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SILVER: Tales from the Fringes of Reality. Episode 31 – Darkness in the Valley.

XANDER: Mari?

MARIGOLD: Xander?

XANDER: Is it really you? 

MARIGOLD: I feel like I should be asking you that and not the other way around.

XANDER: (laughing) It is you! God, Mari, I never thought I’d see you again. You look as beautiful as the day I last saw you.

MARIGOLD: (a little tearful) You do too. Stars,  Xan– I thought I lost you. I thought I killed you, I–

XANDER: I followed you and stayed even knowing the risks, Mari. What happened wasn’t your fault and it will never happen again.

MARIGOLD: Never?

OPAL: If I may interrupt, he is right. There’s a… sturdiness, for lack of a better word, in his magical makeup. Similar to what happened with Luna, Winston, and Whim. He’ll be able to survive as long as he’s close enough to the plane of magic.

XANDER: See, Mari? Never again. I swear it.

MARIGOLD: Stars I’ve missed you so much Xan. I need to tell you about everything that’s happening and–

(footsteps)

OPAL: Best to give them some privacy to get caught up. I can’t believe you managed to get him back here, Silver. We’ve been looking for ages since he faded but never found anything.

SILVER: I guess I just got lucky. It seemed like the plane of magic wanted me to find him, but I’m not sure why. Gods, Opal, it showed me so many people that are connected to all of us– my mom, I–

OPAL: Just take a deep breath, Silver. It’s okay.

SILVER: I saw my mom. She’s… she’s okay. Or as okay as a dead person can be and I–

OPAL: You know as well as any of us that the dead aren’t truly gone. She’s still out there, in some form, and may return to that form or return to the world as something else.

SILVER: Yeah. Yeah, I know. I saw the first– well, I guess second person. Leanne, I think that’s what they said their name was. They would go back into reality as something or someone else and then when that person or thing died, they would return as Leanne again. It’s… I know that’s how it works, and yet seeing it… It just felt different. Especially now that I’ve brought Xander back with me. It almost feels like  I’ve betrayed my mom by not trying to bring her back.

OPAL: Their circumstances were different, Sil. Your mom actually died in her reality– Xander didn’t. He just… faded away, and did so far away from the reality he was meant to be in. It’s not a pretty thing, fading, but it’s not the same as dying, not really. That’s why you were able to pull him back together. You haven’t betrayed your mother, I doubt she would’ve come back if she could; she would’ve asked you to bring her back if she wanted that.

SILVER: …she did specifically say that she couldn’t come back. It still feels wrong though.

OPAL: We can’t always bring the ones we love with us physically. It’s an unfortunate fact of life, but it is what we deal with; that doesn’t mean the people we care about aren’t with us in spirit. Those you love and are loved by are always with you, Silver. I promise you that. 

(footsteps)

ALEXANDRIA: Opal, darling, I– You need to come with me. Both of you, actually, we’ll need Silver’s help as well since Guillermo is helping Alasdair set up a space for Xander. 

OPAL: Is everything alright, mom?

ALEXANDRIA: …She’s taken Sapphire.

OPAL: That’s not possible.

ALEXANDRIA: Opal–

OPAL: No, mom, I– It can’t be possible. If she were gone, then the Valley of Stars would be gone, all of those people would be gone and that’s not– (gasp) Stars above.

ALEXANDRIA: The whole valley has gone dark. The people are fine, Row is checking in on it to make sure they aren’t being flooded with death, but every star in that sky has gone out. I’ve contacted Luna as well, but she said it feels like she’s been pushed out of the reality itself; every time she tries to take a peek in, she can see everything but the valley.

OPAL: We have to find her.

ALEXANDRIA: And we will, darling. We will. That’s why Silver is coming with us, they’re the best in the world at this, right Silver? 

SILVER: I’d say I’m tied with my dad, but yeah. Yeah, Opal, I can find her, I promise. Do we have a file, mama?

