Rainbow City

  ( Newbie )

  On the inside, the Sky Spire was little more than one long spiralling staircase. It lacked the ornate grandeur of the rest of the palace, instead serving a purely functional purpose. Each step mounted revealed yet another up ahead in a seemingly endless winding cycle.

  Newbie appreciated the underwhelming nature of the climb. Her mind and senses had been so overly inspired since emerging that the simple, repetitive task of ascending served as something of a mental respite.

  "So, this place must be a big deal?" she asked.

  "Heck yeah!" chirped Merrymint. "It's the biggest city in the queendom. People flock from all over to trade. Many even choose to live up here as skysettled."

  Newbie had no memories of the realm's borders, nor the chance to study any maps since emerging. "And this isn't the only queendom?" It felt awkward to ask such fundamental questions, but she was sure her Mentor would understand, having gone through the same thing herself.

  "Correct! Queeny might be strong, but she can't be everywhere at once. So long, looong ago, three fairies divided the continent into three separate queendoms. Titania rules Titan, Obonia rules Obon, and Useelia rules Useel!" said Merrymint.

  Zero points for creativity, but at least it's memorable...

  "...And was that a peaceful arrangement?" asked Newbie.

  "Oh yeah. The queens go way back," said Merrymint. "Plus, Titania is the only one who can summon faefire, so their loyalty is pretty much assured, at least that's how I figure it."

  Newbie wondered how long it would take for her to notice if they were just repeatedly scaling the exact same loop of steps. "It's all queens and princesses, huh? No kings or princes?"

  "Oh, there's Fairy Princes, just not in Titan," said Merrymint. "It's been girl after girl. Crazy odds, I guess."

  "Huh," said Newbie. "Have you ever been? To the other queendoms, I mean."

  "Nope. Not yet. I've always wanted to visit Obon. They say it's beautiful there," said Merrymint.

  "...And Useel?"

  "Not alone. I heard it's kinda scary. Actually, I heard it's real scary." Despite her grim words, Merrymint proceeded to sing herself a phrase. "Built on broken waves..."

  If she had the time, Newbie would like to visit every last place in the whole world to learn of different cultures and traditions. "Then let's go together! To both. You, me, and Cherrychomp. After we graduate, I mean."

  Merrymint spun around, her emerald eyes sparkling with excitement. "That's a wonderful idea! I love it! Let's invite Bubble' and Cutie' too!"

  Such seeds may not be fit for harvest any time soon, but sowing them felt good nonetheless.

  It didn't take the duo much longer to finally reach the top and come face to face with a heavily fortified door. Considering the tower connected the Royal Palace with Rainbow City, its strength was certainly warranted. Yet there didn't appear to be a handle to turn nor a keyhole to unlock. Its only feature was a tiny glass window that revealed a glimpse of inner mechanisms. Nestled within the sturdy contraption was a small earthy orb.

  Try as she might, Newbie couldn't fathom how such a door could work. "Ok. I give up. How's it open?"

  "Oh it's super cool! Get your faefire out," said Merrymint.

  Curious, Newbie reached into her pocket and retrieved one of two glowing vials. Merrymint took her by the wrist and guided her hand closer to the door. In the presence of the violet glow, the bulb started to sprout. Tendrils and roots unfurled, weaving and creeping to flick latches until the heavy door groaned loose.

  "You ready, Newb'?" asked Merrymint, grinning wide.

  "Ready for what, exactly?" asked Newbie.

  The door groaned open and fluorescence flooded the Sky Spire. It struck unprepared retinas like a kaleidoscopic flare. Newbie shielded her eyes and shuffled out onto the street, wincing like a worm surfacing for the very first time. A barrage of social sounds swallowed her up. Too many voices to count, all blending into a choir of gibberish. She couldn't help but shrink into Merrymint's shadow.

  All around stood gemstone architecture. Each building was unique in construction and chaotic in colouration. Every hue was dialled to a psychedelic extreme. She wondered whether the residents lived with permanent headaches, or if they'd grown accustomed to the gaudy glare.

