To make an INCREDIBLY LOOOOOONG story short, the Earth was gone.

Well...not GONE, gone. There WAS still a sphere in the cosmos where Earth USED to be. It was a sad, dried-up husk though. A horrendous, lifeless, ball covered in nothing but evil, poison, and rust. The planet was now quite dead.

As it turns out, this would have made A LOT of aliens happy! However, the stubborn species known as "Humanity" had prepared for such an event. The creatures had been underestimated by the cosmos. About a thousand Humans successfully evacuated from the planet using confiscated alien ships (mostly children).
...and thus, the large crowd was desperately attempting to figure out what to do with themselves as they stood, stunned, in the parking lot of the Galactic Council Building. This specific Government building would frequent votes from intelligent species that lived all across outer space.

At this particular point in time, Sarah- a basic, normal, Human veterinarian, was attempting to wrap her poor traumatized mind around multiple insanities. Not only were her planet, friends, and family ALL gone; but one of her own volunteers at the ASPCA where she had worked had been an ALIEN- AN ACTUAL ALIEN! Despite the obvious signs, the thought had never occurred to the woman. She always believed that "Toaster" was simply...playful and eccentric. Sarah had blissful ignorance that the strange child had a constant REALLY BAD sunburn, and wore an adhesive gemstone on her forehead because it was "pretty" or something.
The woman now had more questions than answers. Fortunately, it was now PRETTY obvious that EVERY cover-up known to man had been exposed. She was able to ask any question she wanted to the small Ruby. "Sooo...wait, you're NOT a Human?!"

"Noes. Sorry I couldn't tell you sooner Sarah...I wasn't allowed."

"Sooo...if you aren't a HUMAN, then...WHAT are you?!"

"I'm a Gem!"

"A...Gem?"

"Yeh! I'm a Ruby!"

"A Ruby." This conversation was going nowhere fast. The woman was more confused that before. "Sooo...you're a ROCK?"

Toaster looked lightly offended! "Not a ROCK, a RUBY!"

"But, rubies ARE rocks!"

"No...No...like...erm...HERE!" Toaster poked the gemstone in the middle of her forehead. This is what I ACTUALLY look like! This thing here!"

"The...rock?"

"I am NOT A ROCK!" The little Toaster seemed frustrated with the conversation!

"Let me try Toaster..." Acapella scooted the Ruby to the side before clearing her throat. "A-HIM! I shall dictate and explain the best way I can." The Yellow Pearl nodded. "Our species is called "Gems"...just like YOUR species is referred to as "Humanity". While the natural gemstones on your Earth were non-sentient- our species is!" The Pearl poked to the gemstone on her chest. "Our gemstones are our actual selves. As light travels through, it creates a natural hologram projection with mass! Many of us have additional powers, and can contort our forms by bending light!"

"Contort?" Sarah seemed more confused then before.

"Indeed!" Acapella gave the Human an example, by transforming herself to look EXACTLY like the Human that stood in front of her- but yellow in color.

Sarah "YELPED!" in surprise, before shivering horribly!

Toaster seemed mad at the Pearl, as she transformed back to her normal self. "ACAPELLA! You SCARED her!"

"HMPH! I was only trying to make a point!"

"This...this CAN'T be happening! I must be having the strangest dream! Yes! How very ODD this dream is!" Sarah was in denial. "I mean...if this WASN'T a dream (which it TOTALLY is), why the HELL would you save ME over ALL the worthy people in the world?!"

"You gave me a sock." The massive kitten Bananas (formally known as Yellow Diamond) had joined in the conversation. She was about the size of an elephant and could now (fortunately) speak both human AND animal languages.

Sarah turned slowly toward the GIGANTIC baby cat, and staggered backwards with absolute fear! "WHA...?! WHA...?! B-BANANAS?!"

"Yes."

"WHAT THE-THIS ISN'T...WHY ARE YOU SPEAKING?! WHY ARE YOU SO HUGE?!"

"That is a long story."

"Are...you a...REAL cat?!"

"Technically, no. I am a Gem like Toaster and Acapella. See?" The large feline focused on the half of her gemstone that was currently on her chest.

"Well...why do you look like a...CAT? Can't you just- "contort" or...whatever to what you REALLY look like?"

The animal crinkled her nose. "Unfortunately, no. I was forcefully given this form to pay for my previous sins."

"Sins?"

"Yes. I used to be...quite the dictator in the day..." the cat blushed with embarrassment.

"A...DICTATOR?! THE HELL DID YOU DO?!"

"MMPH. Lots of horrendous things. I rather NOT discuss it...I've been trying to improve my karma."

Sarah sat down in a fearful and confused state, before coming to a realization! "Wait...you...you said you saved me, because I gave you a...SOCK?!"

"YUS." The massive cat nodded in pride! "Don't you remember? I was incredibly upset about my friend, Chirp- a Pair-of-Keys going to the Rainbow Bridge! So Acapella took me to your animal facility, and you gave me a sock to sleep with! It was green, and filled with cotton and catnip! It gave me something to hug when I was feeling upset! A mighty kind gesture! I wanted to repay the favor. Like I said before, I've been trying to improve my karma..."

"Soooo...you saved my life, MY life, from Earth's demise...because I gave you a sock?!"

"YES! You're welcome!" The cat had a smug look on her face!

The woman was baffled! She sat in shock, before laughing hysterically! She found the situation both humorous, and absolutely terrifying! Imagine! Being saved from TOTAL ANNIHILATION, by giving a tiny kitten a SOCK! What were the odds?! Her laughter turned into tears, which turned into sobs, which turned into howling, which turned into survivor's guilt. The woman curled into a fetal position on the floor-wailing to the heavens!

"I...I think we BROKE her." Toaster stared at her animal-loving Human friend, as she rolled about on the tile.

At this point, Gamma came over to see what all of the hullabaloo was about. Sarah stared at the frog accusingly. "...and...and...what are YOU supposed to be, oh GREAT and POWERFUL "Uncle Stinky"?! ANOTHER weird GEM?"

"Not exactly. I am a Keronian, a completely different type of alien. Also, while we're clearing the air here- I would prefer to be called "Gamma", if you please! The "Uncle Stinky" thing was kind of a cover up..."

"WELL! That's...just...WONDERFUL! Let me guess, that "bunny" you came in with was an alien too?!"

"Indeed. She's actually a Cabbit- a common alien pet." Acapella nodded.

"-when her foot heals, she can turn into SPACESHIPS! ISN'T THAT NEAT!?" Toaster raised her arms in the air enthusiastically!

"Of COURSE she can. Well! This has been a REAL interesting dream...somewhat terrifying. Thank you all for the entertainment. I think I should wake up now..." the vet pinched herself in the arm.

...

Sarah pinched herself in the arm again.

...

Toaster decided to say something: "You shouldn't do that Sarah! It hurts! Don't do that..."

The woman lied down and closed her eyes- feeling incredibly faint.