The next morning saw Rainbow Brite, the Color Kids, their guests, and many Sprites walking from the Castle to the Color Mine.
The walk was long and slow, and each person thought about Plock, and what he had meant to them as they made their way along the road. The Rainbow River chattered along to the right side of the road, Sprite houses in neat patterns to the left. Then they crossed a bridge, and the River veered back toward the Falls. The roar of the Falls slowly grew louder as they approached the mountain.
The trail climbed the mountain as a series of switchbacks, with a gentle slope between the wide curves. Nobody was out of breath by the end of the journey.
At the top, they passed the main entrance to the caves and finally stopped at the spot where Plock had first arrived. A stone slab had been erected against the side of the hill, and polished brightly. The stone was a local type of granite, with color crystal in the place of the mica flecks that make it sparkle. The rock had been carved with the inscription:
In Memory of Plock
Peddler, Explorer, Friend
On this spot he first arrived in Rainbowland, trying to acquire the Ownership of the Color Caves.
Beneath the slab was a stone table, made of the same type of granite, that was currently empty.
Rainbow turned to the precession behind her, and held up her hands. Silence fell, and all eyes were on her.
"Everyone, it was one year ago today that we first heard of the murder of our friend Plock. That event set in motion a series of events that included finding the Books of Dal, giving us a new friend in Sorrell the Sorcerer..."
Sorrell, surprised at being mentioned, shifted uncomfortably on his feet.
"...and ended with the Coal Sack Nebula becoming the Rainbow Nebula, and a planet hidden within it to be made bright and colorful. Today, we have come to honor his memory, this person who began his relationship with us so many years ago as an enemy, trying to get the Color Cave from us by any means possible. But he saw it was wrong, and changed his ways, becoming a close friend to us. We will all miss him."
Rainbow went up to the slab, put a small piece of Color Crystal on it, and paused, looking at the inscription. She smiled, remembering some private moment, then walked back toward the Cave.
Behind her, one at a time, each of the Kids, Sprites, and guests did the same, even Sorrell. Shelly, Tina, and Brian Jr. had come along, but because they had only seen Plock as a cartoon, did not participate.
Since each person spent a moment thinking of Plock, it took most of the morning for everyone who participated to do so. Doris was the last of all.
They left her alone, as she had wished, to think about the one who had given her self-awareness, and whom she had cared for all those years. She looked at all the gifts left on the slab and around it. It was surprising to her that others had cared about him as much as she did. She smiled to herself. The Doris still running the asteroid home would find this a bittersweet experience when she uploaded it. She left her gift, turned, and followed the others.
They all walked slowly back down the trail to the Castle, where lunch awaited.
rbrbrb
On the Princess' Throne World, a ceremony was taking place as well. All of her remaining forces were gathered under the lowest balcony in the castle.
Behind the curtain, the Princess was admiring herself in a mirror. She was dressed in her most regal finery.
"This should fire up our troops, Count," she said, looking at the flash of jewels.
"Yes, your Highness, I don't see how they can fail to be moved by your beauty," he said, while thinking, "Vain child, your day will soon be over."
He glanced at a clock. "It's time, Princess."
The curtain was moved aside by one of the Palace Guard, the tall, heavily armored beings with hidden faces, and the Princess and the Count stepped out on the balcony. They surveyed the forces arrayed below.
In the front were all the Slurthies that could be gathered together. They had fled the Palace when the Jewel was rendered powerless, and it had taken a lot of effort to get them back.
Behind them were the Palace Guardsmen, and to the side was General Zombo, and the other officers of the army.
Next were the Glitterbots, the largest force, standing at attention. Many had been made or repaired by the Builderbots, the short, bullet-shaped robots who had built the fleet. They were taking many of them to set up and run the strip-mining machines that would take the Color Crystal from Rainbowland.
The Princess shook her head. "How small the army is, now," she thought, "But it doesn't matter. With my Jewel, we have the power to take Rainbowland, and get my revenge on Rainbow Brite."
Beyond the army were the regular people of the empire, come to see their Princess as she raised them to new heights of power and glory. Overhead in the cloudless grey sky, the sun gave off heat, and light, but no color.
She raised a hand, and the talk subsided. The only sounds were the dull crash of waves against the foot of the Palace, and the creak of the giant water wheel.
