Been a while, huh? No worries, I'm still alive.
Here's the next one!
::Fading Echoes::
Chapter VII: The Omega Kindergarten
"We shouldn't stay here too long."
She tilted her head, smiling mischievously. "Why not?"
He stood firmly, arms clasped behind his back. Like a loyal warrior. "I have orders. I'm to ensure your safety outside the Arena. At all times. There's no telling when, or where, the Rebels will strike."
She laughed, snorting, an endearing sound that tingled his ears. "I can protect myself, you know. Even if there is a war." They were in a valley. Injectors all around. A waterfall was close by, cascading down a towering wall of rock, feeding a deep, dark lake.
He did not falter, keeping his composure. "I'm sure of that, Lazuli. But orders are orders. I wouldn't want to displease both of our Diamonds."
She sighed, turning to him. Her azure skin glowed in the radiant, setting sun.
"You soldiers are all the same. Somehow, I thought you were different."
"I am."
"You're short," she took note, eyes shimmering with intrigue.
"Taller than you," he stated, in a playful, yet polite manner. She was, after all, a member of Blue Diamond's regal court.
"You know what I mean." She smiled, stepping so close their noses could almost touch. "I haven't met a quartz like you before."
Her delicate blue hand landed on his shoulder. Slowly, curiously, she trailed his muscular arm, traced the black markings on his pale skin.
"Onyx," she said. Her eyes observed the Injectors. "Were you made here?"
"Yes, Lazuli."
"I have a few assignments left to finish. I… I won't be on earth for long." She glanced at the water rushing from above, shuffling her bare feet. "After I stop this waterfall, maybe you could show me a bit of this planet?"
He never had the chance to show her. Not everything, at least.
It all came back like a flood. Moments of his time spent with her returned; first as flickers, then as whole, complete images. He shut his eyes, clenched his fists as he focused. That was the last time he had been with her. A vicious battle had later separated them, ripped her from his watchful gaze. Indeed, Lapis was an immensely powerful gem, but only when surrounded by water. Amid the smoke and flames of a deadly war, she would have been unable to protect herself—unable to find him.
He'd been leading her, holding her hand. Trying to get her to safety. Surrounded by warring troops. But something had come between them. An explosion. A battalion of Crystal Gems.
And a Bismuth?
"Lapis…" he whispered. "What happened to you?"
How could he?
How could he have forgotten her?
She'd left an impression on him. Even back then, she made him realize that not all "aristocratic" gems were inherently stuck-up and rude. She had a unique persona about her, hovering between sarcastic and cynical. Yet she was very kind, very playful. She'd been part of some of his most important assignments during the war. And now she was gone, because on modern-day Homeworld, she was nowhere to be found.
"Who's Lapis?"
The door was ajar, and Barb was peeking through, already dressed in her uniform. Surprisingly, there was a fair amount of concern on her features. Naruto shook his head, glancing down at his black gemstone. "Just someone I haven't seen for a long time," he said softly.
Barb stepped in the room.
"You all right? You're usually up before me, and I could hear you mumbling from behind the door."
"Really?" he asked, chuckling as he rose from the bed. Yes, a bed. He was finally sleeping, much to Sadie's delight, rediscovering former human habits. "Sorry about that, but I'm fine."
Her eyes narrowed momentarily, but she dropped the issue. She looked around, eyes roaming the small room she had granted him. Not much had changed, Barb realized. There were no visible alterations.
"So, how do you like it?" she pried, hand on her hip. "You know I couldn't have you sleeping on the roof forever. The neighbors would start to wonder."
"The roof did have a great view," he jested. "But I like the room even more." Naruto smiled. "Thanks for letting me stay, Barb. Even if it's only temporary."
She brushed it off. "Oh please. You're a big help around here. With those clones of yours, this house has never been cleaner. And plus, you don't have to eat like me and Sadie do. You're also working at Fun land, so I can't say you're being lazy or anything." Barb smiled, a touch of emotion in her gaze. "I'm done making breakfast. If you want, you can have something."
Naruto nodded absently as Sadie's mother left.
In a way, it was almost like having a human family. Something he didn't have as a child. Something he and Hinata didn't get to have after the shinobi war. Because at its brutal conclusion, he'd laid dying in the Valley of the End, a hole through his chest, with most of the ones he loved already gone—killed off by a conflict that lasted only a few days, yet managed to destroy most of the planet's surface, erasing the shinobi world forever.
There was a mirror across the room, and before leaving, he took a long look at himself. He sighed. The Homeworld appearance modifiers were still present. His dark uniform that displayed Yellow Diamond's insignia would not leave him till he reformed.
"But it'll do," he said to himself. "For now."
Naruto got up, glanced at the thick geography book he had finished studying, and he took it, ready to start an interesting day.
Because today was the last day he would stay "hidden".
Mr. Smiley knew that he was a gem.
Why wouldn't he?
Naruto told him the night they had talked about working at the amusement park.
It had been two days since then. At first, the man had been surprised, stunned, alarmed, and completely dumbfounded as Naruto revealed his true form in a flash of radiant light. But interestingly enough, Harold had accepted this fact after a brief, yet genuine explanation of all that had occurred.
For a man who abided by the rules, Mr. Smiley could surely compromise.
