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 parental death
Spinel: Sure. I think I saw roof stairs back here somewhere.
Honeydew: Spi, maybe you should let this go.
Spinel: What? What brought that on? I thought you’d want to know–
Honeydew: Yeah, well, there’s some stuff you can’t un-know, you know?
Honeydew: I’m just saying…maybe there’s some questions you don’t want answers to.
Spinel: You found something.
Honeydew: …
Spinel: Honeydew!
Honeydew: Just…don’t worry about it.
Spinel: I can’t just let it go! What if–what if something happens, and my family has to…I can’t put them through that if there’s something…
Honeydew: There’s nothing we can do, Spi. It’s a second chance at life, but…one life costs a life. Somebody had to die to bring you back.
Spinel: …so that’s what happened…
Honeydew: Spi?
Spinel: No, it’s fine. You’re right–there’s some things I just don’t want to know. *laugh* It’s fine.
Honeydew: …Don’t go somewhere I can’t follow, okay?
Spinel: Hey, my adventuring days are over. The only explorers left in this family are Dawn and Comet.
Honeydew: Good. Next time you go off somewhere, you tell me.
Spinel: Deal. But the only place I’m going is back inside!
Honeydew: Cannot blame you. …Come on. Let’s go home.
Firefly: So your sisters will be…going to another world on a rocket?
Spinel: Yep. They call ‘em astronauts. Didn’t have ‘em back in your day, huh?
Firefly: Not at all. The stars were wonderful, but always out of reach.
Firefly: World travelers were not so uncommon, but always on this…planet…the dreams are still troubling you.
Spinel: …Yeah. Do you think they’ll ever stop?
Firefly: I do not know. To call a soul back from the Watcher is not without cost…perhaps this is simply the cost.
Spinel: Hey–I’m not ungrateful, it’s just–
Firefly: I know.
Firefly:*sigh* Father would have known, I believe, but he is beyond our reach now.
Spinel: You must miss him.
Firefly: Every day.
Spinel: We can try to go back? I mean, I didn’t have magic before I went in so it’s not like–
Firefly: No, Spinel…there can be no going back. But thank you. I do not think I could do this without you.
Spinel: That makes two of us. …It must be weird, though. Your magic being gone, I mean.
Firefly: It is…different, yes. To reach for fire and need a match instead.
Firefly: But the trade was worth it, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Spinel: *laugh* I’m glad.
Spinel: You know, I’ve been thinking…you and me, get a place of our own. Maybe in Waffle Creek, or another of the developments…
Firefly: Your family is lovely. You would leave them again?
Spinel: It’s different this time, and…
Spinel: I think we could use some space.
Firefly: For what?
Spinel: To make some magic of our own.
Firefly: I would like that very much indeed…
PA System: All observers, please report to the second floor observation room. Launch in: 15 minutes.
Nebula: Oh, my girls…you are going to love Sixam.
Comet: We’ll miss you.
Dawn: Promise you’ll be on the vidcalls?
Nebula: Every one of them.
Nebula: Now go on. Go and see the stars.
Dawn: We’ll see you when we get back. Love you.
Dawn: Did Grampa seem weird to you? He felt kind of…cold.
Comet: It’s like fifteen degrees outside, sis. I’m sure he’s fine. You’re overthinking again.
Dawn: Maybe. I just don’t have a good feeling…
Comet: You could stay here, you know. It’s not too late to back out.
Dawn: Ha!
Dawn: I back out when you do.
Comet: So, never.
PA System: Launch in…10 minutes.
Comet: Well, if you’re coming you’d better get changed.
Dawn: When did you get so bossy?
Comet: I had a great teacher, that’s how. See you on board, Chief Medical Officer Crystal.
Dawn: ….yeah. You will.
Dawn: Well, no time like the present.
Dawn: Watcher, we ask that you watch over us in this hour of uncertainty. Guide our hands as though our bodies are your own. Guide our hearts as though our will was your own.
Comet: See us safely through the long night, and do not forsake us. Should our time come too soon, commend our souls to the deepest of the deep, and return us to your side.
Comet: Let us come home…
-
Firefly: This truly is a wonder…
Tourmaline: It’ll be a wonder of Dawn gets on board in time. Did she fall asleep in the locker room or something?
