Outlaw (Rainbow Quest Fan-fiction)

|Chapter 23| Orange

Orange Crystal Steve

Light. Light filled my eyes causing me to wake up from my deep sleep. I felt something warm against my chest. My memories blurred out of everything before this. All I knew at this moment was... I wanted to go back to sleep. Sleep, until my body stops aching and hurting. I just wanted to sleep.

The blinding light in my eyes didn't allow it though. I slowly opened my eyes and didn't bother to lift my head. I could see I was in the Rainbow hub, but something wasn't right... why was everything covered in green leaves? Some of the portals were broken and seemed to be close to collapsing as the morning sun shone over the hub... this isn't right. Last I remember- . . .

Last I remember...

"Sabre?..." I groaned weakly. I remember his face. Before this I... I remember his face. He looked horrified and scared. Even though I called out to him I got no response. I keep thinking back. Trying to remember how I got here in the first place.

The darkness... Void... I... I... I joined his side he told me things. I fought against Sabre and felt the rainbow inside of me break until-... I was gone. Elemental was there too. I was in a cage and suddenly it was gone.

He killed me. Void Steve killed me.

So why am I here?

I looked down to see what was warming my chest and stomach to see Gerald. He was snuggling up to me and looked upset. I held him close and Gerlad nuzzled me oinking and whining.

"Hey Buddy... Are you okay?..." I asked him. I wasn't sure if I was okay myself. Rather than feeling disoriented and sore... I wasn't hurt- wait. I looked down at my hands to see they were orange. I was orange. I... It was me again. Orange Steve. Crystal Orange Steve.

Gerald comes up to my face and starts licking me. I laughed a bit. I rubbed his face and kissed his head back. I eventually had to push him away since he wouldn't stop kissing me over and over again.

"Come on it's okay... I'm back now right?" I slowly sat up and looked around as the hub became brighter as the sun rose higher. I felt relieved as I heard birds beginning to sing. The silence was broken. I looked around one more time. This place was abandoned. I wouldn't have to worry about... anyone listing in.

"Gerald, what happened?" I knew his secret. He sits down on my lap. I stroked his back as he began to explain things to me.

"A lot happened..." His voice was fairly deep and mature for what he was. He has always been able to talk. He just only talks to me. He says he is not from the boundaries of the Steve lands we know. In a forest blocked off from Steves. There are many magical creatures there and how the pigs are the smartest and can speak in the Steve language.

"Well um... How are you?" I kept petting him my legs feeling too numb to stand at the moment.

"Now that you are here... good. I missed you." I pulled him into a tight hug.

"I missed you too buddy." He snuggles up in my arms. I smiled and sighed. Having him here and being alright really means the world to me.

"It's been... almost a year." He cuts me off. I held him in my hands but pulled him back from the hug so I could look at him directly.

"What." I slowly asked him in shock.

"It's been that long since you were here. The Steve's have moved and this place is no longer used." He looks back at the broken portals. That must be why they are broken. Where they moved to must have broken them.

"What about Sabre? Wouldn't he live here? What about void Steve?! The darkness?!" Panic rose inside of me at the thought. Did anyone else get infected? Is everyone okay?! Why did they even move in the first place?...