What should have been a simple life in the desert sand and stars becomes anything but. Haunted by dreams of a life of violence, and seeking answers as to why, Peridot and her friends find themselves caught in an ancient battle between Light and Dark...and find that the cost of being a soldier is higher than they might have ever thought.
Fern: What do these stores sell again?
Citrine: Raw stones for custom jewelry orders, mostly. Jewelry making supplies, crystal shards, things like that.
Fern: ...crystal shards?
Citrine: Mm-hmm. Those raw points you see at rock shows kinda thing. Pretty heavy traffic with the new age crowd.
Fern: ....
Citrine: ...Fern?
Fern: When the nine shards are reunited, look to desert warmth look to desert warmth for truth and justice to be found.
Citrine: What are...Delphine’s vision. But--wait, she was talking about rocks?!
Fern: Maybe, I dunno. Either that or other people, but maybe both? *sugh* Visions are never clear enough to get the whole picture before it’s too late.
Citrine: Of course it can’t be that easy. What do we do about it?
Fern: Nothing we can do about it. A Vision set in motion can’t be changed, only understood and prepared for. This one...it could be nothing, but if it’s related...
Citrine: We’ll deal with it.
Fern: ...at what cost?
Citrine: Dunno, but...a wise woman once told me something pretty important.
Fern: Oh?
Citrine: Don’t let fear of the future blind you to the present.
Fern: --Citrine.
Citrine: We’ll make it work. Somehow.
Citrine: Together, you and me.
Fern: *laugh* Okay, okay, I get it. Don’t dwell!
Citrine: You do that a lot, babe. Just saying.
Nova, off-screen: Dinner’s ready!
Fern: Coming! Cit--
Citrine: Mmph. Pick this up later.
Fern: Definitely lather.
Fern: He said what?!
Peridot: He called Royal a freak. Again.
Fern: That--ooooh, that boy...
Calcite: Well, there’s an apple that didn’t fall far from its tree...
Moonstone: It would have been too much to hope he didn’t take after his father, wouldn’t it?
Saffron: With bullies? It always is, babe.
Fern: And you’re okay?
Peridot: Me? I’m fine! He hasn’t started on me, but Royal and Cin--he hates them for being from other planets. He bullies them for not speaking “actual Simlish” and being better than him at math and--
Calcite: And he’s a class act, just like his father. *sigh*
Nova: Well, I’d say ignore him and let the teachers handle him, but the last Herb our family tried that with got his nose broken, so...
Citrine: Haha, very funny.
Fern: ...but that is an idea, actually.
Peridot: I don’t want to break his nose, though? Then I’d get in trouble, wouldn’t I?
Moonstone: More likely than not!
Saffron: But knowing our luck...
Citrine: Knowing our luck it’ll happen anyway. Ugh...
Fern: I didn’t mean break Parsley’s nose, in particular, sweetie. I meant throwing punches safely. Would you like to learn how?
Peridot: Oh! Like you teach other grownups how to?
Fern: Exactly. You can’t change a bully’s mind, and as much as we don’t want you to have to, someday you may need to defend yourself or others. If you know how to do it safely, the hurt won’t be forever.
Peridot: Can the others learn, too?
Fern: Like Royal and Cel? Well, I don’t see why not. We’d have to start small, though...
Peridot: I don’t even know if they’d wanna, but I can ask! It’d be nice to...to be able to look after eachother at school.
Saffron: Self-defense courses do help people feel more confident, so...
Calcite: It’d be a good idea.
Citrine: It would be, ....but I’m sensing a but, here. Fern?
Peridot: Ma if it’s a lot of trouble--
Fern: No, no, I’ll just need to talk to Mister Army about our schedule. Or we could try to do it here instead of at the gym...but there’s a lot more equipment at the gym so...
Fern: Us grownups just have to talk about it for a while first, that’s all. How many of your friends do you think would want to come at first?
Peridot: Well there’s Meadow and Ribbon and Cel...Royal’s not much of a fighter so probably not until I can convince zem it’d be a good idea...maybe Edie and Rosie? Six, seven at the most?
Fern: We can manage that!
Fern: We’ve got six bags already ready at the gym, so starting with six will be perfect.
Nova: Look at you, starting a new class all on your own. Long way from hiring Calypso halfway by yourself.
Peridot: Oh that’s right--will Miss Caly be there, too?
Fern: Probably not, sweetie, she teaches the morning adult courses. This would be after school, or on the weekends.
Fern: What would you want more?
Peridot: Um...I think after school? None of us have any club meetings this year, I don’t think...yeah, definitely after.
Fern: After it is.
Fern: We’ll start off easy, but it won’t always stay that way. It’s probably gonna make you all really really sore after a couple days too.
