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.
Calcite: …you really were there that night, weren’t you? Last night, I mean.
Ori: I was. I was also there the night you were born. I’ve been watching over your family since your mother was younger than you are now.
Calcite: Who are you?
OIri: It’s a long story, and you’re not here to hear me chatter all day. Come on.
Calcite: Can I at least get your name?
Ori: You can call me Ori.
Calcite: …wait. You’re not–Mama’s Ori?
Ori: One and the same.
Calcite: How is that…
Ori: Long story really short, I’m a spirit. I can tell you more later–there she is.
*laughter*
Amber: Cal, you dork–put me down!
Cal: Let go first, then!
Amber: …never mind.
Calcite: Oh, I missed you…
Amber: Me too…
Amber: Cal, I’m so sorry…what happened…what I almost did…
Calcite: It’s okay.
Calcite: I’m sorry, too. I never should have said those things to you…
Amber: It’s okay. I forgive you.
Calcite: I’m so glad to see you again! Come on–we’ve got to get going.
Amber: Going? Cal, I can’t–
Calcite: Shh–I know how to fix that.
Amber: Cal, there’s no fixing this. It’s too late for me.
Calcite: No, it’s not. You always did your research–one soul becoming two? We can still do that!
Amber: Cal, that was just–
Calcite: We can share! Work out–I don’t know, some kind of custody arrangement or something!
Calcite: Which is really weird when you think about it but–
Amber: Cal, stop. We can’t.
Amber: …when I said that I was…so scared, and hurt, and angry. I didn’t stop to think about what it would do to you, let alone if it’d actually work, and I…
Calcite: I don’t care. I’m telling you: it’s okay. We can make it work!
Amber: Cal.
Calcite: I am not leaving you here.
Amber: Oh, Cal. It’s already done. …Here. I have something I want to give you.
Calcite: What….
Amber: Think of it as a family heirloom.
Cal: I don’t want a trinket, I want my sister! Citrine needs her mother!
Amber: She has Ma, and Mama, and you, and Nova. She doesn’t need someone she’s never met before. Besides, it wouldn’t be the same.
Amber: I can’t go back with you, but I can give you something to remember me by.
Calcite: Amber, no–
Amber: Take it. Give it to Citrine when she’s older, if you want, but it’s yours now.
Calcite: Amber, I can’t take this–
Amber: You can. You will. For me?
Calcite: No. No,this isn’t what I wanted! You don’t–you can’t just–I’m not going to leave you here!
Amber: Of course not. I’m only visiting. I’ll go back to Gran and Gramma, and I’ll come and get you when it’s time.
Calcite: It’s time now…
Amber: No it’s not. You have a family that needs you, Cal. Go home, and live a good life. For me, okay?
Calcite: Amber…please…
Amber: I love you.
Oh caterpillars
Don’t you hold on too tight
To fall apart
To reunite
Wonders await you, just on the other side
Trust they’ll be there, and start to prepare
The way for tomorrow
Ori: Cal–
Calcite: Bring her back!
Ori: I can’t do that.
Calcite: LIke hell you can’t! You’re a Spirit! You can–you can be a dog, and move ghosts, and–
Ori: Cal. I can’t bring back the dead, kiddo. I’m sorry.
Ori: If I could, I would, but even the Watcher can’t bring back the dead. Not like this.
Cal: *sniff* She’s…Amber’s…
Ori: I know. But you can’t stay here. Take my hand.
Calcite: What if I stayed?
Ori: You’d die. Do you really want to do that to your mothers? To Nova, to Citrine?
Calcite: …no.
Ori: I know it hurts more than anything right now, but we have to go. Take my hand.
-
Calcite: You’re…really the same Ori?
Ori: I am.
Calcite: …why a dog? Why not just show up like you are now?
Ori: People talk to their dogs, Cal. Besides, it’s easier than fabricating a whole human existence.
Calcite: But…you haven’t aged a day since we–since I was born…how do you…
Ori: I’m tied to Moony’s life. When she dies, I’ll leave with her. Until then you get a swimming mutt to put up with.
