~O~

Chapter Eleven: Garden of Whispers

Jasper had her eyes covered by Steven's hands while he sat on her shoulders. Connie was holding her hand, leading her somewhere down the boardwalk.

"Just a little further!" she announced.

Jasper sighed. "Tell me where we're going already." she griped.

"Okay, we're here!" Steven said.

He pulled his hands away from her eyes and she looked up at a large sign that read "BEACH CITY FUNLAND". Confused, Jasper frowned at the others.

"What is this?" she asked.

"We thought you'd like to spend some time at Beach City Funland," Steven told her, when she picked him up and set him down.

Jasper thought about it for a moment, completely confused by the offer. Maybe she could understand other Earth rituals that the gems seemed so fond of. Particularly Pearl. Understanding much more would help her have a better grasp on how to please her.

"And this would make Pearl happy?" Jasper asked.

Connie laughed. "No, Jasper. It's for fun."

"Fun." Jasper frowned at the idea.

Connie nodded with a cheerful smile on her face. Then, she looked over her shoulder and quickly rushed over to do something. Jasper didn't know or really pay any mind to whatever the small human was doing. She thought about how surreal it felt just sitting here among her enemy. Talking. Like old war comrades.

It was still taking some time getting used to it.

"Hey, Jasper." Connie said, interrupting her thoughts. "Want to try some?"

Jasper glanced down at what Connie offered; a slice of pizza resting on a napkin in the palm of her hand. She shrugged and took the offering, taking a bite of it before grimacing.

"Ah, it burned me!" she snapped, glaring at the offending pizza slice.

Connie chuckled. "Well, you have to let it cool." She took a seat beside Jasper and decided to eat from her own slice of pizza. "Jaspers are pretty impatient, huh?"

Jasper scoffed. "That's ignorant of you."

"Sorry." Connie quickly said.

Jasper sighed, meeting her half way at least. "We're impatient. We always have been. It's just part of what makes us what we are."

While they were talking, a small, spider-like gem skittered through Funland. Red, shimmering and its form flowing with ribbons of light. It almost tripped over a worm and hissed, the colors of its body dancing like a kaleidoscope.

It climbed on top of a tent and looked around, chattering excitedly. The joy around the little corrupted gem seemed to fuel its delight.

Steven, Connie and Jasper made their way through Funland. Steven was describing the various games and rides to Jasper. They walked into the Funland arcade where Connie started to explain a game to her. Jasper studied the cartoonish dummy doll labeled "Punch Buddy".

"I like this one," Connie said, smiling. "You put a quarter in and you punch him."

Jasper raised an eyebrow, pointing at the ridiculous thing. She found the idea pointless and rather stupid. "You punch that?"

Connie nodded. "Yes, you punch that."

She put a quarter in the machine and the dummy doll activated, raising both goofy, over sized fists. Jasper recoiled a little in disgust.

"This is ridiculous. I'm a trained gem warrior, for Diamond's sake." she snapped.

"Give it your best shot, kid!" it yelled.

Jasper scowled and raised a fist, punching the machine hard. Her fist knocked Punch Buddy from its stand completely, and it gave a loud scream of "Tell my wife I'm sorry!"

Steven and Connie winced.

"Oh no, not again!" Steven cried.

Jasper was confused when they began ushering her away quickly. "What?" she said. "Isn't that what I was supposed to do? What's wrong?"

O

Connie and Steven were attempting to knock down several stacked cans with small bean bags. They were missing several times, all the while Mr. Smiley watched with amusement. Connie knocked down one of the cans and smiled, but Mr. Smiley shook his head.

"Oh! Too bad!" he said. "Better luck next time!"

Jasper frowned. "She knocked one over. I saw it."

Mr. Smiley laughed with delight, poking Jasper on the gem. "Now now, let me explain something to you, my large, lovely lady!" he said, in an insufferable, bubbly tone. "Those cans are still standing. Which means no prize for them!"

Jasper's eyes narrowed.

