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.
Firefly: Alright. Let us see what the problems are. Ah, I see. Try…
Opal: …Wow, they’re really making things harder these days, aren’t they?
Moonstone: Harder than it was last year!
Firefly: And different then when I was a child.
Opal: Okay, let’s see here…
-
Moonstone: Done!
Moonstone: Thanks Mama, thanks Gramma!
Opal: What’s the rush, sweetheart?
Firefly: Basketball tryouts.
Horizon: Oh, no fair! How do you keep getting it in?
Moonstone: I’m throwing it higher.
Moonstone: See?
Horizon: –oh, yeah! I get it now.
Moonstone: You know something?
Horizon: What?
Moonstone: I think I wanna do this when we grow up. Play ball all the time.
Horizon: Sounds like fun.
Moonstone: Yeah…it does.
*sounds of game console*
Luna: Go left–Saf I said left!
Saffron: That is left!
Horizon: That’s right! You’re upside down!
Saffron: You’re upside down!
Moonstone: Hey! Don’t crash into me!
Saffron: Moony, come on! Let’s show them how it’s done!
Moonstone: Scoot over!
Horizon: Oh, sister…
Luna: Come on, come on–
Aurora: Of course you can–Moonstone, sit up straight, honey.
Moonstone: Okay, Gramma–ack!
*thud*
Nebula: *snort*
Aurora: Honey…
Moonstone: I’m okay!
Horizon: Come on, we’ve almost got ‘em–
Horizon: Ha! We did it!
Luna: Oh, man…
Aurora: Alright, dance-off!
*music playing*
Firefly: Dinner is ready! Saffron, would you like some?
Saffron: Yes please!
Opal: Okay then–come on, kids!
-
Firefly: Are you sure you do not wish to take some home with you, Saffron? We have plenty of leftovers.
Saffron: I’m sure, Mrs. Crystal.
Firefly: Well, alright. Do you have plans for Harvestfest?
Spinel: We don’t really…celebrate it.
Horizon: We don’t either, but Mama cooks Uncle Dusk’s recipes and it’s really really good.
Firefly: Your family is welcome to attend, if you would like.
Saffron: …I’ll ask, but I don’t think they will…
Spinel: Well, you just let us know if they change their minds, honey.
Saffron: I will. And thanks for offering.
Firefly: Of course.
Spinel: You’re practically one of the family, Saf.
Saffron: Oh–does that mean I can call you Aunties?
Firefly: If you would like, we would be honored.
Aurora: All of us would be. Honorary Grammas and Aunties.
Moonstone: And Uncles, right? Uncle Dusk wouldn’t mind, would he?
Firefly: Doubtlessly not. He and Uncle Apricot would be honored as well.
Saffron: Thanks, Mrs–Auntie Firefly.
Firefly: Of course, sweetheart. And–*clock chimes* Oh, dear.
Moonstone: Come on, Saf. I’ll walk you out.
Moonstone: Thanks, Mama. Saf really needs a good Auntie.
Firefly: Of course, darling. She always has a place with us.
Harvestfest Weekend…
Firefly: Dinner is ready! Help me set the table, girls.
Spinel: Everything okay, sweetheart? You seem a little distracted.
Moonstone: Huh? Oh, yeah…
Spinel: That doesn’t sound okay.
Luna: She’s worried about Saffron.
Moonstone: Tattletale.
Spinel: I’m sure she’s fine, Moon. We can invite her for Winterfest if you want.
Moonstone: …yeah.
*muffled arguing*
Saffron: …Citrus?
Citrus: hm?
Saffron: Do they ever stop?
Citrus: …I dunno, kiddo. I dunno.
The next day.
Nebula: Moony, are you sure there’s a cave up here?
Moonstone: Sure I’m sure! It’s in Mom’s story.
Nebula: That’s just a story!
Moonstone: It is not! Everything she wrote was real!
Nebula: Uh-huh, sure. Your Mom’s a fairy princess and your other mom went to a whole other world–Moon, come on!
Saffron: Neb, come on. Where did you think the ears came from?
Nebula: I dunno, Sixam or something?
Luna: Mama’s not from Sixam, Neb. The cave’s real and we’re gonna prove it.
Horizon: We just. Have to find it first.
Moonstone: The story said it was under the Sugar Desert somewhere, and there’s old mining tunnels around here, so maybe it’s here?
Saffron: Even if it’s not, it’ll still be an adventure.
Nebula: I told Mom I was gonna hang out with you guys today. If we’re not back by dark, she’s gonna get worried.
Moonstone: Then we’d better hurry. Come on, slowpokes!
Moonstone: –up here!
Luna: Oh, wow…that’s dark…
Horizon: …should we go in there…
Moonstone: Don’t be a fraidyberry.
Nebula: Oh….wow…it is real.
Moonstone: Told you!
Saffron: Where are we?
