Authors note: So in this chapter, yes this one, we have some Crystal Gems doing some serious talk about the Hierarchy, pretty much giving Steven the short version since he dosen't really need to know too much about them, but he'll have some questions later since well, he's still a kid. Also, they do some little family bonding through it, since I've always seen the group as siblings. Hope you guys enjoy and review.

Chapter 6: Old and Painful History

O-O-O

The Crystal Gems arrived at the temple, warping right on the pad and luckily not somewhere else in Earth despite the tampered warp pad at the off world temple. A huge wave a relief came for the Gems before being replaced with guilt and worry once more, mostly because they had to tell Steven about the Hierarchy, especially now since they have actually returned.

"So… what's the Hierarchy?" Asked Steven, making the Crystal Gems feel cold and scared about hearing that cursed name.

Garnet sighed heavily. "Take a seat at the couch."

Steven complied and went over to the couch, sitting down at a comfortable position while accidentally stepping on the spilled chips.

"Sorry Pearl." Said Steven, feeling guilty about making a bigger mess.

Pearl didn't even get annoyed however, not even a twitch in her eye about something like this.

"Its fine, Steven. I'll just clean it up now." Replied Pearl softly, going to the kitchen to get the broom and clean up the mess.

Pearl came back as quickly as possible, and swept up the mess on the floor, her thoughts still on the Hierarchy instead of feeling irritated about the chips on the floor, though Amethyst decided to eat the remaining chips off the floor in her usual rude manner.

Pearl just gave the purple Gem a mean glare, to which Amethyst responded with a shrug and finished the chips there.

There was an awkward silence through the whole thing, as the rest of the Gems took their seats as well, with Pearl sitting the closest to Steven for his comfort, while Amethyst sat across the couch and lied down with her hands behind her back, and Garnet just stood across from the couch, her arms crossed as she pinched her fingers between her nose, unsure where to begin with what to say about the Hierarchy.

"Steven." Began Garnet. "A long time ago before we came to earth, before your mother met us, the Gems were at war."

"Wait, war?" Asked Steven, already shocked at such a thing. "With those aliens back at the temple?"

"Yes, Steven." Pitched in Pearl. "The universe is much larger than you can imagine. Gems weren't the only alien civilizations out there. In fact, there are practically billions, even trillions of alien lifeforms out there."

"And the Hierarchy was one of them." Said Garnet, now making Pearl more quiet when hearing their name.

"The Hierarchy? What are they?" Asked Steven.

That was not an easy question to answer, since the hierarchy were something… special to the Gems, and the Gems didn't have that much extensive knowledge of the Hierarchy, but they told as much information as they could to Steven, even if they didn't know what exactly the Hierarchy were as creatures.

"Well… where to begin?" Said Pearl, thinking where to start with the Hierarchy. "For starters, they're not from around here, as in, they're not from our galaxy."

"You mean they're from, outer outer space?" Asked Steven, making Pearl raise an eyebrow at the strange question, but went along with it anyways.

"Yes. And they have advanced technology that managed to help them reach our galaxy, and we don't know where they came from, despite how long we've lived, we can't answer every question about them." Said Pearl, including whatever little knowledge general knowledge she knew.

"Maybe they came here to make a new home?" Asked Steven, making Pearl cringe in response to the question, trying to find a kinder way to break it down to Steven that the Hierarchy were invaders.

"They're more like visitors that-

"That want to vaporize everything." Commented Amethyst, having a say in the matter. "I wasn't actually around when they first came, but from what Garnet and Pearl told me, they're not very nice."

"One step at a time." Warned Pearl, while Amethyst rolled her eyes.

"But, why war?" Asked Steven, going back to his first question. "No one should be fighting each other."

Pearl put a hand on the child's shoulder. "Remember when I said that not all Gems are good?"

Steven nodded in understanding while Pearl continued.

"The same thing applies to other aliens too."

Steven couldn't believe that, there was no way he wanted to believe that there were other aliens out there that could be as hostile as the Home world Gems.