"Jasper, it's okay." Steven assured her, pulling her hand. "Let's try the rides instead."

Jasper refused to move and the force of her stock-still strength had Steven nearly falling over when he tried to pull her.

"Let me try." she said, her tone darkening slightly.

Mr. Smiley grinned, missing the tone. "Alright! Give it a shot, honey!"

Jasper clenched several of the bean bags in her hands. She gave him a cold look before smirking. "Trust me. I will."

Steven and Connie backed away instinctively and Jasper threw the bags with a loud grunt of effort. They obliterated all three stacks of cans and shot through the wooden hut with all the speed of a bullet. Mr. Smiley yelped and ducked for cover.

Jasper looked down at the cringing human. "I knocked them down." she said, with a triumphant smirk on her face.

He stared at the smoking holes in the wall before grinning, frightened.

"We have a winner!" he cried, voice high with fright.

Later, Connie was walking alongside the other two, smiling and holding an over sized plush tiger in her arms. She looked up at Jasper, who was eating an ice cream cone.

"Thank you, Jasper," she said, "I love it."

Jasper smiled, but it came and went as fast as lightning.

"So...did you always know you were going to be a soldier?" Steven asked her.

Jasper nodded her head. "I did. It's something we always know when we're made," she explained, "Made for our Diamonds."

Steven thought about it for a moment. "Was there ever a time when you thought you could so something else?"

"Never." Jasper said, voice hardening a little.

Steven and Connie sought to change the mood a little. Steven gestured to the spinning teacups. "Hey! How about we try those?" he suggested.

Jasper glanced up and tilted her head.

The three sat in the spinning teacups and twirled around and around. Connie and Steven sat together in another one and they watched as Jasper smiled. She seemed...happy now. Relieved. Much lighter than she had ever seemed to be.

Jasper looked around while the teacup ride was spinning. To the various humans who passed them by. She laughed.

Even she had to admit how...nice this felt.

Throughout the rest of the morning, she engaged in ridiculous Earth rituals and felt...better for it. Connie and Steven had even wanted to take pictures with her. Jasper didn't understand the purpose of them, but they all squeezed into a photo-booth.

Every photo was of them making faces. Kevin had stuck his head in the curtain and the photo that was taken next was of Jasper shoving him out with an angry expression on her face. Connie and Steven both cringed in the photo.

Steven was studying the photos as he and Jasper made their way back to the temple. Jasper was walking silently the entire time.

"These are really great, Jasper!" he said. "I'll keep these on my bed to remind us of the fun we had."

They walked into the house and found Pearl in the middle of washing dishes. She smiled brightly when she saw them.

"Ah! You're back!" she said. "Did everyone have fun?"

"Jasper won Connie a tiger, too!" Steven told her. "It was great!"

Pearl gave Jasper an amused smile. "Really?"

"It was no big deal." Jasper muttered, with a shrug.

"Ah. Alright. Steven?" Pearl looked down at him. "Garnet wants us to go on a mission, but she's out on her own right now. There's a matter of a Heartstone we need to find."

"Heartstone?" Steven said, tilting his head.

Connie spoke now. "I probably have to head back too. Mom wants us to go to this special dinner tonight." She turned to Jasper and gave her stuffed animal another squeeze. "Thanks again for the stuffed tiger, Jasper!"

Jasper watched her go. Steven quickly hurried to the warp pad and Jasper turned her attention to Pearl. The gem grinned at her and Jasper raised an eyebrow.

"You had fun, admit it." Pearl teased, affectionately.

Jasper snorted in response. "It was okay, I guess."

O

Jasper, Pearl, Steven and Amethyst found themselves in the forest once more. Or as Pearl referred to it as "The Trail of Hunger".

"The object we're seeking is called 'the Heartstone'." Pearl explained, displaying a heart-shaped image from her gem. "It's believed to be hidden away on the Isle of Cupio."

Amethyst chuckled. "Heh."

