(Author's note: Originally Chapter 7 and 9 were one entire chapter. But I felt it would have been a bit too long and overwhelming. So they became broken up as such. Just a note in case it seems both are a bit shorter than expectes. Or if I'm currently suddenly updating faster than normal. ;) Also I goofed and described Violet's hair as 'brown' in 7. That has been fixed. And lastly. Have an illustration for Chapter 1. Was going to do an illustration for each chapter, but I found I can't imbed images on fanfiction. So oh well. Here it is for anyone interested.
http://s412. photobucket. com/albums/pp208/DeeCee333/pink. jpg )
Chapter 9: Falling
Shy Violet's room was spotless. Even after spending the last four days with barely any sleep, of racing around for components and tools, her room was organised and ordered Rainbow found.
Rainbow Brite had noticed Violet had always worked like that. Ensuring a tool was put in its proper place after use or that a book that had been read was refiled to where it belonged once done with. Shy Violet had explained to Rainbow one day when she had remarked upon Violet's neatness that even though you may be in a rush, a few seconds to return a tool to where it belongs was always proper working practice. For if you got into the habit of not doing so sooner or later you would end up having put something down and then would not be able to locate it. Which would result in you spending far more time searching for it than it would have taken to place it back where it belonged originally.
She Violet was always like that. Forward thinking and planning.
Rainbow Brite watched anxiously as the Color Kid of purple sat at her old, hardwood work bench, tapping her finger quickly against her forehead in deep but rapid thought. Before Shy Violet on the table surface lay an unrefined Color Crystal of each color, even one of the new white ones that had appeared when pink had left Rainbow Land. She said, a frown of concentration painted over her fair features, "What we need is.. a projector. An apparatus that can project color. I'm going to have to construct a device it looks like. Some type of light beam emitter. In which I can use to try to stream color crystal energy."
Shy Violet was starting to get lost in her thoughts as she spoke out loud, Rainbow Brite could see that, the world before her fading away to Violet as she disappeared into the depths of her mind and into a world of numbers, equations and logic.
As always, at times like this, it took just a friendly gesture or nudge to redirect her gifted mind back to the here and now. To help her focus on something she may be too distracted to notice. And so Rainbow cleared her throat, loudly until she caught Shy Violet's attention. Rainbow Brite tapping her finger on the buckle of her Color Belt. Smiling ever so slightly, ever so hopefully.
"The Color Belt!" Shy Violet exclaimed excitably, pivoting her chair around so that she was sitting, facing Rainbow. Spectacle framed eyes focused on the red satin belt around Rainbow Brite's waist. "That would be perfect. Except.."
"Except it doesn't work." Rainbow finished with a nod. Shy Violet was the first person she had gone to when she had found her belt no longer functioned and was the only person apart from Starlite, Twink and herself that knew about her problem with rainbows. They had decided to keep it secret from the other Kids, for the moment. As the Kids were already so worried and upset what with the disappearance of pink and Pink that Rainbow couldn't bare to add another worry to their hearts, "How long do you need to stream color for? The longest I've been able to get the belt to work for is about 5 seconds. Will that be long enough for you to run your tests?"
"It will have to be." Shy Violet said confidently. Her confidence was inspiring.
"Good." replied Rainbow Brite and she gave Shy Violet a deeply grateful smile, "You've already worked so hard with the Color Console, and I am so thankful for all the sacrifices you've made. You have no idea, Violet. I would have been lost without you. But what with the Console and us chasing Sunriser for the last few days.. any time we can save now will be a blessing. It's really important that we determine where Tickled Pink has gone."
Shy Violet smiled bashfully at the praise, a violet hued blush spreading over her cheeks. The spectacled Color Kid waved off Rainbow's words, never one to expect applause for what she did and replied, retuning to her 'all business' tone whilst tapping her finger again in thought, this time against her chin, "I'll will still have to construct a color lens though. Something to filter the output according to the frequency we wish."
