Although Amethyst meant it as sort of a joke, Steven grew reflective. Did that mean the Crystal Gems were technically Pink Diamond's court?

"Now that I think about it," Steven said aloud, urging Amethyst to crane her neck to regard the younger Gem. "If I got separated from mom's Gem, why am I still me?"

He hadn't the chance to meditate on it earlier, and now the thought was bugging him. Shouldn't Rose Quartz...Pink Diamond, be the one walking and talking right now? Sure, he looked like her now, down to even the smallest detail, but where was she?

"Beats me," the small Quartz replied, watching the tree tops drift past as she rested in Steven's palm. "I'm just glad you're okay." She scratched her head. "Or as okay as you could be, I guess."

"But enough about that!" Leave it to Amethyst to not let a conversation dwell on the negative. "How's it feel knowing that you're a reincarnated space queen?!"

Steven laughed nervously at her choice of descriptors. "It's...weird," he answered lamely. He tried to think of how to describe it in a way Amethyst would get. "Like if you were a chair for fourteen straight years, and then suddenly shapeshifted into a tank?"

"Oof," Amethyst simply answered. "Sounds rough. But at least you're still kinda you." Steven shrugged, even if Amethyst probably couldn't see him from her current angle.

"We're here," the Quartz announced, suddenly somber voiced.

Steven swallowed, lowering his hand to the ground. Amethyst lightly jumped off of it, walking toward a felled tree. The sounds of birds and other wildlife seemed to suddenly dull in volume, as if understanding the gravity of the situation.

"Maybe this is a bad idea," Steven suggested, though he made no move to leave. Amethyst turned to look at him with sympathy before returning her gaze to a spot on the ground.

"I don't think we should just leave it here, though."

Amethyst was right of course. It mirrored his own conclusion. Didn't mean he had to like it. He stepped forward, stopping short just behind Amethyst. The smaller Gem then folded her hands into each other, fusing within a glowing, purple light, and once the light faded, what took the place of her hands was a shovel-shaped object, like something you'd find on a bulldozer.

With a few easy sweeps of her dozer arms, enough dirt was excavated to reveal what she'd been looking for.

It looked like it was sleeping.

"It's me..."

Amethyst stepped back, giving Steven some space. Her arms reverted back to normal, and she folded them behind her head. He reached toward the body on the ground, stopping short. He was almost afraid to touch it, looking at himself lying there.

"Am I...dead?" Steven asked aloud, finally mustering the courage to pick up the smaller human form.

He looked so pale. Without thinking, he formed a bubble around his human half. He held the bubble close to his face, examining the occupant as best he could.

"How're things looking?" Amethyst ventured, watching Steven's human half skeptically. Steven turned the bubble over repeatedly, trying to find any injuries. Nothing looked apparent, but thay did nothing to alleviate his fears. His human half was still pale, it's pallor definitely not clear enough to be healthy.

Steven sighed, pressing gently on one side of the bubble. Without so much as a whisper, it was transported to the burning room.

"I don't know..." Steven muttered.

xxxx

Although there were no apparent water sources, the environment was still bustling with activity. Spires and large buildings were dotted everywhere, and artful architecture could be spotted everywhere a person was to look. The largest structure overlooked the entire metropolis, it's shape in the image of a bust, the head looking down on it's subjects.

Yellow Diamond ignored all of this as she strided past masterfully built hallways. The hall was lined with architecture of figures, with pillars that intersected at it's ceiling. The space was tall enough for even a Diamond, so it was extremely tall to any other Gem. If one looked closely, the figures seemed to occasionally blink.

"Pearl," Yellow called as she neared what would probably be the closest thing to an Earth Parking Lot. Her massive arm ship was stationed here, surrounded by high walls, but no ceiling.

Her Pearl was already next to the ship, flanked on one side by a small group of Peridots.

"Pre-flight checks are completed. It is ready for departure whenever you are," Yellow Pearl announced, clutching a datapad to her chest.

"Good," Yellow answered, her steps quick. A hint of impatience was in her voice. Not directed at her Pearl, but she wanted to be off planet without any hiccups or delays. "Oversee the backlogs while I'm away."

"Yes, my Diamond!"

Satisfied, Yellow made for her ship. It's palm was face up, as if beckoning it's passenger onboard.

