Moonstone Crystal has always had her life figured out. A loving family, wonderful friends, and a well-trod, well-loved path into her future. But when her beloved Saffron flees a heartless home, jealousy and anger lead to all of her plans vanishing along with her sight, and she must find a new way to live.
cw: this section contains physical violence and non-sexual assault.
Rosewood: Oh–good evening, ladies. Were you looking to buy tickets? I’m afraid the last train just left for the night.
Horizon: Where was that train going?
Rosewood: That was the last train to Strudelville.
Luna: Wait–fudge! It’s gone.
Luna: You need to call it back, right now. There’s a runaway on that train.
Rosewood: I’m sorry–are you police officers? I can’t just call back a train because of hearsay.
Horizon: Are you serious?!
Moonstone: I’m calling Mom.
Moonstone: Mom? We couldn’t stop her. She got on the train–Strudelville, but they can’t call it back without the police…yeah.
Moonstone: Mom, she left because of them. Do they really have to–okay. Okay, yeah, we’ll wait here. *sigh* Fudge.
Sunshine: I can’t believe you! What the hell were you thinking?!
Nectar: That she needs a good match and–
Sunshine: And look what happened!
Aspen: Good grief…
Rosewood: I can hardly blame the poor girl for running away from that. …Here we go. A full itinerary.
Horizon: Are they nuts? They really don’t see the problem here?
Spinel: Purists never see the problem. They’re so wrapped up in what they think is right they never see what’s wrong.
Moonstone: And then they had both daughters run away. *laugh* Figures…
*arguing continues*
Luna: Ugh….do they ever stop…
Moonstone: No. They don’t.
Officer Neptune: I’ve made some calls, and the train stopped at Strudelville. Saffron wasn’t on it then.
Moonstone: She…she must have jumped clear…dammit, Saf…
Spinel: Officer, can I take my girls home? We’re not going to get anywhere tonight.
Officer Neptune: Of course. But if you hear from Saffron, be sure to come in and let us know.
Nectar: Ah–wait. Moonstone, wait.
Spinel: Moony?
Moonstone: It’s okay.
Moonstone: What is it, Mrs. Cinder? –ah!
Nectar: You did this, you little–you caused this!
Moonstone: Excuse me?! You’re the ones who were trying to make her into something she’s not–Saf ran because she couldn’t be what you wanted her to be!
Nectar: Because you swayed her away from her path! None of this would have happened if you’d never met!
Moonstone: Do you even–get off me!
Nectar: You little–
Moonstone: Let go!
Luna/Horizon: Moony!
Spinel: Hey!
Spinel: Back up, Nectar.
Nectar: You–
Spinel: Back. Up.
Aspen: Ma’am?
Spinel: We’re fine, Officer. Nectar, it’s been a long day. We’re all going to go home, get some sleep, and deal with this in the morning. Okay?
Nectar: I–
Spinel: Okay?
Nectar: …okay.
Spinel: Good. But if you ever put a hand on my girls again, I will find you, and I will end you. That goes for Saffron, too, so clean up your act.
Nectar: You–
Spinel: Go home, Nectar. Clean up your house before you start blaming others.
Horizon: Moony?
Moonstone: I’m okay.
Luna: Mom, you can be…terrifying.
Spinel: Moms always are. Come on–let’s go home.
*phone rings*
Moonstone: Who…
Moonstone: Saf? Saffron?
Saffron: I just wanted to let you know I’m safe, Moony. Remember what I said, okay?
Moonstone: Saf–
Saffron: Take care of yourself.
Moonstone: Saf–she hung up…
Spinel: Moonstone…
Moonstone: This is all my fault…
Spinel: Hey, hey, no, honey, no. This isn’t on you. Come here.
Moonstone: I could have stopped her! I told her she could stay with us, she didn’t have to–
Spinel: Honey, people make their own choices, and she made hers. It’s not your fault.
Spinel: Come here…oh, sweetheart.
Later that morning…
Opal: Moonstone? How are you doing, sweetheart?
Moonstone: …I’m okay.
Opal: Now, we both know that’s a lie. Do you want to talk about it?
Moonstone: I just…she knew she could stay here, Gramma. Why did she…
Opal: Sweetheart, when…sometimes, when people are hurting so badly, they can’t think about how things should be. They can only think about how to make it stop.