"Like Krys' prism bracelet?" Rainbow offered helpfully. For the first time wondering exactly what was happening on Spectra right about now. With the Color Console inoperative the thought hadn't even crossed her mind that Spectra might be experiencing simular issues as Rainbow Land was what with the loss of the color pink. As without the Color Console there was no other way to send a message all the way to Spetra.
But the loss of Tickled Pink seemed to have damaged the Spectrum. And Spectra was connected to the Spectrum, the same way the Color Console was.
Though they hadn't had a visit from Krys and Oynx in the three days since the shockwave in the Color Spectrum. Rainbow wasn't sure if that was a good sign or a bad sign.
"Yes." Shy Violet confirmed. "Though instead of using store and forward technology like Krys' blaster, I'll want to implement pass-through technology. To project all colors except the one I wish to attempt to cancel out. Mine."
Rainbow's hand went to her mouth, to cover and attempt to stifle the first reaction she had to Shy Violet saying that. These words worried Rainbow Brite greatly. The last thing she needed was to lose anyone else, and Shy Violet of all Kids. Without her expertise right now Rainbow would be lost. "Shy Violet.." she begun, putting her hand on her friend and advisor's arm, "Cancelling purple? Is that.. wise?"
"Cancelling /violet/." Shy Violet corrected calmly. "Violet is a spectral wavelength, purple is not. It is a color. There's a difference." She looked at Rainbow and offered a reassuring smile, her tone shifting from 'all business' to one that conveyed the friendship and warmth the two girls had for each other, "Don't worry, Rainbow. I'm not going to test it on myself. That would indeed be poor scientific method. Instead, I was thinking of this." and Rainbow watched as Shy Violet pivoted back over to her work bench and delved into one of its wooden draws.
It took Shy Violet only moments to find the tool she was after, Rainbow putting this fact down once again to her impeccable filing and cleanliness. Shy Violet's had emerged, grasping carefully in her right hand a small, silver pair of scissors. Confidently Shy Violet raised the metal blades of the scissors up to one of her stray violet locks that unkemptly hung over her forehead, that she had not yet had a chance to replace in the bun at the top of her head. Grasping the lock of hair in her other hand, with a delicate snip Shy Violet clipped the cluster of hair away from her head and placed the scissors on the table.
Tying the now orphaned lock into a knot in its middle, to ensure all strands of the lock stayed together Rainbow assumed, Shy Violet said to Rainbow with a satisfied nod, holding it up, "May I present to you our test article."
Moonglo slept onwards. The sun stretching further through the skies of Rainbow Land as she did so. The nocturnal Kid dreaming of the night.
In her dreams the stars shone. They sparkled and glimmered with hope. The high crescent moon illuminating the land below it in cool, golden light. And Moonglo remembered.
Nite Sprite was at her side as she flew through the heavens on her nightly rounds. Invisible to all those below. It was as she passed over Green Grange, the light of the crescent moon following in her wake, that Moonglo first spotted something amiss. On top of the highest, greenest hill of Green Grange there lay a clean, red and white woollen blanket. Completely out of place amongst the night time greenery.
Her curiosity peaked, Moonglo slowed her flight, whispering to Nite Sprite as she did so, "That should not be. A blanket out amongst the Grange? We should investigate, lest someone has lost their way and has had to sleep away from their bed."
Nite Sprite chattered back worriedly in Sprite Talk, concerned that any delays might disrupt their schedule.
"But Nite, if we do not assist the lost individual, then who will?" Moonglo coaxed. "It has only just turned midnight. Come on, we have plenty of night left."
Moonglo was an artistic dreamer, Nite Sprite was forever a time and schedule worrier. Together they complimented each other, Nite Sprite ensuring Moonglo never became too engrossed in her work so that she wasted the whole night away on coloring a single star formation. And Moonglo ensuring that Nite Sprite stopped to smell the roses occasionally. Enjoyed himself rather than worrying about their schedule.
And so the duo descended down to the blanket, the crescent moon's light settling over them and the region below. As soon as their feet touched the grassy ground they became visible. Kid and Sprite looking over the blanket, searching to see if there was indeed some poor lost Kid or Sprite being forced to sleep out in the open.