Normally, Yellow would at least have her Pearl tag along where ever she went, but this was a personal endeavor, for both her and Blue.

The Crystal Gems had made a fool of her and her sister Diamond. Not only did Rose Quartz escape their grasp, but she'd managed to somehow escape off planet, all while disguised as that ridiculous human form!

Yellow exhaled through her nose. Enough was enough. Her squad of Rubies were missing in action, her Jasper was AWOL, and the cluster had somehow not formed. She'd have to take care of this herself. Her and Blue together.

She pressed her palm against a hand reader on the ship. Without preamble, the previously smooth surface parted, allowing a doorway fit for a Diamond to enter.

"...Ugh!" Yellow instantly recoiled, almost losing her footing as she took a step back.

Standing just inside the ship was someone she did not want to see.

Arms spread wide as if in some eternal shrug, this particular Pearl had a disturbing smile frozen on her face. Along with all of that, this Pearl's left eye seemed to be missing, replaced by a spider web of what looked liked cracks and the impression of where an eye should be.

Yellow's Peridots were visibly shaken while Pearl held it together much better. Silently, Yellow waves away the Engineer Gems and her Pearl, an order they were all too happy to comply with.

The grayscaled Pearl seemed to watch them leave before her single eye returned to her.

"Yellow Diamond," the Pearl greeted, her voice sounding disembodied and unnaturally loud and booming. It was obvious the voice wasn't coming from the tiny Pearl. It was if she was no more than a loudspeaker.

Yellow hesitated in responding and cleared her throat. She had to get her act together. White wouldn't tolerate her acting weak in front of her.

"Uhm. White," Yellow returned the greeting as coolly as she could manage. She really wished she had been quicker in boarding the ship. How long had her Pearl been waiting inside, anyway? "What do you need?"

"I want you to capture the rebels when you reach the Earth."

How did White know she was-

"And Yellow," the Diamond in question halted her train of thought.

"I would talk with their so called 'Rose Quartz'."

So called? What did that mean?

"You'll find out what it means," the Pearl answered, as if reading Yellow's mind.

"What does it mean?" Yellow dared to ask. As if in response, the Pearl was encased in an opaque white bubble, obscuring her from view. Without warning, the bubble phased through the walls of Yellow's ship.

"Do control yourself when you arrive," White's disembodied voice reminded with an air of lazy condescension. "Unharmed. We have much to prepare for."

Yellow watched as the bubble continued unhindered through the cityscape, no doubt back towards White's ship.

"Prepare for what?" Yellow asked aloud. She knew White couldn't hear her. She no longer held White's attention and she was concerned with something else now.

Yellow sighed, stepping back into her ship. Did Blue also get a visit from their dear elder Diamond? Yellow decided not to think about it. If she was successful, that counted for something, right? Perhaps White would finally acknowledge her progress.

She could only hope as she settled into her pilot chair.

xxxx

Several knocks were heard on the screen door, followed by another pause and then a second set.

It was nice and warm out today, so Connie had no problem if she were kept waiting. Steven had texted her earlier this morning, saying it was urgent. She'd wait as long as she needed to!

"I really hope he's okay, though..." she muttered to herself, an anxious feeling creeping up on her. But she squashed the feeling immediately.

"Bah, who am I kidding!" Connie crossed her arms and shook her head. "He would have done more than send a text message if there was something wrong."

To pass the time, she looked over the railing at the ocean, seeing the waves travel over the sand vefore receding. Turns out she didn't have to wait long.

Footsteps could be heard coming from the inside padding toward the door. It swung open, revealing Pearl on the other side.

"Oh, Connie..." the Gem greeted, seemingly surprised by her presence. "If I knew you'd be here, I would have had some snacks prepared," Pearl looked out of sorts, which was cause for concern.

"Um, well, Steven texted me. He asked me to stop by. He didn't tell me what the occassion was."

"Oh..." Pearl blinked as if just realizing something. "Oh! Uh, Steven! Connie's here to see you!" Strangely, Pearl called outside of the house and not in. Before Connie could question this, a voice behind her startled her.

"Hey, Connie," the nervous voice greeted. The girl whirled around, only to see a giant pink woman staring down at her.

"It's me, Steven."

Connie blinked once and the world suddenly began to spin.

She blacked out.