"Didn't you try to be friends? Offer space gifts?" Asked Steven.

"We tried, but the Hierarchy wanted war instead." Answered Garnet, remembering the first contact with the Hierarchy that started that old war.

"We didn't know why they wanted to fight at first, but the longer we fought, the more we learned about the horrible truth." Said Pearl, peeking Steven's curiosity.

"What?" Asked Steven.

That was a question that would be difficult to answer, since the Hierarchy were similar to a certain Gem faction in their goals, and Pearl wanted to find a way to answer it without painting a bad image of all Gems to Steven.

"They wanted to mine the galaxy for everything." Said Amethyst out loud, finally speaking her word that shocked Steven with fear.

Pearl flustered blue to the blunt answer. "Amethyst!"

Amethyst just looked at Pearl with a non-chalet look. "What? It's what they wanted to do."

"But... that's a lot like the Home world Gems." Said Steven, shocked at the sudden revelation.

"They're much worse than them." Said Garnet, adjusting her shades to straighten them as a nervous tick.

"Why?"

Pearl took a deep breath, knowing that Garnet would explain the more serious parts as she now put her arm around Steven in a comforting manner, hoping to calm the child and brace him for the more harsh points of the Hierarchy.

"The Hierarchy saw everything as below them, everything they saw that wasn't them was weak in their eyes. They wanted to kill our race and wipe out all life in this galaxy because of that." Said Garnet, while Pearl held Steven closer and Amethyst just looked down.

Steven just kept quiet, wanting Garnet to continue what she was saying.

"The Hierarchy hate weakness, and they saw everything around them as weak because they had less advanced technology, not as many people, not as powerful as them, or if they were just in the way. The Gems were one of those many victims."

Steven still stayed silent, his young mind was trying to process what these Hierarchy sounded like, and their reasoning behind their actions just seemed to confuse Steven so much. It was to be expected since these were very complex issues that adults would understand much better than a child, but even then, he saw all of those reasons as horrible.

"That's not fair. They shouldn't try to kill everyone because they don't like you." Said Steven, making Pearl hug Steven tightly.

"Oh, Steven." Said Peal sympathetically. "I wish we didn't have to tell you this now. We wanted to wait until you were older, then you would understand."

"Understand? What can I understand about that?" Asked Steven. "They shouldn't do stuff like that. Do they really think that's right?"

Garnet shook her head out of unknowingness. "I don't know. They just… do bad things because they do."

"They sound really scary."

Amethyst then interrupted once more. "I still can't believe you guys almost died."

At this point, Pearl was about to scream at the purple Gem until Garnet held her hand up, knowing that Steven would have asked more about the Gem/Hierarchy war.

Pearl then decided to speak again for Garnet.

"It wasn't easy to beat them, but we did. We won against the Hierarchy but, a lot of Gems were lost. Along with several worlds being consumed by the Hierarchy."

"Is it like that temple we found before?" Asked Steven.

"Yes. The temple we teleported to was on a gem controlled world, but it was one of many that fell to the Hierarchy." Said Garnet, remembering the black wasteland landscape that surrounded the old temple. "It used to be filled with all kinds of life, until the Hierarchy came to strip it all away, and did the same to many planets until they reached the Home world."

"They reached the home world?" Asked Steven softly, who never would have thought that the Hierarchy were so powerful that they could reach the Gem Home world.

"Pretty much." Said Amethyst casually, while Pearl tried to hold in her anger from the purple gems attitude. "They tore through everything and cornered everyone on one planet, just like that."

Steven was now scared out of his mind. An alien race not from his galaxy just suddenly invaded everything and almost killed all life? It sounded like a sci fi nightmare more than it did a cool sci fi movie.

"It was a horrible siege." Said Pearl softly, trying to keep her composure. "Garnet and I were one of the few survivors to reach Home world, and all we could do was wait, wait and hope that we would make it out alive."

"How did you guys win?" Asked Steven, since he knew that somehow the Gems beat the Hierarchy, otherwise the galaxy wouldn't even be around.