"Well, it appears the blanket is just that, a blanket." Moonglo concluded to Nite Sprite after a few moments inspection and seeing no one wrapped up amongst its fabric. "We should perhaps fold it up and take it with us, back to Color Castle. It will only get ruined out here."
"Oh don't take it yet." A voice came at Moonglo, originating from one of the many small bushes that lay scattered over the hill. The branches of the shrub then began to creak and shake as two individuals crawled out from within. Two individuals very much colored pink.
"At least until we four have had our picnic." Tickled Pink grinned, Deelite giggling after and dragging a large wicker basket out of the bush once Pink had fully emerged.
"Pink! It's midnight. You should be asleep!" Moonglo exclaimed. Having not expected this at all. No one was ever awake at this hour, except herself and Nite Sprite.
"But if I was.." Tickled Pink said happily, moving to help Deelite carry the basket to the centre of the blanket, "You and Nite wouldn't be able to take a well earned break. It's your lunch time, isn't it? Tell me, when was the last time you had a picnic.."
To be honest, Moonglo couldn't remember. Which might have saddened her a little, reminding her how often she was alone. But not here and now. Cause right now, nothing could be further from the truth.
So she found herself moving to the picnic blanket and wrapping her arms around Tickled Pink in a hug.
Tickled Pink laughed happily at the gesture, and whispered mischievously into Moonglo's ear whilst they hugged, "I brought Deelite for backup. So that Nite couldn't complain too much about your schedule being interrupted."
And sure enough, Nite Sprite had moved to help the pink Sprite unpack the basket without a word of complaint or worry. Quiet and bashfully speechless in the face of the female Sprite as the duo started laying out plates.
Moonglo laughed. It was becoming such a wonderful night.
At least it was until she woke up. The dream memory of times past fading as reality slowly settled back in.
With fifteen minutes having now past, Shy Violet had finished her setup with Rainbow Brite's assistance. They had cleared her work bench and pulled it into the centre of the room, placing Rainbow Brite's color belt on the far end of the bench.
Rainbow stood at the far end with the belt. Holding it steady and aligned vertically with the table top.
Further down the table and leaning across it, Shy Violet held the white Color Crystal that Rainbow Brite had brought with up with the others. Counting out spacing as she moved the color crystal along the wooden table.
"Let's see. When you project your rainbow along the table top, first there will be red at a wavelength of 625 to 740 nanometres.. then the absentee gap of pink." She said, moving the crystal onward along the table, from left to right as she counted, "Next will be orange at 585 to 620 nanometres. Hmm. Yellow, green, blue and indigo will follow till finally we'll have my personal favourite, Violet at 380 to 450 nanometres." Upon mentioning the frequency of violet, Shy Violet ceased moving the white color crystal along the table and sat it upon that spot on the table. It now being to the very right hand side of the workbench, where spectral violet was meant to manifest.
Forever the careful scientist, Shy Violet walked back over to Rainbow Brite's end of the workbench, looked over her shoulder and judged her belt's alignment with the tabletop and the newly placed white color crystal. Nodding with a satisfied murmur, Shy Violet walked to the opposite table end and placed her lock of cut hair on the wooden bench face.
"It all appears to be satisfactorily aligned. Configured so that the white color crystal should block the violet wavelength of your belt's rainbow. Resulting in, theoretically mind you as I do not have access to Murky's original equipment, a simular event that would have occurred at Pink Prairie."
Taking three big strides back, appearing to take extra effort to ensure she wasn't anywhere near the table or the lock of hair, Shy Violet offered, "If you will Rainbow. Please activate your belt."
At this the guardian of Rainbow Land held her breath and pressed down on the star ended buckle of her belt, the star flashing white momentarily and the Color Belt then suddenly jolting, issuing forth a rainbow of color.
Rainbow Brite was unique from all the other Kids in Rainbow Land. Firstly, because she was never a Kid originally. A kid yes, but not a Kid.. one of the natural inhabitants of Rainbow Land who were charged with ensuring there was proper balance of all colors.
