So it's been a crazy week and I didn't finish chapter 13, but this is why I have a backup set of chapters to post anyway. I've also got a side project I can work on now during the week, something I have now termed "The Color Kid Diaries". It doesn't require as much concentration as a long-shot, at least, that's how it is for me. I've posted the first entry as a concept piece on the Rainbow Brite forums so if you're a member there, go check it out. I don't think I'll post it here until I have all the entries done for the first "event". Anyway, I hope to have chapter 13 of this story finished next weekend. We'll see how the week goes!
Chapter 10 Beginning of Rainbow's End
By mid-day the next day, the shadow spot had grown considerably in size. The entire left side of Rainbow's face appeared as though it were bruised. It was an awful sight to look at, and neither Stormy or Moonglo could stomach looking at it for very long. They almost preferred the spot to have been hidden, so as to not ruin the beauty that was Rainbow's face. Stormy felt much better after a good rest, and barely felt anything. Well, anything that she'd care to admit to someone. Moonglo kept her in bed, which bugged Stormy. However, she complied with the request. There were bigger things to think about.
"We need to get that Belt back," began Stormy, not willing to give up.
"I know," replied Moonglo softly. "How do we do it? Last night, when I was working in the sky, I saw Murky out and about. If you look outside…you'll see he's been very busy."
"He changed the land, didn't he?"
Moonglo nodded sadly. "It's grey. Everything is grey and ugly. I wanted to stop him…I just didn't know how."
"We can't do too much of anything if he has the Color Belt. We need to get it back before he really causes trouble."
"What are we going to do?"
"We go to the Pits today. We get the Color Belt back and use it to bring Rainbow back. Then we let her deal with Murky."
"How are we going to take the Color Belt from Murky?"
Stormy took a few minutes to think about it. "You," she answered simply.
"Me?" asked Moonglo.
"Yes," replied Stormy. "You can turn invisible; we can use that as a distraction for Murky."
For the next hour, the girls continued to work on their plan, deciding how they could trick Murky and get the Color Belt back. They didn't dare look at Rainbow's face, for they knew the shadow spot was getting bigger with each passing hour.
Murky leisurely made his way down the network of tunnels, following the chalkmarks on the stone walls with his lantern. It was time to refill his glorious machine and check on the pesky Color Kids once again. Quickly, he held his lantern over the prison pit. The brats were barely moving, but he could see a few of them wandering aimlessly around their prison, namely Patty O'Green, Shy Violet, and Lala Orange. They'd bump into each other before turning around and walking in a different direction. Murky knew he could probably put the Kids to good use one day, draining color for him instead of adding it. Rainbow Land was easy to take care of. Once he had the Mines and sprites working for him, he could figure out a way to travel the galaxy, draining color from Earth and other surrounding planet.
The machine was just ejecting the last of the gloom cloud potion, as Murky crossed the cavern to the machine. He could just hear the sounds of the Color Kids coming out of its stupor. He could imagine them coming to, wondering where they were when the last thing they remembered was sleeping safe and sound in their beds. First came the exclaims of surprise, then the shock when they realized where they were.
"We've got to get out of here!" Murky heard Red Butler say.
"Murky's done this to us. He'll pay!" added Buddy.
Murky couldn't resist taunting the Color Kids. The opportunity was too great to pass up. He was certain they wouldn't be able to escape; Lurky had proved that when he'd swung from the bars. "Oh dear, look what I've got in my pit!" he cackled with glee as he glanced through the bars at the Kids. He held the lantern over the Kids, causing them to squint from the bright light.
"You let us go!" cried Canary Yellow.
"Oh no! That would be no fun!" he replied.
"Rainbow Brite will save us. You wait and see. She'd never let us down!"
"You forget that your precious Rainbow Brite is out of commission!" This remembrance washed over each Color Kid and they frowned. "And I have her precious Color Belt too."
"It won't work without star sprinkles," retorted Shy Violet.
"Which is why I have cases of them here. The Evil Princess left them behind the last time, so I made my own. They're quite powerful. Stormy found that out first hand."
"You think you can keep us here, Murky Dismal?" asked Patty O'Green in a soft voice. "Stormy and Moonglo can still get you. You watch."
