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.
Saffron: Yes!
Moonstone: We won!
Celestial: Great shot there at the end, Horizon. Been practicing your airtime?
Horizon: Oh, all the time. Arty leaves her toys everywhere so it’s either jump or step on legos, so.
Celestial: So you jump. *laugh* Good game.
Blueberry: Hey–Moonstone, right? Great game. You guys are staying at the Ocean, right?
Moonstone: Yeah. Why?
Blueberry: Cause there’s this great little nightclub not too far from there that serves really great burgers. Would you like to get one with me?
Moonstone: Sure! Burgers sound good, don’t they Saf?
Saffron: …Sure.
Blueberry: Great. I’ll swing by around..oh, sevenish. Wear your dancing shoes, Crystal.
Moonstone: Ha! You got it.
Saffron: …
Horizon: Ugh…is this rain ever gonna end?
Moonstone: In the morning, supposedly.
Horizon: Great. Stuck here until morning.
Saffron: I don’t think we’re going anywhere. Sorry about your date, Moony.
Moonstone: It’s fine. I was just saying yes to be nice, anyway. Didn’t really wanna go.
Saffron: You didn’t?
Moonstone: Nah. A burger did sound good, but I like getting to know people before I go on a date.
Saffron: Oh. Right, okay, cool. Cool.
Moonstone: Still leaves us with nothing to do, though.
Horizon: We do have that history assignment…
Saffron: There’s a disaster movie marathon on.
Moonstone: Movies.
Horizon: Movies.
Skye: So this is San Marshmallow?
Horizon: A little piece of it, at least. It’s so big…
Horizon: Gramma used to live here, didn’t she?
Moonstone: Yeah, when she was our age. She never came back after leaving, though.
Saffron: Seriously? Who’d ever want to leave a place like this!
Skye: Someone with a budget. Have you seen those rent prices? Sheesh!
-
Solar: Welcome to the Salt Flat Hotel. Can I help you?
Celestial: Yes. We have a reservation under Ice?
Solar: Let me see here…ah, yes, here we are. The Moon, Blossom, and Mandala rooms. Here are your keys.
Solar: We don’t offer room service, but there’s a restaurant here through that door and there are city guides in each room if you’d prefer to dine out.
Celestial: We might just do that, thank you. Okay, three rooms, five of us. Skye, you’re with me. Who wants the solo room?
Horizon: Dibs!
Moonstone: Oh, that’s mature.
Horizon: What? You snore.
Celestial *laugh* We have to respect the dibs call. Now, here are your keys. The game is tonight, so get some rest and take it easy. We’ll head to the arena later on. If you want to get lunch, don’t go out alone.
Skye: Dad, we’re sixteen, not six. We can handle it.
Celestial: Alright, Mister Sass. Go on up, then. I’ll see you all later.
Moonstone: Moon, Blossom, and Mandala…oh! Oh, that’s neat. The banners.
Horizon: Well, I’mma crash. See you guys tonight.
Saffron: Wow. Cozy.
Moonstone: It’s a single…I can go manhandle Hori if you want–
Saffron: Moony, we’ve been best friends since we were in diapers. I’m cool with it if you’re cool with it.
Moonstone: I’m cool with it.
Saffron: What do you think about marriage?
Moonstone: Uh. What?
Saffron: Marriage. You know, two people getting married…
Moonstone: I know what it is! I just. Where did that come from?
Saffron: My Mom’s trying to set me up with somebody orange. Color purity or something like that.
Moonstone: That’s an arranged marriage. I thought only Raws did that…
Saffron: Yeah, well, apparently pure color counts.
Saffron: Mom wants me to get married after we graduate. Like, the day after kind of after.
Moonstone: And you can’t tell her no?
Saffron: She said I’ll thank her when I’m older. …Do you think…I mean, do you think anybody could be…
Moonstone: I think you’re better off getting to know somebody before you marry them! It’s supposed to be for life, so…at least make sure they’re a good person first. Do you know who…
Saffron: Nope. Neither does she. Not yet, anyway.
