What should have been a simple life in the desert sand and stars becomes anything but. Haunted by dreams of a life of violence, and seeking answers as to why, Peridot and her friends find themselves caught in an ancient battle between Light and Dark...and find that the cost of being a soldier is higher than they might have ever thought.
Fern: Yeah, catch up on Hunter gossip without boring you half to death.
Citrine: *laugh* Fern!
Fern: I’m just sayin’!
Citrine: *laugh* You dork.
Fern: You love me.
Citrine: Oh, yes I do.
Citrine: Seriously, it’s okay?
Fern: Seriously. You can catch up, or there’ll be others. She’s young–missing one playdate isn’t gonna break her heart, I promise.
Citrine: *sighing laugh* How do you always know what to say?
Fern: Eh, mostly I know what I need to hear, and sometimes that’s what you need to hear, so…
Citrine: Watcher, I love you.
Fern: Love you more.
Fern: Now get going!
Citrine: Oh, I see how it is! You say you love me and now you wanna get rid of me?
Fern: Sooner you go, sooner you come back!
Citrine: Alright, alright, I’m going! Good luck finding the carrier!
Fern: Finding the–oh, shoot.
Citrine: Well, someone’s overcompensating. Does this old place even have meeting rooms?
Fennel: Now, remember what I told you. Be polite, and if anything about your father comes up be regretful!
Basil: Come now, darling, I can act the part.
Fennel: I certainly hope so!
Fennel: It’s cost quite a bit to get us to this place, Basil. Thankfully Firework isn’t known for asking the hardline questions–
Basil: Ah…I don’t think that’s Firework, darling.
Fennel: What? I specifically asked for him! Who’s this?!
Basil: *sigh* Exactly who I never wanted to see again. Citrine Crystal.
Fennel: Your old schoolmate? Hm...maybe we can work with this after all.
Citrine: ...oh, you have got to be kidding me. Spangle why didn’t you say this was who was running for mayor...
Basil: You cannot be serious--
Fennel: I am very serious. We can still use this to our advantage!
Citrine: Ah--Miss Forest?
Fennel: --Mrs. Herb, actually! Are you Spangle Firework?
Citrine: I’m afraid not, ma’am. My name is Citrine, I’m Spangle’s co-reporter. He had a...bit of an accident earlier, so I’ll be stepping up for today’s interview.
Fennel: Oh, goodness! I do hope he’s alright. Well, if we’re to start over: I’m Fennel, and this is my husband Basil.
Basil: We’ve met before!
Citrine: Oh, I remember you, Basil.
Basil: Yes, I suppose I did leave...quite the impression. ...Goodness, whatever happened to you?
Citrine: ...that’s a rather long story, and this interview is about your running for mayor, not me. Should we get started?
Basil: Oh, yes, of course. Please, sit down.
Citrine: So, what made you decide you wanted to run for office?
Basil: Ah, now that is a long story! You see, my parents were always involved in politics and business. That’s where I met my dear wife here!
Fennel: A chance I wouldn’t trade for anything.
Citrine: And...Mayor? Why not Governor, or Minister?
Basil: *laugh* No experience! And you can’t be either of those without at least one term under your belt. We all have to start somewhere.
Basil: ...On that note, I...owe you an apology, Miss Crystal.
Citrine: ...uh..okay?
Basil: I was...a rather troubled young man when we last spoke. Issues at home, misplaced anger and harmful beliefs...It’s all quite embarrassing, really.
Citrine: That sounds a lot like an excuse, not an apology.
Basil: Ah, yes, well...
Fennel: We all have to start somewhere. And it’s really more of an explanation, not an excuse.
Citrine: ...right, well, it’s not me that you have to apologize to. It’s Peppermint.
Basil: Unfortunately your cousin isn’t here at the moment. I don’t suppose you have h--their email handy?
Citrine: ...I might.
Citrine: But if I’m gonna hand that over, you have to swear you’re only going to apologize, not harass them.
Basil: I give you my word. Those days are far, far behind me. And...I am sorry, Miss Crystal. I was quite the fool then.
Citrine: ...you were a kid parroting his parents words. If you’re thinking for yourself and not parroting that anymore, we can start over.
