Twins Amber and Calcite couldn't be any less alike. Where Cal is happy to stay at home with his piano and guitar, Amber has a desperate need to see unknown places and explore the wilds. Chasing a childhood dream into the jungle of Selvadorada, Amber finds a dream cut short...and Cal finds himself living for two lives, instead of just one.
Nova: Don’t beat yourself up, Solana. It’s not an easy decision to make! But you’re still doing what’s best for her. We’re just asking because…
Calcite: Because we want what’s best for her, too. Do you want to be a part of her life?
Solana: It….would be better if I were not. I do not know how much of me, or these past two years, she’ll remember but….better that she doesn’t know of me, I think.
Amber: Solana…
Saffron: Solana…
Solana: No. If she asks, tell her…tell her her mother loved her very much, but that this is what was best for both of us.
Amber: Was it, though? Gah, I wish you could hear me!
Calcite: Can we at least take a picture for her–
Solana: No, I’m sorry. I…I have to go. Thank you for…I’m sorry.
Calcite: Well, at least she sleeps easily enough…Watcher, Am…you have a daughter! I wish you could meet her…
Amber: Me too…
Calcite: This is…not how I thought things were going to go. *huff* Listen to me, getting all maudlin. Kid and a husband to be….you should have had this, too.
Amber: ….
Calcite: Sleep well, Citrine. We’ll face tomorrow when you wake up.
-
Saffron: Is she–
Calcite: Conked right out. I think she’ll sleep through the night.
Moonstone: Watcher…a baby. Amber had a baby.
Calcite: Solana?
Saffron: Took a cab to the airport. She left some papers…
Nova: Birth certificate, Alam ID…legal stuff. And a custody arrangement. She’s ours.
Calcite: Ours. Well, Ma, you got the grandbaby you wanted!
Saffron: Oh, you!
Nova: You wanted a grandchild?
Saffron: Of course! In a few years, when you two were ready.
Moonstone: Not that we’d turn down another little one, if you ever…well.
Calcite: Mama…*laugh* Maybe. Maybe.
Saffron: Come on, babe. We should try to get some sleep.
Moonstone: Coming.
-
Calcite: *sigh* All of this and we didn’t even tell them about the engagement!
Nova: Tomorrow.
Nova: I’ll call my parents tomorrow, too. Mom always wanted a grandchild and now she’s got one!
Calcite: And all without either of us having to carry! *laugh* Seriously, though…I know this is a lot to get dumped on you, babe. Are you okay with this?
Nova: Why wouldn’t I be?
Nova: Cal, I love you. This doesn’t change that–if anything it just makes me love you more! Taking in a kid you didn’t expect, even if she’s your twin’s…Watcher, you’re amazing.
Calcite: Flatterer. I love you, too.
Amber: I heard you play it enough times, dork. Something had to get you up.
Calcite: Excuse me for being a heavy sleeper–
Amber/Calcite: Wait what?!
Calcite: What the fudge—AMBER?!
Amber: Oh, now you can see me. Took you long enough!
Calcite: You’re here! You’re–oh, Watcher, you’re here!
Amber: That’s your reaction? After more than three years?
Calcite: Of course it is! You’re here! You didn’t…you’re not…
Amber: What, dead? Do you see anything solid about me, little brother?
Calcite: I….no. No, I don’t.
Amber: Yeah. Pretty sure being alive means being solid. Honestly, you haven’t changed at all.
Calcite: …guess not.
Calcite: But–how are you here? Did you not…I mean, what’s supposed to happen…
Amber: I didn’t move on, obviously. Do you think I’d be here if I had?
Calcite: No, but…*sigh* Watcher, Amber…what happened?
Amber: I died, and the next thing I know I’m on a plane back to the Springs in a body bag. It was a nice funeral, I guess.
Calcite: ….yeah. It was.
Amber: …and no one could see me. It didn’t matter who I tried to talk to, no one could…
Calcite: …Amber, I’m…I’m so sorry. If I’d known, I’d have…
Amber: What, told everyone that poor dead Amber was still hanging around? That your oh so dead twin’s stuck in limbo? Yeah, right.
Calcite: I’d have done something!
Calcite: I wouldn’t have just…left you like this. Completely alone.
