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.
Aurora: …Opal, what if one day at a time feels too hard?
Opal: One step at a time. One breath at a time. Remember? You told me that once, back then.
Aurora: One breath, then another, then another…
Opal: Until you feel like you’re doing better.
Aurora: You remember that.
Opal: How could I forget? It kept me alive. It’ll keep us all going now, Ro. I promise.
Opal: Let’s just take it one step at a time, okay? We know they loved us, they loved all of us, and that’s…
Aurora: It’s not enough, but it is.
Opal: Mm-hmm.
Opal: We’ll keep each other going.
Aurora: Yeah. We will.
Aurora: Come on, guys. Let’s get a move on. We don’t want to be late.
Firefly: …this is not my place.
Tourmaline: Spi…
Spinel: I’m going after her. Can you two stay with them?
Dusk: Of course.
Tourmaline: …go on.
Spinel: Thanks, guys.
Dusk: We never…really got her back, did we?
Tourmaline: No. We didn’t.
Spinel: Firefly?
Firefly: Ah–Spinel, is everything alright?
Spinel: I should be asking you that. Is…are you okay?
Firefly: Quite well. It is simply…*sigh* It is not my place to mourn with your family. This is your own affair.
Spinel: What are you talking about? You’re a part of the family.
Firefly: I–what?
Spinel: You’re a part of the family. You have been since we came back here, and I–’Fly, I love you.
Spinel: I know a lot’s happened, and I know we’re all still going through things, but–I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You’re my family, and you’re their family, and–
Firefly: Spinel…
Firefly: I love you, too, and I am honored you think of me as such…*chuckle* I suppose I was worried over nothing, no?
Spinel: I mean, kinda?
Firefly: Well, I shall endevour to not worry so much any longer! I–*laughter* I am sorry. That is perhaps a bit much.
Spinel: *laugh* A little!
Strudelville, Summertime…
Command: Bring her in nice and slow, pilot.
Command: And we have a successful touchdown. Welcome home, Nova-1. Crew clear to disembark when ready.
Dusk: Mom, what’re we going to tell them…
Aurora: The truth.
Dusk: What, that Gramma and Grampas are all gone? They’ll hate us for not telling them sooner.
Aurora: They know why we couldn’t tell them.
-
Comet: Hey, look. Mom and Dusk are here.
Dawn: …Something’s wrong.
Comet: What do you mean?
Dawn: I haven’t seen Dusk look like that since Angel died…
-
Dusk: Mom…
Aurora: They couldn’t be distracted. The rules are clear, and…*sigh* We just tell them the truth, Dusk.
Dusk: …this is gonna suck.
Aurora: Yeah. It is.
Dawn: Mom? Dusk? What happened?
Aurora: Dawn, Comet…there’s…there’s no easy way to say this, but…your Gramma Snow, and your Grampas…they passed away.
Comet: What?
Dawn: Dusk…Dusk, tell me–
Dusk: Dawn…
Dawn: No…
Dusk: They’re gone, Dawn…They’re all gone…
Dawn: I should have been here! Done something–
Comet: There’s…there’s nothing you could have done…you heard Mom…it was just…just old age…
Dawn: That can’t be it! There has to–there has to be something else, something–*sob*
Comet: Dawn, sometimes there’s just no…sometimes there’s just no reason. Sometimes bad things just happen.
Dawn: *sniffle* You sound like Mama…oh, Com…how are we going to tell them now?
Dawn: Enough’s happened already…
Comet: We have to. You know that.
Dawn: …yeah. I do.
Opal: Sixam?!
Tourmaline: Oh, this’ll be good…
Dusk: Move to Sixam–Comet, that’s a planet away!
Comet: I know. Believe me, I know. But it felt–*sigh* It felt like home, Dusk. Like I belonged there, and I just…I’m sorry.
Opal: Oh, baby…don’t be sorry…
Dawn: …Would now be a bad time to mention I’m…moving in with Frost? And we, uh, might be getting married?
Rainbow: I will be returning to Sixam as well, kiitra. Comet is welcome to stay with me for as long as she desires.
Firefly: Well. Today is certainly a day of announcements!
Spinel: No kidding! What next, Dusk moves out, too?
