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: Up we go…lighter than I thought. Oh, Moony. Okay–Ori, Bed.
Saffron: Maybe someday you’ll trust me to do this when you’re awake. Sweet dreams, Moony.
Saffron: –!
Moonstone: Wait. Saf–I…can we talk?
Saffron: You…want to?
Saffron: I mean–sure, it’s just…I thought you hate me.
Moonstone: No, I don’t, I just. …please don’t leave me again.
Saffron: Hey…I’m not going anywhere. …Moony?
Moonstone: …I keep thinking I’m going to wake up and you’ll be gone. I can’t…I can’t lose you again, Saf, I won’t make it a second time.
Saffron: I’m not leaving a second time. I’m back. I saw the world and…Watcher, Moony…
Saffron: I saw so many places, but all I could think of was how much I wanted to see them with you, and…
Moonstone: You can tell me about them.
Saffron: Seriously, there’s nothing like a Selvadorada sunset. The whole sky just goes red…it’s gorgeous.
Moonstone: I bet it was.
Moonstone: *sigh* I should have gone with you. Maybe…maybe things wouldn’t have turned out this way if I had…
Saffron: Maybe, but…we can’t know that, can we?
Moonstone: No, but I wish…I wish I could see your face again. You’re going to be stuck at 16 in my memory and I…
Saffron: Don’t worry about it. I’ll let you feel up my face anytime you want.
Moonstone: *laugh* Saf.
Moonstone: Well, I guess that’s one way to fix us a little…
Saffron: …Us? There’s still…
Moonstone: There’s always been an us. I…I think that’s why I…why I was so mad. I was hurt that you left me.
Saffron: Moony…
Moonstone: I know you had to get out, and I’m glad you…I’m glad you got to live your dreams, but…I don’t know. I just…was I not enough? I kept asking myself that, and…you’re the only one who can answer that.
Moonstone: I’m sorry, that was stupid. You don’t have to answer that.
Saffron: I want to.
Saffron: You were always enough. I’m the one who had to go out there and make herself into something.
Moonstone: …Did you? Are you…are you here to stay now?
Saffron: Yeah. I’m done running.
The next morning…
Spinel: Well then. That’s a sight for sore eyes
Artemis: Mama, are they playing together?
Firefly: It would seem so.
Firefly: Oh…listen to that harmony.
Firefly: Spinel, did you have anything to do with this?
Spinel: I may have given them a nudge.
Newcrust, some time later…
Hunter: I am never going to understand how you keep doing this, Spinel. That last book of yours took off–audiobook preorders are off the charts already.
Spinel: Hunter, are you complaining about making more money?
Hunter: Ha! Never. You’re a golden goose, Crystal, and damn if I’ll lose you now. I’m just wondering where the backing track came from–we couldn’t find it in any licensing library.
Spinel: You won’t–my daughter wrote it with her girlfriend.
Spinel: They made the whole soundtrack, actually, and they’re working on one for the sequel, too.
Hunter: Sequel? *laugh* Ambitious! …You know, if this sells as well as we’re thinking, the soundtrack will, too. Have they thought about a formal recording?
Spinel: No, actually. Would there be a way to do that?
Hunter: I have some contacts in San Marsh who could help make it happen. Here–take their cards, talk with your crew. Think it over.
Spinel: And drive up book sales?
Hunter: *laugh* You know it.
Spinel: We’ll think it over. I’ll get back to you after the holidays.
Hunter: Deal. Have a happy Harvestfest, Spinel.
Spinel: I’m home! Hey, love.
Firefly: Hello to you too, my love. *chuckle* I take it things went well?
Spinel: Perfectly. I need to talk to the girls, though.
Spinel: And that’s the gist of it.
Moonstone: A professional recording? Seriously?
Saffron: That’s awesome, though!
Moonstone: It is, but…
Saffron: But?
Moonstone: I like playing it myself. I don’t really want it to just…go wild, you know?
Spinel: You’d be the ones playing it for the recording, honey. If it goes to concert or cover afterwards, well, that happens, but it’s still you two on the gold disk.
Saffron: Moony, we could get vocals, and better equipment, and–
Moonstone: And no traffic noises to edit out! Okay. Okay, I’m in. Just–after the holidays.
Saffron: Oh, definitely. I want some of Auntie Firefly’s cooking today, forget in a week!
Spinel: *laugh* Oh, I think we can do something about that.
Harvestfest…
Horizon: Oh, look at you! Come here.
Moonstone: I missed you.
Horizon: I missed you, too. …Watcher, you’re smiling again! You and Saf really did work things out, huh?
Moonstone: We definitely did.
-
Luna: So, you’re here to stay? Permanently?
Saffron: As long as Moony wants me, yeah.
