Here we are, the exciting part 2 of the Beta episode. Please enjoy


Beta - Part 2

At the beta Kintergarten

The warp pad glowed and in warped Steven, Amethyst, Peridot, Bismuth, Jade and Citrine. Right into their location: Facet 9. ''Here we are you guys, Jasper's origin. Also known as: The Beta Kindergarten.'' Peridot said as she showed their surroundings. In a strange way, It was somewhat similar to the Facet Five kintergarten, only that this one was much smaller. What's more is that is that it was much more narrow and all the walls were made out of red sandstone.

''Is it me, or am I underwhelmed? Either way, it's pretty bright out here.'' Steven said as he shielded his eyes from the sun. ''I think this looks very eerie.'' Jade said as she tried to warp back to the barn, only to be dragged by the yellow quartz. ''Don't vorry Jade. Ve'll find your crew, as long as ve stay together.'' Citrine said, still baring a smile on her face. Peridot then turned to the gang and asked them a simple question. ''So whaddya guys think?''

Everyone looked around at the horrible place before she got an answer. ''It's...red.'' Amethyst said, worringly. ''Well what do ya expect? This place was made in the Antelope Canyon in Arizona.'' Bismuth said firmly, she was about to say more about the place only to have the green little gem interrupt her. ''Yeah, No kidding. Heh. Red sandstone. Hah!'' Peridot said as she and the rest of the gang walked off the warp pad and down onto the ground.

''You see you guys, this is what I'm talking about. We're all so lucky that this place didn't blow away. Beta, am I right?'' She said as she finished with a single joke.

Steven and Citrine both laughed at this joke with Bismuth staring at them in confusion. ''Hahahahahaha...I don't get eet.'' Citrine said as she tilted her head to one side slightly. ''Er Amethyst? That was a math joke right?'' Steven whispered to Amethyst who shrugged in response.

Jade then looked around but wasn't able to see any sign of her crew. ''How are we going to find my friends in this place?'' She said as she darted from one hole to another, Citrine's gem then glowed as she then lit up with a huge smile and thought positive which also caused her eyes to light up in the process.

The brightly shining smile then gave Citrine a good amount of power which then caused her whole body to light up. ''What the heck was that?'' Peridot said as she viewed the brightly glowing supstane on what Citrine was capable of.

''Citrine was the goofiest gem of our group, whenever one of us was feeling down, she just makes us happy again which then gives her the power that she needs to fight/to gain a little bit of luck, she the happiness of others in order to make that possible.'' Amethyst said, looking at her old friend's powers as she bounced along the canyon floor and going way ahead of the group.

''My powers vill also help us to find Jasper and/or ze Nephrites. Zo come on, lez go.'' Citrine said, she then used her happiness to shapeshift her feet into a pair of roller skates, before she skated off a little. ''I'm still not sure about this place you guys.'' Jade said as she clutched Steven's hand very frightfully. ''It seems terrifying.'' Peridot then laughed, Bismuth had then clutched Jade's other hand in attempts to comfort her ''Heh, c'mon you lot, it gets worse. And I mean, a whole lot worse.'' Peridot giggled as she let the way with the others soon following after.

''What I mean to say is that, this place has all of the correct growing conditions in a single pinch. I figure...'' Peridot started before she picked up a red rock and licked it. ''But in all honesty, it's way too small. By the looks of this place It was obviously a total rush job.'' Peridot said, it wasn't long before some of the gang looked at each other in confusion about this kintergarten. ''Er...Rush Job? What do you mean, Peridot?'' Steven asked as the gang continued to walk endlessly through the remains of the Beta kintergarten.

''Well, it was a long time since I've kinda remembered being at the kintergarten.'' Bismuth said, Jade and Steven ventured to ask the rainbow gem why and the got their answer:

Flashback:

Peridot's POV

Halfway throughout the rebellion and right before the gem war, the Homeworld warriors were trying to scramble, in order to generate more extra soldiers on the ground. It was probably around 100 years the time Rose Quartz had started the rebellion. They tried to harvest as many gems as possible but no matter what they did, this place was just a rush job.

