Colortopia

Picking Favorites

I am standing in the middle of Purple's living room where everyone is curious about what happened to me. But they're having trouble getting to me because...

Red: YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH STRESS YOU GAVE ME!

Red is in my face, screaming her head off.

Me: Ugh...

Red: Here I am, thinking you died, and all of a sudden you just show up out of nowhere?!

Me: I'd explain it to you, but you wouldn't get it...

Green: Yellow, can you... help Dominic out here?

Yellow: Okay! 

Yellow races up to Red and dumps a glass of water on her.

{SPLASH!}

Red: HEY!

Purple: MY CARPET!

Yellow: HAHAHAHAH!

Red chases Yellow away, allowing the other Colortopians to get to me. 

Purple: Oh, that's going to leave mold...

Orange: {to me} Dom, what happened to you, bro?! We thought those villains got ya!

Green: And where did you get that tablet?

Me: I know you all have questions, but to keep it brief, I met a crazy woman named Black, she tried to kill me, I used the Tele-Disk to bring me to this weird white place, I met this nice guy named White, and he gave me this doohickey called the Chromanet. 

Green: {shrugs} That makes about as much sense as it should.

Orange: Hold up, you met White?! 

Me: YOU know White?

Orange: Dude, White's the one who saved Red and I. I knew he was a god.

Me: Well, actually, he's more than that, but... that's not the best part. He made me his apprentice. 

Pink: O.M.G! You're an apprentice?! What, you gonna do magic and stuff now?

Me: I'M not. YOU are.

Orange, Green, and Pink are confused.

Orange: Huh? 

Me: I'll explain it to you later, but right now, I need to get something off my chest.

I clear my throat and turn to Purple.

Me: You are my favorite color of all time! I have waited SO long to meet you!

Purple is shocked by my sudden exclamation but he gives a proud smile.

Purple: Ah, well, it is delightful to learn of your significant interest in me. I always do my best to make sure my brilliance is admired. 

Me: And the fact that you're British makes it even better!

Purple is confused because he has never heard the word British before.

Purple: {raises an eyebrow} British...? 

Me: I hope you're okay with everyone hiding out here.

Purple: Yes, it is no trouble at all. My penthouse is your penthouse. 

Green: {to me} We're planning on staying here until the villain attacks die down. However, now that you're on the radar, who knows how long it'll be before they find us?

Purple: And my apartments are not the most discreet, so... 

Yellow: WHOOPSIE!

Yellow crashes into me, sending us both to the ground. The Chromanet flies out of my hands and bounces off the wall like a frisbee. 

Orange: I got it!

Orange lunges in the air and catches the device. But I notice the Tele-Disk has fallen out of my hoodie pocket, again. And it is still glowing. 

Me: Huh? Why is this thing still glowing?

Blue turns on the TV and her eyes widen.

Blue: Um... Guys...?

We all turn to the TV and we GASP as the news channel is showing a live broadcast of the Purple Palaces... that have disappeared. 

Purple: MY APARTMENTS!

News Anchor: This just in, the Purple Palaces Apartments have disappeared! One moment, they were standing where they always are, but several eyewitnesses state that, in the blink of an eye, the entire area vanished!

We all turn to the Tele-Disk in my hands and everything becomes clear.

Me: Oh my God...

Red: {to me} How come every time something weird happens it's always you?! 

Me: It's not me! It's this thing! {holds up the disk} 

Pink: That explains, like, a hell of a lot. Y'know what, we're better off with that thing glowin'. If the villains can't see us, they can't track us down.

Orange: But I don't wanna stay cooped up in here all day! Y'all know how I am!

Purple: And what about me? I have business meetings to attend to! Press conferences! 

Red: NO! You're a target now too, moron! As much as I HATE to admit it, we don't stand a chance against those douchebags!

Purple: But what am I going to tell my people?

Red: Nothing! Plain and simple!

I want to speak up and tell everyone about the Chromanet and what it does... but we just got back together. Spending time with them is important to me. I do plan on telling them about their powers, but right now, I have to do what White said and maintain my friendships.

Me: S-so, I'm not entirely sure what the layout is here. Who wants to show me around?

Yellow: Me! I will! Pick me!

Yellow races over to me and drags me to the jacuzzi room.

Yellow: Check this out!

Once inside, I gape at all the hot tubs and video game consoles.

Me: I MUST be in heaven...

Yellow: Isn't it great?! We're all gonna have fun and play video games in the hot tubs! 

