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.
cw: this section contains parental death (old age)
As long as there's Christmas
I truly believe
That hope is the greatest
Of the gifts we'll receive
We'll receive
And though we may look different
We'll all sing with one voice
That hope is the greatest
Of the gifts we'll receive
As long as there's Christmas
We'll all be just fine
Oh-oh…
Light my way
You know I will
As long as there's Christmas
I truly believe
That hope is the greatest
Of the gifts we'll receive
As long as our guiding star shines above
There'll always be Christmas
So there always will be the time
When the world is filled with peace and love
Peridot: With a gasp for air, Sora broke the surface. An arm's length away, a second gasp told him Riku had made it up too. Blinking salt water out of his eyes, Sora turned; where had they landed? It felt...familiar somehow, but he couldn't place it. Not until he heard a sweet voice calling out to them.
"Sora, Riku!"
Peridot: but he didn't mind it, because it meant he was home! They were all home again. Riku came up behind him, and in the same moment he and Kairi both tugged the older boy down into their embrace. One arm slung around each of them, Kairi beamed.
"Welcome home," She said tearily. Eyes burning, Sora smiled.
"We're back."
Peridot: Gram, can we start the next one tomorrow?
Moonstone: Of course we can. We've got so many of them to finish getting through!
Moonstone: but now it's time for bed. So get some sleep, alright?
Peridot: I will. G'night.
Moonstone: G'night, baby. I love you.
Saffron: Rascal down?
Moonstone: Rascal down. Who knew Mom's stories would be good bedtime stories this many years out?
Saffron: Hey, she had a way with words.
Moonstone: She did. *sigh* Well, time for bed. Happy Winterfest, Saf.
Saffron: Happy Winterfest, babe.
Saffron: I love you.
Moonstone: I love you more.
???: Moonstone...
Moonstone: Wha..oh. Oh no...
???: Moonstone....
Moonstone: I thought I'd have more time...
Moonstone: Mama? D-does it have to be now?
Firefly: oh, my darling. I am afraid so.
Moonstone: But--we didn't finish the stories, Peri and me, I thought...I really thought...can't I have more time?
Firefly: Would that I had any to give you. But I do not. It is time.
Moonstone: ...I thought Ori would be here for this.
Firefly: You will see him soon. Your mother and sisters as well. Now, come. We cannot linger long.
Firefly: Come with me, my darling. You will see them again in their time.
Moonstone: ...do you think...will everyone be alright?
Firefly: Of course. This is not a farewell forever. They will hurt, but they will live.
Firefly: Peridot has her own stories left to tell. Do not fear for her, my darling.
Moonstone: I just...
Firefly: I know. Now come.
The next morning...
Saffron: Cal?
Calcite: In the kitchen!
Saffron: Honey, I. Can you come with me a minute?
Calcite: Ma? What's the matter?
Saffron: Just. Come with me, please.
Calcite: Okay...Ma, you're scaring me.
Saffron: Cal, your Mama...Moony, she...
Calcite: She...no. No, do not tell me--
Saffron: She's gone, baby. She...she passed away during the night. I...I'm sorry.
Calcite: No...oh, Ma...did you...oh...Ma, I'm sorry...
Calcite: She...oh, Watcher. Nova! Citrine! Come here, now!
Citrine: Dad? Peri stay here
Peridot: But--
Nova: Oh no...
Citrine: Pop, what--
Nova: Just--come on.
Citrine: You don't think--
Nova: I don't know, baby. I don't...oh no...
Citrine: ...Daddy?
Saffron: We'll have to...we'll need an ambulance and...is anyone even open today I don't--
Calcite: Ma, shh, we'll handle it, it's okay. It's...we'll take care of it.
Citrine: Take care of--no. No! She can't be--
Nova: She is. *sigh* oh, Mama Saffron, Cal...I'm so sorry.
Calcite: Ma, come on...breath with me, okay? In...and out...
Fern: Peri, stay here.
Peridot: What? No, no way!
Peridot: I can help!
Fern: You can. By staying put. Just--stay here.
Peridot: Ma!
Fern: Cit...oh. Oh, Watcher. Hey, Citrine, I'm here. I'm right here.
Peridot: ...Mommy?