With that, Harold had shown him the ropes for the first day, even giving him books to read about operating all the rides at the amusement park. The whole training process should have taken 3 weeks, maybe more, but with the use of shadow clones, he had read all the books in two days, absorbed all the information, and knew how to conduct the machines in such a way that Mr. Smiley was thoroughly impressed. He even liked the clones. Because of this ability, Naruto could easily handle the amusement park on his own, saving Harold the stress of running both the arcade and the park.
And thus, he was officially hired.
Naruto walked to the amusement park with his hands in his pockets and a thoughtful expression on his face. He was content, but also contemplative. He glanced up. It was early morning, and the sky was clear. The sun was still rising, and a wonderful breeze was blowing.
Truly, he was in his element.
"Do you miss it?" Sadie suddenly asked. She had been walking beside him, dressed in her own working attire, heading to the Big Donut. "Space, I mean. You look at the sky a lot."
Naruto gave her a glance, brow creasing in thought.
"I don't miss it as much as you'd think I do," he answered with a small smile. "It's beautiful out there, for sure. There are so many planets, Sadie. So many stars. You can spend an eternity exploring, searching. But, I certainly don't miss gem society."
And what he hated above all was the mistreatment of pearls.
"Is it really that bad?" Sadie ventured, referring to gem society.
It was early morning, and Naruto didn't wish to dampen the tranquil mood with such a complex, faceted subject. So he answered lightheartedly, "Yes and no. Like anything else, there are good sides and bad sides. Exploring space—now, that's one good side."
She nodded slowly. "I'd like to see space one day," she said, laughing dismissively. "It's kind of silly, but if I could go up there, even for one second, I would."
"It's not silly," he replied. "Maybe someday you will."
Sadie looked at him, taking renewed notice of his disguised appearance; and she decided that she liked his gem form far better. In his natural state, he seemed less concerned and less focused and more carefree.
Her glances didn't go unnoticed.
"You're wondering how long I'm going to keep myself hidden, right?" he asked.
Surprised, but undeterred, she nodded.
At first, he hid his identity because he would only be staying in for a day or two—also as a means to prevent potentially harming the residents of the town in a skirmish with the Crystal Gems. But now that he had decided to stay, there was only one last reason to remain disguised. And it was something he and Steven and now Amethyst were in on. A plan, of sorts.
"Don't worry," he promised. "This is the last day I'm staying like this, okay?"
Sadie nodded as he affectionately tousled her hair. "Yeah, yeah, okay." She grumbled and playfully swiped his hand away from her golden locks.
They continued their walk, with the town still quiet, barely active so early in the morning. The Big Donut and Fun land were on opposite sides of town, so they would soon have to go separate ways.
"By the way, how's Lars?" Naruto asked. "I haven't seen him in two days. Is everything all right?"
"Oh, he's fine," she answered. "He has a minor concussion. I didn't believe him at first, but I went to his house and he was actually hurt. He had a bandage around his head too. Was the thing you fought really that dangerous?"
"Yeah, very." The gem frowned. He had already returned to the lake to search for the gem monster, with no results. "I'm glad he's okay."
When they reached the street corner where they would part ways, Sadie noticed the textbook in his right hand. The same book of the earth geography that he had long finished reading. Together, they'd also done a few hours of research on her computer, even going to the library, finding remnants of a time long before the modern world. And he was finally convinced of the location of a certain place—the Kindergarten, he'd called it.
"You're… going there today?" Sadie inquired curiously.
Naruto confirmed her question with a single nod. "There's somethings I need to find. Very important things."
Before they began walking in different directions, Sadie nodded as well. She wouldn't question his decision. She couldn't. After all, the world of gems was far beyond the scope of what she normally experienced.
-Fun Land Amusement Park-
It was his third day on the job, yet Naruto could already begin to recognize those who came here regularly.
So far, working in an amusement park was a delight. The sunny days. The sounds of laughing children. And the screams of those on various rides. It all culminated into an experience he had been longing to have. Cleaning up was by far the worst part, but not by much, since at the end of the day, his clones were more than enough to turn the park into a haven of cleanliness, further easing the burden on Mr. Smiley.
Right now, it was early, and people had yet to come. He had already opened up the park, greeted by the sight of towering machines, each operated by the push of a button.
He paused, felt the natural energy flowing through his gem, into his body, and through his "chakra coils"—something normal gems did not possess. His chakra pathways were a part of him, despite no longer being human. Normal gems could never hope to replicate his ability to use jutsu. They could try shapeshifting coils in their bodies, but a pathway system was far too complex, far too unsustainable, even for someone like Amethyst to replicate.
Naruto formed his favorite seal, then focused. The crack on his gem severely disrupted the flow of energy to his projected body, but with some patience, he succeeded.
Kage Bunshin.
Three clones popped into existence, each one ready to set up for the day. He sent them off with a simple nod, and they began their work. Soon, the lights came on. Then most of the rides were put through a test run. One of his clones even rode on a roller coaster, arms wide, and a huge smile on his face. Naruto chuckled, shaking his head. It was just like him to do something so childish.
While setting up, Mr. Smiley arrived with a case in his hands. He observed the work that was already occurring, letting out an impressed whistle.
And for a moment, Naruto was tempted to form the diamond salute around his chest in greeting. It was a reflex drilled into him for thousands of years, something he did when in the presence of the Diamonds or when around aristocrats. But he shoved the action away. He was on earth. There was no need for that anymore, even if Harold was technically his boss.
