A child of two worlds, Opal Crystal never really belonged anywhere. Loved by her heartsick mother, and loathed by her stepfather, she lived her life trapped in a tower of ivory and glass. But when said stepfather betrays her, selling her to the government for experimentation, she must find the strength to carry on...even when all seems lost.
CW: This Generation contains themes of medical torture, false imprisonment, PTSD, and terminal illness.
Frostbite: She good?
Dawn: It happens. She’ll be fine. What did you wanna show me?
Frostbite: This–look at this?
Dusk: Mama, is everything okay? You seem kind of distracted.
Opal: …everything’s fine. Just…tired, for some reason. Thank you for making dinner, sweetheart.
Dusk: Sure thing.
The next day…
Opal: So, the little caterpillar crawled along the leaf and took two huge bites out of it. Feeling full, he crawled off down the branch, but soon grew very hungry again…
Aurora: You want a hand?
Dawn: Please! I can’t figure this set out…
Aurora: Bend your knees a little less, arms up higher…just like that.
Aurora: Remember, eyes on your target’s. They’ll give themselves away with their face a lot.
Dawn: Okay. Knees bent, arms up, eyes on the face. Got it.
Aurora: Start with your off arm. Build up that swing!
Dawn: Like this?
Aurora: Faster–yeah! Like that!
Aurora: Keep the momentum building, don’t slow down, and then bring up your good arm for a a knockout!
*bag thuds to the ground*
Aurora: Just like that!
Dawn: I did it!
Aurora: You did it. Great job, baby.
Dawn: Thanks, Mom.
Aurora: Anytime. Hey–do me a favor and keep an eye on your Mama tomorrow, okay?
Dawn: Sure. Is everything okay?
Aurora: …It will be.
Aurora: I’m headed out! Love you, guys!
Opal: Love you too! Have a good day!
*Door closes*
Opal: …why can’t I shake this…maybe some air’ll be good.
Opal: ….
Opal: ….no good. What’s going on?
Dusk: Mama, are you okay?
Opal: Fine. Why?
Dusk: You seem kinda distracted again. Bad night?
Opal: …you know what? It was. Can you watch your sister? I’m going to take a nap.
Dusk: Sure thing.
That night…
*phone buzzes*
Aurora: Going in. I love you.
Opal: …oh. Ro…please be safe…
Podcast: And so the brave space explorers stepped forward into the dark caverns, not know what they would–
*phone buzzes*
Dusk: Hey! Why’d you stop it?
Dawn: I didn’t. That was a text.
Dawn: It’s from Mom. …”Love you, look after each other.”
Dusk: I got one too. “Love you, be good for your sisters.” …Dawn why do these sound like goodbye texts?
Dawn: I don’t know. …go check on the girls.
Dawn: Mama? Did you…
Opal: Get a text from your mother? Yes. I did. *sigh* It’s tonight. After almost seventeen years…
Dawn: …what’s tonight?
Opal: …Did we ever tell you what your Mom does?
Dawn: She’s an agent with the Newcrust government. What’s that got to do with anything?
Opal: She’s been working to bring down a corrupt set of agents since before you were born. Tonight’s the night she finally does it.
Dawn: …what does that mean? Why would she send texts like this if she’s going to do that?
Opal: Because she isn’t sure if she’s coming back, and she wanted us to know she loves us.
-
Spinel: Com! Com!
Comet: Ugh…wha…Spinel? What is it?
Spinel: Bad dweam! *hiccup* Mommy!
Comet: Mommy’s fine, Spi….
Comet: …*sigh* Come on. Sleep with me tonight, okay?
Spinel: *sniffle* Kay…
Aurora: You’re here!
Forest: Of course we are.
Cadence: Like we’d let you do this alone.
Aurora: Still…I’m really glad you’re here.
Cadence: So, you ready?
Aurora: Ready. They’re all in the bullpen so we can collar them at once.
Aurora: Hey, I–thanks for coming. I know you’re only a week from retirement. Big stuff like this is…
Forest: Stop. This is our job.