Calcite: When Mama dies…
Ori: Everyone dies, Cal. Even Spirits fade away after long enough. It’s just the way of things.
Calcite: I know, but…
Ori: Don’t worry. We’ve got a few more decades yet.
Ori: Alright, here we are. Just wallk behind the tree and it’ll take you back through to the Realm. You can get home on your own from there.
Calcite: …right.
Calcite: …I can’t.
Ori: Cal…
Ori: You have to.
Calcite: How am I supposed to live without her? She was one half of me–
Ori: She still is. But you have to go on, and live for yourself now.
Ori: Just because someone is gone doesn’t mean they were never there. Your sister still lives on in you, and in Citrine, and everyone else she ever met. She’s always with you.
Calcite: But it’s not the same…
Ori: It’s not, and it never will be again. But you still have to go on. Can you do that?
Calcite: …I don’t know…
Calcite: I’m not sure I can…
Ori: You can. And if you fall you’re not alone. Nova’s there, your mothers…I’ll be there, too. No judgment. We’ll all be there to help you.
Ori: Chin up, champ. You can do this–whoa!
Calcite: Thank you.
Ori: …any time.
Calcite: Not just for this, but…for everything. For being there, I guess…
Ori: Hey. We’re part of the same family now, kid.
Ori: I’ll always be there for you, if you need me.
Calcite: …take care of Amber. Please.
Ori: She can take care of herself. But I will. I promise.
Mandarin: Was it what you expected? …Calcite?
Calcite: I…
Mandarin: So it will. Now come; it’s time for you to leave.
Calcite: Sage–
Mandarin: Ah! No arguing. This is no place for you to linger.
Calcite: …thank you.
Mandarin: Whatever for? This wasn’t what you wanted.
Calcite: No, but…thank you, for giving me the chance anyway.
You got a lonesome road to walk
And it ain’t along the railroad track
And it ain’t along the black-top tar
You’ve walked a hundred times before
I’ll tell you where the real road lies:
Between your ears, behind your eyes
That is the path to Paradise
Likewise, the road to ruin
Nova: Welcome back. Are you…
Calcite: …I don’t know.
Calcite: I saw her. I said goodbye. She…I…
Nova: Oh, Cal.
Nova: Come here.
Calcite: Watcher, Nova…I don’t know what to do now…I thought this would be easier, but I…
Nova: One day at a time, babe.
Calcite: …and then I came back.
Saffron: Wow. Auntie Firefly’s story really was real…
Moonstone: Told you!
Moonstone: Nebula never believed it, either.
Nova: I can see why, but…Cal, are you sure you’re okay? Not just Amber, but physically.
Nova: People weren’t meant to cross over and come back like that.
Calcite: I feel fine.
Saffron: Seems to run in the family, anyway. But it’s still a lot.
Saffron: Was she…did she seem…
Calcite: She was okay. Happy, even. She said…she said she’d wait for us, with Gram and Gran. *snort* Like she’s patient enough for that…
Nova: Time is different on the other side.
Nova: If the scriptures are true, it’ll be like no time had passed at all.
Saffron: …Then we’ll see her when we see her, whenever that is. I’m just glad she’s happy now.
Calcite: ….how can you all believe any of this? It sounds so crazy…
Saffron: Remind me to tell you about that winter in Wineburg someday. *laugh* Still….this isn’t the strangest thing I’ve ever heard. It’s funny. I was reading Amber’s books? The Omiscans believed there were places where the living and dead could meet again for a time, too. I wonder if they knew about the Glade.
Nova: I think it’s more they had a place like that themselves. Every culture does if you dig deep enough.
Calcite: Maybe…I just…*sigh* I don’t know. It’s a lot.
Saffron: It is. And we’re losing sight of what matters here. What matters is that everyone is okay. Amber is safe with your Grans, she’s at peace. We’re all still here, and we can move on knowing that we’ll see her again someday. That’s…
Nova: As much as any of us can hope for?
Saffron: That, and…well. That’s all we wanted.
Moonstone: Not all we wanted, actually.
Calcite: …Mama?
Moonstone: Oh, nothing. Just wondering how your date went, is all.
Calcite: Date–oh! Oh, shiitake, that’s right! We never told you!
