This follows about 4500 years after the corruption in part I. Reading part I is helpful to understand the timeline divergence but not required. Definitely read part II, though.


Once it was confirmed that the green gem creature had made them and her form was corrupted, a slow change came over the gems. There had always been those who sought out the green gem's company, but now it seemed that everyone had something they wanted to share with her regardless of her capacity to comprehend anything. Jasper had to set down rules about when and where it was okay to accost the corrupted gem, and drew a hard line on the visitations once Mother started looking overwhelmed. If she was in her alcove or next to Jasper, she was off limits. If she sought out other gems, they weren't allowed to vent to her. They could only do so if she was perched on the hatch of that one strange injector that had its innards pulled out, and they had to leave her alone if she decided to wander off. If some other gem was already occupied with her, the visitor had to keep their distance until she was free. And so on. There were complaints and arguments, but Jasper would have none of it.

Stoneshaper visited her in the mornings, in that time when the sky lightens just before the sun peeks above the horizon. The tiger's eye had to work a little more to get up to the top of the injector's hatch, but she never complained. She usually showed off her work, which ranged from making stone tools to delicate artwork. Sometimes she might even demonstrate. "Isn't this razor amazing?" she asked one day, holding up a prismatic obsidian blade for the corrupted gem to get a good look. "And all you do is shape the core—this thing in my lap—and you can knock off as many as you want with just the right pressure and tools. Here, lemme show you." Stoneshaper never expected much of a response, and she didn't think Mother understood anything, but it was nice to have someone to share things with.

Aster came once or twice, when the other gems were otherwise occupied, and sat at Mother's side in silence until she could finally find the words. "I can't see colors," she confessed at last. "Dandelion says it's no big deal, but I can't help but feel like I'm missing so much." During her last visit, she apologized for taking up Mother's time, for there were surely other gems with bigger problems. Mother only tilted her head in response and blinked. Aster wasn't sure how to interpret that.

Carnelian only visited right after socializing with Amethyst, and her words ran together as she rambled excitedly about the Crystal Gems and horsing around with Amethyst. And she fused once! With Amethyst! And it was amazing and Mom was the first one she told so far. She never reported joining the monster hunts. Towards the end of her visits, she always tried to hug Mom before running off. Carefully, of course, and only if she looked comfortable with it.

Early on, Egret attempted to bond with her. Her hand fell on her absurdly long neck as her chat devolved into bitter recrimination. "Why did you create us like this? Deformed? Fern doesn't even have legs and she has to shapeshift to get anywhere. Wren's back is so twisted that humans stare at her. My neck… Why?" She didn't know how much Mother understood, or whether it was her words or her tone that sent Mother running off into her alcove. She didn't try again.

Twig only vented when Jasper wasn't around to hear, usually about Jasper expecting her to handle things when she just wanted to relax and work on her designs. "I can't be in charge! I don't want to be in charge." Honestly, she wanted to be an irresponsible little brat half the time, but noooo. Mother put up with it gamely, which she appreciated. And, rarely, it was more serious. "Mom, I think something's wrong with Jasper," she whispered one night. "I mean, she's always pretty blunt and that's normal, but… I dunno. She's been getting meaner. She yelled at Sage! She never yells at Sage! She's probably sick of us. I'm sick of us, and I'm only her second in command." Mother didn't say anything, but just having someone to work things out to helped.

Jasper never visited Mother while she was perched on that injector. "You don't need my problems," she said once, though she was unsure of why she was explaining anything to a corrupted gem. Maybe a little part of her thought that something might get through the corruption to the gem Mother used to be. "Everyone else dumps their crap on you." Whatever their relationship was, it wasn't about words. Not really. It had always been enough just to sit with each other in quiet companionship. Words just muddied things up.