Murky waved his hand dismissively. He was growing bored of taunting the Color Kids, and quickly turned away from the prison pit. Flipping the switched, he waited and listened as the gloom cloud took effect on each Kid and effectively stopped their remarks and replies. "Peace and quiet again. How does Rainbow stand their chattering?" he muttered to himself as he began to make his way back to the lair, wondering if he could figure out a way to effectively get Stormy and Moonglo to hand over Rainbow Land.
"Starlite! Starlite!" called Moonglo loudly. She was wandering the areas near the Color Castle, trying to find Rainbow's horse. The land seemed so very strange without color. It gave her a creepy feeling inside.
"Stop calling for me as though I were some silly child," came the reply from within the forest covering.
"Oh Starlite! Stormy and I need you to help us out."
"If it's to insult me, I don't need to hear it. The most magnificent horse in the universe will not be insulted," he answered.
Moonglo crept closer to where Starlite's voice appeared to be coming from. "We figured out what was wrong with Rainbow. Murky's been up to no good." She waited for the reply, ready to tiptoe even closer.
"This had better not be some trick," answered Starlite. "I don't want to be tricked." Moonglo followed the sound of his voice, creeping closer and noticing a clearing up ahead. There lay Starlite in a bed of leaves and pine needles. He looked rather glum. Moonglo stepped into the clearing.
"It's not a trick. Stormy and I are going to the Pits, but we need your help too. We're going to get the Color Belt back. Stormy thinks that we may be able to use it to help Rainbow."
Starlite rose to his feet and shook off the excess leaves and pine needles. "Then what are we waiting for? Climb aboard!" Moonglo smiled at him and climbed onto his back. Starlite raced back toward the Color Castle where Stormy, Rainbow, and Skydancer were waiting. Moonglo and Stormy had worked together to bring Rainbow's unconscious body outside, not wanting to leave her unattended to. They were afraid that with everything Murky had already done, he'd somehow find a way to take her as well. They didn't stop to think that he might do the same once they were in the Pits.
Starlite stopped in front of the Castle and spotted Rainbow. "I am not going to carry her, if that's the only reason you found me," he replied stiffly.
"Stormy's going to carry her on Skydancer. I'm going to ride you," replied Moonglo.
"And I'm coming too!" interjected Twink as he ran from inside the Color Castle.
"Do you have enough?" asked Stormy.
"Course! There's plenty of star sprinkles in my pouch!"
The group readied themselves to go. Starlite helped Moonglo lift Rainbow up onto Skydancer. Moonglo climbed aboard Starlite and pulled Twink up behind her. She looked nervously over at Stormy. "Are you sure this will work?" she asked softly.
"Not completely sure, but we don't have a choice!" she called back. Before she could change her mind, she signaled Skydancer to head for the Pits. With one arm she held Rainbow upright on Skydancer, the other arm holding tightly to his mane. Starlite followed after them. "Remember, we're going to sneak toward an open spot and bring him outside! That's our best chance!"
"We don't have the rainbow," called Starlite. "How do we fight back?"
Moonglo patted his neck. "You and I are going to hide before Murky spots us. Stormy is going to use the storms to fight him. When the time is right, I'll turn invisible and steal the Color Belt from Murky."
"But why did we bring Rainbow with us?"
"It's part of our trap. We're going to pretend we're giving her to Murky. He'll think we've lost hope," called Stormy over her shoulder.
The sight of the Pits became ever closer, as the pathway became littered with rocks. If there had been any color left in Rainbow Land, it would have been easy to spot the darkened forest that normally lined the border. Loud peals of thunder could be heard. Stormy stopped, observing the scene before her. Glancing to her left, she grinned. "There! That cliff above Murky's hideout will work. Starlite, do you think you can get up there without being seen?"
"Do birds fly? Of course I can!" he replied.
"Good. See you soon, Moonglo!" Stormy urged Skydancer onward, heading for the direct path to the cliff top. Starlite took off in another direction, using the dense undercover of the forest to keep him hidden.
