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.
Spinel: …Yeah, maybe, but I really think we don’t have the time for that. I mean–not unless you can turn someone into a vampire or something.
Fable: Ah–do be careful, child. Some would take that as a request. That is the last thing you need.
Spinel: …Vampires aren’t…oh.
Fable: Yes. Oh. Be mindful. Now, as to your question, I am afraid all I can tell you is that the page is not here in the library. The book came to me in that condition. As to where it could be now, I am afraid that perhaps only the Watcher knows.
Spinel: Okay…what about who wrote the book? Maybe they could help?
Fable: I am afraid that Sage Silverwater lived many hundreds of years ago. A wise man he may have been, but he was quite mortal. He is beyond your reach now.
Spinel: Argh…there’s gotta be something…
Spinel: Start at the beginning…do you know where the sage lived? I mean–if something of his is still around, then maybe…
Fable: The Three Sages were said to have lived in Glimmerbrook before they simply vanished into the hills one night. Your search may best benefit by starting there.
Fable: But you must understand: the tales are old, older than I. They may truly be little more than fable.
Spinel: They used to say that about Sixam, too. I’ve gotta try.
Fable: …Yes. I suppose you do. *snort* You truly intend to do this, then.
Spinel: Mama would for me. I’m not backing down just because something’s hard.
Fable: Very well! Then I wish you luck, and tell you that the train leaves in twenty minutes. It isn’t that far of a ride.
Spinel: Thanks. How much do I owe you?
Fable: Owe me? Oh–think nothing of it. A tale when you return, perhaps, but nothing more than that.
Spinel: A story, huh? Count on it. Thanks, Miss Fable.
Fable: Of course. Best of luck, Spinel.
-
Fable: Well, old friends…perhaps this will wake you up after all.
*phone buzzes*
Honeydew: wru?
Spinel: busy. ok. <3
Honeydew: not ok!! where?!
Spinel: Safe. Back by dark. <3
Spinel: …sorry, Honeydew. I’ve got a train to catch.
Spinel: So…this is Glimmerbrook…
Spinel: Hello?
Maple: Welcome to Elixers and Brews and–sorry, honey, I’m gonna need to see some ID.
Spinel: Uh–sure? I’m not here for a drink, but– *stomach grumble* How much for one of those pretzels?
Maple: Fifteen. Here–sit over there, okay?
Maple: So what brings a seventeen year old out here? Isn’t it a school day?
Spinel: Half day. I’m looking into something for a history project. Mind if I ask you a couple questions?
Maple: …sure.
Spinel: Thanks. Does the name Silverwater mean anything to you?
Maple: Sure does. That’s the river that flows through town, and the name of a local legend. Sage Silverwater, one of the Watcher’s Three.
Spinel: The what.
Maple: The Watcher’s Three. It’s an old story they tell out here, about how the three sages were the first to get magic from the Watcher. No idea if it’s true or not, but there was a Silverwater in the books back when the town was founded.
Spinel: Is there a house, or a something I could look at, or…
Maple: Nah. This was almost a thousand years ago! But there is the arch…
Spinel: The arch?
Maple: Town tourist trap. Here–follow the road until you can follow the river. Then just find the falls and you’ll find the arch. Rumor is it’s been there since the sages disappeared.
Maple: Noooo idea if it’s true or not, but somebody built the thing and it’s the oldest thing in town, so I sure hope those are hiking boots I’ve been hearing.
Spinel: They are, actually. Thanks for the help.
Maple: …Hey, kid, the last train leaves at 10. Be sure you’re on it, okay? Weather gets weird after dark.
Spinel: I will!
Maple: …good luck, kid.
Spinel: Follow the road until you can follow the river. OKay…let’s go.
Spinel: A bridge! The river. Okay…now where’s it going…please don’t be going that way…
Spinel: …oh thank Watcher. It’s flowing downhill. Okay, that means I need to go…
Spinel: That way!
Spinel: There are the falls! And–is that the arch?
Spinel: What’s that light? …Wait…that’s not a reflection…
SpineL …oh. Okay. That’s…that’s a magic portal. Okay. …definitely something out of Honeydew’s books. Wow.
Spinel: Sages disappeared into the hills…what if they didn’t go into the hills, but in here instead? Wherever it leads…
Spinel: What–oh, come on?! What is this, some diamond in the rough shittake? ARGH.
Spinel: Okay. Okay. Take a breath, cool down. Think.
Spinel: Think, Spinel…it’s a magical portal. There’s gotta be something it needs or–
*portal sounds*
Spinel: Or you could just be taunting me, thanks!
Spinel: …you’re talking to a rock, Spi. What’re you doing…what were you even thinking?
*phone buzzes*
Spinel: …okay. Okay, I’m coming home.
Spinel: …but I’m not giving up on you yet. I’ll be back.
Spinel: I’m back!