Nova: Shoot--Peri, sweetie, come here.
Peridot: Grampop, what's going on?
Nova: Honey...*sigh* There's no easy way to put this, so I'm going to be honest with you. Okay?
Peridot: Okay...what happened to Gramoony.
Nova: She's gone. She died in her sleep.
Peridot: What?! Bu--but she was fine last night! We finished a book and she tucked me in and--she wasn't sick or anything!
Nova: No, she wasn't. But people do get old, and when they get too old, their hearts decide they've had enough and just...stop. There's nothing any of us could have done.
--
Citrine: She...I thought...we saved her, didn't we?
Fern: We did. But no one can outrun time forever, babe. She still had another twenty years!
Fern: She got to be there when we got married, and when Peri was born, and be here as Peri's been growing...Babe, that's worth so much!
Citrine: She was supposed to have more time!
--
Peridot: but...we were going to start the next book tonight...
Nova: I'm sure she wanted to. I'm sure she meant to. But sometimes...sometimes the clock just runs out.
Peridot: But...I didn't get to say goodbye...
Nova: Did you tell her you loved her?
Peridot: Y-yeah...
Nova: Then that was goodbye. For now, at least. You'll see her again, someday.
Nova: It's never goodbye forever, kiddo. Someday, we'll all see everyone we've lost. Gramoony, Gramma Amber, your Granpa and Gramma from my side...they'll all be there, and so will we. Maybe a long time from now, but we'll be there someday.
Peridot: You mean that?
Nova: I do.
--
Citrine: Fern...
Fern: I'm here. I'm right here.
Citrine: We have to...Dad can't handle it all himself we...
Fern: I know. I'll make the calls.
Citrine: *sniff*...thank you.
--
Peridot: Grampop...
Nova: Come 'ere. It's okay to cry, honey. It's okay to miss her really, really badly. It's okay.
Peridot: *breathy sob* I really do...
--
Citrine: Fern--
Fern: Come here. I've got you.
Saffron: What am I supposed to do without her...*sob* Moony...
Calcite: Ma...
--
Fern: *sigh* Watcher, through your Light are we given life, and to your Light we return. Bless this soul as it returns to your side, and may those of us left here remember those gone before. We enter this name into our Hall of Records, so that none may forget the life and deeds of Moonstone Crystal...
Calcite: Ma...
Saffron: Don't--*cough*--don't tell me we'll see her again someday! I want her here now, with us!
Calcite: So do I...Ma, I'm sorry...
Fern: In your embrace, may she find peace...and in that peace, may we find some comfort. By your Light.
Peridot: Gram...
Some time later...
Watermelon: Miss Saffron...I'm so sorry. Is there anything you need?
Saffron: My wife back.
Saffron:...but you can't bring her back. No, Watermelon, thank you but...
Nova: Ma Saffron...
Calcite: We're here, Ma.
Clover: Whatever you need, we'll do. Food, cleaning, we'll do it.
Saffron: Thank you. I just...need time.
Saffron: I don't know what I'm going to do without her...
Calcite: ...we live.
Saffron: *wet snort* How. How, Cal. How do I do that? She was my other half...
Nova: One step at a time. One breath at a time.
Watermelon: And with us. It's not enough...but we're here.
--
Lucky Penny: Cit...I'm so sorry.
Moonflower: Do you...can we...Watcher, what do you even say...
Moonflower: Do you need anything? Food? Or...or someone to watch Peri for a while.
Lucky Penny: We can take her for as long as you need if you do...Scar, too.
Citrine: No...no, we...*sniff* We need her close to home right now...
Eternal Glow: We can come over? Bring Scarlet. Family should be close right now...
Peppermint: Closer than down the street...
Peppermint: Watcher...all that you two went through and it only bought her twenty years?
Eternal Glow: Pep, that's not nothing.
Citrine: it was everything, Pep...she was happy. That's what matters now...
Ribbon: ...it's gonna be so weird without her...
Meadow: Tell me about it. Feels like a piece of the world just disappeared.
Meadow: ...it did. Didn't it.
Scarlet: yeah. A big, Gramoony shaped piece. She was a great Gram....
Peridot: Yeah...
Ori: See? I told you we'd meet again.
Moonstone: You didn't say it'd take twenty years...