Lurky stared out the window of Murky's laboratory, completely bored out of his mind. He absent-mindedly rolled a toy train back and forth along the windowsill, watching the path. Murky had put Lurky on lookout duty while he worked on a new plan. He had locked himself into his room, and commanded that he not be disturbed at all costs. The usual storms that littered the Pits even seemed boring. He sighed and continued to roll the train on the sill. When Stormy and Skydancer first appeared on the horizon, Lurky thought he was daydreaming. He squinted.
"Is that Rainbow Brite too?" he wondered to himself. He squinted harder, his eyes becoming little slits. "It is! Oh boy! Rainbow's come to play!"
Lurky started to dash off for Murky's room and had reached the first step when he remembered Murky's words. "Surely he'd want to know about Rainbow coming to visit," he reasoned to himself. Lurky climbed the stairs and made his way to Murky's bedroom. He pounded on Murky's door.
Murky was deep in concentration, making notes from the various books around him. The loud pounding caused him to jump, and the ink bottle next to him spilled over his grey sheets. "Gah! Lurky! I told you not to bother me!" he yelled angrily as he blotted at the ink stain.
"But Murky!" came the call from behind the door.
"I said no buts, Lurky. I said you were to leave me alone and keep quiet!"
"But there's something—"
"There's nothing! I need to finish this plan!"
"But Rainbow Brite—"
"—is out of commission," finished Murky. "And her friends will soon follow."
"No Murky. She's here!"
"What?!" roared Murky. He sprang from the bed and yanked the door open. "Why didn't you say so peanut breath?"
"I was tryin' to!"
Murky pushed Lurky out of the way and dashed down the stairs. Rainbow Brite couldn't have come to the Pits. He'd made sure of it with the gloom shadow. There was no way that Stormy or Moonglo knew how to see it, or could have fixed it. As he continued to dash toward his laboratory, he worked to reason with himself. Racing to the window, he looked outside. He was barely in time to catch a glimpse of Stormy on Skydancer, and spotted a very much unconscious Rainbow Brite. He sighed in relief. So she wasn't fixed.
"Did ya see her, Murky?" asked Lurky from the doorway.
Murky rushed past him. "Come on! We're going to greet them properly! They're headed for the cliffs!" Lurky dashed after him.
Stormy finished the climb to the top of the cliffs and waited. She was certain that she'd been spotted by either Murky or Lurky. There was no way that one of them wouldn't be on lookout. Within seconds, she noticed she was right, as Murky and Lurky ran from the lair and looked up at her. "I've got something for you, Murky Dismal," she yelled.
"What could that brat bring me?" asked Murky. "Oh well. Let's go Lurky."
"How are we gonna get up there?" asked Lurky, scratching his head.
"Easy! Like this!" cried Murky as he touched a gloved finger to his Belt. The negative rainbow once again burst forth and created a pathway that connected directly to the cliffs. Murky and Lurky stepped onto it and were automatically sliding up the path.
Stormy tried not to let the surprise on her face give her way. She had had no idea that Murky would be able to use the Color Belt for transportation as Rainbow had. Carefully, so as not to knock Rainbow off, she slid from Skydancer and faced Murky. Arms crossed, she stated angrily, "I'm giving you Rainbow Brite. She's pathetic and useless as she is. We don't need her anymore."
Murky grinned like a child in a candy shop. This was a dream come true! "Ah I see," he answered with mock seriousness. "Yes, she does look quite useless."
"Take her away from me. The sight of her sickens me!"
Lurky made a move to go and fetch Rainbow off of Skydancer's backside, but Murky stopped him. "Not that way. This way. Let's have a little fun with her!" he cackled as his finger pressed the Belt. Another negative rainbow shot forth, and before Stormy could react, it had wrapped itself around Rainbow, binding her tightly. It lifted Rainbow from Skydancer, and Murky got his first glimpse at the side of her face that was bruised; the shadow spot not only showed on the left side of her face, but also her neck and down to her fingertips on that side. So that's how they figured out something was wrong. The invisibility potion is wearing off. No worries!
"No!" replied Stormy in a fearful whisper. This hadn't been part of the plan at all. She hadn't meant for Murky to actually take Rainbow from her. I've got to distract him…maybe if I can do that, Moonglo can still get the Color Belt!
Will Stormy and Moonglo be able to get the Color Belt back and save Rainbow in the process?