Atop the hill, the Princess, Blogg, the King, and General Zombo watched as the Rainbow Brat and her gang beat a hasty retreat into the Castle. Then a rainbow wall appeared, stopping their laser attack.
The Princess launched a spell, but it broke harmlessly against the wall. Blogg tried one of his own, and had no better success.
The Princess looked up at the King of Shadows. "Well, are you going to send a spell?"
"No, it is not yet my time," said the King.
General Zombo issued an order, and the flyer's laser attack ceased. He turned towards his superiors.
"We might as well not waste the energy," he said, "They have only limited resources, and that wall won't last forever."
"It will be down quicker than you think, General," said the King, amusement in his voice.
"How so, sir?" asked Zombo.
"You'll see. I had a surprise for them set up for over a year ago, just in case they barracaded themselves in the Castle," he answered.
"Very good, sir," answered Zombo, and turned back to direct the Sprite captures.
"How could you know what they would do?" asked the Princess.
"Because I am far older and wiser than you. I have seen many, many battles, and know how those who follow the Light will act," he replied.
"And did you expect that girl to have a LASER?" she retorted.
The King was silent for a second, controlling his anger. 'Patience,' he told himself, 'This bratty child will get what she deserves.'
"No," he finally admitted, "I did not expect that. From their expressions, they didn't expect it either."
Zombo turned back to them. "Can we expect more such attacks, sir?" he asked.
"I don't think so. That was a one-shot event, brought about by anger. It was clearly very draining to her. But be warned, they won't forget they can do that."
"Yes, sir," said Zombo.
"I have a surprise for them, too," said Blogg. He pulled out a control box, and pressed a button.
CRUMP! went a sound, and a wave of water in the moat suddenly rose up and splashed harmlessly.
Surprised, Blogg pushed a second button. CRUMP! A second wave just a foot from the first rose and fell.
"They must have found the bombs I left on the Monstromurk's generator, and that robot," he said, tossing the control aside.
Inside the Color Castle, a hasty Council of War was taking place. Indigo, Lala, and Tickled Pink had gone into the Keeps to watch out the windows what was happening. They sent their Sprites back to the others with reports at regular intervals.
"Look," said Stormy, "I'm tired of this. Quit talking, and let's ACT! Let me out there, and I'll take care of them with a hurricane!"
"And do more damage to Rainbowland then they are," said Krys, interrupting.
Stormy glared at him, but said nothing.
"He's right, Stormy," said Violet, "You'll have to use your powers selectively, like you did on Spectra."
Stormy started to protest, then subsided when she realized the truth of Violet's words.
"Krys, since Wajah and Orin are turned to crystal, will you and On-X go to Spectra, and get help?"
"But..." he said.
"You're the only one who can. On-X can deliver a message, but you need to be there to organize the help and lead it back."
"I want to stay here," he said, "I've got the Prism, and surely my sister wouldn't kill me."
"Don't count on that, Krys," said Red, "You heard what she said. You'll be a causalty of war."
"It's sad to say, but she will sacrifice you to get control of Rainbowland," said Canary.
"I agree," said Starlite, "You need to go, and quickly."
"I won't abandon you all," said Krys, forcefully, tears springing up in his eyes.
"You're not abandoning us, Krys, you're going on a very important mission, one that may save us all," said Rainbow.
"Okay, okay, I'll go," said Krys, giving up a losing battle.
"I Re-quest A Full Re-charge Be-fore We Leave," said On-X.
"Good idea, On-X," said Patty, finishing off a glass of water Buddy had brought her. Her strength was mostly restored. From her dispenser she filled a bucket with green Starsprinkles, and brought them over to the robot horse, while Krys had lifted the saddle to put them in.
In the middle of putting in the Starsprinkles, Krys paused and looked at Rainbow.
"Is Orin...and Wajah...are they going to be okay?" he asked.
"I don't know, Krys," she answered, "I hope so."
"The Jewel should be able to restore them," said Sorrell, speaking up for the first time, "She's turned several of the Sprites to crystal, too, and if she wants them to work in the Color Cave, she'll have to reverse the spell."
Krys looked at Sorrell and smiled. "Thanks!" he said.
Sorrell turned away, muttering something under his breath that sounded like 'you're welcome' to Twink, who was standing near the wizard.
Krys topped off the tank of water inside On-X, and closed the saddle. "Ready to go," he said.
"We'd better find out what's going on," said Rainbow.
Just then, the three Kids who had been watching the enemy ran back into the room.
"Rainbow, they've given up attacking the Castle with the lasers, and are now concentrating on capturing the Sprites," said Tickled Pink.
"We need to save the Sprites!" said Twink.
"We will, Twink," said Rainbow, "We need a plan, right now."
"I need to rest some more," said Patty, sitting down in her chair at the Color Console. Buddy handed her a refilled glass.
"We have some time, since we're safe here," said Rainbow, "So let's get some rest while we can. Be thinking of what we are going to do when we leave. Krys, you know what you're going to do."
"Uh huh," he said, "I know you're right, but I don't have to like it. I'll leave now."
He hopped aboard On-X, who fired up his rockets, and moved next to the door. Violet stood next to the Color Console, ready to briefly turn off the rainbow shield, so they could leave. Red opened the door, and wished them good luck.
Krys looked around at his friends. "I'll be back with help as soon as I can."
