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: Dusk! Dusk–oh, there you are. How did you get so fast?
Dusk: Mama! Up!
Aurora: Yes, you are up! You are…very up. Can you come down?
Dusk: Kay!
Aurora: Mommy has to go to work now. You be good for Mama, okay?
Dusk: Kay. Bye bye!
Dawn: Grampa!!
Lemon: There’s my little one! Come here, sweetie.
Dusk: Grampa!
Lemon: Well hello, little man. You want to do some flashcards?
Dusk: …kay…
Opal: *humming*
*squeaking of toy*
Opal: Ah–Dawn…we really need to lock that door.
Opal: Dawn, honey, let’s go back inside. You can come play when the sun comes out again, okay?
Dawn: .Mm…kay.
Opal: And this is a…?
Dawn: Crab!
Opal: Good!
Lemon: And this is a…
Dusk: Jewwyfish?
Lemon: Close enough.
Lemon: And this is–the last one! You’re all done! Good job!
Dusk: Pway!
Lemon: Yep! Time to play!
Dawn: Birdy!
Opal: Owl, but close enough. And this?
Dawn: Wanna pway!
Opal: Playtime comes after cards, baby. Grampa will be here for a while! Now, which is this?
Dawn: No!
Opal: Okay, let’s try something else. What’s this?
Dawn: …Bott…bottle.
Opal: Good!
That night…
Aurora: I’m home! How were the rascals?
Opal: Rascals, like always. Your dad was a huge help…remind me to bake him some cookies!
Aurora: Only if you let me snag a couple, too.
Opal: *laugh* Now I know where the twins get it. Come on, let’s go to bed.
Opal: You okay?
Aurora: Hm? Oh, yeah, just thinking. Work stuff. Just…*sigh* I don’t know. Thought I’d be higher up by now.
Opal: Being tasked to lead a team in seven years isn’t fast enough for you?
Aurora: Not when there’s so many people being hurt by all of this mess. I get those files now, you know. See all their faces.
Opal: Ro…
Aurora: I see them and I think of you. How bad things got at the end, and…what would have happened if I hadn’t…if you hadn’t…
Opal: You can say it. I’d be dead without you, and you’re worried what’s happening to them without a you.
Aurora: I’m scared for them, but I can’t do anything. If I tip my hand now…
Opal: You lose them all. Have you called Cadence, or Forest?
Aurora: Watcher, like every week. Every time I can slip a case out…they’ve even got three inserted officers in there!
Opal: Then those people have a you. They’ve got people in their corner, fighting with them, and one of those people is you!
Aurora: It still feels like I’m not doing enough. Like this should be over already!
Opal: Ro. Just keep moving, and do what you can. Stay alive and you can do them so much more good, and…
Aurora: And?
Opal: And just come home to us. Everything else we can deal with, somehow. Partners?
Aurora: Always and forever.
Dawn: Maaaamaaaa!!
Aurora: What the–
Opal: mmph…Dawn?
Dusk: Mama!!!
Aurora: What happened…
Opal: I have no idea. Come here, baby. What’s wrong?
Dawn: Scawy!! Monsters! Rawr!
Opal: Monsters–oh, baby.
Aurora: It was just a bad dream, sweetie. Come here. You can stay with Mama tonight.
Opal: Look at them. You’d never know they were up half the night with nightmares now.
Rainbow: Of course not. They have mothers who are very attentive to their needs. Love can make even the worst nights seem less.
Rainbow: Besides, all children have nightmares. I did, your mother doubtlessly did, and so did you.
Opal: Well, yeah, but they seemed so upset…
Rainbow: They were, in that moment. But the moment has passed and they know they are safe. That is all that matters to them.
Rainbow: Truly, that is all any of us need. Why do you worry so?
Opal: I just want them to be happy, you know? It’s kind of…I want them to have it better than I did, so…
Rainbow: So, you worry. Oh, kiitra.
Opal: I guess I’m still kind of scared people won’t…I mean, it’s not like everyone’s accepting of differences. I’m worried, especially about Dusk, and it just.
Rainbow: It gets to you.
Opal: Well…yeah.
Rainbow: I understand, kiitra, truly I do, but the best you can do for your children is prepare them. Life will come at them no matter how you worry, so being there for them…that is more than any of us can ever hope for.
Opal: And to think, you were worried about placement exams.
Quartz: Ah ah ah–don’t you even start with the big sister knows best junk again, O! Or I will pull out the swear words.
Opal: Don’t you dare.
Dawn: Gamma!!
Snow: There’s my little one! Hello, sweetheart!
Snow: Where’s your brother gone, hm?
Dawn: Napping.