Basil: Well, thank you.
Citrine: But that’s us, Basil, I don’t speak for Peppermint. And my right hook’s a lot stronger now.
Basil: *laugh* I’ll keep that in mind!
Fennel: Oh, so you’re the one who broke his nose!
Citrine: *snort* Yes ma’am, I am.
Basil: And I deserved all of that and more! Now, back to the interview...
The Desert Bloom...
Calypso: Celestial--Watcher’s sake, boy...
Fern: Oh--look, Peri! It’s your new friend!
Peridot: Cel! Hi, Cel!
Fern: ...and I don’t think he heard you.
Fern: Oh, well. You can play with Scarlet instead!
Peri: Scar-scar!
Fern: Yep! Cousin Scarlet should be around here somewhere...
Fern: ...well someone’s fast.
Calypso: Believe me, I know. Hi sweetie--remember me?
Peridot: Uh-huh! Miss...
Fern: Can you say Miss Caly?
Peridot: Miss Caly!
Calypso: *chuckle* You want a hand?
Fern: I got her. Come on--let’s talk.
Calypso: Sideways is the fastest way to put it, yeah. Frosted was in training back then, so we were emailing back and forth, and one thing led to another. He came out for a week and...
Fern: ...did he...I mean, did you two...was it...
Calypso: He didn’t force me, if that’s what you mean.
Calypso: It was great--wonderful, even. We made it work as long distance because it was long distance, I think, but then I got pregnant and he tried to be noble and put a ring on it and...
Fern: And you were asked to leave the Hunters.
Calypso: And I was asked to leave the Hunters--but, look, that doesn’t matter now! I want to hear about you! What happened?
Fern: ...what didn’t happen.
Calypso: Uh, hello, a year in Sanguine Shadow’s prison? How are you even still alive?!
Fern: ...Citrine. I had someone to fight for and...well, that was enough.
Calypso: Enough to put six names to the record. Watcher, Fern...I’m so sorry. It shouldn’t have happened.
Calypso: We should have had your back. What Mantis did was--
Fern: --wrong, I know. But it wouldn’t have mattered...I was so deadset on fixing it myself, on making it right, that I didn’t see the trap until it was too late. I walked us right into it.
Calypso: Fern...
Fern: ...to tell you the truth, Caly, I’m gonna be making up for that for the rest of my life. For what Citrine went through because of me.
Calypso: Way Favilla tells it? She had to convince you to leave the Realm with her. I think she still wants to be here.
Fern: She does. It’s just...she wouldn’t have suffered like that if I hadn’t been stupid. It’s a Watcher-given miracle she loved me enough to stay, and I’ll always be grateful for that, but...stars and void, Caly, I messed up.
Calypso: You did, but it’s over now. No thanks to the rest of us Hunters, but you still made it home safe.
Fern: ...safe. If safe is nightmares and knowing the worst could still happen to Peri.
Calypso: ...what do you mean?
Fern: ...Delphine had a Vision. Of Peri dying as a Guardian.
Calypso: --!! That’s--!
Fern: It can’t--I mean, it can’t be real, can it? There hasn’t been a team since Vita’s and--and Delphine also saw her growing up happy here in the Springs so--
Calypso: Those aren’t mutually exclusive, Fern. If she’s been Seen, then...you know it’ll happen.
Fern: ...I’ve been trying not to remember that. I just--
Fern: She’s just a a baby. She’s my baby...Lluvia died so the Council and the others could escape...thinking of Peri in that kind of situation just...it just--I can’t even--
Calypso: Welcome to being a Mom.
Calypso: But, Fern, you know there’s no breaking a Vision. You’re going to have to be ready for it, and so is Peridot. The best you can do for her is to give her the best chance possible.
Fern: Training, I know, but she’s just a kid--how can I take her childhood the way we lost ours?
Calypso: Because it’ll keep her alive to have a life afterwards.
Fern: So if it was Cel who’d been Seen instead you--
Calypso: I’d be taking him back to the Realm to train, and damn the Council if they tried to stop me.
Fern: Oh, don’t start...I haven’t even been able to tell Citrine the real truth...every time I try I just get choked up and can’t...
