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.
Aurora: We’re not stopping until we’ve got a cure.
Opal: Whoa whoa whoa! What’s this we stuff? What, do I suddenly not get a say in my own treatment?
Aurora: Not if you’re just gonna roll over and give up!
Opal: That is not what I’m doing here!
Aurora: Then what is it you’re doing? Because this looks a lot like giving up to me!
Opal: This is me not wanting to get turned into a lab rat again!
Aurora: It’s not like that–
Opal: No? Experiments that they have no idea that’ll work or not? Untested treatments because they’ve never seen a case like this? It’s the same thing, Ro!
Aurora: Except you’re supposed to live through these. For us–for the kids.
Opal: …oh, Watcher, the kids…
Opal: How’re we supposed to–they need to–oh, Watcher…
Aurora: Opal…
Aurora: Opal, it’s okay, just breathe, baby. Just breathe…
Opal: How can we tell them about this?!
Opal: The twins are only seventeen, how are we supposed to–they’re gonna have to–I won’t see them–
Aurora: Stop. Stop, its okay. It’s okay. We’ll figure this out.
Opal: It’s not! Five years, Ro! Five years! That’s not long enough to see Dawn and Comet off to Sixam, forget the rest of their lives–I don’t–I can’t–
Aurora: I know, I know. This is why we have to try.
Opal: I can’t. I can’t do this, I can’t–
Aurora: It’s okay. I’ve got you. You’re okay.
That night…
Aurora: So that’s the story. Your Mama’s getting sicker, and we don’t have many options.
Tourmaline: Sure we do! There’s the treatments, and transplants, and stuff.
Spinel: Doctor Juno said they could work, right? We can all give blood or something.
Dusk: When would you have to start the treatments, Mama?
Opal: I don’t know.
Dusk: But you are gonna get them, right? I mean–
Dawn: We can take out loans, or–a mortgage, or something!
Aurora: It’s not that simple, sweetheart.
Dawn: Of course it is…it has to be.
Comet: So how do we make it simple?
Tourmaline: Can we?
Spinel: There’s gotta be something we can do…
Opal: Not this time, baby. Not this time.
Spinel: Locked. If I were Mom, where would I hide the key…ah-ha!
Spinel: Come on…key, key…where are you…
Tourmaline: What’re you doing?
Spinel: Gah! Watcher, Tou!
Tourmaline: Shh! You wanna wake the house?
Spinel: You’re the one who snuck up on me!
Tourmaline: Yeah, yeah–what are you doing? It’s like, two in the morning.
Spinel: I…I’m trying to get into Mom’s office, but the door’s locked. I can’t find the key.
Tou: Huh.
Tou: Let me give it a try.
Spinel: With what?
Tou: Watermelon taught me how to pick locks.
Spinel: What?!?
Tou: What? You think you and Honeydew were the only ones sneaking around?
Spinel: Well, no, but–
Tou: Hush, little sister, and let me show you how it’s done.
Tou: Just need to…turn this like so…then turn this…
Comet: What in all of creation’s name are you two doing?
Spinel/Tou: Com–
Comet: Because it looks like you’re trying to get into Mom’s office. Without me.
Tou: Oh…oh, Watcher…well, kind of? The lock’s stuck.
Dawn: You’re turning it the wrong way.
Dusk: Did we all have the same idea?
Tou: Uh. What do you mean the wrong way?
Dawn: Mom installed this thing backwards on purpose. Gimme.
*click*
Dawn: And we’re in!
Spinel: I don’t want to know, do I.
Dusk: Nope.
Dawn: Okay–everybody split up. We can’t be here when Mom wakes up.
Tou: Listen to big sis, giving orders.
Dusk: Here’s the files we saw last time.
Spinel: Last time? You know what’s in here?
Spinel: You know what this all is?
Dawn: Long story. Try the computer, Spi. We’re looking for medical records or history files.
Comet: Dawn…how do you know what we need?
Dawn: We’ve seen the files before. Back when you first got here, Com.
Tou: Mom keeps papers that’re that old?
Comet: Very funny.
Dusk: Guys! Be quiet.
Dusk: …I don’t get it. The folders are here, but the papers are missing.
Comet: Maybe the file cabinet?
Spinel: It’s–no, it’s here. She scanned it all.
Tou: What is that? Sixamese?
Spinel: I think so. Com?
Comet: This is…it’s a medical report. From Aunt Cadence. Dawn–
Dawn: Read it. Out loud.
Dusk: Dawn…
Comet: …okay.
Comet: Subject is roughly 21 years of age. Female, Sixamite and Maxis heritage. …I can’t read all of this, but it’s…Mama’s scars aren’t from an accident, guys. Someone did that to her. On purpose.
Tou: WHAT?
Dusk: …Those scars are everywhere, though, and she gets sick and–Watcher.
