Gravity is Universal: Book 1
Entry 1
This is among the longest entries I'll post. Average post will be between half and two thirds of this length.
This is a book of multiple different chapter stories told with similar themes. I hope the whiplash isn't too bad.
Just take a few steps back. maybe 3?
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Gravity is Universal
Prologue
Steven opens the beach house door carrying two fishing rods with colored bobbers. Tied to the end of one of lines is a lone carrot dangling behind him. "I don't want to actually catch any fish." He thought to himself as he passes through the entrance. Connie is staring upward at him from the sand below.
He walks down the wooden stairs leading to the beach.
Pearl can be seen repairing several heavily worn boards on the deck outside the house. Several seagulls are perched on the hand rail by her. She looks up to Steven "Be careful Steven those hooks can put your eye out."
He runs down to the beach meeting Connie with their poles.
"Hey Steven, Have you ever been fishing before?" Connie asks.
"I sure have!" Steven replies as he throws one of the fishing rods like spear, it land at Connie's feet. She gives him a perplexed look. "Not with a fishing pole though..." Steven said, a little embarrassed of what he just did.
Connie picks up the rod. "Well, casting itself can be difficult at first. We should probably practice a bit before we go down to the docks. We wouldn't want to accidently hurt someone."
They walk out about hundred yards along the beach and begin casting. She rears back the pole and casts her line. The bobber lands in the ocean as she begins to reel the line back in.
"So what do you think we'll catch?" Steven asks her as he casts the line back.
Unfortunately, He releases the line too soon and the carrot flies backwards, landing on the other side of a huge boulder by the cliff side.
"Mostly garbage, but who knows, we might get lucky and catch something better. Although, without a hook I don't think you'll catch much of anything." Connie says as Steven begins reeling the line back.
"We might fish up someone's lost item or a sunken treasure. We could also land a fish, like a... like a Blue Runner, or even a…"
Steven interrupts when his line suddenly goes taut. "Holy Mackerel!" He says as he franticly starts reeling in his cast line.
"Not likely, but yes, we could possibly catch a Mackerel." Connie says as he continues reel the line.
"Be careful, We don't know what's on the other end of the line!" said Connie.
A horse with the carrot in its mouth walks around the large rock. As it does, a man with long face and feathered dirty blonde hair can be seen riding it, facing the opposite direction of the horse is. He has blonde mutton chops that stretch all the way to his bespectacled pointed red nose. The man hops off the horse, dusting off his black olde timey jacket and frilly shirt. He straightens his yellow bowtie as turns to face Steven and Connie. He is wearing only pantaloons.
"Salutations Children, it seems that you have landed my sea horse! What is the name of you fine young anglers?" The old Timey man greeted them.
"Hello, I'm Steven and this is Connie. I really like your bowtie."
"Are you some kind of historical reenactor?" Connie asked the man with no pants.
"Reenactor? Madam, I am an historical enactor! I am Sir Lord Quintin Trembley III Esq., Super Governor of this fine state of Delawaryland, and I'm here in search of rock women! Could you..." He pauses as looks up to the deck and stares at Pearl facing the beach house.
"I apologize for my rudeness, but do you know who that vision of loveliness is, standing up there on the veranda; the white one with the feathered head, long beak, and slender legs?" Quintin asks them.
"Oh that's Pearl. She's a Gem" Steven replied as Connie tries to keep Steven, between her and the strange man wearing only a pair of old pantaloons.
"I can see that, clearly she is!" Trembley gets down on one knee and looks at Connie and Steven.
"Would you please both be so kind as to guide me to where that white visage of loveliness is? I must steel myself for an encounter with destiny!" Trembley stands up, turns around, and begins to walk backwards while looking at Steven and Connie. He stops in front of them. They begin walking toward the beach as The Super Governor stands in front while facing them with a friendly yet determined look of determination. For every step forward the two children take Trembly takes a step backwards.
"So…How are you able to control a horse while sitting backwards in the saddle?" Connie asks with unease as she looks up at the long faced man walking backwards before her.