Skye: Hah, that’s permanent.
Saffron: I sure hope so! Come on–let’s get dinner before it gets cold.
-
Artemis: Saf, does this mean I’m getting another sister?
Saffron: …You know, it might.
San Marshmallow…
*music*
Aera: Watcher, but that was amazing. I can still feel it in my bones!
Saffron: Told you! Moony’s a real wizard on that keyboard.
Moonstone: It’s just practice.
Aera: Well, it’s amazing. Have you two thought about what I said? The concert hall would be amazing with these songs.
Saffron: I think it’s a great idea.
Moonstone: I’m still…not so sure.
Moonstone: It’s a lot of people…
Saffron: …What’s wrong?
Moonstone: I just. What if we mess up?
Saffron: We won’t! That’s what all the practice has been for! Come on, it’ll be fun.
Moonstone: …Maybe.
Saffron: …Nah, no maybe, it will be. Come on–let’s get some air.
Aera: That door leads to the boardwalk. Let me know what you’ve decided, okay?
Saffron: You wanna tell me what’s really going on here?
Saffron: Because it’s not like you to be so spooked.
Moonstone: I just–these songs, the story…they mean so much to me, Saf. I don’t…I don’t want to mess them up, forget in front of a crowd!
Saffron: You won’t. Moony, you can play these songs blind–no, don’t give me that look. You know these songs. You couldn’t mess up if you tried.
Moonstone: Mistakes don’t happen because you try, Saf.
Saffron: You’re right, but they’re just mistakes. Not the end of the world.
Moonstone: On a stage that big? It’ll feel like it! I can’t…I don’t want to mess up.
Saffron: You can’t let fear stop you from doing something you really want to do, Moony.
Saffron: Tell you what–if we do this, we’ll be on stage together. If you miss a note or whatever, I’ll miss the same note. No mistakes if we’re playing the same song, yeah?
Moonstone: You’d…yeah, you’re right. You’re right!
Saffron: So?
Moonstone: So, let’s do it. You and me.
Saffron: Perfect.
*knock on door*
Staff: Five minutes, ladies!
Saffron: We’ll be right there!
Moonstone: Okay…okay…just like we practiced…
Ori: *whine*
Saffron: Moony, if you don’t want to do this…
Moonstone: No, I do, I do! I’m just–nervous. There’s so many people here…
Saffron: Full house.
Moonstone: Messing up in front of all of them on opening night–urgh.
Saffron: We can go. We can leave, right here and now.
Moonstone: I don’t want that, either! *thump* Ugh…stupid stage fright…
Saffron: Stand up. Come on–up. Come here.
Saffron: Trust me. We’re gonna do fine, and it’ll be amazing.
Moonstone: …yeah. It will.
*knock on door*
Saffron: Rain check.
♩ ♫ ♩
♩ ♫ ♩
♩ ♫ ♩
Moonstone: Okay, you were right, that was amazing. I’m still shaking!
Saffron: Oh, Watcher, did you hear that cheering at the end? Everyone was on their feet! They’ll talk about this for weeks.
Saffron: What do you say about an encore?
Moonstone: Ha! Never. I’m fine in the studio back home, thanks.
Saffron: Yeah, yeah. We still have to do the whole second soundtrack anyway. *laugh* It’s gonna be double this one.
Moonstone: And then we have to start scoring the rest of Mom’s books for the re-release…well, can’t say we won’t be busy!
Saffron: It’s the best kind of busy, though.
Moonstone: Well, almost the best kind of busy.
Saffron: Almost? *laugh* Oh, I see where this is going!
Moonstone: I happen to know a perfectly nice hotel nearby. Care to join me, Miss Cinder?
Saffron: With pleasure, Miss Crystal.
Winterfest Eve.
Saffron: I don’t know what I was expecting from her.
Moonstone: Saf, it’s Winterfest. Traffic’s terrible…maybe she just got caught up in it?
Saffron: *snort* yeah, right.
Saffron: She’d never get caught in traffic.
Moonstone: …Okay, so what do you think happened?
Saffron: I think she realized I wasn’t going to change for her perfect little image to work and she bailed. She couldn’t bear to see her failure.
Moonstone: You’re not a failure.
Saffron: I’m not what she wanted, either, and that’s–fudge!
Moonstone: Okay, okay. Easy.
Moonstone: You’re not what she wanted, but that doesn’t make you a failure. It’s nothing you did–
Saffron: Spare me the therapy, Moony. It’s not gonna change anything.
Moonstone: *sigh*.
Saffron: We can’t all–all have perfect parents who love us for who we are no matter what, and that’s. That’s just the way things are and.
Moonstone: Are you trying to convince me or yourself?
Saffron: That’s–that’s. Dammit.