Pearl's attitude then perked up when she looked at the picture of Rose Quartz hanging above the front door.

"We met your mother."

Steven then perked up as well, wanting to hear about the heroics of his mother as Pearl continued.

"When everyone was giving up hope, you mother was there to help us all out. She had this aura to her that stood out from all the other Gems, and it inspired all Gems to actually untie under one banner and take the fight back to the Hierarchy."

Pearl put up a small smile, knowing that if it wasn't for Rose, they would have been dead.

"We actually managed to beat back the Hierarchy with her guidance, and decimated most of their military before they decided to retreat when their leader died." Pearl said proudly. "It was the most glorious thing I had ever seen."

Garnet agreed with Pearl on that matter. "Rose saved our lives, Steven. Your mother saved us all."

Pearl's smile then faded, as she thought back to the recent encounter of the Hierarchy, remembering the words of Xeres swearing that the Hierarchy would return, and then thinking back to Nufai and his forces.

"But now she's gone. And they're actually back after all these years." Mumbled Pearl, frowning at the realization that the Hierarchy have returned.

Steven then looked up at pearl, giving her a smile that was filled with hope.

"And we're still here too. Come 'on guys, we're the Crystal Gems! We fight bad guys all the time and always save the day!" Said Steven, trying to encourage the Crystal Gems with hope. "There's nothing we can't handle!"

"He's got a point, ya know." Agreed Amethyst, standing up from the couch. "We thought that we would get our butts handed to us when Peridot and Jasper came here, but we won! We can take on those freaks!"

Garnet smirked at Steven's enthusiasm while Pearl put up another smile for Steven, hugging him ever so tightly since his happiness is quite contagious.

"You're so much like your mother, Steven." Said Pearl softly, which touched Steven as he returned the hug.

The Gems released each other from their embrace, now finished with their little history lesson, as least the important parts for Steven to know. Then Steven's stomach began to rumble, making the child a bit embarrassed that it happened so suddenly.

"Now I'm hungry."

Pearl couldn't help but giggle to the child's actions, getting up from the couch in a better mood with Steven around.

"I'll make you something to eat, anything you like." Said Pearl, which made the child joyful at the sound of that as he began to chant, with Amethyst quickly joining in.

"Spaghetti and meatballs! Spaghetti and meatballs!"

Pearl eagerly went to the kitchen to cook up Steven's meal, while not really much of a fan of eating food, she enjoyed the process of creating it, while Garnet followed suit to chat with Pearl once more out of earshot from Steven.

"I'm glad we didn't have to tell him everything." Said Pearl, getting the cooking supplies needed for Steven's dinner.

"We only had to tell him what he needed to know." Responded Garnet. "I know you don't like sharing you war stories."

Pearl turned to Garnet worryingly. "What if he asks them? I can't just tell him about the pain and suffering I- we went through."

Garnet just crossed her arms. "The boy is curious, but that's how it'll be with him. You'll tell him when the time comes."

"And how much time do we have left?" Asked Pearl. "How long will it be until the Hierarchy arrive to earth to "purify" it?"

Garnet was actually unsure about that question, not able to come up with a sure answer.

"It could be days, weeks, months, years. They could be here anytime."

Pearl nearly fainted from the answer, covering her face with her hand out of worry.

"It's been so long. Who knows how much they've advanced their technology. We just fought their newest weapons at the old temple too, those things that almost killed us. And that Nufai... I've never seen such an evil creature before, and it's with the Hierarchy out of everyone."

"The Hierarchy are a special kind of evil. But we-

"But nothing." Interrupted Pearl, talking lowly so Steven wouldn't her them talking. "It's bad enough that the Home world decided to follow in their footsteps, but now they're back again to finish what they started.

"They won't finish anything." Argued Garnet, but Pearl quickly rebutted back, while keeping her voice down.

"Yes they will! We barely have any weapons left to take down one of those huge walkers they like to use, and the humans, as surprisingly resistant as they are, don't have the means to defend themselves for long, even with our help."