Bismuth's POV

In Rose's opinion, it didn't matter if the gems came from the beta kintergarten before we shut down this place. During the time here, me and my gang kinda took a risk of doing this, but me Emerald, Crazy lace and the other gem warriors had to harvest the gems before the other homeworld warriors did. It was a little bit horrible, but with our teamwork, we finally managed to get the required gems back to Rose.

'Sighs' Alright it was before Rose was made. As a matter of fact she was made in a special part of earth with life...

Flashback ends:

''Bismuth, I think it would be best to save that for another time.'' Peridot said as she continued to follow the bouncing glowing gem which seemed to glow a little faster. Bismuth and Jade were about to continue through the canyon, only to stop when they both heard a pair of footsteps coming from behind.

Turning, they looked to see who was there, but it turned out to be nothing.

Shrugging, Bismuth ran off to the other gems, only to find that the line they were following had split into two seperate lines. ''Oh no, now which way do we go?'' Jade said, panicking that she might never make it out of the beta kintergarten. ''Relax Jade. I'm sure we'll find the others, so I'm guessing we take the right path as far as my instincts tell me.'' Bismuth said, when Jade looked at the two paths: she saw that the right path was dark and spooky, while the left path was nice and full of light.

Without hesitation, Jade wanted to take the left path only to have the rainbow gem grasp her hand. ''Oh c'mon Jade, It's a shortcut. You've got me, so I'm pretty sure that we'll catch up with the others.'' Bismuth said as they strolled casually down the right pathway after the rainbow gem tied a metal rope around a rock to bring them back down the way they came, unknowingly about the mysterious figure who both followed and lurked behind them.


Down the right pathway

Bismuth and Jade were looking thoughout the exit holes and hidden corners to see if they could find the other nephrites. They weren't having much luck though because of the fact that the holes were completely empty and oblivious to the fact that they weren't using the line to look for the gemstones.

However, when they realised that they weren't following the line, Bismuth alerted Jade and they stuck to the line again like glue.

By the time they continued on with the line trailing behind, the path had started to get darker as the sun's light was blocked out all together. It even got worse when they had accidently lost the line all together. ''Hang on a minute, this can't be right.'' Bismuth said as she searched for the line. It was then that she realised tat she'd lead the herself and Jade to a dead end, the Nephrites were nowhere in sight. ''Did we take a wrong turn back there?'' Jade asked nervously, something the zoomed past her as she spun round to see what it was, but nothing was there. ''My instinct never lies, but the Nephrites aren't anywhere in sight...I guess we better go find...'' But before Bismuth could even speak, she heard a shriek from behind.

Turning, she saw that Jade was looking at a horrifying sight. A lone injector somehow coming back to life and attacking the poor Nephrite. ''Hang on Jade, I'm coming!'' Bismuth said, shapeshifting her hands into swords, she attempted to destroy the haunted machine. However, she instantly got whacked by one of the injector's legs when she got near the machine. Horrified by this, Jade attempted to help the rainbow gem by fighting back with her magic powers.

She fought that mechanical monster for who knows how long. By then, the injector took a different strategy. The machine spat out metal machanical wires like tentacles which had started to fly straight towards her. Jade attempted to fight back and while it worked on some of the wires, the rest of them over powered her and immediately started to coil themselves around her like a pair of snakes. ''Aaaaaaaieeee! Bismuth!'' She managed to scream before the wires covered her mouth.

With her screams muffled and arms pinned behind her back, the wires began to pull Jade towards the haunted machine and that was when Bismuth noticed that this happened. ''Let her go you mechanical uppercrust!'' The rainbow gem said as she shapeshifted her hands into axes. Bismuth then attempted to cut the wires again, but after a while of fighting, they dragged the poor Nephrite into the machine and trapping her all together, before it shut down. Jade had attempted to struggle her way out again and again, only to find out that her attempts were useless without her magic.