ALEXANDRIA: We do. It came through just before I came to get both of you.

SILVER: Then we’ll listen now, together. And we’ll find her, Opal. We’ll find her.

SAPPHIRE: Moon and stars who turned on the light in this room? It should be this–

SAPPHIRE (CONT.): No. No, that’s not possible. The sun hasn’t been visible in the valley since– ever. It shouldn’t be able to be seen, not here, not in my valley. This has to be a mistake, this has to be. 

MEG: Are you alright there, stranger? That was a nasty tumble you seem to have taken.

SAPPHIRE: I– yes, I’m fine. Didn’t even feel it really. Where am I?

MEG: You didn’t feel a fall from the heavens? Tough as nails, aren’t you? You’re in Phoenix Feather, stranger. Heart of the Kingdom of the Sun.

SAPPHIRE: This has to be some kind of cruel joke…

MEG: You got something against the Kingdom of the Sun, stranger?

SAPPHIRE: I can’t remember the last time I saw the sun, if there was a time at all. It’s not– The stars are my domain, not this. Not… Not anything like this.

MEG: Well, stranger–

SAPPHIRE: Sapphire, please. Or Saph. 

MEG: I knew I’d get you to share your name eventually. The name’s Meg; it’s good to meet you. Can’t say I’ve ever met someone quite this upset at seeing the sun before. Usually it’s the other way around– people craving the sunshine and begging for a stop to the clouds or rain. That’s not to say people love the heat, mind you, but they do love the sun. 

SAPPHIRE: I’ve always belonged to the night. I’m friends with the moon, the stars call my name, my partner– I met them under the light of a million shining constellations. I’ve never seen her in the sun and never wished to, not with how beautiful she looks in the starlight. 

MEG: Don’t you go getting all wistful on me now, Sapphire. Come on, up you get, let’s go and see Forest. They should know what to do with you.

SAPPHIRE: ‘Do with me’ as in how to get me home or…

MEG: Do you think every stranger you meet is planning to kill you? Sun’s rays, you must live a fascinating life. They should know how to get you home. Or at the very least how to get you out of here. Never have been quite sure where the folks Forest deals with end up…

SAPPHIRE: Maybe I should–

MEG: Ah, here we are! Forest! We’ve got another!

FOREST: Alive or dead?

MEG: When have I ever brought you a dead one, Forest? Of course– (whispered) Pronouns?

SAPPHIRE: she/her.

MEG: (normal volume) Of course she’s alive!

(clattering, footsteps)

FOREST: Well, aren’t you an interesting one? Not used to the rays of the sun, are you deary?

SAPPHIRE: What gave it away?

FOREST: You’re glaring at the window like it did something to personally offend you. We’ve had a few like this before– creatures of the night or of deep water who weren’t big fans of the sunshine. Which are you then?

SAPPHIRE: I come from a place called the Valley of Stars. It’s perpetually night there, the moon always glowing and stars always shining.

MEG: You heard of this one before, For?

FOREST: Hmm… No, I can’t say that I have. The magic on this one feels… different. Stronger, I think, than most of the people we’ve seen falling through. Whatever wanted you here must’ve wanted you here quite badly.

SAPPHIRE: How many others have you seen falling through here?

MEG: It’s been a while. They used to fall in here quite often, at least a few every ray’s length. Now? You’re the first one I’ve seen in at least a full sun spiral.

SAPPHIRE: …really regretting not paying more attention when Opal taught me the different time measurements. She just looked so happy when she was talking about it, how was I meant to focus?

FOREST: Opal?

MEG: Her partner.

FOREST: Ah. Unfortunately this is the only measurement I know–

SAPPHIRE: No, no, don’t apologize. You have no reason to know how people keep time outside of your reality. But when your girlfriend is like ‘Hey want to hear about all of the different words for a week?’ and you say yes to them, it’s probably a good idea to actually retain that information. Could be useful at a later point. Like right now.