It was the Sphere of Light that had made Rainbow Brite the same as the Kids of Rainbow Land. Ensuring both that she would never age and, importantly, that she was bound to the Spectrum too.
But Rainbow Brite's role in Rainbow Land was different to the Color Kids. While the Color Kids only concentrated on matters that were influenced by the frequency of the Spectrum they resided over, Rainbow Brite wielded all colors of the Spectrum. The Kids ensured the Spectrum was in balance and alignment universally, that the energy of the Spectrum flowed evenly across the Universe. But even still, there were always some areas that the Spectrum flowed across unevenly. Minor disturbances throughout the Universe altering the Spectrum's correct resonance in small, local patches.
Where such a skewed patch appeared, the colors in that part of the world became misaligned and incorrectly distributed. And it was the job of Rainbow Brite to not only guard Rainbow Land and its Kids, but to manually fix these areas where color was not correctly distributed. Through use of her Color Belt and her ability to use and manipulate all colors of the Spectrum through it.
The rainbow that sprung fourth from Rainbow Brite's belt was an amazing thing to behold. Not just because it enabled Rainbow Brite to Color any item she needed to correct, but also because, simply put, colors were deeply important to people. They provoked a emotional response in individuals. A single color could change the world. From the early Hunter Gatherer humans who used color to determine if food was ripe, or to avoid dangerously colored food that was poisonous. To current times being able to see, at a glance, if someone was well or not by their face. By what shades of color it was splashed with. The color and item is shaded can mean the world.
Colors were deeply important to people. They provoked an emotional response, so ingrained into their life they were. And so too did seeing all colors of the Spectrum provoke an emotional response in people. Taking in the sight of one of Rainbow Brite's rainbows lifted the spirits of those who looked upon one. Her rainbow was a wondrous thing to behold.
At least normally.. but now, with the Spectrum damaged, her rainbows were a pale, faint imitation of what they once were. The wobbling, faded beam of colored light that she projected across the table top being no exception to this new, sad rule.
It burst from her belt, trembling across the workbench, meeting with the lock of hair on the other end of the table. Only the colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and indigo made it to the table end. The violet line of the faint rainbow impacted against the white Color Crystal that Shy Violet had left in its path, the Color Crystal humming and glowing violet as it did so, but not allowing that frequency of the rainbow's spectrum to continue any further.
As the rainbow met the lock of hair, there was a flash of white light from the knot of hair before the counter top projection of light and energy shook violently and disappeared altogether. The rainbow having managed to last just three seconds.
"Sorry Shy Violet." Rainbow offered. It was sad to see her rainbow in such a state. Almost where she dreaded activating her belt anymore. "That was one of the more shorter ones. I can try again if you like, if you give my belt a few minutes to recharge itself."
But Shy Violet wasn't listening, she was already quickly walking over to the lock of hair. "Interesting. Did you notice what occurred at the conjunction? Fascinating. It appeared as though the violet frequency energy from my hair, and the frequencies from your rainbow, were enough to create a closed circuit if you will. The resulting energy merging back into white light."
A purple microscope had found its way into Shy Violet's hands, from one of the shelves in her room, which she placed on the bench and set the lock of hair under the microscope's lens.
To Rainbow Brite the hair didn't look any different to how it had been before being hit by the rainbow, but Shy Violet didn't say a word for quite a while as she studied it. The only sounds being the occasional 'hmm' of her audibly thinking.
Eventually Shy Violet looked up at Rainbow, "The follicles certainly appear to be altered.. their exposure to the closed energy circuit of the rainbow appears to have.. stripped away that color energy they possessed. Resulting in, well, whatever connection they had to the Spectrum has been removed."
"Violet.." Rainbow said, bringing her hands to massage her temples tiredly, "I didn't understand a word of that. Please.. can you give me the simple version."
"Ah yes sorry. Well, I'll put it simply. Please bear in mind that this is only one test and my theory could be wrong. But it appears that a Color Kid, with no Color, is just a Kid. The two appear to be separable, the Kid being able to exist without the Color part of the equation. As the test sample of hair I examined does appear changed.. in a.."