  Without the faefire's nurturing radiance, the reaching shoots within the door withered and crumbled. Catches and clasps clicked closed behind them, securing the passage once more.

  "Ok, now slowly, look down," said Merrymint.

  A tingle of anxiety peppered Newbie's spine as she lowered her gaze. Knees lurched when she saw the green beneath her feet was translucent, like glassy, boiled candy. She instinctively reached out and grabbed at her Mentor for support.

  Merrymint caught her and laughed. "I thought you weren't afraid of heights?"

  "This is very different!" cried Newbie.

  "Awh!" Merrymint held her tight. "Don't worry. It's perfectly safe. After a few minutes it won't even bother you."

  Through the gaps in the clouds, Newbie could make out the palace, Candy Town and the surrounding forest far, far below, all tinted by the green filter. She bent shaky knees and tugged a glove from her hand. The rainbow's surface was smooth and hard beneath her fingers.

  In one direction she could make out where the green band ended and the yellow began. In the other direction the same, but for the blue band. The tower must've delivered them to the exact centre of the arch.

  "Princess Merrymint, is that the new Fairy Princess?" called a voice.

  Newbie looked up to see two boys upon a peridot balcony waving down at them. Draped over the railing was a banner bearing a jagged green leaf, just like those sat upon Merrymint's top hat.

  "Sure is, so be nice!" yelled Merrymint.

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  "She seems cool!" shouted one of the boys.

  Newbie quickly lowered her head to hide her face. She found being the centre of attention a little intimidating, especially with so many people around. "Your fans?"

  "Yeah! I told you, right? We've all got 'em!" said Merrymint.

  True enough, the boys' balcony was not alone in displaying supportive heraldry. Almost every jewel structure they passed played host to royal emblems. The majority were burning butterflies, but waves, rabbits, and cherries were also common. Leaves, cakes, unicorns, and wings were fewer in number, but still present.

  "Won't be long before you have your own supporters!" said Merrymint.

  "You think?" asked Newbie. "That'd be crazy... How do people choose?"

  Merrymint approached a market stall. She plucked a brass tube from the table and asked if she could borrow it a moment before passing it to Newbie. It was wider at one end, thinner at the other, and contained a series of twinkling lenses.

  "Take a peep at Candy Town," said Merrymint. "You gotta be quite direct with it."

  Newbie raised the instrument to her eye and aimed it down to the gingerbread training grounds. To her amazement, the scope not only magnified her vision but also cancelled out the coloured tint of the rainbow, giving a crystal clear view of the sugary streets. The moment her gaze strayed, the view became distorted.

  "Huh... It only penetrates the rainbow vertically?" she asked.

  "Yep! I think it's to protect the forestfolk's privacy. Plenty prefer to live down in the Enchanted Forest."

  "Clever," said Newbie. "So the people up here watch training?"

  "Every day!" chirped Merrymint. "I guess Queeny wants them to know they're in safe hands."

  Newbie struggled to restrain a grimace.

  I hope no one was watching us this morning...

  With enthusiastic theatrics, Merrymint presented a whirlwind tour of Rainbow City. At the edge of the red band were the docks. Hot air balloons depicting cutesy animals and colourful patterns drifted through pristine skies, carrying baskets of locals to and fro the woodlands below.

  On the far side of the violet band were the dazzling Diamond Siphons. With grumbly rumblings, they sucked up clouds and condensed them into clean water, ready to be pumped to the populace.

  Puddingpuff's Tearoom was one of the few buildings without a hint of translucence. It was a stately establishment of pastel palette and rippling curves. Much like the proprietor's attire, the entire thing resembled an elaborately decorated dessert.

  "Oh wow. You weren't kidding about our allowance," said Newbie.

  "One heck of an investment," said Merrymint. "Though she must have made her money back by now. It gets real busy."

  Newbie observed two smartly-dressed gentlemen standing before its doors, both sporting sequined half masks. Only when customers presented some kind of small, shiny badge did they permit entry. "Seems exclusive. Is it fancy inside?"

  "Weird, more like."

  "Weird?"