Me: {to Purple} We are?

Purple: Of course. What's mine is yours... uh... for the time being.

Green: But none of us brought our swimwear.

Pink: Duh, let's just use our phones.

Green: Oh, right, I forgot.

Me: What are they doing...?

Everyone, excluding Blue, takes out their phones and taps on an application that opens up a screen. That screen contains everyone's respective bathing suits. Then, they all casually point their phones at themselves, and before my eyes, the bathing suits on the phones materialize onto their persons, with their previous clothes vanishing. 

Me: What?! How did you all do that?!

Orange: {chuckles} That's what we do when we need to change fast, dude! 

Me: Okay, that's just not fair.

Pink: {giggles} Wow, it's been a while since I've put this baby on! I hope I haven't grown it out!

She starts "adjusting" herself in the mirror, and as I look at everyone around me, I realize what is happening.

Me: Oh no...

Green, Orange, Pink and Yellow enter the jacuzzi room. Blue is standing to the side, awkwardly, and Red storms up to me, her hands on my shoulders. And her swimming attire is making this so much worse.

Red: Don't think you're bailing out! You're coming!

Me: I-I don't have any swimming trunks, so I can't. I'd LOVE to, but can't.

Then Purple decides to be helpful.

Purple: Not to worry, Dominic, I have a pair you may borrow.

Dang it.

Purple: They are constructed of a durable blend of polyester and elastane.

He hands me a pair of his trunks and Red does not stop staring at me.

Me: Fine...

----

Teal and Orchid are on the top of the Hueville Radio Tower, walking along the balcony, where the latter is expressing her displeasure about the Purple Palaces' "disappearance".

Orchid: This is ridiculous!

She SLAMS her boot against the balcony, making a huge dent.

Orchid: Buildings do not just disappear!

Teal: {scoffs} Well, do you have any better theories?

Orchid: Teal, I swear...

Teal: What? As the boss, you should know everything. You're just upset because you don't want to report back to Black empty handed.

Orchid growls and wraps her vines around Teal's neck, choking her as she dangles her over the radio tower.

Orchid: You have not been of any use to me thus far, Teal. I can very easily find a replacement.

Teal: {coughs} W-wait... wait... 

Orchid rolls her eyes and throws her back onto the balcony.

Teal: Grrr... Lose the temper, will ya...?

Orchid: {sighs} Out with it....

Teal: You're right... Buildings DON'T disappear... and that's not what happened here... I think it's that disk... 

Orchid: {raises an eyebrow} The Tele-Disk?

Teal: Think about it... It's the only thing he's got against us... We couldn't find him before... and now that he shows up, certain buildings start vanishing? Or maybe... they've turned invisible.

Orchid: {eyes narrow} Invisible... That might be the smartest idea you have ever had. 

Teal: {rolls her eyes} Well, don't clap all at once...

Orchid: Him and his friends are still at the Purple Palaces, but under some invisible cloaking mechanism. Gather a select few villains and make your way there.

Teal: And then you want me to start destroying stuff, yadda yadda...

Orchid: Listen. Once you break in, use your powers to subdue them... then CAPTURE them! 

Teal: {eyes widen} Okay, this sounds promising.

Orchid: I will assign several locations throughout the city to hold your prisoners, individually. As long as they are divided, they are weak. 

Teal: And... what shall we do with these prisoners once we have them?

Orchid: {smirks} I think you know...

Teal smirks back and bows before her.

Teal: Of course, boss...

----

If there is one place on Earth I was never used to... it's the beach. Or the pool. Or any aquatic location like that. That's because, where I lived, I had no access to any of those. That's why I am feeling quite awkward with everyone around me showing skin. Some more than others. I am also shirtless, the only sort of clothing on me being Purple's trunks. I envy Blue right now, who I have not seen enter the jacuzzi room. She has the luxury of being antisocial, so she doesn't have to do this. However, my mood lifts once I enter one of the hot tubs. This is something I never had either, so getting to relax in a jacuzzi for the first time is liberating.

And also quite boiling... ouch... 

I emit a soft sigh as I try to get used to the blazing temperatures, eventually growing to like it more and more. 

Orange, relaxing in the next hot tub over, smirks to himself as he sees me.

Orange: Oh, time to have some fun...

He turns to Yellow who is on the floor, currently gulping down another grape juice.

Orange: Psst, Yellow...

Yellow hears him calling her and she speed-crawls over.