"People of the Empire! I come before you today to announce that our glory days will soon return! My magic Jewel has been restored, the army and fleet rebuilt, and we will soon embark to take revenge on those who brought us so low."
There was some cheering, and she waited a moment for it to subside before continuing.
Our enemies are strong, but we have the will and determination and power to destroy them utterly, and gain their resources for ourselves. Soon, a new era of comfort, peace, and order will begin,
thanks to the determination and self-sacrifice of everyone!"
The cheering was much louder, and she waited a longer time before being sure she could be heard.
"By this time, the day after tomorrow, our enemies will be crushed, and new planets added to the Empire! And that is only the beginning! Other planets will follow, and bring unprecedented wealth to us all!
"LONG LIVE THE EMPIRE!" she shouted, and pointed over the crowd. A pink beam of magic lept from her fingers, soared over everyone, and exploded in a bright pink fireball.
The cheering was deafening.
The army turned smartly to the right, and filed towards the waiting ships.
The Princess disappeared behind the curtain, followed by Count Blogg.
"Well said, Highness," he told her.
"Yes, wasn't it?" she said, once more admiring herself in the mirror. "Well, I will go change, and meet you in the Throne Room."
"Very good, Highness, said Blogg, bowing.
A few minutes later she arrived in the Throne Room, wearing the very same outfit she had worn when Rainbow Brite and Krys had destroyed the Jewel. Blogg was surprised, since she hadn't worn it in many years.
Noticing his gaze, she said, "Yes, I've kept these clothes, because I think it's fitting to beat Rainbow Brite in the same ones she beat me in. How are preparations?"
"All is in readiness, Highness. The flagship is waiting for us."
"Where is the King?" she asked.
"I don't know, Highness; he said he would meet us on Rainbowland."
She went over and picked up the base over which the magic Jewel floated. "Let's go, Blogg," she said, heading out the double doors. Blogg followed.
Inside the flagship, she put the stand down carefully in an otherwise empty compartment, stepped out, and locked the door.
Blogg looked into the ship's bridge. "All secure, Captain, let's be on our way."
"Aye, Count," was the answer, and the ship's engines, which had been idling, roared to new life.
The people on the ground watched as the flagship, followed by the others in stately precession, disappeared through the planet's atmosphere, and were gone.
After lunch was the second ceremony of the day on Rainbowland.
Everyone gathered in the open stadium where the Great Horse Race had happened every Sprite Fair. An open pavillion had been set up in the exact center of the stadium so everyone could get as good a view as possible.
Chairs had been put at the base of the pavillion for the guests, and they all sat down. Sorrell moved his chair a bit away from the others before doing so.
Rainbow and the Color Kids gathered on the pavillion, and lined up in color order behind her. Stormy, Tickled Pink and Moonglo stood beside Red, and Starlite beside them.
In the stands, all of the Sprites had split up by color, and filled the seats, talking excitedly.
Rainbow held up her hands, and the noise subsided. She made a show of looking around carefully.
"Twink?" she called.
There was no answer.
"Has anyone seen Twink?" she asked, loudly.
There was much shaking of heads, and murmurs of 'no'.
"TWINK!" called Rainbow, cupping her hands to her mouth.
"Here I am!" said a voice from the stands. All eyes looked in that direction.
A white Sprite, who had been a toddler a year ago, hopped down the stairs and ran across the field to the pavillion. He ran up the stairs and stopped by Rainbow.
"Hi, Rainbow!" he said.
She looked down at him. "Who are you?" she asked.
"I'm Twink!" he replied, "I'm the white Sprite who follows Rainbow Brite."
She smiled at him. "Yes, you are!" she said, and reached down and hugged him. He hugged back, then they let go, and he stood beside her, holding hands. The stands erupted in cheers, and they waved to the crowd. Behind them, the Color Kids clapped their hands and Starlite neighed and stood up on his hind legs.
Up in the stands, the white Sprite's parents received the congratulations of other Sprites.
The simple, joyful ceremony over, Sprites poured over the field to see him, and give him gifts. The partying would go on for the rest of the day and night.
Twink had wanted to take up his duties immediately, but of course, no one (including Rainbow) would hear of that. The guests, Kids, and Rainbow stepped off the pavillion and joined the party.
It was a good day.