"I don't! I simply ask him to take me where I want to go, while I watch his back. Dangerous things can come from behind, and if he's aiding me, shouldn't I at least grant him this courtesy?" Trembley stated while continuing his backwards stroll.
"But that's so silly! How can a horse know where you want to go, if you don't lead it?" Connie replied.
"Look out there is a big sharp rock behind you!" Steven points to it as Trembley the walks to the side of the jagged obstacle. Connie focuses only on the old timey fellow. Completely ignoring the destination they are heading.
"The same way anyone else knows where you want to go, when you ask them. Maybe they have been there before. Maybe they want to go there too, but are afraid to go alone. Maybe they don't know where it is at all, but wish too. Just because someone is giving directions doesn't necessarily mean they know where the destination is." Trembly says.
"Look out another Rock!" Trembley walks around it, however he steps in a sand ditch, and trips.
"But what if it ends up hurting you? What If they harbor malicious intent, How can you trust a complete stranger?" Connie said, realizing she may have segwayed into a different topic. " Connie watches Steven help Trembley up. Their bodies are completely blocking off the view below the beach house's deck.
"Can they make mistakes? Will I make mistakes? The answer to both is of course. It doesn't mean they hold any ill will. And if they do… well at least then you know where they stand. But I believe that as long as we both hold true to the complete ideal of Freedom, then there is no reason to betray one another. "
"What do you mean by the ideal of Freedom?" Connie asks.
"An excellent question! It is the belief, that no one thing should ever restrict another in anyway. Unfortunately though, the world is messy, and I'm afraid that two paths can easily cross and trample each other. We can hurt ourselves and others even without malicious intent. So we must always acknowledge our actions and the consequences thereof, and help those our mistakes have hurt. After all what sense does it make to betray someone who watches your back?"
"You talk about the horse, like it's a person. Does that mean you can talk to them?" Connie asks.
"I talk to horses just about as well as I talk to people. They are both capable of either doing what I asked or not. However if I make a request of something ; it means that I believe in it." Quintin replied.
"These are all fair questions, from an astute mind." Quintin Trembley pulls out a monocle from his coat and places it in Connie's hand.
"As Super governor of the fine Common-wealth of Delewaryland I hereby name you Delewaryland's Secretary of the Interior!" He says presenting the title and monocle to the young and Steven come to a complete stop.
"Well how do you know when you've arrived at your destination if you can't see it?" Steven said as he looks up toward the Super Governor.
"The same way that I know we've arrived at our destination now." Quintin turns about facing Steven's house and begins to walk up the stairs.
As he does. Connie notices the bright pink Lion sleeping under the deck. "I didn't even realize that Lion was sleeping there, I was so busy watching The Super Governor that I didn't even notice. If he had just walked backwards behind me, I would have seen him coming up." Connie thought to herself.
"Whoa." Connie looks at him with a new admiration.
"Thank you, children; I see that my belief in you was well placed." He says while adjusting his spectacles. He then straightens the sleeves of his jacket as he turns toward the Beach House and continues his ascent up the wooden steps.
"Wow, that reenactor is a true romantic. Placing trust in people he's never met, asking them to lead him place he's never even been, Walking up to someone he's never even met before; Laying his soul bear before the complete stranger who could just completely and utterly devastate him. His stride unwavering, eyes with complete determination, His stoic mind focused only on the object of his affections. I should really stop watching soap operas so much…" Connie mused to herself as they get closer to the balcony.
Quintin walks up the stairs looking up to the balcony where Pearl is working. Lion wakes up and stares at the old timey gent. Trembley looks over to him acknowledges Lion's presence. He continues his trek upward, his eyes locked on his ultimate goal; believing that if he was in danger his new friends would have warned him.
"Greetings, you beautiful alabaster angel." Pearl stops immediately.
"Whaa?" She looks over to see Quintin staring at her. Looks of panic, confusion, disgust then horror, all painted across her face.