''Jade! Are you ok in there?'' Bismuth yelled as she ran up to the now broken machine. ''Mmmphmmmph!'' Jade yelled, despite that her voice was muffled. What made the situation more uncomfortable was that she had felt something hard on her back. It was like a couple of big balls trying to break her back...couple of big balls? ''Well don't worry, I'll get you out and then we'll catch up with the others. Just stay calm and...'' Bismuth started, until she was hit by an unknown force which sent her flying until she landed on her back. ''Ow. Ok that hurt.''

Bismuth got to her feet again, only to be struck in the in the back which sent her flying into the glass of the injector. This frightened Jade a little, until the glass smashed which ment she was able to get free from the machine. All the while, Bismuth was being hit by te same force which continued to whack her and injure her endlessly. After another punch, something then revealed itself.

It was a gem.

An orange gem, with a black masked helmet, she was wearing black armor, her clothes were unknown because of the armor but she had an orange hexagon gemstone on her right shoulder.

''Hehehe. What's wrong old timer? You didn't see that coming?'' The gem laughed as she walked over to where the young nephrite was still tied up in the wires, but at least she was able to wiggle some of the wires off of her mouth. ''Leave us alone!'' Jade managed to yell, the orange gem only kneeled down to her and made tilted the young nephrite's head up towards her.

''And you...you're the last nephrite that I need.'' The gem said, Jade gasped in realisation, the belt on the armor, the two greenish balls...were actually her crew. The armored gem then picked up the young nephrite and ran off with her. ''Stop! Let her go you uppercrust!'' Bismuth roared as she ran after the armor gem. They ran back the way they came and down the left path.


Meanwhile, down the left path of the endless canyon

Peridot continued to show more about the beta kintergarten to Amethyst, Citrine and Steven. ''So as I was saying earlier, Homeworld was scrambling to generate extra soldiers on the ground.'' She explained, when the gang got near an exit hole, Peridot showed the problem.

''I mean Look at this you guys, these exit holes don't even line up!'' Peridot said as she giggled a little. ''Erm, vhat iz your point, Peridot?'' Citrine asked curiously, going in and out of the exit holes. ''My reason being, it's like those clods just threw down any injectors wherever they wanted.'' The green gem continued, before she looked at another hole. ''Oh oh oh, and about that one right there?'' Peridot ran over to an exit hole that was shaped 90 degrees to the left.

''This Carnelian had come out sideways. I mean, how that gem not come out like that. The main problem is this: The walls are curved. Haha, that's a classic joke.'' Peridot said as she then continued to lead the gang through the endless canyon.

''Dude, I...I..I really had no idea.'' Amethyst said as she looked around the canyon. At all the wrong exit holes.

''I gotta hand it to you Amethyst, it really makes you appreciate being made in the Prime Kindergarten, doesn't it?'' Peridot said, ''Your own Kindergarten was so thought through. I mean, yeah kiddo. Despite the fact that you spent more time in the ground, my point is that everything else was stacked onto your favor.'' While the green gem was speaking, Citrine was curious about what she was talking about. ''Vhat do you mean, Peridot?'' She asked as she used her magic to create a flying carpet for herself to sit on.

''I mean there's: the Great location to grow the gems, the great holes for them to pop out of, even spacing between where they came from, consistent depth withing the earth. That's all what I'm talking about. A real kindergartener gets it it right.'' After hearing what the green gem had explained, Citrine had nodded in agreement. While the gang was walking onwards, Steven had stopped as he saw a broken injector, that was missing all of it's legs. ''Wh...what...the heck...happened to...this injector?'' He said to himself quietly.

Just then, Steven heard a voice calling his name. ''Steven!'' The half gem looked back the way he and the others came to see Bismuth running as fast as she could. When she saw Steven, she ran up to him before stopping and catching her breath. ''Bismuth? Are you ok'' Steven asked, Bismuth then had enough energy to speak. ''Did...huff...did you see...an armored gem...come this way?'' She tried to speak, only to have the half gem speak over her. ''Woah, woah woah. Take it easy, what happened back there? And where's Jade.''