A feminine voice interjected from the door of Shy Violet's room.
"So you're saying, Tickled Pink is okay?"
Rainbow Brite quickly turned her head about in surprise to the direction of the voice. Someone had been ears dropping on her and Violet? That was, well, quite out of character for any of the Kids. Rainbow thought she would have to have a word with the Kid responsible.
That was until Rainbow saw who it was, standing at the door.
It was Moonglo.
Dressed in pyjamas of black, blue and purple. Looking anything but tired, staring at Shy Violet intently.
"Moonglo.." Rainbow began. Rainbow Brite's tone was soft and supportive. As she knew how difficult things were for Moonglo right now. "You should be resting. Shy Violet and myself are still looking into the matter."
"But I just heard you say.." Moonglo said defiantly. Looking at Shy Violet instead of Rainbow. Not about to be dissuaded from what she had heard.
Shy Violet at first seemed reluctant to commit an answer beginning with, "Well.. please remember this is just one test.. for an accurate analysis I really should.." she paused, looking at Rainbow for an indication of how she should proceed.
Rainbow Brite sighed and gave a nod to Shy Violet. Giving her permission to speak openly. It may be just one test, but hope was still hope. And wasn't that what Rainbow had been doing for the past few days? Trying to give the Color Kids hope despite how the situation looked. And now they had their very first piece of evidence that supported that hope. Like a single star shining in the black night sky.
Shy Violet, at Rainbow's confirming gesture, turned back to Moonglo and summerised, "Yes. I do believe she is, well, alive and intact. Whether she is okay, I do not know. As from everything we've seen it appears she would no longer be connected to the Spectrum. Murky's attack would have disconnected her from the Spectrum and thus from Rainbow Land."
She Violet glanced at the hair sample in her microscope for some time, before eventually looking back towards the two other girls, Moonglo having walked fully into Shy Violet's room and sat down upon the edge of Violet's bed.
Shy Violet looked at the two and paused, seeming to be determining how to best phrase what she wanted to say next. After a few moments the Violet Color Kid said, "Continuing a simple explanation.. as desired. Imagine it like this. You've heard legends of angelic beings falling from the heavens? Picture that. With no anchor to the Spectrum or to Rainbow Land, Tickled Pink would have fallen from here.. to where I don't know."
"But she's alive." Moonglo repeated, smiling, moving from the bed to hug Shy Violet and Rainbow. "She's alive, Violet and Rainbow. I knew it. That's what's important."
There was a pause and Moonglo asked, looking at the two carefully, asking the all important question, "So how do we find out where Tickled Pink did go?"
First there was three.
Rainbow Brite, Shy Violet and Moonglo.
They walked out of Color Castle and set off towards Pink Prairie. Rainbow taking this journey on foot, just as the others had to. Not calling for Starlite. Instead letting him take care of matters in the mountains of Rainbow Land, hopefully take care of Sunriser.
But first there were three. Walking together, silently and determinedly.
Then there were four.
As they crossed through the Red Region, Red Butler could not help but notice the three girls marching off resolutely and fell into step behind them.
He didn't speak a word to them, perhaps afraid they would tell him he wasn't welcome wherever they were going. But he could tell something was up. By their faces, by their resolute movements, by their silence. Each alone with their thoughts.
So Red Butler fell into step. And then there were four.
Four became five. Lala Orange was the next to join them. As they passed her by on the trek to Pink Prairie Red Butler silently gestured to her to follow. Always looking out for her.
And then there were five. Five became six, and six became seven. Buddy Blue and Patty O'Green hearing from Champ and Lucky that something was up, Rainbow Brite was leading some of the Kids off into Rainbow Land, so the two headed off to join the precession.
Canary Yellow was the last to join the line. Having been sitting in the boughs of a lemon tree in the Yellow Plains. She spotting the spectrum of marching Kids heading to Pink Prairie and Canary ran to join them.
