Silver's Sims: Crystal Legacy - Generation 2 (Part 2)

In a desperate attempt to save her dying mother, Spinel Crystal chases a rumor into the unknown Magical Realm, a place beyond time. There, she finds much, much more than she ever bargained for.

Firefly: As do we all. Stay close to me, and do not stop moving.

Spinel: Hey, not my first portal run, remember? Let’s do it!

Spinel: …Crystalline caves?

Firefly: Yes. Under what was once known as the Sugar Desert. I am not sure what it is called now.

Spinel: Sugar Springs! My Grampas used to live here.

Firefly: Are you…homesick?

Spinel: Oh, completely. But we don’t have time for that. How big is this place?

Firefly: I do not know, but Sage Mandarin’s magical signature is not far. Likely up ahead somewhere.

Spinel: Then let’s find them. Fast. Mama doesn’t have much time.

Firefly: Look. Sunlight.

Spinel: …this place is amazing. Was the whole world like this back in your time?

Firefly: I never saw much of it, but…yes. I believe so. Magic ran through everything then, the Watcher’s hand visible in all things.

Spinel: What changed?

Firefly: Time rots everything, Spinel. Even magic is not immune to its flow. That, and…

Spinel: …Firefly?

Spinel: What’s wrong?

Firefly: Time rots everything. Even hope. *sigh* Magic meant so much to my people, Spinel, to the entire world, and now…now we are all that is left of it.

Spinel: Does this have something to do with that big fight? I’m guessing with Venom or…

Firefly: No, you are correct. Venom was the fourth sage. He was once at harmony with the others, but…something happened to him. I do not know what, but he began to misuse magic for his own gains, using it as a force of evil instead of good.

Firefly: Curses, destruction…magic is a powerful tool. If misused, it can have…devastating effects.

Spinel: …oh.

Firefly: …Spinel, there. A path.

Spinel: Let’s hope it leads to Mandarin…

Spinel: Is that…

Firefly: Yes. Sage Mandarin. And it seems that they are returning my Father’s spell…

Mandarin: …one moment…there we are. Stabilized.

Mandarin: Stone never was very good at long distance portals. Now, to what do I owe this…pleasure, hm?

Spinel: It’s a long story, um…

Mandarin: Ah, yes. Sage Mandarin Ember, Master of Untamed Magic. I already know little Firefly here, but who are you?

Spinel: Spinel Crystal, Sage. I’m trying to make an Elixer of Healing, and Sage Stone said you might be able to help somehow.

Mandarin: Did he now? Pfft. Stone’s as fool-headed as I remember. No–no, potions were never within my skillset. You’ll want Lace for that, but…oh. Oh, the clever old stump…

Firefly: Like you said, long-distance portals were never Father’s greatest skillset, but they are yours. Would you be willing to come back with us and help?

Mandarin: Return to the ruins of my former home? Firefly, darling, I left for good reason. I would need a very good reason to return, and aiding a mortal in potions is not that reason.

Firefly: Then what about aiding me?

Spinel: Firefly?

Firefly: You know what Venom said that day, Sage. A curse of a thousand years. We are running out of time.

Mandarin: I am aware of that, as aware of the fact that even the three of us could not break that curse. That is something only you can do.

Firefly: By destroying the one who cast it. Father has taught me what he can, but, Sage, my magic has always been more like yours. Please–come back to the Realm with us. We can still put an end to this.

Spinel: Whoa whoa whoa—slow down a second! Curse?

Mandarin: Ah, yes. Stone would never speak of our greatest failure. You see, when we Sages numbered four, the last of our number got it into his head that he wanted to be the only Sage. He called on dark powers to strengthen himself and attempted to do us all in. Ended up destroying the Realm proper, and one waylaid spell hit little Firefly over here. A killing curse held back for a thousand years.

Spinel: Held back–what happens when it can’t be–

Firefly: That does not matter.

Spinel: Firefly!

Firefly: It does not. We waste time we do not have by talking about this. Sage Mandarin, I challenge you to a Sages Three.

Mandarin: I beg your pardon?

Firefly: I challenge you to a Sages Three. If I win, you return to the Realm with us. Speak to Father, and make right what was made wrong.

Mandarin: You say that as if were as simple as a conversation!

Mandarin: *sigh* Very well. I accept your challenge, but should I win, you two will leave this place and never return.

Firefly: I accept. Spinel, stand back.

Spinel: –!! Firefly!

Firefly: I am fine, Spinel!

Mandarin: First round to me. On your feet, girl!

Spinel: Firefly…?

Firefly: Remember your training…

Firefly: No, no! Not again!

Mandarin: Once more!

Firefly: No!

Mandarin: Three to zero. Truly, you are your father’s daughter.

Firefly: ….we shall leave then. I…

Spinel: Wait, hang on, that wasn’t fair! She didn’t have a chance–

Mandarin: A Sage’s Three does not care about fairness or chance, Spinel Crystal. It simply is, and Firefly knew that when she laid down the challenge.

Firefly: …thank you for your time, Sage Mandarin. We will…return to the Realm and explain your decision to Sage Stone.

Mandarin: No, you will not.

Firefly: What?

Mandarin: I will return. I could sense your need in your casting, Firefly, and it is clear to me that Stone cannot help either of you any longer. Now, stand up. Never bend a knee when there is still fight left in you.

Firefly: I…yes. Yes.