Snow: Oh, I remember that! You’d sleep through the whole day when you were his age, Opal. You did, more than once!
Opal: Mom! I didn’t used to sleep that much!
Quartz: Nah, you did. Some of my first memories of you were sleeping on the couch. You snored.
Opal: And you’re a little–oh, Watcher, Q. You’re ridiculous.
Quartz: You love me.
Opal: I do. Sometimes I don’t know why, but I do! *laugh* How long are you staying?
Quartz: Long enough for the twins, then I have to get back to the Valley. Never a dull moment!
Snow: Oh, look at you two…you make your mother proud.
Opal: I sure hope so! We turned you white with worry already!
Quartz: *laughter*.
Snow: Oh, okay, I see how it is. Honestly, what am I going to do with you two.
Aurora: *yawn* Morning. You’re up early.
Opal: Couldn’t sleep again. Figured I’d get an early start.
Aurora: Babe…that’s four days now. Are you sure you’re good?
Opal: Yeah, I’m sure. It’s just a headache, that’s all. It’s fading now, too, so don’t worry. I’m fine, I promise.
Aurora: …Okay. Okay, but you let me know if that changes.
Opal: I will. I promise.
Dusk: Mama!
Aurora: Oh–hi, champ. Hungry?
Dusk: Uh-huh!
Aurora: Alright, here we go. You ready, baby?
Dawn: Uh-huh!
Aurora: And now it’s your turn.
Lemon: Remember to make a wish!
Opal: Happy birthday, baby. You’ve gotten so big!
Dawn: I’m not that big, Mama!
Lemon: You’ll be taller than your mothers before long, little man. And your sister.
Dusk: I know. It’ll be great.
*music playing*
*music playing*
Dawn: …heh. I’ve got the weirdest family.
*faint music from inside*
Dusk: Dawn?
Dawn: Over here.
Dusk: What’re you doing out here? You’re gonna miss the cake!
Dawn: That’s okay. I don’t want any–I wanted to see the evening star, but it’s too cloudy.
Dusk: Aw…I’ll help you find it.
Dawn: Thanks, Dusk.
Dusk: What’s with you and the stars, anyway?
Dawn: I dunno. I just like ‘em, I guess. Mama and Gramma Rain and Grampa Nebula are from up there, too. And so’re you! Kind of.
Dusk: Silly! I’m from right here, same as you.
Dawn: I guess.
Dusk: Oh–there! Is that it?
Dawn: Nah, that’s Cassini. The evening star is…it’s supposed to be there, but see? The clouds are in the way.
Dusk: Aww…I wanted to see it, too. Maybe tomorrow?
Dawn: Maybe.
Aurora: There you are. Dusk, Dawn! Come back inside! It’s time for bed!
Dusk: Coming, Mommy!
Dawn: We’ll be right there!
Opal: Okay, who wants what in their pancakes?
Dawn: Chocolate chips!
Dusk: Rainbow sprinkles!
Opal: We have blueberries and raspberries.
Dawn: Uh-huh.
Dusk: Nevermind.
Opal: *laugh* So, are you two ready for school today?
Dawn: Nah. Wish I’d gotten more sleep…*yawn*
Dusk: …am I awake? Or is this a dream?
Dawn: Dusk! Earth to baby brother! Wake up!
Dusk: I’m awake! And I’m older than you!
Dawn: By two minutes! That doesn’t count!
Dusk: Yes it does! I’m not a baby!
Opal: You’re twins, you know. You were born at the same time.I don’t think age really matters when it’s five minutes one way or the other.
Opal: ….aaand neither of you are listening. *laugh* Why am I not surprised.
Aurora: At least they’re getting it out of their systems now!
Dawn: Ugh! Fine, you’re not a baby! You’re still my little brother! Right, Mommy?
Dusk: I’m taller.
Dawn: By one inch!
Opal: Eat your breakfast, Dawn. Are you two looking forward to school?
Dusk: No. Who does?
Aurora: Hey now! I liked it.
Opal: My school wasn’t so bad, either…though it was all online.
Dawn: Wow…they actually had computers back then?
Aurora: Hey! *laugh* More eating, less sass.
Dawn: I’m gonna take a shower. I’ll save you hot water, Dusk!
-
Dusk: Why did I have to get a sister. Why couldn’t I have gotten a brother instead?
Aurora: That’s just the way things worked out, honey. We don’t get to choose these things.
Dusk: Can the next one be a boy?
Opal: We’ll see. Now go and get ready, your Mom’s taking you to school.
Aurora: Opal, your food…
Opal: Not really hungry. I’m fine.
Dawn: Mama, do we have to wear these things? I miss purple already.
Opal: We’ll give them a try, okay? This is the best school in town, but if you’re not comfortable…
Dusk: Dawn just wants her pants back.
