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.
Celestial: I didn't know about the baby then, or I never would have...I was just trying to keep you safe. Keep everyone safe.
Peridot: By risking yourself? You could have been completely consumed...
Celestial: It was worth the risk. Master Chronos was losing it, there were more and more shadow attacks everywhere...we were stretched so thin, Per. I had to do something, and I thought...
Peridot: The enemy of my enemy is my friend?
Celestial: It wasn't even that, it was...it was power. I needed--wanted--power.
Peridot: To protect us?
Celestial: ...that's what I told myself.
Celestial: Or did I doom us all anyway by making that deal? He gets more powerful with every deal, every thrall, and I--
Peridot: Celestial. Stop.
Peridot: Power for power's sake was never your way. It still isn't now.
Celestial: ...I'm not so sure about that.
Celestial: Blame, no...but hate? That's a different story.
Peridot: ...no it's not. Cel, what happened after...that's not your fault, either.
Celestial: ...not so sure of that, either, but...*sigh* Thank you. For not hating me.
Peridot: How could I?
Celestial: Peri. Really? I sided with the incarnation of all things evil! How is that not worth being hated for?
Peridot: because you didn't side with him, he used you. There's a difference.
Celestial: is there? My siding with him gave him enough power to kill us--
Peridot: No. What got us killed was having to fight Master Chronos just to get to the gate. Cel, we were lucky to make it out of that fight alive and that had nothing to do with your choices!
Peridot: Everyone made their own choices back then. I'm not saying it was a good idea, or that you should have, but...I could never hate you. Not when you were just trying to keep us all safe.
Celestial: For all the good it did in the end.
Peridot: You tried. That counts, too. Even if we don't know how we got to...well, this life, you tried. It was a mess, Cel. What matters is that we're all here again and we have another chance.
Celestial: It's not much of one. Parsley's still dangerous.
Peridot: Any thrall is dangerous. But we can take him, so long as we work together this time. So no taking it all by yourself this time, okay?
Celestial: *quiet laugh* Heh, no promises about that. I've got two whole lifetimes of practice doing that.
Peridot: Well, break the habit. I'm here now, really here now. You won't do anything like this alone ever again.
Celestial: ....I know. Watcher, Peri...I've missed you.
Peridot: I'm right here.
Celestial: Yeah, you are. We just have to survive tomorrow now, and then...well. Who knows what happens then.
Peridot: Then we have a year to deal with this mess, and then university! And then...
Celestial: A real second chance.
Peridot: A real second chance. Watcher...how did that even happen?
Peridot: How did we manage to come back like this, Cel? With all our memories, with knowing each other...
Celestial: Someone must be fond of us. Or we've got really overworked Guardian Spirits.
*both laugh*
Peridot: Watcher...I can't wait for this to be over.
Celestial: It'll be over soon. Somehow...it'll all be over soon.
That night...
Peridot: Two whole lifetimes...what did he mean by that?
*door opens, closes quietly*
Peridot: Cel?
Peridot: Nah. D'you mind if...I mean...can I sit with you a bit? If you're not trying to sleep?
Celestial: Pff. Per, we're husband and wife. If I ever minded sitting up with you when we couldn't sleep we never woulda made it through freshman year.
Peridot: Can I ask you something? And get a straight, honest answer for it?
Celestial: Well that sounds ominous. I'll do my best. What's up?
Peridot: Earlier, you said you had two whole lifetimes of handling things by yourself. What did you mean by that?
Celestial: Oh, that. W-well, it's not like my parents were all that available this go around, you know.
Peridot: You stutter when you lie.
Celestial: ....
Peridot: Cel. Come on. You can tell me. You don't have to carry whatever this is by yourself.
Peridot: Partners, remember? Best friends? You look after me and I look after you?
Celestial: Peri--
Peridot: No.
Peridot: Trying to carry things along is how we got into trouble last time. I'm not letting you do that a second time.
Celestial: ...it's not easy.
Peridot: Maybe not, but it's you. I'll take it all.
Celestial: ...I...didn't die that night. In the Abyss.
Peridot: What?
Celestial: You asked how we came back with all our memories? Even if it took those dreams to get them back?
Peridot: Well, yes--Cel tell me you didn't sacrifice something for us to have that?!
Celestial: I don't think it's a sacrifice, but...I didn't die. I...I found you, and Lady Lucera, in the door chamber, and...things happened. We...we came up with a plan. A second chance...a better life. But magic like that has a cost and I was the only one left to pay it.
Peridot: Cel...what did you pay? What was the cost?
Celestial: I had to keep my memories of what happened, even if none of you ever remembered. I never forgot that life.
Peridot: WHAT?! So this whole time you--
Celestial: Mm-hmm. I've always known what we did back then.
Peridot: Always--how long is always?!
Celestial: Always. Since as far back as I can remember...*heavy sigh* At least since the day we first met.
