Moonstone Crystal has always had her life figured out. A loving family, wonderful friends, and a well-trod, well-loved path into her future. But when her beloved Saffron flees a heartless home, jealousy and anger lead to all of her plans vanishing along with her sight, and she must find a new way to live.
Three years later…
–
Saffron: Moomoo!!
Moonstone: Moon!
Saffron: Moonmoon!
Firefly: …put on slow spin for five minutes…oh–careful, Cerise!
*excited toddler babble*
Firefly: Well! Saffron certainly seems happy.
Sunshine: Yeah…
Firefly: What is wrong?
Sunshine: It’s a long story…
Opal: Only one bowl each, you two! That’s more than enough sugar.
Horizon: Gramma!
Opal: One bowl, Hori.
Honeydew: Cerise, go and sit with your friends.
Cerise: No!
Firefly: I am sorry about that. Wrangling toddlers is…quite the experience!
Sunshine: No problem.
Firefly: Now, what is wrong? You are clearly troubled.
Sunshine: Oh, just marriage issues. Nectar and me have been arguing a lot. We’re working it out somehow.
Firefly: Good to hear. You and Saffron are both more than welcome whenever you need–
*CRASH!*
Moonstone: MAAAMAAAAA!!!
Sunshine: Put a pin in that?
Firefly: What happened–oh, Luna! Lu, where are you?
Honeydew: She slipped out the back while this one had a moment. Moony, you can’t break things like that.
Moonstone: *whining*
Honeydew: …okay, okay, come here.
Opal: Let Gramma fix this one.
Sunshine: Saffron? Oh, where’s she gone now. Saffron!
Firefly: Ah–Saffron! Come here, darling.
Saffron: Ah!
Firefly: You cannot simply run off like that!
Sunshine: Saffron, we’ve talked about this. You can’t just run away from Daddy like that–
Saffron: Wanna run!
Sunshine: *sigh* Okay, I think it’s time to go home.
Firefly: That was. Exciting. It is time for bed now.
Spinel: Yes it is! Before they get sugar-cranky.
-
Opal: Come here, sweetheart.
Moonstone: Gramma…
Opal: Have sweet dreams, and we’ll play tomorrow.
-
Firefly: Goodnight, my darling.
Lunar: Ninight…
Opal: Sleep well, baby.
Moonstone: Nini…
Firefly: There. All settled.
Spinel: One heck of a handful, aren’t they?
Firefly: No more than their mother. Come–let us go to bed while we still can!
Firefly: How is it that dancing never fails to wear them out?
Aurora: Come on now. Raising five kids gave me some tricks.
Aurora: Oh, Spi was just like that at their age. Couldn’t put her down? Just get her dancing.
Firefly: Ah, so it is an inherited trait!
Aurora: You could say that. Let’s get ‘em to bed before they wake up.
Spinel: Hey. Rascals down?
Firefly: For the night. …Spinel, this may be an…odd question, but do you…have a strange feeling?
Spinel: Strange how?
Firefly: Just…strange. Dread, I suppose. A knot in the pit of my stomach.
Spinel: No? Is something wrong?
Firefly: I do not know. Nothing seems wrong–everyone is healthy and happy, but I cannot shake this feeling that something bad is going to happen…
Spinel: Babe, I trust your instincts. If something’s off, something’s off. How can we fix it?
Firefly: I do not know. Without the cause or an idea…*sigh* I would not know where to begin searching. There are protective rituals, small spells, but the source of it…I do not know.
Spinel: What’s your gut telling you?
Firefly: …that one of the girls has a very difficult time ahead of her. I do not know which, but.
Spinel: …you said there were protective spells?
Firefly: There are. Small rituals. I have everything I need.
Spinel: Is there anything I can do?
Firefly: Love them. That is enough.
Spinel: Always. I meant with the spell, though.
Firefly: I know, love. I have it–come to bed when you are done here.
Firefly: Let me see…ash, blackthorn…ah, blueberry leaf. Light a candle and…
Firefly: Watcher, we ask for your grace…please, help me to understand what is going on. …*sigh* I suppose we may never know. Alright then.
Some years later…
-
Horizon: Do we have to go back to school, Mama?
Firefly: I thought you wanted to?
Moonstone: She just doesn’t want to stop playing.
Lunar: Or running, or swimming, or anything.
Horizon: You two shush!
Aurora: *laugh* Summer vacation isn’t over just yet, you three. Besides, you all have fun at school, don’t you?
Horizon: Yeah, but it’s not the same…
Moonstone: Hori…there’s camp next year, and this weekend at the pool, and tryouts, and–
Opal: And the pool this weekend.
Horizon: Okay, okay! I get it!
Horizon: Saffron’s coming, right?
Moonstone: Uh-huh! And Neb, and the others too.
