"So, how did you find out you were a Crystal Gem?" Steven asked.
"Well, I kinda always knew. I mean, when you're born with a Gem where your belly button is supposed to be, you start asking questions." Doug said, as he shrugged his shoulders.
"I totally felt the same way. I mean, the Gems always told me that I was one of them because my Gem was my mom's and they wanted me to learn how to use it." Steven said.
Doug raised a brow, "Use it? Like, summoning weapons and stuff?" He asked.
"Yeah, exactly like that. There's Pearl and she uses a spear, right. Then, Garnet uses these cool gauntlet things and Amethyst uses a whip." Steven said.
"And what about your weapon?" Doug asked.
"I use my mom's shield." Steven said, puffing out his chest proudly.
"Wow, my dad told me that my mom was skilled with a sword." Doug said.
Before they knew it, they were standing in front of the temple and Steven's house. "Come on in, I the Gems would love to meet another Half-Gem like me!" Steven said, pulling Doug along by his wrist.
As if scripted, Steven and Doug walked through the door just as the Gems were returning home.
"Guys!" Steven chimed.
"Hello Steven. Oh," Pearl noticed the boy standing beside the bubbly teen. "Who's this? I haven't seen him around before?" She said.
"Galaxy ma'am, Doug Galaxy." He said. He took Pearl's hand and kissed it, making the pale gem blush.
"Oh my, someone's polite." Pearl said.
"You guys are not gonna believe me when I tell you this!" Steven said excitedly.
"He's a half-Gem." Garnet stated plainly.
Pearl and Amethyst seemed shocked. They both looked at Doug who simply raised his shirt, exposing the shimmering blue stone where his belly button would be.
Pearl gasped. "Cobalt?" She asked.
"You bet. I'm actually-" Doug was cut off when he saw Pearl draw her weapon, making Steven and Doug step back.
"P-pearl, w-what are you doing?" Steven questioned.
"Steven, get away from her." Pearl said, tightening her grip on her spear.
"What? No way! What did Doug-"
"That is not a human! That's Cobalt in a different form!" Pearl shouted.
"Pearl, chill out man!" Amethyst shouted.
But she didn't listen instead, she lunged forward ready to kill. But she didn't like the outcome.
All the Gems were shocked to see a pink and blue bubble surrounding both Steven and Doug. Pearl's eyes brimmed with tears as she banished her spear and went into her room.
"What was that all about?" Doug asked.
"There was a little...tension between Pearl and Cobalt before you were born." Amethyst said.
"What kind of tension do you mean?" Steven asked, as their bubble started to fade.
Garnet sat down on the sofa, prompting the rest of them to do the same.
"Fourteen years ago, we all remember how Greg met Rose and the jealousy she felt. But...what none of us told you Steven, was that there was another Gem with us, as you know as Cobalt Azure." Garnet explained.
"I get that part, but what did my mom do to Pearl?" Doug asked.
"Do you want an honest answer?" Garnet asked.
"Yes."
"Her existence was Pearl's issue." Garnet answered.
"But why? Pearl was never like that!" Steven said.
"You didn't know her as long as we have Steven. If anyone got close to Rose without Pearl's say-so, there would be a price." Amethyst said.
"Doug, what you need to understand about Pearl is that there were only three people that she's ever loved truly. One of them was Steven's mother. There personalities were so similar yet...so different at the same time. Both loved this planet and appreciated all life, no matter how small." Garnet explained.
"But...why did she attack me, then leave when Steven and I bubbled?" Doug asked.
"That was a shared defensive maneuver by Rose and Cobalt, also a move she hated." Garnet said.
"So..." Doug began, as his hand gripped his shirt where his gem would be, "Pearl's taking all that rage she had at my mother and targeting me?" He asked.
"Hey, don't let that get you down."
Doug looked up at Steven who was smiling.
"Sure, Pearl may still be a little mad about Cobalt, but you're not her. You're your own person, you're a Crystal Gem! And do you know what Crystal Gems are?" Steven asked.
"I dunno what?" Doug asked.
Garnet chuckled as she tousled the boy's hair, "We're a family. Isn't that what you were going to say Steven?" She asked.
Steven nodded as he threw his arms around his new friend. "I promise, we'll show her. We'll show her that you're better than Cobalt."
Doug closed his eyes as a smile spread across his face, "Thanks Steven, that means a lot to me, thank you."
"Hoo yeah! Hey Steven, looks like we've got a new member of the Shorty Squad!" Amethyst interjected.
"Shorty Squad?" Doug asked, turning to Garnet.
"Don't question it, just go with it."
Doug laughed as Steven and Amethyst danced around, chanting "Shorty Squad" over and over.
'I think I'm gonna like Beach City.' Doug thought as his smile grew.
"This is your target, Earth." said Yellow Diamond, as a screen showed up displaying the rotating planet.
"That ball of water?" asked a deep French accent.
"Didn't we conquer that rock centuries ago?"
"Highly incorrect Mercury, with the Rebellion winning the Gem War, Homeworld has been unable to overtake Earth." said a robotic voice.
"Yes. You see, the Rebellion is still active and Peridot has joined them. Jasper and Lapis Lazuli have also been missing. Then, my Ruby soldiers have also been MIA." Yellow Diamond said.
"So what do you need with the Tarnished Metals, Boss Lady?"
"I want all of you to eradicate the Rebellion by any means necessary." Yellow Diamond said.
"But what about Cobalt Azure and Rose Quartz?" Asked a malevolent, gruff voice.
"Hm...bring them both to me. I want Homeworld to see what we do to long standing insubordination." Yellow Diamond said.
"Yes, Yellow Diamond."
Oh snap!
Looks like there might be trouble brewing off-planet. I'll see you all next time!
~Aero