Forest: We’ll be doing this until we can’t. Retirement’s not a thing for people like us.
Aurora: …No, I guess it’s not.
Turmeric: What the absolute hell–
Forest: Turmeric Spice?
Turmeric: Who the hell’s asking?
Forest: Chief Stone, Sugar Springs division. Put your hands behind your back.
Turmeric: What the–HEY!
Forest: Turmeric Spice, you’re under arrest for the illegal imprisonment of minors, pursuant to Article 17 of the Occult Refuge Regulations. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
Forest: You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you–
Turmeric: I know my rights.
Cadence: Shame you don’t respect the rights of others.
Laurel: What the fudge is–ah!
Cadence: Hands behind your back! Laurel Sprig, you’re under arrest for the illegal imprisonment of minors, pursuant to Article 17 of the Occult Refuge Regulation. Anything you say–
Laurel: Fudge you! Get off me!
Cadence: They never go quietly–Aurora! Get the others secured. We’ll join you in a minute.
Aurora: Got it.
Razz: The hell is that?
Sky: No idea.
Mist: That miserable–
Razz: Aurora, what’s going on?
Sky: Captain!
-
Cadence: On your feet.
Laurel: I want a lawyer!
Cadence: Oh, you’ll need one.
Forest: Cadence. Back here. One to a stall.
Cadence: Copy that.
Razz: Aurora–
Aurora: You two need to get into the interrogation rooms. Now–it’s the only safe place.
Sky: What the–
Aurora: Now!
Razz: Okay, okay, what the fudge is– *Locks chunk* Aurora!
Aurora: …Sorry, guys.
Mist: I should have known it would be you.
Aurora: Captain Mist Riverstone, you’re under arrest for the illegal imprisonment of minors, pursuant to Article 17 of the Occult Refuge Regulation.
Aurora: Put your hands behind your back. I said put your hands–erk!
Mist: You just couldn’t leave well enough alone, could you?
Aurora: Get–off–
Mist: You just had to stick your nose where it didn’t belong. I should have known my best closer had a problem with my methods.
Aurora: But you deserve this!
Mist: Argh!!
Forest: That should hold. Now–
*Crash*
Cadence: Aurora!
Forest: Move!
-
Mist: Oof!
Aurora: No more!
Aurora: Mist Riverstone, you’re under arrest for the illegal imprisonment of minors pursuant to Article 17 of the Occult Refuge Regulation.. *cough* You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you…
Cadence: Aurora–oh, thank Watcher…
Aurora: On your feet. The other two are in the interrogation rooms, can you–
Forest: We’ve got them. Get him up.
Forest: All cleaned up?
Aurora: Mostly. They say anything?
Forest: Not a word, unless you count “lawyer”.
Aurora: Figures. …Look, Chief, I–
Forest: I know. You put in the paperwork a week ago. It’s time.
Aurora: I know what you said back there, but–
Cadence: But you’ve got your own family to look after. Aurora…you did it. Just like you always did. It’s okay to walk away on a victory.
Cadence: And this was a victory. There’s enough on those servers to put this entire station down for years.
Aurora: It’s over.
Cadence: Just do me one favor?
Aurora: What?
Cadence: Don’t be strangers. Come and visit every now and again?
Aurora: I will. We will, I promise.
Cadence: Go on then. Off with you.
Forest: Safe trip.
Forest: She’s out.
Cadence: She’s out. *sigh* She’s going home. Let’s collar this bunch and do the same.
*keys jingle, door opens*
Opal: Wha…
Aurora: I’m home. I’m…oh, no..
Opal: Ro!
Opal: Ro! Oh, Watcher, you’re hurt–
Aurora: “m okay, starshine…just…gimme a sec…
Opal: Ro, this is not okay!
Aurora: *chuckle* You should see the other guy…
Opal: I don’t think I want to! What happened? Is it–is everyone okay?
Aurora: …yeah. Yeah, we’re…everyone made it. It was close, but…we’re all okay…
Opal: Thank Watcher. …I really think we should go to the hospital, Ro…
Aurora: No. I’m okay, really, just…tired, and sore, and…so glad to see you. You have no idea.