The Kids moved into Pink Prairie, passing through the onetime pink, but now red, rose garden that welcomed any person entering the Prairie. Rainbow Brite led the band of Color Kids towards the spot in which Tickled Pink was last seen in Rainbow Land. The very spot she and Starlite had rescued Sunriser.
And there, sitting amongst the red roses of the region, upon the wrecked and beaten metal cage that once held Sunriser, was Indigo. Writing in a small journal, sadly wiping her eyes as she did so.
And then they eight were complete.
Almost.
One of their number was still missing. And that was what they had come to Pink Prairie to rectify.
Rainbow Brite turned to look at them all, her Kids she was sworn to protect, and spoke, "Tickled Pink is alive."
And she told them all of what she and Shy Violet had so far discovered today. Of Murkey's machine, Tickled Pink's cancellation, and her resulting falling from the Spectrum and Rainbow Land. The only question that was unanswered was where to.
"And so Shy Violet was able to reproduce Murkey's machine? And test it on her hair?" Red Butler clarified, frowning angrily at this revelation, of Murkey's involvement and what it meant for Tickled Pink. His cheeks tinted with an angry red glow.
"If she can reproduce the effect, then do it again. But this time on me. I'll go." Red Butler said instantly, stepping forward, his hands clenched into fists. Ready to fight whatever battle lay ahead. Or perhaps fight to be the one to take this journey for Tickled Pink. To be the one to rescue her. "Send me to where she is, and I'll find her and bring her home."
"I want to go too." It was Buddy Blue now speaking up. He was walking over to Red Butler's side. The two boys looking each other in the eye, seeming to determine that neither one would back down if they began to argue over who should go, eventually nodding in a silent agreement and standing there together. Both intent on going.
"If Buddy is going, I'm going." Patty O'Green chimed in. Crossing her arms across her chest. Her green eyes scanning the faces of the other Kids. Daring anyone to tell her she couldn't.
It was Rainbow Brite who was the one who spoke up against her, "I can't let you.." She then looked at the other Color Kids and added, "Any of you.. When Tickled Pink disappeared, the Spectrum was damaged." She looked towards Shy Violet for verbal confirmation, but presently Violet was shyly looking at the ground, intent on softly pushing a stone along with the tip of her boot. Uncomfortable in this tense environment when an argument amongst the Kids might break out. Or maybe she knew what was coming. So Rainbow continued on her own,
"The Spectrum is still repairing itself. I don't know what would happen if any other Color Kids had themselves removed from the Spectrum. But I'm pretty sure it would not be good at all. Especially as the Spectrum is still recovering. We can't afford to lose any other colors."
"But how will we find Tickled Pink then?" Red Butler poked. "You and Shy Violet don't know where she is. It's the only way. And one of us has to. It has to be a Color Kid. It's not like you can be cancelled and fall, Rainbow, like Tickled Pink did. I'll go, on my own. Red is the closet in the Spectrum to Pink. So it must have the best chance of working if it is me."
"No Red. I'm not letting you. I mean it. I don't know what will happen and I'm not going to risk it." Rainbow Brite's voice was stern. It wasn't often that the leader of the Color Kids disagreed with the guardian of Rainbow Land. As of yet there had never been a time where Red Butler had pushed an issue and tried to challenge Rainbow Brite's authority.
But there could always be a first time.
There was a murmur of dissent amongst the Kids at this order. Each of them frowning as it sounded like Rainbow was giving up on Tickled Pink when an option to find her was already present. So Rainbow Brite continued on, quickly clarifying, "I've been thinking about this since before we left Color Castle. I'll be the one who is going."
"How can you? You're not a Color Kid." Patty O'Green exclaimed, looking towards Buddy to see if there was something she was missing. But Buddy shrugged in return to her green eyed stare.
Rainbow closed her eyes and took a breath. She didn't think the Kids were going to like her plan, but really, they didn't have any other alternatives right about now. Things might be different if the Color Belt still functioned. She could leave Rainbow Land on Starlite and search to where Tickled Pink might have fallen to. But they could spend years searching for Tickled Pink, and she couldn't let another day go by with one of her Kids lost and alone. "I'm connected to Rainbow Land, as you all are. When Lady Brite imparted her powers to me she made it so. So that I would never age as you all do. So that I would be in essence a Kid."
