A/N: Well, I was going to finish this fanfic for NaNoWriMo 2018, but then school got in the way, life got in the way, yadda yadda yadda. Anyway, with finals over with, I've now got some time to continue working on fanfic projects (like Kidfic, for example). And of course, with Christmas and 2019 on the horizon, I couldn't be any happier that I've only got two semesters left at uni before the rest of my life starts.
Okay, enough rambling. Here's a new chapter to hold you over. Enjoy!
Within a week's time, Pearl, Garnet, Bloodstone, Dumortierite, Liddicoatite, Larimar, and Princess Lapis Lazuli had made it into Titanoholtite by way of teleportation. Labyrinthite had not been kidding when she said that the nation was in the midst of a civil war. Just from a quick glance alone, it was easy to tell from the many casualties and destroyed buildings that things hadn't been going great for the sultanate-ruled country. Many Gems were frantically going about, trying to find shelter to protect them from the gunfire that would come anytime now. On top of that, children were crying all around them, wondering desperately where their parents or siblings or just about any family member could be.
"Oh… these poor kids…" Larimar spoke solemnly. "I wish I could take them out of here."
"I think we all wish we could, Larimar," Liddicoatite said. "But right now, we need to focus on our kids, your sister's kids and my daughter. Now let's go. If I remember correctly, the Sikudzakhalanso Mafumu's headquarters is up ahead, south of us. I'm afraid we might not have much time left."
"No, we will still have time," Garnet assured him. "We just need to find some way to get to their headquarters somehow. Something like…" She scanned the area around them for a creature that could lend a hand to the group of six. After a couple minutes, she pointed to a gargantuan two-toed creature that appeared to be a camelid with an anteater's head (or as it was formally known, an ant-camel). "...that."
"An ant-camel…" Pearl muttered to herself. "Perfect!" Soon after, she realized that they might have a problem. "Just one thing, though. We might all have to squeeze together to fit on this magnificent creature."
"Oh… okay. Alright, everyone. Let's get on, one at a time."
As per Liddicoatite's suggestion, Pearl and the rest of the group got on the giant ant-camel's back and then proceeded to hoist the inventor up to the front. Just a short time later, the group began to make their way through the war-torn country to the stone building where members of the Sikudzakhalanso Mafumu met up and held their opponents captive. Pearl could hardly believe it; they were so close to getting Tabby and the royal twins back. As far as she was concerned, nothing could stop them now.
Tabby Quartz and the royal children were fast asleep in their cell when Oberon suddenly started whimpering and moving erratically.
"Obi?" Tabby asked, still deep into her slumber. "Obi, what's wrong?"
Oberon found himself in a pitch-black void, the ground beneath his feet wet and slick like glass. He could see his mothers, his aunt, the Gem he'd come to known as Tabby's father Liddicoatite, and two other Gems that were still complete strangers to him travelling upon an ant-camel towards what seemed to be in his general direction. He ran to them as quickly as he could, as quickly as his own legs could keep up, and as his quickly as he'd set up in his mind. He ran to them with only one goal in mind: to touch them and let them know he was here, waiting for them to come rescue him and Titania and Tabby. But as he extended his hand to touch his family and the giant creature right in front of him, just like that, it had disintegrated… into nothing. He woke up in a cold sweat.
"Obi?" Tabby asked again as soon as she woke up. "Did you see Dad and the others?"
Oberon just nodded his head.
"You did? Good." Tabby then made a quick gesture for him to continue. "What were they doing?"
"They were riding an ant-camel," Oberon simply answered.
"An ant-camel? What were they doing on an ant-camel?"
"I don't know. They were coming for us, though."
"Then there's still hope…" Tabby quickly muttered under her breath. She then spoke normally, "We just need to hold on… just for a little bit longer. We'll be free soon enough. Are you ready?"
The kids nodded their heads.
"Alright, good. Now I'm going to go ahead and call out to some of the other prisoners for help."
Tabby let out a loud whistle and waited patiently. All of a sudden, another prisoner called out to her.
"Oh, good!" this other prisoner yelled out in relief. "I thought I was going insane! Good to know I'm not alone."
"I'm glad as well!" Tabby yelled back. "I've got the Chalcopyrite Queens Garnet and Pearl's children with me. Is there anybody else with you in your cell?"
"Nope, just me!"
"Ah… well, what's your name?"
"I'm Kasolite. I was the head priestess for a country that elects its monarchs. What about you?"
"I'm Tabby Quartz, daughter of Tabby Quartz the Elder and Liddicoatite. I helped plan a wedding for the Queens of Chalcopyrite Garnet and Pearl."
"Wait, that Tabby Quartz? The one whose brother wanted to exterminate all humans?"
"Sadly, yes. Anyway, anybody else here I need to know about?"
"No. At least, no one that I know of."
"Ah… will you help me get the kids out of here? Chalcedony had her witch Margaritasite put a tracking spell on me, so I'm not even going to try escaping with them again."
"Sure. Just as long as we make sure we don't get caught."
All of a sudden, they heard footsteps coming from down the corridor. They clammed up and not once said a word while Chalcedony walked through with her hands behind her back, checking every single one of the cells just to make absolute sure everyone was where they were supposed to be. As soon as Chalcedony had left, Kasolite and Tabby started talking again.
"Okay, so you know what to do, right?" Tabby asked her new friend.
"Absolutely," Kasolite assured her. "Just follow my lead and we'll have the kids out of here in no time."