Dusk: That’s why Mama’s so sick all the time. They–
Comet: Tortured her. She barely got out alive.
Spinel: I’m gonna be sick.
Comet: I don’t–who would–why would they–
Dawn: Spi. Shut it off.
Dawn: Nobody tells Mom we know about this. Got it?
Spinel: We’re just supposed to ignore all of this?!
Dawn: There’s nothing we can do about it. They kept it secret for a reason. We say nothing.
Dawn: Mama’s got enough to worry about right now. We don’t need her thinking we think less of her.
Tou: But we wouldn’t!
Dawn: Can’t risk it.
Tou: Uh-huh, yeah, sure, you just don’t want to tell Mom you broke into the office.
Comet: Guys! We can’t stay here. Come on.
Dawn: Everybody back to bed. Nobody says a word.
Tou: Yeah, yeah…yeesh, who made you the boss?
Dawn: …you wouldn’t do this without a reason, would you? There has to be some way to fix this…Please…tell me how to fix this…
The next night…
Spinel: …that’s what we found.
Honeydew: …wow. That’s…that’s a lot, Spi. Are you okay?
Spinel: No! Mama was–they made her so sick that she’s dying, Honeydew…how am I supposed to be okay?
Honeydew: …you know, there might be something we can do.
Spinel: What?
Honeydew: Well–this is just a rumor, but there’s supposed to be this potion that can heal anything.
Spinel: A potion? Honeydew, this isn’t one of your books!
Honeydew: I didn’t get it out of my books, Spi. It’s in a bunch of reference books from the old library.
Spinel: The old–the one in Forgotten Honeycomb?
Honeydew: Yep. You wanna come with me? See for yourself?
Spinel: Tomorrow. We’ll go tomorrow.
Spinel: Well, this place sure is gloomy…are you sure we’re safe here?
Honeydew: Sure I am. So long as we’re back on the train by dark, we’ll be fine.
Spinel: Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Honeydew: Don’t worry, Spi. I’ll protect you.
Spinel: Says the berry who still screams at horror movies.
Spinel: …how did you even stand this place?
Honeydew: It’s not so bad, really. Just, uh, watch for cobwebs.
Spinel: Uh-huh. And you’re sure that book’s here?
Honeydew: I’m sure! Have I ever lied to you?
Spinel: There was that time in the first grade…
Honeydew: That doesn’t count! How was I supposed to know you couldn’t eat lime peel?
Honeydew: Just–come on. The good stuff’s on the top floor.
Honeydew: Here–here it is.
Spinel: This thing’s got to be older than Grampa…feel like I should be wearing gloves or something.
Honeydew: Nah, it’s fine.
Honeydew: Right here.
Spinel: “Once rumored to be mere myth, I have found that the Elixer of Healing truly does exist. This near mythical potion has been known to heal any ailment, even the touch of the Reaper,, and restore life to any being who imbibes it.” Imbibes?
Honeydew: Drinks. Yeah, I had to look that one up, too.
Spinel: “Though it has taken me many years, I have traced each ingredient to a pure source. Scattered across the known and unknown places of the world, each ingredient is key to creating this potion.” And–wait. Wait, there’s a page missing!
Honeydew: What–oh, come on! Who tears out the ingredients from a recipe?
???: Someone looking to keep it hidden.
Spinel/Honeydew: Ah!
*book thuds*
???: Oh, goodness. I apologize, children.
???: I did not mean to startle you so.
Spinel: Uh-it–it’s fine. Ma’am, do you know where the page is?
???: I do not.
Honeydew: Do you know who might?
???: I do not.
Spinel: Uh–okay? Look, we really need that page.
???: Perhaps, but it is not for you to find. Such things are hidden for reasons beyond mortal comprehension.
Spinel: Beyond mortal–excuse me?! My mother is dying and we need that page to heal her!
???: All mortals shall die eventually, child. Perhaps your mother’s time has simply come now.
Spinel: What?! You–
Honeydew: Spi!
Spinel: You have to tell us where it is!
???: I must do no such thing. What I must do is ask you to leave. Night falls, and this place is not safe for your kind after dark.
Spinel: You–
Honeydew: Spi, come on. Sorry, ma’am.
Spinel: Who’s side are you on?!
Honeydew: Yours! And the side of us getting out of here alive. Look–we’ll come back. We’ll find that page somehow.
Spinel: We’d better. If I have to scour this damn town I’ll find that stupid thing.
Honeydew: I know.
Honeydew: Now come on, or we’re really gonna be in trouble.
-
That night…
Dawn: Mom. Can we talk?
Aurora: Sure, baby. What is it? Something wrong?
Dawn: Beyond the obvious? Yeah. Yeah, something’s definitely wrong.
Aurora: What is it?
