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.
cw: this section contains death of parental figures.
Aurora: …what? When?
Opal: Ro?
Aurora: …oh, Watcher…
Opal: Ro!
Aurora: Hang on. Cay? Yeah, I’m still here. When did he…okay. Okay. Yeah, I know the place. Mm-hmm. When?
Aurora: The olders are at work but we can be there by then. Yeah. Yeah, mm-hmm. Okay. Okay, we’ll see you there. Love you too. *sigh*
Opal: Ro, you have three seconds or I’m really going to freak out.
Aurora: …Forest died last night. Cadence needs us at the cemetery.
Cadence: You know the really stupid thing? We’d just talked about me outliving him a week ago.
Opal: Cadence…
Cadence: I mean, what do you expect? An android partnering with a human…we don’t exactly die of old age! *laugh*
Aurora: Cay…
Cadence: I just…I never thought it’d be so soon. I thought we’d have more time…
Opal: Cadence…I’m so sorry.
Cadence: He was so glad to see you get better. You two were the closest things we had to daughters, you know? He was so proud of you both.
Cadence: I’m going to miss you.
Opal: You don’t have to! You can come home with us.
Aurora: You know we have the space…
Cadence: You’re sweet, but…I have to do this. I have to try, and…promise me something? Come visit him every so often. He never did well on his own.
Opal: We will. I promise.
Spinel: You know this is the first time you haven’t run away from me all week.
Tourmaline: Hardy har, very funny.
Tourmaline: …we were thinking about getting a slot for Mom before you came back.
Spinel: Tou…
Tourmaline: The whole time you were gone I kept thinking…the Watcher was already going to take Mama, why did she have to take you too?
Spinel: Tou, I’m sorry, I just. …I didn’t have time to explain.
Tourmaline: You didn’t think we’d believe you.
Spinel: I. …yeah.
Tourmaline: We’re sisters, Spi. Twins. We always have each other’s backs and we trust each other. I would have believed you.
Spinel: …I know. I should have…I should have told you.
Spinel: Time worked differently over there…I…it was closer to five months for me, not a week.
Tourmaline: …huh. Guess you’re not the littlest anymore.
Spinel: …no, but…it was…it was really hard. Not having anyone there.
Spinel: I mean, I had Firefly, but.
Tourmaline: She’s not us.
Spinel: No. And I think…I think something happened.
Tourmaline: What?
Spinel: I don’t know, but I keep…having nightmares. It’s..it’s like my mind is trying to remember something it forgot, and it hurts, and I…
Tourmaline: Hey. It’s okay. We can figure it out together.
Spinel: Tou…I’m scared…
Tourmaline: It’s okay. You’re home.
Forest: It could be a while, though.
Cadence: Or not long at all.
Forest: Cadence–!
Cadence: Hey, handsome.
Forest: What are you–how are you–what happened to living a life?
Cadence: I did. With you. I didn’t want another one.
Forest: Cadence…
Cadence: Shh…it’s okay. I’m okay with this. We had a great sixty years, Forest. I can’t ask for more.
Cadence: Tell you the truth…I think it was my time, too. We were always supposed to go together.
Forest: And the others?
Cadence: They’ll be okay. …Forest? Promise you won’t let go.
Cadence: I don’t know if androids have a soul the way the Watcher’s supposed to count it, and I–
Forest: It’s okay. I’ve got you. I won’t let go.
Forest: Whatever happens, we go together.
Cadence: So, what’s out there?
Forest: I don’t know. A whole other world, maybe. Should we check it out?
Cadence: We could. Or we could wait for the others and do it together?
Forest: I’d rather just do it with you.
Cadence: Then let’s go. Once more unto the breach.
Spinel: Be nice, okay? She’s been through a lot, too.
Tourmaline: Yeah, yeah…
*knock*
Firefly: Come in.
Firefly: Oh, Spinel….
Spinel: Hey…what’s wrong?
Firefly: I have. Not been entirely truthful with you, I am afraid. There is something you should know.
Tourmaline: I knew you were hiding something.
Spinel: Tou!
Firefly: No, your sister is correct. I. *deep breath* It is difficult to say, but…
Spinel: Take your time. It’s okay.
Firefly: …the night that Venom came back to the Manor…what do you recall from that night?
Spinel: Uh…not much, honestly. We were on the roof, then we went downstairs after the alarm, and…nothing. Just…pain, somehow, but.
Firefly: That is because he killed you. Venom, he. You died, Spinel.
Spinel: …..he…snapped my neck, didn’t he?
Firefly: Yes. It was swift, but. The spirit will remember such a thing, and…
Tourmaline: Are you kidding me? Spi’s not dead–she’s right here! I’d know if she died–
Firefly: I do not doubt that, Tourmaline. I am sure you would have felt it, but there was…there was time enough to do the right thing.
