Crystal Legacy - Generation 5 (Part 11)

Abandoned by her mother at an early age, Citrine has always been loved by her family and she loves them all the more in return. But even that love can't fill the hole inside of her, and chasing after her past only leads to more heartbreak.

Mantis: Whether he is or he isn’t isn’t important. We hold the line. Nothing else matters.

That evening…

Calcite: Remember your undies this time, kiddo?

Citrine: One time–yes, Dad, I remembered my underwear. 

*both laugh*

Calcite: …can you take a second? There’s something I need to tell you.

Citrine: huh? Oh, sure.

-

Calcite: …you know this bracelet used to be your mothers, right?

Citrine: Yeah. It’s in all the pictures. It was a gift or something?

Calcite: From our grandmother Firefly. After she died, Amber was never without it, and after Amber died…

Citrine: You’ve never been without it.

Citrine: I think I’m missing the point here, Dad. What’s the bracelet got to do with anything?

Calcite: *sigh* This is going to sound…absolutely insane, but. Amber gave this to me herself.

Citrine: What do you mean? How’d she…

Calcite: After she died, none of us were doing well. I…went to talk to a Sage in Glimmerbrook, and…was able to see her again.

Citrine: …wait…we can see dead people?

Calcite: *laugh* Only in the right place, and it…wasn’t easy, or safe. I…had some help, believe it or not.

Calcite: But that’s not what…*sigh* Dammit.

Citrine: It’s okay, Dad. Take your time.

Calcite: Yeah. *sigh* What I was trying to say is when I saw your Mom again, she gave me this, and said to give it to you when you were old enough. Well, you’re old enough now.

Citrine: Dad…

Citrine: I can’t take that.

Calcite: Of course you can. 

Citrine: No. I can’t.

Citrine: Mom gave it to you to give to me. Well, I’m giving it back to you. To keep.

Calcite: What–

Citrine: Dad, you’ve worn that thing every single day since you got it, right? I’ve never seen you without it. That makes it yours, so. You keep it.

Calcite: Citrine…*laugh* What did I do to deserve such a wise daughter?

Citrine: *chuckle* Put up with my terrible pre-teens? 

Calcite: Oh, come on. You weren’t that bad. I’d have punched someone bullying my sib, too.

Citrine: Heh…Dad?

Calcite: Yeah?

Citrine: Thanks. For everything.

Calcite: Anytime.

Leaving day…

Silver: You be careful over there, baby.

Moonflower: Daddy…I’ll be safe, I promise.

Moonflower: You’re the one who has to put up with the trips!

Silver: Ha! We’ll manage.

-

Iceberg: Oooh…we’ll miss you, kiddo.

Eternal Glow: Ma…

Eternal Glow: You’ll miss the quiet when I get back!

Iceberg: Ha, never.

-

Copper: Ooh…when did you get big enough to go so far from home?

Lucky Penny: Who knows! …Dad, you’ve gotta let go.

Copper: …One more minute.

-

Peppermint: Spiders the size of your head. Why did I agree to this?!

Calcite: *laugh* Because you’re too adventurous for your own good sometimes?

Nova: Remember your bug spray and you’ll be fine.

Peppermint: *groan* Yeah, yeah…

-

Fern: …Hey. Not too late to stowaway on the train, you know.

Citrine: Don’t tempt me.

Citrine: …I need to do this.

Fern: Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?

Leaf: Fern, honey. It’s time.

Fern: Just–

Citrine: It’s okay. It’s time.

-

Silver: Take lots of pictures! 

Iceberg: And souvenirs! You’ve all got spending money!

Copper: And have some fun, too!

Fern: Be safe!

Citrine: …be safe, be still, be sure. Heh…if only it was that easy.

Nova: They’ll be okay, babe.

Calcite: I know. I just…can’t shake this feeling…

-

All: Bon voyage!

Pyro: Alright this is us.

Eternal: Uh…is it…it is gonna make the trip, right?

Pyro: Ha! Of course it will. You can’t beat these old workhorses, EG.

Pyro: It’s a straight shot down to Rio from here. Hope you brought books.

Lucky Penny: A whole dang library on my phone, actually. Who wants to share files?

Citrine: I’ve got some of Gram Spinels books. Maybe we can finish that fifteen book series she was so famous for.

