Once upon a time, there was a village where every color inthe world lived—except purple.

One sunny day, two sisters, Blue and Red, were playinghide-and-seek. As Blue ran around a corner, she accidentally bumped into Red.They tumbled together and got all mixed up!

Slowly, they opened their eyes and saw a tiny new baby colorstanding in front of them.

"Who are you?" asked Blue.

"What color are you?" wondered Red.

The little color smiled, but no one knew the answer.

Then all the colors gathered around and gasped in amazement.Blue and Red had created a brand-new color...

PURPLE!

Red and Blue's parents were respected elders of the community, Cyan and Magenta, the second generation of Black and White, the original founders of all of the land of Iris, alongside their compatriot, Yellow. Now, Yellow was special: he was an Eternal, a reincarnated Godlike entity, who had once been a peer of Cyan and Magenta, and was now a peer of Blue and Red. Yellow, as all older entities are want to do, was a great fan of tradition, and so, just as Black and White, and Cyan, Magenta and Yellow had done, there was announced to be another decennial Colour Gala.

The whole village buzzed with the news. Ribbons of every hue were strung between the houses, and the air smelled of fresh paint and wildflower dye.

Purple tugged at Red's sleeve. "What happens at a Gala?"

"It's where everyone comes together," Red said. "Families dance, colours mix and match, and sometimes--" she glanced at Blue and smiled, "--sometimes new colours are born."

Blue knelt down to Purple's height. "It didn't used to happen often, you know. Cyan and Magenta only came together once, and that made your sister and me. Yellow never mixed with anyone at all: Eternals don't, mostly. Some of the old colours think that's how it should stay. Blues with blues. Reds with reds."

Purple's smile faded a little. "Is that... bad? That you and Red mixed?"

"Some people think so," Red admitted. "Old White said the palette was getting 'muddled.' But look what came of it." She tapped Purple gently on the nose, and Purple giggled despite herself.

At the Gala that evening, the square filled with colours. Green and Orange, a young couple who'd been courting since the last Gala, stood nervously near the fountain, holding hands. Green's family had always kept to the cool side of the wheel; Orange's family, the warm side. A few of the older Warms muttered behind painted fans. A few of the older Cools did the same. But the music began, a slow, swirling waltz that irresistibly pulled colour into colour, Green and Orange spun. Where their hands touched, the light around them shimmered gold-green.

Purple stuck close to Blue and Red as they wandered about, skirting the dancefloor and hovering near the drinks' table. Red found Blue watching Orange and Green, and quickly looked away. Red took her hand anyways. Purple gathered at their fingertips.