Moonstone: So she’s going to marry you off to a total stranger, someone you’ve never even seen…because they’re orange?
Saffron: Yep.
Moonstone: Okay that’s bull.
Saffron: *laugh*
Moonstone: I’m serious! Marriage–I mean, living with somebody you love doesn’t have to mean marrying them, but it can still be a good thing. Gramma and Gran have been married for almost sixty years! And Mom and Mama are, too, and they’re great, but…
Saffron: …but?
Moonstone: But then I look at what happened to your parents, and…well, sometimes I wonder, that’s all.
Saffron: Ugh, tell me about it.
Saffron: I dunno. She’s deadset on this and I don’t know how to get out of it.
Moonstone: Just tell her no. It’s your life, Saf, color or whatever. If you find somebody you love, that’s great. If not, that’s okay, too.
Saffron: …she’d never let me be with the person I like. They’re the wrong color.
Moonstone: Then…maybe you have to leave the house. You can’t get married off until you’re eighteen, and when that happens you can just get out. And be with this person.
Saffron: Yeah. Maybe.
Moonstone: …you like somebody, huh? Do I know them?
Saffron: I’d sure hope so. She’s you.
Moonstone: …What?
Saffron: Watcher, Moony…I thought I was obvious. I’ve had a crush on you for years. You never…
Moonstone: No! I mean–I don’t mind, if there’s anyone I’d wanna be with it’s you but–Saf! You could have told me!
Saffron: I didn’t want to make things weird! I didn’t want to mess up our friendship if you didn’t feel the same way…
Moonstone: Like that would ever happen! We’re best friends, Saf–if we end up more than that, great, but even if not, we’d always be best friends.
Saffron: Even if I had to go far away?
Moonstone: Even if you had to go far away. But you’re not going anywhere–you’re staying with me now, you hear me?
Saffron: I hear you, I hear you. *laugh* ….love you, Moony.
Moonstone: Love you, too.
Announcer: Five seconds left on the clock! The Ninjas and the Pirates are neck and neck, 5 to 5! It’s Cinder with the ball–can she get it in in time?
Skye: Dad?
Celestial: Hold on to it…
Announcer: She leaps for it–
Announcer: It’s in!
*buzzer rings*
Celestial: Yes!
Announcer: And that’s it, folks! The Sugar Springs Pirates have won the semi-final match of the season, beating out our own Ninjas 6 to 5! Congratulations, ladies: you’ve settled that age old debate once and for all. Best of luck against the Knights–you’ll need it!
Moonstone: Great shot, Saf.
Saffron: It was nothing. I just saw it and took it.
Horizon: And won us the game.
Moonstone: So now we go home and take on the Knights. Think you can carry us through that one, too?
Saffron: Oh, I dunno…will I have my best team to back me up?
Horizon: Pfft. As if we’d be anywhere else.
Horizon: You know, if we pull off this win? They’ll be coming at us all with scholarships like you wouldn’t believe.
Saffron: You think so?
Horizon: There were half a dozen scouts in the crowd, Saf. We’re going places.
Saffron: That’d be great. …Speaking of places…Moony, you wanna get a burger or something? There’s a great restaurant back in the Art District I wanna try before we leave.
Moonstone: Oh, that sounds great. I’m starving.
Moonstone: Hori, you wanna–
Horizon: Nah, just bring me takeout. I’m gonna head back and crash.
Moonstone: This place has a…strange menu.
Saffron: I hear the ramen’s pretty good.
Moonstone: Where’d you…oh! Citrus lives out here, doesn’t she?
Saffron: Uh-huh. She came out here with her partner once. The ramen and the pho are supposed to be real good.
Moonstone: I’ll get the pho, then.
Saffron: And ramen for me. …Hey, Moony, do you…do you have a date to the square dance?
Moony: Come on, Saf. You’d have been the first to know if I did.