Peridot: not like running laps around the track doesn’t do that already...
Nova: *choked snicker* That’s right...your school rolled out the athletics program this year. Sore one way, and now sore another. Poor thing.
Nova: Good thing we have that bathtub, huh?
Peridot: Yeah...
Fern: Honey, if you don’t want to do this you can say so. I promise, I won’t be upset.
Peridot: It’s not that, Ma, it’s just...I got this really weird feeling. Like...like I’ve done this all before? Like we’ve talked about this before?
Fern: When?
Peridot: I dunno. That’s why it’s so weird!
Saffron: Deja vu...for something you’ve never done. That is strange.
Calcite: Well, maybe that’s reason enough to do it. You already did it once, somehow, so doing it again will be easy.
Saffron: How strange, though....did you dream about it?
Peridot: No? I don’t think so...
Moonstone: Not a dream, not something you lived...huh. yeah, that is weird.
Calcite: Can’t say I’ve heard of anything like it, either.
Nova: That doesn’t answer the question, though. Do you want to do this, Peri? Really?
Peridot: I do. I really, really do. I dunno about the others, but I know I do.
Fern: Then that’s good enough for me. We can get started tomorrow or the day after.
Calcite: You’re going to be busy for a while. Good thing the Scouts aren’t until next summer.
Nova: Well, the practice will make all your Scouting activities easier when you do go, at least.
Citrine: Speak for yourself, Pop. You never went scouting!
The next afternoon...
Ribbon: Ugh...why did I come with you guys again?
Rose: Because you’d be bored if you didn’t.
Ribbon: Do you like being right or something, Rose?
Rose: Uh, yeah? Doesn’t everyone?
Peridot: *giggle*
Peridot: You don’t have to stay if you don’t wanna, guys. I just thought you’d like to learn, too?
Celestial: Hey, your Ma’ll be a better teacher than my Dad.
Edelweiss: Oh yeah..you have this weekend with him, don’t you?
Celestial: Uh-huh. And I am not looking forward to it, blegh.
Edelweiss: Ugh...that sucks. Sorry, Cel.
Celestial: Eh, it’s what it is. At least this should be fun.
Meadow: Ha! We’ve got different ideas of fun.
Rose: Okay, new question. Your cousin just hates everything, doesn’t she.
Ribbon: Well, Meadow is...I mean she...uh...sort of, yeah.
Peridot: Ma?
Fern: back here! Hi, sweetie! How was your day?
Peridot: It was okay.
Fern: Parsley didn’t bully you about your teeth?
Parsley: Miss Shock shut him right up!
Ribbon: It was actually kinda funny to watch.
Rose: For us. I didn’t know a dark green berry could turn my red!
Rose: Oh! Uh, nice to see you, Mrs. C.
Fern: You too, girls and Cel. You ready for this?
Edelweiss: What is this, exactly?
Fern: Well, that’s what we’re here to learn. Together.
Peridot: Ma, if you’re not okay with this...
Fern: No, no, nothing like that! I’m just used to teaching adults who know a little about how this works, so...it’s just something different, that’s all.
Fern: buuuuut we all start somewhere, so. Everyone in here! Peri, you’re with me.
-
Fern: Now, there’s a couple of rules you have to follow in this class. The first is never, and I mean never, aim a punch at something or someone other than the bags. Got it?
Everyone: uh-huh!
Fern: Good. Second rule, always keep your thumb on the outside of your fist. If you hit something with it inside, you could break your thumb and that is not fun.
Celestial: From the force?
Fern: That’s right!
Ribbon: Okay, this sounds less and less fun by the second.
Meadow: It didn’t sound fun to begin with!
-
Fern: Third rule, and this is more of a fighting rule than a class rule, but never be afraid to cut and run. If someone grabs you, you punch them until they let go and then you run screaming. Okay?
Peridot: What if...what id we can’t get away, though? What then?
Fern: Well, that’s what this class is to teach you. We’ll start with light stuff and work up to harder.But I want you all to promise me, especially when you’re all still so young, that if you get in over your heads you run for the nearest adult you trust, okay?
Edelweiss: Oh, so my Dad, or Rosie’s Mom, or you?
Fern: --! Well, yeah!
Celestial: Then don’t run to my Dad. He’d just make things worse.
Meadow: How your Mom doesn’t have you all the time....ugh.
Fern: Arms up, legs bent. We’ll work on hitting without making yourselves tired so quick first. Light hits, nothing hard. You don’t have to put your all into it yet, Cel!
Celestial: Sure...I...do!
Fern: Oh, Cel. Good form, Edelweiss! Did your Dad teach you?