Lucky Penny: Looking for a distraction huh?

Citrine: ….no comment.

Lucky Penny: Heh. Noted.

Lucky Penny: Welp. Into the unknown, dear friends!

One very long flight later…

Pyro: Well, here we are. La Frontera Belomisiana. I know it’s small, but it’s home for tonight.

Eternal Glow: Eh, seen smaller.

Pyro: I’m sure you have. So, there’s no time for sightseeing, but there is a night market if you forgot anything back home, or want some souvenirs that aren’t museum related from Alam.

Moonflower: I’d settle for a cold soda. Ugh, this humidity!

Citrine: …that’ll only get worse tomorrow…at least out here there’s some wind…

Eternal Glow: Just like home.

Citrine: …yeah. Home. 

Lucky Penny: So are we meeting Director Dorada here, or…

Pyro: Here, I think. Should be…

Solana: Ah, Willow and Stone! Glad to see you made the trip in one piece.

Pyro: Right here, actually. Director, it’s good to finally meet in person!

Solana: Please, call me Solana. Today I am not the director, but your guide to all things Belomisia. Have a nice flight?

Pyro: Eh…little bumpy, honestly.

Solana; *laugh* Well, be glad it is not monsoon season! Now, your students?

Lucky: That’s us. I’m Penny, and this is EG.

Eternal Glow: Yo.

Moonflower: Hi! I’m Moonflower, and this is Peppermint.

Solana: That is four…I was told there would be five of you?

Peppermint: Ah…yeah, but…you already know my sister.

Solana: Oh? I do not–oh. *gasp* Oh…

Citrine: Hi, Mom.

Peppermint: Didn’t you know she’d be coming?

Solana: I…no, I did not…look at you…

Pyro: I would have sworn I put our names in that list…

Solana: …I did not read it. My assistant told me how many to expect, not who…

Citrine: Oh, well, surprise! H-how’ve you been? It’s been a long time!

Solana: …yes, it has.

Citrine: We could–we could get dinner, catch up before we leave–

Solana: I just remembered I have something that requires my attention. Please, excuse me.

Pyro: Ah–Director, when should we meet you at the outpost?

Solana: Sunrise.

Pyro: Alright, thank you. We’ll meet you there.

Peppermint: Wait, that’s it?! Just like that?!

Citrine: …let it go, Pep.

Citrine: ….I don’t know what else I was expecting.

Pyro: well, thank you! ….*sigh* Oh, great.

Amber: You cannot be serious–Solana, you turn around right this instant and talk to your daughter! Do you hear me?!

Amber: –no, of course you don’t. Why am I not surprised.

Later…

Citrine: ACK! PENNY!

Moonflower: Don’t squash her, Pen.

Lucky Penny: I’m squishing out the moping!

Citrine: It doesn’t work like that!

Lucky Penny: Sure it does!

Moonflower: Hm, no, I’m with Citrine. Three siblings later and it never quite worked on Orchid, either.

Citrine: Get off–!

Citrine: Ugh…look, I’m allowed to mope a little about this, okay? I got my hopes up and. Well. Nothing!

Lucky Penny: Yeah, but you were expecting nothing anyway! Are you really gonna let one sour grape rot the whole adventure?

Citrine: I’m not feeling real adventurous tonight, Pen. Just…gimme a few, okay?

Moonflower: But we’re only in this town for one night, Cit. Do you really want to spend it moping up here?

Lucky Penny: There’s a baaaarrr….

Moonflower: Technically it’s called a Cantina?

Citrine: And I don’t feel like drinking, either. I just want to mope, okay?

Lucky Penny: Hmm, nah. No moping while we’re on a trip! When we get home, sure, but not before.

Moonflower: Mope in your own bed, basically. Not the one I’m sharing with Pen.

Citrine: Oh, haha, fine. Fine, if we go to the cantina will you let it be?

Lucky Penny: Hmm…okay. Okay, sure.

Citrine: Great, now get off me.

Moonflower: They do serve more than just beer at these kinds of places, right?

Lucky Penny: Oh, sure! There’s soda, and water, and agua frescas…

Citrine: They might not have much. This is really just a staging ground for expeditions to the southern quadrant. 

Citrine: They get most of their supplies from Alam, not anything big.