Saffron: Told us what? …Please don’t say you’re moving out–
Nova: No! We’re engaged!
Moonstone: Ha! I knew it. Congratulations, you two.
Saffron: Oh, is that all? Well, it’s better than bad news!
Calcite: Ma! *laugh* We don’t even have a date set…
Nova: Soon, I hope. My parents hopped the next flight from Sixam–they’ll be here in three days!
Calcite: Already? Ah, geez–how quick can we throw something together?
Saffron: Depends, do you want a courthouse wedding or an actual ceremony?
Calcite/Nova: Both? *laugh*
Calcite: I was thinking we could use the church…
Moonstone: *humming*
Three Days Later….
Sirius: Congratulations, boys. You look like you’ll be very happy together.
Nova: We are. Thanks, Dad.
Sirius: Although, I do have to say I was expecting to meet my son’s boyfriend before I met his fiance!
Stella: Yes…going a bit quick there, aren’t you?
Nova: Mom, it’s been years. And you don’t have room to talk, since you two were married in six months!
Calcite: We’re just putting a bow on it, really.
Stella: Hm. And you two love one another? Really?
Calcite: We do. More than I can explain in words.
Stella: ….Good answer. I would have hurt you otherwise.
Nova: Mom….
Stella: I’m just kidding, sweetheart. *laugh* Congratulations, both of you. This is wonderful news!
Stella: And baby Citrine as well–a grandbaby alrready!
Sirius: We’d like to meet her before the wedding, if you think she’d be alright with it?
Calcite: I don’t see why not.
Calcite: If you don’t mind the sunlight, anyway–she loves playing outside.
Sirius: Ha! A girl after my own heart. I’ll need my sunscreen.
Stella: Oh, Kalahira be merciful. *laugh* You pastels and your sunburns.
Nova: Nah, I think that’s just Dad.
Stella: *laugh*
Sirius: Now listen here, young man–*laugh* No, no, you’re right.
Calcite: Oh, now I see where Nova got his sense of humor!
Nova: Ha! You should have seen them when I was a kid. It was either laugh or go gray.
Stella: And gray is absolutely not your color, sweetie.
Calcite: Hm, I dunno. I think he’d look distinguished with gray hair.
Nova: Oh, nice to know you’d still love me when I’m old and gray, babe.
Calcite: Of course I would. The hot bod’s a nice bonus, but that’s not why I love you.
Nova: Cal, you–
*all laugh*
Stella: You’re a gem, Calcite. I’m sorry we couldn’t meet before.
Calcite: I’m just glad to finally meet you at all, Miss Stella. And I’m glad you’re both here; it wouldn’t be the same without you.
Nova: No it would not.
Nova: I’d rather you two be here in person instead of on vidcall.
Sirius: About that…
Stella: You’ll be seeing a lot more of us going forward. We’ve both taken postings here in town, so.
Calcite: So Citrine gets both sets of grandparents. She’s gonna be so spoiled, isn’t she.
Nova: Absolutely.
Calcite: Now that is wonderful news.
*happy chatter continues*
Some days later….
Citrine: Mama sleeping?
Calcite: Ah…no, kiddo. Your Mama Amber…she’s dead. That means…that means that she’s gone.
Citrine: Gone where?
Nova: To another world. One where we all go, when we die. You’ll go there too, when you’re older than Gramoony.
Citrine: Oh…
Calcite: But this is where we come to talk to your Mama, when we really miss her. You can come here too. I’m sure she’d love to hear from you.
Citrine: Wanna meet her…
Calcite: I know, kiddo. I wish you could have met her, too.
Calcite: But she’ll always be with you, so you tell her anything you want to, okay? I know she’ll hear you.
Citrine: She like flowers?
Calcite: …oh…
Nova: She loved them.
Calcite: Especially orange ones. You want to give her yours?
Citrine: Uh-huh. Here, Mama. Your flowers.
Calcite: I’m sure she’ll love them. It’s time to go upstairs now.
-
Nova: Did she…
Calcite: Hated them. But…thank you.
Nova: Anytime.
The world will never stop changing
[End Gen 4]
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