Chapter 25 - Gem Hunt

"Wait, so let me get this straight. You want me to go with Pearl, Connie, and the Quartz Child, on a mission?" Jasper asked.

"Yes." Garnet answered.

"I'm not a Crystal Gem." Jasper answered.

"This is true, but there's something I want you to see for yourself," Garnet answered.

"And that is?" Jasper asked.

"...You'll see if you go," Garnet answered.

"You know, not everyone can see the future," Jasper frowned. "I can't count it out that the whole thing might be a trap. I can't say I trust you or Pearl yet."

"But do you trust Steven?"

"...Point taken."

"So will you go?" Garnet asked, and Jasper let out a sigh.

"I'll give it a go, I guess… but this doesn't mean I'm a part of your group," Jasper answered.

"Understood," Garnet said, smiling, "There's been some corrupted gem activity in the north, and it's going to be Connie's first mission. I want you to be there as backup in case something goes wrong."

"Corrupted gem activity?" Jasper asked, and Garnet nodded.

"You'll see. I can't exactly explain it without showing you the real thing," Garnet answered.

"All right," Jasper said, "Doesn't sound like it should take too long…"

"So Jasper's going on the mission with us?" Steven asked, a huge smile on his face.

"Ugh…" Pearl muttered, "Yes, she is."

"Woo HOOO!" Steven cheered, "Connie, Jasper's actually going with us!"

"So it's my first mission and Jasper's first mission?"

"Well, technically speaking, yes," Pearl answered, then glancing over at Jasper, "...I still don't understand why Garnet's gotten you to come with us…"

Jasper shrugged.

This was the first time she had been in the beach house, and although she would only get a short look at the area, it turned out that the house was basically an extension of the original base of the Crystal Gems, and was where Steven lived and where he and the Gems spent most of their free time. Peridot and Lapis Lazuli had been living in the house for the time being as well, though the reason to Jasper was unknown, though she could guess the reason was herself.

"Okay, are you all ready?" Pearl asked, and Steven and Connie nodded. She then looked up expectantly at Jasper, who also nodded once she realized that was what she needed to do, "Alright, let's go."

Though Jasper hadn't used a warp pad in a while, the feeling wasn't new to her. The next sensation, however, was more new.

"Okay, here we are!" Pearl sounded excited as the warp ended and the area called the Great North was revealed.

The ground was covered in a white substance Jasper soon asked about, which was called snow. There were a lot of pine trees around, and in front of the warp pad was a giant wailing stone.

"Wait! Connie's parents told me to take lots of pictures," Steven said, "Uh, Pearl, Connie, can you guys stand in front of the Wailing Stone?"

Steven looked up at Jasper, "Do you want to be in the pictures, too?"

"I'm good," Jasper answered, and watched as Steven asked Pearl and Connie to do various things as he took pictures of them.

"Okay," Pearl said after about five rounds of pictures, "I think that's enough photography for now,"

Steven grinned, and Connie looked over at Pearl.

"Thank you so much for letting me come along, Pearl, it's such an honor to work alongside you," Connie said. Jasper was starting to get a handle on how much Connie actually respected Pearl, and had heard before that Pearl had been teaching Connie how to sword fight. Currently, Connie was the one who had the sword Jasper foggily remembered to have once belonged to Rose Quartz.

"Well, Connie, your sword fighting skills have far exceeded my expectations," Pearl replied, "And, with my careful supervision, I think you should be able to handle a gem recovery mission like this."

Steven snapped another photo, saying excitedly under his breath, "Connie's first mission!"

Jasper found herself with a smile on her face.

"Okay, Connie, recap the mission for us," Pearl asked, and Connie nodded.

"Garnet sensed some corrupted gem activity around the woods in this area, and gave us the job to locate, defeat, and bubble it," Connie answered.

"Bubble?" Jasper asked, and Steven nodded.

"It's what we do to, uh, the corrupted gem's gem after we defeat them… it's all we really can do until we figure out how to undo the corruption," Steven answered.

"Huh…" Jasper said. Corruption… I've got a bad feeling about this…

"Now, human bodies aren't built to last in the cold for very long, so we'll have to be extra careful," Pearl said.

"Don't worry, I've brought all the basic necessities needed in order to survive here," Connie answered, a determined look on her face.

"And I brought board games! Y'know, in case we get bored." Steven grinned, running over. Jasper followed.

"Right," Pearl said, missing the joke entirely, "Good."

"So how will we know if the corrupted gem is nearby?" Connie said, "N-"

Connie was quickly interrupted by a loud growl.

"That's how!" Pearl said, and several trees were knocked down as a large four legged creature bounded out of the woods, halting just before the group of them.

"What the…" Jasper looked up at the creature, "Wait…"

Connie started to unsheathe her sword, and Steven snapped a photo of the large gem creature.

"Remember, you work together!" Pearl said, and Steven summoned his shield.

"Ready, Connie?" he asked, and Connie nodded.

Suddenly, there was more noise from the woods as a second corrupted gem, similar looking to the first, came out of the woods.

"Two of them?" Pearl asked, "Garnet never said there'd be two…"

The two corrupted gems looked like they were communicating, and then the two charged at them.

"Steven, bubble!" Pearl said, and Steven nodded as the four stood close together.

"Bubble power!" Steven said, and a large pink bubble encased the four of them. The gems jumped over the bubble and fled in two directions behind them.

"They… ran away?" Steven asked.

Pearl sighed, "There wasn't supposed to be two…"

"Oh! I have an idea!" Connie said, "We can split up! Pearl, you can go after one, and Steven, Jasper, and I can go after the other!"

"Connie, although I know your combat skills are excellent…" Pearl paused, looking over at Jasper, "I suppose if Jasper goes with you two, it should be okay. Jasper, you can make sure things don't get too rough, right?"

"Sure," Jasper answered, looking over at an excited Connie and Steven.

"All right," Pearl said, "But as soon as you find the monster, you need to contact me using the walkie… talkies, that Steven brought. If anything happens, you need to tell me. Again, what are you supposed to do when you find the monster?"

"Call you," Steven and Connie answered.

"And if anything bad or unexpected happens?"

"Tell you about it," Steven and Connie responded.

"All right," Pearl answered, "Be safe, okay?"

"Yes ma'm!" Connie and Steven said simultaneously.

Pearl looked over at Jasper, "Make sure they don't get hurt, okay? If anything happens, I swear…"

"I get that you don't fully trust me, but I'll make sure they get back safe," Jasper answered, "It's the least I could do."

"Okay," Pearl said, "I'll see you three later."