Ori: Time's weird on this side. Blink and you miss a century, but days can be years. ...Hey, come on. Moony it's okay!
Moonstone: I just feel like I left so much unfinished...*sighing sob* Peri's stories...
Ori: Moony...
Moonstone: A-and the vision or whatever I don't even...Watcher, Ori, I should still be there!
Moonstone: Can you...is there any way to help them?
Ori: *sigh* No. Not from this side. I can't intervene enough to change anything, and the dreamwalking died with you, so...they're going to have to handle this themselves.
Moonstone: but you know what this is, right? Please...tell me they'll be okay.
Ori: I can't.
Moonstone: ...what do you mean, you can't.
Ori: I can't tell you they'll be okay because I don't know.
Moonstone: but you're a Guardian Spirit! How can you not know?
Ori: I'm a child of the Watcher, Moony, and it's in the name. We can only watch. The sheer power it takes to get involved...we already spent it. This is in their hands now.
Moonstone: But...
Ori: But they're your family. Our family. We both know how stubborn they can be! If anyone could make it through this, it's them.
Ori: You have to have faith in them.
Moonstone: That'd be a lot easier if I knew what was coming...
Ori: I know. But there's no way to know. I'm sorry.
Moonstone: No, don't...*sigh* I know it's in the name, I just...Citrine called it a vision. What does that mean?
Ori: It's a small part of a much, much larger prophecy. I wasn't around to hear it given, but...as far as I know? It's played out. Prophecy usually does.
Moonstone; Ugh...great.
Moonstone: There must be something I can do!
Ori: Yeah, it's called take a break. Things will happen with or without you getting involved, and, honestly? There's someone who's been waiting a long, long time for you.
Moonstone: Mama said that Ma was here, is she--
Ori: She is. But I meant Amber.
Moonstone: What--no. No, I can't--how can I face her after I failed her?!
Moonstone: I can...see here.
Ori: Yeah. You can.
Moonstone: I can see her. Oh...*shaky breath* I can see them!
Ori: Yeah. You can. She's just outside.
Moonstone: I can't do this.
Ori: You can. I'll be right behind you.
Moonstone: ...thank you.
Amber: *gasp*
Amber: Mama...hi?
Moonstone: Hi. ...oh...look at you. You look...so much like your Ma...
Amber: Really? I always thought I looked like you...
Moonstone: ...*shaky breath* A little. Oh, my baby...
Amber: Well, not that much of a baby anymore--*gasp* Mama! Oh, Mama, don't cry--
Moonstone: I'm so sorry! I should have..I could have...
Amber: Mama, no! I made my choices--there wasn't anything you could do...
Moonstone: I should have been there! Done something!
Amber: Done what? Taken my place? Mama...
Amber: it was just an accident. A stupid, terrible accident. Even Ori couldn't have done anything.
Moonstone: I...I...
Amber: Mama...please, don't blame yourself.
Moonstone: How can't I? You're my baby girl...it was my job to look after you...
Amber: Was. That job's over now and we're together again. You can let it go--Gram and Gran are waiting for you! And Aunt Lu, and Aunt Hori--
Amber: Mama...it's time to let go.
Moonstone: ...how? How do you do it?
Amber: One step at a time. ...I missed you.
Moonstone: Oh...honey bee, I missed you too...so much!
Moonstone: And your Ma, and Cal, and Citrine...they miss you, too.
Amber: I know. And I'll be here when it's their turn.
Moonstone: ...Amber...do you...do you know about the vision or...
Amber: I do.
Moonstone: Please...please tell me they'll be alright.
Amber: I can't. I don't know. I only know the back half of it...It started with Granma Rainbow and it'll end generations from now, but all I know is the part that Peri's supposed to play in it. I don't know what comes after.
Moonstone: There must be some way...
Amber: If there is, we'll find it. Gran near lost her mind when she heard. She's been looking ever since.
Moonstone: Yeah...*sniff* Mom was always like that. Oh, Watcher...we're in a real mess, aren't we.
Amber: The worst kind of mess. But...they'll be okay I think. They're too stubborn to be anything else.
Amber: You ready?
Moonstone:...not yet. A few more minutes.
Amber: Take all the time you need...we have forever now.
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