Before the rainbow gem could answer, a voice came from beyond. ''Ey! Are you two comming or what?'' Citrine yelled as she flew around the corner whilst leading the way with her sense of luck. ''C'mon, we better catch up with the others. Tell me about it when we get to them, ok?'' Steven said as he grabbed Bismuth's hand and helped her walk to the others.

As soon as they caught up to the others, Peridot was explaining more about the exit holes to Citrine and Amethyst. ''...So, what you guys wanna to see is a vertical alignment, in other words: no angles in the exit and a clean and strong silhouette...But that's another thing about this place, none of these holes even come close.'' When Bismuth heard her say that, she nodded in agreement. ''My hole was neater than these ones.'' She whispered to Steven.

A figure then walked towards the gang, unnoticed.


IT's POV:

Behind the gang, the armored gem peeks out from the walls of the canyon with Jade still ensnared in the mechanical wires. ''Pmmmph, mmph mm gmmph.'' She attempted to say, only to have the wires muffle her speech. ''I'm sorry, but I cannot do so.'' The gem spoke, her voice seemed very low from wearing the helmet. ''I have to do this in order to free my crew from...her.''

Hearing what the armored gem had to say. It was quiet but sad voice. ''Pmmph, Smmphm fmmp.'' The young nephrite attempted to speak. ''I don't like doing this myself. But I have to capture the Crystal gems and the two homeworld traitors as well.'' The orange gem's gem then started to glow, she then pulled out an arrow like dagger. ''I'll make sure that they don't see what's coming. That way, they'll not notice who did this.'' Whilst speaking, the gem then used the arrow telepathically, she aimed the arrow at Steven.

Not knowing what else to do, Jade yelped and attempted to get free and stop the gem from hurting her friends. Her efforts were good but it was no use on getting free. However, the armored gem noticed what was going on, then immediately stopped her attempts to attack and pointed the dagger at Jade as soon as she got close to her. Jade's muffling had also become a neusense to gem, then without hesitation, she decided to cut the wires off of Jade's mouth. It was very quick for a single slice, it was also nowhere near her gem. ''Woah, (sighs) cutting that a little close, wouldn't you agree?'' Jade asked as she started shaking nervously.

The armored gem didn't say anything for a moment until she sat on the dirt. ''Apologies, I mightn't always do things without nearly hurting someone.'' She said.

''Why do you want me and my crew? Also, what did the others do to you?'' Jade said as she gave the armored gem a confused look. ''The reason is, you and your crew are the only evidence of what the diamonds did to their fallen ones and crystal gems. Yellow Diamond wanted to get rid of the evidence so that no homeworld gem or her sisters would find out.'' The armor gem said, gazing at Jade with her own eyes. Looking at the gem, she explained why she wanted the others.

IT's Story:

Me and my crew were made on mars on a special colony, we were suppose to be warriors for Yellow Diamond.

But I found out that she was going to declare war on Earth, I could not us become murderers.

So we fled, it was a long journey but...we got captured upon being spotted by Yellow Diamond's command ship.

She captured our vessel

Then locked us away as punishment.

5,300 years after the war on earth and during those years after, we were enslaved by my superior and trained.

When the time came, we were brought back to earth

My superior had wanted one of us to capture you, one of my friends got poofed.

Not baring to see my friends shattered, I volunteered to go.

My superior promised me that If I capture you all...she would let me and my crew go.

End of Story:

As soon Jade heard the whole story, she felt sorry for the armored gem. ''Oh my goodness, I...I had no idea.'' She said, her eye starting to tear up a little. ''Don't worry, It's nothing. I just want to get my crew's freedom and escape from homeworld once and for all.'' The armor gem said, her voice trembling a little. Jade then encouraged the gem to look at Steven and the others.

