Double Rainbow

Torch-11

She has to make it. She has to. She threw herself in the way of the shard without even trying to avert it. A pure, loyal sacrifice. I was going to protect you. You had to die for me.

Her eyes are closed and she's limping along.

"I think the throne room is up ahead!" Spritz says. I nod to him, and the two of us run side by side. Avery brings up the rear with Dark Rainbow, holding her up. For a second, I see another, powerful shape beside her. It's not a Canira or a Canis but a black wolf. He has amber eyes. Just like... Storm.

I remember Storm, the Obsidian who helped Cherry and I escaped. Cherry is gone, too. I have no idea where she is. Her fate is as uncertain as ours. Does Dark Rainbow have something to do with Storm? I shrug it off. Focus. Focus.

I lean in, pressing on into a row of Obsidians. They're much bigger and more fierce than the others. I fling a fireball at one but it regrows in an instant. It leers down at me but does nothing.

"Let them through." says a powerful, commanding voice. The Obsidians move to the side and let us pass. Trembling, I walk into the throne room.

A beautiful diadem sits on the head of a huge black dragon. Her eyes are a deep purple like a twilight with no stars. The crown has only one, small pink gem in the middle of it, but that one gem glows with impossible radiance. I squint at it, walking towards the powerful dragon.

"So you're here. I was hoping PPS would choose better." she says distastefully.

"What do you mean?" I yell up at her indignantly.

"I knew you were coming, so I didn't even bother to put up a fight. I don't mess with destiny when it's already set."

"So you just let us get this far?!" Spritz snarls.

"On the contrary, I definitely put up a fight. Your little friend there would agree." She gestures to Dark Rainbow passively.

Dark Rainbow holds her throat, which is still bleeding. "Why... why are you doing all this?!" she chokes out.

"You were born with my knowledge, Dark Rainbow. You know perfectly well why this is all happening. At the end of the day, there is no good and bad. There are just two sides and the more powerful will simply win. That is all. Avery, do you recall how my kind was born?"

"You- you were born out of darkness that arose when the Unknown Canira were born?" she whispers.

"Don't be so quiet, my dear." She flies down, and puts the sharp edge of her tail around Avery's neck. "Say it louder." She squeezes her neck, and Spritz runs at her but bounces off her huge scales.

"You were born out of darkness that arose when the Unknown Canira were born! Let me go, please!" She cries, going into a violent coughing fit. Unamused, Nethera slams Avery onto the ground like a toy that no longer works.

"Yes, that is true. Darkness, to live, must feed off of more darkness. That is why we keep prisoners. We feed off of fear and hate to stay alive." She sucks in a black curl of energy from Dark Rainbow, who flinches but does not look hurt.

"That's so awful!" Avery says, tears still lacing her eyes.

"And it's not awful when you eat innocent animals who have done no harm to you. See, your perspective is very limited." Nethera laughs. "I admit that I've taken more then I need, but what of it? Like I give a damn. There are millions of you out there. Billions, even. Not only is abducting your kind sweet revenge for you pesky Dreamlandians driving us out of all the other dimensions, but your pain is very tasty. In the end, you all mean nothing, do you not? Life is just a little joy, a lot of pain, and then it's over. What did you do? What happened? Nothing, that's what."

Avery speaks out, "That's not true! What about love? What about family? What about friends? What about everything that makes life worth living?"

"Well, you're one to talk. Your family cast you out because of that horn, Spritz's family never really cared, at all, and I'd hardly call Dark Rainbow a good friend, eh, Torch? Much less what you know you want her to be."

I blush. "I did NOT-"

"How do you know all this?" Spritz asks her.

Nethera touches the gem on her crown. "Do you recognize this, Avery? This is a Diadem capable of distorting space. From your little nursery tales."

Avery nods. "The Space Diadem but... where is the Time Diadem?"

"Your stupid Princess Puppy-Spots has it. She's been stopping a full scale invasion from us with it for years, but.. even her power wears thin, even now..."

"You're not going to invade Dreamland." Spritz yells.

"Oh?"

"You're never going to... because we're going to stop you first."

"I have seen destiny. You are going to lose."

"Well," Dark Rainbow speaks up, her voice much stronger, "You didn't see destiny... with me in it."

Nethera looks surprised. "Very well, then. I shall allow you to challenge me. Say your goodbyes and enjoy your last few minutes, will you?"