Spinel: Maybe!
-
Opal: They’re coming back.
Aurora: Of course they are. They’ve trained for this. Everybody’s gonna be fine.
Rainbow: Take off and landing are the most difficult parts…
Snow: Hush, love. They’ll be fine.
-
Lemon: You didn’t tell them?
Nebula: They have enough to be concerned about. I will tell them when they return.
Dusk: Please be safe…
-
Dawn: See us safely back to familiar shores–what the–Frost?!
Dawn: What’re you doing here?
Frostbite: I had to see you off.
Dawn: No, I mean, back here. They don’t let anyone but spouses back…here…
Frostbite: It’s my Gramma’s. I..may have lied about being your wife to get back here.
Dawn: I. Wow. Why would you…
Frostbite: I had to see you off.
Frostbite: It’s…too late to convince you to stay, isn’t it?
PA System: Launch in five minutes.
Dawn: A little!
Frostbite: Dawn, please, don’t–
Dawn: Hey–hey, Frost, I’m coming back!
Frostbite: You don’t know that! You can’t–do you know how dangerous this is?
Dawn: I do. But I trained for this–we all did. We trained for years to make this as safe as possible. Frost, I’m coming home.
Frostbite: Do you promise?
Dawn: Frost…
Frostbite: Do you promise?
Dawn: …I promise.
Dawn: I’ll come home before you know it. It’s only six months.
Frostbite: I–I’ll be on all the vidcalls–your brother’ll get sick of me and–
Dawn: Come here.
Dawn: I’ll come home. And we’ll make that lie the truth.
Frostbite: *laugh* Are you proposing?
Dawn: I am. I love you.
Frostbite: I love you too…please come back safe…
Dawn: I will. I promise.
Frostbite: …fair winds.
Dawn: And fairer skies.
-
Dawn: *sigh* Here we go.
Command: Beginning final preparations.
Command: Launch initiated. Firing boosters….successful firing. Activating main engine….engine burn green. Liftoff in 3….2…1…lift off!
Command: Fair winds, Nova-1. We’ll be waiting.
Quartz: Okay, seriously, are you going to tell us why you called us all together?
Opal: What, I can’t have a family reunion? How long’s it been since you’ve been by?
Quartz: Okay, point. But seriously, O, why now? Is something wrong or…
Opal: I don’t know. It was…just a feeling, I guess. That it’d be good to have some time together.
Quartz: You’re not sick again, are you? Because I read that people who got that close to dying can sometimes–
Opal: I”m fine, Q! Seriously. Not even a cold since Spi came back.
Opal: I just wanted us to have dinner together, that’s all.
Quartz: Uh-huh…which is why you’re making omelets?
Opal: Hey. Don’t knock breakfast for dinner, snarky. Omelets are good at any time of day.
Quartz: If you say so. But then, you were always the weird one with us, so.
Opal: So shush, or I’m putting pepper in yours.
Quartz: Don’t you dare.
Quartz: Raising five kids made you mean.
Opal: I think it’s more it gave me the skills I needed. Also, I’ve wrangled you before.
Quartz: Ha!
Quartz: …O, did you ever think about what life would have been like if…well, he hadn’t been such a berryhole?
Opal: No. Life turned out this way for a reason, Q. I’m fine with it.
Quartz: Are you? I mean, everything that happened…
Opal: I lived through it. We’re here, together, and that’s what matters to me. Okay, lovebirds! Dinner’s ready!
Quartz: You’re as bad a liar as you’ve ever been.
Opal: Oh, just eat your dinner. That much we can still do something about.
Rainbow: Wonderful as ever, kiitra. Thank you.
Opal: Of course.
Quartz: …Opal, are you sure you’re okay?
Opal: Q, for the last time…
Snow: You do look a little pale, sweetheart. Sit, eat.
Opal: I’m fine, really. Just….Hm. I don’t know. Strange feeling, I guess.
Opal: Almost like someone’s…watching me.
Rainbow: I have contacts in the police here. I can make some calls…
Quartz: Or just call them plain out! Seriously, that…Raw Council’s getting freaking pushy.
Snow: Hmph. They can wait their turn.