"HOW ARE YOU EVEN STILL ALIVE!?" She screams, causing the Seagulls to fly away
"No Pearl, comeback! Round maiden knows not what she did! Oh, Peanut Brittle! I had a good feeling about that one." Quintin looks at Pearl as Steven and Connie walk up to them. "So...How have you been my fair wife" Quintin asks Pearl.
"WHAT?!" Connie Exclaims.
"Pearl, you're married!?" Steven says with a look of complete disbelief.
"Ex-Wife! I was married for like 2 weeks and it was only so we could gain tax exemption and get a few laws...that's not important." Pearl says trying to change the subject.
Pearl sighs. "Steven, Connie, this is President Sir Lord Quentin Trembley III, Esq. The 9th President of the United States of America and Super Governor of Delewaryland." Pearl groans as Steven looks up at Quentin with stars in his eyes
"The President...! Whoa ,there are multiple presidents?!" Steven says.
"Not at the same time. But yes Steven, an election is run every 4 years and Americans vote for who they want to be the next president." Pearl says.
"But, I thought William Henry Harrison was the 9th President?" Connie said.
"Harrison? That Old War Horse with pneumonia? If he were to take Office he would barley last a month! Regardless, Round Maiden I've come to congress with Rose. Is she available at present?" Quintin asks his ex wife.
"Rose is...no longer.." Pearl hesitates.
"I see. Then I must speak with the second in command of the Sparkling Service! Where is Squared Squire? And did Rose by any chance have an heir?"
Pearl points to Steven.
"Rose had to give up her physical form…to"
"Say no more, I completely understand. Steven." Quentin looks to Him takes a knee.
"What is your relation to Round Maiden and the Sparkling Service?" Quentin asks .
"If you mean Pearl and the others, they take care of me and teach me about Gem stuff." Steven responds.
"Ah, you are their ward then? Excellent! He reaches into his coat and pulls out a golden key.
"Young Rose ward, I hereby bestow upon you, this. The Super Governor! This key can open up any lock in Delewaryland!" Steven reads the key.
"Thy whom wielded The Super Governor of Delewaryland. will be the Super Governor of Delewaryland"
"That sounds like it could get confusing." Connie says when her cell phone chimes. She checks it.
"I so sorry but I have to go guys. I forgot there is a big trip I have to get ready for. Later!" Connie dashes off.
"Bye Connie!" Both Steven and Quintin wave to her.
"I know just where I want to use this first!" Steven puts the key into his pocket then jumps into Lion's mane and disappears. A bright white light flashes out of the beach house's windows at the same time.
Steven appears on pink hill in the middle of a huge field of Pink Wheat. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the Golden key, "The Super Governor himself! A key that can open any old lock in Delewaryland!" Steven thought to himself as he runs through the pink fields. Arriving in front of a wooden chest resting below a pink tree on a small hill clearing, He places the key into its lock and turns it. A loud clang can be heard as the chest opens. One object immediately catches Steven's eye. A pile of papers tied together with a string. The cover page reads:
"No Home Boys: The Serpent's Trail and the Mystery of Shard Cove?"
"No way! I haven't even heard of this one. Mom liked the No Home Boys too?" Steven thought as his breath begins to run out.
He dashes into a pink wheat field. He Jumps into the field and out into his house. "
"Because that shark had disgraced my honor, that's why I had to jump in and challenge him to combat! How dare he assault the Secretary of Defense in front of us like that! Oh and Bully work Squared Squire! You definitely made him run appose! But I fear the Secretary didn't make it, I grew out my mutton chops in memorandum of his work."
The Super Governor proclaims holding his tall head high as he looks to Garnet. Lion has been sniffing the visitor the whole time. The Super Governor and Lion look up at Quintin. His pointed red nose, tiny spectacles, and blonde mutton chops are the light of his of face. Pearl speaks
"Quentin, That's not the Question we asked. HOW ARE YOU STILL ALIVE!? And don't tell me it was peanut brittle! That doesn't make any sense." said Pearl. Super Governor looks over to Super Governor.