Dawn: Where do I even start…*sigh* Were you ever going to tell us about Mama?
Aurora: What do you mean? We told you the same day we found out.
Dawn: I mean the truth, Mom. About what happened to her before, and why she’s so sick in the first place.
Aurora: …what?
Dawn: I’ve been in your office, Mom. I know what happened to her when she was my age.
Aurora: You what? That is the one place I asked you to never go! Why would you ever go in there?
Dawn: Because I needed to know the truth!
Aurora: That wasn’t yours to find out!
Dawn: I’ve known part of it since I was eight, Mom! What, did you think we didn’t deserve to know?
Aurora: I think that your Mama’s been through enough hell and doesn’t need it dragged back up because you’re curious and can’t leave well enough alone!
Dawn: I wasn’t about to ask her!
Dawn: None of us are kids anymore, Mom. We have a right to know why she’s so sick.
Aurora: What, like we have a right to everything about you? We give you privacy, and we have the same right in return.
Dawn: That’s not what this is about and you know it.
Aurora: Isn’t it? Well, since you know so much, why don’t you tell me what this is about?
Dawn: It’s about not telling us the truth! She’s our Mama! Maybe if we’d known before we could have done something!
Aurora: Stop–just, stop. There’s nothing you kids could have done and we didn’t want you to grow up with that on your heads.
Dawn: Little late for that now, don’t you think?
Aurora: Dawn…
Aurora: I’m going to bed. You–don’t tell your Mama you know about this.
Dawn: I’m not stupid, Mom.
Aurora: …Goodnight, Dawn.
Opal: …everything good?
Aurora: Fine. Just our girl being like her mothers.
Opal: *tired chuckle* We raised handfuls, babe…
Comet: Finally done shaking the house down…hey. You okay?
Dawn: I don’t want to hear it.
Comet: Thanks for not outing the rest of us, but what happened to not telling Mom we knew?
Dawn: Not now, Comet. Go to bed.
Comet: Okay, okay, grumpyberry.
Opal: Dusk, where’s your sister?
Dusk: Outside. She’s been there since before I got up.
Dusk: I never heard her go to bed, either.
Opal: *sigh* Okay. Thanks, sweetheart.
Opal: Good morning.
Dawn: …morning.
Opal: Want to talk about it?
Dawn: …Why won’t you get the treatments, Mama? What–is it about the money?
Opal: Oh, honey…no. No, it’s not about that.
Dawn: Because I can help pay for it, I mean, I know the tech work doesn’t pay much but–
Opal: Dawn. *sigh* Listen.
Opal: When I was your age–
Dawn: You don’t have to talk about it. I know what happened.
Opal: You…do.
Dawn: Mm-hmm. …that’s why you can’t the treatments, isn’t it? Because…
Dawn: Because of what happened.
Opal: It is. But–Dawn, look at me. Just because I’m not getting the treatments doesn’t mean I’m giving up. I’m going to fight for every day I get to spend with all of you.
Dawn: …you’re not fighting at full strength, though…
Opal: I don’t have to be. I have all of you to help me, right?
Dawn: …Right. Does that really help that much?
Opal: More than I can ever say, baby.
Opal: So don’t worry about your ol’ Mama. I’m not going anywhere. …literally. Oof.
Dawn: I’m holding you to that.
Tou: Spi? Spinel!
Tou: Mom, have you seen Spi anywhere?
Aurora: I thought she was still asleep.
Tou: She’s not, and I can’t find her.
Opal: What’s going on?
Tou: Spi’s not in the house, and her phone’s gone.
Opal: What? Dawn, did you–
Dawn: I didn’t see her leave, but I was outside since four. If she’s got her phone we could call her?
Aurora: …straight to voicemail. Come on, Spinel…where are you?
Spinel: Okay…think, Spi. Think. If you were a missing page, where would you be…
*phone buzzes*
Spinel: Geez, Tou…I left a note!
Spinel: Acting like I just up and got kidnapped or something…
???: Phones must be placed on silent in the library.
Spinel: Oh–uh…hi?
???: Hello again, child.
Spinel: It’s Spinel, actually. Spinel Crystal. What’s your name?
Fable: You may call me Fable. Have you returned to search for the page? You shan’t find it here.
Spinel: Kind of…I also wanted to apologize. I was really rude to you last time. I’m sorry.
Fable: Has that been bothering you? *chuckle* Think nothing of it. I have heard far worse than desperate anger.
Fable: Why don’t you tell me why your need for the page is so dire? Perhaps I will know another way to aid your mother.
Spinel: Oh–uh, right. Well, she’s really sick. Her organs are starting to shut down and the doctors can’t help her.
Fable: Has medicine truly remained so useless? *sigh* Well, there are a myriad of other healing potions you could try first, I suppose.
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