Pearl just went on rambling, as Garnet approached her closer to calm her down.

"I can't deal with them again, Garnet. I just-

Pearl then felt lightheaded once more, closing her eyes while trying to keep her balance, as she thought back once more about the old war and the painful memories.

Garnet then approached the woozy Gem, putting a hand on her shoulder and made her look up.

"We'll find a way, Pearl. We always find a way."

Pearl wiped away a tear from her face, trying to calm herself down.

"I'm just- I'll make dinner now." Said Pearl, going back to cooking Steven's dinner. "We'll talk about battle plans later, okay?"

Garnet nodded and walked away, leaving Pearl alone in the kitchen while Amethyst step aside for Garnet, walking into the kitchen to raid the fridge for anything to eat.

"Just helping myself to a dinner snack." Said Amethyst, going to the fridge to eat whatever she wanted there.

Pearl just sighed and ignored Amethyst, which made the purple Gem stop what she was doing at look up at Pearl, surprised that she was ignoring her rude tendencies.

"That's it? A sigh?" Asked Amethyst, expecting more than a sigh from Pearl. "I was expecting a lecture from your royal highness."

"I'm not in the mood."

Amethyst knew that something was really wrong now, closing the fridge and looked at Pearl intently.

"You can tell me what's up if you want, I won't bite you this time."

Pearl just sighed as she put the spaghetti in the hot boiling pot of water.

"It's about everything that happened today. Steven knowing about the Hierarchy, said Hierarchy's return, and that awful creature Nufai."

Pearl just expected Amethyst to laugh or mock her in some manner by now, maybe make a joke that Nufai is her boyfriend or something cruel like that.

"You had a rough day, P. I know how that feels." Said Amethyst in the kindest tone possible, something Pearl hadn't heard ever since Rose passed on.

"I almost died from a monster that has a crush on me." Said Pearl, referring to Nufai and remembered his sadistic way of flirting. "It can't get any rougher than that."

"I don't know, he seems kind of cuuuuuute." Joked Amethyst, who received a slight shove on her shoulder that felt more like a light tap, who frowned back in response.

"I was just trying to cheer you up with a joke."

"Amethyst! I-

Pearl calmed herself down, not wanting to get mad and cause another ruckus with the purple gem, blushed blue and spoke back softly.

"I'm sorry… I just have a lot to think about." Admitted Pearl, understanding that Amethyst was not trying to intentionally make her mad this time. "You know how I feel about your jokes."

Amethyst brushed off Pearl's little moment, nodding understandably.

"It's fine."

The two Gems had a moment of silence, with Pearl focusing back on making Steven's dinner while Amethyst just stood at the fridge, leaning against the fridge door while looking down, staying there until Pearl was almost done with the food, as if they shared the silence together, not a single word uttered to each other.

"I miss Rose."

Pearl just frowned once more, saddened to her such a truth while almost dropping the plate of food for Steven.

"Me too" Pearl responded softly, feeling the same way.

Pearl decided to change the subject, thinking back to Steven about how hopeful the child is, just like Rose.

"Do you want some too? I've made more for you."

Amethyst smirked a bit, appreciating the fact that Pearl actually made her some food too, even if she didn't need to eat.

"Steven!" Exclaimed Amethyst across the kitchen. "We're eating tonight!"

The two Gems at the kitchen could hear a joyful 'Whoo!' coming from the child Gem.

"Thanks Pearl."

Pearl looked at Amethyst confusingly. "For what?"

"For putting up with me."

Pearl smirked back at Amethyst, as the whole Gem family got together to have their peaceful moment with each other, even despite the revelation of the return of the Hierarchy.

It always helped to have these little moments.

O-O-O

Meanwhile, Nufai's command ship could be seen in deep space, traveling at a steady pace towards earth for his mission. By the time he had passed the majority of the planets of the Sol system, seeing Earth after the short while was quite a relief, since multiple scans of each planet aside from Earth showed no results for anything valuable, meaning the Hierarchy's forces could make a beeline towards Earth without any worries.