"What's so funny?" Pearl asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It sounds like 'pee'." Amethyst joked, with an amused smirk.

Pearl sighed skeptically before continuing. "Well, we have to take extra precautions when we arrive at the Isle of..." She cleared her throat and gave Amethyst a look before continuing. "The island. You see, the Isle itself is believed to be a special place used by gem-kind long ago."

Jasper finished for her. "Gems traveled to the island, looking for answers they couldn't find. It's a construct of Blue Diamond."

Pearl nodded. "Yes, Jasper. What you said." She continued on without consequence. "Blue Diamond had commanded Bismuth's to create the heartstone to act as the core of the island. But somehow it had gained sentience. The island lures any who seek answers to the greatest question of all: What do I want most in life?"

Steven murmured with worry. "How does that work?"

"It's believe that the island sings, Steven."

"How does an island sing?"

"Much like the Sirens of your human stories," Pearl explained. "The Heartstone lures any who dare attempt to face their wildest dreams. But that's just rumor. It's nothing more than an object created by Blue Diamond."

"I've never been to these islands," Jasper said. "But I've heard about them."

"Are they really dangerous?" Steven asked, concerned.

Jasper snorted. "It's nothing I can't handle."

"Now Jasper, remember; while your strength and size is sufficient enough in combat," Pearl reminded her, "We need to exercise a little clarity of thought. You know what the Isle of Cupio is made up of. Once we find the Heartstone, then..."

"I can destroy it MY way." Jasper grinned at the thought.

Pearl chuckled and shook her head. "Yes. YOUR way."

Amethyst chuckled, drawing her whip. "The Quartz sisters got this!"

Upon clearing the passage, they found themselves in what looked like a bountiful garden. Trees had grown higher than Steven had ever seen. Lush, green vegetation sprung out all around them. Fruit was growing from the trees, bushes and clear, crystal water flowed in rivers nearby.

All in all, it looked like the perfect paradise.

Amethyst looked down, spotting a bush that had grown delicious-looking fruit. Somehow, the sight of it looked so tantalizing to her. Her mouth watered and she reached down, plucking one from the bush before sinking her teeth into it.

The others hadn't noticed until she started to chew loudly. They whirled in shock, watching as ribbons of juice trickled down her chin. She met each stare and frowned curiously, shrugging her shoulders.

"What?" she said. "I'm hungry."

"Amethyst! We don't know what..." Steven began, trailing off when he noticed nothing wrong seemed to happen to her.

"You guys got to try this!" Amethyst told them. "I've never tasted food this good before!"

"Amethyst, this is how it starts!" Pearl snapped, snatching a piece of fruit from her hands. "It tries to lure you in with your favorite things!"

Amethyst scowled, indignant. "Ah, rude!"

Steven seemed worried. "We should hurry. This...Heartstone knows we're here by now." Then, he thought about what he had said, frowning. "Does it really...KNOW?"

"The Heartstone is not a living being, Steven." Pearl reminded him. "It thinks it's alive, so it will attempt to preserve itself when we find it. But you have to remember that it's not."

Steven wasn't too sure. Something felt wrong about how Pearl had described the Heartstone. He remembered how the Gems had assumed the same about the mirror that housed Lapis' gem. But maybe he would understand better once he actually encountered it.

"I feel like Garnet should be here," Steven said, as they walked through the trail of vines and roses. "She'll know what to do."

Pearl huffed, a little indignant. "Well, Garnet had a mission to handle herself. I think the four of us can handle the Heartstone on our own."

Amethyst looked at her. "Does it really look like a heart?"

"I don't know. I've never seen one up close."

Amethyst made a face. "I don't want to picture it sitting there pulsing like a human heart." She stuck her tongue out. "Gross."

"Amethyst..."

The four wandered into the forest, watching as shadows danced about unnaturally around them. Pearl ignored it and looked down at Steven.

"It knows we're here. Just remember, Steven; anything it tries to offer isn't real." she reminded him.

Steven nodded his head. "Got it! Not real."

