Chromatober 2023

Day 2 - Eyes

Series: Rainbow Quest AU (Untitled)

--- Rainbow Red P.O.V. ---

I heard the faint click of pistons as the machine snapped shut.  I looked up hopefully from my hiding place, only to see exactly what I wanted to.

A Yellow Steve was struggling in the machine, eyes darting around to look at the mechanics.  I supposed this wasn't the way he expected his morning run to go.  I grinned, concealed beneath my cloak.  I couldn't let him see my face, so I had needed to improvise.  It didn't matter.  Cloaks were more and more common these days, and he would never suspect who I truly am.  To the rest of the world, Red Steves had gone extinct years ago.

"Hey!  Who are you!?"  he demanded as he caught sight of me.  His body sparked with energy as he tried to move, clearly panicked.

"That's none of your concern."  I told him mildly, walking over to where a second lever was concealed.  "Just sit back and relax.  It'll only hurt for a second."  He struggled harder.

Ignoring his swears, I grabbed hold of the lever and pulled it, hard.  If Sharp was right about that creepy Yellow Steve ability, I was about to come to a breakthrough.  Even Goggles wasn't mad enough to try this.

The machine encased itself in glass, effectively sound-proofing the steve inside.  Just because this was a long way out from the Yellow Kingdom didn't mean there weren't scouts and guards who might be patrolling nearby.

Lightning crashed down around me, and I wondered for a second if the Yellow Steve had broken free, before realizing it was just the power of the machine.  I needed to hurry, or I might get caught.  With any luck, the guards would just assume it was one of their people popping in from a long trip.

Inside the machine, the Yellow Steve wasn't looking too well.  His colors had faded to a buttery color, almost white.  I smiled.

A chest was hooked up to the machine, previously empty.  Now, a small glass vial was loaded inside, filled with glowing yellow light.  It had worked!  I hugged the vial close to my chest.  The cream-colored steve blinked wearily at the light, upset.  Oh, come on.  It couldn't be that bad.  In the stories Sharp had told me, the victims were usually so drained they died shortly afterward.  This guy would be fine, although maybe a little off-color.

Curious to see his reaction, I unlocked the machine.  The previously-captured steve took a few steps out, staggering quickly and clutching to the machine for support.  He made a grab for the glass in my hands, but it was a weak attempt.  I took a few steps back, and he narrowed his eyes.

"Give that back."  he demanded.

"Hmm... no."  I replied, dropping the vial into my pocket.  "I'm gonna need it for something.  Sorry."

"You're not sorry!"

"Oh, I guess you're right."  I grinned, then began to dismantle the machine.  I couldn't leave any evidence of what had happened here.  The Yellow Kingdom would probably assume I was just another Yellow Steve, stealing energy from my peers.  "Well, bye!"  I teleported out, wondering briefly how long it would take a Yellow Guard to find him.

After the Red Leader had deemed me 'crazy', I had built a new house, far away from the Red Kingdom.  There, I hung my cloak up, relieved to be rid of it.  At the same time, it was a comfort to me.  My mood sank a little as I caught sight of a mirror, reflecting the grayish scar in my left eye.  I frowned, then perked up again, remembering the vial in my pocket.  Soon, I wouldn't have to deal with stupid scars anymore.

The machine in the next room was beautifully done.  I had much more time to make this one than the one at the Yellow Kingdom, since I didn't have to worry about being caught.  Goggles, scatterbrained as he was, didn't even notice me stealing his blueprints for comparison.  That had to stop when the robot came into the picture, of course, but by then I had all the information I needed.

I placed the vial into its proper holder, stepping into the machine on my own.  This time, the lock-in lever was right in front of the machine, and on a proper timer.  There was no way for me to get trapped in here.

Lightning rained down a second time, and I closed my eyes, giddy.  My body snapped into rigid position as the energy entered my body, giving the feeling of a slight shock.  This was the first step.  Yellow Steve energy first, so I could gain the energy-stealing power, then the other colors.  It didn't matter anymore that I was banned from using the Red Crystal.  The crystals were just fancy forms of steve energy.  They weren't the only power sources available in this world.

I stepped out when the pistons unlocked, looking excitedly down at my body.  Still red.  What?  Now less confident, I rushed back to the mirror.  Oh.  Oh!

My right eye was now a slightly pale yellow color, different from its former red hue.  My heart sank as I realized that the darkness scar still grayed out my other eye, as well as the skin around it.  Had the Yellow Steve energy not fixed that?  Would it take all the colors before the energy repelled the darkness, leaving me scar-free and rainbow-colored?

Well, if that's what it took, that's what it took.  At least I knew I was on the right track.  Confidence bubbled up through me, and little red sparks of lightning coated my hands.  Ooh!  My very own Yellow Steve abilities.  I met my own eyes in the mirror, grinning.  It wouldn't be long before I was a hero.

Only five more colors to go.

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Word Count: 947