remember where you're from then? "
" Nope. "
" Ok. "
And for the first time, Rainbow Brite felt assured that Niji was not harmful.