Saffron: Right, right. Um. ….Well, would you…would you like to go with me?
Moonstone: I’d love to! But what about your mom–aren’t you going to be grounded?
Saffron: Like that’d ever stop me.
Moonstone: So daring!
Saffron: Haha, just good at sneaking out. So, was that a yes?
Moonstone: That was a yes. I’d love to go with you.
Moonstone: I mean, we’d both be going anyway, but it’d be nice to…you know, have a date. Or something.
Saffron: Or something? No, it’s a date!
Moonstone: Great! I’ll wear my dancing shoes, then.
Moonstone: So, about those three pointers of yours…
Saffron: You know? I could live in a place like this.
Moonstone: With Citrus?
Saffron: Nah. Get myself a little apartment, keep playing ball or go into music, maybe. But it’s so nice here, so freeing…maybe we could do it together?
Moonstone: Maybe? I’d miss the Springs like crazy. I like how quiet it gets at night.
Saffron: Yeah, that’s true…
Moonstone: Do you…not like the Springs?
Saffron: Nah, they’re cool. Just kinda…small? I’d rather explore places like this, honestly.
Moonstone: you and that running, I swear.
Saffron: Hey, you know me! Can’t keep a girl still.
Moonstone: Don’t I know it. Just…be careful, okay?
Moonstone: Go too far and you might not be able to come back.
Saffron: Oh, come on. I’ll always come back to you, Moony. We promised, didn’t we?
Moonstone: Yeah. We did.
Some days later, Sugar Springs
Chili: You weren’t kidding. She’s good.
Celestial: Told you. It’s like she was born for this.
Celestial: Dunk it, Moonstone. Show us what you can do!
Moonstone: Got it!
Chili: *impressed whistle* Well, I’ll be fried and battered…
Celestial: What do you think?
Chili: I think we’ve got ourselves one hell of a candidate here, Cel.
Chili: She’s considering athletic placement? How are her other scores?
Celestial: Grades are good, you’ve seen her scores. She’s the best this town’s seen in years.
Chili: I can see that. That was a very good shot, Moonstone. You must have practiced hard.
Moonstone: Pretty much every day, yeah.
Moonstone: …Soooo?
Chili: So how would you feel about a full ride scholarship to Foxberry?
Moonstone: …Are you serious.
Celestial: Completely. I asked Chili to come watch today because she’s a talent scout for the Lobsters, and you’ve really impressed her.
Moonstone: That’s…I…wow. A full ride on athletics?
Chili: That just gets you in the door. Obviously you’re welcome to choose whatever major you want when you get there, but with scores like yours? You could end up going pro.
Moonstone: Pro?! I’m not that good–
Celestial: Not yet. But with practice, and a good team…Moonstone, you’re good. You should show that off.
Chili: That and ol’ Cel here would like a pro baller under his belt.
Celestial: Shut up, Chili.
Moonstone: What about the others? Hori, and Saf?
Chili: They’re not as good as you are, Moonstone. And to be honest, Saffron’s grades are…
Celestial: The circumstances don’t line up, Moonstone. The full ride is a short list. I’d love to put you all on it, but it’s only for the best. Horizon could get a partial, though.
Moonstone: …I’ll…need to think about it. Is that okay?
Chili: Of course. I’ll be in town until the end of the championship. Talk about it with your family, think it over. I need to know before graduation, but take the time you need before then.
Moonstone: Thank you.
Celestial: Come on, Chili. Let’s go get a coffee and talk…
Moonstone: You heard all of that, didn’t you.
Saffron: …
Moonstone: Saf, please.
Moonstone: Saf–
Saffron: Don’t–*sigh* You’re going to take it, aren’t you.
Moonstone: I don’t know yet. It’s a big decision to make.
Moonstone: But, Saf…even if I do take it, that wouldn’t change us, okay? You know that.