FOREST: I suppose you didn’t plan to fall into the Kingdom of the Sun, though, did you? Phoenix Feather is a beautiful place, but it doesn’t seem like your destination.

SAPPHIRE: No, no it was not. I haven’t left the valley… Ever. I always thought that if I was going to leave, it would be to visit them. And now… I just hope they weren’t thinking of popping down for a visit while I’m off stars knows where. It would scare her something fierce to see me missing. 

MEG: For, isn’t there a spell you can do? Like the one you did to the others? That always seemed to work–

FOREST: That spell was to get the attention of something greater than us. If Sapphire is as important to this Opal as she says she is– and I’m inclined to believe so– then I bet their eyes are already on us. We just have to wait.

ALEXANDRIA: Silver–

SILVER: Already on it!

ALEXANDRIA: Did any of this sound familiar to you at all? The way they were talking… A ray’s length is about a month and a sun spiral is roughly six months. Which is about how long we’ve had you back.

SILVER: …it did sound familiar. I think… Yes! I’ve got it. Reality 33-7M. It popped up a few times while I was with Minerva and I always thought it sounded familiar but…

ALEXANDRIA: But whatever she did to your head stopped you from fully forming the connection. So why choose here then? Obviously she’s been repeating realities, but to know she was repeating this reality while you were still in her custody… Why?

OPAL: To seed doubt. How is Silver to trust himself if he can’t even remember fully whether or not they had removed someone from that reality before? You sow enough doubt and then–

SILVER: I’ll rely on her more to keep my notes in line. Which I did, I had her keeping track of everything for me so that I wouldn’t make mistakes. Gods, I gave her access to all of my notes and files, of course I was never able to remember you all properly, she could edit out anything she didn’t want me to know. 

ALEXANDRIA: It’s not your fault Silver.

SILVER: But–

OPAL: It’s not.

SILVER: …I’ve moved Sapphire back. Should we check on the valley?

ALEXANDRIA: Let’s see… There we go.

OPAL: Lit up, just like it’s meant to be. Stars–

ALEXANDRIA: Call her, darling. 

OPAL: (tapping) Saph?

SAPPHIRE: Hey, lovely.

OPAL: Oh thank the stars you’re alright. I was so worried–

SAPPHIRE: But you found me, baby, didn’t you?

OPAL: My nephew did. Silver, you want to say hi?

SILVER: Hi, Sapphire. Lovely to hear from you again.

SAPPHIRE: Likewise, Silver. Thank you for getting me home. Opal, are you able to come down tonight?

OPAL: Of course, my love. I’m on my way.

(soft tap)

SILVER: Go make sure she’s alright, Opal. 

(footsteps)

ALEXANDRIA: Are you alright, Silver?

SILVER: Hm? Oh. Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just… It’s been a whirlwind the past couple days I guess. First Xander and then Sapphire and I– it’s just a lot.

ALEXANDRIA: …I remember the first time I went back into the plane of magic. We– your Gran and I– brought Leanne there once they finally passed. Seeing them enter the plane and become themself again but also not themself… I sometimes wonder if I should’ve just brought them back with me right then and there and given up on the idea of death. But they were happy, in the plane of magic. From the looks of it, they still are. Your mother… Lucinda brought happiness wherever she went. I’m certain she will be able to find it in the plane of magic. Just as I’m certain that that is not where you are meant to be now. 

SILVER: I wasn’t thinking about going back to the plane of magic, mama.

ALEXANDRIA: Then what were you thinking about, darling?

SILVER: …Just thinking about what will happen when we finally stop Minerva. How we can finally stop Minerva.

ALEXANDRIA: Silver–

SILVER: I might go lay down for a little bit, actually. Let… Let me know if anyone else falls through that I need to move.

(footsteps)

ALEXANDRIA: I’m worried about her, Whim. And I know that you are as well. He has always shown far more resilience that anyone should have to carry, but now… Look after him, please. Stopping Minerva is worth nothing if we lose them in the process.