Amber: …I’ve been watching you guys for three years. Do you know what that’s like?
Amber: Being there, while your family–the whole world–moves on without you? Do you know what that feels like?
Calcite: …no. I don’t.
Calcite: Amber, I’m sorry. I…
Amber: Pfft. Like sorry fixes this. Like sorry fixes anything!
Calcite: …no. I guess it can’t. Now…Watcher…what do we do now…
Amber: What do you think we should do next?
Calcite: ….We can’t put you back in your body, it’s…
Amber: Yeah, no, I studied enough skeletons to know how that goes. Don’t want to freak out the family.
Calcite: The…oh, Watcher, Am–
Calcite: You have a daughter! Her name is–
Amber: Citrine, I know. You were right about the names, at least.
Amber: She’s part of the reason I’m doing this.
Calcite: …this?
Amber: You know me, right? I did my research?
Calcite: …right.
Amber: Well, one of the things I researched was that, in Omiscan history, twins were seen as one soul that split into two. One soul became two, which means that either could go into either body.
Calcite: …What?
Amber: Way I see it? There’s only one of us with a body left!
Calcite: Wait, what do you–
*ghostly wail*
Calcite: AH!
*SLAM*
Calcite: Gah–
Amber: Funny thing about being dead? Physics don’t really apply to you anymore.
Amber: Be surprised what you can do with enough energy.
Calcite: Amber…what’re you doing?
Amber; Taking back what should have been mine.
Amber: Twins come from one soul, one body becoming two. Which means that…
Calcite: …Each soul can return to either body. Oh, Watcher…
Amber: Guess I’m not the only one who picked up a few things from watching, huh.
Amber: I’ll admit, the parts and the rest of it aren’t really my style, but…well. Anything’s worth getting a chance to be there for Citrine.
Calcite: You don’t have do this. We can find another way! There’s…there’s got to be something else…
Amber: *snort* Like what? Hope that Citrine can see ghosts? Like hope’s ever solved anything.
Calcite: This won’t either. You…you wouldn’t be able to live with yourself if you–
Amber: Funny thing is, you were right.
Amber: A big part of my death was your fault. And you know what Ma’s always said about fault, right?
Calcite: …make it right.
Amber: Exactly. Make it right.
Amber: So. Any last words?
Calcite: I’m sorry..
Amber: …sorry? Sorry?!
Amber: You think you just get to live your dreams, get the perfect partner, get the kid–and you don’t have to pay for it?!
Calcite: Of course not! Amber, I’m sorry I blew up like that–I’m sorry I couldn’t explain it better, I–
Amber: Quiet!!
Calcite: Amber, please–
Amber: Oh, don’t even–
Ori: That’s enough.
Amber: Who the–
Ori: I said that’s enough!
*thud*
Calcite: *gasp*
*heavy breathing*
Calcite: …fudge me…that was…*cough*
The next morning…
Nova: Hey. You were up early last night. Everything okay?
Calcite: …no. Not really.
Nova: Babe?
Calcite: You’re going to think I’m nuts. I…*sigh* Hang on. I need to find something Gram left me…here it is.
Nova: A letter?
Calcite: She wrote one for each of us kids. It’s…
Calcite: She said only to read it when we needed her most, and I…oh, Watcher, I…
Nova: Cal? Babe, come here. Sit.
Nova: What happened?
Calcite: I saw Amber. Not a dream, a ghost–she was here and she wanted my body and she’s trapped and I–
Nova: Whoa, hold up, slow down. Are you sure it wasn’t just–
Calcite: It wasn’t a dream. My twin is stuck in limbo. I have to help her, and I don’t know how, but…maybe Gram would…
Calcite, my dear sweet prince.
If you are reading this, then I am gone. I am sorry, my little one, that I cannot be there to guide you in person. All I can leave you is this letter, and the map it contains to another world.
Do you remember your Grandmother Spinel’s story, my darling? The Last Firefly? All of it was true. I truly did come from another world, one where magic and the unknown were very much known to me and mine. I am–was, I suppose–the last Queen of the Fae. That blood runs through your veins as well. It is a key to that other world, if you need it.