Calypso: I’ll help you figure that out.
Calypso: ...but still...a Guardian? That means there’s a Team in the making...Watcher, the Door really is cracking.
Fern: ...looks that way, yeah. *sigh* Sanguine said he’d never stop. I never stopped to think about how right she was...
Calypso: Big thought, that one.
Fern: Too big.
Calypso: But if that’s what she’s going to be facing, then you know she has to have the best chance you can give her. You can’t run or hide from this, Fern.
Fern: I know, I just...
Fern: ...I wanted her life to be better than ours were, Caly.
Calypso: And if wishes were fishes, no one would ever starve. Life moves us past wants, Fern. We just have to keep up.
Fern: Oh hey! Look who made it!
Citrine: I’m going to kill Spangle myself.
Fern: Oh boy.
Fern: What happened?
Citrine: The mayoral candidate he was going to interview? The one he didn’t warn me about or name in his notes file?
Fern: Yeah?
Citrine: Basil.
Fern: ...oh.
Fern: And are you...okay?
Citrine: He was nice! It was so strange--it was like someone had dragged him through manners lessons and they actually stuck! And the whole time, I just...
Fern: You just...
Citrine: It’s so stupid.
Fern: Tell me?
Citrine: The whole time we were talking I couldn’t shake the feeling he was lying to me! Like he was just acting!
Fern: He probably was.
Citrine: Except I can’t prove it and I don’t know if it was my biases talking over my actual instincts...so I’m gonna kill Spangle for sending me into that without warning, even if he didn’t mean to.
Fern: *chuckle* Cit.
Fern: ...People can change, babe. D’you think Basil’s one of those people?
Citrine: No, but how much of me saying that is remembering him as a bully? Maybe he has chanced and I’m just refusing to see it because I don’t want to see it?
Fern: Could be a lot, could but nothing. Did you treat him fairly in the interview?
Citrine: Of course I did! I did my job!
Fern: Then that’s all that matters. Cross your fingers he doesn’t win and let him stay in your past. If he’s changed or not doesn’t matter now.
Citrine: ...how do you always know what to say?
Fern: Heh, I just know you. ...Watcher, I love you.
Citrine: ...I love you, too.
Citrine: You know that, right?
Fern: For sure. Always, babe.
Citrine: Always.
Moonflower: You have a good time today, kiddo?
Ribbon: Uh-huh! We play dolls and rainbows and unicorns and slides and--
Scarlet: Play again?!
Peppermint: You bet we can! Tomorrow, though, it’s almost time for bed!
Scarlet: Noooooo! Don’t wanna sleep, wanna play!
Eternal Glow: Whoa--Scar, settle down!
Watermelon: Whoa--easy, Clover, easy--
Clover: Relax, babe, I got her!
Meadow: *laughter* Higher, Dada higher!
*chatter continues*
-
Calypso: A job at the gym, huh?
Fern: Sure! I mean, I practically run the place myself. Army won’t turn down an extra set of hands, and there’s always lessons to teach. I can’t be at every class, you know.
Calypso: Sure, sure, but i’m not exactly a yoga instructor...
Citrine: You don’t have to be.
Citrine: The gym’s got rock climbing, self-defense, personal training classes...there’s plenty of room.
Fern: And we’re pretty good about PTO...also we’ve got dental.
Calypso: Which is more than I can say about museum security guard...hm...
Citrine: It’s a steady job, and we’d always be close by if you needed someone to watch Cel when he’s not with his dad.
Calypso: I mean that right there’s the selling point.
Fern: Don’t you mean the Cel-point?
Calypso: FERN I SWEAR--
Fern: *laugh* Sorry, couldn’t resist. But seriously--come with me and teach self-defense. You know we’re good at it, we may as well use it.
Citrine: Fern taught me and the others when we were kids, so if you got the same training, then...it can work really well.
Calypso: ...it can. And a steady job would look good on custody arguments....
Calypso: But...are you sure your boss would let you hire me sight unseen?
Fern: Caly, please. Did you miss the part where I said I practically run the place? Army’s half convinced himself to sell it to me already! He won’t have a problem, I promise.