Opal: I have some. You really scared me with that text, you know. I thought…
Aurora: I know. I’m sorry, there wasn’t any time to explain. But it’s over now…we’re finished.
Opal: …yeah.
Opal: Come on. Let’s get you to bed–oof. Heavier than you look!
Aurora: Couch is fine, babe…*sigh* Kids okay?
Opal: You scared Dusk and Dawn half to death with that text, too!
Aurora: Ugh, I know, I know…just didn’t want to leave ‘em with nothing…ow…
Opal: I can still call an ambulance, you know.
Aurora: And wake up my Dads? Noooo thank you.
Opal: Okay, okay, but we’re going to a doctor tomorrow.
Aurora: Tomorrow. …*sigh*
Opal: Can I get you anything? Aspirin? An ice pack?
Aurora: I’m good. Just…still sinking in that it’s over.
Opal: …Is it?
Aurora: What do you mean? We got ‘em all, babe! All the way to the top! There’s nobody left at Newcrust Station.
Opal: Meaning they need a new station chief, and a new staff…after all of this they may try and give you the chief’s seat…
Aurora: Urgh, don’t remind me! The paperwork in that chair’d really do me in.
Aurora: Hey…are you worried I’d take the job?
Opal: You worked so hard to get there, I thought…I thought at some point you wanted it.
Aurora: No. I never did. Can you really see me giving that kind of order?
Aurora: Honestly? I think I’m gonna hang up my badge. I saw this through and that’s…all I needed to do.
Opal: What? But–Ro, you love your job.
Aurora: I did. I do. But I love you and the kids more. I’ve missed enough of this life, Opal. I don’t want to lose more of it.
Opal: Ro…
Aurora: I’ll get something closer to home, and–
Aurora: –mmph!
Opal: I love you.
Aurora: …Love you too, starshine.
Dusk: Seriously, they’re talking about the whole station being rotten, and–
Dawn: Dusk! This really isn’t the time.
Comet: *gasp* Mommy!!
Comet: You’re back!
Aurora: Of course I am! I just had to take care of a few things, that’s all!
Comet: Your face–
Aurora: Oh, baby. This isn’t the worst I’ve ever had.
Comet: …you’re okay?
Aurora: I’m better than okay. I did what I had to do, and now I’m home to stay.
Comet: Don’t ever leave like that again, okay?
Aurora: I won’t. I promise. Is it okay if I hug your brother and sister now?
Comet: …one more minute.
Dusk: …Should we tell her about Mama?
Dawn: Mama’s fine, Dusk. We don’t need to bring it up.
Dawn: Not yet, anyway. If she gets worse, we will.
Aurora: Alright you rascals, come here!
-
Dusk: Welcome home, Mom.
Dawn: We were worried about you.
Aurora: I know. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.
Aurora: But it won’t happen again. It’s all over now.
Dawn: No more crazy missions?
Aurora: No, baby. No more crazy missions. I’m home to stay now.
Aurora: I still can’t believe that all went off without a hitch!
Cadence: Hey now, what have I told you about doubting my plans?
Opal: You think by now we’d have learned! *laughter* So, what now? What’re your plans?
Cadence: Finally taking a vacation. Do you know how long it’s taken me to convince this one to take some time off?
Forest: Forty years, which is about as long as we’ve known each other.
Cadence: Don’t be so smug.
Forest: *chuckle* We’ll be gone for some time. Will you all be alright?
Opal: I think we can manage now that things have settled down.
Aurora: Definitely. Just send us some postcards, will you?
Cadence: Enough to fill your whole wall with.
Cadence: Though that does mean with have to pack, Forest, and I don’t mean a go bag!
Forest: I know, I know.
*laughter*
Dawn: Mama. Mama!
Opal: Hm? What?
Dawn: Are you okay? You spaced out again.
Opal: Oh. No, I’m fine. Don’t worry, sweetie.
Dawn: …Yeah…yeah, okay. Okay, if you’re sure.
Opal: I am. I promise, everything’s fine.
Dusk: Uh…
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