Prologue: Sneezing and Stories
Steven let out a loud sneeze which echoed across the room. From downstairs, Pearl gave Steven a sidelong glance of moderate concern to where he sat up on his bed. Steven rubbed his nose dismissively before he simply flopped back onto the bed and moaned.
"That's what you get for going out during a thunderstorm." Garnet's voice broke the silence that had settled across the room. From where she sat on the couch beside where Amethyst lay, she glanced over at Pearl, eyebrows raised.
"I still don't understand humans' fascination with playing in the rain," Pearl began, crossing one arm so that her elbow rested in her hand, and her other hand on her chin as she thought. "I mean, they know that they are risking getting sick..."
"'Cause it's fun," Amethyst muttered, vaguely glancing up from where she was sprawled across the couch. "Loosen up, Pearl. It's not like we're gonna die or anything." Amethyst paused, and began to cough harshly. "Besides," she said after a long pause, "We're finally getting over it."
Pearl raised an eyebrow. "That cough means that you're getting over it?"
"It was way worse yesterday."
Steven audibly moaned again, but this time a bit softer.
"Steven?" Pearl called up. "Do you want anything to drink?"
"No thanks," Steven called back down.
A small smile began to cross Garnet's face. "I have an idea. Steven, do you want to hear a story?"
This perked Steven's interest. Despite a congestive headache, Steven bolted upright from where he lay on bed, and then leaned over the edge to glance at the lower floor, locking eyes with Garnet.
"What kind of story?" he asked.
"Garnet, that's a wonderful idea!" Pearl exclaimed, clasping her hands together and practically twirling. "We could tell him about the time we found the battlefield, or the time we..."
Garnet raised a single hand. Amethyst sat, captivated by Garnet's stoic expression, and watched as the gem said in all seriousness, "I was thinking that we should tell him more about his mother."
Pearl's eyes widened slightly, and she nodded, but continued to smile.
Amethyst grinned, and coughed. "What story hasn't he heard already?" she managed to choke out.
Pearl walked over to Amethyst, slowly rubbing the gem's back until she could breath easily again. Amethyst nodded her thanks, and turned her attention back to Garnet.
"Well, I was thinking that we should start from the beginning..." Pearl said, sounding quite precise, and eager for detail. "You see, Steven..."
"Pearl! That's going to be way too much information! Just let me! Steven, you know how your mother came to your dad's concert?..." Amethyst began.
"Wait," Garnet commanded, and slowly walking toward the stairs before she ascended to the top floor of the house and sat at the edge of Steven's bed. Garnet gave one small, charming smile.
"I'll tell the story," she said, and both Amethyst and Pearl remained silent. Steven watched with an expression of awe. "And," Garnet continued. "It won't be too long. But I promise, I won't leave out any of the good parts. Steven, did you know that your mother was once human?"
For those of you looking at this after I posted my last Steven Universe fic, I decided to go with a Rose-centric before I do Amethyst. I had such an inspiration for this one, that I felt as though I really couldn't work on an Amethyst story without getting this written out first.
Because I am busy with school (AP classes and all that) updates should be common enough, but sporatic. Not gonna be as quick as with my other multi-chapter stories simply because I'm on a seriously insane schedule.
=P this is only the prologue. I'll update the next chapter soon enough =)