Spinel: …you brought me back.
Firefly: I had to. No matter the cost, I had to…I could not let you go so easily, no matter what it cost me.
Spinel: What did it cost you–wait. Wait, your magic! You didn’t lose it defeating Venom, you lost it…bringing me back…
Firefly: Of course I did. A life for a life, and…it was a fair trade.
Spinel: Firefly…thank you.
*doorbell rings*
*Doorbell rings*
Opal: Hm–oh, this can’t be good.
Opal: Yes?
??: Mrs. Opal Crystal?
Opal: …Yes? Who are you?
??: Ma’am. I’m Colonel Mysticberry, Sugar Springs Extraterrestrial Division. Can you please confirm that you are Mrs. Opal Crystal, ma’am?
Opal: I–I am Opal Crystal, yes. What’s this about, Colonel?
Mysticberry: Ma’am. I have news to deliver that you should not hear alone. Is your wife home?
Opal: I–yes. Ro! Can you come here, babe?
Aurora: Opal? What’s–Colonel?
Mysticberry: Yes ma’am.
Aurora: What’s going on? Why are you–no. No, you can’t be here to–
Mysticberry: Ma’am. The Admiral of Sugar Springs Extraterrestrial Division has entrusted me to express his deep sympathies that your sister Cadence passed away last night. The Admiral extends her deepest sympathies to you and your family for your loss.
Opal: No!
Opal: No…Cadence…
Aurora: What happened?! Was there–did a mission go wrong, or–
Mysticberry: It would appear that she passed away in her sleep, ma’am. We have found no signs of foul play.
Mysticberry: Per her last will, her remains are waiting to be interred with those of her husband. Her will also states that you are her sole beneficiaries. If this is acceptable to you, her personal effects will be delivered shortly.
Aurora: Of course–Cay…
Opal: A broken heart. Ro, she–she said she had to try something and now–
Aurora: …I know.
Aurora: That doesn’t change anything. She’s coming home. Colonel, how soon can she be brought here?
Mysticberry: As soon as you’re ready, ma’am.
Mysticberry: Cadence Stone was one of our best officers. The Admiral is prepared to offer you a ceremony of full honors.
Aurora: No. No, she wouldn’t want that. She hated the attention. Said she just wanted to be normal…
Aurora: …she just wanted to be like the rest of us. Oh, Cay…
Opal: Ro…
Opal: Thank you for coming to deliver the news, Colonel. We’ll be ready for her.
Mysticberry: Yes ma’am. Again, the Admiral extends her greatest sympathies. The division is less for having lost Agent Stone.
Dawn: I can’t believe they’re both gone…
Dusk: Dawn…there’s nothing you could have done. You can’t fix broken hearts.
Dawn: Not just that, but Uncle Forest, too…it doesn’t make sense, Dusk. None of this makes sense.
Tourmaline: Are we really sure Uncle Forest died in an accident?
Comet: That’s what Aunt Cay said…what’re you thinking?
Tourmaline: That it wasn’t as much of an accident as we think.
Firefly: If it was not an accident, then…are your mothers safe, Spinel? We left them alone…
Spinel: They wanted us to, and Mom can handle just about anything.
Spinel: Besides, we need time to plan, too. I don’t like this either.
Comet: So. We’re all agreed that something happened to Uncle Forest?
Dawn: He was retired. The accident report was…it didn’t read like he’d retired. We’re missing something.
Dusk: What, though? I mean, who’d have wanted him taken out?
Tourmaline: He’d been in the Division a lot longer than Mom. Must have made plenty of enemies…
Firefly: I do not mean to lessen his passing, nor that of your Aunt, but is looking into this a wise idea? I do not think either would have wished you to put yourselves into danger to find answers for the dead.
Dawn: …Firefly’s right. We…Mom got out for our sake. Uncle Forest and Aunt Cay never talked about work around us.
Tourmaline: So we just, what, leave it? Let them get away with this?
Dusk: We’ve got our own lives to live, Tou. They’d have wanted it that way.
Spinel: Tou, I don’t like it either, but…sometimes…sometimes getting out of the fight’s okay, too. I think Mom and Mama have lost enough already. They can’t lose us, too.
Tourmaline: …yeah….yeah, I guess so.
Opal: Ro?
Aurora: I still can’t believe it.
Aurora: After everything they did, after everything we went through….this is all that’s left?
Aurora: A box of papers and–and some trinkets? That’s it?
Opal: It doesn’t seem like enough, does it.
Opal: That everything in a life boils down to this. That it doesn’t matter how many people someone helps, or things they did…
Opal: It’s not fair, but it’s what’s left and…we know that they loved us. That she did.