Pearl looked at Amethyst. "Alright, you go with Steven. I'll go with Jasper. We split up and find the Heartstone. If one finds it before the other, then we signal and meet up."

Amethyst scoffed. "How do you want us to do that? Use Tarzan shouts or something?"

Pearl murmured thoughtfully. "Hm, I'm not familiar with that form of vocal communication. But if it gets our attention, by all means."

Steven and Amethyst looked at each other, snickering before they wandered off in one direction. Pearl frowned, confused by their laughter.

"What?" she asked.

O

Jasper and Pearl wandered down a path of statues.

"We should be able to locate the Heartstone at the center of the island," Pearl said. "Though I'm sure Blue Diamond had tricks to keep it protected."

Her leg was suddenly caught in a snare, sending her flying through the air with a yell. Jasper looked up with shock and Pearl hung there, annoyed and embarrassed.

"Please, do not tell me that happened..." she murmured, hand over her face.

Jasper snickered. "It happened."

"Well, I'll handle it." Pearl grumbled, struggling to reach up to her ensnared ankle. With a curse, she drew her spear and sliced through the vine.

She fell, but Jasper caught her in her arms.

Pearl huffed, embarrassed. "Well, we won't be telling anyone about that, will we?"

Jasper chuckled, setting her down.

Immediately, a collection of whispers filled the air and Pearl was suddenly silent. Her usually bright, alert eyes became dull, almost empty.

Jasper looked around, noticing that a fog began to lift upon the island around them. She furrowed her brow, guarded now that she sensed something wrong.

A collection of whispers.

Soft, soothing encouragement.

Her eyes felt heavy. Her body relaxing of every ounce of tension. Immediately, she shook her head, attempting to rid herself of the sensation.

"No!" she hissed, grunting with effort. "I won't listen!"

Meanwhile, Steven and Amethyst wandered on the island, attempting to see through the fog that had crept up around them.

"This fog hit us pretty fast," Amethyst said. She seemed worried. "I don't know. Maybe we should regroup and come back later."

Steven shook his head. "We can find the Heartstone, Amethyst." he told her. "We just have to stick together."

He didn't notice Amethyst freeze where she stood. Her eyes became heavy, pupils dilating. She fell under a trance and began to walk in the opposite direction, all the while Steven continued to talk without noticing that she was no longer walking with him.

When he finally stopped and looked back, he was alone.

"Amethyst?" he called, "Amethyst!"

His call carried through the island and Jasper could faintly make it out. She rushed through the fog, colliding with trees in her path. The whispers filling her head she attempted to rebuke. She grunted, slamming her head against a tree in an effort to block out the sound.

"Shut up..." she hissed, "I won't listen to it!"

The whispers collectively silenced themselves before a single voice filled the air. A familiar one that gave her comfort.

"Come. I miss you..."

Jasper struggled to fight off the sound, but her legs move forward of their own accord. She was led to a grove, her eyes occasionally narrowing and dilating as she fought off the siren's influence.

Then, Jasper's eyes widened in horror.

Kneeling in the grove was Pink Diamond.

The warm, comforting smile on her face made her wither with anguish. Her Diamond. There. Surrounded by flowers. Everything about her the same as she remembered.

She reached out with one hand.

"My sweet, sweet Jasper." she said, in a loving tone, "Come."

Jasper shook her head rapidly, struggling with herself. She grunted, grabbed her face with two hands and attempted to fight off the siren's call. "No, you're not real. You're gone."

A chuckle. "What do you mean, my Jasper? I've been here the whole time, waiting for you." she said. She reached out with two arms open. "Come. Let me comfort you. You've been so alone, haven't you?"

Jasper struggled further. "You're not real..."

But she was walking toward her and when she was close enough, Pink Diamond pulled her into her arms. The touch was loving, gentle. Everything Jasper remembered her to be. Even down to the way she smelled - of roses and morning sunshine.

"You've been so alone," Pink Diamond murmured, placing a gentle kiss on Jasper's head. "But you don't need to be alone anymore. I'm here."