Calypso: ...I’ll...come by tomorrow, okay?
Fern: No rush, no stress!
Citrine: And us taking Cel stands whenever anyway, just so you know. He and Peri get along so well already
Citrine: It’s almost like they met somewhen before...
Calypso: It is, isn’t it...*deep breath* Okay. I can’t promise anything, but...I’ll swing by once I drop him off with Frosted tomorrow.
Fern: Why not bring them both over? I’d love to meet Frosted myself.
Calypso: Fern. No promising violence in front of the kids, pelase.
Fern: I didn’t say anything I didn’t mean!
Citrine: *snicker* That’s the worst part, babe. But seriously, Calypso--
Calypso: Caly, please.
Citrine: --Caly. We’re all here if you ever need a hand. Any friend of Fern’s is a friend of mine.
Fern: Hmm...now that you’ve said that...
Calypso: Uh-oh, Citrine! You’re in trouble now!
Citrine: *laugh* I married trouble!
Calypso: *laugh* So you did. Oh, the stories I could tell you...
Fern: --no, no stories!
Citrine: Yes stories! Tomorrow, though?
Calypso: Tomorrow. Can you say bye bye, Cel?
Celestial: Bye bye!
Peridot: Bye bye!
Citrine: You did what?
Fern: Dove off the cliff! Like a high diving board. ....Don’t look at me like that the lake’s at least a hundred feet deep under there!
Citrine: *sigh* I knew I should have gone with you.
Fern: Yeah, you should have! We’d have had a hell of a time convincing Master Chronos to teach...you...babe, what’s wrong?
Citrine: ...*sigh* It’s stupid.
Fern: Diving off a cliff in a bathing suit is stupid. What is it?
Citrine: I just. I keep coming back to Basil and I don’t want to give him headspace but he just--I can’t shake it! He’s up to something.
Fern: What?
Citrine: I don’t know!
Citrine: And that’s the problem! If I knew I could do something about it but I don’t know and I don’t know if I’m giving him too much power or just haven’t let go or--
Fern: Or you can take a breath. Gut feeling?
Citrine: ...he’s up to something he needs the Mayor’s office for.
Fern: Okay, what can the mayor do that a regular guy with money can’t?
Citrine: ...the mayor’s got the ear of the police chief, for one. For another it’s a step into actual government, so...
Fern: So he’s after power.
Fern: A lot of people are after power, babe, and maybe that’s what you’re feeling.
Citrine: What if it’s not, though. There’s something...*sigh* No, you’re probably right. I’m just being paranoid.
Fern: Hey, you’re only paranoid until you’re not.
Fern: Look, do a little digging. He’s got to announce his platform, right? See if he’s got any real desire to use what he says he’s gonna use, and...go from there?
Citrine: Like...see if he puts his money where his mouth is.
Fern: Exactly.
Fern: And, hey, if nothing else? Maybe being a dishonest fool’ll kick him out of the running.
Citrine: *snort* You don’t know politics, babe.
Fern: Eh, nah, I prefer the pointy end of a sword to talking things out.
Citrine: ...thanks. For not telling me I’m crazy.
Fern: Oh, no, that ship sailed a long time ago. Doesn’t mean you’re wrong, though.
Citrine: *laugh* ...g’night, Fern.
The next day...
Peppermint: ...nice place. Expensive neighborhood. What’s she do for a living again?
Fern: She runs the local blood and plasma clinic, supporting the community’s need.
Peppermint:....cute.
Fern: I thought so.
Peppermint: ....are we sure about this? She’s a vampire. Is this even safe?
Fern: Pep, your daughter is a vampire. If that’s going to be a problem...
Peppermint: No, no! I didn’t mean it like that! I just...after what happened with Sanguine is it safe for you to...you know, be around other vampires?
Fern: Sure. It was self-defense, and not many people liked her anyway.
Peppermint: ...Okay. Okay, I trust you.
Peppermint: ...okay that is not funny.
Fern: *snicker* Yes it is. Now, be nice. We’ll be just fine, I promise.
*knock on door*
Fern: Miss Buzz? It’s Fern Crystal! We spoke on the phone about a meeting?
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