Except for the Crystal Gems.

"Sir. Earth is just within our scanners reach." Said Nufai's right advisor. "Initiating scanning process now."

It didn't take long for the command ship to scan the planet's surrounding atmosphere, since multiple beeps could be detected on the scanners of the main computer the advisor was at.

"We've detected multiple objects surrounding the planet. They seem to be some kind of satellite devices."

"Jam them. I don't want us to be detected until the fleet arrives." Ordered Nufai, wanting to keep stealth as a priority. "Send in a transport ship with Glyph Carvers towards this region, Nufai also wants an escort of Lost Ones, Grunts, and Brutes for protection on the first transport."

Nufai pointed close by the yellow blip that showed the Delmarva Peninsula region, wanting to set up a base close by the location of Beach City that was isolated.

"Nufai shall go with the transport as well, the first Arrival Site shall act as the main outpost on the planet with Nufai in command."

"Shall we send in a few Reaper Drones and a Detection Drone on the transport? It would make outpost expansion quicker." Asked the left advisor.

Nufai considered the suggestion and answered immediately. "Granted. Scan the planet and inform Nufai on the results, then I will tell you where to send more transports for further expansion across the planet."

"An early invasion, sir?" Asked the right advisor. "Only Commander Orlock would call for such tactics if we were detected early."

Nufai chuckled darkly at the mention of Orlock, remembering all about the great commander and his commandments, from his honorable nature of combat, to his sympathy of the Hierarchy's foes, to his great care of his soldiers in battle, always managing to inspire his armies to victory through similar aggressive tactics and for showing that he actually cares for the wellbeing of his soldiers more than the Hierarchy itself.

Nufai thought it was pathetic.

"Nufai's tactics are Nufai's alone, not to some glorified commander who likes to speak doubts of the Hierarchy and live freely." Nufai leaned closely to the right advisor, giving him an intense stare. "Loyalists and admirers of Orlock are no advisors of mine."

"I didn't mean to offend you, sir. It was merely a-

Nufai then raised his claws at the advisor's face, nearly slicing his head off in the process. "Do you know what these are, advisor?"

"Phase claws, sir." Answered the advisor fearfully. "Weapons that can-

"Can cut through any material with ease." Interrupted Nufai, holding the claws ever so closely at the advisor. "Not even molecular armor, the quintessential choice of protection for our forces, can resist the only weapons made by Nufai's people that can slice through anything as if it were wet paper."

Nufai then chuckled darkly once more, amused by the advisor's fearful expression.

"Do you know what Nufai loves to use these claws on the most?"

Before the advisor could answer the question in hopes his life would be spared, his hope was taken away when Nufai jabbed the claws straight through the large head of the advisor, impaling him through his skull as green blood leaked out from the wounds while Nufai held him up, dangling the twitching advisor that stayed stuck on the claws before letting out a whispered word.

"Flesh."

Nufai then swung his claw to the side, making the Advisor's head slide out of the claw and was dragged down with his body to the ground, spilling the green blood across the floor while Nufai walked over to the corpse, the other advisor keeping his fearful thoughts to himself.

"A shame you weren't my precious Pearl." Commented Nufai, placing the blood stained claw on his tendrils to taste the enjoyable flavor of blood. "Her blood must taste much sweeter than yours."

Nufai then turned to the other advisor, who looked scared out of his wits despite a bad effort to keep cool, as he silently prayed in his mind that Orlock were here instead of the psychopath in front.

"Send a cleaner drone to the bridge to wipe the blood away. Nufai shall take care of the body." Said Nufai sternly, picking up the advisor's dead body by his head with his clawed hand. "Nufai needs a new chew toy for the Brutes anyways."

The advisor simply complied and called in a cleaner drone as Nufai exited the bridge.

"Of course, sir.

O-O-O

P.S. - Yup. Added some good old sadistic Nufai here, along with a mention of another Hierarchy hero we will see in the future.

Disclaimer: I do not own Steven Universe at Universe at War.