Jasper mumbled, hypnotized by the voice purring in her ear. "Mmmm, yes..." she said, smiling. "I don't have to be alone..."

She rested her head in Pink Diamond's lap and the larger gem chuckled affectionately, lightly petting her with soft, loving hands.

"I won't leave you again."

O

Steven ran through the fog, calling for the others. "Amethyst! Jasper! Pearl!" he cried. "Where are you guys?"

He heard whispers in the air and stopped, looking around for signs of the gems. The whispers continued, insistent, yet nothing affected him the way it did the others. He spotted two shapes standing in the fog and smiled, relieved.

"Amethyst! Pearl!" he said.

The two gems were there, stares vacant. Steven's smile disappeared and he watched in confusion as they fused, forming the towering shape of Opal. The fusion also looked like she was in a trance. She didn't seem to notice Steven at all and wandered deep into the fog. Steven attempted to pursue her.

"Opal! Wait!" he cried.

The whispers continued and it froze Steven where he stood. He looked around, spotting nothing unusual or any potential threat. Whatever was going on, his team mates were being put under a spell as Pearl had warned about.

But not him.

Somehow, he didn't hear the "siren song" that Pearl had mentioned. So that meant it was up to him to find the Heartstone and bubble it to set them free.

He quickly rushed through the fog, still listening to the whispers as they attempted to work the same spell they had with the others. Steven shook his head insistently.

"It's not going to work on me!" he yelled, not sure who he was yelling at.

The voices stopped and an angry scream echoed somewhere from the island, freezing Steven immediately. The sound was chilling, scary.

What if Pearl was wrong?

What if the Heartstone was alive?

Steven made his way further until he reached a clearing in the fog. He found a temple, surrounded by vines and thorns. There were statues depicting images of Blue Diamond as well as murals painted on walls. Gems always seemed fond of painting their history. Much like the Egyptians.

From inside the temple, he could hear soft, sad whispers.

Steven took a deep breath to calm himself. This was it. He was on his own.

Jasper heard a soft moaning.

A plea for help.

She blinked, straightened where she was laying. She had no idea how long she had been there, just laying on her Diamond's lap. Pink Diamond looked surprised by her sudden movement, reaching for her again when she tried to walk away.

"My Jasper, what is it?" she asked.

"I heard something," she said, blinking rapidly. "Someone needs me."

Pink Diamond smiled. "No one needs you, Jasper. No one but me."

Jasper was conflicted by these words. No, not... Something felt wrong about this. She couldn't remember where she was or what she'd been doing. But that voice that pleaded for help... Who was that? Why did it sound familiar.

She felt light-headed and dizzy, struggling to focus on the world around her.

"I have to go." she said.

Pink Diamond suddenly looked uncertain, confused by her refusal to stay. "Wait, don't leave!" she cried. "Stay with me. I can make you happy. You know I can."

Jasper felt her hands on her shoulders and she grimaced, her eyes dancing between dilation and narrowing. She clenched her teeth, struggling internally.

"This isn't right. Something..." she mumbled. "No, you're not her..."

Pink Diamond smiled, giving her another kiss. "I can be if you want me to."

"No. Enough. She's gone. You're not her. I don't need you anymore." Jasper forced every ounce of her strength into retreating from the false image. It was hard, even for a gem of her strength. "I have someone who needs me. Someone I..."

The words felt short. As they always did.

Yes. She DID have someone. Someone who she would not replace with a false image.

Jasper looked over her shoulder, stunned to see the image of Pink Diamond frozen perpetually like a paused hologram. Her form dissipated into sand, falling into a pile at her feet. Jasper backed away, rubbing her eyes with two hands and staring at the spot the image used to occupy. She heard a scream of rage and fear fill the air.

"Pearl..." she gasped, quickly fleeing into the woods.

Jasper was running for a few minutes and she stopped, spotting Opal standing there among the trees. She furrowed her brow, noticing the odd way the fusion looked at her. The deadened stare of a being trapped by the siren's song. Jasper stepped forward.