"How do you do it?" the man asked. "Here so early, even before the owner."
Naruto chuckled, reminding him. "I don't need sleep, remember?"
Mr. Smiley rubbed his bare scalp. "Oh yeah, forgot about that. And I still don't understand it," he added. The man walked to one of the machines. He laid his case down, then observed the work his clones were doing and laughed heartily. "I'm not sure I'll ever get used to seeing multiple copies of you running around, but it sure does help with business." After inspecting all of the rides himself, Mr. Smiley finally closed his case. "Well, everything seems to be in order. After today, I'll be leaving the park to you from time to time."
Naruto tilted his head, calmly sitting at their new ticket booth. "You're not going to supervise me anymore?" he asked.
The man gave his signature smile. "Supervise you? No, no. Just look around. I think you have everything covered. Almost looks like you've been workin' here for years! As far as I'm concerned, the park is in good hands. This'll give me more to time to focus on the Arcade. That sound good?"
Naruto nodded, surprised, yet grateful that Mr. Smiley was so trusting of him.
And with that, the day truly began.
Naruto left two other disguised clones active. Along with him and Mr. Smiley, the park ran more smoothly than ever before. Even early in the morning, people began to filter in. The sun was now visible in the sky, raining cascading beams of light.
What brought him the most joy were the children. Their laughs and screams of delight made him realize that life on earth would continue for many, many years to come. Even then, the fact that young people were careless was still apparent. In that regard, most of the phones that fell from the rides belong to children and teens. But thanks to his great reflexes and acute awareness, he was able to catch any falling phones before they could hit the ground.
And such was the case now. As one of the rides came to a stop, a distressed girl and her mother stepped off, the girl in question glancing around with a disappointed expression. She had caramel skin and red glasses, and something about her felt… special.
Before they left the vicinity, Naruto stopped them, phone in hand. "Excuse me, but is this yours?"
She nodded vigorously, accepting the phone with a beaming smile. "Yes, wow. Thank you, sir!"
The mother gave him a thankful smile. "Thank you, young man. I always tell her to be careful with that thing."
He waved her words off. "No worries. I'm sure it was just a mistake. She'll definitely learn from this."
And by noon, the park was bustling with activity. The sounds, though loud, were immensely peaceful, a large contrast from the regulated precision of Homeworld activity.
"There's a lot of people here," Naruto remarked to Mr. Smiley as they switched posts. For much of the morning, Harold had been manning the ticket booth. Now, it was his turn to do so—to monitor the entrance to and allow people in the amusement park. With two other clones still working the rides, he wouldn't mind taking a break for a bit.
"You think this is a lot?" Harold remarked, laughing boisterously, patting his shoulder. "Just wait till summer in a few weeks, Naruto. Then you'll see just how many people come here."
Being in the ticket booth, there was time for him to think. For a few minutes, he thought about her. About Lapis. Something must have happened to her, and he feared the worst had occurred. Had she been stranded? Had she been shattered? Despite such a thought, he held unto a small glimmer of hope. Perhaps she had survived the war. Perhaps she was still on earth. But then, thoughts of the carnelian he had battled a few days ago filled his mind.
He'd known her. He'd fought alongside her. She too had been made in his kindergarten, along with a mix of other quartz gems.
Then what happened?
Why did so few of his kindergarten mates survive the war?
Reports gave little information about the conclusion of the Rebellion. There was a mass evacuation off the planet, followed by one last offensive by the Diamond Authority. By then, he and Jasper and three of his colleagues had been pulled from earth, due to exclusive orders from Yellow Diamond—in a desperate attempt to save the most valuable soldiers earth had produced.
But then, what happened to everyone else? To Carnelian, to Lapis? And why were there only three surviving Crystal Gems, when there had once been thousands upon thousands?
What exactly did the Diamonds do?
"Uh, hello? Can you hear me?" said a voice.
Naruto snapped out of his temporary stupor, glancing forward from behind the booth. In front of him stood two people. A male and a female. The female had brown hair and green eyes and a freckled face. However, the male was someone he found to be familiar. He had yellow curly hair, reminiscent of French fries, and a blank, yet frivolous expression. He almost looked like Peedee.
Then it clicked.
Ronaldo, Peedee's older sibling.
"Sorry about that," Naruto replied, leaning forward in the ticket booth. "I was just… lost in thought."
Something about his words seemed to pique the young Fryman's interest. "Lost in thought, aye? Don't worry about it then. Sometimes, I too am enamored by the many thoughts that flow through my mind. The various ideas, the countless theories! It's all too much to resist at times."
Naruto felt an smile on his lips. Such an interesting character. No wonder he had found and kept a broken piece of the escape pod.
"You're Peedee's brother, Ronaldo, right?"
Ronald perked up, suddenly curious. "Yes, yes I am. I don't think we've met. Actually, I haven't seen you before."
"I'm Naruto. I met your father and brother a few days ago. I helped fix the store after the storm."
"Oh, Peedee did say something about you," the eldest Fryman son said. "I wasn't at work that day. I was too busy studying a discovery of unprecedented importance!"
Naruto nodded in understanding, eyes once more noticing the female by his side. "And who's this, if I may ask?"
She smiled pleasantly. "I'm Jane. Nice to meet you."
Naruto returned the smile, bringing his attention back to Ronald.