Luna: This is…I think we’re inside the canyon?
Moonstone: We have to be! They made it a cave or something!
Horizon: Remember the history project Miss River had us do? They stopped mining here when Granny was a kid.
Saffron: Wow…that was forever ago!
Nebula: Uh…are you sure about that? There’s still stuff down here.
Moonstone: You think they could get it all out? Must have been easier to just leave it here. Come on–let’s see how far it goes!
Moonstone: Oh, wow! Look at that!
Luna: Wait–is that the river?
Moonstone: It must come through here, too.
Moonstone: Just look at this place, guys…it’s so pretty…
Horizon: It’s huge! You could build a house down here!
Saffron: Without the sun? It must get so cold!
Luna: And dark! I don’t wanna think about this place at midnight…
Moonstone: These crystals give off light…they’re magic.
Nebula: Or they just glow. Biolumi…bioluni…ugh! Stuff that glows from the inside!
Luna: Bioluminescence.
Nebula: Ugh. Thanks, smartypants.
Luna: Hey!
Saffron: Guys!
Moonstone: Hey–there’s something up here.
Moonstone: …or…not.
Saffron: Looks like nothing.
Nebula: It’s a dead end, Moony.
Moonstone: Aw, man…
Horizon: They must have stopped digging here…
Luna: Why’d they stop?
Horizon: Dunno. Something about…quakes?
Nebula: Quakes?!
Moonstone: That was years ago! Hasn’t been one since!
Luna: ..maybe we could go back outside?
Saffron: It’s boring in here anyway.
Horizon: We know it’s real, though. That’s enough, right?
Nebula: Yeah, yeah….
Saffron: Come on, Moony. Let’s go.
Moonstone: …yeah, okay.
Moonstone: We shouldn’t tell Mom we were down here, though. She’d freak.
Horizon: Definitely. It’s our secret.
Nebula: It won’t be if they come looking for us. Come on–it’s almost dark out.
Moonstone: …I swear this was brighter when we came in…*gulp*
Nebula: D-don’t be a fraidyberry, Moony. Lead the way!
Moonstone: Yea…yeah, okay…
Horizon: Ugh, I’ve got spiderwebs everywhere!
Luna: I’ve got rock dust in my hair, Hori, quit complaining!
Moonstone: I want a shower…
Moonstone: We’re back!
Spinel: Welcome–ah! Hold it right there, missy!
Horizon: Dibs on the shower!
Moonstone: HEY!
Spinel: One of you stay put!
Moonstone: Ugh…traitors.
Spinel: Where have you three been?
Moonstone: Uh…the park?
Spinel: And you got this dirty at the park?
Moonstone: Uh…yes?
Spinel: Well then. Must have been a big adventure.
Moonstone: Nah, kinda boring. And dirty.
Spinel: *laugh* Alright then. Go get cleaned up.
Spinel: Was I like that?
Opal: I seem to remember you being a little older when you had your first adventure, but…yes. You were. *chuckle* No grounding?
Spinel: Nah, they’re home safe. That’s what matters. Mama?
Opal: Yes, dear?
Spinel: Thanks. For being my Mama.
Some days later…
Moonstone: You’ve gotta throw it higher, Saf!
Saffron: I know, I know!
Saffron: …I’m gonna take a break.
Moonstone: Saf…
Moonstone: You wanna tell me what’s wrong?
Saffron: It’s nothing.
Moonstone: Uh-huh.
Moonstone: This about the baskets?
Saffron: …
Moonstone: Just keep practicing! You’ll get it.
Saffron: …yeah, I guess. …Moony?
Moonstone: Yeah?
Saffron: We’ll always be friends, right?
Moonstone: Of course! Best friends.
Saffron: …even if I went away?
Moonstone: Wha–what do you mean, if you went away?! Saf!
Saffron: I’m just asking!
Moonstone: Don’t! You’re not going anywhere!
Saffron: But we’d still be friends, right?
Moonstone: Of course we would! But you’re not leaving!
Saffron: Course not. I’m just teasing.
Moonstone: Saffron..ugH! I’m going back to practice. Come on.
Some time later…
River: That’s right, Cerise. The city was founded three hundred years ago and–
*Bell rings*
River: And that’s that, then. Alright, everyone. Have a safe Winterfest Break and remember that all Sugar Scout forms have to be signed and turned in when you come back.
Horizon: Yes, Miss River!
Saffron: Wait, that soon?
Moonstone: We’ll be ready, Miss River.
River: Then I’ll see you all next year. Be smart, kids.
-
Saffron: Um…Miss River?
River: Yes, Saffron?
Saffron: Is there any way for me to go on the Scout trip if my parents don’t sign the form?
River: I’m sorry, honey, but no. A parent or guardian has to sign the forms. Is something wrong?
Saffron: Um…
No comments:
Post a Comment