What the armored gem saw was the prime heart of what and who the crystal gems were, she saw that they were talking about taking control of their own identity and being free on earth. Something... ''Are you alright?'' The young nephrite asked, The gem just stayed silent for a while.

She couldn't just do this to Jade. The others would just notice that she's missing.

She'd be a criminal.

Hunted by homeworld and the CGs.

Is that what she wanted to be?

Could she risk her life and her crew's life?

IT couldn't bare it any longer, holding Jade hostage. So without hesitation, she cut all the metal wires binding her and helped her to her feet. ''Go, your friends need you more than I do.'' She said. Jade was surprised at this, the armored gem letting her go. ''Thanks. But why?'' Hearing the young nephrite meant that she just had to answer the question. ''It's the right thing to do. I'm no kidnapper.'' The armored gem then took off the rest of the nephrites' gems from her belt and handed them back to Jade.

''Thank you so much for giving me my crew back...er...'' Jade said happily before she asked for the gem's name. ''IT.'' The gem known as IT said, as she started to walk away. ''I bid you farewell, young Jade.'' She continued as she continued to walk. Jade then decided to catch up with the others.

Looking back at each other, Jade gave IT a small smile before running off to Steven and the others. ''What do I do now?'' IT wondered, she knew that she had to help her crew but she also needed to catch the wanted gems, but the problem was: What should I do?


Back to the gang

Jade had slipped behind the rainbow gem without being noticed at all.

By that time, Peridot was explaining to the others about the exit holes. ''...So, what you guys wanna to see is a vertical alignment, in other words: no angles in the exit and a clean and strong silhouette...But that's another thing about this place, none of these holes even come close.'' When Bismuth heard her say that, she nodded in agreement. ''My hole was neater than these ones.'' She whispered to Steven.

''Hey guys, what about this one up there?'' Amethyst asked curiously, the gang looked towards where the purple quartz was pointing. It was an exit hole, a giant exit hole, nothing like the gang had ever seen before, the arms of the hole pointed upwards. This...was no ordinary exit hole.

''Jasper...'' Peridot whispered as she gazed at the menacing shape. ''What?'' Bismuth said shockingly, ''Peridot...'' Amethyst said, her mood not changing. ''Are you saying zat...'' Citrine continued from the purple quartz. ''...This...is Jasper's exit hole.'' Steven finished as he looked at the green gem.

''It's huge.'' Amethyst said, gazing at what appeared to her as a triumphent pose.

''It's scary.'' Jade said, looking at the darkness within the hole.

''Tiz...too perfect.'' Citrine said, using her dream powers to summon a magnifying glass to view the entire thing.

There was a moment of silence...until Bismuth broke it.

''Bigg's hole was much bigger than Jasper's.'' She said, glaring in hatred at the hole. It was nearly a moment when she got out the breaking point from her bag, but then Steven held her hand which snapped her back to reality. ''Jasper might be the strongest on homeworld and the big quartz...but she's got no heart.'' She concluded as she calmed down.

''Oh, come on you guys, we all know that she's tall, strong etc. But hold on a sec and lemme take a closer look.'' And with that, Peridot walked up to the wall where the hole was and attempted to climb it. ''My point is that,...ugh...any kindergarteners are able tell a lot...Ngh!...about a Gem's form and...ugh!...flaws by the exit marks.'' Peridot said as she attempted to climb up. When she gave in, she asked for help. ''Bismuth? Steven?'' Drawn over to the Peridot's plea for help, Bismuth then marched over to her and tossed her upwards.

But the green gem ended up being pushed too much upwards and hit her face off the ceiling of the exit hole's head. She then fell down onto the ledge of the hole where she landed on her stomach. ''Ow, thanks.'' Peridot said as she climbed into the hole. ''No probs, pleasure doing Bismuth with you.'' Bismuth joked a little.