Your grandmother Spinel brought me from that world to this one, and neither of us could ever return, but the door in Gingerbrook remains where it always was and always will be. Should anything happen, should you need me, seek out the Academia Magica on the other side of the arch. Give my name to the Sages within, and they will help you in anything you need.
I wish I could give you more, my sweet prince, but as your Grandmother I can do no more than love you as long I draw breath. As last Queen of the Fae in this realm, I can offer you boon and safe passage. It is not enough, but it is all there is.
I will watch over you always, until you are at my side once more.
All my love,
Gramma Firefly
Nova: …Cal?
Calcite: The story was true. Gran’s story was…I…
Nova: I never met your Gram. What was she like?
Calcite: She was…amazing.
Calcite: They both were. I…I don’t know what else to say, I…
Nova: Would she have lied to you? About something this big?
Calcite: ….no.
Calcite: No. She wouldn’t have. Which means….everything in this letter is true, too. I…
Nova: Cal?
Calcite: She…always called me little prince. I thought it was just a nickname but…
Calcite: if it was real, then…another world…another world where she was…
Nova: It’s not that strange, you know. Some other planets have countries with monarchies or empires. You should see the Red Empire someday.
Calcite: It’s not the same! Fae, fairies, magic, it’s all….it was supposed to be just a story…like Ori and Nibel and Niwen and…
Nova: Cal. Stories are usually true in some respect. If your Gram wouldn’t lie to you about something like this, then…
Calcite: Then it’s true, and she was…that…doesn’t really matter, does it?
Nova: No. Not anymore.
Calcite: I don’t know what to do now!
Nova: Yes, you do. You don’t want to, but you do know. You have to go to Glimmerbrook.
Calcite: It can’t be that simple!
Nova: You won’t know until you try, babe.
Calcite: …how are you taking this so well…
Nova: Because I love you. And if you think this is the strangest thing I’ve ever seen…*sigh* Oh, babe.
Calcite: …I …I need to go.
Nova: Yeah. Come on–let’s get dressed. I’ll take you to the station.
Nova: Promise me you’ll be careful?
Calcite: I promise. You could come with me?
Nova: I want to, but…I get the feeling this is something you need to do on your own.
Calcite: …yeah. I love you.
Nova: Love you, too. Get going.
Two caterpillars, in love and yearning
Spend every evening, and morning learning
To hold each other
Their hunger burning
Two caterpillars
Against the weather
The winds grow colder
But they’re together
They hold each other
No way of knowing
Mandarin: Not one step further!
Calcite: Uh–I’m–
Mandarin: A trespasser on protected ground. Who are you and who sent you?
Calcite: Uh–my name’s Calcite Crystal, and I guess…my Gram? She…Queen Firefly Serenade.
Mandarin: ……well. That…changes things.
Some time later…
Calcite: Gram’s letter said the Sages could help with anything I needed, so…here I am. Can you? Help, I mean.
Mandarin: …No. I am sorry, Calcite, but…no. As much as I wish to, as much as Stone and Lace would…there is nothing we can do for this. Amber is beyond our reach.
Calcite: But–
Mandarin: No.
Mandarin: I’m afraid you can’t bring back the dead.
Calcite: But Gramma’s story–
Mandarin: Was the truth, but Spinel had only been gone for a few minutes. After three years…I’m sorry, Calcite. Amber cannot return to the mortal realm.
Calcite: But…there has to be something I can do…I can’t just leave her like that!
Mandarin: From what you described, a Spirit came and took her to the other side. There is little else you need do. But…
Calcite: But?
Mandarin: But if you still feel the need to do something…I can send you to the Glade. To say goodbye.
Calcite: The Glade?
Mandarin: A space between. Come–Let me show you.
Calcite: Is everything magic portals in this place?
Mandarin: This world is magic, Calcite. *laugh* But that is beyond the point.
Mandarin: This portal will lead you to the Glade, a space between life and death. I do not know if Amber will be there, but the Spirit who took her will. Speak with them, and find what you seek.
Calcite: Just like that?
Mandarin: Things are rarely so complicated.
Mandarin: But do not linger, Calcite. It is not a place for the living. Stay too long, and you will join your sister.
Calcite: …Understood.
Mandarin: …best of luck.
Calcite: GAH WHAT THE FUDGE
Ori: *laugh* I’m not that scary looking, am I?
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