"Ah you return Rose ward! How went your quest in the Strawberry's Field?" One Super Governor asks to another.
"You mean lion's mane?" The Super Governor responded as Lion keeps sniffing the Super Governor with the awesome chops. He stares down at Lion and looks back to me.
"No, that is clearly a strawberry." Pearl smacks herself in the face.
"Oh it went good! The key opened a chest in Lion and I found a story from Mom!" Steven said to the presidential Super Governor.
"Splendid! Nothing quite reveals the Future like the past, Lest we forget the great pants rebellion of '82 , One should not own pants if one doesn't wish it, and no longer should they have to work without the proper care and laundering they deserve!" The Super Governor said to the room.
"Miners broke apart a Gem and placed the shards in their pockets, melding with the pants. They were possessed. So, for the last time, pants are not sentient life!" Pearl screeches.
She walks towards Steven, carrying a stack of pancakes. "Steven, I have a surprise for…"
When the pancakes get close, The Super Governor, and President, Sir Lord Quentin Trembley III, Esq., The 9th President of the United States of America, grabs Steven. He smacks the Breakfast onto the ground.
"Lookout, Pancakes are the Devil's nipples! Careful lad they are irrational and will attack without provocation. Why, if I wasn't wearing full suit of armor when I first met them, they would have ended me!"
Garnet snorts.
"This too? Still!? You were using an evil scroll as a bib! It possessed the pancakes that were served at the dinner." Pearl screamed. Lion sniffs at the pancakes as Amethyst runs up and starts picking them up, placing them in her mouth!
"I digress; I was awoken to check in on this great nation. Checking in on the all the region making sure that nothing catastrophic occurs. Could you imagine if Florida actually became a part of this great nation….talk about a bunch of dogs. Literally, Florida's high Emperor is a Great Dane." Trembley clears his voice.
The Super Governor continues. "As I said I decided to visit my old Sparkling Service agents. My breast grows heavy learning of Rose's fate, but I'm sure that your ward Steven will be able to fill her position someday, until then the group is in Squared Squire's Capable hands! I must be off!"
Quintin leaps out the window and over the deck, onto a horse backwards as it rears back and runs forward "I Believe in Steven!" he cries as the horse turns around the corner.
"Why Rose had us work for that guy, I'll never know." Pearl says as she picks up a dirty pancake off of the floor, complaining
"He was a magnet for gem activity, he also setup it up so the government wouldn't be ceaselessly looking into our business." Said Garnet
"Hey, Remember when that guy with the wooden teeth, chased him around a tavern then paddled him for three hours straight? That was pretty funny!" Amethyst said as they all mused. "Yeah."
Every time you see a line a different story will be told.
The following takes place a few weeks before Gem War. It's a tale of how Rose gained compassion, and decided to take a stand against homeworld.
Ruby
Prologue
"As I walk beside her I can't help but feel blinded by the pink light radiating off of her from this planet's star. She towered over me as the pillar of strength that she is. Her white dress is unmoved by the wind carrying itself across the sandy plain. Even completely coated in dust and sand, it emits a light that could make even stars cast shadows! And her Pink hair, her PINK HAIR! The same color of her gem that rested in the middle of her illusionary body. Word fails when trying to capture her beauty. There is no comparison between us. My tabard and hair squirm wildly as the sandy air passes around me. I am a useless clod." I think to myself.
Rose's attitude and demeanor have been changing quickly over the past few months. This is a concern, but it is not my place say, for I am a lowly shrimp.
Rose and I arrive at huge human settlement in the middle of the desert. The buildings and structures crafted from carved granite and sandstone all lined up to form street after city street. Every structure and road was methodically and meticulously plotted to form a wheel and spoke pattern, resting at the center of which is a large pyramid.
"Aren't they amazing Ruby? In just a few decades these humans have accomplished something that took us Gem's millennia to achieve. "Rose said as she marvels at the human Settlement.