Edelweiss: A little bit. Hr got too busy and had to stop, though!
Rose: After two lessons, ugh.
Fern: Well, we can go from there. Ribbon, sweetie, you really don’t have to hit so hard right away! You’ll hurt your knuckles like that.
Peridot: Aren’t we supposed to wrap our fists or wear gloves, Ma?
Fern: None of what I have here would fit you kids, I’m sorry.
Peridot: Oh. Um, next time?
Fern: For sure. Until then, just--Ribbon I heard that!
RIbbon: Sorry!
Fern: Oh, you kids. Okay then, Peri--hit it as hard as you can.
Peridot: ...RAAARRGHHH! Oof!
Meadow: *breathless laugh* You missed!
Fern: *stifled snicker* That’s okay, just try again. Keep on trying--you have to find the way that works best for your bodies. Especially since you kids’ll hit your growth spurts soon!
Celestial: Ugh, don’t--don’t remind me!
*sounds of bags being hit*
Fern: Good, good--Cel, don’t lean so far forward!
Celestial: Uh-huh!
Meadow: Nope...not...doing...this....again!
Ribbon: I’m so out.
Fern: Come on, girls! Don’t quit yet! We’re not even through the first five minutes!
Everyone: What?!
Peridot: ...okay....this is...harder than I thought it’d be...
Fern: I cannot believe that went as well as it did.
Citrine: Why wouldn’t it? They’re good kids.
Fern: They are! I just...I’ve got no experience training them. If they get messed up, it’s on me.
Citrine: ...you’re not gonna mess up, Fern.
Fern: You don’t know that. I could give them terrible combat advice and they don’t have the experience or the knowledge to know it’s wrong and--
Citrine: Fern...have Caly check your work.
Fern: I don’t wanna bother her...and she’s got enough to worry about with Frosted rumbling about full custody anyway.
Citrine: Then it’s even more important that Cel can defend himself. If you’re not sure, then.
Fern: *sigh* I know, I know....
Fern: I just...gah. Stars, Cit...half the time I don’t know what I’m doing.
Citrine: *snort* Only half?
Fern: ...well, three-quarters of the time, really. At least with them.
Citrine: ...so, you learn. The kids’ll tell you if something hurts them, and....honestly, just try everything.
Citrine: ...and maybe make it official, too.
Fern: Say what now?
Citrine: The lessons. Make them official. Open them to more than just Peri’s friends.
Fern: ...okay what brought that on?
Citrine: I just--okay, scoot. Listen. Whatever’s going on with Basil and Parsley, there will always be bullies. There’s going to be plenty of kids who can benefit from learning to protect themselves, so...teach them, too. And the more you teach, the more you learn what works and what doesn’t.
Fern: Yeah, but--what if I mess up? Make things worse?
Citrine: You cannot make things worse than throwing a punch based on what some kid saw in a movie, babe. I promise you that.
Fern: Oh. Wait, is that--
Citrine: Yeah. I saw an anime character throw a punch and just. Emulated her. Honestly I’m lucky I didn’t break my arm along with Basil’s nose!
Fern: *snorted laugh* Oh, Citrine...
Citrine: Yeah, yeah, but--look, that’s what I mean. Even the worst kidified lesson is better than that.
Fern: ...Kidified?
Citrine: Kidified. You taught the five of us in a cave in secret. You're not hiding things anymore. Maybe don't teach them gut punches and shoulder flips right away, but the base'll still be the same. You're good at that.
Fern: You...you really think so?
Citrine: I know so. Fern, those lessons saved my life. Saved both of our lives. If those kids learn even half of what we did, they won't be bothered by schoolyard bullies. And Peri, well....
Fern: ...Peri learns more. Here, at home. She gets the whole thing.
Citrine: Yeah. She does. But I can't teach her half of that, so I need you to be okay with making mistakes teaching the others, too. I can't do this alone.
Fern: You don't have to. We're partners. In everything.
Citrine: Then trust me, partner, when I say those kids are in great hands. You can do this.
Fern: ....you spent all those words just to lead up to that, didn’t you?
Citrine: Well, yeah. Sometimes you need a little...convincing.
*both laugh*
Citrine: But I’m serious. You’re the best chance those kids have to learn how to do this. So, pull up your big girl panties and teach them.
Fern: *breathy laugh* I love it when you talk hard at me.
Fern: I know you’re right. I just...*sigh* Maybe I’m not as okay as I thought.
Citrine: *snort* Get a number, babe, none of us are. But we’ll make it. Us, and the kids. So long as we keep trying.
Citrine: So, what’re we gonna do?
Fern: ...We’re going to keep trying. But tonight? Tonight, I’m gonna kiss you.