Moonstone: We could have helped her…
Opal: We can only help the people who want to be helped, sweetheart. And even then, they have to help themselves first.
Moonstone: Saf…she was…I…
Opal: I know. I know.
Moonstone: I miss her, Gramma…I miss her so much already…
Opal: I know. I know.
Skye: She just ran away?
Moonstone: I said that already…
Horizon: She booked it. No idea where she is, or when–or if–she’s coming back.
Horizon: She…definitely won’t be here for the game, though.
Skye: Like that even matters. Is she okay?
Celestial: Saffron’s a strong girl, I’m sure she’ll be fine. We need to win this one for her sake, guys. Can we all pull together for this?
Horizon: I can.
Skye: Same here. …Moonstone?
Moonstone: I’ll manage. Somehow.
Celestial: Okay, great. Now, I want you three practicing. Get used to one another, okay? We’ll make this work.
Moonstone: Huh? …Uh-oh.
Absinthe: So, this is the court here in town, huh? …Quaint.
Chrome: Old.
Banana: It doesn’t look that bad, actually. Just a little crowded right now.
Chrome: Hey, ladies–off the court. This is our time to practice.
Moonstone: Let me guess: the Knights? Unbroken Winning Streak Knights?
Absinthe: Our reputation precedes us. Sorry about this, but we’ve had a long trip and really need to practice before tomorrow.
Banana: Not that we really need it.
Skye: This is a public court, guys, you can use the other side…
Horizon: If those egos don’t get in the way.
Moonstone: Unless you think you can’t win if we see you practicing.
Absinthe: No, nothing like that. I’d just hate for there to be an…accident. On either side. Been too many of those lately.
Moonstone: I bet there were. Come on, guys–we can practice back at my place. Excuse me.
Absinthe: Of course. Pleasure to meet you, Miss…
Moonstone: Crystal. See you on the court.
Chrome: Hey, watch it.
Horizon: Then don’t take up half the row, you moron.
Banana: Whoo boy, spitfire on the court!
Moonstone: Hori, come on.
Horizon: Fine, fine. We’ll kick your butts tomorrow, boys!
Absinthe: No, I don’t think you will.
That night…
Luna: You think Skye can handle it?
Horizon: His dribble needs some work but he’s not bad.
Moonstone: We can cover him.
Moonstone: He’s no Saffron, but…he’s…okay, I guess.
Luna: Are you?
Moonstone: What?
Horizon: Are you okay?
Moonstone: I. …I don’t know. I’m trying to be, but….it’s hard.
Horizon: It wasn’t fair, her leaving like that.
Moonstone: She did what she had to do…
Luna: It’s okay to be mad, Moony.
Moonstone: I’m not mad at her, I’m just…I’m sad. I miss her, and I want her to come back, but I…I don’t know.
Horizon: No calls or texts?
Moonstone: No. Just voicemail.
Moonstone: I don’t know where she is, or if she’s even alive…
Luna: Saf’s tough. I’m sure she’s fine.
Moonstone: I hope so..
Moonstone: Enough about that. Are you and Skye doing okay?
Luna: Huh? Oh, sure, we’re fine.
Horizon: Don’t change the subject. Have you talked to Mom about this?
Moonstone: I talked to Gramma. Good enough?
Horizon: Moony…what Saf did isn’t on you.
Moonstone: If I hadn’t kissed her–if we hadn’t started…then maybe her Mom wouldn’t have forced things…
Horizon: Bull. Her parents are idiots. You kissing her or not wouldn’t have changed that.
Moonstone: Maybe not, but–
Horizon: No maybes. Loving somebody’s never wrong, and if they can’t see that, that’s on them. You didn’t cause this.
Luna: Hori’s right. Besides, you two were cute together.
Moonstone: Thanks? *sigh* I don’t know, guys. I’d give everything to have her back here with us, but if she’s better off out there, then…
Horizon: It sucks.
Moonstone: It does. I just…I want to know she’s okay, but I don’t know how to find her…I don’t know what to do.
Luna: There’s nothing we can do…that’s the hard part. We just…we have to be here, waiting. She’ll come back when she comes back, or…
Horizon: Or she won’t.
Moonstone: Oh, some help that is!
Luna: Moonstone, she told you not to wait for her. I’m not saying go out and get a date tomorrow or something, but you can’t just sit around waiting for her to come back.