Rainbow Brite glanced at Shy Violet, whose head was still down turned. Paying even closer attention to the pebble by her foot. Yes, Shy Violet knew full well what Rainbow Brite was about to say. Rainbow could tell. She was always mentally three steps ahead of everyone. And the fact she wasn't attempting to talk Rainbow out of this plan must mean it was the right course of action. "When the Sphere of Light was imparted on me, it connected me to Rainbow Land and all of you. Therefore if I give it up, I should lose my connection. And without that I should fall, as Tickled Pink did."
There were gasps. All the Color Kids, except for Shy Violet, were suddenly talking at once. A jumble of panicked voices all saying things like there has to be another way. Let a Color Kid go. Rainbow closed her eyes after a moment and raised her hands to silence them.
"We need to find Tickled Pink.. and it's the only way I can think of. I know it sounds scary, me leaving, but.." She looked at the worried faces of Moonglo and the Color Kids, "I would do the same for any of you. If any of you were lost or hurt, I would find you and protect you. That's what I'm here for." Rainbow Brite smiled at them, feeling very much the love for them that a mother feels for her children. The love and desire to protect, "It has to be me. That's why I'm here."
The other Kids looked at each other, but there wasn't anything they could say. Losing Tickled Pink was bad enough, now to have Rainbow leave them was absolutely frightening. But if she didn't go.. Tickled Pink might never be found. Without Tickled Pink they were incomplete.
It was Shy Violet who was the first to speak up, finally breaking her silence, "It's actually rather important that you go, Rainbow." She took a breath and said, her voice small, "From what I've been able to see when I looked at the Spectrum earlier, it was indeed damaged when Tickled Pink was removed from it. But.. it is healing itself as you said. Which is both good and bad. Eventually the Spectrum will righten itself.. which is good. As the color belt will begin to function again. But.. It will heal itself without the Pink frequency within it. Once that occurs, even if Tickled Pink is found she won't be able to rejoin the Spectrum or Rainbow Land. At least.. that's my working theory."
"Is that even possible?" Rainbow asked in alarm. "For the Spectrum to function without Pink?" There were 8 Color Kids. That's the way things were. How could things work any other way?
"Err.. yes. There was a time before Tickled Pink joined us in Rainbow Land. This was long before you came, Rainbow. But once there was just us, us 7. It could certainly go back to being like that. Theoretically speaking of course." Shy Violet replied softly, lowering her head again. Focused on the pebble instead of her emotions. "I'm sorry for not saying anything earlier. I wanted to run some more tests before I worried anyone unnecessarily. But it appears you will be going no matter what I say."
"How long do we have?" Rainbow asked. More determined than ever. Regretting every wasted day more than ever.
"I.. don't know. I just don't. I'll have to study the Spectrum some more. Run some tests.. I just need some time." Shy Violet fretted.
Rainbow was about to prod Shy Violet for a guess, but by the tired and worried look on the Color Kid's face Rainbow Brite backed off and left it at that. Shy Violet had been pushed and pushed so much recently, to provide answers that no one else could. With limited time and limited data and limited opportunity to come up with those answers. Sometimes you could only push someone so hard.
And an uneasy silence descended.
"Go.." said one of the Kids eventually. It was Red Butler. He looked to the other Color Kids, their unofficial leader, making sure there was no disagreements. Seeing none, Red Butler turned to lookeback at Rainbow Brite and echoed, "Go, Rainbow. Find Tickled Pink. And bring her back to us."
Rainbow gave Red Butler a thankful look. She knew it was hard for her Kids, it was hard for her also. But it was worse to imagine a Rainbow Land without Tickled Pink in it.
The guardian of Rainbow Land's hands went behind her, to the arch of her back, and teasing apart three metal clasps, she undid the Color Belt.
