The monorail swayed on its electrically charged track, balancing on the single-rail the speed at which it moved caused the whole of the machine to sway. This movement could be soothing if a cry of rusting metal had not accompanied it’s rocking passage through a broken and deserted landscape. Its passengers were children, not many of them, only five in each car, but all of them were afraid, even Rio, who had her ever trusty blanket lying on her lap. She could look out the window to stop the nausea, but nothing could stop her hands from shaking. The corrupt Kingdom she was told to leave behind now felt like a welcome dream, but then again anything was better than being trapped in this infernal machine in the Horror Land. Her mind was so active now, what if there were gaps in these tracks and the lot of them would plunge to their deaths or suffer a more despairing fate?

      “Don’t think so much.” A very dirty girl leaned over the sleeping child between them and whispered, “It’s written on your shoulder.”

Daisy was from Toon Town, and like most residents, dirt and dust fell of her like a twisted design of pixie glitter. She knew just as well as Rio did that they could not go very far from the Kingdom without being punished on their return. If they returned.

     “What will happen when they know we’ve, I’ve done this?” Rio ignored her comfort, it was useless anyways, no one would be waiting at their destination, they would have to go back to the Kingdom.

The Toon girl shrugged, causing Rio to flinch away from the falling debris, “If you’re so worried, then why did you ask us to come along?”

     “I was told to, ordered to by the Princess.”

      “And she told you to trust us to an Unnamed?”

     “She has a name.” Rio drew her blanket to her, turning up her nose and glaring down it.

Daisy’s creamy brown eyes studied Rio, “Then why isn’t she allowed in the Kingdom?”

Rio turned back to the window, purposefully ignoring the girl, what did she know? She was from Toon Town of all places. Besides, she wasn’t unnamed, The Unnamed were rude and unruly, they were sick and demented, and they look different from everyone else. They never had names because they never had mothers, and they were banned from the Kingdoms because most of them lived in the Horror Lands, the in-between places. The driver of the monorail had a name, Voltage, she was Rio’s dear, dear friend. Besides, without Voltage they would have nothing, it was she who fixed and operated the monorail so that Rio could fulfill her Princess’s desire; to take those loyal to her to Tomorrow Land.

     Tomorrow Land.

The shroud of mystery that surrounded that strange land made many children prefer to wait to be executed then travel there. Rumors were always there, of how it came to be, as it wasn’t always. In the beginning of the Kingdom there were seven princesses, but one grew so evil and corrupt that she was banished from the palace, she took an army of Unnamed with her to Tomorrow Land to one day return and conquer the Kingdom. Ever since then all mention of Tomorrow Land could get you banished, any thought of going there was stupid. That meant going through the Horror Lands, which meant never going back.

The monorail jerked, it felt like the mass of metal was slowing down, Rio clutched at a metal pole nearby when the railcar turned and she saw why.

Tomorrow Land, as they approached the geo-sphere loomed above them, the multi-faceted surface giving way to a perfect sphere. Rio couldn’t help but gape at it, the sheer size and clarity of it astonished her. They turned towards left of it and down below Rio swore she saw a flash of blue, distracting her momentarily from the huge orb that hung above this land. A statue of a girl stood in the center of a running fountain, it stood stock still looking up at the geo-sphere with arms wide open. Before Rio could study it, they moved behind the trees, and behind the monument of human innovation. Slowly, the monorail circled around an abandoned land, the water, for the first time that Rio could see, was clear, and not covered with the ever abundant blooms that plagued the Horror Lands. Everything was vibrant and not as dismal as people made it seem. Was this another lie of the Princesses?

A warped voice came over the speakers, it welcomed them to the desolate place, warbling it’s message of warning. There were no onlookers curious and waiting on the platform, no guards stationed at the ready and no Unnamed lurking in the shadows to attack them. There were no people in the streets, there was no one. Perhaps the rumors were just rumors, perhaps the seventh Princess died with her followers making her way into the Horror Lands. Rio shuddered at the thought, just as the monorail shuddered and sighed as it came to a stop. Rio took up her blanket quickly and rushed out the doors as they opened, making her way first to the cockpit. As she rushed past, the other children were slowly peeking out of their cars, wondering if it truly was safe to wander into this strange world. Rio was almost to the cockpit when it was thrown open with a loud bang.

Voltage burst open and out of the cockpit, her straight black hair matching her straight forward ways, goggles flashing in the midday light. She stood tall, even at thirteen she was taller than any other girl, and she was more attuned to take out her frustrations.

     “Piece of junk machine,” Her loud mannerisms caused the few others to look their way, some even stared and Voltage caught them looking, “What’s your malfunction?”

Rio was used to this behavior when things didn’t go Voltage’s way, the monorail hadn’t run liked she wanted it to. For right now that was the least of Rio’s concerns, at least it got them there in one piece.

     “Where is Fantasy?”

     “Who?” Voltage was already too far into the mechanics of her own mind, “Oh yeah, she slept like a baby the entire time, but are you sure you want her out here right now?”

     “Cinderella told us she would help us get into Tomorrow Land.” Rio leaned in to look into the cockpit where Fantasy, now three years old and still not talking, adorable even when awake, slept. She was small for her age as Voltage was tall for her age, but the clothing she wore made her look smaller. “Wake up Fantasy, you have to help us into Tomorrow Land.”

The child held her hands up to be held, but Rio shook her head, the child accepted well enough, and jumped down with Rio’s help.

     “Get her back in there now.” Voltage suddenly stood, and before Rio could ask why a long howl rang out. Those who had been brave enough to venture out into the open air scurried back into their cars.

     “What’s going on Voltage?”

     “Welcome to the World of Tomorrow.”