Spinel: I am still so lost. Are you coming with us, or…

Mandarin: I am. It is clear to me you need more help than I first thought. Especially since we are approaching that deadline Venom so helpfully threw down.

Mandarin: Firefly, when we return, your training will begin in earnest. Your father has done you a disservice by not teaching you more lethal spells.

Firefly: I…yes. Thank you, Teacher.

Mandarin: Do not thank me yet. As for you, Spinel, I will aid you where I can, but it is Lace’s guidance you must seek. We will speak of that at another time.

Spinel: …yes, Teacher.

Mandarin: Great Watcher, you will flows through us. As rivers return to the sea and trees to the earth, your fire returns to us.

Mandarin: We call upon this fire to destroy our enemies, light our way, and warm our hearths.

Mandarin: Fire, Air, Water, and Earth in balance, as in all things. Oh, Great Watcher, we beseech you!

Mandarin: Return us to our home!

Stone: ….*sigh*

Mandarin: –Stone you old hound!

Mandarin: Nearly a thousand years and you couldn’t even fix the paths?

Stone: Hello to you too, Mandarin. You’re looking well.

Mandarin: A far better sight than you.

Stone: …Out with it, then.

Mandarin: A thousand years! Nearly a thousand Watcher-damned years and you still haven’t taught her a single thing she needs to know!

Stone: That isn’t your decision to make.

Mandarin: Nor is it yours! You know the terms of the curse–it can only be broken by the one inflicted with it! Beyond that, to send an untrained Acolyte after a Master? What were you thinking?!

Stone: That she could talk you around, and clearly it worked!

Mandarin: Only after a Sages Three! You’re both lucky this wasn’t five hundred years ago!

Stone: What do you want me to say?

Mandarin: An apology would be a wonderful start.

Stone: I am sorry that I did not see Venom’s change for what it was. I am sorry we had to trade blows. I am sorry about Monarch’s death, and for letting us all drift apart–

Mandarin: Are you? A thousand years! A thousand years, Stone, and you send your daughter and a stranger to fetch me instead of coming yourself.

Stone: You would have blown me into a mountain!

Mandarin: And I still might! *sigh* You haven’t changed at all. I can see only one way to solve this.

Stone: A Sage’s Three?

Mandarin: Yes. Should you win, we put this past behind us. Should I win…I stay only long enough to aid the children.

Stone: …I accept your terms.

Spinel: Is this a good idea?

Firefly: Disputes are often solved this way, but…I am not sure.

Stone: Stay there, girls. We will settle this in the ways of old.

Mandarin: Ha. Come on then, you great lump. Let us begin.

Firefly: –Father!

Stone: I am fine, Firefly. Remain there.

Mandarin: On your feet, you great lump. First round to me.

Firefly: Father…

Spinel: This isn’t going well, is it.

Firefly: No, but…

Firefly: They’re too evenly matched…it could go either way.

Spinel: At least it’s a fair fight. Didn’t think Mandarin knew the meaning of the word.

Stone: Ha! Not so old a lump now, am I!

Mandarin: Even lumps get lucky. Mm.

Stone: Mm-hmm. You just go on thinking that.

Mandarin: We aren’t finished yet. Again!

Firefly: –oh no.

Spinel: What–hey! Hey, you’re blocking the view–

Firefly: Better the view than the magic!

Mandarin: Ha. I told you, Stone, you were too slow for such things.

Stone: …yes…*chuckle* Yes, you always did. So…shall we put it behind us?

Mandarin: You baited me into a Sages Three knowing it would be simpler than words, and once again I fell for it. I don’t know if I should kiss you or kill you.

Stone: I would much prefer the first one, but a hug would suffice as well?

Mandarin: You sly old hound. You really are just like Teacher.

Stone: Welcome home, sibling.

Mandarin: It is good to be home…even if we still absolutely must speak about your cleaning habits.

Stone: *laughter*

Stone: We must speak about a lot of things. Come–I still have one of your favorite bottles in my study.

Mandarin: Wonderful! Girls, don’t wait up.

Spinel: Can I ask what the hell that was? Sage Mandarin looked ready to kill your Dad but then they were hugging?

Firefly: Sage’s Three are a special kind of duel. The magic is said to be closer to the Watcher’s during the duel; it allows each Spellcaster to…feel the emotions and needs behind the spells, and bridges gaps in understanding.

Spinel: So when you and Mandarin fought, you were explaining everything?

Firefly: In a more abstract way than words, but yes. They understood on a different level why we had sought them out, and I…I understood why they had left in the first place. They and Father then were much the same way.

Spinel: So…what happened? Why did they leave? Because of the big fight?

Firefly: Partly, yes…the way I understand it, things between the four sages were deteriorating long before Venom cracked the Realm. It was simply the final straw.

Firefly: I was there that day. No one spellcaster, no matter how strong, should be able to fend off three Sages, but somehow Venom managed it. He nearly destroyed them all, and…

Spinel: Cursed you.

Spinel: Can I ask why? You don’t have to tell me if it’s too personal, I just–

Firefly: I am not certain why, to be honest with you. My birth family was royalty among the fae at the time, so perhaps he sought a bargaining chip? Or perhaps I was not his intended target. I do not know.

Firefly: What I do know is the curse was meant to strip the target of their magic. If that had hit one of the Sages instead…

Spinel: They’d have died?

Firefly: Yes. I very nearly did, and my magic was nowhere near as strong. It still took all three sages to prepare a counter-curse. These markings? That is what they are.