Aurora: Then why couldn’t she stay?
Opal: ….she had a choice, Ro, and I think…I think losing Forest just hurt her too much. You don’t live with that kind of wound.
Aurora: …Opal, you…
Opal: You came back. I made it. But can you even imagine having to live with that kind of pain for the rest of your life? I don’t blame her for making that decision.
Opal: …I just wish she’d said goodbye herself first.
Aurora: …She did, though…she asked us to look after him and now…now we take care of them both.
Opal: We will. We’ll bring them home. *sigh* Watcher, I’m going to miss them…
Aurora: Me too, babe…me too.
The next day, Newcrust Park…
Honeydew: …thanks, for taking my call.
Spinel: Hey, I did say to call when you had your head out of your butt.
Honeydew: Yeah, I…I owe you an apology, Spi. You’re right, you can look after yourself, I just…
Spinel: You were worried. Vanish for a week, come back with a stranger…
Firefly: It does not exactly bode well, no.
Honeydew: Heh, no. It doesn’t. Still, I shouldn’t have…
Spinel: Shouldn’t have….?
Honeydew: I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. I’m sorry, Spi.
Firefly: I will give you two some time.
Spinel: Honeydew…
Honeydew: I was a complete berryhole. I’m sorry.
Spinel: You were. Why? Did I worry you that much?
Honeydew: Of course you did. You’re my third sister, remember? I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.
Spinel: So you pick a fight with me instead?
Honeydew: Hey, Cantaloupe got all the smarts in the family, remember? *sigh* I don’t know. I was hurt, and scared, and I took that out on you. I was wrong. I’m sorry.
Spinel: I know you are. …And, I forgive you.
Honeydew: Oh…thank Watcher.
Spinel: Hey…Honey, come on. Chin up, bro.
Honeydew: I thought you said I was the brother you didn’t need?
Spinel: I didn’t need Dusk, either, but I still got him. …And…I do really need you. There’s something…
Honeydew: Spi?
Honeydew: …Something happened.
Spinel: Yeah. It’s…it’s complicated, and it’s crazy, but…I could really use an extra set of eyes on it and…
Honeydew: You don’t even have to ask. We’ll figure it out.
Spinel: Thanks. I missed you, you know.
Honeydew: Missed you too. And this–
Spinel: Hey! No pulling on the pigtails!
Tourmaline: Okay, this place is a little creepy…
Honeydew: It’s not that bad.
Tourmaline: Sure, sure, it just looks like a vampire could jump us at any second!
Spinel: Nah, Miss Fable was pretty cool.
Firefly: Miss Fable?
Spinel: Yeah, the librarian! She’s the one who pointed me to Glimmerbrook.
Honeydew: Is she the one who kicked us out? That Librarian?
Spinel: One and the same. She was actually pretty cool to me.
Tourmaline: I am never letting you go anywhere alone again.
Spinel: Yeah, I know!
-
Firefly: …it is supposed to be quite so…dark here?
Honeydew: …not..normally.
Tourmaline: Vampires. Told you!
Tourmaline: They’re gonna turn the corner and–ah!
Purity: Oh! I’m sorry, I didn’t meant to scare you. Welcome to the Honeycomb Library. Can I help you with anything?
Spinel: Hi! Yeah, maybe. Is, uh, is Miss Fable in?
Purity: Miss Fable?
Spinel: Yeah–pastel pink, pointy ears, dressed kind of old fashioned….what is it?
Purity: I’m sorry, it’s just–there hasn’t been a Miss Fable here for a very long time. You’re describing the woman who founded this library nearly a thousand years ago.
Spinel: …What? I–I talked to her less than six months ago!
Tourmaline: See? What did I tell you!
Honeydew: I mean, after everything else…
Spinel: I…
Purity: Well, regardless of if she is or isn’t, she’s certainly not here. Can I help you with anything else?
Spinel: Uh. No, thanks, we’ve got it. Is the third level still open?
Purity: It is. Let me know if you need anything.
-
Spinel: I guess the stories about this place were really true after all.
Firefly: Most tales have at least some truth to them. Aliens, fae, vampires…I assure you, they were all real and alive at some point.
Tourmaline: And they may still be….man. Guess that means your story’s true, too.
Firefly: You guess.
Tourmaline: Hey, I’m just saying. It’s a lot to swallow at once, okay?
Firefly: That does not lessen its validity, Tourmaline. Disbelief does not change the truth.
Tourmaline: Yeah, yeah, I’m getting that.
Firefly: Keep an open mind, then. It will help us here as well.
Spinel: Well…let’s get looking.
Honeydew: Well that’s–okay then. Uh. How about no.
Spinel: Something wrong?
Honeydew: No, just. I could use some air. Come with me?
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