Snow: Thank you for dinner, sweetie. It was wonderful.
Opal: You’re welcome, Mama. You should come by for dinner at our place tomorrow.
Snow: You know, I think we will. …Opal, you’re happy now, aren’t you?
Opal: Of course I am! What brought that on?
Snow: Oh, just an old woman’s curiosity. I’m glad, sweetie.
Opal: Mama…
Snow: Think I’ll go have myself a little lie down. Wake me before you leave.
Opal: There. All done.
Opal: What–oh. Oh, no…
Opal: Mama? Mama, I’m heading home now….Mama?
Opal: ….oh. So that’s…that’s why…
Opal: Miiksha, can you come here?
Rainbow: What is it—no. No!
Opal: Q, call an ambulance.
Quartz: She’s….it’s too late, isn’t it?
Opal: …just call them.
Aurora: Opal…babe…
Opal: Ro, I…
Opal: Mama’s…
Aurora: I know, honey. I know.
Opal: The kids?
Aurora: Asleep. What do you need?
Opal: I…
Opal: I don’t–I can’t—
Aurora: If there’s anything…
Opal: You can’t…Mama, she’s…
Aurora: Hey…hey, breathe. We’ll get through this.
Opal: Mama’s…
Aurora: Breathe. I’ve got you.
Opal: Ro….
Aurora: Hm?
Opal: …hold me. Just…hold me….
Aurora: Always.
Aurora: I’ve got you. You’re safe.
Six months later…
Opal: Miss Gray, I told you, that house is not for sale. Yes, I’m aware my name is on the deed–it’s occupied!
Opal: I’m not going to move my mother out of her own home, Miss Gray–Miss Gray, I realize what it is the Raw Society wants to do with the properties but–no, no, I do understand.
Opal: Yes, I understand that the Newcrust Board is very interested in ensuring a Raw only population. Do I realize how bad that sounds–do you realize how bad it is?
Opal: You’re kicking people out of their homes and for what? So rich people can buy vacation homes in the suburbs they’re never going to use? I’m aware you’re offering more than market value, Miss Gray, and that you’re just doing your job, but my answer is still no. Have a good day!
Opal: Unbelievable…*sigh* Oh, Mama…I wish you were here to tell them off….
Opal: You’d know what to do, wouldn’t you? *sigh* I miss you…
*phone buzzes*
Opal: What–oh! Oh, shoot–Ro! Ro, can you go get your Dads! The vid-call’s in twenty minutes!
Aurora: Why does no one answer their phones anymore…
Aurora: Hey, Gnomey. Dad? Pops? I’m coming in!
Aurora: …Dad? Pops?!
Aurora: …No….
Opal: Watcher, no…don’t let this be real, please don’t let this be real–Ro! Ro, I’m here, I’m–oh, no…no no no…
Aurora: …they’re already cold…
Opal: Oh, Ro…Ro, I’m so sorry…
Tourmaline: I can’t believe this…how can this be happening.
Dusk: I don’t know, Tou…I don’t know.
Opal: Ro?
Aurora: You know the stupid thing? I keep expecting them to call. Not just my Dads, or your Mama, but Cay and Forest, too. I keep thinking they’ll call from–wherever the heck they were that day and everything’ll be fine, but…they’re never gonna call again, are they?
Opal: It’s not stupid at all.
Aurora: …Why did this happen. I mean–there has to be a reason, right? Some Watcher given plan or something?
Opal: …I don’t think so. I think…I think things just…happen sometimes.
Opal: I think that the Watcher just gives us the freedom to decide what we do with our own lives. No plans, no orders, just…the free will to live.
Aurora: Even if that means dying?
Opal: No one lives forever, Ro….someday maybe even the Watcher will be gone. What matters is what we do while we’re here, and who we leave behind.
Opal: If we do things right, we leave behind a legacy. Something–someone–to prove we were here, and we mattered, like our parents did.
Opal: If we’re lucky, that means something. But even if we’re not, we lived, Ro. Our parents lived. Yeah, it wasn’t always easy, but they were still here, and that matters. They got to choose. So do we.
Aurora: Doesn’t stop me from wishing they were all still here…
Opal: I know…me too.
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