Double Rainbow

Avery-5

"Awww. That's adorable." I say as Gash and Torch play tackle like excited pups. I feel so relieved not to have my wings aching. Torch was right, the doctors here are amazing.

"Well, it has been a year." says Shine with a smile.

"So, what do we do now? Are we going to stay here or what?" Shine asks.

I sit there a minute, flicking my tail reflectively. I really don't know. I guess we should follow the star, but it might be nice to stay here, at least for a while. Plus, I'll miss Torch, even if we've only known each other for a short time. Short but sweet, as my mother used to say. My heart almost cracks in two at the thought of her, but I feel no need to go back. Maybe one day, but something feels fulfilling about being out here on my own. I guess I really did need to get pushed out of the nest to grow after all.

I want to be like the doctors and nurses at the hospitals, and heal the whole world. I also want to see the sights. I don't want to be the Queen of Dreamland anymore, but seeing her- that's on my list. I just put all my hopes and dreams on that list. Some are crazy, some are simple, but it feels good to put them all away at the back of my mind.

"I guess," I say finally, "We'll stay here for a night or two and then we can move on."

Shine's face lights up. "That's the spirit, Avery. Give it a day and then we'll continue."

Torch walks over to us, having heard our whole conversation. "So, you're staying here for tonight, eh? Hey Gash!"

"What?" Gash asks.

"Let's give them the best of this city."

Our first stop is Oddball and Ivy's Sweetbone Station. I take a variety pack and dig in. The pink ones are probably the best thing I've ever tasted. I bite into a green one and gag. "What is this stuff?"

"Green Apple," says Torch, taking a load of orange ones and stuffing his face, "My second favorite."

"Here, you can have mine."

Torch swipes all of mine straight out of my hand and continues to eat the tiny candy bones.

After we finish, Torch takes us to a toy shop. "I think the limit is one per customer. Here, Avery, you pick yours first." He gestures to a huge wall full of PowerPets.

I stare at them all for a while, then I see one with a tiny green bunny on it. The bunny puts its paws on the front of the card when it sees me, wagging its tail. A dandelion covers its back in yellow. "I'll take this one. It's cute." I say to Torch. "How do you work this thing?"

Torch clicks a series of buttons in a row, and then hands it to me. "There, I set it up. Hope you don't mind the name I chose for it."

"What did you call it?" I ask, curious.

"Mr. McMuffin."

"I like that." I smile. "If I'm going to have any carry-ons at all, though, I'm going to need a travel bag."

Shine picks out a tiny pink one with cute ponies on it. "Ponies?" I say, mock annoyed. "How old do you think I am, two?"

Torch makes a really odd grimace in the background. Gash pays no attention and Shine is laughing at my mock dull, unimpressed expression.

I pick up the bag with a dry smile and place Mr. McMuffin inside. Together with the three other Canira, I leave the store, placing a sweetbone on the counter at the front of the store as thanks.

"Well, Torch, I think we have to go soon." I say with a sigh.

"You haven't seen the best part of this place yet!" Torch whines, ears down and amber eyes huge.

"Oh, fine. Show me." I say.

"Lead the way, Gash!" Torch says with a smile.

Gash nods and bolts down the alleyway. I run after, flapping my wings as I try to keep up. "Last one there is a street rat!" Gash laughs, running faster.

Determined not to be last again, I grit my teeth and run faster, but Shine, making no effort at all, passes me in a flash.

Finally, we come to a huge park. Metal skyscrapers with rungs on them pile high, neon light half-blinding me from every direction.

"What is this, Torch?" I ask, awestruck.

"They call it an amusement park." he replies.

Shine zooms right in. I run after, laughing like I'm a little pup again. We eat way too many sweets until my stomach hurts and ride on the roller coasters over and over.

It's kind of like flying, but wilder, and you don't have to make an effort to keep yourself aloft. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride.

The moon is beginning to edge back down when we finally leave. I stagger behind Gash, who looks perfectly fine, and we eventually come to a dark alley.

"You have the blankets, right?" Torch asks, sounding every bit as tired and sluggish as I feel.

Gash nods. He pulls four blankets out of his travel bag and spreads them all out against the rocky alleyway. He turns around three times and cuddles up around himself. "Um, Torch?" he says.

"What?" Torch responds, suddenly more alert.

"I... kind of want to go back to Ms. Lazura's house. She said I could bring you guys over..."

Torch groans in disgust. "We're roughing it."

"No," Shine says, "You're roughing it. I'm tired and I want to lay my paws down on more than an old blanket. Come on, Avery."

Torch stretches out, knowing the fight is completely worthless. You just don't mess with Shine, because she will not move her paw one inch from where she puts it.

I fold the blanket into a neat little bundle and follow Shine. Gash finally stops at an old house that seems to be little more than a few windows and a door, blending into the houses around it.

I scope around in the darkness for a bedroom, and when I see a nice little pile of pillows, I dive headfirst into them. They're every bit as fluffy as Torch told me pillows were, and I love it (even if they still can't compare to cloud fluff).

Fatigued, I put the blanket and a few pillows above me and fall asleep.