"Opal?" she said.

She knew of the fusion. She had seen her when the ship she had arrived on Earth in had locked on her; when she had tried to take it down with her deadly arrows.

Opal mumbled, grunting with effort as she moved forward, producing her bow in a flash of light. Her voice croaked out of her with great effort. "Jasper...run..."

Jasper refused to run. She would NEVER run from a fight.

"No." she said, defiant.

Opal lunged forward, delivering kicks and punches. Jasper attempted to dodge and block each one. Opal's movements lacked finesse, as if she were an enormous puppet on strings. Jasper grunted sharply when she was kicked in her midsection. The force sent her flying through several trees, snapping them cleanly from the ground.

Opal stopped advancing. She raised her bow and it produced an arrow of light, aiming directly for Jasper. The gem struggled to stand, dazed by the force of the hit. She winced, watching the arrow of light and the trembling in Opal's hands.

Jasper hissed sharply with effort, standing. She didn't move.

"You won't do it." she bit out. "I know you won't."

Opal's lips tightened. Her blank, deadened stare shimmered with evidence of tears. They began to pour down her cheeks as she struggled to fight the influence of the "song" around them.

No...please...

O

Steven made his way through the hall of the temple where he found the Heartstone sitting on a cushion; it was a shining blue stone that was shaped like that of a heart. He started to approach, but thorns immediately wrapped around the stone.

"Oh geez..." he said. "This is going to be a problem."

Steven inhaled, grabbing the thorns in an effort to work his way toward the stone. He would bubble it and hopefully whatever was going on would disappear. He hissed in pain as several thorns cut into his hands. Drawing blood.

Please, don't hurt me.

Steven made an effort to ignore the voice. He grunted, pulling on the vines.

They're lying to you. I am alive.

Steven felt himself hesitating at the pleading sounds. And at that moment, vines snapped at him, sending him flying through the air and striking the nearby wall. He lost consciousness almost immediately; the last thing he saw was the Heartstone glowing brightly, vines snapping.

Meanwhile, Jasper had avoided the blast from Opal's arrow. She seized a vine and spun around the fusion, attempting to tie her down and disable her. She stumbled forward, falling flat on her face with a sharp grunt of pain.

Jasper made a triumphant sound, but her victory was short lived as Opal rose, tearing through the vines without difficulty. She swung her leg out, kicking Jasper in the head. The blow sent the gem flying backwards, crashing through several more trees. As Jasper started to stand, Opal's foot pressed down hard on her chest, knocking the wind from her.

Jasper groaned in pain, grasping at the leg that pinned her. Opal produced another arrow and aimed it directly into her face. This one she would certainly not be able to dodge. A blow that close to her gem would shatter her.

Jasper slowly shut her eyes.

This is it. I'm going to die.

The arrow was released and the blow was made inches from Jasper's head. She looked over where the blast had hit; close to her hair and enough to singe her face. Jasper looked up at Opal, who struggled internally with herself. Her tears were falling freely now and she backed away, dropping her bow and moaning.

Her four arms tightened their hold around her body. A haunting groan that sounded like a combination of Amethyst and Pearl. Her hands clawed at her face and she struggled to block out the sound in her head. Meeting Jasper's stare, Opal pleaded with her.

"Please... Jasper...go!" she begged. "I can't...control my...body!"

Jasper watched her, sitting up and making a move to advance. Her arms reached out, beseeching. "I can fight if I have to! If it means - "

"Go!" Opal begged, shouting now. "Find Steven!"

Jasper still hesitated.

Opal's hands were moving toward her bow. She clenched her teeth, struggling against the siren's influence. Jasper continued to hesitate before she realized that Opal was right. If she found Steven, maybe she would find the Heartstone and the influence that Opal was put under would end.

She turned and ran.

