A.N. I got the idea to do this story from watching the Fireman Sam special "The Great Fire Of Pontypandy", and I originally wanted to release this one last summer, but I couldn't get all the details ironed out in time, so I had to put it off until this year. And now, it's here, so please enjoy.

A.N.2. Apart from Tobias and Trinity, this story features another TATRK OC by BigMoose01, who has given his consent for the use of this OC.

Chapter 1: All It Takes Is A Spark

It was a scorching hot summer in the Rainbow Kingdom. The Rainbow King and Prime Minister Ecks, along with a squad of guards, were busy putting up posters that warned the citizens of the high risk of fires due to how hot it was, and that due to the high fire risk, no campfires were allowed. The posters also provided the readers with advice on how to cope with the high temperatures, such as regularly drinking water to stay hydrated, using sunscreen when out in the sun, and limiting physical activity during the peak heat hours. Ecks wiped his brow as he finished hammering one such posters into place.

"Phew!" he gasped. "I'm telling you, Your Majesty, this has to be the hottest summer in the history of the Rainbow Kingdom!"

"Indeed it is, Ecks." agreed his superior. "And, I must say, putting up these posters was an excellent idea of yours, same with that fire danger chart."

"Thanks, Your Majesty." said Ecks. "I just hope Zee and the others will be alright on their little trip together."

Meanwhile, at True and Bartleby's house in Mushroom Town, True and Bartleby were getting ready for a camping trip with Zee and Grizelda. It was so hot that True had even put on a different outfit than what she usually wore. While she retained her usual shirt, sash, pack, headband, socks and boots, she had traded her skirt and leggings for a pair of denim shortalls*.

"Okay, let's see if I've got everything." she said. "Sleeping bags, tent, first aid kit, mosquito repellent bracelets, sunscreen, swimsuit, towel, clean clothes and pajamas. Yep, I think that's everything."

True then looked over her shoulder and saw that Bartleby was sitting in front of an electric fan that was on full blast.

"So...hot..." he moaned.

True smiled and shook her head in amusement.

"Oh, Bee." she sighed. "You know we're not taking that, right?"

"Yeah, I know." said Bartleby sadly.

"Come on, Bee." True then said. "Let's go meet up with Zee and Grizelda."

Bartleby just nodded as he reluctantly turned off the fan and the two grabbed their bags. As True and Bartleby made their way to the door, they passed by Tobias and Trinity, who were in the living room drinking glasses of iced tea. Just like their daughter, Tobias and Trinity had both made summer-appropriate changes to their outfits, with Tobias wearing a brown t-shirt and gray shorts with black mesh shoes and Trinity wearing an olive green t-shirt with her regular shorts and brown closed-toe sandals.

"We're going to meet Grizelda and Zee now." True said to her parents.

"Okay, True." nodded Tobias. "Be safe out there."

"We will, Mr. Dad." Bartleby promised.

With that, after giving her parents a goodbye hug, True left with Bartleby. They soon met up with Zee and Grizelda outside the entrance to the Neverending Forest. Zee and Grizelda had also made alterations to their outfits, with Zee wearing a white t-shirt with light gray accents and the Rainbow King's crest on the front, purple shorts, and light gray hiking shoes. Grizelda was wearing her red tank top, shorts, and sneakers she wore during her attempt to pole-vault into Rainbow Castle during the time where Ecks served as acting king.

"Are we all ready to go?" asked Zee.

"You bet we are." said True.

True then noticed that Grizelda was wearing her crown.

"Are you sure you should be wearing that?" True asked. "What if it falls off?"

"Why is that a concern?" asked Grizelda. "It's fallen off my head before, and it's never been a problem before."

"Well, in case you forgot, Grizelda, we are in a very hot season right now." said Zee. "And Ecks said that there's a high fire risk today, so if your crown does fall off your head for whatever reason, there is a chance it could start a fire if the sun hits it just right, because lots of plants have dried up due to the heat."

"You guys worry too much." said Grizelda. "Like I said, it'll be fine. Besides, I don't feel as princessy without my crown."

"Well, okay." shrugged Zee. "If you say so. And now that that's squared away, what do you say we finally get started on our trip?"

True, Bartleby, and Grizelda agreed, and so, with True and Zee in the lead, the group began making their way into the forest.

"So, where exactly are we going?" asked Grizelda.

"It's a little swimming hole me and Ecks went with True, Bartleby, Tobias, and Trevor for I Love My Dad Day a couple of years back." said Zee. "Wait 'til you see it, Grizelda. You're gonna love it."

As the group walked deeper into the forest, the louder the sound of a waterfall slowly became. They eventually arrived at the swimming hole, and Grizelda was in awe of what was before her.

"Wow!" she gasped. "It's so beautiful!"

"It is, isn't it?" agreed True. "Well, now that we're here, let's get our tents set up."

And that's what they did. Afterwards, they settled down for a picnic lunch, which consisted of hot dogs that Zee cooked on a portable gas-fueled camping grill he had brought, since the use of gas-fueled grills, stoves, and other heating devices by campers was allowed and encouraged as an alternative to campfires. Also included with the lunch were chips and some lemonade, and blondies* for dessert.