He had to make sure of something.
"Say, Ronaldo," he began. "About this discovery of yours, do you mind sharing what it was? I'm pretty curious."
Ronaldo's eyes widened with excitement, and he went on about how, on the day of the storm, he had found a green piece of what he suspected was a secret government satellite, how it had crashed into the store that night; however, after the explanation, Naruto concluded to himself that it was just a segment of his escape pod's outer casing. In other words, it wasn't something that could potentially harm Ronaldo. And seeing that studying the useless plating brought the young Fryman joy, Naruto decided he wouldn't attempt to reclaim it.
"Well, that is very interesting. I hope you discover something important," Naruto said, finishing the conversation, inwardly amused. After the pair paid him, he gave them both tickets and entrance to the amusement park. "You two have a good time. And I'll see you again, Ronaldo."
Naruto leaned back in his seat.
Steven and Amethyst should've been here by now.
Steven pulled on Pearl's hand with an excitement she hadn't quite seen before. And that was saying something, because Steven was almost always excited. "Come on, Pearl!" the hybrid hollered playfully, practically dragging her to Fun Land amusement park—the very same place he been banned from many weeks ago, mainly due to that… Teacup incident. "We have only a few hours left before they close."
Behind, Amethyst brought up the rear, hands clasped behind her silver tresses. She snickered at the comical display, watching with glee as Pearl was tugged along by the half-gem.
"Remind me again why we're coming here," stated Pearl as they approached the park, the smell of seawater filling the air, accompanied by the distinct sounds of playing children.
"So we can have fun, duh," Amethyst answered. "You need a break from working on that thing. We've been busy all week, P. And you know I hate being busy."
Pearl glanced at Steven, then back to the purple quartz. "But that thing is very important."
Amethyst shrugged. "Uh, that thing isn't as important as you think."
The pretty gem groaned.
"Fine. I'll humor you. Steven, was this your idea?"
The boy shrugged, a twinkle in his eyes. "Sort of?"
They arrived at the amusement park moments later, and they were greeted by the sight of a single ticket booth, occupied by a very calm, yet elated Naruto. He straightened when he finally saw them. All three of them, as expected. When he noticed Pearl being dragged by Steven, he couldn't help but laugh to himself.
"Naruto!" Steven bellowed as they arrived. "Hey!"
Naruto smiled, and Steven eagerly bumped fists with him. Pearl looked on in fascination.
Amethyst arrived, smirking. "Yo, what's up?"
"The sky, I think?" Naruto returned, glancing up.
The purple quartz shook her head in disapproval. "Terrible joke, dude. You gotta work on that."
She did have a point. Not much time for jokes on Homeworld, so he was undoubtedly rusty.
"Wait," Steven said, stroking his chin. "When did Fun Land get a ticket booth? I must have missed that."
"Just recently, actually," Naruto answered. "I didn't tell you, sorry. It doesn't cost much for a ticket. Just ten-dollars each, and it allows you instant access to a lot of the rides."
Steven nodded and reached into his pocket to pay, but his eyes went wide, face falling and growing slightly sad. "Aw man, I forgot the money Dad gave me. If you just give me a few minutes, I'll run back and go get it."
Naruto waved him off, before he could even make a move to leave. "Steven, it's okay. You guys can come in. I'll just take the money you owe out of my pay," he reassured. After all, he didn't really need money to survive.
"Do you mean it?" Steven asked, stars in his eyes. Naruto nodded. "Wow! You're the best, Naruto. The best! I'll make sure to pay you bac—"
"No need for that either. Go on ahead," he assured, and Steven beamed like a blazing star.
"How kind of you," Pearl finally said, speaking up for the first time. All the while, she had been observing everything that occurred. Even then, she didn't seem to notice as Steven and Amethyst sneakily entered the park, leaving just her and Naruto behind at the entrance.
Naruto took her in with a curious, yet cautious gaze. "You must be Pearl. Steven's said a lot about you."
"You must be Naruto, and likewise. He's spoken quite a bit about you too," she answered, eyeing him closely. "I must admit, you're not what I expected. I thought you were close to Steven, in terms of age."
"Oh, trust me. I'm much older than I look." Much older.
He stretched out his hand. Pearl stared for a moment. It was almost as though human gestures was something she still wasn't accustomed to, even after spending thousands of years on earth. But after a brief pause, she shook his hand.
He was surprised by how small and delicate it was, how perfectly it fit in his own. His grip unconsciously tightened. For an instant, he was taken back to the Rebellion. An atmosphere of chaos and terror filled his mind. And he saw Pearl, battered and bruised, holding two swords against him, desperately protecting a terrified Ruby and the gem of a poofed Sapphire.
By the time he regained his senses, Pearl was staring at him, head tilted. Naruto blinked, releasing her hand with a weak chuckle.
"Sorry," he began. "It's just…"
"No worries," Pearl cut in, and stated in a matter-of-fact tone, "It's perfectly normal for those new to this town to react in such a manner. After all, I'm sure this your first time seeing gems."
He neither confirmed, nor denied her inquiry. Only cleared his throat, turning to the rides, and successfully changing the subject.
"So, Pearl, do any these technological marvels interest you?"
And for the first time, she smiled, letting out an amused laugh. "Technological marvel? Hardly. Humans are still quite primitive, technologically speaking, that is." She finally noticed Steven was gone, already boarding one of the rides. "But if you insist, I'll pick one."