O

Steven moaned in pain, reaching up to touch his sore head. He felt tender near his ear and came back with a touch of blood. Struggling to stand, Steven approached the Heartstone, finding it constantly whipping with vines and thorns.

Steven watched in shock as the vines wrapped protectively around the Heartstone, forming an almost humanoid, squirming mass that screeched mechanically. It snarled, a human-like face wrapped in vines twisting with fear.

Stay away. Stay away.

Jasper emerged in the room, snarling with effort as she pulled her way through vines and thorns. Steven looked back at her, raising his shield.

"Jasper!" he cried. "Where's Pearl and Amethyst?"

Jasper grunted. A vine slapped her face and she seized it, struggling to hold it away as if it were a deadly serpent. "I'm A BIT BUSY AT THE MOMENT!"

Another screech and the two noticed that the humanoid mass of vines had begun moving toward them. It stalked toward Steven, attempting to reach for him.

Jasper struggled through the mass of thorns, grabbing handfulls of them. The sharp thorns sliced through her hands, but she pressed on. Steven could only watch in shock as she seized the Heartstone housed within the humanoid mass.

A scream.

A snarl of effort from Jasper.

No, don't!

The humanoid mass grabbed uselessly at Jasper's arm, struggling to pull her away. Jasper slapped a large hand over its face, pushing back while pulling on the Heartstone. Vines snapped, screams pierced the air and the sounds abruptly silenced when Jasper pulled the Heartstone loose from its housing.

The vines collapsed in a pile at her feet. Jasper formed an orange bubble around it immediately, studying the thing for a moment before she looked down at Steven. He looked star-struck and Jasper flushed a little at the stare.

"What?" she snapped. "Don't look at me like that."

Steven grinned, his shield disappearing before he hugged Jasper's leg. "That was so amazing!" he exclaimed, "You saved me!"

Jasper nodded, sending the Heartstone on its way. She looked down at him, picking him up with ease to study the damages he had received from the thorns.

"Hm, you look damaged, but you'll survive." she replied, tartly.

Steven laughed when she sat him down. Then, he looked back anxiously. "Wait, where's Pearl and Amethyst?" he exclaimed.

Jasper and Steven both quickly rushed from the temple, stepping outside into sunlight. The lush gardens had all but been reduced to nothing more than decay. The trees were bare, devoid of leaves. There were no fruit trees blossoming, the rivers and streams had dried up and no fog had settled over the island.

Everything looked dead.

"Let's go." Jasper ordered.

The two ran through the dead forest; Steven had trouble keeping up with Jasper, so the gem picked him up with ease, hoisting him onto her shoulders. They looked around for signs of the other gems before finding Opal lying on her side.

"Opal!" Steven cried.

It took a few moments before Opal groaned, opening her eyes. She sat up, unfused into Amethyst and Pearl; both gems rubbed their heads and shook the last vestiges of the sound from them.

"Steven?" Pearl said, refusing to look at Jasper. "Did you get the stone?"

Steven shook his head. "Jasper did!" he told her.

Pearl and Amethyst looked rather ashamed by themselves.

"We were still aware of what we were doing," Pearl said, quietly. She looked up at Jasper. "Oh, stars. We knew what we did. But we couldn't - "

Jasper shook her head. "Don't worry about it." she interrupted. "That thing's gone now."

Steven looked concerned. "What happened?"

Amethyst looked away. "The Heartstone got into our heads. Made us form Opal and we almost shattered Jasper."

Steven gasped, covering his mouth with two hands.

"Let's just go home..." Pearl said, quietly.

O

Jasper didn't understand the reason behind the silence.

Pearl had refused to leave her room for the better part of the next day. She paced anxiously around the door, hoping that Pearl would leave and talk with her. Amethyst was no better. She spent her part of the day just wandering around on the beach in silence.

"Jasper, you're going to pit the floor." Garnet said, interrupting her gait.

Jasper looked toward the fusion, noticing that she was preparing something in the kitchen. She sighed impatiently and sat down on the floor.

