Iris Warriors

Right, everyone out of bed. Come on, leave everything.

Maisie!

Come on, slowpoke.

One, two, three. Come with me, four!

Right. Come on, come on.

Come with me. Come with me.

Here we go.

Alright. It's gonna be alright...

What about Ms. Augustus?

No, we don't have time.

Come on. It's alright, it's alright.

Let's go.

Three, four, five...

Jenny and Simon.

Come on. Jenny. Come on.

Jenny.

Simon.

Here we go.

Dusty.

We'll wait for the all clear.

Before you know it,

we'll be curled back up in our beds again.

It's alright. It's alright.

Sh.

It's alright.

They must be right overhead, Miss.

I think they hit the power station.

But if they are that close they'll be passed us soon.

to come down!

Well. That was closer than I'd care for.

What a wonderful place.

You know, I think I might take my holidays here this year..

You're silly, Miss.

We don't want to spend our holiday here.

Why not?

It's got everything you need.

It's got fresh water...

place to sit.

Beautiful view.

What is this?

Brick?

A wonderful view

of some fine bricks and mortar.

But we're trapped! How will we ever get out?

Get out. Why on earth would you want to get out?

We've only just arrived.

But what about our lessons tomorrow.

I don't like it here, Miss. It's too dark.

Too dark, you say?

Too dark and too scary.

No.

It's not...

too dark, it's...

It's just not light enough.

Light enough?

See, that's the thing about darkness.

It never lasts.

Even in the middle of winter,

when it's cold and wet and gloomy,

when the days are short,

when your breath steams up the window,

it always gets light...

even if just for a few hours, doesn't it?

Darkness never lasts.

Shall I read you a story?

Yes, please!

Does it have guns and battles?

It does have battles.

Okay, then.

Now...

this story...

happened a long, long time ago.

You see, most people think that light

was the first thing in the world...

but they're wrong.

The first thing,

the very first thing...

was darkness.

But as I said, the thing about darkness is...

it can't last forever.

Oh!

In the beginning, darkness ruled the world.

Thriving in her cold and dreary isolation,

she knew that as long as she covered the world

in her dark embrace,

she would be safe,

invincible...

untouchable.

The one and absolute ruler of her shadowy domain.

For eons, her dark shroud covered everything

in a frozen carapace of light.

The black icy see shards spreading in every direction.

All-enveloping, darkness stretched forever

back into the frigid past and endlessly on

into a bleak, eternal future.

Safe.

Secure.

Smothering.

Then in an instant,

it all changed, her certainty blown apart.

Split asunder.

There was something else,

something strange had invaded her world.

It was unfamiliar.

It was unwelcome

but it was entrancing none the less.

Light floated gently in the air.

Light was fast and agile.

He moved quickly, leaving a trail of his presence

and luminescence in his wake

as he twirled and flitted around darkness.

Darkness crept toward him.

She was irresistibly drawn to him.

And for that, she immediately hated him.

But when she got closer,

when she saw light better,

her feelings changed.

She wanted him, wanted to possess him,

to control him.

Light saw darkness smile and he smiled too.

And so, like revealed himself

in all his brilliant, white glory.

The heart of darkness was full of desire,

of possession, the need to claim,

to hold, to absorb.

Light sensed her need to control him,

own and restrain him.

He knew he could not stay.

Hold on.

You said there were battles.

This is a love story.

I like it, Miss.

But they were kissing and stuff.

Where's the battles?

They're coming?

Without warning light vanished.

[low, mysterious instrumental

Darkness was sad and angry.

She longed for light, felt betrayed.

But when she dreamt of revenge for his betrayal,

she felt something stirring within her.

Light had left her a gift.

Feelings she had never imagined washed over darkness.

Could it be?

Was it possible?

What strangeness was this?

Something growing inside her.

Unimaginable pain wracked darkness.

What had he done to her?

She grasped her stomach,

plunged her fingers deep

into the crevices of her frosty cape.

Darkness shook, shuddered, gasped

as more colors burst forth from her

in stunning profusion.

Red, Orange,

- Green... - Wow.

Blue,

Indigo

and Violet.

Each one was an exquisite, radiant color

that brought joy to the dreary world

that darkness inhabited.

Violet is a gentle warrior,

her soothing presence,

a comfort to her brothers and sisters.

Green was the kindest of the warriors,

nurtured the others,

was a friend to all living things.

Red was full of energy and passion.

A fiery warrior.

He was spirited and committed, honest and true.

Blue was nurturing, insightful and patient,

a powerful presence among the warriors.

Indigo was full of love,

cared with all her heart,

would do anything to protect her brothers and sisters.

Orange was happy and energetic,

hungry to explore and discover everything

their world had to offer.

Yellow was fun and playful,

bursting with life and strength.

The leader of the warriors,

the others looked to him for guidance.

As she gazed upon her children,

she finally understood love,

Did not want to go back to her boring life of isolation.

She would never have to be alone again.

She had her beautiful children,

the Iris Warriors.

Darkness was delighted.

Tried to keep them close so she wouldn't lose them

like she had lost light.

But the more she smothered them,

the more they wanted to be free.

They scattered like clouds before a strong wind,

flying and flitting in every direction,

rejecting darkness' embrace,

skipping and leaping and running

from her clawing, grasping hands.