"Turning off...NOW!" said Violet, hitting a star-shaped button on her panel. The shield vanished, and On-X headed out the door. When they were over the bridge, she turned it back on.
On-X increased thrust, and started towards space, to find his way blocked by several ships. No matter how he manoevered, they were in his way, firing tractor beams to capture him. But On-X's greater manoeverability prevented that. He headed into the forest, ships overhead, and flyers in hot persuit.
Rainbow and the others were watching through the windows.
"Oh, dear," said Lala.
"SURRENDER!" came the amplified voice of Count Blogg, loud even through the walls of the Castle. "WE HAVE CAPTURED THE SPRITES, AND HAVE THE CASTLE SURROUNDED."
"Don't worry, they can't get through the shield, or they wouldn't try such a feeble ploy," said Violet.
"It is kind of silly," said Moonglo.
"ATTENTION, INSIDE THE COLOR CASTLE: JO'D-EEH, CHO!" came the voice again.
"What was that he said?" asked Patty, cocking her head and wrinkling her brow.
"I don't know," said Rainbow, "I've never heard that language before."
"WE WILL TELL YOU," said several familiar voices together,
"HE TOLD US TO END THIS STANDOFF, NOW!"
Rainbow turned, and saw Red, Lala, Canary, Buddy, and Violet standing around the Color Console, surrounding it.
"AND WHAT THE COUNT TELLS US TO DO, WE DO," said all five Kids, mouthing the words together.
Rainbow, Patty, Indigo, Stormy, Moonglo, and Tickled Pink all were staring back, wondering what was going on. Suddenly, it dawned on Patty. "They all have a Slurthie inside!" she shouted.
"Oh, great!" said Sorrell, "I should have thought of that."
"CORRECT," said the Kids, "WE HAVE BEEN INSIDE THESE KIDS SINCE WE BEAT THEM IN THE FOREST OF THE NEBULA PLANET. WE TRIED TO GET THE REST OF YOU, BUT FAILED."
The affected Color Kids turned their attention from the others to the Color Console. They raised their hands and pointed.
Five colored lasers flashed, and with a loud sizzle and the smell of burning metal, the Console was reduced to scrap. The Kids suddenly wobbled and fell to their knees, exausted.
Outside, the rainbow shield flickered, and went out. Rainbow touched the star on the Color Belt, and the rainbow emerged, wrapping up the Kids, who were too tired to fight.
The Slurthies flowed out of them, and with a loud and sickening plop, landed on the floor, too tired to flee.
Patty's anger blazed again, and she started to gesture at them, when Rainbow put a hand on her shoulder. She whispered in Patty's ear, and Patty nodded.
Instead of slicing the creatures into smaller ones, which is what normally happened when light hit them, she put color on them instead. With a keening sound, the Slurthies writhed, then dried up to dust.
The now-freed Color Kids began to recover from the effects of lasing, and struggled to their feet. The Slurthies had had to use their own energy, so the Kids were not as drained as Patty had been.
"We're sorry, Rainbow," said Lala, "We didn't even know they were in us. Patty, now that I know what you went through, I understand your anger."
Patty nodded. "I'm sorry you all had to experience that."
"That was so horrible!" said Canary, crying. "It goes against everything we are, everything we believe. To know we can be taken and controlled so easily..."
Indigo hugged her, crying herself.
Rainbow was saddened inside, but couldn't allow herself to show it right now.
"We won't be able to stay here much longer with the shield down," said Rainbow, changing the subject.
Seeing that the sheild was down, the fliers turned and once again aimed their lasers at the Castle.
Inside the Castle, the Kids watched as hot spots from the laser fire formed on the walls. The light burst through, melting holes in the walls.
"LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!" shouted Red, and ran through the open door. He was followed by the others back into the horror of war, where green and peace were just memories.
Across the moat, they turned and watched as the Color Castle, their home for millenia, was reduced to a smoking ruin, some of the wooden things inside catching fire and adding to the smoke.
Just then, Krys, still aboard On-X flew over them at treetop level. The flyers gave chase, firing their laser cannons at him. He still couldn't go up because of the ships overhead.
One flyer stayed behind, and turned its laser down toward the Kids. Doris noted it, and ran towards the Kid it was aimed at.
Just as the cannon fired, Doris pushed Stormy out of the way.
"HEY!" shouted Stormy, as she tried to keep her balance, failed, and whacked her head against a rock, knocking her cold.
The beam of energy hit the robot squarely, burning a hole through her, and releasing electricity into her framework. The computer brain was instantly fried, and arcs flashed around the limbs. The white dress with rainbow trim caught fire, and it collapsed, burning.
"DORIS!" shouted Rainbow. She touched the star on the Belt, and the rainbow soared up, swatting the flyer out of the sky like a fly.
Violet put her hand on Rainbow's shoulder. "Don't worry, you know she didn't die. She's not even here, really." Violet knew her words were cold, but she hoped the reminder would prevent their leader from breaking down.
"Oh, yeah..." said Rainbow, clamping down hard on her emotions. "Let's check on Stormy."
Canary and Buddy looked her over. "She'll be okay," said Canary, relieved at having something to do and keep her mind off of the horror of a few minutes ago. "I'm afraid she's not going to be of any help for a while."
Stormy, who was arguably the most powerful Kid, had been saved from death, but taken out of the fight. It was one more score to settle with the Princess.
They hid her behind some rocks, and Sorrell cast a spell to hide her. Then they turned, and brought the fight back to the invaders.