"I don't understand what she's so upset about," she groused. "She didn't shatter me. She was under the influence of the Heartstone. It's not her fault."

Garnet shook her head. "Pearl doesn't see it that way."

"Well hiding in her room doesn't help!"

Garnet nodded. She walked up to the door and gave it a knock. "Pearl. Come out and talk to Jasper before she put a hole in the floor."

No response.

Jasper groaned, throwing her arms in the air. "Ugh! What's the PROBLEM?"

She stormed away in a huff.

Garnet gestured with one hand. "I know another way. Come on."

Jasper sighed impatiently and followed her into her room. Garnet showed her a path to the other temple rooms via the same trail that Steven had taken when he wanted to have Together Breakfast. Jasper used that same path to make her way to Pearl's room.

She found the gem sitting where she often did when she was meditating. Jasper grunted, scaling up the length of piping before she fell, falling behind Pearl with a loud, thunderous crash and curse. Pearl jumped, startled by the noise.

"Jasper?" she exclaimed, whirling. "How did you...?"

She looked up, spotting Garnet suspended nearby. The fusion flashed her a thumbs up and Pearl huffed with dismay.

"Is no place sacred in this temple?" she growled.

Jasper straightened, sitting up and frowning. "Why are you hiding in your room? I don't understand why you're upset."

Pearl sighed, sitting beside her. "Jasper, don't you see? I almost shattered you. You could have been killed, because of me."

Jasper didn't get it. "But you DIDN'T."

"I COULD HAVE."

"BUT YOU DIDN'T."

Pearl opened her mouth to argue. She furrowed her brow, not quite sure why Jasper was taking it so well. The thought of killing her sent shudders down her back. She had felt herself losing control to the siren's call of the island. It was her fault. She should have taken extra care. And she hadn't.

Jasper chuckled. "I'm made of stronger stuff than most gems." she reminded her. "None of your attacks even so much as grazed me."

She laughed, but stopped when she noticed Pearl wasn't laughing. Or smiling. She was serious. The thought of what had happened clearly upset her.

"I won't hurt someone else I love..." Pearl told her. She shut her eyes, lowering her head. "...again."

Jasper sighed, moving closer to her. Pearl made a surprised sound when Jasper put her arms around her, pulling her into her lap.

"Listen," she said, evenly. The roles were reversed and Jasper sounded so sure of herself this time. "I don't care about the 'what-could-have-happened'. I'm only worried about the now."

Pearl raised an eyebrow. She smirked a little. "Who are you and what have you done with Jasper?" she said, laughing.

Jasper made a mocking grin of insult. "No, I'm serious. While I was out there, that thing tried to use me too. With a false image of my Diamond."

Pearl's eyes widened. "What?"

"Yeah. And I realized something," Jasper's features flushed a little. She struggled to attempt to find the right words. "I have you and... you know... feelings and..." She growled, looking away when Pearl started at her affectionately. "Ugh. You know what I'm trying to say."

Pearl laughed and nodded, wrapping her arms around her shoulders. "So, are you saying that you love me too?"

Jasper huffed indignantly. "Whatever..."

Pearl laughed, giving her a little kiss on her cheek. "Honestly." she said, shaking her head.

Jasper rolled her eyes. Then, she smiled, somehow proud of herself. "That thing couldn't control me. I was able to walk away."

"Was it hard?"

"Very."

Pearl smiled, leaning against her chest and relaxing under the warmth of her powerful form. She opened her eyes slightly, staring down at the scarred patches on Jasper's arm. Her fingers lightly rubbed it, recollecting how far they'd come together.

"I'm honored that I was on your mind." she said.

Jasper chuckled. "I couldn't get you out of my head if I wanted to."

Jasper raised an eyebrow at her. Pearl imitated the expression. Then, both of them giggled a bit, their faces flushed.

"Be quiet!" Jasper laughed, splashing her with water.

Pearl squealed and splashed her back. "Oh, you!"

Their laughter carried through the temple to Garnet's room.

She actually smiled.