When she got into the hole, Peridot ran to the edge of the exit hole to her right. ''You guys see, the real problem here...wait, oh, wait is that?...oh no that's not it, um. Alright, now this part...hm, that's strange. Forget that, now there's this thing where if a gem counts all steps towards the back they can...er...'' Peridot mutters to the others, she then walke out of the hole and climbed down before walking over to the gang.

''What is it?'' Amethyst asked concerningly, ''Iz...iz something ze matter?'' Citrine asked.

A minute had passed by with no answer from the green gem, ''Well come on Peridot. Say something.'' Bismuth yelled in a panic. The short gem then answered, ''Oh my stars, that gem's even got the frictional rock melt. Point being, It's just glass all the way to the back. To be honest, I uh, I've never actually seen an exit hole this perfect before.'' Everyone became shocked by this.

''Never?'' Bismuth said, staring at the entire hole. ''It's the truth, this is a perfect hole.'' Peridot said as she gazed downwards.

''Ugh, so it is true. She was right about everything. About being a mistake.'' The purple quartz said, Bismuth really didn't want to interupt Amethyst, but she had to do so anyway. ''Anyway as I was saying before, Jade's in trouble?'' She said with a panic. ''What?'' The gang said, the rainbow gem then explained that she and Jade were attacked by a gem wearing armor who kidnapped Jade.

''What are you talking about Bismuth? She's right beside you.'' Steven said with a smile, Bismuth then turned quickly to face the young nephrite. At first she was speechless, until she hugged her. ''Thank the stars you're ok. Are you hurt?'' The rainbow gem asked nervously, She then explained to Jade that she was looking for her but he lost the armored gem. ''It's ok Bismuth, I'm fine. And I found the rest of my crew.'' While talking, Jade opened her waist back and showed the rest of her crew were in there.

''ER...HELLO?! ARE YOU ALL JUST IGNORING ME?! FINE! I'M A MISTAKE JUST LIKE THAT NO GOOD PERFECT QUARTZ SAID!'' Amethyst screamed at everyone, she then threw both her whips to the ground and sat on the dirt with her arms folded, tears then started to show in her eyes slightly.

Everyone felt a little sad for Amethyst. Steven then went forward to comfort the purple quartz.

''Amethyst, come on. Just because Jasper says that you're a mistake, doesn't matter. Who you are isn't about where you came from. It's all about taking control of your own identity, who you wanna be. It's what we all work hard to do. It's all about what and who you care for! That's the prime thing on what really matters.'' Steven said gently as he put his hand on her shoulder. Amethyst turned to face him with a deadpan look on her face.

''Really? Is that what you meant when you fought me on the cloud arena?'' She growled, Steven tried to answer back but Amethyst kept on growling.

''Or when said that I rebuilt the communication hub back then?! How you actually said that you didn't want to be Tiger Millionaire anymore because of me?! You think that I WAS BETRAYING GARNET AND PEARL, IS THAT WHAT YOU GUYS MEAN?!'' Amethyst roared at the gang,

''NO! no...I was only saying that stuff so you'd stop thinking about Jasper. I attempted that, and I failed.'' Steven said, he then sat beside the purple quartz. And just like what happened at the forge, The same thing that happened to Amethyst again...her bad memories flooded back though her mind.

I am not gonna let you stand there and remind me about all the things I hate about myself!

I never asked to be made.

I'm just an embarrassment to you!

You wanted me to be more like Pearl and now I am!

You wanted me to be stronger! I'm doing it! I'm being what you want!

Rose said...that I'm perfect...just the way I am.

Oh, good... You didn't need me at all...

No! I get mad at myself! That's, ugh, the thing I do. I get mad at myself and then it makes me suck at everything I do even more.

Hah...I know what's wrong with me. I'm not supposed to be small. And everyone's always acting like there's no problem. You can be anything you want to be. No! I can't. Huh...I can't even be the one thing I'm supposed to be you know?

''Amethyst?'' Just hearing the one person that she knew the most made the purple quartz slip back to reality.