In the distance, Steven and Amethyst looked on, just as the roller-coaster they were on was a about to move. Beneath them, Mr. Smiley operated the ride.
"Wow, they look like they're getting along great," Steven whispered, rather optimistically.
Amethyst shrugged. "Eh, I guess so. I just hope this works. I don't feel like fighting him… again," she added.
Steven titled his head, a bit alarmed. "You guys fought again?"
"Oh, calm down, Stevo." She waved him off. "It was just a stupid spar, nothing serious. Got my butt kicked real good too." Amethyst sounded lighthearted, but deep down she couldn't imagine what it was like facing him during the war. "Pearl and Garnet really made him out to be a monster."
Steven looked on, while the roller-coaster began to move. "But he's really nice. He couldn't have been that bad, even back then. Maybe… maybe something big happened to change him."
"Yeah, something big," she whispered. Like being shattered.
For the rest of the afternoon, Naruto manned the rides around Fun Land, while Mr. Smiley returned to supervise the entrance. Two of his clones were still active, and even he was surprised he could sustain both of them and hold this form for so long.
After all, today was the day he would finally show them who he really was.
So, they had a bit of fun. Both Steven and Amethyst, and Pearl—to a certain extent—rode just about every ride in the park, enjoying themselves. Finally, when Steven got on the Teacup ride for the first time in months, Naruto, carefully operating the controls, couldn't help but chuckle at Pearl's maternal antics.
"Steven, it's okay. You'll be just fine. Relax, don't be tense, and the ride will soon be over," she exclaimed from down below, brimming with concern. She stood next to Naruto, staring upward while Steven boarded the ride. Steven looked away, embarrassed, blushing red as the ride began to spin. Amethyst herself had already fallen asleep in one of the Teacups, snoring softly despite the increasing velocity of the ride.
"He really looks up to you," Naruto said suddenly, carefully watching the controls. "You know that, right?"
Pearl looked over at Steven, who now had his arms up, yelling with delight.
"I suppose…" she replied, unsure of herself.
Naruto sat up in his chair, glancing at her. "No, I mean it. He's told me a bit about you guys. And the way he talks about you sometimes, it's honestly surprising."
"Surprising?" she inquired—unable to hide her curiosity. "In what way?"
"In a good way, of course," he reassured. "And I see you care for him very much."
"I do," Pearl said softly, arms crossed. "Very much."
For a moment they remained silent, hearing only the delighted screams of children on the Teacups, especially that of Steven's.
Naruto leaned forward and asked, "You and the gems protect the earth, right?"
Pearl was taken aback by the question.
"Yes, we do. We always have, since…" she stopped herself. She remembered that horrible light in the sky. The conclusion of the war. "Well, for a long time."
"I want to thank you for doing so," he said sincerely, smiling softly; and he truly meant it.
Pearl's eyes widened a fraction.
"We don't do it for thanks. Not at all."
"Of course, and that's very admirable, but everyone deserves appreciation sometimes, even the most selfless." He gazed upward. A spark of guilt rushed through him. Guilt about the fact that it had taken him so long to return to earth. "Keep doing what you're doing. There's bound to be people who appreciate you, whether you know it or not."
Pearl was, in a way, speechless. Very few people were able to fully comprehend what it was that the Crystal Gems did on a daily basis, nor did they understand the nature of the thousand-year war. But here she was, having a pleasant conversation with someone who not only grasped the reality of their plight, but sympathized with them as well. T
She stole a glance at him, felt a spark of intrigue.
The Teacup ride began to slow down, then it came to a complete halt. Everyone stepped out, and Steven, though elated, had to pull Amethyst off of the ride, rousing her from her spontaneous slumber. By now, Fun Land was closing. Amusement park goers were beginning to filter out, only after receiving a loud announcement from Mr. Smiley.
"What a fun day," Steven exclaimed. "Right Pearl?"
Pearl smiled a bit. "I suppose it was, Steven."
"The best part was all the cotton candy I ate," Amethyst said, belching loudly, much to Pearl's ire.
"I'm glad you all had fun," Naruto said, calmly leaning against a railing. In the distance, he could feel his two clones finally dissipate. A sudden rush of memories filled his mind. All the events of the day that he hadn't physically experienced came to him at once. And after the wave remembrance, he looked at Pearl. "It was nice meeting you as well, Pearl."
She nodded slowly. "I'm glad Steven is making such mature friends."
"We should do this again," Steven said happily. "But with Garnet. Too bad she went on a mission alone. She should be back by now, right?"
Pearl confirmed his inquiry with a nod. "Yes, she should be. We've been out for most of the day, after all."
Naruto, Steven, and Amethyst each shared a discreet glance. And they knew that the final part of their plan had been set in motion.
"Okay! So remember that show I've been telling you about?" Steven asked Pearl. She nodded. "Well, there's this marathon happening soon. Can we all watch it tonight? Please?"
"Steven…" Pearl began, but the pleading look in his eyes made her falter. "We've… we've been busy. You know that."
"Come on, P. Just one night?" Amethyst piped in. "We can't hang out just for one night? I'm sure Garnet wouldn't mind."
Pearl sighed, gently rubbing Steven's hair. "Okay, we'll watch whatever you want. As long as it's not that… crying breakfast… thing," she quickly added, shuddering.