Dusk: Well…
Dawn: No way.
Dusk: My boss? He’s opening a second bakery in Brittle Bay, and he wants me to head it up. It opens in a week, so…
Aurora: So that’s three out of five moving out in the same week? Yeesh, guys, don’t rush or anything!
Tourmaline: …four. Four out of five.
Spinel: Tou! You’re leaving, too?
Tourmaline: Yeah. I need to find my own way and–
*doorbell rings*
Opal: Oh, for Watcher’s sake. Coming! …Can I help you?
??: I would certainly hope so, Mrs. Crystal. Ah–good, everyone is here.
Opal: Wait, that voice–Miss Gray?
Vision: Vision Gray, of the Raw Society. A pleasure to meet you in person, Mrs. Crystal. You have a lovely home.
Rainbow: That you wish to purchase, no doubt.
Rainbow: I believe you have been told multiple times that the answer is no.
Opal: Did you think coming in person would change our minds?
Vision: Nothing of the sort. I’m here to inform you that this property has been purchased, effective yesterday.
All: WHAT?!
Aurora: We bought this lot thirty years ago!
Vision: Twenty nine years and eleven months, actually. You still owe the banks a payment or two.
Tourmaline: That’s illegal. They can’t sell privately owned land!
Vision: I assure you, legal has been in full discussion with the banks. Everything is above board.
Opal: So, what. You buy our house, our land, and…
Tourmaline: Kick us out because we’re not your perfect little raw dream?
Vision: Not so violently, but…
Opal: You can’t be serious. This is our home!
Tourmaline: This is a fudging load of shiitake!
Dusk: You can’t do that! People live in this division, you can’t just kick them all out!
Comet: They didn’t. Let me guess: buy back program?
Vision: Yes. We’re willing to pay you market value for the house itself if you agree to leave peacefully and not pursue and legal action against the Raw Society.
Opal: Not that there’s any we could pursue, of course.
Rainbow: And I am to assume the same has been done to my property?
Vision: Yes. The Raw Society extends our condolences for the loss of your wife, Mrs. Crystal.
Spinel: But you’re still kicking us all out. Because of two months on the mortgage.
Aurora: And if we don’t leave peacefully? If we pursue legal action?
Vision: The Raw Society has some very powerful backers. You don’t want to make enemies of them.
Firefly: That sounded quite threatening.
Vision: Just a little friendly advice. So?
Opal: So?
Vision: Will this be easy or hard?
Opal: *deep breath* Answer me one question first. The cemetery by the river–what happens to it?
Vision: I’m sorry?
Opal: There’s plenty of non-raws buried there. Will they be left in peace or–
Vision: Oh! Oh, no, they’ll be left where they are. I assure you, we have no desire to disturb the dead. We are all equal before the Watcher.
Tourmaline: But you’re still pulling shiitake like this. Real neighborly.
Opal: *deep breath. deep sigh*
Opal: How long.
Aurora: Opal!
Opal: How long would we have to pack up and leave?
Vision: Until the end of the month, provided the paperwork is signed today.
Aurora: Opal! You can’t just make that call yourself–we can fight this!
Opal: No. We can’t. Sometimes the only option is to retreat. We’re in a corner, Ro. This is it.
Vision: Oh, there’s no need to be so dramatic! I assure you, the place will be well taken care of. It’s wonderfully built.
Spinel: It’s our home.
Vision: And it will be home to another family, I promise. So, if I could just get your signature here…
Vision: Wonderful! Thank you, Mrs. Crystal. I’ll send some realtor listings from Waffle Creek by tomorrow.
*door slams*
Opal: Well.
Opal: So much for that.
Three weeks later…
Comet: You’d think this would be easier…
Spinel: Another load’s ready to go. Tou?
Aurora: She’s in your room. Spi, could you…
Spinel: Yeah, I got her…
Spinel: Tou…you haven’t finished packing.
Tourmaline: …I wanted to leave, but not like this.
Spinel: Tou…
Tourmaline: Are there still scissors out here somewhere?
Spinel: Scissors?
Tourmaline: Yeah, scissors. You know, snip-snip? For cutting things?
Spinel: I know what scissors are for, Tou. There’s a pair for cutting tape just outside. Why?