''(sighs) I'm sorry Ste-man. I didn't mean for this to happen. I wanna be my old self again but...'' The purple quartz started, Steven the put his arm around her. ''It's alright, I know how it feels. And like I said, I was just saying all that horrible stuff so you'd stop thinking about beating Jasper.'' He said as he helped her up onto her feet.

Amethyst then sighed in sadness before speaking honestly with her friends. ''Well, it's true. You were right'' She said, everyone looked at her with a hint of feeling sorry for her. ''Exactly Amy, it's all about...'' Bismuth started, only to be cut off again. ''No...he was right about one thing...I did rebuild the hub.'' Amethyst spoke as she turned away from the gang. ''I used Peridot's pod because I wanted to form Sugilite again. But unfortunately, Pearl formed Sardonyx again. Then Pearl must have got the idea from me when I sneaked back to the temple.''

Once everyone heard her confession, the gasped in surprise. ''But...why? Why didn't you tell Garnet that day?'' Steven said, sounding a bit upset. ''I wanted to, but I didn't know how to without hurting her feelings. Just, please don't tell her.'' Amethyst said.

Bismuth then walked up to her and tilted her head upwards. She then explained that Ruby isn't always the sharpest tool but she was always strong in heart. ''You see Amethyst, we all make mistakes in life, and sometimes even let them overcome us. But we should let that one thing stop us from being who we want to be.'' The rainbow gem explained. Amethyst then looked towards the rest of the gang who nodded their heads in agreement and even Steven himself.

''Amethyst, the veal veason vhy Bizmuth let me out of my bubble was because Garnet vanted me to make her a promise if I ever got came back from being poofed: To look after you and remind you about who you are.'' The yellow quartz said as she placed her hand on her older sister's shoulder.

''You're right, you guys are right!'' Amethyst said happily, as she started to get her usual self back everyone agreed with her. ''Yeah!'' They cheered, oblivious to the fact that IT was watching them from behind. ''It's all about who I wanna be!'' Amethyst continued, just hearing that outburst from the gem had lit up a spark within the gem's heart. ''Yeah!'' the gang cheered again. ''So it is, it really is about who I am!'' Amethyst yelled, her voice echoing through the canyon. ''Yeah!'' the gang cheered again ''And on that account, I wanna be the Gem who's gonna beat Jasper right into the dirt!''

Once everyone heard what the purple quartz said, they didn't cheer. ''Yeah!'' (Well, almost all of them).

''Huh?'' Steven said.

''What?'' Jade gasped.

''No.'' Bismuth said quietly.

''Cheeze.'' Citrine said happily, everyone then looked at her. She then shyfully walked ''Er...sorry about zat.'' She said sheepishly. Before Amethys could walk off, Peridot stopped her''Wait, Amethyst please don't. I'm begging you, please don't fight her. I mean, did you not see this hole? Jasper is the ultimate Quartz WARRIOR!'' The green gem screamed. Amethyst could only rebel against the gang's pleas.

''Oh I'm doing this alright.'' The purple quartz responded, ''You really think you can just take on Jasper just like that?'' Jade asked nervously, her body begining to tremble a little. ''Yeah Jade, and I'm not just doing this for myself, but I'm also doing this for all the weird holes out here! Like this guy. Then skinny up ther oh, and, and, and this mess.'' Amethyst said, as she jestured the exit holes in the canyon. When everyone saw the last hole, Peridot looked nervous.

''Er...Amethyst?...that's'' Peridot began, only to be cut off again by the purple quartz. ''Yeah, whoever this gem was, I bet she was a great one.'' She said, filled up with a lot of pride. Peridot then walked over to the hole and inspected it. ''No, no no I don't mean that, just hold on a sec.'' Peridot said as she just when the rest of the gang followed her. She then got out from her hair...the thing that was suppose to be her weapon, only it wasn't the same. She then used her weapon to scan the hole. ''Something's not right here. The marks on this exit hole are new ones. This hole's been dug out. Recently, around...'' Peridot said, she stopped when she looked at the date on when it was dug out.