Moonstone: You don’t have to prove yourself, Saf. You’re more than her dreams. You’re you.
Saffron: …I know. I’m sorry, that was mean of me.
Moonstone: It’s okay. Do you want to wait a little longer?
Saffron: …No. Let’s go home.
Saffron: You know, it’s not all bad. Not having Mom and Dad, I mean.
Moonstone: Oh?
Saffron: Yeah. I’ve got you, and Auntie Spinel, and Auntie Firefly, and even–
Moonstone: Even Arty?
Saffron: Even Arty! *laugh* She’s snored since she was a baby, hasn’t she?
Moonstone: Every day of her life. I’ll miss it when it’s gone.
Saffron: No you won’t. You’ll have mine!
Moonstone: I’d hope so! But you don’t snore the alphabet in your sleep, so…
Saffron: Hey, I can learn!
Saffron: That’s–okay, no, you’re right, I can’t. But I can sing a mean opera in the shower!
Moonstone: *laugh*
Moonstone: Oh, I can smell dinner from here…
Saffron: Your Uncle Dusk’s recipes are the best, seriously.
Moonstone: You’re telling me. We’re back!
Artemis: Great! Mama needs you two in the kitchen–gah, garland everywhere!
Saffron: Huh. What do you think this is about?
Moonstone: No idea…
Moonstone: Mama?
Firefly: Oh, good, you’re here. This bird needs another three hours to cook and we have precious little time otherwise–please, pose comfortably.
Saffron: Pose?
Firefly: Yes! For your portrait! Quickly now, here–there we are. Get comfortable and do not move.
-
Firefly: There. The sketch is done. You can move now.
Saffron: Oh thank Watcher. Moony how did you stand that?!
Moonstone: *laugh* Practice!
Artemis: Table’s all set, Mama.
Firefly: Thank you, darling. Have you finished your application?
Artemis: Uh. Sort of. Saf! How’d it go with your Mom?
Saffron: Fine. Just fine.
Moonstone: It was. NIce.
Moonstone: The cafe was practically empty, so we didn’t get stared at or anything, and.
Artemis: She didn’t show up, did she.
Firefly: Unbelievable.
Firefly: Saffron, I am so sorry.
Saffron: It’s fine. Honestly it’s probably better this way–she’d have been all, color purity this, you’re throwing away your future that. That whole mess of–ugh!
Artemis: You don’t seem so fine with her not showing.
Saffron: I was going to yell at her! Of course I’m not okay with not getting that chance!
Moonstone: Maybe Nectar’s the one who got lucky…
Firefly: Perhaps she is. Especially were your mother to cross paths with her again.
Saffron: Bah! I’d sell tickets for that.
Moonstone: Saf…don’t give Mom any ideas.
Saffron: Fine, fine. Anyway, how’s the application coming, squirt? You need any help?
Artemis: It’s just the general placement portion. Final exams aren’t for another couple years, so I’m still kind of…figuring things out.
Moonstone: Anything call you?
Artemis: I was thinking music? Hearing what you two did for Mom’s books kinda got stuck under my skin.
Saffron: Hey, that’s great! We could teach you a few things, and San Marsh has a great music program. I can call Aera for a recommendation, too.
Saffron: If that’s what you wanna do, anyway.
Artemis: I don’t know. Still thinking about it. ..What would you two have done if things had been better?
Moonstone: Well, we’d have both gone full athletic like Hori. …Honestly I can’t even imagine that anymore.
Firefly: It almost seems like a different world, does it not?
Moonstone: Tell me about it.
Saffron: But hey, this one’s working out just great anyway, so it’s cool.
Artemis: I don’t know if I’d go that far! But seriously–you’d really teach me everything you know?
Moonstone: *laugh* Slow down, squirt, not everything! You’ve got to learn some things for yourself, too.
Artemis: What? Aw, come on! What’s the point of two big sisters who made it big if I can’t yank their talent?
Moonstone: Made it big? DId we?
Saffron: Hm, I don’t know…we did play in the San Marsh concert hall…twice.
Firefly: And had your first soundtrack press gold.
Saffron: That too. Hmm…maybe we did make it big.
Moonstone: And all without anyone to steal talent from.
Artemis: Okay, okay, I get it! Seriously, though. Lessons?
Moonstone: Of course, Arty. Just–after dinner. Speaking of, we need to get ready!
Later that night..
*loud squealing*
Luna: Watcher, Hori, do you want me to go deaf?!
Horizon: Sorry, sorry! I just–shiitake, when did Skye drop that question?!
Luna: This morning, the big dork. We went out on a walk and all of a sudden he goes to a knee and just–ugh, I love the doofus but he’s such a sap!
Moonstone: Congrats, Lu. You two deserve it.
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