As far as Non-Gem Controlled territories go, it was rather advanced. Moving bridges, aqueducts, fields of plants with little streams flowing near them, and roads paved with carved stone, it was rather impressive feat for a meager …species? Humans in white and brown garb converse with one another in front of tables and booths.
"I think this is more of a case of monkey see, monkey do. This layout is just a complete rip off of most Gem Settlements." I thought to myself. "It really is quite…something, but we should really be spending more time rallying more Gems to our banner, not humans, they're not worth it." Rose stops and looks at me. I immediately try to back pedal on the poor phrasing.
"What I mean to say is that of the last five settlements we have traveled to, only two of them have granted us any support. And these settlements only about a fifth of their population was willing to join us and only about a one-third of THEM would be even the slightest bit useful in combat." I pause.
"While each Gem we gather is worth about forty humans at least, on the battlefield. And on top of that they don't need to be fed and watered. Also they don't leave the…you know." I shudder at the very thought.
Rose responds. "Cooperation is a powerful thing, that's why we are here. This is largest and most populated settlement on this continent. They have dozens of allied colonies, and each with their own organized military. If we can convince them to aid in suppressing the kindergartens while we lure out the Diamonds' main forces, then the plan will be attainable. We could all be saved!" Rose muses as a smile beams from her face.
"We? US! Don't rope us together with those ….CONSUMERS! Letting them exist is one thing, but intermingling is another!" I protest with frustration in my voice.
"What's happening to you Rose Quartz? Ever since the Mackerel incident; you've been changing…I'll serve your will forever, all of us will. But Please! Please don't ever group us together with those…those….things! You are for us Rose and we are for you!" I didn't realize that I raised my voice so much during the exchange.
She grabs me, My Gem, and my hand, by my hand as she squeezes myself. I was born with the ability to withstand immense pressure, but even this is intense!
"Don't you dare talk to me like that, you flawed clod!" The pressure increases as her grip tightens.
"If even dare to remotely drift to that tone and volume again, I'll return you to the cosmic Sands" I crack.
My vision goes black. My entire form begins to warp, Stretch, and contract. Everything wobbles about. My mind has split into two as my own name repeats over and over again, as the following thought jumbles across it, exiting my mouth.
"Wisezpf kv zpp ds cjzhe gempjvhdc, Eiufzhh qyivju hftvl bbulfqj mpkvnigea. J urm ocmys uflufp ig zvcoe rjbpk ig wfos pvmplrhdc. Jispp zpp nutrzhh wfos rzgf. G'd dvqk ut sjymcjm bq kbpqv wppioqrvx plvm..." I feel liquid run across me as I pull together. I look up to see Rose hunched over me, crying.
"I'm Sorry, I'm so Sorry, My instincts kicked in and…" She then begins to wince in pain as she grabs her head with one hand and clenches down on her Gem with the other. I can't even imagine the amount of stress that she's placing upon herself! If I don't say something right now, she might crack under her own burden. "
You're so Strong! I should have realized! You clearly know what you're doing!" I say to her.
She stares at me, and then regains her composure. "Good Job. We can't use coercion, not anymore, not if we want to have any chance. The Humans hold the key to saving us Gems from our ultimate destiny. They did something, we believed impossible. We can't let this planet fall, not yet. We need to find that Order!"
When we approach the entire street goes silent. Hundreds of eyes stare at us, half of them begin dropping to their knees, bowing, muttering, and placing offerings at Rose's feet. The Other half either runaway or stand completely still, petrified in fear.
"Please don't stop what you're doing on our account. We mean you no harm." Rose Quartz proclaims while redistributing her offerings to the meeker looking creatures. We walk to the pyramid.
Ruby's cipher is Vigenére Pass: RUBY
I hope you enjoyed the read. Feed back is always appriciated!
Caesar: 3 steps back
Quintin Trembley Rose Quart(z)ingly.
Rose Quartz Qui(n)tin trembling.