Moonflower: It’s still a little slice of Selva, you know?

Lucky Penny: And it’s still got some local cuisine! I’m dying to try those arepa things.

Citrine: *snort* You and your stomach, Pen.

Lucky Penny: Can you blame me? There weren’t any snacks on that flight! I’m starving.

Citrine: *laugh* Okay, okay.

Citrine: Just, maybe stay away from the ceviche.

Moonflower: Why?

Citrine: It’s raw fish. 

Lucky Penny: Oh, ick, no thanks! I hate sushi.

Moonflower: No sushi or ceviche for us! Now, march! No more stalling, you.

Citrine: No dragging, I’m going, I’m going!

Mango: Buenas noches, chicas! What’ll it be?

Moonflower: What’ve you got that’s not beer?

Mango: Let’s see….

Mango: We’ve got plenty of sodas, and a fresh batch of agua de sandia…

Moonflower: Sandia?

Citrine: Watermelon.

Lucky Penny: Oh, yes please! Three of those, and do you have any arepas?

Mango: Absolutely. Anything else?

Citrine: Let me see…

Solana: Nothing hard, Mango! They’re only sixteen.

Citrine: You’re no fun.

Solana: Well, I am your mother.

Citrine: You–

Citrine: You don’t get to call yourself that! For the last fourteen years you haven’t even so much as sent a postcard and now you think you get to just waltz back in like it’s nothing?! Are you kidding me?!

Solana: Citrine–

Solana: You have no idea what that decision cost me!

Citrine: Oh, I can guess! Nothing at all!

Solana: Now listen you–

Solana: Leaving you there was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do!

Citrine: Was it?! Because you sure as hell never looked back! Not so much as answering an email for fourteen years! And don’t get me started on those interviews–never wanted kids?!

Solana: I never did! You were a surprise, not–

Citrine: Oh, is that it?! You didn’t want kids and then you got me and a dead donor so the faster you could get rid of me the better?!

Solana: It is not like that! You were–I was–

Citrine: Forget it! I’m out of here.

*door opens, slams*

Solana: Citrine…

Amber: Nice. Real nice going there, Solana.

Amber: *frustrated sigh* And people called me stubborn. What am I going to do with you two…

Citrine: Stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why did I even bother…

The next morning…

Pyro: And this?

Solana: Completely bridged. It’s very safe.

Peppermint: Are you…sure you’re okay? That was…something.

Eternal Glow: Yeah, we could hear you yelling all the way back at the hostel.

Lucky Penny: I think they could hear that back at the Springs….

Moonflower: Not what any of us had in mind with you talking to her…

Citrine: …no. I’m not okay. I’ll manage, but.

Peppermint: But it sucks. She just confirmed those interviews, didn’t she.

Citrine: Mmhm.

Peppermint: And are you…I mean…

Citrine: Pfft, no! My donor mother died before I was ever born, and my carrier mother didn’t want kids? How am I supposed to feel about that but ow, Pep?

Peppermint: Okay, I get you, I get you.

Peppermint: D’you…regret this?  Coming here?

Citrine: Yes! I never should have…ugh…this was such a mistake. I don’t know what I was expecting.

Moonflower: Hey, it’s still cultural! That’s good, right?

Citrine: Sure. Cultural. *snort* I’m such an idiot…

Peppermint: It’s not stupid to hope for better, Cit, you know that. You told me that after my parents missed my birthday call ‘cause Spearmint was sick.

Citrine: Yeah, well…*wet sniff* It does suck. Ugh…

Peppermint: Come here.

Peppermint: It’s okay, sis. We’re still family.

Citrine: Yeah…always.

Solana: And this is the Trail to Alam. I know, I know, very inventive name!

Moonflower: This is the trail with six temples on it? It doesn’t look like much…

Solana: Ah, the jungle hides many secrets! Come, this way.

Pyro: Citrine, is everything…alright?

Citrine: Alright enough, Mr. Pyro. I’m okay.

Peppermint: Just. Family drama.

Solana: And up ahead is the Temple of Water. It was built by the Omiscan people to worship the Goddess of Water,  Chalchiuhtlicue.

Lucky Penny: Whoof, that’s a mouthful!

Solana; *laugh* Many ancient Omiscan names are!

Peppermint: Are we going to that temple?

