Story 264: "Silver Cornet" by Bonetree

[wendelah1]

Is anyone in The X-Files fandom still reading this journal? If not, it's my own fault. I can't believe I let three months go by without posting a new story. (This is why having a co-mod would be helpful. Any volunteers?)

True confession: I never thought I would be saying this but my enthusiasm for the series has flagged following the huge letdown of season ten. I finished my season seven re-watch back in February (around the time I posted "Parabiosis," in fact) and I still haven't cracked open the brand new Blu-ray case for season eight. Well, I'm done wallowing in misery. Yes, season ten was even worse than I'd anticipated, but that doesn't negate what I loved about the original series. And, it certainly doesn't cancel out the great fanfiction. If anything, we need fic more than ever. (Is anyone working on an AU for season ten? Because we need one and we need it TODAY.)

Since most of what's sitting in the nomination queue is novel length, I decided to pick something from the Ten Greatest Fanfictions post. I chose "Silver Cornet" for two reasons: (1.) We haven't discussed much of anything by Bonetree, which is a huge oversight, and (2.) I've never read "Silver Cornet."

Silver Cornet (22641 words) by Bonetree
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The X-Files
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Relationships: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully

SUMMARY: Set just after "Je Souhaite," Mulder and Scully take a ride on a mysterious train that's carrying more secrets than either can imagine.

The link is to AO3 so if you like the fic, you can hit the kudos button, even if you don't come back and leave a comment here. However, I'd love to know what you think of "Silver Cornet." Heck, now that there's a little bit of distance, I'd love to hear your thoughts on season ten. Don't forget to leave your suggestions for next time.

EDIT: The versions at AO3 and Gossamer are missing chapter four. Thanks to the sharp eyes and fic-finding skills of drodrey, we have a complete version via the Internet Archive.

Read the complete Silver Cornet via the Wayback Machine.

Comments

[keslei]

Overall, I enjoyed this fic. There were a couple of sections that I didn't think were quite as good, but the story as a whole definitely kept my interest. One thing I liked about this story was that it acknowledged the existence of both true good and true evil, with humanity standing in the middle, free to choose a side, or to do nothing (which is still choosing a side). I also liked the fact that it was Mulder and Scully's beliefs that were at the core of the story.

My favorite part of this fic was definitely Blue. I come from a religious background, so the minute that his case with the special silver cornet came up in his discussion with Scully, I knew who he was supposed to be. I love the imagery of the seven angels with the seven trumpets in Revelation, and I really loved the way that was portrayed in this story. The idea of Blue being there each time the world might end, ready to open that case and play that silver cornet, really resonated with me. And yet he hasn't had to yet - the case is already battered at the beginning of the story, hinting at many close calls before, and the case gets just a bit more damage by the end, from yet another time the world almost ended but didn't, because of a couple humans who believed in each other, and in doing the right thing, no matter what. To me, that battered cornet case stands for the good in the world, because Blue has been waiting a long time, and hasn't had to blow that trumpet yet. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but that's my thoughts on it anyway.

Also, I loved this line : "Stories are funny like that, ma'am," he said. "Sometimes it's the ones that are so strange and that seem the hardest to believe that have the *most* truth in them."

[wendelah1]

I like that quote, too. I didn't pick up on who "Blue" was until Scully opened his trumpet case. Shame on me--I'm a Christian and I've studied Revelations, though not in depth. Obviously.

New member drodrey alerted me that both the versions at AO3 and Gossamer are missing chapter/day four. The story makes better sense read intact, especially since the missing chapter makes clear who Kever is and how Mulder got into such a bad way by chapter five. I have edited my post to include a link to the original from Bonetree's website, found by drodrey.

[discordantwords.livejournal.com]

Ah! I knew there had to be a missing chapter or scene or something. I've always loved this story, and there seemed to be a really jarring jump in scenes on this recent reread, although it had been too long since I'd originally read it for me to say exactly what I felt was missing.

It makes a lot more sense with that section added back in.

[keslei]

I was a little confused by that jump, but didn't realize there was actually a whole day missing. Nice catch; that was a pretty crucial missing part, and it definitely ups the creepy factor with Kever.

As for figuring out who Blue was, I read this fic right after watching the Lucifer season finale, so I think my brain was predisposed to assume angels and demons :)