Opal: Oh, thank Watcher…
Spinel: Mama! I’m fine, I promise.
Opal: What you are is completely grounded, young lady!
Spinel: Wha–why?
Opal: You left without a word and didn’t answer your phone!
Opal: Not just that–you turned it off! Cadence couldn’t even find you!
Spinel: You had Aunt Cay tracking my phone?
Opal: Not the point–yes. Yes, we tried. It didn’t work.
Spinel: I–yeah, I did turn my phone off, but I left a note I was going out. You didn’t find it?
Opal: No! Why did you–what were you doing?
Spinel: It’s something for a journalism project. I had to turn off my phone when I went into a library.
Opal: Journalism project. Oh. Oh. O-okay. Nothing wrong?
Spinel: No, Mama. Everything’s okay, I promise.
Opal: …Okay, Okay, that’s good. You’re still grounded though.
Spinel: *sigh* Fine. Can I go take a nap now? I’ve been up since like, five.
Opal: Yeah, go on.
Dawn: You know she’s lying, right? Spi doesn’t have a journalism class.
Opal: I know. She’ll tell us what’s really going when she’s ready. *sigh* I’m just glad she’s safe.
That night…
Spinel: You’ve never seen these symbols anywhere in your books?
Honeydew: Never.
Spinel: …Why are you making that face?
Honeydew: You had an adventure without me!
Spinel: It wasn’t much of an adventure, Honeydew. It was a lot of dead ends!
Honeydew: …Mm-hmm.
Spinel: Okay, tell you what. You can come with me on the next one.
Honeydew: Next time? You’re grounded until you’re twenty!
Spinel: After I’m ungrounded, you dork.
Honeydew: Oh, okay, so in three years. Got it.
Spinel: Very funny!
Dusk: So how’s your project going?
Spinel: Project?
Dawn: You know, the one you ran out on us on?
Spinel: Oh! Oh, that, it’s–it’s going fine, nothing to report.
Dusk: Uh-huh. What’s the subject supposed to be?
Spinel: Uh…disappearances of important figures in history. See, I’m looking int–
Opal: …mm…
Aurora: Opal? You okay, babe?
Spinel: Mama?
Opal: I don’t…something’s…mm..
*thud*
Kids: Mama!
Aurora: Opal!
Dusk: Mama! Mom what’s happening?!
Comet: Is she breathing?! I don’t see her breathing!
Aurora: She’s not breathing–call an ambulance!
Aurora: Come on, Opal, breathe–breathe!
Opal: *soft gasp*
Aurora: Oh, thank Watcher!
Comet: Mom, what the hell?! What’s going on?!
Aurora: I don’t know! Come up–we’ve gotta move!
Spinel: I can hear the siren!
Aurora: Come on–hup. We’ll meet them at the curb!
Aurora: How long have they been in there…
Comet: Five hours and counting.
Snow: This can’t be happening…it can’t be…
Tou: I don’t get it…she was fine!
Spinel: Was she?
Dusk: She was taking all her meds…this can’t be happening…
Dawn: Someone needs to call Aunt Q…
Comet: I did. She’ll be here tomorrow–earliest flight leaves at midnight.
*doors open*
Juno: Mrs. Crystal…
Aurora: How is she?
Juno: Stable, for the moment, but…
Aurora: But?
Juno: Her readings all came back in end stages of organ failure. There’s nothing anyone can do for her now. I’m sorry to tell you that it’s unlikely she’ll see the end of the week.
Rainbow: No!
Comet: What–how?!
Dawn: How did it get so bad so fast?!
Aurora: You said we had years! What happened?!
Juno: I don’t know, not yet. I’ll find out, but–
Juno: We’ve done what we can to make her comfortable. I’m sorry. There’s nothing else that can be done now.
Aurora: ….Snow, take the kids home. I’m staying here.
Dusk: Mom! We can–
Snow: Come on now, Dusky…we’ll come back in the morning.
Spinel: This cannot be happening.
Tou: It is.
Spinel: How is this happening?
Tou: I don’t know.
Dusk: Dawn?
Dawn: What.
Dusk: You’re the one who studied medicine…how could this happen?
Dawn: End stage organ failure can be caused by any number of things. Physical trauma, cancers, illness, poison…this could be anything.
Comet: But there’s a way to fix it, isn’t there? I mean–transplants!
Dawn: When it’s one or two shutting down, sure, but–Mama’s entire body is failing, Com…we can’t fix this.
*thud*
Spinel: *soft crying*
Comet: …we should…try and get some sleep.
Tou: Yeah, right. Good luck with that.
Dawn: Spinel…
Spinel: Just–go…I’ll be okay…
Dawn: Okay. Shout if you need me.
Spinel: …wait…wait. The last train arrives at 10…I can still make that.
Spinel: …sorry, Tou. Can’t come with me this time.
Spinel: I’m coming back. I promise I’ll be back.
[End Gen 1]
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