Dawn: Hey!
Opal: Give it a shot, sweetheart. We can always get you switched over to the pants uniform. And you–be nice and look out for your sister, okay? Look after each other.
Dusk: Mamaaaaa…it’s just school!
Dawn: You know she’s just worried, right? Mama gets scared, too.
Dusk: Yeah, yeah….come on–we’ll be late!
Opal: …that’s…weird…
Aurora: What is it?
Opal: I’ve got this thing on the biggest text settings and it’s all…blurry. I can’t read it.
Aurora: Maybe you need glasses? We can go get you checked out.
Opal: Let me call Q.
-
Dusk/Dawn: We’re back!
Dusk: Aunt Q! Mama, what’s she doing here?
Quartz: Well, hello to you too, Dusk! I’m here to keep an eye on you two.
Opal: Your Mommy and me have to go see someone in town. We won’t be too long, so do your homework and let Aunt Q know if you need anything.
Dawn: See someone? Who? Can we come with you?
Opal: I have to go and see a doctor who helps people’s eyes, and you two would be really bored.
Quartz: Everything okay?
Opal: Fine, just…need a check, I think.
Dawn: Auntie Q? What makes a doctor for eyes different than a regular doctor?
Quartz: Well, a doctor for eyes goes to school to learn how the eye works instead of everything else. They can get people glasses, or send them to someone who can help. It’s all pretty routine.
Opal: Okay, you three be good. We’ll be back soon.
-
Quartz: So, who wants to watch a movie? I won’t tell your Moms if you don’t.
Dawn: Aunt Q, why did Mama have to go to an eye doctor?
Quartz: Well, sometimes eyes get sick, or tired, and the eye doctor can help figure out what happened or how to fix it. I’m sure she’s fine, it just happens sometimes.
Dusk: Are yours tired?
Quartz: Who, me? Nah. My eyes are just fine. Your Mom’s just…been through a lot before you two came around. She gets tired really easily.
Quartz: …and she is going to whack me for saying that. Right, uh, don’t tell her I told you.
Dawn: Why not? Is it a secret?
Quartz: A big secret. Now, who wants a movie?
Later…
-
Opal: I’m back. How were the twins?
Quartz: Rascals, like always. They got their homework done, though. How’s your face?
Opal: My face is fine. My eyes…turns out you can be half blind and still develop problems in the one that’s working.
Quartz: Well, yeah, it’s kind of working…overtime…oof. Glasses?
Opal: Prescription glasses. That I will be wearing and adjusting for the rest of my life.
Quartz: So you’re…going blind in your good eye, or…
Opal: I could. The doctor wasn’t sure, but we’re going to keep an eye on it. *Snort* Yeah, I know. An eye on an eye.
Quartz: At least your sense of humor’s still shiitake.
Opal: If I don’t laugh, I’ll cry. And then where would we be?
Quartz: As screwed up as we’ve ever been, sis. That’s not gonna change anytime soon. Speaking of, where’s your partner in crime.
Opal: She had to go in to work and finish something that came up. I’ll be fine on my own if you need to go.
Quartz: When did you get so good at reading my mind. Okay, well, if you’re sure.
Opal: I am. Thanks, Q. I’ll call you tomorrow.
Quartz: Sure. Good night.
Aurora: I’m back! Ready to strangle my boss, but back.
Opal: Welcome back.
Aurora: How’re the glasses?
Opal: Weird. Maybe I should have gone with contacts.
Aurora: Hey. Hey, let me see.
Aurora: …Hmm, you know, they look nice. Make you look…professional.
Opal: A stay at home Mom who paints doesn’t really need to look pro, Ro.
Aurora: Sure you do!
Aurora: But you can see clear again, right? All good?
Opal: All good. Even better now.
Aurora: Good. …Is that dinner I smell?
Opal: It is if you set the table while I go get changed.
Aurora: You drive a hard bargain, Mrs. Crystal.
Opal: There’s something your Mom and I wanted to talk to you about, you two.
Dusk: Is everything okay?
Aurora: Everything’s fine! Better than fine, actually.
Opal: We’ve been working on something for a long time, and now that it’s almost ready we wanted to let you know: We’re going to be adopting very soon!
Dawn: We’re getting a sibling?
Opal: You are!
Dusk: Oh no, nuh-uh! No sibling, no sister! I want a brother, okay? Brother! Bro-ther!
Dawn: Dusk, I don’t think it works like that! You can’t just…choose what you want, can you? Like how the Watcher does it, you just–get what you get?
Aurora: Not exactly. Dusk is more right–we do get to decide a little bit, but we’re going to let the agency decide.
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