Disclaimer: I do not own Rainbow Brite or any of the other characters that appear in this chapter except for Grey and Grox.
"A Rainbow Connection"
Chpt. 3
Murky and Lurky rode in the grunge buggy through the desolate expanse that was once Rainbowland. "Isn't wonderful Lurky?" laughed Murky. "Everything is a lovely shade of gray with no sign of color anywhere. The Doom Gloom Rain Cloud was a success, we've finally won."
"Yay, we won," cheered Lurky.
"Yes Lurky and thanks to our new friend, Rainbow Brite and her friends are out of the way for good."
"Look Murky." Lurky pointed at the copter like vehicle in the sky.
"Quickly Lurky, take us home." Lurky stepped on the gas and the grunge buggy sped off toward the Pits. They arrived just as the copter landed. "Welcome back friend," said Murky as he jumped out of the buggy.
"It looks like everything worked out swimmingly."
"Indeed, who would have thought that one little Gloom Cloud could be used to defeat that Rainbow brat once and for all. You do have her don't you?"
"Well," the stranger started, "We got most of them. From the list you gave us only two are missing, Moonglow and Rainbow Brite."
Murky nearly choked from the news. "You mean to tell me that Rainbow Brite is still out there. She'll figure out some way of beating us if she isn't found soon."
"Calm down Murky, the shadows informed us that she is sleeping with the fishes in the river. She can't do any harm there."
"Poor Rainbow Brite pulled under the waves of a raging river. Good riddance," said Murky. "What about the color belt, do you have that at least?"
"No she was still wearing it when she went under."
"That's not good, someone else might find it and restore Rainbowland again. Then again, if you have the Color Kids it might not be so easy for the next one since they aren't in Rainbowland anymore. Let's go inside and celebrate our victory." Murky ushered the hairy little man inside and Lurky followed right behind.
A little ways off hiding behind a pile of rocks, Rainbow Brite and Grey watched the trio disappear inside. "We're going to have to get in there if we want to find out anything," said Grey. He looked back at Grox, "You stay here boy. I'll call you if I need you." Grox growled softly his understanding. "You okay Rainbow?"
"Yeah, I'm being affected by the Pits a little that's all. Let's go on, we need to find out were the others are." Grey nodded in agreement and the two crept to the cave door. Grey peeked around the corner of the door and saw no one. He pulled the hood up over his head and motioned for Rainbow to do the same. Quickly they made their way inside and moved along the wall until they heard voices coming from an inner chamber.
"My Master is making preparations for another Doom Gloom Rain Cloud. We got your do-gooders out of the way and now we will get our do-gooders out of the way." Murky and his guest laughed.
"I'd like to see their faces when the Doom Gloom covers their land and starts raining on their parade." They laughed again. Grey shook his head in disgust and looked back at Rainbow. He could tell she was trying to fight off the effects of the Pits. "So what are you going to do when you're free to do what ever it is you do?" asked Murky.
"Why, we're going to do the same thing to Earth so everywhere will be like here."
"Earth?" Grey said.
"Earth is the place I bring color to. We have to stop them before they do. I have a friend down there whom I don't want to be hurt by them."
"Hello," came a voice from behind. Rainbow and Grey jumped around and saw Lurky standing behind them with a goofy grin on his face. Rainbow started to yell but stopped herself. "Don't I know you?" he asked as he stared at Rainbow. "You look like Rainbow Brite. I know you must be her big sister."
"What's all the racket out here Lurky?" Murky said as he came pounding into the hall.
"Look Murky it's Rainbow Brite's big sister."
"Rainbow Brite's big sister!" Murky sputtered. "Wait a minute Rainbow Brite doesn't have a sister you lunkhead. Who are you?"
Grey stood up straight and looked Murky squarely in the eyes. "Sir have some respect, you are in the presence of Princess Twila, heir to the throne of the Twilight Kingdom. I am her escort as she travels the lands in hopes of forming an alliance with the different kingdoms."
"Welcome your highness to my humble abode." Murky bowed down and Lurky poked at him.
"But Murky she looks like Rainbow Brite."
"Be quiet Lurky," Murky whispered.
"We have come in search of a place called Rainbowland. I take it this Rainbow Brite your friend here speaks of is the ruler here?" Grey stole a quick glance at Rainbow; she seemed a bit nervous, but was playing the part he gave her.