Peridot: We were toddlers! This whole time you've known--
Celestial: I knew what had happened. I never forgot. That was my payment...and my punishment.
Peridot: Your punishment? Is that what she called it?
Celestial: ...no. That's what I call it. My choices still played a part in getting you killed, and then...Mari...
Peridot: No. No, do not go there. You don't have to punish yourself for what happened!
Peridot: And Lady Lucera had no right to punish you for it, either! It was a mistake, Cel, not deliberate!
Celestial: I still chose to do it. And getting to remember...it wasn't always bad, Peri. It was good, most of the time.
Peridot: Most of the time. You still had to live with that on your own! You didn't tell us because of course you couldn't, and then we never talked about starting to remember--Cel!
Celestial: It's fine. We all remember now. It's over.
Peridot: It is not fine! Why do you have to suffer like that for--for fifteen years?! It's not fair! None of what we went through was fair, and neither is this!
Celestial: It's not about fair, it's....Take into yourself that which you can take, for there is no one else to take it.
Peridot: Excuse me?
Celestial: It's what Lady Lucera said, before she cast the spell. Take into yourself that which you can take, for there is no one else to take it. And if you do not burn out, carry it. And with every step your burden shall become heavier, for you carry it for many, and their number increases still. You will save yourself by saving others, but you will not keep misfortune away, because you carry misfortune within you.
Peridot: Because you carry misfortune within you. She doomed you.
Celestial: Like I said. Payment and punishment. It...*sniff* It was still worth it. To give you all the chance I took from you.
Peridot: Cel...
Celestial: No. My taking that deal gave him more power. He used that power to summon more skeletons. Those skeletons killed you all. If never getting you back was the cost of giving you life again, then--it was worth it!
Peridot: ...thank you. For giving us this chance.
Celestial: ...Obscuro--the Shade, he came to me last year. Tried to get me to make a deal again, and I...for a minute I thought about it...
Peridot: For what?
Celestial: That doesn't matter.
Peridot: Yes it does, Cel. Intent matters. I know it wasn't for power for power's sake, so...
Celestial: ...just like last time. To...to protect all of you.
Peridot: Then...maybe it's time you forgive yourself. At least a little.
Celestial: How? How can I, knowing what I did cost you all everything?
Peridot: Because we already have.
Celestial: ...how? How can you do that when I...Mari, Per. Our girl.
Peridot: ...we can't undo that. But...if you'd known what would happen, if you'd known the real cost...would you have taken the deal?
Celestial: Of course not!
Peridot: Then that's reason enough to forgive yourself for the past that can't be changed. Be better for the future that's coming, but...it's okay to leave the past in the past.
Celestial: ....it can't be that easy.
Peridot: It's not easy--Cel, you've been carrying this for an entire second life! You've been carrying this hurt for over fifteen years--you can't keep holding it! It'll just bury you and that...
Celestial: Payment and punishment.
Peridot: Oh that's a load of crap. Lady Lucera loved us all too much to punish you for making a mistake with the right intentions. She wouldn't be angry, just--
Celestial: Disappointed, I know. She was. But she...she said she understood.
Celestial: That she knew how manipulative Obscuro could be...and how easily he could get under a person's skin. Watcher, Peri...she held me the whole way through...
Peridot: Of course she did. She loved us. Probably loves us, still.
Celestial: *sniff* ...I miss her, too.
Peridot: We could go back. Back to the Realm, back to the Abyss.
Celestial: You want to?
Peridot: Well, no, but...it's the life we knew. We can be Guardians again. Keep everyone, everything safe. Together, this time.
Celestial: ...you would really do that. Give up a peaceful life to go back to fighting for our lives all the time?
Peridot: It wasn't fighting all the time. We had enough time for college classes and marriage and making a baby, remember?
Celestial: *chuckle* Well when you put it that way...
Peridot: I didn't like the fighting part, no, and I doubt I'll ever look at Spooky Day decor the same way again, but...*heavy sigh* Fighting was our life for ten years, Cel. It makes more sense to me than...civilian life, I guess.
Celestial: ha...there's a mood.
Peridot: So, yeah. if you wanted to go back to it, if the others wanted to go back to it, I'd gladly go with you. But it has to be all of us, and the others...
Celestial: Eh...Royal'd be the hardest sell. Ze wasn't happy about being chosen last time, either.
Peridot: To be fair, ze's always been kind of a fraidy cat...
Celestial: Can't blame zem one bit, though...it's always been a mess.
Celestial: ...to be completely honest?
Peridot: yeah?
Celestial: No. I don't. I want this--peace and quiet and stupid civ problems--to be the life we all live. I want us to have our days in the sun again, not chasing monsters and stupid idiots out of the Abyss.
Peridot: Then we stay here. We fix this mess with Parsley, sure, put an end to it for good this time, and then...we just be normal people.