Moonstone: Yeah, yeah…
Luna: Hey. After the game tomorrow, let’s all go get ice cream like we used to. Deal?
Horizon: I’m in.
Moonstone: …double scoops.
Luna: Deal.
Spinel: Careful your face doesn’t get stuck like that, honey.
Moonstone: Haha, very funny. Ugh…
Moonstone: Come on, Saf…where are you?
Phone: This is Saffron! Sorry I can’t get your call right now, but leave a message and I’ll get back to you asap!
*beep*
Moonstone: Saf, it’s me. Again. I don’t…I don’t even know if you’re getting these, but–can you at least let me know you’re still alive out there?
Moonstone: The police are looking everywhere for you and–I just need to know you’re okay. Just–call me, please? We can fix this somehow and…
Moonstone: …We can make this work, Saf, just…Just come home, okay? For me? Please? …
Moonstone: …I miss you.
*beep*
Moonstone: Ugh.
Artemis: Moomoo?
Moonstone: Hey, Arty.
Artemis: Up! Huggy?
Moonstone: Sure–come on.
Artemis: No! I do it.
Moonstone: Okay, okay.
Artemis: Did it!
Moonstone: Yes, you did. Good job! …Oh, Arty….why can’t we all just stay this little?
Artemis: Moomoo! Tickles!
Moonstone: It’d be so much easier to stay this little, wouldn’t it…oh, Arty. Don’t grow up quick, okay?
Artemis: ?
Moonstone: Forget it. Come here, squirt. Snuggles. …*sigh* Why do we have to grow up…
Moonstone: …dammit. Screw this.
Radio: Gooooooooood morning, early risers! That heat wave we’ve been suffering under’s about to snap; we’ve got storm warnings for today and tomorrow, so remember to stay safe on high ground and don’t head into the low canyons until it passes. In sports, our very own Sugar Springs Pirates will be going toe to toe with the Forgotten Honeycomb Knights today…
Absinthe: Same as before, boys. Let’s make this quick.
Moonstone: *rapid breathing* Darn it…too slow, Crystal…
*footsteps*
Moonstone: You know, it’s not nice to follow a girl into a canyon like this.
Absinthe: We saw you running and wanted to be sure you were okay.
Moonstone: That’s sweet, boys, but I’m just fine. Now if you don’t mind–
Absinthe: Actually, we do. See…
Absinthe: The winners of this championship are pretty much guaranteed full placement at the university they want.
Moonstone: Oh, really? Well, bring your A-game, then. Shouldn’t be a problem after all those other wins.
Absinthe: You’re right about that. It won’t be a problem.
Absinthe: Unless you make it one!
Moonstone: What are you–
Absinthe: Throw the game, you hear me? Throw the game or we’ll–
Moonstone: Get off me! Is this how you won your other games? By making the other teams let you? Some scholarship kid you’d be–you didn’t even earn it! I’m going to tell Coach Celestial about this and when he finds out–
Absinthe: You’re not going to tell anyone about this!
Moonstone: *gasping and coughing*
Absinthe: This could have been so much easier…
Absinthe: Get her up and hold her steady.
Chrome: You got it.
Moonstone: You miserable…*cough* Get off me–let go!
Banana: Relax. Don’t make this any harder than it has to be.
Absinthe: And it doesn’t have to be hard at all, Crystal. Agree to throw the match and keep quiet, and we all walk out of here like nothing happened.
Moonstone: …and if I don’t?
Absinthe: Well, we’re going to win the game anyway, but you might not be walking out of here. We can do this the easy way or the hard way.
Absinthe: Your call, Crystal. What’s it gonna–
Moonstone: *spits* Go to hell.
Absinthe: Hard way it is then!
Moonstone: Ah!
*splash*
Banana: …Dude.
Absinthe: Let’s go. We don’t want to be late.
Opal: It’s not time yet, is it?
Astral: Not yet. Soon, but, not yet.
Opal: Then why…
Astral: I wanted to get your opinion on something, dear heart.
Opal: The all-knowing watcher needs the advice of a mortal?
Astral *chuckle* All seeing, not all knowing. Your lives are your own, I simply…
Opal: What is it?
Astral: I try not to meddle in the lives of mortals. You deserve the free will you have, however…
Opal: Something needs meddling with?
Astral: Many lives will never come to be if I do not. Countless spirits never experiencing the wonders of a mortal life.
No comments:
Post a Comment