Steven cheered, then asked one last question.
"And… and can Naruto come?"
At first, Pearl rose a brow, pausing, but then she remembered their surprisingly pleasant interactions today. And she relented. "Of course, he can come. If he wants to, that is."
"I'll be delighted," Naruto accepted, glancing at Steven. "Just give me a bit of time to get there. I have to take care of a few things"
Pearl nodded, then began walking to the Fun Land's exit, calling over her shoulder, "Steven? Amethyst?"
"Coming!"
"Uh, I'll be there later, P. Gotta get some more cotton candy," the purple quartz said, responding to Pearl's call. "I'll show Naruto the way to the Temple."
While Pearl kept moving away, lost in thought, Naruto quickly pulled both Steven and Amethyst closer.
"All right, Steven. Keep them occupied for as long as you can," he instructed, whispering their plans. "Amethyst and I will get there as soon as possible."
Steven nodded. "Okay." He was brimming with optimism. "No more hiding. No more fighting."
Naruto nodded as well. "Agreed. We'll see you soon."
And Steven departed, running up to Pearl before she turned around, or became suspicious of their hushed chatter. When the two were finally gone and out of sight, Naruto turned to Amethyst. He released his disguised form for the last time, revealing standard Homeworld military apparel. He sighed, raising his arms in stretch. Mr. Smiley already knew he would be leaving early. He even had his clones clean up a bit beforehand, so Harold wouldn't be too overwhelmed when he was gone.
Now, it was time to leave.
"Are you really sure you want to come?" Naruto asked, arms crossed, serious.
Amethyst shrugged. "Obviously. You've already seen my Kindergarten, so why wouldn't I get to see yours? I didn't even know there were more till you told me. And why're we going there first again?"
"I need to get somethings. I left them there many years ago. They're bubbled. It shouldn't take too long." He looked upward, eyes distant. "I just hope nothing happened to them."
Amethyst nodded, punching her fist into her palm. "So we go there, grab your stuff, and then warp back to the Temple. Sounds easy enough."
"Yeah, then we can figure this out," he said. "Without killing each other."
But first, they would need a Warp Pad to get to his Kindergarten. And the closest one, besides the one in the Temple, was near the Barn.
They also needed to get there quickly, and Naruto had the means to do so.
He focused, surrounding both of them in a swirling sphere of air.
And when they began rising from the ground, Amethyst could only blink.
"Whoa."
-The Omega Kindergarten-
The statues of two great warriors stood tall, etched into mounds of earth by skill artisans. Each figure was unique, showcasing a different expression. A different motive. A different drive. Despite being severely damaged, this ancient depiction of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha stood the test of time. Even now, they remained captivating, a stark contrast to the lifeless world around. They were a portal to the past, providing a glimpse into humanity's prime—when men were gods and beasts of unparalleled strength roamed the earth.
The Valley of the End was the same, yet… different. A waterfall no longer flowed through the land. It was dry and barren and desolate. There was no vegetation. Not a sound could be heard. No animals. Nothing. Only the occasional whisper of wind penetrated the stifling silence. Upon the valley walls were holes, deep dark cavities that dotted every inch of rock. Injectors—virus-like devices—lay strewn across the land, poised and ready to infect the world anew, ready to continue its sinister purpose if given the right commands.
A warp pad stood at the base of the Kindergarten, a raised platform surrounded by pink, glistening crystals.
It was here that two gems stood, enraptured by the scenery before them. One was still, the other turned about in curiosity, glimpsing every inch of rock, because it was her first time seeing another place like her own.
"This is it," the onyx gem said, voice calm, controlled. He sighed. "It hasn't changed. Not one bit."
Amethyst was next to him, staring, eying the place of her companion's creation. It was not the same as hers, but the similarities were there. The lifelessness, the silence, the Injectors. It was smaller than hers, yet no less comforting. She felt a subconscious relief, knowing for a fact that she wasn't as alone as she'd always thought.
"I can't believe Garnet and Pearl never told me about this," she whispered. "That there're more kindergartens like mine."
"Maybe they had a reason," Naruto suggested, somberly gazing upon the place of his death.
"Yeah? Like what?" Amethyst ran her hand across a pink crystal, frowning.
"You'll have to ask them that question," he responded, taking a step off the warp pad. "Let's be quick. Steven can't stall for us forever."
She nodded and they descended a raised platform of stairs until they reached level ground. What was once a lake was gone, covered by compact rock; and although low temperatures could not harm them, a chill could be felt. They walked side-by-side, next to towering walls. Naruto stretched out his hand, felt the cool stone against his palm. Memories bubbled to the surface. The faces of his fellow soldiers filled his mind. Despite their skill, most of them did not survive the war.
At least, that's what he had been told.
As they walked in silence, Amethyst could not help but notice one detail. It was something she'd seen the moment they arrived here. Something that struck her as important.
The holes. Hundreds of them, etched into the valley walls.
They were huge. All of them. Noticeably larger than the one's in her Kindergarten. Monstrous both in size and shape.
And Naruto, seeing her wandering, awe-struck gaze, could never forget such a detail. He remembered when everyone had first emerged, how small he had been compared to them, how weak they had all thought him to be. Defective, they'd called him. In a sea of giants, he had been a pebble, looked down upon and severely underestimated.