Solana: Oh, no! Getting to the entrance requires a weeks trek through the bush! No, we’re sticking to this path.

Moonflower: Good! I didn’t pack my swimsuit.

Solana: And you would need it–half the temple is underwater still. But the view from here is nothing short of breathtaking. Ah, now, this bridge. It is perfectly safe, but only one cross at a time.

Eternal Glow: Uh…where’s the bottom.

Pyro: It’s a suspension bridge. Mind where you put your feet and you’ll be fine.

Solana: Ai, it is fine! Here, I will cross first.

Peppermint: Are we sure about this…

Pyro: It’s the only way across.

Citrine: Come on, frady-cats. It’s fine!

Pyro: Peppermint…

Peppermint: I know. I got her.

-

Eternal Glow: Tell me we don’t have to go back across that to get back!

Solana: *laugh* No, no! You can leave from Alam’s airport, I promise.

Solana: But that is later. Here, this way!  There’s a real treat not far ahead of us now.

Moonflower: Is it a fan? Please tell me it’s a giant fan and I’ll be happy.

Citrine: heh, I don’t think so.

Moonflower: ….I hate you.

Peppermint: Are these buildings?

Eternal Glow: More like ruins…

Solana: Si. Ruins of an ancient  complex….I suppose to you northerners, this would be more of a castle courtyard than anything else.

Pyro: Wait, isn’t this the way to the…

Solana: Yes, it is. Come, this way.

Kids: Oh, wow!

Solana: The royal baths! Now, I know you said none of you brought your swimming outfits, but…well, I certainly won’t look if you all want a dip!

Eternal: I’ll take it! ‘scuse me, comin’ through!

Some time later…

Solana: Not going to join in?

Citrine: Wanted to look at the view first.

Solana: Would you mind if I sit here?

Citrine: What–oh, no, of course. …I, uh…I wanted to apologize. For last night. That was uncalled for.

Solana: Hm, not really. You weren’t wrong.

Solana: After fourteen years, what right do I have to just…tango right on back in to your life?

Citrine: …still. I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that. I’m sorry.

Solana: ai, no importa. All is forgiven.

Citrine: ….

Solana: …

Citrine: …well. This is. Awkward, huh.

Solana: *snorting laugh* A bit.

Solana: I…don’t know if I should ask how your life has been, or….anything, truly. I…never thought we would meet again.

Citrine: …seems like the Watcher wanted us to. Selva just kept popping up in my life.

Solana:  Sola la Miradora sabe por que hace las cosas, chiquina. *sigh* …So…has your life been good?

Citrine: What? How do you mean?

Solana: Calcite, and Nova. Your Abuelas. Have they…raised you well? Treated you well?

Citrine: More than well! Dad and Pop–they’ve raised me like I was their own! And Pep–they’re my sibling, and Gramoony, and Gramron–it’s been great!

Solana: I’m glad. I was afraid…no, not afraid. Worried, maybe. 

Citrine: …Dad said he sent you emails. Every year. Updates. You…

Solana: …I couldn’t bring myself to read them.

Solana: To look back, and see what…might have been.

Citrine: ….why couldn’t you?

Solana: …because then I would have to ask myself if I had made a mistake or not in leaving you there.

Citrine: …do you think you did? Now that you know?

Solana: …Hm, no. Not a mistake. It was the right decision. Now, not opening those emails…that might have been a mistake.

Citrine: Ha…well, fourteen, fifteen years is a big jump from a toddler!

Solana: Well, yes, I certainly can’t carry you on my hip these days! 

*both laugh*

Citrine: ..so, how has your life been. Since then, I mean.

Citrine: I’ve seen a lot of interviews, but…

Solana: Oh, those..fluff pieces for the museum, nothing more. It’s been quite a lot of trekking through, escorting people…at least, it was.

Citrine: Yeah, museum directors don’t get that much time off, huh.

Solana: No, we do not.

Citrine: But I bet you’ve got plenty of stories from before? Daring adventures, dangerous tomb diving…

Solana: ha, no…no, I have not gone inside a tomb since…well, since your mother passed.

Solana: And to tell the truth, I much prefer it out here, in the fresh air. Let someone else explore those musty old relics. 

Citrine: Heh, yeah…they don’t get aired out much, do they.

Solana: No, they do not!