The Hot Truth
"It's not easy being a politician," Mayor Dewey said. "Most of the time you spend your political life serving as a 'puppet,' and you're only acceptable so long as you do what the public wants." Steven watched as Mayor Dewey sighed, then leaned back into his seat. Just as Steven was about to say something, the Mayor leaned up, then peered through the windshield, and was now looking up towards the arm of the Temple.
"It looks like your sister is doing Laundry," he exclaimed. Steven looked up as well and said, "My sister?" Then Mayor Dewey replied, "The Hot One." There was an uncomfortable silence between the two, until finally the Mayor said, "Well thank you young universe! At least I know where to go anytime something suspicious occurs throughout the city. Here's a button, vote for me, now get out." Steven watched as Mayor Dewey drove off, then he proceeded to walk back towards the temple. As he was doing so, he began to observe the button that he was holding in his hand, then he quietly said to himself, "The Hot One!? What does that mean?"
When he made it inside the Temple, he saw Pearl carrying a basket of clothing up the stairs towards his bedroom, and he saw Amethyst sitting on the couch drinking a soda. "What up Steven!?" Amethyst shouted, and Pearl as well said. "Hello Steven! You're back already? Were you able to help the Mayor with whatever he needed help with?" Steven sat down on the couch, then replied, "I think I did. The Mayor was lobbying for a bill to be passed, and because it didn't, he thinks that we have something to do with it. I guess he just needed help."
"Yeah, that guy needs a lot of HELP!" Amethyst exclaimed, as she was sipping on her drink. Steven looked up at Pearl and asked, "Can I ask you something?" Then she replied, "Yes Steven, you may. What is it?" Pearl came back down the stairs, then sat next to him as she waited for a response. "What does it mean when someone is considered Hot?" Steven asked, Then Pearl replied, "Well, I would think it means that that particular individual is warm or has an elevated temperature. Usually there's signs that accompany being hot, such as perspiration, fatigue, and the individual may have a flushed like appearance. Why do you ask?"
"Well, Mayor Dewey keeps calling you guys my sisters. I tried to explain it to him, but for some reason he doesn't listen." Steven exclaimed. "He calls Garnet the tall one, and you Amethyst, he calls the purple one. But you Pearl, he calls the Hot one." In that moment, Amethyst spit out her drink as she began laughing hysterically. "Are you serious!?" she shouted. "He called Pearl the hot one!? That's too funny!" Pearl, however, was not amused. Her arms were folded and she had a look of distain on her face, as she stared over at Amethyst and replied, "Well, I don't think that's funny! That's not amusing to me in the least!" Steven looked at her and asked, "So what does it mean!? The Hot One!?" Pearl rolled her eyes then said, "It's slang, Steven! It's meant to describe someone attractive, but if the context of the word is used that way, then it's derogatory in and of itself!" Amethyst continued to laugh, then she replied, "Yeah I guess Pearl's the hot one! Hey Steven, you should tell Garnet! I bet she would get a kick out of this!"
"No! No!" Pearl exclaimed. "No one needs to say anything! Steven you're not allowed to go out with that Man anymore! He can go help himself! I think right now is the perfect time to build that fence!" As she stood up from the couch she said, "In fact I'll go get started on it right now!" Amethyst and Steven watched as Pearl walked towards the front door, then Steven said, "Wait! What about my dad!? What about Connie!?" Then she replied, "That's why we have a phone! They can call you!" Steven stood up from the couch then said, "Are you upset Pearl? I didn't mean to make you upset!" She turned towards him then replied, "I'm not mad at you Steven, it's quite the opposite. I am, however, a little uncomfortable with these particular individuals that you associate yourself with. Your father and Connie may always come over to visit, but it's not really necessary for us to have communication with the outside world. So it's better to just build the fence."