Saffron: Do I? You’d leave–you promised you wouldn’t leave and now this–
Moonstone: That’s not fair, Saf. We were kids–things change!
Saffron: Yeah, but promises are supposed to be forever.
Moonstone: Saffron–
Saffron: Forget it. I need to–I need space.
Moonstone: Oh, Saf…
Saffron: How did you know I’d come here.
Moonstone: Because I know you. Can I sit?
Saffron: …sure.
Moonstone: Saf, I can tell them no. We can both stay here and just–
Saffron: My mom found a potential match. He’s in Wineburg.
Moonstone: …oh.
Moonstone: They’re…still on that color purity thing, huh.
Saffron: Yep. I don’t even get a say in the matter. Forget that I don’t even like boys. It’s all about keeping one color in the family. *snort* What a load of bull.
Moonstone: You’re sixteen…that’s old enough to decide for yourself, isn’t it?
Saffron: Not for this.The only way out of this is to not live under their roof, but where am I even gonna go…no job, no placement…
Moonstone: You could stay with us. Mom would love to have you…
Saffron: Too close. They’d just drag me back. The only way out is to leave town…
Saffron: But without a scholarship, I can’t afford it. I’m stuck.
Moonstone: Saf…we can get you one. We just have to pull your grades up and–
Saffron: Moony, it’s okay. I…I’ll figure something out. *sigh* Come on. It’s getting late.
Saffron: …you should take it. The scholarship, I mean.
Moonstone: You think so?
Saffron: Yeah. You deserve it.
Saffron: You really…really do deserve the best, Moony. I want you know that.
Moonstone: So do you, you know.
Saffron: Yeah, well, I’ve already got the best friend I could ask for. It’s cool.
Moonstone: …Yeah. We’re cool. Come on–I’ll race you back!
Saffron: Wha–hey!
Luna: A full ride? Moony! You have to take it!
Spinel: You really should, sweetheart. This is amazing news.
Opal: With how hard you’ve practiced, I’m not surprised they want you.
Aurora: Foxberry’s got an amazing team, too. You could really go places with them.
Horizon: It’s great news. So why do you look so weird?
Moonstone: It’s just–I’m the only one they want from the whole team. You and Saf aren’t “good enough”, which is a bunch of–
Spinel: Moonstone.
Luna: You know everybody can make their own way, right?
Moonstone: I know, it’s just–
Firefly: Darling, it is good that you care about others, but you must make your own way forward. If this is something that you want, take it.
Aurora: Chances like this don’t come around every day, Moony. You deserve it–you earned it. You should take it.
Moonstone: Even if it means abandoning my team?
Opal: Honey, you have to do what’s best for you. It’s your future, too. You have to decide how it goes.
Moonstone: …yeah…I guess so.
Moonstone: Gramma? How did you…how did you decide what to do when you were my age?
Opal: Oh, Watcher…I didn’t really decide, I just…knew.
Moonstone: Yeah, but…you didn’t think of what would happen to Aunt Q?
Opal: I did, but she’d have kicked my behind if I tried to stay behind for her sake. *laugh* She was always more protective than me.
Opal: If it was me and her in this situation, she’d tell me to take it. And I’m telling you to take it; Horizon understands.
Moonstone: It’s not Hori that worries me…
Moonstone: It’s Saf. She….the two of us, we…I love her, Gramma, and I want her to be okay.
Opal: Why wouldn’t she be?
Moonstone: Her parents want to marry her off. To a boy–she doesn’t even like boys and I just–
Moonstone: We promised to never leave one another and I take this then I’ll be leaving her and–
Opal: Whoa, slow down. Moonstone, Saffron has to decide what to do with her life for herself, same as you do. Things are different than they were in my day–there are options for getting out of arranged marriages. She has ways. She just has to take them.
Moonstone: but…I promised her…Gramma…
Opal: Honey, you can love someone with your whole heart, but at the end of the day? You still have to do what’s right for you. And if Saffron loves you as much as you love her, she’ll understand that.
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