"Boy, am I glad you brought that gas gril, Zee." said Bartleby. "I don't think these hot dogs would have tasted good raw."

"What's more is that we can still roast marshmallows on this thing, so we can still have s'mores." said Zee. "Honestly, no camping trip is fun without roasting marshmallows."

"You are so right, Zee." said True.

Soon, lunch was over. After lunch, Zee suggested that they all take a walk to burn off their newly gained calories before they went swimming, and True and Grizelda agreed.

"What about you, Bee?" asked True.

"Nah, I'm good." replied Bartleby with a yawn. "I'm gonna take a little snooze in the shade."

"Suit yourself." said Zee. "We'll see you later, Bee."

"See ya." replied Bee as he curled up in a shady sleeping spot.

With that, after putting on sunscreen to protect themselves from sunburn, True, Zee, and Grizelda began their walk, taking canteens of drinking water that Zee had also brought with them, along with the first aid kit that True brought. As they walked along, they took notice of the beautiful scenery around them.

"Boy, this part of the forest is so beautiful!" said True. "Who knew the Neverending Forest had so much to offer?"

"That's the thing about nature." said Zee. "You never know what it has in store for you unless you really stop and take a look around."

As Zee was saying that, a large butterfly flew up to them and perched itself on True's finger. She smiled when she saw it.

"I see what you mean." said True. "I've never seen a butterfly like this before."

"That would be a Polychromatic Birdwing." said Zee. "They can only be found in this particular part of the Neverending Forest. And you should be able to see where it gets its name."

True examined the butterfly, and saw that its wings were in every color of the rainbow.

"Pretty." she said softly.

The butterfly then took off, and True, Zee, and Grizelda resumed their walk. Grizelda, like the others with her, was so busy admiring the scenery around her that she didn't notice her crown being knocked off her head by a low-hanging tree branch. Eventually, they stopped by a small glade to rest and drink from their canteens underneath the welcoming shade of a wide-trunked tree. As they rehydrated themselves, they looked around at the trees that were before them.

"Aren't trees such beautiful things?" asked True.

"They sure are." agreed Grizelda. "I may not be as much of an outdoors person as you are, but I gotta admit, this is a really beautiful sight."

"Not to mention it's also very helpful to both us and the environment." said Zee. "Not only do trees provide us with shade on a hot day, but they also provide us with clean air to breathe by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing the oxygen we breathe through photosynthesis."

"Wow." said True. "You know, I've never really thought of it like that before."

"Me neither." added Grizelda.

"Well, I don't know about you two, but I think I'm ready to head back now." Zee then said.

True and Grizelda agreed, and so, they got up and began trekking back to the campsite, at which they soon arrived. Bartleby was still hanging out in the shade, except now he was munching on a box of Fishy Poof Crackers while reading a comic book. His friends' arrival failed to escape his attention.

"Hey, guys." said Bartleby. "Did you enjoy your walk?"

"You betcha." said True.

Just then, Bartleby noticed Grizelda's missing headpiece.

"Hey, Grizelda, I don't mean to scare you, but I think your crown is missing." he said.

Grizelda was surprised.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Yep." nodded Bartleby. "Have a look for yourself."

Grizelda went into her tent and grabbed a hand mirror. When she looked at her reflection, she let out an ear-piercing scream that could be heard by True, Bartleby, and Zee from outside, causing the three to cover their ears.

"My crown!" Grizelda cried as she emerged from her tent. "My crown is gone!"

"Don't worry, Grizelda." said True. "We'll help you find it."

"Where were you when you were last wearing it?" asked Zee.

"I was with you two on our walk." said Grizelda. "But I was so busy looking at the scenery that I don't think I can remember."

"Come to think of it, I don't think any of us were paying attention in that regard." said Zee. "Sorry, Grizelda, but I don't think I can be of much help here."

"Yeah, me neither." added True.

Grizelda sighed sadly.

"I just don't feel the same without my crown." she said.

"Tell you what, Grizelda." True then said. "First thing tomorrow, we'll all help you look for your crown."

"In the meantime, I know what will help you cheer up." Zee added. "How about we go swimming to help take your mind off it?"

Grizelda agreed, and they went into their tents changed into their swimsuits. It wasn't long before the three were splashing around in the water, and Grizelda ended up having such a rolicking good time in the water that she forgot about her crown. However, unknown to neither herself, True, Bartleby, or Zee, Grizelda's crown had wound up down a gulley teeming with dry plants, and sun ended up hitting the crown just right, causing the sunlight to diffract through the crown and hit some of the dry plants. Sure enough, due to the lack of water in the plants, it wasn't hard for them to spark. Later that night at the campsite, just as True and her friends were settling down, nothing could prepare them for what was to come in the very near future.

End Of Chapter 1

A.N.3. Shortalls are a variation of overalls that have the lower part adapted into shorts.

A.N.4. A blondie is a dessert similar to a brownie, but with a different flavor, which is gained through the use of vanilla extract and brown sugar instead of chocolate and cocoa like in regular brownies.