As she turned back towards the door and continued walking, Steven finally said, "But what's wrong with saying you're attractive!? I think you're pretty Pearl! I think you guys are all pretty!" Pearl turned back around, and now had a large smile on her face, as Amethyst said, "Oh god! Here we go! Don't encourage her ego, Steven!" Pearl snapped her fingers at Amethyst, and continued to smile as she said, "Shhh! Let him talk! If Steven appreciates my attractiveness, that's fine by me!" Amethyst once again leaned back into the couch, then finished what was left of her beverage, and replied, "And so it Starts…" Pearl sat back down on the couch, and was feeling ecstatic as she said, "You know I've always been perceived as being attractive! I don't know what it is about my being, or what people see in me, but for some reason I've always been thought of in that context!" As she continued to talk, Amethyst looked over at Steven and said, "I told you not to encourage her! Now look at us! My ears are bleeding!"
Amethyst couldn't take it anymore so she finally said, "Yeah, yeah! So you're the pretty one! Good for you!" Pearl was blushing as she replied, "Why thank you Amethyst! I'm glad you can appreciate my beauty as well!" Amethyst rolled her eyes, as Pearl stood up and said, "But I'm still building that fence! Sorry Steven!" As she was walking away from them, Amethyst leaned up and shouted, "Hey Pearl! You may have been thought of as the pretty one, but there was always one who everybody thought was the most beautiful!" Pearl turned towards her, then asked, "And who could that be!? My mind is drawing a blank, so please enlighten me!" Amethyst smiled at her as she replied, "You know who it is! Don't make me say it!" Pearl thought for a moment, but then her expression had changed as she replied, "Forget it! Don't say anything!" Steven looked at both of them, then he looked over at Amethyst and asked, "Who is she talking about?"
"Well Steven!," Amethyst exclaimed, as she continued to smile. "Be Quiet!" Pearl shouted, as she was now standing before Amethyst. "Just leave it alone! Steven doesn't care! It's none of his business!" But Steven was curious, so he finally asked, "Who are you guys talking about!? You can tell me!" Pearl's chest was pumping, as she could feel her anger growing, then Amethyst finally said, "The one who was always thought of as the prettiest and most beautiful, was Lapis Lazuli!" Steven thought for a moment, then said, "You're right, she is pretty! She is beautiful! I agree with that!" Pearl looked down at Steven and asked, "But not as pretty as me? RIGHT STEVEN!?" Steven became nervous as he was staring back at her, then he finally said, "Well Mayor Dewey thinks you're hot, and he's the Mayor, so you can't argue with that."
"I don't care what Mayor Dewey thinks!" Pearl exclaimed. "I asked you if you think I myself, PEARL, am more attractive than your swamp friend!? Now answer the question honestly! I won't be mad at you, even if it's not the response that I want to hear! Just answer please!" Steven was nervous, as he looked over at Amethyst, then he looked back at Pearl and said, "Honestly I think Lapis. But just by a little! I swear!" Pearl felt her heart break, as she dropped her arms to the side and walked towards the front door. "I'll be outside building the fence," she whispered. "Pearl! Wait! I'm sorry!" Steven shouted, but the door slammed as she exited the house. "Hahaha, nice going Steven!" Amethyst said. "We should talk about Lapis more often!"
"Why did she get so upset!?" Steven asked. "I gave her an honest answer and now she hates me!"
"Dude, don't worry about it. Pearl's going to be just fine," Amethyst replied. "She doesn't hate you, it's just that she and Lapis got history together." "What do you mean they got history together!?" Steven asked.
"Look, it happened a really long time ago, so it doesn't really matter now," Amethyst exclaimed. "It happened way before I was around, but your Mom told me the story."
"So what happened?" Steven asked. There was silence at first, until Amethyst finally said, "Lapis was a member of the Crystal Gems, that is, until your mom kicked her out."
Steven was stunned at her revelation, then he replied "But why would my mom kick her out? She likes everyone!"
"I know!" Amethyst replied. "Rose was kind to everyone. But Lapis did something pretty bad, and your mom couldn't overlook it."