Though less numerous than in Prime, hundreds of soldiers were made here. However, every gem that emerged were physical monsters. According to the technicians, his Kindergarten had produced the highest quality of quartzes ever made. Everyone superseded the norm in some way: in height, in strength, or in skill. And in total, each soldier made in the Omega Kindergarten was superior to the average quartz.
Even a few were almost at the level of Jasper: the second most powerful quartz to emerge from earth.
But Homeworld still lost. He found it ironic.
For reasons unbeknownst to her, Amethyst suddenly began to feel small and insignificant as she looked around. But those feelings faded away when she and Naruto reached a section of the kindergarten that stood between those strange, damaged statues. Between two depicted figures, a single wall of rock rose, covered in more exit holes.
"There used to be a waterfall here," he said, smiling softly. "It was beautiful."
Naruto looked up, and Amethyst followed his gaze. Past a few more injectors, she saw three of the biggest exit holes in the entire kindergarten. However, above them, at the highest point in the entire valley, was a lone hole.
And it was small. So very small. Just like hers.
"Is that…?"
The gray, masculine gem nodded. "Yup. That's mine. Not too impressive, I know." He laughed for the first time since coming back here.
Amethyst grinned, crossing her arms. "I kinda like it."
"You do, huh? Well, you'd be the first," he admitted.
She tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"It's nothing. Don't worry about it." He didn't tell her about the concept of being defective. Because there was no need. To him, what a gem looked like didn't matter. Size didn't always predict one's abilities, and he was the prime example of that notion.
"Whatever you say, whiskers." She shrugged.
Naruto rose a brow. "Whiskers?"
"Yeah, that's your new nickname," she explained, alluding to their first real conversation. "Whether you like it or not, you're stuck with it."
"Fine," he conceded, amused. Then he looked up. "Wait here for a bit, okay?"
She nodded, and Naruto easily jumped hundreds of feet up the wall, past the three massive holes beneath, until he finally reached his own. He focused energy into his hands and feet so he could stick to the rocky surface. Next to his exit hole, Naruto let out a sigh. It almost felt like yesterday when he had first opened his eyes to a new existence. He had been the first to awake, and after so many years, the first to return.
But suddenly, the earth began to shake.
A violent pulse raced through the land.
A quake of moderate size ripped through the valley, reverberating up solid walls. Rock cracked and splintered, and pieces of the ancient statues began to break.
Boulders slid from the peak of the valley, crashing to the ground beneath.
Then, as soon as it came, the tremors subsided.
"Hey!" he called from above, concerned. "Are you all right?"
From below, she replied. "Yeah! But what the hell was that? It felt like an earth quake."
The Geoweapon? Naruto thought, alarmed. Then he shook his head. No, it couldn't be. It was much too early for quakes of such magnitude to be occurring. The tremors felt superficial, like something localized, not widespread across the globe. And if it was the Geoweapon, Homeworld would have sent a technician to earth by now.
This was something else. He could feel it—could sense it. It felt… familiar, but unnaturally altered. And he knew that they had to leave here soon.
Wasting no time, he peered into his exit hole. There was nothing but darkness, but he still reached in.
He felt them.
Two bubbles.
They were still here. Even after all these years, no one had tried to take them. They were still safe. Carefully, he drew them out. They floated above his palm, two black bubbles; each one held and protected a worn-out headband with a leaf symbol, as well as a glistening, emerald necklace. For a moment, his eyes remained transfixed on these two items: remnants of the ancient shinobi world.
He gripped both, and then he descended the top of the wall, leaving his hole behind, landing next Amethyst with a graceful thud.
"You got them?" she asked, observing the items in his hands. When he nodded, she moved closer, squinting. She saw only a rusted headband and a gemstone. "Is that… a gem?"
Naruto chuckled, holding Tsunade's necklace up. "No, no. It's not a gem. This is just a plain old necklace, but it's very important to me."
"Huh," she said, leaning back. "A gem… with a gem. That's pretty funny." She laughed. "So, are we done?"
"Yeah," Naruto said, carrying both items in one hand. With a bit of effort, he placed both of them in his cracked gem. Now, he was no pearl, but he could still manage to store a handful of things away. "Let's go to the Temple."
It sounded simple enough, but in reality, nothing ever went according to plan.
The ground began to shake again, violently. This time, it was far worse. A terrible noise filled the air, and just like before, a familiarity washed over Naruto.
"What the—"
Amethyst's voice was cut off.
And Giant glowing tendrils erupted from the ground, causing the earth beneath them to groan. These things looked like tails, thrashing against the air, destroying everything in its path.
They crashed against the valley walls, carving deep craters into the earth.
Naruto dodged them gracefully, but Amethyst wasn't fast enough.
One of these glowing tail-like structures forcefully wrapped around her.
"Amethyst!"
The ground beneath them began to break, exposing a deep, dark abyss. The glowing tails that held her began to recede back into the earth, never to return, dragging her away with no regard.
Naruto moved forward and grabbed her hand with his own as she was slowly being pulled under.
"Onyx!" Amethyst exclaimed. The glowing tail became tighter, crushing her. She held unto his hand. "Please don't let go."
He wouldn't let go, wouldn't let her be pulled under the earth by this monster—whatever it was.
Amethyst looked at him. Her eyes widened. The tail tightened. Then, she burst into a puff of smoke.