"Yes she is, but I'm afraid you've come at a bad time. You see Rainbowland has recently been under attack and Rainbow Brite is not here at the moment. We had to take her someplace safer while we protect the land."
"I am sorry to hear that," said Rainbow. "If I could meet with her and form an alliance, we might be able to help out in someway."
"The Princess is correct; Her Majesty the Queen would send forces to help an ally in their time of need."
"Well of course, we'll take you to her right away. I'm sure she will be glad to hear your news. Right this way." Murky held out his arm, pointing down another hallway. Grey looked at Rainbow, she nodded and they walked down the corridor. When they were half way down the corridor, Murky stopped and pulled a switch on the wall. The floor opened up beneath Rainbow and Grey, dropping them down into a deep pit. The walls were very smooth and inclined inward, making the top smaller than the bottom. Grey and Rainbow looked up and saw Murky standing up top. "I don't know who she is, but I do know you," he said to Grey. "I've seen you wandering around out here in the Pits. I'll be back later with a little surprise for you, but for now you can stay down there." Murky disappeared from the edge and Grey listened for any sound of him up there.
When he was sure no one was above he turned around to speak to Rainbow. He saw her sitting on the floor with her chin resting on her knees. "Are you okay?" She looked up at him; even though she had said nothing yet he could tell that she wasn't okay. "We need to get you out of here."
"There is no way out," said Rainbow. "The rainbow won't work in the Pits. Everyone's been captured so there is no one to rescue us, and Murky will probably use the Doom Gloom on us too."
"Boy the Pits really do get you down," said Grey. "You should know though that rainbows are visions, but only illusions and rainbows have nothing to hide." Grey could see some of the light coming back into Rainbows eyes. "Or so I've heard anyway. But I think they're wrong, don't you agree?"
"Yes, they are wrong. Rainbows are not illusions; they make people happy and give them hope. And you said all that to snap me out of it."
"Yep, now like I said we are getting out of here. As the saying goes 'where there's a will, there's a way.' But I don't know Will so Grox will do just as well." Grey whistled long and loud. Moments later they could hear barking and screaming as Grox came bounding in. They watched the top of the pit and Grox soon arrived.
"Grok!"
"Good boy. Toss down the bag Grox." Grox's head disappeared from sight.
"How is he supposed to toss it down when it is tied to his back?"
"I trained him to take it off if necessary and I designed especially for that." The bag came tumbling down and Grey caught it. He opened one of the pouches and pulled out a long piece of rope. He took one end, tied it to the spear and threw it up over the top. "Grab it boy," he yelled up to Grox. The roped shook for a second then Grey pulled on it to test that Grox had the other end. He tied a loop on the other end of the rope and placed his foot in it. "Put you foot on top of mine, hold the rope with one hand and my waist with your other."
"Like this?" asked Rainbow as she grabbed the rope.
"Yes." Grey held onto Rainbow as she steadied herself. "Okay Grox pull." Slowly they rose up to the top. "Okay grab the ledge and pull yourself up." Rainbow grabbed the ledge and pulled herself up as Grey pushed her up. He then pulled himself up and Grox let go of the spear and pushed up against him. Grey rubbed the top of his head, "Good job Grox, good boy." Grey stowed the roped back in the bag and put the bag back on Grox. "Get on Grox's back," he told Rainbow. "We are going to have move quickly."
"Okay," said Rainbow as she climbed up on Grox. She held onto the bag strap for support. Voices could now be heard in the distance.
"Let's run boy." Grey took off running and Grox leapt right beside him. Rainbow now understood what Grey had told her about the water making him faster. They flew down the corridor and blew past Murky. Grey skewered the devise he was holding and busted it against the wall. They burst out the door and didn't even slow down when they jumped off ledges. Rainbow held on tight, she thought that even Starlight wouldn't have been able to do this, but she knew that that wouldn't stop him from trying. When Grey thought they were far enough away without being followed he stopped.
"Well that didn't go as planned," he said.
"We didn't find out where they have the others. What are we going to do now?"
"Plan B, if we can't find out where they have taken them then we follow them there. I've seen the direction the little hairball comes from and goes to. We will travel in that direction and maybe get lucky."
"Then let's get going," said Rainbow. Grey jumped up behind her and pointed Grox in the right direction.