Citrine: Not if I kiss you first.
The next day...
Rose: but, Ribbon! You knocked the bag over! What do you mean you don’t wanna try again?
Ribbon: I just don’t, okay?
Meadow: ....me either.
Peridot: That’s fine! I asked ‘cause we’re cousins, not ‘cause I wanted to force you! Empties out a couple spots, though...
Meadow: ...yeah...I guess so. Sorry.
Edelweiss: What are you sorry for? It's not for everyone, fighting.
Rose: It's not even really fighting, though....
Celestial: It's....training for a fight?
Rose: Ugh, Cel, not helping!
Dawn: What're you guys talking about?
Dawn: Fighting class, huh? Mind if I come?
Edelweiss: You? Mr. Lazy? Mr. Can't get outta bed before the alarm? You wanna learn how to fight?
Dawn: Well, kinda? It sounds interesting!
Rose: Okay who are you and where's the real Dawn.
Dawn: Haha, very funny. A guy can't change his mind?
Meadow: We did, so why not?
Dawn: Why did you two change your minds, anyway? It sounds fun!
Ribbon: It is? Kind of. It's just...I'd rather be reading instead.
Meadow: And I hate getting all sweaty so...nah, not my thing.
Celestial: No wonder you hate Athletics class. *snicker*
Dawn: But I didn't! So can I come along?
Peridot: Sure! We won't have a lesson until after Spooky Day, though, so it'll have to wait.
Edelweiss: So you'd better be sure about this.
Celestial: Dawn, be sure about something? Better ask the sun not to set!
Dawn: Very funny!
Rose: Seriously, Dawn, it's not easy. You sure about this?
Edelweiss: And it's not a game, either. You've got to give it your all.
Dawn: Yeesh, Edie, can you sound any more serious? I wanna try!
Peridot: That's fair! The more the merrier.
Dawn: Great! So, after Spooky Day? Why not today?
Peridot: We're going to Scar's tonight, and then it's Spooky Day, so we're pretty busy.
Meadow: And Cel's got a thing with his Dad this weekend anyway so.
Dawn: Pff, Royal's the one who needs it! I keep saying somebody should punch Parsley in the nose, and if ze's not going to do it...
Dawn: Again? Ugh, man...
Celestial: Eh, it is what it is. So, you think you could convince Candle or Cinnamon?
Dawn: Candle, maybe. Cin's in a whole other world.
Edelweiss: And Royal's with him...*sigh*
Rose: Don't look at me! Mom would have my head.
Edelweiss: And Dad mine.
Peridot: If he keeps this up I'll do it.
Ribbon: *sigh* You guys are a flock, you know that.
Celestial: Birds of a feather, I guess.
*bell rings*
Celestial: Come on. We don't want to be late.
That night...
Moonflower: Seriously, Citrine, you've got to let this go.
Citrine: I can't. I've tried! It just...won't quit.
Lucky Penny: Whooo boy.
Fern: Babe....
Citrine: I know, I know! I just....*sigh* I can't get it out of my head...
Peppermint: Why?
Fern: Is it because you can't let go of what he did?
Citrine: *moaning whine* ...yes?
Peppermint: Oh, Cit.
Citrine: I just--why should he get to just say he's sorry and move on like nothing ever happened?
Fern: He's a politician, babe, that's what they do.
Citrine: Well it's stupid!
Lucky Penny: That's politics. At least he hasn't killed the green energy initiative...
Moonflower: He hasn't done much of anything, though...how does he keep getting re-elected?
Citrine: I don't know! That's half the problem!
Fern: Only half? What's the other half?
Citrine: ....*sigh*
Moonflower: Seriously, Cit, let go. None of us are kids anymore. People can change.
Lucky Penny: Eh, I don't know if he's changed or just learned to keep quiet.
Moonflower: Still! It's not like her tearing her hair out'll make it any better.
Peppermint: ....you can let it go.
Citrine: What?
Peppermint: You're holding onto this because of how Basil treated me, aren't you?
Fern: --I hadn't even thought of that.
Citrine: Pep...
Peppermint: You can let it go. I'm not going to forgive him, but it's been decades. Let it go.
Citrine: ...
Fern: Sounds like enough permission to me, babe.
Citrine: but I--
Fern: hey. You can't change the hearts and minds of people who don't want to listen. You both got away, and if the one who got hurt is saying it's okay to let go, let go.
Lucky Penny: Look who's talking! How long did you hold onto that mess with Sanguine?
Fern: That's how I know you can let go. Pep, do you want this to keep going?
Peppermint: Noooooppe. I want to leave it in the past where it belongs. He's not actively hurting us, or the kids, so just...let him be stupid.
Fern: There you have it.
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