Rainbow Brite and the
Blue Lake
Far,
far away, right at the end of the Rainbow, where some people believe
pots of gold may be found, is a wonderful kingdom called Rainbow
Land. There, all the colors of the world are created, and in this
kingdom of flowers and little round houses, lives Rainbow Brite. She
is a lovable little girl, who uses the colors of the rainbow to make
our lives brighter and happier. Of course she has helpers.
They
are the seven Color Kids and their friendly furry Sprites, who dig
in the color mines and manufacture Star Sprinkles, the magic
crystals that form the colors that Rainbow spreads everywhere.
Rainbow also has a special Sprite friend called Twink, and a magic
horse named Starlite. But not very far away lives Murky Dismal and
his clumsy assistant Lurky. Murky and Lurky live in a dull, gloomy
place on a hill called "The Pits." These two grumpies drive around
in a noisy old Grunge Buggy trying to spread gloom and dullness
everywhere.
Very,
very, very early one morning in Maytime, Rainbow Brite gathered all
the Color Kids around her. They were going to have an early
breakfast together in the Color Castle where Rainbow lived. Before
they started, Rainbow stood up.
"Well
Color Kids, as you know, today is the day when we have to change the
color of the lake."
All
the Color Kids nodded wisely and Buddy Blue looked very important.
"Yes, this is my busy time, especially today. It’s a good job I keep
fit."
"But
as you all know, my Sprite helper, Champ, has been working overtime
in the mines, getting everything ready, and between us I think we
are prepared."
Rainbow Brite smiled. "Good, well done Buddy, and Champ of course."
Patty
O’Green laughed. "Yes, it’s your turn now Buddy Blue. My sprite
Lucky and I, made the sea green colors some weeks ago, now we can
get ready for the grass and leaves and everything."
Then,
just as the Color Kids were about to start their breakfast, the door
burst open and Twink and Starlite appeared. They didn’t look at all
pleased.
"What’s the matter with you two?" Rainbow asked.
Twink
came into the room. "Well, I have just been for an early morning
ride on Starlite, and we thought we’d go down to the lake didn’t we
Starlite?"
Starlite shook his mane and nodded his head.
"We
thought we would go down and take a last look at Patty’s green lake
before it is turned blue. We like the green and the blue just as
much as each other and…and…what do you think?"
"What?" the Color Kids all asked eagerly.
Twink
went on. "Murky Dismal has been down there and has covered all the
lake with a huge horrible gray mist and fog. Everything is glum and
dull and Patty’s lovely green is all gone. It’s ever so sad looking,
isn’t it Starlite?"
Starlite nodded again and stamped a foot.
Rainbow frowned. "Ah, that Murky Dismal! He is a nuisance, always
wanting everybody to be as miserable as he is. He’s only happy when
he’s miserable."
"And
Lurky is just as bad," someone said.
Indigo agreed. "Yes, he is. But sometimes I think it’s only because
he doesn’t know any better. Sometimes I think he’d be happier being
happy…if you see what I mean." Then she added, "he still tries to
catch our Sprites in his butterfly net though."
Buddy
Blue spoke up suddenly. "What shall I do Rainbow? It’s no good you
putting our blue star sprinkles over the lake if all that mist is
there and no one can see the color." He sounded very sad. "And after
poor Champ has worked so hard too – and me."
But
Rainbow smiled. "Carry on as normal Buddy, exactly as if Murky had
never been there."
"But
Rainbow…" Buddy started to say.
Rainbow interrupted. "No Buddy, do as I ask." Then she turned to all
the other Color Kids. "We will go to the lake now, straight away,
together, and I want all of you to bring your colors with you."
Very
puzzled by this, they set off and followed Rainbow and Starlite and
Twink to the lake.
When
they arrived, they could see that Twink had been right. Everything
was so dull. They could hear the lake, but couldn’t see any of it
because of the swirling fog and mist. It was awful. They could also
hear the faint sound of the Grunge Buggy and knew that Murky and
Lurky were somewhere nearby enjoying the miserableness of it all.
They could even hear the distant noise of Murky’s laugh drifting
through the mist.
Rainbow jumped up onto Starlite’s back. "Now Buddy Blue, give me
your blue star sprinkles – all of them, every single one."
Buddy
did as she asked and before he could question her, Rainbow added,
"thank you Buddy Blue. Now, Lala Orange and Red Butler, I want all
your colors too." Very puzzled, they gave their star sprinkle colors
to Rainbow. "And a few of yours Indigo, and yours Shy Violet, and
finally quite a lot of yours Canary Yellow. Thank you everybody." By
now Rainbow was loaded down with masses of star sprinkles.
"But
what are you going to do, Rainbow?" Twink asked.
"Just
watch." Rainbow laughed. "Come on Starlite!" And Starlite and
Rainbow soared right into the mist and fog over the lake up and up
and on and on towards the horizon, scattering masses of blue star
sprinkles on the way. They at the horizon, she tossed all her red
and orange star sprinkles at the sun, and the violet and indigo ones
at the sky around. When she had finished, she headed Starlite back
to the Color Kids, who were at the side of the lake, and there she
scattered every one of the yellow crystals that Canary had given
her. When all was done, she dismounted, looked towards the mist and
fog over the lake and said, "Now watch!"
The
Color Kids saw the star sprinkles on the sun begin to work and
slowly, but surely, a glorious brilliant red and orange light
appeared and pierced the gloom and mist. Slowly the blue, blue lake
came into view and in the sky shafts of sparkling colors mingled
with the orange redness of the sun. The sand where they stood turned
yellow and within minutes the fog and mist had gone to be replaced
by the bright, bright colors.
They
heard the sound of the Grunge Buggy being driven away furiously and
then all was still, except for the lapping of the waves.
Twink
broke the silence. "Oh, Rainbow, it’s beautiful. It really is very
beautiful indeed." |