"Moonglo.." she said, stepping towards the only other Kid present that wasn't a Color Kid. "I'm going to need you to keep this for me, until I return." and held the Color Belt towards her. Offering, asking.
"Rainbow!" Moonglo said, taking a step back "Not the Color Belt.. I cannot. It is yours."
"No, you can." Rainbow coaxed, "In fact, only you can take it. Should take it. None of the Color Kids are able to wear the Color Belt, it must be worn by someone who is able to direct all colors of the Spectrum at once, equally. The only other person in Rainbow Land apart from you who could hold it for me is Stormy. But she is occupied with making preparations for winter. Fall has already begun on Earth under her influence. Please Moonglo. It is just until I return. I need the belt safe, where it belongs, ihere n Rainbow Land. As I don't know where I shall end up."
And that was the reason indeed. Rainbow didn't know where she would end up, or if she would return. At least by leaving the belt in Rainbow Land, if she and Tickled Pink did not return the Belt could be used by the next guardian of Rainbow Land. Eventually.. once the Spectrum healed itself.
"Please." Rainbow asked again. "So that I can find Tickled Pink. For her sake."
Moonglo didn't seem like she wanted to take the Belt, but she did anyway. For Tickled Pink. Awkwardly holding the belt as if she couldn't contemplate putting it on.
Rainbow Brite had been thinking about this ever since she left Color Castle. Well, actually, well before then. Ever since her dream of the Color Belt not working, of Tickled Pink being lost to her along with the Sphere of Light.
Lady Brite had imparted her powers on Rainbow, back when she had been able to defeat the King of Shadows. So long ago, when Rainbow had first come to Rainbow Land.
If it was within Lady Brite's powers to give up her powers, then so too it should be for Rainbow Brite. As she now possessed the same powers Lady Brite once did.
Rainbow Brite had been thinking about this ever since she left Color Castle. And she was pretty sure she had worked out how to do this; give up her powers and leave Rainbow Land.
They had already lost so much time, chasing Sunriser and repairing the Color Console. So there was no time left to spare, as Tickled Pink needed to be found before the Spectrum healed without her connected to it.
So there was no more time left for hesitation.
She stepped away from the other Kids, to approximately the same place she guessed Tickled Pink had been when she originally disappeared, and looked one last time upon the worried and fearful faces of the Kids of Rainbow Land.
"I'll be back.." Rainbow Brite said, "I swear I'll be back."
And Rainbow Brite concentrated.. for the first time since she had come to Rainbow Land willing the Sphere of Light to leave her. Willing it with all the desperation and wanting that she felt inside her for her missing Kid.
Rainbow Brite concentrated, the desperation to leave so she could find Tickled Pink welling up inside her, and then it happened. Her wish was granted. With desperation fueled desire, something inside her broke away. And the world around her began to shift and change. Growing lighter.. faded even.
Closing her eyes briefly she gave herself up to the feeling. And she could feel the power of light starting to leave her. No longer being wanted. Her cheek burnt, right where the star shaped symbol of the Sphere of Light's guardianship resided. Feeling as though someone had placed a red hot star shaped branding iron against her cheek. But Rainbow willed the power to leave her still.
Opening her eyes again, Rainbow Brite began to notice she couldn't see the Kids anymore. The Kids, or Rainbow Land. Everything around her was just pure bright light. All sight of Rainbow Land had disappeared, and soon the sensations of Rainbow Land around her started to fade and disappear too. Sounds dying into nothingness. A dearly loved dream coming to an end.
But then from the whiteness came a pair of hands, grabbing at her. Holding her. Trying to perhaps stop her fall. But it was too late. She was past the point of no return and could not be pulled back. The power was erupting from her now. She was a brilliant white star going nova and there was only one direction to go and that was onwards. Dragging the other person with her.
And so Rainbow Brite felt the ground of Rainbow Land disappear beneath her feet, felt herself falling ever downward, through bright white nothingness, clinging to the person holding her as the other person clung back. Each falling through the whiteness.
Rainbow Brite not knowing where she would end up, just that it would be where she needed to be. And that was wherever Tickled Pink was.