Lunar: It’s gonna be great.
Opal: It’s going to be busy. Make sure you all remember your sunscreen.
Kids: Yes, Gramma!
Horizon: You guys are coming too, right?
Aurora: You better believe it! We wouldn’t miss this for anything.
Firefly: We will have to leave early to beat the traffic, so no staying up until sunrise, girls.
Luna: Yes, Mama.
Moonstone: Oh, I dunno about this…
Horizon: Don’t be a fraidyberry, Moony!
Horizon: Just jump!
Moonstone: Okay. Okay, I’m gonna do it again!
Honeydew: Remember, push off with both feet!
Honeydew: Both feet, not–
*SPLASH*
Honeydew: Oh, kiddo.
Dawn: *laugh* Moonstone, you okay?
Moonstone: *splutter* FINE!
Nebula: Sheesh…what a clutz.
Nectar: What do you mean, you forgot?
Sunshine: I just forgot, okay?
Nectar: Sunshine!
-
Saffron: There they go again.
Moonstone: Hey–just ignore them! Let’s get back in the water, okay? Race you to the bottom?
Nebula: Only if you jump it this time.
Saffron: You’re on.
Spinel: Last round in the pool, kids! It’s getting late.
Saffron: Uhm…Mrs. Crystal? My parents left without me. Can I ride back with you?
Firefly: They what–of course, sweetheart. Come along now.
Spinel: So, everyone ready for school? Bags packed, lunches ready?
Luna: Yeah, Mom! We’re ready!
Spinel: Good! If you’re missing anything just call and I’ll–
Moonstone: Mom! We’ll be okay! It’s just school, not–not a week in the canyons or something!
Firefly: Remember to listen to your teacher, and behave yourselves and–
Lunar: Mama…we’re ten, not two!
Firefly: Oh! Well, excuse me, I forgot how mature ten year olds could be!
Spinel: It’s true, she did.
*laughter*
Moonstone: We’ll be fine, Mama.
Horizon: I can’t wait to see everyone again.
Moonstone: Me too.
At school…
Moonstone: What do you mean they left you?!
Saffron: It was an accident. It’s happened before, Moony, it’s okay.
Moonstone: It is not okay! Your parents shouldn’t just–
River: Something you want to share, girls?
Saffron: –! No, Miss River!
Moonstone: Sorry, Miss River!
Later...
Luna: Saff…Moony’s right, it’s not okay.
Saffron: It happens.
Moonstone: It shouldn’t!
Moonstone: You wouldn’t say it was okay if Mama forgot us, would you?
Saffron: It’s different! Your moms don’t fight all the time.
Luna: Saffron, that’s not okay either.
Horizon: We should tell someone about this.
Saffron: No!
Moonstone: Saf!
Saffron: They’ll make me and Citrus leave if you do!
Luna: Saf…maybe that’s better.
Saffron: It’s fine, okay? I’m fine. Citrus came and got me.
Moonstone: Saf!
Saffron: I don’t wanna talk about it.
Moonstone: Ugh! Fine.
Saffron: Tryouts are today, right? We should all go.
Luna: Ugh…I dunno.
Horizon: You sure you don’t wanna try, Lu?
Luna: Yeah, I’m sure. Besides, I’m wearing a skirt.
Horizon: Never stopped you before.
Luna: Just not my thing.
Horizon: Okay, but–oh, whoa!
Kids: Wow…
Moonstone: That was awesome!
Celestial: That was a lot of practice. You my group of tryouts today?
Luna: They are! I’m gonna go sit.
Celestial: Okay then. Grab a ball and start trying.
Moonstone: Just like that?
Celestial: Just like that. Just have fun with it and I’ll make my decisions afterwards.
Celestial: Okay! Girls, huddle up.
Later…
Moonstone: Mom! Mama?
Spinel: In here, honey!
Moonstone: Mom, you’re not gonna believe this–
Spinel: School went well and you went to tryouts?
Moonstone: …okay maybe you’ll believe it–
Spinel: Coach Celestial called me already. *laugh* You and Hori both made the cut.
Moonstone: And Saf, too. We just need you and Mama to be okay with it, so…
Spinel: So?
Moonstone: Mom!
Horizon: Are you okay with it?
Spinel: I am! Your Mama is, too. Just one thing.
Moonstone: What?
Spinel: Grades stay up. School is important, too.
Moonstone: That’s it?
Spinel: That’s it.
Moonstone: That’s easy!
Moonstone: We’ll be straight A students and–and it’ll be great!
Spinel: *laugh* I’m sure it will be. Now go do your homework before you practice, okay?
Moonstone: Kay! Thanks, Mom!
Spinel: Holler if you need any help!
Firefly: All good here, girls?
Moonstone: Uh…kind of?
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