Celestial: Babe, I hate to break it to you, but none of us were normal even before we were Chosen the first time.
Peridot: Very funny. You know what I meant. Just a...normal, every day life for us. All of us. Don't you think we've earned it after everything we've been through?
Celestial: Well...yeah. We have.
Celestial: but I don't think it'll just get handed to us..
Peridot: Who said anything about handing it to us? I'm ready for fight for it. We stop Obscuro and put up our swords, end of it all right there.
Celestial: Just like that?
Peridot: Just. Like. That.
Celestial: *quiet laugh* I missed you.
Peridot: I wasn't that different, was it? Still stubborn, still in over my head, still...
Celestial: Mm. You were the same. I'm the one who changed. I...think it's more I missed talking with you like this. Open and honest.
Peridot: Well, we can make up for lost time because I have no desire to sleep tonight.
Celestial: heh, I know what you mean. Well...I can think of one other thing we can do...
Peridot: *laugh* Don't get ahead of yourself. Let's take it slow this time, yeah?
Celestial: So, no internship today. No leaving the house!
Peridot: Hah, Cel, we already did!
Celestial: Argh, you know what I mean! The Thunder Moon rises tonight--we can't take any chances.
Peridot: I know, I know.
Peridot: We're gonna be fine, Cel. It'll work out.
Celestial: I'll believe that when today is over.
Peridot: And maybe when we get you some therapy...
Celestial: Haa...I don't think there's a therapist qualified for this level of crazy, babe.
Peridot: Mm, I dunno...Ma or Miss Caly might know somebody in the Realm. Maybe Hunter Delphine?
Celestial: And give her more reason to have another Vision? Nooooo thank you.
Celestial: Seriously, I'm good. Just looking forward to today being over, ya know?
Peridot: Oh, I know. Hey, how about we binge that...oh, what was it...Stargate? It's got like, ten seasons. We'll be busy.
Celestial: Someone else's problems sound...real good right about now, actually. Yeah. Just, uh, shower first?
Peridot: Ha, yeah, we're kinda smelly.
Celestial: I wasn't gonna say anything, but since you brought it up...
Peridot: Oh, very funny! *laugh* ....Watcher, I missed this. I didn't know it was missing but now...
Celestial: I get the idea. I said I missed you and I meant it. Which is...weird when you think about it. You've been here this whole time...
Peridot: But it wasn't the same.
Peridot: I get it. Kind of. It's different but--okay, look, this is gonna be kinda lackluster for a proposal, but...how'd you like to get it official once we're eighteen? Again, I mean.
Celestial: I'd like that.
Celestial: but I'm gonna tell you something real crazy, okay?
Peridot: Ha, after the last few days? Crazy is nothing.
Celestial: I don't need a certificate to know we belong together. We've got two lifetimes of being together for that.
Peridot: We do, and that matters more than anything, but...I want this official. And...how would you feel about a change in last names?
Celestial: Ha, I'm gonna do that anyway. Celestial Abyss sounds pretty epic, doesn't it?
Peridot: Oh, it does. But I was thinking...what do you think about Celestial Crystal?
Celestial: *gasp* Peri...
Peridot: A fresh start. You don't have to if you don't want to I just--
Celestial: No, I want to. I really, really want to. I love Mom, but...Watcher, leaving all this mess behind...that'd be perfect.
Peridot: Then...it's a deal. As soon as we're old enough. That's just a year away now.
Celestial: One year and a day...*sigh* I can't wait.
Peridot: Mm. It'll be perfect.
Celestial: Thank you. For this, and for everything. For loving me.
Peridot: Silly. Of course I do. You don't have to thank me for that.
Celestial: I'm going to anyway.
Celestial: You're amazing, and I adore you. I never told you that enough before.
Peridot: Well, we've got a whole life to do it now. And you're not so bad yourself, you know.
Celestial: Oh, sure, but that's comparing the moon to the sun. I couldn't do this without you.
Peridot: And I couldn't do this without you. Even when I didn't remember...you were always here. Thank you, Cel.
Celestial: Always. ...but seriously, showers. We both stink!
*both laugh*
*water running*
*phone buzzes*
Peridot: What now...
*phone continues buzzing*
Peridot: Geez...messages--El?
Edelweiss: Help! Peri help! Cave outside town! Help!
Peridot: The hell's that supposed to mean? Why would she be there?
Peridot: El? What's going on?
Edelweiss: [Message unseen]
Peridot: Edie! Hello?
Peri: El? I got your text! ...El?
Peridot: I don't know if we can even slow him down, forget stop him. And undoing it--
*rasping sound*
Peridot: Who's there?
Peridot: time to go home. I should...what?
*rasping sound*
Obscuro: I see you...
Peridot: Oh no.
Peridot: NO NO NO!
Obscuro: I SEE YOU!!!
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