  Merrymint scrunched up her face in response, as if it was easier to explain via expression than words. Yet the shifting eyes and deepening creases only made Newbie all the more curious.

  "I'm not sure I follow." Newbie rose onto tiptoes and leaned from side to side, trying to catch a glimpse of the interior. "Can we spare a moment so I can see for myself?"

  "Ehhh, not exactly," said Merrymint. "Me and Cherry' tried before, but didn't make it far past the doormen. Puddin' herself chased us out. Apparently it's for the people, not princesses."

  "She bars royalty?" Newbie squinted. "Is that even allowed?"

  "Golly, I mean, it's her place, so..." Merrymint shrugged casually.

  Newbie eyed the structure with frustrating curiosity. "...What do you spend your allowance on?"

  Merrymint flicked her spectacles. "I guess we have time for one more stop before we hit the workshop!"

  With stave raised high, Merrymint led the way to what at first appeared to be a fenced park. Behind the bars, a group of children were chasing one another and screaming playfully. At the centre of the lawned and leafy garden towered a ginormous white blossomed tree. Dotted throughout its mighty trunk were two dozen windows, each home to a cosy glow. Some were closer to the root-sprawling base, while others were nearer the crowning canopy. Despite being almost entirely hollowed out, the tree appeared in good health.

  "That's one big treehouse." Newbie whistled. "You paid for all of this?"

  "Not quite," said Merrymint. "Bubble' and Cutie' set it up years ago. I just donate. And it's not just a treehouse, it's -"

  "Halt! Who goes there?" interrupted a snappy voice.

  Beyond the gate was a young boy, clad in grey and wielding a wooden sword and shield. An upturned and empty ice cream cone was secured to his forehead with string.

  Merrymint snapped to attention. "Ahoy-hoy! Princess Merrymint reporting in!"

  The youth gave a nod and tucked the wooden sword into his belt. "Very well. What business do you have here?"

  With the pint-sized security seemingly at ease, Merrymint relaxed her stance. "Not much, Mordy. Just giving our freshest Fairy Princess the tour!"

  Mordy's eyes widened upon looking to Newbie. He took a startled step back, then buckled to a bow. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Princess! I am Mordy, eldest of the Rainbow Orphanage! It is an honour to be under your protection!"

  "Oh, I-" Newbie swallowed hard. The news that all of the children within the verdant grounds were parentless had caught her off guard. At first she considered whether it should affect the way she talked to the boy, but then she realised something.

  I guess in a way, we Fairy Princesses are part of an adoptive family too.

  "I'm pleased to meet you, Mordy. My name is Princess Newbie, for now, but not for long. I'll do my best to keep this city safe!"

  Mordy smiled and unclunked the squeaky gate before pushing it open. "I'm sorry I didn't recognise you. I spotted you during yesterday's training!"

  "You were watching?" Newbie laughed awkwardly. "Sorry if I wasn't very interesting. I'm still getting the hang of things."

  "And today?" asked Mordy. "Are you going to try fighting?"

  Newbie fidgeted. "Uhm, well... Queen Titania herself asked me to hang back again."

  Thank you, Queen Titania!

  Merrymint crouched down so she could talk to the child on his level. "Hey, Mordy. It might be better if the younger kids don't watch this evening."

  "What? Why?" asked Mordy.

  Newbie subtly leaned in.

  Merrymint was so calm and confident watching the others face Mister Bear. What are they due to fight tonight that gives her such pause?

  "Things might get a little rough," said Merrymint vaguely. "Tell the matrons that the younger children shouldn't watch. I can trust you to deliver that message for me, right?"

  Mordy narrowed his eyes, seemingly dissatisfied with the answer. He wasn't the only one, either. Newbie was just about to throw a semi-feigned sulk when a shadow loomed.

  In that instant, instinct took over. Newbie threw her arms around Mordy and pulled him into a protective embrace as imagined claws reached out. It was a good thing she did too, for Sunshine slammed down with tremendous force. If her landing didn't knock the child from his feet, then the following blast of air caused by a needless thrash of grounded wings would've.

  The feathered fairy clutched a weapon. A flanged mace so golden it resembled a royal sceptre.