Everyone looked at Peridot's weapon's screen and saw the date. ''The hole was dug out while we were in Bismuth's forge and attempting to heal Jade.'' Peridot said as she also explained that she upgraded the catapult that she was given and why. ''Do you think it was a prairie dog? Er...a...really big one?'' Steven said before he looked at the gang very awkwardly.

Peridot only groaned slightly in response before she walked down the path further. She then saw two things: The line was now glowing rapidly and a much bigger problem. ''Oh my stars, there's more of them.'' She said as everyone looked to see a lot of holes with bars on them. ''Woah.'' Amethyst said as she gazed in horror. ''Stars above.'' Bismuth said as Citrine held onto her arm and Jade hid behind the rainbow gem. ''These exit holes are really scary.'' Jade said to her own friends.

''No Jade. These are not exit holes anymore.'' Peridot said as she glared at the horrific sight. Steven, Jade and Citrine then decided to take a closer look at what the cages were suppose to be. ''If zese are not exit holes...zen...'' Citrine started before Steven finished her saying for her ''..What...are they?'' He said.

Right at that moment, a giant hand attempts to claw the trio who luckilly managed to get back at the last second. Jade screamed in the process. ''STEVEN! JADE!'' Bismuth and Peridot yelled, they then ran over to the two and pulled them away. ''Citrine! you ok?'' Amethyst asked her goofy friend, she nodded to say she was alright before Bismuth then went over to the cage. ''Alright uppercrust! You're gonna regr...no...it...it can't be.'' Bismuth said as she shapeshifted her weapons into hammers, but then she changed them back to normal and realised something.

This wasn't any corrupted gem.

This was one of her's

There was no denying it. That familiar mixture of brown and orange skin. That whitish orange hair. And most of all...that hexigonal gemstone with several patterns made from brown and orange on it.

''Biggs?'' Bismuth gasped horrifically. Everyone looked in sadness as the rainbow gem attempted to talk to her late old ally. ''Biggs, it's me Bismuth! Nice job on the shapeshift, but it's ok now. You can change back.'' She said as a couple of tears rolled down her face.

''Bismuth?'' Steven said to his rainbow friend. She ignored him as she attempted to speak to the corrupted gem some more. ''BIGGS PLEASE CHANGE BACK! YOU'RE STARTING TO SCARE ME A LITTLE! PLEASE WHAT HAPPENED TO...'' She screamed until...

''Bismuth!'' Steven yelled. As soon as he yelled, the gem turned towards him. ''I...I'm sorry Steven.'' The rainbow gem appologised as she hugged the half gem. Jade and Citrine soon joined in the hug without Peridot and Amethyst. They then looked upwards to see all the cages filled with corrupted gems and even cluster gems.

''Corrupted gems? In cages?'' Steven cringed, ''Everyone I knew has been corrupted?!'' Bismuth said angrilly as she stared at the gems that Amethyst and Steven had fought before. ''Aragonite, Phantom Quartz, Larimar, Watermelon Tourmaline, Serandite, Blue Topaz. My allies and enemies who were on earth were corrupted? So this is what Garnet and Pearl meant!'' Bismuth yelled angrilly. ''This. Is. Awful.'' Jade said as she shuddered even harder than before.

''Who vould even, do somthing like zis?'' Citrine asked nervously. Amethyst gasps in surprise as sees a familiar gem in her sights from behind a cloud of dust. ''That's who Citrine.'' She said as she glared angrilly. ''Jasper.'' Steven said as he and Peridot cringed a little. Jade backed off along with Citrine. But Bismuth just shapeshifts her hands into blades and Amethyst angrilly summons her weapon.

This was bad, a tense moment. The real battle...was about to begin.

To Be Continued...


Hope you like this next chapter and Happy new year to all.

(25/04/2017: I've updated this part of the fanfic with Citrine, so if there's anything wrong just let me know)