The television was on, and the gems were watching a movie. They were in Steven's room, about thirty minutes into the program. Steven relaxed against Garnet's puffy hair, seemingly distressed, despite his passion for what they were watching. Pearl sat at the base of the bed, arms crossed, and lips tightened in discontent.
"Where's Amethyst?" Pearl questioned, annoyed. "She seemed to have wanted to watch this more than me, but she isn't even here."
A bead of sweat fell down Steven's brow. He laughed weakly, checking the time. It was almost seven, and the sun was setting. "She's probably still eating cotton candy, or something." Where are they?
Pearl frowned. "But what about your friend, Naruto. Should we really have left Amethyst to show him the way to the Temple?" she asked, stroking her chin. "You know, now that I think about it, that was probably a reckless decision."
Steven looked a bit nervous. "Just… just give them some time. I'm sure they'll be here soon."
And behind her visors, all three of Garnet's eyes narrowed.
She finally understood.
"Pearl," Garnet spoke, suddenly getting up from the bed. The fusion stood and summoned her powerful gauntlets.
"Garnet?" the petite gem inquired, curious.
"Get ready," she said, walking down the stairs. "Steven, stay here."
"Wait, what's happening?" Steven questioned, sitting up in his bed. The movie still played in the background.
"I don't want you getting hurt," Garnet answered in a tone more forceful than normal. "Pearl."
"Right." She nodded, summoning her spear, trusting that Garnet knew what was happening.
Suddenly, the warp pad glowed brightly—the familiar tune reaching their ears.
Steven's eyes widened, and he moved forward, rushing to the glowing device. But he wasn't quick enough. Garnet stopped him with a single a hand.
It was then that he realized Garnet knew.
"Garnet, wait. It's them. Don't—!"
The glow subsided.
Standing in the center of the warp pad was Naruto—gray skin and jet-black hair, with the powerful physique of a warrior. He had a few cuts and scratches.
He gripped something in each of his hands.
In his right, a deadly scimitar was loosely held, glinting in the light of Steven's home.
In his left hand, however, held in a protective grasp, was a single purple gem.
"Amethyst?" Steven spoke, voice shaking.
For the first time in his life, he saw a poofed gem, and he didn't know what to think. Had… had Naruto done that to her? No, he couldn't have, yet Steven was speechless, utterly concerned for his purple friend.
Naruto gently held her gem in his hand, and he knew this didn't look good. Not in the slightest.
Before he could even begin explain, he saw them start to move. He sighed, and he tossed Amethyst's gem unto a nearby couch, somewhere safe, just as their fated battle began.
Pearl came at him first.
They crossed blades.
A painful ring shook the house, cracking and splintering its wooden walls. With each clash, a blade of wind indirectly tore the house apart. With each swing, something was broken, shattered, or cut to pieces. The portrait of Rose fell from its place above, crashing to the ground, and even Pearl didn't notice.
Garnet sprang into action, gauntlets firmly around her powerful fists. He seemed to sense her movement, blocking her by summoning another deadly scimitar. The floor of the house trembled beneath them. While his first blade was occupied with Pearl's spear, her other fist met his face.
He could have easily dodged, but he didn't. He chose not to. As a statement, he took the blow, and was thrown through a stone wall, crashing into their Kitchen.
By now Steven was on the couch, holding Amethyst's gem in his palms.
"I-Is she okay?"
Garnet, though on the defense, gave him a small, reassuring smile. "She'll be fine, Steven."
Pearl gripped her weapon. "How did he find her, anyway?" she asked.
Garnet glanced at Steven, already knowing that answer.
"It… It was me," Steven admitted. Pearl turned to him, shocked. "Please, don't fight."
And the dust cleared, his plea lost in the heat of a renewed battle.
Pearl moved forward, spear held tightly in her hands. Garnet had her gauntlets ready. Naruto calmly stepped out of the hole he had made. A nasty cut defined the side of his face. No blood flowed, for gems had no blood. Steam rose from the wound, glowing, healing far slower than normal. But he wasn't angry. His weapons had faded, and he stood still, silent.
"I promised her that I wouldn't fight…"
"What… what are you talking about?" Pearl questioned, defensive.
Naruto took a step forward. Despite her resolve, she took a step back.
Then he paused. He suddenly whirled around in alarm, facing Steven's front door.
Not this again.
He could feel something coming, something fast. Piercing the air like a bullet.
Concern colored his face.
From outside, a familiar black spike struck the house without mercy.
And Steven's home exploded.
Carnelian was back.
AN: Oh boy, Naruto can't seem to catch a break. First something attacks in his Kindergarten, Amethyst is poofed, and then Carnelian returns for round two. Next chapter is gonna be a ride. And no worries, this isn't the last we've seen of the Omega Kindergarten.
So, Garnet's visions didn't go exactly as she saw them. But there's a reason for that, and she's figured it out. Now, Union Trade certainly didn't happen. As we can see, Naruto's presence is already screwing up canon. And although Fun Land is Naruto's job, it won't be shown or described in every chapter. But, it will be significant for future events.
Lastly, just for fun, I drew what I envisioned Naruto/Onyx's swords look like. Check it out if you want. And a reminder: my profile is BlackStar-Eternal (Deviantart). If you guys like it, I'll take a crack at fusion weapons next.
Thank you all for your patience and wonderful reviews. I always love reading them.
