Sarah opened the door to see Samuel standing there. He told her they needed to meet at the park. “Someone’s waiting to see you.”
The two walked down to the park. They joined the waiting person at the swings.
“Is that who I think it is?” Sarah asked, looking at the person on the second swing from the end. “Is that Arle?”
Arle looked up, and over at Sarah. “Did you miss me?”
“Is this a dream?” Sarah asked. “Am I asleep?”
“It’s no dream,” Samuel told her. “Arle’s really come to Earth.”
“But how?”
“It’s like this,” Arle started, swinging slightly. “After you two disappeared, my sister knocked Bernard Medic over, and took the jewels from him. The break-up of power left the jewels drained. Only recently they’ve started to regain their power. It seems to be a natural process. That’s what the big issue was a hundred years ago, when the jewels lost their power. It was expected their power would return, but it turns out the real jewels had been hidden away on different planets–as you both know–and fakes were put in the palace in their place. It wasn’t until this drain that we’ve been able to document the recharge process. It’s been four years, and I’ve finally been able to use the yellow jewel in the yellow room to come here.”
“What happened to Bernard?” Samuel asked. “Was he taken into custody?”
“We don’t have jails on Aureum. As punishment, the Medic family has been demoted to slave class. I tried to stop it, but it was out of my hands. To see Ceciliate Medic demoted as well, I’m starting to wonder if this is really the best way to handle such events. It’s always been easiest to track families, rather than individuals.”
“Is he all right?” Sarah asked. “He seemed different when he had all the jewels, somehow.”
Arle pressed her shoes to the ground, stopping her movement. “He…” She took a deep breath before continuing. “Physically he’s all right. His mind isn’t all there. No one knows if there’s any way to fix it. The Lucernes were promoted to attendant class, but Alfalfa Lucerne cares for Bernard. He hopes that when the jewels have reached their original power, that Bernard will be himself again. But let’s talk about something more positive right now. Sarah, there’s a reason I wanted to talk with you. Samuel can be here, too.
“See, Piñole is a queen now. It’s not like being a queen in any Earth royalties, though. What it means is she’s given responsibilities she’ll need to perform as a full-fledged queen one day. It’s the same responsibilities I’ll be taking on in a couple of years, as well. Part of her responsibility is to oversee the jewels. I’m afraid she might become the same as Bernard Medic was. Before, she was collecting the jewels to keep our family safe, and I want to believe she won’t be seduced by the power of the jewels, but I just don’t know… Since she’s been diligent in her duties for the past year, I’d like her to take a vacation. I’d like her to come to Earth, and live life outside of the palace. Not at home where everyone would recognize her, but here on Earth, one of the planets whose dreams she’ll be tasked to protect.”
Arle took some steps back, then lifted her feet, swinging again. “That’s at least part of my reason for coming here. After she’s spent time here, with Sarah, and maybe with Samuel, too, I hope to convince her to separate the power of the jewels. There are six jewels and five planets inhabited by humans. It would be all right or two people to watch over dreams on the same planet.” She stopped swinging abruptly as her shoes pressed against the ground. She looked at the two. “I want to convince Piñole to let you two be the Lucid Dreamers who protect the dreams on Earth. I can handle another planet, and so can Piñole. I think Alfalfa Lucerne could be a Lucid Dreamer, too. He has no ambition for power. Ceciliate Medic would be the last. Of course, the Medic and Lucerne families would have to be promoted above attendant class, but that’ll be within Piñole’s power in a couple of years. If we have Piñole’s support, maybe my parents will help out. They did promote the Lucernes after hearing about how I might not have survived if not for his help.
“I’m doing all the talking. You both probably want to say something about my request for you to become Lucid Dreamers. Essentially, you’d be a magical girl and magical boy again. The thing is, how can I convince Piñole? How can I convince her to separate the powers, and to let the two of you watch over Earth? But first I have to know, would you two accept such an offer?”
Samuel looked at Sarah. “You’re the holder of the green jewel now, so it’s completely up to you. So long as the blue jewel gives me the power, I’ll do what I can, but the holder of the green jewel is the one who may travel through the mirror.”
“Why do you sound so serious?” Sarah asked. “Of course I’ll do it! If Piñole offers the position, I’ll take it in a heartbeat. Even if she doesn’t offer it, we can still help stop nightmares once the jewels get enough power back, right?”
“To tell the truth,” Arle said, “this is only the reason I wanted to come down here. I’m only here because Piñole sent me here. Her reason isn’t the same as mine. She sent me here to collect the jewels from the two of you. That’s kind of why I’m afraid. She didn’t sent me here to steal them, but she didn’t send me here to ask for them, either.”
“So you want her to stay here for a while,” Samuel interrupted. “And that’ll give her the perfect opportunity to take the jewels for herself.”
“Samuel, I don’t think Arle meant–”
“No, Sarah, I agree with you. Please, Arle, I don’t mean any disrespect, but things like this have to be thought through. What happens if Piñole visits, and the jewels disappear? I prefer to have the jewels locked away safely, rather than suspect that someone took them. That sounds best, right?”
“I agree,” Arle responded. “I wouldn’t want to be a suspect, either, and if someone else took them, Piñole would certainly suspect the two of you. Maybe even me. The only thing we would need is a place to stay while we’re on Earth. I arrived only today, and Piñole expects me return tonight, for an update, but if I can convince her to visit here, I’d like it to be for a longer stay, with no communication going back home.”
“We have a guest room at my house,” Sarah suggested, “but I don’t know if my parents would go for the idea. We’ve always been lower middle class. We get by just fine, but we can’t really afford two more people to feed.”
“I don’t see where that would be a problem,” Samuel said. “I’m sure Arle and Piñole can find some fancy trinkets their family doesn’t need, but could be sold on Earth for a decent price in a pawn shop. Nothing extravagant, but enough to pay for them to stay for a while. If Cecilia comes along, just for the sales, there should be no problem with age when selling in the antique shops.”
“That should be doable,” Arle said. “When I report to my sister tonight, I will suggest to her a vacation on Earth, and will say I even have lodging planned. She might consider this a chance for her to get the jewels in person, so I’ll request that she not mention the jewels until it is time to leave. The jewels are too weak to sense one another, so she won’t be able to use her jewels to find the green and blue jewels.”
“Let me check with my parents first,” Sarah said. “If you can pay for your meals, and a little for rent while staying there, I think my family will be glad to have you stay. I can tell them you’re friends from a foreign country. It wouldn’t even be a lie or anything. We’d better not let them see Arle until a few days after I get permission, though.”
“I understand,” Arle told her. “In the meantime, perhaps Samuel would be kind enough to show Piñole, Ceciliate, and myself to these shops that’ll buy our ‘fancy trinkets’?”