Yellow: Yeah?

Orange: Dominic looks like he needs some cheering up... I think he's still feeling a bit under the weather...

Yellow: Good idea! What should we do?

Orange: Maybe you should go and... sit on his lap to make him feel better...

Yellow: {giggles} That's silly! Okie-dokie!

I look up and see Yellow speed-crawling over to me.

Me: {smiles} Hi Yellow.

Yellow: Hey, Dom! I'm here to make you feel better!

Me: {confused} What?

Yellow hops into my hot tub and sits on my lap without warning.

Yellow: Ta-da!

Me: {blushes hard} H-hey! What are you-?!

She has her arms around my neck.

Yellow: {smiles} Is this helping you? Do you feel more relaxed?

I try to pull her off, but she's got the grip of an eagle.

Me: Y-Y-Yellow, I-I don't think this is a good idea!

Yellow, of course, is unfortunately oblivious. She thinks this is a game and pulls herself closer to me.

Yellow: Weeee! This is fun!

Green and Purple look over and watch with wide eyes.

Purple: That is certainly a sight... 

Green: Uh... Good for them, I guess... 

I see them looking at me and I feel so embarrassed.

Me: W-wait, no, it's not what it looks like!

Orange starts laughing like an idiot, and that's when Red decides to enter the jacuzzi room with Blue, in her bikini, over her shoulder.

Red: You will participate with the rest of us!

Blue: {covers her face, blushing in embarrassment} J-just end my life...

Red sees Yellow and I in our predicament and she drops Blue on the floor. 

Red: YOU LITTLE PRICK!

Me: NO!!!!

Red LUNGES at me and we SPLASH into the hot tub, sending water everywhere. 

Yellow: WHOOOO! 

She cackles as she lunges in the pool too, wrestling with both me and Red. Purple's mouth is hanging open wide as Green pats him on the shoulder.

Green: Sorry, man.

Purple sighs, but he emits a soft chuckle.

Purple: Some things never change...

Then he looks over at Blue, who has her arms folded across her chest as she sits down next to Pink.

Purple: But it seems not all is the same... 

Green: {nods} Yeah, Blue's changed a lot recently... and it's all thanks to Dominic.

Purple: Really? The human? 

Green: I know it's hard to believe, but he's become an important part of our group. 

Purple: I do admit that there is something special about him. And he did say I was his favorite, so he's alright in my book. 

As Green rolls his eyes, he gets a call from Magenta. Green raises an eyebrow as he answers the call.

Green: Magenta, what is it?

Magenta: Dude, you've got villains heading straight for the Purple Palaces. 

Green: What?!

Magenta: They've found out about your trick.

Green: H-how do YOU know?

Magenta: Orange told me, but that's besides the point. Get out now.

Magenta hangs up and Green turns to Purple.

Green: We've got villains coming!

Purple: Pardon?!

Green: {to everyone} Villains are on the way! We need to leave now!

Everyone wears a look of concern and races out of the jacuzzi room, except for me. They take out their phones and reapply their original clothing. 

Me: Wait, guys! We don't need to leave! We can fight them now!

Red: Are you out of your goddamn mind?! C'mon!

She grabs my arm and drags me out of the room.

Me: Red, I'm serious! We can fight!

Red: You're still in your trunks, idiot!

I quickly throw on my shirt and forget about my regular pants. Everyone is about to leave as I race to the living room and pick up both the Tele-Disk and the Chromanet. I stuff the Tele-Disk in my pocket and hold up the Chromanet.

 Me: Look! This device can save us! That's why White gave it to me!

Purple: Well, could you activate it or something?! 

Me: O-okay, uh, I need a volunteer!

Yellow: Me! I'll do it!

She gets in front of me, but Red shoves her out of the way.

Red: No, do me!

Green: Guys, hury up!

I aim the Chromanet at Red and I press the silver button, causing the rainbow beam to shoot out and hit her in the chest.

Red: What the-?!

Yellow: Ooh! Pretty!

Slowly, Red's data starts appearing on the Chromanet, and-

{CRASH!}

We all stumble back as Teal crashes through the window and stands before us, with several other villains beside her. Some I recognize, some I have never seen before.

Teal: Well, isn't this a surprise! 

Red growls at the sight of Teal and storms over to her.

Red: What the hell are YOU doing here?!

Teal smirks back at Red and cracks her knuckles.

Teal: Oh, Red... What does it look like? I'm about to capture the lot of you!

----