Chapter Eight
They all felt a lot better once they were back out of the Pits. The troll-girls were riding to either side of Starlite,
talking to him and his riders as they headed back to the Color Castle.
As their destination came into view, the star on top of the belfry caught their attention as it flashed. A rainbow grew from it, heading upward until lost to view.
"All right! The Signal is restored!" said Twink, pumping a fist.
"What does it do?" asked Sapphire. The blue-haired troll was always interesting in new technology.
"It maintains the colors everywhere I'm responsible for," Rainbow answered, "Look!" She pointed.
Ahead, the slightly-dimmed colors suddenly sprang back into full brilliance.
"Nice!" exclaimed Ruby.
"Everything is back to normal, then," said Starlite.
rb/bffl rb/bffl rb/bffl
Murky sat down at a table in his laboratory, trying not to look at all the living, colorful plants outside. He was seething inside. Once again, that Rainbow Brat had beaten him. But someday he would get rid of the horrible colors and rule the universe. He'd just have to keep trying.
He heard Lurky as the brown-furred creature ran to the door and outside. The colorless villain closed his eyes and shook his head as he heard Lurky cheering and yelling, having fun. Hopefully the spell would wear off.
Spells... he reached into his pocket and pulled out the spell bead he'd gotten from the ~shudder~ redheaded troll. He held it up and studied it. There had to be a way to use it... Maybe if... He dropped the bead into a beaker, and started gathering chemicals. A nasty grin played over his lips, hardly to be seen through the unkempt moustache. He'd gotten an idea, and this time, he would win!
Outside, Lurky played and ran, having the time of his life.
rb/bffl rb/bffl rb/bffl
As they passed through the sprite village, they found themselves surrounded by the happy, colorful creatures, who were waving and cheering, and calling to them in a language the trolls didn't understand.
"Keep up all this cheerfulness, and I'm gonna hurl," muttered Onyx to Amethyst. The other just grinned in reply.
The Color Kids had come outside, waiting for them, and Starlite stopped at the bridge. He waited for Rainbow and Twink to get off his back. "I need to go eat and take a nap," he told Rainbow, "I'll see you before you leave," he nodded at the visitors. Then he turned and headed off toward his favorite pasture.
And so a second party was held, this one in honor of their new friends. The Color Kids were pleased; it was unusual to meet someone their own height; everyone else was either taller or shorter.
The two smartest ones, Violet and Sapphire, gravitated together and talked science. But that was really the only close connection made.
They were given a tour of the Color Cave and sprite village, where they were very popular. Still unable to understand the small, variously-colored creatures, Topaz finally cast a spell bead that translated their language. After that it was much easier.
The Kids were interested in troll magic and the beads, so they were explained.
As the sun turned west, it became time for the BFFL to go home. They donned their helmets and cranked their skoots, which scared the sprites just a bit- machines that made noise usually meant Murky.
The Color Kids, their sprites, and Starlite gathered just beyond the moat to see them off. With a press of the star on the Belt, a rainbow formed, heading upward and back to Trollz World.
"Thank you all so much for your help," said Rainbow, smiling.
"You're welcome!" answered Ruby, "We talked about it, and decided that if you ever need us, we'll be ready to help."
"Nice to have new allies," said Red, and the other Kids agreed.
"But I need to ask you to keep it secret," said Rainbow.
"Not a problem," answered Amethyst, "But why?"
"It can hinder my job if too many people know about us," answered Rainbow.
"I see. We'll keep quiet," nodded Sapphire, and the rest nodded with her.
Patty went around and handed each troll a starsprinkle the color of her hair.
"What's this for?" asked Topaz, looking at it closely.
"Just to remind you of us," answered Indigo.
"And it will power this," added Rainbow. She pulled a key out of her pocket and gave it to Amethyst. It was like a skeleton key, with a rainbow for a handle and a starsprinkle under. "Put it in any lock, and it will bring you to Rainbowland. Each trip will need one starsprinkle."
"Wow, thanks so much!" said the trolls, in unison.
The Kids exchanged a glance. Kinda odd, the way these trolls kept doing and saying things in unison.
The trolls gathered around and studied the key for a minute. Finally the pink-haired troll put it in a pocket. They looked at each other, and without a word each pulled a spell bead off their bracelet and gave one to each of the Kids.
"We better go, guys," said Ruby, and turned her skoot to their path.
"I just hope it doesn't vanish while we're on it," muttered Onyx, but Rainbow overheard her.
"It won't," she answered, "You'll be safe all the way home."
"Good bye!" called Twink, "It was great meeting you!"
"Yes, come back and visit when you want another look at the Most Magnificent Horse in the Universe!" said Starlite.
"Uh... right..." said Onyx, raising an eyebrow.
As they headed upward, they waved back at the Kids and sprites, and were soon lost to sight.
rb/bffl rb/bffl rb/bffl
As soon as Rainbowland disappeared behind them, Onyx said, "Glad that's over."
"Hey, they were nice people!" protested Sapphire.
"Yeah, but that's not what I'm talking about," answered the dark troll.
"Oh, just a bit too cheerful for you?" grinned Amethyst.
"Uh huh. That and all the bright color." she shuddered.
"So, you don't want to visit?" asked Topaz.
"Or help if they need us?" added Ruby.
"Of course I'll help!" retorted Onyx, "But I can only take so much cheer and I've got my fill for a while."
The others laughed and rolled their eyes. Onyx was only half-serious; they knew from the moment they landed it wasn't her kind of place.
"We'll be home soon; there's the portal," Sapphire pointed ahead at the ring of light the rainbow passed through. Soon they did so as well, and after that their home grew steadily larger. The rainbow brought them right back to the place they left from.
Everything was just as they left it. The sun was nearing the horizon, so it was almost dinner time. But they had filled up at the second party, so didn't bother to eat. In fact, they were all tired, so were going to bed early.
"What an amazing adventure," said Amethyst, settling into her sleeping bag. She pulled out the key and studied it.
"Yeah, it was great!" giggled Topaz. She leaned over for a better look at the key.
"Nice to meet people who aren't trying to kill us or enslave us," said Onyx.
"You know, we're the first trolls to ever visit a planet in another system," said Sapphire.
"Hey, yeah!" said Ruby, sitting up, "That's true! We'll be famous explorers when this gets out!"
"Ruby, we can't tell anyone!" exclaimed Sapphire.
"Oh, right. Darn!" Ruby lay back down.
"We're going home tomorrow, so let's get some sleep. Night, everyone!" said Amethyst. She put the key away, lay down and settled in, and closed her eyes.
The other members of the Best Friends For Life echoed the words, and it grew quiet and still in the tent.
The End