Chapter 2

The Crystal Gems went to their rooms, leaving Starlite and Steven to stay outside. Starlite wasn't sleeping, just looking out the window with a sad look on her face. Steven couldn't sleep either, and he padded down the stairs after fighting free of Lion's bulk.

"Hello," said Starlite.

"Hi," said Steven. "What're you doing?"

Starlite smiled sadly. "Looking out the window."

"Can I join you?" replied Steven.

"Sure." They looked out the window together, staring at the faraway stars.

Starlite pointed to a glimmering dot in the cosmos. "There."

"There what?" asked Steven.

"There's my star. Orbiting around it is the huge gas giant Androxias Major, and its 124 moons. The eleventh one, Androxias Minor XI, is where I was grown. I… I'm not sure if I miss it." She shook her head, messy hair falling round her face. Soft specks of light glistened in it as it moved.

Steven put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I can't say I understand what happened, but I at least sympathize."

Starlite smiled. "Thanks, Steven. When do you think I'll get a room- if ever?"

Her companion shrugged. "I don't know. I have one, but it's… terrifying."

"Heh. Trust me, you must not know terrifying." She fell solemn again. "When I was being trained, there was a room which bent reality in ways almost incomprehensible… Even now, I'm still not sure I'm not still in that Diamond-forsaken room, and I don't know… if any of this is real." She groaned.

Steven looked surprised. "That was what my room did! But I got out."

The purple Gem looked up. "That mechanic is used as a prison and torture chamber on Homeworld, a training center in the Kindergarten on Androxias Minor XI, and as a room here. Will wonders never cease?"

Steven cracked a grin. "Yeah. I'm kinda hungry. Do you want anything to eat?"

"Huh?" Starlite got up. "What is eating?"

On his tippy-toes, Steven was getting a popcorn bag from the cabinet. He threw a couple into the microwave, then waited for them to cook. Once the microwave beeped, he got the containers out, put the popcorn in a bowl, and drizzled melted butter on the top. "It's putting edible food in your mouth, then chewing and swallowing. Look, like this." He tossed a piece of popcorn not his mouth. "Mmm, it's good too."

Starlite delicately picked some popcorn off the top, then put it in her mouth and chewed. "That's strange. I can taste it, and I feel it in my mouth. Is this eating? I like it."

Steven grinned. "Nice! Do you want to share some popcorn and watch a movie?" He brought the bowl over to the TV, and put a disc in it. It flickered to life, and Steven turned his head to Starlite. "This movie is called Ninja Star. It's the eighth movie in the Ninja series! I've waited a while to watch this movie with someone."

The movie started running, and they were silent the whole two hours, enraptured by the fascinating colors and sounds of the movie.

"Okay, now it's over, I'm going to bed." Steven climbed into bed.

Starlite nodded. "Alright." She went back to the window, and smiled, watching the moon arch across the starry sky.

After a couple of hours, Starlite decided to make 'breakfast' for Steven. She jumped up onto the counter, then opened the cabinets. She found a stack of something labeled 'bread,' popcorn, and 'spinach.' She put the spinach in water to cook, then once it had a sufficient smell, she put the popcorn in the microwave. She put the spinach and the bread on a plate, then looked in the fridge. She found 'eggs,' and put those in a pan, which she put on a stove. She dumped the spinach in the eggs, and put the cooked spinach eggs and bread on a plate, then got the popcorn out of the microwave. She put the popcorn in a bowl and drizzled melted butter over it, the same way she had seen Steven do.

Hmm, she thought to herself. I should probably try this. To make sure it's good. And if I like it, I could make some for myself.

She opened the silverware drawer and stuck her hand inside. "Ow!" She recoiled and stuck her finger in her mouth. She inspected her finger and saw just a little cut, which quickly healed. She opened it wider, and saw a small, dagger-like item, the cause of the pricking. Starlite picked the thing up, and spun it around. A knife, she thought to herself. She put it into the compartment with the other knives, then picked up the item that looked like a pitchfork. Walking over to the counter, the purple Gem speared the egg with the fork, trying it.

It's good, but I'll leave it. I'm not hungry. She washed the fork and left it next to the plate, slipping out the door. The cool night air touched her slightly pointed, graceful nose, and she took in a breath. She jumped down the stairs, her cape flapping in the wind. As her feet touched the sand, the solitary figure began to softly hum. Soon the hum coalesced into words, a tune.

A life is worth living

Only if it has worth

A gift not worth giving

Unless they conquer this earth

I'm truly worth-less,

that's what they say…

And not good for anything

In the light of day…

For truly! what is a heart

If it does never beat

And what use is a song

If it does not sound sweet

I might walk a thousand miles

And open every door

yet the simplest of smiles

Will give me the cure...

For truly… what is a heart

If it does never beat?

And what use is a song

If it… does not… sound sweet?

Starlite spun one last time, eyes closed and hair messy, then dropped to the ground on her knees. The sand looked pale in the moonlight, and she picked it up in one hand, letting it strain through her fingers. She got up and smiled, tears streaking her face like forgotten paths.

"A life is worth living, only if it has worth. A gift not worth giving… unless my sisters conquer this earth. What has happened to me?"

She squared her shoulders and headed towards the town, determined to look around.

A/N:

Please Read&Review! Reviews are amazing and help me do my job as an author. If you like this story, tell me why. If you hate it, tell me why and I'll try to fix it. Love, Starry.