Tourmaline: Just grab them and come with me.
Spinel: Okay, this cryptic stuff’s really annoying. Will you tell me what’s going on?
Tourmaline: I want to cut all this off. Now. Before we leave.
Spinel: Tou…it’s taken years to grow out…
Tourmaline: It’ll grow back, and…I’m not this person anymore. Are you going to help me or not?
Spinel: Of course. How much off?
Tourmaline: Just cut. I’ll tell you when to stop.
-
Tourmaline: –there. Stop.
Spinel: …It looks good on you.
-
Opal: Where’re the twins?
Aurora: In the bathroom. All packed?
Opal: I think so….
Opal: All that’s left is the boxes. …Ro, should we have fought this?
Aurora: No. You were right. It’s time to go. There’s nothing keeping us here anymore.
Opal: I’m going to miss this place.
*door opens*
Tourmaline: Next load ready?
Opal: Next load ready–Tourmaline! Your hair!
Spinel: She’s cuter this way.
Some time later…
Opal: Okay, now just stay right behind us, alright?
Dawn: Mom, we are literally moving in right next door. I don’t think we could get lost if we tried.
Comet: I don’t know…your sense of direction is pretty legendary…
Spinel: Call before you get into any trouble?
Tourmaline: Only if you do.
Spinel: …promise. I will this time.
Aurora: Drive safe. Don’t strangle your sister on the way.
Dusk: We’ll be fine, Mom. I’ll call you when we get to the Bay.
Firefly: Well, this is it, then.
Firefly: Goodbye, house. Thank you for being a home.
Aurora: Okay, kids. Time to hit the road.
Tourmaline: Come on, Spi. Leggo.
Dawn: You on your own…hm. Why do I feel like you’re going to be silly without me.
Dusk: Because I am. Come ‘ere, stinkface.
Dawn: Oh, I’m the stinkface?
Opal: You’re both stinkfaces. Come here–oh, I’ll miss you baby. Promise you’ll call?
Dusk: I will, I will! And I’ll keep an eye on Tou, too.
Aurora: Vidcall as soon as you can?
Comet: I will. Love you.
Tourmaline: Spi?
Firefly: Spinel?
Spinel: Just…saying goodbye. This was a great house.
Firefly: And a wonderful home.
Opal: Girls! Time to go!
Spinel: Coming! …Goodbye, house.
Firefly: I sincerely hope that was the last box we will have to unpack…
Spinel: It was. Hey, listen, there’s something I wanna run past you.
Firefly: What is it?
Spinel: How would you feel if I wrote about the Realm? Tell the story of what happened, and the Sages, and…well, everything!
Spinel: I thought, well, I thought it’d be nice to have something to remember it all by and…
Firefly: You do not have to be so nervous. I would be honored that someone tells the story.
Spinel: Oh…oh, thank Watcher.
Firefly: It would be something we could work on together, yes?
Spinel: Absolutely. It’s your story, Firefly. I wouldn’t tell it without you.
Firefly: I would hope not! There is still much I have not told you.
Spinel: I–like what?
Firefly: Like what these markings really mean.
Spinel: I never–it seemed too personal, I just–
Firefly: *laugh* Oh, Spinel…
Firefly: Come here. It is easier to show than tell.
Spinel: You don’t have to–
Firefly: Come here.
Firefly: The markings are a gift from those who love us most. Often passed from parent to child, but on occasion…
Firefly: From one heartmate to another.
Spinel: Firefly, you–!
Firefly: Without magic I cannot pass you any markings, Spinel, but…I love you. That does not change.
Spinel: You–I–
Spinel: You are such a jerk…
Firefly: *laugh* Perhaps. I would be honored for you to write my story, Spinel, so long as we make it our story. Will you do me the honor of sharing your name with me?
Spinel: Yeah. It’ll be our name from now on.
Some time later…
Spinel: Come on, slowpokes!
Honeydew: What’s the rush, Spi? They’ve only been there for a few thousand years by their standards.
Tourmaline: Ignore her. She had coffee on the train.
Spinel: You hush!
Spinel: I’m going ahead! Just follow the trail!
Tourmaline: Will she ever slow down…
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